Clare County hosts annual Leadership Institute program; now accepting applications

The annual Clare County Leadership Institute is accepting applications for the 2015-2016 program year.

Presented by Clare-Gladwin RESD, Mid Michigan Development Corporation, and community representatives, the Clare County Leadership Institute is designed to develop potential new community leaders. Participants will be provided with an in-depth look at the history of the county, become familiar with the variety of current businesses and organizations in the area, and sharpen their skills that are critical to successful leadership such as effective public speaking, collaborating with others, running a meeting efficiently, maintaining a work-life balance, and more.   

For a one-time fee of $100 and a commitment of one Friday each month from September 2015 to May 2016, the Institute is open to anyone who lives or works in Clare County and is interested in making a difference in the community. Businesses, non-profit organizations, and government entities are encouraged to sponsor someone within their organization to attend the program. Individuals are also welcome to apply.

**To obtain an application, click here 

or call Clare-Gladwin RESD at 989-386-3851. 

Applications must be submitted by Aug. 21, 2015.**  

Hundreds of educational leaders gather in Traverse City for annual Summer Leadership Academy

It was a full house at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City last month during
the 2015 Summer Leadership Academy.

The Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City was packed with nearly 265 administrators and teacher

leaders from around the state for the 2015 Summer Leadership Academy in June, presented by the Consortium of Mid-Michigan Instructional Teams (C.O.M.M.I.T).The three-day conference is an annual event made possible by the collaboration of the five intermediate school districts that form C.O.M.M.I.T. including Clare-Gladwin RESD, Clinton County RESA, Gratiot-Isabella RESD, Ionia County ISD, and Montcalm Area ISD.

For more than 10 years, the Summer Leadership Academy has offered educators from small, rural communities the opportunity to learn from nationally- and internationally-renowned speakers. This year’s featured presenter was Dr. Eric Jensen, a leading authority on the science and applications of brain research in education. The former middle school teacher and author of 26 brain-based books facilitated his interactive session around the theme “Teaching and Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind.”

Dr. Jensen set the stage with statistics depicting the ever-increasing poverty rates, the subsequent stress factors on families, and the impact these stressors have on physical brain function. “There is an element that the education community is powerless to control – poverty,” he said. “In the past two years, the rate of poverty has grown at an alarming rate and now even traditional middle-class schools are feeling the pressure that comes with the stress of poverty.”

Dr. Jensen went on to explain that despite poverty’s presence, there are practices that schools can put in place that can reverse its detrimental impact such as developing strong relationships and family connections, actively pointing out how students’ daily actions connect to their long-term goals, and building academic optimism so kids hear and believe every day they can and will succeed.

Following each full-day session, school teams spent up to four additional hours reflecting on the presentations and discussing how to incorporate the strategies and ideas explored into their school’s improvement plan.  

“Too often, in the midst of the daily operations of schools and classrooms, local superintendents, principals, and teacher leaders don’t have time for an extended collaborative inquiry into these topics to the depth that is facilitated by the Academy’s presenters and ISD committee members,” said Deb Snyder, Clare-Gladwin RESD Assistant Superintendent for General Education. “Local district leaders value this time and professional learning to plan for their continued work in the district for the following school year.”

According to Snyder, each year’s theme builds on the focus areas of the previous Academy.

“The conference planning committee members always consider districts’ needs when selecting topics and speakers for the Academy,” she said, referencing past Academy presenters such as Charlotte Danielson, Jim Knight, Anthony Muhammad, and Randy Sprick. “The Academy has gained a reputation of high quality in all aspects of the conference.” 

CGRESD Career Tech Summer Camp a Success

Two students show off the
 backpacks given to each CTE summer camp participant.
The backpacks featured the Clare-Gladwin Career Center logo
and identified the Clare County Community Foundation
as the camp sponsor. 

More than 30 soon-to-be seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students from Clare and Gladwin counties attended the inaugural Career Tech Summer Camps presented by the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD.

On the mornings of June 16-18, students participated in one of four hands-on camp programs designed to introduce them to careers associated with career and technical education (CTE), including Caring for Children, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, and Digital Media.

Students learn infant and toddler CPR in the
Caring for Children Camp.

