School Matters Winter 2013 by Plainwell Schools

School Matters WINTER 2013

Girls were dres sed to the nines and smiling for the camera all night !

her Ella with e an h S dad,

he 31st Annual Father/Daughter Valentine Dance was bigger and better than EVER before! Approximately 800 little ladies were accompanied by their dads or special male chaperones. The music kept dancers of all ages hopping on the dance floor while the photo booth was a popular destination for all at some point during the evening. A great time was had by all in attendance...can’t wait for next year!

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KINDERGA

P! ROUND1 U - 7pm

April 10 • entary @ Starr Elem See page 10 fo! for more in

with he r dad, D an

NEXT UP: Mother/Son Star Wars Griffins Hockey Game in Grand Rapids on March 9th!

AN EVENING WITH THE TOMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA Saturday, April 20 • 7 p.m. | Plainwell Performing Arts Center Advanced tickets: $15/students and $20/general public. Day of show: $25 Join us for an evening that will take you on a sentimental journey! For ticket sales and more information, call Bonnie at (269) 685-5823 or visit www.plainwellschools.org or plainwellpac.brownpapertickets.com

SUPERINTENDENT WAKEFIELD: OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SCHOOLS Page 2

SUPERINTENDENT’S VIEWPOINT by Susan Wakefield, Superintendent

CALENDAR of EVENTS February 21

All Students 1/2 Day

February 22 NO SCHOOL

Our Community,

Our Schools

he purpose of public schools is to provide both individuals and communities with high quality education for their children and in doing so, also provides a community social structure centered around the student activities that bring us all together. It’s a key component to the strength of any community and without a robust school system, many communities in southwest Michigan would lack that esprit de corps that helps to define us through a sense of unity and common purpose. Over the past two years, our legislators have proposed many new bills - 722 in fact - regarding public education; some have become law. Several of these laws, while accomplishing other goals, serve to undermine public education either in terms of staffing, finances or facilities. Many of the bills that did not become law will likely be brought forward again. The long term consequences will not only negatively impact our schools, but our community as a whole. While public education is on the precipice of dramatic change, we need to ensure that these changes are in the best interests of all students. Public schools are the foundation of a strong democracy, teaching every generation that it is government by the people, for the

people. The responsibility of protecting and supporting public education falls on each of us. It takes time and energy to be an informed and engaged citizen - which happens to be one of the primary charges of public education. Did you know that during the 96th Legislative Session (January 2011 - December 2012), 942 new laws passed? Of the 942 new laws, 286 were passed during the last two weeks of December in the lame duck session. Governor Snyder signed all but four of the 286 into law. And one final number, over 40% of the 286 laws passed during the two week lame duck period, were passed on the very last day. This should raise concerns with every citizen in Michigan. Public education is the backbone of our society and is touted by many to be the key to our State’s future economic success. But we can’t fulfill this role without adequate support at both the state and local level. At the local level, you have always been staunch supporters of our schools and for that, we are very grateful. That is not the case at the state level and we need to insist that our lawmakers are acting in ways that provide public schools with what is needed to educate all of our students. The demands from the State have increased substantially while the investment in public schools has decreased substantially. You can’t do more

“Public schools are

the foundation of a strong democracy, teaching every generation that it is government by the people, for the people.

March 5

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Grade 11 Students Only No K-10, 12

March 13

All Students 1/2 Day End of 2nd Trimester

March 29

NO SCHOOL

April 1-5

SPRING BREAK

April 18

HS P/T Conferences • 4-8 pm

May 27

NO SCHOOL

June 7

Last Day of School 1/2 Day End of 3rd Trimester

with less. Consequently, districts will be faced with very difficult choices in the coming year. Every day great things are happening at Plainwell Community Schools and in public schools all across this State. Public education is the key to our future and our actions will determine what the future holds. Please become an informed and engaged citizen and hold our legislators accountable. Our kids need us to do this for them and for our community. n

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FOCUS ON CURRICULUM by Bob VanDis, Director of Curriculum

Dynamic Planning Update: Quality Personnel Goal

uring last year’s community/school Dynamic Planning process, the group set four large goal areas to drive our district improvement efforts. One of those goal areas is Quality Personnel. According to the Dynamic Planning group, the driving force behind this goal is that the citizens of Plainwell deserve to have the very best people possible working with their children and running their school system. They divided Quality Personnel into four sub goals: Hiring, Training, Retention, and Evaluation. Below is a summary of the work we have done in each sub goal so far this school year.

HIRING his sub goal aims to recruit and select the most talented people for each open position. We have revised and published new hiring procedures. These procedures now include a research based set of pre-screening questions that help us decide who to bring in for an interview; restructuring our interview committee membership; having clear criteria and questions for these interviews; and, at least for teachers, having the top candidates teach a lesson in front of a full class of students while the committee evaluates their performance. We tried this new procedure for some of our hiring last spring, and we have been extremely pleased with the results.

