This Week
In the Ann Arbor Public Schools
June 1, 2009

To: The Staff of the Ann Arbor Public Schools
From: Todd Roberts, Superintendent

This Week’s Good News

  • Community High School junior Catrin Dowd was awarded first place in the "Participation" category of the 2009 Campaign for United States Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 2009 Cynthia Price Cohen Essay Contest.
    The first-place winners in each of five categories - Education, Health, Participation, Special Protection Measures and Supportive Environments for Children - will attend the Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the CRC's National Symposium at the Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C., on June 1-2, 2009. Each of the winners will receive airfare and accommodations for himself/herself and a parent/guardian, and all will be asked to share their award-winning essays.
    In addition to participating in the upcoming CRC National Symposium, Catrin will have her essay included in the 2009 CRC Youth Essay Booklet, along with those from the rest of the first-place winners and runners-up in all categories.
    The essay contest provided varying scenarios for students depending on the category, and students were asked to answer, "How would the U.S. ratification of the CRC help or impact the situations for these youths across the country?" Essays are evaluated by a panel of Campaign judges who have experience or a background in human rights education.
    The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty created specifically to promote and protect the well being of children worldwide. It sets forth basic standards that individual nations agree to pursue on behalf of children. The norms rest on the following principles: Right to Survival; Right to Develop to the Fullest Potential; Right to Protection from Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation; and Right to Participate in Family, Cultural and Social Life.
    Open to students in grades 6-12, the essay contest raises awareness of the Convention among America's youth, to engage them in thoughtful reflection about the CRC, and to provide them with the opportunity to share their thoughts about the possible impact of the United States' ratification of the CRC.
  • On Saturday May 30, twenty members of the Skyline Orchestra traveled to Sandusky, OH to participate in the Music in the Parks festival.  The orchestra performed beautifully and earned a score of 81.5 which got them an Excellent rating along with first place in the classification.  Later in the awards ceremony the Skyline Orchestra was awarded the trophy for the Highest Scoring High School Orchestra.  Saturday was a very successful day for the Skyline Orchestra.
  • Kudos to the 5th and 6th graders in Mike Derhammer's class at Ann Arbor Open.  After getting very involved last fall following the presidential campaign, debates, and election  Mike's class took to heart President and Mrs. Obama's call to community service.  Students researched and wrote papers on different local service organizations.  The class then voted on how to spend their time, energy and field trip funds to help out in many ways.  The kids have visited with the elderly residents of Hillside Terrace twice, purchased fabric and sewn blankets to donate to children at Mott Hospital, purchased used books to donate to families through the Washtenaw Reading Council, participated in Huron River Clean Up, served meals at St. Andrew's Church breakfast program, cleaned up West Park and Olson Park, done yard work for residents near Ann Arbor Open School, worked a morning shift at Food Gatherer's, and will cook and serve a meal at the Ronald McDonald House.  Working with the theme "Givin' Back", Mike and his class have done this work in lieu of other field trips and on their own time outside of the school day- they sure have given back!
  • Mayor Hieftje and city council members will be presenting Sarah Winter, Art teacher at Mitchell, Logan, and Pattengill. with an award at the city council meeting this Monday, June 8.  The Golden Paintbrush is an award for outstanding public art.  The work of art being honored is the mural on the back of the Ann Arbor Art Center, created by teens in the Art Maker Teens program, with which Sarah has been involved for the past three summers.
  • Congratulations to the Pioneer Women's Water Polo Team and Coach Will Hart for winning the state championship.
  • The Huron Women’s Water Polo Team, coached by Chris Keenan, came in second in the state.

Todd Roberts, Ed.D.
Superintendent