St. Joseph PUBLIC SCHOOLS
great schoolS in a great community
FALL 2009
“WE ARE ST. JOE!” This cheer can often be heard at our football games as students and adults alike proclaim their pride in support of the athletic team on the field. That same statement applies to the pride we have in this wonderful community, from the beaches to the summer concerts and the beautiful sunsets, to the academic successes of our students and the overall quality of our school program.
What’s Inside: GENEral school calendar busing information food service update thank you SJPS Foundation losing a legend remembering 9/11 parent internet viewer fall sports schedules sj tops in mme scores cot rooms a success! orchestra to play carnegie hall memories of the past fieldhouse programs alumni invitation
Board of Education
Frank Pastrick, President Amy Porritt-Peirce, Vice President Randy Reimers, Treasurer Denise Reeves, Secretary Dean Ray, Trustee Mary Ann Pater, Trustee Tamara Patrick, Trustee
Last school year was marked with many positive successes. All our buildings again received the letter grade of “A” from the state, our third through ninth graders scored at the top of the state’s MEAP student assessment, and our eleventh graders led all other students in public schools in Southwest Michigan. We remain in the top 5% of schools in the state. The 2009-2010 school year promises to be another banner year for the St. Joseph Public Schools. New teacher computers were purchased for our elementary teachers, and two new buses were obtained to replace two retired models. Our teachers continue to grow in the delivery of instruction because of an aggressive professional development program designed to improve the teaching and learning in our classrooms every day. Financially our house is in order as we prepare to weather the financial crisis at the state level. All of our labor groups have accepted three year contracts with a pay freeze in the first year. For the first time in five years our fund balance is large enough that borrowing will not be necessary, and we have a strategic plan in place to guide all our decisions so your schools will continue to excel at every level and be the “Lighthouse District” that others turn to as the example of excellence. In addition, the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation continues to support our district through teacher grants, field trips, and major projects such as upgrading the Upton Planetarium and creating the demonstration Classrooms of Today in every building. While we have much to be proud of, there remain several areas of need that must be addressed in the very near future. Last year at this time we were preparing to ask the taxpayers of this district to support a bond issue to upgrade technology, increase energy efficiency, improve student safety and security, and bring our fine arts complex, including the auditorium, up to twenty first century standards. The Board wisely withdrew that request in light of the extreme economic downturn we all faced. Unfortunately, the needs in these areas have not changed and the upgrades are desperately needed. The pause, however, has allowed us to demonstrate the increased student achievement in the Classrooms of Today. Nationally, the gain for students in classrooms using this technology is 17%. Our limited time in these classrooms has given similar results. When the time is right, the St. Joseph Board of Education will again bring the issue to the voters so we can address these needs. In the meantime, the Board will continue to use building and site funds to address critical concerns. We appreciate the support this community has shown our schools and we look forward to seeing you at concerts, games, athletic events, honors assemblies, parent teacher conferences, and back to school nights. Great Schools in a Great Community – We are St. Joe!
Allen Skibbe Superintendent
school calendar 2009-2010 2009 2010
SEPTEMBER Teachers Report 1
2 5-6 pm Upton Middle School Orientation 6-7 pm Elementary Ice Cream Socials 6-8 pm HS 9th & New Student Orientation 8 School Begins 15 High School - Back to School Night 16 Elementaries - Back to School Night 17 Middle School - Back to School Night 23 MS & HS Two Hour Delay - Teacher Inservice 30 Student Count Day
October 23 NO SCHOOL Y5/K-5 28 MS & HS Two Hour Delay - Teacher Inservice
November
1 Daylight Savings Begins 3 End of 1st Marking Period 11 Parent/Teacher Conferences MS & HS *School as normal for all students 12 NO SCHOOL Y5/K-12 P/T Conferences – Grades Y5/K-5 Teacher In-Service for HS & Middle 13 NO SCHOOL Y5/K - 12 P/T Conferences – Grades Y5/K-5 25,26,27 NO SCHOOL Y5/K-12 Thanksgiving Break
December
18
Winter Break Begins at End of Day
IMPORTANT! EMERGENCY CARD INFORMATION All emergency cards will be filled out on-line for the 2009/10 school year. This means that you will only fill out 1 form per family! www.sjschools.org/parentinfo after September 1st We are asking that you complete these forms as soon as possible. If you do not have internet access please contact your school office.
