Chandler Woods Charter Academy students reading their favorite books.

Chandler Woods Charter Academy students were thrilled to kick off 2012 with a healthy, educational activity, so they celebrated the new year by curling up in their slippers with their favorite stuffed animals and comfy pillows for 2,012 seconds (approximately 34 minutes) of reading. The Young Five’s fifth-grade students (pictured) lined Chandler Woods’ hallways and gymnasium as they indulged in their favorite books for this school-wide silent reading activity.

Applications are available at the Rockford High School guidance office or the club’s website at www.rockfordgardenclub.htmlplanet.com. A short essay is required and application details are available on the website or by contacting Shelley at (616) 874-3196.

The scholarship is open to all area graduates and recent graduates. Scholarship certificates will be awarded in May. The essay/application deadline is March 31, 2012. The Rockford Garden Club does not discriminate by race, color, religion or gender.

Among those listed are Rockford students: senior Alyssa Brillinger, freshman Sloan Ouellette, junior Megan Kelley, freshman Taylor Rummel, sophomore Lauren Girard, freshman Kaitlin Cress, junior Patrick Malley, senior Rachel Doud, sophomore Peyton Wells, sophomore Katie Carlson, senior Lisa Markham, senior Karli Rowe and freshman Paige Fawcett.

Other local students listed are junior Bennett Riddering of Belmont, senior Amy Veltkamp of Cedar Springs, and senior Rachel Jantz of Sparta.

Hope College is a four-year, co-educational, liberal arts college with an enrollment of 3,249 men and women and is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America.

Devin Korf 6th Grade

Earth Keepers Magnet

Devin is the son of Brent and Angela. He has two sisters, 10th-grader Abigail and eighth-grader Morgan. He also has a dog named Duncan and a bunny named Jiffy. Devin attended Crestwood Elementary. He enjoys hanging out with friends and playing baseball. His favorites include Math with Mrs. Altizer as favorite class, pizza as favorite food, MSU as favorite college, and favorite movie The Blind Side. Devin admires his dad who is a good role model. When asked what he is most proud of, Devin firmly stated, “Obviously this!”

Ava Wilson 6th Grade

Fine Arts Magnet

Ava’s parents are Philip and Amy Wilson. She has several pets, including fish, chickens, cats, and dogs. Ava attended Lakes Elementary. She participates in choir and after school activities, such as snack attack and the art of hair and nails. Ava also hand sews her own formal dresses. She plans to make her own prom and wedding gowns and might like a career as a designer. Ava enjoys reading fantasy books. Her favorite food is spaghetti, favorite class is Math with Mrs. Curtis, and favorite college is MSU. Ava admires her parents, who have always been good role models and always been there for her. She is most proud of being selected as Student of the Month.

Hunter Ignasiak 7th Grade

Hunter’s parents are Mark and Tracy Ignasiak. Her sister, Rian is a fourth-grader at Lakes Elementary. Hunter is very involved at ERMS. She is a member of student council, plays the French horn in band, is in the LEO club, and is going to serve as a Ram Buddy. She also swims for ERMS and Riptide and enjoys hunting. If Hunter could take a dream vacation, she would go to Brazil. Her favorite class is Band with Mrs. Kilgore and her favorite food is a soft-shell taco. She hopes to become a nurse someday. Hunter admires her parents, who always help her understand things and take care of her. She also admires her coaches, who are kind and try to help swimmers individually. Hunter is most proud of the effort she puts into practicing her French horn so that she can improve.

Jack Fath 7th Grade

Jake is the son of A.G. and Amy Fath. His brother, Ryan, is five years old and he also has a dog named Sparky. Jack attended Meadowridge Elementary. He plays trumpet in the band, plays football, and enjoys playing catch with his dad. Jake’s favorite classes are Math with Mr. Hodgkinson and Science with Mrs. Rehkopf, his favorite food is chicken wings, and his favorite college is Michigan State University. He would like to play football in the NFL or become an architect. Jake admires his dad, who has a great personality and works really hard. He is proud of how hard he works, being smart, and having a good attitude.

