School MattersWINTER 2015

ECACEarly College / Allegan County

The Path is Yours!

In partnership with:

&– See Page 2 –

KINDERGARTENROUNDUP

Wednesday, April 15 1-7 p.m.

Starr Elementary

TOWN HALLMEETINGS

Meet with the Superintendent See Page 2 forDates & Times

EARLY COLLEGEMEETING

10th Graders & Parents Wednesday, February 186 pm • HS Media Center

2 W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G

S U P E R I N T E N D E N T ’ S V I E W P O I N T

by Susan Wakefield, Superintendent

The recent evolutions in public educa-tion have produced some wonderful possibilities for students. I am very

pleased to inform you of a re-cent outcome which resulted in an exciting opportunity for our students at Plainwell High School. Through the collab-orative efforts of local districts, the AAESA, and Lake Michi-gan College, current sopho-mores will have the opportu-nity to apply and enroll in the Early College Allegan County (ECAC) program. This would allow for students to graduate with their high school diploma and an Associate’s degree from Lake Michigan College.

So how does this work? Sopho-more students would apply to be accepted into the program. During their junior and se-nior year in high school, they would spend part of their day at PHS and part of their day at the Technical and Educational Center. Students would need to commit to one additional year beyond 12th grade and that year would be spent exclusively at the

Tech Ed Center. The costs of tuition, fees, and books for the Associate’s degree would be paid for by the local district. This means

that those students in the pro-gram will earn a two year col-lege degree without bearing the cost of college!

Students in the ECAC pro-gram can still participate in traditional high school experi-ences – prom, athletics, gradu-ation ceremonies, etc. During the year following 12th grade, the students would not be able to participate in high school activities but would have Lake Michigan College student ac-tivities available to them.

A meeting for sophomores and their parents has been sched-uled for February 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the high school media center. Details of the ECAC program, application process, and deadlines to apply will be shared at the meeting. Slots

will be limited. Please mark your calendars to learn about this amazing opportunity! n

New Possibilities

The Early College Allegan County program allows students to graduate with their high school diploma and an Associate’s degree.

2014-15CALENDAR

February 201/2 Day - All Students

February 23NO SCHOOL

March 111/2 Day - All Students

End of 2nd Trimester

April 3NO SCHOOL

April 6-10SPRING BREAK

May 25NO SCHOOL

June 51/2 Day - All StudentsLAST DAY OF SCHOOL

End of 3rd Trimester

REQUIRED MAKE-UP DAYS DUE TO SCHOOL CANCELLATION

BEGIN ON JUNE 8.

STAY IN TOUCH WITH PCS!LIKE US ON FACEBOOK:PlainwellCommunitySchoolsThePlainwellTrojans

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Town Hall MeetingsPlease Join Us!

Cooper • April 13 • 6 p.m. Starr • April 14 • 6 p.m.

RHS • April 16 • 1:30 p.m. PHS • April 21 • 6 p.m.PMS • April 22 • 6 p.m.Gilkey • April 23 • 6 p.m.

W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G 3

Some of the most common study strate-gies that students use – and that you and I probably used in school - are actually not

very efficient, nor do they help with remember-ing things for a long period of time. We’ve all experienced learning something in class one day and then not remembering it on the final exam. Every secondary teacher who teaches more than one grade knows how frustrating it is when stu-dents learn a concept one year and then have forgotten it when you teach them next year. Students will even tell you that they were never taught the concept. I used to tell my students, “You did to learn it. I was RIGHT THERE!” Cognitive scientists tell us that the most common study strategies students use do a very poor job of fighting against forgetting. Replac-ing them or adjusting them with scientifically proven strategies that fight forgetting can help students remember important concepts for the long term. Let’s look at one of them this month.

Recall versus Rereading Most students read over their notes or reread sections of their book to study for an exam. While you do get a short term benefit from do-ing this, what you do get is quickly forgotten. What cognitive scientists say is much better than rereading is to quiz yourself or try to recall the information you want to remember. The act of struggling and foraging through your brain and retrieving those facts and concepts gets your brain to strengthen and reconstitute the memory so that it is stronger and more easy to recall in the future. The effort of recall, ver-sus the passivity of rereading, strengthens the connection to that learning just as the effort of physical exercise strengthens the muscles.

