This Week
In the Ann Arbor Public Schools
January 12, 2009

To: The Staff of the Ann Arbor Public Schools
From: Todd Roberts, Superintendent

This Week’s Good News

• Thank you to all of our staff members who contributed to the 2008 United Way Campaign. The grand total is $42,436. It is less than last year’s total, but in these tough economic times we did well. Thank you all for all you do, every day, in support of our community.
• Huron High School students Audrey Snow and Margaret Whittier-Ferguson were recently designated as finalists for the writing contest, "Confessions of a Word Nerd." For one of the projects in 9th grade Intensive English this semester, the students created an original story for the writing contest.   For the contest, the students had to write an amusing true story about high school while seamlessly including commonly used SAT words. Teacher, Brian Lincourt reports that, “Each student worked extremely hard on their story, and I was glad that they were able to receive an acknowledgment of their individual ability and effort. The award speaks volumes about the quality of students that we have the pleasure to teach within Ann Arbor Public Schools. Huron High School was one of only two schools nationwide with more than one student receiving an acknowledgment of writing excellence. Congratulations to Margaret and Audrey!”
• Ann Arbor Open School @ Mack band members Norah Rast (oboe), Lindsay Schoppmann (clarinet), and Joris von Moltke (trumpet), have been selected by audition to participate in the Michigan Middle School All-State Honors Band. They will perform with students from around the state at the Michigan Music Conference, January 22-24 in Grand Rapids. Over 2,000 students auditioned statewide for the All-State Honors ensembles.  Congratulations to these fine musicians!
• Community High School journalists participated in a national competition hosted by the National Scholastic Press Association in St. Louis. The following students won national awards: Alyson Halpert - Superior (News-writing), Dylan Cinti - Honorable Mention (Editorial), Julia Mogerman - Honorable Mention (Feature), Mira Fishman - Honorable Mention (Review), Chris Cain - Excellent (Copy Editing), Allison Correll - Superior (Portfolio). Congratulations!
• Huron High School chemistry students participated in the annual silver bottle charity lab, raising $1,012.00 toward the Nick Breaky Foundation. Nick is a junior at Huron and is currently undergoing treatment for Leukemia.
• Dan Tolly, Ann Arbor Open music teacher, was honored by the American Historical Association at its 123rd Annual Meeting in New York City on January 3, 2009. Dan received AHA’s Beveridge Family Teaching Prize. Established in 1995, this prize honors the Beveridge family’s long-standing commitment to the AHA and to K-12 teaching. Friends and family members endowed this award to recognize excellence and innovation in elementary, middle, and secondary high school history teaching, including career contributions and specific initiatives. The honoree can be recognized either for individual excellence in teaching or for an innovative initiative applicable to the entire field.
  Following is the description from the award program:
  “The thirteenth recipient of the Beveridge Family Teaching Prize is Daniel D. Tolly, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Public Schools. Trained in music education, Daniel Tolly employs a broad range of audio, visual, and human resources to inspire and pull his K-8 students into a close, holistic study of composers and musical genres in historical time and place. Incorporating elements of theater, dance, and community outreach, Tolly’s year-long, cross-curricular projects are exemplary models of innovative pedagogy the Beveridge Award honors.”
  Dan Tolly was also honored in May 2008 as the UMS Teacher of the Year. Three of Dan’s collaborative projects have been funded in part by grants awarded by the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation.
• USA Hockey’s U.S. National Under-17 Team Captured the Bronze Medal at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, with 4-2 Victory Over Canada West at a match played in Port Alberni, British Columbia.
• A parents sends compliments to bus driver Denise Ralph. “I felt compelled to send an email after receiving the Bus Driver Profile on Denise Ralph, driver of #127.  I can't say enough wonderful things about this woman.  She is the most reliable and dependable bus driver I have ever come across.  I can trust that she is going to pick my kids up on time each day, which is quite impressive!  She also goes the "extra mile" for the children on her bus...if a child has missed the bus, she will pick the child up if he/she is there on her way out of the sub (I have seen bus drivers "ignore" kids at stops if they are late), she accommodates conversations with new/anxious parents and does not make them feel they are inconveniencing her, one time she noticed my daughter left her violin on the bus and took the time to personally hand deliver it to my home, and she is a very pleasant person who greets parents and kids with a smile each day.  These are just a few examples of the things that make Denise an exceptional individual and transporter of our children.  I hope she never leaves!  And, I hope she gets recognized in some way for the great work she does.”
• Haisley Principal Mary Anne Jaeger sends thanks to the maintenance crew. “Haisley staff sincerely appreciates the amazing and quick work accomplished by the team of Tim Gruszczynski, Mike Maroney, Randy Trent and Goyettes Mechanical Contractors! This hard working crew made it possible for the Haisley Huskies to attend school this past Monday and Tuesday, our first days back from winter break. Our school had experienced a burst water pipe, which was located under the foundation and was causing flooding both inside and outside of the building. In order for it to be replaced, a large area in front of our school had to be dug up, which included dirt, flowerbeds, curb, and sidewalk. This dedicated crew worked through the night. Mike himself, stayed here until 3:30 a.m. only to return at 6:30 a.m.! Needless to say, if this crew had not been so determined and hard working, our students would have missed important instruction. Haisley staff and families appreciate their effort!”
• Ann Arbor Public Schools’ Skyline High School has been selected to receive the “2008 Build Michigan Award” from the Michigan Associated General Contractors (MI AGC) on January 29, 2009. This award recognizes the many unique aspects of this facility during its construction and as it now serves our district, its project team’s effective working relationship and the valuable contribution it brings to the Ann Arbor community. Given this award, the project will now be considered by the nationwide AGC for the 2008 Build America Award.

Todd Roberts, Ed.D.
Superintendent