We Believe in Columbia School District! As a school family, we are proud to be a part of this community. Our excellent teachers and staff members strive for excellence as we diligently work with your student to increase his or her educational abilities. The Columbia School District, in partnership with the community, will provide a safe and positive learning environment, which will prepare all students to contribute and compete in a global society.
Our points of pride include strong academics which have produced high test scores, an award winning band program, high school pre-engineering courses which use project based learning to enhance each student’s skills, Advanced Placement courses that challenge our students and provide an opportunity for them to earn college credit, a preschool that provides a firm and enjoyable educational base for our youngest learners, and our excellent athletic programs which give our student athletes an opportunity to succeed. Columbia Central High School was awarded the Silver Medallion by U.S. News & World Reports and was honored as top school in Jackson County by Bridge Magazine.
We’re experiencing an outstanding year! In November community members passed a bond issue to give our students a safe, warm, dry and smart learning environment. We have partnered with Kingscott Architects and Granger Construction Management to remodel our buildings inside and increase safety for our students by redesigning our drop-off and pick-up areas. Phase 1 includes site work and new roofs. Phase 2 will focus on remodeling the classrooms, the addition of a secure entry vestibule at the elementary school, and remodeling of the entry at Columbia Central High School, Columbia Middle School and Columbia Options High School to create a secure entry area. Phase 2 also incudes new heating systems at all buildings, updated technology infrastructure and hardware, remodeling of common areas and playground improvements.
We hope you will find time to visit our schools as you participate in your children’s activities. You may sign up for on our weekly E-Letter update by sending me your email address. If I may assist you in any way, please feel free to call me at the Administration Office at 517-592-6641 or email me at Pamela.Campbell@myeagles.org.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Our Children Are Becoming Digital Citizens
Recently I was involved in a discussion about the ways children are learning now versus ten or twenty years ago. My sons have friends who are parents and several of them have iPads for their children. My younger son, Jon, told me that he was using his iPad at one of his friend’s home and their nine-month-old daughter crawled over to see what he was doing and to “help” him. She was used to using an iPad application aimed at pre-toddlers. The children in our preschool are only three and four-years-old and they have an innate ability to pick up one of the iPads and navigate to their area of academic application without direction from their teacher.
As part of our goal to integrate technology into the curriculum, many of our Columbia Middle School students are using Chromebooks. A couple of weeks ago, one of our fifth grade students showed me how she was putting together a website with six pages. She was building the website as part of an assignment for her social studies class. She had to design a website to compare and contrast the New England states back in the Colonial days with today. This task involved research, a lot of learning and integration of her technological skills with her recent acquisition of knowledge.
At the February Columbia School District Board of Education meeting, three sixth grade students from Columbia Middle School demonstrated how to use the Chromebooks and how to open a new document and immediately share the document with their fellow students. The students were proficient and said how much they enjoy using technology when working with their peers for editing of documents and creating group projects.
Last week the Columbia School District Curriculum Council updated the Technology Integration Vision Statement to read: Columbia School District will provide reliable access to 21st Century technology in order to meet the diverse needs of all students, empowering them to be productive and responsible contributors in an ever changing global digital society.
Our teachers are excited to help students embark on new ways of learning through technology. In addition to providing professional development to teachers to help them have the tools to empower their students to use technology effectively, the Bond Issue proposals will provide updated wiring, additional wireless access points, new technology switches, and new computers and tablets. As we work to keep Columbia School District students and teachers up to date with effective, reliable access to technology, we will continue to relate examples of how our students are benefiting from the integration of digital tools into the curriculum. If you have questions regarding Columbia Schools, please email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641.
As part of our goal to integrate technology into the curriculum, many of our Columbia Middle School students are using Chromebooks. A couple of weeks ago, one of our fifth grade students showed me how she was putting together a website with six pages. She was building the website as part of an assignment for her social studies class. She had to design a website to compare and contrast the New England states back in the Colonial days with today. This task involved research, a lot of learning and integration of her technological skills with her recent acquisition of knowledge.
At the February Columbia School District Board of Education meeting, three sixth grade students from Columbia Middle School demonstrated how to use the Chromebooks and how to open a new document and immediately share the document with their fellow students. The students were proficient and said how much they enjoy using technology when working with their peers for editing of documents and creating group projects.