One cognitive study took two groups of stu-dents. Each group read the same article and was asked to remember the key ideas. The next day, Group 1 was given 10 minutes to reread the article. Group 2 was asked to write down (recall) everything they could about the article from the day before. Both groups were then given a short test on the article. As you would expect, Group 1 – the group who got to reread the article - did better than the Group 2 on that immediate test. Of course; they had more time with the reading! But here’s the kicker. For the next experiment, the two groups were asked to read a new article. The next day, Group 1 was asked to reread the article and Group 2 was asked to recall (quiz themselves) on what they read yesterday. But this time the groups were tested one week later. This time, Group 2 (the recall/quiz group) remembered twice as much as Group 1 (the reread group)! Group 2’s act of effortful recall strengthened their learning and made it more resistant to forget-ting. What happened to Group 1 shows why cramming for a test sometimes helps. But it also shows us that you quickly forget what you crammed for! Group 2’s effortful recall and self quizzing, shows us how to get some-thing learned that isn’t quickly forgotten. Another fault with using just the rereading strategy for studying is that it gives you the il-lusion that you know the material better than you really do. You read your notes and think “Oh, yeah, I remember this”. But if you turn your notes over and try to recall what you learned or you quiz yourself with flashcards, you quickly see that you have forgotten a lot more than you think. Unlike a quick reread, with recall and quizzing you realize that you’ll have to dig in and relearn some concepts.

This experiment has been repeated in dif-ferent ways, many times. Cognitive scientists call this the retrieval practice effect or the testing effect. In his book Making It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, cogni-tive scientist Henry Roediger says that if stu-dents study material by actively retrieving it and quizzing themselves on it, they will remember it much better over the long term than if they just passively reread the material. So when you study and want to remember something, don’t just reread the book or your notes. A much better strategy for long term re-tention is to quiz yourself, have another person quiz you, or try to recall or write down what you remember. The act of retrieving a concept from your memory will actively fight against forgetting and keep it remembered longer. I’ll close with two pieces of advice for stu-dents from Barbara Oakley, author of A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel in Math and Sci-ence.

• Test yourself. On everything you need to remember. All the time. Flashcards are your friend.

• Use recall. After you’ve read a page, look away and recall the main ideas. Highlight very little, and never highlight anything you haven’t put in your mind first by recalling. Try recalling main ideas when you are walking to class or in a different room from where you originally learned it. An ability to recall – to generate the ideas from inside yourself – is one of the key indicators of good learning.

Next: Distributed practice versus massed practice.

n

F O C U S O N C U R R I C U L U M

by Bob Van Dis, Director of Curriculum

Making Learning Stick:Study Strategies that Work, Part I

A Very Magical Reading Month featuring Magician Alan KazamWEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 | 6:30 P.M. | PLAINWELL PERFORMING ARTS CENTERYou and your family are cordially invited to attend “A Very Magical Reading Month” program featuring the magician, Alan Kazam! Brought to you by the Starr Elementary Parents Association.

4 W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G

D I S T R I C T N E W S

PCS Seeks Outstanding People for Education Nominees

Do you know someone who has made a positive impact upon education in Plainwell? A fine way to recognize this accomplishment is by placing his or her name in nomination for the Outstanding

People for Education award. Up to three people from each local school district will be presented with the award by the Allegan County School Boards Association (ACSBA) at its annual banquet in June. The ACSBA began its Out-standing People award seven years ago and has honored over 150 recipients who are selected by local district committees. Examples of those who may be nominated are: teachers and classroom aides; secretaries, bus drivers, custodians and other school support staff; administrators and board of educa-tion members; social workers, therapists and consultants; volunteers; and community members who support education. The award criteria is wide and includes: providing support for a service or event that impacts edu-cation, developing a unique classroom program, demonstrating sensitivity to the needs of individual students, exhibiting an attitude that promotes a positive working and learning environment, or playing a leadership role in education. Students, parents, school employees and community members are invited to submit award nomina-tions on forms which are available in the administration office, school offices and also on the website (www.plainwellschools.org). Nominations are due April 1 and should be returned to Bonnie Pfingst, Ad-ministration Office, 600 School Drive, Plainwell, MI 49080 or email to bpfingst@plainwellschools.org.

PLAINWELL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS’

for children who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2015

Wednesday, April 151:00 to 7:00 p.m.

at Starr Elementary601 SCHOOL DRIVE • PLAINWELL

Open House Format • Drop-in Anytime!Kindergarten at Plainwell Community Schools is all-day, every-day.

