By Judy Reed

A Cedar View Elementary student with a big heart gave a teacher there a Christmas present that she will never forget. 

Teacher Emily Strunk teaches in the regional Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) classroom at Cedar View. Jaiden Thompson, 11, is a fifth-grader in Miss Tanner’s class who volunteers in the ASD classroom, and decided she wanted to do something special for Strunk and the class. So with the help of her parents, Chris and Melissa Thompson, of Solon Township, Jaiden started a fundraiser to help Strunk buy supplies for the classroom.

 “I work in the classroom, and see how hard she works, and I’ve made lots of friends, so thought this gave me an opportunity to give back,” explained Jaiden.

Jaiden spoke with her parents about how she wanted to do something, and ultimately she decided on a fundraiser, which they posted on Facebook. “The goal was $100, and we reached that in the first hour,” explained Jaiden’s mom, Melissa. “So we kept it going about a month.” They eventually raised $725, which they spent on gift cards for Strunk. But the teacher was unaware it was happening.

“This year I took a leap, a big one,” Strunk said about teaching in the ASD room. “It has been emotional. I have laughed, cried, and learned a lot.” She said that on the day she found out about the gift (December 19), it was no different. She was dealing with a tough issue and her principal came and got her and said, “We need you.”

“Usually, this is never good,” said Strunk. “I walked into Miss Tanner’s room, and everyone was quiet. I was so confused. Then a fifth grade student (Jaiden) read me a letter. Her letter said that this year she wanted to do something special for such a special class of friends so she raised $725 for my classroom! I was blown away. Not only did she raise a ton of money but knowing that my kids have a whole classroom and community of people that care about them is the best feeling ever,” she remarked.

Strunk called it one of the most memorable moments of her teaching career. 

“She had no idea,” recalled Jaiden. “She cried a little bit. She was very surprised.”

It makes Jaiden feel good, too, to know she’s done something to help others. “The day I gave it to her I felt really happy inside. I would definitely do it again,” she said.

Jaiden’s parents are proud of her, but also aren’t surprised. “Chris and I are both very proud of her,” explained Melissa, “but giving isn’t something new to her. Two to three times a year we go through our closets and donate to Women at Risk. In Girl Scouts, she always wants to be a good Girl Scout. She’s always doing something for others.”

“It is our sincerest hope that Jaiden’s hard work will inspire others to do the same for others,” added Jaiden’s dad, Chris.

For Strunk, Jaiden’s generosity just proves something she already knows. “If you ever doubt humanity you should come spend a few minutes in our school,” she remarked. “Our students will show you empathy, acceptance, compassion, friendship and so much more; we will restore your faith.”

Red Hawk Elementary 1st place

Saturday, February 24, rang with creativity at the regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament in Greenville, for Region 2 West Michigan teams. The halls were filled to the brim with costumed creatures ready to “hang out” at a stellar location, vehicles ready to TRI their wheels and skills at Olympic sized events, Emoji faces, and classical characters galore! Charlotte’s web? We spun it. Gulliver’s travels? We journeyed through, and down the rabbit hole with Alice, plus so much more. 

Red Hawk Elementary 2nd place

We had primary (K-2nd grade) cooking classes and balsa wood structures holding 100s of pounds!

Creativity, teamwork, perseverance, hard work and a whole lot of fun was the common thread of the day. The best part is the students do it all by themselves. Hands off adults! If one way doesn’t work there are many other ways to try. That’s one of the best life skills of Odyssey of the Mind. 

Building confidence and leadership while embracing creativity and problem solving. Our world needs our O.M.ers! 

Cedar Springs sent three teams.

Cedar View Elemenatary 5th place

Cedar View Elementary – coached by Dena Fisk and Jennifer Redes (honorable mention 5th place) problem 3 div 1.

