134004 nw newsletter allpgs web2 by Northwest Community Schools

NORTHWEST COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Be A Part Of

5VY[O^LZ[ *VTT\UP[` :JOVVSZ =HU /VYU 9VHK 1HJRZVU 40

1 :

121 352),7 25*$1,=$7,21 (&5:66 86 3267$*(

3$,'

5LYHV -FW 0, 3HUPLW 1R

,*9>:: 76:;(3 *<:;64,9

GREATNESS

Be A Part Of The

NEWNESS

Be A Part Of The

Winter 2013-2014 A Publication of Northwest Community Schools

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

Northwest News 2013-14 Board of Education Kevin Kingsley President Kimberly Jayne Vice President Shawn White Secretary Robert Sayles Treasurer William Balluff Phillip LaMaire Brad Wait Trustees

Table of Contents Homeless Act.........................................2 Gold Club...............................................2 From the Superintendent........................3 Bond....................................................4-5 Childcare and Parnall..........................6-7 Parnall and Northwest Elementary.....8-9 Northwest Elementary.....................10-11 Center Spread..................................12-13 Midle School...................................14-15 High School....................................16-21 Alternative............................................22 Transportation and Food Service.........23 General.................................................24

Brittany Brockie Marnie Hade Juliana Kampf Sierra Nicka Paige Niciporek Elizabeth Southworth Layout and Design This newsletter is a publication of Northwest Community Schools. Please contact the administration offices if you have information you would like to see in the next issue.

2 2013-2014

Northwest Adopt a Family Thank You Northwest Community Schools would like to thank the Mountie Nation - students, staff, businesses, and community members - that very generously helped with our Adopt-a-Family program. This year was very successful. We collected food and toiletry items for 31 families and 21 of those families also received clothing, books and toys. We greatly appreciate anyone who donated any items to our program. Thank you to each of our school buildings, The First Church of the Nazarene, Hankerd Hills, Klavon’s, and the Lost Shoe for hosting giving trees. A very special thank you to the Zion United Methodist Women, the Hankerd Hills ladies golf league, NWHS’s Vocal Dimension program, the NW PTO, several local families, the NW Food Service department, and Crossroads Gas Station for their very generous donations. In this time of economic uncertainty, it’s a blessing to be able to count on the spirit of kindness in our community. Thank you very much for instilling the spirit of giving in our community and for being an inspiration to all. WE ARE NORTHWEST! Sincerely, Marnie Hade Northwest Adopt a Family Coordinator

GOLD

CLUB

GOLD CLUB ATHLETIC EVENT INFO • Anyone over 65 will get in free to NW Athletic events. • Anyone who had a Gold Club card prior to the 2012-2013 school year is grandfathered in for the reduced admission.

BREAKFAST DATES: All meetings will take place in the high school cafeteria at 8:00 a.m.

We are making these changes to be consistent with League procedures and policies.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

In these tough economic times, the needs of our school community are greater than ever. The passage of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act allows us to provide assistance to families and students dealing with homelessness. This assistance could be in the form of transportation to and from school, free meals, academic help, field trip and other school fees paid, and so on. A student is considered homeless if one of the following categories is met: - Living on the street or in a car or abandoned building, etc. - Living in a shelter such as Inter-Faith or AWARE. - Children placed in foster care are considered homeless for the first 6 months they are in the system. - Doubling up -- Children and immediate family who have moved in with another family or relative. - Hotel, Motel -- people who live in welfare sponsored rooms or rooms in hotels/motels. If you know of a family that might qualify according to the following guidelines, please contact your school counselor or Paul Scholz, District Homeless Liaison Coordinator at 817-4702.

Karyn Blume...........High School...........817-4701 Jody Scott..............High School.............817-4701 Kathy O’Connor....Middle School.........817-4703 Carolyn Prebble....NW Elementary.......817-4704 Monica Shelton...Paranall Elementary...817-4705

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Northwest News Happy New Year Mountie Nation! Welcome to the Winter Edition of the Mountie Newsletter. In the pages that follow, you will notice we are focusing on one aspect of our “Greatness”…. our outstanding alumni, in addition to the “Newness” of the bond construction and capital improvement updates throughout the district. The ultimate purpose for the Northwest School District is to prepare our students for the future. We have a vision of greatness and Mr. Geoff Bontrager, Superintendent an underlying theme of positive culture to build the foundation for our students to learn how to successfully achieve their own goals for the future. We have orchestrated a system of sound academics based on the Common Core State Standards starting in Kindergarten through to their twelfth grade year. However, what makes the Mountie Nation special and original is our continual emphasis on “individualized intentional greatness.” We strive to honor each and every student and celebrate their accomplishments academically, socially, musically or athletically. It is our mission to continue to provide an environment where our students can learn who they are and how they can make a positive contribution to society. We are proud to provide examples of our outstanding alumni as well as our Mountie Pride in this winter issue. Be a part of the Newness! Be a part of the Greatness! Be a part of Northwest Community Schools! Thank you for all of your support! We are…… Northwest! GO MOUNTIES! Geoff Bontrager Ed.S. Superintendent

Follow Mr. Bontrager On...

Northwest Community Schools @mountienationnw

www.nwschools.org

3 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

Be a Part of the Newness

Northwest Community School Based Health Center Open to All Northwest Residents at R.W. Kidder Middle School Northwest students now have access to medical care – right at R.W. Kidder Middle School. The Northwest Community Health Center, 6700 Rives Junction Road, is a partnership between the Center for Family Health and Northwest Community Schools. It opened Sept. 30. “Our school health center has been such an addition to the Mountie Nation,” said Geoff Bontrager, Northwest superintendent. “The convenience and availability have allowed many of our Northwest students and families to utilize the center and benefit from quality health care, provided by the Center for Family Health.” The year-round clinic serves patients from birth through 21 years old and Northwest staff. It can be accessed through a separate, outside door on the north side of the school and an interior door that connects into the school. “Having the health center located right in our Kidder Middle School is so important for our students,” said Cari Bushinski, curriculum director. “Students are able to get the immediate care they need and return to school quicker and continue to make their learning a priority.” The center is staffed by Shawn Heiler, a physician’s assistant; two medical assistants; and a mental health provider. In addition to providing annual and sports physicals, the staff – with signed parental permission – will treat illnesses and injuries, give immunizations and provide other services. The Center for Family Health’s Mobile Dental Unit will visit the clinic with dental services. Heiler said the reaction to the new facility has been outstanding. “The number of patients has been increasing every day,” he said. “Our staff has been welcomed into the district, and we are excited to be part of such a great team, helping kids to achieve their greatest potential,” said Sara Benedetto, vice president and chief operating officer at the Center for Family Health. So far, Heiler has treated patients who were worried about strep, colds and coughs; and who presented with sore ankles and knees. Sports physicals, tied to well-child checkups, also have been popular. Heiler recommends students get those physicals early. “We are here for the students’ best interest,” he said. “We want to make sure they’re healthy, and they are going to be able to participate in sports safely.” Heiler hopes the clinic will expand and serve the entire community – beyond the school. “I see us as a benefit to the community, to help make the community healthier,” he said. A $436,443 federal grant paid for all the renovations and needed equipment at the 2,700 square feet of unused shop area. Commercial insurance payments and Medicaid reimbursements will pay for operations. A federally qualified health center, the Center for Family Health does not turn anyone away because of inability to pay. The Northwest clinic is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Its phone number is 517-569-3200. The Center for Family Health, 505 N. Jackson St., operates three other school health centers, all in the Jackson Public School District: the Northeast Health Center, the Teen Center at Parkside and the Jackson High Health Center. By Eilenn Lehnert, Public Relations Consultant, Center for Family Health

4 2013-2014

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Be a Part of the Newness Tentative Plans for the NEW Parnall Outdoor Views

Media Center View

Classroom View

Front Entrance View

Tentative Plans for the High School Additions Main Gymnasium Entrance

Overview of Cafetorium and Practice Gym Area

Views of Practice Gym View from Front Drive of the High School

www.nwschools.org

5 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

Childcare News Start Your Child’s Education with the Best…Northwest! What a great fall we had at Northwest Preschool and Childcare Center! In September, we opened our doors to families in our new spacious building and had a great turn out at our open house! During the Mrs. Amy Morrison, month of October, we had our first fundraiser. Preschoolers sold Little Child Care Director Caesars Pizza Kits. Thanks to wonderful parent support, we sold over 300 kits and made $1700 for our center which purchased gym equipment and classroom materials. Students also celebrated Halloween with a fun Halloween parade and classroom celebration. In November, we invited parents to a Thanksgiving family project activity and to close out 2013, we celebrated Christmas with fun activities and a classroom celebration with our students and parents. We are looking forward to a great 2014 at Northwest Preschool and Childcare Center! Amy Marrison, Director of Northwest Preschool and Childcare Center

It’s not too late!!! There are spots available for our 4 year old program!!! Children must already be 4 years old and meet the cutoff birth date of November 1. We have both tuition and GSRP free state funded spots available. Classes meet Monday-Thursday from 8:00-11:00. Call 817-4741 to register your child today.

