Winter 2016
SAT in, ACT out for LOHS juniors Lake Orion juniors, along with their peers across the state, will be taking the College Board’s new Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in April instead of the ACT. While high school math teacher Jennifer Ries thinks the SAT will be more challenging than the ACT, it has actually been redesigned to be more similar to the former test. The new SAT would not be recognizable to parents who may have taken it years ago, she said. Ries explained students will no longer be penalized for guessing on the SAT. Points are awarded for right answers only. Most questions on the test are still multiple choice. “Yes, this is a change, but that’s not bad,” she said. “It’s not better or worse, just different and our students need to be prepared to take it.” Like past years when the ACT was administered, Lake Orion students have the opportunity to take a 10-week testpreparation class plus register to use free online tools
Students take a practice SAT test in Jennifer Ries’ class. (khanacademy.com) to become familiar with the test concepts and format, as well as complete practice exams. The new SAT covers reading, writing/language (grammar) and math, both with and without the use of a calculator. Lake Orion also requires each student to complete the optional SAT essay for graduation. Compared to the past SAT, the math questions are more reflective of what math teachers across the state are actually teaching in class, Ries said. Lake Orion ELA teacher Rob Middleton said the reading and writing/language portions are similar to the past tests, but feature a vocabulary section that now includes words and context found in the “real” world. Continued on Page 9
Robot Rebels, pg 5
A Dragon Homecoming A special guest participated in this year’s Lake Orion Homecoming festivities. The legendary Dragon found at center court of historic Orion High School, located in the village, was welcomed by Lake Orion students, alumni and friends at the Homecoming parade and high school this fall. It most recently visited the Orion Township Public Library for a month. The district took possession of the 9x9 foot center-court-section of the gym floor, featuring the community’s original firebreathing mascot, during late summer. Credit goes to the perseverance of Superintendent Ginopolis and the generosity of Legacy LO, a group The 1945 Dragon was in this year’s parade. of local investors including alumni, who now own the building. Lake Orion’s Buildings & Grounds Department built a special metal frame to protect it. The mascot was designed by Miss Patricia Olsen, Class of 1945, and painted on the Orion High School gym floor later that decade by Reuben Barclay and Joe Dore, Class of 1950, to watch over Dragon students and athletes. 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of Miss Olsen’s design.
LOHS AP Program, pg 6
Blended Classes, pg 7
District News Real Talk, SOS programs foster student acceptance and support at high school A couple of innovative programs at Lake Orion High School are helping provide students with life lessons about acceptance and being supportive of others, both in high school and after graduation.
space. Ideally, 20-24 adult facilitators will having a go-to list of five friends or adults volunteer to facilitate the small group discus- that he or she can confide in when they are sions. Novak said there is no special training upset about something. required – just the willingness to listen and not judge.
Real Talk, held twice a year, brings students and adult facilitators together for a day to discuss a variety of topics relevant to today’s teenagers. Students have the opportunity to share their thoughts on self-esteem, peer pressure, drugs, divorce, suicide, family, school, social media, poverty and other subjects.
“The goal is not to fix the kids’ problems or tell them everything is going to be okay,” Real Talk co- founder John Miles said. “The adults are there to build comradery, provide some structure to the discussions and lend an ear.” High school parent Carol St. Henry partici- More than 130 students are in SOS. pated as a facilitator for the first time this This year, SOS is placing a greater focus on fall. She said it was a great experience and minimizing the negative impact social media wants to participate again. can have on building positive relationships in the high school. A core group of about 130 “I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but our SOS students are hoping their peers will small group really opened up and began talklearn from their example of being more suping about things,” she said. “As a parent, it portive and considerate of one another by was very interesting to hear how these kids refraining from using social media in a feel. I know it was good for them to hear hurtful way. from each other, too.” Continued on Page 9
Another program to help nurture a more supportive atmosphere at the high school “Our kids may come from different backand throughout the community is Students grounds, but they share many of the same Offering Support (SOS). stories,” said high school counselor and Real Talk co-founder Michele Novak. “They real- The program was launched three years ago ize while they are different on the outside, with a handful of students to provide peer-to they are very much the same in the inside.” -peer support for teenagers who are strug-
Real Talk includes group exercises.
