Building a Solid Foundation for a Bright Future at Columbia Schools!

Headlines for today: Remember it is still March – snow and hail is not surprising.  As I write this it is only March 29^th and those of us who have lived in Michigan for a while we are not surprised. 

Thankfully this year, the snow and hail quickly melted.  Change is something we all expect in the Michigan weather. 

Just like the weather, we sometimes experience changes in our lives.  In November of 2013, Columbia voters approved both Proposal One and Two.  Proposal One approved $26 million to renovate Columbia schools to make them safe, warm, dry and smart.  Proposal Two approved $4 million to renovate and build areas to allow the creation of a positive learning environment for our seventh and eighth grade students at Columbia Central, in addition to increasing the technology in all of our buildings. 

Beginning in the summer of 2014, the bond projects have provided new roofing on all of the school buildings in Columbia, new safer drop-off and pick-up areas for parents and buses at the Columbia Elementary campus, improved parking areas, and a new safe playground area behind the third through sixth grade building. 

In Phase Two, the projects have focused on the renovation of the south wing of Columbia Central, along with the building of new locker rooms for the seventh and eighth grade students.  Classrooms have new windows, new doors, new flooring, new paint and new ceilings.  They have new

whiteboards which will combine with new interactive projectors and Smart software to become interactive “Smart” whiteboards.  The exterior doors are also new.  The new lockers are delayed, but we have “loaner” lockers for the next couple of weeks until the new lockers arrive.

On April 6^th the Phase Two renovations of the south – wing of Columbia Central will be finished to the point so it may house the seventh and eighth grade students.  The students and teachers have packed up supplies and books over the past month.  Many high school students have helped to move the boxes to Columbia Central.  All of these boxes are staged in the Columbia Central Media Center awaiting the move to the classrooms.  On Saturday, April 4^th community members, parents and students are welcome to come help move all of the boxes into the classrooms. 

It is an exciting time in our beloved Columbia School District.  Make time on Saturday, April 4^th to stop over and help move boxes into the classrooms filled with new furniture, new ceilings, new floors, new doors and new windows.  This is the beginning of a new era filled with positive safe, warm, dry and smart learning environments for our children as they build a solid foundation for a bright future!  If you have questions regarding the programs at Columbia School District, email me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call 5175926641.

Columbia Central Renovations On Schedule!

Looking out at the green grass, it is hard to believe that just one week ago it was covered with snow.  Just as the snow has been quickly melting over the past couple weeks, the construction workers have been rapidly honing in on the finishing touches in the south wing of Columbia Central.  The final painting has been finished, the ceiling grid is in place and the ceiling tiles and lights are going into the grid.  It is amazing to see how quickly the floor tile is going down getting the area ready for many eager feet!

It has been interesting to watch the masonry workers as they have placed the cement blocks to form walls, filled in around the new windows and doors with bricks, and carefully constructed the brick veneer on the entry ways.   Since the beginning of March, the glass company has been installing doors and windows.  It is amazing to see the daylight stream in through the new windows. 

The project is scheduled to be substantially complete on April 1^st so that the new furniture will be delivered and installed so that the seventh and eighth grade students may move in on April 6^th.  Our seventh and eighth grade students will be asked to arrive at Columbia Middle School on April 6^th, meet with their teachers, and then board buses that will transport them and their teachers to Columbia Central.  Once there the students will move into their new classrooms in the south wing of Columbia Central, where ten regular classrooms and two resource rooms await.

In addition to the seventh and eighth grade students moving to Columbia Central, the third and fourth grade students will move across the street to Columbia Middle School into some of the rooms vacated by the seventh and eighth grade students.  The moves are happening this spring to make room for construction crews to begin working on the north wing of Columbia Elementary School (where the third and fourth grade classrooms currently are located) and in the south side of the northeast wing of Columbia Middle School. 

