All Parents and Students in the area are invited to attend Freshman Orientation at Cedar Springs High School.  An informational meeting for the 2012-2013 school year will be held Thursday, February 9, 2012 in the High School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.

Eighth-grade student Alex Teal practices his presentation skills while describing research results. Presentations were created using www.prezi.com.

Exploring Technology is taught by Jeremy Plain in both the seventh and eighth grades. While each class covers different topics, the idea is the same; show students some new and fun ways to process and display information.  In addition to the familiarity students gain with new types of technology, Mr. Plain’s classes are designed to reinforce classroom concepts in science, reading and math.

Some of the activities students complete throughout the trimester include researching, organizing and producing presentations; creating how-to videos using screen captures at www.screencast.com; implementing reading strategies to explore developments in technology and designing informational and persuasive posters.

“We are difference makers” is the school wide theme for Cedar Trails Elementary School in Cedar Springs. This year young students in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade joined together to build some important “Habits of Mind.”

Kindergarten teacher Cheryl Tacoma helped coordinate the effort and shared her thoughts with the staff at a recent staff meeting.

During the holiday season 15 classrooms took the challenge to make a difference with their kind hands and kind hearts. They chose to raise money to help other children around the world. The Cedar Trails students did extra jobs at home to earn dimes and quarters. The parents were delighted with their children’s enthusiasm to do extra jobs.  What fun the families had earning, “Dimes for Ducks, Quarters for Quackers,” or “Change for Chickens!”

These young students stepped up to the plate and took their commitment to help other children very seriously. They truly wanted to help and make a difference.  Kindergarten student Brielle Sarniak explained how our Dimes for Ducks worked.

“You see, we kids do jobs at home and get dimes, then we bring them to school and add them all up and then we send the money so the poor people can have the ducks.  Then they eat the duck’s eggs for food, but they can’t eat all the eggs, so they sell the extra eggs and get some money so their kids can go to school like us.”  Kindergartner Nolan Myers summed it all up by saying, “and that’s called kind hands kind hearts!”

In less than 2 weeks the Cedar Trails staff, students and families were able to make these amazing donations to World Vision for 312 ducks, 10 chickens, 1 goat, 2 children able to attend school for a year; $115 to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and $100 for food for children in Hand of Hope. The combined gifts totaled approximately $2500.

There is no doubt Cedar Trails Elementary is “making a difference!”

Cedar Springs Public Schools has implemented millions of dollars in budget cuts over the last decade.

State funding for education has forced continued spending cuts and is forcing choice between quality education and maintaining roads and facilities. The district placed priority on keeping cuts as far from the classroom as possible.  As a result, school infrastructure needs were deferred.  Without an alternative source of funding, the Board of Education would be forced to divert funding from classrooms to cover school infrastructure needs.  Additional budget cuts, increased class size, and/or depletion of fund balance may be necessary.

An Advisory Committee consisting of parents, staff, and community members worked together to determine a long range plan for facilities and infrastructure of Cedar Springs Public Schools by identifying the needs of the district.   The priorities included: security modifications, technology infrastructure, repaving parking lots and roads, increased parking at Cedar Trails, Beach, and High School, replacement of Gym Floors at Beach and Cedar View Elementary, energy efficient boilers, and many others.

Identified facility needs can not be met within current general fund expenditures without significant budget adjustments.  The Advisory Committee recommended the pursuit of a one mill sinking fund to support infrastructure needs.  The February 28, 2012 election will include a ballot proposal to secure a short-term, dedicated stream of funding for basic school improvement projects for Cedar Springs Public Schools.

Sinking funds, unlike traditional tax bonds, generate a fixed amount of funds over the period of the tax and incur no interest.  A one mill assessment for an owner of a $100,000 home would be fifty (50) dollars a year.  Sinking funds can be used for remodeling or repairing facilities, improving sites, structures, athletic facilities, playgrounds, or other facilities; and technology infrastructure.  School districts are not allowed to use funds from a sinking fund for operating expenses such as teacher, administrator or employee salaries.

The Sinking Fund would ensure funding remains in classrooms for learning, teaching, books, and technology, provide students with basic necessity of a warm, safe and dry learning environment, create efficiencies and long-term financial savings, create jobs and support of local businesses.  The Sinking Fund is the means by which the District can protect the community’s investment used by our students, staff, parents, and community.

Free Income Tax Preparation

KSSN has partnered with United Way and the Kent County Tax Coalition to provided free income tax preparation for the 2012 tax season.  Tax preparers will be available on Mondays from 4:00 – 7:00 beginning Feb. 6th through March 26th by appointment only.  To schedule an appointment you must call United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline or (616) 459-2255.  Please do not call the school to make your appointment.

Extended hours for applying for DHS Benefits.