Red Hawk Elementary – coached by Michelle Wiles and Traci Slager (placed 1st and advancing to State FInals) problem 3 div 2

Red Hawk Elementary – coached by Rahnda Bordeaux and Matt Robb (placed 2nd and advancing  to State FInals) problem 4, div 2

Congratulations and best of luck at State Finals on March 17 at Thornapple Kellogg School.

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!”

Campus Kids is a State Licensed Day Care program and we are preparing for school start.  We offer Before and After School Care throughout the school year.  Campus Kids opens at 6:00am at both Cedar Trails Elementary and Beach Elementary.  We do activities throughout the morning, and then serve a light breakfast.  We dismiss the students in time to get to their class at either Cedar Trails, Beach, or Cedar View.  Cedar Trails students may attend Campus Kids at their school, while Beach and  Cedar View students may attend at Beach.  In the afternoons, Campus Kids opens at 3:30pm for students at the same locations.  A healthy snack is served and homework help and fun activities are offered until 6:00pm.  To enroll, please complete and return a registration packet before September 1, 2017 to reserve your spot.  Packets may be picked up at Cedar Trails, or they can be found online at csredhawks.org.  There is a $20 annual registration fee for one child or $35 for a family.  Rates are $8.00 a morning or afternoon, or $15 for both on the same day.  Parents complete a schedule of days that they need care, and they are billed a month in advance for services.

For an additional charge, we also offer care on early release days and on snow days for pre-registered children. Please call (616) 696-1716 or email campus.kids@csredhawks.org for additional information.

At Cedar View, many 4th grade classrooms are doing research papers about a person who is considered a “World Changer”.  Cedar View also has a goal this year about helping students become “better people”.  To join these two ideas, Mrs. Nielsen and Mrs. Strunk’s 4th-grade classes partnered with the NE Supper House. The NE Supper House is a ministry in Grand Rapids that serves dinner every Tuesday and Thursday night to less fortunate people in their community.  Students from both classes did chores to earn the total of $250.  The $250 paid for all of the food and drinks that were served at the NE Supper House.   Then on March 2nd, Mrs. Nielsen and Mrs. Strunk brought students to the NE Supper House.  Students were in charge of serving all the drinks and dinners and doing all of the clean-up afterward.  Mrs. Nielsen said “I’m very proud of all our students. They worked very hard to earn the money, and they served less fortunate people with a lot of pride and respect.  They are becoming World Changers at a very young age.”

Pictured are the Cedar Springs Rotary 4-Way Test essay winners. From L to R: Sally Odren, Makenna Nichols, Jack Cairy, Analiese Van Harten, and Josh Trendt. Courtesy photo.

By Judy Reed

The Cedar Springs Rotary handed out awards to students last week in their annual Rotary 4-way test essay contest. They invited fifth grade students from Cedar View and Creative Technologies Academy to participate. All essays were written in 200 words or less. Teachers chose the 2 best essays from their class and submitted them to the committee, which included Julie Wheeler, Carolyn Davis, Donna Clark and Bea Hesley.

Clark and Rotary president Tom Noreen spoke with each of the classes ahead of time, and gave them some background on Rotary. “We talked about having integrity and the 4 way formula (is it the truth, is it fair, will it build goodwill, will it be beneficial) and how it ties in with habits of mind,” explained Clark. “People who live by these have integrity and impact their community in a positive way. We told them to think about one of these that they practiced in their own lives—a real life situation that would touch us, and told them to write about it.”

The students were then on their own to write the essays. And the students who won had a good grasp of what the committee was looking for. Out of 14 essays, they chose five. There were ties for second and third place.

“We feel like these essays were the best ever,” said Clark.

The two second place essays were about volunteering to feed hungry families. The third place winners wrote stories about how a community can work together to benefit one another, such as the fundraisers for the Rickers.

The first place winner spoke about how things people say can be cruel, but we can choose to be inspired rather than let their words have a bad effect on us.

The first place winner was Sally Odren, of Mr. Moleski’s class at Cedar View. She won $50.