Caitlin Kemerly 8th Grade

Caitlin’s parents are Brad & Renee Kemerly, Alison Wingard, and Steve Roossien. Her siblings are 10th-graders Jonah and Baylee, fourth-grader Kylie, and kindergartener Brinley. Caitlin attended Meadowridge Elementary. She plays tennis and competitive cheer at ERMS and also enjoys to swim, jump on the trampoline, and spend time with friends. Caitlin would describe the best night ever as playing tennis, going to the Haunt, and then swimming at midnight. She would like to become a special education teacher someday. Caitlin admires her mom, who has always been there for her and is proud of earning good grades.

Hayden Schmidt 8th Grade

Hayden is the son of Edward and Alison Schmidt. His sister Bonnie attends Meadowridge, where he also went to school. He also has several pets, including a snake, bearded dragon, dog, and a rabbit. Hayden likes basketball, baseball, fishing and many other sports. His favorite class is Math with Mr. Ouellette, favorite food is homemade pizza, and favorite book series is Hunger Games. He also likes MSU and would like a career as a builder. Hayden admires his dad who inspires him and encourages him to be great. He is proud of his skill in sports.

Rachel Border 8th Grade

Rachel is the daughter of Glenn and Sharon Border. She has two siblings, Jenna and Cassie. School activities that Rachel is involved with include swimming, track and playing clarinet in the band. Rachel enjoys reading, writing, creating websites and playing her clarinet. Her favorite college is Ohio State. Rachel would like to one day become an author, an Olympic swimmer, or a band director. Rachel’s favorite movie is “Pirates of the Caribbean”, favorite books are any mystery or horror book, and she loves to eat Ramen Noodles. She is most proud of her involvement with her church.

Andrew Johnson 8th Grade

Andrew is the son of Jim and Yvonne Johnson. He has one sister, Vanessa and a dog named Pepper. School activities that Andrew participates in are National Junior Honor Society and lacrosse. His favorite college is the University of Michigan and he one day hopes to become a college football analyst. His hobbies include watching Michigan Football and playing lacrosse. Andrew’s favorite class is wood shop with Mr. Larson. Some of his favorites include reading the Percy Jackson series, the movie “The Blind Side”, and eating steak. The person that he admires the most is his dad.

Emilia Vasquez 7th Grade

Emilia is the daughter of Sara Ruiz. She has a 5-month-old sister, Alejandria. Emilia is involved with the Girl Scouts and enjoys the NRMS After School Program. Her favorite college is the University of Michigan and she would like to become a meteorologist someday. Emilia most enjoys Math, her favorite food is tamales and she loves everything Harry Potter. The person that she admires the most is her baby sister.

Matthew Jendritz 7th Grade

Matthew is the son of Pam and Gordon Jendritz. He has an older brother, Stephen and a younger sister, Elise. Matt has a pet gecko named Puntos. School activities Matt is involved with include basketball, track, and cross country. Matt enjoys snowboarding and hanging out with friends. Matt’s list of schools that he would one day like to attend include Stanford, Harvard or Michigan and he hopes to become a doctor. Matthew is most proud of his sports accomplishments and his grades. Matthew’s favorite teacher is his third-grade teacher Mrs. Bakita. He loves to eat doughnuts, his favorite band is the Blue Oyster Cult and the person that he admires the most is his dad.

Earth Watch Magnet

Ashley Duimstra 6th Grade

Ashley’s parents are Molly and Terry and she has one sister, Grace. Ashley enjoys swimming and going outside. Her favorite university is Michigan State and she hopes to one day become a veterinarian. Ashley’s favorite class is Language Arts with Mrs. Reickard and she enjoys the Molly Moon books. She most admires her parents and she is most proud of doing well in school.

Ryan Baker 6th Grade

Earth Watch Magnet

Ryan is the son of Brian and Rita Baker. He has two older siblings, Chris and Kyle and a dog named Fanner. Ryan enjoys being involved with the Book Club as well as swimming and baseball. His favorite university is Michigan and he would like to become a politician one day. His favorites include the movie “Thor”, the book Maze Runner, listening to classic rock and eating tacos. He really enjoys Social Studies and the person that he admires most is Ronald Reagan.

Education options increased for students, parents

State Rep. Peter MacGregor

State Rep. Peter MacGregor recently voted for sweeping reform legislation approved by the Michigan House giving parents, without any other choice, more education options for their children by allowing more charter schools to open their doors.

Senate Bill 618, supported by MacGregor, allows for the phase in on the number and location of charter schools in Michigan, and requiring increased conditions and more accountability on all public school student performance.

