Following The Flowers To Learning

Each fall as the leaves begin turning colors and children go back to school there are all types of animals and birds that attempt to accompany the children.  Many schools welcome animals for show and tell, but rarely do we welcome random animals and birds into our buildings.  

Yesterday I received an email from Columbia Elementary School first grade teacher, Linda Wills describing her adventure with a humming bird and she brings up an interesting collary.  Her story is as follows:

At the end of the school day a hummingbird was found trapped in the cafeteria. At least it couldn't find its way out even with the doors propped wide open. It was just flying around the ceiling and a few times did notice the red lighted "Exit" sign just inches away from freedom, but went back to the ceiling. We tried everything we could think of...butterfly net, pancake syrup on red construction paper... until we discovered that one of the teachers had received a bouquet of fresh cut flowers!  I climbed up on one of the tables and just held the bouquet as high in the air and as still as I could. It took about 5 minutes for him to find it, but he did. After a few minutes I started climbing down from the table very slowly and over about the next 10 minutes he would flit away from the bouquet for a few seconds and then return as I inched slowly toward the door. Finally I made it to the outside door and he flew to a limb of a tree right outside the door. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. Just remember that if you want to catch a hummingbird you have to find something hummingbirds like. I wonder if this is true for teaching children as well...Hmmmm.

Teachers in the Columbia School District system are constantly looking for a new way of connecting with their students, just as Mrs. Wills connected with the hummingbird.  Often children are "talked at" and "directed" in their classrooms as they struggle to learn.  Columbia School District teachers like Mrs. Wills work with their students to construct learning opportunities by attracting their students to educational activities.  

This fall Columbia Middle and Columbia Central High School both have added learning opportunities for students that are designed to attract students to follow and absorb activities that will accelerate their academic abilities.  Columbia Middle School students are enjoying additional electives including Spanish Culture, Creative Expressions, a language arts course that features hands on activities including experiencing culinary arts, a course that gives students an opportunity to learn about business and run the school store, and an enhancement of last year's outstanding class that focused sixth grade students on creating a video news program.  

Columbia Central High School has students excited about learning not only through all of the Advanced Placement offerings, but through new courses designed to increase students' understanding of earth and space science, poetry, history and video productions.  As we move through the year we will focus on the various learning activities of each of these new courses that are designed to have students experience the school educational environment through teaching that will entice a higher level of understanding, in a similar way to the way that Mrs. Wills worked to attract the hummingbird with flowers.  Learning is an interactive process between the students and the teacher, come and experience true educational activities at Columbia Schools.

Interested in learning more about learning activities at Columbia Schools?  Call us at 517-592-6641 or email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org.

Blasting Out Bullying!

Over the past year Columbia School District teachers and staff members have worked together to curtail bullying.  Much of the concern regarding bullying in educational settings comes from the statistics: according to the National Education Association, over  160,000 students across the country miss school  each day because they are worried about being intimidated, harassed, and bullied.  What is more startling is to learn that one in three school children across the country in the middle grades, grade six through ten, are bullied during the year.

By partnering with Columbia Schools parents can assist in our quest to be bully-free!  It is important for parents and schools to work together to help support our students and create a safe learning environment.  For years, many have thought that bullying is just harmless teasing, but it may have a lasting impact on our students' ability to learn.  In addition to the high levels of absenteeism for victims of bullying, researchers have found a connection between suicide and bullying and being a victim of bullying for children.

When parents work with their children's teachers to end bullying, the emotional portion of school safety improves.  Parents should encourage their children to communicate with their teacher or a school staff member when they are bullied or see another student being bullied.  Contrary to a child's fear, letting one's teacher know they are being bullied is not tattling and it may make the difference between being comfortable in the social environment of school and feeling anxious and alienated.

Parents may encourage their child to be nice to other children.  Being friendly and making positive comments to other students, especially those affected by bullying, will help them feel accepted rather than alienated and lonely.  Everyone wants to feel accepted and valued.  By encouraging your child to consider other children's feelings and not to exclude them at recess, in class or at lunch, your child can make a difference in the lives of their classmates.

You may also make a difference if you learn about cyber bullying.  Cyber bullying is growing by leaps and bounds with the increasing emphasis on technology even for our youngest children.  This technological tormenting is impactful.  Comments made by children about others on Facebook, Twitter and texting could make you shudder with disapproval.  Parents who audit and check their child's Facebook statements, Tweets and texts can insure that their child is not the cause of another child's pain, because even good children can make inappropriate comments.

Join with the Columbia School District this year and help Blast Out Bullying!  If you have questions about Columbia Schools, our anti-bullying policy or would like to register your child for school, please call 517-592-6641 or email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org.

