Culinary Arts students test knowledge at ProStart competition; Two students place fourth

Four local students representing the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s  Culinary Arts class joined 55 teams of their peers from 19 career and technical education centers across Michigan on March 17 and March 18 for the annual Michigan ProStart Competition in Lansing. Hosted by the Michigan Restaurant Association Education Support Foundation (MRA ESF), 

Jenna Dungerow of Gladwin and Jessica Swosinski of Harrison, along with Jaime Phillips and Ashtyn Schultz of Beaverton, competed in multiple events that tested their knowledge of the ProStart curriculum; a two-year program for high school students that unites the classroom and industry to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice leaders.

The first event was a “Jeopardy!” style knowledge bowl, sponsored by Lake Michigan College. The question and answer event tested all four of the Clare-Gladwin students’ knowledge of critically important issues of food safety and sanitation.

Beaverton’s Phillips and Schultz took part in the Nutrition and Marketing component of the ProStart competition, which is designed to encourage the creation of healthy menu items for restaurants. Students had to create a menu that meets the National Restaurant Associations’ healthy dining criteria. In addition, they also proposed alterations to an “unhealthy” meal to make it fit those same healthy standards.

“The ProStart competition is important for a few different reasons,” said Heidi Rocha, Clare-Gladwin Career Center culinary arts instructor. “It builds off of our class curriculum and brings the students to a much higher level of understanding and achievement. These are also real-world concepts that they will use in their own lives and/or apply in hospitality-related professions.”

Phillips and Schultz placed fourth in the Nutrition and Marketing component and each received a $500 scholarship to Sullivan University.

“I am very proud of my students for their hard work and dedication,” Rocha said.

Culinary Arts is one of nine career and technical education programs offered to local high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of the Clare-Gladwin RESD. 

March is Reading Month: Area School students 'Read Around the Planet'

March is Reading Month and students in Melissa Kleiman’s class at the Clare-Gladwin Area School celebrated reading with Read Around the Planet, a project that uses videoconference technology to connect local students with classrooms from a variety of states throughout the country, as well as Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

The students recited “Green Eggs and Ham,” by Dr. Seuss for their partner class in Poughkeepsie, New York. Following the activity, the classes asked and answered each other’s questions about the respective school, community, and state.

“There are many benefits to this activity,” said Kleiman. “All of my students of varying ability levels can participate and feel like they are a part of an amazing experience, which is great for self-esteem. This activity also facilitates appropriate social interactions, such as takings turns, question and answer, and following directions.”

In addition to the Area School, students from Clare, Farwell, Beaverton, and the Clare-Gladwin RESD’s S.P.A.R.K.S. program participated in Read Around the Planet this year.

According to Clare-Gladwin RESD REMC 5 Director and Instructional Technologist Kay Hauck, Read Around the Planet celebrates reading while allowing students and teachers to collaborate with their peers via distance. “This gives them the opportunity to experience cultural similarities and differences as they travel beyond our state’s boundaries without leaving their school.”

Read Around the Planet began in 2001 and is part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America, as well as World Book Day. REMC 5 provided the technological support needed for this activity.

Criminal Justice students learn from Ambrozaitis and Hovey

Clare County Prosecutor Michelle Ambrozaitis joined Defense Attorney Tara Hovey last week to discuss the court system and answer questions with students in the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Criminal Justice program.

“I have several students that are looking at going into the court avenue of the criminal justice system,” said Criminal Justice Instructor DJ Newman. “I wanted to enlighten them on the hard work it takes to make it, the different types of avenues that they can take, and just get them experience so it will hopefully help them make a decision as far as what they want to do with their life.”

Criminal Justice is one of nine CTE programs offered to local high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of the Clare-Gladwin RESD. Students spend half of their regular school day in CTE and the other half at their local high school. For more information, please visit www.cgresd.net.

