PPPS Pride & Progress-Winter 2015-16

Paw Paw Public Schools DECEMBER • JANUARY • FEBRUARY
2015-16
PRIDEProgress
&








119 Johnson Street, Paw Paw, MI 49079 (269) 657-8800

Paw Paw High School Goes to College!


College Application
Week goes live at
Paw Paw High School


GOAL #1:
Increase Student
Achievement
STRATEGY F.
EXPAND AWARENESS OF 3C 2
Research supports the
idea if students apply to
two or more colleges, they
are 40% more likely to
enroll in a college the
following fall. College
Application Week is a
nationwide initiative
designed to help students
apply to college. Several Front row: Zoe Richards, Megan McCaw, Cassidy Small, Samantha Wanders, Madi Day, Rachel Cook, Bree
Murdock; Back row: Jacob Vorce, Demetrius Vassios, Eli Toliver, Spencer Burd, Calvin Nitze
colleges and universities
waive their application
fees as part of this pro- ities to spread college to helping students pre- The computer labs at
gram. College Application awareness to the entire pare for education beyond PPHS were filled with
Week began on a small student body. Students in high school and providing determined and focused
scale in 2005 and has grades 9-12 participated in the opportunity for ALL seniors getting a jump-
quickly spread to all 50 college spirit wear days, students to apply to college. start on their future with
states. This is the 5th year played college trivia As a lead up to College the help of teachers, staff,
that the state of Michigan games, heard from their Application Week, seniors and volunteers all along
has recognized the initia- teachers and staff about listened to their coun- the way. Principal Mike
tive and the 1st year that their college experiences, selors provide tips and Dahlinger is excited about
PPHS participated. and enjoyed famous col- resources in getting pre- this initiative and exclaims,
During the week of lege fight songs. While the pared for the big week. “The college or post-sec-
October 26-October 30, entire student body After taking an interest ondary culture we have
the high school hallways enjoyed a spirit-filled survey to help them select established at Paw Paw
and classrooms were alive week of college awareness colleges, students filled High School just continues
with college-themed activ- activities, the real work out an application check- to grow. Our students see
took place inside the com- list. This checklist helped the importance of con-
puter labs where members them to gather all neces- tinuing their education
PP to two-year and four-year on an application. diploma – this initiative is
sary information required
beyond a high school
of our senior class applied
Students learned about
colleges, as well as techni-
just another step where
cal and trade programs.
all the parts required to
we can help our students
P S School, we are committed make an application achieve their goals. ”
At Paw Paw High
complete.

Paw Paw Public Schools
STRATEGIC Superintentions

PLAN
2015-2016 By Tony Habra
taking to support the
SUPERINTENDENT
MISSION strategies. The activities
Paw Paw Public Schools As I finish my second are short term. They may
will provide every student year here at Paw Paw only happen once or they
with the opportunity to Public Schools, our School may be ongoing. Each
maximize his or her learn- Board has asked that I put month the board receives
ing potential in a spirit of together goals and objec- a report from the adminis-
cooperation and shared tives to set the district’s trators. The strategic plan
purpose among students, direction and to define the is the framework for those
parents, community, staff way we will work towards Progress, you will find reports. This report is
and the Board of meeting our vision of those goals and objectives filled with the activities
Education. ensuring that every PPPS in the form of a strategic happening in the buildings
VISION graduate is College, Career plan. that support the various
College, Career, and Community Ready! In The plan has four long strategies. In this way the
Community…Ready! this issue of the Pride and term goals. Each goal will Board will be able to
be examined each year, follow the plan’s progress.
GOAL #1: Increase but all of the goals are In addition, the Pride
Student Achievement GOAL #3: expected to remain the and Progress will feature
STRATEGIES: Improve Internal & same for the next five articles that highlight vari-
• Increase language arts External years. Each goal also has ous activities we are doing
and math proficiency at Communication strategies that have been that support the plan. This
each grade level consistent STRATEGIES: developed as a means of will allow our community
with the school improve- • Improve connectivity achieving the goals. to follow along as our
ment plans. and consistency across the These strategies are district works to achieve
• Integrate the use of buildings. drawn on from a number the goals that will improve
technology in the curricu- • Maintain transparency of sources, but most sig-
lum. in the decision making nificantly from the school the education of our
• Strengthen the evalua- process. students.
tion process. • Maintain social media and district improvement The District Strategic
• Improve positive connection by continuing plans. These plans are Plan is a way to provide
student behavior through to showcase student developed at each building visible direction for our
Positive Behavior Supports. achievement and image of and central office based on educational community,
• Implement and use new the district. the data we collect and in the coming weeks
assessments to help place • Maintain connections through testing and class- I will be asking various
students and determine to business community. room observation. In other stakeholders what they
growth. (AIMSweb, SAT, words, the strategic plan is think of that direction.
PSAT) GOAL #4: Maintain a based on the needs of our Are we moving in the right
• Expand awareness of 3C 2 Safe & Efficient students as determined by direction? What do you
Environment the dedicated educators in think of the plan? What’s
GOAL #2: Maintain STRATEGIES: our district. The strategies missing? I will bring
Financial Stability to • Enhance and expand are shorter term, two to copies of the plans with
Improve Student security operations. three years, but they will me when I have my
Achievement • Streamline district receive a hard look each Community Coffees and
STRATEGIES: operations. year to see if they need to when I spend a day in a
• Begin all budgeting • Consistently address be reaffirmed, revised or building. Please take some
with the question: “What’s bullying incidents. removed. Other strategies time to look it over and tell
best for all the students of • Improve morale may be developed as me what you think. I value
the district?” throughout the district. appropriate. your input.
• Balance all budgeting • Continue to provide What is not listed in
PP
questions against “Is it and expand a network of this plan are the activities
fiscally responsible?” mentoring for leadership. our educators are under-


