1December 2013

An Open Book LIBRARIAN CHAT

Cold Weather Care PET SAFETY

Winter Photography PHOTO TIPS

December 2013

Rewarding CreativityMPEF Funds ‘Brain Strong’ Projects

2 3December 2013 December 2013

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Funding ‘Brain Strong’ Projects in Mattawan Schools

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An Open Book: Library Q&A18

Cold Weather Pet Safety Tips20

Inside

5 From the EditorWhat’s special this month — in the magazine, and the area.

7 Around TownPeople, places, problems, good causes and occasions.

23 Gotta Go! Best bets for upcoming concerts, shows and events.

25 Snapshots Community residents share their photos with readers.

27 CalendarYour guide to music, theater, kid stuff and lots more.

30 And Another Thing ...A fond farewell from this month’s issue of the magazine.

A group of Mattawan teachers was recently surprised with Mattawan Public Education Foundation’s Creative Instruction Awards. Read more about this year’s CIAs on page 14. Photo courtesy of Mattawan Public Education Foundation

How To: Winter Photography24

Scoliosis Support Group To Start30

Make Mattawan & Texas Corners Life your own: Become a contributor!Matea Michelangeli, left, sent in the winter photography tips and photos on pages 24 and 25. It’s easy to join the community conversation; just email articles, photos, information and ideas to the email address shown below.

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Photo courtesy of Matea Michelangeli24

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Photo courtesy of Mattawan Public Education Foundation14

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In October, the Mattawan Public Education Foundation presented 24 Creative Instruction Awards to Mattawan Consolidated School

teachers, providing more than $15,000 to fund important classroom programs.

Teachers are innovative and constantly thinking of creative ways to help their students learn. Creative Instruction Awards provide an opportunity to bring these “brain strong” ideas to life and make a positive difference in Mattawan schools. Funds for these CIAs, and all MPEF grants, are available thanks to individuals and businesses in the community who donate through MPEF’s annual direct mail campaign, a holiday teacher recognition program, and fund-raising events like the Wildcat Road and Trail 5K and annual golf outing. Teachers in the four Mattawan School buildings complete grant applications in the early fall that are reviewed by a com-mittee of MPEF board members and community volunteers, who look for new, original, creative ideas that will provide stu-dents with a positive learning experience. Each year there are more applications than available funds, which makes selection difficult. MPEF wishes every idea could be funded.

This year’s awards support science, math, literacy, health and life skills that will benefit students this year and years to come. MPEF board members enjoy making surprise announce-ments and seeing the happy teachers, who often are applauded by their students.

“Thank you to everyone who donates to MPEF — this will make a big difference in our students’ reading and comprehen-sion,” said Jamie Harvey, who teaches high school English 9, upon receiving her award. Harvey will use the requested funds to purchase classic literature in a format more accessible for reluctant or struggling readers.

Science teacher Jody Tuls, also in the high school, said of her grant, “I am excited to bring this technology into the first year chemistry classroom so that students can collect and analyze accurate and relevant data, which will enhance their understanding of abstract chemistry concepts.”

Programs funded through CIAs can be designed for one

classroom, for all students in a grade, or may support learn-ing throughout an entire school. Teacher Nick Travis’ grant to purchase iPad and MacBook applications, for instance, will directly impact every student and teacher in the Early Elemen-tary School.

“These apps will greatly enhance teaching and learning for many years to come, and we greatly appreciate this support,” Travis said.

A middle school grant for health fairs involves eighth grad-ers connecting with sixth graders and, according to teacher Kyle Karsen, “gives us an opportunity to provide important learning for sixth graders that otherwise would not happen.”

The awardsRecipients of the 2013-14 Mattawan Public Education Foun-

dation Creative Instruction Awards are:

Kindergarten students will learn how the acronym SPARK in-volves healthy eating, reduced media time and plenty of activity

Becoming ‘Brain Strong’ in MattawanMPEF recently announced its 2013-14 Creative Instruction Award winners.

by Holly Rosenhagen Community contributor

with new balls, hoops, jump ropes, bean bags, and movement cubes.

The Reflector App allows students in kindergarten through sec-ond grade to work together on lessons projected on the board by wirelessly connecting iPad screens and teachers’ MacBooks.

Foam magnetic letters, letter stamps and word beads will give first graders an active, hands-on way to memorize sight words and build phonic skills.

