P-W Salutes Emerging Artist, Grant Schafer:  Grant Schafer's painting, "Corn Field," was selected to travel in the VSA (Very Special Arts) Exhibit, from April 2010 through March 2011. Grant is a 7th Grader in Ms. Blair's Art Class.

His work will be seen in many galleries, community centers, conferences, and other places throughout Michigan. Grant's painting is one of only 60 pieces to win this year in Michigan, 40 of which will be part of the main traveling show.

VSA arts of Michigan is an organization that promotes the arts for people with disabilities. To see a list of this year's exhibit locations, or for information on programs and volunteer opportunities, please visit their website: www.vsami.org.

 
P-W Art Students Receive Prestigious Honors:  Five artworks from Pewamo-Westphalia's Art Program were entered in the Scholastic Regional Arts Competition, held at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids. Two of those entries won prestigious awards, including an Honorable Mention for (St. Joe's) 8th grader, Carisa Kramer's drawing titled "Tawas Point Lighthouse," and a Gold Key award for (St. Joe's) 7th grader, Claire Thelen's drawing titled "Pair of Limes." Claire's drawing was also one of only five middle/high school artworks from West Michigan to be nominated for the American Visions Award. Her nomination entitles her to automatic acceptance in the Scholastic National Art Competition in New York! The winning artworks will be on display at Kendall College throughout the month of January. Congratulations to all five of the students whose works were entered in the regional competition: Claire Thelen, Carisa Kramer, Shannon Wohlfert, Bailey Schulte and Abigail Wirth.  Congratulations also go to their talented teacher, Mrs. Blair!
P-W Students Give Back This Christmas Season: The P-W Student Council recently sponsored their annual food drive to help families in both Clinton and Ionia Counties this Christmas. Over 1200 food items were collected and distributed to local food pantries in the area. The senior class was the winner in the contest to see which class could give the most. They averaged over 7 items per student in the class. The sophomore class came in second with an average of over 5 items per student. The Student Council would like to thank Mr. Tim Smith and Mr. Tim Cornman in their efforts to help with the food drive.

The P-W Student Council also sponsored three families this Christmas. Tags with specific needs for the families were hung on the Christmas tree in front of the school office. Students and faculty members grabbed the tags and returned with wrapped presents. Because of their generosity, these families will be a little more blessed this holiday season. The P-W Student Council would like to thank all who gave so willingly this year.

Thank You Class of 2009!:  The science department was recently presented with a new piece of equipment for the lab! The Class of 2009 graciously donated a spectrophotometer to the science department. The spectrophotometer functions by shining light at a set color (wavelength) through a sample, then the machine determines the percent of light absorbed or transmitted by the sample. By comparing this amount to a graph of known concentrations, the concentration of an unknown solution can be determined. The spectrophotometer will be used in Chemistry, AP Biology, Biology and Forensic Science to complete such experiments as determining the concentration of solutions, enzyme activity, the rate of photosynthesis and many more.  We would like to thank the Class of 2009 for making a difference in education here at PWHS!! Such a generous gift will help countless students learn by doing! 

 

 

Supt. Talks Turkey About Funding:  If you have followed the budget process in Lansing and subsequent media coverage, I am sure you are aware that all Michigan public schools are facing substantial reductions in funding this school year.  In fact, all forms of government that rely on state funding are facing cuts.  Our state is simply not collecting enough revenue to fully fund all the programs and services that have been traditionally provided.  Michigan's current budget process and tax system are fundamentally flawed and require fixing.  To better understand the structural issues of school funding in Michigan, please consider viewing the "Michigan School Funding Crisis" presentation.

 

Just before midnight on October 8th, which is three months into our fiscal year, the Legislature finally finished the 2009-2010 budget for schools.  The approved budget called for a reduction in per pupil funding of $165.  Then on October 22nd, the Governor ordered another cut to schools of $127 per student, which was due to declining sales taxes and no replacement revenues.   These two cuts amount to $292 per student, which equates to just over $200,000 in reduced funding for Pewamo-Westphalia Schools.  These cuts are not being restored with federal stimulus money, and the reduction represents 1/3 of our savings (or fund balance).

 

It is very difficult to deal with cuts of this magnitude this far into our school year, but some attempt must be done.  In November, our Board of Education took action to reduce this year's spending by $50,000 to $75,000.  One of the reductions you may have already heard about is that transportation to extra curricular events has been eliminated.  Further cost savings measures are being explored in order to meet our directive.

 

Going forward, we will continue to keep the focus on our students because they deserve our best effort.  While maintaining our commitment to fiscal responsibility, it is our goal to keep as much of our resources in the classroom as possible while we strive to fulfill our mission of providing the best education for our students.