Each camp offered a variety of labs that grabbed the students’ attention, including blood spatter and footprint casting labs in Criminal Justice, CPR training in Caring for Children, video game creation in Digital Media, and meal preparation in Culinary Arts.

When asked for feedback about the camps, one student said, “I loved it! I wish it went on longer in the day so we could learn more.” Many students echoed the desire for extended camp sessions and also expressed how much they enjoyed meeting their peers from neighboring schools.

A camp participant learns about blood splatter
during a lab in the Criminal Justice Camp. 

“It was a great week,” said Clare-Gladwin Career Center Director Doug Pummell. “Students had the opportunity to explore a career field they were interested in while meeting students from other schools who had similar interests. We look forward to offering the camp again next summer.”

The Career Tech Summer Camps were funded by a grant from the Clare County Community Foundation, with a portion of the funds awarded upon recommendation from the Clare County Youth Action Council (Clare YAC). The Clare County Community Foundation strengthens the community by providing leadership, fostering collaboration on local needs and issues, and encouraging a legacy of giving through grants, scholarships, and events. Clare YAC is a project of Clare County Community Foundation, and is made possible through the Council of Michigan Foundations and supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

CTE students tour Mid Michigan Children's Museum

The Clare Gladwin Career Center’s Education in Training students recently toured the Mid Michigan Children's Museum in Saginaw. The future educators explored the museum's exhibits and discussed what children learn as they play. They were also informed of the future volunteer opportunities for them at the museum. Additionally, the students participated in activities with patrons of the museum. 

Education in Training is a career and technical education (CTE) class offered to high school juniors and seniors through the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD. The students spend half of their day at their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.

Farwell Middle School SPARKS holds Family Math Night

The Farwell Middle School S.P.A.R.K.S. program recently hosted Family Math Night for students and their families to learn interactive, hands-on math techniques and tips to help reinforce math concepts at home.

An estimation station was set up for students to guess the number of items in jars, along with activities that incorporated playing cards to practice fractions, dice to work on basic math facts, and measuring utensils to make trail-mix. All activities were student led.

Each family took home a goodie bag with dice, playing cards, and measuring utensils to recreate the activities at home and continue to strengthen the students’ math concepts.

S.P.A.R.K.S. (Students Participating in Academics and Recreation for Knowledge and Success) offers students in Beaverton, Farwell, and Harrison schools after-school homework help, tutoring, and enrichment activities that enhance the school day curriculum and focus on the development of character and leadership. S.P.A.R.K.S. also provides local high school students with free credit recovery through the Learning Center at Beaverton High School. S.P.A.R.K.S. is a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD.

Clare-Gladwin RESD offers CMU poverty simulation to local eduators

As part of a recent professional development opportunity offered by Clare-Gladwin RESD, educators from local school districts participated in a poverty simulation provided by Central Michigan University (CMU).

With the help of trained staff and volunteers from CMU conducting and facilitating the workshop, the 2.5 hour experience took place at Coleman Community Schools and was designed to sensitize participants to the realities low-income people face on a daily and monthly basis. 

In the simulation, participants assumed the roles of different “families” facing poverty with varying circumstances. “Participants experienced four 15-minute weeks with five-minute weekends as they worked through their month of poverty and tried to accomplish their objectives - feeding their family, paying their bills on time, maintaining housing, and maintaining safety,” said Clare-Gladwin RESD Assistant Superintendent for General Education Deb Snyder. “The simulation was conducted in the gymnasium with ‘families’ seated in groups in the center of the room. Around the perimeter of the room were tables representing community resources and services for the families.”

Snyder thanked CMU and its staff for their work in providing the simulation to the region’s educators for the second time this year.

Clare-Gladwin RESD offers online learning option through 'MROC'

Clare-Gladwin RESD and its consortium districts recently unveiled the Middle Michigan Regional Online Collaborative (MROC), offering local students in grades 9-12 with an online learning option.  The program gives high school students in Beaverton, Bullock Creek, Clare, Coleman, Farwell, Gladwin, and Harrison school districts the opportunity to take up to two high school courses online each semester.

Unlike a traditional online education experience, MROC provides multiple systems of support to help ensure students success. MROC courses are each taught by a teacher from a local participating school district who is highly qualified in his or her respective subject area. Students are also assigned a mentor teacher from their home high school who will monitor their progress during the course and assist them in developing the unique skills needed for online learning.

