The Argus-Press
Tuttle’s Thoughts Our students are worth it!!! A “buzz of intellectual curiosity” can be heard throughout the district and into the community. During the past several months, Owosso’s staff members have spent considerable time questioning why we do what we do and how to best prepare our students for successful educational experiences and careers. H. Lynn Erickson, in her book, Stirring the Andrea Tuttle Head, Heart, and Soul, reminds Superintendent educators, that in order for students to truly learn, they must engage in units of instruction that connect to the thinking, feeling, and being of our students. Cross curricular and concept based instruction that is rooted in students asking fundamental questions leading to big ideas, help students make these important connections. This kind of learning is the norm when students are taught in an environment that is shaped by the International Baccalaureate (IB) instructional philosophy. This past weekend, several of our teachers attended rigorous training to better understand the IB philosophy as all of our elementary buildings develop curricula aligned to increasing student engagement through the Primary Years Programme (Grades Preschool-5) of IB. Our Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10) continues to deepen its existing IB foundation with particular focus on helping our high school facilitators of education merge their ideas with those initiated at Owosso Middle School. Through the generous funding support of The Cook Family Foundation, Owosso staff members are experiencing opportunities to learn together as well as engage in dialogue with others educators from all over the world. They are being given permission to step outside the legislatively driven curriculum rules of the last decade. This is exciting to observe. The buzz of intellectual curiosity and questioning can be heard among our teachers as they work hard to transform classroom practices to meet the ever-changing demands of the 21st Century. Owosso Public Schools are committed to staying focused on the challenge of transforming our learning environment in ways that we have never experienced, and for which there are few models. Our students are worth it and our staff is leading by example!
Owosso DI Teams Capture Numerous Awards Seven Owosso Public Schools’ Destination ImagiNation teams competed against other schools on March 10 with great success. Four competitive elementary teams took home two first places, one second place, and one fourth place. Club Advisor Mrs. LaMay reports, “We have three elementary teams advancing to the state finals at the end of April. This is a fantastic way to showcase the talents of Owosso students!” Mrs. LaMay also, reports that her rising star (noncompetitive) team performed exceptionally well. “Our younger students made me so proud! When their time comes, these students will be ready to join the competitive teams,” exclaimed Mrs. LaMay. Owosso Middle School had three teams compete in Holt on March 10. All three teams placed in the top half of their category. One team earned first place by demonstrating how solar energy can make a difference in people’s lives and has qualified for the state competition. The teams prepared all year in Creativity Club at OMS led by Mrs. Spielman with assistance from MSU interns Mr. Perrin, Ms. Love, Ms. Garassi, Mr. Gillett, Ms. Harrison and parent Mrs. McClintock. Destination Imagination started in Owosso four years ago when Mrs. Spielman took five 6th grade teams to the Holt competition. “We are excited about the growth of this program, and look forward to the state level of competition April 21, in Mt. Pleasant,” said Mrs. Spielman.
Owosso Middle School teams are pictured at the Destination ImagiNation Competition on March 10, 2012.
Superintendent
19 Students Inducted Into National Honor Society
Congratulations new NHS members!
The inductees are in alphabetical order in the picture from left to right starting in the back row on the risers. On stage behind the inductees are the officers for next year: Lindsey Gerstler (treasurer), Heather Johnson (hidden) ( VP of school service), Sydney Brodeur ( VP of community service), Courtney Crawford (president), Teresa Laskowski (adviser), Rebekah Farrell (secretary), Larissa VanSice (historian), Zoe Klem (parliamentarian), and Paige Leland (representative). “Abercrombie & Fitch” Kortnee Potter – 7th OMS
Owosso, Michigan
March MONDAY
Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m. in OHS media center Bryant Beehive all week 3:45-5 p.m. in media center Bryant F.A.S.T. program 5:30 p.m. NHS Oscar Night in OHS auditorium at 7 p.m. JV Baseball @ Everett 4 p.m. Varsity Baseball v. Everett 4 p.m. JV Softball @ Everett 4 p.m. Varsity Softball v. Everett 4 p.m.
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TUESDAY
Bryant Girls on the Run 4-5:30 p.m. Emerson’s Schwan’s Sale 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. OMS Vision Screening OHS After School Tutoring 3-4 p.m. OHS Jazz Extravaganza in auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Varsity Track @ Michigan State University time: TBA JV Tennis @ Corunna 4 p.m. Varsity Tennis v. Corunna 4 p.m. JV Soccer v. Corunna 5 p.m. Varsity Soccer v. Corunna 6:30 p.m.
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WEDNESDAY Bryant Girl Scouts meeting 6 p.m. in media center OMS Student of the Month Breakfast JV & Varsity Tennis v. Chesaning 4 p.m. THURSDAY
Bryant Boy Scouts meeting 6 p.m. in g ym Bryant Girls on the Run 4-5:30 p.m. OHS Parent Involvement Team meeting 12 noon OHS After School Tutoring 3-4 p.m. JV Soccer @ Ovid Elsie Varsity Golf @ Perry (Larry Judson Inv.) JV Baseball v. Nouvel CC 4 p.m. Varsity Baseball @ Nouvel CC 4 p.m. JV Softball v. Nouvel CC 4 p.m. Varsity Softball @ Nouvel CC 4 p.m. Varsity Soccer @ Laingsburg 5:30 p.m.
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The Destination ImagiNation elementary team of Logan Nolen-Morris, Lucy Popovitch, Emily Rau, and Morgan Louch are shown presenting their challenge. Francesca Riley (not pictured) is also a member of this team.