Children from any district are welcome to enroll.Can’t attend? Please call any one of the schools below for an enrollment packet.

kindergarten round upkindergarten round up

COOPER ELEMENTARY7559 N. 14th Street

Kalamazoo, MI 49009(269) 349-2674

GILKEY ELEMENTARY707 S. Woodhams Street

Plainwell, MI 49080(269) 685-2424

STARR ELEMENTARY601 School Drive

Plainwell, MI 49080(269) 685-5835

P l a i n w e l l C o m m u n i t y S c h o o l s &

Don’t miss out on this once-a-year opportunity to view art, and especially your students’ art, at exclusive venues located throughout Plainwell!

F R I D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 2 0 •   5 T O 9 P . M .

ARTHOP

D E S I G N S T R E E T

If your student’s artwork is displayed at Design Street,

you may visit Design Street during any regular class times (check www.designstreetplainwell.com

for class times as they can change)as well as Mondays and Thursdays from 1:45 to 5 p.m. Design Street

will host special hours on Friday, February 20 (Art Hop Night)

from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday, March 13 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

R A N S O M L I B R A R Y

If your student’s artwork is displayed at Ransom Library,

you may visit the libraryanytime during regular hours as well as Friday, February 20

(Art Hop Night) from 5 to 9 p.m.

Questions? Feel free to contact your child’s art teacher, Design Street at 615-0884 or Ransom Library at 685-8024.

Nominations

are due April 1!

W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G 5

S C H O O L N E W S

Starr Elementary’s 2015 Winter Carnival

Fun, food, and friends were in abundance at this year’s Winter Carnival held at Starr El-ementary on Saturday, January 31. Above (L to R), Kalvin Carter (Starr) is proud of his

face painting; Michelle Yarzebinski, Rebecca Wagner and Natalie Elliott (Starr) show the true meaning of friendship; and Daniel Mansheim’s (Gilkey) excitement is contagious. The Patti Herm School of Dance was just one of the many entertainment options that families could enjoy. Just wait and see what next year holds!

The Annual Father/Daughter Dance

On Saturday, February 7 and for the 33rd year in a row, young girls and their fathers (or other special person) descended on Plainwell Middle School for the soiree of the year,

the Father/Daughter Dance! The highlights of this special evening were the stuffed animal giveaways and the song “Happy.” Nearly 900 daughters and their escorts attended this year’s event which was organized by Plainwell Community Education.

RHS’ Random Acts of Kindness

On a chilly January morning, students from Renaissance

High School descended on down-town Plainwell to spread some warmth and cheer throughout the community. They collected hats, scarves and mittens, made tags, and “decorated” Plainwell’s Archer sculpture with the winter accessories. Deb Scooneas of RHS states, “The project began when students wanted to pro-vide scarves, hats and gloves for the needy and homeless compli-ments of Renaissance.”

Each item’s tag read: I am not lost, I’m yours if you need me or pass me along. Renaissance High wants you to be warm.

Students that participated in this project were Tom Payne, Zach Kiewiet, Gavin Hunter, Marcus Hofacker, Shelby Riley, Bryce Bishop, Macoy Mitchell, and Ste-ven Harrington.

6 W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G

S C H O O L N E W S

CLAIRE AWE, 7TH GRADE

Plainwell Middle School

ASHLYN THOM, TORCHES

Cooper Elementary

TORI GRADWELL, 4TH GRADE

Gilkey Elementary

PMS Geography Bee Winners

Alexandra Uridge, a PMS 7th grader, won the school-wide competition of the National Geographic Bee on Thursday, January 22 and a chance at a $50,000

college scholarship! The school bee, at which students an-swer questions on geography, was the first round in the 27th Annual National Geographic Bee. Charley Truitt, a 6th grader was the 2nd place winner and Taylor Hughes, a 7th grader, was the 3rd place winner. Thousands of schools across the United States and in five territories are participating in the 2015 Geography Bee.School champions, including Alexandra, will take a written test. The top 100 scorers in each state will then be eligible to compete in their state bee on March 27, 2015. n

– PCS’ Student Artists of the Month –

PMS STEM 6 Visits WMU

On January 15, PMS STEM 6 students traveled to the Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education (MGRRE) at Western Michigan University. Dr. Peter Voice and staff escorted the students

through the 27,000 square foot facility which houses the most comprehensive archives of geological samples and data in Michigan, including approximately 500,000 linear feet of rock cores obtained from oil and gas wells, mineral wells, environmental research wells, cores of glacial sediments and samples from Lake Michigan bluff erosion studies and glacial research programs. Student hands-on activities included identifying fossil patterns, testing rock core porosity with bicycle pumps and identifying lots of different kinds of rocks! PMS students saw some unique samples including the soft, porous rock drilled during the construction of the Mackinac Bridge, and had plenty of great questions for Dr. Voice. n