“The program is intended for students who want to try online learning, have openings in their schedules, or want to take classes that aren't available at the right time of the day at their school,” said Joe Trommater, data/special projects coordinator at Clare-Gladwin RESD. “The idea is to offer an online alternative for students with greater support and more local control than what is currently out there.”

MROC is offered at no cost to students. To see the list of course options, visit www.cgresd.net. For more information, contact Joe Trommater at 989-386-8602.

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.

CGRESD co-sponsors summer academy for hundreds of school leaders

At the end of June, Clare-Gladwin RESD’s general education department once again co-sponsored the 2014 C.O.M.M.I.T. Summer Leadership Academy in Traverse City. Approximately 225 school leaders from around the state attended this year’s event titled, “Inspiring Leaders to Create Positive School Culture: Tools for Change.”

Featured speakers included Dr. Anthony Muhammad and Dr. Randy Sprick.  

Dr. Muhammad facilitated professional learning and discussion on how to intentionally reshape the internal practices of schools and how to foster and maintain a healthy school culture. Dr. Randy Sprick then led participants through the foundational principles of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support systems and shared proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create positive school environments.

“The quality and message of each presenter was amazing,” said one Summer Leadership Academy participant. “Both presentations gave useful examples of how other districts have applied the concepts that were talked about.”

Another school leader said this year’s academy was, “outstanding,” and described the speakers as the best they’ve heard in many years.

The Summer Leadership Academy is an annual event Clare-Gladwin RESD plans in collaboration with a consortium of five central Michigan intermediate school districts. 

Local educators participate in poverty simulation

As part of the recent Clare-Gladwin RESD Regional Professional Development Day, approximately 90
teachers, support staff, administrators, and paraprofessionals from Clare and Gladwin County school districts participated in a poverty simulation, provided by Dr. Deborah Bailey and Dr. Norma Bailey of Central Michigan University (CMU).

With the help of more than 30 trained staff and volunteers from CMU conducting and facilitating the workshop, the 2.5 hour experience took place at Harrison Community Schools and was designed to sensitize participants to the realities low-income people face on a daily and monthly basis. In the simulation, participants assumed the roles of different “families” facing poverty with varying circumstances.

“Participants experienced four 15-minute weeks with five-minute weekends as they worked through their month of poverty and tried to accomplish their objectives - feeding their family, paying their bills on time, maintaining housing, and maintaining safety,” said Clare-Gladwin RESD Assistant Superintendent for General Education Deb Snyder. “The simulation was conducted in the gymnasium with ‘families’ seated in groups in the center of the room. Around the perimeter of the room were tables representing community resources and services for the families.”

According to a local teacher, “The poverty simulation was very eye opening for me. In my scenario, I was given the role of a single father who got fired, lost his home, and whose son became ill because of lack of food, and was ultimately taken in by social services. The one-hour experience left me stressed and wanting to cry. It was crazy considering I knew it was all pretend. I can’t imagine what families in these situations go through. I am completely humbled by this experience.”

Snyder thanked Drs. Bailey and their staff for their work in providing the simulation, as well as Harrison Community Schools and Chartwells for providing the venue and food service.

Clare-Gladwin RESD will offer a repeat poverty simulation to local educators in October 2014.

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

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.

Full and partial scholarship preschool opportunities still available; High quality programs offered up to four days per week

The Quality Preschool Partnership (QPP) of Clare and Gladwin counties continues to enroll local children, ages 3-5, in free and reduced cost high quality preschool programs for the 2013-2014 school year.

As a joint recruitment effort by Mid Michigan Community Action Agency, NEMCSA Head Start, Harrison Elementary, and Gladwin Elementary, the Quality Preschool Partnership ensures an efficient preschool application process for all eligible families in Clare and Gladwin counties.  Those who apply will be referred to either Head Start or Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP).

Enrolled children have the opportunity to attend full-day or part-day programs four days per week.  

While full scholarships for Head Start and GSRP are available to those who meet federal and state guidelines, including income, partial scholarships for the high quality preschool programs are also offered to those who exceed the income limits.

