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Ice Cream Social Fundraiser

Feb. 20: Getting a late start but picking up speed is the Cedar Springs 6^th grade Red Hawk Robotics Team. This is the first year for the program at this level in Cedar Springs. The program is guided by First with students participating at the First Tech Challenge level: this seasons challenge being First Relic Recovery. Our students have completed the physical construction of the robot and are working on the electrical system as well as the programming aspects. If you would like to see our robot please stop by our Ice Cream Social being held February 20^th from 3:30 to 8 pm in the High School Cafeteria. Students are raising money for a new laptop and to help continue the program next year. #6,7p

Michigan Blood Drive

Feb. 20: There will be a Michigan Blood Drive at the Cedar Springs United Methodist Church on Tuesday, February 20^th from 12:30 pm until 7:00 pm. Because of flu season and the wintery conditions, donations have been down. BUT, the need is always there. Each donation has the potential to save three lives. The only cost to you is an hour of your time. The Michigan Blood Center thanks all who donate at the Cedar Springs site. #7

A Day at the Beach!

Feb. 20: Forget about the cold, snowy winter and enjoy a day at the beach! Bring your beach towel and join us in beachy reads, sandy activities and fun in the sun games! Tuesday, February 20^th at 10:30 am, Nelson Township / Sand Lake KDL Branch, 88 Eighth St. #7

MCC Offers Trip to Chicago

Mar. 17: Montcalm Community College offers a one-day bus trip to Chicago on March 17. The cost is $24.13 for students and $45.14 for non-students. The fee covers the cost of transportation, and participants must pay for their food and for their entry fees to attractions. Popular options include the Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry. Children ages 12-17 may attend with an adult. Children younger than 12 are not permitted to attend. Visit www.montcalm.edu/chicago for more information and a link to register. #7

From L to R: Carol Franz (Cedar View); Tricia Shenefield (Beach); Beth Whaley (Cedar Trails); and Miranda Latimer (Red Hawk). Courtesy photo.

Kids returned to school on Tuesday, September 5, and those in kindergarten through fifth grade were welcomed by new principals at each of the four elementary schools.

“Each of the principals come to us with great education and experience and will fit well with our dynamic team of students, families, staff and administration,” said Dr. Laura Vanduyn, Superintendent.

The school supplied the following information on each principal:

Our new Cedar Trails principal is Ms. Beth Whaley. Ms. Whaley comes to us as an experienced principal, most recently at an early childhood and Kindergarten center. Prior to that she served as Early Childhood Director and Specialist at the ISD and district level. She was a GSRP leader and Parents as Teachers assistant and teacher. Ms. Whaley comes to us with awards from both Michigan State and University of Michigan (Summa cum Laude at both as well as Magna cum Laude at MSU in her undergraduate work). Beth holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Michigan School Administrator Certificate.

Our new Beach principal is Ms. Tricia Shenefield. Ms. Shenefield comes to us as an experienced principal for many years in Grand Rapids Public Schools. Prior to that Ms. Shenefield was an assistant principal and a teacher. Ms. Shenefield shared in two interviews that she loves data. She has co-authored curriculum, served as a math teacher leader and implemented PLCs. Tricia and her staff are an accomplished team that had the highest ELA M-STEP proficiency among 13 K-5 schools in GRPS. Ms. Shenefield holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Michigan School Administrator Certificate.

Our new Cedar View principal is Ms. Carol Franz. Ms. Franz comes to us with several years experience as a 5th-8th grade school principal. Prior to that Ms. Franz was a Program Coordinator for 21st Century Programs, MTSS District Coach, Discipline Coordinator and teacher. Ms. Franz has been instrumental in implementing several initiatives such as PBIS, MiBLISI, and Response to Intervention. Ms. Franz has presented at the state level and has received many awards, such as the Make a Difference Award (student nominated) for several consecutive years. Ms. Franz holds a Bachelor’s degree (MSU highest honors), a Master’s degree in teaching, an Education Specialist degree in school administration, and Michigan School Administrator Certificate.

Our new Red Hawk principal is Ms. Miranda Latimer. Miranda is not new to CSPS as she is well known for being an outstanding teacher of our wonderful CSPS 4th and 5th graders for 15 years. However, she is new to Red Hawk and wilI certainly know many 6th graders as she had some of them in class! Ms. Latimer was the “Leader in Training” last year at Beach Elementary School. She was instrumental in working alongside a mentor, Dr. Barb Johnson, (a National Blue Ribbon School principal and a Michigan Top 10 Schools principal) with staff and students to implement the Reading Now Network (RNN). The RNN is a highly sought, research-based Michigan initiative that is effective in improving reading and literacy at the elementary level. Ms. Latimer proved her skills and talents as a leader in training and will now be a building principal. She will apply her many years of experience with the upper elementary level students to our focused and unique 6th-grade site. Ms. Latimer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Administration and Leadership, and Michigan School Administrator Certificate.

