This Week In the Ann Arbor Public Schools

February 28, 2011

This Week’s Good News!

Welcome back from mid-winter break.  I hope everyone found time to relax and rejuvenate.
  • On Friday January 7, 2011, the Huron Business Professionals of America (BPA) Chapter and advisors, Diane Stocker-Bendersky, Christy Garrett, Karen Eisely and Scott Hunter, traveled to Henry Ford Community College to compete in the annual BPA Regional Leadership Conference 2011.
    Out of the 65 members who competed, 56 members qualified for the State Leadership Conference—that is 86% of those participating.
    The Chapter received a total of 96 awards.  This was one of the most successful regional conference to date!  The chapter took home 35 1st place wins, 18 2nd place wins 7 3rd place wins, 10 4th place wins, 8 5th place wins and 7 6th place wins.  
    Five teams take first—Administrative Support Team, Computer Animation Team, Small Business Management Team, Video Production Team and the Web Design Team.
    The Financial Analyst Team takes 2nd place.
    Four students win Statesmen Torch Award:  Jing Chai, Amy Chang, Sheeba Pawar, Douglas Yang
    Check out the Huron Chapter website to see a detailed  list of students along with their prospective wins.
  • Five Huron High School students with Advisor Diane Stocker-Bendersky attended the 2011 SESI Business Plan Competition held at the Eastern Michigan University campus on 
February 11 and brought home 1st and 2nd place wins and a total cash prize package of $1,950.
    Kudos to Bobby Knutilla (10th grader) who placed first     and took home a cash prize of $1,000 for his business idea--“Doodilla Shoes."   His business idea for shoes to be designed with artwork 
and sold to teenagers to fit each person's unique style. Using traditional white Converse shoes, every 
pair would be transformed into a personal statement of style for today's teenager.
    Kudos to Sunjay Josyula  (12th grader) who placed second and took home a cash prize 
of $750 for his business idea--"Synergy Eco-Consulting" - an eco-consulting firm that 
helps homeowners and small businesses go GREEN.  Sunjay also took home $200 for 
winning "Best Presentation."
  • The Forsythe Math Counts club competitors recently competed and took 2nd place. Primary competitors were:  Kevin Hsing, Kevin Zhang, Michelle Wang and Stephen Nurushev.  Alternates were:  Shreeman Nimmagadda, Ashwin Arasu and Alan Zhang.
    Math Counts is a parent led club. Parent advisors are Robin Hess, Jaspreet Sawhney, Bob Sloan and  Yifang Chen
  • On Saturday, February 12th, members of the Skyline High School Choirs participated in the MSVMA District Solo and Ensemble Festival at Eastern Michigan University.  Soloists Hannah Clague, Zachary Cox and Erin Paskus  received a "Good" rating; Tasfia Bari, Allison Doxey, Maya Gianchandani, Adriana Hassan, Rachael Kerr, Jessica Lakin, Casey Paskus, Yan Theros, Michelle Trent and Rachel Xydis received an "Excellent" rating; and Emma Griffith received a "Superior" rating.  The Skyline Choirs also had two ensembles perform at the festival.  The A Cappella Men's Ensemble received a "Good" rating, and Skyline Blues received a "Superior" rating.
  • Pioneer student Matthew Hing has won a Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholarship.  He is one of 12 students to receive this honor out of 4500 applicants.  Matthew will receive a $1000 on March 26 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing at the Basketball Finals.
  • The Huron Chess Team won several honors at the Michigan Chess Association's State Team Tournament at Oakland University.  Huron's Reserve Team finished in first place in the state.  The reigning River Rats are Krishna Chokkaram, Chris Jones, Ian Blaauw, and Yunhan Wei.  Huron's Championship Team finished in fourth place in the state.  These Rats are Atulya Shetty, Valerie Peng, Charles Daniels, and Jinwoo Lee.  In addition, six students won medal honors.  Gold medals for perfect play were given to Atulya Shetty and Ian Blaauw.  Bronze medals were achieved by Jinwoo Lee, Krishna Chokkaram, Chris Jones, and Yunhan Wei.
  • Dicken Elementary School had their 7th annual Winter Walk through the paths of Dicken Woods.  Over 350 candle light lanterns were decorated in Art Class with the guidance of art teacher Theresa Erickson.  The young artists met at school Tuesday evening with their family, friends and neighbors to walk the paths of the woods lit by the hundreds of glowing works of art.  Everyone got to warm up after the walk in the multi-purpose room with hot chocolate and cookies compliments of the group The Friends of Dicken Woods.
  • Liz Hill, of Pioneer High School, is a finalist for National Women's Swim Coach of the Year.  There are eight finalists for this award from around the country.  The Coach of the Year banquet will be held on June 22, 2011 - where the National winner will be named.
  • The Board of Education is extending an invitation to all staff members to participate in a public forum to select the next superintendent of the Ann Arbor Public Schools.  A questions and answer session with the candidates and the community will be held on Friday, March 4th from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. in Pioneer High School's cafeteria annex.
    You are also welcome to attend the Board's final interview with the candidates on Saturday, March 5th beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Balas Main Conference Room, located at 2555 S. State Street in Ann Arbor.
    Please contact the board office at 994-2232 or visit the website at www.a2schools.org for  more information.

Robert Allen
Interim Superintendent