The Official Publication of Coloma Community Schools

Volume 51 Number 2 January/February 2017

2016-2017 SECOND SEMESTER ISSUE

SECOND SEMESTER BEGINS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

This fall we rolled out our new strate-gic plan, which included our new mis-sion, vision, core values, and strategic goals for us to work on as a district over the next five years. This plan is not something we complete and then put on a shelf to let it collect dust. It is a living document of our intentions to

create the best possible learning environment for our stu-dents. I would encourage anyone that would like to learn more to read the full plan on our new website to see what our long-term goals are for the future! We started our work in achieving the goals of our strate-gic plan this fall when the board and I selected four goals, with multiple objectives and actions, to begin working on this school year. Our community has experienced some of these actions as we have instituted late starts for staff pro-fessional development in an effort to increase student learning and achievement; deployed our new website, uti-lize facebook, twitter, and our new school messenger sys-tem for communication; implemented a K-12 homecoming week and had a spirit wear sale in an effort to increase Comet Pride in out district; and moved to a single-bus run which allowed us to add six new buses to our fleet. All of these short-term goals for the 2016-17 school year will have a long-term effect, especially when we are able to look back in five years from where we were to where we will be. But I wanted to share with our community the early outcomes of some of our work, the most important work we do, educating our students and helping them to achieve better educational outcomes. As most of you are probably aware, the State of Michigan implemented a new state testing system in 2015 called the M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress).

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail This test is given in grades 3-8 and 11 to monitor the growth and achievement of students from year-to-year. In addition, the state added the PSAT and SAT as a col-lege entrance exam that our students will take in 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade. Coloma has traditionally per-formed below the state and county averages on state tests and our strategic plan intends to address this. Following our spring 2016 M-STEP, which was the sec-ond year for this test, we were able to analyze our re-sults to see (1) how our student achievement improved, and (2) measure how much our students are growing from year-to-year. I am happy to report that student achievement is up, and we increased our overall profi-ciency while the state and county averages either de-clined or remained flat. Our 3rd grade reading scores, one of the most important indicators of early student learning, was above the state and county averages and in the top five of all schools in Berrien County!! In addi-tion our student growth, how much each student grows from one year to the next, was above state average in all subjects! We were 6th in the county in growth in ELA and math, 2nd overall in science, and 3rd in social stud-ies. While there is still much room for district improve-ment, these results are some of the best results we have experienced as a district when compared to others in our county and state. Having only started our work with Professional Learning Communities a little over a year ago, and being in the first year of strategic plan imple-mentation, these results are encouraging. In April our students will have their next opportunity to demon-strate their achievement and growth. I encourage you to encourage them to plan and prepare to do their best on these assessments. Together we will inspire our stu-dents to achieve, and empower them for success!

Check out the Coloma Community Schools website at www.ccs.coloma.org for pertinent information.

The Comet Connection

by Pete Bush, Superintendent of Schools

Coloma Community Schools

2016-17 School Calendar—2nd semester

STARTING AND DISMISSAL TIMES FOR 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR

Half Day Late Start/ Start Dismissal Dismissal 2-Hour Delay High School 8:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. 11:37 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Junior High 8:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. 11:37 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Coloma Intermediate 8:15 a.m. 3:17 p.m. 11:54 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Coloma Elementary 8:15 a.m. 3:17 p.m. 11:54 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Little Learners 8:15 a.m. 3:17 p.m. 11:54 a.m. 10:15 a.m.

January 2017 M 30 First day of the second semester

February 2017 W 8 2-Hour Late Start W 22 2-Hour Late Start

March 2017 W 8 2-Hour Late Start W 22 2-Hour Late Start F 31 K-12: 1/2 Day Students - Spring Break begins at end of day - End of 3rd Marking Period

April 2017 Spring Break - April 3-7 M 10 CLASSES RESUME T 11 12th Gr - No School 9th, 10th, 11th - PSAT & SAT Testing W 12 2-Hour Late Start - PK-10th, 12th 11th grade - WorkKeys Testing F 14 K-12: 1/2 Day Students - Good Friday W 26 2-Hour Late Start

May 2017 W 10 2-Hour Late Start W 24 2-Hour Late Start M 29 NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

June 2017 F 2 Graduation - 7:00 p.m. T H 8 K - 12 students 1/2 day; 6 - 12 exams F 9 K - 12 students 1/2 day; 6 - 12 exams LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

School Closings and Two-Hour Delays

When weather or road conditions make travel unsafe it often becomes necessary to close or delay schools. Typically a decision to close or delay schools will be made by 5:30 am, however, changing conditions may extend the decision-making process to 6:00 am. When the decision to delay or close is made, local radio and television stations are immediately notified. School Messenger communications are also initiated.

