The Cedar Springs Public Schools Board of Education will have three positions available for the annual election on Tuesday, May 4, 2010. Two positions are four year terms ending June 30, 2014 and one position is a one year term ending June 30, 2011.  Candidates can pick up an election packet at any local Clerk’s Office.  Petitions or $100 filing fee, and an affidavit form must be turned in to the Kent County’s Clerk’s Office by 4 p.m. on Feb 9.

Cedar Springs Public Schools recognizes that weather conditions caused by snow, ice, or other weather emergencies can create a situation that makes it unsafe for students, parents, and staff traveling to and/or from school.

When considering the matter of closing schools, the safety of our students is our number one priority.

We begin early in the morning driving the roads and we are in contact with the Kent County Sheriff Department and local weather channels to determine both current and likely future conditions.

The decision to open schools on schedule will only be made if it is felt students and staff will be able to travel safely. If weather conditions worsen during the school day, an early school dismissal is possible.  Please have an alternate plan that your child is aware of in the event an early dismissal is necessary.

As a parent, you have the right to excuse your child if you feel it is not safe for them.

The Cedar Springs High School would like to thank several area businesses for supporting the Community Based Instruction program. The primary goal of the CBI program is to allow a realistic “hands-on” experience in the workplace that promotes student learning and achievement. The students team with business mentors and receive one-on-one training which helps students gain job skills for future employment.

Thanks again to Burger King, Arby’s, Subway, Adoris Salon, Maxx Fitness, Family Fare, MHS Automotive, Golf Emporium, Cedar Springs Food Service, Rite Aid, Save A Lot and Rockford Shoe Depot.

Students in the fourth grade classrooms of Mr. Gregory and Mr. Moleski were taught a very valuable lesson in economics. The lesson, titled Save and Score, was presented in mid-January to the eager listeners. The program is sponsored by the Lake Michigan Credit Union and the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The students learned about the four different ways to save money. The various ways include:
1) short term investments
2) donations
3) spending
4) long term investments

With inquisitive questions and a keen interest to learn, our students once again exemplified how we use our Habits of Mind at Cedar View. This was witnessed by the two presenters from LMCU, Ms. Vickie and Ms. Jennifer. They raved at how well the students demonstrated the ability to listen and ask “real life” questions. Before they left, the ladies presented both classrooms with a challenge.

The challenge was for each student to write a personal essay on what they had learned about saving money. The recipient of the strongest essay would win free Griffin’s tickets for their entire class!

After submitting their entries, the students were treated to a special guest appearance by Fin (the second Griffin’s mascot).  Fin couldn’t decide on the top essay because there were so many quality pieces entered in the contest.  So he declared the essays written by Leah Kuzma and Dirk Zain as winners.  For their hard work, ALL of the students in both classrooms received two free tickets to the Grand Rapids Griffin’s hockey game on Saturday, January 30.

A game of “Battleship,” touring the school, sharing cheerleading stories, and talking about college are all activities that took place during mentor sessions this past January.  After months of discussions, research, planning, identifying students and recruiting volunteers, the Cedar Springs Mentor Program is off to a great start.

“This is when the fun begins,” states Jennifer Willette, Mentor Coordinator. “It will be great to introduce the mentors and students and watch as they get to know each other and develop a relationship.” Both mentors and students were a bit nervous at first but by the end of their first session the nerves were gone and plans were being made for what they would do next time.

Currently the program is for 6-12 grade students. “While I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to connect mentors with students, we are working to connect many more students with a positive role model.” A good number of these students are boys, many of whom do not have fathers or other male role modes ready and able to guide them through life. These adolescent boys are at an impressionable stage, learning by themselves how to become men. Without a positive male role model to guide them, they will look to  whomever else happens to be around.  For many boys, those other options are not very positive.

A commitment of a half hour a week can make a huge difference in a child’s life.  The moment you become a mentor to a child, your experience is a success; for these kids your willingness to spend time with them is the most powerful act of all.  The wonderful thing about mentoring is that you are already equipped to be a good mentor.  You bring to the table something unique that these kids do not have in their lives…the ability to be their friend. As a mentor you do not need to play the role of a parent, teacher, social worker, or psychologist. You only need to be yourself—a caring adult, willing to spend time with a child who needs a good role model.  Training, guidance and support are offered to all mentors.

For more information about becoming a mentor, please call Jennifer Willette, Mentor Coordinator at 696-1204 ext. 6260.

Another choice . . . another chance

In the fall of 1994 New Beginnings High School opened its doors as the first full service alternative high school serving Cedar Springs and surrounding areas. The purpose of New Beginnings was to give another chance to students who were at risk of not graduating from a traditional high school setting. The school opened its doors with approximately 35 students in attendance. The first graduating class was a small group of seven students compared to the Class of 2009 with 27 graduates.

