This Week
In the Ann Arbor Public Schools
February 9, 2009

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

This Week’s Good News

• On behalf of the citizens of Michigan, I, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, do hereby proclaim the week of February 8, 2009 as Principals Week

  Please join me in recognizing and thanking our building principals for their extraordinary work and for the significant contributions they make to our educational community every day.
• Thirty-five Pioneer AP Chemistry student volunteers facilitated eight different explorations for the Bryant Elementary students’ Science Night Program. This event was arranged by Kafi Laramore-Josey and coordinators from the Toledo Science Center.  The Pioneer volunteers and the Bryant students all had a great time working at stations dedicated to various scientific concepts. The following PHS students volunteered to lead the activities:  Boxin Zhou, Wenbo Yang, Xiao Wang, Arush Vij, Saqib Usman, Emily Turner, Kelsey Thompson, Hehui Quan, Neil Parikh, Kayla Oh, Mackenzie Miller, Megumi Matsuhita, Hannah Maxbauer, Emilio Mateo, Rachel Mann, Wnzie Lou, Elizabeth Lloyd, Natasha Le, Joe Langley, Tanay Kulkarni, Dhaatri Kuchipudi, Andrea Kriz, Boyoung Kim, Nick Kern, Salman Imam, Zora Hadjiyski, Anirvan Guha, Stephanie Gu, Djordje Gasic, Mary Fitzgerald, Nour, El-Kashlan, Melanie Croos-Dabrera, Nishita Conjeevaram, and Laura Adams.
• Five Ann Arbor students are candidates for the 2009 Presidential Scholar Award: Katherine Thomas, Community; Kari Chen, Sequoyah King, and Thomas Thompson, Huron; and Alex Kulick, Pioneer.
  The Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors.  Scholars are chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas – academic and artistic success, leadership and involvement in school and the community – and represent excellence in education.  The 2009 Presidential Scholars will be announced in June.
• A big thanks goes to Dicken art teacher, Theresa Erickson and  the Friends of Dicken Woods for sponsoring a successful 6th annual Winter Walk through Dicken Woods.  Young artists from first through grade each created a   candlelight lantern in art class over the past several months.  On Tuesday, February 3, over 300 lanterns lined a long path through the woods that lit the way for family and friends of the young artists.  More than 325 people braved the winter night to enjoy the magical glow of the many art lanterns.  Upon return, the walkers warmed themselves with hot chocolate, cookies and conversation.  It was a wonderful way to celebrate art, winter and the woods!
• On February 1, Skyline Choir members attended MSVMA Vocal Solo and Ensemble Festival at Saline High School. Three soloists and three ensembles participated. Skyline Blues, a sextet from Cantando, and soloist Natasha Major earned a Division II Rating. Soloists Emily Griffith and Rose Wall and Cantare Men's Choir earned a Division I Rating and will be attending State Solo and Ensemble Festival in March. Congrats Skyline Choirs on a successful day!
• Clague students had a successful day at the district MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Festival on January 31, where they participated in 89 total events.  There were 18 solos and 23 ensembles from Orchestra, 30 solos and 11 ensembles from Band and 7 piano solos.
  Orchestra solos - Receiving a Division 1 rating:  Kelsey Trulik, Kevin Mei, Caroline Elliott, Michael Rochelle, Hiro Adachi, Deen Adzemovic, Calvin Tzeng (cello and piano), Justin Kim, Claire Gruber, Christopher Liu, Deniz Karakabal, Nico Teixeira, Isabel Zheng (piano), Gary Huang (piano), Sweeta Banda (piano), Lisa Wang (piano).
  Receiving a Division 2 rating:  Harry Kieme, Yunjae Lee, David Chen, Phoebe Biermann.  Comments Only: Sherry Li
  Orchestra ensembles:  Division 1
  Valerie Peng, Claire Gruber, Jung Soo Chang & Rosa Wu;
  Valerie Peng & Hiro Adachi;
  Chamber Strings: Alex Wilks, Asho Mollin, Nico Teixeira, Erika Sasaki, Valerie Peng, Rina Ukita, JungSoo Chang, Rosa Wu, Imani Schneider, Arata Kaku, Grey Garrett, Andrew Barber, Chris Liu;
  Nico Tiexiera, Andrew Barber, Valerie Peng, Harry Kieme, Arata Kaku;
  Valerie Peng, Cat Martinez, Carly Brown, Rina Ukita, Claire Gruber;
  Deen Adzemovic, Dylan Chen, Lisa Wang & Quinn Johns;
  Kathy Sun, Hai Sun, Yuxuan Chen;
  Caroline Elliott & Isabel Zheng;
  Gary Huang & Kevin Mei;
  Maggie Lee, Lucy Zheng, Rebecca Ryan, Shin Lee;
  Shin Lee & Jessie Kim;
  Kelsey Trulik & Missy Giles.
  Division 2:
  Quinn Johns & James Bernard
  Sweta Banda and Madeline McAlister- Raeburn
  Justin Kim, Andy Ni, Alan Xu, Quinn Johns
  Dylan Chen & Schuler Barker
  Schuler Barker, Leon Pescador & Johnny Moody
  John Vaughn & Caleb Cheng
  Joon Oh & Heesu Hwang
  Hiro Adachi, Schuler Barker, Hokyoung Lee, Caleb Cheng, John Vaughn
  David Chin & Calvin Tzeng
  Schuler Barker & Dylan Chen
  Graham Keep & Imani Schneider
  Comments Only: Asho Mollin & Nadya Novak
  Band solos - Receiving a Division 1 rating: Daniel Skib, Caleb Hires, Edith Zhang, Tiffany Chang, Doan Ichikawa (piano & clarinet), Rebecca Barnet, Alice Wang, Nir Glazier, Lorna Baron, Emma Mees, Adam Miller, Sagar Anupindi, Jiaao Hou, Lizzie Ritter, Paulina Tsao, Mithun Saha, Jessa Gargan, Hannah Sung, Miheer Sapre, Ben Sadis, Alex Pepin, Jeff Bond, Jamie Hibbs, Ryan Powell, Ashton Strother, Kevin Yang, E. Kellenberg, Emily Ji, Jungil Choi, Natalie Nagpal
  Receiving a Division 2 rating: Julie Dejnozka, Katarina Suboti
  Band ensembles - Division 1:
  Miheer Sapre & Jon Seyhun
  Tiffany Chang & JulieDejnozka
  Richard Wan & Ryan Powell
  Genevieve Sponseller & Laurel Machiele
  Julie Dejnozka & Alice Wang
  Alex Pepin & Rohan Paul
  Emma Kellenberg, John McCall, Kevin Yang
  Edith Zhang, Daniel Fendrick, Sagar Anupindi, Daniel Skib, Jiaao Hou
  Austin MacDougal, Thomas Dolce, Adam Miller, Nathan Mahowald, Caleb HiresRyan George & Alex Weiss.
  Division 2:  Zibo Zou & David Field
• On February 5th, the Pioneer Bands had their annual Winter concert (their 95th season).   At this concert they presented the "Reflections of Excellence" award to two distinguished Pioneer family members:
  Dorothy Doss, Pioneer's nurse for many years, and Pioneer's Band Camp nurse for 30 years!!! She was presented with this special award by Director of Bands Emeritus Mr. Robert Albritton!
  The Second recipient of the evening was Ms. Lorin Cartwright, the "one of a kind" Director of Athletics, mentor to students and staff, and lifelong friend of Music.
  There were also two special Guest Artists:
  Nancy Ambrose-King Professor of Oboe at the University of Michigan, and President of the International Double Reed Society. Mrs. Ambrose-King is Internationally recognized as one of the finest musicians performing and teaching today!
  Jeffery Zook, Piccoloists and Flutists with the Detroit Symphony. Mr. Zook performs around the world as a member of the DSO and is in great demand as a soloists. He is one of the premiere musicians on this planet.  They joined the Pioneer Symphony Band to perform the Chimorosa "Concertante" for two flutes.
• Pioneer Band Director David Leach received a nice note from Mr. Zook:

