Congratulations to the 2015 Clare-Gladwin Area School Graduates!

Three local students graduated from the Clare-Gladwin Area School earlier this month during the annual End of the Year Celebration program. The tune of “Pomp and Circumstance” and a full audience welcomed students Michael Frisch, Sean Haske, and Eden Mooketsi as they entered the school’s gymnasium donned in their caps and gowns.

Following the processional, each Area School class entertained the crowd with performances that reflected the event’s “Movies” theme.

The program concluded with the presentation of Certificates of Completion to the 2015 graduates.

For more information on the Clare-Gladwin Area School and the Clare-Gladwin RESD, please visit www.cgresd.net.

Clare-Gladwin Area School staff members take the Polar Plunge; More than $1,200 raised for Special Olympics

On February 21, five members of the Clare-Gladwin Area School staff participated in the 2015 Polar Plunge, leaping into icy waters in the parking lot of O’Kelly’s Sports Bar and Grille in Mount Pleasant to raise funds for the Special Olympics of Michigan. An event presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a total of $1,230 was raised by Area School Principal Mike Simon, Teachers Melissa Kleiman and Tom O’Brien, Paraeducator April Marsh, and Administrative Assistant Jennifer Warren.

By tradition, Polar Plunge participants arrive in costume for the jump. Together known as Team Spice Rack, the staff members each dressed as a shaker of food seasoning including dill weed, cayenne pepper, cinnamon sugar, ground ginger, and poultry seasoning.

 Despite the frigid temperatures, “The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day to go for a dip! We want to thank all of our supporters,” said Warren.

Student Alisa also represented the Clare-Gladwin Area School at the Plunge.

Renovations underway at Magnus Center

Renovations are underway at the Clare-Gladwin RESD’s John C. Magnus Center to address the need for better facilities to house the career and technical education (CTE) programs chosen by nearly 350 local high school juniors and seniors annually. Phase one of the project is scheduled for completion in May 2015..

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 the family of the late John C. Magnus and contains multiple outbuildings, a barn, and a house. The RESD began working with architectural and engineering firms last fall to determine a master plan for the space to be carried out in stages as funding is secured.

During the 2013-2014 school year, two outbuildings were removed and students in the CTE Construction Trades program prepped the property for the upcoming renovations, as well as remodeled the house to make it handicapped accessible for Clare-Gladwin Area School students to use in the future to practice life skills.

Earlier this summer, Clare-Gladwin RESD accepted the lowest bid from Bolle Contracting in Clare, and the demolition of old foundations and the back portion of the main building is currently in progress. Several beams and a portion of the barn floor will be replaced this fall, along with the construction of a new driveway to better fit school busses and emergency vehicles. To accommodate future development, a new septic field will be put in and further excavation will take place. Technology wiring will be installed and the new learning lab and classroom for the Health Occupations program will occupy the renovated front portion of the property’s main building. The $100,000 grant awarded to the RESD last year by the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation of Midland will help fund this phase of the expansion.

According to Clare-Gladwin RESD Superintendent Sheryl Presler, all of the project’s contractors have agreed to let the CTE Construction Trades students work side-by-side with them on various tasks, such as building new stud walls. “This is a real-world learning opportunity for our students,” said Presler. “We are grateful these companies recognize the value of vocational education and are willing to help shape the future workforce of their industry.” Approximately $15,000 will be saved by having the students’ assistance.

Clare-Gladwin Area School students 'Craft for a Cure'

The Clare-Gladwin Area School has partnered with the international non-profit charity Crafting for a Cure to help package craft-kits and create greeting cards for local children to use when at a hospital, offering them a fun and artistic distraction to help pass the time. The kits and cards will be made through product donations and will be available this fall in emergency rooms, clinic treatment rooms, and operating waiting rooms serving families from Clare and Gladwin counties.    

