communicator - michigan state university

COMMUNICATORSEPTEMBER 2011 WWW.GULLLAKECS.ORG VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 2

GULLLAKECOMMUNITYSCHOOLS11775EastDAvenue,Richland,MI49083269-488-5000

Non-ProfitOrg.USPostage

PAIDKalamazoo,MIPermitNo.1581

Gull Lake Community SchoolsUPCOMING EVENTS

Sept. 1 Teacher Professional Development Day

Sept. 2 No School for Staff/Students

Sept. 5 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

Sept. 6 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTSFull Day of Classes

Sept. 8 G.L. Band Parents AssociationHigh School Band Room 7:00 pm

Sept. 9 Blue Devil Football Benefit Game 7:00 pm

Sept. 13 Kellogg Elementary PT0 Meeting 6:30 pmGL Community Schools FoundationMeeting at Gull Lake High School 7:00 pm

Sept. 14 Kellogg Elementary PICTURE DAY

Sept. 15 Ryan Intermediate PTO Meeting 9:15 am“Break the Grey” Concert @ GLHS 7:00 pm(doors open at 6:00 pm)

Sept. 16 Richland Elementary PICTURE DAY

Sept. 17-18 GL Performing Arts CompanyStratford Trip

Sept. 19 GLCS Board of Education MeetingRyan Intermediate Media Center 7:00 pm

Sept. 23 Richland Elementary PTO Meeting 9:00 am

Sept. 30 Ryan Intermediate RYAN RALLY(Rally takes place during the school day)

We are launching threenew programs thiscoming school year.

The new initiatives include avirtual school, a partnership withhome-schools, and a newlyre-opened alternative high schooleducation program.

The Gull Lake GatewayAcademy will reinstatealternative education in thedistrict, operating from thecentral administrationb u i l d i n g

with 14 to 16 students this year, allof whom will work toward a GullLake Gateway Academy diplomathat meets Michigan Meritstandards. We are proud tointroduce you to Mrs. LynnetteWalker who will guide these youngpeople through their GatewayAcademy experience.

The collaboration withhome-schoolers started withCindy Fadel of Battle Creek,who approached us in June onbehalf of the home-school com-munity. The result is the GullLake Home SchoolPartnership, where home-

schoolers enrolled at Gull Lake can take seatedand online classes. A new Virtual School is a part-nership between Gull Lake; JST Inc., a Detroit-areasoftware company; and K-12 Online, aVirginia-based company that offers online classes.

The Gull LakeVirtual School willbenefit manystudents, includinghomebound children,children too ill to

attend school away from home, and students ona fast track to college. But home-school studentsmay be the largest bunch of beneficiaries. Home-schoolers, by the hundreds, could be enrolled bythe cutoff date of October 9, 2011

The three new programs are all about creatingoptions and partnerships that benefit students.I would like to credit the Gull Lake CommunitySchool Board for listening to ideas fornon-traditional learning methods that so many oftoday’s students need and then going further andimplementing all three of these initiatives.

We are looking at a paradigm shift that goesbeyond bricks-and-mortar classrooms andchanges to meet the needs of our students. Wehave to prepare our children for their future…notour past!

2011-12 will not only be a great year, but a yearfilled with excitement.

Chris Rundle, SuperintendentGull Lake Community Schools

Gull Lake Community Schools to Re-openAlternative School, Launch Virtual School

and Partner with Home Schools

LynnetteWalker

WelcomeBack!

2 | GLCS COMMUNICATOR SEPTEMBER 2011 www.GULLLAKECS.org

BOARD OFEDUCATION

PresidentJill Adamski

Vice PresidentCarole Mendez

SecretaryJeff Brown

TreasurerJack Gesmundo

TrusteeLaura Burr

TrusteeTrey Eldridge

TrusteeLin Marklin

SUPERINTENDENTChristopher Rundle

BOARD COMMITTEEASSIGNMENTS

CurriculumLin Marklin, ChairTrey EldridgeCarole Mendez

FacilitiesJill Adamski, ChairTrey EldridgeJack Gesmundo

FinanceJack Gesmundo, ChairJeff BrownLaura Burr

Community RelationsCarole Mendez, ChairJill AdamskiTrey Eldridge

Negotiations/PersonnelJeff Brown, ChairLaura BurrCarole Mendez

PolicyLaura Burr, ChairJill AdamskiLin Marklin

BOARD OF EDUCATIONMEETINGS

Parents and all other community members areencouraged to attend school board meetings on aregular basis. Meetings are held on the third Monday ofevery month at the Thomas M. Ryan IntermediateSchool Media Center at 7:00 pm, unless otherwiseindicated.

Upon request to the superintendent, the district shallmake reasonable accommodation for a person withdisabilities to be able to participate in the meetings.Official minutes of each school board meeting areavailable for public inspection at the Superintendent’soffice, 11775 East D. Avenue, Richland, Michigan 49083,or may be accessed on the school website,www.gulllakecs.org.