 

Champions' Culture:  The Pewamo-Westphalia community has always been one that has loved its high school sports and for that we are fortunate.  From great kids to great coaches to great parents we are blessed.  Undoubtedly, the past year and half has seen some changes.  We’ve gotten a new athletic director in Mr. Todd Simmons and several new coaches.  With him, Coach Simmons brings his vision of a “Champions’ Culture” to P-W. 

On the surface it looks like the intention is to just win a lot of games and trophies.  Historically, the Pirates have been on the winning side of things more often than not, but a “Champions’ Culture” is about more than winning.  A Champion is someone with character, confidence, focus, determination, leadership, will-power and resiliency.  A Champion sets goals and then tears down walls to reach them.  A Champion is invincible in his own mind.  No feat is impossible.  People want to be around a Champion.  He or she possesses a mindset, an attitude that allows the accomplishment of anything.

A Champion is a Leader.  A person is not a Champion because they win.  A person wins because they are first a Champion.  Champions are successful in all aspects of life beyond the court, field, or weight room.  A Champion might not be the most athletic or the best on the team.  A Champion might not even be an athlete at all.  They grow up to have successful careers and loving families because they do the right things when nobody is watching. 

The vision of Pewamo-Westphalia Athletics is to create Champions out of every student that walks through the door.  Not everyone will become a superstar athlete, but many will reach goals that others thought were impossible.  More importantly they will become Champions for life.  Wins will also come as we do the right things, and winning is fun, but you must become a Champion first.

 

            (This marks the beginning of a series of articles on the vision, mission and methodology of the Pewamo-Westphalia Athletic Department.)

"THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS!" – Bo Schembechler

Coach Lee Schneider, YFS II

Youth Fitness Specialist level 2

International Youth Conditioning Association

 

P-W Launches PD Program on Oct. 21: October 21st is the first of eight days this year when school will start two hours later than usual. These 2-hour delays have been scheduled to provide our teachers with valuable Professional Development (PD) opportunities. On these scheduled 2-hour delay days, school will begin at 10 a.m. at all buildings. For the October 21st date, students in morning DK or kindergarten will not attend, and afternoon DK and kindergarten students will attend at their usual time. 

On future scheduled 2-hour delay dates beginning November 18, morning and afternoon DK and kindergarten students will alternate between attending from 10 a.m. till 2:57 p.m., and having the day off.  Lunch will be provided to the DK and kindergarten students in attendance on these dates.  Further communications will be provided by Mr. Heckman as these dates approach.  Please see this year's calendar for a full schedule of these dates.

 
Pirate Head Gets Extreme Makeover:  As you drive in front of the high school, be sure to look up.  The Pirate face on the west side of the school recently went through a facial makeover.  The face, created by Mr. Kurt Mabie’s metal shop in the late 1980’s, had weathered over the years and was in need of a fresh coat of paint.  Mr. Fran Heckman, noticing the Pirate’s sad condition, first contacted Cary Bashore at the high school about doing something to restore the Pirate to its original condition.  Fran then contacted Mr. Ed Heckman, who has spent this past year prepping and repainting the face.  Ed then had it clear-coated to maintain its luster for years to come.  Ed’s grandsons even pitched in to help.  Pewamo-Westphalia Schools would like to thank Fran, Ed, Ed’s son Darrin and Ed’s grandsons (Peyton – 9 and Brady – 3) for their generous donation of time, talent and materials in making our school a source of pride for our community.  The Pirate head really gives us another reason to look up when it comes to our school! (9/21/09)
 

Welcome Mr. Roger Thelen:  We are pleased to announce that Mr. Roger Thelen will temporarily be serving as the Jr./Sr. High School Principal position.  Mr. Jody McKean, the former principal, has accepted a position at DeWitt Public Schools.

Mr. Thelen is a recently retired superintendent, principal and teacher.  He brings a wealth of experience to this role and will be a great asset to the P-W program.  Mr. Thelen will be here for the duration of this school year on a part-time basis. (9/2/09)

 

Boosters Give P-W Teacher a Lift:  On August 24th the P-W Boosters held their first meeting of the school year.  At the meeting, they approved a grant of $1800 for classroom technology for Mr. Cary Bashore.    The grant will be used for purchasing a computer and software that gives Mr. Bashore the ability to move about the classroom while presenting his lesson using a data projector. 

Mr. Bashore teaches Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Advanced Placement Calculus and Advanced Placement Psychology at the high school.  “This new technology allows me to interact with students while I present my lessons.  I don’t have to just be up in front of the classroom all of the time.  I can move about.  The really impressive feature about this computer is that it has the ability to record my lessons and allow students who are sick or away from school the opportunity to access my lessons from home via my website,” remarks Bashore. 

Mr. Bashore and all of P-W wishes to thank the Boosters for their generous donation, and for all they do to enhance the education of P-W students. (9/14/09)