|
Valedictorians - Salutatorian
The Valedictorians for the Ishpeming High School
Class of 2007 are Kylee Kainulainen, Shea Kangas,
Danielle Linna, and Brooke Olgren All are
graduating with perfect 4.00 grade point
averages.
The Salutatorian of the Class of 2007 is Alycea
Maki who is graduating with a 3.99 grade point
average.
Excellence In Education Week Recognition
Several Ishpeming High School students, as well
as a number of teachers, were recognized at the
annual Excellence In Education Week sponsored by
the Great Lakes Center For Youth Development.
Ishpeming High School students Kylee Kainulainen,
Shae Kangas, Danielle Linna, Alycea Maki, and
Brooke Olgren were each awarded $1,500
scholarships. These students selected teachers
Corey Stiles, Timothy Clancy, Erling Langness,
Kristin Swenor, and Sheila Grazulis as their
"influential educators."
As part of the Excellence In Education week
activities, Central School teachers Lisa
Gravedoni and Kathleen Stiles were each awarded
$1,000 professional development awards.
The scholarships and teacher professional
development awards are financed through an
endowment with the Marquette Community
Foundation.
Regional Teacher Of The Year
Central School 4th grade teacher Lisa Gravedoni
has been named as Regional Teacher Of The Year
by the Michigan Department of Education.
Senior Honors Convocation
The annual Senior Honors Convocation will be
held on Thursday evening, June 7, 2007, at 7:00
p.m. A total of 46 seniors of the Class of 2007
will be receiving one or more scholarships.
Military Service
A total of three seniors from the Class of 2007
will be entering the military following
graduation.
Commencement
Commencement for the Class of 2007 will be at
8:15 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2007. The ceremony
will be televised by Charter Communications on
Channel 19.
IHS Girls Track Team
On Saturday, June 2, 2007, the Ishpeming High
School girls track team captured the Upper
Peninsula Division 2 Track Championship in
Michigan High School Athletic Association
competition. The Hematite girls have been
Division 2 champions in two of the past three
years.
State Budget
The Governor and Legislature have struck a deal
of one time accounting fixes and raiding special
funds and future revenue to avoid a current year
State Aid cut.
The Governor and Legislature are nowhere near
completion of the State Aid Act for 2007-2008.
Consequently, we do not know what our funds will
be for 2007-2008. We are, however, expecting
another very lean year. Approximately 90% of our
district revenue comes from the State. The
Governor and Legislature have defaulted on state
school aid and frozen our district per pupil
revenue in three of the past five years (cutting
funds in two of those years) even though costs
continue to increase. By cutting costs and by
using our fund reserves, we have managed to hold
together most student programs. However, unless
the Governor and the Legislature live up to
their obligations, maintaining our excellent
student programs is going to become a much more
difficult task.
First Day Of School
The first day of school for 2007-2008 will be
Tuesday, September 4, 2007.
Athletic Facilities Complex
Work is progressing on the Athletic Facilities
Complex project. Smith Paving, the general
contractor for the site work, is moving forward
toward completion of the track; field event
areas; football field irrigation system; goal
post installation; fencing; and restoration
work. Weather permitting, all of these items
should be completed by mid-July.
New aluminum seating planks have been ordered to
replace the old wooden seating planks in the
stadium. After delivery, which is anticipated to
be mid - June, the Ishpeming Pioneer Kiwanis
will be doing the installation.
On Wednesday, May 30, 2007, the Board of
Education rejected the bids on the remaining
portion of the project (public restrooms; locker
room building heat; team room; ADA handicapped
accessability; painting; press box remodeling;
and concession stand work) as being too
expensive. The Board will be revising the bid
specifications.
This project is being funded by revenue from
voter approved bond sales and the voter approved
building/construction sinking fund - not from
State Aid funds.
Ishpeming High School Alumni Association
The Ishpeming High School Alumni Association
open house activities will take place on
Tuesday, July 3, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00
p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The open
house is based in the gymnasium area with the
entire Ishpeming High School building open for
reminiscing.
We are unique in having such an active and
organized Alumni Association with an office and
part-time staff.
For more information, call the Alumni
Association office at 485-1381. Note that the
office is staffed on a part-time basis. You can
leave a message for a return call.
Sixth Grade Camp
On June 4, 5, and 6, the C.L. Phelps School 6th
grade students spent three days and two nights
at the Bay Cliff Health Camp in the
environmental camp experience. The program is
supervised on site by teachers and IHS student
counselors. This is a wonderful program!
School Grades
The Michigan Department of Education has
notified elementary and middle schools of their
preliminary Michigan School Report Card grades
for 2006-2007. The Birchview School, the Central
School, and the C.L. Phelps School are again
among the best in the state with all three being
rated as "A" schools by the Michigan Department
of Education. We have great students, parents,
teaches, and staff!
Child Care Learning Center
Our district Child Care Learning Center is
currently taking registrations for the 2007-2008
school year. The Child Care Learning Center is a
state-licensed program that meets the highest
standards for care, instructional activities,
field trips, and safety. If you are looking for
a warm, safe, nurturing child care learning
program, contact the Ishpeming Child Care
Learning Center. The Child Care Learning Center
is open to all children ages 3 -12 in Western
Marquette County. For information, call
485-2080. After Friday, June 8, 2007, call the
Superintendent's Office at 485-5501.
The Child Care Learning Center is a place where
children can learn and grow in a caring, safe,
and positive environment.
Michigan Merit Curriculum
All parents should be aware of the new state
mandated Michigan Merit Curriculum that has gone
into effect for high school students beginning
with the current year 8th grade students (Class
of 2011). In order to receive a high school
diploma from any public high school in Michigan,
the Governor and Legislature have mandated that
a student, beginning with the current 8th grade
students, must complete four credits of English;
four credits of mathematics including Algebra 1,
Geometry, and Algebra 2; three credits of
science including Biology and either Chemistry
or Physics; three credits of social studies
including ½ credit in Civics, ½ credit in
Economics, U.S. History and Geography, and World
History and Geography; one credit in
Health/Physical Education; one credit in the
Visual/Performing/Applied Arts; an on line
learning experience; and effective with the
Class of 2016 two credits in world languages.
Most of the Ishpeming High School students
already meet the state mandated requirements.
However, we have been concerned that all
students have the opportunity to meet the
mathematics requirements. The Board of Education
has approved curriculum changes in mathematics
to provide the best opportunity for all students
to meet the high school graduation requirements
in mathematics.
For additional information you can go to
www.michigan.gov/mde Under Quick Links, click on
New Graduation Requirements.
Our Schools
Our schools are top rated across the board in
every area. Our students are strong in
academics, student activities, community
service, and athletics. Our schools are
regularly rated as among the finest in the state
by the Michigan Department of Education.
Students, teachers, staff, and programs are
frequently featured as among the best. In order
to continue to provide opportunities for success
for our students, we all - parents, teachers,
staff - need to continue to pull together for
positives for our students.
If you have questions or comments on any of
these items, please feel free to call me at
485-5501.
|
