This Week In the Ann Arbor Public Schools

April 12, 2010

This Week’s Good News!

• Welcome back.  I hope everyone found some time during the spring break to rest, relax and enjoy time with family and friends.
• Congratulations to all of our art teachers for another successful “Downtown Art Walk” for March is Youth Art Month (MYAM) on March 28.  It is wonderful to take a walking tour of downtown Ann Arbor and see the displays of student artwork in the windows.   Thank you to Peggy Leonard for all her leadership in organizing this event.  Thanks also to Abby Alwin (Clague), Diane Platte  (A2Open) and Andrea Cowper (Skyline) for providing the talented musicians for this event.  A big thank you to all the visual arts teachers for teaching our students as well as for the countless hours they spent matting, framing and hanging all of that artwork all over town.  Thanks also to Board of Education President, Deb Mexicotte for joining me at the recognition ceremonies held at Palio’s.
• March is also Reading Month and I want to recognize all of the classroom teachers who organized special events and invited special guest readers into their classrooms.  Thank you for making reading extra special.
• The Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools (RAHS) Health Center at Stone School along with its student Youth Advisory Council (YAC) joined with the University of Michigan's Depression Center and presented a program, ”Stressed and Depressed,” on March 30th. The program, a part of the Peer-to-Peer Awareness Campaign, was intended to increase awareness of depression and its symptoms and reduce the stigma around getting help.  The purpose of this work is to identify depressed youth earlier and help them access the treatment they need.  The YAC students performed a skit to illustrate common adolescent experiences with depression. They also provided a small panel of experts in adolescent depression and an individual who has overcome her own struggle with depression. They had a fabulous turnout and a great response.
• Tappan 6th grader Cameron Beck has been declared a winner in the State Bar of Michigan Law Day essay contest.  Cameron will be recognized at an awards luncheon on May 3 in the Hall of Justice in Lansing, Michigan.  He will receive a trophy, a framed copy of his essay, and $100 for his winning essay on this year's theme:  "Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges."
• Huron's Robotics Club, First Robotics Team 830, The RatPack competed over spring break, and won one of nine spots to qualify for this year's national competition!  Despite technical difficulties with the robot, the team pushed forward to overcome seemingly overwhelming odds and obtain the necessary qualification points.  The Robotics team will be competing in the First Robotics 2010 Championship from April 15th through the 17th, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA.
• Congratulations to Clague’s Science Olympiad team who competed in Regionals at Hillsdale College on Saturday, March 20.  In only two years, Clague has improved from placing in 4 events to placing in 12 events this year.   Special recognition goes to Sweta Banda and Renee Zhao, who placed 1st in Ecology and received ribbons in other categories; to Renee and Preethi Gopal, who placed 2nd in Anatomy; to Elizabeth Good and Hanel Baveha, who placed 2nd in the Junkyard Challenge and received ribbons in other events; and to Kevin Xie and Dallan Roan, who despite the airplane they made crashing into the ceiling on their flight, still managed to garner 2rd place in Wright Stuff.   Also receiving ribbons were Rishika Ramireddy (3 ribbons), Shreya Menon (3 ribbons), Savannah Binion (2 ribbons), Hokyun Kim, and Lois Zugar.  Also deserving recognition are Marissa Modell, Taryn Emerson, and Shruti Sudabattula, 6th graders who competed against 8th graders and did very well, gaining valuable experience that will place them in contention next year.  Good job everyone.
• On Wednesday, March 31st Clague 8th grade teachers Kirsten Jensen and Courtney Crowley along with their 6th hour ELA class spent time sharing at Logan Elementary. The middle school students reenacted their favorite folk tales and short stories for Ms. Fairless's 5th grade class. The 8th graders truly brought their literature to life!
• Congratulations Logan students, staff and community!  For the past two weeks, Mr. Park's 5th graders have been conducting a school-wide coat drive.   Within 10 school days, 5th graders collected and sorted 287 coats, sweaters and jackets. Students set their personal goal for 100 coats and jackets for their first coat drive. Students were extremely excited and grateful for the overwhelming support from the Logan community, which allowed the student to more than double their goal!  All donated winter attire will be delivered to local agencies.