Important Dates Coming Up at Northwest Preschool and Childcare Center! February 5- 6:00 - 7:30 Preschool Family Night Northwest Community Schools

February 13- Classroom Valentine’s Day Celebration March 1- Open Enrollment begins for the 2014-2015 school year. For more information, call 817-4741 March 7, 14, 21- Spring Parent Teacher Conferences

Follow Mr. Bontrager On...

@mountienationnw

May 20- Last Day of Preschool for 3 year olds May 21- Last Day of Preschool for 4 year olds May 22- 4 year old Preschool Graduation

6 2013-2014

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Parnall News We a learni re ng chara our cte words r !

Principal’s Perspective

The success of our students is always the focus at Parnall Elementary. I have just started to read the book, How Children Succeed, by Paul Tough. I gravitated toward this book because of its belief and research about qualities that matter for students to be successful and have to do with character: skills like perseverance, curiosity, optimism, and self-control. This topic also melds so nicely with the philosophy of Nurtured Heart and how we work to help our students see their greatness. In working to help build these qualities of character in our students, here is one of the many things that we do at Parnall. It’s All in a Word… Each week, Parnall students learn a new character word. The word is Mrs. Lorri McAlpine, explained to students with many examples on announcements each day. Staff Principal members reinforce the meaning of the word throughout the week by awarding STARS awards for students emulating the characteristics of the word. Not only are the students learning about the important characteristics, but learning vocabulary words as well (yup, the teacher in me is always there!). Please see the words that we have already used as well as our future words for the school year. Hopefully, you will be able to help us reinforce this at home. Any examples of how our kids use these words at home would be appreciated. Children learn by example. Any examples that you share with us helps as well as making your child proud of his/her accomplishment! An example: Our word before Thanksgiving was thoughtfulness. I shared on announcements that sometimes a special word or message in a note can be a thoughtful way to make someone feel better. I had the nicest surprise when a student brought me a note that said: “Abot the princalbel The pricalbel is very cute. And very Loving.” You can bet that this young man not only got a warm hug, he got to see me post this on my office door for all to see! He definitely got it-he was able to see how much this brightened my day due to his thoughtfulness. Please join us in helping prepare our kids for successful school careers. It is not just about academics for students to become successful adults. Truly, it is all of the skills that we use as parents; especially the qualities of character that can transform young people’s lives.

Sept. 9 self-control Sept. 16 cooperation Sept. 23 responsibility Sept. 30 friendship Oct. 7 patience Oct. 14 respect Oct. 21 teamwork Oct. 28 caring Nov. 4 honesty Nov. 11 trust Nov. 18 integrity Dec. 2 thoughtfulness Dec. 9 achievement Dec. 16 belonging January 6 tolerance January 13 success January 20 loyalty January 27 reliable February 3 leadership February 10 perseverance February 17 optimism February 24 curiosity March 3 acceptance March 10 flexibility March 17 forgiveness March 24 courage (Due to space - stay tuned for the rest of the list coming soon in our building newsletter)

Energizing Education! United Way of Jackson County, in conjunction with the Cradle 2 Career Collaborative and with support from Consumers Energy, recently launched Energizing Education. Energizing Education targets those students who do not qualify for special education, or Title I services, but who are falling behind their peers. It is a three pronged pilot program designed to utilize educators, administration, volunteer mentors, supportive businesses, and family to foster reading literacy. We are happy to announce the addition of this program at Parnall. Volunteer mentors come into the school once or twice per week and read to/with “their” assigned child for 30 minutes. Energizing Education will also be hosting Family Fun Nights. Our first event was on November 5, The Power Of Play. Ninety-seven families filled Parnall. They learned all about the importance of reading aloud every day, the power of playing games, and how to decide what games are right for their children. To help parents get started on this commitment, each family walked away with a free game, and every child received a free book. We are currently looking for mentors who want to help students. If you are interested in mentoring a student at the school, contact Amy Locke 817-4705 or amy.locke@nwschools.org.

www.nwschools.org

7 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

Parnall News Getting Ready for Christmas!

Starting the Saving Habit CP Federal Credit Union offers student-run credit union branches at many area schools to provide a unique, interactive way for students to learn about savings. Starting in 2014, CP Federal Credit Union will be operating at Parnall Elementary making it their 31st school that they are in. The student-run braches are operated by student volunteers who have completed an application, an interview, and the necessary training to run their school branch. Each branch has a Financial Education Representative on site to assist and oversee the operation. These student-run branches are open one day a week at the school and for Parnall it will be every Friday. There have been many students trained at Northwest Elementary that want to help run a school credit union. As a result, students from Northwest Elementary will be coming to Parnall to run our branch. To open up an account for your child please visit any CP Federal Credit Union location. When opening an account, you will need the child’s social security number and a valid driver’s license for the parent or guardian that will be joint owner on the account. Starting in January, classroom presentations will take place to explain how the credit union works. Every little penny adds up!

Christmas for Our Soldiers! Wanting to help our men and women overseas have a better Christmas, SFC Jerry Nugent asked if Parnall students might be willing to do a candy drive. Now retired, he knows how that “little piece of home” helps to brighten your day. So what did the Parnall students do? They donated 243 pounds of candy! A special thank you to all of our Parnall family for being so generous! The students helped to pack three duffle bags full of candy that will be sent overseas. Three classes won the candy drive: Mrs. Bartman’s, Mrs. Garver’s and Mrs. Murray’s/Wyer’s classes will get to have pizza for lunch for being the leaders in bringing in the most candy. More importantly, our students were able to see how their generosity will bring a better Christmas to our men and women in service. Many students have a parent of their own serving. To see pictures, go to : http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/ index.ssf/2013/11/Northwests_parnall_elementary_1. html Again, thank you so much for your candy donations!

Northwest Community Schools

Follow Mr. Bontrager On...

@mountienationnw

8 2013-2014

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Northwest Elementary News .

Mr. Eric G. Kelly, Principal

First Day of School!

We have had a marvelous time at NWEL this fall and Holiday season! We kicked things off with a fun filled Halloween celebration which included classroom parties, a costume parade, and me dressed as a Northwest Mountie! The holidays brought a family atmosphere to our building due to volunteers who came to decorate our lobby and hallways. We hosted a toy drive, Adopt-a-Family and “shop with a cop” programs to help students celebrate giving. “We were so proud of our very own ORFFestra group that performed throughout our district and in the community. Another valuable program that began during the holidays was the “Arbor North Seniors” who came to the building to read to our students. It was a joy to have these seasoned students spend time with us and help in creating a family feeling in our classrooms. Happy Holiday Family Reading Night was a tremendous success! We loved having parents and community members in our building laughing and enjoying one another. Marvelous Mounties, a character education program, was celebrated in December by honoring those students who displayed exceptional levels of caring. These students are incredible examples of the positively minded environment here at NWEL that enhances the Nurtured Heart Approach throughout our wonderful district! We are all so fortunate to be a part of the MOUNTIE NATION!