The work on the elementary and middle school will take place during second shift so it will not interrupt the teaching and learning environment.  The construction crews at Columbia Central will move over to the northwest hallway to begin the renovations on the band and choir rooms, along with the psychology classroom.  This spring’s work at the three buildings will help facilitate an on time finish of the projects at the end of August so we will be able to begin school on Tuesday, September 8^th.

These times are exciting at Columbia School District, watching the improvements and renovations that will result in a positive impact on our teaching and learning environment.  We have dynamic teachers, nurturing staff members, wonderful administrators and terrific students and now we will have the best learning environments in the area with upgraded technology, new heating and air conditioning systems, fresh paint, energy efficient lighting, air tight windows and doors, updated flooring, and safety minded secure entry vestibules.  For a look at the updates as they happen, “Like” the Columbia School District Facebook page or sign up for my Twitter feed by going to the www.myeagles.org  page and clicking on the Twitter symbol.  If you have any questions about the programs and opportunities at Columbia School District, email me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641.

STEM Opportunities Grow at Columbia Schools!

As we approach Spring Break it is time for us to celebrate a wonderful first seven months of the 2014-15 school year!  By working closely together our community has improved learning opportunities in Columbia Schools.  Many of our positive improvements reside under the umbrella of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).  Teachers in grades four through eight have increased their hands-on science teaching by using new activities and strategies gained from work with the Battle Creek Math and Science Center curriculum.  These new activities give students an opportunity to investigate, learn and reflect on science concepts.  Our students understanding of science also received a boost recently at Columbia Elementary when we brought in specialists from Cranbrook for an exciting science night.  Students had the opportunity to learn through participating in neat hands-on science experiments.

Our Columbia teachers have diligently worked together to improve math education by spending time aligning our curriculum, developing innovative teaching strategies and integrating new math techniques and skills.  They also have participated in a unique opportunity to study math through a collegial professional learning community book study on “Number Talks: Helping Children Build Mental Math.”

Our students from grades three through eight have benefited by these strategies and techniques.  One of the opportunities to engage students through innovative strategies is the Michigan League of Academic Games program (MLAG).  Columbia students have been working with Mrs. Libeau and Mr. Hamilton learning math games that focus on computation, problem solving and set theory.  This past week some of the participants represented Columbia in the annual MLAG State Tournament and gained positive experience working competing against students from across the state.

Aligning with the STEM focus at Columbia School District, both Columbia Middle School and Columbia Central High School have Robotics Teams which have  given students an opportunity to use the engineering and math concepts they learn in the classroom and apply it to building a functioning robot.  The students in robotics are given a challenge, so they build, program and operate their robot to complete the challenge.  Under the guidance of Mrs. Eastman, students at Columbia Middle School have enjoyed participating in an engineering class that integrates technology, math, and physics into the curriculum.  Students have also en

joyed the STEM applications through our partnership with the Shop Rat Foundation and Consumers Energy. 

To support our students in this very important area of STEM, our teachers have participated in afterschool programs K – 12.  Columbia Elementary teachers support their students after school through the Math Academy, Middle School teachers tutor students across the curriculum in their after school program and Columbia Central High School teachers support  their students by providing expert assistance afterschool.  Again this summer, we will offer programs focused on remediation at the high school level, team building for middle school students, accelerated math for students in seventh and eighth grade, and math games for third through eighth grade students.

This is an exciting time at Columbia School District!  Our terrific teachers and staff members have partnered with our parents and community to provide all of these and many more excellent educational opportunities for our students.  If you are interested in learning more about Columbia School District and our positive STEM programs, email me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call 5175926641.

JAC3: Offering Tuition Free Opportunities for Our Students!

For the past 15 years Michigan students in grades 9 through 12 have been able to register and take college courses while still attending their local high school based upon their district’s policy requirements or through the career technical program in their county.  This opportunity has given hundreds of student the opportunity to get a head start on college, or has it?  Some of the courses taken by students have not transferred to their university, while other classes did not end up fitting into their final career plan.  Concerned with the sometimes haphazard opportunities for our students to get a head start in college and the increasing cost of a university education, the Michigan Department of Education has developed a way for local school districts to partner with a college to provide post-secondary education and career training: The Early/Middle College.