Last fall, 340 students in all four grades participated in the Real Talk program over two days. It is next scheduled to take place February 23 and 25, 2016. Any student can sign up to participate, although there is limited
gling with life’s challenges. The group quickly grew and last year took its message of being kind and considerate to others into Lake Orion’s middle schools. The SOS students promoted the idea of a person
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Adults play a key role in Real Talk.
Superintendent’s Message
Tough choices to be made next year Thanks to the talents and hard work of our staff, Lake Orion has become one of the premiere public educational communities in Oakland County and the State of Michigan. Writing on behalf of the Board of Education and our administrative team, I strongly believe our district’s commitment to providing an exemplary education for our students is unmatched. As you may know, however, these are very challenging times for all public schools in the state from a financial perspective. Over the past five years, Lake Orion has lost more than 600 students and the corresponding amount of state funding. These students have left for a variety of reasons, most notably because their families have moved out of Oakland County and, in many cases, the state. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the district facing a significant deficit for the current school year, which could increase substantially next year. We have been faced with deficits in the past and all of our employees have sacrificed for the good of our students to balance the budget. Unfortunately, we are now at a point where significant changes need to be made to the district’s footprint and structure if the district is to remain financially viable over the long term with as minimal impact on our students as possible. A long-range planning committee made up of parents, community members and Lake Orion staff has been meeting since last summer to discuss a variety of options to address this situation. The Board of Education will begin reviewing and discussing the district administration’s and committee’s recommendations for keeping the district financially viable on Monday, December 21, 2015, at a special meeting at the Orion Center, 1335 Joslyn Road, from 6-9 p.m. This meeting is open to the public. All of the information used by this committee is available for review on the district’s website. Updates on the School Board’s decisions will be shared in a number of ways. This newsletter is printed on a quarterly basis, but I also will use School Messenger e-mail blasts, my blog, the district website and Facebook page, Twitter and other tools for more timely communications. I welcome anyone with questions about the future of our school district to contact me personally, either through e-mail or telephone, or by scheduling an appointment with me. Our Board of Education also is available to discuss the transformation of our school district. I am very confident any potential changes to the Lake Orion school district will position us for continued success for many years to come.
Assistant Superintendent Mercer receives MAME Service Award Mercer receives award.
Heidi Mercer (left in picture), Lake Orion's Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, recently received the Service Award for School Administrators from the Michigan Association for Media in Education. The award recognized her influence, support and commitment to the district's school library program and its key role in providing the best education possible to our students. Mercer was nominated by Melissa Middleton, media specialist at Lake Orion High School.
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School News High School to better track chronic absenteeism starting in January Starting in late January, Lake Orion High School is enacting a new approach for tracking student attendance that will make it easier for staff to identify chronic absenteeism and work with families to rectify the situation. The school’s attendance office currently handles a few hundred calls a day from parents excusing their students for being absent, late or having to leave early from school. Staff are consumed much of the day with reconciling these calls with the computerized attendance system, said Steve Hawley, Lake Orion’s principal. “The sheer volume of attendance calls makes it difficult for our attendance office to do its most important job – tracking and intervening to see why students are not in school,” Hawley said. “This new approach makes much better use of our staff’s time.” Under the new approach, if a student is missing from school or a class, he or she will be simply marked absent. An automated message will still be sent home. However, a parent’s call into the school to excuse the student will not be necessary. (A call for an early dismissal is still necessary.)
Oakview Middle School launched its SuperSTAR program this fall to help students build valuable connections and relationships with classmates throughout the building, as well as self-esteem and confidence. Principal Sarah Manzo said the program has received a lot of positive feedback from students and staff. Earlier this fall, sixth through eighth grade students signed pieces of a giant paper puzzle, symbolizing their important roles in the Oakview family, which were then assembled in the school library and broadcast to all rooms – spelling out OMS.
