Dragon News Lake Orion Community Schools
December 2013
From the Office of the Superintendent: Amid all of the successes our students have achieved this fall, I am most proud of the nearly 300 high school‐ ers that accepted the challenge to help their classmates and the District’s younger students through our SOS (Students Offering Support) program. Launched last year with less than a dozen student volunteers, this group has truly blossomed into something special in our community. We’ve trained these students to recognize their peers suffering from depression, stress, and suicidal thoughts ‐ and then to quickly assist them in ge ng help from trained adult professionals. In the past, students may have ignored their classmates in need, but today they are ac ng as role models for all of us to emulate. The SOS team and its message of support has been heard throughout the high school, with steps underway to reach out to Lake Orion’s middle school students. These efforts to make a difference have not gone unno ced. In October, the SOS program was recognized by Oakland County lawmakers at a special ceremony. This month, Chrysler Corpora on invited SOS students and advisors to speak about the program’s launch and success to date before more than 500 employees at the automaker’s Auburn Hills headquarters. Adults asked our kids tough ques ons, and they did a great job ex‐ plaining what it is like to be a teenager today and the warning signs of at‐risk students. A number of other school districts throughout the region have contacted our SOS advisors to inquire how to launch their own programs. It is opportuni es like SOS and so many others that truly dis nguish our school district and places us among the best in Michigan. I know this could not be possible without our great students, their families, our staff, and the Lake Orion community. We are all Dragons!
Marion Ginopolis
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From the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Developmental Kindergarten for 2014! On November 13 the Board of Educa on approved the development and implementa on of a developmental kin‐ dergarten program. Lake Orion has had several young five students a end programs outside of the district. The state provides a full founda on allowance for students that are eligible for kindergarten regardless of whether they are in kindergarten or a developmental kindergarten program. We will a empt to offer developmental kin‐ dergarten as an op on for parents who believe their student just needs another year of development before actu‐ ally star ng kindergarten. Enrollment for the program will occur at the same me as kindergarten registra on. Schools of choice students will also be allowed to par cipate. A minimum of 20 students is needed for a class‐ room. It is an all‐day program. The loca on is yet to be determined.
Schools of Choice Information A er the successful rollout of a limited Schools of Choice program this school year, in November the Lake Orion Community Schools’ Board of Educa on approved the expansion of the district’s Schools of Choice (SOC) program for the 2014‐15 school year to include developmental kindergarten, tradi onal kindergarten through eighth grade, and Learning Op ons High School. In doing so, the Board hopes to raise addi onal funding for the district’s oper‐ a ng budget, as well as stabilize staffing and exis ng instruc onal programming in all schools. The following pro‐ vides more details on next school year’s SOC program and other important informa on. 2014‐15 • We will be accep ng students on a limited basis for the 2014‐2015 school year for Developmental Kinder‐ garten, Grades K‐8, and Learning Op ons High School. • The School Board approved SOC in grades K‐8 where there is exis ng space available not to exceed 5% of the total K‐5 elementary popula on and not to exceed a total of 5% at each middle school. • SOC will assist to stabilize staffing, exis ng programming and improve staff morale. • SOC is authorized by the School Board on an annual basis. • Our middle schools have the most available spots. • The middle school concept incorporates dedicated instruc on for students that are struggling. • Specific buildings, grades and numbers of available openings will be determined prior to the SOC applica‐ on window in the spring (dates TBD). • SOC applica ons are tenta vely planned to be available beginning April 1. • Applica ons will be available on our district website, at the Central Enrollment Office located at CERC and any school building. • Applica ons will not be accepted prior to the applica on window. Applica ons must be hand‐ delivered to the Central Enrollment Office. Applica ons will not be accepted a er the applica on window. • For more informa on, please visit our website or call Nancy Limback at 248‐814‐0215.
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2013-14 (First Year) LOCS accepted students in grades K‐2 and Learning Op ons.
54 SOC students enrolled from various districts: (Avondale, Brandon, Chippewa Valley, Holly, Oxford, Pon ‐ ac, Rochester, Romeo and Waterford).
Applica ons for Learning Op ons are available for second semester, January 6‐17, 2014.
Ini al feedback from principals has been posi ve.
SOC students are handled the same as students that move into our community. Adding SOC students is ac‐ tually easier to manage because the district sets the meframe, whereas a move‐in can enter at any point.
