November News 2024

I appreciate everyone participating in our Parent Teacher Conferences at the end of October and want to remind everyone that your child's schooling is much more successful when there is an open line of communication between the classroom and parents! The staff welcomes your calls and emails, not just when a problem arises, but also to discuss the education of your child on a regular basis!

Speaking of good communication, November brings our Digital Citizenship Week which helps everyone be a good digital citizen. Stay tuned for much more information!

November and December seem to fly away from us with the Holiday breaks causing short months, so I ask that you keep up with your child's progress by logging into PowerSchool and perusing your child's grades. If you need help accessing PowerSchool please feel free to contact the office! Another great resource, other than this newsletter, is our PowerSchool Announcements (Daily Bulletin) which you can access when you log in on your phone by simply scrolling down. This gives detailed information on the daily happenings of the building.

Finally, I wanted to touch on some highlights from October.

• The hallways have never looked better and I was very impressed that the students showed such great respect and the decorations remained untouched for two weeks!
• Pep Club put on a great spirit week!
• The choir sounded spectacular for their fall concert!
• The students enjoyed donuts and cider as part of our Fall Fun day!
• We made our own cider in Outdoor Education and have fresh honey!!!!

I look forward to a great November and wish everyone a safe Thanksgiving!

Your Child's Health and Wellbeing - At RW we use a multitude of strategies that usually aren't seen by parents to impact your child's wellbeing!

• Positivity Project Building Healthy Relationships
• Sanitization
• Healthy Meals/Salad Bar Options
• Mental Health Therapist & Social Worker
• Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom with our Counselors
• Health Class during PE
• Opening the Gym/Outside for part of Lunch most days
• Pop and snack machines are off during the day
• Teams of Core Teachers
• Eye/Hearing Testing
• Mobile Dentist
• ALICE and Safety Drills
• Secured Campus/Buzz in System with Photo ID Checks
  
• Grow To Glow Club - LHS Girls assisting our RW Girls

November 4-8 - Digital Citizenship Week

November 11 - Veteran's Day - We Thank You For Your Service

November 15 - Progress Reports Sent Home Via School Messenger

November 25 to 29 - Thanksgiving Holiday No School

December 23-January 3 - Winter Recess

We need you! Please consider joining us for our PAC meeting on Wednesday, November 13 at 10:30 am in the Rolland-Warner Conference Room. We have frank and open conversations about the happenings in the school and plan out fun events for the students at RW. We need help planning and funding some events for the kids like hot chocolate and sugar cookies in December!

• At RW we are going to give the students the opportunity to decorate their iConnect doorway and bring led string lights to Light Up the Holidays directly following Thanksgiving!

You may automatically think sports when you hear the term coach, but we have coaches that also collaborate with our teachers! RW has one full time and a part-time learning coach. These positions are funded through grants. The role of the learning coach is to partner with teachers to increase student learning through ongoing, embedded professional learning opportunities.

The role of the learning coach is to partner with teachers to increase student learning through ongoing, embedded professional learning opportunities. These opportunities may include, but are not limited to: co-planning, co-teaching, action research projects, facilitating curriculum work and professional learning communities, resource gathering, reflective discussions, data collection/analysis support, and more.

Questioning

Another approach that might be different from when we were in school is the strategic use of questioning in classrooms. In the past, when we, as students needed assistance, our own teachers likely helped us to memorize steps or showed us how to look up answers. The tasks students are being asked to engage with now are more complex and have many possible solutions. This shift matches our need to adapt to an ever-changing and advancing society. While in the past, many careers involved repetitive tasks and the need to be skilled at memorization, modern society requires us to draw from current resources to create new ideas and apply concepts in innovative ways.

Because of this, today’s teacher is often a facilitator of thinking. While students collaborate to discuss, debate, and draw conclusions, teachers deepen and challenge their thinking with powerful questions. Cognitive learning science tells us that asking questions vs telling or lecturing to students helps learners to retain more knowledge and promotes deeper understanding.

Reach out to us if we can be of any help!

