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Letter from the Superintendent

WINTER VACATION!DECEMBER 19 - JANUARY 2, 2017

Gobles National Honor SocietyReady for 2016-17

Carrie Butler, Gobles High School National Honor Society (N.H.S.) Advisor, is proud to announce the roster of officers that will serve the organization this year.

Elected as president is Anne Huston, vice president will be Johnathan Doman, serving as secretary is Ryan Mizikar, treasurer duties will go to Tyler Hunt, and in the role of historian, Emma Harbaugh.

The N.H.S. will host several large-scale community events this school year, including three Red Cross Blood Drives that are scheduled to be held on Friday, October 28th, Thursday, February 2nd, and Friday, April 21st in the Middle School Gymatorium.  

Members oversee the advertising, supply cookies, and provide the labor to ensure the success of each event. Each donation helps to fund scholarship money that is awarded to a graduating senior. Please consider giving if you are able. Last year’s $750 scholarship went to Emily Bolhuis, who served as president.  

The group will also be managing the finances and collection of canned goods, and clothing to help keep the pantry shelves stocked during the holiday season. Hundreds of cans will be donated, and it is the group’s hope to beat last year’s coin collection of $1,650.

N.H.S. membership is not only based on scholarship, but on leadership, and character, as well as service. Students must have a cumulative GPA above 3.00, exemplify leaders in and out of the classroom, be aware of character choices, and are encouraged to get involved in any projects that benefit the community. Eligibility to apply is announced in the Spring. 

Mrs. Abigail Coombs is teaching fifth-grade Science and English Language Arts. The new Elementary School teacher is originally from England. She moved to Michigan in 2008 and graduated from Mattawan High School in 2012. She’s married to Ash, her high school sweetheart from England. Mrs. Coombs attended Western Michigan University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She’s excited to be teaching STEM and other science topics.

Ms. Chaley Fleetwood is teaching first-grade at the Elementary School. The new teacher is a 2009 graduate of Bloomingdale High School. She attended Western Michigan University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2014. Before joining Gobles Public Schools, she taught kindergarten in Battle Creek. Ms. Fleetwood loves to travel, run, kayak, fish, ski, hike, bike, read, and bake.

Mrs. Brittany Genther is teaching fourth-grade Social Studies and English Language Arts. She has a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a master’s from Walden University. This is her fifth year of teaching. In the past, she’s taught kindergarten and first grade. Mrs. Genther and her husband, Michael, have a one-and-a-half-year-old son and a baby on the way! In her free time, Mrs. Genther loves to go hiking, travel, read, try new places to eat and spend time with her family.

Miss Caitlin Killeen is teaching fifth-grade Math and English Language Arts. She graduated from Gobles in 2008 and then attended Central Michigan University where she earned her bachelor’s in education. She spent the last two years teaching ELA and Math at Portage North Middle School. She’s looking forward to doing everything she can to help her students become lifelong learners. Outside of school she loves spending time with family, doing outdoor activities, and playing competitive games.

Mr. Vincent Church is teaching Physical Education and Health for grades 6-12. He is originally from Grand Junction, but attended Bloomingdale Public Schools where he was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, and baseball.) He graduated from Northern Michigan University where he played quarterback for the football team. After graduation, he taught in Ironwood for three years. He recently earned two master’s degrees from

Western Michigan University in coaching and sport performance/sport management. While at WMU, Mr. Church was a graduate assistant and taught several courses. He’s also coached for Kalamazoo United.

Mr. Greg Eichler is teaching Middle School Social Studies during his fourth year of teaching and coaching athletics. He grew up in the metropolitan Detroit area and remained there until beginning his post-secondary education. After one year of school and football at Adrian College, and another year at a local community college, Mr. Eichler moved on to Central Michigan University where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in education. He began his teaching and coaching career in Glendale, Arizona, where he lived for three years. While there, he taught middle school English Language Arts and Social Studies and coached football and basketball. In his free time, Mr. Eichler enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching football, fishing, lifting weights, reading, and enjoying all that the great state of Michigan has to offer.