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! On October 25, Northwest Elementary participated in the district’s first Project Y.E.S./ We Can Make a Difference Day. Parnall and Northwest Elementary partnered up and participated in various service projects (decorating Christmas bags, making blankets and scarves, thank you cards, bookmarks, placemats, toys for animals, and fund raiser activities). Recipients for these projects included veterans, firemen, policemen, the local hospital, local library, Aware Shelter, Interfaith Shelter, Humane Society, and local senior citizen agencies. Everyone agreed it was a great day for our students to learn the value of giving to and for others. Northwest students are making a difference! In addition to this, Northwest Elementary is also involved in their first PROJECT Y.E.S. recipient from bottle return money. Students voted to give their donation to the Jackson Humane Society this trimester.

www.nwschools.org

9 2013-2014

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Northwest Elementary News Marvelous Mounties

The Marvelous Mounties Program is a way for NWEL to address Character education in our building. It is the shared responsibility of parents, teachers and members of the community, who come together to support positive character development. This program also allows us to enrich the Nurtured Heart Approach, which is a district-wide initiative. Teachers understand that character education is a learning process that enables students and adults to understand, care about, and act on core ethical values such as respect, justice, civic virtue and citizenship, and responsibility for self and others. The Marvelous Mounties program was started by Jenny Service (Fourth Grade Teacher) and Valerie Shelters (Previous Principal of NWEL). Teachers nominate two or more children from their classroom each month. These students are chosen based on a particular character trait. Students are recognized monthly at a breakfast, which parents are invited to attend. This is a marvelous program that helps unite parents, students and staff and helps teach the hidden curriculum.

Goblin Walks

Project Y.E.S. and the Jackson Friendly Home

The students in Mrs. Kennedy’s and Mrs. Fusilier’s classrooms went to the Jackson Friendly Home on Tuesday, November12. The students made cards for all of the residents and visited with them. Both residents and students gathered in the community basement and did activities together. They sang Thanksgiving songs, shared Thanksgiving jokes, played bingo, and made a turkey craft and an edible cornucopia. They are looking forward to visiting the Jackson Friendly Home again!

Follow Mr. Bontrager On...

@mountienationnw Northwest Community Schools

10 2013-2014

Wander down the paths of the Dahlem Environmental Education Center on a typical day and you may see deer, squirrels, and other small forest creatures. But on the last Friday and Saturday before Halloween, you can follow the jack-O-lantern lit trails and encounter numerous additional unexpected creatures. A mother great horned owl and her babies may sing to you about owl pellets. Raccoons and bears may drum on trash cans. A turkey vulture and a possum may sing of the joys of eating road kill. Robins may hip-hop and rap while a sassy crow may tell corny jokes to a Thoreau-quoting scarecrow. The costumed characters entertain and educate you about nature as you enjoy a walk in the woods. What you may not realize is that for almost a decade, most of the characters in costumes are part of the Mountie Nation. All are volunteers, and with only a few exceptions, they are Northwest students, alums, parents and teachers. The skits are written for the Dahlem Center by Northwest Elementary teacher Kathy Shaw. Some of the characters started participating in the Goblin Walks when they were as young as fifth grade, and they return year after year to help out, even after they have graduated and moved on to college. In addition to playing animal characters, other Mounties help out as trail guides for the 550 – 600 visitors who walk the trails each year. Others show up the afternoon the walks start to help carve the 300 pumpkins that are needed to light the trails for the weekend. If you want to know more about this annual event, or if you would like more information about how to get involved, check out this year’s cast list and talk to one of the cast about their experiences. You can also e-mail Mrs. Shaw at Northwest Elementary if you would like to help out next year.

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Northwest Elementary News

d l e Fi

! p i Tr

Entering Greenfield Village is like stepping into an 80-acre time machine. It takes you back to the sights, sounds and sensations of America’s past. There are 83 authentic, historic structures, from Noah Webster’s home, where he wrote the first American dictionary, to Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory, to the courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. The buildings and the things to see are only the beginning. There’s the fun stuff, too. In Greenfield Village, you can ride in a genuine Model T or “pull” glass with world-class artisans; you can watch 1867 baseball or ride a train with a 19th-century steam engine. There is so much to do and it is an annual event for our 5th Graders at N.W.E. It brings history to life!

ORFFestra The Northwest Elementary ORFFestra has completed its first performances together for the 2013/14 school year, including an inaugural Holiday Tour. The Northwest Elementary ORFFestra is an auditioned group of talented 4th and 5th graders that play xylophones and other various percussion instruments. This group meets 3 mornings per week before school for a 40 minute class. Why is it called ORFFestra? In the early 20th century, composer Carl Orff, with his fellow teachers Dorothee Gunther and Gunild Keetman, started a music school for youth in Munich, Germany. It was the first time that anyone had explored and developed a method for teaching music to children. Orff soon saw to the development of xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels designed specifically to be played by children. In music classrooms these are now commonly called “ORFF instruments.” The ORFFestra’s first gig was the school’s Happy Holiday Reading Night, where the ensemble played in the gym to provide mood music throughout the evening’s festivities. It was a lot of fun to start the holiday season with a casual performance; that repeated itself over and over and over again. They were now feeling ready to take this act on the road. In a combined effort with the school’s project Y.E.S. initiative, the Northwest Elementary School ORFFestra traveled to perform several mini concerts throughout the Northwest Community. On Thursday, December 12, the ensemble started their morning performing for Mrs. Osterberg’s and Mrs. Jones’ classrooms at Northwest High School, followed immediately with a performance for the Northwest Gold Club breakfast. They then boarded busses to share their holiday music with the ladies at the Jackson Friendly Home, as well as the gentlemen at the John George Home. The following morning, December 13, the ORFFestra again traveled to visit various assisted living facilities including Arbor North, Arbor Woods, and the Jackson County Medical Care Facility. Our Northwest ORFFestra students really enjoyed this opportunity to share holiday cheer with the community through their joyful music-making. The ORFFestra holiday season finished off with a quick performance for each of the Northwest Elementary Schools; Parnall and NWEL. Each school traditionally has a holiday assembly that is not for parents and guests, but rather for the students to enjoy. The Northwest Elementary ORFFestra was proud to present their holiday songs to their own colleagues and friends in each of the two schools.

www.nwschools.org

11 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

Celebrate the Greatness

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Celebrate the Greatness

Name of NW Alum: Betsi Brown Graduated: 2006 Profession: CADD Operator Favorite Memory: The student section of Varsity basketball games in 2003-2006 with all of the ‘Super Fans’ my senior year Cortney Ludwig (Forner) and I made cookies or snacks for the whole team on away game nights for the boys to eat on their way home. The student section was really big through those years and it was a ton of fun.

Name of NW Alum: Lynsay Southworth and Alexandra Southworth Graduated: 2005 and 2008 Professions: Lactation Consultant and Health Care Administrator Favorite Memory: “Being able to go to to school with my sister Lynsay for that one year was awesome! We both played softball and that was a lot of fun.” Any Other Information: “It’s ironic to come back to the high school with my little sister Elizabeth and see how similar things are, but know that the bond has passed I cannot wait to see it transform.”

Lindsey Bamm. 2003 graduate from NWAE continues to be a Mountie as a school district employee at Kidder Middle School where she often continues to represent the NWAE “cause” of helping those in need regardless of their station in life. Ms. Bamm is raising two children of her own yet still finds time to extend her community service to children in the Middle School. Often we get busy and miss clues to who needs our help and Lindsay sees the needs of the children with whom she works.

Name of NW Alum: Matt Stephens Graduated: 1990 Profession: Administrative Health Care Manager Favorite Memory: “Athletics. I played basketball and baseball. My best memories over the years are related to our teams. My junior year our basketball team was ranked 3rd in the state. We had a great team and lots of success.” Any Other Information: “After graduate school, I moved back to Jackson and now have kids in the Northwest District. One is in 9th grade and one is in 7th grade. I feel the district is heading in the right direction.”

Where are they now?

Northwest Community Schools was founded in 1954, but it wasn’t until 1956 that we had our first graduating class. In that time, Northwest has produced hundreds and hundreds of graduates with a variety of success stories. We are proud to present just a few of many Northwest Alum stories. Aaron Hamilton, another 2005 NWAE graduate, has returned from his tour of duty with the United States Armed Services where he was deployed to Afghanistan, and is currently attending Jackson College where he is preparing for a career in Natural Resources.

12 2013-2014

Name of NW Alum: Brandon Armstrong Graduated: 2011 Profession: Industrial Radiology Favorite Memory: “Playing soccer.”

Name of NW Alum: Aubrie Wymer Graduated: 2011 Profession: Cosmetologist Student Favorite Memory: “Senior year, school activities, and sports.”

Name of NW Alum: Melissa Barrett Graduated: 2007 Profession: Post Office Favorite Memory: Cheering and going to events like basketball games.