2 SUPERINTENTIONS www.ppps.org P S

Moving Paw Paw Public School Students Up to the Majors

By Mary Puckett our new standards, so the his/her child to be as
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF state developed a new successful as possible, just
CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION
assessment, known as as we do.
M-STEP. M-STEP stands In today’s economy,
GOAL #1: for Michigan Student Test every player must be ready
Increase Student of Educational Progress. to compete at Major League
Achievement M-STEP is designed to not we believe it is appropriate levels. While this transition
STRATEGY A. only measure our higher to raise standards to the will sometimes be challeng-
INCREASE LANGUAGE ARTS AND standards, but our students’ level of other states and ing, it’s one Paw Paw Public
MATH PROFICIENCY AT EACH GRADE depth and breadth of know- nations. Every parent wants Schools is ready to make.
LEVEL CONSISTENT WITH THE ledge, making sure that
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS they are on their way to
STRATEGY B. major league achievement.
INTEGRATE THE USE OF TECH- Unlike the MEAP test,
NOLOGY IN THE CURRICULUM which was a multiple-
STRATEGY E. choice bubble sheet test, Ready? Initiative -
IMPLEMENT AND USE NEW ASSESS- M-STEP requires students
MENTS TO HELP PLACE STUDENTS to produce short and long Moving Forward
AND DETERMINE GROWTH written responses. Students
are required to demonstrate By Tammy Southworth
Imagine you’re a young critical thinking, deeper PAW PAW HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
baseball player. You start in understanding, and problem Goal #1: Increase Student Achievement
your neighborhood Little solving skills. As a result,
League, then you play ball the test is challenging for STRATEGY B. IMPLEMENT THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CURRICULUM
in high school and college. most students. The Ready? technology initiative is preparing to
Sometime during that period, The next few years will kick off Phase 1 of device usage at two levels- 7th grade
a scout comes by and before require significant transitions at the Middle School, and the Michigan Avenue
you know it, you’re batting for students, families, and Academy (MAA) program located at Cedar Street
for a Major League team. educators, as we all con- Campus.
This analogy is similar tinue to adjust to higher After much review and thought, the Middle School
to educational learning academic standards decided to pilot iPads for use by the students in 7th
standards. Over the past required in the M-STEP. grade. Those devices have been ordered, have arrived,
several years, we have raised Our students are adjusting and are currently being imaged with the appropriate
our learning standards in to the new test. Our expec- accounts, safeguards, and apps. Teachers have been
English language arts and tations are higher, tests are hard at work modifying lesson plans to include the use
mathematics to make sure challenging and even the of technology, as well as exploring new apps for student
that as students move from way that tests are taken use. In December, there will be Parent Meetings for 7th
one grade to the next, they online is new to some grade parents to learn about the devices and the
are on a path to graduate students. school’s plan and expectations for students using them.
from high school ready for This year’s M-STEP The Middle School would like to have those devices
career training, college, and results may be lower than ready for student use in January when we return from
the workplace. We want our students, families and Winter Break.
students to graduate ready educators have become Additionally, MAA has decided to pilot the use of
for the Major Leagues, accustomed to. In response, laptops for the students on their campus. Those devices
equipped to compete with we simply ask families to are being inventoried and loaded with the appropriate
peers across the country. understand that the test software and security measures and are expected to be
Last spring, our stu- scores reflect a period of available to students by the start of the second semes-
dents were tested for the transition to new standards ter in January.
first time on their progress that are higher than ever Both programs will monitor and evaluate the success
toward the new, tougher before. We are setting a new of the program throughout 2nd semester, continuously
academic standards. The old baseline for measuring asking themselves if the device is the right one, and if
MEAP test did not measure student progress and using having them available is making a difference for our
a better test. students. The answers to those questions will help the
If Michigan is to remain district roll into Phase 2 of the initiative, which
PP globally competitive in includes expanding the use of devices at the Middle
School, and piloting a device at the High School.
today’s knowledge economy,
P S www.ppps.org M-STEP • READY? INITIATIVE 3