January
4 School Reconvenes 18 NO SCHOOL Y5/K-12 Martin Luther King Day – 20,21,22 Semester tests - High School No PM Classes, Grades 9-12 only 22 End of 2nd Marking Period 25 NO SCHOOL Y5/K-12 Teacher Record Day
February 10 Student Count Day 11,12 NO SCHOOL Y5/K-5 P/T Conferences – Elementary Only 15 NO SCHOOL Y5/K-12 President's Day 24 MS & HS Two Hour Delay - Teacher Inservice Kindergarten Round-Up 7 pm Lincoln March 3 9 11 17 24
Time Change - Spring Forward Michigan Merit Exam (MME) Testing Freshmen, Sophomores, and Seniors only - no School NO SCHOOL Y5/K-5 Teacher In-Service MS & HS Two Hour Delay - Teacher Inservice End of 3rd Marking Period
APRIL 1 Spring Break Begins at End of Day 12 School Reconvenes 22 NO SCHOOL Y5/K-12 Teacher In-Service "Take Your Child to Work Day"
May 31 NO SCHOOL Y5/K-12 Memorial Day
JUNE 2,3,4 Semester tests - High School & Upton No PM Classes, Grades 6-12 only 4 Last Day of School for all Students Half Day AM & PM Programs report in AM 7 Teacher Record Day (No Students)
Day Schedule NOTE: This calendar may be modified as necessary to comply with state law and through the calendar committee. Dates will be posted as soon as available. All up-to-date calendars are available on-line at www.sjschools.org.
Young Fives/Kindergarten AM Young Fives/Kindergarten PM Elementary Schools Upton Middle School High School
8:25 am to 11:46 am 12:30 pm to 3:52 pm 8:25 am to 3:52 pm 7:45 am to 2:44 pm 8:00 am to 3:05 pm
Transportation bus routes and schedules will be
available soon at www.sjschools.org/transportation Bus routes and schedules will be available on-line as well as posted on the front doors at school. You will need to determine the stop closest to your home for the morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off for all students in Young Fives through 12th Grade. Please contact the Transportation Department, at 926-3900 or email ksoper@sjschools.org or skroening@sjschools.org, with any questions you might have. Please also notify them of changes in your child’s expected bus route due to day care, etc. Your child’s safety is a top priority for us! Please be patient the first few days of school as our drivers work to welcome new riders, establish routines, and double check student names. Often routes tend to be a little longer the first week or two. Please Note: Parents of Young Fives and Kindergarten students will be contacted by their bus driver prior to the start of school regarding mid-day transportation procedures.
From the Cafeteria Studies show that children who regularly ate a healthy lunch had better standardized test scores and better classroom behavior. Young Fives & Kindergarten Milk is $32 for the year for our Young Fives and Kindergarten students and can be paid for in the school office on September 2nd during Orientation.
Elementary Breakfast Program Breakfast will be offered daily in the cafeterias, please check your school’s calendar for times. Meal prices are $1.30 for elementary students and $1.50 for secondary students. More information will be sent home with your child the first week of school. Lunch Program Student lunches are $2.25 for elementary and $2.55 for secondary per day. This includes the entrée (or alternate choice of sandwich), vegetable/fruit bar, and milk. Additional milk may be purchased for 45 cents. Students need to bring lunch money with them on the first day of school unless they have funds left from last year. Any food service debts from last year should be settled as soon as possible. Please visit www.lunchdeposit.com for information related to student accounts. Free & Reduced Meals Applications for free and reduced price lunches and milk will be sent home on the first day of school or they can be found at www.lunchapp.com. Lunch and milk must be purchased until these applications have been received and qualification has been determined. If you would like to pick up an application before the school year begins, they are available in the school office. All menus are available on-line.
Thank You! “No Show” Ball yields big results! The
students,
teachers
and
administration would like to extend their thanks to the St. Joseph Public Schools
Foundation for their donation of over $9,000 to the annual fieldtrip fund.