Over the past 15 years, NBHS has graduated over 150 students from the Cedar Springs area. Many of these students have confided in staff and teachers that the goal of realizing the completion of their high school diploma would not have been possible had they not had the option of an alternative high school. A large majority of students continue to be enrolled in post-secondary studies in college and trade schools.

While the program is proud of all of its graduates, some have reached and even exceeded our and their own expectations. Students frequently stop back to share success stories happening in their life with staff. Graduates of New Beginnings are successfully employed in fields ranging from the legal and medical professions to skilled trades and general labor.

New Beginnings has an excellent working relationship with Cedar Springs High School. It is truly a team effort involving both schools to identify students that will find the most success in the alternative setting. We pride ourselves in providing a smaller setting with our current capacity being approximately 90 students. This tends to give students a sense of pride and belonging, often lost for them in the larger setting. Along with the CSHS, New Beginnings High School prepares its students for the challenging work ahead of them by being aligned with the Michigan Merit Curriculum required by every public high school in the state of Michigan. Students meet regularly with staff to discuss progress and set goals for completion of this very rigorous curriculum.

Currently, approximately 30 students are working toward completion of their high school requirements by June 2010. While we enjoy looking back at past successes we continue to be focused on looking ahead with the premise that all students can learn and realize their goal of receiving their high school diploma.

Eighty-nine percent of teens want to learn how to make their money grow. Yet, for decades, very few schools have provided any type of money-management instruction. That’s why Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey created a curriculum that educates and entertains students as they learn how to avoid debt and build wealth.

This year for the first time Cedar Springs High School is offering students the opportunity to take Dave Ramsey’s Personal Finance class.  The class counts as a half math credit and also gives students real life examples of financial situations that all working adults will face.  Topics covered include: Savings, Investment Options, Wealth Building and College Saving, Dangers of Debt, Consumer Awareness, Credit Bureaus and Collection Practices, Budgeting, Bargain Shopping, Relating with Money, Career Choices and Taxes, Ins and Outs of Insurance, Real Estate and Mortgages.

Cedar Springs students are getting a real life look at responsible money management.  With the help of the curriculum provided by Dave Ramsey we believe students will be given the knowledge and tools to make smart financial decisions as they prepare for life beyond high school.

As a part of Smart Character Choices, CTA high school students are divided up into six groups (changing each trimester) with a high school teacher serving as an adviser.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, these groups meet during the Advisory period (29 minutes.)  During this time the students participate in team building activities and discussion groups.  Out of these discussions have come the High School Constitution and the CTA Way  documents that lay out what students want our school to be like.  Counselor, Cheryl Dille & high school teacher, Mike VandenBerg work with the Student Leadership Team – a select group of 13 students who have had intensive training – to choose activities and topics for discussion groups.  The Student Leadership Team also meets a few times per month with each elementary and middle school class to lead them in character/team building activities.
These class meeting groups were started during the third trimester of last year.  Since their implementation, we have seen a significant difference in the climate and tone of the high school.  Jon Irwin, one of the Smart Character Choices facilitators, noted a distinct change in the way students responded to his presence in the hallway after these meetings began.  Teachers and administrators and the students themselves can all attest that Smart Character Choices is making a difference!  This is our last year to participate in the federal grant program; our focus this year is on sustainability!
Don’t forget to check out the CTA web page at http://www.ctaschool.com and our Infinite Campus link where parents can track homework assignments, grades, and much more!

January 21:    Parent / Teacher conferences
January 22:    No School – Teacher Prof. Development
February 17-19:    Mid-Winter Break
March 3:    End of 2nd Trimester
March 5:    No School – Teacher Prof. Development
March 9-11:    MME testing

March 19:    No school for students or staff

Each year Mrs. Boverhof’s class participates in a service-learning project that involves a local nursing home. In the fall the activity director of the nursing home comes over to Cedar View to help prepare the students for this experience. She explains how they can best go about interacting with the residents. The importance of good habits of mind is emphasized as she discusses respecting their homes and challenging themselves in many different ways as they begin this new adventure.

Once a week the fifth graders in her classroom walk to Metron to share in a variety of activities with the residents there. Some of the projects they have been involved in have included helping to plant a garden, playing board games, writing letters for the residents, reading to and with them, making crafts, performing plays, and a variety of other things.  This year some of the supplies will be paid for through a grant from our education foundation.

When the students return to the classroom they record their memories. The information they collect goes through the writing process and is turned into a book that is presented to the residents during a culminating tea party in June.

We asked the students what they most enjoyed about their weekly trips to Metron. Takoda Hunn said, “We like getting to know the old people and making them happy.” Carlee Mouthaan likes the activities too!

The lessons that are learned throughout this year-long experience reach well beyond the classroom and into our community for many years to come.