• Congratulations to Logan's 1st grade through 5th grade artists! The talent of Logan's artists will be on display at the Ann Arbor District Library (Main branch on Fifth Avenue) from April 17th through May 27th!
• Pattengill’s fifth grade team of 8 students placed 70th out of 281 schools in the Knowledge Master Open. Linda Matton is the KMO Advisor a well as Pattengill’s Enrichment Coordinator, which is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation Grant.  Please congratulate the following students:  Matt Auer, Gurleen Harisinghani, Davney Holley, Reagan Malcolm, Brian Muckstadt, Austin Mullice, Joe Salvato, and Casey Thompson.
• As a result of their performance at the STATE Solo and Ensemble Festivals on March 27th the following Pioneer Band and Orchestra students have been nominated from over 10,000 high school students from the State of Michigan to participate in the MSBOA Youth Arts Festival SOLOIST Auditions:  Saunders Hayes (flute), Meekyoung Lee (flute), Carly Renner (flute), Andy Johnson (clarinet), Sarah Rontal (alto saxophone), Dylan Larkins (trumpet), Hope Wilson (trombone), Charles Geronimus (snare percussion), Duncan Polot (marimba percussion), Jacob Joyce (violin), Davis West (violin).
  The following have been nominated as Outstanding Ensembles:
  Trumpet Septet:  Megumi Matsushita, Leila Hofer, Isabel McKay, Miriam Michaels, Emily Northrop, Niko Rombes, Jacob Swanson
  Trombone Quartet:  Hope Wilson (trombone), Max Hully (trombone), David Shapiro (trombone), Devin Webster (trombone)
  Brass Ensemble:  Andrew Chou (piano), Dylan Larkins (trumpet), Davis West (violin)
  Brass Quintet:  Megumi Matsushita (trumpet), Jacob Swanson (trumpet), Jay Yamakado (French horn), Jonathan Bower (trombone), Jonathan Evans (tuba)
  String Ensemble:  Dana Johnson (violin), Andy Johnson (clarinet).
  String Ensemble:  Davis West (violin), Alyssa Natoci (clarinet), Greg Fuller (piano)
  String Ensemble:  Davis West (violin), Dana Johnson (violin), Julia Markey (viola), Joseph Jang (cello)
  String Ensemble:  Nathan Carrillo (viola), Peter Bae (violin), Daniel Huang (violin), Joseph Jang (cello)
  The following Pioneer Band and Orchestra students have been nominated to the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Band:  Michael Sullivant (bass clarinet), Sarah Rontal (alto saxophone), Megumi Matsushita (trumpet), Max Hully (trombone), Duncan Polot (marimba)
  The following Pioneer Band and Orchestra students have been nominated to the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Orchestra:  Jacob Joyce (violin), Davis West (violin), Julia Markey (viola), Joseph Jang (cello), Meekyoung Lee (flute), Andy Johnson (clarinet), Dylan Larkins (trumpet), Elizabeth Cvercko (French horn), Jay Yamakado (French horn), Hope Wilson (trombone)
• Huron High School Band members came home with great results from the State Solo/Ensemble Festival on Saturday March 27th with 68 First Division Ratings and 8 Second Division Ratings!  Congratulations to the following 10 Huron students soloists for being selected as members of the 2010 Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Band/Honors Orchestra:  Laura Wu, Kaitlin Daida, Michael Shen, Oscar Chen, Yeon-Woo Chung, Jinwoo Lee, Mary Scott, Elspeth Hayden, John Lee and Jakob Hildebrandt.
  Huron students were also selected by their adjudicator to audition for the opportunity to perform at the Youth Arts Festival in the SMALL ENSEMBLE category.  They are: John Lee, Jinwoo Lee, Oscar Chen, Michael Shen, Yeon-Woo Chung, Peter Dolce, Callie Svaan, Mary Scott and Kevin Egedy.
  Congratulations to the following Huron students with the highest honor to have been selected by their adjudicator to audition as a soloist for the Youth Arts Festival.  They are:  Elspeth Hayden, John Lee, Yeon-Woo Chung, Callie Svaan, Mary Scott and Peter Dixon.