This means that despite the State level budget crisis that St. Joseph students will still be able to enjoy these great trips. Some of these include: Salvation Army Upton Planetarium Curious Kids Lake Michigan College Lansing Capital MI City Train St Grand Mere Froggy Park Lincoln/Heritage Center B.C. Courthouse SJ Library Conner Prairie SWM College Art Institute of Chicago Lakeland Hospital Andrews Library 5 Pines Starks Funeral MSU Blossomland
1985-2008 Boys Varsity Soccer
Losing a Legend
24 year record of 325 wins 148 losses, 26 ties 22 Consecutive Winning Seasons
Soccer Coach Steve Lohrke Retires.
7 West Division Championships 4 Conference Championships
Steve Lohrke started coaching the Bear’s Soccer team in 1985, just four years after the high school started a varsity program. Prior to his arrival, the team finished last in the conference in each of the previous four years, and averaged only 4 wins and 14 losses.
7 District Championships 2 Regional Championships 1 State Runner-Up
Within two seasons Steve turned the program around, and the 1987 team posted the school’s first winning season on record (14-7). Coach Lohrke also led the team to a conference, district, and regional titile, eventually losing in the state semi-finals to eventual state champion. In 1992, Steve was instrumental in the planning and completion of the first high school “soccer-only” facility in SW Michigan. The “Bear Cage” is now considered one of the premier soccer facilities in the State of Michigan. College teams regularly use it to train for their visits to Notre Dame University and it has been studied, photographed, and used as a template for other programs, when building their own facilities. Coach Lohrke will be greatly missed by students and staff. Athletic Director, Kevin Guzzo had this to say, “Steve was a first class coach and person that will be greatly missed as a role model in our district. He inspired many student athletes and has left quite a legacy as a coach. Players, opposing coaches, and officials all greatly respected him for his many, many contributions to the world of high school soccer.”
30 Players who attained college roster spots 8 Academic All-State Teams 1996-1999/ 2002-2009 Varsity Girls Soccer 12 year record of 131 wins 71 losses 15 ties 11 winning seasons 4 Western Division Championships 1 Conference Championship 2 District Championships 1 Regional Championship 15 Players who attained college roster spots
REMEMBE
N
11 - A SPECI / 9 G A VENT! LE
RI
6 Academic All-State Teams
Parent internet viewer
View your student’s grades and attendance on-line. Note, this is for MS and HS students only. To access PIV, go to www.sjschools.org and select your child’s school. Then under the “parents” tab found at the top of the page, you will find the PIV option. Note: The user id and password for this application is NOT the same one that you use to log into the web site.
Friday, September 11 To commemorate this important date, Middle School and High School students will hear from Jim LaPenna, a First Responder to the 9/11 Attacks. Jim and his son will also join us at the football game that evening. Please help us to remember this important event and to honor those who continue to give their lives for our freedom. Sponsored by the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation.
You will need to have your student’s id number and the password assigned by the school district. This is handed out at the beginning of each school year at Back-to-School night. If you are unable to attend, or have misplaced your information, please contact: Ren Baldwin, Dir. of Technology rbaldwin@sjschools.org or 926-3245.
