Schools of Thought 9-24

• • •

Afghanistan Soldier Visits Lake Country Academy

Lake Country Academy students received an unexpected visitor on the first day of school this year. SSG Jason Kress, an Army reservist, on leave from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, surprised the students during a school-wide assembly. Kress thanked the children for the care packages that they sent to the soldiers of the 826 Ordinance Company in April. The 826 Ordinance Company, based out of Milwaukee, includes 55 Army Reserve soldiers who have been stationed at the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan since January. The platoon provides ammunition for U.S. soldiers and destroys old or foreign ammunition when necessary.

Sgt. Kress, the father of LCA students, Joe, Luke and Alexander Kress, presented the school with a plaque from the soldiers. The plaque incorporates an American flag that has flown over the skies of Afghanistan on a combat mission in an F-15E “Strike Eagle” supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The students were excited to hear Sgt. Kress describe the soldiers’ surprise and appreciation upon the arrival of the packages, which were part of a school-wide service project based on the core virtue of teamwork. Working in classroom teams, the students collected toiletries, magazines and snacks and sent 17 boxes of goodies to the troops.

Lake Country Academy’s curriculum emphasizes a different core virtue each month. Teachers team up to spearhead activities such as presentations, classroom skits and community service projects to demonstrate virtues such as respect, responsibility, generosity, compassion and citizenship.

• • •

North Lists AP Scholars

Eight students from Sheboygan North High School have earned Advanced Placement Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the nearly 1.7 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams. At North, one student qualified for the AP scholar with distinction award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. This student is Erin Britton.

Two students qualified for the AP scholar with honor award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are

Megan Nasgovitz and Alice Zhao.

Five students qualified for the AP scholar award by completing three or more AP exams with grades of 3 or higher. The AP scholars are: Andrew Bayliss, Tim Knoedler, Julia Livermore, Laurel Mills and George Scheibel.

• • •

Washington Hosts Fifth Annual Breakfast and Books

Washington School for Comprehensive Literacy held its first Breakfast and Books of the year from 8- 8:25 a.m., Friday, Sept. 18, in the school’s gym.

Organizers of the event were pleased with the great response; more than 200 people signed up.

Parents, grandparents, and children enjoyed a morning of books and breakfast with each other. Unique for the event is the fact that a grandparent from Kosovo joined the Washington families to spend time with his granddaughter, Enida Luma. Luma enjoyed sharing a book with both her father, Ekrem Luma, and her grandfather, Hamdi Zeneli. Kumi Luma, Enida’s mother, is employed with the SASD at Washington School for Comprehensive Literacy.

Washington has been hosting Breakfast and Books for the past five years. The Parent Involvement committee hosts the Breakfast and Books opportunity three times during the year. The books, through the generosity of the Washington PTO, are given to the children to encourage home reading along with parent involvement.

• • •

South to Organize

Alumni Pep Band To earmark 50 years of band music at Sheboygan South High School, Wade Heinen, South Band Director, is organizing an Alumni Pep Band to play at the pregame of the Homecoming Game. South’s homecoming this year is Friday, Oct. 9. Heinen’s plan is to meet in the SHS choir room to warm up, pass out needed instruments, and practice. The alumni pep band will be playing three past favorites of the band: We’re out for Victory, Livin’ on a Prayer, and Louie, Louie.

Any alumni, parent, former director, or friend of the band is welcome to participate. Individuals who are interested in playing in the alumni band are asked to contact Heinen via e-mail at wheinen@sheboygan.k12.wi.us or phone him at 803.7820. Participants are asked to provide the following information: mailing address, what part you wish to play and if you would like the music sent to you ahead of time.

In addition, participants who are in need of an instrument for the performance, are asked to tell Heinen before Oct. 9 so the correct number of instruments will be available. All participants are responsible to bring their own sticks or reeds as needed.

• • •

Students Tour Police Station

The staff at James Madison School is encouraged to give their students the opportunity to learn both inside and outside of the classroom. Earlier this year, students in a self-contained special education classroom participated in a community-based instruction to practice mobility, communication, math and safety skills in real-life situations. The students use the city bus system and learn about various sites in the community. To start off the 2009-10 school year, Officer Todd Priebe took the students on a tour of the Sheboygan Police Station.

• • •

Art Students Provide

Backdrop for Music Man

The North High School art department is collaborating on a huge art project for the upcoming play, The Music Man. The project consists of a 21-foot by 42-foot painting of a gymnasium set in the 1920s. Sixteen North art students are working on this project. The project requires that each student focus on his/her prior knowledge of implementing color theory, grid work, and perspective. Students work on this project every day during fourth hour in the NHS auditorium.

When asked about this project, Pat Henderson, North High stage director, commented, “This exciting project has two incredible functions: enabling 16 students to create a large scale canvas art work to be viewed by the hundreds attending the North/South musical; and art and drama working cooperatively to increase student involvement and expanding the capabilities of the production’s set design. Truly a win-win situation. The rest of the production staff and I are extremely grateful to Frank Juarez and the students.”

Justin Thao, North High art student, stated, “Anything you see is a piece of art. Today, this backdrop will be the main piece of art where you will see the past of the 1920s. The past is what makes the present, the present.”

Frank Juarez, North High art department chair, added, “This is a big undertaking for this group of students.” Juarez added, “Some of the 21st century skills that are being addressed are critical thinking, problem solving, flexibility and adaptability, communication and collaboration, and productivity and accountability.”

• • •

Cleveland and Montessori

Students Will Walk

Childhood obesity is becoming a national epidemic. Over the past 30 years, the percentage of overweight 6-11 year-olds has more than doubled.

About 14 percent of young people report no recent physical activity. “Walk your child to school day” events promote and foster awareness on both the importance of regular physical activity, pedestrian safety and sound nutrition.

On Oct. 7 Cleveland Elementary School and Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Montessori School will join millions of children, parents, teachers and community leaders around the globe in walking to school to celebrate International Walk to School Day.

Walk-a-Thon to be held

the same day.

In conjunction with the walk to school day, the school’s PTA group is holding their annual walk-a-thon fundraiser. The students receive pledges or donations to walk around the school area to raise funds that help in the cost of programs at the school. The students get exercise and the school receives funding to supplement various activities. Individuals who are interested in making a donation are asked to call the school office at 693-8241.

• • •