Mrs. Heather Rhodes is teaching sixth-grade Social Studies and English Language Arts. She graduated from Ferris State University with a major in History education and minor in English in 2013. In 2014, she joined the Gobles staff where she worked as a paraprofessional for two years. In January of 2016, she accepted a long-term substitute position teaching 7-9 grades History and English. Mrs. Rhodes and her husband, Brandon have a one-year-old son. She loves playing sports and her favorite is softball. She also enjoys reading, being on the lake, and spending time with family.

Mrs. Hilary Trojniak is teaching seventh-grade Math, eighth-grade Earth Science, and Principles of Engineering. She was raised in the small, beautiful, lakeshore town of Ludington. She now lives outside of Kalamazoo with her husband. After graduating from Grand Valley State University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Earth Science and Math for Secondary Education, she taught math, science, and engineering in a small school near Lansing for two years, and middle school math in Battle Creek the following year. Mrs. Trojniak has a great passion for family, teaching, having a positive influence in students’ lives, and the outdoors.

Welcome New Teachers

The Gobles Tiger Marching Band completed their nearly undefeated 2016 “Postcards from Copland” season in the Michigan Scholastic Marching Band Circuit.  

They competed in Otsego, winning first place and caption awards for Best Music, Marching, and Percussion.  They took second place (having missed first place by one-tenth of a point) in Class D along with Best Percussion, and Best Drum Majors at the Hastings Invitational.  That close second place score really motivated the band to work hard, and as a result elevated the show to a new level.  

The following week, the Tiger band won first place and swept caption awards for Best Music, Best Marching, Best Percussion, and Best Color Guard at the Lakeshore competition.  They also earned a Division I rating at District 6 MSBOA Marching Festival.

The season concluded with another first place win at the Jenison Invitational, winning caption awards for Best Marching, Best Percussion, and Best Color Guard.

This would not have been achieved without the positive attitudes, fantastic leadership, and absolute commitment of the students to continue to perfect their show. The upperclassmen, always eager to help with a positive attitude, have been wonderful mentors for the younger students. Additionally, the underclassmen showed tremendous growth throughout the season; they look and sound fantastic!  

Much thanks goes to the parents, families, friends, and community members who helped the band throughout this season!  Your help with uniforms, food, water, hauling the trailer, moving equipment, driving students to rehearsals, support in the stands, and 50/50 donations is very much appreciated!  Also, a very special thank you to Mandana Nordbrock, Sheryl Zaczek, Zach Petty, and Chris Moore for your enthusiasm and expertise working with the students!  This season would not have been as successful without all of you!

2016-17 First Marking Period Honor Roll:Fourth-grade: Eli Aspinwall, Jaylynn Haskins, Logan Miller, Caleb O’Connor, Ethan Penny, Emma Shugars, Alyson Tripp, Accalia Tromotola, Elizabeth Woodard, Alex Akers, Amand Carlson, Tristen Conwell, MacKenzie Hopper, Tyler Johnson, Presley Adams, Orion Ennis, Logan Johncock, Ava Melson, Tyler Mulligan, Conner Owen and Cole Stapert; High Honor Roll: PJ DeYoung, Preston Misak, Erica Barber, Connor O’Rourke, Lauren Pernie, RaeAnn Axe, Braylen Dorrington, Lily Heintzman and Zoie Wood

Fifth-grade: Hailey Holland, Anthony Mark, Ella Ringel, Kelle Rose, Zoyee Taylor, MacKenzie Allen, Daniel Hitchcock, Alaira Kiggans, Christian Witt, Donovan Dennis, Lucas Grauman, Noah Hankinson, Eli Huizenga, Taviannah Potes, Olivia Sweet and Oskar Wood; High Honor Roll: Eli DeYoung, Levi Belden, Claire Bodin, Dylan Bouters, Cadence Graham, Nick Lopez, Mason Mansfield, Lucas Quist, Charlotte Zantello, Gaige Flees, Angel Hannapel, Tristan Harbaugh, Josh Hitchcock, Kennadi Killeen, Emma Nuyen, Austin Quakenbush, Brayton Dickerson, Augie Jacus, Anthony Lisowski, Makayla Sundlin, Cole Streich, Xavier Wilkes and Deanna Wood

