Bach School’s Knowledge Master Open Team placed second in Michigan, in the Knowledge Master Open held on March 20, 2013. Nationally, Bach placed 64th out of 185 total teams. Continue reading
Megan Franzen’s kindergarten class at Bach Elementary.
Will you have a kindergartener in the Ann Arbor Public Schools in the 2013-2014 school year? Then make sure to get to the information sessions, called Kindergarten Round-Ups, that start in just a few weeks. The sessions are listed alphabetically below by school. All kindergarten classes are full-day.
If you have questions about which school your child should attend, please call 994-2200 or go to the district’s web site and click on the “Especially for Parents” link to log in your street name to find out your child’s elementary school.
Some schools have planned activities for students and/or optional child care for Kindergarten Round-Ups. Please contact the individual schools for more details. Continue reading
Donna Mahoney teaches Bach fifth graders the American Sign Language alphabet Oct. 5. Here she’s signing the letter W.
By Tara Cavanaugh
With a head full of curly blonde hair and a wide smile, Jacob looks like any other energetic kindergartener at Bach Elementary. He sits with his friends at lunch, puts away his lunchbox all by himself, and tears around the playground at recess.
But there is something slightly different about Jacob. He’s deaf, and he communicates through sign language. Even so, his disability doesn’t set him apart from his kindergarten classmates. They, along with their fifth grade “buddies,” even learned some sign language from Jacob’s mom Donna Mahoney.
“Jacob might not be able to hear things, but he does see things and he does understand things. And he does have a language,” Mahoney said. Continue reading
Class sizes vary throughout the schools. Here, Megan Franzen teaches 18 kindergarteners at Bach Elementary in June.
By Liz Margolis, Director of Communications for the Ann Arbor Public Schools
School has started and the Ann Arbor Public Schools, like all districts across Michigan, continues to face financial pressure from the state. This pressure has a direct impact on our classrooms. For years, AAPS was able to make budget reductions while protecting the classroom. With over $60 million in reductions in the past five years and no relief in sight, AAPS classrooms are now feeling the impact. But AAPS will not see increases in class sizes over last year’s numbers. Continue reading
Volunteers organize and pack school supplies Friday morning.
By Tara Cavanaugh
Back in March, Logan Elementary school was commended by Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje for donating more than 5,000 books to the Philippines as part of its March Reading Month activities.
The First Presbyterian Church has gathered those books and are preparing them for shipping –– along with thousands of leftover school supplies from the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Continue reading
By Tara Cavanaugh
See what makes kindergarten so great in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.
By Tara Cavanaugh
A parade of bike riders rolled in to Wines Elementary Wednesday morning. Tikes on tiny bikes with training wheels. Kids in bike buggies, enjoying the ride. Tandem bikes. Junior-sized mountain bikes. Grown-up sized bikes ridden by moms and dads.
The unusually high bike traffic was due to Bike to School Day, celebrated nationally for the first time this year on May 9. The event is sponsored by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, which also organizes Walk to School Day in October. Continue reading
By Tara Cavanaugh
Author Hope Vesterglaad has written several children’s books, including “Potty Animals.” She returned to Bach Elementary, which she attended from 2nd to 6th grade, to talk about her books with kindergarteners and first graders. Continue reading
Artist Jerzy Drozd taught Bach third and fourth graders about the artistic elements of storytelling March 14.
–By Tara Cavanaugh
Bach Elementary students learned what gives comics their zip, boom and pow during a mini-lesson in the art of comic strip making yesterday.
Local graphic novel author and artist Jerzy Drozd taught 2nd through 5th graders the tricks of the trade in an hourlong presentation that was part of the school’s Reading Month celebration.
A team of 35 Forsythe Middle School sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders placed second out of 10 teams in Michigan in the Knowledge Master Open on Dec. 2. On the national level, Forsythe scored in the top 5 percent of all teams, ranking 28th out of 577 middle school teams nationwide.
Forsythe Middle School sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders placed second out of 10 teams in Michigan in the Knowledge Master Open.
Forsythe scored 1,461 out of a perfect 2,000 points, above the average Michigan score of 1,292 and the national average of 1,138. A team from Tappan Middle School also competed Dec. 2, placing third in Michigan and 45th in the nation, with a score of 1,410.
The KMO is a nationwide knowledge contest that tests students’ ability to answer questions in all the subject areas, quickly and accurately. Students compete in the KMO without leaving their own schools; teams receive curriculum-based contest questions on a CD-ROM and compete using a computer at their own schools. The KMO began in 1983 with 72 schools; it now annually attracts over 3,000 schools and 45,000 participants from the U.S. and several foreign countries.