Additional Background •
25 out of 28 districts offer SOC (Novi, Rochester and Bloomfield Hills do not).
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There are specific procedures that must be followed for SOC. These procedures are found in The State School Aid Act of 1979 388.1705.
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A district may refuse to enroll a non‐resident applicant if any of the following are met:
•
The applicant is or has been within the preceding two years, suspended from another school;
The applicant at any me before enrolling has been expelled from another school; and,
The applicant at any me before enrolling has been convicted of a felony.
There are two parts to SOC. Sec on 105 is for non‐resident students residing within the same intermedi‐ ate district‐within Oakland County. Sec on 105C is for non‐resident students residing in a district located in a con guous intermediate district‐county that shares borders with Oakland County.
From the Business Office & Operations: Voters may have rejected the school bond last August, but the district’s needs have not gone away. A number of the most urgent, highest‐priority projects that cannot be ignored any longer are now being funded through the issuance of $8 million in new General Fund‐obligated debt in the form of energy conserva on resolu on bonds totaling $5 million and installment purchase agreement totaling $3 million. Approximately $800,000 will be repaid annually for a minimum of eight years from the General Fund, reducing funding available to instruc‐ onal programs. Facility and site renova ons to be completed with these funds include roof replacements, mechanical and elec‐ trical system upgrades, limited concrete and pavement work and the renova on of the district’s computer serv‐ er room. Infrastructural technology and equipment projects include, but are not limited to, computer network switches, communica ons system replacement and the purchase and installment of a limited number of inter‐ ac ve projectors, desktop and laptop computers. We also are addressing a por on of our districtwide safety and security needs, including the limited replacement of security camera systems, card reader door access sys‐ tems, voice and video admi ance systems and improved hardware. While these improvements will be no cea‐ ble, they are by no means on the scale required to address the long‐term needs of the district.
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From the Technology Department: Thanks to recent funding approved by the school board, Lake Orion staff and students will see new technology coming to a school near you over the next 6‐9 months that will help support teaching and learning. See the de‐ tails below. 1. Computers—All elementary schools will receive 30 new computers for their computer lab, as well as 15 addi‐ onal laptops to help create one mobile classroom. Orion Oaks does not have a computer lab and will receive 45 laptops. Each middle school will receive 6 laptop carts housing 16 laptops each, and the high school will receive 10 laptop carts housing 16 laptops each. Expected implementa on – Early Spring, 2014 2. Interac ve Projectors – Interac ve projectors will be installed throughout the district in classrooms that do not currently have mounted projectors. Full details on each classroom that will receive a projector will be deter‐ mined in conjunc on with the building principal and final outcomes of the RFP bid process. Expected implemen‐ ta on – Late Spring/Early Summer, 2014 3. CERC Server Room – The exis ng server room that houses all of our district equipment is receiving a much needed makeover. Renova ons will include increased space to properly house district servers and network equipment, new racks to properly organize equipment, and electrical upgrades to ensure proper power supplies to equipment. Expected implementa on – Winter, 2014 4. Network Edge Switches – The switches located in network closets throughout the district are extremely out‐ dated and do not provide the adequate speeds needed for suppor ng instruc onal technology needs. All net‐ work edge switches will be replaced which will result in increased network traffic speeds and more efficient dis‐ tribu on of network processes. Expected implementa on – Summer, 2014
From the Office of Human Resources: The 2013‐2014 school year is off to a great start with the help and support of our experienced staff throughout the district. The HR team is commi ed to responding to the needs of Lake Orion employees. Our department was privileged to have Larry Lobert and Bill Putney, two outstanding professionals, sharing the leadership role of Assistant Superintendent. At the beginning of the school year, Larry Lobert decided to pursue other career op‐ portuni es. While we were sad to see him go, the district was fortunate that Bill Putney was able to join our team full me. On December 8, 2013, Oakland Schools hosted the gradua on celebra on for last year’s Aspiring Principals and their mentors. We proudly recognize Gretchen Hynes and Todd Gordon for their accomplishments. Special thanks to elementary principals, Sarah Manzo and Jennifer Goethals, for their outstanding leadership serving as mentors. Lake Orion is proud to announce that David McKay will par cipate in the 2014 Aspiring Principal Acad‐ emy. The holiday season is a wonderful me of the year, but can also be stressful. As a friendly reminder, LOCS offers all employees and their family members access to the Life Advisor, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), provided through Ulliance. The EAP is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and can be reached at 800‐448‐8326. May you and your family enjoy a peaceful and res ul holiday season.