RETENTION his sub goal aims to support, recognize, and reward people so our quality people stay motivated and want to continue to work here. Each building has a climate committee that evaluates the regularly administered climate surveys and plans ways to improve their work environment. The most recent results show a marked increase in satisfaction among employees. This fall we revised our procedures for awarding merit pay for performance for teachers and administrators. This began last year as required by Michigan law. The new system is more transparent and fair. And while keeping the same total dollar allocation as last year, the new system will provide a larger bonus to our very top performers.

TRAINING his sub goal aims to give employees the quality, sustainable training and coaching they need to be highly effective in their jobs. We have continued to improve and expand our already excellent and thorough training and in-class coaching for new teachers during their first five years, as well as continued training for principals in effective instructional leadership and evaluation. This year we have offered our training and coaching for new teachers to any interested veteran teacher with great success. We also have now put procedures in place for peer observations so that teachers can view and learn from the effective practices of their colleagues.

EVALUATION his sub goal aims to develop a fair evaluation system that promotes growth and sets a standard of quality that our community expects and deserves. Much work was done in this area last year as required by a new Michigan Law. Over the summer, a group of teacher leaders met with administration to discuss ways to improve the process. Improvements include a clear link between the evaluation

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document and the required effectiveness ratings of Highly Effective, Effective, Minimally Effective, and Ineffective; a more consistent and fair method for using student growth as a significant component; and linking classroom goals to building goals to district goals in the evaluations of teachers, principals, myself, and the superintendent. Another component of this sub goal is to continue training our principals to be more effective evaluators. In addition to previous training, principals attended a summer session on giving effective feedback and this winter are taking a 30 hour on-line course on evaluation – a course that includes hundreds of taped classroom vignettes to study, evaluate, and compare their evaluation to the experts. The course includes a final assessment of accuracy which, when passed, will attest to a principal’s fairness and accuracy in evaluation as well as bring a more consistent standard across all of our buildings.

hese efforts all show that we are doing many things to improve in this area, and that we value the Dynamic Planning process and that group’s vision that this community deserves to have the very best people possible working with their children and running their school system. n

STAY IN TOUCH WITH PCS! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: PlainwellCommunitySchools ThePlainwellTrojans

– CALL FOR ADVERTISERS – If you would like to advertise in Plainwell Community Schools’ School Matters, please contact Bonnie Pfingst at 685-5823 or bpfingst@plainwellschools.org for more information. W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS Six PHS Students Named to State Honors Choir

Plainwell High School presents

ix Plainwell High School Concert Choir students have been selected for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association’s State Honors Choir. The students that have been named are (L to R): Luke Woltanski, James Cyr, Ricky LaDuke, Max Tustin, Greyson Steele and Riley Anson. PHS Choir Director, Keith Cahoon, states that this is the first time that only male students have been chosen for state. James Cyr was selected to participate in the SATB Mixed Choir while the others will sing with the TTBB Men’s Chorus. This is the second year in a row that Greyson Steele and Riley Anson have been chosen. The students put in long hours in preparation for the audition which was held at Western Michigan University. The State Honors Choir performed at Grand Rapids’ DeVos Hall on January 19, 2013. n

Plainwell High School Student Named National Merit Finalist

he National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has announced the names of approximately 15,000 Finalists in the 58th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Plainwell High School’s Kelsey Ernst is among those selected to compete for some 8,300 scholarships worth more than $34 million that will be offered this spring. Congratulations, Kelsey!

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

“Crazy For You” March 22 • 23 • 24

he musical “Crazy For You” by George Gershwin, will be presented by the Plainwell High School Music Department with three performances, on March 22, 23 and 24. Students Max Tustin and Mykayla Lutz will play the lead characters with other supporting roles being played by Greyson Steele, Mitch Monroe, Kyle Veldt, Kyrstin George, and Madison Spratt. With a cast of 50, this musical comedy is set in and between New York City and Dead Rock, Nevada. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23 and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets may be purchased by calling 685-9554 beginning March 4. “Crazy For You” is directed by PHS Choir Director, Keith Cahoon, with Jon Cramer as assistant director. PHS band students will provide pit accompaniment with choreography by Colleen Griffin, a senior dance major at WMU.