Katie Gennisee is finishing up her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. Katie, a 2005 NWAE graduate, is doing her student teaching with Dorian Tasse-Lowden at Northwest Elementary.

www.nwschools.org

Dominic Zuchowski, a 2013 graduate, is also attending Jackson College and plans to take up his tour of duty in December. With the help of a local agency, Do’Chas, Dominic has been involved with a cooperative program between Jackson College and the U.S. Military where he will be able to enlist on a higher level because of the schooling provided prior to his reporting date to the military. The newfound independence will be invaluable to Dominic when he enters the military experience and the pay grade increase will be nice too.

www.nwschools.org

Name of NW Alum: Robert Stull Graduated: 1987 Profession: UPS Driver Favorite Memory: “All the teachers and the lifelong friends that I met there. Also, the girls.”

Name of NW Alum: Robert Locke Jr. Graduated: 1962 Profession: Over Road Truck Driver, Retired Favorite Memory: “Agriculture as science, Band.” Name of NW Alum: Bruce Inosencio Jr. Graduated: 1988 Profession: Lawyer Favorite Memory: “The relationship I established with classmates and teachers throughout the years, many of which continue to this day, provided me with many great memories while I was at Northwest and many more since I graduated. The absolute highlight may have been the Jackson Packers trip I took out west in June 1987 with Mr. Ferry, Mr. Whitehead, and many other Mountie hikers. They hiked a canyon in temperatures well over 100 degrees, climbed a 13,000 ft mountain, and they all were Name of NW Alum: Justin Pruitt exposed to the American West for three weeks. It was truly Graduated: 2012 a life changing experience.” Profession: UPS Package Handler Any Other Information: “I am glad to see Mountie Nation Favorite Memory: “Graduation is on the right track; it’s clear that Mountie pride is alive day and Project Graduation.” and well. I have always been thankful for the first-class Any Other Information: “Go education I received. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude Mounties! Class of 2012 – best to the teachers that challenged me to be the best student ever.” and person I could be.”

13 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

Celebrate the Greatness

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Celebrate the Greatness

Where are they now?

12 2013-2014

Name of NW Alum: Brandon Armstrong Graduated: 2011 Profession: Industrial Radiology Favorite Memory: “Playing soccer.”

Name of NW Alum: Aubrie Wymer Graduated: 2011 Profession: Cosmetologist Student Favorite Memory: “Senior year, school activities, and sports.”

Name of NW Alum: Melissa Barrett Graduated: 2007 Profession: Post Office Favorite Memory: Cheering and going to events like basketball games.

Katie Gennisee is finishing up her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. Katie, a 2005 NWAE graduate, is doing her student teaching with Dorian Tasse-Lowden at Northwest Elementary.

www.nwschools.org

Name of NW Alum: Robert Stull Graduated: 1987 Profession: UPS Driver Favorite Memory: “All the teachers and the lifelong friends that I met there. Also, the girls.”

13 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

Middle School News Recognizing Our Students It is an exciting time at Kidder Middle School. We recently hired Mr. Cory Parrott as our new Assistant Principal/Athletic Director. Mr. Parrott comes to us from Western Middle School and we hope that you will take the opportunity to meet him at upcoming activities. Our students continue to do outstanding things both inside and outside the classroom. As you can see in the adjoining articles, our students have done some fantastic things. We have recognized over 75 students that have gone over and above to help their fellow classmates Mr. Daniel Brooks, and teachers. It is nice to see our students Principal helping out others which they also did this holiday season. Our students bought gifts, made cards, and brought in items to help others in our community. Kidder Middle School has recognized over 200 students for their individual accomplishments already this school year. Our goal is to recognize all of our student body by the end of the school year. Our students continue to help others with a coat drive and canned food drive during the month of December. Our students have worked hard on academics and making positive choices this year and as we head into the new year, our resolution is to continue to make positive contributions to our lives and lives of those around us.

201

rn Inte

eac

lP iona

ste o P e

tes n o C

This fall all seventh grade art students in Mr. Khon’s class participated in the International Peace Poster contest sponsored by the North Jackson Lions Club. The theme for this year was “Our World Our Future.” Students had to express this theme in a poster without using words, making it a very challenging task. After many hours of brainstorming and rough drafts, the final copies were turned in to the North Jackson Lions Club where one was chosen to move onto the district level. There were many nice entries, however they could only choose one. The winner of this year’s International Peace Poster was Madalynn Girard with her classmate Elaina Evilsizer coming in second. Madalynn’s quote on peace was, “Our World, Our Future, means to me in the future the world will be peaceful, calm and loving. No wars. Just peace. An argument free loving world.” Elaina and Madalynn each received a cash prize from the North Jackson Lions Club for their efforts and all participants were treated to doughnuts and cider. Madalynn’s poster finished third at the district level, just missing out on advancing to the state level. GREAT JOB Ladies!!!

14 2013-2014

Make A Difference Day On October 25, KMS participated in a district-wide service learning day. Through Project Y.E.S. (Youth Engaged in Service), all students at school worked on service learning projects for the community during their Social Studies class. Our projects included: •Decorating 523 plain bags for gift bags •Making 9 fleece blankets for the Interfaith Shelter •Finishing 158 fleece hats and 67 scarves for “Together We Can Make A Difference” agency •Making over 102 dog chew toys for the animal shelter •Making over 220 Thanksgiving and Christmas crafts for various nursing homes •Making 86 bracelets to sell for a donation to a food pantry “Make A Difference Day” is a National Service day that was held across America on October 26, 2013. We were happy to do a small part to make a difference for people in our community. We will be doing other service learning projects throughout this school year.

New Staff! Hello Mountie Nation! I am thrilled to be here at Kidder Middle School serving as your Assistant Principal/Athletic Director. I feel honored and privileged to join the Northwest community. I believe teamwork and open communication are very important and I know that together we will continue to ensure a positive and productive learning Mr. Cory Parrott, environment for our students. Assistant Principal and I completed my Athletic Director bachelors degree from Spring Arbor University and masters degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. I come to the Northwest School District with nine years of teaching experience at both the elementary and middle school level. I coached football, basketball and baseball during those years. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of extracurricular activities and look forward to getting involved in the Northwest community. I have a wife, Melissa and have children, Brody 5 and Preslie 3. I am excited to help support the students, parents, teachers, and community of R.W. Kidder Middle School, and I look forward to meeting and working with each of you in the coming weeks.

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Middle School News 2013 Middle School Cross Country Season The Boys’ Cross Country team improved throughout the season, finishing most of the races in the top 50%. The team was led by eighth grader, Tyler Collins, and seventh grader, Bryce Alfred. Both of these runners show a lot of promise and competitiveness in the future for Northwest Cross Country. Other runners for the boys’ team were Adam Staudinger, Samuel Hibbs, Connor Girard, George Irwin, and Gabe Anderson. The Girls’ Cross Country team improved with leaps and bounds and by the end of the season were contenders for meet honors. The girls’ team was lead by the one two punch of seventh graders Madalynn Girard and Anna Mazur. Also running were eighth graders Jenna Maske, Rachel Nau and Mercedes Roberts. The other seventh grade runners were Meghan Camburn, Briana Roberts and Lilly Rockwell. We were also blessed with three outstanding sixth grade girls. Aria Ward had an outstanding season winning medals in a lot of races. Brianna Dodge ran very well, finishing in the top 20% in a number of races. Piper Boulter continued to improve throughout the season in just about every race.

Students Of The Month Last month the KMS Staff nominated the following students for their positive efforts inside & outside the classroom. Their pictures have been displayed in the showcase in the front lobby. GREAT JOB MOUNTIES!!! 6TH GRADE - Charis Cumings & Cristian Salvador 7TH GRADE - James Glaspie & Lilly Rockwell 8TH GRADE - Victoria Lindley & Aaron Slaby

KMS Choir Program The KMS Choirs have been doing wonderful work. We have over 200 talented singers participating in five choirs: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, ESCHOIR (gentlemen grades 6-8), and Honors Choir. Each of the choirs is expanding their ability to read music and sing with great tone. The choirs have already performed in a Fall and Winter Concert. The Fall Choir Concert at Jackson College showcased all Northwest singers—nine choirs from grades 6-12. There was a combined all-guys song with 100 gentlemen on stage (Corey Riker leading the charge), and the last song of the concert featured all choirs combined with over 400 singers. The Winter Concert was at First Church of the Nazarene. There was a wonderful NW spirit as we (the audience) sang together and listened to our fine middle school singers perform.