Key Dates Winter Break December 21, 2015—January 1, 2016 (School resumes January 4)
If it is determined that there is a pattern of excessive absenteeism, the attendance staff will now be able to focus on quickly addressing why the student may have problems attending school. The Principal confirmed several high schools are now using this approach to attendance. Students will not be punished for an absence, as long as they meet all of the class requirements, he added.
Entire school participates in Oakview SuperSTAR program
LOHS Second–Term Exams January 25-26, 2016 (Half days) District Count Day February 10, 2016 Principal Steve Hawley
Mid-Winter Break February 15-16, 2016
Hawley stressed, however, school attendance is critical to the educational experience. “The benefits of class discussion, individual participation, teacher lectures and other classroom activities cannot be made up by students who are absent,” he said.
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8th Grade Welcome Night (LOHS) February 18, 2016
Students Embrace Science! Blanche Sims Lego team focuses on STEM education Blanche Sims Elementary School’s Lego robotics team made up of third through fifth grade students continues to thrive and be recognized for its teamwork, professionalism and originality. The afterschool group focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. This year, the students had ten weeks to design, build and test a robot made from Legos and components such as motors and a programmable robot brain box. The team participated at a competition in Sterling Heights, where its robot had to maneuver a challenge course that focused on recycling. The robot scored points with each recycling task completed, such as demolishing a Lego building and moving the Lego blocks to a recycling bin.
Oakview students join millions and embrace computer science In celebration of Computer Science Education Week earlier this month, Oakview Middle School students participated in the “Hour of Code” international computer programming event. The grassroots movement was launched to introduce students to computer science, which helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. This year’s week-long event reached tens of millions of kids in more than 180 countries. Oakview students practice code.
Dragon Team 302 finishes among top ten in Oakland County robotics
Middle school and elementary Robot Rebels take first at robotics event
Lake Orion’s Team 302 finished among the top ten schools at the Oakland County Competitive Robotics Association championship in November. Students built a robot to participate in this year’s competitive game called “8 Ball”. Their work began in September, as they had a number of design challenges to overcome when building the robot to compete. At the county championship, Team 302 won two awards – Strategic Design and Simple Solution.
Lake Orion’s Robot Rebels finished first in the Robot Performance category at the Troy Robotics Sharkfest competition in November. Made up of students from Scripps and Waldon Middle Schools, as well as Stadium and Pine Tree Elementary Schools, the team also received a trophy for Strategy and Innovation.
Team 302 at the county competition.
Robot Rebels celebrate first place.
Dragon Student-Athletes Sign Letters to Play at the Next Level Several Lake Orion senior student-athletes took advantage of the NCAA early signing period to formally commit to playing their respective sports at the next level. They celebrated with family and friends at a formal signing ceremony in November. Pictured (left to right): Natalie Wehner, volleyball, Jacksonville University; Lyndsey Welper, golf, Trine University; Courtney Wightman, volleyball, Oakland University; Katelyn Budreau, volleyball, Ohio Dominican University; Cameron Miller, baseball, Central Michigan University; Darcy Muns, lacrosse, Albion College; and Kirstyn Abbasse, swimming, Oakland University. 5
Spotlight LOHS Advance Placement (AP) Program is proven success; grows in popularity Lake Orion High School students who want to be challenged with college-level coursework and possibly earn credits toward a degree have the opportunity to enroll in one or more of the district’s 19 Advance Placement (AP) courses. These classes are considered the most academically rigorous at the high school, according to Associate Principal Sarah Budreau. Interest in the AP program has increased significantly since the district’s move several years ago to weighted grade point averages. Universities and colleges also consider students who pass AP credit exams to have shown proven academic success, she said. Lake Orion was named to the national College Board’s Advance Placement District AP Art students are required to prepare a collection of their art examples for display. Honor Roll in 2013, in recognition for its Budreau said one of the most distinguishing course. They want their AP students to be diverse course offerings and the success of features of Lake Orion’s AP program is the successful in these classes and often provide its students in obtaining college credits. amount of time allocated for more focused additional instructional help. During the 2014-15 school year, 459 stu- course and lab work, combined with inAP Physics teacher Steve Tighe said while dents took at least one AP credit exam, de- creased teacher interaction, similar to what many students plan to take the college credsigned and administered by the College students will experience in college. This is as it exam, some take AP classes to simply Board. Some students took multiple exams, a result of the school’s block scheduling, Most better prepare for college. raising the total number taken to 699. A which features 90-minute classes. record 315 or 69 percent scored 3.0 or high- other schools with AP programs have 50- “Whatever their intentions, getting exposed er, securing college credit. This compared to minute classes. to college curriculum and taking advantage the state average of 65.7 percent and naThis fall, 580 sophomore, junior and senior of the opportunity to use higher-level thinktional average of 60.7 percent. students - one third of the total students in ing skills is great,” he said. Even more impressive was the fact that 47 Lake Orion students earned AP Scholar recognition (3.28 average exam score), 25 achieved AP Scholar with Honor status (3.74); 34 earned AP Scholar with Distinction (4.21) and 2 were honored as National AP Scholars (4.29).