PMS Canned Food Drive is a Huge Success!

his year’s Canned Food Drive has been a big success for Plainwell Middle School. PMS students set the school record of 6,274 cans and personal care items this year! The 6th grade collected a total of 405 cans. The 7th grade really helped out the community by collecting 3,735 cans and 8th grade contributed 2,134 items. Everyone cooperated so well for this important cause. One 8th grade student, Jordan Lunarde, even asked his grandma for canned goods for his birthday! Jordan and his homeroom collected over 1,000 cans alone! Thank you to everyone who participated. – Submitted by Marlee Burgess, PMS Student Council Secretary

8th Grader Jordan Lunarde shows off some of the goods he and his homeroom classmates collected! 4

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY by Jeff McNutt, Director of Technology

iPad Update: The 21st Century

his past fall Plainwell Community Schools embarked on a new 21st Century educational journey: the One-toOne iPad initiative. This initiative provides all high school freshmen with an iPad for use in all of their classes along with productivity software and some textbooks. Freshmen are allowed to take their iPads home and use them to complete homework, study, and communicate with teachers. At Plainwell Middle School all math classes have a cart of 30 iPads for students to use during the school day. This allows all middle school students the opportunity to use an iPad during their class. One of the primary goals for the One-to-One iPad program is to prepare our students for the 21st century workplace by developing 21st century skills along with traditional reading, writing, and math skills. 21st century skills are collaboration, communication, creativity, innovation, problem solving, and critical thinking, all skills that are necessary in the workplace. The idea is that not only do students need to master the content of a subject, but they need to take that knowledge and apply it to solve a real-world problem. An example of this type of learning may be having students take on the role of an architect in a geometry class and design a shopping mall. This could include not only

different store sizes, but also walking traffic patterns showing the shortest routes through the mall. Freshmen have fewer texts to carry this year, as they are using the electronic iBook version of their Biology and World History texts. Not only do students have fewer texts to carry, but the texts are now multimedia rich. They can see and hear lectures given by prominent scientists or historians, see and experience the actual places being studied, have immediate access to various web resources, and communicate with researchers or students in other parts of the country or world. They can participate in learning projects that require them to work together, share materials electronically, solve a realworld problem by gathering information, learn about the situation, and generate a potential solution. iPads in the classroom are slowly causing an evolutionary shift in learning. Teachers no longer have to provide all of the information for students. Along with traditional instruction, teachers can now accommodate different learning styles and levels of instruction, tailor instruction more to the individual student and create interesting and challenging projects for students to solve. The iPads allow these wonderful and exciting things to happen. n

Join us for AAESA’s 50th Anniversary Celebration!

n March 27, the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency (AAESA) will celebrate 50 years of dedication to improving the quality of life in Allegan County.

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Plainwell

Education Foundation

The mission of the Plainwell Education Foundation (PEF) is to enhance excellence in education in Plainwell Community Schools. The Foundation is intended to provide financial assistance to projects or investment in students or teachers that are characterized as motivational, character-building, improving skills or in general terms tending to enhance the Plainwell Community Schools and without which assistance the activity would not occur. The Foundation awards four $1,000 scholarships annually to graduating seniors. They also award approximately $10,000 in grants for teachers and support staff for multiple classrooms for educational tools and/or activities. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit the website, www.plainwelleducationfoundation.com. PEF is solely supported through donations and benefits all the students of PCS, so please, consider making a donation. If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering for the PEF, please contact PEF President, Lindsay Marshall at 269998-0109 or plainwelleducationfoundation@gmail.com – Save the Date –

The celebration runs from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Educational Service Center building at 310 Thomas Street in Allegan. There will be food, door prizes and special surprises.

BLUE & WHITE NIGHT

This is a county-wide invitation. Hope to see you there!

Only 100 tickets available! For more info, email plainwelleducationfoundation@gmail.com

W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G

Saturday, March 2 6:00 p.m.

COMMUNITY NEWS

HANDS HANDS continuing on with good deeds

ands 2 Hands, a community outreach program, has one simple goal - to put weekend meals into the hands of our own elementary students here in Plainwell. Since October of 2011, they’ve grown and have recently added an online presence (www.h2h4kids.org). How can you help? Volunteer to help assemble food bags or make a tax-deductible donation that allows Hands 2 Hands to purchase food items. Visit their website at www.h2h4kids.org for more information. n

e food bag Contents of th

All packed and ready to deliver

PHS Grad Begins Peace Corps Service

atalie Murray, 27, of Ann Arbor, has been accepted into the Peace Corps and will depart for Panama on February 19 to begin training as a conservation volunteer. Murray is the daughter of Katy Peterson and Paul Murray and a 2004 graduate of Plainwell High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2009. After Murray is sworn into service and assigned to a community, she will work on sustainable, community-driven development projects that make a difference for the people of Panama and provide Murray with leadership and cross-cultural skills she can use throughout her career. Murray joins 316 Michigan residents currently serving in the Peace Corps. More than 6,866 Michigan residents have served since the agency was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. n

Thank a Mentor!