W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G 7

M U S I C D E P T. N E W S

6:00 p.m. • High School Parents & Families

7:30 p.m. • Middle School Parents & Families

Plainwell Performing Arts Center6 8 4 S TA R R R O A D , P L A I N W E L L

The First Ever PMS & PHS Combined

Wednesday, February 25

FRIDAY, MARCH 27 • 7 p.m.SATURDAY, MARCH 28 •7 p.m.SUNDAY, MARCH 29 • 2 p.m.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT WWW.PHSFOOTLOOSE.BPT.ME

“Footloose the Musical,” lyrics by Dean Pitchford and

music by Tom Snow, will be presented by the Plainwell

High School Music Department on March 27, 28 and 29.

Kevin Rice will star as Ren McCormack with Abby Ernst play-

ing Ariel Moore, Luke Woltanski as Reverend Shaw Moore and

Shelby Lentz as Vi Moore. Performances will be at 7:00 p.m.

on Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28 and at 2:00 p.m.

on Sunday, March 29, at the Plainwell Performing Arts Center.

PHS Music Ambassadors are Headed to Europe!

Seven PHS band students have been selected to represent Plain-well, Michigan during a 14-day tour of Europe this summer as

part of the Michigan Ambassadors of Music. These students will be performing in London, Paris, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Liechten-stein and Germany. This will be the third time PHS band director, Paul Mundo, has taken this trip with his students. He states, “It re-ally is the trip of a lifetime with so very many memories.” PHS’ Music Ambassadors are (L to R): Alec Waples-Dexter, Heidi Johnson, Dana Plyley, Meredith Snyder, Kylie Gage, Samantha Wit-teveen, Tyler Walker and PHS Band Director, Paul Mundo.

PHS Choir Students Named to All-State Choir

Continued congratulations are in order for PHS choir students Luke Woltanski (‘16) and Ricky LaDuke (‘15)! These young

men began the school year by being selected for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association’s (MSVMA) Regional Honors Choir. They performed at Western Michigan University on December 6, 2014 where they were both chosen to perform for MSVMA’s All-State Choir! Luke and Ricky will perform at the Michigan Youth Fine Arts Festival, Thursday, May 7 through Saturday, May 9 on WMU’s campus. The concert will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Satur-day, May 9, at Miller Auditorium.

8 W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G

E A R LY C H I L D H O O D E D U C AT I O N

Plainwell’s Great Parents, Great Start program offers FREE monthly playgroups and quarterly workshops for children ages birth to five years at Starr Elementary, classroom #105, from 10-11:30 a.m. Each playgroup and workshop consists of fun activities, which promote fine and gross motor skills, academic learning, and social skills. At each seasonal workshop, children receive a FREE book!

February 17 • 10-11:30am“Brown Bear, Brown Bear...”

Children will count and graph differ-ent colored M&Ms, learn the names and sounds of various animals, prac-tice tracing letters, and play “mon-key” bean bag toss.

March 17 • 10-11:30am“The Foot Book”

Children will learn about rhyming, op-posites, and different kinds of animal footprints. They will practice lacing, and hopping and jumping on our gi-ant dinosaur footprint ruler.

April 21 • 10-11:30am“Five Little Speckled Frogs”

Children will sing, count, and hop on our paper pond. They will play mu-sical instruments, splash in a water table, and make a frog craft to take home along with their FREE book!

May 19 • 10-11:30am“Two-Bite Club”

Children will taste-test various fruits and veggies and learn about healthy eating habits. Each child will receive a seedling to plant at home and a col-oring workbook about nutrition.

Check us out at www.plainwellschools.org > Services > Preschool & Daycare or call 269.685.3103 for more information. We qualify for childcare tax credits, accept DHS payments & are approved for Flex reimbursement.

Little Trojans Monthly Playgroups& Seasonal Workshops!

trojansLittle

PLAINWELL COMM. SCHOOLS

Home of the Mini-Trojans!

aSpring

Open HouseWednesday, February 25

6 - 7 p.m.