ELEMENTARYbulletin PAW PAW LATER
LATER


ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
Paw Paw Elementary Campus: 657-8820

Built on Fun, Learning, and Pride

By Jeremy Davison curriculum. Additionally, collective sense of pride and fortunate to be working
LATER ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL
our Title I teachers used the school spirit within every with such a dedicated and
and Matthew Turner AIMSweb assessment tool to student. Finally, we hope talented faculty. When
EARLY ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL
test all of our students in our efforts at the Elementary working in a strong part-
GOAL #3: reading and math. As a Campus encourage and nership between home and
Improve Internal follow-up, the instruction strengthen partnerships school the possibilities for
& External teams met to examine the throughout the Paw Paw fun and learning are
Communication testing data and design school district and limitless!
interventions for students. community. We feel very
STRATEGY A.
Finally, in the area of
IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY AND
science, the Elementary
CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE
Campus is working with the
BUILDINGS
district’s curriculum coor-
This has been an dinator and Lisa Palanca, to
absolutely fantastic start to update the school’s science
the school year for our curriculum. With all this
Elementary Campus. We focus on academics, a tandem
have been working diligently goal is to promote fun.
to transform the identity of Our goal is to promote
two separate buildings into energy and enthusiasm
one Elementary Campus. A among our staff and students.
majority of the professional Our campus is collaborating
learning, school improve- to inject more fun in our
ment tasks, and team learning, our communica-
building activities have been tion, and relationships that
geared toward building are being built. We hope
collaboration and continuity that our Elementary Campus
between the buildings and families are noticing our
across grade levels. enthusiasm and fun in our Blooming Butterflies
The Elementary Campus weekly phone messages and
is working collaboratively to our first annual combined By Lindsay Hiler food source, life cycle, and
support the district’s Elementary Halloween migration patterns. They
curriculum initiatives. parade. Additionally, our Goal #1: even learned how to tell the
Teachers have been engaged campus recently held its Increase Student difference between a male
in professional learning to first combined Power Paw Achievement and female Monarch
support the Engage New assembly focusing on pro- STRATEGY F. butterfly!
York math curriculum. moting fun and a collective EXPAND AWARENESS OF 3C 2 The kids got to experience
Recently the math sense of pride. We are all first hand three out of the
consultant, Chris Brunette, excited about future fun and Monarch butterflies four stages of a Monarch’s
spent one week working community building activities were blooming in Mrs. life cycle. The class released
with instructional teams throughout the school year. Hiler’s first grade class! The a total of 70 butterflies. Mrs.
(K-5) to build higher level As we move forward, we students in Room 4 were Hiler enjoyed sharing this
proficiency with the are looking forward to pro- Monarch experts by the time experience with her students.
delivery of our math moting continued success they released their last She released a total of 151
in the quality of instruction butterfly in early October. Monarchs this summer and
our teachers deliver in their Throughout the month of hopes to save even more
PP classrooms. We also want to September, the students next year!
learned about a Monarch’s
continue to build a strong
P S www.ppps.org LATER ELEMENTARY BULLETIN 5

