Three more elementary schools found their best spellers in contests Tuesday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 17. Now those students will begin preparing for the countywide spelling bee.
At Schickler Elementary, fifth-grader Kylee Roberts won the bee Tuesday when she correctly spelled “enfranchise.” Second place went to fifth-grader Paul Gregor. Both will represent their school at the county level. Sixth-grader Kaylee Fenslau was third and will compete if Kylee or Paul are unable to attend.
Jocelyn Jones was named top speller at Elba-Seaton Elementary School after she correctly spelled “suburban” in a competition with 11 of her classmates. Fifth-grader Alex Craig was named alternate for Elba-Seaton.
Jocelyn said she studied the word list provided by her teacher to prepare for the bee. While she felt ready for the competition, she said she was still nervous, especially about spelling in front of an audience of other students.
“It’s harder for me to spell out loud than it is to write it down,” she said. “So I wasn’t sure what letters were coming out of my mouth.”
Alex said she has a trick for calming her nerves: “When I get nervous, I just go to my happy place.”
At Murphy Elementary at Rolland-Warner Middle School, sixth-grader Jessica Pantone won her school’s bee Wednesday when she correctly spelled “patience.” She and fifth-grader Lydia Bontrager will represent their school at the county bee. Fifth-grader Isabella Mirza was named alternate.
Jessica said she studied for the bee by writing words from a study sheet onto index cards. Her plan to prepare for the county bee? “More index cards.”
Lydia said she also studied, but spelling wasn’t the difficult part of the contest — speaking in front of an audience was. “If you look at the crowd it makes you even more nervous,” she said, adding she focused on the judges instead.
The students join those already selected at other schools to attend the countywide bee. Sixth-grader Cody Cruce and fifth-grader Hope O’Neill will represent Mayfield Elementary. Allison Vestbjerg will represent Lynch Elementary. Maple Grove holds its bee today, February 17.
The countywide competition will be Thursday, March 18 at Rolland-Warner Middle School.
The spelling bees, occurring in schools across the country, eventually will determine the competitors for the National Spelling Bee to be held in June in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Student efforts to help Haitian earthquake victims paying off in big donations
Efforts by Lapeer students to help people devastated by the earthquake in Haiti are paying off in the form of significant donations to relief efforts.
The February 5 “Helping Haiti Heal Benefit Concert!” and silent auction, organized by Lapeer East High School students Katherine Baeckeroot and Rebecca Wright, raised $1,785.28 that will be donated to the relief effort through the Healing Hands International Organization.
The concert featured East junior Tate Robinson playing the guitar and singing, East Social Studies Teacher Al Margrif offering his brand of acoustic rock and a performance by Rick Samano, owner of Lapeer Music in downtown Lapeer.
Students also conducted a silent auction before the concert. Auction items included gift certificates and merchandise from local businesses and handmade items.
At Zemmer Middle School, students helped the cause recently with a “Hats for Haiti Day.” Sponsored by the Student Council, students paid $1 to wear hats to class for the day. Students and staff raised $513.
Students at Mayfield Elementary School raised $391.95 for relief efforts during their recent fundraiser. Students in Ms. Shellie Forgione’s third grade and Ms. Maja Burris’s sixth grade raised the money by collecting $1 dollar for students to add their names to a Hearts for Haiti wall.
The February 5 “Helping Haiti Heal Benefit Concert!” and silent auction, organized by Lapeer East High School students Katherine Baeckeroot and Rebecca Wright, raised $1,785.28 that will be donated to the relief effort through the Healing Hands International Organization.
The concert featured East junior Tate Robinson playing the guitar and singing, East Social Studies Teacher Al Margrif offering his brand of acoustic rock and a performance by Rick Samano, owner of Lapeer Music in downtown Lapeer.
Students also conducted a silent auction before the concert. Auction items included gift certificates and merchandise from local businesses and handmade items.
At Zemmer Middle School, students helped the cause recently with a “Hats for Haiti Day.” Sponsored by the Student Council, students paid $1 to wear hats to class for the day. Students and staff raised $513.
Students at Mayfield Elementary School raised $391.95 for relief efforts during their recent fundraiser. Students in Ms. Shellie Forgione’s third grade and Ms. Maja Burris’s sixth grade raised the money by collecting $1 dollar for students to add their names to a Hearts for Haiti wall.
Daddy-Daughter Dance at Lynch Elementary a big hit
The Daddy-Daughter Dance on Friday, February 12, at Lynch Elementary School was a sparkling affair with lights and balloons and lots of beautiful dresses.
