Fall 2014
New Pre-Engineering Program Launched at LOHS Lake Orion High School is launching a new pre-engineering program this fall, designed to provide students with instruction in advanced engineering principles that will help them prepare for careers in engineering, manufacturing and industrial technology.
New engineering instructor Jim Stuef preps his lab.
School officials from Oakland County and professional engineers say the program’s focus on design, engineering principles and hands-on robotics and fabrication work, complemented by challenging math and science classes, make Lake Orion’s pre-engineering programs one of the most robust in Oakland County and the state. Extensive input on the pre-engineering program was provided by professional engineers, representatives from the Design and Manufacturing Alliance, Oakland Schools and parent mentors from the high school’s robotics team. More than 300 students have expressed an interest in the pre-engineering classes, which meet State of Michigan standards set for such vocational programs, as well as engineering and technology curriculum.
“We’re very excited about our new pre-engineering program,” said Heidi Mercer, the district’s Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. “Students who complete this multi-year program will be ahead of other students interested in entering the work world as technicians, as well as those who will be studying engineering in college.” In July, Lake Orion re-hired former Lake Orion High School teacher Jim Stuef as the pre-engineering program’s instructor. Stuef previously taught mechanical and architectural design classes at Lake Orion from 1993-99 before taking a similar position in the Farmington Public Schools district. He also was the advisor for the robotics team at North Farmington High School. In addition, Stuef’s background includes hands-on experience in the engineering and manufacturing technology fields. See Engineering Program on page 2
Earlier this summer, the State of Michigan released results of the 2013-14 Michigan Merit Exam and ACT taken by 11th graders. Lake Orion High School did very well. Our students scored significantly higher in all subject areas compared to other students in Oakland County and Michigan overall. There is room for improvement, however, and the district and our educators will continue to work hard with students to reach higher proficiency levels in the future.
2013-14 MME Student Proficiency Scores Released Lake Orion High School Results Subject Area
LOHS
Oakland County
State of Michigan
Mathematics
46%
37.7%
28.8%
Reading
78%
63.3%
58.7%
Science
46%
35.2
28.4%
Social Studies
70%
50.5%
43.9%
Writing
73%
57.8%
50.8%
School News 2014-15 School Times
Cont’d from Page 1
Engineering Program Blanche Sims Paint Creek
8:15 to 3:15 8:15 to 3:15
Pine Tree Webber
8:15 to 3:15 8:15 to 3:15
Carpenter Orion Oaks Stadium Drive
8:50 to 3:50 8:55 to 3:55 8:55 to 3:55
Oakview
7:35 to 2:25
Scripps Waldon
7:35 to 2:25 7:35 to 2:25
High School
M,T,TH,F W
Classes to be offered through the pre-engineering program will cover a variety of subject areas required by the State, among them: overview of engineering, component design process/problem solving, system project planning, engineering ethics, engineering graphical communications, materials and engineering systems, logistical engineering technologies, civil engineering technologies, electrical engineering technologies, thermal dynamic principles, meInstructor Jim Stuef chanical engineering principles, and manufacturing, assembly and fabrication principles. The school district also will be partnering with a local university to provide dual-enrollment opportunities for students interested in college-level coursework that could help them earn credits.
7:30 to 2:35 9:35 to 2:35
Please Don’t Forget to Vote! Renewal of Non-Homestead Operating Tax Levy On Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 voters living within the Lake Orion Community Schools district will be asked to renew the non-homestead operating tax levy. Primary residences are not subject to this tax. It only impacts non-homestead properties, such as industrial, commercial and some agricultural properties and second homes. This millage has been in place since Proposal A was passed by voters in 1994, with the last renewal in Lake Orion in 2005. The district is requesting another ten-year renewal. Failure to renew the operating mileage would result in a decrease of approximately $7 million in state funding for our district, nine percent of the 2014-15 operating budget. The district cannot transfer money from its Fund Balance to make up this loss in funding, since it is essentially at the minimum level allowed – 10.2 percent of expenditures – set by School Board policy and the auditor’s recommendation. 2
Elementary Launches “Pine Tree Strong” This fall, Pine Tree Elementary School is launching a special initiative: Pine Tree Strong - Strong of Mind, Strong of Body, Strong of Character. The school’s mission is to provide an exemplary education for all learners and this includes a wellrounded curriculum that promotes a healthy sense of self and encourages personal achievement. This philosophy led the staff to initiate a school-wide health and wellness focus. Research shows that students who are healthy and active tend to be happier and do better in school. A committed team comprised of staff, parents, students and community members has been working to develop a comprehensive sustainable curriculum that will include increased physical activity and fitness opportunities during the school day, brain breaks to stimulate learning, development of healthy eating habits, plus leadership and self-efficacy skills. All will be integrated into the school’s curriculum and include personal habits that contribute to academic and lifelong success such as persisting, thinking flexibly and creating, imagining and innovating. Pine Tree also will engage families in the learning process, incorporating such activities as Walking Wednesdays and Motor Moms and Dads. Local businesses are being invited to participate by supporting the school’s Health and Wellness Night and hosting a family math night at a local grocery store, where families will solve real-life math problems to create cost effective healthy meals. Everyone looks forward to an exceptional year of becoming Pine Tree Strong!