these grades - have been enrolled in AP classes at the high school, most of them taking more than one. Budreau said AP courses are available to all students, but most start taking them in their sophomore year. Teachers often recommend a student consider taking an AP 6
Lake Orion redesigned its AP Biology, Chemistry and Physics classes in recent years to meet new College Board standards. Tighe said the new AP science classes force students to better demonstrate and explain their thinking and reasoning. This will help create a future workforce that is creative,
thinks differently and can problem solve, collection of their best art examples for he said. display, representing their concentrations and breadth of skills. Tighe wishes more female students would enroll in AP Physics classes (four are She said her AP Art class is actually harder offered) and other AP science courses. than most college art courses, because her “There have only been a handful of girls in students have to get their work done for the AP Physics class, but they’ve been the AP examination and possible college some of my best students.” credit and scholarships.
AP Physics students work in class.
Students taking teacher Melissa Wilson’s AP Art class experience what students do in art schools during their senior years in college. They are required to prepare a
Continued on Page 9
LOHS Blends Classes for Students Online learning may be seemingly popular, but instructors at Lake Orion High School are seeing firsthand how blended courses featuring both traditional classroom and web-based instruction are most effective for many students.
Any junior or senior can take a blended class, but they must have access to the online lessons. There are computer labs at the high school for students who may not have a computer at home. Once in the class, a student must have a cumulative score of 80 or higher, no missing assignments and attended the last classroom session to be eligible to work online. Those that fail to meet these requirements must come to school and work in the computer lab.
The high school began offering blended classes three years ago and the program has steadily grown, according to math teacher Rick Messick, who leads the program at Lake Orion. He actually teaches other educators around the state how to manage a blended class.
Day thinks the biggest challenge for students in a blended class is time management. “I tell students on the days we aren’t meeting in class they have to stay on top of the online lessons,” she said. “Those that struggle are not good at budgeting their time on their own. Most of them, however, are motivated to succeed. They like the different approach.”
“We’ve built a quality program by bringing in the right teachers, training them and putting everything in place to help assure the best possible outcomes for our students taking blended classes,” he said. Currently, four blended courses are being offered, some with multiple class sections to meet the demand. The courses include expository reading and writing, zoology and accounting (two separate classes). More than 380 students have signed up to take them this school year. Messick said 20 blended courses will be offered to students during the 2016-17 school year.
Messick thinks Lake Orion’s blended classes also help students prepare for college, where such courses are very common. In addition, a blended class helps students become comfortable with technology and taking online assessments. But there is an option if a student is struggling with online work. “The great thing is the teacher is still available in the classroom to help out,” he said.
English teacher Kelly Day teaches a blended class and thinks the greatest drawback in taking a completely online course is a lack of interaction with other people. Students can ask questions via email, but it is not the same as discussing a question with the instructor or fellow classmates to enhance their understanding, she explained. A blended class addresses this concern. Day said her face-to-face time with students is invaluable. “When you think of what makes good teachers, one of the first things is their ability to personally interact with students,” she said.
