(Left to Right) The school district has received an Education Excellence Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards. Otsego Public Schools Board of Education trustee Renny Ransbottom, Washington Street Elementary kindergarten teacher Sue Raven, Dix Street Elementary Principal Tim Allard, early literacy trainer Trish Martin, Dix Street Elementary third grade teacher Kim Seger, Superintendent Denny Patzer and Board of Education trustee Wendy Stafford received an Education Excellence Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards for professional development initiatives involving the district’s Rewiring the Brain literacy. 

Otsego High School senior Katie Porter competed in an essay contest sponsored by the Allegan County prosecutor’s office for National Crime Victim’s Rights Week.  Katie and other members of Otsego High School teacher Dan Cleypool’s American History class submitted essays, as did students from other Allegan County schools.  Katie’s essay was selected as the winning essay from over 60 that were accepted.

 

Katie was awarded $100 for her winning paper. The second place prize was $75 and the third place winner received $50.  Cash awards were sponsored by the Perrigo Company.

 

Katie is the daughter of Mike and Jackie Porter. She is a senior at Otsego High School where she has played basketball for four years. During her time as a basketball player she was awarded the coach’s award and was named most improved player and contributed back to her sport by volunteering as a basketball camp coach for younger players. Katie also served as a freshmen mentor to help incoming 9^th graders with the transition into high school. She has also served as a member of the “O” club and has been a member of the National Honor Society. She has achieved a 3.8 GPA and plans to attend Central Michigan University to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. 

 

The photo includes (from left to right) 2nd place winner Elizabeth Storey (Allegan High School), 3rd place winner Kaylani Rubley (Hamilton High School), 1st place winner Katie Porter (Otsego High School) and Bart Shaw from the Sherriff-Community Relations Advisory Board.

Congratulations to the Mileage Club at Washington Street Elementary! On May 18, students logged 10,000 miles.
Students collect sticks to keep track of how many laps they've made around the track. Parents often join their
children for a walk at lunch time. Physical education teacher Amy Nieuwenhuis, who organized the activity,
is pleased that students are having so much fun becoming physically fit!

Bryon Campbell, who serves as the President of the Otsego Public Schools Board of Education, received the district's Outstanding Alumnus Award at Honors Night on April 23. He has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and is the Chief Information Officer for The VanAndel Institute in Grand Rapids. He is co-director for the Bioinformatics for the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor. At VanAndel, Bryon assists researchers with informatics and technology needs. He is a member of the International Honor Society for the Computing Sciences. He has coached soccer, football, basketball and has been an active volunteer. Bryon is a lifetime resident of Otsego. He and his wife Kandy have two sons and they are currently hosting a foreign exchange student.

Otsego High School has received a $500 grant from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance to support the school’s Freshman Mentoring/Transition program. Bob Goodacre of West End Mobil on M-89 at Jefferson Road worked with Mark Rollandini, high school assistant principal, to secure the grant which is one of 4,000 available to schools across the country. The grants are made possible by funding from the ExxonMobil Corporation. “Otsego High School works hard to smooth the transition from middle school to high school,” said Goodacre. “As a Mobil retailer and alumni, I am proud to help the students of Otsego.” The ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program is designed to provide Exxon and Mobil retailers with an opportunity to invest in the future of their communities through grants to local schools. Goodacre met stringent eligibility criteria before applying and being awarded this grant, including having a commitment to provide a superior buying experience for customers.

Beginning next fall, kindergartners in the Otsego Public School join the rest of the district’s students in attending school all day, every day.

Superintendent Denny Patzer said the district has been working toward making this change for nearly a decade. The district has already offered all day, every other day kindergarten scheduling for a number of years. This year the district implemented a Kindergarten Plus program, which extends the school day to every day for kindergartners who need extra academic support. Those children are making great strides. According to research and test scores in districts that already have every day kindergarten, the shift to  full day programming boosts students’ reading and math comprehension and performance.

Patzer said this is the perfect time to make these changes because the district has room to accommodate more classes and because state initiatives are moving toward full day kindergarten.

Dix Street Elementary Principal Tim Allard agreed, “When the community passed the bond (in 2004), they did so with the idea of growth, so we’re able to house the expanded programs with no disruption.” 

“Staff is very excited about getting ready for the expanded curriculum that we’ll offer in the fall,” said Patzer.
Allard said, “Research shows that children’s brains are like sponges when they’re young,” he said. “This gives us a greater opportunity to meet them when they’re at their best and enhance their learning for a lifetime.”

Patzer said this change is a natural progression that will build upon the district’s commitment to early literacy with programs like Rewiring the Brain, Learn N Grow Preschool and the new Five By Five initiative. “A large amount of research shows the benefits of early education,” Patzer said. “Children benefit socially and academically.” He expects reading scores to continue to climb and math achievement to follow.

“I’m excited,” said Dix Street Elementary kindergarten teacher Sue Squires, who has taught kindergarten for the district for 39 years. “I’ve been waiting a long time to be able to teach all day kindergarten. I think it’s really going to help the children of the district to have the consistency of an every day program.”

Congratulations to the "EncyGlopedia" Battle of the Books team. They were the champions of this year's Battle of the Books contest. Team members include Elyse Pfieffer, Carlie Weaver, Claire Weaver, Meagan Tobias, and Emily White. Coach Jennifer Rickstad is holding the trophy. Assistant coaches were Maggie Rickstad and Cayley Campbell. This was the fifth year in a row that Mrs. Rickstad has coached the winning team.

