This Week In the Ann Arbor Public Schools
May 23, 2011
This Week’s Good News!
- This Thursday, May 26, 8:00 p.m. at Hill Auditorium, the Pioneer Music Department will be accepting the 2011 National GRAMMY Signature School Award along with a check for $15,000. This is the second time the Pioneer Music Department has been honored with the National award and the only time in GRAMMY history that a school has won it twice!
In addition to the presentation, there will be performances by the Pioneer Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, A Cappella Choir and Symphony Band. The presenter will be multi-GRAMMY award winning composer and former Pioneer parent Michael Daugherty. The concert and presentation are free and open to the public and everyone is invited to attend and enjoy this exceptional evening of music. - The AAATAAA Artist Group --(Ann Arbor Art Teachers And Alumni) have an annual show to exhibit their own works of Art. This year's show is featured at the University of Michigan's A2 ~ Work Gallery on State St., near the Arcade.
The Show runs from Tuesday, May 17 through June 10, 2011.
Participating Art Teachers are Alumni: Betty Anderson, Dianne Austin, Darcy Bowden, Rocky Gonet, Elaine Headley, Kris Hermanson, Sue Remington, Ginny Russell, Phyllis Swonk, Jim Schulz and Debbie Thompson.
Current AAPS Art Teachers are: Lynda Babich, Claudia Burns, Deb Campbell, Steve Coron, Renee Dykes, Terri Eriksen, Elena Flores, Corrine Gignac, Ann Hendrick, Janice Hendrick, Kate Higgins, Kristin Kubacki, Laura Lynch, Robin Mendenhal, Amy Nowland, Jonathan Smiegel, Laura Wayne, Sarah Winters, Amanda Wyse and Joel Wyse - On Tuesday, May 17, four Skyline students from Kayna Edwards class, competed in the Spring Games Special Olympics, Track and Field. Each of those students took home 3 awards for their competing division! Jasper Lindsay brought home 2nd place for the softball throw and wheelchair obstacle course and 1st place for the wheelchair race event. Ean Neville brought home 3rd place for the softball throw and 100 M dash and 2nd place for the standing long jump. Grace Pearson took home 1st place in the softball throw, 50 M wheelchair dash and wheelchair obstacle course Jared Whitfield took home 3rd place in the 100 M wheelchair dash, 2nd place in the wheelchair obstacle course and 1st place in the softball throw.
- Scarlett Middle School’s “Portfolio Day” received an “Exemplary Educational Endeavor” (E3) Award from the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce. Scarlett language arts teacher Ellen Daniel and retired counselor Nancy Schleichier, who founded the program, received the trophy and $200 award. Portfolio Day has touched more than 3,000 students over 17 years. Wendy Correll, Executive Director, of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation, nominated this meaningful event.
- This year’s Portfolio Day was held on May 18, 2011. With the help of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Business Partnerships Program, Portfolio Day brought 76 members of the business community into Scarlett. The business members interviewed eighth-graders who had complied personal portfolios to help them present themselves for multiple, 10 to 12 minute interviews. In preparation for the event, students created cover letters, resumés and portfolios of their accomplishments. They researched areas of interest in careers, rehearsed interview questions and learned interview skills including business dress, posture, making eye contact and developing a firm, confident handshake.
Please join us in thanking the business professionals who participated in this year’s event:
Devon Adjei-Agbal - African Studies Center, University of Michigan
Robert Allen – Interim Superintendent, Ann Arbor Public Schools
Lorenzo Banda- Ann Arbor Smiles
Ben Barefield - SRT Solutions, Inc.
Kate Begeman - E. Stadium Physical Therapy
Channing Bennett -Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
Virginia Cardwell Roberts & Freatman
Dr. Mark Chappell-Lakin - Live Well Chiropractic Center, PLLC
Velda F. Coleman - RAHS School Based Health Center- Scarlett
Wendy Correll - Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation
Vaughan Daniel - LG Chem Power, Inc.
LeeAnn Dickinson-Kelley - Ann Arbor Public Schools
John Duerr
Marina Fedner - SRT Solutions, Inc.
Dr. Todd M. Gillihan- Bennett Optometry
JoAnn Grantham - Youth Mentoring Program, University of Michigan
Dr. Steve Gray - Ann Arbor Smiles
Claiborne Green - University of Michigan Athletic Department
Elyse Guilfoyle - Google Ann Arbor
Katy Hepner - University of Michigan Athletic Department
Joyce Hunter - Ann Arbor Public Schools
Linda Jenkins
Commissioner Kristin Judge - Washtenaw County
Dr. David Keren - St. Joseph Mercy Health System
Keith Knudsen Soar Technology, Inc.
Tom Kolpacki - City of Ann Arbor Police Department
Andy LaBarre - A2Y Chamber
Elizabeth LaPorte - Michigan Sea Grant
Moses Lee - Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Michigan
Tiffany Lin - Google Ann Arbor
Jacqueline Lucas
Chris Marinos - SRT Solutions, Inc.