OMS’s Care Packages for Troops The Owosso Middle School Humanities Department has been collecting items for the last month to send to the United States Army National Guard 1-126 Calvary unit now serving in Afghanistan. This unit of 101 soldiers was deployed last fall. Among those serving is 1st Sergeant Alpha Troop Leader Chris Hamlett who, along with his wife Denise, are from the Owosso area. “The Humanities Department is committed to giving all students opportunities to impact their local, national, and international communities within the regular curriculum,” reports OMS Teacher Mrs. Spielman. “We were made aware that the troops in Afghanistan typically receive the most donation support throughout the holidays. Students wanted to make a difference at a different time of year. So many OMS students have connections in some way to our military that they feel passionate about supporting these men and women.” Assisting the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in the effort is local realtor Jeff McIntyre who also collected items at his office, Selleck Agency. Cards, letters, food, and personal care items will be shipped to the unit in May. Donations are still being collected at the Selleck Agency to assist with the postage fees of sending the care packages to the troops. Postage is estimated at $1,300.
“Hollister” Jadyn Felver – 7th OMS
“Gander Mountain” Jacob Fisher – 7th OMS
Thurs., March 22, 2012
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If you could be the CEO of any company in the world, which one would it be?
“Nike” Parker Soukup – 7th OMS
FRIDAY District-wide Casual for a Cause benefiting The ARC Shiawassee 30 Bryant March is Reading Month Assembly 2:45 p.m. Bryant Popcorn Sale Central Kindergarten Field Trip
Owosso Public Schools’ full day kindergarten program cultivates and connects the curious learner in every child in a caring and safe atmosphere. Our highly qualified teachers create customized learning plans for each student with the goal of advancing all students, at all ability levels. Our curriculum is centered on LITERACY (reading, writing, listening, speaking) through: SCIENCE • TECHNOLOGY • ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS • FINE ARTS WORLD LANGUAGES • ENTREPRENEURSHIP Owosso’s teachers nurture the academic, physical, social and emotional development of each child using reallife, engaging methods. We prioritize early childhood education to ensure all students become strong, independent learners who possess a variety of 21st century skills. If you have or know of someone who has a child who will be five years of age by December 1, 2012, please call right away to schedule a registration time. The kindergarten registration packet is available on the OPS web site www.owosso.k12.mi.us and in all elementary school offices. Bryant: 989-723-4355 Central: 989-723-2790 Emerson: 989-725-7361
“DC” Breckin Flury – 7th OMS
“McDonald’s” Kalob Ashmun – 7th OMS
“Apple” Jay Michels – 7th OMS
Register today! COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS Program details and registration forms can be obtained by calling the Community Education office at 989-729-5682 or visit www.owosso.k12.mi.us. Registration forms must be received a minimum of five days prior to the start of the class unless stated otherwise.
Zumba Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2/21/12 to 4/19/12 6:45-7:45 p.m. Instructor: Kristy Schmidtfranz $5 per walk-in
Dog Obedience Programs Beginning Dog Obedience Level I Wednesdays, 4/18/12 to 5/30/12 (7 weeks) 8-9 p.m. Maximum enrollment per class: 8 dogs Instructor: Cheryl Barton $35 per dog
Beginning Dog Obedience Level II Thursdays, 4/19/12 to 5/31/12 (7 weeks) 6-7 p.m. Maximum enrollment per class: 8 dogs Instructor: Cheryl Barton $35 per dog
Agility Training
On March 13, Denise Hamlett and Jeff McIntyre visited Owosso Middle School to pick up the donations that students collected for troops overseas.
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Kindergarten Registration
Proud to be a Trojan,
On March 6, Owosso High School’s National Honor Society held their annual Induction Ceremony and Awards Banquet. Superintendent Dr. Tuttle was the guest speaker at the Induction Ceremony and many students received awards representing thousands of hours of NHS service. Membership in the National Honor Society is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a high school student. The NHS has worked hard to bring the accomplishments of outstanding students to the attention of parents, teachers, peers, and the community. Chapters in high schools across the nation strive to give practical meaning to the society’s goals of scholarship, service, leadership and character. These four ideals are the basis for selection. No student is inducted simply because of a high academic average. The National Honor Society strives to recognize the total student: one who excels in all of these areas. National Honor Society Inductees Katherine Lynch Kelvin Alderman Kendall Mallory Grant Armstrong Bart Porter Jordan Bannan Michelle Shattuck Angela Bonilla Brian Stanhope Brendan Butcher Alex Stechschulte Bradley DeGarmo Madison VanEpps Kailey Grubb Ashley Woodworth Caitlin Harrell Megan Zemla Mackenzie Jones Megan Konopacke
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Wednesdays, 4/18/12 to 5/30/12 (7 weeks) 6-7 p.m. Maximum enrollment: 8 dogs Instructor: Cheryl Barton $45 per dog
Swim Programs Lap Swim
Lap swimming takes place in the Owosso High School pool. Lap swim will conclude on May 18, 2012. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: 5:45-6:45 a.m. The cost is $2 per visit and is paid at the pool. Pre-registration is not required.
Open Swim
Open family swim takes place in the Owosso High School pool. Pre-registration is not required. Mondays, 2/27/12 to 3/26/12 7-8 p.m. Saturdays, 1/7/12 to 3/24/12 12-2 p.m. $2 per person per visit or $5 per family per visit paid at the pool.
“Hot Topics” Brook Schneider – 7th OMS
“Toys R Us” Katie Stanfield – 7th OMS
“The White House” Hannah Perry – 7th OMS
Water Aerobics Mondays and Thursdays, 2/23/12 to 5/24/12 (24 classes), no class 4/2 or 4/5 6-7 p.m. OHS Pool Instructor: Linda Christmas $3 per visit
“Apple” Taylor McMaster – 7th OMS
“Dole” Reanna Norman – 7th OMS
“Wal-Mart” Bailey Albrecht – 7th OMS