Judge Baill argeon sh ares stori value of m es about entoring in the every walk of life.

nce again, Plainwell Community Schools’ Mentors enjoyed a delicious luncheon, with side dishes provided by our Middle School Parent Club, on Thursday, January 17 - which was the official “National Thank a Mentor” day. Joanne Coy, Plainwell Middle School Counselor and Stacie Brown of Big Brothers/Big Sisters hosted the luncheon, and began the discussion with the question, “Who Mentored You?” Most everyone has had a mentor in their lifetime, guiding them through some difficult times. Many of our students in Plainwell schools are fortunate to have a mentor through our partnership program with Big Brothers/ Big Sisters. Our guest speaker for the luncheon was Judge Baillargeon, from the 57th District Court, in Allegan County, whose presentation focused on the value of mentoring in every walk of life. Our program is site-based, meaning the mentor meetings take place at school during the school day. We presently have 54 matches, districtwide. Relatively new to the program are the High School/Elementary student matches that take place at Starr Elementary. In fact, we are pleased that one of our high school students is “completing the circle” by mentoring a Starr student, while he himself is being mentored by an adult volunteer from the community. That’s inspirational! We are, of course, always looking for volunteers to join our program, and the process is fairly simple. If you are interested in dedicating an hour per week to help a youngster form connections with a positive role-model, please let us know. You may contact Joanne Coy at 6855813, ext. 1417 for more information about how to get involved. n

W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G

COMMUNITY NEWS

Volunteer Spotlight: Henry Fitzpatrick, Music Man WHO: Henry Fitzpatrick, Music Man, age 89 WHAT: Henry is a master tool & die maker, as well as a woodworker. Over the past year, he has been helping Gilkey Elementary Music teacher, Tammie Vick, by building and repairing musical instruments. Henry has built cabinetry to hold the class’ recorders and built a rolling cart that looks like a sleigh and holds all of the boomwhackers. His next project is a new set of stairs for the stage!

WHY:

He loves helping and comes up with a solution to any problem! Henry - Plainwell Community Schools appreciates you and all that you do for Mrs. Vick and our students!

Henry shows of f an instrument of his own invention and de sign, a “Bandolin!” It is a banjo with the tuning of a mandolin. The ba ndolin he is playing he built and donated to Gilkey Elemen tary’s Music classes. Henry is surrou nded by his many other proj ects.

Cooper & Gilkey Elementary Students Will “Read the Most from Coast to Coast!”

ooper and Gilkey Elementary students are preparing to take part in “Read the Most from Coast to Coast” on Friday, March 1. “Read the Most from Coast to Coast,” a national reading event that began last school year, challenges students to join together to break the record for the number of Accelerated Reader Quizzes taken in one day. The record they will attempt to top, set last school year, is 3,581,992 quizzes! Students read a book at the appropriate level and then take a quiz on a computer. The quiz assesses general comprehension of the book. Accelerated Reader scores the quiz, monitors results, generates reports, and provides a platform to manage individual reading practice. “Read The Most From Coast To Coast” enables students to take part in a shared reading adventure, and, at the same time, show the world they understood what they have read. On March 1, educators, parents and other interested community members will be able to see the progress toward the national goal tracked in real time at http://www.renlearn.com/readthemost. n W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G

Allegan County kids are trying more than just alcohol at age 12. TalkSooner.org Where do teens find prescription drugs? Friends and the family medicine cabinet are the major sources of these drugs. Where should you look to make sure prescription drugs are not readily available? At home: A teen may scout out their own home at first when they are looking to get high from prescription or over the counter (OTC) drugs. With Friends: Talk with the parents in other households your teen has access to about safeguarding medications. With Relatives: Grandparents may be another source of prescription drugs for teens. Teens report that taking drugs from friends or relatives without asking is easier than purchasing them illegally or taking them from home. Suggestions for safeguarding your home and educating your teens include: • Monitoring quantities and controlling access to your medications as well as to your teen’s medications and OTC products you keep on hand. • Set clear rules for teens about drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the medical provider’s advice and dosages. • Be a good role model by also following these rules with your own medication. • Properly conceal and dispose of old or unneeded medicines. www.talksooner.org has a list of locations that will take all medications and over the counter products for proper disposal (proper disposal also keeps them from negatively impacting environmental sources). If you know someone that may be abusing prescription or OTC drugs, treatment is available. For a complete list of treatment options, please visit: www.lakeshoreca.org 7

C O M M U N I T Y E D U C AT I O N & R E C R E AT I O N

Sponsored by Plainwell Community Schools and Gun Plain Township

new! ^

A Note from the Recreation Director

t was with great enthusiasm that I returned from Winter Break to begin the interim position of Community Recreation Director. I would like to thank Jason Herbert for his years of service and wish him the best of luck as he pursues other interests. I am excited to have the opportunity to continue the programs that are currently in place and look forward to community input for exploring new ideas. It is my hope that we can work together to further develop and broaden our community education programs. Our 2012-13 Hoopsters season is underway with 16 teams from Plainwell taking to the court to compete against teams from Otsego and Martin. The 25+ coaches and assistants are practicing throughout the week to prepare the teams for their Saturday games. Over 135 kids are involved in this popular program. In addition to the already advertised programs, the Community Recreation Department will be offering Hunter Safety and Boating Safety later on in the school year. Please be sure to visit our Community Recreation webpage for current or upcoming programs and registration information. n – Bob Farris

Plainwell

Community

Education

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& Recreat

Plainwell Community Education & Recreation

A Gift for Program

Gift Certificates

From Date

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W • PLAIN STREET

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85-95 AN • 6

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AVAILABLE NOW!