Columbia School District, in cooperation with Jackson County Intermediate School District, Jackson Area Career Center, other Jackson County school districts, Jackson College and Jackson Area Manufactures Association, Enterprise Group is participating in the Jackson Area College and Career Connection Early/Middle College, which has been nicknamed JAC3.  This program is in the final months of our pilot year and has had a focus in precision machining and welding with participation from over a dozen manufactures from the Jackson area.  To keep this three year program a tuition fee opportunity for our students going into their junior year of high school, contributing companies and Columbia School District will each underwrite $6,000 to assist with the cost of college credit.

This distinctive pathway gives students who have an interest in careers in a manufacturing field an opportunity to begin as a junior and work towards their high school diploma, gain work experience/apprenticeship and earn college credit adding up to an Associates’ Degree over the three years in the program.  While participating in the JAC3 program, students may work up to 24 hours per week during school and benefit from the opportunity to work up to 48 hours per week during holiday, spring and summer breaks.  Students at the end of their third year may also earn a career – technical credential and a placement with a company upon graduation.  Graduates of this program may look forward to earning $25 to $45 per hour upon obtaining a position with a partnering manufacture.

To qualify for the JAC3 Early/Middle College program, prospective students must be “on track” credit-wise for graduation and have a good attendance record, along with the skills and work-ethic to experience success in college courses and the technical focused learning activities. Conley (2014) would add that students in an early/middle college will experience success from having good study abilities, skills in the area of time management, orientation toward their career goals, focused determination when working towards their life aims, truthfulness and an awareness to how they are progressing in their classes, the ability to seek assistance from resources, and proficiency in the use of technology.  Columbia Central High School counselor, Wendy Diefenthaler (Wendy.Diefenthaler@myeagles.org ) and principal Daniel Hyliard (Daniel.Hyliard@myeagles.org ) are able to assist students as they apply for this tuition free college and career focused program.  If you have questions regarding the great programs and opportunities at Columbia School District, call me at 5175926641 or email me at Pamela.Campbell@myeagles.org .

Balanced Calendar Discussion

Earlier this year, Jackson County educators began discussing the school-year calendar.  Each year county districts work to have similar school calendars to provide an opportunity for all of our children to succeed and for interested high school students to have a chance to attend the Jackson County Career Center.  The initial calendar discussion quickly turned into a dialogue regarding what type of school-year calendar would promote the greatest opportunity for student academic success.  The idea of a balanced calendar was prompted by a general discussion among other mid-Michigan school districts. 

Jackson County’s examination of a balanced calendar began with an agreement by each district to meet with their community and better understand the possibilities of this potential new school-year schedule. This is a very important decision for education in Jackson County, and we would like to hear and understand your input on this topic.

To continue our research and discussion, Columbia School District held public forum to hear from our parents and community.   If you were unable to attend this forum to learn more about the information we've received thus far, and to share your beliefs surrounding this option for our students you will be able to participate by watching the pod-cast (which is available on our home page at www.myeagles.org on the right side under Special Notices), then emailing me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org .  All input will be taken seriously.

In late-February, a formal, county-wide phone survey will be conducted.  If you are contacted by phone to take this survey, I ask that you please take a few moments to answer the questions, and share your thoughts on the potential of this decision.

Thank you for joining us in this discussion. Your feedback is very important to our consideration of this decision.  If you have any questions, please email me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641.

Renovations at Columbia Central High School Continue

Recently I watched a home renovation program on the television.  It was interesting how the people looked at homes that were in poor shape, and then through the magic of television in a half hour, the home was completely renovated and looked like new!  They tore down walls, replaced windows and doors and painted everything. 