Last week the Columbia School District Curriculum Council updated the Technology Integration Vision Statement to read: Columbia School District will provide reliable access to 21st Century technology in order to meet the diverse needs of all students, empowering them to be productive and responsible contributors in an ever changing global digital society.
Our teachers are excited to help students embark on new ways of learning through technology. In addition to providing professional development to teachers to help them have the tools to empower their students to use technology effectively, the Bond Issue proposals will provide updated wiring, additional wireless access points, new technology switches, and new computers and tablets. As we work to keep Columbia School District students and teachers up to date with effective, reliable access to technology, we will continue to relate examples of how our students are benefiting from the integration of digital tools into the curriculum. If you have questions regarding Columbia Schools, please email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Difficulty Waiting?
For people who vigorously celebrate holidays that take place throughout the year, they decorate with red and green for Christmas, fireworks and glittery signs for New Year’s, red hearts for Valentine’s, and green shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day. As the day of celebration draws near, some of us find it very difficult to wait. Many of us do not like to wait for anything. Although we have heard many times that waiting will help our patience grow, it is still difficult to wait.
After months of waiting, Columbia School District had our bond sale last week. Leading up to the bond sale our credit rating was reevaluated and increased as a result of the positive increase in our financial status and property values in the district. To fund projects associated with Proposal 1, bonds were sold in the amount of $25,924,184. This amount will fund projects aimed at remodeling, equipping and reequipping all of the Columbia School District buildings. It will also fund the acquisition and installation of instructional technology and instructional technology equipment. In addition it will fund the improvement and remodeling of playgrounds, pick-up and drop-off areas and the addition of a secure vestibule office area at the elementary school.
To fund projects associated with Proposal 2, bonds were sold in the amount of $3,950,816 for the purpose of partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; erecting, furnishing and equipping an addition to the high school building; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; developing and improving a site and paying the remaining portion of the costs of issuing the Bonds.
Similar to the way it is challenging for us to wait for our favorite holiday, it has been difficult to wait for the sale of the bonds. The sale marks the beginning of positive change for the facilities of Columbia School District. Our design steering committees will begin meeting to discuss the remodeling of the academic areas of the buildings, concerns regarding heating and cooling and design of the new locker rooms at Columbia Central High School. If you have a specific interest in any of the areas, please email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641 to volunteer. The upgrades in our buildings will benefit our students and staff members and will make way for many positive academic impacts in their learning environments.
After months of waiting, Columbia School District had our bond sale last week. Leading up to the bond sale our credit rating was reevaluated and increased as a result of the positive increase in our financial status and property values in the district. To fund projects associated with Proposal 1, bonds were sold in the amount of $25,924,184. This amount will fund projects aimed at remodeling, equipping and reequipping all of the Columbia School District buildings. It will also fund the acquisition and installation of instructional technology and instructional technology equipment. In addition it will fund the improvement and remodeling of playgrounds, pick-up and drop-off areas and the addition of a secure vestibule office area at the elementary school.
To fund projects associated with Proposal 2, bonds were sold in the amount of $3,950,816 for the purpose of partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; erecting, furnishing and equipping an addition to the high school building; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; developing and improving a site and paying the remaining portion of the costs of issuing the Bonds.
Similar to the way it is challenging for us to wait for our favorite holiday, it has been difficult to wait for the sale of the bonds. The sale marks the beginning of positive change for the facilities of Columbia School District. Our design steering committees will begin meeting to discuss the remodeling of the academic areas of the buildings, concerns regarding heating and cooling and design of the new locker rooms at Columbia Central High School. If you have a specific interest in any of the areas, please email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641 to volunteer. The upgrades in our buildings will benefit our students and staff members and will make way for many positive academic impacts in their learning environments.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Valentine's Day Collages
I walked into the room, paying close attention to the projects that the children were completing. Spread out around the children were strips of pink, red and white paper with covered with countless words. On the various strips of paper the children had written words like Love, Mom, Dad, Fun, and Happiness. As they continued with their task, the children glued the strips onto a paper which contained the outline of a heart. When they were finished they had pretty Valentine’s Day collages to present to their parents.
My mind couldn’t help but turn back the time and think of what type of words my children would have written on the strips of paper. This year I didn’t have small children to make heart shaped crafts for me for Valentine’s Day. Things change, people age and so do our surroundings.