MEETING DATES:

Gull Lake Community Schools Communicator ispublished monthly except July by Gull LakeCommunity Schools, 11775 East D Ave., Richland,Michigan 49083. Occasional special issuespublished as needed.

COMMUNICATORGull Lake Community Schools

September 19, 2011October 17, 2011

November 21, 2011December 19, 2011January 16, 2012

February 20, 2012March 19, 2012April 16, 2012May 21, 2012June 18, 2012

*Upon request to the Superintendent, the District shallmake reasonable accommodation for a person withdisabilities to be able to participate in this meeting.

MISSION STATEMENTThe mission of Gull Lake

Community Schools is to educateevery child to achieve his/her full

potential.

VISION STATEMENTThe Gull Lake Community Schools, inpartnership with all stakeholders, willcreate a culture of high expectations

and accountability where each memberof the school community is challenged

and inspired.

Gull Lake Community Schools News

The Gull Lake Community Schools has implemented the use of an INSTANT ALERT NOTIFICATIONSYSTEM from Honeywell. This system will allow Gull Lake Community Schools to contact parentswhen there are cancellations due to weather, illness, etc. It also allows GLCS to send out remindersabout upcoming events. This system is integrated with our student information system. If your contactinformation is different in our student information database, it will prevent you from receiving theInstant Alerts. It is important to remember that if your phone number (cell, home, or work) or emailaddress changes that you contact your child’s building to have it updated in our system. On that samenote, if you have a contact number in our records that you do NOT want to have contacted, pleasecall your student’s building to have that number removed. Besides just contacting parents, in case ofan emergency, this system can send out a message to all contacts listed under a students name. Ifyou need to change the emergency contact information for your child, please contact the office andthey will update that for you.

On behalf of theGull Lake Boardof Education,

I’d like to welcome allof our staff andstudents back toschool for the 2011-12

year. It definitely looks to be anexciting one! Already, most of ourathletic teams have already startedcompeting in ournew conference,the SouthwestMichigan AthleticConference. Ouradministrative staffhas been extremelybusy this summer,developing andimplementing newprograms to serve more studentsand help us achieve our districtmission of educating every child toachieve their full potential. If youhaven’t heard about them already,you’ll soon be hearing more about 3impressive new programs – ourhome school partnership, ourVirtual School and our Gull LakeGateway Academy. Our maintenancestaff has been working hard thissummer and our facilities havenever looked better. Staff and stu-dents will notice some significanttechnology improvements. Our

Community Education and EarlyLearning Center on 40th street offersa remarkable array of programs forour earliest learners and opportuni-ties for parents to get their child’seducation off to the right start, andmore enrichment programs thanever before. I suggest you become aregular visitor to our district web-site, www.gulllakecs.org, to stay in-

formed. Of course,you can also checkus out on Facebookand follow us onTwitter!

Your Board ofEducation iscommitted to lead-ing this districtthrough these

tough economic times withoutletting our financial challenges affectthe quality of education ourstudents receive. It requires“thinking outside of the box” andbeing willing to be bold and decisivewhen presented with opportunities.We want to continue to expandopportunities for our students andas Superintendent Rundle is fond ofsaying, “prepare them for theirfuture, not our past.”

Jill Adamski, PresidentGLCS Board of Education

Gull Lake Board of EducationExpects an Exceptional Year!

The Gull Lake Community SchoolsFoundation greatly appreciates theongoing generosity of the parents,staff, businesses and others in thecommunity. Contributions during the2010-2011 school year allowed theFoundation to:• Award nearly 50 grants totaling

$56,000, benefiting students andstaff in every building in thedistrict.

• Honor the top 32 graduatingstudents as DistinguishedAcademic Scholars and theGull Lake teachers who mostinfluenced them.

• Provide 26 scholarships to highschool students for continuededucation.

• Award two James R. Ryan FamilyFoundation Scholarships of$32,000 each to two middleschoolers for college.

• Administer 28 total scholarships,including seven new scholarshipsfor 2010-2011.

• Offer students a variety ofexperiences including a 5thgrade trip to Mackinac Island,Community Artreach, therapeuticriding program and Odyssey ofthe Mind.

• Purchase books, academicsupplies, learning aids, literacymaterials and media equipment.

Thank you so much for your ongoinggenerosity. The future begins here.

Foundation Gratefulfor Community Support

! INSTANT ALERT SYSTEM

From The Desk of Kristin Flynn Director of Curriculum & Instruction (K-12)

www.GULLLAKECS.org SEPTEMBER 2011 GLCS COMMUNICATOR | 3

Nothing may bemore importantin the 21st

century than learningto manage change. Inhis latest book,“Change Agent”

Michael Fullan draws from decades ofexperience in international educationreform to reveal his own six secrets onmanaging change. These “secrets” arenot so much great mysteries as decep-tively simple truths, which, as Fullansays, are hard to grasp in-depth and ex-tremely difficult to act on in combina-tion. The challenge is to learn them andshare them within your organization.