Plainwell Corners Preschool & Daycare:Prepares your child for success! A preschool offering a developmentally appropriate and fun curriculum (including Handwriting Without Tears) designed for toilet-trained children who are 3 or 4-years old. Open Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Early Childhood Education Center, 307 E. Plainwell Street (next to Hicks Gym) for a $135 weekly rate or $37 daily rate.

Summer Camp & Fall 2015 Registration Open Now!

SAFE: Before & after school care for your child!A before and after school program providing a place to make friends and enjoy recreational activities, available for children from all three Plainwell elementary schools. Open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Gilkey and Starr SAFE meet at their own schools in the morning and are combined at Starr in the afternoon. Cooper SAFE will be held at Cooper. Rates are posted online.

Allegan County Free Preschool Head Start & Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)Allegan County offers Head Start and GSRP preschool for income eligible families with children turning 3 or 4 years of age by September 1, 2015. Children of all abilities are encouraged to apply. Transportation may be available. Enrollment begins March 2015. For more information, call 1-888-824-0032 or visit www.alleganaesa.org/earlyed

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G 9

AT H L E T I C N E W S

Congratulations to the 2014-15 PHS Competitive Cheer TeamWolverine Conference - East Division Champions

Congratulations to our MHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award Finalists– Jacob Almeda and Trent Monroe –

These young men were chosen as the best of the best (out of 120 applicants statewide!)

by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) as finalists for the MHSAA

Scholar-Athlete Award for 2014-15. These student-athletes’ submissions contain essays

in sportsmanship, leadership skills and extra-curricular activities and achievements, as

well as letters of recommendation. If selected, they will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Tickets are $100 and include: dinner for two, drink tickets, and a ticket into the reverse raffle. Reverse raffle cash prizes: top prize of $1,000, 2 - $500 prizes and 2 - $250 prizes. To purchase your tickets for the evening. Please send payment to the Plainwell Education Foundation, PO Box 463, Plainwell, Michigan, 49080.

The mission of the Plainwell Education Foundation (PEF) is to enhance excel-lence in education in Plainwell Commu-nity Schools. The Foundation is intended to provide financial assistance to projects or investment in students or teachers that are characterized as motivational, char-acter-building, improving skills or in gen-eral terms tending to enhance the Plainwell Community Schools and without which as-sistance the activity would not occur.

You arecordially invited to

PlainwellEducationFoundation’s

– 4th Annual –

BLUE & WHITE NIGHT

Saturday, March 76:00 p.m.

@ the OLD MILL

10 W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G

C O M M U N I T Y E D U C AT I O N & R E C R E AT I O N

Visit www.plainwellschools.org. Scroll to the bottom of the Home Page and click on the blue & green RevTrak box. Click on the Community Ed & Recreation box. Click on desired activity. If you are unable to register online, call (269) 685-9531 or stop by our office at 422 Acorn Street (in the Industrial Park) for assistance. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

REGISTER ONLINE @PLAINWELLSCHOOLS.ORG

Plainwell Community Education & Recreation

GIFT CERTIFICATESAVAILABLE NOW!

Call the Community Ed. Office at 685-9531

A Gift for

Program

From

Date

Plainwell Community Education & Recreation

4 2 2 A C O R N S T R E E T • P L A I N W E L L , M I C H I G A N • 6 8 5 - 9 5 3 1

A Gift for

Program

From

Date

Plainwell Community Education & Recreation

4 2 2 A C O R N S T R E E T • P L A I N W E L L , M I C H I G A N • 6 8 5 - 9 5 3 1

A Gift for

Program

From

Date

Plainwell Community Education & Recreation

4 2 2 A C O R N S T R E E T • P L A I N W E L L , M I C H I G A N • 6 8 5 - 9 5 3 1

Swim LessonsSession I –Monday & Wednesday Evenings

Dates: March 16, 18, 23, 25 and April 13, 15, 20, 22

5:30-6:05 p.m.

Session II –Monday & Wednesday EveningsDates: April 27, 29

and May 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20 5:30-6:05 p.m.

Cost: $50Register the first day of class.

Registration forms can be found online at www.plainwellschools.org

_____________________

Pool Passes for Lap/Open Swim OnlyPool passes are available for purchase at the pool.

40 Visits • $6020 Visits • $3210 Visits • $18

_____________________

Open SwimOpen swim is for all ages.New time begins March 6!