“A sliding fee scale exists for children whose parents surpass the income requirements, but face other challenges that could keep their child from attending a preschool program,” said Kendra Curtiss-Tomaski, director of early childhood and family services at Clare-Gladwin RESD (the QPP’s implementing agency). “Health, family, and financial stressors are just a few of the many situations taken into consideration when determining if one is eligible for a partial scholarship. We encourage all families interested in a high quality preschool experience to call us at 386-8075 so we can help identify your best next steps.”

Research has shown that during the first five years of life, important skill sets such as emotional intelligence, motor development, visual recognition, early sound recognition, and music are optimally developed, providing the foundation for learning throughout life. “These findings illustrate that a high quality early childhood education is essential to a child’s future success,” said Curtiss-Tomaski.

For more information or to request an enrollment packet, call 989-386-8075.  

Nov. 11-15 is National School Psychology Week

Nov. 11 – 15 is National School Psychology Week, recognizing the vital role that school psychologists play in the personal and academic development of the community’s children.

The school psychologists employed by Clare-Gladwin RESD, serving the students of Beaverton, Clare, Farwell, Gladwin, and Harrison school districts, are specially trained to deliver a continuum of mental health services and academic supports that lower barriers to teaching and learning.

“School Psychologists work to identify learning and behavior problems that interfere with school success,” said Jan Weckstein, Clare-Gladwin RESD assistant superintendent for special education. “They're trained in both psychology and education and collaborate with others to help improve academic and social performance for children.  Their role is crucial to the healthy development of students.”

                       

Clare-Gladwin RESD thanks the local school psychologists for their service:

Jay Kirchheimer - Beaverton Rural Schools

Noelle Konkel - Farwell Area Schools

Julie McNeilly - Harrison Community Schools

Anna O'Dell - Gladwin Elementary School and Clare-Gladwin Area School

Marsha Shields - Gladwin Community Schools and Beaverton Rural Schools

Matt Smith - Harrison Community Schools and Gladwin Community Schools

Joann Smylie - Clare Public Schools

More than 530 local children celebrate National Food Day

On Oct. 24, more than 530 children in the Clare-Gladwin RESD S.P.A.R.K.S. program, local preschool classrooms, and local daycare programs celebrated National Food Day; an annual initiative that aims to promote safe, healthful diets, and supports sustainable organic farming.

Made possible by the Clare-Gladwin Health Improvement Planning Committee (a subgroup of Together We Can) in collaboration with the Clare-Gladwin Great Start Collaborative, Clare-Gladwin RESD, and MidMichigan Health, this year’s Food Day focused on food education. Activities and lessons incorporated in the event encouraged children to know where their food comes from, how to cook meals, and how doing so will give them a big advantage when it comes to being healthy and avoiding health problems in the future.

Participants received a Food Day activity book, and each classroom and daycare program was given a copy of a book developed by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture titled, “The Two Bite Club,” which teaches kids to try foods from each food group.

Additionally, some groups explored the mission of National Food Day further with hands-on activities.

Children in various daycare programs created a pumpkin dip and integrated locally grown pumpkins into an art project, while S.P.A.R.K.S. students cooked multiple dishes that incorporated locally grown, healthy fruits or vegetables. For example, students from the Harrison Elementary S.P.A.R.K.S. site made homemade salsa from the tomatoes they planted themselves in the school garden last summer.

“National Food Day helped to educate our students on three things – healthy food can be economical, easily accessible, and it can be found locally,” said S.P.A.R.K.S. Director Keri Retzloff. “With our county health ranking being among the lowest in the state, S.P.A.R.K.S. is trying to promote and educate students on living a healthier lifestyle, including more exercise and eating a healthy diet. This day fit in nicely!” 

The students’ recipes will be used in a future S.P.A.R.K.S. cookbook.  Funds raised from cookbook sales will be used toward a backpack program that addresses food security for children in Clare and Gladwin counties.  

“We participated in National Food Day because we thought the information would be wonderful for the young children in our community,” said Sarah Kile of the Clare-Gladwin Health Improvement Planning Committee. “This year’s celebration was a big success and we look forward to bringing the program to kids again next year.” 

Cat in the Hat and friends visit Area School

Clare-Gladwin RESD Superintendent Sheryl Presler, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Jan Weckstein, and Assistant Superintendent for General Education Deb Snyder appeared at the Clare-Gladwin Area School as Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2 last week to kick off the students’ Halloween celebrations.