As we are all acutely aware, the Columbia School District facilities have aged over time. The Facilities Improvement Team spent last winter, spring and summer analyzing and reanalyzing areas of the school buildings which had aged and needed to be remodeled or replaced. The overview of the areas were plainly revealed in our statement of request to improve the schools to make them safe, warm, dry and smart for our students. Details of the projects were contained in our analysis of the buildings and our formal request to the Michigan State Department of Treasury.
Our projects included remodeling, equipping, and reequipping all four school buildings. The analysis focused on providing elements which would enhance the safety of our students, staff, parents and community members. The safety elements included secure entry vestibules, enhanced and redesigned parking and drop off areas, and redesigned security camera system. Other safety elements included equipping the buildings with some updated furnishings, lockers and outdoor areas.
No one can disagree with two of the top priorities: remodeling our heating systems and replacing the roofs on all buildings: The warm and dry portion of our bond issue. As we continue on in the planning process we are working on reviewing all of the items which were analyzed during the past year. We are currently in the process of planning for initial site work and roofing which is included in Phase 1. These projects will be included in initial bid packages which will go out to area contractors in March. Later this year, we will begin diligently reviewing needs within the buildings including heating systems, furnishings and technology. If you have any questions, or hear something you may question, please don’t hesitate to email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call at 5175926641. Just like the children who presented their parents with their very best effort, your Columbia School District team of board members, administrators, teachers and steering committee members want to present the community members with a finished product that is a functional, excellent learning environment for our students.
My mind couldn’t help but turn back the time and think of what type of words my children would have written on the strips of paper. This year I didn’t have small children to make heart shaped crafts for me for Valentine’s Day. Things change, people age and so do our surroundings.
As we are all acutely aware, the Columbia School District facilities have aged over time. The Facilities Improvement Team spent last winter, spring and summer analyzing and reanalyzing areas of the school buildings which had aged and needed to be remodeled or replaced. The overview of the areas were plainly revealed in our statement of request to improve the schools to make them safe, warm, dry and smart for our students. Details of the projects were contained in our analysis of the buildings and our formal request to the Michigan State Department of Treasury.
Our projects included remodeling, equipping, and reequipping all four school buildings. The analysis focused on providing elements which would enhance the safety of our students, staff, parents and community members. The safety elements included secure entry vestibules, enhanced and redesigned parking and drop off areas, and redesigned security camera system. Other safety elements included equipping the buildings with some updated furnishings, lockers and outdoor areas.
No one can disagree with two of the top priorities: remodeling our heating systems and replacing the roofs on all buildings: The warm and dry portion of our bond issue. As we continue on in the planning process we are working on reviewing all of the items which were analyzed during the past year. We are currently in the process of planning for initial site work and roofing which is included in Phase 1. These projects will be included in initial bid packages which will go out to area contractors in March. Later this year, we will begin diligently reviewing needs within the buildings including heating systems, furnishings and technology. If you have any questions, or hear something you may question, please don’t hesitate to email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call at 5175926641. Just like the children who presented their parents with their very best effort, your Columbia School District team of board members, administrators, teachers and steering committee members want to present the community members with a finished product that is a functional, excellent learning environment for our students.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Bond Project Update
Sparkling like diamonds in the sunshine, the fresh snow looked beautiful. As the weeks have gone on, the snow has continued to pile up. It has been an interesting winter with snow, rain, bone-chilling wind chills and some sunshine. This winter has been different from the last few winters: The snowmobilers have had an opportunity to zip across the pristine powdery white snow in the morning, leaving their tracks as a testament to their fun, various community “tip-up” festivals and ice fishing contests have seen better conditions than in the past few years, and the Columbia School Board, teachers and administrators have been diligently working on the beginning planning for our building improvements and remodeling.
Phase I includes the areas of the district that require the shortest length of time for our groups to work through the planning segment. Currently we are looking at outdoor components which were included in the bond issue. First and foremost, Phase I contains the complete replacement of all of the school roofs. The Phase I elements include the rerouting and paving of the new bus loops and drop-off areas at the Brooklyn campus of Columbia Middle and Elementary Schools, along with increasing the safety of the bus drop-off at Columbia Central High School. Also included in Phase I projects will be an increased focus on safety for the students and parents during drop-off and pick-up times. Phase I will also include upgrades to the track and field events areas, parking lots, middle school site work, and tennis courts. During Phase I we will also begin rewiring for our computer net works.
