COMSTOCK CELEBRATIONS!

Guest Reader Fires Up CELA Students About a Love of BooksThanks to CELA Principal Meadow Nuyen for sharing this fun news!

On Monday, October 25, Comstock Firefighter Mike Kessler visited CELA and took turns reading to each class about fire safety. As a special treat, he brought each preschooler a firefighter’s hat and even allowed the students to try out his gear. Here are pictures from Mike’s visit in Mrs. Thomas and Miss Smith’s GSRP class. Preschooler Mackenzie was thrilled to try on the protective equipment.

Well done, Officer Kessler - you made it a great day to be a Colt!

COMSTOCK CELEBRATIONS!A weekly look at some of the great happenings in our school district!

Comstock Celebrations - Volume 4, Issue 17 - November 1, 2021

A word fromDr. ThoenesNow more than ever, it is essential for us to tell our own story. Each week, Comstock Public Schools

has many wonderful happenings and positive events that we need to share with our community. To this end, I collect stories and good news from around the district and highlight them through this forum. You can help promote our Comstock Celebrations by telling family, neigh-bors, and friends, as well as sharing the Celebrations on your favorite social media. If you have a story or event you’d like me to include, send photos and a write-up to: [email protected].

Stay up to date with Comstock Social MediaComstock Public Schools shares news stories like those that you find in Comstock Celebrations on our social media outlets.

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Comstock Board of Education Honors Personnel with Milestone Service AwardsAt Monday night’s Board meeting, the BOE honored a distinguished group of educators for their continual years of service to Comstock Public Schools. While the Board ordinarily does this recognition each year at the opening breakfast, due to the ongoing pandemic, this has not been possible. Undeterred, the Trustees were thrilled to publicly announce the following recipients.

20 Years of Service - Kim Adams, Cathy Buscher, Emmy Kimmer, Dawn Krasts, and Karen Vetter

25 Years of Service - Wendy Miller, Mark Shenefield, and Virginia Vrooman

30 Years of Service - Rida Jones

35 Years of Service - Mary Amsbury, Patty Anderson, and Linda Grogg

Board Secretary Dori Scholly with Kim Adams.

Emmy Kimmer with Vice President Matt Schreiner

Board Trustee Saralyn Brown with Cathy Buscher.

Vice President Matt Schreiner with Dawn Krasts.

COMSTOCK CELEBRATIONS!COMSTOCK CELEBRATIONS!


Comstock Board of Education Honors Personnel with Milestone Service Awards

Trustee Kayleen O’Donnell with Mary Amsbury

Board President Pamela Dickinson with Rida Jones.

Trustee Karen Howes with Wendy Miller.

Patty Anderson with Secretary Dori Scholly

Vice President Matt Schreiner with Linda Grogg



Comstock High School Recognizes Student of the WeekThanks to CHS Principal David Kirksey and his staff for recognizing Colt high school students making a positive impact at their school! This week’s Comstock High School Student of the Week for the week ending on October 22 is 12th grader Harleigh Martin.

Nominating Comments: "Harleigh has really stepped up this year and become a great leader in the Treble Choir. She is very friendly and supportive of the freshmen in the group. She sings out beautifully and gives her section a boost in volume and confidence!"

Congratulations, Harleigh!

The Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs Awards Yet Another Grant to CESThe Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) is a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and works to increase and broaden the influence of arts and culture within Michigan communities. As a part of this effort, MCACA awards grants each year “to encourage, initiate and facilitate an

enriched artistic, cultural and creative environment in Michigan.”

The MCACA has been extremely generous with Comstock Public Schools and Comstock Elementary School. Over the past three years, the Council has awarded the school a grant that pays for our students to attend local art

events, concerts, and museums. CES Instructional Coach Shawn McMeekan has been spearheading this application process and is thrilled to announce that MCACA has once again awarded CES this “Aesthetic Education” grant worth $14,000. Congratulations to Shawn and Comstock Elementary School!



Julie Woods Receives The STEMY Award for OctoberThanks to STEM Academy Principal Chris Chopp for celebrating this outstanding Colt educator!

