News & Notes

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Saline Community “BANDed” Together to get SMART BoardTM for Saline Schools

Saline’s musical talent was showcased at “BAND” Together on February 27th.  The event raised enough money to buy a SMART BoardTM, Epson projector, and a SMART Document Camera for the Saline Area Schools.  The event was co-sponsored by the Coalition for a Quality Community (CQC) and The Saline Seven Destination ImagiNationTM team of 4th graders.  The Saline Seven awarded the proceeds to Mr. Scot Graden, who will choose which schools get the new equipment.

By all accounts, the event was a huge success!  Performers appreciated the opportunity to showcase their talent, the audience enjoyed the show, the DI Team learned a lot about how to meet a community need, and the Saline Area Schools was the recipient of new technology that can help learning in the classroom to be more effective and fun.  Many people in the community helped to make this event successful.  In particular, The Saline Seven appreciate the support from Scot Graden, Superintendent Saline Area Schools and Rebecca Groeb-Driskill, Saline High School Theater Manager and her staff.

DVD orders of the show and donations are still being accepted at www.wardfam.org.  Net proceeds will be used to buy SMART BoardTM accessories and are tax deductible thanks to the Coalition for a Quality Community (CQC).

Student discuss the new SMART BoardTM with Mr. Graden -

Saline Area Schools Building Reconfiguration Committee Recommendation

On Tuesday, March 9^th, the Saline Board of Education accepted the recommendation from the Building Reconfiguration Committee to close Houghton School beginning with the 2010-2011 school year and move to the plan that is outlined below:

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Woodland Meadows Elementary School (Kindergarten, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd) * # %

Harvest Elementary School (Kindergarten, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd) * #

Pleasant Ridge School (Early-On, ECSE, Kindergarten, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd) * #

Heritage School (4^th, 5^th)

Middle School (6^th, 7^th, 8^th)

High School (9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th)

Liberty School (Central Admin., Community Education, Alternative Education)

*ESP (Young 5’s) could be housed at any of the three elementary schools.

# EDO (Extended Day Option) will initially be offered at all three elementary schools.  However, this option may consolidate into one or two of the elementary schools in order to provide maximum efficiency

% Woodland Meadows Elementary may still house a “Heritage Annex”

Other Notes: Pooh Corner will be housed with other preschool programs if space allows OR will be housed at Liberty School

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This plan was determined to be the most flexible, cost effective, and was still able to provide an educationally sound method of delivering instruction to our students.

Although this has been a very difficult process, we are confident that this new configuration will continue to provide our students with outstanding educational opportunities.  We are committed to working with the Saline Area Schools community to see that the transition our students, parents, and staff will need  to make in the coming months is as smooth as possible.

Click on the following link to read the “Conclusion” of the Building Reconfiguration Committee’s final report.

In addition, please contact Steve Laatsch at (734) 429-8002 or laatschs@saline.k12.mi.us if you have further questions.

Thank you for your continued support!

If you are a student… If you are an athlete… If you are a parent… If you are a concerned community member…  YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS! This could be the best decision of your athletic career!

John Underwood is a former NCAA All-American, International-level distance runner and World Masters Champion, John has coached or advised more than two dozen Olympians including World and Olympic Champions. He holds three International Olympic Solidarity diplomas for coaching and has been a crusader for drug-free sport at all levels. He has appeared as a guest commentator for ABC Wide World of Sports for Olympic Drug Scandals. John has worked with nearly all sport federations including the NCAA, ECAC, NHL, NFL,NBA, the U.S. Olympic Committee, Sport Canada, the International Olympic Committee and the USAF. John Underwood is a Human Performance Consultant for the U.S. Navy SEALS.

Important 2010-2011 Kindergarten Program Dates:

Extended Day Kindergarten early registration now through March 12th.
Early School Program Information Night - March 18th, 6:30 p.m. at Houghton School
Early School Registration - March 25th, 6-8:00 p.m. at Houghton School
Traditional & Extended Day Kindergarten Registration - April 22nd, 6-8:00 p.m. & April 27th, 6-8:00 p.m. at Houghton School

Contact the Houghton School office at 944-8960 for more information.2

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Bob Howard, Woodshop Teacher at Saline Middle School, gave some of his students a rare opportunity to meet a professional in the craft of woodworking. Teacher Russ Clinard came in and gave a demonstration to some of the students who are interesting in the fastest growing art in the world.

Russ has been turning wood since he was about 25 years of age.  Through his 20 years of woodturning, he has turned over 1,000 bowls.  All of his bowls are very different in size, shape, and color, but most of them are cherry because he loves the way that this wood looks before and after it’s turned.  He also uses cherry because he loves the way the wood feels when he is turning it.  He has his own workshop at his house in Ann Arbor that consists of ten lathes.  Some of his work can be seen or purchased at the University of Michigan Art Museum Gift Shop.  Russ also gives private lessons at his home every third Sunday of the month.

Mr. Clinard helped the students by teaching them valuable ways to turn the wood.  He even brought some of his own tools to help the turning process.  “Mr. Clinard gave us some really cool tips on wood turning, I used to be really afraid of the lathe, but after he helped me I was no longer afraid,” said Skyler Dempsey, 8th grade student at Saline Middle School.  Grant Geiger, another 8th grade student said, “I don’t think I could have made such a good bowl if I didn’t have all the help that Mr. Clinard gave us.”

Russ Clinard, Jacob Cornish, Grant Geiger, and Skyler Dempsey

The 2nd grade students at Pleasant Ridge Elementary were challenged to bring in 100 new books to support a community service project in celebration of 100 days of school.  The students not only met their goal, but once again surpassed it!  The combined classes donated a total of 132 new books to Mott Children’s Hospital! The second grade teachers would like to thank our wonderful Pleasant Ridge parents for their support.

Representing Mrs. Laurent’s, Mrs. Carpentier’s, Mrs. Lindstrom’s , Mrs. Swartzenberger’s , and Mrs. Miller’s & Williamson’s classes are Jalie Shemanski, Stuart Penny, Makayla McNally-Palmer, Dylan Hughes, Montgomery Green, Carter Ahrens, Niels Linde, Josh Brannan, Lydia Mitchell, & Jason Coleman.

As many of you are aware, on Tuesday, February 9^th, 2010 several members of our teaching faculty were notified of either a layoff or change of assignment for the third trimester effective March 18th of the 2009/2010 school year. Following is a summary of 3rd trimester changes.

High School

• Ms. Forgiel will join the Counseling Department.
• Mr. Bruckman will teach History, beginning May 14th.
• Ms. Redies will teach English.
• Ms. Seegert will teach Physical Education.
• Ms. O’Harris will be part time in the High School Media Center and will teach sections of Drama at the High School.

Middle School

• Mr.Stimac will continue in his role as German teacher and will assume counseling duties at the Middle School.
• Mr. Schmier will teach English and History.
• Ms. Nazareth will be the Media Specialist in a part time capacity in the Middle School Media Center.
• Ms. O’Harris will teach sections of Drama at the Middle School.

Heritage

• Ms. Nazareth will be the Media Specialist at the Heritage Media Center in a part-time capacity.
• Ms. McEvoy will teach Special Education.
• Ms. McKie will teach Physical Education.
• Ms. Smith will teach 5th grade.

Woodland Meadows

• Ms. Patten will be the Media Specialist at the Woodland Meadows Media Center.