St. Johns Public Schools - March 2011 - Spotlight

8/7/2019 St. Johns Public Schools - March 2011 - Spotlight

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March 2011

Inside the Spotlight

Wrestling State Champions... 2

Superintendent’s Message... 3

Mother’s Day Prelude... 4

Foundation of Excellence... 5

Construction News... 6,7

East Olive... 8,9

Eureka... 10

Gateway... 11

Oakview... 12,13

Riley... 14

St. Johns Middle School... 15

St. Johns High School... 16,17

CCRESA Career Connections... 18

Calendar... 19

www.sjredwings.org • 501 W. Sickels • PO Box 230 • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4001

St. Johns SpotlightLearning Today ... Leading Tomorrow

Theatre Competition



2www.sjredwings.org • 501 W. Sickels • PO Box 230 • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4001

Congratulations State Wrestling Champions … Again!

State Wrestling Champions





4

Mother’s Day Prelude

{Reprinted from various Internet sites, source unknown}

Answers given by 2nd-

graders to questionsabout their moms:


What kind of a little girl was your mom?1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be

pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad beforeshe married him?1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get

drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and

YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats

a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

What’s the di ff erence between moms and dads?

1. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

2. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power

‘cause that’s who you got to ask for a sleep-over.

3. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?1. Mothers don’t do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of

plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom,what would it be?1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get

rid of that.

2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister

who did it, not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back

of her head.



5

Foundation for Excellence

Logo Contest Winner


Nicole Fransted, a St. Johns High School sophomore, is the winner

of our logo contest celebrating the Foundation’s 25th anniversary.

Nicole received a $100 gift certificate for art supplies, courtesy of

Eclipse Healthcare Consulting, Inc. of St. Johns.

The decision was based on creativity, readability, the ease of

reproducing it digitally and the interpretation of the Foundation’s

“above and beyond” philosophy. You’ll soon see Nicole’s winning

logo on future Foundation publications and on the Excellence T-shirts

awarded in the spring.

Spring is also the time for our Foundation’s annual Visiting Author Program,

supported with donations from people throughout our St. Johns school district.

Look for announcements soon about this year’s program.

To encourage more proposals for excellence in learning, the Foundation is

working on a short movie to talk about the grant process, too. Visit http://

sjsffe.org for more details or to contribute to the work of the group.



www.sjredwings.org • 501 W. Sickels • PO Box 230 • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4001 6

Construction News

Eureka, Riley and East Olive Elementary SchoolsDesign is being completed for new parking lots at these three elementary schools. Each of the new parking lots will provide

parking spaces for staff and visitors and new, brighter parking lot lighting. Both East Olive and Riley will have a new separate

bus drop-off for added safety and improved traffic flow. Construction at all three schools is expected to be completed before

teachers report back to work in August 2011.

St. Johns Middle School

Design is being completed for the remodeling -- replacing flooring in the Auditorium/Cafeteria, converting an existing computer

lab into the district-wide technology hub and technology staff offices, and re-roofing the entire shingled portion of the building.

Construction is expected to be completed before teachers report back to work in August 2011.

St. Johns High School The exterior design of the high school is ready, while interior design work continues with guidance from a teacher/staff

committee to select finishes, color placement, and patterns.

All room locations, final layouts, and fixed equipment are set, based on space review meetings held with high school staff duringNovember.

The classroom wing addition is well into final design, and will go to the State Review agencies to expedite the permitting

process. Drawings for the remainder of the building will be finished in late June. The entire project will be bid sometime during

the summer. Demolition work for the classroom wing should begin sometime this summer or early fall.



www.sjredwings.org • 2583 E. Green Rd • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4800 7

Construction News

Site plans for Riley and East OliveElementary Schools show changes toimprove tra ffi c flow and safety.




East Olive Elementary School

W.I.S.E. Production

Singers of United Lands Visit East OliveOur students were treated to a variety of music when S.O.U.L. visited

East Olive on February 4. This group is comprised of four singers, each

representing a different continent. The singers are carefully selected priorto touring the United States for six months, with new singers chosen every

year. This year’s singers were Paddy from Australia, Sergio from Columbia,

Kayla from Canada and Lulu from Zambia. Students learned a little about

each singer’s culture and home country as well as their music. The singers

commented on how welcoming everyone had been so far. One of the singers

commented that “Michigan has really set the bar high for the rest of the

country!”