Beginning February 6th you will be able to apply for DHS benefits on-line.  This service will be available on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:00pm – 8:00pm at Red Hawk elementary.  Assistance will be available.  This service will be available through May.  For more information contact Caroline Geist at 696-7330 ext. 6298

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES

Schools of Hope – Become a volunteer reading tutor today! Volunteer with Schools of Hope in-school reading program. You can make a huge difference in the life of child; all you have to do is give 30 minutes of one-on-one tutoring every week to improve reading skills of first through third graders. One two-hour training session is required, all materials are provided. Cedar Springs training dates are February 7 from 6-8 or February 15 from 1-3. For more information please contact Caroline Geist at cgeist@hwmuw.org or call at 696-7330 ext. 6298.

En-gedi – an after school youth center designed for students in 6th- 12th grades.  It is housed in Red Hawk Elementary.  Volunteers are needed on a weekly basis during the hours of 2:30 – 5:00.  For more information call Craig Owens at 667-7773.

Cedar Springs Parent/Community P.A.S.E. Meeting

(Parent Advisors for Special Education)

What:      Parents of students with disabilities learning together about special education processes and services

When:     January 31, 2012
7:00p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Where:      Conference Room C
(upstairs at Hilltop)

Light refreshments provided

CEDAR SPRINGS PUBLIC SCHOOL CELEBRATES OUR SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS

January is School Board Recognition Month, and Cedar Springs Public Schools is joining 552 local and 57 intermediate school districts across the state to thank these community volunteers for their untiring dedication to public education.
Serving on a school board has been described as the toughest volunteer job in America.  Yet Michigan’s public school board members dedicate countless personal hours to attending meetings, school functions, and hours of preparation for the decisions they make. On top of that, many pursue their own professional development to stay on top of the ever-changing education landscape. School Board members are dedicated individuals who are committed to the continuing success of our schools and students.  We applaud them for their vision and voice to prepare today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders.
Showing appreciation for the important work of school boards should be a year-round process, but too often we neglect to recognize the dedication and hard work of these men and women who represent us. This January, the staff and students of our district are asking all members of the community to take a moment and thank a school board member.

The men and women serving Cedar Springs Public Schools are:

Since its inception in 1986, the Cedar Springs Public Schools Foundation has raised over $2 million in contributions from individuals, organizations, and businesses to support quality education in Cedar Springs Public Schools.
The Cedar Springs Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is independent from the Cedar Springs Public Schools. The Foundation works in partnership with the school district to support educational programs that are above and beyond what the district could otherwise provide such as access to new technology as well as strengthening existing programs.
The Cedar Springs Education Foundation is looking for members to positively impact every student and enhance educational opportunities and instruction.  Anyone interested in learning more about the Cedar Springs Education Foundation and would like to get involved please contact Bill Tucker at 616-340-2839.
Thank you from Cedar Springs Education Foundation Board of Trustees:

Bill Tucker, President    Matt Shoffner, Trustee
Deb McIntyre, Secretary             Tom Noreen, Trustee
Elizabeth Marckini, Treasurer     Ben Kacprzyk, Trustee
Beth Blades, Trustee     Ron McDermed, Superintendent

Your support of the Foundation makes a difference in the lives of Cedar Springs Public Schools students.

Kent School Social Network has been very busy over the last few months.  In addition to providing counseling services to over 75 clients, we have been busy working on many other programs.  A wonderful service we will be offering to our community is FREE tax preparation.  VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is a Community Partnership between United Way and the Kent County Tax Credit Coalition.  Tax preparers will be available on Mondays from 4:00 – 8:00 beginning Feb. 6th through March 26th by appointment only.  To schedule an appointment you must call United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline or (616) 459-2255.
Another United Way Program that will be offered for our students is Schools of Hope.  This program is for students grades 1-3 to practice and improve their reading skills.  There are two parts to this program.  The After-School Program is an intensive after school program for students that are a year or more behind in their reading.  Twenty-five students will be chosen to participate in this program by their teachers.
The In-School Tutoring Program is a volunteer based program.  Volunteers read with students for 30 minutes each week.  Volunteer training is provided.  If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please contact Caroline Geist at 696-1204 ext. 6298.
Community School Team
A Community School Team is a group of community members, businesses, parents, and school partners who meet on a regular basis throughout the school year.  The team works closely with the Community School Coordinator(s) to set priorities, plan activities, bring in new resources, and evaluate the community school.
The team helps connect the school with the community, act as a sounding board, sponsor and support school events and advocate for the school.
•    The team focuses on:
•    After school activities
•    Parent/Family involvement
•    Community involvement
Interested in learning more?
Our next meeting is Jan. 17, 2012
1:30 pm -3:00 pm in the library at Red Hawk Elementary.  Come join the team!!!
For more information about these programs or how to access any of KSSN’s services please contact: Jennifer Willette at 696-1204 ext. 6295 or Paul Cole at 696-7326.