Phase II includes the balance of the projects: Completion of technology wiring and installation of wireless hubs, purchase of additional computer hardware, installation of new heating systems, remodeling of classrooms, remodeling of offices to include secure entry vestibules, addition of a secure entry at the elementary which will include a new office area, addition of locker room area at CCHS for seventh and eighth grade students.
Funds for the projects will come from the sale of our bonds. In a couple weeks the district will sell our bonds on the municipal market. With the assistance of two companies: Stiefel Nicholas and Raymond James. Community members with an interest in purchasing some of our tax free bonds will have an opportunity to do so by working with either of these two companies. Bonds will be sold in differing amounts for various lengths of time.
Just like the fresh snow sparkles in the sunshine, our remodeled schools will not only look better, but the technology will be greatly improved and the buildings will provide safer, warmer, and drier educational learning areas for our students and teachers. If you are interested in participating in a focus group to help plan various aspects of our remodeling projects, please call me at 5175926641 or email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org.
Phase I includes the areas of the district that require the shortest length of time for our groups to work through the planning segment. Currently we are looking at outdoor components which were included in the bond issue. First and foremost, Phase I contains the complete replacement of all of the school roofs. The Phase I elements include the rerouting and paving of the new bus loops and drop-off areas at the Brooklyn campus of Columbia Middle and Elementary Schools, along with increasing the safety of the bus drop-off at Columbia Central High School. Also included in Phase I projects will be an increased focus on safety for the students and parents during drop-off and pick-up times. Phase I will also include upgrades to the track and field events areas, parking lots, middle school site work, and tennis courts. During Phase I we will also begin rewiring for our computer net works.
Phase II includes the balance of the projects: Completion of technology wiring and installation of wireless hubs, purchase of additional computer hardware, installation of new heating systems, remodeling of classrooms, remodeling of offices to include secure entry vestibules, addition of a secure entry at the elementary which will include a new office area, addition of locker room area at CCHS for seventh and eighth grade students.
Funds for the projects will come from the sale of our bonds. In a couple weeks the district will sell our bonds on the municipal market. With the assistance of two companies: Stiefel Nicholas and Raymond James. Community members with an interest in purchasing some of our tax free bonds will have an opportunity to do so by working with either of these two companies. Bonds will be sold in differing amounts for various lengths of time.
Just like the fresh snow sparkles in the sunshine, our remodeled schools will not only look better, but the technology will be greatly improved and the buildings will provide safer, warmer, and drier educational learning areas for our students and teachers. If you are interested in participating in a focus group to help plan various aspects of our remodeling projects, please call me at 5175926641 or email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Positive Messages to Our Children
Recently a friend dropped off a bag of Dove milk chocolate hearts. To say I was happy would be an understatement. Although I don’t need the chocolate, I thought I would sample some of the chocolate and share the rest. As I looked at the sample of chocolate hearts, I noticed each one had a message. While reviewing the messages, I found that they were focused on trying to make each one of us feel good. The messages of the candy I sampled had the following messages:
• “Go where your heart takes you.”
• “Discover how much your heart can hold.”
• “Celebrate family and friends.”
• “Be your own Valentine.”
In this world, which can be so harsh and cold, these heartfelt messages are intended to brighten our day. Although messages in candy seem trivial, the idea behind the “feel-good” messages is poignant. The children of our community need us to be loving, kind and positive as we interact with them.
At Columbia Schools our teachers and staff members go the extra mile to be positive with our students. Teachers focus on the strengths of our students and work to give them positive feedback. Our goal is to build up our students and give them the educational background to help enable a lifetime of success. Students in Columbia are recognized for positive behavior, academic success, and hard work. Teachers and administrators promote students with the Student of the Month awards, Honor Roll and good behavior recognition.
Students who are struggling are applauded by their teachers as they work to bring up their grades. Mentors in the Buddies Reading Program bring a positive impact and level of encouragement to young students as they work on their reading skills. As a member of our community you may play a positive part in the lives of our students. You may encourage area children by volunteering with the Girl or Boy Scouts, mentoring a child through the Buddies Reading Program, helping with a youth sports team, attending a concert or musical performance to support your neighborhood students or cheering on our Columbia School District athletes.