John McCreedy - A-L; (810) 538-2339

Larry Hochman - M-Z; (810) 538-2338

Shannon Holley - Secretary; (810) 538-2334, Ext 223361

Mental Health Specialist

Kevin Knickerbocker - (810) 538-2334, Ext 223321

The Positivity Project is not a program with strict guidelines. Instead, it educates teachers on the character strengths and relies on them to teach in a way that best meets their students’ needs. It is a school-wide endeavor, grounded in the consistency of classroom instruction. Their model is holistic; it incorporates students, educators, and parents through regular interaction with character strengths vocabulary and concepts.

This month the students will cover the character strengths of Knowing my Words and Actions Affect Others, Bravery, and Gratitude.

Used to volunteer at the elementary? Wonder what it's like at the MS? See the flyer, scan the QR Code, call the office at (810) 538-2334 , email renee.shrontz@lapeerschools.org, or fill out this Volunteer Google Form. We would love to have your help!!!

Each month a couple areas of the student handbook will be highlighted. Don’t forget the full student handbook can be found under the “Parents & Students” tab on our website at http://rw.lapeerschools.org/ This month’s focus is on volunteering and parent pick-ups.

Office check-in is required for all visitors. Please enter through the doors leading into the main office.

Parent volunteers make their school a better place for all students. Please visit our LCS website or come to the main office to obtain the proper documentation and procedures for becoming a volunteer. This must be done at least one month prior to an event to allow processing time. The approval may take up to 30 days and must be completed every three years. Volunteer forms can be found in the office.

Something that the school secretaries are required to do is to check IDs for parents, guardians, and family when they come into the office to check out a student. I know how it can be inconvenient to come into the school from the parking lot and be told you need to go back out to your car to get your ID. For that reason, please bring your ID in with you when picking up a student from school. While this may seem like a hassle, safety is our number one priority, and making sure we are checking IDs is a vital part of this process.

Speaking of volunteering, parents who are new to the middle school know that the opportunities that are available to volunteer are a lot different than the elementary schools. Because students switch classes every 50 minutes, there really is not a “homeroom” where parents can stay for extended time and help work with students on projects like in elementary school. This doesn’t mean we can’t use your help though! Events like the can/bottle drive are a great opportunity to help out. Other opportunities include chaperoning school dances, selling concessions at athletic events, going on field trips, and many other activities. Please check Facebook and the monthly newsletter for updates on what opportunities are available. All volunteers must have a volunteer form on file with Lapeer Community Schools.

We cannot wait to start fundraising and announce the details for next year's Washington DC Trip as I know many of you cannot wait as well, however, we are currently reviewing quotes and working to get the best possible trip for the best possible cost for the current 7th graders. Once we have the best possible trip we will seek board approval and then be able to start fundraising and announce the trip! Stay tuned!

Did you know that districts are required to monitor that grant funds are only used to supplement, not supplant state and local funds that would be available in the absence of federal funds?

3 presumptions will be considered to determine if supplanting has occurred:

• Presumption #1 – Required by Law or Policy: Supplanting is presumed if a state, district or school uses grant funds to pay for something that it is required to provide under other federal, state or local laws—or by Board policy or bargaining agreements.

• Presumption #2 – Supported Last Year: Supplanting is presumed if a state, district or school uses grant funds to pay for something it supported last year with state or local funds.

• Presumption #3 – Provided to Everyone: Supplanting is presumed if a district uses grant funds to pay for services that the district uses state or local funds to provide the same services in other schools.

The District is currently hiring for multiple vacancies in our support staff unit. We offer competitive wages, flexible schedules, reduced rates for employee childcare, free admission to athletic events and more! We are currently looking to fill full and part-time vacancies in the following areas:

• Bus Drivers
• Custodians
• Food Service
• Paraprofessionals
• Substitutes in all areas

Please click the link to see all our openings and start the application process. If you wish to learn more about the available positions or how to apply, please call the LCS Human Resource office at (810) 538-1609 or if interested in a position at RW call the office (810) 538-2334 and we can get you headed in the right direction!

Contact HR for more information, email tammy.creason@lapeerschools.org or call 810.538.1609.