Get ready for the Plainwell High School

2013 Grad Bash Providing a safe, fun event for the seniors following graduation, Plainwell’s 2013 Grad Bash will certainly be a day to remember! In addition to the fundraising that has taken place, Grad Bash volunteers will continue to sell raffle tickets at all home basketball games. 1st prize is a $500 gift card to Meijer, 2nd prize is a ski pass to Timber Ridge for the 2013-14 season, and 3rd prize is a cordless drill from Home Depot. Tickets are $5 per ticket or 5/$20. Seniors that still owe the $100 fee can submit it to 2013 Grad Bash, P.O. Box 64, Plainwell, MI 49080 or place it in the “Grad Bash” box on the counter in the High School office. Please note that no student will be denied admittance to Grad Bash due to the inability to pay. Please contact Linda Veldt at (269) 743-9553 or speak to a counselor in the guidance office.

Contact the Community Education Office today at 685-9531 A Gift for Program From

One registration 5 3 1 form per participant, please. • 685-9

Date W • PLAIN STREET

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ORN 4 2 2 A C __________________________________________________________ Name Township _____________ Recreation

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Address _________________________________________CIty____________________ Zip __________ Child’s Age___________________________ Grade Entering___________________________________ A Gift for Program

Parents Name__________________________________________Phone__________________________ From Date

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Activity_________________________________________Session #______________Time___________ Activity_________________________________________Session #______________Time___________ Activity_________________________________________Session #______________Time___________ Master Card/Visa _______________________________________________ Exp. Date ___/___/___ Please make checks payable to Plainwell Community Education. Mail registration form or stop by: Plainwell Community Education, 422 Acorn St., Plainwell, MI 49080 (269) 685-9531 Fax registration to (269) 685-1564. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed Friday.

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4 Go to plainwellschools.org 4 Click on “Our District” 4 Go to the Community Education page

4 Click on the “RevTrak” link to register and pay online If you are unable to register online, forms are available at the Community Education office.

C O M M U N I T Y E D U C AT I O N & R E C R E AT I O N

YOUTH recreation BASKETBALL SKILLS CAMP K - 6th Grade

This program is open to students K-6th grade. Each Saturday, the same pool of players will be divided up differently. Phone call reminders will not be made. Please attend the practice on March 3 at the assigned time for your grade level. Date: March 3 - April 20, 2013 • Saturdays (No camp on March 30 & April 6 due to Spring Break) Time: 9:00 to 10:30 am • K, 1, 2, & 3 Grade 11:00 am to 1:00 pm • 4, 5, 6th Grade Location: Plainwell Middle School Cost: $52/$37, Gun Plain Twp. residents only Instructors: Coaches Klein, Rieman and staff You must preregister, NO signups at camp. Registration deadline is February 25, 2013.

TAE KWON DO Ages 7 to 107

Tae Kwon Do is a 200-year-old martial art and it is the national sport of Korea. It is a dynamic form of self-defense and an excellent means of physical fitness for men, women and children of all ages. This form of martial art includes physical techniques, mental discipline and a deep philosophy. Improve coordination, gain strength, and increase your flexibility while learning self-defense techniques from an ancient Korean martial art form. Tae Kwon Do is appropriate for kids and adults of all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels. Come by yourself, with a friend, or bring the whole family for fun and fitness. Class is open to all, age 7 and older. Date: April 8 - June 17, 2013 • Mondays (No class on May 27, Memorial Day) Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pm Location: Plainwell Middle School Cafeteria Cost: $42/individual, $67/family Instructor: Huong Tran All registrations are done online or by stopping by your school or the Community Ed. office. NO signups at the gym. Registration deadline is March 25, 2013.

THE 11TH ANNUAL MOTHER/SON EVENT

Plainwell Community Education will be sponsoring a trip to Grand Rapids to watch a Grand Rapids Griffins hockey game. It’s STAR WARS night and you can have your photo taken with your favorite STAR WARS character (bring your camera)! Your ticket will get you into the game, a $5 food voucher, a surprise on the bus and an entry to win a raffle prize. If you have any questions, please contact Diane at 685-9531. Who: K-6th grade boys and their mom, grandma or other special lady. When: March 9, 2013. Game starts at 7:00 pm Meet at 4:45 pm at the bus garage on Starr Rd., buses will leave promptly at 5:15 pm. The buses will drop off/pick up outside the arena. Return to Plainwell before 11:00 pm Location: Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton, GR Cost: $22/person, $44/for two, $15/ea. add’l son

