This Week
In the Ann Arbor Public Schools
May 26, 2009

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

This Week’s Good News

• The Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor in cooperation with the Ray and Eleanor Cross Foundation proudly presented the following scholarships of $1,000 each at the May 18th weekly club meeting. The students and their family members were the guests of the Kiwanians.  The annual program is the largest single-day scholarship award to the Ann Arbor Public School students.
  The scholarship, student and school are:
  Hunter/Clague Scholarships:
  Named in honor of Ralph Hunter and Ashley H. Clague.  The Hunter/Clague recipients have been selected based on their character, leadership, service to the community and academic performance.
  Amy Jozwiak of Community High School
  Danuelle Calloway of Huron High School
  Cameron Burden of Pioneer High School
  Carpenter Scholarships:
  Named in honor of Rev. Charles W. Carpenter.  These recipients have been selected based on their character, leadership, service to the community, academic performance and involvement in the promotion of understanding between different ethnic groups.
  Evalyn Carter of Community High School
  Brian Yang of Huron High School
  Jordan Wynne of Pioneer High School
  Don L.Naylor Scholarship:
  This scholarship is based on the student’s demonstrated proficiency in the field of automotive repair.
  Robert Smith of Pioneer High School
  Ray and Eleanor Cross Foundation Scholarships:
  Ray E. Cross Scholarship for studies in engineering at Michigan Technological University:
  Anna Dean of Pioneer High School
  Eleanor K. Cross Scholarship for studies in family planning and/or population issues:
  Taylor Robinson of Huron High School
  Eleanor M. Doolittle Scholarship for studies in health care:
  Anna Beal of Community High School
  Gordon R. Doolittle Scholarship for studies in health care:
  Kimberly Ancheta of Huron High School
  Ray and Eleanor Cross Foundation / Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Collaborative Scholarships:
  Fred and Sara King Scholarship:
  La Tyra Jones of Roberto Clemente High School
  Elaine & John McKeown Scholarship:
  Hattie Majeske of Huron High School
  Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Scholarship for studies to prepare for a career in business:
  Gussie Askew of Community High School
  Charles F. North Memorial Scholarship:
  Jessica Zhang of Pioneer High School
  Dan & Adrienne Burroughs & Bill & Karen Tasch Scholarship:
  Shawn Sinawe of Pioneer High School
  U of M Civil Engineering Faculty Scholarship for studies in engineering at the University of Michigan:
  Paul Heiselman of Huron High School
  Robert J. Barden, Jr. & Kathleen Barden-Perlberg Scholarship:
  Justin Ancton-Cash of Roberto Clemente High School
  Rip & Judy Kinney Scholarship:
  Richard Griffin of Pioneer High School
  Letitia J. Byrd Scholarship:
  Ryan Sanii of Huron High School
  Jerome P. Hartweg Memorial Scholarship:
  Guarov Kulkarni of Pioneer High School
  Former Dean Albert E. Gallup Scholarship:
  Sevde Felek of Community High School
  Cliff & Ingrid Sheldon & Ann & Jim Mattson Scholarship:
  Crystal Khisa of Huron High School
  Robyn Menin & Mary Sexton Memorial Scholarship for studies in family planning and/or population issues:
  Katie Mercer of Community High School
  Robert J. Barden, Sr. Scholarship:
  Nicholas Yeatts of Huron High School
  Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Scholarship for studies to prepare for a career in business:
  Leslie Brown of Pioneer High School
  Earl W. Shaffer Memorial Scholarship for studies to prepare for a career in business education:
  Mohammad Aslani-Amoli of Huron High School
• On April 29, 2009, fifteen Stone High School seniors were honored at the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor Luncheon.  These fifteen students completed the Strive Scholarship competition that began in September of 2008, earning scholarships to Washtenaw Community College.  The winners are: Zuri Garcia-Leon, Dylan Farr, Melissa Key, Britley Holmes, Liz Call, Jazmyn Jewell, Jeremy Tyler, Katrina Leek, Ke’Arra Holston, Mariela Alvarez-Ramirez, Nekeata Wilkerson, Nick Turk, Sam Fenner, Tervonne’ Weatherspoon and Tyisha Baskin.
• On Saturday, May 16, 2009, The Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority held its annual Solid Gold in Education ceremony. African American students from Washtenaw County were honored for their academic excellence and service to the community.
  The following seniors from the Ann Arbor School District were recognized for their outstanding academic standing with scholarships to assist with pursuing their collegiate goals in the fall:
  Tanee Collins/Pioneer High School
  Sarah Turner/Pioneer High School
  Latasha Harden/Huron High School
  Olivia Bollar/Huron High School
  Morgan McDonald/Huron High School
  In addition, the following middle and high school students from the Ann Arbor School District were honored and recognized for their academic excellence and commitment to community service within the local area:
  Emily Anderson/Clague Middle School
  Seth Petty/Clague Middle School
  Michael Rochell/Clague Middle School
  Andikan Archibong/Scarlett Middle School
  Oliva Martin/Scarlett Middle School
  John Patrick Clark/Forsythe Middle School
  Raven Vawters/Forsythe Middle School
  Ivana Casey/Roberto Clemente
  Janel Hunter/Pioneer High School
  Brittany Laham/Pioneer High School
  Jessica Obidike/Pioneer High School
  All students represented the district well and it was an honor for those of us associated with the Ann Arbor District to witness so many of our students being recognized for their hard work and talents.
• This year two students from Roberto Clemente Center are receiving the “Kenny” Perseverance and Courage Award from the Ann Arbor Breakfast Optimist Club.  They are Ashley Stevenson and David Andrew Hayes, Jr.
  The “Kenny Award” is named after the late Kenneth Crocker and Kenneth Struble, devoted members of the Breakfast Optimist Club for many years.  The purpose of this award is to recognize those students who are outstanding examples in establishing traits of courage, strength of character, coping skills, fortitude and perseverance in overcoming barriers and obstacles towards achieving success.