Second place winners were Jack Cairy, of Mrs. Kahler’s class, and Makenna Nichols, of Mrs. Miller’s class, both at Cedar View. They each won $25.

Third place winners were Josh Trendt, of Mr. Moleski’s class at Cedar View, and Analiese Van Harten, of Mrs. Norman’s class at CTA. They each won $10.

“We as Rotarians are aware of the example we set as individuals and as a Club in our community,” said Noreen. “As community leaders and partners, we are mindful of what we think, say and do.”

The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and is a code of ethics each Rotarian aspires to live by both in their business and personal lives. It says: “Of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”

This is the ninth year that the Rotary has partnered with local schools on this project.

Andrew Secor

By Judy Reed

Cedar Springs Public Schools is saying goodbye to another administrator. Andrew Secor, principal at Cedar View and an 18-year employee of the district, is leaving to become principal at Jamestown Upper Elementary for Hudsonville Public Schools.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in Cedar Springs as a coach, teacher, and principal,” said Secor.

He was just 22-years old and fresh out of college when he landed a job at Cedar Springs Public Schools as assistant varsity basketball coach to Dave Schlump.

“I coached for 14 years, six as Dave’s assistant and eight as the head coach. I was fortunate to work with so many great players, as we won 10 district titles and three league championships during that time frame. One of my favorite memories of that time was working with an amazing coach staff that had such deep Cedar Springs pride,” he remarked.

Two years after being hired as assistant basketball coach, Secor was hired as a teacher at Cedar Trails. He taught at Cedar Trails for six years, then Beach for four years. He then became assistant principal at Cedar Trails for two years, and was a principal at Cedar View for four years.

“I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of educators, and thousands of students and parents,” noted Secor. “The mark they have left on me will last forever. I have had some amazing mentors and role models from within this community that have helped to grow me as a leader and as a man.”

The Post asked what were some of Secor’s favorite moments and what will he miss? “My favorite moments are all about people,” he explained. “This is truly the best profession in the world and it’s all founded on relationships. I will remember the daily interactions with students, the great administrative team I was a part of, and working with teachers to provide the best possible education for students. The people of this community is what drew me in and the people of this community are what I will miss the most. Some of my greatest friends and mentors live right here in Cedar Springs.”

He also had some kind words for the people that work at Cedar View. “I am so proud of the staff at Cedar View. It is a talented, smart, and dedicated group that I am going to miss dearly. They bought into the vision I had for the building, we accomplished some amazing things, and they will continue to accomplish many more.”

The Post also asked Secor what words he might have for the community. “While it saddens me that many outstanding educators have left the district recently, this is a strong staff and community which will continue to serve students to the best of their ability,” he said.

How does Secor want people to remember him? “I pray that I have left a meaningful and positive impact on those around me. Through the celebrations and challenges of the last 18 years, I have always done everything I could to help students and players, both academically as well as emotionally. The reason this profession is the greatest in the world is that it is all about relationships and the daily opportunity you have to make the lives of people around you better. That is what drove me everyday, to help teachers, parents, and students, have a better life and to make Cedar Springs the best school district we possibly could be.”

Andy Secor and family

While sad to be leaving Cedar Springs, Secor is excited about what his  new position has to offer. “It is an amazing opportunity for my family and I. Hudsonville has a dynamic administrative team, I get to work with an outstanding principal who is at Jamestown Lower Elementary, and all I hear about is how amazing the Jamestown teaching staff is. Jamestown is ranked in the 99th percentile for student achievement in the state of Michigan and I relish the opportunity to lead a new team that has already accomplished so much.”

He also said that he and his wife are excited about the academic and athletic opportunities that Hudsonville will provide their children. But he doesn’t take for granted what they have been given here.

“It has been a great place for my children to receive a high quality education, while being cared for and loved, and making lifelong friends. I don’t take for granted the impact that teachers, principals, and community members have played in helping my children to become better people. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in their lives,” he remarked.