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From the Special Education Office: The Lake Orion Special Educa on Department provides an array of programs and services to meet all students’ individualized needs. It is our pleasure to work with families to collabora vely ensure an appropriate educa on for all. The key component to our success is our students, staff, and parents. I encourage you to work with the school your child a ends so that together we can make a difference. STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU THINK YOUR CHILD MAY NEED SPECIALIZED PROGRAMMING OR SUSPECT A DISABILITY: Meet with your child’s teacher or counselor. Share your concerns and ideas. Develop a plan for working to‐ gether. Share informa on you have from outside sources. School personnel welcome input from family doctors, tu‐ tors, private therapists, etc. Talk with the principal. O en he/she can work with parents and teachers to come up with helpful new strat‐ egies or mobilize addi onal resources. You may wish to request a Student Support Team mee ng involving one or more of your child’s teachers. Contact the Special Educa on Office if you have specific ques ons about evalua ons or programming under IDEA or Sec on 504 at 248.693.5430. Ques ons about services for preschool aged children may also be addressed at the Special Educa on Office.
Thanksgiving Feast The students in the Au sm Spectrum Disorders programs at Scripps Middle School were very excited to host a Thanksgiving Feast for their families, and for our school and district administra on on Tuesday, November 26, 2013. In prepara on for the feast, the students made invita ons, placemats, candles for gi s, and the decora ons. Students were also able to demonstrate the many func onal skills that they have learned in their classroom through pre‐ paring the food, se ng the table properly, doing dishes, and socializing and interac ng with the many guests that a ended. Charlie said his favorite part of the day was ea ng with friends and telling everyone what he is thankful for. Hugh states, “the best part about the planning and prepara on was making the green bean casserole,” and Christopher Ryan enjoyed ea ng the turkey J. Thank you to the Great Harvest Bread Com‐ pany, 99.5 WYCD Morning Show, Orion Township Kroger, Lake Orion Hollywood Market, and the Ashley family for your dona‐ ons. A big “thank you” as well, to the fami‐ lies and administra on for the amount of support, gra tude, and dedica on they give each day to Scripps Staff. We look forward to providing more opportuni es like this for the students in the future.
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From the High School: Lake Orion High School Thespians are Barefoot in the Park! Paul and Corie Bra er are newlyweds in every sense of the word. He's a straight‐as‐an‐arrow lawyer and she's a free spirit al‐ ways looking for the latest kick. She just wants him to be a li le more spontaneous; running "barefoot in the park" would be a start…
That’s the premise behind Neil Simon’s 1963 play Barefoot in the Park. The produc on, which was performed November 21‐23, was directed by Sco Finn and starred the following students: CORIE BRATTER…………………………………………………………………….Hayley Boggs PAUL BRATTER…………………………………………………….………………….Sam Wright ETHEL BANKS (Corie’s Mother)………………………………………...Hannah Gutelius VICTOR VELASCO…………………………………………………………….…….…Coby Selent HARRY PEPPER (Telephone Man).....................
................................Tyler Fox
Athletes Sign Letters of Intent Three LOHS athletes have signed Na onal Le ers of Intent on November 13th in the Lake Orion HS auditorium lobby. They are Kennedi Thomas – So ball – Saginaw Valley, Josh Bays – Base‐ ball – Western Michigan, and Brad Schaenzer – Baseball ‐ Ken‐ tucky. Congratula ons to these athletes and their families!
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National Honor Society
On Tuesday, October 22, 2013, students were inducted into the LOHS chapter of the Na onal Honor Society (NHS) by adviser, Michelle Cureton and the current NHS officers. The 92 newly induced members joined the cur‐ rent group making 174 members of NHS. The newly inducted members had to demonstrate via a rigorous applica on process that they exemplify and ex‐ ceed in the areas of leadership, scholarship, character, and service. The 174 members will par cipate in various service opportuni es, ac vi es, ini a ves etc. throughout the school district and community.