East Olive staff members are continuing to work together

to build a consistent, positive behavior plan to emphasize

a safe and happy learning environment for all. As part of

this process the staff and students were actors/actresses

in a video to teach the difference between appropriate and

inappropriate behavior expected here at East Olive. This

video will assist in reinforcing and reteaching expected

behaviors. Filming of the video was done by SJHS students

who attend the CCRESA digital/media program housed at

Ovid Elsie Schools.



The Big Zoo Lesson Recently, East Olive’s fourth-

and fifth-grade classes had the

opportunity to go to “school” for

a week at the zoo! The Big Zoo

Lesson takes place at the Potter

Park Zoo. Throughout the week

our students received lessons

by the zookeeper, educational

curator and docents, along with

a question and answer session

with the zoo’s veterinarian.

Students observed “their”

animal for an hour each day,

took notes, sketched animal

behaviors and habitats, and

participated in enrichment

activities for the spider monkeys

and the meerkats. Students

and teachers kept an updated

blog to share the experience with others. The week culminates with each student giving a “docent” lesson on their animal for peers and

parents. It was a very busy, informative and fun week!


East Olive Elementary School



www.sjredwings.org • 7550 N. Welling Rd • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4900 10

Eureka Elementary School

Much to do at Eureka in March • Eureka’s students, their families and our staff enjoyed our annual Eureka School Carnival Friday, March 10th with games,

food and fun filling our Eureka building.

• Special guest author Mrs. Peggy House visits Eureka Thursday morning March 17th to present her book Junk Food

Gordon.

• The Eureka PTO meets Thursday March 17 at 6:30pm.

• Eureka students are rewarded for their good citizenship during the inaugural STAR Celebration Thursday morning,

March 24th.• Our Spring Music Program for kindergarten, first- and second-graders is Monday, March 28th at 7:00pm. Mrs. Cravotta

reports “the students have been practicing with great enthusiasm!”

• In conjunction with the Spring Music Progam, visit Eureka’s annual Spring Book Fair during March 28th-31st in our

Eureka library, many of which could be very useful on any Spring Break car trips.

• We thank our Eureka PTO for sponsoring the Impressions 5 Science Museum’s two assemblies Thursday March 31st in

the morning. One assembly is for grades K-2, and the other is for grades 3-5.

• January’s Eureka Rocket Trophy winner was Mrs. Keck’s fourth-grade class, while Miss Shaver and Mr. Ferden’s third-

graders were February’s winners.

• Don’t forget Spring break is the week April 4th-8th, with school resuming Monday April 11th.



www.sjredwings.org • 915 N. Lansing St • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4600 11

Gateway Elementary School

Spelling AceCongratulations to Allie Otberg for her spelling prowess! Allie

finished 8th in the state-wide Knights of Columbus spelling

bee.

Top Chef AwaitsThere’s always a waiting list of Gateway fourth- and fifth-graders

who want to participate in an after-school cooking class conducted

each Fall and Spring at Gateway by a group from the First Church

of God. The coordinator, Ms. Sharon Chutes, presents the recipe

to the students and then the students get cooking with the

assistance of volunteers from the church. It’s obvious our students

appreciate learning this practical experience in the kitchen.

Reading PiratesGateway adopted a Pirate theme to promote March as Reading Month.

Students are encouraged to sail into a good book and complete

different reading activities with pirate gear incentives. They can earn

larger prizes by collecting “gold doubloons” each week. (Sounds

better than the “gold stars” we used to earn in school!)



12

Oakview Elementary School

Oakview students contribute

to Empty Plate Dinner

www.sjredwings.org • 1400 S Clinton Ave • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4500

Oakview fourth- and fifth-graders have designed

and created their own dinner plates to auction

off at the Empty Plate Dinner on April 26th, 5:30-

8:00pm at the Kellogg Center. All proceeds from

this special event benefit the Greater Lansing

Food Bank.

Please check our Facebook page for pictures of

some of the amazing creations by our students!

Hands-on Science ExperiencesThree new science units implemented to our second-graders are deepening their abilities

to explore and question as scientists. Their hands-on science experiences enable them

to question their thinking and discover answers to many questions. And what do our

second-graders say about this?

• “I like it because we get to do different experiments!”

• “Science is my favorite part of the day!”

• “Science is sweet because we get to make things like goo!”