Students work in a blended class computer lab. 7
Lake Orion's marching band finishes fifth in state! Lake Orion's marching band placed fifth in this year’s Michigan Competing Band Association (MCBA) state finals, held at Ford Field in November. According to director Mike Steele, the Dragons' performance was easily their best of the season. Lake Orion's strong showing at the 2015 championships marks the tenth consecutive year the marching band has finished among the top five in the top flight in Michigan. The marching band entered the finals with the fifth highest average score in the state.
Third Lake Orion musician named to the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band Mr. Thompson leads the choir.
Chorale and chamber choir sings at state convention The Lake Orion Chorale and Chamber Choir sang at the American Choral Directors' State Convention in October. They prepared three pieces to sing under several conductors as a demonstration choir. This is an auditioned position and Lake Orion was selected. In other exciting news, the Michigan Schools Vocal Music Association has selected the Chamber Choir to be featured in Choral Hour at their state conference in January. They were selected by a panel of music educators. The Chamber Choir will perform in front of 1,000 chorale music educators at the event. This is the first time that a LOHS Choir has ever held this honor.
Lake Orion High School's Alexandra Geiger has been selected to the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. This will be the third consecutive year a Dragon will be part of this elite group of 125 talented musicians and color guard from around the country. They will perform at halftime of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, featuring many of the best high school football players in the country.
Miss Geiger at the U.S. Army event.
The LOHS band competes at Ford Field.
Pine Tree students and staff star in NFL "Fuel Up to Play 60" video Pine Tree Elementary School was the star of the NFL's broadcast at halftime of the Packers vs. Lions football game in early December. The building's Pine Tree Strong fitness and heathy living program was highlighted as part of the league's “Fuel Up to Play 60” campaign. Pine Tree was one of only five schools across the nation selected by the NFL for special recognition. Filming of a special NFL public service announcement took place in November and both students and staff had a blast with Detroit Lion Joquie Bell.
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SAT, Continued from Page 1 There are still no separate science or social studies sections per se, but concepts are imbedded into the reading and math portions of the SAT, he added. (The new M-Step test that juniors will take covers science and social studies in more depth.) The required essay will be substantially different, Middleton explained. The past essay was an argumentative piece, while the new SAT requires a student to analyze somebody else’s argumentative essay and evaluate its effectiveness. The goal is to gauge the student’s critical thinking skills. A number of parents have asked Lake Orion counselors if they should still take the ACT on their own. Both Ries and Middleton agree it would be a good idea. “The ACT is a known entity and universities know what the ACT scores mean,” Middleton said. “The SAT has been redesigned, so nobody is sure what to expect in terms of scoring trends this first year.” For more information about the new SAT, people should visit www.collegeboard.com.
Homecoming 2015
AP Program, Continued from Page 7 “My AP Art students are very driven,” Wilson said. “It’s a bigtime commitment, with the kids working after school almost every day.”
This year’s homecoming king and queen. AP Art instructor Melissa Wilson works with a student. Associate principal Budreau said next year the high school will be adding AP Calculus BC. Budreau stressed students who hope to attend colleges or universities with rigorous entry requirements should work with their counselors as early as their freshman year to make sure their schedules will accommodate AP courses.
Real Talk, Continued from Page 2 “This is a generational issue,” Novak said. “It’s easy for a teenager to hide behind a cell phone, blast out a Twitter message and say some very unkind things about somebody.
The marching band performs during the parade.
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“We’re promoting face-to-face communication. The hope is our SOS students can produce a ripple effect, coming from them and producing a better climate of support and understanding throughout the building.” The next SOS meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2016, at the high school. Novak said new students are welcome to attend and learn more about the group’s activities.