Secret One: Love Your EmployeesExplore the importance of building

the school by focusing on both theteachers and staff, and students andthe community. The key is enablingstaff to learn continuously. Evidencewill be provided from successfulbusiness companies as well as from ed-ucation. A new report from McKinsey &Company focusing on the top-perform-ing school systems in the worldprovides the central reason why wemust value employees (in this case,teachers) as much as customers(children and parents): “The quality ofthe education system cannot exceedthe quality of its teachers” (Barber &Mourshed, 2007). Loving youremployees means helping them all findmeaning, develop their skills, andderive personal satisfaction frommaking contributions thatsimultaneously fulfill their own goalsand the goals of the organization.

Secret Two: Connect Peers with PurposePurposeful peer interaction within

the school is crucial. Student learningand achievement increase substan-tially when teachers work in learningcommunities supported by schoolleaders who focus on improvement.What is the optimal role of leadershipin an organization? Focus an organiza-tion with sharp goals and tightaccountability, and you get passive oralienated workers. Go for decentral-ized creativity, and you get drift andinertia. The key to achieving asimultaneously tight-loose

organization lies in purposeful peerinteraction. In this model, leaderscreate the conditions for effectiveinteraction and intervene whennecessary but otherwise let the groupfind its own balance. Peer interactionis much more than merecollaboration; it is the social andintellectual glue of an organization.

Secret Three: Capacity Building PrevailsThe most effective strategies

involve helping teachers andprincipals develop the instructionaland management of change skillsnecessary for school improvement.The role of assessment for learning isessential in order to link data onlearning to instructional practicesthat achieve student results.

Problems get solved when peoplebelieve that they will not get punishedfor taking risks. Bullying is not a goodway to motivate people. When itcomes to complex tasks, capacitybuilding always trumps judgmental-ism. Individuals and groups are highin capacity if they are developingknowledge and skills; if they attractand use resources wisely; and if theyare committed to getting importantthings done collectively and continu-ously. How do you work on capacitybuilding? Start by attracting talentedpeople and then help them develop,individually and collectively. In otherwords, leaders seek people who arenot only individually talented but alsosystem talented—that is, they canwork within and keep developingcultures of purposeful collaboration.

Secret Four: Learning Is the WorkProfessional development in

workshops and courses is only an inputto continuous learning and precision inteaching. Successful growth itself isaccomplished when the culture of theschool supports day-to-day learning ofteachers engaged in improving whatthey do in the classroom and school.Organizations must consistentlyaddress their core tasks, while at thesame time learning to improve whatthey do. Learning on the job, day afterday, is the work. Workshops andcourses won’t do the trick. In fact thereis no trick: You can achieve consistency

and innovation only through deep andconsistent learning in context.

Secret Five: Transparency RulesThe first reason that transparency

rules is that it’s going to, whether welike it or not. Easy access toinformation means that the public’sappetite for accountability cannot bethwarted. The second reason it rulesis that transparency is a good thing;in fact, it is essential to success. Yes,we all know that data can be misused.Public reporting of student resultscan lead to unfair or destructiveactions. However, the alternatives—to keep information private or torefuse even to collect it—are neitheracceptable nor useful. Effectiveorganizations embrace transparency.We know that people will cover upproblems if the culture punishesthem. So one thing we must do isdevelop cultures in which it is normalto experience problems and solvethem as they occur. When data areprecise, presented in a nonjudgmen-tal way, considered by peers, andused for improvement as well as forexternal accountability, they serve tobalance pressure and support. Know-ing that transparency is bothinevitable and desirable forsuccessful organizations makes it farless threatening.

Secret Six: Systems LearnSo how do systems learn? First, they

focus on developing many leadersworking in concert. A key reason whyorganizations fail to sustain learning isthat they focus on individual leaders.As these leaders come and go, thecompany engages in episodic ups anddowns. Second, systems learn whenthey are led by people who approachcomplexity with both humility andfaith that effectiveness can bemaximized under any circumstances.Leaders must be confident that theyhave considered all possibilities andhave made the right choice under thecircumstances, even thoughsomething may go wrong.

The best way to keep these secretsis to share them. If you practice thesesecrets, you are modeling them forothers and developing more leaderswho understand and use them.Implementing these strategies anddeveloping new leaders become oneand the same. Once you have aculture of leaders at all levelsoperating in this way, they reinforceeach other as they go. By putting thesecrets into action, you will inspireeffective action from others.

Michael Fullan is Professor Emeritus at theOntario Institute for Studies in Education atthe University of Toronto.

Secrets of Change

GOOD BYE AND GOOD LUCK, STEVE!

Congratulations to Steve Lewis on his decision toretire from Gull Lake Community Schools effective

August 19th.For the past 15 years, Steve has served Gull Lake

Community Schools very well in our Buildings/Grounds/Maintenance Department. He has workedmany long hours and has always been quick to lend a

helping hand.Steve had a huge heart for Gull Lake Community Schools and

demonstrated his friendship to all when he stated, “It has been anhonor and a privilege to have the opportunity to serve with all of theemployees this past 15 years, and just to know my small part inhelping with the big picture, has been gratifying to me…It has trulybeen a pleasure and a memory that I will always cherish”.