  While these students are not required to be academic stars, they are splendid examples of those who deal with adversity regardless of its nature, in successfully meeting the special challenges of life.   Indeed, they “hang in” and “stay the course” to the finish line, regardless of how heavy the load becomes that they must carry or how high the mountain that has to be climbed.  They are an inspiration to all humankind from all walks of life.
  Ashley loves art, music and drafting. She also enjoys reading and babysitting her cousins.  While attending school, Ashley has worked as an LWE (Limited Work Experience) employee at Michigan Works.
  After graduation, Ashley plans to get a job and save money to attend college in the fall.  She hopes to start classes with the goal of eventually becoming a nurse.
  David Andrew Hayes, Jr. previously attended Estabrook Elementary School in Ypsilanti.
  David’s life changed dramatically as the result of a tragic automobile accident, in which he sustained serious injuries, memory loss, and emotional trauma.  He lived by himself for an extended period of time, and experienced major cultural shock due to numerous moves and racial barriers.
  In the field of sports, David participates in wrestling, track, and amateur league basketball. He also enjoys playing video games and chess; reading (both for education and pleasure);  listening to and playing acoustic and electronic music.
  David belongs to Alpha Omega, a Christian Club at Huron High, and is very active in Whitehall Memorial, a branch of The Church of God in Christ, serving in the music ministry, on the usher board, on the clean-up crew, and as a junior minister and performing arts assistant.
  After graduation, David plans to attend Washtenaw Community College for one year and then transfer to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.  He would like to be a psychiatrist, a federal employee, an entrepreneur, a renowned electronic musician or media specialist.
• Huron’s Kaily Daida, a 10th grade student in Aimee Grant’s English class, won third place in the Ann Arbor District Library Short Story Teen Writing contest 9th/10th grade group.
  In addition, a junior from Huron, Rebecca Cao, won first place in the 11th/12th grade group.
  This is a huge honor as 216 students sent in submissions!   This is the link to the awards announcement:  http://www.aadl.org/node/18801
• The Wild Cheese Dogs from Ann Arbor, Michigan was chosen as the Grand Prize winning team at the annual Sally Ride Science TOYchallenge™ Nationals at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, VA. Each team member received round trip airfare to anywhere in the Continental United States courtesy of Southwest Airlines.
  TOYchallenge is a national toy design competition for 5th – 8th graders intended to introduce girls and boys to engineering.  This unique event, created and run by Sally Ride Science, shows students that engineering is collaborative, creative and all around them. The Wild Cheese Dogs —comprised of students Sarah Adams, Tom Oldani, Irene Wei, and head coach Sue Oldani — was awarded the grand prize for their “Treasure Busters Inc” toy.  Each team member received a TOYchallenge star trophy, a Sally Ride Science backpack filled with books, and round trip airfare to anywhere in the Continental United States courtesy of Southwest Airlines.  Southwest Airlines is the official airline of TOYchallenge.
  Earlier this year, several hundred teams, comprised of at least 50 percent girls, submitted written descriptions and visual presentations of their original toy or game concepts based on themed categories including Games for the Family, Get Out and Play, and Toys that Teach.  The top one-hundred teams were invited to advance to the Nationals, where they demonstrated working models of their toys. Each submission was judged on originality, creativity, engineering elegance, feasibility, design process description, team participation and clarity of communication. All teams received certificates of participation.
  About Sally Ride Science
  Sally Ride Science is an innovative science content company dedicated to supporting students’ interests in science, math and technology. Our programs include Sally Ride Science Festivals, educator institutes, after-school programs, TOYchallenge, and Classroom Sets to supplement science instruction. For more information, call 1-800-561-5161.
• The fourth-grade students of Dr. Sherry Murphy's class at Thurston Elementary have met every Friday afternoon this year with local writer Matt Bell as a part of Dzanc Books' Writer-in-Residence Program. Together, they have written stories both as a class and as individual writers, and along the way they have developed their abilities as writers, editors, and readers through their own stories and through their enjoyment of their classmates' work and the writing of published authors. On June 3, 6:00 p.m., they will be reading their own work, from their book “They Came from Murphy’s Island,” at Shaman Drum Bookstore.
• The following Community High School students received awards for their scores on the National Spanish Exam:
  Gold Medal - Meghan Berry.
  Silver Medal - Elinor Epperson, Rachel Stokes, Michelle Grifka, Annie Flynn and Oriol Burgos-Tsoffar.
  Bronze Medal - Sophia Kunselman, Meredith Stein, Nikila Lakshmanan, Andy Galimberti and Emma Tolman.
• Slauson teacher, and Co-Curricular Activities Director, Jon Strite has successfully completed the process to claim the title of “Certified Athletic Administrator.”  The CAA program, which is administered by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, identifies those directors nationally, who demonstrate a certifiable level of both experience and expertise in the administration of interscholastic athletics.
• Correction
  In lat week's edition listing the AAPS Albion college graduates, Ruth Spalding graduated Summa Cum Laude, which requires a 3.9 or higher G.P.A.

Todd Roberts, Ed.D.
Superintendent