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

1.Here Ben Colburn and Ashton Willis are caught raking leaves for a neighbor of the school.

From left to right, Mr. Verwey, Ashton Willis, Kaitlyn Cooper, CJ Bouck, Cody Mogdis, and Ben Colburn take a break in the leaves they just raked.

The NHS of CTA, with rakes in hand, walked around the city of Cedar Springs on November 21, 2009, looking for some leaves to rake and, thereby lend a helping hand.  “The goal was to find some leaves to rake and spread some early holiday cheer by doing something for someone else without being asked, “said student, Kaitlyn Cooper.

Kaitlyn came up with the idea after being taught that NHS is all about finding out where one can make a difference in the environment around them.  Mr. Verwey, a science teacher at CTA and newly elected NHS advisor, mentioned that “it was really rewarding to be there with the students who went out looking for someone to help.”

The National Honor Society values fit in well with the philosophy of the Academy which seeks to encourage students to make positive choices and serve their communities.

On Tuesday, December 8, the Creative Technologies Academy Band students performed their holiday concert at CTA’s auditorium in Cedar Springs. Band students in grades 5-12 participated in the performance, playing music ranging from Renaissances Dances to Christmas carols from around the world. The high school band students also performed duets that they had arranged themselves, based on a musical game by Mozart. Band students went caroling around the school performing for the entire student body and staff on Thursday and Friday before Christmas break.

The students in grades K-4 performed holiday plays last Tuesday for students, staff, families, and friends.  Students in grades K-2 performed, “How the Penguins Saved Christmas,” and the students in the third and fourth grades performed, “Elfis and the Sleigh Riders.”  The students did a wonderful job remembering their lines, and all of the different songs.
Fourth grade student, Gabe Kelly, did a wonderful job as Elfis.

October 13-29: MEAP testing

October 21: Parent/Teacher Conferences:  3:15 – 5 pm

October 22: Parent/Teacher  Conferences:  3:15 – 7 pm

October 23: No School for Students or Staff

November 24: End of first trimester

November 25-27: Thanksgiving break

Gabriella Olsen

My name is Gabriella Olsen and I was born and raised in Italy on the beautiful island of Sicily. I have been in the United States for 22 years and I speak three languages—English, Spanish, and Italian.

I am a single mom of two boys; my oldest son is 20 and he attends MSU; my other son is 16, a junior in high school, and he lives at home with me.

The things I love are other cultures, painting, music, singing, art fairs and museums, walking, and travel.  My favorite place to visit is Italy, of course, where my family is located. I also love to visit warm places with lots of sunshine, sand, and salty water.

I graduated from college in Italy with a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts with majors in art and Spanish.  My teaching career began 22 years ago when I came to the United States and became a certified teacher. I’ve taught at Utah State University and Northwood University. In Midland, Michigan, I taught English as a Second Language for foreign children from all over the world as well as art for K-12 at Midland Academy.

I love teaching and my goal is to see my students succeed in life.

Mike Vanden Berg

My name is Mike Vanden Berg and I am the new Social Studies teacher at CTA.  As a history guy, I feel I should start off with a bit of my history. After graduating from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, I took a job teaching in rural North Carolina.  My two years there were wonderful and full of many new cultural experiences, but I am excited to be back by family, snow, and in the great state of Michigan! I am very excited about teaching at CTA. The students are a friendly, funny, and accepting bunch, and the staff is a tremendous group of teachers and people.  I hope to build on the great tradition that CTA has begun by combining aspects of traditional teaching with activities, creative projects, and service learning.  I also am very impressed by the emphasis on character education that teachers and students alike value here at CTA.  I look forward to the opportunity to be a vital member of this school and an active member of the communities we serve.

Three hundred and eleven students are enrolled in CTA this fall, which is only about nine students short of capacity. Those nine are for a few select grades. Other grades have waiting lists.

There is a peaceful and quiet atmosphere around CTA that has increased over the years, especially as a result of the Smart Character Choices program that our teachers and students embrace. Student leaders are now leading the effort by going from class to class to share the values of the program.

We also think that our physical plant adds a calming effect to the student body. The fall colors and landscaping are beautiful.

Faculty and administration appreciate the families who send their children here and participate in many helpful ways.

Jenny Yonkman

Each summer, a diverse collection of western Michigan educators fill a classroom in the Eberhard Center of Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus found in downtown Grand Rapids to take part in a four-week intensive course called the Lake Michigan Writing Project. The Lake Michigan Writing Project is affiliated with the National Writing Project, which serves to provide professional development in the subject area of English Language Arts for teachers all over the United States.  Educators regularly take part in daily reading and writing groups, as well as creating a thorough presentation consisting of a lesson based in writing as well as theory behind best practices in English Language Arts instruction. There is also an online component where participants in Michigan as well across the United States can connect through the posting of writing pieces and such for constructive and helpful feedback.

This past summer, Jenny Yonkman (pictured above), the sixth grade teacher here at Creative Technologies Academy, had the pleasure of participating in the Lake Michigan Project.

“Taking part in the Lake Michigan Writing Project was an incredibly rewarding experience! I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to build relationships and work within a community of writers who are passionate about writing, writing instruction, education, and the success of their students. I feel as if I am a better teacher because of the Lake Michigan Writing Project and everything it provided for me. I highly recommend that educators of all subject areas consider taking part in the Lake Michigan Writing Project.”  Ms. Yonkman hopes to continue her relationship with the Lake Michigan project for many years to come.

For further information pertaining to the Lake Michigan Writing Project and the National Writing Project, please visit the following websites: www.lmwritingproject.org and www.nwp.org.