6
2
6
13
27
0
SUNDAY




7
DECEMBER
at
14
28
21
Amore
5:00-7:00
MONDAY
LUNCH MENU
p.m.
on a bun
Pizza
and fries
COFFEE WITH THE
SUPERINTENDENT
EARLY ELEMENTARY
Chicken Patty
Cheeseburger
CALENDAR
at
8
2
4th
2
at
1
at
the
15
9
the
the
2
Grade
Middle
Elementary
Later
PAC
PAC
5:30
-
-
SCIENCE
TUESDAY
Music
Choir
p.m.
School
6:30
7:00
FAIR
and
mashed potatoes
Popcorn Chix,
p.m.
browns, sausage
p.m.
Chicken Drumstick,
peas, red grapes
Elementary
French Toast, hash
NO
-
Concert
Concert
9
at
2
at
7:00
16
the
30
School
the
23
Winter
SCHOOL
p.m.-
High
Choir
PAC
PAC
-
-
Band
Board
7:00
7:00
School
Concert
Christmas
meat sauce
Corn Dog,
Christmas
Cheese Pizza,
DEC. 19
baked beans
Spaghetti with
p.m.
Concert
WEDNESDAY
p.m.
-
meeting,
Admin. Bldg.
green beans, apples
3
JAN. 4
Later
10
17
31
24
5:30
All-School
DECEMBER
and
THURSDAY
TACO DAY
The Lion King
7p.m.
TACO DAY
Musical
NACHO DAY
Elem. Cafetorium
Break
Break
1
4
2
1
18
5
FRIDAY
soup
Corn Dog,
baked beans
Bosco Sticks,
Fishy Grilled
Marinara sauce
www.ppps.org
Cheese, tomato
5
12
19
26
SATURDAY
P P
P S

P P
P S









www.ppps.org















































DECEMBER









CALENDAR


7

3
8
17
10
24
SUNDAY

LUNCH MENU
EARLY ELEMENTARY
31
JANUARY
4
18
11
25
at
5:00-7:00
Cancun
MONDAY
p.m.
and fries
and fries
SUPERINTENDENT
COFFEE WITH THE
CLASSES RESUME
Marinara sauce
Cheeseburger
Bosco Sticks with
Cheeseburger
Marinara sauce
Bosco Sticks, with
CALENDAR
5
12
19
26
TUESDAY
sausage,
red grapes
French Toast,
hashbrowns
French Toast,
Popcorn Chix,
peas, red grapes
Popcorn Chix, peas,
sausage, hashbrowns
MIDDLE
Students
6
in
7:00
13
SCHOOL
27
20
School
grades
p.m. -
AND
Board
6-12
-
HIGH
Corn Dog,
baked beans
tomato soup
meat sauce
WEDNESDAY
Grilled Cheese,
Grilled Cheese
meeting
Spaghetti with
Admin. Bldg.
and tomato soup
SCHOOL
mornings
7
only
14
28
EXAMS
21
JANUARY
THURSDAY
NACHO DAY
TACO DAY
TACO DAY
NACHO DAY
8
2
15
29
2
at
FRIDAY
the
and fries
apples
PAC
Corn Dog,
-
Cheeseburger
green beans,
baked beans
Pepperoni Pizza,
www.ppps.org
NO STUDENTS
1 2016
7:00
9
2
16
30
23
p.m. both
PAC ONE-ACT FESTIVAL
nights
SATURDAY
P S
P P

16
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ily,
cal
our
vide
them
proud
based
Street
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EXPAND
(CDA).
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opment
STRATEGY
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(GSRP)
learners,
rollment.
high
school
Great
F.
GSRP
childhood
objectives
school
that
on
Increase
classrooms
part
students
curriculum
and
#1:
Our
with
thinkers,
students
partnerships.
and
for
lifelong
of
is
a
year
and
P P
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our
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program
Each
uses
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AWARENESS
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that
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began
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vision
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with
Start
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three
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teaching
learners.
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to
facilitates
Cedar
assistant
main
Degree
independent
that
classroom
for
on
research
certified
community
our
GSRP
en-
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criti-
make
2015-
pro-
of
fam-
Cedar
and
lum
edge
each
with
tance
(gross
a
guage,
www.ppps.org
Readiness
of
The
forming
the
APPLE
a
and
child
CRUNCH!
child
teacher
and
fine
highlights
Creative
cognitive,
social-emotional,
mathematics
the
particular
Street
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family.
CEDAR
relationship
motor),
by
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Program
literacy
physical
Curricu-
knowl-
impor-
development
lan-
with
STREET
657-8831
FUN WITH PAINT!
CAMPUS
MAKING
MOON!
HARVEST
GSRP VISITS
Campus
APPLESAUCE!
READY
News
FOR
are
will
One
also
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nity
Over
what
staged
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it
annual
for
present
present
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director’s
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production.
present
on
selected,
four
takes
the
them
plays.
High
January
HALLOWEEN WALK!
chair
to
the
the
to
Arts
PAC-1-ACT
evenings,
sit
and
wonderful
These
2016,
Students
roles
in
School
we
students
mount
produced,
Shows!
second
of
a
the
learn
the
will
will
and
and
shows
Festival.
Department
opportu-
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A
of
ed
for
The
are:
tion
that
over
“The
work
by
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JANUARY
create
Week”
junior
senior
of
scripts
shows.
the
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located
20
as
Our
Rebecka
PAC
This
Lighting
is
at
the
explaining
spoke
the
“Crisis
complete
Performing
junior
Jacob
closely
Weston,
well
to right:
Alexis
down
students
four
and
are
Vaive;
scripts
year’s
directed
as
to
as
Desperate
what
Shakespeare”
Arts
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a
overall
to
Jacob Walker
a
school
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Kayla
directly
Directors,
productions
the
Sound
synopsis
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to
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feel
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Rebecka
look
available
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festival
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directors
of
narrowed
Center
and
one
Rose;
from
directed
www.ppps.org.
senior
for
directed
to
on
website
Act
“Tech
the
had
by
Housewives
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over.
CALENDAR
them.
will
information
play
each
sec-
by
Kayla Rose, Ally
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left
the
direct-
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the
9

