Chirp Sheet
Singing the praises of our DCS students and staff 9-15/23
February 5 deemed as "Logan's Kindness Day"
When students in Mr. Christopher Hinkley's Life Skills Class were tasked with coming up with an idea for a new holiday, Davison High School freshman Logan Burleson had no idea that he and his classmates would be celebrating a day in his honor three months later.
The assignment stemmed from a video students watched in government class prior to Thanksgiving about how national holidays are created and voted upon by Congress and the President.
"Students were challenged to come up with an idea for a new holiday," Mr. Hinkley said. "They came up with a plan for why we would celebrate the holiday, traditions, foods and more. Students also had to get 'co-sponsors' for their holiday bill, debate it as a class, and then vote on it, similar to Congress."
Logan was able to get six of his classmates to co-sponsor his bill and one unanimous vote later, Logan's Kindness Day was born.
Davison High School Social Worker Emily Judd said Logan describes the holiday as "no slamming, we hug everyone and we don't bang things, we say nice things, and we eat chicken."
And on Wednesday morning, students did just that. After School Resource Officer Kevin Roberts presented Logan with an award that featured a school bus (Logan is enamored with buses), Logan and his classmates nibbled on chicken nuggets and read the nice things they had written about each other. They also signed a pledge to be kind and were given bags of treats and stickers to hand out to fellow students and staff as they wished them Happy Logan's Kindness Day.
Ms. Judd said she hopes the holiday is celebrated every year at Davison High School as a reminder to be kind to others.
Auto Tech students have earned 117 certifications
As of last week - the beginning of Career and Technical Education Month - more than 70 students enrolled in Auto Technology classes at Davison High School have earned 117 certifications to date.
Students can all test and earn certification in brakes, engine repair, engine performance, electrical, suspension and steering, heating and air conditioning, manual transmission, automatic transmission, and maintenance and light repair.
"I have had students go above and beyond auto and test in diesel truck and in automobile refinishing as well," said Auto Technology Teacher Mr. Andrew Michalik.
The Student ASE license is for two years. Some colleges grant scholarships up to $300 per test passed and some dealerships pay students 50 cents more per hour for each state license and $1 more per hour for each ASE License, according to Mr. Michalik.
"We also have students taking Factory Ford Classes through Ford's Star system and I have one student approaching 80% done with Ford's student training," Mr. Michalik said. "The benefits to this are students can then work on those systems under warranty purposes for pay. And once they reach Master Tech Level they earn bonuses for themselves."
Miles Luebke, auto technician who assists Mr. Michalik in the classroom, said the following students have earned certifications:
- Christopher Anderson - Maintenance and Light Repair, Electrical
- Layne Anderson - Brakes, Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Suspension, Electrical
- Brett Bass - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes
- Dominic Bingham - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Aundrea Brittain - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Tanner Broecker - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Nathan Brooks - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Repair, Suspension
- D'Merrius Carter - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Repair, Suspension
- Ryder Chase - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Sawyer Clark - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Jace Clayton - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes
- Teven Cook - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Dylan Cronkright - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Suspension, Electrical
- Lucas Cummings - Maintenance and Light Repair, Electrical
- Devin Durance - Maintenance and Light Repair, Suspension, Electrical
- Kameron Echols - Engine Repair
- Justin Elder - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes
- Landon Gibson - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Tyler Glasco - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Garret Hall - Brakes
- Thomas Hoffa - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Repair
- Alexander Hoover - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Electrical
- Brenden Houk - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Wyatt Hunt - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes
- Angelo Johnson - Engine Repair
- Shane Jones - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Repair
- Raiguel Lopez Suarez - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Calvin Martz - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Zachary Mather - Brakes
- Nathaniel Mauricio - Maintenance and Light Repair, Electrical
- Ryder May - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes
- Chelsea McMillan - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Repair
- Porter Meinburg - Maintenance and Light Repair, Suspension, Electrical
- Dylen Minto - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Garrett Mitchell - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Ciara Moore - Brakes
- Jamarion Moore - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Maurice Morris - Engine Repair
- Kayden Nicholson -Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Greycin Overland - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Jeffrey Paruch - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Performance, Suspension, Electrical, Automotive Service
- Jordan Persails - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Repair
- Julian Poole - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Zachary Poole - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Raymond Poszywak - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Repair
- Douglas Pray - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Suspension, HVAC
- Heidi Presnell - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Keaston Rodriguez - Maintenance and Light Repair
- Kaden Schumacher - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Kaci Scott - Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Suspension, Electrical
- Parker Springsteen - Electrical
- Ayden Stiff - Maintenance and Light Repair, Electrical
- Albert Wells-Perez - Maintenance and Light Repair, Engine Repair
- Jabari Williams - Maintenance and Light Repair
Hahn counselors celebrate Counseling Week with classroom challenge
To celebrate National Counseling Week, Hahn Intermediate students put their counseling knowledge to the test by competing in a classroom challenge. Each morning, a question was emailed to each classroom teacher at 7:45 a.m. The first class to submit the correct answer earned points and a treat for the day (Goldfish crackers, candy, etc.) The class with the most points at the end of the week won a donut party, sponsored by their school counselors, Mrs. Julie Simonsen and Mrs. Tessa Hammond.