  Huron Band students receiving a "I" rating in their performance of a SOLO are:  Callie Svaan, Eric Giuffrida, Mary Scott, Adam Clover, Jinwoo Lee, Annie Song, Peter Dixon, Tess Chamberlain, Kristen Giuffrida, Peter Dolce, Paul Miller, Alon Glazer, Oscar Chen, Laura Wu, Christine Mei, Adam Miller, Jake Johengen, Corinne Froning, Jong Hwan Koo, Pelham Barron, Elspeth Hayden, Jiaao Hou, Yeon-Woo Chung, Patrick Wan, Robin He, Brian Collins, John Han, Sridhar Bhagavathula, Melissa Liu, Deniz Karabakal, Ian Blaauw, Catherine Vogt, Michael Shen, Emma Boyd, Jakob Hildebrandt, David Hinz, Jenny Wang, Emily Chang, Domenic DiGiovine, Chelsea Miller, Brandt Hofman, Deborah Hai, Kieran Williams, Emma Mees, Anna Burch, John Lee, Kaitlin Daida and David Mees.
  Huron Band students receiving a "I" rating in their performance in an ENSEMBLE are:  John Lee, Jinwoo Lee, Annie Song, Jong Hwan Koo, Jakob Hildebrandt, Pelham Barron, Mark Vander Roest, Adam Clover, Sridhar Bhagavathula, Nick Richardson, Ian Blaauw, Jae-Huen Seo, Sam Brodkey, Manuel Anderson, Peter Dolce, Mary Scott, Callie Svaan, Kevin Egedy, Jake Johengen, Michelle Song, Chris Kaczmarek, Ben Gugino, Alexandre Jolliet, Andrew Gadway, Andrew Toader, Raji Kiridena, Jinwoo Lee, Oscar Chen, Michael Shen, Yeon-Woo Chung, Zibo Zou, Rohan Paul, Brian Collins, Peter Dixon, John Han, Nick Baker, Ben Brenner and Patrick Gilchrist.
  Huron Band students receiving a "II" rating in their performance of a SOLO are:  Julie Deznozka, Kate McCall, Jody Liu and Patrick Gilchrist.
  Huron Band students receiving a "II" rating in their performance of an ENSEMBLE are:  Annie Song, Schuyler Bryant, Jacob Higle-Ralbovsky, Chris Kaczmarek, Manuel Anderson, Kevin Egedy, Ben Gugino, Jake Johengen, Tara Murthy, Donovan Hyter, Hannah Smith, Cameron Brown, Charlie Nicoli, Nora Eder, Emma Dolce, Melissa Liu, Kristen Giuffrida, Chelsea Miller, Bre'anna Simpson, Katy Thomson, Kate McCall and Katie Kraft.
• Pioneer Social Studies teacher Tracey VanDusen was selected by the American Bar Association to attend a week long law program in Washington D.C.  She will get to hear a Supreme Court Decision and meet with Ruth Bader Ginsburg while there.
• Allen Principal Joan Fitzgibbon writes, “On March 25, the staff of Allen Elementary School hosted a Pasta Dinner for our students and families. The staff served food to over 600 people!   It was a huge success thanks to the donations from the Allen staff and Chartwells.   David Lahey was wonderful and helped us out tremendously.  A special thanks to the Pioneer High School kitchen for cooking our noodles and to Zingerman's and Panera for their bread donations.   Another special thanks is extended to a subset of the "Big Ten" Jazz combo from Community High School who provided complimentary music for us throughout the evening.    Besides the delicious food, student writing was on display for families to read and enjoy.   This event also celebrated our goal of reading 500,000 minutes during March is Reading Month.   The theme at Allen school for the month of March was "Read to Feed".   By reading 500,000 minutes, the students raised enough money to purchase a heifer for a family in need through Heifer International.   We are proud of our students at Allen School for contributing to the greater good.  The evening was great fun and a wonderful community-building event!”

Todd Roberts, Ed.D.
Superintendent