  I just have to say it's been so wonderful and fortuitous for me to have met you and put together this Concerto with Nancy and your band.
  I'm SO impressed with what you do with those kids everyday....it's quite incredible to see the positive attitude and great work ethics that EVERY ONE of those students exude. Bravo to you and your staff.  There is a sense of spirit and tradition in that band that is invaluable and so much excitement and appreciation from the kids....what a great way to spend a Thursday evening.

• Huron basketball coach Waleed Samaha sends thanks to Bedford coaches Mark German and Bill Regnier for their team’s participation in a benefit game to raise money for cancer research.  He writes:

  Please extend our thanks to your entire basketball program and the many Bedford fans who came out for the Coaches vs Cancer Game.    Your teams and fans showed great respect and participated fully to support the event.  In all, we raised $2167.00 for the American Cancer Society.  Your coaches and players showed a great deal of class, especially in the pre-game activities.  Thank you so much for making this a memorable night.  If ever you host an event, please know that we will cooperate fully with your requests.

• The U.S. National Under-17 Hockey Team beat Slovakia, 7-1, to take first place at the 2009Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament.
• The U.S. National Under-18 Hockey Team defeated Russia, 5-3, in Nykoping, Sweden, to capture its third straight first-place finish at the 2009 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament. Team USA finished with a perfect 4-0-0-0 record.

Todd Roberts, Ed.D.
Superintendent