Many singers participated in the ‘Homecoming Day Parade’. While riding in the parade the choir members showed their school spirit by dressing in red/black, handing out candy to the crowd, and robustly singing our “Mountie Fight Song!” Our singers want to thank Mr. Brian Zimmerman for pulling us through the parade on their family’s hay wagons. MANY THANKS to those who helped make the Thanksgiving CHOIR APPLE PIE sale a success. We set a new record for the number of pies made in six hours--840! Mr. Snell and his crew of parents, singers, and family were putting out an apple pie every 30 seconds. Thank you “NW Community” for supporting us. Go Mounties!

www.nwschools.org

We had eleven singers audition and make the MSVMA Middle School State Honors Choir. These singers are among the top singers in Michigan on their voice part. Please congratulate the following singers: Lydia Anuszkiewicz, Andrew Brenner, Luke Hedrich, Matthew Kanalas, Madelyn Miller, Robert Miller, Madelyn Rouse, Kaylee Stokely, Taylor Thrush, Matt Wetmore, Joshua Wright. They will perform in January at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids at the DeVos Place Center.

Pre-Algebra Classes Seventh grade Pre-Algebra students have been studying a unit on probability. They had lots of fun learning how to tell if games were fair and how to improve your chances of winning a game. They even realized that what we learned in math about theoretical probability is just like the Heredity Punnett Squares they were learning about in science class!

15 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

High School News Dear Parents,

Mr. Scott Buchler, High School Principal

Fro

m t of he d e Pr inc your sk iPA L

We have completed our first trimester of the year; we have gone through Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year. The year is going quickly and some of our building changes are just around the corner. We have completed the new roof on the high school, our new drivewway has been installed and we are in the final planning stages for our new auxiliary gym, cafetorium and servery. The crews will be breaking ground this summer. It is a very exciting time. Northwest High School is continuing to move in the right direction! Several of our teachers are fully implementing our new Bring Your Own Device Policy or BYOD. I have seen some great things going on in the classrooms with this. Hopefully you are hearing about some exciting things from your student. I am very proud of our teachers for their willingness to try some new things and impact learning with researched best practices that engage our students. There are several activities going on around the high school during the winter months. Please continue to show your support to our athletes, musicians and students and come to one of their many events. Showing support to our teens is an easy way to help them continue their successes. Be proud and wear that red and black or that Northwest gear. After all, people are talking about the great things going on at Northwest! Again, thank you for your continued support of our students. It’s a great day to be a Mountie! If you have any questions, concerns or ideas please feel free to contact me.

Tangled Up with 300 Inches of Hair

Northwest students are inviting the community to come be a part of the 300 inch plus donation of hair to be made into wigs for cancer patients of all ages. There are three different organizations to choose from, and each with slightly different criteria. If you want to take part in the Great Cut of 2014 please review and choose one of the following organizations: Pantene Beautiful Lengths (requires 8 inches minimum) visit Pantene.com for more information, Locks of Love (10 inch minimum) visit Locksoflove.org, or Wigs for Kids (minimum 12 inches) visit wigsforkids.org for more information. Then join the student body on January 30 at the Snowfest Assembly. The goal is 300 inches, but with your help it could be even greater. If you have any questions feel free to contact Elizabeth Hoffbauer (517) 817-4838.

Accomplished Artist

Daniella Sanchez’s pencil drawing entitled, “Master Chief ”, was chosen to be a part of the Art a Loan program at Ella Sharp Museum. Her work was matted, framed and part of an exhibition in the main gallery from September 21, 2013 to the reception night on October 17, 2013. It is now on display for one year at JTV (152 Michigan Avenue) in downtown Jackson after which it will be returned to Daniella. Out of three hundred applicants – fifty-two pieces were selected. Congratulations Daniella for being chosen to exhibit your magnificent Mountie talent.

A Chance In a Lifetime

If your teen is begging for a chance to go with friends on a Spring Break trip, plan ahead for this thrilling, safe, supervised, and adventurous 2015 Spring Break trip to Costa Rica. It may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for interested Northwest students and parents. This trip to an English-speaking Central American country will provide an opportunity to experience the ecotourism, animals and friendly people of Costa Rica – not to mention fantastic cuisine. Veteran teacher Elizabeth Hoffbauer, along with fellow Mountie teacher Tracy Dryer and Educational Tours will be embarking on a 10-day educational adventure. Trip highlights include a rainforest canopy tour via zip line, a whitewater rafting excursion, a chance to interact with locals while visiting a school, and other nonstop fun for all ages. There is an easy monthly payment plan which makes the trip more affordable for any budget – including that of a teen. Videos and information are available on the Northwest High School website. This trip is open to current freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and their parents. Space is limited, so check out the website with an attached link today. What a great Christmas gift – a lifetime memory of international travel.

Follow Mr. Bontrager On...

Northwest Community Schools @mountienationnw

16 2013-2014

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

High School News Northwest Proves the Best Gifts are Priceless

Junior Economic students in Mrs. Hoffbauer’s 4th hour aided Santa this Christmas on behalf of St. Vincent DePaul and the Priceless Gift Store. It started with a compelling presentation by General Manager David Kemler. Then it was all planning and follow-through from there. These juniors led NWHS in a gently used toy and new hygiene products drive. Chelsea Brooks wrote announcements, Holden Pieh led a group of students in two commercials edited by Sean Kusch to be aired during first hour classes, and Summer Gannon created a colorful flier to be hung around school. In addition, the students chose to reward the first hour that had the most donations per person with a full spread breakfast. The students financed the reward themselves. The class collected 808 items, they cleaned and processed the donations, and were able to pass along 650 total items to the Priceless Gift Store. The day after collection students from the class showed up at 6:40 in the morning to make breakfast for the winning class, Yearbook. Other classes that made significant donations included Men’s Choir and Band.

Still in Need of Help Economic Students Gain Stride with NW Community Assistance

Juniors Hannah Wadke, Chelsea Brooks and Sean Kusch clean toys collected at Northwest High School.

e s c i v c i r Se nom co th E in wi . s er r M au fb f Ho

The toilet is separating from the wall in the women’s bathroom.

Northwest students from 5th hour Economics decided to make a big change to a small room at the Jackson Interfaith Shelter. The bathroom on the women’s side services 40-80 women and children at any given time. The current bathroom cannot meet the needs, so the students chose to take on the project of renovation. The students, along with Interfaith staff and Northwest community members, are pooling their efforts to create a two shower, two stall and three sink bathroom. The students chose this project above all others after peers presented their finds to the class. The pictures were telling, but the $15,000 price tag was too much to bare alone. The students began raising funds through a walkathon held on October 25. The class raised over $1,100 in pledges. They then hosted a bake sale at the community movie night on October 26 where students added another $200 to the kitty. Paige Beveridge and Mikki Pahl then asked the Jackson Community Foundation Youth Advisory Committee for some additional support. Their $300 grant was accepted and the students now have over $1,600. In addition, Christoff’s flooring has volunteered to donate tile for the project and Brian Pahl, community member and parent, has taken to finding ways and volunteers to help make 5th hour’s dream a reality. So though the term has ended the students of 5th hour’ are still committed to seeing this project through, and could use your help. If you are willing to donate time or money to the cause please contact Elizabeth Hoffbauer at Northwest High School (517) 817-4838.

Northwest Students Team with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson

Merrica Bryant applies a tattoo at the Big Brother Big Sisters of Jackson Halloween gathering.

Northwest Students Facelift Interfaith Shelter Kids’ Room

On November 16 students from 3rd and 5th hour Economics class gathered to transform the kids room at the Jackson Interfaith Shelter. It was a process started two months before after a handful of students took time on a Saturday afternoon to tour the Interfaith Shelter. Those students then presented to their peers the findings and 3rd hour decided to make some major changes to the room. They took a floor to ceiling look, made a plan, and raised funds to make it happen. Students donated items from home to assist in the renovation; items included craft supplies, DVD’s, and a game cube. In addition, the students raised over $750 through pledges for a walkathon held on October 25. Junior Brian Lewis wrote a grant on behalf of his classmates to the Jackson Community Foundation Youth Advisory Committee, where an additional $300 was added toward the project. Before the big day student volunteers shopped for supplies, including paint, toys and a new couch to make their vision a reality. On the day of labor seventeen students donated their time to clean, paint and scrub the floors to make a twelve hour day a success. Interfaith kids, parents and staff were pleased with the inviting colors, chalk walls, new toys, and additional seating.

www.nwschools.org

Northwest students gave back to the community when they hosted the Halloween gathering for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson on October 24. The annual event was a chance for Bigs and their Littles along with their families to gather for a safe, fun celebration. This year the 2nd hour Economic students adopted BBBS for their service learning project. Students then orchestrated a plan which included games, prizes, a dessert walk, tattoos, and candy. The students made personal donations as well as sought community donations. Meckley Flavor Fruit Farms and the Cookie Jar both pitched in to help. Twelve students worked the event among them, Alex Policht jammed the night away as dj for the dessert walk; Emma Bearinger watched as the kids spun themselves or their Big dizzy at the Dizzy Mummy, and a beanbag ghost toss made by Tony Fonseca was monitored and encouraged by Lindzee Blumhardt. Other games included pin the mole on the witch, the nose on the jack-o lantern, and eating a donut off a string. Students set up areas for temporary tattoos, hula hoops, and sweet treat decorating. The event was attended by over 100 community members. The party was a resounding success for all who attended.

