Deadline for school of choice application slated for 2013-2014 school year

Under the Schools of Choice legislation (Section 105 and Section 105(c) of the School Aid Act), kindergarten through twelfth grade students residing within the Clare Gladwin Regional Education Service District (RESD) and contiguous intermediate school districts may apply to attend participating public school districts in the two-county region, including Beaverton Rural Schools, Clare Public Schools, Farwell Area Schools, Gladwin Community Schools, and Harrison Community Schools. 

Transportation for these students is the responsibility of the parents or guardians.

The participating schools are listed below. For those grades or programs allowing an unlimited number of students from other school districts, request/application must be made to the preferred school district by no later than the end of the first week of school. For those grades or programs with a limited number of openings, the 15-day application period is from August 12 to August 30, 2013. 

The schools accepting students from other school districts during the first semester/trimester of the 2013-14 school year include:

Beaverton Rural Schools, Gladwin Community Schools, and Farwell Area Schools

•          All grades and programs (unlimited openings)  

Harrison Community Schools

Larson Elementary

•          Kindergarten: 10 openings
•          1st grade: 5 openings
•          2nd grade: 10 openings

Hillside Elementary

•          3rd grade: 7 openings
•          4th grade: 5 openings
•          5th grade: 12 openings

Middle School

•          6th grade: 7 openings
•          7th grade: 25 openings
•          8th grade: 15 openings

High School

•          9th grade: 0 openings
•          10th grade: 0 openings
•          11th grade: 10 openings
•          12th grade: 15 openings

Clare Public Schools

Primary

•          Kindergarten: 10 openings            
•          1st grade: 10 openings
•          2nd , 3rd, and 4th grades: Unlimited

Middle

•          5th and 6^th grades: No openings
•          7th and 8^th grades: 10 openings, each grade

High School

•          9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades: 5 openings, each grade
•          Alternative Education: No openings

FREE Parent Boot Camp slated for Aug. 12-14

*Due to lack of participation, this event has been canceled*  (updated 8/9/13) 

The Clare County Youth Council (CCYC) invites local parents and grandparents, as well as those who are expecting a child to attend Parent Boot Camp 2013. The free, three-day program will cover topics including dental care and substance abuse prevention, and will feature a presentation by Community Service Tpr. Michael White of the Michigan State Police about changing one’s self-image and the important role fathers play in parenting. 

The classes will take place Aug. 12-14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brown Corners Church, located at 5540 S. Clare Avenue in Clare. Free on-site child care and lunch will be provided each day. 

“Parent Boot Camp is a great place for parents to get updated on current topics related to their family’s health and development,” said Betsy Ulicki of CCYC. “Every parent can use some help and support when raising children; it can be a stressful job!”   

Please pre-register by calling Erin Balbough at 539-5895.

The Clare County Youth Council is a member of the Great Start Collaborative of Clare and Gladwin counties and a partner of the United Way of Clare County and the Children’s Trust Fund of Michigan. Special Funding is provided by United Way to support Parent Boot Camp.

Graphic Arts students participate and place at state competition

Students from the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Graphic Arts program recently submitted eight projects showcasing their skills acquired in the classroom to the 2013 Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES) State Convention and Student Competition, held at Central Michigan University. 

With a mission to encourage and recognize fine craftsmanship in the field of industrial technology and career technical education, the annual MITES student competition allows kids of all grade levels to compete against their peers from other states and Canada in a variety of divisions, including graphic arts, architectural drawing, machine shop, wrought metal, and more.

“MITES is a wonderful organization to be a part of that supports both teachers and students in the areas of industrial and career and technical education,” said Andrea Boettner, instructor for the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s graphic arts program and MITES member since 2005. “I believe in the power of hands-on, relevant, and real-world learning. This organization gives my students a place to shine and show off their skills.”

In order to qualify for the state competition, projects needed to place fourth or better at the previously held MITES Regional Student Competition.

The local high school juniors and seniors from the Clare-Gladwin Career Center who entered at least one project to the 2013 MITES State Student Competition included Erik Canute of Farwell, Tabatha Chambers of Clare, Steven Clink of Farwell, Dallas Howell of Farwell, Richard June of Clare, Julie Lester of Gladwin, Lacey Martinez of Farwell, Jacob Schlaack of Beaverton, and Samantha Tomaski of Clare.

Of the eight projects submitted, four placed at the state level. For their individual projects, Martinez placed third, Clink placed sixth, and Canute placed fourth. A group project submitted by Schlaack, Clink, and June finished sixth.

“I was very excited to see the results of the state competition,” said Boettner.  “This was my first year as an instructor competing. My goal was to have at least one student place at states. Finding out that three students and one group project placed was a dream come true.”

In addition to the student project competition, the MITES convention featured a Pen Turning for Troops event. Using a lathe, the kids created 50 wooden pens that would be sent to the country’s service men and women overseas. The participants were then entered into a drawing to win a $500 mini-lathe donated by Barn Door Lumber in Hemlock.

Farwell’s Steven Clink was the winner of the equipment. With some past woodshop experience, Clink said he was looking forward to making, “a lot of really cool projects with the lathe. I can make pens, fix my mom’s dining room chair, and maybe make a wooden bowl!”

Boettner said Barn Door Lumber is a faithful contributor to MITES and supporter of industrial education. “Barn Door Lumber’s generous gift provides the financial and moral support needed for MITES to continue their mission,” she said. “There is no way to fully express our gratitude for their loyalty.”

Graphic Arts is one of nine career and technical education (CTE) programs offered to high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of the Clare-Gladwin RESD. The students spend half of their day at their CTE program and the other half at their local high school. 

Making a 'change' for area youth; Clare County students collect more than $1,000 in change for Clare County Youth Council

Mrs. Mellish's Class at Clare Primary. 

Children from Clare Primary and Hillside Elementary schools recently collected more than $1,000 in change for the Clare County Youth Council (CCYC); a non-profit organization dedicated to prevent and reduce child abuse and neglect in Clare County.

Mr. Long's Class at Hillside Elementary. 

The classes that collected the most change included Mrs. Mellish’s kindergarten class at Clare Primary and Mr. Long’s class at Hillside Elementary. Both classes were awarded with a pizza party. The CCYC also gave every student in each school a popsicle to recognize and thank them for their participation.

The CCYC would like to thank the schools for their efforts to help make a difference to prevent child abuse and neglect in Clare County.

The Clare County Youth Council is a member of the Great Start Collaborative of Clare and Gladwin counties. With the Clare-Gladwin RESD as its fiscal agent, the Great Start Collaborative works to coordinate a system of community resources and supports to all local families to give their children a great start from birth to age five. In alliance with parents, businesses, and community leaders, the Great Start Collaborative strives to ensure all children in Clare and Gladwin counties will enter kindergarten safe, healthy, and ready to succeed in school and in life.

For more information on the Clare County Youth Council, call 989-386-8644. To learn more about the Great Start Collaborative, call 989-386-8613.