Columbia School District Bond Proposal

On November 5th the Columbia School District has two Bond Proposals on the ballot. Both Proposal 1 and 2 include educational needs for Columbia students, rather than wants.  Our students and teachers are learning and working in buildings that range in age from 45 to 63 years in age.  When you take a look at the life-expectancy of building systems, you will see that many of the areas are in dire need of updating.  The average life span of doors, windows and roofs are considered architectural components and have a life-expectancy of 20 years.  Plumbing systems come in at a life-expectancy of 30 to 40 years.   HVAC systems are estimated to last 15 to 40 years, but the newest system in Columbia School District is 45 years old, while the oldest is 63 years old.  The district cannot afford to be without heat, so it makes replacement of updated equipment imperative.  Lighting, electrical and cabinet fixtures have life-expectancies ranging from 20 to 30 years, so it is easy to understand the intense needs that exist in our school buildings.

Proposal 1 encompasses necessary essential modifications and replacement of areas of our infrastructure which are failing.  This Proposal provides an opportunity to give Columbia students a safe, warm, dry and smart learning environment.  Building improvements include restricted entryways and increased safety features including the rerouting of traffic at the elementary and middle schools.  The traffic modifications will separate the bus traffic from the car and pedestrian traffic to increase safety.

Proposal 1 also includes upgrades to the fire safety system, door and window upgrades to increase safety and to improve energy efficiency.  Security cameras, electronic door technology and the elimination and replacement of worn out carpeting, will give our students a safer educational environment.  Many of our area community members, along with our students will appreciate improvements to our track and tennis courts, which at this time are not up to school safety standards due to the impact of aging.

Students will learn in a warmer and dryer environment with the replacement of roofs and ceilings that have at this point, outlived their useful life-expectancy.  Boilers and classroom heating systems will be replaced with updated equipment.  The building envelop will be improved by the replacement of leaky windows and doors, most of which are between 45 and 63 years old.

"Smart" in Proposal 1 refers to updating our technology infrastructure.  Currently our infrastructure ranges in age from ten to twenty years and is inadequate for the usage level of our students and teachers.  Since today's students use technology on an ongoing basis throughout the school day and into the evening hours, it is important to provide updated technology to teach student in the way in which they learn best.  In addition to upgrading the infrastructure Proposal 1 includes the replacement of student and teaching computers.

Proposal 1 will be possible for only an additional 2.15 mills which is the equivalent for less than the cost of two meals at a fast food establishment for only $8.96 per month for a home owner of a $100,000 home.

Proposal 2 focuses on restructuring Columbia Central High School to include 7th and 8th grades and reorganizing the elementary and middle school buildings to create an upper and lower elementary campus.  The 0.45 mills will enable the district to provide a cutting edge learning environment for 7th and 8th graders at Columbia Central, enhance technology and add a locker room.

The number of mills for Proposal 1 and 2 is an additional 2.60, which combined with the current 0.9 mills would levy only 3.5 mills.  The 3.5 mill levy would put us only slightly above Napoleon but less than Hanover-Horton, Onsted, Western, Northwest and East Jackson.

If you have questions, email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or go to http://www.myeagles.org/Pdfs/InfomationalBondBrochureAugust2013.pdf to read more about the proposals.

Parent Involvement

Parent involvement still makes a difference during middle school and high school years.  Columbia Middle School and Columbia Central High School needs parent volunteers just as much as the elementary does.  What do you do when the school needs parent volunteers for an event, but your schedule is already busy and your teen is begging for you to say away?  “Don’t come to my school,” she says, “let the other parents do it.”  It’s tempting to be persuaded.  Does your teen really need your involvement anymore?

Research is clear: Parent involvement in education makes a huge difference for kids of all ages.  The results can include improved attendance, better behavior and higher grades.

This doesn’t mean you have to be at every school activity.  You might help with a dance, for example, but skip a play.  You may join the Athletic Boosters, but not help with the Science Fair.  In fact, lots of “involvement” happens at home.  The National Education Association strongly suggests talking about school, helping with homework and monitoring your teen’s time.  These are things you can do every day.

Meanwhile, steps such as visiting the school occasionally and staying in touch with the staff are small but essential.  They teach your teen that “School is important,”  “I care about your success,” and “Teens, parents and schools are an unbeatable team.”  Deep down, teens get these messages, so even when they say, “Don’t come to school,” they’re actually glad you are involved.

Columbia School District offers many areas for parents to get involved.  Our upcoming Back-to-School Days are a kick off to the school year.  Monday, August 26^th from 5 to 6:30 pm is the Columbia Middle School Back to School Open House.  Columbia Central High School Freshman and New Student Orientation begin at 6 pm on Tuesday August 27^th and the CCHS Open House for all students kicks-off at 7:00 pm.  The Columbia Elementary Back-to-School Bash is Tuesday August 27^th from 5 to 6:30 pm.

During the Open Houses you will have an opportunity to join the Band Boosters, the Athletic Boosters and the PTO, meet your child or teen’s teachers, and get reacquainted with old friends.  After school begins if you have time during the school day, you may want to become a mentor in the Brooklyn Buddies Reading Program or volunteer on the playground.  If you are interested in registering your child to attend Columbia School District, please call 517-592-6641 or email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org .