We appreciate his dedication to the district and his willingness tomake the students and staff of Gull Lake a priority. Thank YOU, Steve,for everything YOU have done for us -- You will be missed!


News from Gull Lake High SchoolPrincipal: Don Eastman • Assistant Principal: Sara DirkseBuilding Start Time 7:30 am • Building End Time 2:20 pm • 1/2 Day End Time- 11:00 amPhone: 269-488-5020 | Fax: 269-488-5031

Kick-Off to a New School Year!Welcome to the 2011-12 school

year. I hope everyone had anenjoyable and relaxing summer andare anticipating the excitingopportunities that the school yearwill present at GLHS.

The staff at the High School hasbeen busy preparing for the newschool year with much of our effort

focused on our new information system called Pinnacle – Global Scholar.This new system should be a more user friendly system for teachers,enabling them to give more frequent updates for your student’s gradesto be viewed on-line.

Our teacher professional development time will once again be centeredon collaborating for student success. Teachers will continue their focuson curriculum alignment, common exams, instructional best practice,and differentiated instruction. In addition, three new courses have beenadded to the offerings for high school students. An ACT prep class isoffered for all Juniors to better prepare them for the ACT test. This courseis offered in the second trimester and will finish right before the ACT testis given in March. Hopefully, this course will have a positive impact onyour student’s scores, thus better preparing them for college. Two newelective classes offered this year are Intro to Guitar and Multi-Media.These electives will allow students to explore their talents in new waysthat we have not been able to previously offer.

We are excited to welcome two new staff members to the high school.Bobbi Jo Stoner and Lindsay Stoetzel are joining our team, coming fromGull Lake Middle School. We welcome Mrs. Stoner to our Counseling staffand Mrs. Stoetzel to our English Department.

As the new year begins, our staff will continue looking for ways to helpevery student reach their fullest potential. This cannot be accomplishedwithout communication from parents. Please be sure to contact teachers,office staff, or myself with any concerns or student needs. Workingtogether, we can ensure that the 2011-2012 school year finds us strivingfor academic excellence.

Don Eastman, PrincipalGull Lake High School

With August come the telltale signs of “Back to School.” Newspaperads highlight specials, store aisles are packed with supplies, fall

sports are in full swing, and students are fervently soaking up the last daysof summer vacation. As you read this article, your high school student hascompleted his/her orientation where each student received a classschedule and locker assignment, as well as had a picture taken for theirschool ID. The 2011-2012 school year is well under way and going to be agreat year!

As students and parents prepare together for the coming year, keep inmind the following keys to success. Our goal at GLHS is to help everystudent reach his/her full potential, and a central piece to reaching thatgoal is student P.R.I.D.E in their high school career. We want to encourageour students to be Prepared for learning. This includes coming to schoolwith appropriate clothing, and having necessary materials. GLHS studentsare Responsible for their behavior. The student handbook will be handedout and reviewed with students during Seminar on the second day ofschool. It is also important for students to demonstrate Integrity through-out their life and time at GLHS. Focusing on honesty and consideration forothers helps to create a safe environment centered on learning. ShowingDedication toward attendance and grades is also key to a successful highschool career. Most importantly we want GLHS students to strive forExcellence, by putting forth their best effort each day.

As a staff, we will work to teach, encourage, and support students inlearning these keys to success. As a way to further highlight and showcasestudents who exhibit such behavior and qualities, GLHS will be recognizing“Students of the Month” starting in October, and every month thereafter.

Last but not least, perhaps the biggest key to success is communication.Communication is a two way conversation and I encourage you and yourstudent to communicate his/her needs to teachers and staff. Make use ofthe new student information system, Pinnacle, and the GLHS website tostay current and up-to-date on assignments and information. Look formore timely updates on grades and attendance, and new informationposted on the website throughout the year. I am looking forward to thestart of another great year! Please do not hesitate to contact me any timethroughout the year with questions or concerns!

Sara Dirkse, Assistant PrincipalGull Lake High School

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS OFGULL LAKE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Please plan to attend our first2012 GRAD BASH Committee MeetingTuesday, September 20th, 2011

at the Blackhawk Restaurant on M-43 at 6:30 pm.Help us make this a night of memories for our graduates!

If you have any questions, please contact Judy Way [email protected]

A NOTE FROM YOURTRANSPORTATION DEPT.

– First Day of School –

Please be aware that on the first day of school, buses leave the school build-ings late. You should allow, up to 20-minutes past the drop-off time indicatedon your postcard, before contacting the Transportation Department.

Thank you for understanding that in the first week of school our drivers willalso be getting used to their new routes and all the new smiling faces. Yourpatience is appreciated.