“Please join me in a warm Cedar Springs welcome to our principals,” said VanDuyn. “I know you’ll enjoy meeting them and working with them this year. I welcome you, in advance, to this school year; it’s going to be another great year!”

It was a beautiful July 4^th weekend, and people in the Cedar Springs, Sand Lake, and surrounding areas made the weekend count! We asked readers on our Facebook page to send us photos of what they did over the holiday and we got a great response. You went to the parade, carnival, and demolition derby in Sand Lake; boating; camping; horseback riding; the beach; played badminton; spent time with family and friends; and more!

Ms. Amy Constant, Cedar View Teacher

The students of Mrs. Constant’s 4th grade class celebrating Earth Day by cleaning up the grounds of Cedar View, Beach, Trails, Red Hawk, District Office, and Morley Park!  After studying about natural resources, plant and animal life, and environmental impacts, the students chose to perform this service-learning project to make a difference in their community!   They collected 3 bags of trash!  What a great way to demonstrate your school and community pride.

Ken See, Principal

On Thursday, February 5, the Beach staff in conjunction with the PTO sponsored a Parent Math Curriculum night.  Parents were invited to bring their Beach student to come and hear about how Every Day Math is taught here at school.  Parents had the chance to play math games with their child and to learn about some online resources they could use at home to support their child in math.  The night ended with a pizza dinner served by the Beach PTO.  We had 515 of our parents and students in attendance.  Thank you to everyone!

M. Maxine Korcal 94 of Bad Axe, formerly of Cedar Springs, died Sunday, June 1, 2014 in Bad Axe. Maxine was born July 21, 1919 in Cedar Springs, Michigan the daughter of Clair and Myrtie (Peterson) Beach. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and adored her family. Surviving are her daughter, Pat (Bart) Hartson; son-in-law, Vernon Rounds; grandchildren, Tim (Jody) Hartson, Todd Hartson, Mike (Leslie) Rounds, Mindy (Scott) Rambo; great grandchildren, Brady, Caitlin, Ashlin, Jerry, Brian, Courtney, Carly, Michael, Melissa, Tyler; great great grandsons, Louis and Dylan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edmund and a daughter, Julie Rounds. The family will greet friends Thursday, June 5 from 12 noon until time of service at 1:00 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. Pastor Chuck Smith officiating. Interment Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

On the first day of school, Alanna Miller was excited to be in kindergarten at Cedar Trails Elementary.

By Judy Reed

School started back up in Cedar Springs this week, and according to Cedar Springs Assistant Superintendent David Cairy, they are off to a great start.

“Talking to parents, staff and students, everyone is excited to be back and looking forward to a great year,” he said.

He noted that with 3,400 kids, there are bound to be a few glitches the first day or two, but that the community and staff work together to make it work.

Some changes this year that parents may notice include new principals at three of the buildings:

Alternative education – Stacy Jeanette, Director of Student Services, took on being principal for New Beginnings. Former principal Dave Schlump retired.

Beach – Ken See, formerly an assistant principal at the high school, is now principal at Beach Elementary. Former principal Jane Hendricksen retired.

Red Hawk Elementary – April Stevens, formerly at the high school, is now principal at Red Hawk Elementary. Anne Kostus has moved to the high school, as director of academic services.

“Anne will help us increase our focus on student achievement at the high school level,” explained Cairy.

Another change parents will notice is that the high school revamped their parking lot over the summer. The loop that is the drop off and pick up has eliminated parking spots, and buses are now picking up and dropping off kids in the bus area only to the west of the school. The parking lot on the other side of the dropoff has also been expanded, and a new access drive installed to relieve traffic congestion. Cairy said that it is working really well.

He said that next summer they will renovate the Cedar Trails parking lot as well. “We’ve grown dramatically in the early childhood center,” noted Cairy. “We have our biggest class ever in kindergarten—350. We have 280 in first grade, and about 260 in second,” he explained. “We are glad that a lot of families are choosing us for education, but this parking lot was not built for that amount of traffic.”

They will be working on plans for the lot throughout the school year.