Superintendent’s Message

March 1, 2018

Good afternoon:

Though I try to keep my messages light and inspirational, this week I felt it was fitting to address what is on the minds of each of us as public school employees. After a senseless tragedy like the one in Florida recently, we are acutely aware of the importance of school safety.

I want to assure you that we are reaffirming current safety practices and procedures, as well as exploring other opportunities to make our staff and students more secure. I also want to

acknowledge that we have strong partnerships with our local law enforcement agencies, and we will continue to work with them to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

With all this said, please know that maintaining a safe secure environment is not just for the sake of safety, it is so we can keep our focus on what we are here to do: educate children.

Have a great couple weeks!Erik Edoff

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Pride2017-2018 School Year

L’Anse Creuse High School• In early January, Christian Roberts proposed that LCHS

collect “Hoodies for the Homeless.” From January 16 through January 31, students generously donated 50 new and gently used hoodies/sweatshirts. Christian and his brother Braden delivered the donations to Dan McLatcher (husband of former Board Treasurer Linda McLatcher) at First United Methodist Church Warming Center in Mt. Clemens. “The hoodies will be appreciated by our homeless guests during the shelter week,” Mr. McLatcher stated in an email.

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L’Anse Creuse High School - North• High School – North performed the musical Bye Bye Birdie February 22 – 24. The students, staff and parents

who performed in the production did an outstanding job!

Frederick V. Pankow Center• On February 22, the Horticulture Science students hosted Grandparents Day. The students invited their

grandparents to class, where they worked on several projects together. Below is a video of one of our visiting grandparents describing what she did with her granddaughter.

Click here or on the image above to view video!

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DiAnne M. Pellerin Center• On March 1,   representatives from Strive 4

a Safer Drive, as well as two Michigan State troopers, will be coming to the Pellerin Center for an interactive driving simulator experience. They will be bringing two simulators that students can use to drive in different road conditions.  The students will complete this activity by wearing specialized goggles that simulate impairment. They will also have activities that students can partake in, with regard to reaction and response time.  This is the beginning of our #IArrivedSafe campaign that will continue for the remainder of this school year. Thanks again to our SADD club and their sponsors for organizing this special initiative for the students at the Pellerin Center. 

• Fifth grade students participated in a service project to give back to the community. As part of a grant written by Kristin Tunich and awarded by the L’Anse Creuse Foundation, students were able to make goodie bags for first responders. Inside the bags were gum, coffee, lotion, lip balm, and a granola bar. Each fifth-grader designed their own bag with a special message and picture for the first responders. The bags will be delivered to local police and fire departments by the teachers and selected fifth grade students later this month.

Atwood Elementary School

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• Carkenord students are spreading the love this Valentine season. U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) invited local students to participate in the “Valentines for Veterans” project. Carkenord students across the grade levels made handmade cards for local veterans. Cards will be delivered to both the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and the Ann Arbor VA.

Joseph M. Carkenord Elementary School

• Graham Elementary has just received word that we have been named as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School by Franklin Covey Co. This recognition comes because the school has achieved outstanding results in school and student outcomes, by implementing The Leader in Me process with fidelity. It is also because of the extraordinary impact the program is having on staff, students, parents, and the greater community. Congratulations to all the students and staff for this great achievement!

Marie C. Graham Elementary School

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• Mrs. Lewallen and her art classes at Green Elementary had a school-wide Earth Day Contest, as well as participating in a contest for the State of Michigan. We eagerly wait to hear the results. Students’ posters will decorate the halls for the entire month of April. Mrs. Nebel and Mrs. Ciacchella head the Green Initiative Program and oversee various school-wide events that engage all students to be mindful of the environment and to take care of it each day!

Green Elementary School

• Physical Education teacher Steve Conger will once again lead students in raising funds and awareness for the American Heart Association through the Hoops for Heart program. Last year, Higgins Elementary was recognized as one of the top schools in the state for raising funds for the American Heart Association.  Pictured is Mr. Conger accepting a generous donation from McLaren Macomb and AirTime Trampoline and Game Park, in conjunction with the American Heart Association. As always, the students are excited to help others!