As an alternative to closing school during inclement weather, the school may choose to delay the start of classes for two hours in anticipation of improving weath-er and road conditions. The decision will be reviewed between 7:00 and 8:00 am, to determine whether to continue with the two hour delay or cancel school for the day. If a two hour delay is decided upon, we strongly encourage all students to attend school, but will imple-ment the following schedule changes: There will be no transportation for AM Math/Science

Center classes 1st period will be canceled for high school shared

time classes Class schedules will be adjusted Breakfast will not be served The major determining factor when making the deci-sion to close school will always be the safety of our stu-dents.

WINTER ATHLETIC SCHEDULES 2016-17 Coloma High School

Varsity Girls’ Basketball

Date Opponent Site Time Fri. Feb. 3 Hartford Away 6:00 Fri. Feb. 10 Fennville Home 6:00 Tue. Feb. 14 Berrien Springs Home 7:00 Fri. Feb. 17 Saugatuck Home 6:00 Tue. Feb. 21 Gobles MS/HS Home 5:30 Fri . Feb. 24 Constantine Home 6:00 Tue. Feb. 23 Gobles Away 5:30 Mon. Feb. 27 1st Round Districts TBD

JV Girls’ Basketball

Date Opponent Site Time Thur. Feb. 2 Hartford Home 5:30 Thur. Feb. 9 Fennville Away 5:30 Tues. Feb. 14 Berrien Springs Home 5:30 Thur. Feb. 16 Saugatuck Away 5:30 Mon. Feb. 20 Gobles Away 5:30 Thur. Feb. 23 Constantine Away 5:30

Varsity Boys’ Basketball Date Opponent Site Time Fri. Feb. 3 Hartford Away 7:30 Fri. Feb. 10 Fennville Home 7:30 Fri. Feb. 17 Saugatuck Home 7:30 Tue. Feb. 21 Gpbles MS/HS Home 7:00 Fri. Feb. 24 Constantine Home 7:30 Tues . Feb.28 Decatur Away 7:00 Thur. Mar. 2 Bangor Home 7:00 Mon. Mar. 6 1st Round Districts Home TBD

JV Boys’ Basketball

Date Opponent Site Time Thurs. Feb. 2 Hartford Home 7:00 Thur. Feb. 9 Fennville Away 7:00 Thur. Feb. 16 Saugatuck Away 7:00 Mon. Feb. 20 Gobles MS/HS Away 7:00 Thurs. Feb. 23 Constantine Away 7:00 Tue. Feb. 28 Decatur Away 5:30 Thur. Mar. 2 Bangor Home 5:30

Freshmen Boys’ Basketball Date Opponent Site Time Thur. Feb. 2 Hartford Home 4:15 Thur. Feb. 9 Fennville Away 4:15 Thur. Feb. 16 Saugatuck Away 4:15 Thur. Feb. 23 Lawton Away 5:30 Thur. Mar. 2 Hackett Catholic Home 4:15 JV/Varsity Wrestling

Date Opponent Site Time Sat. Feb. 4 SAC Conf. Meet Home TBA

Varsity Competitive Cheer Date Opponent Site Time Wed. Feb. 1 Rock the House Ber.Sps 6:00 pm Sat. Feb. 4 SAC Conf. Champ. Dalton/ 10:00 am Kellogg Mon. Feb. 13 Cheer by the Pier III St.Joe 6:00 pm

“Building an Elite Program… Building Elite Individuals.”

“65 and over” CLUB Residents of Coloma who are 65 or older can obtain a

senior pass which entitles them to attend all school functions at no charge. Passes can be obtained at the

school Administration Office

Coloma Elementary and Intermediate News Coloma Elementary and Intermediate Schools partner with many community resources to assist our students in becoming well rounded and productive members of our community. For this district newsletter we would like to share how various community programs are enhancing the learning of our students.

Skills for Social & Academic Success

Our School Social Workers have been working with K-5 class-rooms, on a weekly basis, to provide lessons through the Second Step program. The Second Step program for K-5 grades is a univer-sal, classroom-based program designed to increase students' school success and decrease problem behaviors by promoting social-emotional competence and self-regulation. It teaches skills that strengthen students' ability to learn, have empathy, manage emo-tions, and solve problems. The program targets key risk and protec-tive factors linked to a range of problem behaviors. Equipping stu-dents with Second Step skills creates a safer, more respectful learn-ing environment that promotes school success for all.