For the second consecutive year, the educational leaders agreed to dress in costume if contributions made by RESD staff members toward this year’s United Way campaign met the $4,400 goal set by campaign leader Cheri Umbarger. A total of $5,170 was collected.

“I was very impressed with the generosity shown by employees again this year,” said Umbarger. “It’s a great example of how combining resources can result in a big impact. Plus, Sheryl, Deb, and Jan are great sports!”

The costumes were voted on by staff members. Presler, Snyder, and Weckstein spent the morning passing out healthy snacks to the students and then causing some mischief at Central Office.

From the left, CGRESD Assistant Superintendent for General Education Deb Snyder, Superintendent Sheryl Presler, and Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Jan Weckstein

Local high schools to participate in College Application Week

The Clare-Gladwin Career Center, Mid Michigan Community College, and Educational Talent Search are joining nearly 200 high schools around the state in presenting Michigan’s third annual College Application Week. From Nov. 4-8, Beaverton, Clare, Coleman, and Farwell high schools will assist their graduating seniors in completing and submitting at least one application to any of Michigan’s community colleges, independent colleges and universities, and state universities in which they are interested.

“The goal of the program is to give students the tools and guidance they need to successfully apply to college,” said Clare-Gladwin Career Center Counselor Margie Dill. “It is our hope this process will give kids additional confidence and drive to continue to submit applications - in turn providing them with more options for their future.”

Beaverton High School students will work on applications Nov. 5, Farwell High School will take part on Nov. 6, Coleman High School on Nov. 7, and Clare High School on Nov. 8.

Established in 2005, College Application Week is a national campaign committed to the common goal of increasing the percentage of first-generation and low-income students to pursue a post-secondary education. Last year, 73 Michigan high schools participated, helping seniors complete more than 8,500 applications. Michigan College Application Week is sponsored by the Michigan College Access Network.

For additional information, please contact Margie Dill at 989-229-8710. 

50 years and growing; RESD establishes John C. Magnus Center and celebrates Golden Anniversary

More than 110 people gathered on Saturday, Oct. 5, to celebrate the John C. Magnus Center Dedication and the Clare-Gladwin RESD Golden Jubilee. The event recognized the RESD’s 50 years of service to Clare and Gladwin counties, and named the nearly 25 acres of land recently acquired by Clare-Gladwin RESD in memory of John C. Magnus, the property’s former owner.

Previously home to Magnus Tractor sales, the majority of the acreage was donated to the RESD earlier this year by John’s wife, Verna Magnus Green, and their children, Lt. Col. Mike Magnus, Darla Schmittner, and Michelle Maeder. The property will be used to improve and expand learning opportunities for local youth through Clare-Gladwin RESD’s student programs, including career and technical education as well as special education.   

The land contains multiple outbuildings, a barn, and a house - many of which will be used to further the students’ skills.

Students in the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Construction Trades program have already been busy this fall cleaning up the grounds and preparing to make the home handicapped accessible for future use by Clare-Gladwin Area School students.  “The improvements that have already taken place have been exciting – and it is only the beginning,” said Verna. 

Succeeding an invocation performed by Rev. Karen Blatt, the dedication ceremony included an historical overview of Magnus Tractor Sales and Clare-Gladwin RESD.  Superintendent Sheryl Presler also shared the journey that merged the two entities. “John’s family felt he would approve of the facilities being used to teach the trades to young people,” she said. “Some kids learn best with their hands. The trades offer a purpose for learning math and English, a chance to work with others on projects, and an opportunity to learn there are rewards from a hard day’s work. There’s honor and dignity being employed in the trades and I don’t think John would want anyone to ever forget that.”  

Remarks by members of the Magnus family reinforced the significance of the property’s past and the benefits it will bring to the community in the future.

“My married life with John revolved around this business. The buildings and grounds hold so many memories,” said Verna. “John would be pleased to know that it will be used for those in need for many years to come.”

Following the program, attendants gathered around the property’s barn to witness the ribbon-cutting that revealed the sign that now identifies the location as the John C. Magnus Center. 

“I want to especially thank Verna, Mike, Darla, and Michelle for their generosity,” said Presler. “Also, thank you to the former and current CGRESD staff, students, administrators, and board members for your energy and dedication to the last 50 years and as we grow in the future.” 

To see more photos from the event, click here. 