Rich Cross

Associate Principal - Zemmer 8/9 Campus

Middle School Athletic Director

richard.cross@lapeerschools.org

810.667.2413 (ext. 222348)

Megan Parks

Associate Principal - RW 6/7 Campus

megan.parks@lapeerschools.org

810.538.2335

Amanda Turner

Attendance/Athletics Secretary - Rolland-Warner 6/7 Campus

amanda.turner@lapeerschools.org

810.538.2334 (ext. 223302)

7th/8th Volleyball Tryouts will be October 23rd, 24th and 28th

MS Wrestling practice begins on Monday, October 28th

Winter 1/2 Sports Athletic Clearance Process and Parent Meeting & Meet the Coach Night

Winter 1 Sports - Volleyball & Wrestling

Winter 2 Sports - Boys Basketball & Competitive Cheer

Athletic clearances are open for processing with Mrs. Turner in the Rolland-Warner main office and Mrs. Tiffany in the Zemmer main office. If you have already been cleared for Fall Sports this year, then you are all set! Winter 1/2 student athletes will receive a different colored clearance bracelet on the first day of practice/tryouts.

Winter 1/2 Sports Parents Meeting/Meet the Coach Night will be held on Monday, October 21st, at 6 p.m. in the Zemmer cafeteria. Athletic Clearance will not be available at the meeting. However, parents and students can get cleared through the RW/Zemmer main offices anytime prior to the start of Winter 1 practices.

Prior to the meeting, the following items are available in the office or online at http://lapeerlightning.com and MUST be turned into the RW/Zemmer Main Office prior to first practice/tryout:

- All athletes must have a completed 2024-2025 MHSAA Physical (dated April 15, 2024 or after)

- All athletes must have a completed Emergency Card

- All athletes must have a signed Athletic Code of Conduct Card (parent & student signatures required)

*All athletes must have passed at least 5/6 classes during previous academic semester.*

*Please see the Athletic Code of Conduct for information on Eligibility requirements (grades) needed last year and current.*

*Pay to Participate must be paid in full before any athlete may participate in a game/contest/meet.*

*Winter 2 practices will begin after Christmas Break, likely on Monday, January 6th*

Coaches Contact Information

MS Wrestling – Lenny Gosciniak - leonard.gosciniak@lapeerschools.org

Matt Wojciechowski - matthew.wojciechowski@lapeerschools.org

7th Volleyball – Jessica Kirk/TBD

8th Volleyball - Taylor Rutledge - taylor.rutledge@lapeerschools.org

Lisa McAley - lisa.mcaley@lapeerschools.org

MS Competitive Cheer – Deanna Michalik - deanna.michalik@lapeerschools.org

7th Boys Basketball – TBD

8th Boys Basketball - Phil Widzinski - philip.widzinski@lapeerschools.org

Practice Times & Locations

MS Wrestling - 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ RW Cafeteria

7th Volleyball - 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ RW Gym

8th Volleyball - 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ Zemmer Gym

MS Competitive Cheer - Tryouts Dec. 16th, 17th & 18th from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ Zemmer

7th Boys Basketball - Tryouts Jan. 6th - 8th at (time TBD) @ RW Gym

8th Boys Basketball - Tryouts Jan. 6th - 8th at (time TBD) @ Zemmer Gym.

Schedules

MS Wrestling

https://lapeerlightning.com/teams/3701385/wrestling/8th%20grade/schedule

7th Volleyball

https://lapeerlightning.com/teams/3764078/girls/volleyball/7th%20grade/schedule

8th Volleyball

https://lapeerlightning.com/teams/3764076/girls/volleyball/8th%20grade/schedule

***Please be reminded that all schedules are subject to updates and changes prior to the start of the season***

Rolland-Warner 6/7 Campus services 600 sixth and seventh-grade students with a year-round program, a virtual program, and a traditional program. Students have many class options and extracurriculars such as clubs and sports.

Wyatt Stevens, Principal

Megan Parks, Associate Principal/Athletics

Kent Meister, Dean of Students

Renee Shrontz, Head Secretary

Amanda Turner, Attendance/Athletics Secretary

Email: renee.shrontz@lapeerschools.org
Website: rw.lapeerschools.org
Location: 3145 West Genesee Street, Lapeer, MI, USA
Phone: (810) 538-2334
Facebook: https://facebook.com/RollandWarnerMiddleSchool
Twitter: @Lapeerschools