Coloma Elementary School (K-3)

262 S. West St. Coloma, Michigan 49038 Phone 269 -468-2420 Fax 269-468-2434

Principal—Krista Bethke

Coloma Intermediate School (4-5)

274 S. West St. Coloma, MI 49038 Phone 269-468-2415 Fax 269-468-2445

Principal - Darla England

Kids Hope, a program designed to bring struggling students together with mentors is celebrating its 11th year at Coloma Community Schools and 21st anniversary nationwide. It’s main purpose is to provide a relia-ble, caring adult relationship to the children within elementary schools. It is organized as a “One” model; one child struggling with friends, family, or academics is paired with one adult mentor that partners with one ele-mentary school. Coloma Community Schools began their partnership with Kid’s Hope 11 years ago, beginning with eight students. We now have 2 students at the Intermediate and 12 students at the elementary for a total of 14 stu-dents being serviced by this program. Some of our students need help with math or reading, some have be-havior struggles, and some just need a friend. Mentors have requirements before they are partnered with a student. Mentors go through a three hour training session at the Coloma United Methodist Church. They also have required background checks. They are then introduced to the principal and with the assistance of school social workers, paired with a mentee. Our current Kids Hope director is Debbie Cowgill. Following in her mother’s footsteps she became a mentor six years ago; and now her granddaughter is a mentor at the elementary school. There have been many success stories throughout the years as the mentor stays with the student year to year. There are holiday gatherings and end of the year celebrations are provided by Kids Hope for the mentees and their families.

Girls on the Run Coloma Elementary and Intermediate is once again participating in Girls on the Run this spring. Girls on the Run is a national program that encourages life long fitness along with building confidence. Girls meet twice a week with their certified coaches. There is a 24 lesson curriculum that focuses on under-standing ourselves, valuing relationships, teamwork, and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large. The third through fifth grade program runs for three months and ends with a 5K event. Shoes are pro-vided to each girl. There is a focus on team work and healthy relationships. The goals of the program are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, and physical development. Physical activity is woven into the program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and to build habits that lead to a lifetime of health. Completing the 5K event gives the girls confidence and a framework for set-ting and achieving life goals. The program website further explains...“Crossing the finish line is a defining moment when the girls realize that even the seemingly impossible IS possible.” www.gotrberrien.org

“WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY GIRL CAN EMBRACE WHO SHE IS, CAN DEFINE WHO SHE WANTS TO BE, CAN RISE TO ANY CHALLENGE, & CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.”

On Thursday December 1st Coloma Elementary held its first annual Literacy Night. Families learned ways to support literacy in every room of the house through hands on activities. Pictured above are Mrs. Brinnehl's junior kinder-garten students.

K-5 Parent/Teacher Conferences

On Wednesday, February 22, Coloma Elementary and Intermediate will be holding winter parent/teacher conferences. Conferences are set to be held from 4:00 - 7:00 pm that evening. Students should be bringing home more infor-mation as the date approaches if the teacher feels a second semester conference is needed that will allow parents to schedule a time that works best. We en-courage parents to attend parent/teacher conferences, get involved with your child’s education, and communicate any concerns with our staff!! We look for-ward to seeing you on February 22!!

Parent Volunteers

Coloma Elementary and Intermediate schools are looking for parent volunteers. If you are interested in providing assis-tance and being involved in your schools all you need to do is submit for a back-ground check on our website, and once approved you will receive your badge as a school volunteer!!

School volunteer working with 2nd grade students

Junior High & High School News

Coloma Junior High Principal - Peter Olsen Counselor - Jennifer Miner 302 West St. Joseph Coloma, Michigan 49038 Phone 269-468-2405 Fax 269-468-2428

Coloma High School Principal - David Ehlers Asst. Principal - Fred Paulsen Counselor - Fran Megyese

300 West St. Joseph Coloma, Michigan 49038 Phone 269-468-2400 Fax 269-468-2423

7th Grade - Medieval Times

On May 30th we will take our 7th graders to Medieval Times in Chicago. Medieval Times is a dining/entertainment venue that offers special dates exclusively for educational mat-inees and school field trips. On these dates, the performers teach students about topics like knighthood, feudalism, weapon-ry, combat, falconry, horsemanship, and life during the medie-val era. This coincides with our Social Studies curriculum as we will be studying medieval history at the end of the year. Included with the educational presentation is a two hour show and lunch. The actual building is in the form of a castle and students will be able to explore the castle prior to the show. Additional information and cost ($65/student) was sent home with students a few weeks ago. Payment is due no later than April 21st. Please contact any 7th grade teacher with questions.