Sixth-grade: Hannah Aspinwall, Jenae Bennet, Morgan Brunner, Mina Buchkowski, Adam Carlson, Samantha Carlson, Katelyn Crawford, Kristina Davis, Conner Diamond, Katelyn Gasper, Gavin Hancox, Kaya Huizenga, Harrison Loomis, Alyssa Martin, Kaley McComis, Samantha Paladi, Elena Phillips, Alanna Pierce, Dulce Ramos-Martinez, Austin Sparks, Elyssay Tarkkanen, Keegan Todd, Annaliese Tyrrell, Ellianna VanHorn, Mariah Whitt, Thomas Wright and MacKenzie Young

Seventh-grade: Corbin Baranoski, Amanda Barber, Emily Baxter, Gabrialle Bell, Maecy Bills, Madison Brady, Carson Brunner, Chais Carpenter, Alexandria Davis, Ava Davis, Nile Devers, Alexis Diamond, Madison Ely, Victoria Fenton, Madyson Groth, Isabella Jacus, Aidan Kiggans, McKenzie Lisowski, Ella Miller, Trinity Stone, Kambree Tackett, Andrew Thorpe, Thomas Wahmhoff, Jocelynn Wassenaar, Morgan Witt and Preston Zantello

Eighth-grade: Lauren Adams, Michela Buxton, Ethan Carlson, Joseph DeYoung, Delani Grauman, Karlee Henderson, Catherine Huston, Benjamin Jackson, Keaghan Kelly, Megan Kridler, Joshua Lopez, Korrin Lovett, Lauren McPike, Gabriel Miller, Zachary Moerman, Madison Rose, Dylan Schafer, Deven Thompson, Maximilion Weiss and Chase Westerhoff

Ninth-grade: Gavin Bair, Caleb Brady, Annika Brunner, Conor Buchkowski, Brady Burnell, Brady Dembinski, Michael Fifer, Jenna Fisher, Janay Gates, Courtney Glasgow, Brandon Huizing, Christina Hunt, Victoria Jacus, Alana Lee, Kathleen Leftwich, Brielyn Lisowski, Henry Loomis, Cesar Martinez, Joseph Miller, Haven Moerman, Connor Myers, Libbee Nason, James Owen, Esmeralda Ramos-Martinez, Jackson Rumery, Breeanna Stedman, Faith Sweet, Presley Talsma, Hunter TenBusschen, Abigail Tinkler, Alex Tyrrell and Courtney Winne

Tenth-grade: Clayton Adams, Aaron Ailes, Zoey Allen, Kevin Chandler, Rachel Collins, Kenneth Dekker, Mickayla Dever, Sean Devers, Maris Gordon, Kaylani Graham, Carlie Hancox, Jordyn Jepkema, Kirsten Kneller, McKenzie Kubicek, Sam Loomis, Emily Lopez, Kylee Mandigo, Alexandra Mangan, Grace Moyer, Joshua Paladi, Liliana Perales, James Sandahl, Roberto Soto, Ross Thorpe, Madeline Tiller, Alexis Trevino, Gabrielle Zajda and Mason Zantello

Eleventh-grade: Paige Adams, Lucas Aspinwall, Peyton Austin, Travis Blouin, Carolena Brockway, Travis Chandler, Gage Commissaris, Jeffrey Conwell, Kennedy Davis, Ronald DeVries, Riley Doman, Joseph Doyle, Jacob Fenton, Kayla Ferry, Riley Getman, Aletheia Grossmann, Jacob Hancox, Kamryn Henderson, Caleb Huyser, Luke James, Andrew Kimble, Kyra Lovett, Julia Merica, Audrey Miller, Rae Miller, Lauren Palmer, Mackenzie Pennell, Bridgette Pernie, Levi Smith, Joshua South, Tyler Stedman, Kenley Tackett, Jaylene Tarkkanen, Aerial Tinkler, Sabrina Torres, Kristin Tykoski, Ashley VanHeukelum, Margaret Abigail Waddell, Daniel Watson and Samantha Winne