Men’s Varsity Tennis
Women’s Varsity Swim
Weds 09/02/09 BC Lakeview 6:00PM
Varsity Football
Fri 08/28/09 Marshall* 7:30PM Thurs 09/03/09 Harper* 7:30PM
Thurs 08/20/09 ALLEGAN* 8:30AM
Sat 09/12/09 BC LAKEVIEW RELAYS* 11:00AM
Fri 08/21/09 SB−SJ 5:00PM
Sat 09/26/09 STURGIS RELAYS* 10:30AM
SaT 08/22/09 FOREST HILLS* 9:00AM
Tues 09/29/09 Mattawan 6:00PM
Fri 09/25/09 Benton Harbor* 7:30PM
Tues 08/25/09 H. Christian 4:00PM
Thurs 10/01/09 BC Central* 6:00PM
Fri 10/02/09 Portage Central 7:30PM
Weds 08/26/09 Portage N* 4:30PM
Tues 10/06/09 Portage Central* 6:00PM
Sat 08/29/09 TRAVERSE INV.* TBA
Thurs 10/08/09 Otsego* 6:00PM
WedS 09/02/09 Lakeshore 4:30PM
Tues 10/13/09 Lakeshore 6:00PM
WedS 09/09/09 Mattawan* 4:30PM
Thurs 10/15/09 Plainwell 6:00PM
SaT 09/12/09 PIONEER INVITE* 8:00AM
Tues 10/20/09 Port. Northern* 6:00PM
WedS 09/16/09 Niles 4:30PM
Sat 10/24/09 MISCA MEET Away TBA
Thurs 09/17/09 W Ottawa* 4:30PM
Tues 10/27/09 Kzoo Central 6:00PM
SaT 09/19/09 OKEMOS QUAD* 9:00AM
Fri 09/11/09 Niles 7:30PM Fri 09/18/09 Loy Norrix* 7:30PM
Fri 10/09/09 Mattawan* 7:30PM Fri 10/16/09 Lakeshore 7:30PM Fri 10/23/09 Portage Northern − Homecoming 7:30PM
Women’s Varsity Golf
Thurs 08/20/09 TRI MEET* 9:00AM Fri 08/21/09 KZOO INVITE* 9:00AM Weds 08/26/09 WEST JAM* 10:00AM
Sat 09/26/09 GRANDVILLE* 9:00AM
Mon 08/31/09 WEST@MATTAWAN* TBA
Mon 09/28/09 West@East* 4:30PM
WedS 09/02/09 League * 9:00AM
Tues 09/29/09 Allegan* 4:30PM WedS 09/30/09 Cent@West 4:30PM
Women’s Varsity Volleyball
Mon 08/24/09 VICKSBURG* 5:00PM Weds 08/26/09 DOWAGIAC* 5:00PM
FALL ATHLETIC SCHEDULES For additional game details, jv & freshmen schedules, directions, ticket information, and youth clinics please visit www.sjschools.org
* indicates away game
WedS 09/09/09 WEST@BH* 3:30PM Thurs 09/10/09 South Haven* 3:30PM Mon 09/14/09 WEST@NILES* 3:30PM Thurs 09/17/09 TRI MEET* 3:30PM Mon 09/21/09 SJHS 3:30PM Mon 09/28/09 League Meet* 9:00AM Tues 09/29/09 Niles 3:30PM
Men’s Varsity Soccer
Sat 08/29/09 PORT NORTHERN* 8:00AM
Sat 08/22/09 PORTAGE INVITE* 9:00AM
WedS 09/09/09 Mattawan* 7:00PM
Mon 08/24/09 Otsego* 6:45PM
Sat 09/12/09 LAKESHORE* 8:30AM
Sat 08/29/09 Vicksburg 6:45PM
Weds 09/16/09 BHHS* 7:00PM Weds 09/23/09 Niles 7:00PM
Men’s & Women’s Cross Country
Mon 08/31/09 Dowagiac 6:45PM Weds 09/02/09 Paw Paw* 6:45PM Tues 09/08/09 Mattawan* 6:45PM
Sat 09/26/09 CROWN POINT INV.* 9:00AM
Sat 08/22/09 NILES INVITE* 10:00AM
Thurs 09/10/09 Benton Harbor 6:45PM
Mon 10/05/09 Paw Paw* 6:30PM
WedS 09/02/09 SJ INVITE 4:30PM
Sat 09/12/09 Lakeshore* 6:45PM
Weds 10/07/09 Lakeshore 7:00PM
Sat 09/12/09 HARPER CREEK INV.* 10:00AM
Mon 09/14/09 Niles 6:45PM
Sat 10/10/09 STURGIS INVITE* 8:30AM
Fri 09/18/09 MSU INVITE* TBA
Tues 10/13/09 Otsego* 6:00PM
Weds 09/23/09 West@Niles* 5:00PM
Sat 10/17/09 Coloma* 8:30AM
Sat 09/26/09 BANGOR INVITE* 9:00AM
Thurs 10/01/09 League Tourn* 6:45PM
WedS 10/21/09 West@East* 7:00PM
Weds 09/30/09 TRI Meet 5:00PM
Sat 10/03/09 South Haven 6:45PM
Sat 10/24/09 SJ INVITE 9:00AM
Sat 10/03/09 BC INVITE* 9:30AM
Weds 10/28/09 Cent@West 7:00PM
WedS 10/07/09 West@Lakeshore* 5:00PM Sat 10/10/09 Portage Invite* 9:00AM Thurs 10/15/09 DOWAGIAC INVITE* 5:00PM