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Kindergarten is an exciting time for children and their parents.  As your child moves from preschool or daycare to Kindergarten they may need you to help prepare him or her for this big step.  You may be able to build their confidence by doing family activities to help your child learn what school will be like.  Over the next several weeks before school  begins on Tuesday, September 3rd you may want to try some of the following activities:

·     Doing art projects with your child and incorporating the use of crayons, markers, glue, scissors, paint, and other supplies will help him or her to be familiar with activities he or she will do in school.

·     Math activities such as counting pennies, grouping items into similar categories, matching numerals with numbers of items, talking about time, and discussing differences in sizes of items such as big, little, small and large.

·     Reading books together.  The Public Library is a great source for choosing books at random or about a particular topic your child is interested in, such as dinosaurs, dogs, animals, or space travel.

Columbia School District is offering all day Kindergarten, Young 5’s, and Preschool for your children.  We believe that all day Kindergarten and all day Young 5’s program are successful in providing additional learning opportunities for our students.  The additional time allows teachers to expand and advance our curriculum providing increased academic experiences for our Kindergarteners and Young 5’s.  Our teachers are excited about the growth and achievements they see in our children who participate in all day Kindergarten.

Since beginning all day Kindergarten we have seen many benefits.  Our students learn to read in Kindergarten and they are excited when they get an opportunity to read to each other.  They are able to work on additional math facts and learn about how to count coins.  The students count pennies, nickels, and dimes.  They also have an opportunity to work with guided writing strategies.  Many of the current standards and benchmarks are very similar to what used to be taught in first grade.

Transitioning from preschool or daycare to Kindergarten or Young 5’s is a big step for children.  If you haven’t had an opportunity to register your child for one of these terrific programs, please stop by Columbia Elementary or call 592-6632 or email Mrs. Powell @ deb.powell-principal@myeagles.org or lori.hunter@myeagles.org.   Together we are Building a Brighter Future for our Students!

The Red Barn

Each morning I pass by a big red barn on my way to school.  This spring I have noticed subtle changes in the barn.  Although some of the window casings are still fairly white, the red paint has become worn and thin.  Some of the doors which keep the wind and rain out of the barn are a bit crooked and do not quite close as nicely as they did when the red barn was new.  The white trim on the corner of the barn is warn and dirty.  It looks as though some of the windows are becoming crooked and worn.

In much the same way as the old red barn, our school buildings have began to become worn and tired.  Over the past several weeks between thirty and forty community members,  have been working on creating a Facilities Master Plan focused on the needs of our current and future students.  Below you will find the summation of the meetings to date:

May 21, 2013 Meeting

The team held discussion and worked on creating guiding principles to lead us through the task of making the best decisions regarding what improvements that should be included in or facilities master plan and recommended to the board. 

May 28, 2013 Meeting

The team toured the high school, middle school, elementary school and the options & adult education buildings; to see firsthand the needed updates and replacements.  The building principals lead the tours along with the director of building operations.

June 4, 2013 Meeting

Discussion was held regarding the committee’s observations of the building tours.   Questionnaires were completed on the subject of the current infra structure conditions and the needs for improvement. A considerable amount of time was spent holding discussion on the topic of accessibility, technology and security needs and issues.  The committee also worked on prioritizing the infra structure’s needs. The main focus is to assure a safe, comfortable and secure environment along with assuring meeting ability to meet the District’s technological needs.

The Facility Improvement Team will continue to meet in the high school library on Tuesday evenings, at 6:00 p.m., to continue to create a Facilities Master Plan.  If you have any questions regarding the process, please email me or check out the Columbia Facility Planning Facebook page.

Congratulations!

On behalf of the Columbia School District Board of Education, staff members and teachers congratulations to the Class of 2013.  Our graduates leave high school and our adult education program with many memories from their years of schooling.  Many graduating seniors are headed off to college armed with an excellent education.  They have a whole community of people cheering them on to success.

Many of our graduates have received scholarships from universities located all over the country.  Our students’ academic abilities that have precipitated the awards are the result of excellent learning opportunities provided by their teachers and staff of Columbia School District. 

As the Class of 2013 approached graduation many students commented on their opportunity to participate in leadership activities like the student blood drives, service learning activities and Communication Camp. They reminisced about their experience in AP English and the fun they had discovering DNA during their Biology class.  Others talked about their opportunity to participate in vocationally focused classes through the Jackson Area Career Center.  Still other students fondly discussed their trip to France and the accidental bonus day in Germany.  A future writer said that he was well prepared for college and another student said she appreciated being able to take mathematics up through Calculus.

A future scientist mentioned his opportunity to take AP Chemistry and about how he feels well prepared for college.  One student commented on how pleased she was to have had an opportunity to participate in the Band and the musicals.  Another student described his satisfaction at being able to enhance his creativity through his experience in art class.  One thing many students mentioned was how proud they are of earning their high school diploma from Columbia and how much they have appreciated their teachers and staff members.

Over the years the families and the teachers of our hard working graduates have labored in partnership to sculpt our students into the fine young men and women they are today.  Our graduating seniors have been a terrific group of students.  They have laughed together and cried together.  Best wishes to our graduating seniors for a successful future!  Congratulations to the Columbia Central High School, Columbia Options High School and Columbia Adult Education Class of 2013!