Graphic Arts purchases cameras with MITES grant funds

The Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Graphic Arts class recently purchased six Nikon Coolpix L28 cameras with grant funds instructor Andrea Boettner received last spring from the Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES).

The high school juniors and seniors have been using the cameras to document their projects and field trips, and later in the semester, the students will learn about lighting, close-up photography, and more during the class’s photography unit.

“First and foremost, we need to thank MITES for the grant that allowed us to get the cameras,” said Boettner. “The students are already enjoying using them on a regular basis and I’m looking forward to seeing their knowledge and creativity grow during our upcoming photography unit.”

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

Graphic Arts students tour McKay Press in Midland

Graphic Arts students from the Clare-Gladwin Career Center were exposed to the print and production business during a recent tour of McKay Press in Midland. Made possible by grant funds awarded to Graphic Arts instructor Andrea Boettner last spring by the Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES), the field trip educated students on the variety of machines used by McKay Press, including a web press, letter press, folders, binders, cutter, stitcher, wide format printers, and more.

“The field trip was great,” said Graphic Arts student Chris Wargo of Farwell. “I liked the different machines they used. I had no idea how complicated it was going to be or how large and dynamic the space was. The people at McKay Press even gave us one of their excellent quality calendars and a huge roll of paper for our printing and crafting projects.”

According to Graphic Arts instructor Andrea Boettner, to be better prepared for a career in graphic arts, students need to have an understanding of the production side of the industry, and the field trip to McKay Press provided students with a useful introduction.

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 school day at their CTE program and the other half at their local high school. 

Local Knights of Columbus councils donate funds to Clare-Gladwin RESD special education programs

The Knights of Columbus councils in Clare, Gladwin, and Harrison recently made donations totaling more than $2,900 to the Clare-Gladwin RESD’s special education programs, including the Clare-Gladwin Area School and the Early Childhood Special Education classes. According to Clare-Gladwin RESD Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Jan Weckstein, “We are so very appreciative for the generosity of the Knights of Columbus. These funds will be used to benefit student activities and opportunities that the children may not otherwise be able to participate in."

Career Center names fall 2013 Students of the Month

Career Technical Education (CTE) program instructors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, have announced the Students of the Month recognized during the fall 2013 semester. Students were selected based on their academic achievements, citizenship, and work ethic.    

Each month during the semester, the Students of the Month were entered into a drawing to receive a Clare-Gladwin Career Center t-shirt donated by Create-It in Beaverton. The fall winners included Wyatt Duggan of Harrison, Brook Harvell of Clare, Garret Henry of Farwell, and Jay Poet of Clare.

All recognized students were given a Student of the Month certificate along with a gift from a local sponsor. The Clare-Gladwin Career Center thanks the area sponsors: Bucilli’s in Clare and Farwell; Create-It in Beaverton; Hungry Howies in Clare and Gladwin; Lang’s Pizza in Beaverton; Mama Cilli’s in Harrison; Pizza Hut in Gladwin; and Subway in Coleman and Farwell.

Listed below are the fall 2013 Students of the Month from each program and their home high schools.

Education in Training:

Samantha Chasteen - Beaverton HS       

Samantha Rulapaugh - Clare HS

Alexis Sines-Clare HS     

Harvell: T-shirt winner. 

Brook Harvell - Clare HS

Health Occupations:

Dallas Gibson - Gladwin HS         

Brennan Baum- Beaverton HS   

Kaitlyn Jacques- Beaverton HS  

Taylor Helka - Clare HS  

Josh Kinberg - Clare HS 

Brenden Gyulveszi-Clare HS       

Bailey Reger - Clare HS

Wyatt Duggan - Harrison HS       

Megan McCarrick - Harrison HS 

Kayla Bush- Harrison HS               

Briannah Mercer - Farwell HS

Automotive Technology:

Henry: T-shirt winner.

Mariah Roskamp - Harrison HS  

Hunter Gross - Coleman HS        

Richard Walters - Beaverton HS

Ryan Rybkowski - Beaverton HS               

Dillon Hillier - Gladwin HS             

Ken Hagerty - Coleman HS

Digital Media:

Drew Porter - Beaverton HS       

Jace LeFevere- Gladwin HS         

Mason Woodruff - Gladwin HS 

John Libbey - Harrison HS

Construction Trades:

Gage Agin- Harrison HS

Kyler Zinser - Clare HS   

Garret Henry - Farwell HS            

Duggan: T-shirt winner. 

Devon Poet- Clare HS

Aidan O'Rourke - Beaverton HS

Hunter Walters - Beaverton HS 

Kyle Buckley - Gladwin HS           

Boone DeShano – Gladwin (Homeschool)

Criminal Justice:

Skyler Howard - Coleman HS     

Jay Poet - Clare HS       

Joseph Berenyi - Coleman HS     

Brad Gallagher - Gladwin HS

Graphic Arts:

Kyle Sweet - Clare HS    

Tristan Shimmons- Farwell HS   

Kathryn Loesel - Gladwin HS      

Malinda Hershberger - Clare HS

Culinary Arts:

Ariel Rose - Farwell HS  

Poet - T-shirt winner. 