Anne Frank Comes to Coloma

Being a teenager is tough enough. Imagine being a teenager and having to live in hiding, fearing for your life each day. 8th and 9th Grade students will experience life through the eyes of Anne Frank on February 13, when they attend a theatri-cal production of The Diary of Anne Frank. Our curriculum includes the study of the Holocaust, World War II and "The Diary of Anne Frank". Teachers and students are excited to at-tend this enriching event which will deepen their understanding of these important topics.

American Eagle Productions (AEP) will be per-forming the drama onstage in our auditorium. AEP is an educational theater troupe from Chica-go. Their mission is to bring literature, history, and geography to life through live musical and theatrical productions. The performance is made possible by a grant from the Berrien County Community Foundation through their Golden Acorn Grant program.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This spring, Coloma Junior and Senior High School will not hold formal Parent-Teacher Conferences on a set night as in years past. All teachers are available to meet if you have specific questions about your students and desire a traditional face-to-face meeting. You may arrange for a meeting by contacting your school office or by emailing a teacher to request the opportunity to meet. We encourage all parents to monitor the online gradebook and to communicate any concerns or issues early to the teachers via email. Any parent that does not have online gradebook access can contact their school office.

Pictured (l) - Coloma hosted a First Tech Challenge (FTC) event on December 3, 2016.

Upcoming Events/Dates

Jr/Sr High School Band Concert - February 21 High School Choir Concert - February 23

3rd Qtr Progress Reports emailed out March 2 Spring Break—April 3-7

HS DOOR DECORATING CONTEST

The High School had a holiday door decorating contest in December. First place went to Sara Glisson’s classroom door (on left) and second place went to Rebecca Selvidge’s classroom door (on right) Great job!

High School Testing—SAT/PSAT/M-STEP

Spring is just around the corner, and with spring comes the state testing window for high schools.

Our 11th grade students will take the SAT, the ACT Work Keys, and the M-STEP online test on three dif-ferent dates, April 11th, 12th and 13th. The SAT is the college entrance exam for HS students, the Work Keys is a workplace readiness assessment, and the M-STEP covers required topics in science and social stud-ies. Our 9th and 10th graders will take the PSAT 9/10 respectively on the morning of April 11th. These tests are important as well as mandatory. Students need to be well rested and prepared mentally for testing when they arrive at school on test day. During the testing on April 11th, seniors will be excused from school for the day. All 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will be dismissed following testing. Also, 9th, 10th, and 12th graders will have a late start on April 12 while juniors are testing. A more detailed schedule will be shared at a later date via mail and email. We will also communicate testing cycle information and reminders via telephone and text message as the testing dates draw near. Please discuss the importance of testing with your HS student, giving his/her best effort on testing days. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support!!

Seniors - Scholarships

The best online scholarship search site is: www.fastweb.com with over l.3 million scholarships COMET PRIDE

To the Coloma Schools Community:

January is School Board Recognition Month—a time to salute the work of our volunteer

school board members and to celebrate public education.

The theme, “School Boards Lead,” reflects our combined commitment to leadership and ac-

countability, assuring that ALL children succeed.

It’s an exciting and challenging time in public education. School board members at Coloma

Community Schools develop policies and make tough decisions that help shape the future of

our education system. They bear responsibility for an annual budget of $15 million, over 1500

students, nearly 200 employees and four school buildings. They are citizens whose decisions

affect our children and build our communities.

Our board of education, and the hundreds like it across the state, preserve the core of our de-

mocracy—public education. They ensure that decisions on school programming are made by

people we’ve elected to represent our community’s values, culture and circumstances.

Showing appreciation for the important work of school boards should be a year-round pro-

cess, but too often we neglect to recognize the dedication and hard work of these men and

women who represent us. This January, the staff and students of Coloma Community

Schools are asking all members of the community to take a moment and thank a school

board member.

Thank you to the men and women who dedicate countless personal hours to ensure the

needs of our community are met by our public schools. We salute the public servants of Co-

loma Community Schools whose dedication and civic responsibility make local control of pub-

lic schools in our community possible. We applaud them for their vision and voice to prepare

today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders.

The men and women serving Coloma Community Schools are:

Heidi Ishmael – Board President Apryl Watson – Vice President

Doug Kraemer – Secretary Bob Hirsch – Treasurer Bill Stowers – Trustee

Nicole Hickmon - New Trustee Doug LeClear - New Trustee

And a special thank you to Dave Vollrath and Kelly Clements, who recently resigned from their position on the Board after serving our community for over 18 years and two years re-spectively! We wish them luck as they assume their new positions serving as a Berrien County Commissioner and City Treasurer in Coloma!! Peter W. Bush Superintendent of Schools