Sponsored by Plainwell Community Schools and Gun Plain Township

ADULTrecreation SENIORS inaction ZUMBA® - Ladies Only Amy Baker is authorized to teach all of the following Zumba courses: Basic Zumba, Zumba Toning, Zumbatomic for Kids, Zumba Gold and Aqua Zumba. She has an amazing personal testimony of weight loss and life change. Now she makes it her mission to help others get in shape and lose weight. Zumba fitness classes are for ages 13 and older. Amy would like to remind participants that your hour of Zumba is an hour for you. No childcare is provided, therefore young children should not attend. For more information, email acc4love@aol.com, visit facebook.com/ zumbawithamybaker or call (269) 271-5045. Dates: April 8 - June 3, 2013 • Mondays Time: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Location: Plainwell Middle School Cafeteria Dates: April 7 - June 2, 2013 • Sundays Time: 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Location: Hicks Gym, 311 Hicks Street Cost: Any 10 classes for $50, 20 classes for $80 Walk-in participation available anytime - $5. Please come early to your first class to register.

AQUA ZUMBA Ladies Only Amy Baker is authorized to teach all of the following Zumba courses: Basic Zumba, Zumba Toning, Zumbatomic for Kids, Zumba Gold and Aqua Zumba. She has an amazing personal testimony of weight loss and life change. Now she makes it her mission to help others get in shape and lose weight. Known as the “Zumba Pool Party,” Aqua Zumba gives new meaning to the idea of an invigorating workout. Splashing, stretching, twisting, shouting & laughing are encouraged in the Zumba pool! This course integrates the traditional Zumba formula and philosophy with aqua fitness disciplines. It’s a safe, challenging, low-impact workout that provides cardio conditioning and body toning. Zumba fitness classes are for ages 13 and older. Amy would like to remind participants that your hour of Zumba is an hour for you. No childcare is provided, therefore young children should not attend. For more information, email acc4love@aol.com, visit facebook.com/zumbawithamybaker or call (269) 271-5045. Dates: April 7 - June 2, 2013 • Sundays April 10 - June 5, 2013 • Wednesdays Time: 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Location: Plainwell Middle School Pool Cost: Any 10 classes for $50, 20 classes for $80 Walk-in participation available anytime - $5. Please come early to your first class to register.

INDOOR WALKING

If the Plainwell Community Schools are closed for any reason, Indoor Walking will be cancelled that day. Class will be on time if the school system has a delay. This program runs through May 31, 2013. Dates: Adults Only • Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays Time: 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Dates: Families • Tuesdays & Thursdays Time: 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Location: Hicks Gym, 311 Hicks St. Cost: FREE

EUCHRE - Singles or Doubles

Dates: Tuesdays Time: 6:45 p.m. Location: Plainwell Community Center, 798 Bridge St. Cost: Donations appreciated.

ENHANCED FITNESS CLASS Classes are offered through Borgess-Pipp Hospital and will be offered three mornings a week at Hicks Gym. The classes are on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. To register or for more information, please contact Kathy Russell at 685-0791. Dates: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays Time: 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Location: Hicks Gym, 311 Hicks St.

GOLDEN AGE PASSES

If you are 62 years of age or older, you are eligible for a Golden Age Pass Card. This card entitles you to FREE admission to any home Wolverine Conference athletic event or lap swimming at Plainwell Community Schools’ pool, located in the Middle School off Starr Road. To obtain your card, please stop by either the Community Education office, located at 422 Acorn St. between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday or the Athletic Office located in the back section of the High School. Why not take advantage of this opportunity to support our district athletes?

ANNUAL SPRING FLING

Join us for our Annual Hawaiian-themed Spring Fling! This year it will be held at Starr Elementary, located at 601 School Drive. This FREE event is one you won’t want to miss with a delicious breakfast provided by Plainwell Community Schools. Join us in welcoming back the snowbirds! Date: Tuesday, April 23 Time: 8:00 a.m. Please RSVP to Bonnie at 685-5823 or email bpfingst@ plainwellschools.org

CONTACTS:

Diane Slater, Community Ed & Rec........................................................................................... 685-9531 Bob Farris, Int. Recreation Director........................................................................................... 685-9531 Bonnie Pfingst, Seniors in Action.............................................................................................. 685-5823 John Dubois, Pool Information.................................................................................................. 685-2425 Tammy Glupker, Director.......................................................................................................... 685-1573

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E A R LY C H I L D H O O D N E W S

Great Parents, Great Start at Plainwell Schools!