Bef

ore

e ft

17 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

High School News Spanish Exchange Student Makes an Appearance at Spanish Club! The Spanish Club “El club de español” met in November and invited Paula Martínez Somolinos to speak to the group. Paula is an exchange student from Spain. Nelly Hunter, NWHS sophomore, and her family are hosting Paula for the school year. Paula spoke about where she is from-- the area of San Lorenzo de El Escorial located in autonomous community of Madrid, Spain. Paula talked about points of interest in Spain, using photos and maps on the internet. She also shared information about her family. Club members were interested to hear about the life of a teenager in Spain. In high school, students stay in the same classroom and the teachers move from room to room. In Spain (as in many other European countries), sports are not part of the school setting, but are organized via athletic clubs outside of the school day. If students are interested in learning more about joining the Club, please see Señora Moulton or Señorita Koker. The meetings are held after school in room 208, in Señora Moulton’s room. All students who have an interest in the Spanish language and culture are welcome to join. The group usually meets once a month during the school year. Parents and community members who have a connection with the Spanish language via heritage, a career, or travel, and would like to share your experience with NW students, please contact Señora Moulton at Rebecca.Moulton@nwschools.org. We welcome you into our classrooms. ¡Gracias!

“Papel picado” at Trunk ‘n Treat

The students from “El club de español” sponsored a trunk at the Trunk ‘n Treat event held at NWHS in October. Club members and Señora Moulton donated candy to hand out during the festivities. Before the event started, students decorated Señora Moulton’s car with colorful “papel picado” banners, signs, and encircled it with Dora the Explorer banners. The Dora pictures are always a big hit with the young children. The “papel picado” banners are the traditional Mexican folk art used for decoration at parties and special events. The third hour Spanish classes of Señorita Koker and Señora Moulton made the banners as part of their service project at the high school for the service event on October 25. The students cut out Halloween designs on squares of plastic sheets that were then strung together into many long banners. In addition to the artwork, students put together mini coloring pages to hand out to the children at the Trunk ‘n Treat event. This was the third time the group sponsored a trunk at the annual event. A big NW “gracias” goes to the club members and parents for their support.

Learning How to Salsa

Students from Señora Moulton’s Spanish 3 class recently received Salsa dancing lessons from Spring Arbor University student, Katelyn Turner. Señorita Turner observed the two Spanish 3 classes during the first trimester. As an education student, she has to observe language classes and also gain practice by teaching a few lessons. The dance step instructions were given in Spanish and the students caught on well. Students enjoyed learning the dance so much that Señorita Turner will teach another lesson at a future Spanish Club meeting.

Brightening the World One Picture at a Time

Art students Chapin Venhaus, Helena Rodriguez and Paige Beveridge drew portraits from photographs of Guatamalan orphans as part of the Memory Project. The Memory Project’s mission is for Art students to create portraits for youth around the world who’ve been neglected, orphaned, or disadvantaged. The portraits were delivered to the orphans along with a photo of the Northwest student. We recently received the following photos along with a video of the children receiving their portraits. Thank you to Chapin, Helena and Paige for brightening these students’ worlds.

A Creative Thanks to Our Soldiers The high school Math Department wanted to honor and thank the United States Military in Afghanistan for our Service Day project. Ms. Johantgen, a Geometry teacher, was the inspiration for the idea because her son Mitch is a Marine currently stationed at Camp Letherneck in Afghanistan. “My son Mitch is a Marine and he is currently fighting the war in Afghanistan. He is at camp Leatherneck which houses all branches of service except the Navy. He will distribute the boxes to fellow service men and women,” said Ms. Johantgen. The students made Origami Cubes, decorated them with thanks and well wishes and filled them with candy. The boxes arrived before the Thanksgiving holiday and the troops were thrilled to get a little treat and an encouraging note to lift their spirits. Thanks to the following teachers and their third hour students for participating: Mrs. Bevier, Ms. Johangten, Mr. Collins, Mr. Dittmer, Ms. Harrison, Mr. Klinger, Mrs. Lefere, Mrs. Ousley, and Ms. Rupp.

Follow Mr. Bontrager On...

@mountienationnw

Northwest Community Schools

18 2013-2014

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

High School News Home Skills goes High Tech (and Low Tech)

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies, Ever!

What is the most important step in baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie? Students in Mrs. Rush’s Home Skills class literally put it to the test. Each kitchen group baked a standard chocolate chip cookie recipe, made observations, and researched popular baking blogs for ideas on perfecting the chocolate chip cookie. Most groups aimed for a chewy, flavorful cookie. They tested variables including butter vs. shortening, type of baking pan, ratios of sugars, and bake time. So, what was the winning recipe? Take your favorite recipe, replace the all-purpose flour with bread flour, and allow the dough to rest at room temperature for one to two hours before baking. The combination of these two techniques allows the sugars to dissolve into the butter and the water from the butter to activate the extra gluten in the bread flour – both of which results in a chewier cookie. Happy baking!

How do you remove a grass stain? Just ask Taylen LePeak and Scott Walker. How do you press a pair of slacks? Ask the “Iron Ladies” Savannah Jenkins, Mallory Hendges and Jameisha Suddeth. After watching some classic Home Economics filmstrips from the 1950s on YouTube, students in Mrs. Rush’s Home Skills course created retro-style “Laundry: How To” videos with iPads in the last weeks of the first trimester. Students researched tried and true laundry techniques, wrote scripts, chose costumes, filmed, created soundtracks and title pages, and edited for their videos all on a classroom set of iPads for the Laundry and Textiles Unit in Home Skills. After all of this technology, students returned to the low-tech needle and thread to sew buttons onto felt to create rustic Christmas ornaments.

Student Teacher in Health

Students in Personal Health and Interpersonal Relationships courses during first term had the opportunity to learn from student teacher Miss Mandie Augustyniak. Augustyniak has a dual certification in Health Education and K-12 Special Education from Central Michigan University. She student taught for 12 weeks with elementary students in St. Johns Schools last spring and joined NWHS for 12 weeks this fall. Students thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Augustyniak’s friendly and real-life approach to her classes. We hope to see Ms. Augustyniak often as a substitute teacher in the district.

RAISE at NWHS

Why does Mrs. Rush ask students to think about an answer and share it with a neighbor before giving an answer in front of the whole class? Why does Mrs. Adema ask her students to tell about the most memorable thing they have ever read? Why does Mr. Menegay’s class switch seats every week? All of these strategies are research-based techniques that are used in implementing Reading Apprenticeship Improving Secondary Education (RAISE). Mrs. Soper’s failure rates are at an all-time low. Mrs. Hoffbauer’s and Mrs. Tanner’s students are pressing for evidence rather than making excuses in class discussions. These teachers have been sharing their successes with the rest of the NWHS staff during Early Release professional development time and other teachers have been catching on. Stay tuned for further Reading Apprenticeship strategies creating success with our students!

MiPHY

In November, Northwest High School ninth and eleventh grade students had the opportunity to participate in the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) survey. Results from the MiPHY help schools make data-driven decisions to direct and improve programming funded under the Title IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools (SDFS) program as well as other prevention and health promotion programming and curriculum. Further, federal funding for Safe and Drug Free Schools and Drug Free Communities requires specific needs assessment and reporting, which the MiPHY meets. It also aligns with school health improvement initiatives (like the Northwest Coordinated School Health Program). Surveys like this allow the results to be easily compared to local, state, and national health behavior statistics. For more information on Northwest’s Coordinated School Health Program, please visit http://coordinated-school-health.nwschools.org.