Twelfth-grade: Brendan Baker, Hailey Baxter, Dustin Bland, Jason Boyer, Katlynn Brink, Kieanna Brooks, Samantha Brown, Olivia Brunner, Alexandra Caffrey, Emily Chilla, Michael Crawford, Myan DeHaan, Morgan Dingman, Johnathan Doman, Adam Fifer, Emma Geresy, Elijah Giles, Collin Goldsberry, McKinzie Hamay, Emma Harbaugh, Angelica Hazekamp, Shan Huang, Tyler Hunt, Anne Huston, Makaylia Leonard, Logan Litchfield, Madison Marsh, Lauren McMullan, Ryan Mizikar, Michael Myers, Alexandra Paladi, Kendra Price, Johnathan Rasmussen, Bryce Sabo, Marcus Secondi, Tanner Smalley, Clayton Stapert, Casey Steinman, Alexis TenBusschen, Samantha Warning, Cari Wiessner, Casey Wiokowski, Mason Wiseley and Alexis Zajda

U.S. Representative Fred Upton, of Michigan’s 6th Congressional District, toured Gobles Public Schools’ high-caliber educational programs and facilities on Wednesday, November 2, 2016. 

During his visit, the congressman was escorted around the school by third-grade teacher Ms. Chris Quist, Board of Education President Terry Doyle, and Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Rehlander. 

The first stop on the congressman’s tour was to Ms. Julie Boes’ third-grade technology classroom, where students were working in stations to learn things such as internet searching skills, and programming computers through a process called coding, as part of the district’s K-12 Project Lead the Way STEM curriculum.

The representative was then shown to Ms. Erin Tregloan’s room, where her kindergarten class demonstrated their knowledge of the human body’s natural protection - its skeleton. The excited kindergartners explained why bones are hard (to provide protection), and were also able to list the vital organs that bones help to protect (brain, lungs, and heart.)

Middle school science teacher Ms. Becky Drayton, and 11th-grade student Kennedy Davis, gave Representative Upton the grand tour of the Middle/High School’s STEM lab, where students can take courses in biomedical science. Davis explained that the students enjoy the hands-on learning, and discussed with the congressman her plans after graduation next year.

During Mr. Marc Kline’s high school history class, students asked Representative Upton questions such as, “When did you decide that you wanted to go into public service?” and “How has the federal election affected what you do?” The congressman was quick to offer the students advice on the importance of being honest, and honoring your word.

The Middle/High School Band, directed by teacher Ms. Emily Redmond, played a selection from Greensleeves Variants by Robert E. Foster,

which was promptly met with applause by the congressional representative. He recounted his years spent in band, and carrying the flag during high school football games.

The congressman’s final stop of the day was to experience the hard work of Gobles middle school students in robotics. The students demonstrated their mechanical creations for their guest, which were programmed to move independently using code.

Congressman Fred Upton Visits Gobles Public Schools

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Public Schools.2016-2017 Schools of Choice Program

Gobles Public School District recognizes the Schools of Choice Program adopted by the Michigan legislature and plans to implement the Schools of Choice Program for the 2016-2017 school year. Gobles Public Schools will accept applications from non-resident students residing within the Van Buren Intermediate School District boundaries, and in school districts located in contiguous intermediate school districts for the 2016-2017 school year under the Schools of Choice Program and will comply with the deadlines and requirements set forth by the law.

Applications for the Schools of Choice Program are available online at www.gobles.org and in the Superintendent’s Office and will be accepted beginning January 2 through January 20, 2017. The District will notify the parent or legal guardian of each nonresident applicant who is accepted for enrollment of the date by which the student must enroll and the procedures for enrollment.

Top row: Mr. Eichler, Miss Killeen, Mrs. Rhodes, Mr. ChurchBottom row: Mrs. Genther, Mrs. Trojniak, Mrs. Coombs, Ms. Fleetwood

Top Row: Johnathan Doman, Anne Huston, Tyler HuntBottom Row: Emma Harbaugh, Ryan Mizikar

2016-17 Gobles Marching Band