The members of the Forsythe team included: sixth-graders Elaine Chamberlain, Tara Dorje, Joshua Nacht and Maurits Sier; seventh-graders Andrew Ames, Veronika Beyer, Morgan Borjigin-Wang, Sophia Camp, Nathan Ceely, Marianne Cowherd, Jason Dean, Matthew Epperson, Betty Hu, Derick McIntyre, David Morrow, Lawrence Mullen, Kavin Pawittranon, Stephen Nurushev, Sorbie Richner, Sehej Sawhney, Daniel Tarasev, Noah Thornton and Kevin Zhang; and eighth-graders Dylan Aikens, Noah Chen, Chris Chou, Sam Ellison, John Houghton, Julia Kerst, Mohan Kothari, Chris Nicholson, Prashant Puttagunta, Lillie Schneyer, Tim Wolfe and Michael Zhang.
The KMO is a Forsythe student club open to Forsythe students of all grades. Teacher Dan Ezekiel coaches it. There are three more KMO competition dates in 2010. Details: www.greatauk.com.
Bach music teacher travels in China
Kristi Bishop, a music teacher at Bach Elementary, is traveling this month with the organization People to People as a music education delegate and Citizen Ambassador. to mainland China. Her trip runs from Dec. 11-21, which she will spend with 50 other music educators from around the United States.
During her trip, she will be part of round-table discussions, panels, seminars and site visits allowing her to gain an in-depth understanding of the common interests and challenges she shares with those overseas.
She also will have a chance to experience the culture and history of China including visits to locations such as the China Conservatory, Beijing No. 35 High School and spending the afternoon with the Yanan High School Chorus.
Authors visit, share with Clague students
Clague Middle School had an exciting week of author visits Nov. 18-20, according to media specialist Michelle Rodriguez:
• On Nov. 18, author James Dashner treated our students to an imaginative visual presentation about writing that kept us laughing.
His latest book, “The Maze Runner,” has been selected as one of the best young adult books of 2009 by Kirkus Reviews.
• On Thursday, international New York Times bestselling author Anthony Horowitz entertained staff and students with a hilarious monologue.
His books include the popular Alex Rider series and the Diamond Brothers books.
• On Friday, local University of Michigan librarian and comic writer Jim Ottaviani inspired the entire eighth-grade with his presentation on scientific graphic novels and comics.
His books include “Dignifying Science” and “Two-Fisted Science.”
Students researched scientists and are now incorporating their research into a graphic novel of their own.
Ann Arbor nurse featured in magazine
Ann Arbor Public Schools nurse Laurelle Brennan is featured both on the cover and in an article about the H1N1 flu in the December edition of the MEA Voice, the Michigan Education Association’s magazine. Link here to the magazine. Brennan is coordinating all H1N1 activities for The Ann Arbor Public Schools, monitoring attendance and coordinating the district’s efforts with the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health.
Counselor honored in Lansing
Krista McKinney-King, a counselor at Skyline High School, was honored in November for receiving her National Board Certification. She was honored during the Educator Recognition Reception in Lansing with the Michigan State Board of Education.
Clague students receives social studies award
Clague Middle School eighth-grader León Pescador received the Middle School Student of the Year Award from the Michigan Council for the Social Studies. He received his award Nov. 2 at the Council’s annual state conference on Nov. 2. His school will receive $250 from MEEMIC Insurance, which sponsored the awards.
Students earn kudos in MSBOA competition
The Ann Arbor Public Schools was well represented in the MSBOA All-State High School/Middle School Band and Orchestra competition.
The following students auditioned for and were accepted into the following groups: High School Orchestra: Emma Powell, Briang Chang, Ben Merte (Skyline Orchestra), Tina Rowan, Catherine Vogt (Huron Orchestra/Band); High School Band: Karen Matsuo, Skye Huerta, Julia Pekela, Gina Son, Michael Sullivant (Pioneer Band), Peter Dixon, Peter Dolce (Huron Band), Doan Ichikawa (Skyline Band); Middle School Orchestra: Hiro Adachi, Maria Bonvicini, Deen Adzemovic, Dallan Roan, Shwetha Rajaram, Caroline Elliott, Alan Xu, Jessie Kim, (Clague Orchestra), MIchael Lee, Charles Wang, Chenxi Sun, Irene Wei, Lizzie Zinn (Slauson Orchestra), Andy Hsiao, Noah Aaron (Tappan Orchestra), Grace Pernecky (Forsythe Orchestra); Middle School Band: Paulina Tsao, Emily Ji, Lorna Barron, Nir Glazer (Clague Band), Anna Latterner, Kevin Jiang, Charles Wang, Elliot Polot (Slauson Band), Jordan Steiff (Scarlett Band), Griffin Roy, Halley Bass (Ann Arbor Open Band) Brandon Cutler (Tappan Band).
Clemente Student Council members elected
Nikko Ceoux was elected president and and Richard Johnson III vice president of the Roberto Clemente Student Council. The candidates campaigned as well as debated and answered questions regarding their platform at a school-wide assembly.