Ready for Kindergarten?

reat Parents, Great Start is an early childhood program that is seeking families with children ages 0-5. The focus of the program is to support the partnership between families and schools. Studies demonstrate that the effects of early childhood development begins with the first three years of life, which can shape every year after. Great Parents, Great Start will provide monthly playgroups for opportunities for your child to interact with other children, learn development skills, and have fun! We also provide home visits with you and your family to provide the best possible early childhood education. The Great Parents, Great Start program helps parents become their child’s most effective teacher. As your early childhood education coordinator, I will be working with families within the district to advocate early childhood programs and services. Please contact me for information on how Plainwell Community Schools can help your child grow, learn, and prepare for school. Let’s have a Great Start together! – Karen Rikkers, Early Childhood Education Coordinator 269-685-5823, ext. 1023 krikkers@plainwellschools.org

Kindergarten ROUNDUP! Plainwell Community Schools

Wednesday, April 10, 2013 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Starr Elementary School 601 School Drive

Open House • Drop-in Anytime

REMINDER: Kindergarten entry age will gradually change to require children to be 5 years old by September 1, rather than the current cut off date of December 1. For the 2013-14 School Year: A child who resides in a public school district providing kindergarten may enroll if the child is at least 5 years of age on November 1, 2013. For the 2014-15 School Year: A child who resides in a public school district providing kindergarten may enroll if the child is at least 5 years of age on October 1, 2014. For the 2015-16 School Year: A child who resides in a public school district providing kindergarten may enroll if the child is at least 5 years of age on September 1, 2015. STATE OF MICHIGAN: ACT. NO. 198 Effective 06/26/2012

Free Preschool 2013-14

ENROLLING FOR FALL 2013!

Please call 269.673,2161 for a placement form or visit alleganaesa.org/ earlyed

Please call any of these schools for more information

Brad Wyant, Principal • Cooper Elementary • (269) 349-2674 Martha Hymer, Principal • Gilkey Elementary • (269) 685-2424 Laurie Lanphear, Principal • Starr Elementary • (269) 685-5835 Packets may be picked up at any school prior to April 10th.

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Locations in Allegan, Fennville, Hopkins, Martin, Otsego, Plainwell & Wayland school districts.

E A R LY C H I L D H O O D N E W S

SAFE and Plainwell Corners Preschool

t may be chilly but it is time to dream about summer fun! The Plainwell Community School’s Plainwell Corners and the school age SAFE programs are currently registering children for the following self funded programs: Plainwell Corners Summer Camp: Designed for children between 3 years old and completing Kindergarten. Located at the Early Childhood Education Center. Special guests, games, crafts and other fun activities. Plainwell SAFE Summer Fun Camp: Designed for children who are completing 1st grade through 5th grade in 2012-2013. Field trips, swimming, games, crafts and loads of other fun activities! Plainwell Corners Preschool & Daycare: Prepares your child for success! A Preschool offering a developmentally appropriate and fun curriculum designed for toilet-trained children who are three or four years old. Plainwell Corners is now a licensed year around program open Mondays - Fridays from 6:30 am until 6 pm at the Early Childhood Education Center at 307 E. Plainwell Street (next to Hicks Gym) for a $135 weekly rate or $37 daily rate. Now offering a half day rate. Half-day sessions for 3-year olds are offered on M & W for $125/monthly. Halfday sessions for 4-year olds are offered on T, Th & F for $180/ monthly. SAFE: A licensed before and after school program providing a place to make friends and enjoy recreational activities, available for children from all three Plainwell Elementary schools. Open weekdays from 6:30 am until 6 pm. Cooper SAFE will be held at Cooper. Gilkey and Starr SAFE will be at their own school sites in the morning and are combined at Starr in the afternoon. Rates are posted online.

Check us out on the Plainwell Schools website and click the Parents section. www.plainwellschools.org or call 269.685.3103 for more information. We qualify for childcare tax credits, accept DHS payments and we are approved for Flex reimbursement.

Jacob Evans builds the letter “A.”

Preschoolers Learn Kindergarten Readiness Skills

reparing preschoolers for kindergarten is the focus of the Plainwell School Readiness Program (PSRP). Students attend four days a week either in the morning or the afternoon at Starr Elementary. A typical day includes time in small groups, whole group, and in center-choice activities. Developing literacy skills is an important part of the program. Math, science, music, and “specials” such as PE, library, and art are also worked into the program each week. Developing social and emotional skills are as equally important as the academic skills. The children are given time each day to explore a variety of learning centers throughout the classroom. There are many opportunities to discover and enjoy hands on activities. This choice time encourages the preschoolers to learn how to problem-solve, share and work together. The kindergarten teachers love getting School Readiness Students! Registration begins on March 1 for children that will be 4 years of age by November 1. Please call 269-673-2161 or visit alleganaesa.org/earlyed.