Join the members of the Columbia School District family and help promote the children of our community with something more substantial and long lasting than the messages in my candy. By building up our students through positive consequential interactions, we can make a difference in their lives. If you are interested in learning more about Columbia School District, call me at 517-592-6641 or email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org.
• “Go where your heart takes you.”
• “Discover how much your heart can hold.”
• “Celebrate family and friends.”
• “Be your own Valentine.”
In this world, which can be so harsh and cold, these heartfelt messages are intended to brighten our day. Although messages in candy seem trivial, the idea behind the “feel-good” messages is poignant. The children of our community need us to be loving, kind and positive as we interact with them.
At Columbia Schools our teachers and staff members go the extra mile to be positive with our students. Teachers focus on the strengths of our students and work to give them positive feedback. Our goal is to build up our students and give them the educational background to help enable a lifetime of success. Students in Columbia are recognized for positive behavior, academic success, and hard work. Teachers and administrators promote students with the Student of the Month awards, Honor Roll and good behavior recognition.
Students who are struggling are applauded by their teachers as they work to bring up their grades. Mentors in the Buddies Reading Program bring a positive impact and level of encouragement to young students as they work on their reading skills. As a member of our community you may play a positive part in the lives of our students. You may encourage area children by volunteering with the Girl or Boy Scouts, mentoring a child through the Buddies Reading Program, helping with a youth sports team, attending a concert or musical performance to support your neighborhood students or cheering on our Columbia School District athletes.
Join the members of the Columbia School District family and help promote the children of our community with something more substantial and long lasting than the messages in my candy. By building up our students through positive consequential interactions, we can make a difference in their lives. If you are interested in learning more about Columbia School District, call me at 517-592-6641 or email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
January is School Board Appreciation Month
January is School Board appreciation month. Our dedicated Columbia School District board members share a common goal to provide a positive learning environment for our children. With deep care and compassion our board members put in many hundreds of hours focusing on the well-being of each student. Their time is well spent attending extracurricular activities, attending professional development sessions, and volunteering at school community events. Continually advocating for children, they work diligently alongside parents and community members to set policy and create a vision to help our students experience educational success.
Education is very important in the history of the United States and the volunteer members of local school boards have been essential in the progress towards excellent learning environments for our children. Complex challenges and serious issues, along with financial ambiguities face our board members as they collaborate with community members and parents.
Our citizen school board leaders, President Robert Wahr, Vice-President Garry Applegate, Treasurer Mark Fish, Secretary Jodi Collins, Trustee Dan Fulara, Trustee Dave Slusher and Trustee Doug Schedeler, consistently rise to the occasion in their challenging duties with extraordinary dedication. Their concerted efforts are the key to establish policies that will prepare our children to become future leaders.
I congratulate the Columbia School District board members for their success in providing an excellent educational experience for all of our children. During this month of appreciation, join with me to applaud our school board members who provide enthusiastic support and caring for our students, teachers and administrators.
There are many ways in which you may express your gratitude and support for our school board members: Email them a note of appreciation, send them a letter of support, express your thanks in a phone call, or make a donation to your favorite school program in their name. Your positive feedback to these unselfish leaders will be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in learning more about the Columbia School District, please contact me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call 517-592-6641.
Education is very important in the history of the United States and the volunteer members of local school boards have been essential in the progress towards excellent learning environments for our children. Complex challenges and serious issues, along with financial ambiguities face our board members as they collaborate with community members and parents.
Our citizen school board leaders, President Robert Wahr, Vice-President Garry Applegate, Treasurer Mark Fish, Secretary Jodi Collins, Trustee Dan Fulara, Trustee Dave Slusher and Trustee Doug Schedeler, consistently rise to the occasion in their challenging duties with extraordinary dedication. Their concerted efforts are the key to establish policies that will prepare our children to become future leaders.
I congratulate the Columbia School District board members for their success in providing an excellent educational experience for all of our children. During this month of appreciation, join with me to applaud our school board members who provide enthusiastic support and caring for our students, teachers and administrators.
There are many ways in which you may express your gratitude and support for our school board members: Email them a note of appreciation, send them a letter of support, express your thanks in a phone call, or make a donation to your favorite school program in their name. Your positive feedback to these unselfish leaders will be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in learning more about the Columbia School District, please contact me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call 517-592-6641.
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