2
7
2
14
8
1
10
SUNDAY
LUNCH MENU
EARLY ELEMENTARY

1
8
15
22
at
FEBRUARY
Greg’s
7:30-9:30
MID-WINTER
MONDAY
Macaroni
a.m.
Blend
and Cheese
Marinara sauce
COFFEE WITH THE
SUPERINTENDENT
Bosco Sticks with
Chix Nuggets,
BREAK
NO SCHOOL
Marinara Sauce
Bosco Sticks with
29 mashed potatoes
2
9
2
16
Take
CALENDAR
3
a
TUESDAY
leap!
sausage,
sausage,
and fries
French Toast,
hashbrowns
Popcorn Chix,
hashbrowns
French Toast,
peas, red grapes
Cheeseburger
at
3
7:00
10
17
24
the
School
Spring
FEBR
p.m. -
Pre-Festival
PAC
-
Board
Choir
Count
7:00
Corn Dog,
tomato soup
baked beans
Meat Sauce
Grilled Cheese,
WEDNESDAY
p.m.
Day
Spaghetti with
Popcorn Chix,
meeting
provider and employer.
Admin. Bldg.
peas, red grapes
Concert
4
ARY
18
11
25
Grape Jelly w/String Cheese and crackers.
Elementary Schools alternate choices are M/W/F:
THURSDAY
TACO DAY
NACHO DAY
TACO DAY
NACHO DAY
5
19
12
26
FRIDAY
MID-WINTER
cap. Any person who believes he/she has been discriminated against should write to
20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 or 202-720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,Washington, D.C.
A 1/2 pint of 1% milk is included with lunch.
and fries
Prices: Elementary Students, $2.35; M.S. $2.60; H.S. $2.85; Staff and Adults, $3.65. Program
apples
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and/or handi-
Ham or Turkey Sandwich;T/TH: Soy PB &
Cheeseburger
Corn Dog,
BREAK
green beans,
baked beans
www.ppps.org
NO SCHOOL
Pepperoni Pizza,
6
20
13
27
SATURDAY
P S
P P



MIDDLE SCHOOL


REPORT





Paw Paw Middle School – PRIDE!

By Michelle Olsen expected behaviors in the
common areas of our school tickets that they can enter
GOAL #1: building. These behavior into weekly drawings for
Increase Student expectations were taught to various prizes. Prizes
Achievement
all students at the beginning change each week! Some
STRATEGY D. of the year in their FLEX students got to leave FLEX
IMPROVE POSITIVE STUDENT classes through the use of three minutes early and go
BEHAVIOR THROUGH POSITIVE videos produced by teaching home for the day. Others
BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS (PBS) earned a choice snack item
staff (these can be viewed on
The staff and students at the PPMS YouTube channel). from Mrs. Wistinghausen,
the middle school have Next came the Paw Paw Assistant Principal. You
embarked on a new and PRIDE tickets, similar to the never know what the prize
exciting adventure this year! Power Paw program used at will be!
The Positive School Climate our elementary campus. Plans are in the works
committee spent last school Students caught performing for future exciting additions
year developing a matrix of expected behaviors are given to the program.
Paw Paw Middle School
is thrilled to see the positive
Adopt A Highway changes taking place daily
within our building!
By Fran Grabowski started - the coldest day of
Goal #3: the fall so far! The Leos
Internal & External have a lot of energy and
Community they put it to good use
collecting 25 bags of
STRATEGY D.
garbage on both sides of
MAINTAIN CONNECTIONS TO THE I-94 between mile markers Mike Northuis received the
BUSINESS COMMUNITY. parking spot for winning
60 and 62. The clubs will the PRIDE drawing
The Paw Paw Middle clean this part of the inter- for writing tickets for kids
School Leos Club teamed state 3 times a year and
up with the Paw Paw Lions there will be a sign posted Ask your
middle
to perform their first clean- to designate that section of schooler
up as part of their Adopt A I-94 in the next 5 to 6 about our PAW PAW
Highway project. It was 39 months. Keep
Calm
degrees when they first Good job Leos Club! Board! 657-8870
MIDDLE
SCHOOL