Lake Orion Teacher Selected as Finalist for National Presidential Math Award
New Administrators Appointed at LOCS
Francie Robertson, a fourth grade teacher at Pine Tree Elementary, has been selected as a Michigan state-level finalist in mathematics by the selection committee for this year’s Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Program.
Congratulations to Kerri Anderson, who was appointed as the district’s new Director of Curriculum. She previously was Principal at Carpenter Elementary School for the past six years. Adam Weldon, formerly Assistant Principal at Scripps Middle School, has been named the new Principal at Carpenter. The district also appointed Sarah Budreau as Associate Principal at Lake Orion High School.
Francie is one of two mathematics teachers selected to represent our state’s best at the national competition. The state selection team said they were very impressed with her commitment to excellence in teaching and her compassion for students.
Francie Robertson
As a state-level finalist Francie is automatically a candidate for the state Presidential Award which will be determined by judging at the national level. A national committee reporting to the National Science Foundation will name the teacher selected for the Presidential Awards from Michigan’s finalist(s). The teacher selected as the state Presidential Awardee will be notified officially by the White House in the spring of 2015.
Kerri Anderson
Adam Weldon
Earlier this month, Francie was recognized at the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference at Hope College in Holland, Mich. During the coming school year, the state-level finalists in both mathematics and science will be honored at a ceremony in Lansing.
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Sarah Budreau
Superintendent’s Message
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due Students may be off during the summer, but many of our staff members remained on the job to prepare for the upcoming school year. I am pleased to announce Lake Orion Community Schools will have a balanced operating budget for the 2015 fiscal year (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015) while maintaining a fund balance representing the minimum threshold of ten percent of total expenditures that is required by Board policy and auditor recommendations. For transparency purposes, I want to give credit where credit is due and sincerely thank both our union and non-union personnel for their critical roles in this effort to balance the books. We finalized a new three-year contract with the district’s teachers this summer that included a number of permanent structural cost changes, primarily related to employee healthcare benefits. The contract also included one-time cost-relief measures for fiscal year 2015, including delayed or reduced contractual wage increases. This impacted all of our instructors, including those who have been with the district the longest, as well as those teachers and contract employees who coach our athletic teams and advise a variety of extracurricular activities. Members of the district’s other unions and many of our non -union employees also agreed to compensation concessions. Combined, these actions will help the district save at least $700,000 this school year – in all likelihood much more. Another key factor that contributed to our balanced budget is the successful expansion of Lake Orion’s restricted School-of-Choice program. Last spring, a total of 277 children from outside the district entering grades kindergarten through eighth grade applied to attend Lake Orion Com-
munity Schools and we expect to enroll at least 218 of them this summer. They are being added to our elementary and middle schools where there is space and appropriate resources available. Our Schools-of-Choice program will generate at least $1.6 million in additional funding from the state. These funds will help us maintain a number of unique, award-winning programs for our current students including our middle school concept that requires more staffing and resources than a typical school. These are challenging times for public school districts across the country. Over the past several years, the leadership of our district has had to make tough choices. Our ability to provide a safe and engaging learning environment for all students, while being fiscally responsible, is a testament to Lake Orion’s Board of Education and team of administrators, instructors and support staff and their unwavering commitment to every child that walks through the doors of our great schools. I also want to thank our community for supporting the school district. There are so many parents and friends of Lake Orion Community Schools that generously donate their time and talents to our schools and students. They also actively participant in such invaluable programs as Blessings in a Backpack and Real Talk. Our schools would not be the same without such outside support. Let’s make 2014-15 the best school year yet! 4
Planners Go Digital at High School Starting this fall, Lake Orion High School students will be carrying their daily planners wherever their smartphones and similar digital devices, such as iPod Touches and tablets, go. Principal Steve Hawley said the school planner app was developed to provide today’s tech savvy student with an option to organize and make note of school work reminders. He added it has also become apparent the majority of today’s students do not use the traditional paper planners, so it does not make sense financially to print large quantities of them each year. A survey of the student body last year supported this approach, indicating 87 percent have smartphones or similar devices capable of running such apps. “We specifically chose this app because of its ability to mirror our traditional planner,” Principal Hawley said. “Plus students will be able to receive reminders about tests, homework, meetings and other similar needs. It was created with our students in mind.” In addition to a planning calendar, the new app has links to high school event schedules, staff contact information (with direct email capabilities), Moodle pages, PowerSchool and other important information managed by the school’s leadership class. The document tab includes the student handbook and curriculum handbook. Links to the high school’s and district’s websites, Facebook page and Twitter feed are included, as well. The free app can be downloaded to any iPhone via the App Store (search “Lake Orion High School”), as well as any IOS or Android devices that accept apps. The high school’s Leadership Workshop class will be soliciting input from students for enhancing the app throughout the year. “I would like to thank my assistant Heather Hammerl and office staffers Deb Pulis and Chris Potvin, along with the technology team, for working with the vendor to customize this app for our students at Lake Orion,” Principal Hawley said. “Once kids get used to it, I expect the app to be a hit.”