Friday and Saturday Nights • 7-8:30 p.m.$3 per person, $5 per family

_____________________

Lap Swim High school students & adults only.$3 per person or pass

Morning LapMonday, Wednesday, Friday • 6-7:00 a.m.

Noon LapMonday-Friday • 12 -1:00 p.m.

Evening LapTuesday & Wednesday • 6-7:00 p.m.

_____________________

Book a Pool PartyFor any group or organization1-30 people • $40/hour

31-50 people • $50/hourLobby • $25/hour (Tables/chairs included)

Call 685-2425 to reserve.

Contact Andrea Murphy at 685-2425 oramurphy@plainwellschools.org for

more information.

For most of us, February 2, 2014 was probably a routine

Sunday morning. Maybe you slept in a little late or attended a church service; probably nothing too differ-ent than the ordinary Sun-

day morning. But, for a group of Sunday morn-ing basketball players at Hicks Gym, it is a day that they will remember the rest of their lives. A year ago, on Feb. 2, 2014, “The Loftus Boys Sunday Morning Guys,” a group of gentle-men from Plainwell (many of them Plainwell graduates) and the surrounding area entered Hicks Gym as they have been for many years. As they anxiously awaited their time for exer-cise and friendly competition on the basketball court, the guys laced up their shoes and got down to business. What happened next, while it is still vivid in the minds of the guys, is one of those days they would prefer to forget. One of the group went down on the court with obvious heart symptoms. Through the quick actions of those present and our local emergency services, their teammate and friend is again playing along side them today.

Because the events of that day are so embed-ded in the hearts and lives of those present in the gym that day, the group wanted to be sure, if anyone in the future were to go through this or any other traumatic experience, that the neces-sary medical equipment would be available for them. This mens group and the Wes Leonard Foun-dation combined efforts, time and resources, and we are pleased to report that Hicks Gym has been equipped with an AED (automated external defibrillator) and a wall mounted first aid kit. In closing, next time you enter Hicks Gym, please notice the AED and medical kit that has been installed, and remember, it was placed there by a group of Sunday morning basket-ball players known as “The Loftus Boys Sunday Morning Guys” who wanted to be sure each of you are prepared in the event of an emergency. Plainwell Community Schools and the Plain-well Recreation Department greatly appreciate the efforts of these gentlemen. I hope you are enjoying our winter season!

– Bob Farris Recreation Director

A Note from the Recreation DirectorPCS POOL SCHEDULE SPRING ‘15

W W W. P L A I N W E L L S C H O O L S . O R G 11

C O M M U N I T Y E D U C AT I O N & R E C R E AT I O N

GOLDEN AGE PASSIf you are 62 years of age or older, you are eligible for a Golden Age Pass. This pass entitles you to FREE admission to any home Wolverine Confer-ence athletic event or lap swimming at the PCS pool, located at the middle school. To obtain your card, please stop by the Community Ed office at 422 Acorn St. between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday or the Athletic Office in the high school. Take advantage of this opportunity and support our athletes!

Now that it’s warming up outside, grab your boots, your child or grandchild and hit the nature trails at Gilkey Elementary! Make a game out of how many different signs of spring you notice. If it’s a really nice day,

pack a snack and eat it by the river.

LIVE WELLPLAINWELL

spring youth recreation spring adult recreation

BASKETBALL SKILLS CAMPGrades K - 6This program is open to student K-6th grade. Each Saturday, the same pool of players will be divided up differently. Phone call reminders will not be made. Please attend the practice on March 7 at the assigned time for your grade level.Date: Saturdays • March 7 - 28, 2015Time: 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. - K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. - 5th & 6thLocation: Starr Elementary Gym Cost: $42Instructors: Coaches Klein, Rieman & staffYou must pre-register. No sign ups at camp. Registration deadline is Monday, February 23.

TAE KWON DO Ages 7 to 107Tae Kwon Do is a 200 year old martial art and it is the national sport of

Korea. It is a dynamic form of self-defense and an ex-cellent means of physical fitness for men, women and children of all ages. This form of martial art includes physical techniques, mental discipline and a deep philosophy. Improve coordination, gain strength, and increase your flexibility while learning self-defense techniques from an ancient Korean martial art form. Tae Kwon Do is appropriate for kids and adults of all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels. Come by yourself, with a friend, or bring the whole family for fun and fitness. Class is open to all, age 7 and older.Dates: Mondays • March 23 - June 1, 2015No Class April 6 & May 25Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Location: Plainwell Middle School CafeteriaCost: $42 individual, $67 familyInstructors: Huong TranAll registrations are done online or you can stop by your school or Community Ed office. No sign-ups at the gym.Registration deadline is Monday, March 16.