- Leslie Brooks, Gull Lake Community Schools Transportation Supervisor


News from Gull Lake Middle SchoolPrincipal: David Alban • Assistant Principal: Jack BoermanBuilding Start Time: 7:40 am • Building End Time: 2:30 pm • ½ Day End Time: 11:10 amPhone: (269) 488-5040 | Fax: (269) 488-5051

Great Year Ahead for Gull Lake Middle School

The school doors are open and bells are serenading ourhallways once again as the school year 2011-2012 begins.

Over 670 students are learning new lockers, schedules, andsubjects. Even with this newness, many students willrecognize many familiar faces. For our new students to GLMS,we have friendly and helpful staff and students that will helpthem become familiar with the school quickly.

We are proud to announce the addition of three new em-ployees to the Middle School this fall. Mrs. Amy Bower hasjoined our staff after being at Ryan Intermediate last year.She will be teaching some math and science classes. Mrs.Kim Ditto will be the new middle school counselor, replacingBobbi Jo Stoner who has transferred to the high school. Inaddition, Mrs. Ashley Copp who taught in Charlotte last yearwill be teaching several ELA classes. We are delighted tohave them as part of our school family.

The beauty of this time of year is that everyone starts with a clean slateand has the potential to have a highly successful year. Our desire is foreach of our students to reach to new levels of achievement. I would like toencourage parents to help their child meet this goal. Use our website as ameans to find information pertaining to the school and classes. Commu-nication can take place in a variety of ways including phone or email. Al-though we will not be using Edline this year, Pinnacle is taking its placewhich will give parents the ability to view the progress of their children inclasses. I would encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities.

We are happy to have our students back and look forward to taking themto greater heights of success.

Getting to Know Our Webpage

One of the ways that we want to get information out to people is throughour webpage. There are a few features that we wanted you to know

about the webpage to better assist you in getting information. There areseveral tabs that will guide you to the information.

HomeThe home page provides an overview of the school and includes

shortcuts to important items including the home page for the Michigancurriculum standards and advisory information.

General InformationThis page provides a brief background on the building administrators.

News/InformationThe News/Information page provides information such as our annual re-

port, MiBLSi/Advisory FAQs, supplies list, and summer camp information.Our announcements are posted daily and are available for viewing for a

week. An overview of our student expectations is also available for viewingon this page. You may also view our handbook and newsletters by goingto the tab and selecting the appropriate item.

Teachers (This page is especially useful to parents and students)For personal contact with a teacher or access to the teacher’s webpage.

Along with their biographical information, teachers use these pages tokeep you informed of what things are taking place in their classrooms.Many teachers post assignments, handouts, and upcoming events. Weencourage parents to look at both the teacher’s webpage and Pinnacle(coming soon) to get information on their child’s classes.

Guidance DepartmentOur guidance department has many resources to help parents and

students throughout their time at GLMS. This page provides helpfularticles and links about student success, volunteer programs, and careersas well as forms and handouts that the department uses.

Media CenterOur media center page has many resources available for students

including a search engines for research, a virtual reference library forrequesting books, and links to other libraries. The media center also hasa blog giving information on book recommendations and other activitiestaking place such as the book fair.

Athletics and ClubsThe athletic page gives information pertaining to various sporting activ-

ities including schedules and forms. Summer camp information is alsoavailable on this webpage. Ski Club information is available under Clubs.

ParentsUnder this tab, you will find access to the Honeywell Instant Alert which

is an automated phone system that will call you when important eventstake place in the district including school closings, delays, and specialevents. Parents should revise their contact information to get these alerts.

Shortly, you will be able to access Pinnacle, our new online grading sys-tem, which gives access to your child’s progress in classes. A lunch menuis also available.

We encourage you to tour our website and familiarize yourself with thevarious information we offer.

AshleyCopp


Building Start Time: 8:45 am • Building End Time: 3:40 pm • ½ Day End Time: 12:20 pmPhone: 269-488-5060 • Fax: 269-488-5061Principal: Amie McCaw • Dean of Students/Asst Principal: Tina Maxwell

News from Ryan Intermediate

We are very excited about gettingour TEAM back together for

another great school year.We are looking forward to our

second year as the 3-5 IntermediateSchool. This year one of our buildinggoals will be to continue growingleaders. Many of our teachers thissummer spent time reading and learn-ing more about Stephen R. Covey’sbook The Leader in Me. The premiseof the book is by learning the interestsand strengths of all of our students,we can help them tap into their uniquequalities and teach them to becomeleaders of their own talents. One of theways we will continue our work ofgrowing leaders is through ourStudent Council. We are looking forinterested parents that can volunteersome of their time to lead a StudentCouncil committee. Last year we hadover 64 students involved in a StudentCouncil committee and we hope toincrease the amount of committees,but need your help. If you are passion-ate about something that you feelcould help our young students and areable to donate a little time through-outthe year please contact Mrs. McCaw at(269) 488-5060. (Examples of commit-tees could be: social service projects,journalism, creative writing, math,photography, music, computers,athletics, and so much more!)