LOHS Hosting Detroit Symphony Orchestra! It took a mere three hours for 1,040 tickets to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s free performance at Lake Orion High School on October 2 to be reserved by local music fans. Lake Orion beat out a number of other local high schools to host the symphony through a public online vote. Band Director Mike Steele said the DSO ticket office was shocked, but delighted, with the strong interest in the performance and quick sell out. He added this is a great opportunity not only for students, but also the entire community.
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New Security Measures Now at All School District Building Entrances In an effort to make all of the district’s buildings more secure and safe for students and staff, new entry systems are being put in place. This work should be completed by the end of September. The doors used to enter school buildings will automatically be locked after the first bell rings each morning and parents and/or family members will have to identify themselves and be buzzed into the lobby for entry during school hours. Persons should contact individual buildings to determine their dismissal procedures.
Spotlight On
LOHS Natatorium
Lake Orion’s swim team in action.
People of All Ages Enjoy the High School’s Pool There is very little relaxing around the two pools at the Lake Orion High School natatorium.
eleven summer camps are visiting our pools this summer.” A range of swimming lesson programs are available, ranging from parent/child programs for the very young, to Puddle Jumper programs starting at age three, then six more levels of swimming lessons. Adult swimming lessons also are available.
In addition to the varsity swimming and diving teams, as well as the new Dragon water polo clubs and physical education classes, the facility’s pools are filled with private and group swim lessons for people of all ages, aqua fitness for active adults and senior citizens, water aerobics classes, lifeguard training, scuba classes, masters swimming programs and youth camp swimming. In addition, the Liquid Lightning competitive swim team, made up of 200 kids ages 6-18 from around the region, has called the natatorium home for more than 16 years. Family “Splash Bash” events are held every month. There also are open swimming blocks, including dedicated times just for seniors, six days a week.
“We have a 64 year -old lady who wants to finally learn how to swim,” Kuiper said. “It’s on her bucket list and she will soon be able to cross it off.”
“If you like water and swimming this is a great place to be,” said Director Amy Kuiper, who has managed the natatorium since it opened 16 years ago. She was an All-American swimmer at the College of Wooster in Ohio and a swimming coach at Hillsdale College for eight years before moving to Lake Orion.
The Lake Orion boys’ Water aerobics class at LOHS water polo team and girls’ varsity swimming/diving teams began practicing earlier this month. A total of 15 boys are on the inaugural water polo team. Their first scrimmage took place this week, with the season kicking off soon.
Kuiper’s staff of 25 is made up almost exclusively of Lake Orion graduates who still live in the community. Most of her head lifeguards have been on staff for 8-9 years each.
Persons can pay for individual open swim sessions, or buy punch cards for five or ten visits. They can be purchased at the pool facility or the Community Enrichment Services Office. Kuiper said open swim 15-week passes also are gaining in popularity. The pools are available to be rented out for private parties and birthdays.
Camp Wanna Have Fun at pool.
Compared to other high school natatoriums in the region, Lake Orion’s pool program is truly community oriented, Kuiper said. “Kids from
For more information on lessons, open swim times and other natatorium information, call the pool office at 248814-1715, or email Kuiper at akuiper@lakeorion.k12.mi.us. Natatorium information also can be found on the district website and Facebook page (LOHS Pool). 6
Athletics Lake Orion Athletes Sign to Play in College
Congratulations!
Ten Lake Orion student-athletes signed national letters of intent this past spring to play sports at the next level. They included Zac Arnold, track at the University of Detroit-Mercy; Jimmy Budreau, basketball at Trine University; Brad Chisholm, football at Adrian College; Anna Dietz, cross country and track at Hope College; Dominic Giovinazzo, football at Northwood University; Connor Grant, baseball at Kalamazoo College; Madison Hargraves, volleyball at Newberry College, S.C.; David Moore, wrestling at Trine University; Ryan Solarczyk, football at Adrian College; and Casey Stribbell, cross country and track, Oakland University. Congratulations to each of these grads!
The Lake Orion varsity softball team with district trophy
Spring Sports Teams Capture OAA League Titles Lake Orion athletes in several sports shined last spring. The state-ranked girls’ softball team captured its second consecutive district title, beating Clarkston in the final. The Dragons season ended against Romeo in the regional championship game. The team finished the season with a 31-9 record. Lake Orion won the OAA Red title with a 9-1 record. The boys’ track team continued its dominance and captured its second consecutive regional title and third OAA Red championship in a row. The girls’ lacrosse team won its first OAA White title in the program’s history. The team finished with an 8-41 record (5-0-1 OAA White).
Lady Dragon Lacrosse
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