Gladwin County students place first in the S.P.A.R.K.S. Healthy Soup competition

Two teams of students, one from Gladwin Junior High School and the other from Beaverton High School, each placed first during the S.P.A.R.K.S. after-school program’s Healthy Soup Competition this month. 

With a $30 limit, groups of students from Beaverton, Farwell, Gladwin and Harrison schools were challenged to create a soup with only fresh or frozen meat and vegetables; low-salt stock; and no added salt. 

 

Judges Keri Hamilton, DeVonna Haskell, and Joe Trommater of the Clare-Gladwin RESD; Sarah Kile of Central Michigan District Health Department; and Lacie Curns of Chartwells tasted, deliberated, and selected which healthy soup tasted the best. Gladwin Junior High made chicken taco soup and Beaverton High School made broccoli cheese soup.

“This activity taught kids how to cook healthy on a budget,” said S.P.A.R.K.S. Director Joe Trommater.

The Clare-Gladwin RESD’s S.P.A.R.K.S. program (Students Participating in Academics and Recreation for Knowledge and Success) is an after-school and summer-school program for students in Beaverton, Farwell, Gladwin, and Harrison school districts.

Annual Career Day teaches students about traditional and non-traditional professions

Eighth grade students from Clare and Gladwin counties met local professionals and learned about a variety of occupations during Career Day 2013 on March 6. Sponsored by the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, Clare-Gladwin RESD, Educational Talent Search Grant, and Mid Michigan Community College (MMCC), the annual event took place at the Harrison campus of MMCC.

Local police officers, veterinarians, and electronic engineers, as well as representatives from the Mid Michigan Health, Clare County Farm Bureau, and Chemical Bank were a few of the many professionals in attendance to speak with the students about what their job entails.  

“Career Day gives kids the chance to hear from people who work in both traditional and non-traditional career fields they may be interested in,” said Clare-Gladwin Career Center Director Doug Pummell. “I hope this event gives students a better understanding of the types of education and training they will need to pursue these career paths, as well as let them know about the programs we offer, like CTE (Career and Technical Education), that will help them accomplish their goals.”

The students also learned about career pathways during a game modeled after Trivial Pursuit called Career Pursuit, and took a virtual tour of Mid Michigan Community College.

Thank you to the following businesses for participating in Career Day 2013:

Zumba Fitness with Melanie

Three Rivers Corporation

Chemical Bank

MMCC Theatre

MMCC Student Advancement

Electronic Engineer/Technician  (retired)  Dow Chemical

MMCC Plastics/Manufacturing

Vantage Plastics

Lyle’s Flowers

Clare Co. Farm Bureau

Wishing Star Farm

Clare Animal Hospital

Kelly’s Kruising Kritter Kare

DNR-Law Enforcement

State Police

Clare County Sheriff Department

Jaynie Smith Hoerauf, P.C.

Mid Michigan Medical Center-Gladwin

Mid Michigan Health

Community Mental Health for Central Michigan

Mobile Medical Response

Clare Gladwin Career Center

St. Louis Corrections Faculties

Area School students donate items to animal shelter

Clare-Gladwin Area School students collected more than 200 items for local animal shelters in honor of their 100^th day of school last month. On March 6, students Michael, Jacki, and Gabby delivered some of those donations to the Clare County Animal Shelter.  

Local leaders in education meet with legislators

Approximately 25 local board of education members and superintendents gathered at the Harrison High School Media Center on March 4 to talk with Michigan legislators during this month’s Legislative Breakfast, sponsored by the Clare-Gladwin Area School Board Association.

State Senator Darwin Booher, State Senator John Moolenaar, and State Representative Joel Johnson spent the morning answering questions and discussing current and upcoming legislation related to public education.

“As superintendents and school board members, we are passionate advocates for our students and for public education,” said Clare-Gladwin RESD Superintendent Sheryl Presler. “The Legislative Breakfast gives us a chance to engage with our local legislators one-on-one, ask them questions, and give them insight as to how their decisions will directly impact the students in our communities.”  

Breakfast was provided by Chartwell’s Food Service.