Sat 09/19/09 CLAY CLASSIC* 9:30AM Thurs 09/24/09 West@East* 6:45PM Tues 09/29/09 Central@West 6:45PM
Tues 10/06/09 League Tourn* 6:45PM Thurs 10/08/09 League Tourn* 6:45PM Sat 10/10/09 Bridgman 6:45PM
top scores: SJ Top Public School in Berrien County
Outstanding MME Scores By SJ Students
St. Joseph students excelled again this year, by achieving top scores in four out of five categories on the MME test. The MME was introduced in 2007 as a replacement to the high school MEAP exams. Every spring the MME tests high school juniors on their proficiency in five core subject areas: reading, writing, math, science and social studies. In four of five subjects, St. Joseph has shown steady improvement over the three years of the MME. Since 2007, reading proficiency has risen from 71.2 to 76.4 percent; writing from 53 to 65.4; math from 63.8 to 71.3; and science from 73.1 to 79.7. Social studies proficiency started high at 92.3, dipped slightly, then came to 91.2 percent in 2009. All scores are well above state averages. READING
WRITING
MATH
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
St. Joseph 76.4
St. Joseph 65.4
St. Joseph 71.3
St. Joseph 79.7
Lawton 95.3
Lakeshore 74.4
Lakeshore 58.6
Lakeshore 70.7
Gobles 68.9
Bridgman 92.4
Bridgman 74.4
Lawton 58.6
Lawrence 66.0
Lawton 68.8
Lakeshore 92.2
South Haven 70.3
Niles 49.5
Bridgman 57.0
Lakeshore 68.4
New Buffalo 92.1
Lawrence 69.8
South Haven 48.6
South Haven 55.6
Bridgman 63.3
St. Joseph 91.2
State Avg. 59.9
State Avg. 43.4
State Avg. 49.3
State Avg. 55.6
State Avg. 81.3
students find success
in the Classrooms of Today!
Written by REN BALDWIN Dir. of technology
Following the completion of the evaluation period of Classrooms of Today, the COT teachers and Director of Technology met to finalize the overall evaluation of the technology rich learning environments.
test
results
observations
and
clearly
daily
showed
the advantages of a COT room above those of a traditional classroom.
of teaching and learning in
Education Foundation to secure
was clearly seen.
average of 17 percent higher
all
of
students
evaluation
to
time
participate While the
period
was
very short, the testing results demonstrate excellent academic
growth. At the elementary and
middle school levels NWEA testing results were used to
compare success rates. This is
testing done early in the school year and again in the spring.
All those involved readily agreed that
The engagement and eagerness
Results of longer, multi-year
studies, by Robert Marzano (http://www.marzanoresearch.
com), an internationally known researcher
in
educational
assessment, on the effectiveness
interactive classrooms show an achievement
than
classrooms
and
teaching
and learning in traditional traditional methods.
adequate funding to transform district
classrooms
“Classrooms of Today�.
into
by
To assure that all students
in the District have the opportunity to learn in true 21st
Century
Environments, Educational Specialists
Learning
the
Technology
and
current
COT teachers in our district are
committed
to
work
with the Administration, Board of Education, and St. Joseph
Please look for more information
as we get closer to acheiving this goal.
fine arts: SJ Orchestra to play at Carnegie Hall!