Senior Named to U.S. Army All-American Band Lake Orion senior and color guard member Melanie Bryce has been named to the 2014 U.S. Army All‐ American Marching Band. Only 125 students from across the country are selected to the band each year. She will be performing at the U.S. Army All‐American Bowl on Jan. 5, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas, featuring the best high school football players in the country. Bryce’s achievement was recognized at a special cere‐ mony at Lake Orion High School, featuring representa‐ ves from the U.S. Army, the bowl game, school ad‐ ministrators, her parents and classmates. According to the president of the Na onal Associa on for Music Ed‐ uca on, she was selected based on her outstanding musicianship, marching skill, academic standing, lead‐ ership poten al and maturity.
Lake Orion’s Bill Reiss Named Oakland County Athletic Director of the Year In a vote by fellow Athle c Directors, who represent 59 public, private and parochial schools, Lake Orion Athle c Director William Reiss was named the 2013 Oakland County Athle c Director of the Year. The presenters cited his leadership as President of the Oakland Ac vi es Associa on (OAA), and as President of the Oakland County Athle c Directors Associa on (OCADA). During Reiss's ten year tenure as Lake Orion AD, the Dragons have earned 6 state championships, and twice brought home state runner‐up trophies. Reiss was also credited by the County and the Michigan High School Athle c Associa on (MHSAA) for Lake Orion's willingness to serve as perennial hosts for many of the state's top tournament games. Reiss said, "This award would not have been possible without the support of the Lake Orion community, school board, administra ve staff, coaches, and players. They provided the impetus to earn this award."
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From the Middle Schools: Scripps’ Applied Technology Classes Drops Eggs! Students in Mrs. Mundie’s Applied Technology classes were introduced to the problem‐solving process with the “egg drop” project. Thes pictures below show some of the crea ve solu ons her classes designed to protect their eggs!
Scripps’ Students Benefit From 10-Year Partnership With Businesses Scripps Middle School 8th graders directly apply what they learn in the classroom in their partnerships with General Motors Orion Assembly, Eagle Valley Landfill, and the Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC). This ten year partnership be‐ gan with a generous dona on from GM to purchase the supplies necessary to complete the stream monitoring at Paint Creek in downtown Lake Orion. Stu‐ dents have tested the water’s health with the help of General Motors environ‐ mental engineers and scien sts from CRWC. The data collected is used in CRWC’s annual report. In addi on to the stream monitoring, General Motors and Eagle Valley welcome the students each year to their sites. At GM, students par cipate in mock assembly line design, observe the choices GM has made to help our envi‐ ronment including using landfill gas and solar power, and discover the wide varie‐ ty of careers available in the field of science. At Eagle Valley, students witness first‐hand how their choices as ci ‐ zens directly impact the environment, such as using reusable bags instead of disposable plas c bags while shop‐ ping. The financial support from all of these organiza ons and their dedica on to educa on are greatly appreciat‐ ed. Scripps Middle School looks forward to con nuing this partnership for many years.
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Scripps’ Student Artwork is Impressive Students are off to a great start in the art classes at Scripps! Not only are the students excited in class, but there are almost 50 students in our 1st session of art club. Mr. Brazeau, the Scripps art teacher, is impressed with the quality of work he is receiving from the current students. The a ached images represent a variety of assignments. There are examples of the 7th grade “Morph” drawing, 8th grade “Watercolor” and “Acrylic Pain ng” based on re‐ search on ar sts, and the “Altered Book” assignment where students used books that were to be recycled and turned them into found object sculptures.
Scripps’ LOEF Paintings!
Willow Tree Background: Mason W, Itzel P, Hanna Z, and Hailee M. (7th ). Foreground: Sara H., Jordan S, Madison D, and Hannah L (8th ).
Lilly Pads No Beginning or End Background: 7th Graders Foreground: Ella G, and Madison E. (6th )
Background: 7th graders Foreground: Morgan H. (7th )
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Scripps’ Biography Books ASL Project! Scripps calls Time‐out! Many eager seventh grade students took me away from the classroom to read their crea ve work to their young friends at the CERC pre‐school and lower elementary students at Sta‐ dium. Throughout the months of September and October, Scripps 7th graders explored several biographies to cra their own children’s bi‐ ography. All books were warmly shared with the young students
Scripps’ Olweus Bullying Prevention
The Scripps’ Olweus Kick‐Start event was a huge success! Students “buddied” up with other STAR classes to share peer pen pal le ers, par cipated in a video contest, and a ended an assembly with mo va onal speaker Dan Cox. Scripps students discuss bullying preven on topics on Thursdays during STAR. So far this year, students have discussed what bullying is, what role they can play to stop bullying, and cyber‐ bullying.