Pistons assembly at Lynch Elementary gets students fired up
A Pistons assembly at Lynch Elementary School taught the students about integrity, passion and success followed by a lot of fun when staff members were made to do push-ups after losing a game of free throw to a couple of students.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Schickler Elementary School spelling bee
Fifth-grader Kylee Roberts won the Schickler Elementary School spelling bee on February 16 correctly spelling "enfranchise."
Monday, February 15, 2010
School officials plan public hearings on updates to Family Life program
Lapeer Community Schools officials are proposing two updates to the district’s Family Life program and are offering the public a chance to learn about them before they are adopted.
The district has scheduled public hearings to review a new DVD about STDs, an updated resource for the ninth-grade Family Life program. The 20-minute DVD, entitled “STDs: Lifetime Consequences,” will replace the current, outdated video now used in the program. The DVD provides current statistics and methods of contraction while examining why risks are so often ignored.
The district also is proposing a new Personal Safety Awareness program to be offered to second-graders as part of the Family Life program. The program was developed by the Child Advocacy Center of the United States and teaches students how to respond in potentially dangerous situations, particularly those involving strangers. It will be presented by teachers, police liaisons and a Child Advocacy volunteer in four, one-hour sessions in the classroom.
The first public hearing will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 16. A second hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 23. Both will be in Meeting Room B of the Administration and Services Center, 250 Second St., Lapeer.
The district has scheduled public hearings to review a new DVD about STDs, an updated resource for the ninth-grade Family Life program. The 20-minute DVD, entitled “STDs: Lifetime Consequences,” will replace the current, outdated video now used in the program. The DVD provides current statistics and methods of contraction while examining why risks are so often ignored.
The district also is proposing a new Personal Safety Awareness program to be offered to second-graders as part of the Family Life program. The program was developed by the Child Advocacy Center of the United States and teaches students how to respond in potentially dangerous situations, particularly those involving strangers. It will be presented by teachers, police liaisons and a Child Advocacy volunteer in four, one-hour sessions in the classroom.
The first public hearing will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 16. A second hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 23. Both will be in Meeting Room B of the Administration and Services Center, 250 Second St., Lapeer.
Lapeer East student Jerome Strawser takes to stage in Flint Youth Theatre production
When Jerome Strawser was in the seventh grade, Lapeer school officials enrolled him in a Theatre Arts class.His teachers knew him well. Jerome, now a Lapeer East High School ninth-grader, enjoyed the class so much that he wants to become an actor as an adult. He is pursuing that goal by performing this month in a Flint Youth Theatre production of “The Andersonville Trial.”
Jerome plays the ghost of a Union soldier who died in a notorious prisoner of war camp in Andersonville, Georgia, during the Civil War.
“I’ve been drawn to acting for awhile,” Jerome said. “I started at age 12 in the seventh grade. I want to eventually move to Hollywood and try to get into acting. You just never know.”
“The Andersonville Trial” is based on transcripts from the 1865 trial of Confederate Captain Henry Wirz, who was tried after hundreds of Union soldiers detained in the camp under his command died of disease, starvation and neglect. Wirz claimed that because he was following orders as a soldier, he had no personal responsibility in the case.
The play’s heavy subject matter did not deter Jerome from his role as a victim of the prisoner camp. To prepare, he watched a movie about it.
“I watched the movie to learn what prisoner life was like,” he said. “Then it really just came to me.”
He also said he does not suffer from stage fright.
“I just tell myself, ‘Hey, we’re all buds here and it’s all fine,’” he said.
Jerome also has worked in behind-the-scenes technical positions on other productions. While he enjoyed that, he said he prefers to be a performer. He already knows what kind of role he would like to play next.
“I’d like to play a villain, I think that would be fun, more of a main character,” he said.
Performances of “The Andersonville Trial” are set for Friday, February 19 and 26, and Saturday February 20 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, February 20 and 27. Performances are at the Flint Youth Theatre, 1220 E. Kearsley St., on the campus of the Flint Cultural Center. Advance tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for children and are available at the Theatre, by calling (810) 237-1530 or online at flintyouththeatre.org. Tickets purchased at the door are $16 for adults and $14 for children. The play is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Cody Cruce wins the Mayfield Spelling Bee competition on February 11
Sixth-grader Cody Cruce was named the spelling champ after correctly spelling "vanilla" during the Mayfield Spelling Bee on February 11. Fifth-grader Hope O'Neill was named the runner-up and sixth-grader Beth Adams the alternate.