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Board of Education

Amy Blades.......................................................................... President Kim Shafer.................................................................... Vice President Jennifer Loftus...................................................................... Treasurer Christine VanDenBerg.......................................................... Secretary Kevin Blue................................................................................Trustee Scott Corbin.............................................................................Trustee John Artz..................................................................................Trustee

THE PLAINWELL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Non-Profit Org. US Postage

PAID

Plainwell, Michigan Permit No. 37

Plainwell Community Schools 600 School Drive Plainwell, MI 49080-1595

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION OFFICES â&#x20AC;˘ 685-5823

Susan Wakefield......................................................Superintendent Bob Van Dis.............................Director of Curriculum & Instruction Melissa Gelbaugh..............................................Director of Finance Jeff McNutt.................................................. Director of Technology Greg Smith....................... Director of Operations & Transportation

** ECRWSS **

Postal Customer

The public is invited to attend all Board of Education meetings. Business meetings are held the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. and workshop meetings are held on the first Monday, beginning 6:30 p.m. in the Administration Building which is located off Gladys St. between Starr Elementary and Plainwell Middle School. Published by the Plainwell Board of Education, Plainwell, Michigan 49080

www.plainwellschools.org

PLAINWELL HIGH SCHOOL 2013 SPRING SPORTS SCHEDULE VARSITY BASEBALL

MAR. 27 Gobles Single APR. 9 Wayland DH 12 Otsego DH 16 Coloma DH 17 Gull Lake DH 19 Allegan DH 23 Three Rivers DH 26 Vicksburg DH 30 Rain Date MAY 3 Paw Paw DH 7 Comstock DH 15 Galesburg Single 17 Conference 18 Conference 28 Hastings or Pre-District 31 Districts

A H A H A H A H A H A TBD TBD TBD TBD

JV BASEBALL MAR. 27 APR. 9 12 16 17 19 23 26 30 MAY 3 7 15 22

Gobles Single Mattawan DH Otsego DH Coloma DH Gull Lake DH Allegan DH Three Rivers DH Vicksburg DH Rain Date Paw Paw DH Comstock DH Galesburg Single Delton

BOYS GOLF APR. 11 13 15 18

Paw Paw Jamboree Kalamazoo Christian Invite Vicksburg Jamboree Greater Kalamazoo Invite @ Stonehenge North

H A H A H A H A H H A H A A A A

OYS GOLF cont. B 19 Comstock JV Invite 24 Plainwell Jamboree 26 Middleville Thornapple Kellogg Invite 30 Allegan Jamboree MAY 2 Gull Lake Invite 10 Comstock Jamboree 15 South Haven Invite 16 Otsego Jamboree 18 Hamilton Invite 20 Dowagiac Jamboree 23 Otsego Jamboree 30 Districts @ Lake Doster JUNE 1 MHSAA State Finals

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER

A H A A A A A A A A A H A

MAR. 21 Marshall Scrimmage A 23 Plainwell Invite H 27 Caledonia A APR. 10 Portage Central H 12 Gull Lake A 15 Coloma H 17 Three Rivers A 19 BC Lakeview A 24 Otsego A 26 Forest Hills Northern H MAY 1 Allegan H 3 Mattawan A 6 Vicksburg H 8 Paw Paw A 10 Portage Northern H 13 Comstock H 20 Conference Semi-Finals TBD 22 Conference Finals TBD 28 Districts TBD

GIRLS JV SOCCER

MAR. 27 Caledonia A APR. 10 Portage Central H 12 Gull Lake A 15 Coloma H 17 Three Rivers A 19 BC Lakeview A 24 Otsego A 26 Forest Hills Northern H MAY 1 Allegan H 3 Mattawan A 6 Vicksburg H 8 Paw Paw A 10 Portage Northern H 13 Comstock H 20 Conference Semi-Finals TBD 22 Conference Finals TBD

TRACK & FIELD

APR. 9 Otsego 16 Allegan 19 Otsego Relays 23 Vicksburg 26 Edwardsburg Relays 30 Paw Paw MAY 7 Comstock 10 Allegan Invitational 14 Rain Date 17-18 Regionals 21 Conference Meet @ Otsego JUNE 1 MHSAA Finals

VARSITY SOFTBALL

MAR. 27 Gobles Single A APR. 12 Otsego DH A 16 Coloma DH H 17 Gull Lake DH A 19 Allegan DH H 23 Three Rivers DH A 26 Vicksburg DH H MAY 3 Paw Paw DH A 4 Don Knight Memorial Tournament @ Otsego A 7 Comstock DH H 15 Galesburg DH A 18 Conference Tournament TBD 28 Hastings or Pre-District TBD 28 Pre-District TBD 31 Districts A

GIRLS TENNIS H A A A A H A A TBD A A

APR. 10 Coloma H 13 Plainwell Quad H 15 Otsego A 17 Allegan H 20 Greater Kalamazoo Tourn. A @ Portage Central 22 GK Tournament A 22 Vicksburg H 24 Paw Paw A 29 Comstock H MAY 3 Middleville - Varsity A 3 Thornapple Kellogg - JV H 6 League Crossover A 10 Conference Finals @ Paw Paw A Most varsity events start at 4:00 JV conference match sites depend on team size and court availability

*Schedules are subject to changes due to weather and/or school conflicts.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE ATHLETIC OFFICE AT 269.685.2096