“My family and I are excited for the next chapter of our journey as we head to Hudsonville. But Cedar Springs will forever have a place in our hearts.”

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.

Students, parents, teachers, and principals involved in the Rotary 4-way test essay contest. Courtesy photo.

The Cedar Springs Rotary recently handed out the awards for their annual Rotary 4-way test contest. They invited students from Cedar View, Creative Technology Academy, and Algoma Christian to enter, and had nine fifth grade classes participate. All essays were written at school in 200 words or less. Teachers chose the 2 best essays from their class and submitted them to the committee, which included Julie Wheeler, Carolyn Davis and Donna Clark.

“We had 18 diverse and interesting essays to read, evaluate and choose from,” explained Clark. “We looked at grammar, writing mechanics, spelling, presentation and the story line. We looked for a clear outcome, such as the lesson learned or character revealed.”

The first-place winner this year was Greta Isabella DeBack, in Mr. Moleski’s class. She wrote her essay entitled “Truth or Mr. Gregory Setting a Good Example.” It showed how a great teacher impacted her life. Rotary awarded her $50.

MayLynne Hath, of Mrs. Johnson’s class, came in a close second. She wrote about what the “Habits of Mind” are as taught at Cedar View, what they are not and how they can guide each of us to be a good person. She was awarded $25.

The third-place winner was Gwen Forster, of Mrs. Cairy’s class. She found that personal loss could build a sense of community when shared with a friend. She was awarded $15.

Jacob Borden, of Mrs. Norman’s class at CTA, was the fourth-place winner. He wrote his essay entitled “How My Grandma Inspires Me” about his grandmother impacted his life. He was awarded $10.

Clark thanked the teachers for their inspiration and guidance of students, and their parents for the foundation of success they’ve laid at home.

The 4 Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message is known and followed by all Rotarians. “Of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

The Cedar Springs Rotary holds the four-way test essay contest each year for fifth grade students, and tries to live by that four-way test. “We as Rotarians are aware of the example we set as individuals and as a Club in our community,” said Rotary President Carolyn Davis. “As community leaders and partners, we are mindful of what we think, say and do.”

Andy Secor, Principal

Cedar View welcomed over 250 people to “Family Fitness Fun” on Thursday night!  This is our second year of holding family nights and we are building off our great success with “Math Night” in the fall.  We had a certified instructor doing kickboxing in the gym, a zumba instructor in the cafeteria, and boot camp with Mr. Secor in the media center.  I have attached a handful of pictures (see more on twitter @secorsig).

The YMCA brought a taste-tester with healthy food.  Jennifer Willette, Lana Kamer, our high school Red Hawk athletes, and our PTO helped to secure and organize healthy snack bags for students and parents.  A huge thank you goes out to the PTO, the Cedar View “family night” committee, and all Cedar View staff who attended, advertised, or helped with set-up.  Thank you to parents who brought their students out and got a great work-out in!    Just another reminder of the strong bond between school and community here in Cedar Springs!  This is truly a special place.  Look for family night #3 coming this spring!

Over 330 parents, students and teachers were in attendance of the Cedar View Math Night on November 6.  Breakout groups were held to discuss Math Curriculum, support at home and answer any questions.  Thank you to the Cedar View PTO for providing pizza.

On Wednesday, June 4, the final day of school, the fastest runners in each classroom competed to be the fastest students in the 4^th and 5^th grades.

When the dust settled, the results were as follows:

4^th grade girls – First place Alli Carlson; second place Emily Neiderheide; and third place Reegan Glyshaw.

4^th grade boys – First place Aiden Brunin; second place Kyle Hoort; and third place Mitchell Metiva.

5^th grade girls – First place Abby Buttermore; tied for second place Morgan Reyers and Sophia Dault; and third place Maggie Prins.

5^th grade boys – Tied for first place Shayn Campione and Da’Montae Barnett; second place Spencer Bray; and third place Landon Totten.