“All Michigan students should have access to the best possible education and parents should be able to determine the best path for their children, not the government, and not by what zip code you live in” said MacGregor, R-Rockford. “Lifting the charter cap is not a threat against our public school, in fact, I don’t anticipate my district being affected a great deal as we have some of the best public school districts in the state.”

The bill approved Wednesday, Dec. 14 was strengthened by House Republicans by adding provisions that require:

•            additional guidelines for authorizers to consider when granting charter contracts;

•            the creation of a bipartisan legislative workgroup to develop quality measures for all public schools by March 30, 2012;

•            student growth made toward academic goals before expansion;

•            all accreditation and progress report information to be posted on school websites for transparency; and

•            a gradual elimination of the charter cap.

Currently, more than two-thirds of Michigan’s 232 charter schools have waiting lists, according to the Michigan Association of Public School Academies.

“We have many excellent public schools in the area,” MacGregor said. “This bill increases educational competition in Michigan while also keeping our best schools on a continuous path to improvement. I studied this issue and listened to my district. At the end of the day, I voted my conscience—my vote was about improving the lives of kids, not maintaining the status quo for school systems.”

Senate Bill 618 received final approval Thursday, Dec. 15 by the Michigan Senate and now heads to Gov. Snyder for approval.

On Thursday, January 12 and Thursday, January 19, fifth graders within the Greenville Public School system will experience something few – if any- ten and eleven year olds do – performing surgery.

This program initiated in 2011 when Baldwin Heights Elementary teacher Mindy Hepinstall customized a similar program from the S. 4 Duke Ellington School in Manhattan, New York to allow her students a more hands-on, memorable experience when learning about the body and its systems.

The Mini Medical School lasts approximately four weeks.  During the first few weeks, students build replica body frames and organs out of everyday materials, such as clay, pipe cleaners and Paper Mache. The fifth graders are assisted by parent volunteers, school nurses and art teachers to complete their human creations.

The Mini Medical School concludes with surgical staff from Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville coming into the school setting and coaching students in performing mock surgeries on the replica bodies.

Students are divided into groups based on surgery type; heart transplants, lung transplants, appendectomies and cerebral aneurysm repair.  The fifth graders will scrub in right along side of the surgeons, giving them an even greater perspective on careers in health care.

The inaugural Mini Med School in 2011 was a resounding success and model of partnership between the schools and hospital.   Hepinstall received positive feedback from students, parents and her peers.  “We set out to find a creative way to teach kids about the human body and its systems,” said Hepinstall.  “The Mini Med School succeeded in doing this and also opened students’ eyes to careers in the medical field.”

In the fall of 2011, Hepinstall was asked by several of her teaching counterparts at other Greenville Elementary Schools to incorporate the program into their fifth grade curriculum.   Hepinstall again collaborated with Spectrum Health United Hospital to develop a plan that could expand the program to reach more students while making good use of facilities and hospital resources.

by MILES POSTEMA
Rockford School Board Trustee

In the early days of the Internet, with slow speeds and dial-up Internet connections, I thought the Internet might go the way of the CB radio—a passing fad but not a lasting part of our lives. I admit that I am not always right in my predictions. Soon there will be nearly a billion users on Facebook alone.

Several recent events brought home to me the proliferation of social media in all of its forms. A recent expulsion hearing included text messages from one student to another student. After a student died from an illness on one of my university attorney colleague’s campuses, some students on the same floor posted messages of sympathy on the student’s Facebook page even before the student’s family could be informed through normal, official means. The students did not intend to be disrespectful and likely did not think about the possibility that the family had not yet been notified. They simply wanted to express their condolences using the tool they use most often. Many have Facebook up on their screens nearly all day.

Recently, on a visit to my own campus, my middle school daughter noticed that a substantial number of the students in our library were on Facebook. We counted and about a third of the students had Facebook up. I confess it wasn’t any kind of scientific study on our part, but it is clear to me that middle school, high school and college students spend a significant amount of time on or with social media.

Parents today did not grow up with social media and we have little real life experiences to share about it with our kids.

As a university lawyer and a school board member, almost every conference or workshop I attend has a session on the perils of social media from the perspective of the school or the students. At a recent conference the speaker asked how many attendees had Facebook accounts. In an audience of mostly 40- to 60-year-old lawyers, all but a few hands went up.