More Middle School
news on page 16...

PP




12 MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORT P S

HIGH SCHOOLHEADLINES




Powerlifters Bring Home State Champions State Supreme
Court Holds
By Troy Schultz
Court in
GOAL #3:
Improve Internal Paw Paw
& External
Communication GOAL #1: Increase
Student Achievement
STRATEGY C.
STRATEGY F.
MAINTAIN SOCIAL MEDIA 2
EXPAND AWARENESS OF 3C
CONNECTION BY CONTINUING TO
SHOWCASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT On Wednesday, October
AND IMAGE OF THE DISTRICT. 21, hundreds of area high
school students sat front row
Powerlifting is now in our women’s team finished able to bring home a State
its 4th at the high school. 3rd, we quickly focused on Runner-Up Trophy! The JV for a Michigan Supreme
This sport began as an alter- the state competition. This men brought home 2 indi- Court case. The state’s
native to the traditional was our most successful vidual State Champions: highest court heard oral
sports to help students get year ever and with a young Demos Johnson and Jacob arguments at Paw Paw High
an opportunity to excel in a core group of athletes, the Frey. Jacob set a new State School via the Michigan
State Championship format. team is hoping to perform record in the dead lift at 435 Supreme Court Community
It is important to under- even better next year. LBS. Other team members Connections Program.
stand that powerlifting as a The women started this that placed were: Tyler Cases are normally
sport is different from lifting past spring with five com- Pursley, Trevor Ferro, Ty heard in Lansing, but on
weights; even though the petitors. Four women - Bremmer, and 8th grader Wednesday, justices gave
general lifts may be similar. Makayla Barnhart, Kathy Peter Frey. The varsity men students an opportunity to
Powerlifting athletes spend Scheibe, Mackenzie Earl and competed in the afternoon see the judicial system in
months and sometimes Bre Davies finished with and Brennan MacDonald action firsthand.
years training to master the enough combined points to was able to bring home a This whole process
three basic lifts and produce bring home a 4th place medal with a 10th place fin- began in 2013 when Van
a total score that is competi- team trophy at the State ish. Buren County Chief Circuit
tive within a classification. Championships. Finishing If you have any ques- Court Judge Kathleen
Offering weightlifting as a in the top ten qualified tions or if your athlete Brickley requested the MSC
physical education elective them as All-State athletes. would like to compete and is select Van Buren County as
has helped stimulate an In the men’s JV division, in 7th-12th grade, please a destination for their
interest from our student we had eight young men contact Troy Schultz at the Community Connections
athletes. compete and the team was high school. Program. Bringing the
Our athletes compete in
three lifts: bench press, par- Michigan Supreme Court to
allel squat and dead lift. The PPHS was no small endeavor.
total amount an athlete can It was the collective effort of
lift in all three lifts is then Van Buren County Courts,
added together to form their Van Buren County Bar
total amount lifted. This Association, Van Buren
year, 14 “lifters” went to the County and State enforce-
state competition. After our ment agencies, along with
regional competition, in students, staff and adminis-
which our JV men were tration to make this such a
Regional Champions and successful event.
Another shining
example of Paw
PAW PAW
PP HIGH SCHOOL Paw High School
‘Rising Above’!
657-8840
P S www.ppps.org HIGH SCHOOL HEADLINES 13

COMMUNITY EDUCATION Update





PAW PAW’S going on to postsecondary
training at a community
ADULT college or university, pursu-