the bop is seeking your support. FOR MORE VISIT www.sjschools.org/bop The High School orchestra and band are planning exciting and educational trips in June, 2010! The orchestra is going to Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New York with a concert at Carnegie Hall. The band is planning a fun filled trip to Boston. To help decrease the cost of the trips, both groups are working together on fundraisers. The money generated will help reduce the cost for all students and chaperones traveling! Many volunteers, students and parents are needed for these fun events. On October 3, you can watch a double feature movie under the stars at the football stadium. There will be lots of fun games and activities as well. You can join the Tail Gate party on October 16 when St. Joseph football takes on Lakeshore. Enjoy the food and fun! If you don’t feel like cooking, we have Port-A-Pit serving a
BBQ supper in November. Also Instrumental Music Departments. in November and December, This year, there are over you can order a calendar and 600 high school and middle Holiday CD of the band, orchestra “Membership in the SJBOP is open and choir.
to anyone with a vested interest in the instrumental music program in the St. Joseph Public Schools, including parents, alumni, and grandparents, and friends.”
Other fundraisers during the year include bake sales, a raffle and donation of $50 for each bike sold if you mention our East Coast trip at Kickbikemike.com
This is a sample of events Band and Orchestra parents are planning to help defray the expenses of the trips. These trips are wonderful enrichment activities for our children. Our goal is to make them affordable so all students have the opportunity to attend. Please consider donating your time and money to this effort. The St. Joseph Band and Orchestra Parents Association (SJBOP) was established in 1951 to aid the students and the program of the St. Joseph
- president, mary moran
students involved in band and orchestra. They help provide instruments, equipment, Artists in Residence (professional musicians helping our teachers), chaperones, scholarships to summer camps, attend Board of Education meetings as music advocacy liason, and raise funds for large trips through many fundraisers including Football concessions, Fall Sports Program advertisements and sales, Cool Nights Auction/Dance, Middle School fundraiser, and
many other events. Regular board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month, with no meetings scheduled during December, June, July, and August. This year’s meetings will be held at 7:00 pm in the Upton Orchestra Room, with September 8 as our first meeting. Interested parents are encouraged to attend.
Looking for Your Memories St. Joseph schools is developing a formal history of the schools and would like your input! In 1837, on a Saturday in May, the first St. Joseph
To learn more about this project, please contact
School District within the State of Michigan. Over
at 926-3252 or via email cwaterhouse@sjschools.
School Board met to formally create the St. Joseph the last 172 years Bear Pride has shined brightly
on the shore of Lake Michigan - although we weren’t always the Bears.
In doing research for
an alumni project, it has come to our attention that there is no true historical record that has been
kept of the school’s past. We are asking alumni,
community members and anyone out there that
has old photos, documents or vivid memories, to share those with us.
Christine Waterhouse, Communications Director org.
on-line
PARENT web site registration
Parents, in order to provide the best communication between our district, teachers, and your household, we are requesting that you register on our web site. It is an easy and quick process and will allow you to receive E-Alerts from your student’s teachers, update emergency information, view custom calendars and access common forms and more.
www.sjschools.org STEP 1: Register by visiting the school web site and filling out the on-line form. STEP 2: After you receive confirmation of your registration you MUST THEN subscribe to the areas you want to receive e-alerts from by logging in to the site and clicking on the MY INFO link.
St. joe bears alumni association invites you!
The St. Joe Bears Alumni Association will be welcoming alumni at the Bears Homecoming Football Game, October 23rd. Please stop by the Alumni Tent for refreshment and information regarding membership. The St. Joe Bears Alumni Association is for all graduates from St. Joseph High School.
3275 lincoln avenue, st. joseph, mi 49085 www.sjschools.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
Middle School 6th & New Student Orientation Sept. 2nd 5-6 pm Elementary Ice Cream Socials Sept. 2nd 6-7 pm High School 9th & New Student Orientation Sept. 2nd 6-8 pm FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Sept. 8th High School Back to School Night Sept. 15th Elementary Back to School Night Sept. 16th Middle School Back to School Night Sept. 17th ...more inside
Fieldhouse Public Fitness Program Starts in early November and runs through March. All St. Joseph residents are welcome. Walking/Jogging Adult Basketball Weight Room Sunday Family Swim/Gym Ultimate Frisbee Parent w/Child Basketball For more information about times, costs, etc... please visit www.sjschools.org.