Sixth-grader Cody Cruce will represent Mayfield Elementary School in the Lapeer County spelling bee after he emerged the winner in a spelling competition at his school on Thursday, February 11.
His secret for success? He reads a lot and controls his nerves when spelling in front of a crowd.
Cody won the competition at his school when he correctly spelled “vanilla” after other students were eliminated in the multi-round spelling bee.
“It just really seems to come to me,” Cody said of his spelling skills.
Mayfield will send two students to the county spelling bee. Fifth-grader Hope O’Neill will join him in the competition after finishing second Thursday. Sixth-grader Beth Adams finished third and will serve as alternate, competing at the county level if Cody or Hope are unable to attend.
The spelling bees, occurring in schools across the country, eventually will determine the competitors for the National Spelling Bee to be held in June in Washington, D.C.
Lynch Elementary held its spelling bee on Monday, February 8. Allison Vestbjerg won the Lynch competition and will represent her school in the county-wide bee. Seaton, Murphy and Maple Grove elementary schools will conduct their spelling bees next week to determine which of their students will compete at the county level.
Lapeer East High School seniors give presentations on social issues
Seniors at Lapeer East High School who completed 15 hours of service in the community and wrote research papers on a social issue, gave their presentations to Lapeer East classes on February 11.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Lapeer East senior Alex Hart heading to U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Lapeer East High School senior Alex Hart has been setting and achieving goals since he was a young child.
Whether it was in athletics or the classroom, Alex has set high standards for success.
Now, Alex has reached another milestone. He has been offered a full appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Attending the Academy is the next step toward his goal of working in National Security.
“The Coast Guard has attracted me my entire life,” Alex said. “I like the water, I’ve been a swimmer for 14 years, I love to sail and I want to travel. A military academy offers the kind of education I want and the Coast Guard program fits in perfectly.”
Appointments to the Academy are highly competitive. According to the Academy's website, only 411 appointments were offered to the 1,672 students who completed applications to be among the class of 2013. Of those offered appointments, only 288 were sworn in as cadets.
The Academy's educational program stresses academics, physical fitness, character and leadership.
Those qualities are a perfect match for Alex. Not only has he maintained a high grade point average, but he has competed on the Lapeer Swim and Dive team, on USA and YMCA swim teams for a dozen years and has competed in two national swim meets. He also has played on the Lapeer East High School hockey team and plans to participate in track and field in the spring.
He was selected to participate in the elite six-day National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. in October 2009. Only 300 students from around the country were selected for the forum's inside look at the country's fight against foreign and domestic threats.
His mother, Kristen Hart, said her son's leadership abilities and skill on competitive swim teams gave him an edge in gaining appointment to the Academy. He will compete on the Academy's swim team and already has met with the team's coach.
"Alex wanted to serve his country ever since he was little," Kristen Hart said. "His family has a history of service in the military and he was interested in the Coast Guard because of its humanitarian efforts."
With his appointment, Alex will attend tuition-free for four years of school and will receive a monthly stipend. After graduation, he is committed to serving as an officer for five years.
He will attend boot camp this summer and spend a week training on the cutter Eagle, the tall ship used to train future Coast Guard officers. He does not yet know where the Eagle will be when it is his turn to sail on it, but said it could be anywhere in the world. His academic years will start in the fall.
Kristen Hart believes her son will do well at the Academy.
"Since he was very young he has always been very good at setting realistic goals and following through on those," she said. "The Academy will be a perfect fit for him because he is used to a very structured schedule."
Dennis Warner, Alex's counselor at Lapeer East, said Alex's experience at the Youth Leadership Forum cemented his goal of being accepted to the Academy.
"He's just a great kid," Mr. Warner said.
Alex is not done setting goals. He wants to work for the CIA and can apply for an internship with it between his freshman and sophomore years at the Academy. He hopes he can serve his five-year commitment with the CIA after graduation.
“When I went to the National Youth Leadership Forum, the intelligence aspect of it really stood out,” Alex said. “I am open to new cultures and being uncomfortable with my surroundings and having new experiences, traveling the most I can and enlightening people and having them enlighten me. I am open to anywhere in the world.”
Whether it was in athletics or the classroom, Alex has set high standards for success.
Now, Alex has reached another milestone. He has been offered a full appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Attending the Academy is the next step toward his goal of working in National Security.