Ciara Chambers - Harrison HS    

Jacob Buccilli - Farwell HS             

Randa Schultz - Farwell HS

Nicole Martin - Beaverton HS    

Kelsey Kula - Harrison HS             

Jaime Phillips - Beaverton HS     

Heather Baker - Gladwin HS

Superintendent's Message: RESD grateful for support of Gladwin Friends of Library and local Knights of Columbus

Sheryl Presler
Clare-Gladwin RESD Superintendent

I’d like to express my appreciation to the Gladwin Friends of the Library, as well as to the Knights of Columbus councils in Clare, Gladwin, and Harrison for their continuous support of local students through generous annual donations to Clare-Gladwin RESD.

For many years, Gladwin Friends of the Library has allocated funds earned through their yearly Fish Fry and quilt auctions to support Imagination Library - a program operated by Clare-Gladwin RESD that provides local children with a free book in the mail from birth to age five. With approximately 1,000 children from Clare and Gladwin counties enrolled in the program annually, the cost for books and mailing can reach more than $30,000 each year. The program relies heavily on contributions from our counties’ citizens and organizations to bring the magic of books to local children and assist them in being better prepared for kindergarten. We are proud and thankful to have Gladwin Friends of the Library as one of our partners in this effort.

The Knights of Columbus councils in Clare, Gladwin, and Harrison have also been instrumental in enhancing the lives of local youth, specifically those at the Clare-Gladwin Area School. Year after year, following their Tootsie Roll drives, each council has presented the Area School with a check.   From investing in new playground equipment and field trips, to helping with participation costs for the Special Olympics, Clare-Gladwin RESD has used these funds to positively impact students of all ages at the Area School. We are honored and grateful to benefit from the overwhelming generosity of the Knights of Columbus each and every year.

Clare-Gladwin RESD is blessed to serve communities with generous individuals and service organizations. With their contributions, we are able to improve the lives of the children in our school communities and provide them with a brighter future. On behalf of the RESD’s Board, staff, students, and families, we thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Sheryl Presler

Clare-Gladwin RESD Superintendent

Clare-Gladwin RESD granted $100,000 from Gerstacker Foundation

Clare-Gladwin RESD was recently granted $100,000 from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation of Midland to help fund the renovation of existing buildings at the John C. Magnus Center.  When construction is complete, some of the career and technical education (CTE) programs offered to local high school juniors and seniors by the RESD’s Career Center will move to the Magnus Center.   

Located at 3200 S. Clare Ave., the John C. Magnus Center was established in October 2013. Formerly home to Magnus Tractor Sales, the majority of the property’s nearly 25-acres was donated to the RESD in the spring of 2013 by John’s wife, Verna Magnus Green, and their children, Lt. Col. Mike Magnus, Darla Schmittner, and Michelle Maeder. The land contains multiple outbuildings, a barn, and a house.

With plans to eventually use the property to improve and expand learning opportunities for local youth through all of the organization’s student programs, the RESD is currently working with architectural and engineering firms to determine a master plan to be completed in phases as funding is secured. 

“As Michigan is beginning to experience a resurgence in the trades, CGRESD is committed to providing an appropriate learning space for CTE students,” said Clare-Gladwin RESD Superintendent Sheryl Presler. “The space doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does have to be safe and functional for practical experiences using the latest technology, engineering and mathematics.”

After floor plans are confirmed and approved by the state, the hope is the Construction Trades students will learn and work alongside the hired contractors for the project. 

 “A fully functional skilled trades training center has the potential to positively impact not only students, but families and communities for generations,” said Presler. “On behalf of CGRESD, its Board of Education, and all the high school students who will benefit from the Magnus Center, I would like to thank the Gerstacker Foundation for recognizing the importance of the Magnus Center project with such a generous grant.”

To learn more about Clare-Gladwin RESD, visit www.cgresd.net. 

CTE Criminal Justice students attend careers and leadership conference

The students in the Clare-Gladwin Career Center's Criminal Justice class recently attended the Criminal Justice Careers and Leadership Conference offered by the Kent Career Technical Center. The conference provided career, employability, and leadership training, and offered students the opportunity to learn from field professionals and network with industry experts.  

“The Kent Career Technical Center invited us to attend this Career Fair, which opened the doors for our students to talk to local, county, and state police officers, as well as federal agents and private security companies,” said DJ Newman, instructor for the Criminal Justice program at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center. “This gave the students insight into what types of careers are out there and what each prospective career takes.”   

Speakers at the conference presented on diversity in the criminal justice field and the importance of being physically and mentally fit.

“Overall, students seemed extremely satisfied with the experience. We look forward to attending it again in the future,” said Newman.

Criminal Justice is one of nine career and technical education (CTE) programs offered to local high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of 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.

CTE Health Occupations class welcomes certified hypnotist

Joe Gelina of Central Michigan Hypnosis recently spent an afternoon with the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Health Occupations class as a part of their preventative medicine unit. Gelina spoke about his former experiences in healthcare, as well as his current endeavor as a certified hypnotist. “The students really enjoyed hearing from Joe,” said Health Occupations Instructor Erin Lenhart. “Some students even had the opportunity to experience hypnosis themselves!”

Health Occupations is one of nine career and technical education programs offered to local high school juniors and seniors through the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD. Students spend half of their school day at their CTE class and the other half at their local high school