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Athletics Lake Orion’s volleyball team posts most wins in season The Lady Dragon volleyball team posted the best season record in the program’s history, finishing with a 61-7 record during the fall. The team earned a share of the OAA Red title and was ranked as high as fourth the state, before losing a classic battle versus defending state champ Romeo in the MHSAA Regional Finals. Lake Orion seniors Kori Varney (libero) and Courtney Wightman (outside hitter) were named to the Michigan Volleyball Coaches Association’s 2015 Class A All-State Team. Senior Natalie Wehner was named to the All-State third team.
Dragon cross country teams enjoy strong seasons, qualify for state meet Both the Lake Orion boys’ and girls’ cross country teams competed in the MHSAA D1 State Finals meet at Michigan International Speedway in November. The boys’ team finished in 12th place out of 27 schools, while the girls’ squad landed in 20th place, a two-spot improvement from last year. Dragon Matthew Arenz (42nd), Jacob Arenz (51st), Jacob Ernatt (53rd), Jack Everts (80th) and Ryan Mulcahy (117th) finished the course for Lake Orion. Ernatt (16:24) and Mulcahy (16:58) ran personal bests on the state’s biggest stage. On the girls’ side, Lady Dragon freshman Allison Sherman was the team’s highest finisher in 76th place, with senior Emily Fluent only a couple places behind her. The boys’ team finished first at its regional to qualify for the state meet, while the girls finished third to punch their ticket to the finals. Lake Orion’s boys and girls took first and second place, respectively, at the OAA Red cross country championships in October.
Boys’ soccer team takes OAA White trophy After capturing the OAA White league title for the first time in 12 years, the Lake Orion boys’ soccer team lost in the first round of the MHSAA D1 state playoffs this fall. The Dragons finished their season with a 10-3-7 record. Several players were named to the OAA White first team, including Jacob Foley, Jacob Negri, Conner Sturgess, Sheldon Drake, Kyle Watson and Michael Chiaramonti.
For more Dragon sports news, visit LODragonSports.com 10
Boys’ tennis team takes OAA White title
Girls’ golf team finishes among state’s best
Lake Orion’s varsity golf team competed in the MHSAA D1 state finals for the third consecutive year in October. Playing in cold and windy conditions at Grand Valley State University, the Lady Dragons held second place after the first day of competition, with junior Moyea Russell atop the leader board. Day two was just as challenging from a weather standpoint and Lake Orion finished in seventh place overall. Russell finished in third place in the individual standings, improving on her tenth and eighth place finishes the previous two years at the state finals. She was named to the Michigan Golf Coaches Association’s Super Team in November. Dragons Lauren Danielson and Megan Miller received D1 AllState Academic Team honors.
The Lake Orion boys’ varsity tennis team, captained by senior Kevin Hansen, won the OAA White league championship this fall, finishing with an 8-3 record. The group also won the Romeo Invitational. Several players were named to the All-League team, including Felix Partington, Julian Olejnik, Taggart Hatch, Hansen, Danny Gagen and Jake Seilkop. Hatch was named the Dragons’ MVP.
Lady Dragon swim team finishes among top ten in state The girls’ swim and dive team qualified for the 2015 MHSAA Division 1 swimming championships, where the Lady Dragons finished in ninth place for its third-straight top ten finish at the state meet. At the event, senior Kirstyn Abbasse became the school’s first swimmer or diver ever to place among the top 16 swimmers all four years in individual events. Junior Sarah Hennings received All-State recognition by finishing third in the 100 butterfly and freshman Claire Abbasse finished second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle, giving her individual All-State recognition, as well. The All-State team of Claire Abbasse, Zoe Quinn, Eliana Ritt and Kirstyn Abbasse finished seventh overall in the 200 freestyle relay, setting a new school record with a time of 1:38.05.
First Dragon boys’ water polo team takes to the pool Lake Orion fielded its first boys’ water polo team this fall, finishing with a 3-19 record. The Dragons’ coach, Gary Essenmacher, said the 18 first-year players on the roster made great strides during the season, capped with a big win later in the season over a team that had beat them handily earlier. Lake Orion lost in the first round of the MHSAA state playoffs to a team that eventually finished seventh in the state. Nevertheless, the head coach called the season a success. 11
Around the District
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