In the Loop

Get Connected with Fremont Public Schools

You and I are busy people. We have no real opportunity to get together for a chat. Yet we do have new ways we can “talk.” That’s the point of In the Loop: a format for sharing with you regular insights of life at Fremont Public Schools.

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John Kingsnorth, Superintendent
jkingsnorth@fremont.net

 

April 8, 2008 In The Loop

In This Issue:

 

West Michigan Science Challenge

By Rebecca L. Miller, Pathfinder teacher

You can be very proud today for Syrena May! 

She was Fremont's first student to enter the West Michigan Science Challenge with her science project. Last night she presented her project to a team of 4-6 judges.  She definitely was an excellent representative of Daisy Brook.  Syrena was unique in her presentation because she used power point to show her work.  Technology is the new thing at the Science Challenge.  There was one other computer and one digital picture frame in the project displays.

Mr. Mull, her power point presentation of her research would also be an excellent entry for the Newaygo County Technology Showcase in May.

 

Packer Backer News

By Rick St. Peter, Packer Backer President

 Principal Scott Sherman, Athletic Director Tom Palmer, Coach Mary Pekel and Packer Backer President Rick St. Peter admire the new scoreboard recently purchased and installed for the swim program. The $10,300 needed to purchase the board, and new laptop computer, was donated by the Packer Backers. While Packer Backers paid for the board, President Rick St. Peter was quick to point out that it was a ‘team effort’.

 “Coach Pekel put the time in, and did all the legwork to find the right board at the right price for us, and Principal Scott Sherman stepped in and oversaw its quick installation. I drove to Grand Rapids on Friday to pick it up, and it was fully installed and ready to use by the following Monday. Everybody really pitched in to make sure this got done, and the board was used for the meet on Tuesday night!”

 The board was purchased from IST Electronics in Grand Rapids, and installed by Nieboer Electric. It is fully upgradeable, expandable and also displays dive times at the touch of a button. It is instantly linked electronically to every other swim venue in the state through its widely used program.

 Packer Backers also recently purchased a brand new ball machine for the tennis program at a cost of $7,500, in addition to the windscreens for the courts which were purchased last year. New mats were purchased for the Competitive Cheer program last year at a cost of $6,000. Mats for the wrestling program were also reconditioned recently, courtesy of the Packer Backers.

 “It is a popular misconception that we are all about football and basketball,” St. Peter reports, “but nearly every program in the high school has benefited from Packer Backers over the last 35 years. Whatever is needed to keep the programs running at a quality level, just come and ask. We will spend until the money runs out, and then start the whole process over the next season.”

 Scholarships are also important to the organization. “That is where we have to draw the line each year,” St. Peter says, “to ensure that there is always enough money left to award our scholarships, and pay for senior plaques to be made for graduating athletes. That is our tradition, and the very heart of this organization.”

 St. Peter also encourages fans to eat heartily at the games. “Other than the annual apple pie sale,” St. Peter reports, “concession sales are the bread and butter of our bank account. Come hungry and eat a lot, I always say, so we can keep buying all this neat stuff for our athletic programs!”

 Packer Backer meetings are the first Monday of every month in the High School Media Center at 7 pm. Meetings are usually an hour or less, and dues for the organization are only $2 per year.

 

Fremont Packers Leo Club

By Laurene Homsher, Leo Club Advisor

Our Fremont Packers Leo Club (young Lions!) welcomed the new members. Guest speaker for the Sunday afternoon event was District Governor 11-E1 of the Vestaburg Lions Club. Under the direction of Lion (Mrs.) Laurene Homsher and Leo President the following new members were welcomed: Katie Bagwell, Joshua Berens, Jesse Berndt, Calvin Crandell, Kayla Dunbar, Eliot Hawker, Meghan Hawker, Whitney Jones, Vicky Juhl, James Sargent, Meagan Sergent and Marissa Spickerman. In addition to President Cheney, existing members include Vice President Kala Terrell, Secretary Jamie Parrish, Treasurer Kennedy Bolles, Kendra Alt, Thomas Atkins, Shelby Durham, Emily Hummel, Maria Perla, Madelynne Sargent, Sara Sommer, Mary Sovinski, Elexis Terrell, Marissa Waybill and Quadree Zenk. Thank you, Mrs. Homsher and the LEO club for all you do to make FMS a better place!!

 

Energy News

By Rose Stariha, our energy guru

As you know, the energy conservation success achieved by Energy Education’s client partners is often the focus of media stories. Last year, Prestonwood Church, an EEI client in Dallas was highlighted in both the Wall Street Journal and Newsweek. We were very proud that their conservation achievements received these acknowledgements. I am pleased to tell you that The Today Show on NBC ran a segment this morning featuring Prestonwood’s terrific conservation record through their partnership with Energy Education. I encourage you to take a moment to view The Today Show clip, which can be found on the Energy Education Website News/Press page at  http://www.energyed.com/NewsPress/tabid/63/mid/409/newsid409/81/Default.aspx

As of March 1st, Prestonwood has saved $1,503,759, an average of 34%. And their environmental savings for electricity alone equate to 1,919 cars taken off the road or 3,978 acres of trees planted. This, in just 19 months, using the same conservation program we are implementing with you.

Just as The Today Show used St. Patrick’s Day to focus on news topics related to conservation, Earth Day on April 22nd will generate media and public interest in environmental citizenship. If you are interested in some of their information click on this link: http://www.energyed.com/NewsPress/EarthDayMediaKitsSchools/tabid/206/Default.aspx

 

FFA newsletter

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Orchestra members receive Division 1 ranking

By Dianna Whittle, Orchestra teacher

CONGRATULATIONS to the following for all receiving a I at the State Solo & Ensemble for Orchestra & Band held on March 15th: In Orchestra - Audrey Jansma, Shany Briggs & Rachel Voyt. Rachel also earned I in Proficiency I. In Band – Kerrie Baker received a I in Proficiency II and Kaitlin Klemp received a I in Proficiency I. Great job ladies!!

After qualifying at district solo and ensemble festival in February, these students were invited to participate at state solo and ensemble which was held on March 15 at Central Michigan University. The rest of the names and facts are correct, but Sara Haverkamp and Heather Warfield, both orchestra students participated as well.

Also, on March 1, the high school orchestra traveled to Greenville to compete in district orchestra festival. The Michigan district Fremont competes in includes orchestras from the Grand Haven, Mona Shores, Muskegon, North Muskegon, and Greenville areas. Our orchestra received all first division ratings which is the highest rating that is given at these music festivals.

 

Early Easter Facts

Lots of complaints this year about never remembering Easter so early ~~
guess what, they’re right!

*Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the
Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on
the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which
is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22)
but that is pretty rare.

**Here’s the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us
will ever observe the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of
our population have ever seen Easter this early.

1)  The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year
2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so
if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

2)  The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the
year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was
1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year.


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In the Loop

Get Connected with Fremont Public Schools

John D. Kingsnorth
Superintendent
Fremont Public Schools
(231) 924-2350
jkingsnorth@fremont.net