ZUMBA®

Ladies OnlyAmy Baker is authorized to teach all of the following Zum-ba courses: Basic Zumba, Zumba Toning, Zumbatomic for Kids, Zumba Gold and Aqua Zumba. She has an amazing personal testimony of weight loss and life change. Now she makes it her mission to help others get in shape and lose weight. Zumba fitness classes are for ages 13 and older. Amy would like to remind participants that your hour of Zumba is an hour for you. No childcare is provided, therefore young children should not attend. For more in-formation, email acc4love@aol.com, visit facebook.com/zumbawithamybaker or call (269) 271-5045.

Dates: Mondays • April 13 - June 1, 2015Time: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.No Class May 25th - Memorial Day

Dates: Sundays • April 12 - June 7, 2015Time: 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.No Class April 5th - Easter

Location: Hicks Gym, 311 E. Plainwell St.Cost: Any 10 classes for $50, Any 20 classes for $80 Walk-in participation available anytime - $5.Please come early to your first class to register.

INDOOR WALKINGIf the Plainwell Community Schools are closed for any rea-son, Indoor Walking will be cancelled that day. Class will be on time if the school system has a delay. This program runs through May 31.

Dates: Adults Only • Mondays, Wednesdays & FridaysTime: 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

Dates: Families • Tuesdays & ThursdaysTime: 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

Location: Hicks Gym, 311 E. Plainwell St.Cost: FREE

ENHANCED FITNESS CLASSClasses are offered through Borgess-Pipp Hospital and will be offered three mornings a week. To register or for more information, please contact Sarah Callen at 269-903-9434. $30 for 6 weeks.

Dates: Mondays, Wednesdays & FridaysTime: 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.Location: Hicks Gym, 311 E. Plainwell St.

Dates: Mondays, Wednesdays & FridaysTime: 11:00 a.m. to NoonLocation: Plainwell Community Center, 798 Bridge St.

EUCHRE - Singles or DoublesDates: TuesdaysTime: 6:45 p.m.Location: Plainwell Community Center, 798 Bridge St.Cost: Donations appreciated.

ANNUAL SPRING FLINGJoin us for our Annual Hawaiian-themed Spring Fling! This FREE event is one you won’t want to miss with a delicious breakfast provided by Plainwell Community Schools. Join us in welcoming back the snowbirds!Date: Thursday, April 30, 2015Time: 8:00 a.m.Location: Starr Elementary, 601 School DrivePlease RSVP to Diane at 685-9531 or email dslater@plainwellschools.org by April 15, 2015.

SENIORS DINING WITH SENIORSSeniors in Action and the Renaissance High School Class of 2015 celebrate the end of the school year and this year’s graduating class! Spaghetti, Bread, drink and table service provided. Please bring a dish to share. Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2015Time: 6:00 p.m.Location: Renaissance High School, 422 Acorn StreetPlease RSVP to Diane at 685-9531 or email dslater@plainwellschools.org by Monday, May 4, 2015.

CO

NTA

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Diane Slater, Community Ed & Rec., Seniors in Action Coordinator .....................685-9531Bob Farris, Recreation Director ..........................................................................685-9531Andrea Murphy, Pool Director .............................................................................685-2425Tammy Glupker, Director ....................................................................................685-1573

PLAINWELL HIGH SCHOOL 2014-15 SPRING SPORTS SCHEDULE

THE PLAINWELL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICTIS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

** ECRWSS **Postal Customer

The public is invited to attend all Board of Education meetings. Business meetings are held the third Monday of each month and workshop meetings are held on the first Monday, both beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Administration Building, which is located off Gladys St. between Starr Elementary and Plainwell Middle School.