The questions included:
- Monday - Name the two different ways you can ask to see your counselor. (Answers: Google Form on Google Classroom or the paper version in the office)
- Tuesday - Name the favorite healthy coping skill for your class. (Answers varied from deep breathing, finger tracing, listen to music, talk it out)
- Wednesday - If you are at school and struggling to understand a topic in class, who do you go to first for help? (Most answered their teacher)
- Friday - Poll the class to determine what is the students' most popular path/training for a future career: Military, Trade School, College/University, Apprenticeship. (Most answered college)
- Tie Breaker - When having friendship problems, you can ….Talk to your teacher, friend, counselor, all of the above. (Both classes chose teacher as it was the first choice in a race to finish)
At the end of the week there was a tie between Mrs. Deidre Callan's fifth grade students and Mrs. Ami Unger's sixth grade students. A tie breaker question was sent out at 8 a.m. and Mrs. Unger's class was faster in responding by 0.05 seconds. Below, students in Mrs. Unger's class pick out their donuts. A few of Mrs. Unger's students that had Mrs. Callan from last year wanted to share with their former teacher so they brought a donut down to her and Mrs. Callan's class clapped with amazing sportsmanship.
Speaker tells students to be relentless as they pursue their dreams
A record-setting linebacker for his high school football team and a three-sport athlete, Brad Hurtig had just finished his sophomore year when he and his buddy were offered summer jobs at a local factory. Little did he know that the decision would change the course of his life.
Hurtig, speaking to more than 350 seniors at Davison High School Monday morning as part of his Find A Way® presentation, explained that shortly after beginning his shift one evening, he began adjusting the material that had become misaligned on the bed of a 500-ton power press. His friend, unaware that Brad's hands were still under the press, began the machine.
"The first thing I remember is not the physical pain but the screams from those who were seeing what they did when they saw me," Hurtig said. "I then had an immediate sense of panic."
Hurtig was rushed to the hospital and then life-flighted to a hospital where he spent 11 days and underwent multiple surgeries. He lost both of his hands due to the accident.
"I basically had to start a new life," he said. " I tried to stay positive but I was burying some deep emotions. I wouldn't be able to play sports. Or drive. Or brush my teeth, tie my shoes. I felt trapped. It was like I felt that 500-ton power press was still pressing down on me in general."
Hurtig reminded students that we all have circumstances in life that we wouldn't choose.
"But you do have purpose and value in life and if you are walking through something right now, reach out to your counselor or the people here," he said. "They are here to help."
For Hurtig, it was his football coach who helped him to change his mindset. First, he challenged Hurtig to come back to football practices. So Hurtig did and one day, thirsty and on the sidelines, asked his coach to give him a drink. The coach looked at the water bottle and then said: "If you are thirsty enough, you will find a way."
After hearing those words, something clicked for Hurtig.
"You and I - what we focus on in our lives, whether it's good or bad, that is what we are going to see in life," he explained. "If we see things more positively, we tend to me more grateful and see more opportunities. Or if we think negatively, we see more proof of our limitations and we are stuck there."
From there, Hurtig adopted an attitude of perseverance and resilience. He began finding ways to challenge himself every day. In his senior year, Hurtig led his football team's defense, recording 111 tackles and receiving all-state honors all while playing with no hands.
"Consistency is the key to be successful," Hurtig told students. " Whether it's learning to play an instrument, being successful academically or athletically, you have to be relentless and go after it, persevere and find a way."
- Madelyn Flynn (DHS Class of 2024) made the Dean’s List at Wayne State University with a 4.0 grade point average for the Fall 2024 term. Madelyn is also a student athlete on the Swim and Dive Team.
If you have news about an alumni, we would love to share it in a future edition! Send info to medwards@davisonschools.org.
Middle School swimmer breaks state record
Davison Middle School eighth grader Savannah Flynn broke the Michigan Intercollegiate Swim Coaches Association's record for the 100 breaststroke with a winning time of 1:06.36. The previous record was a 1:07.74 set in 2011. Savannah won both of her events, including the 50 free with a time of 25.24, placing her fifth on the top 20 middle school times in this event since 2006.
Also making it to the podium at last weekend's MISCA State Championship Meet in Battle Creek were Davison Middle School students Paige Prill with a 3rd Place Diving finish and Emmitt Spiewak with a fourth place finish in the 100 BackStroke and fifth place finish in the 100 Freestyle.