Ryan PTOThis year’s PTO Board Members

include: Carrie Klinger, President;Sherri Donovan, Vice President;

Carrie Campbell, Treasurer; and SueBlesch, Secretary. The meetings takeplace on the third Thursday of eachmonth at 9:15 in the Ryan Multi-Purpose Room. Please feel free tocome and be a voice for your school.If you are unable to attend the morn-ing session, please contact our schooloffice at 488-5060 and we will directyou to the appropriate contacts.

Be sure to mark your calendars forour annual Ryan Rally! This year’sRyan Rally will be held on September30, 2011. This is the only PTO spon-sored fundraiser of the school yearand is always a great time for our stu-dents and families. Students gatherpledges for the number of laps theycomplete at our school track and earnmoney for our school at the sametime. It’s a Win-Win for everyone!

TEAM RyanFamilies, do you remember our

school motto? Please take some timeto review our TEAM Ryan expecta-tions with your child before our firstday back to school. Together we cancreate a positive winning TEAM!

T=Treat Others withKindness & Respect

E=Excellent AttitudeA=Act ResponsiblyM=Make Safe Choices

Pick-up and Drop-offat Thomas M. Ryan

Parents, for our students’ safetyplease read the following:

Drop off procedures: Please readand follow the drop off zone signs that

were added last year in the Ryan park-ing lot. All cars are to drive along thecurb of the Ryan sidewalk and pull asfar forward as possible before lettingtheir child out. Once your child issafely out of the car please exit thedrop-off zone so we can keep our linemoving in a timely manner. PLEASEdo not park your car and have yourchild walk across the parking lot un-attended. If you choose to park yourcar, please use designated parkingspaces and walk with your child tothe Ryan sidewalk. Students are not tobe dropped off before 8:35, since wedo not have proper supervision for

them at that time.Pick-up procedures: All students

being picked up at the end of the daywill proceed to our gymnasium at theend of our school day. Our school dayends at 3:40. Parents are to sign theirchild out each day they pick them up.Please be sure that the office has beennotified if your child is to be picked upbefore 3:15 of each day. If your child isa regular pick-up student, you canwrite one letter stating that for theyear. Please be sure that the office hasall of the family members’ names thathave permission to pick up your child.

We thank you for your cooperation!

Welcome Back, Thomas M. Ryan Students!

ESTES & DOWDLERICHLAND CHAPEL

9170 East D Avenue, Richland, MI269-629-6022 • [email protected]

Charlie Johnson – ManagerRoss Schimmel Jon Barnes John Dowdle Andy Emerson


Building Start Time: 8:55 am • Building End Time: 3:50 pm • ½ Day End Time: 12:30 pmPhone: 269-488-5080 | Fax: 269-488-5081Principal: Rob Woodrow

News from Richland Elementary

I hope you have had a fun filled and restful summer. (Seemslike it went by in a flash) I am looking forward withenthusiasm to another new school year. As always, our focuswill be on student achievement and providing your child withthe best school experience possible. As we begin the newschool year I would like to remind parents of a few importantdates to put on your calendar at home.

- Student Pictures will be held on Friday Sept 16.- First PTO meeting will Sept 23 at 9 am in Rm 120.- The district’s first early release date is scheduled for Oct 5- Picture Retakes are scheduled for October 18If you have further questions please make sure to call Richland

Elementary at 488-5080 or feel free to stop in and visit with me.Once again I am looking forward to a fantastic start to the schoolyear.

Rob Woodrow, PrincipalRichland Elementary School

Building Start Time: 9:00 am • Building End Time: 3:50 pm • ½ Day End Time: 12:30 pmPhone: 269-488-5070 • Fax: 269-488-5071Principal: Debi Linden

News from Kellogg Elementary

YYoung Five AM class - Staroung Five AM class - Start Tt Tiime: 9:00 am End Tme: 9:00 am End Tiime: 12:05 pmme: 12:05 pmYYoung Five PM class - Staroung Five PM class - Start Tt Tiime: 12:45 pm End Tme: 12:45 pm End Tiime: 3:50 pmme: 3:50 pm

Welcome Back!

Whether you arenew to Kellogg

Elementary or return-ing from a much neededsummer break the staffof Kellogg Elementaryis looking forward to

working with you and your children.The new year will bring with it newchallenges and many new rewards.There will be new friends to meet, newbooks to read, and new skills tomaster.

We hope you enjoyed our curricu-lum night/open house evening, andfound it informational, and fun. It’salways enjoyable to see the excitementin the children as they return toschool. We’re off to a great start!

September Events:Picture Day September 14P.T.O. meeting September 13, 6:30 p.m. (tentative)

Debi Linden, PrincipalKellogg Elementary School

Welcome Back, Richland Elementary Friends & Family!

Great Start forGreat Kids!