EDUCATION ing a trade, or entering the
workforce, students will be
PROGRAM: ready to meet the chal-
lenge!
More Than Since the beginning of
Just a High the school year, all of the
current students who have
School taken an official GED® test
Credential have passed! There are
many more students who
Three down, one to go! Adult Education student, Tammy are ready to take their first
GOAL #1: Christie, uses the Fast Forward online program to practice GED®
Increase Student math skills for her fourth and final test before receiving her high test, as well as several others
Achievement school credential. Tammie has already passed the Reasoning who will complete and
STRATEGY B. Through Language Arts (RLA), Science, and Social Studies tests. graduate in June. If you or
INTEGRATE THE USE OF TECH- Way to go, Tammy! anyone you know is ready
to take that next step
NOLOGY IN THE CURRICULUM
working on improving their Education program also towards their education,
STRATEGY F. interpersonal, “soft-skills,” helps students create a per- career, and a brighter
EXPAND AWARENESS OF 3C 2
as well as practical reading, sonalized “career pathway,” future, consider Paw Paw
GOAL #3: writing, and math skills in a by encouraging them to Adult Education!
Improve Internal & “real-world,” workplace- explore their talents and
External centered context. The Adult interests using the Career For information on the
Communication Cruising software and other Paw Paw Community
STRATEGY D. job exploration tools. The Education – Adult
PAW PAW
MAINTAIN CONNECTION TO main goal of the Adult Education program:
BUSINESS COMMUNITY COMMUNITY Education program is to CONTACT:LEIGH ANN LINK
The 2015-16 school EDUCATION help every student prepare PHONE: (269) 657-8898
year has brought many ex- 657-8831 for 21st century employ- EXT. 6332
citing changes to the Paw ment. Whether that means E-MAIL: [email protected]
Paw Community Education ADULT EDUCATION IS STILL LOCATED AT THE OLD MICHIGAN AVENUE ACADEMY BUILDING,
- Adult Education pro- NOW FRESHWATER CHURCH.MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL MAA PROGRAMS HAVE
gram. The Adult Education MOVED TO OUR CEDAR STREET CAMPUS.
program is located at the
old Michigan Avenue
Academy building (now
Freshwater Church).
However, what is happening
inside the learning lab is
entirely new. Students are
arriving at class each day
and working eagerly to pur-
sue their high school diplo-
ma or GED® credential.
But that’s not all! MAA students using iPads to learn how to do Geometric PP
Adult learners are also Constructions using the free app Euclidia.


14 COMMUNITY ED UPDATE www.ppps.org P S

MAA NEWS






MichiganAvenueAcademy



Michigan Avenue Academy - Rotary Student of the Month
September 2015
GOAL #3: Meeting on Wednesday, peers, but that her excellent
Improve Internal & October 14th. reading and literary analysis
External Noting the first element of The Great Gatsby (in
Communication of Rotary’s “Four-Way Test” their first major unit of and is even taking on a
for things people should Junior English) set her leadership role among the
STRATEGY D. think, say, and do, Mr. K. apart from the others by students shortly after
MAINTAIN CONNECTIONS TO observed that Ruth’s nomi- showing her growth as a receiving the award.
BUSINESS COMMUNITY
nation demonstrated the student. Hard work indeed Clearly she, and others at
Ruth Rangel was “truth” of both the nomina- pays off! MAA, are benefiting from
Michigan Avenue Academy’s tion and of Rotary’s award The last two elements Rotary’s honor (and the $50
(MAA) first Student of the itself: Ruth is excelling in of the “Four-Way test” ask if check they gave her is a
Month for September. MAA all of her classes (Mr. K.’s in an act will “build goodwill” nice addition, too!).
is now located at Cedar particular), and thus and “be beneficial to those In all, it was a great
Street Campus – the old deserves the accolade. It is concerned”. Ruth’s heart- afternoon at Rotary’s weekly
elementary school. Ruth also “true” that Rotary is felt speech to the Rotary meeting. It was even more
was nominated by her rewarding the hard work, upon receiving this award special to see Rotary
teacher, Richard Knowlton effort, and achievement showed both her gratitude International and Michigan
(Mr. K.) for her accomplish- Ruth put in that was worthy and humility, demonstrating Avenue Academy congratu-
ments in and out of the of such recognition. that she was appreciative of late Ruth as the first of
classroom. To honor her Also in the “Four-Way the goodwill Rotary had many 2015-2016 Students
efforts, Ruth, Mr. K., and Test”, Rotary says that the bestowed upon her, and of the Month who represent
Community Education things we do should be “fair benefited greatly from their the very best of the educa-
Director Beth Davis attended to all concerned”. Mr. K. admiration of her work. tion that is happening in
the Paw Paw Area Rotary noted that Ruth had as Mr. K. says Ruth continues the halls of MAA. Way to
much chance to win as her to blossom in her classes go, Ruth!