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Scripps 7th grade PE students biking to Scripps
Scripps’ PE Assessment Provide Fun!
When student start P.E., they perform a series of fitness assessments. One of those assessments, PACER, tests the heart strength of students. It is a progres‐ sive movement test that challenges the cardiovascular system. The following students performed at the top of their grade level for Quarter 1! 6th Grade – Boys Amaru A. 8th grade playing an interna onal game, flag rugby
Jonathan G. Grant H. Jared G. 6th Grade – Girls Olivia B. Emma I Rebecca H. 7th Grade ‐ Boys Brendan B.
7th grade students performing a dance rou ne using Tinikling poles
Ben U. 7th graders “ready” to receive the serve at the courts
Laker A. 7th Grade – Girls Hannah B. Melissa S. Lindsey S.
7th grade demonstra ng teamwork during lacrosse
7th grade students prac cing their golf swings
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Waldon Food Drive Waldon Middle School collected 6,935 food items in two weeks during our November Food Drive!!! This far sur‐ passed last year’s total of 2,000 items and blew the top off this year’s goal of 4,000 items! We want to thank all of those that contributed to this worthy cause. Because of our students’ and parents’ kindness, a number of our fellow community members had a wonderful holiday meal (if not more than one!) We are all truly touched by their willing‐ ness to give to those who need it the most.
Waldon Hosts Math Night for Parents Waldon MS hosted a parent night on October 21, 2013, to introduce and answer ques ons about CMP3, our new math program. Waldon Math teachers and Missy Butki, LOCS Math Coordinator, led discussions and examples of what the new program looks like, what our students will be expected to do in the classroom, and assessments. They also answered ques ons about the program. Parents played the role of students as they had to par cipate in a real math lesson!
Waldon Dedicates Environmental Science and Educational Courtyard Waldon’s Environmental Science and Educa onal Courtyard was officially dedicated on October 3, 2013 and offers students a meaningful and on‐going project. The pond serves as an outdoor classroom and a curriculum resource as students con nue to update the space and informa on about the Michigan Na ve Plants located throughout the courtyard. In 2010, Waldon’s courtyard was officially registered through Monarch Watch as “Danaidae Den”, a Monarch Waysta on. The name stems from the classifica on family Danaidae, commonly known as Milkweed Bu er‐ flies. Also in 2010, the Na onal Wildlife Federa on cer fied Danaidae Den as an official Cer fied Schoolyard Habitat.
Before….
A er!
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Waldon Student Wins Turkey Patch Contest On November 7, Bellina Gaskey, a former Waldon student, was an‐ nounced as the 2013 Michigan Wild Turkey Management Cooperator Patch Contest winner. The announcement and presenta on were made at the Department of Natural Resources’ Commission mee ng in Lansing. The contest is a coopera ve effort between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Chapter of the Na onal Wild Turkey Federa on. Bellina entered the contest as an 8th grader in Mr. Gray’s science class last year. Her design was used as the basis for the 2014 Wild Turkey Management Patch that will be available for purchase in January, (Le to Right) Al Stewart, DNR Upland Bird Biolo‐ with all funds going towards DNR conserva on projects. This is the gist; Bellina Gaskey, LOHS student; Tony Snyder, fi h patch contest winner from Waldon since the 2007 patch.
Oakview Hosts Pumpkin Invitational 24 middle school cross country teams and their fans from across Oakland County and the state converged on Oakview Middle School on October 23 for the annual Pumpkin Invita‐ onal. All three Lake Orion middle schools competed at the premier race. The two‐mile course crisscrossed across the school grounds and picturesque fall landscape of Oakland Township, with the sun hea ng up the runners on the cool day. The Oakview staff deserves a hearty thanks for pulling off another great event.
Oakview 8th-grader Accepted in All-State Band Oakview 8th grader Drew T. was accepted into the Michi‐ gan School Band and Orchestra Associa on All‐State Band. Drew was one of well over two thousand stu‐ dents from the state of Michigan who audi oned for this fine ensemble, making him one of the top 8 middle school horn players from throughout the en re state. Drew will join two other Lake Orion band stu‐ dents that made these groups at the Michigan Music Conference to perform on January 18th in Grand Rapids. He is pictured at right with composer Sebas an Change and Assistant Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Or‐ chestra, Teddy Abrams. Congratula ons, Drew!