Our PTO hosted a dance for Oakview’s girls Saturday, February 5. The girls dressed in

their finest, and the dads, uncles, grandpas and family friends came in suits. One of the

fathers wore a family kilt! In addition to dancing, there were games, face painting, and

a limbo bar.

Daughters and Dads (and uncles and grandpas) Dance



13

Oakview Elementary School

www.sjredwings.org • 1400 S Clinton Ave • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4500

Mrs. DenHerder has been working very hard

for the past several weeks with our students

as they created their Square One Art projects.

A fundraiser for our Oakview PTO, Square One

Art celebrates students’ creativity with hand-

crafted designs on pillows, luggage tags, plates,

coffee mugs and many other products.

Square One Art

Fifth grade students “graduated” from DARE on February 25th.

Special thanks are extended to Clinton County Sheriff’s Deputy Sharon

Worthington for spending so many Fridays with us, and teaching

students how to say no to drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

Project DARE

Instead of a holiday party and gift exchange, Oakview fifth-graders chose to raise money

for the animals at the Capital Area Humane Society. They raised over $600, more than any

other school or youth group! Staff at CAHS were so impressed thatthey created a special plaque honoring our fifth-graders, which will be

presented at an upcoming school board meeting.

Capitol Area Humane Society thanks you

The “Faces of Friendship Quilt” designed by Oakview fifth-graders will be on display at

Briggs Public Library during the month of March for the Japanese Art Show. Then, the quilt

travels to our friendship city, Konan, in Shiga, Japan. Fifth-grade artists also created self-

portraits to communicate friendship through the universal language of art.

Faces of Friendship Quilt

Tuesday, March 29th

Oakview K-2 students Spring Musical

Tuesday, May 3 at Oakview (must be five years old on or before

December 1, 2011)

Kindergarten Registration



www.sjredwings.org • 5935 W. Pratt Road • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-5100 14

Riley Elementary School

Read the Rainbow Our Riley students experience a rainbow of activities during March is

Reading month.

• Guest Readers • Teacher Swap Day

• Trivia Day • Mystery Reader Trivia

• Book Exchange • Wear your team colors

• Studying different genres weekly in reading and writing

Our goal is to have our students treat each other with

respect and leave Riley each day with full buckets.

Students at Riley were entertained with visuals, heart-

warming stories and sing-a-longs about bucket filling. The

assembly reinforced the book that Ms. Dawes reads every

fall with students, and encourages them to take PRIDE at

Riley.

Have you filled a bucket today?

“March is Reading Month is greatbecause reading is good for yourbrain. - Sophia, Riley student

I learned that if you fillsomebody’s bucket, then

you have filled your bucket also.- Ashley, Riley Student“ ”

”



Our Middle School swimming and diving club – the St. Johns Junior Aquatic

Club -- finished a strong season this year. Our girls team were champs at

the CAAC conference meet, while our boys team took fourth.

www.sjredwings.org • 900 W Townsend Rd• St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4300 15

St. Johns Middle School

S2 Program Receives

a New Twist

The physical education staff will be hosting the second

annual St. Johns Middle School Mile Madness in May.

Mile Madness

The S2 (Student Success) program continues with a

new twist -- parents/guardians receive phone calls

and e-mails (via an automated notification system)

each night to communicate if their child has a missing

assignment that needs to be completed for various

classes.

Student Success is designed to motivate student

to complete assignments on time, and to work on

assignments after school with a volunteer teacher if

needed. The program meets immediately after school

from 2:45 to 3:30 every day Monday through Friday.

But there’s no place like St. Johns Middle School thisSpring with our feature musical The Wizard of Oz! Be

sure to attend at least one of the three performances

-- Friday and Saturday evenings April 29th and 30th at

7:00pm or Sunday afternoon May 1st at 2:00pm, all at

our Middle School.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

St. Johns Junior Aquatic Club



www.sjredwings.org • 501 W. Sickels • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4100 16

St. Johns High School

Every year nearly 70 Redwing Dramatists compete in the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association’s high school Theatre competition.

St. Johns has a long history of excellence in this event -- participating since the organization was formed almost 40 years ago, and

earning TEN separate state championships.

This year’s entry, All Shook Up, was well received on every level of competition to continue our reign of success. The students earned a

regional championship, qualifying them

to compete at the state competition

at the Pankow Center in L’Anse Creuse

where our team of dramatists finishedfourth.

“I can always count on St. Johns students

to work hard in attempting to achieve

any goal they choose to make,” stated

co-director Ashley Bowen. “This is a very

difficult competition but our kids always

rise to meet any challenge.”