I was talking to a parent this morning and she shared that Julie Woods has been an amazing teacher for her son. The parent stated that every day he comes home and says this has been the best day ever. Mrs. Woods has helped him overcome some challenges and excites him about learning.

Thank you Julie for constantly supporting and inspiring a beautiful group of 2nd graders to love learning and grow this school year. Your impact spreads to families in our community.

Here is what a new STEM Academy parent said about Julie Woods in a shout-out. "Mrs. Woods has been so helpful and patient with my daughter during her first year at STEM and after spending last year home during the pandemic. She’s helped her meet new friends and acclimate to STEM. My daughter is excited to go to school each day and says Mrs. Woods is “the best teacher ever”. High praise from a 7-year-old! Thanks for all you do, Mrs. Woods!"

Juile is also this month's "STEMY" award winner for her parent recognition and collaborative support of new staff members. STEM is better because you work here.

Congratulations, Julie!

First-ever Monthly Wellness Challenge Winner is AnnouncedHere is Nurse Brittany (right) awarding Accounting and Payroll Specialist Josie Alpers (left) with her prize of a Comstock t-shirt for winning the September Wellness Challenge “Step Up for 911.” Congratulations, Josie!

Who will be October’s Wellness Challenge winner?





CELA Staff Makes Their “Mark” on HalloweenThis fun celebration is from CELA’s Principal Meadow Nuyen - thanks, Meadow!

Hi CELA staff!

Attached are the group pictures of those who dressed up as Expo Markers! Special thanks to our custodian, Mr. Brandon, for taking the pictures.

With gratitude, Meadow

Editor’s Note - these are such adorable pictures; definitely a "highlight!"

Comstock High School Students Learn About Bullying and How Best to Stop ItOctober was National Bullying Prevention Month, and School Social Worker Rida Jones spent the month raising awareness of this issue with Comstock High School students. Throughout the month, Rida was a guest presenter in Angela Hovda’s English classes and introduced a different lesson on bullying each week. Students learned about what causes bullying; how to recognize bullying offenders and targets; how bullying negatively impacts targets, bystanders, and the school environment; how best to intervene; and when to seek the help of adults.

The Board and Superintendent Team and the entire high school staff are grateful that Rida and Angela’s focused energy and time on this valuable topic, the dedication it took to present the material, and the positive impact we know the lessons will have on our students!



More Halloween Costume ZaninessI kid you not! On Thursday morning as students and parents were arriving at Comstock Elementary School, they were greeted by a dancing skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex! It was really Assistant Principal Courtney Boyce dressed up in costume much to the delight of everyone.

BTW - this dinosaur has the cleanest teeth because she flosses every night! Check out this video of her “flossing.”

Other staff also joined in on the fun. Here is Bus Driver Brenda (background) dressed up with her students in Halloween costumes. ê

At Comstock Elementary School, 2nd-grade teacher Leigh Ann Emrick and 3rd-grade teacher Carly Baldwin dressed as each other the Wednesday before Halloween for “Hallo-week!” î



https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E2IgcvAxXRalSmf__L7-YO2rLuFaamq9/view?usp=sharing

Comstock Early Learning Academy Students Learn About Project LEANMore positive news coming out of CELA thanks to Principal Meadow Nuyen!

Marta Lehman has been visiting CELA once a week for six weeks to share her program Project LEAN with staff and students.

Project LEAN is:

Pictured here are Mrs. Moon and Mrs. Hayes's Great Start Readiness Program class with Marta, learning about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables like squash.

Thank you, Marta!



Speech and Language Pathologist Continues to Touch LivesThanks to Special Education Teacher Consultant Lindsay Clark for the encouraging story!

I wanted to share with you all a wonderful photo and message I received from a parent about Patty Anderson. This parent wanted us to know how appreciative she is that Patty is willing to do home visits with her daughter, Marley, during the pandemic.

Patty continues to be a bright light to many students during these challenging times. Her high level of service and professionalism clearly show how an educator really can make a difference by going above and beyond.

Thanks, Patty!