By Deb Louden, Teacher,Gull Lake Begindergarten

Welcome back to allTeachers, SchoolEmployees, and

Students! And a BIGwelcome to our smallestGull Lake students whomay be having their veryfirst school experience!Four-year-olds in ourdistrict can receive a GreatStart to school by attendingBegindergarten. Our Great StartReadiness Program (GSRP) is FREEpreschool for families who meet the Stateeligibility factors. Begindergarten is taught by DebLouden, certified Preschool Teacher, along with 1 or 2Paraprofessionals depending on class size.

We wish everyone a Great Start to the 2011-2012 school year!


Gull Lake Community Schools

Gull Lake Science teachers DebKilmartin, Kari Freling, BevBrown, Kim Clancy and

Jennifer Boyle worked with graduatefellows and science teachers fromaround the region to conductoutdoor investigations and learnmore about integrating outdoor,experiential learning into theclassroom environment. Accordingto Bev and Kari, who teach elemen-tary students at Kellogg, “We arelooking forward to getting ourstudents outside and engaging themin real authentic learningexperiences.” Teachers wereinvolved in several teaching units,including Biodiversity, Carbon andWater. Several issues will also beexplored by students whose teachersare piloting these units includingpollination, carrying capacity, naturalselection, predator/prey relation-ships, nutrients in the soil, andidentifying soil types. Teachersenjoyed exploring MSU sites in thearea including Lux Arbor Reserve,the Bird Sanctuary, and the KBS LTER(Long Term Ecological Research)site. This was a great way to energizeour summer!

In addition to the SummerInstitute, the MSU Kellogg BiologicalStation research is also working with

school districts in the area toimplement LTER sites at individualschools. These plots are called BeSTplots or Bioenergy SustainabilityTest plots. Schools included in the 5year research plan are Harper Creek,Delton Kellogg, Plainwell, Gobles,Olivet, Com-stock, Law-t o n ,Vicksburg,G a l e s b u rgA u g u s t a ,M a r t i n ,H a s t i n g s ,Parchmentand GullLake MiddleSchool. Ifyou haveseen the plots on the east side of theMiddle School as you drive into theback of the Middle School or Ryan In-termediate, you may have wondered“What is that?” These are plots thatstudents will conductvarious experiments within overseveral years. The data will be col-lected by all schools involved in thestudy and compared throughout thecourse of the research by scientistsat KBS. Students will be growingdifferent treatments of switchgrassand native prairie as potential

sources of biofuel energy.At Gull Lake Middle School, Mrs.

Kim Clancy and Mrs. Jennifer Boyleare going to be fortunate enough tohave a Graduate Fellow from MSU,Tyler Bassett to assist them with theBeST plots, advise on the Outdoor

Classroom,and assist inhands onlearning op-portunitiesthroughoutthe district.Tyler wasborn inHolland, MI,and lives inKalamazoosince attend-

ing Western Michigan University,from where he received a Bachelor ofScience in 2000. Since that time, he

has worked as a botanist andrestoration ecologist at the Kalama-zoo Nature Center, Michigan NaturalFeatures Inventory, and NativeConnections. He began his PhD atMichigan State and the KelloggBiological Station in Fall 2009, and heis studying the relationship betweenplant species diversity andecosystem function, especially as itrelates to habitat restoration andconservation. He lives in Kalamazoowith his wife, Jenny, an outdoorscience educator, and his daughter,Fen (9) and son Zak (12). We in theGLMS Science Department welcomeTyler and his invaluable researchexperience and knowledge. We feelconfident that Tyler will collaboratewith the GLMS Science Departmentto increase student engagement andlearning, especially as it concernsoutdoor and experiential learning.

Gull Lake Teachers Enjoy Hands on Science This Summer at KBS!By: Jennifer Boyle GLMS Science Department Chair


Free 4 Year old Preschool! Great Start ReadinessProgram (GSRP) BegindergartenPreschool for children turning 4 years old by December 1st.Applications now available! Call 488-5000 x1025 or [email protected] for more information!

Gull Lake Early Learning Center PreschoolFor 3 and 4 year olds ~ NOW ENROLLING!Children must be at least 33 months and potty trained toenroll. Classes for 3 year olds meet Tuesdays andThursdays from 8:30-11am. Classes for 4 year olds meetMondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Call 488-5018 [email protected] for enrollment information.

Making Connections For School Readiness(Birth - 5 years old) For more information and playgroupschedule, please call Mary at 488-5000 x 1024 or [email protected].

Added Advantage Child CareNow enrolling for Before and After, All-Day Care, andWrap-Around Care for ages 33 months through 15 years old!Curriculum based programs in a fun, relaxed environment,AACC is here to meet your childcare needs. We are open6:30am-6pm. Call now to reserve your spot at 488.5018 [email protected]!

For more information about any of ourprograms or to be put on our email list for

reminders, events, and new classes, call 488.5018or email [email protected]!

Enrichment & RecreationSee a complete list of our Enrichment Classesand register online through PaySchools at

www.gulllakecs.org.