Teri McDaniel - DFCU Financial
Jeff McDole - University of Michigan Department of Public Safety
Deb Mexicotte - University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Public Schools
Glenn Nelson - Ann Arbor Public Schools
Brice O’Neal
Ryan Ormond - Federal Bureau of Investigation
Tiffani Pace - Subaru Research and Development, Inc.
Derrick Padgett - Ann Arbor Public Schools
Andy Paterson - Michigan Energy Generation
Melissa Pohrence - University of Michigan Athletic Department
Douglas Rakoski - University of Michigan Health System
John Ramirez - Real Estate One
Sander Robinson - Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research
Omari Rush - University Musical Society
Raleigh Sadlier - Ann Arbor Public Schools
Waleed Samaha - Ann Arbor Public Schools
Jon Sanderson - University of Michigan Athletic Department
Nancy Schleicher
Steven Schulman - DFCU Financial
Ingrid Sheldon
Collyer Smith
Sally Sorte - Google Ann Arbor
Alan Tanabe - Meijer Pharmacy
Whitney Tarver - University of Michigan Athletic Department
Christopher Taylor - Butzel Long
Andy Thomas - Ann Arbor Public Schools
Emma Tolman - Neutral Zone
Ron Torrella - University of Michigan
Sherlonya Turner - Ann Arbor District Library
Amaechi Udoji - Huron Valley Financial
Monique Uzelac - Ann Arbor Public Schools
Trina Vallion - Environmental Protection Agency
Veena Valluri - Google Ann Arbor
Gerald Vazquez - Ann Arbor Public Schools
Steve Vinson - University of Michigan
Bill Wagner - SRT Solutions, Inc.
Christopher Wall - Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.
Kim Ward - DFCU Financial
Dr. Erika Washburn - NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab
Doug Warsinski - City of Ann Arbor Fire Department
Matt Wherry - Subaru Research and Development, Inc.
Kathryn Wilkinson- Huron Valley Beauty Academy
Barbara Wingrove - University of Michigan Health System
Jason Whittaker - Russell Video Services, Inc. - On Tuesday, May 17, we honored our retiring staff members with a reception in the new cafeteria annex at Pioneer. Please join me in recognizing and thanking our retiring staff members for their dedicated service to the Ann Arbor Public Schools and wishing them the best of times in their retirement.
Kathleen Arden
Patricia Barnes
Anjel Beaupre
Mindi Bender
Wanda Bobyan
Sharon Bono
Catherine Bradley
Darlene Breining-Clement
Sandra Bromley
Judith Brown
Susan Buchan
William Burgess
James Calder
Clare Canham-Eaton
Pat Carson
Esther Caudle
Maria Clarke
Ronald Collins
Luther Corbitt
Susan Cramer
Paul Crews
Donna Davison
Vicki Davison
Paula Demetris
Carol Detmer
Nancy DeWolf
John Dombrowski
Jeri Duerr
Mary Dunn-Mason
Pamela Farrell
Allen Fater
Dan Fineis
Bernice Fluker
Joyce Followell
Horace Frazier
Mary Frenette
Cecile Frogh
Jim Gibbons
Robert Gonet
Cheryl Grace
Gail Grady
Gary Graff
Pamela Graff
Joan Grissing
Dolores Hadley
Rita Hampton
Mary Lou Hathaway
Kathleen Haynes
Louis Hickenbottom
Janette Jackson
Mary Anne Jaeger
Barbara James
Essex Johnson
Diane Johnston
Vicky Keebler
Dianne Kelley Sanchez
Kathleen Kennedy
Susan Kielb
Dennis Kiesling
Richard King
Robert Koplan
Karen Kress
Nannette Kwiatek
Greg Lister
Julie Lutz
Terence Madden
Brian Maiville
Patricia Manley
Lorri Mann
Regina Mason
Gail Mattingly
Karen Meyer
James Miller
Ronald Moore
Lucille Noblin
Patrick O'Neill
Jan Ogle
Frank Perkins
Carol Peters
Linda Prieskorn
Jennifer Puntenney
Linda Rein
Michael Rice
Elizabeth Richardson
Deborah Roe
Marianne Rose
Janet Schaffer
Stephen Schaffer
Jim Schulz
Lola Seals
Teri Shaw
Hilda Singleton-Luter
Sharman Spieser
Mary Stanesa
Eugene Steward
Nancy Stires
Mary Stolberg
Jon Strempek
Kristine Taveggia
Paul Test
Annette Thoin
Carolyn Thompson
Dianne Till
Rebecca Tubbs
Dolores Tummonds
Gail Valensky
John Van Black
Cynthia Ventimiglia
Brenda Verbanac
Debra Wagner
Phil Walker
Kevin Watkins
Kathie Weinmann
Marti Wendler
Joan Wenk
Kenneth Westerman
Cherry Westerman
Carolyne Wheeler
Sharon Williams
Patricia Wilson Stewart
Tamber Woodworth
Interim Superintendent