New Health Curriculum

After piloting the Michigan Model for Health: Skills for Health last spring for the tri-county area, Mrs. Rush and Mrs. Tokar have embraced the new curriculum. In the past six months, Rush and Tokar trained dozens of middle and high school teachers from around the state to implement the skills-based lessons in their own districts. “Students know what is and isn’t healthy for them but they often struggle with actually making the healthiest choices. This curriculum is great for helping the students master the skills it takes to take steps toward their healthiest selves.”

www.nwschools.org

Follow Mr. Bontrager On...

@mountienationnw

Northwest Community Schools

19 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

High School News Band News It was another phenomenal marching season for the Marching Mounties. This year’s show, 8-Track Playback, featured songs “Piano Man”, “It Had Better Be Tonight”, “Desperado”, “Fever”, and “The Sound of Silence.” • Congrats to the band for earning another First Division Rating at the District Marching Band Festival! • The evening before the festival, the Marching Mounties were invited to perform in the MSU Homecoming Parade. It was a huge parade: over 7,000 people got to see the Northwest Band perform. • The Marching Mounties capped the marching season by marching in the Downtown Jackson Christmas parade on November 22. Our drum line took part in the fourth annual Percussion Concussion, a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, on October 26 at the Potter Center. The drumline earned first place in “Technical Ability” and the new “Trending” award! The Holiday Season was a busy one for the Northwest Bands: • The annual Christmas concert was held December 11. The Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble entertained the audience with classic and holiday music that warmed the evening and put everyone in a festive mood. • During their annual Christmas appearance at Vista Grande Villa on December 16, the Jazz Band gave a merry and bright performance. The VGV residents love to hear the Christmas tunes and 40’s swing music the Jazz Band plays for them each year. The Wind Ensemble will be performing a Masterworks concert January 29 at Western High School. Plan to attend to hear a phenomenal performance; the concert begins at 7:30. • This year the featured Masterwork will be John Barnes Chance’s “Incantation and Dance”. This monumental work is both chilling and exhilarating and will feature many outstanding musicians within the ensemble. • Tickets are $3 at the door. A special congratulations to Logan Frewen, who auditioned for and was selected to the Michigan All-State Band. Over 2,600 students from across the state audition for this 60 person ensemble. Logan will perform as a percussionist with the group. The performance is part of the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids. • Another special congratulations to Jacob Kampf, who received an “Honorable Mention” after his audition! Northwest Premier Winter Guard has several competitions throughout the state this winter and will attend State Championships on March 28 and 29. Best of luck, Northwest Premier! Many of our students plan to perform at the District Solo and Ensemble festival on February 8. Over 64 solos, duets, trios, quartets, and quintets from the Northwest Bands will perform for a chance to perform at the State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Chili and Jazz, a fundraiser for the band, will be March 8 at 6:00 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene. There will be a silent auction, a great chili dinner, and jazz music to enjoy. This is one of the band’s biggest fundraisers. • For ticket information, please call 517-817-4847 or email: bryan.mangiavellano@nwschools.org. The Jackson County Honors Band is March 25 at Western High School. Northwest, once again, will have a great showing of students in this outstanding group. Many band and choir students will head to Disney World during spring break. Students are given the opportunity to work with Disney staff on their music and perform at venues within the parks while they are there. It’s an amazing trip and the students are looking forward to it. Please join us for Band Booster meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the middle school band room.

Upcoming High School Band Performances: PERFORMANCE/LOCATION TIME DATE Wind Ensemble Masterworks Concert/Western HS January 29 February 4 MSBOA Dist. 8 Jazz Band Festival/* February 8 MSBOA Dist. 8 Band Solo and Ensemble/* February 19 Pre-Festival Clinic/NWHS Cafeteria Feb. 28/Mar. 1 MSBOA Dist. 8 Band Festival/Jackson HS March 8 Chili ‘n Jazz/First Church of the Nazarene March 25 MSBOA State Jazz Festival/Jackson HS Jackson County Honors Band Concert/Western HS March 26 Collage Concert/JCC May 13

7:30 p.m. * * 6:30pm * *6:00 p.m. * 7:30 p.m.

*To be announced

20 2013-2014

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

High School News Ending Another Great Season

The 2013 Lady Mounties Golf Program had another outstanding year, finishing first in five tournaments, including Regionals, and first in the Capitol Area Activities Conference. They were Regional Champions, CAAC Gold Division Champions, Jackson County Invitational Champions, Chelsea Invitational Champions, Western Invitational Champions, and Runners-up at their own NW Invitational. They qualified for the Division 3 State Finals for the fifth straight year, finishing in seventh place. The team was also recognized for their hard work in the classroom by earning Team Academic All-State Honors with a Team GPA of 3.7. Senior Dori Watts finished in the top ten at the D-3 State Finals and was recognized as one of the top golfers in the state by earning All-State Honorable Mention. Four Mountie golfers were awarded spots on the All-Conference Team: Dori Watts, Kylie Gough, Allie Lefere, and Megan Rose. In addition, Emily Hill received All-Conference Honorable Mention. Three golfers were named to the All-Area Dream Team: Dori Watts, Kylie Gough and Allie Lefere. Emily Hill was awarded All-Area Honorable Mention. Coaches Martha Cantlin and Jill Lefere were also honored as 2013 D-3 Regional Coaches of the Year, the second time they have earned that honor while coaching together. The 2013 Lady Mounties made history and continued the program’s winning tradition! The past five years have included three Conference Titles, two Regional Titles and five trips to the State Tournament Finals. These ladies represent the Mountie Nation well with their sportsmanship, integrity and ethics at all competitions. We are proud of all their hard work on the golf course and in the classroom. Go Mounties!

Blood Drive

The NWHS Student Government sponsored its first blood drive of the year on October 31. Out of 66 presenting donors we were able to collect 49 productive pints of blood. That could save 147 lives! Organizers Kelsey Ryan and Sierra Nicka would like to thank the following local businesses for their generous donations of food for the canteen: Yen King, Bob Evans, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Papa Johns Pizza, Klavon’s Pizzeria, Pizza Hut, and Roly Poly Sandwiches. The next blood drive will take place on January 23, 2014. Please contact Abby Tanner at the high school at 817-4864 or visit www.redcross.org if you are interested in donating.

Snowfest 2014

Snowfest court will be presented at halftime of the Boys Varsity Basketball game on Friday, January 31. The high school Snowfest dance will take place in the high school cafeteria on Saturday, February 1. Please contact Mrs. Tanner or Ms. Rupp at the high school for more information!

The 2013 NW Girls Golf Teams shows off their hardware at the Fall Athletic Awards Banquet on November 17.

Girls’ Golf Team Roster: Stephanie Marvin- Senior Dori Watts- Senior Emalee Cantlin- Junior Sara Corravo- Junior Kylie Gough- Junior Emily Hill - Junior Allie Lefere- Junior Megan Rose- Junior Leah Olmsted- Freshman

www.nwschools.org

21 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

Alternative News HONOR ROLL

Northwest Alternative has two different grading periods per trimester. The increased frequency of measuring academic success affords more opportunity for encouragement, recognition and applause. This year’s first marking period honor roll includes: Luke Brown, Sirena Slone-Kusiak, Becky Henny, Kelsey Whitehead, Justin Copeland, Nundie Falcon, Danyelle Jordan, Kyleigh Krutsch, Madison Perkins, Kacy Prater, Heather Youse, Nate Baxter, Sawyer Bitner, Josh Johnson, Dale Mayo, Meriah Parks, Jerry Tyra, and Kaylee Vinton.

SIX WEEK WONDERS

Each marking period, three students are selected as “outstanding” and recognized as “6 Week Wonders” or the best effort of the bunch for this particular marking period. Students are only allowed this honor once each school year, so if your student was not selected this time, have them keep up the good work as they might get selected for the next marking period. Honorees for the first marking period include: Brittany Zuchowski, Kelsey Whitehead and Jordan Kilgore.

2013 GRADUATES

In recent years June is not the only month when graduates are celebrated. More and more students graduate throughout the school year. Now, with the e2020 program being used so frequently, students often graduate in the middle of a marking periods too. This has hurt our participation number at June’s commencement, but gives students a chance to jump on job opportunities right away rather than entering the work force in the busy summertime. Graduates this school year so far include: Jerry Tyra, Kelsey Whitehead, Brian Lewis, Dale Mayo, and Alyssa Rottler. Sticktuitiveness!!!!!!!!!!!!