Published by the Plainwell Board of Education, Plainwell, Michigan 49080

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION OFFICES • 685-5823Susan Wakefield .....................................................SuperintendentBob Van Dis ............................Director of Curriculum & InstructionMelissa Gelbaugh ...........Director of Finance & Human Resources Jeff McNutt ................................................. Director of Technology Greg Smith ...................... Director of Operations & TransportationDave Price .......................................................Director of Athletics

Board of EducationAmy Blades ......................................................................... PresidentKim Shafer ................................................................... Vice PresidentChristine VanDenBerg ......................................................... Treasurer Julli Bennett .........................................................................SecretaryJohn Artz .................................................................................TrusteeThomas Berlin .........................................................................TrusteeShannon Zabaldo ....................................................................Trustee

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDPlainwell, Michigan

Permit No. 37Plainwell Community Schools600 School DrivePlainwell, MI 49080-1595

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE ATHLETIC OFFICE AT 269.685.2096

VARSITY SOFTBALLMAR 31 Portage Northern AAPR 14 Dowagiac H 16 Schoolcraft A 17 Vicksburg A 18 Marshall Tourn. A 21 South Haven A 22 Gull Lake H 24 Allegan H 28 Three Rivers H MAY 1 Otsego A 2 Otsego Tourn. A 5 Sturgis A 8 League Rain Date TBA 12 Godwin Heights H 14 Middleville H 16 WC @ Otsego A 18 Parchment A 20 K Central H 26 Pre-Districts TBA 30 Districts TBA

JV SOFTBALLMAR 31 Portage Northern HAPR 14 Dowagiac A 16 Schoolcraft H 17 Vicksburg H 20 Bloomingdale H 21 South Haven H 22 Gull Lake A 24 Allegan A 25 Otsego Tourn. A 28 Three Rivers A MAY 1 Otsego H 5 Sturgis H 14 Middleville A 18 Parchment H 20 K Central A

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCERMAR 26 Caledonia H 28 Plainwell Invite H 30 Spring Lake HAPR 1 Battle Creek Lakeview H 15 Dowagiac H 17 GR Christian A 22 Vicksburg A 25 Williamston Tourn A 27 Allegan H 29 Three Rivers HMAY 1 Mattawan A 4 Otsego A 6 Sturgis A 8 Portage Northern H 13 Conf Tournament TBA 15 Portage Central H 18 Conf Tournament TBA 20 Conf Tournament TBA 26 Districts TBA

GIRLS JV SOCCERMAR 26 Caledonia H 30 Spring Lake HAPR 1 Battle Creek Lakeview H 15 Sturgis H 17 GR Christian A 22 Vicksburg A 27 Allegan H 29 Three Rivers HMAY 1 Mattawan A 4 Otsego A 6 Sturgis A 8 Portage Northern H 13 Conf Tournament TBA 15 Portage Central H 18 Conf Tournament TBA 20 Conf Tournament TBA

VARSITY BASEBALLMAR 31 Portage Northern AAPR 14 Dowagiac H 16 Schoolcraft A 17 Vicksburg A 21 South Haven A 22 Gull Lake H 24 Allegan H 28 Three Rivers H 30 Hopkins AMAY 1 Otsego A 5 Sturgis A 8 League Rain Date TBA 12 Conf Tourn Rnd 1 TBA 15 Conf Tourn Rnd 2 TBA 16 Conf Tourn Champion TBA 18 Parchment A 20 Delton H 26 Pre-Districts TBA 30 Districts TBA

JV BASEBALLMAR 31 Portage Northern HAPR 14 Dowagiac A 16 Schoolcraft H 17 Vicksburg H 21 South Haven H 24 Allegan A 28 Three Rivers A 30 Hopkins HMAY 1 Otsego H 5 Sturgis H 18 Parchment H 20 Delton A

GIRLS TENNISAPR 14 Dowagiac H 16 Vicksburg A 18 Greater Kzoo Inv A 20 Greater Kzoo Inv A 21 Allegan H 22 Three Rivers H 27 Otsego A 29 Sturgis AMAY 4 League Crossover TBA 6 Comstock H 8 Wolverine Conf TBA 9 Wolverine Conf TBA

TRACK & FIELDMAR 31 Vicksburg HAPR 7 Open Rain Makeup TBA 14 Allegan A 17 Otsego Relays A 21 Three Rivers A 28 Otsego HMAY 1 Allegan Invite A 5 Sturgis H 8 Conf Finals @ Sturgis A 16 Regionals TBA

BOYS GOLFMAR 23 Otsego Jamboree AAPR 1 Vicksburg Jamboree A 13 Three Rivers Jamboree A 20 Gull Lake H 22 Plainwell Jamboree H 24 Comstock Invite A 27 Allegan Jamboree A 30 Gull Lake Invite A MAY 2 Gull Lake JV Invite A 6 Sturgis Jamboree A 7 K Christian H 11 Conf Tourn Rnd 1 A 14 Conf Tourn Rnd 2 A