To watch the sign reveal video, click here. 

Career and Technical Education student completes Law Enforcement Career Academy

Haley Forbes

Clare-Gladwin CTE Criminal Justice student Haley Forbes of Beaverton graduated from the 38^th Kiwanis Law Enforcement Career Academy at the Michigan State Police Training Academy this summer in Lansing. 

As one of 50 students who participated in the week-long camp led by ten Michigan State Troopers, Forbes’ days began with physical training at 5 a.m., followed by a strict schedule allowing limited time to get ready, eat breakfast, and attend classes covering a variety of topics, including the canine team, first aid, defensive tactics, drug and alcohol patrols, the forensics lab, and more.  

Forbes also practiced water safety using the training tanks, rode in the patrol cars with the troopers on the drive track, and shot rounds at the shooting range. “At the drive track, the troopers were hitting speeds of up to 90 mph,” she said. “It was a heck of an adrenaline rush.”   

Forbes’ knowledge and passion for criminal justice proved to be beneficial as the troopers selected her as a Class Commander for the final two days of the week, giving her the responsibility of leading her fellow cadets to and from class, through the graduation ceremony, and ensuring they always arrived at their destination on time. “It was scary, but exciting at the same time,” she said. “I got to yell just like the troopers!” 

Forbes credits the Clare-Gladwin Career and Technical Education (CTE) class for her success at the academy. “CTE really put me at an advantage because, for the most part, I had an idea of what I was doing,” she said. “I felt a lot more comfortable because I had learned so much in CTE last year.”   

Although Forbes is still discovering exactly what career she’d like to eventually pursue in the criminal justice field, she said the academy gave her a new respect for those in law enforcement. “As our class progressed through the week, I learned a lot about what it takes to become a State Trooper, and it takes all you have,” she said. “It’s truly unbelievable. I can honestly say this job takes the most amazing men and women.”  

Forbes will be attending Delta College in the fall of 2014 and plans to get involved in the school’s criminal justice program. 

Forbes encourages her peers to take part in a CTE class to gain experience in a profession they may be interested in. “Most people think the CTE Criminal Justice class is just for kids wanting to be police officers, but you learn so much about all the different jobs within the field,” she said. “If you don’t know what you want to do, CTE classes are great because they give you an idea of what the job is really going to be like.” 

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.

GSRP Outcome Report; Majority of students ready for kindergarten

Nearly 88 percent of the 455 children from Clare and Gladwin counties who attended Great Start Readiness Preschool (GSRP) or Head Start programs last school year, tested ready for kindergarten in all areas excluding mathematics, according to the recently released 2012-2013 GSRP Outcome Report. 

The report’s data is based on Teaching Strategies GOLD, an assessment system that measures the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that are most predictive of school success. Used by all GSRP and Head Start programs, Teaching Strategies GOLD aids teachers in being intentional in their instruction by accurately pinpointing where children are in their development and learning. Children are assessed individually through classroom observation and work samples. 

This comprehensive, on-going assessment tool is used three times each year to evaluate children’s progress in several areas of development, including social-emotional, physical, language, and cognitive. Teaching Strategies GOLD is research-based, and encompasses the developmental milestones from birth through kindergarten. 

“We are pleased to see the majority of students attending these preschool programs are meeting or exceeding the developmental expectations considered necessary to begin kindergarten,” said Kendra Curtiss-Tomaski, Early Childhood and Family Services Director at Clare-Gladwin RESD. “We will use the results of these assessments to shape the topics of our training and mentoring sessions for our preschool staff, as well as assist in identifying the subjects that need additional attention, such as math.” 

Administered by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan’s state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children with factors which may place them at risk of educational failure. Head Start is a federally-funded program that promotes the school readiness of children ages 3-5 years old. 

Research on preschool programs indicates that children provided with a high-quality preschool experience show significant positive developmental differences when compared to children from the same backgrounds who did not attend a high-quality preschool program. Clare-Gladwin RESD connects eligible children in Clare and Gladwin counties with these free and low-cost preschool programs with the goal of all children being ready to succeed in school and in life.     

The Quality Preschool Partnership is still enrolling children in high quality preschool programs for the 2013-2014 school year. Please call 989-386-8075 for enrollment information. Eligible children must be 4-years-old by Nov. 1.