OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL
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2 8 0 0 J O L LY ROA D
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VOL. 20, ISSUE 1
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ohspress@okemosk12.net
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M a y, 2 0 21
THE OHS PRESS Principal Christine Sermak retiring after 21 years at OHS Rose Albrecht Editor in Chief
Christine Sermak is graduating from her time as Okemos High School’s Principal with the class of 2021. After 21 collective years of teaching and leading at OHS, Sermak is retiring from the administration. It was a hard choice to make for Sermak, but ultimately the wear of the pandemic was what made her decide to make this her last year as an administrator. “It was hard for over a year to not have interactions [with students]. Really for the last year my interactions with students, and that’s what really filled my bucket in the hallways, I didn’t have so I think a combination of just the level of stress and not being able to be with kids and refill the bucket was that tipping point and I just decided, you know, this is the year,” Sermak said. This was not how Sermak had originally planned to end her career at OHS. “It’s bittersweet. I truly thought I was going to go another four years… I was actually looking forward to a couple of years not having my own kids in the building and just being able to be a full-time principal and enjoy the evening activities versus being pulled between ‘Do I make dinner at home tonight?’ or ‘Do I go to an athletic or musical event?’ but this past year has really taken a toll on me and that was really the tipping point,” Sermak said. To honor her legacy, the OHS Press is reflecting past few decades with an in-depth interview about her time here. Sermak has been the Principal of OHS for 11 years now, from fall 2010 to spring 2021. Before that, she taught in the English department for ten years. “I started my career teaching at Okemos High School in 1994 which was the very first year this building opened so I spent ten years as a teacher in the building, and then this is my eleventh year as the building principal. I was at Williamson Middle School for six years as an assistant principal and athletic director in between that,” Sermak said. She has always known she wanted to work in education but not only that, as a kid Sermak had always wanted to go to Okemos High School but wasn’t able to go, so she made it her mission to teach there one day. “I’ve played school or thought about being a teacher and educator since I was twelve, and we used to have chalkboards, so I would have a chalkboard in my basement where I could play school; some people played house or ball but I played school,” Sermak said. “Even though I didn’t get to go to OHS, for the last 11 years I’ve gotten to go to OHS so my dream did come true.” Many of the faces that Sermak started out with are still familiar to students today. She taught with Rachel Freeman (English) and Diane Dockus (English) and grew up
Clockwise: Christine Sermak with fellow chaperones on a field trip to Boston; celebrating the graduation of the class of 2020 in a rainstorm; Twin Day with Danielle Tandoc; on the sidelines coaching the OHS girls varsity basketball team; Touch of Class with her daughter, Maddie.
competing against Danielle Tandoc (Science) in sports. Even Derm has been around since Sermak started teaching at OHS, the familiar faces a testament to the strong community in Okemos that Sermak describes. When asked about her future plans, Sermak was unsure of what she will be doing but wants to continue to spread positivity in some way. “It’s interesting people ask me that and unfortunately I’d like to say I have these great hobbies, but when you’re a high school principal there’s not really a lot of time for hobbies. My hobbies were attending band concerts, musicals and sporting events. So I’m going to take this summer and rejuvenate and try to find balance. I love to read so I will read, I will work out, and then I’m not really sure. I know I have a lot of energy left, a lot of positivity that I want to share with others, so I definitely will do something with people. I don’t know what I will do, but you will not find me in a cubicle, you will not find me as a greeter. I want to do something
meaningful and make a difference essays, but my first year [in the adbut I don’t want to be in charge,” ministration] I would have loved to Sermak said. read a Huck Finn essay,” Sermak Sermak said she would miss the said. “Most of all it’s probably the students and community of OHS the negativity. My job really is to make most. people happy, make people success“The things that you all did, the ful, and when I couldn’t do that, even dialogues, the conversations. It gives when I gave it my best, that was hard me hope for our future. Okemos has because you do want to set people up always exceeded expectations. I for success. We’re in the business of think I will miss the positive aspects customer service for parents and stuof Okemos which truly are the peo- dents, and there’s a lot of weight on ple,” Sermak said. keeping people happy.” Every job has Even with the its downsides, drawbacks, she had and here’s what posiThis hasn’t felt like aoverwhelmingly Sermak had to tive things to say about say when asked job or career, it’s beenthe position and the what she would more like a calling. Okemos community. miss the least. “I have so many “Probably the memories I wouldn’t hours. I won’t know where to begin miss being on but some of my favorcall seven days a ite memories are again week and working all hours of the us coming together as a community night and day but on the other hand, whether it’s rallying around a sports maybe I will. As an English teacher, team or it’s going and sitting in the I never thought I would miss grading auditorium and seeing the musicals.
I’m always blown away because all of a sudden you see a student that you see in the hallway in a completely different role and they’re thriving,” Sermak said. Looking forward, Sermak has hopeful prospects for the future of OHS. “I would like OHS to continue thriving and being a safe place for learning and growth for everyone. I would also like students to feel comfortable with their administration and with their teachers and support staff so if you see something that’s not working for you you could go to the adults and be part of that solution. I think that’s another thing that’s special about Okemos, students have a voice and over the years they have helped shape the change in the community. I want that sense of empowerment to be able to go to adults and say ‘This isn’t working, here is a solution,’” Sermak said. “The personal connections that the staff and students have made are very unique. I don’t take that for granted.”
Photos courtesy Christine Sermak
Lastly, here are her parting words for the students and staff of Okemos High School. “This hasn’t felt like a job or career, it’s been more like a calling. I always thought I would be an educator, always thought I would be a teacher, and to do it in Okemos and to be here, I am just so proud, I am so grateful, and it’s because of the people. Every single day people show up and do their very best. They come together, and it’s about trying to make yourself better and make the best experience for students as possible so hopefully, they, in turn, can give it back and pay it forward when they are in our roles as adults, and I think again that Okemos community is what has allowed this. I hope this sense of togetherness and family-type atmosphere continues because that is what makes Okemos great,” Sermak said.
Retiring teachers pg. 5
Senior Sendoff pgs. 2-3
Funny mascot ideas pg. 6