On December 1^st at Columbia Central High School we embarked on a gigantic renovation.  Currently the renovation of Columbia Central is focused on the southeast wing.  Much like the television renovation programs, we tore down ceilings and walls, removed windows and doors, and in a month will be painting the new walls.  Initially, the construction workers focused on demolition.  They tore down walls, gutted restrooms, and removed old dusty duct work. 

On one occasion I was checking on the renovations and in one area the heating and air conditioning workers were putting up ducts, while in another area the demolition crew was preparing to break through a block wall.  It has been amazing to follow all of the updates and renovations.  Over the past couple of weeks, the duct work has been going up, and the studs for the walls are being installed.  At the end of last week Consumer’s Power began their work moving a gas line south of the Columbia Community Fitness Center.  The move will make room for the new locker rooms for the seventh and eighth grade students.

In April the renovations will move to the band room, the choir room and the psychology classroom.  Beginning in June the balance of Columbia Central High School will go under extensive renovations.  The doors and windows will be removed and replaced, the electrical and technology infrastructure will be upgraded, and there will be new heating and air conditioning units and duct work.  This summer there will be site work performed at Columbia Central High School to separate parent drop off and bus traffic in addition to upgrading the parking lot, the tennis courts and the track.

Columbia Elementary, Middle and Options will also undergo extensive renovations beginning in June.  Renovations will include the installation of new heating and air conditioning, new windows and doors, updated plumbing and fixtures, and upgraded electrical and technology infrastructure.  Much like the excitement we see on the faces of the participants in the renovation television programs, our community members, students and staff members will feel a renewed sense of pride following our school building makeovers.

There are already new technology devices that have been purchased at Columbia Schools.  Both Columbia Central High School and Columbia Middle School have received four mobile carts of Chrome book laptops.  Columbia Elementary has iPads and will receive additional devices to be used next fall after the wireless infrastructure is updated.  Columbia Options has new laptops which are used at school by our online sixth through twelfth graders and our adult education students.  You may follow the renovation progress online by going to the Columbia homepage at www.myeagles.org and clicking on the Restore the Soar Facebook page.  If you have questions about Columbia School District email me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641.

Footprints in the Snow

The other day I looked out across my front yard at the crisp white snow.  Much to my surprise, many varieties of animal had made footprints in my yard.  There were rabbit, deer, cat and dog prints all intertwined in the snow.  The prints made me think about the way we follow in the footsteps of others as they lead the way into the future. 

At Columbia, our teachers work together to plan the optimum pathway for our students.  They carefully mark the way to achievement by giving our students a virtual view of the footprints of those who have successfully gone before.  During their planning sessions, our teachers work to disaggregate data from student assessments and observations to ensure all of our students follow the pathway to successful accomplishment of their learning objectives. 

As I visited with some of our teachers recently, one of our teachers noted that she regularly searches through lesson ideas to choose hands-on learning activities for her students.  On this particular day her students were working on a journal entry, before collecting snow for a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) experiment.  The students, mostly five-years-old, built small snowmen and measured them.  The class worked together to investigate the rate that the snow melted into water. 

In another classroom the students were learning how to report their experience investigating by singing an adventure song.  Other students, also five-years-old, were writing in their journals and sharing their snow day experiences with other students.  All of these students were excited to be learning by following the plan and the path their teacher had laid out for them. 

After leaving the elementary, I had the opportunity to speak with a student at Columbia Middle School about his robotics class.  It was amazing to hear about the STEM fundamentals he was learning.  Later, I spoke with students at Central High School about the activities they were participating in through the Robotics Team.  All of these activities, assignments, experiments and investigations had one thing in common: a Columbia School District teacher had carefully planned each step to guide their students to a successful future.  Just like I was able to track the footprints in the snow, the students are able to follow their teachers’ leadership on the effective pathway of learning.

If you are interested in learning more about Columbia School District or any of our programs, please email me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call 5175926641.