Chirp Sheet
Singing the praises of our DCS students and staff 9-15/23
Roll Call - Saluting our DCS family members in the service
Davison Community Schools salutes all veterans for their service and sacrifice. Additionally, we would like to recognize the following individuals who either work for, or are related to someone who works in, the District. Read on to learn about their stories and legacies.
- Irene Englund - the maternal grandmother of Emily Judd, Social Worker at Davison High School, served as a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) in World War II. She was the first WASP to receive full military honors at Arlington Cemetery. Her story was featured on ABC News in 2002, which you can read here: https://abcnews.go.com/amp/WNT/story?id=130280&page=1. An article about Irene also appeared in the Harvard Law Bulletin: https://hls.harvard.edu/today/serve-honor/
- Jon Eastridge, the husband of Anna Eastridge, a Long Term Guest Teacher at Hill Elementary, is a Marine Veteran, USMC branch.
Crissy Herron. Paraprofessional at Thomson Elementary, has a nephew, Trenton Terwilliger, currently serving in the Marines. Trenton is also a Davison graduate, class of 2022, and is a Private First Class aircraft mechanic.
Brad Davis, Davison Middle School Instrumental Music Teacher, served eight years in the U.S. Coast Guard as a Boatswains Mate - 25' Coxwain, 47' MLB crew member, boarding team member.
Jim Erwin, retired Davison High School history teacher, was an Army draftee and Sea Bees reserve member, serving a total of 16 years, six months and 23 days between 1952 and 1973.
Stephen Maule, Student Mentor at Davison Alternative Education, served in the United States Navy for 10 years - one year training Pensacola, Fla., three years onboard the USS George Washington, three years in Naples, Italy, and three years Fort Meade, MD. He was a Petty Officer 2nd Class - Cryptologist Technician Operator (CTO2).
Sgt. Brendan Springsteen, family member of Raven Springsteen, Davison Alternative Education Teacher, has been in the U.S. Army for five years and is currently serving in South Korea. He also served in Qatar in 2022.
Davison Middle School Teacher Angela Volz has two "Navy guys" in her family. Her husband, Randall, served in the U.S. Navy from July 7, 1986, to July 7, 1993, as a Weapons Technician 2nd Class. He was a part of Operation Just Cause (Panama) and Operation Desert Shield. Mr. Volz was a Leading Petty Officer SEAL Delivery Team Group 2 Armory and Distinguished Graduate, Nuclear Weapons Pacific. Angela's stepson, Aidan P. Volz, is a Hull Technician Fireman Apprentice in the U.S. Navy. He joined July 1 of this year.
PFC Owen Lavrack, son of Maryann Spencer, Special Education Paraprofessional, is coming up on his first year in the Army. He is a 2023 graduate of Davison.
New District Librarian Nancy Schultz Speck and her husband, Chris Speck, are both Army Veterans. Chris's father, Rick Speck, is an Air Force Veteran and Chris was born on an Air Force Base. Nancy's father, Richard Schultz, was also an Air Force veteran.
Central Elementary Teacher Becky Romzek's grandpa, Clayton Smith, was a Private in the army in WWII. He was also a DCS graduate, class of 1936, as well a DCS employee in the late '70s and '80s as a janitor at Davison Junior High. He was stationed in France in '44 and returned home with a lasting injury from shrapnel, a Purple Heart and just over two years of service. Before he left, he and Becky's grandma, Cathryn Smith (also a DCS graduate, class of 1935 and DCS employee as well, head cook at Siple in the '70s and '80s), were in the midst of building a home. When he was called, they threw plywood over the basement and Becky's grandma, dad and uncle moved into the Leffler family farm (Becky's grandma's parents) on Coldwater Road while Clayton was gone. When he returned home, they finished the house where he, Becky's grandma, dad and uncle lived until the boys married and moved on. Becky's grandparents lived there until their deaths in 1992 and 1994. Clayton had built a small mother in-law's house on the property for Becky's maternal great-grandmother after her husband had passed and they were selling the farm. It's the same small house that was Becky's first home with her mom and dad. "I have fond memories of growing up with grandparents on the other side of the sidewalk," Becky said. "When I was 3 my parents built the house right next door. After my grandpa's passing in 1994, my family and I moved into their house where we brought home three of our four children." Becky's four kids are 4th generation Davison graduates.
Davison High School Head Custodian and veteran Patrick Cunningham is very proud of his oldest son, Charles Cunningham, who is serving in his first year in the United States Navy. Charles is currently in ATO "A" School learning how to operate and repair all sorts of electronic equipment for our Navy's newest fighter jets. Patrick is a retired senior chief from the U.S. Navy and served for 23 years. He was deployed during the Iraqi War as well as Global War on Terror. He served on board the USS Saratoga Airwing and later joined the Reserves (VR-53) and flew on and maintained Navy C-130's all over Europe and the Middle East.