Francis A. Higgins Elementary School

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• Several classes at Lobbestael celebrated the 100th day of school. Mrs. James’ kindergarten class made 100th day t-shirts, had a fashion show, and took pictures of what the students looked like that day and then what they would like at 100 years old. In addition, student buddies from Mrs. Rubba’s second grade and Mrs. Kinney’s fourth grade classes followed directions to create “The 100 Monster” with 100 body parts! The students really enjoyed the day!

Emma V. Lobbestael Elementary School

• South River students in Nichole Rafferty’s fifth grade class held a Writing Celebration with family in our Media Center. Over 31 family members, including parents, siblings, cousins and grandparents attended Mrs. Rafferty’s Writing Celebration to listen to some spectacular student writing! Everyone got to share their writing piece at least five times. The students LOVED getting the opportunity to have an authentic audience to share their writing pieces with, and some even chose to read theirs out loud and practice fantastic fluency!

South River Elementary School

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Tenniswood Elementary School• Mrs. Warren’s class was treated

to a pizza lunch by the Parent Lighthouse Team for winning last month’s Box Tops collection contest. It was delicious and a nice surprise on a rainy day. The collection of Box Tops is a great way for Tenniswood to earn additional funds for family activities, such as PAWS Night and Art and Ice Cream. Thank you to our Parent Lighthouse Team for all that they do!

Donald J. Yacks Elementary School• The students at Yacks Elementary enjoyed seeing some very cool animals from Lou’s Pet Shop. They loved

having the opportunity to see and pet the animals.

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L’Anse Creuse Middle School – Central• Members of the MS-C seventh and eighth grade band took their annual trip to work with Dr. Scott Jones at

Ohio State University, and then relaxed and enjoyed the waterpark at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio.

L’Anse Creuse Middle School – East• Turning Point visited Middle School — East on February 21 and 22 to talk to our seventh-graders

about dating and sexual harassment. Our goal is to help our students to make good choices within their own lives to become happy and successful young adults. Some topics that were discussed included:

Equality and RespectConflict Resolution Skill BuildingMyths and FactsEffects of Abuse on victims and on childrenGender StereotypingDefining domestic Violence/Dating Violence/Abusive RelationshipsHow to Help a Friend – survivors of abuse and the abuserFacts and statisticsSexual Assault/ Laws

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L’Anse Creuse Middle School – North• MS-N’s eighth grade girls basketball team started the year off 5-0! These same girls went undefeated as seventh-

graders!

L’Anse Creuse Middle School – South• Middle School — South recently conducted its annual Winter Sports Assembly.  Our eighth grade boys’

basketball team and eighth grade girls’ volleyball teams got to square off against members of the MS-S staff.  We also had the pleasure of watching our cheer team perform for the crowd.

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• Although we were all sad to see Elsie Oliver retire from the district, we are so lucky to have Barb Conley from South River Elementary join the Curriculum Department team. Years of multi-tasking and problem-solving will make the transition feel like home. On the curriculum front, high school science has been working diligently to enter new curriculum into Atlas that is based on NGSS. The WIDA ACCESS test that is administered to Limited English Proficient students is more than halfway finished, so thanks to a great team, this state assessment will be finished ahead of schedule – just in time for all of the other assessments to be administered.

Curriculum Department

• The Pankow Center Agri-Science and Culinary Arts students partnered with Community Education to help senior citizens make floral arrangements and a fairy garden, as well as create teas from herbs grown in the greenhouse. After a busy day, participants enjoyed lunch in the student-run Creuse Café.

Community Education Department

• On February 23, the L’Anse Creuse Community Action Coalition hosted their annual Dialogue Day event at Trinity Lutheran Church and School. This event brings middle and high school students together with school staff and administrators, as well as local business, civic, and religious leaders, to have open conversations and learn from one another’s perspective. This year’s focus was mental health. Keynote speaker, local magician Anthony Grupido, performed illusions to educate the audience and emphasize the importance of seeking help for mental illnesses. Thank you to the staff members who worked hard to organize this event and to everyone who attended.

School & Community Relations Department

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