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Other Highlights from Oakview!
th
Oakview 8 grade students Erin K. was awarded a scholarship from the VFW for her essay “What Patrio sm Means to Me.” Erin’s essay was ranked second of 200 submi ed. Congratula ons Erin!
Oakview Middle School's 7th grade girls' basketball team went undefeated this fall, outscoring their opponents by more than 30 points per game and finishing 12‐0. Congratula ons to all the girls and Coach Steve Roberts.
From the Elementary Schools: Carpenter Year Round Elemen‐ tary opened their doors to an exci ng program that helped enrich, educate, and inspire girls ranging between the grades of 3 ‐5. Girls on the Run, a program affiliated with the YMCA, pro‐ vides girls the opportunity to set goals and be a part of a ten‐ week program that combines training for a 5K event with self‐ esteem enhancing, upli ing workouts.
Carpenter Girls on the Run!
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Carpenter Intersession Student’s Go “Into Africa” Carpenter Intersession Students were on safari October 28 – November 2 as they went “Into Africa”. Students had the opportunity to visit the second largest con nent through art, stories, food, dance, music, assembly, and a field trip. Special guests filled the week with adventure and fun. Mr. Collison, one of Carpenter’s First Grade Teachers, took the students on safari through amazing photos and stories from his own exci ng safari experience when he visited Africa. A Carpenter parent shared her sister’s teaching experience and what it is like to go to school in Africa with photos and hands on materials. The Gra tude Steel Band brought Africa to life with music and dance as they trav‐ eled throughout the con nent. The students had a chance to play drums, dance, and even hula hoop. The week included a field trip to the Detroit Zoo to visit African wildlife and other favorites. Ms. Rood, Carpen‐ ter’s Art Teacher, helped student’s create a special mural that will be hung in the school to represent their African journey. An amazing week and adventure!
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Blanche Sims’ LEGO Team Earns Two 1st Places! Blanche Sims First Lego League Team par cipated in a compe on at the Detroit Science Center in November. The Mindstorm Maniacs are a second year team which consists of six 5th graders and three 4th graders. The team earned two awards: 1st place in robot pro‐ gramming and 1st place in highest robot game score (280 points).
Sims’ 5th Graders Use Technology to Do Math! Fi h graders at Sims use technology to complete their math work. Students used smart phones and iPods to scan QR codes to check their answers on a math assignment.
Breakfast for Dinner at Orion Oaks! Orion Oaks hosted "Chris Cakes", a pancake making event that helped raise money for the Family Network. Families not only got a great meal and enjoyed spending me with one another, they also had fun trying to catch their dinner as the pancakes were flipped high up into the air by the tal‐ ented cooks. The Orion Oaks Family Network sponsors many wonderful events at Orion Oaks Elementary, such as student field trips, assemblies, helping needy families in the community, and much more.
Orion Oaks Has Holiday Feast One of the annual tradi ons at Orion Oaks Elementary is hav‐ ing a Family Feast during the holiday season. Students enjoy a Thanksgiving‐like dinner, complements of the teachers and parents. The students enjoy the great food and camaraderie while celebra ng the season.
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Orion Oaks’ Chess Club is a Great Success! Over 20 Orion Oaks students par cipate in the Chess Club each week. Not only are children learning how to play the game, but many of the students are learning high level strategies which will help them com‐ pete against other students in tournaments later in the year. There is much research that shows games requiring strategy, crea vity, and cri cal thinking skills, such as chess, can help and encourage brain func‐ on in all aspects of life, especially if they start early in life.
Stadium Drive Solves Mystery of the Missing Monuments!! The fi h grade class at Stadium Drive Elementary put on yet another outstanding performance last Wednesday with their produc on of the Mystery of the Missing Monuments. The script was the brainchild of the students with the guidance of their Theatre teacher, Megan Firis. The story is about five students who travel the globe solving the mystery of several stolen monuments with the help of one narra ng detec ve and several well‐ known sleuths. Nancy Drew, played by Celeste R., and Scooby Doo, Nick F., were just two of the sleuths who were hot on the trail of villains Carmen San Diego, played by Tara K. and Vector, Natalie M., as they searched the globe for the missing Eiffel Tower and Great Wall of China. The evening was filled with music, dancing and hysteria as the comedy unfolded. "The fi h graders worked very hard to put the en re show together," stated Mrs. Firis. "From the musicians, dancers, actors, set designers, fi h grade teachers, and Fine Arts Team (which consists of music teacher, Beth Simms, art teacher, Amanda Novak, and dance teachers, Florie D'Annunzio and Firis), everyone had a hand in making this year's produc on a great success." With the mystery solved, the fi h graders celebrated the evening with their families and standing room only crowd at an a erglow party held in the Stadium Drive cafeteria. "It was a great night for a mystery!" said fi h grade parent, Blaine Priebe. "I was really impressed with the perfor‐ mance."