Andrea Makarauskas and AshleyBowen directed our St. Johns team’s

production.

We are always proud of our Theatre

team and how they represent our St.

Johns community.

Redwings Star in Competitive Theatre



www.sjredwings.org • 501 W. Sickels • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4100 17

St. Johns High School

Science Olympiad Prepares For RegionalsThe St. Johns Science Olympiad team has been fierce in their efforts since

November, preparing for the Regional Tournament Saturday, March 19th at

LCC. The team competes in 23 events representing almost every field of

science, from Chemistry and Biology to Engineering and Robotics. Having

taken 1st-place at Regionals in 2010, the team is hoping for a repeat this year.

No matter what, the students always walk away from the season with a firm

understanding of the fields they explore.

Juniors Tyler Curtis and Scott Wilson compare their previous Tower

design to the new, lighter design. The Towers must hold a lot, but

for competition, the lighter they are, the better!

Seniors Pierce O’Connell and Niki

Shaw devise the best plan for

modifications to the Mousetrap

Vehicle, which must push an

object a distance, stop, and come

back, while only being powered

by a mousetrap.

T h C O



18

Teacher Career OpportunitiesVia CCRESA Career Connections

www.sjredwings.org • 501 W. Sickels • St. Johns, Michigan 48879 • (989) 227-4100

Juniors and seniors at St. Johns High School who are interested in becoming

a teacher have a hands-on opportunity to explore the profession in-depthby taking the CCRESA Career Connections Teacher Prep class. This class

is actually comprised of three Lansing Community College courses.

Students are able to learn about teaching and the educational system while

gaining specific skills needed to become a successful teacher. Students

first learn how to develop, write and teach effective lessons, how to

manage a classroom, how to facilitate student growth and development,

and much more. Then, they use their new knowledge and skills via a

semester-long practicum three mornings weekly in a local elementary ormiddle school classroom.

In their practicum classrooms, students observe effective teaching

techniques, tutor students, grade papers, take attendance, prepare for

lessons and activities, create bulletin boards, and help with the many other

tasks that teachers perform on a daily basis. Eventually, each student has

the opportunity to write and teach their own lesson to their practicum

class! This practicum experience enables students to experience firsthand

both the rewards and the challenges of the teaching profession.Additionally, this course gives students the opportunity to earn seven

Lansing Community College credits (which are often transferable to other

institutions) and the chance to meet people from many other schools with

similar interests and goals. Students have fun while learning about the

profession and forming life-long relationships with classmates, practicum

students, and their host teachers.

The Clinton County Regional Educational Service Agency

(CCRESA) Career Education Department provides career

focused education programs. For more information, please

contact your high school counselor, visit CCRESA’s website at

www.ccresa.org, or call the Career Connections department

at 989-224-6831.




District Calendar

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

St. Johns Public SchoolsDistrict Office501 W. Sickels StreetSt. Johns, MI 48879Phone: (989) 227-4001Fax: (989) 227-4099

19

But there’s no place like St. Johns Middle School this Springwith our feature musical The Wizard of Oz! Be sure to attend

at least one of the three performances -- Friday and Saturday

evenings April 29th and 30th at 7:00pm or Sunday afternoon

May 1st at 2:00pm, all at our Middle School.

Kindergarten Round UpChildren who will be 5 years old on or by December 1, 2011 are

eligible to attend school this coming Fall.

Call Mrs. Metzmaker at 989.227.4802 to schedule an

appointment.

Registration days for each school are as follows:

• East Olive Elementary April 18

• Gateway Elementary April 28

• Oakview Elementary May 3

• Eureka Elementary May 9

• Riley Elementary May 10

Spring Break Monday, April 4th – Friday, April 8th

Conference Week Week beginning Monday, April 18th. Contact your child’s school forexact conference times

Friday, April 22nd, all day: NO school for ALL students due to

conferences.

Long Memorial Day WeekendThursday, May 26th: Scoring day, NO school for ELEMENTARY

school students ONLY

Friday, May 27th: Professional development, NO school for ALLstudents

Monday, May 30th: Memorial Day, NO school for ALL students and

ALL staff

End of School YearTuesday, June 7th and Wednesday, June 8th: High school exams,

high school students released at 12:10 both days

Tuesday, June 7th: LAST day for elementary school and middleschool students

Documents

St. Johns Public Schools - March 2011 - Spotlight