Early Elementary teachers can “APPly” Common Core learning standards for language arts, math and more through program apps designed for young students.

At the Early Elementary, modeling clay will be provided to students in need of additional fine-motor skills practice and strengthening.

To increase comfort and concentration while fourth graders read and work together, ergonomically designed floor pillows enable a healthy break from sitting at classroom desks.

Advanced math students at the Later Elementary will attend

Detroit Tigers Math Day at Comerica Park, learning “field” geometry, figuring batting averages and more.

Wireless keyboards will enable cognitively impaired students at the Later Elementary to have consistency in their classroom technology use.

Special education students at the Later Elementary will have access to dozens of informational books at their reading levels in their classroom.

Geocaching is an outdoor, scavenger hunt game using GPS technology. Third graders will geocache to enhance their under-standing of geography in a unique way.

Flight experts from the Kalamazoo Air Museum will come to the Later Elementary School, leading an interactive session for each class in the fifth grade.

“If you give students the tools, they will be successful,”

Jenn Omo, third grade teacher

Life Management students at the middle school will analyze the role of food in their heritage, culture and family traditions.

Eighth grade science students will utilize voting pods that in-stantly record their responses to classroom questions.

Special education students at the middle school will have ac-cess to books that meet their reading levels, increasing self-confidence along with reading abilities.

Sixth grade students will create interactive notebooks that adapt math concepts to their own individual learning style.

KarsenStudents in eighth grade Exploring Adolescence classes will create learning centers to share their knowledge of a healthy lifestyle with sixth graders.

A virtual language lab will now be available for French stu-dents at the high school.

Classic literature presented in a graphic novel format will help struggling English 9 students read and learn, presenting a posi-tive opportunity for success and learning.

High school students will now utilize Battle Ropes, one of the latest pieces of equipment combining strength and cardiovascu-lar training.

Aldo Leopold’s “A Sand County Almanac” will introduce Ad-vance Placement students to a classic work admired by contem-

Fifth grade teacher Patricia O’Strander receives her Creative Instruction Award grant and celebrates with her students. O’Strander’s “Flight School” CIA will bring flight experts from the Kalamazoo Air Museum to the Later Elementary School to lead an interactive session for each fifth grade class. Photo courtesy of Mattawan Public Education Foundation

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porary environmentalists.

In an effort to encourage and support women’s health, specially designed women’s weight bars will be available for high school students.

AP Environmental Science students will be provided with wad-ers, nets, and guidebooks for a hands-on experience exploring and identifying the health of a local stream.

Heart monitors will allow AP Human Anatomy and Physiology students to perform experiments that analyze heart and muscle function as well as neuromuscular reflexes.

All high school science students will benefit from these devic-es, exposing them to the technology most often used in college, research, and industrial labs.

Making a difference“If you give students the tools, they will be successful,”

noted third-grade teacher Jenn Omo, who is thrilled her stu-dents can participate in “geocaching,” a learning program that follows the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning philosophy.

As one first grader in Julie VanderEnde’s class exclaims, “Word work helps us learn writing and spell words correctly!” Her teacher’s award will give first graders hands-on tools to build phonic skills.

High school science teacher Julie Brazeau is happy to gain program funds so she can “provide students with hands-on experience, which is irreplaceable and unforgettable.”

Creating unforgettable moments: MPEF is helping teachers do just that, thanks to community donations for these programs.

To learn more about MPEF and how you can get involved, visit mpef.org.

Holly Rosenhagen is the president of Mattawan Public Edu-cation Foundation, an all-volunteer organization.

Clockwise, from top left: Early Elementary School art teacher Debbie Davis receives her award from MPEF board members Lisa Benscoter and Holly Rosenhagen; Later Elementary School paraprofessional Ann Ellis and special education teacher Erinn Hess show off an award with their class; high school French teacher Denise Brill poses with her classroom;

visit from MPEF; Early Elementary School technology integration teacher Nick Travis receives his award from MPEF board members Lisa Benscoter and Kristen Kruzich; middle school special education teacher Angie Anderson hugs MPEF board member Holly Rosenhagen after receiving her award; MPEF board members Kristen Kruzich and Lisa Benscoter prepare to surprise teachers with a noisemaker and certificate. Photos courtesy of Mattawan Public Education Foundation

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