In early August, the organization’s founder and president, Pamela Bielak, traveled from Canada to the Area School to launch the partnership. Bielak brought the supplies needed to assemble approximately 1,000 craft kits valued at five dollars each. The kits will include a variety of materials such as glue sticks, crayons, magnetic picture frames, yarn, and pipe cleaners. Students in each classroom will be able to assist in packing the kits, constructing the greeting cards, or both.

“This collaboration is a wonderful project for the entire school to work on together,” said Linda Bennett, the Area School teacher who initiated the partnership. “Plus, it gives our students the chance to give back to our local communities.”  

Originating in Canada, Crafting for a Cure looks for opportunities to ensure children have a positive experience when a hospital visit is necessary. According to Bielak, while Crafting for a Cure has partnered with and benefited nearly 100 hospitals and schools around the world, the Clare-Gladwin Area School is the first school in the United States to help the charity pursue its mission. “It is our goal to make all children smile,” said Bielak. “We are excited to work with our first school in the United States and I think the Area School is the perfect fit.”

To learn how to donate, call the Area School at 989-386-3682.

For more information on Crafting for a Care, visit www.craftingforacure.ca.

Crafting for a Cure Founder Pamela Bielak recently delivered craft supplies for the Area School students to create craft kits and greeting cards for local hospital patients. From the left, Bielak, Area School Principal Mike Simon, Area School Teacher Linda Bennett, and Crafting for a Cure volunteers Daniel and Karen.  

Seven students graduate from Clare-Gladwin Area School

Seven local students graduated from the Clare-Gladwin Area School earlier this month during the annual End of the Year Celebration program. It was standing room only as students Nicole Blaga, Alyssa Dumont, Wayne Hochstetler, Jessica Husted, Vincient Lago, Dustin Newman, and Andrew Ogg ceremoniously entered the school’s gymnasium in their caps and gowns to the tune of, “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Following the processional, each Area School class entertained the audience with performances that reflected the event’s “Dance to the Music” theme.

The program concluded with Clare-Gladwin RESD Superintendent Sheryl Presler, Area School Principal Mike Simon, and Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Jan Weckstein presenting the 2014 graduates with Certificates of Completion. Gladwin High School Assistant Principal Linda Stodolak also assisted in handing out the awards to the students from Gladwin.

“The Area School had a wonderful graduation,” said Presler. “The program was as spectacular as ever, and the graduates were beaming! It was a fitting conclusion to another successful school year for CGRESD.”                   

Four of this year’s graduates have secured jobs with the Arnold Center and Mid-Michigan Industries.

For more information on the Clare-Gladwin Area School and the Clare-Gladwin RESD, please visit www.cgresd.net.  

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

Santa and his reindeer share some holiday spirit at the Clare-Gladwin Area School

Santa and his reindeer made a special stop at the Clare-Gladwin Area School last week to spread some holiday cheer.

Officers from the Reserve Division of the Clare County Sheriff’s Office were also in attendance to hand out the gifts they provided to every student, which included a plush toy, a football, or a makeup kit.    

“The visit from Santa and his reindeer was a great way to celebrate the season with the students,” said Area School Principal Mike Simon. “We can’t thank Santa and his helpers enough for their generosity year after year!”

Clare-Gladwin Area School classroom learns basic color theory from CTE students

Students from the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Culinary Arts and Graphic Arts programs teamed up this month to teach students from the Clare-Gladwin Area School about basic color theory.

The career and technical education (CTE) students used cupcakes, icing, and food coloring to share their lesson with the kids in Rachel DuMond’s Area School class. The local high school juniors and seniors demonstrated how to make different colors by mixing icing and food coloring. After the cupcakes were decorated with the appropriate color, the treats were formed into two color wheels, offering a visual way for the Area School students to learn the basic color theory. 

"Getting to frost cupcakes with the kids was a rewarding experience,” said Graphic Arts student Kaitlyn Corell. “The best part of the whole day was getting to eat the cupcakes with the kids and seeing the joy on their faces.”

Culinary Arts and Graphic Arts are two 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.