Brendan Glann, the son of Gates Elementary Counselor Christine Glann, has been actively serving in the U.S. Air Force since July 2024. He is a First Class Airman.
Retired Davison High School Teacher Thomas Tuttle comes from a family of military heroes. Tom was enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Spec 6 (E-6) from 1969-1975. His brother, Dennis Tuttle, is veteran from the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. His father-in-law, Ted Kubit, is a World War II Army veteran and his father, Farice Tuttle, served in the Kentucky National Guard and Coast Guard and in World War II.
This is a photo of Stephen Maule holding Staci Maule (Kindergarten Teacher at Thomson Elementary) for the first time after being deployed on the USS George Washington CVN 73. This picture shows the sacrifices veterans face.
Irene Englund - the maternal grandmother of Emily Judd, Social Worker at Davison High School, was the first WASP to receive full military honors at Arlington Cemetery.
DCS students and staff celebrate World Kindness Day
Students and staff members were busy spreading joy throughout the district on Wednesday as part of World Kindness Day.
Kindergarten students in Mrs. Julie VanEvery's class at Thomson Elementary colored pictures that were attached to a note wishing the recipient a "Happy World Kindness Day." Teacher Cadet Miss Hannah took the pictures and placed them on cars throughout the school parking lot hoping to put a smile on the face of the vehicle owner when they got to their car.
"You never know who will get it," Mrs. VanEvery said. "One of my former kindergarten students found it on their car!"
Central Elementary Teacher Mrs. Jacqueline Brisbin celebrated World Kindness Day by reading the book, “Kindness is my Superpower” to her students. The class then made a list of things they could do to be kind to others to hang in the classroom as a reference for the rest of the year.
"To end our day, we colored the background of some small posters and then went on a walk to put them up around our school to spread positivity," Mrs. Brisbin said.
Also taking place at Central, Media Center Paraprofessional Mrs. Peggy Sparks had students color bookmarks to hide in various books around the library.
"To brighten someone's day when they check it out next," she said.
At Davison Middle School, members of the school's Hope Squad wrote words of kindness on post cards that were given to students and staff members.
Hope Squad is a school-based peer-to-peer support program that empowers selected students to take action and help foster a culture of care where all students feel safe and a genuine sense of belonging. Students in Hope Squad are selected via peer nomination process.
"Hope Squad members are not taught to act as counselors, but rather trained on how to be peer advocates, recognize signs of suicide contemplation, and respectfully report any concerns to an adult," explained Davison Middle School Counselor Joni Clemons. "Core to this approach is the development of student leaders, nominated by their peers, who are equipped with the tools, strategies, resources and language skills to connect a friend in need to an adult who can support."
Hope Squad members also engage in activities that focus on suicide awareness and prevention, and work to reduce stigmas around mental health and suicide. As the research reveals, students are at least two times more likely to seek a peer or friend over an adult when in need of help/support for mental health. Students selected for the Hope Squad were nominated by their peers and a parent meeting was held in order for the students to receive permission to participate. The first student meeting will be on November 21.
Mrs. Clemons said Davison Middle School is piloting the Hope Squad program this year and the program is scheduled to start at Davison High School next year. Mrs. Clemons, along with Counselor Mrs. Sarah Abraham, are the Hope Squad Advisors for the middle school.
"It was a heart warming experience," said sixth grade Teacher Mrs. Janessa Woodrich. "Both students (LINKS and their buddies) loved it and it made their day."
At Gates Elementary, students and staff were encouraged to wear their Davison colors and spirit wear on Wednesday as a sign of support for World Kindness Day. Staff were also treated to ice cream sundaes in the lounge to remind them that it is 'Cool to Be Kind & Remember to Sprinkle Kindness Everywhere You Go'!
At Hahn Intermediate, students in the LINKS program celebrated World Kindness Day by decorating their LINK buddy’s locker.
At Davison Middle School, members of the school's Hope Squad wrote words of kindness on post cards that were given to students and staff members.
First division ratings for DHS, DMS choral students at solo and ensemble
Congratulations to the following Davison Middle School and Davison High School choir members who participated in the Michigan School Vocal Music Assocation's Musical Theatre Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, November 9, at Oxford High School:
Loralye Baker-Simpson
Adreena Batsios
Chloe Foss
Dominick Frost
Elise Gerkin
Daniel Hyrman
Lillyann Johnson
Reghan Jones
Jaxson Marsh
Gabrial Martinez
Katelyn Miller
Angela Minto
Pierce Murray
Isaiah Quintanilla
Chloe Starr
Marcus Stogsdill
Lily Surface
Sophia Taylor
Theodore Useslman
Violet Usealman
Logan Walsh
All of these students were very well prepared and received first division ratings!
Student athletes participate in MHSAA Leadership Summit
"We had great representation," said Mr. Beamer. "Students worked together throughout the day in different groups to brainstorm and discuss different ideas to create, implement and focus on positive sportsmanship for everyone at athletic events as well as bringing positive support to athletic contests."
Nice job, team!
