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.

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.

UNITE's Arrive Alive Tour 2015 visits Clare-Gladwin Career Center

SPONSORED BY:  Clare-Gladwin Career Center (Criminal Justice), Mid Michigan Community College, MidMichigan Health, Clare County Sheriff's Department, Clare County Prosecutor's Office, and Clare City Police Department

Clare-Gladwin Career Center is offering a drunk and distracted driving education program. The Arrive Alive Tour® from UNITE will visit:

Hosted at Mid Michigan Community College

1375 S. Clare Ave

Harrison, MI 48625

Inside MTEC Building

Wednesday, February 11^th, 2015

8:30 AM – 2:30 PM

UNITE’s Arrive Alive Tour® program uses a high-tech simulator, impact video, and a number of other resources to educate the public about the dangers of drunk driving and texting while driving. The simulator allows students to experience the potential consequences of drunk and distracted driving in a controlled environment.

One of the most commonly recognized driving distractions is cell phone use. About 89 percent of all Americans have a cell phone, according to CTIA – The Wireless Association. Drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Their lack of driving experience can contribute to critical misjudgments if they become distracted. Not surprisingly, they text more than any other age group, and the number of young drivers who text is only increasing.

UNITE brings health and wellness programs to high school and college campuses across the nation. Its programs are designed to heighten awareness to the dangers and consequences of drunk and distracted driving. These events have a powerful impact on students to reinforce the subjects that schools and parents teach them daily. If you have any questions or for more information, please call Patrick DeGrasse at 888-436-3394. 

Orser named Hi-Tec Employee of the Month

Clare-Gladwin RESD Custodian Mike Orser has been named Employee of the Month by Hi-Tec Building Services, the RESD’s janitorial and cleaning services provider.

Selected from more than 600 personnel, the Employee of the Month is chosen based on attitude, attention to detail, overall quality of work, knowledge of the job, customer service skills, and attendance.  “Mike was chosen due to his outstanding performance in all of these areas,” said Gary Fouts, Hi-Tec custodial site supervisor for the Central/Northern Michigan region . “He is a true asset to Hi-Tec!”

In addition to the award, Orser was given a gift card to Jay’s Sporting Goods in Clare.    

Digital Media participates in worldwide computer science initiative

Throughout the week of December 8, the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Digital Media class joined millions of students around the world to participate in the Hour of Code – an international event designed to demystify computer science and show that anyone can learn the basics. The initiative introduced students of all ages to computer science through numerous hour-long online tutorials catered to all levels of ability and made available in more than 30 languages.

The Digital Media class completed three tutorials covering topics that included drawing with code, website creation and design, and databases. “We did this to not only be part of the larger initiative, but to also stress the importance of Computer Science in today's society,” said Digital Media Instructor Jim Langley. “It is a vocation that is often shunned because of its difficulty, but hopefully through the Hour of Code projects, lessons and videos, students were able to debunk the ‘scarier’ aspects of Computer Science and see what can truly be created when you spend some time learning these topics.” 

Last year’s Hour of Code event resulted in 15 million student participants worldwide.

Digital Media is one of nine career and technical education (CTE) offerings available to local high school students through the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD. 

CTE students learn about post-secondary opportunities at Kendall College

Nearly 50 students from the Graphic Arts and Digital Media programs at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center took a field trip last month to Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids. Following a tour of the campus, a presentation was given about the college, the degrees offered, financial aid opportunities, and what it takes for students to find success.

“This was a good field trip,” said Digital Media student Skyler Berry. “I learned about post-secondary degrees that I didn’t know were out there. I also liked how the college gives its students huge opportunities to showcase their skills and talents all over the school.”

Digital Media and Graphic Arts are two of nine career and technical education (CTE) offerings of the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD. High School juniors and seniors from Clare and Gladwin counties spend half of their school day in their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.

Graphic Arts Students Leadership Group develops skills while giving back to the community

The Graphic Arts program of the Clare-Gladwin Career Center has established a Student Leadership Group, a select group of students who spend time outside of normal class hours to help the community through volunteering their graphic design skills and their time. Inspired by a concept of the Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES), the Student Leadership Group consists of six members who meet once weekly online and once monthly in person.

Through the group’s initiative, Coleman student Ethan Davis recently created a new logo for the Clare County Animal Shelter. “For our new logo, I wanted something that was distinctly Clare County and something that conveyed that the shelter was a place of safety for animals,” said Susan Campbell, volunteer coordinator for the Clare County Animal Shelter. “I was just amazed at what the student came up with. It brought tears to my eyes!”

In addition to developing the organization’s logo, the Student Leadership Group also volunteered at a donation event for the Shelter held at Jay’s Sporting Goods in Clare this month. The same day, they assisted the Shelter in decorating their float for the Farwell Holiday Lights Parade, as well as passed out items during the parade.