Students Create Atoms
By Jodi Edington
GOAL #1: Increase Student Achievement
STRATEGY A.
INCREASE LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH PROFICIENCY AT EACH GRADE LEVEL
CONSISTENT WITH THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS
A few weeks ago, students in Jodi Edington’s Essential
Science class at Michigan Avenue Academy created three-
dimensional representations of an atom. Edington reports
that “students were able to develop a conceptual under-
standing of the relationship between subatomic particles
and the atomic mass by creating a model of the atom.”
Edington wanted student understanding to move beyond
the equation where the sum of the number of the protons
and neutrons equals the atomic mass. She feels that stu-
dents need an opportunity to build an atom and discover
PP that the composition of the nucleus was the combination
of neutrons and protons.
P S www.ppps.org COMMUNITY ED UPDATE 15

EVERY GRADUATE: NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
College... PPPS PAID
Career... .org PAW PAW, MICHIGAN
PERMIT NO. 88
Community Ready!
POSTAL PATRON


PEACE Café Later Elementary
Science Fair
By Emilee Harp-Campbell input of all students. By Marissa Neidlinger
Each person truly
GOAL #4: Goal #1
Maintain a Safe & played a valuable role Increase Student
Efficient Environment in the design and plan- Achievement
ning of this business.
STRATEGY F.
STRATEGY D. During the planning EXPAND AWARENESS OF 3C 2
IMPROVE MORALE THROUGHOUT stages, students and
THE DISTRICT teachers collaborated in The Science Fair has
class to create the business come to the Later Elemen-
STRATEGY E.
name, logo, jobs, menu tary! This year, all students
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AND in grades 3 - 5 became
items, and all other relevant
EXPAND A NETWORK OF scientists as they gained a
details.
MENTORING FOR LEADERSHIP better understanding of the
The logo and business
The PEACE Cafe is a name is a combination of scientific process while
student led, self-sustaining all ideas put together into conducting experiments.
business that just opened up one. Individual suggestions During the month of
October, the students
at Paw Paw Middle School. were made and a classroom formed a hypothesis,
PEACE stands for Practicing vote was held to determine defined a purpose, and
Employment, Academic, the winning name and logo developed step-by-step
Communication, and Entre- design. directions.
preneur skills. All students I must simply close by The students also
in room 502 have played a saying thank you to all conducted several measur-
key role in the planning of participants. Your support able experiments. Once
the new business. hardworking, and demon- has truly had an impact on completed, the students
The PEACE Cafe is a strating time management our growing business and collected their data and
coffee cart that delivers daily skills. Students also uti- its success. presented their findings.
coffee, hot chocolate, tea, lize technology to advertise We are so proud of their
hard work. Students will
water, and soda orders to the their business, collect Paw Paw Public Schools get an opportunity to show
teachers. The class business orders, develop invoices, STATEMENT off their completed projects
is much more than a beverage and maintain their deposits OF COMPLIANCE to all of their family and
The Paw Paw Board of Education com-
and snack service. The pur- and expenses. plies with all federal laws and regula- friends at the Science Fair
pose of the classroom Each student is evalu- tions prohibiting discrimination and Night on Tuesday,
with all requirements and regulations of
business is to provide ated weekly by the teacher the U.S. Department of Education. It is December 1st.
students with a real life “supervisor” on their job the policy of the Paw Paw Board of They truly are becom-
Education that no person on the basis of
hands-on opportunity to performance using an race, color, religion, national origin or ing real scientists!
work on a variety of skills. evaluation sheet. Each ancestry,age,sex,marital status or hand-
icap shall be discriminated against,
The business works on job student is also responsible excluded from participation in, denied PLEASE COME JOIN US ON
skills, reading, writing, for filling out a time sheet the benefits of, or otherwise be subject- TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1ST
ed to, discrimination in any program or AT 5:30 P.M.
math, independence, and daily by writing their clock activity to which it is responsible or for FOR A NIGHT OF SCIENCE.
social skills. Students work in/out time and signing it which it receives financial assistance
from the U.S. Department of Education.
together as “colleagues” and at the end of the week. Questions should be directed to: Barb
are held accountable for The business design Khaja, Executive Director of Business
Operations, 119 Johnson Street, Paw
being punctual, responsible, and planning involved the Paw, MI 49079; 657-8800. PP

16 MORE FROM OUR SCHOOLS P S