“The Coast Guard has attracted me my entire life,” Alex said. “I like the water, I’ve been a swimmer for 14 years, I love to sail and I want to travel. A military academy offers the kind of education I want and the Coast Guard program fits in perfectly.”
Appointments to the Academy are highly competitive. According to the Academy's website, only 411 appointments were offered to the 1,672 students who completed applications to be among the class of 2013. Of those offered appointments, only 288 were sworn in as cadets.
The Academy's educational program stresses academics, physical fitness, character and leadership.
Those qualities are a perfect match for Alex. Not only has he maintained a high grade point average, but he has competed on the Lapeer Swim and Dive team, on USA and YMCA swim teams for a dozen years and has competed in two national swim meets. He also has played on the Lapeer East High School hockey team and plans to participate in track and field in the spring.
He was selected to participate in the elite six-day National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. in October 2009. Only 300 students from around the country were selected for the forum's inside look at the country's fight against foreign and domestic threats.
His mother, Kristen Hart, said her son's leadership abilities and skill on competitive swim teams gave him an edge in gaining appointment to the Academy. He will compete on the Academy's swim team and already has met with the team's coach.
"Alex wanted to serve his country ever since he was little," Kristen Hart said. "His family has a history of service in the military and he was interested in the Coast Guard because of its humanitarian efforts."
With his appointment, Alex will attend tuition-free for four years of school and will receive a monthly stipend. After graduation, he is committed to serving as an officer for five years.
He will attend boot camp this summer and spend a week training on the cutter Eagle, the tall ship used to train future Coast Guard officers. He does not yet know where the Eagle will be when it is his turn to sail on it, but said it could be anywhere in the world. His academic years will start in the fall.
Kristen Hart believes her son will do well at the Academy.
"Since he was very young he has always been very good at setting realistic goals and following through on those," she said. "The Academy will be a perfect fit for him because he is used to a very structured schedule."
Dennis Warner, Alex's counselor at Lapeer East, said Alex's experience at the Youth Leadership Forum cemented his goal of being accepted to the Academy.
"He's just a great kid," Mr. Warner said.
Alex is not done setting goals. He wants to work for the CIA and can apply for an internship with it between his freshman and sophomore years at the Academy. He hopes he can serve his five-year commitment with the CIA after graduation.
“When I went to the National Youth Leadership Forum, the intelligence aspect of it really stood out,” Alex said. “I am open to new cultures and being uncomfortable with my surroundings and having new experiences, traveling the most I can and enlightening people and having them enlighten me. I am open to anywhere in the world.”
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Lapeer East and West athletic competitions cancelled today
All athletic competitions at Lapeer East and Lapeer West high schools are cancelled today, Wednesday, February 10, 2010, because of the weather.
Schools closed due to weather
Due to weather conditions, the Lapeer Community Schools are closed today, Wednesday, February 10, 2010.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Lapeer East students help raise money for Haiti with benefit concert
Lapeer East students Katherine Baeckeroot and Rebecca Wright organized the Helping Haiti Heal Benefit Concert, which featured music by junior Tate Robinson, teacher Al Margrif and Lapeer Music owner Rick Samano and a silent auction. The concert was help February 5 in the East auditorium.
Schickler Elementary students have a blast at Valentine dance on February 5
The Lapeer Center Building was a Valentine wonderland as students from Schickler Elementary School danced the night away February 5 during their Valentine dance.
Allison Vestbjerg is top speller in bee at Lynch Elementary
Allison Vestbjerg “monopolized" the Lapeer Community Schools spelling bee at Lynch Elementary on Monday, February 8 when she emerged as top speller despite tough competition from 23 other students.
Allison correctly spelled “monopolize” to take the honor and will now go on to compete against students from other Lapeer County school district. If the Lynch Elementary student wins there, she would advance to a competition against students from across the state.
The spelling bees, occurring in schools across the country, eventually will determine the competitors for the National Spelling Bee to be held in June in Washington, D.C.
Allison and the other spellers from the fourth, fifth and sixth grades competed at Lynch in front of an audience of their classmates. After her win, Allison said she is excited to move on to the next round of competition and said she always has been a good speller.
After Allison’s win, Riley Case and Samantha Schlaud, both Lynch students, challenged each other for second place by attempting to spell increasingly difficult words. Riley and Samantha battled for several rounds before Riley won by correctly spelling “ineffable” and “labyrinth” in back-to-back turns at the podium. Their competition for second place excited the audience, which erupted in applause and cheers after each round as the two students continued to challenge each other.
