RESD Culinary Arts instructor attends Summer Institute

The Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Culinary Arts instructor Heidi Rocha attended the National Restaurant Association’s week-long Summer Institute last month at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, Florida. Rocha’s tuition to the program and her travel expenses were funded by a $1,750 scholarship she was awarded earlier this year by the association.

During her trip, Rocha completed Level 3 of the Summer Institutes. Level 3 featured culinary topics in salads, garnishing, baking, and desserts, as well as management topics including marketing and cost control. The class also discussed global cuisines and sustainability.

This is the third time Rocha has received a scholarship to attend the National Restaurant Association’s Summer Institutes. She completed level 1 in Chicago in 2009, and level 2 in California in 2012.

Culinary Arts 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.

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. 

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.  

Clare County students collect more than $1,000 in change for Clare County Youth Council

Children from Hillside Elementary and Clare Primary schools recently collected more than $1,000 in change for the Clare County Youth Council (CCYC); the county’s local child abuse and neglect prevention council.

The classes that collected the most change included Mrs. Azelton-Lee’s class at Clare Primary and Mrs. Jensen’s class at Hillside Elementary. Both classes were awarded with a pizza party. The CCYC also gave every student in each school a popsicle in appreciation for their participation. The change was then rolled by students in the Clare-Gladwin Transition Class, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD.

The CCYC would like to thank all of the students and schools involved for their efforts in preventing child abuse and neglect in Clare County. 

Criminal Justice students compete against peers at Delta College Skill Day

The Criminal Justice students of the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, recently placed fifth overall in the 9^th annual Delta College Criminal Justice Skill Day.

During the event, students competed against their peers from around the state in a physical agility contest in which they had to complete a ½ mile shuttle run, a vertical jump, and as many as push-ups and sit-ups as possible in one minute.

The Clare-Gladwin high school juniors and seniors also revealed their understanding of the criminal justice field by taking part in multiple knowledge-based games.  

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

Graphic Arts students place at 2014 MITES state competition

Students from the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Graphic Arts program recently submitted projects showcasing their skills developed in the classroom to the 2014 Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES) State Convention and Student Competition held at Saginaw Valley State University’s Ryder Center last month. In order to qualify for the state competition, projects needed to place fourth or better at the previously held MITES Regional Student Competition. Of the 24 projects entered into the regional competition by Clare-Gladwin students, 12 advanced to the state event.

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 hundreds of  their peers in a variety of divisions, including graphic arts, mechanical drawing, machine shop, plastics, and more.

The local high school juniors and seniors from the Clare-Gladwin Career Center who participated in the 2014 MITES State Student Competition with at least one project included Toni Boyd, Laurissa Brushaber, Shyla Cassidy, Kaitlyn Corell, Allyssa Haag, Chasity Haight, Malinda Hershberger, Mercedez Hisey, Katie Loesel, Calie Nixon, Cassie Reid, Jacob Schlaack, and Tristan Shimmons.

Nine of the 12 student projects featured at the state competition placed in their categories. Loesel placed sixth, Shimmons was awarded seventh, Boyd and Haag earned eighth place standings, and Brushaber, Corell, Hershberger, and Schlaack each finished in ninth. Additionally, a group project submitted by Loesel, Nixon, and Hisey finished fourth.

“MITES gave me an opportunity to compete against graphic design students from all over the state,” said Harrison High School student Allyssa Haag.

Andrea Boettner, Clare-Gladwin Career Center Graphic Arts instructor, said she was very pleased with the students’ placements at the competition. “To have so many students participate and place at regionals and states is a great accomplishment, especially with this year being just the second time we’ve taken part in the MITES competition."

The MITES convention not only provides students with the chance to better their abilities through competition, but it also affords high school graphic arts students and instructors funding opportunities to better their programs and their futures. Boettner was awarded a $500 grant to invest in screen printing equipment for the high school students in her Clare-Gladwin Career Center program. Student Jacob Schlaack also earned a scholarship valued at $500 as a result of his short essay that illustrated his plan to become a graphic arts instructor. Schlaak intends to receive his associate’s degree at Mid Michigan Community College in graphic design and then transfer to Central Michigan University where he will graduate with a teaching degree in fine arts.

Criminal Justice students tour Gladwin Jail and State Police Training Academy

Local high school juniors and seniors from the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Criminal Justice class, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, explored the variety of careers available to them in the law enforcement field through visits to the Gladwin County Jail and the Michigan State Police Training Academy in Lansing.

At the jail, students viewed the construction of the jail, interviewed the corrections officers, and witnessed how the inmates lived day-to-day while incarcerated.

The Michigan State Police Training Academy offered the juniors and seniors an overview of what recruits experience when becoming a trooper, as well as a tour of the firing range, pool, gym, and drive track.  “The students also received a K-9 demonstration,” said Clare-Gladwin Career Center Criminal Justice Instructor DJ Newman. “They watched the dog find cocaine in a training car and learned that the MSP’s cadaver dogs can sniff out corpses that are as deep as 55 feet underwater. It was very neat!”

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.

Clare County Community Baby Shower slated for March 29; Register today!

The Clare County Youth Council (CCYC) and partnering agencies will present the Clare County Community Baby Shower on March 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brown Corners Church in Clare. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

The event is free to pregnant women and to those parenting a child under the age of 12 months residing in Clare County. Each registrant may bring one additional guest.

Lunch, door prizes, and educational information will be provided.

To register for the Baby Shower or for more information, contact Brandi Warner at 989-386-8644.  

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.

Clare County and Gladwin County Family Literacy Nights scheduled for March

The Clare-Gladwin Great Start Collaborative, Quality Preschool Partnership, and other early childhood partners of Clare and Gladwin counties are pleased to present, “Family Literacy Night,” slated for March 10 at Gladwin High School and March 18 at Harrison High School. Both events will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Open to all children age birth to six and their families, those who attend either Family Literacy Night will enjoy an interactive concert by Paula Doak, the Merry Music Maker. Opportunities to take part in literacy stations and activities, pre-enroll for area preschools, and learn about early childhood services in Clare County will also be available.

Present at the Gladwin County event will be kindergarten registration for Gladwin Elementary School, while kindergarten registration for Larson Elementary School will be at the Clare County event.

Literacy stations, kindergarten registration, and preschool pre-enrollment will take place from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. Following the concert, every family will receive free books to take home.

To RSVP or for more information, please call 989-386-8641.

“Family Literacy Night,” is funded in part by United Way of Clare and Gladwin Counties, and by Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs through its regranting agency, Art Reach of Mid Michigan.