This Week In the Ann Arbor Public Schools

September 12, 2011

This Week’s Good News!

  • Welcome to the first full week of the 2011/2012 school year and the first edition of “This Week in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.”  I am happy to carry on the tradition of sharing good news items and recognizing the remarkable achievements of our students and staff.  I hope you will continue to submit your good news items so that we can all celebrate with you.
  • Thank you to all staff members for your help in orienting our students and families to a new school year and a new school routine.  There have been many difficult adjustments this year and I appreciate your patience and understanding as you continue to deliver an excellent educational experience to all of our students.
  • Thank you to all our custodial and maintenance workers who worked throughout this very hot summer to make sure our buildings were cleaned and services before the start of the school year.
  • In addition to preparing for a new school year, the district offered a number of summer programs for students:
    • 125 incoming first and 125 incoming third grade students attended the Summer Learning Institute during the month of July.  This daily, half-day program focused on building literacy and mathematics skills and was taught by certified Ann Arbor Public School teachers in cooperation with U of M’s ELMAC (Teacher preparation) program.  Students with perfect attendance received a voucher for a free Community Education and Recreation class.  There were also programs in cooperation with the Ann Arbor District Library in which the students received free books.
    • During July as well, several Title I schools, Allen, Bryant, Northside, and Scarlett, offered tutoring to students while Title III schools, Burns Park, and Clague, offered tutoring to English Language Learners.  In addition, an Extended Year Program was offered at Logan.
    • 721 middle and high school students attended summer classes at Pioneer from June 29th to August 2nd and 215 high school students were enrolled in online classes.
    • Huron Mathematics teacher, Philip Eliason, was recognized for giving up a week of summer vacation to accompany students to the National Mu Alpha Theta Convention in Dallas, Texas.  The convention is an opportunity for the students to participate in a variety of math competitions, listen to speakers on an assortment of math topics and interact with students from around the country.  In addition to chaperoning their students, the teachers also assist in the competitions to monitor, judge and run events.
  • Logan’s Equity Team was invited to present at Pacific Educational Group’s (PEG) 2011 Summit in San Francisco, CA.  The Equity Team will present a 3-hour session titled Evolution of An Equity Team: How Our Understanding of Culturally Relevant Teaching Has Transformed. Participants will: 1) Recognize Equity Leaders are most effective in their culturally relevant practices when they are reflective and open to transformation. 2) Explore what it means to be culturally relevant leaders of transformation.  3) Learn about Logan Elementary School’s equity leadership journey. 4) Examine your instructional and leadership practices and reflects on where you are in your journey. 5) Learn from and share with other educators about effective equity practices, including strategies for engaging students in talking about race. The following staff members comprise Logan’s Equity team; Emily Fairless–3rd grade, JoWanda Gore–2nd grade, Karen Henderson-Rochell–2nd grade, Adam Kinasz–2nd grade at Bryant Elementary, Katy LaCroix–4th/5th grades, Dante Watson–5th grade, Amy Webster–4th/5th grades, Terra Webster–Principal and Kristi Whitaker-Krile–2nd grade.  Congratulations to the Logan Equity Team!
  • Logan teacher, Katy LaCroix, has been named one of seven nation-wide finalists for the Teaching Tolerance Award for Culturally Responsive Teaching.  Katy has undergone a rigorous process and continues to excel! The panel of judges visited Katy’s classroom today, Monday, September 12th to observe her teaching throughout the entire morning. Please join the Logan staff as we applaud Katy for her tremendous success thus far!
  • It was a pleasure to meet many of you at the opening day assembly as well as during my visits to some of the schools last week.  Thank you all for your gracious welcome.  I plan to visit more schools in the coming days and hope to meet many more of you in the near future.  I am glad to be a part of this wonderful family of educators and look forward to an exceptional school year full of many success stories and endless possibilities fulfilled.

Best wishes to all.

Dr. Patricia P. Green
Superintendent for Schools