Pine Tree Math Night at Kroger! The staff members of Pine Tree Elementary hosted their first Family Fun Night at Kroger on October 22nd, and it was a huge success. More than 100 students and their families joined teachers at Kroger to apply their math skills and knowledge to complete real life prob‐ lems related to shopping for groceries. The feedback for the evening was extremely posi ve. Thanks to the Pine Tree Staff, students, and families, and to the staff at Kroger on Lapeer Road for making this such a wonderful learning opportunity!
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Webber CAN Do It! Families at Webber Elemen‐ tary in Lake Orion held a food drive to support local families in need. The food items col‐ lected were donated to Ori‐ on/Oxford FISH and will go directly back to the communi‐ ty. There were many tables filled with food items.
Webber Hosts ‘Pancakes With The Principal! Students at Webber Elementary who earned honor roll status were treated to pancakes with the principal for their achievement. The Webber PTO officers served hot pancakes, sausage, fruit, and milk to 103 deserving fourth and fi h grade students. Principal Sarah Manzo congratulated each student and was thrilled at the hard work and dedica on that the students exhibited. She ex‐ pected them to be at the next event too (Honor Dogs) and told them to keep working hard.
Santa Visits Paint Creek! Paint Creek Elementary hosted their annual Dinner with Santa on Friday, Dec. 6th. Over 350 people shared in a wonderful din‐ ner, completed cra s, took fun pictures in a photo booth, and, of course, met Santa! Santa took his me with each child and heard many ideas of what makes a won‐ derful Christmas! Santa took pic‐ tures with each family, and chil‐ dren le with a special gi of their own from Jolly St. Nick!
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U.S. Marines Honor Paint Creek! Pictured at right is Eliza‐ beth Reginek, 5th grade student at Paint Creek, holding an award from the United States Ma‐ rine Corps recognizing Paint Creek for their “ reless dedica on and excep onal performance” in suppor ng deployed Ma‐ rines and Sailors of TS company. Paint Creek was hon‐ ored with this award due to student efforts with the Snowflake Project, started by Reginek, and for the school’s dedica on to shipping CARE packages for Ma‐ rines overseas to support our Service Members. The award was issued from HQ Platoon, Transporta on Sup‐ port Co., out of Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.
From Early Childhood:
Box Top Winners at Paint Creek! Students from Paint Creek Ele‐ mentary celebrated winning the school Box Top compe ‐ on for their 3rd grade classroom. Although it was a very close race, Mrs. Bronczyk’s class won the compe on with 7, 556 box tops. Overall, stu‐ dents at Paint Creek raised more than $1,700.00 for their school.
Come Take a Peek! Lake Orion Early Childhood Open House Thursday, March 6, 2014 5:30 ‐ 7:00 pm Meet teachers and visit classrooms at CERC! For more informa on, please call 248‐693‐5439 www.lakeorion.k12.mi.us
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Lake Orion Community Schools Administrators Marion Ginopolis ‐ Superintendent Heidi Kast ‐ Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruc on and Assessment John Fitzgerald ‐ Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Larry Lobert ‐ Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Lake Orion Community Schools Board of Education Debbie Porter ‐ President Birgit McQuiston ‐ Vice President Melissa Miller ‐ Secretary Jim Weidman ‐ Treasurer Steven Drakos ‐ Trustee Connie Meech ‐ Trustee Bill Holt ‐ Trustee
District Vision: Educa ng our students for the challenges of tomorrow District Mission: Providing an exemplary educa on for all learners
Lake Orion Community Schools Administra on Building
315 N. Lapeer Street Lake Orion, MI 48362 248‐693‐5400
Principals Jennifer Goethals and Sarah Manzo present‐ ed “I Time” – A Purposeful Time to Reteach, at the MEMSPA conference on December 5th. Over fi y principals a ended the ses‐ sion to learn more about this effec ve plan to meet all students’ needs.