While the group’s monthly meetings typically take place at a location where they can have fun together, such as Spinning Wheels roller skating arena in Mount Pleasant, the students have elected to use their next meeting’s budget to buy a Christmas present for a family in need.

Digital Media and Graphic Arts are two of nine career and technical education (CTE) offerings of the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD. High School juniors and seniors from Clare and Gladwin counties spend half of their school day in their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.

Graphic Arts Student Leadership Group Board:

Ethan Davis (President)

Alyssa Haag (Vice-President)

Shyla Cassidy (Treasurer)

Graphic Arts Student Leadership Group Members:

Kirsten Head

Alexis Sines

Brad Walsh

McGuire Chevrolet; a 'Family Friendly Business'

McGuire Chevrolet in Clare is the most recent recipient of the Clare-Gladwin Great Start Collaborative’s (GSC) Family Friendly Five Star Award. The award is presented six times per year to local businesses that support and encourage children and families through their business practices.

McGuire Chevrolet has partnered with the Community Nutrition Network to host numerous free food distribution events during 2014 for local families. The business has also sponsored multiple food trucks. “I’ve known what it is like to be in need, so this partnership is important to me,” said Tom Kleinhardt, president of McGuire Chevrolet. “I also believe strongly in giving back and paying it forward.”

McGuire Chevrolet is located at 712 W. 5th Street in Clare.  

To nominate a local business for the Family Friendly Five Star Award, please contact Great Start Parent and Community Liaison Brandi Warner at 989-386-8644 or bwarner@cgresd.net.

The Clare-Gladwin Great Start Collaborative, operated by Clare-Gladwin RESD, works to build a coordinated system of community resources and supports to assist all families in Clare and Gladwin counties in providing a great start for their children, prenatal through age eight. To learn more, visit www.cgresd.net/cggreatstart. 

Children in Clare and Gladwin counties celebrate National Food Day

During the last week of October, children in the Clare-Gladwin RESD S.P.A.R.K.S. program at local elementary schools, area Great Start Readiness Program and Head Start preschool classrooms, as well as some local childcare centers celebrated National Food Day; an annual initiative that aims to promote safe, healthful diets, and supports sustainable organic farming.

Made possible by Clare-Gladwin RESD, the Clare-Gladwin Great Start Collaborative, and the Clare-Gladwin Health Improvement Planning Committee (a subgroup of Together We Can), this year’s Food Day focused on food education. Activities and lessons 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. 

Children at a number of childcare centers in Clare and Gladwin counties enjoyed apples from the Fruitful Orchard in Gladwin, while the preschool programs throughout the two-county region included a National Food Day lesson into their snack times.

The Farwell Elementary students in the S.P.A.R.K.S. afterschool program made healthy, fun snacks with a Halloween theme, including mummy pizzas, ghost bananas, skeleton mushrooms, and candy corn fruit parfaits. “The students all participated in creating their own snacks and enjoyed trying some new food they had never before had,” said S.P.A.R.K.S. Director Keri Retzloff. “When trying mandarin oranges for the first time, I heard one student surprisingly say, ‘These oranges are great!’”

All participants also took home a National Food Day activity book. 

Local students submit 765 applications during College Application Week

During the week of November 3, the five high schools in Clare and Gladwin counties, along with Coleman High School, joined high schools around the state for Michigan’s annual College Application Week; a campaign committed to increasing the percentage of first-generation and low-income students to pursue a postsecondary education. The Clare-Gladwin Career Center, Mid Michigan Community College, and Educational Talent Search joined efforts to assist the region’s graduating seniors in completing and submitting at least one application to any of Michigan’s community colleges, independent college, and universities in which they were interested in attending. 

As a result, 377 seniors applied to at least one college during College Application Week. A total of 765 applications were submitted to both community colleges and universities across the country. Students also researched and applied to technical and trade schools such as Sullivan University, ITT Technical Institute, AIS Heavy Equipment Training Center.  

“After the success we had last year, we were geared up to host another College Application Week. We saw an increase of more than 150 students who participated this year and an additional 231 applications were sent out,” said Clare-Gladwin Career Center Counselor Margie Dill. “The goal of the program is to give students the tools and guidance they need to successfully apply to college. We hope this process gave the kids additional confidence and drive to continue to submit applications - in turn providing them with more options for their future.”

College Application Week participation per district:

• Beaverton High School - 93 students sent out 130 applications

• Clare High School - 116 students sent out 131 applications

• Coleman High School - 59 students sent out 66 applications

• Farwell High School - 80 students sent out 121 applications

• Gladwin High School -100 students sent out 192 applications

• Harrison High School - 118 students sent out 139 applications