CHS National Honor Society and Comstock Elementary Combine for Successful “Trunk or Treat” Spook-tacularTo mark the coming of fall and have fun with Halloween, the CHS National Honor Society and the staff at CES combined to make this year’s annual “Trunk or Treat” event truly spectacular! Parking was at a premium at this family friendly event. Members of the NHS and CES staff backed their vehicles up against the bus loop producing a perfect venue for families and their children to walk by and see all of the costumed characters. Each car’s trunk or hatch had a themed, decorated display - it was amazing. Lines were so long at one point that families filled the entire bus loop sidewalk!

CES Principal Susan Caswell (left), Assistant Principal Courtney Boyce (as Cindy Loo Who), and her husband, Alex (“The Grinch”) having fun at the Trunk or Treat. è

On behalf of the Board and Superintendent Team, my deepest appreciation to all who organized this wonderful event - it was a fun and memorable day to be a Colt!

CPS Communications Specialist Jason Hall handed out candy at his LEGO-themed trunk. è



CES Kindergarteners Learn All About PumpkinsClaudia Richards, Allison Laning, and Cathy Buscher’s Kindergarten classes started their pumpkin unit in science this week! Students explored pumpkins by cutting them in half, measuring them, counting the seeds, and learning the parts of a pumpkin. These are "gourdgeous" children!



CES Kitchen Opens for Business on November 1I am pleased to announce that the elementary school’s fully remodeled kitchen and cafeteria have passed all inspections and that our facility will begin serving hot meals to our students this week! Much thanks and appreciation to the professionalism of Food Service Director Holly Wait and her team, and to GMB Architecture and Miller Davis for their diligence and work on this project.

Comstock Middle School Construction UpdateWe are now two weeks into the installation of the blue metallic siding along the north and west side of the building. Based on the amount of progress the crew has made during that time, we expect they will finish the project before Thanksgiving.

Editor’s note - the panels in place are still covered by white plastic sheeting that protects them against accidental marks or scratches during the installation process.



Comstock Elementary School Roof Renovation UpdateHere is the most recent update from Ian Mattoon who is the manager for CES roofing renovation project.

We are making good progress, however, the weather continues to slow some of our work. By the end of this week, crews should have all of the base sheet, flashing details, and metal installed which will make the roof system complete and water tight.

Temperatures are going to start to limit the window that we have to install the fluid applied cap sheet, which needs temperatures of 40 degrees and above for proper adhesion. However, the crew is properly equipped with bucket warmers to keep the material at the proper temperature for application. Garland will be paying extra close attention over the remainder of the project to ensure proper application of the fluid applied system.

Photograph of the CES roof taken by the Garland drone. é

We inspected the base layer of the fluid applied membrane and found it was ready for the top coat.

We also inspected the flashing details and found them to be complete and ready for top coat.

We inspected the drains and found them in great shape and ready for top coat.

We also examined the roof for voids and adhesion issues before we installed the Fluid Applied system.



KRESA Conducts 2nd Round of CTE Center Design DiscussionThis past week, Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) Superintendent Dave Campbell and his Career and Technical Education design team hosted a second round of two full days of planning and development discussions held at the Radisson in downtown Kalamazoo. Led by KRESA’s architectural firm, Wightman, these in-depth conversations involved about 50 people including representatives from education, business, and industry. Given the critical importance of this project, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Thoenes was present on both days.

The location of the future career center is only about 10 minutes from Comstock High School, just south of the intersection of Interstate 94 and Sprinkle Road. Participants formed teams and used scale models and maps to brainstorm how the facility could look. Teams then shared their designs and discussed the ideas behind their layouts. The architects will take the best ideas from these discussions and synergize them into the initial facility designs.

Plans are to begin construction this summer with the facility opening for students in the fall of 2024-25 school year. Special thanks to Automotive teacher Matt Basse and two of our Comstock High School students, Mason Meach and Jacob Rooney, for their attendance and participation in this event.



Comstock Elementary School Construction UpdateWork on Phase 7 is moving along at a rapid pace. This week crews finished installing plumbing and electrical lines into the trenches dug previously and then covered the trenches with fresh cement. Additionally, workers successfully placed overhead a number of ducts and ventilation tubes as well as copper piping.

Comstock Elementary School Construction Update



COMSTOCK CELEBRATIONS!

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