Top Ten students from Otsego High School's Class of 2009 are (front, l to r) Tommy Brinn, Jaclyn Tollas, Jessica Crosby, Grace Hirzel; (middle, l-r) Mallory Bohl, Emily Wiest, Brock Potter and (back, l-r) Nathan Stelzer, Ellen Griggs, Cassondra Cramer.

Otsego High School’s Top Ten students from the class of 2009 are Tommy Brinn, Mallory Bohl, Cassondra Cramer, Jessica Crosby, Ellen Griggs, Grace Hirzel, Brock Potter, Nathan Stelzer, Jaclyn Tollas, and Emily Wiest.

Tommy Brinn is the son of Chauncey and Janis Brinn, 2127 Jefferson Rd., Otsego. He’s an elite runner in track and cross country who has also been involved in 4-H. Tommy was named the Michigan Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year and Detroit Motor City Club Athlete of the Year nominee.
Brinn will attend the University of Nebraska, where he will run track and is considering studying science and arts.

Mallory Bohl is the daughter of Joe and Kelly Bohl, 1630 108^th Ave., Otsego. She has played volleyball, and been a member of the student council, National Honor Society, and O Club. Mallory received the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen award, Academic All State for volleyball, and a YWCA Women of Achievement Award. She received a Dean’s Scholarship to Ferris State University, where she plans to study pharmacy.

Cassie Cramer’s parents are Jeff Cramer, 22729 C.R. 653, Gobles, and Pam Kloosterman, 137 Flora Glynn, Plainwell. She has been captain of the debate team, editor-in-chief of the yearbook, a member of student council, Quiz Bowl, National Honor Society, book club, 4-H and Immanuel Lutheran Church’s youth group. Cassie received a Michigan Promise award and was named to the National Honor Roll. She received a Presidential Scholarship from Hope College, where she plans to study biochemistry with a pre-med focus before attending the University of Michigan’s medical school.

Jessica Crosby is the daughter of Lawrence and Diane Crosby, 431 Allegan St., Plainwell. She plays the trombone and is a member of the Christ Temple church choir in Kalamazoo, and vice-chair of the Western District choir of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.
Jessica is planning to go to the University of Tennessee or Western Michigan University. She plans to study abroad and wants to purse a degree in early childhood development or elementary education.

Ellen Grigg’s parents are Mark and Lynn Griggs, 5474 N. 3^rd St., Kalamazoo. She played volleyball, soccer and tennis in high school and was a member of the band, National Honor Society and O Club. Ellen received a Dean’s Scholarship from Western Michigan University, the Kalamazoo College President’s Scholarship, the Michigan Promise award and Kalamazoo College’s Mandrelle Award. She plans to study biology at the University of Michigan, and will possibly pursue veterinary medicine or biological research.

Grace Hirzel is the daughter of Andrew and Tamara Hirzel, 5398 N. 3^rd St., Kalamazoo. She has been on the cross country and track and field teams, a member of the symphonic, marching and pep bands, Quiz Bowl team member, drama club member, National Honor Society member and also on the Kalamazoo Gazette’s Young Editorial Staff.Grace received a Regents’ Merit Scholarship from the University of Michigan. She has been accepted into Lyman Briggs College as a member of the Honors College at U of M. Grace plans to study biology, with a possible minor in writing or the Chinese language.

Brock Potter’s parents are Steve and Julie Potter, 6289 Owen Drive, Kalamazoo. He has been on several sports teams including cross country, football, basketball, baseball. Brock is a National Honor Society member and a three-sport Scholar Athlete. He received an Award of Distinction Faculty Scholarship from Grand Valley State University, an Award for Excellence and the Michigan Promise Scholarship. Brock plans to study physical therapy at Grand Valley State University.

Nathan Stelzer is the son of Dennis and Patty Stelzer, 10575 N. 6^th St., Otsego. He has been on the debate team, Quiz Bowl, track and field team, Student Council, pep band member, musical pit, National Honor Society president and a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. Nathan is a Michigan Technological University leading scholar finalist, a Merit Special Scholarship recipient, a Michigan Promise recipient, and a Kalamazoo Gazette Student Achiever. He plans to study chemical engineering at Michigan Technological University.

Jaclyn Tollas is the daughter of Jerry and Julie Tollas, 1929 Poplar Ridge Drive, Otsego. She has been in the Otsego High School choral program and has worked to translate English as a Second Language classes. Jaclyn received Phi Beta Kappa’s Outstanding Scholar Award. She plans to study Spanish Interpretation at Western Michigan University. She will also continue to do volunteer work as a Spanish translator and assist in preliminary training of guide dogs for the blind.

Emily Wiest is the daughter of Joe and Becky Wiest, 6511 West B Ave., Plainwell. She has been a class officer, editor of the high school yearbook, a member of the Prom Committee, band, mentoring program, National Honors Society and the soccer and tennis teams.  
Emily received a Michigan Promise Scholarship, was on the honor roll and was a Scholar Athlete Award recipient.
She plans to study health sciences at Grand Valley State University.

04/21/2009 from Otsego Public Schools on Vimeo.