This Week In the Ann Arbor Public Schools

March 7, 2011

This Week’s Good News!

  • It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Patricia Green has accepted the position of Superintendent of the Ann Arbor Public Schools.  Dr. Green is currently serving as the Superintendent of Schools of the North Alleghany School District near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania a position she has held since 2002.
    Dr. Green holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland, a Master of Education degree in Human Development Education from the University of Maryland’s Institute for Child Study and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Maryland.
    I will share more details of her transition to Ann Arbor as they become available.  Please join me in welcoming Dr. Patricia Green to the Ann Arbor Public Schools family.
  • On Saturday, February 26, the Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition (MMPC) banquet was held at Saginaw Valley State University.  Nine Huron students finished in the top 100. Those in the top 50 earned scholarship money for college.  The students and their scores are:  73 - Pelham Barron, 58 - Lena Ji, 50 - Jooyoung Moon, 45 - Jeffrey Pan, 43 - Steven Jin, 40 - Heesu Hwang, 22 - Qingxiao Shi, 21 - Derek Wu, and 5 - Heemyung Hwang. 
  • Huron senior Heelmyung Hwang is one of two students in Michigan to receive the Siemens Award for Advance Placement.  The award honors two students in each state for having the most and the highest advanced placement exam scores in science and math courses.
  • Huron’s Science Olympiad team took 2nd place and qualified to move on to state competition.  There were 7 events in which Huron took 1st place medals. 
  • Pioneer’s Science Olympiad team took 3rd place.
  • Scarlett gymnastics students Riahanah and Amira Ali, traveled to Orlando, FL over mid-winter break to compete in the ESPN Wide world of Sports center -Presidential Cup.  This event took place in the ESPN Wide World of Sports center complex on Disney World property on February 18th through the 21st.  The results were outstanding!  Young ladies from National and International clubs were represented.  International clubs came from, Panama City, Bahamas, Guatemala and as far away as Costa Rica.  The Scarlett roadrunners represented their gym; Oakland gymnastics, their school; Scarlett middle school and their State/Country well.
    Riahanah Ali: Level 9 Balance beam 8.50 (7th place) Floor ex 9.175 (5th); Vault 9.20 (1st place) Bars 9.35( 3rd )  All Around 36.225 ( 3rd place)-  Riahanah's Level 9 team took 2nd place.
    Amira Ali -Level 7 Balance beam 8.825 (9th);  Floor Ex 9.325(7th)  Vault 9.30(7th)  Bars 9.00(6th)  All around 36.450 (10th place) - Amira's Level 7 team took 3rd place.
    Go Road Runners.  We ask that you keep up the cheers for their upcoming State meet (Riahanah and Amira) and Regionals ( Riahanah) meet with a chance to qualify for Nationals ( Riahanah), in Boston, MA.
  • Students from Mrs. Beech's classroom at Pattengill Elementary decided to take on a service project this year instead of spending money on valentines for each other. The students collected $102 to purchase fleece fabric and made seven blankets to donate to families at Safe House.
  • In early December Logan’s Communications classrooms Collaboration Model was nominated and then selected for a site visit last month for Program of the Year award through the Michigan Speech Language Hearing Association. Although the program was not selected this year as an award recipient the model received a letter and certificate of recognition.  The following letter from Ellen Gehl, M.A., CCC-SLP, Vice President Public Schools was received:
    The Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association would like to recognize the Communication Classroom Collaboration Model, Ann Arbor Public Schools, as an outstanding program in the public schools of Michigan.
    We recognize your innovative use of personnel, collaboration, parent involvement and funding opportunities creating a positive academic environment leading to individual student success.  Further we acknowledge your dedication to employing evidenced-based practice and outcomes documentation.
    While your program was not selected as this year's award recipient, we do congratulate you and your colleagues on your nomination for the 2011 Program of the Year award and present you this letter of Recognition along with this certificate of Recognition dated February 28, 2011.
  • Logan’s telephone call from President’s Obama’s Office still has staff and students smiling!  That’s right; Logan Elementary actually received a phone call from our President’s office!  As part of their March is Reading Month celebrations, the Logan staff invited the President to come share his favorite picture book.  Regrettably, although understandable, President Obama was not able to attend.  However, an assistant from his office phoned the school and left a voice recording sharing his regrets.  Staff and students shared this is the best ‘rejection’ they’ve ever received!  A copy of the recording can be found on Logan’s school web page at http://logan.a2schools.org/logan.home/home. 
    Logan staff and students wish to thank Ed Cline for his technical expertise in converting the voice mail message into an audio clip and Ali Van Doren for her assistance with posting such a sizeable audio clip on the school’s web page for all to enjoy!
  • In early February, the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce held its annual Leadership Ann Arbor Education Day.  Robert Allen was one of the keynote speakers at the beginning of the day, along with Ypsilanti Superintendent Dedrick Martin.   The participants then visited area schools.  This is always a wonderful opportunity to introduce our schools to members of our community.
    Many thanks to Michelle Pogliano, Principal of the Preschool and Family Center, and Che Carter, Principal of Pattengill Elementary School for hosting a group of visitors at their school.  Typically, the participants in Leadership Ann Arbor have not been in a school since their own school days.   We received very good feedback that the participants were impressed by how vibrant and engaging our schools are.
  • Pioneer Class Principal Kevin Hudson has been selected to attend the United States Air Force Distinguished Educator Tour from March 29 – April 1, 2011.

Robert Allen
Interim Superintendent