Students believe that social media is largely private when nothing could be farther from the truth. The speed and spontaneity of social media coupled with the perceived anonymity of the Internet behind a keyboard can be a recipe for poor judgment. Some bullying and harassment has now left the playground and the availability of social media enables students, for good or bad, to stay connected away from the school. It’s difficult to monitor and supervise this kind of conduct.

It pays to be vigilant about your child’s use of social media. We have had to “de-friend” some of my daughter’s friends when it became clear that their wall posts bordered on the inappropriate.

The parents of the student at the expulsion hearing explained that he had never had a conversation with their student about the appropriate use of their phone for texting. Texting lacks the nonverbal aspects of communication and much can be lost without that piece.

Here are some general rules that you can share with your kids about social media:

•            Posts are not personal. Students often think their Facebook pages are private diaries. If information is posted on the Internet, privacy is largely gone.

•            Your post or texts might subject you to student discipline. If your posts or texts cause a disruption at school, that might lead to a suspension or expulsion. If you harass or bully another student online or via text outside of school, you may still be disciplined if it interferes with the school.

•            Review your privacy settings. Facebook changes the rules of the game often. Some think they have set their account privacy settings appropriately but this is easier said than done. It pays to revisit your privacy settings frequently.

•            Others are reading your posts. More and more, teachers, professors and prospective employers may be reading your posts. If you are posting something negative about someone, that person could be reading your post. With an unrestricted Facebook account, your information could come up with a simple search.

•            What you post is likely permanent. Even though you may have set your privacy settings, it’s likely that the information you have shared is archived somewhere. It’s good to understand that what you post can come back to haunt you in the future.

•            Your account might be a roadmap to your door. Posting detailed information about your number, e-mail or address simply creates a roadmap to your door. Many people post details about upcoming vacations when they will be away from home. Use the available security settings and be cautious about the details you post. This goes for the applications that tell your current location, too.

•            Your posts and texts may be taken seriously. If you threaten someone or to do something harmful, saying you were just kidding or joking may not work. What might be joking or kidding to a close friend may not look like the same to a parent or a third party. In today’s climate, people err on the side of being extremely cautious with regard to threats and take them seriously.

Despite my predictions about the demise of the Internet, social media is likely here to stay. Our kids are more comfortable using it than we are, but it may be good to lay out some ground rules and have a conversation about appropriate use of social media. With younger kids, it probably pays to monitor what they are doing on social media or when they are texting their friends.

Our schools do a good job of educating our students on some of the issues related to social media, but this is primarily the responsibility of parents. Most of this activity takes place outside the classroom or the school. Using a belt-and-suspenders approach and being proactive is probably best.

by LYNN BEGIN
along with CLIFF AND NANCY HILL

The Child Development Lab (CDL) Preschool is a popular and unique 36-week program offered every school year. This well-received preschool is held in a ground floor wing of the Rockford High School (RHS) with its own private entrance and fenced outdoor playground. Warm and nurturing teachers, with degrees, who provide a kindergarten-readiness curriculum, staff the CDL

The CDL encourages curiosity, a love of learning, and the development of kind friendships in a safe and secure environment. This “state of the art “ program focuses on literacy, discovery, art, nature, field trips, and special events.

One such special event recently held on Thursday, November 17 was a “Slurping Soup Grandparents Day” where the 3 and 4-year old classes became “cooks” as they helped to peel and chop the potatoes and carrots, and snap green beans—all necessary ingredients for a hearty and delicious vegetable soup.

While the soup was simmering Grandparents arrived and the children, in an hour of fun, led their “papas” and “nanas” throughout the classroom while playing with their favorite toys.

The beautiful brisk fall day came to a close as everyone sat down to slurp soup in the warm and cozy CDL preschool room. The kids unanimously agreed that Grandparents are “soup-er”!

Parents considering enrolling their preschoolers in future CDL classes will be encouraged to know that RHS students play a valuable role in the CDL classroom. As part of the curriculum for their high school child development class, parenting class, or living skills class, high school students learn about various aspects of a young child’s development. From an observation room they are able to observe and explore positive guidance techniques and activities for preschoolers before they, too, can begin to interact with the young children. The interactions between the high school students and the children allow the preschoolers to receive additional attention as the high school students work with the children and use their newly learned knowledge in a realistic situation with the ever-present support of the preschool staff. It’s a win-win-win for everyone involved!

For CDL information or class enrollment contact Rockford Community Services at: www.rpssignmeup.com or call 616-863-6560.