As runner-up, Riley would compete in upcoming bees if Allison is unable to attend.
Allison correctly spelled “monopolize” to take the honor and will now go on to compete against students from other Lapeer County school district. If the Lynch Elementary student wins there, she would advance to a competition against students from across the state.
The spelling bees, occurring in schools across the country, eventually will determine the competitors for the National Spelling Bee to be held in June in Washington, D.C.
Allison and the other spellers from the fourth, fifth and sixth grades competed at Lynch in front of an audience of their classmates. After her win, Allison said she is excited to move on to the next round of competition and said she always has been a good speller.
After Allison’s win, Riley Case and Samantha Schlaud, both Lynch students, challenged each other for second place by attempting to spell increasingly difficult words. Riley and Samantha battled for several rounds before Riley won by correctly spelling “ineffable” and “labyrinth” in back-to-back turns at the podium. Their competition for second place excited the audience, which erupted in applause and cheers after each round as the two students continued to challenge each other.
As runner-up, Riley would compete in upcoming bees if Allison is unable to attend.
Kindergarten Round-Up begins soon
The fall semester might seem a long way off, but Lapeer Community Schools officials are already thinking about their next kindergarten classes.
Registration for kindergarten is available for all children who will be 5 years old on or before December 1 of this year. Parents may register their children for kindergarten on Wednesday, March 24 from 1-7 p.m. or Thursday, March 25 from 1-7 p.m. at the Administration and Services Center, 250 Second Street, Lapeer.
When registering, please bring your child, proof of residency, your child’s original birth certificate, certified immunization record (available at the health department) and your work and local numbers in case of emergency.
For more information, call (810) 667-2401.
Registration for kindergarten is available for all children who will be 5 years old on or before December 1 of this year. Parents may register their children for kindergarten on Wednesday, March 24 from 1-7 p.m. or Thursday, March 25 from 1-7 p.m. at the Administration and Services Center, 250 Second Street, Lapeer.
When registering, please bring your child, proof of residency, your child’s original birth certificate, certified immunization record (available at the health department) and your work and local numbers in case of emergency.
For more information, call (810) 667-2401.
Board of Education changes locations of two April meetings
There are changes in location for two April meetings of the Lapeer Community Schools Board of Education. The changes are:
The April 1 regular board meeting will be in the Administration and Services Center.
The April 15 work session will be at Rolland-Warner Middle School.
The April 1 regular board meeting will be in the Administration and Services Center.
The April 15 work session will be at Rolland-Warner Middle School.
Friday, February 5, 2010
'World class' program coming to Lapeer middle schools
“The Forgotten Middle” will be transformed into a solid bridge to the future in the Lapeer Community Schools.
Timed to launch with the start of the Fall 2010 semester at Rolland-Warner and Zemmer middle schools, the district will debut a new curriculum designed to better integrate grades six through eight into students’ academic and social preparation for graduation and college. The curriculum is designed to be a better bridge between state requirements for curriculum at the elementary and high school levels.
Lapeer Community Schools Superintendent Debbie Thompson called the initiative a “world class” addition to the district’s instructional program.
Members of a district-wide committee helping to shape the curriculum presented highlights of it to the Board of Education and public during a meeting at Schickler Elementary School on Thursday.
The plan focuses on a flexible core block of classes with a team approach. Teachers will share teams of 120-130 students and will work together to develop class schedules and address needs of their students.
The I-Connect component will allow time for students to talk to each other and a trusted adult about issues they might be facing outside of the classroom. It is designed to improve communication between students, teachers and parents.
Committee member and Zemmer at Rolland-Warner Acting Assistant Principal Merideth Collins said for many years middle school has “simply been tagged on” to the elementary and high school programs.
“While students have been taken care of on either side of the middle … we need to focus on what we will do for those kids while they are there in order to bridge that gap between early education and high school reform,” Collins said.
Collins said research has shown that building sustainable relationships with students in the middle school grades makes a significant contribution to their academic and social success.
“It gives them the skills and tools necessary to be successful during their high school years,”she said.
Committee member and Zemmer at Rolland-Warner Assistant Principal Joe Shoopman said it is important to develop strong relationships with students early to help them graduate and be successful in college.
“The path to graduation does not start in high school, it begins in kindergarten,” he said. “Current research suggests that when there are not behavior issues, when students are attending at 95 percent, that their chance of graduating at the end of 12th grade is tremendously improved.”
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