by Mark Rollandini, Otsego High School Assistant Principal

School Improvement Planning is an on-going process that schools use to make sure all students are achieving at high levels.  Schools can create more effective environments for learning so more students achieve at levels expected by the state and local communities.  Continuous improvement of programs and services is essential to reach these goals.  For more than 100 years, Otsego High School (OHS) has been accredited by the North Central Association (NCA).  The NCA assists, monitors, and evaluates school improvement processes for their member schools.  Otsego uses the NCA process, now know as AdvancED, to remain in compliance with the State’s school improvement requirement to design, develop, and implement a 3-to-5 year school improvement plan.  The 2009-10 school years finds the OHS staff in the first implementation year of the school improvement cycle.   This follows two years of design and development of the plan.  During the design phase, staff evaluated their own values and ideas of education at OHS.  Surveys of students and the community were used to gauge their perceptions and feelings of the atmosphere and academic rigor of the school and its programs.  Standardized test scores as well as local achievement data was also measured.The data gathered from these sources guided the development of the school improvement plan.  The NCA/AdvancED guidelines direct schools to focus on a few areas of need through the 3-to-5-year process.  This is the “what” of the plan; the “how” is determined through a process with the local staff.  Again, the NCA/AdvancED offers exercises for the staff to use in order to develop the “how” of the school improvement plan.In the following editions, the “what” and “how” will be discussed. 

Congratulations to the following students of the month for September:  Michael Moore (Mrs.Trahan), Vaughn Mehler (Mrs. Badiner), Michelle Dutton (Mr. McMullen), Julie Taylor-Kirsch (Martin), Matt Artis (Mr. Haase), Sierra Frasier (Mr. Belton), Danielle Molenaar (Mr. McMillin), Michael Warner (Mrs. Grile), Kyle Cagle (Mrs. Hemann), Melissa Marcum (Mrs. Cleypool), Dennis Vyletel & Caitlyn Colasanti (Mr. Fox), Jessica Cramer (Mr. Cleypool), Caleb Gallup & Justin Schwartz (Mrs. Soisson), Jessica Hollman (Mrs. Laughlin), and Ella Beuttner (Mr. DeVary).

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.

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.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. on May 9 in the Otsego High School auditorium. The musical program is entitled “Celebrating Bernstein.” Barry Ross is the conductor and tenor Jeremy Koch will sing. Donations will be accepted at the door.

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.