The staff and student body participated in a simulated voting process; voters were required to register and show proof of identity at the polls.
Logan raises $1,500 plus in coin drive
Logan Elementary School recently had its annual school coin drive to benefit United Way and Food Gathers. With support from Logan students, staff, families and other employees, the school presented a check for more than $1,539.97 to Superintendent Todd Roberts as proceeds from the event.
Clemente meets achievement, attendance goals
Roberto Clemente Student Development Center students met achievement and attendance goals, the school has reported.
Students achieved a cumulative school 2.5 or better GPA for the first trimester. 83.7 percent of students passed all their classes and 58.7 percent of students had a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Twenty one percent of students are on the honor roll.
Also, Clemente students have broken the barrier in attendance records by having less than 600 absences for the trimester.
For their accomplishments, students have earned an “out” of appropriate dress attire day on Fridays for the new trimester and had a staff vs. student basketball game on Nov. 24.
Dicken hosts blood drive, thanks soldiers
The Dicken Elementary School Service Squad had a busy fall, including a great turnout for a blood drive and the start of a Thank a Soldier initiative, according to first-grade teacher Laura Carino.
Some 31 donors gave blood during an Oct. 28 American Red Cross Blood Drive and students that helped recruit one of the donors received a small prize from the Red Cross. Of the donors, the Red Cross was able to collect 20 units of blood, allowing the group to help save 60 lives.
In discussing what they were thankful for around Thanksgiving, Service Squad members decided upon a Thank a Soldier Initiative. Members organized a station at the Thanksgiving potluck allowing students to make a “thank you” card for a soldier. The cards were compiled and made ready to be mailed.
Students from Huron help at museum
In what has become an annual tradition, students who study German at Huron High School help the city of Ann Arbor decorate the city’s Kempf House Museum, according to language teacher Andrew Smith. Museum officials said they reached out to area German teachers in an effort to bring more youth to the historic site and introduce German language learners to the culture.
In the mid-1800s, Ann Arbor was shaped by the many German immigrants who energized the area, built homes and starated businesses. The Kempf House, a reminder of that era, is open to the public. It is at 312 S. Division St. Details 734-274-0528.
Math Night hosted at Bryant/Pattengill
A total of 109 students from Bryant/Pattengill elementary schools community attended the school’s annual Math Night on Dec. 2 with their parents and siblings. Each student received a Math Game kit so they could play the games at home.
Old favorites included Baseball Multiplication, Penny Plate, Monster Squeeze and Multiplication Bingo, and new bean bag toss games were added to give students a math challenge. “They even played hopscotch,” said event organizer and Pattengill teacher Sue Beech.
The Bryant/Pattengill PTO provided funding and volunteers ran the games. Staff members who volunteered were: Principals Ché Carter from Pattengill and Luther Corbitt from Bryant; and Angela Klein, Jeanne Kitzmann, Rachel Toon, Sue Beech and Dee Vayda along with 31 Pioneer High School students from Robert Klemmer’s class. PTO parents were on hand to help serve pizza and drinks: Joe Sims, Stacey Szuszman, Julia Mattucci-Clark, Cheryl Mitchenor, Caroline Vitale, and Christine Bian.
Pioneer students who volunteered were: Zubin Chandra, Jenny Shen, Kevin Tang, Julia Chen, Caroline Laman, Mary Fitsgerald, Katie Mc Coy, Anna Benson, Ruth Wei, Saqib Usman, Elise Huerta, Miriam Holzman, Zornica Hadjiglo, Jeni Nao, Zach Miller, Peter Wang, Edward Ersoy, Chris Taylor Proctor, Ruby Liu, Anthony Yu, Eli Schultz, Ian Gottschalk, Diane Wang, Max Brodsky, Pracanth Gareson, Levy Li, Richard Gu, Vijay Ilankamban, Yusef Halamed, Kritika Rajan, and Ishika Rajan.
Dicken, Haisley sponsor annual food drives
• The Dicken Elementary School Student Council, chaired by classroom teachers Jennifer Brogno and Cathy Cieglo, sponsored its annual food drive for Food Gatherers of Ann Arbor from Nov.16-23. The community donated canned foods, dried goods, diapers, formula, and other much needed items. A total of 747 pounds of food and other items were donated.
• Haisley Elementary School fifth-graders, in partnership with their PTO, organized a Fall Canned Food Drive collecting 841 pounds of food and personal hygiene items for Food Gatherers.
Haisley students create fall placemats
Haisley Elementary School art teacher Jim Schulz worked with two fifth-grade classes and all second graders to create fall placemats for use with the morning breakfast program at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The Haisley office staff helped by laminating the student mats.
St. Andrew’s has provided daily breakfast to homeless persons in the Ann Arbor community for 27 years. Tate Stark, student teacher for Schulz, organized the leaf-painting process and Mary Edwards, PTO president, arranged for delivery to start on Thanksgiving Day.