This Week
In the Ann Arbor Public Schools
September 9, 2008

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

This Week’s Good News!

• Welcome back to a new school year and to the first edition of the 2008-2009 “This Week in the Ann Arbor Public schools.”
• The 2008-2009 school year is off to a great start. Thank you all for extending yourselves to help our students sort out schedules, rooms and buses during the first week. It is always a bit hectic to get into a new routine and I appreciate all that you do to help our students adjust.
• I especially want to recognize and thank all of our custodians and maintenance workers who toiled all summer to get the buildings ready for a new school year. I also appreciate the patience and hard work of all of our staff members who had to work around construction projects. You all pulled together nicely and I am grateful to all of you.
• There are some administrative changes for this year.  Please join me in welcoming the following administrators to their new positions.
  Sheila Brown has been named Principal of Stone High School. This move is actually a return to Ann Arbor for her as she taught at Huron High School before leaving Ann Arbor for an administrative position in another district. Her last position was as Principal of Belleville High School.
  Monique Uzelac has accepted the position of Director of Instructional Technology.
  Chris Curtis moved to Skyline High School as Class Principal.
  Tamber Woodworth has moved to Pioneer High School as Class Principal.
  Mary Anne Jaeger has taken the position of principal of Haisley Elementary School.
  Sharman Spieser is directing the adult education programs for the district.
• Carpenter Elementary and Eastern Michigan University partnered to offer a summer reading program. EMU’s Director, Martha Kinney-Sedgwick, wrote to express appreciation to Ron Collins and the Carpenter community. “The children and parents were enthusiastic about their learning. I feel that my graduate students made a real contribution to their literacy growth over the summer. Special thanks goes to Ron Collins who opened his school to my program and helped me recruit the children. I have worked with Ron on several projects including pre-service teacher field experience. His obvious care for his students is remarkable. You are lucky to have him in your school district.”
• The summer music camps at Interlochen were a success. Robin Bailey, Fine Arts Coordinator, writes to the music teachers, “I wanted to let each of you know how wonderful the concert was.  Each and every group sounded fabulous and it is quite impressive how much is accomplished in those five days you are at camp.  I know this is a wonderful experience for the kids and a lot of fun for all, but I also know how much work, organization and expertise is required by each of you to ensure this is a successful experience.  Thank you to each of you for your part in making this such a wonderful kick off to the year in each of your programs.  Congratulations Skyline on a wonderful first camp experience and a huge thank you to all the Pioneer and Huron staff for helping and welcoming Skyline on board.”
• Community High 2008 graduate Laura Wellman and Community High School Counselor John Boshoven are highlighted in an article entitled, "How to Escape the Wait List," in the annual 2009 Kaplan/Newsweek College Guide. Laura will be attending Yale University, after being offered a seat from their wait list. John is also featured in the U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges: How to Find the Right School for You” annual college ranking edition. That article, "Narrowing your Choices, " gives families tips on coming up with a college shortlist from figuring out what they're really looking for to asking the right questions on campus. Both annual guides are available nationwide through the end of the year.
• Due to the incredible power that the school-based health care movement has built over the last few years, Congress is now turning to NASBHC to demonstrate how the school-based health center (SBHC) model is a solution to broader child health care issues. In partnership with the School Community Health Alliance of Michigan, NASBHC identified the ideal spokesperson to explain how SBHCs changed his life. Jonathan Miller, a 2006 graduate of Stone High School, testified before Congress about how he was able to lose 137 pounds because of the supports provided by his high school SBHC.
  The Children and Families Subcommittee of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, chaired by Senators Dodd (D-CT) and Alexander (R-TN) held a hearing entitled "Childhood Obesity: The Declining Health of America's Next Generation -- Part II." Jonathan, along with the SBHC dietician, Beth Van Helden journeyed to Washington and shared their story among a packed audience, including Congressional staffers and local media, on Capitol Hill.
  At the beginning of the hearing, Senator Dodd announced the introduction of the Federal Childhood Obesity Prevention Act. The discussion on this bill will likely occur in 2009. Given Jonathan and Beth's inspiring story, there is no doubt that SBHCs will play a pivotal role in this legislation.
• Ann Borders, Logan, and Carol Mohrlock, Slauson, spent time in Bulgaria attending history and culture classes at the American University with 12 colleagues from Michigan, Nevada and Washington DC. They participated in an archeological dig and found clay pottery and a piece of glass that hasn't seen the light of day in 1500 years. They hiked the Pirin Mountains about 7 kilometers long and 900 meters high. Carol attended classes in natural dye, wool and weaving. Ann learned to play authentic Bulgarian instruments and the words to a Bulgarian song. They traveled to villages high in the mountains where they sang in Bulgarian and learned traditional dances. They report that it was an amazing experience.
• USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, has announced that head coach of the United States’ first junior national team in football, Chuck Kyle of Cleveland St. Ignatius H.S., has selected three defensive assistants for Team USA’s coaching staff. Pioneer High School’s head coach, Jeremy Gold, will serve as Team USA’s defensive line coach.
  Team USA will compete among a field of eight countries spanning four continents in the 2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship.  The tournament will take place June 27-July 5, 2009, in Canton, Ohio.  All games will be played in historic Fawcett Stadium, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  America’s team will be composed of top student-athletes from the country’s 2009 high school graduating class.
  All 50 state high school athletic associations and the District of Columbia are invited to nominate at least 10 players to compose a talent pool from which Team USA’s coaching staff will select its roster in spring 2009.
• Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful year.
  

Todd Roberts, Ed.D.
Superintendent