CITIZENSHIP RECOGNITION

Students receive recognition for acts of kindness, taking social risks when standing up for positive and helpful behavior, challenging other students for behaving less than responsibly or for simply helping others in need. Students recognized for such behavior so far this school year include: Luke Anderson, Justin Copeland, Ian Fatchet, Chelsea Franks, Jeff Hamilin, Alan Henderson, Jordan Kilgore, Anthony McCarley, Mark Miller, Katie Moss, Meriah Parks and Alexis Witkowski.

22 2013-2014

New Digs The momentum continues with our newly created atmosphere here at Northwest Alternative High School. I was actually a bit indifferent to the new school idea at first with all of the Mr. Paul Scholz, Principal work involved. And also because of the notion that it is tough to teach old dogs new tricks. Turns out, the work, although considerable, really wasn’t too tough to tolerate. But the real beauty was that the true Mountie team spirit came to the rescue via Mick Evans, Paul Prater, Ray Corravo, Darcy Maynard, Denise Kelly, Linda DeBruler, Jason Czolgost, Christine Hughes, Matt Collins, Sue Neitzke, and Sue Wills. All were so gracious and supportive in making the necessary adjustments as pain free as they possibly could. With 40% of our daily teaching and 100% of our 2nd Shift instruction completely reliant on technology, it became imperative we were operational in this regard. Matt knew the importance of technology to our program and stepped up accordingly. Bell systems, alarms and PA systems all had to worked on by our friends in the tech department. The cafeteria was smaller than we were used to, but the coziness of the new digs were welcomed, appreciated and even enjoyed thanks in large part to the two Sues who have taken ownership by investing their time and hearts into the students and staff on a daily basis. Then there were bus issues that started with not enough room to turn the vehicles around and Mick made certain the problem was taken care of prior to the first day of school. Other bus issues were embraced by Linda and Jason as they arose and not a single beat was missed. And on Christine Hughes’ second day on the job she made certain the final adjustments with the transportation department were rectified. And Denise Kelly has kept things as clean as if it were her own home. Paul, Ray and Darcy all paid attention to our needs regardless of how small the task. They absorbed the grumbling, left encouraging words in their paths and smiled while continuing to help. And of course a huge shout out to the main man Mick Evans. All who have worked with Mick know exactly what I am saying. And the students have been amazing. They have stood up from the initial physical move in the summer by taking time from the last few drops of “no school” to come in and help move desks, chairs, cabinets and more. And their attitudes were so strong during the days of extreme heat without air conditioning, extreme cold when boilers didn’t come on as planned, cow bells for class changing notifications, lower elementary lunchroom tables and stools in the cafeteria, and a building not ready for their presence. But our students have a strength often missed by the general population. They are resilient. They look for the good because without hope their world’s might easily collapse. So they once again demonstrated this strength and are currently being rewarded for their patience. We all thank the above people for coming together and making their world a place where they can mend as they move forward with their academic goals.

www.nwschools.org

Northwest Community Schools News

Mounties

Operations News Transportation News

It has been a busy school year in our department. • 100% - It is the score that our entire fleet of school buses received when inspections were performed by the Michigan State Police in October. Kevin Gillman is the district’s only auto technician. He is responsible for maintaining all of our vehicles. We want to thank him and all of our drivers for the pride they show in making sure our buses are safe each and every day for our students. • Driver Participation - Our drivers and their families participated in Trunk-n-Treat this year. • New Buses - We added two seventy-seven passenger buses to our fleet. • Positive Feedback – We have received several calls from parents and staff regarding the positive things they see our drivers do each and every day. It is truly appreciated!! • New Drive Off of Rives Junction Road – Many people have seen that our buses are blocking the new drive at the end of the school day. We are doing this to provide a safe walking area for our high school students. Please do not drive around the buses. Use the high school entrance off of Van Horn Road at release time. • New Transportation Supervisor – My name is Christine Hughes and I became a member of the Mountie Nation family on October 7, 2013. I bring over twenty years of transportation experience with me to my new position. I am looking forward to all of the big changes that are coming to our district. If you have any questions regarding Transportation, please call our office at 817-4732.

Buildings and Grounds News

Food Service News What an exciting beginning of the year we have had in Food Servicefrom opening a beautiful lunchroom at NEC to a great Gold Club Breakfast and Marvelous Mountie Breakfast with homemade yogurt smoothies! We use a low fat yogurt in all our smoothie applications, which is healthy and good for digestion. We have sampled smoothies in our high school Home Skills and Personal Health classes, with Alternative Education students, and also sampled yogurt parfaits with all of the KMS students to help increase consumption of this great protein. In October, we had our 3rd annual Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Day where we served all of our foods at the high school PINK! This was a challenge and was a lot of fun as Bart Harley from JTV visited us and highlighted our event on his local cable show. We gave away gift certificates to the students that wore the “Most Pink”. For Trunk and Treat this year, Food Services donated over $450.00! We provided the Rocking DJ, hot chocolate and donuts for all to enjoy! In November, Chef Brian and Patti we were able to showcase fresh fall vegetables in a made to order farmer’s basket sauté with infused oils and a rice pilaf made with wheat berries! We feature a “Harvest of the Month” in all of our cafeterias showcasing seasonal fruits and vegetables. The month of October we highlighted Michigan apples and squash. We serve roasted squash, brussel sprouts and fresh fennel for our students. The Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Bars are a smash at all our buildings as well. Every day at our schools students have a choice of 2 fruits and 3 vegetables--anything from watermelon, strawberries, broccoli, carrots, etc. are featured. Stop in to check us out. We have lots of new and healthy choices for students and staff. Please call my office if you have any questions. My phone number is 517-817-4690. Patti Russell F.S.D.

www.nwschools.org

23 2013-2014

Mounties

Northwest Community Schools News

Mountie Nation News Mountie Nation “Rules” Morning Television More than 1,000 members of the Mountie Nation arrived at the high school Northwest Community Schools 2013-2014 Calendar gym by 5:45 a.m. on Friday, December 20 to share their Mountie Pride with the WILX

3 13 27

viewing audience. The television station went live from our pep rally like atmosphere on six separate occasions, showcasing not only our district’s spirit, but many high school athletics, arts, academics, and clubs. WILX even taped an additional segment that aired AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013 OCTOBER 2013 on the 6:00 p.m. news as well that day. After the festivities in the gym, everyone was invited to a fabulous, hot Teacherbreakfast In-service/Workday Release prepared by our amazing Food Service11 staff. Early They served hundreds of people Open House (Secondary) 17 Conferences (Evening) – Kidder, HS, Alt HS in 15 minutes. Teacher In-service/Workday 22 Conferences (Evening) – Kidder Thank you so much to everyone who participated in helping the Mountie Open House (Elementary) Nation set the television station’s record for attendance at a School’s Rule event. Thank you also for representing the Mountie Nation with such PRIDE. We are...Northwest! Half DayGoooo of School - Students Mounties! Early Release Check out some of our schools’ videos at http://www.wilx.com/schoolsrule/ Early Release headlines/Schools-Rule-Northwest-High-School-236725361.html.

1 12 14 15 15 25 25 26 27 28 29

Early Release Conferences (Evening) - Parnall Conferences (Evening) – Parnall, NW Elem Early Release Conferences (Afternoon) – Parnall Conferences (Afternoon & Evening)–NW Elem Half Day of School - Students Half Day of School - Students Half Day - Students & Staff No School - Thanksgiving Break No School - Thanksgiving Break

20 23

6 17 20 30 31

Return to School from Winter Break Early Release No School – Martin Luther King Day Conferences (Evening) – Kidder, HS, Alt HS Early Release

14 17 27 28

Early Release No School – Presidents’ Day Conferences (Evening) – Parnall, NW Elem Early Release

7 18 25

Return to School from Spring Break No School – Good Friday Early Release

Aug

27 27 28 28

Mountie Nation School Calendar

Sept

NOVEMBER 2013

DECEMBER 2013

Half Day of School – Students & Staff Start of Winter Break

JANUARY 2014

MARCH 2014

10- Full Days 12 13 14

Half Day Half Day - New End of Trimester

1 9 23 26

Conferences (Evening) – HS, Alt HS Early Release Early Release No School - Memorial Day

MAY 2014

FEBRUARY 2014

5 6

APRIL 2014

JUNE 2014

*Half Day of School - Students *Half Day of School - Students

Follow Mr. Bontrager On...

@mountienationnw

24 2013-2014

Northwest Community Schools