New Community Education offerings atBedford Community/Family Learning Center!Young Rembrandts Preschool Art This fall, YoungRembrandts introduces drawing lessons that willchallenge and excite your budding artist. Learning todraw basic shapes is an essential building block forevery learner. Young Rembrandts drawings like themarbles will introduce your preschooler to the art ofcreating a circle, a deceptively simple yet complexshape. Detailed lessons like the acorn and seasonalfall leaves will strengthen your child’s compositionalskills and use of colors. Basic facial and figure draw-ing will also be addressed as our students learn todraw a funny clown and scarecrow. These are just afew of the many great lessons our students will learn.$80 per 8 wk sessionFridays 2pm-4pmSession 1: 9/23/11-11/18/11 (No class 10/21)

Cardio and Body Sculpt Join the fun of simple car-dio along with structured body sculpt to tone, lift, andshape up! Local Gym Instructor, Kelly Morcombe, willteach you isolation techniques that you can do athome to continue your fitness success! All studentsshould bring a mat for stretching and hand weights ifyou have them.$48 per person per 4 week sessionTuesdays and Thursdays6pm-7pmSession 1: 9/20/11-10/13/11Session 2: 10/25/11-11/17/11

MICRO KICKERS SOCCER (AGES 2 & 3) This sixweek program is designed to build confidencethrough stimulating activities in KIC’s safe, familyfriendly environment. Micro Kickers helps boys andgirls explore their interests while building self esteem.Adult companion required. Bring a size 4 soccer ball.Classes held weekly for six weeks.Wednesdays 1pm-1:55pm9/28/11-11/2/11

MINI KICKERS SOCCER (AGES 4 & 5) This sixweek program is a fun, age-appropriate, profession-ally-guided introduction to the game of soccer. Boysand girls play and learn, building a strong foundationof proper kicking, dribbling and ball-handling skills inKIC’s safe, family-friendly environment. Bring a size3 soccer ball.Classes are held weekly for six weeks.Wednesdays 2pm-2:55pm9/28/11-11/2/11

Upcoming EventsSeptember 6 Gymboree Classes at W.K.K.September 7 GLELCP Parent Meeting, 7pm W.K. K.

Gymboree Classes at W.K.K.September 9 GLELCP Class Open House 9-11amSeptember 10 Autumn at Birch Run

Session 7 Swim Lessons at YMCASeptember 12 First Day of Preschool (4yr olds)

Men’s Open Basketball at KelloggSeptember 13 First Day of Preschool (3yr olds)

Co-Ed Volleyball at RyanSeptember 19 Sanchin-Ryu at W.K.K.

Ozark LegacySeptember 20 Cardio & Body Sculpt at Bedford

Step Aerobics at W.K. K.September 21 Young Rembrandts at Kellogg

Beginning BallroomSeptember 22 Cheer America at RyanSeptember 23 Fridays at Sherman Lake YMCASeptember 24 Kingdom Sports Saturday ClassesSeptember 26 Young Rembrandts Preschool at W.K.K.

Kingdom Sports Monday ClassesSeptember 27 Young Rembrandts at Richland

Kingdom Sports Tuesday ClassesSeptember 28 Micro/Mini Kickers at Bedford

Kingdom Sports Wednesday ClassesSeptember 29 Young Rembrandts at Ryan

AACC Parent Meeting at W.K.K.September 30 Kingdom Sports Friday Classes

Other great class options...Zumba®! The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms andeasy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program thatwill blow you away. Our goal is simple: We want you to want towork out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba® Fanaticsachieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast ofcalorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meantto engage and captivate for life! The routines feature interval trainingsessions where fast and slow rhythms training are combined totone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Everyone can do this,no dance skills required!$48 per person per 6 week sessionMondays 4:15-5pmSession 1: 9/19/11-10/24/11Instructor: Sandy Ellis, Licensed Zumba® InstructorMiddle School Cafeteria

Fridays at Sherman Lake YMCA Transportation provided by GLCSTransportation Dept. (parents pick-up). The Sherman Lake YMCAis committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthyliving and fostering a sense of social responsibility. We believelasting personal and social change can only come about when wework together to invest in our children. To that end, we will offer astructured program for fifth grade and middle school students,activities to include climbing wall, swimming, team sports,homework help, indoor and outdoor games. Programming will beled by trained SLYMCA staff, demonstrating the four core principalsof the YMCA – Honesty, Caring, Respect, & Responsibility.$60 per sessionFridays for 6 week sessions, after school until 6pmSession 1: 9/23/11-11/4/11 Session 3: 2/24/12-4/20/12(No class on 10/21) (No class on 3/16, 3/30, 4/6)Session 2: 1/13/12-2/17/12 Session 4: 4/27/12-6/1/12

Gull Lake Community Education9500 N. 40th Street, Hickory Corners, MI 49060

Nurturing From the HeART~ An expressive artsapproach to parentingNurturing From the HeART is a program for parents, caregivers andtheir children to bond together with music and the arts. In a sup-portive environment this series focuses on the expressive arts(music, art, storytelling, movement, and writing) as a way to playwith children and gives caregivers skills for stress reduction andgentle parenting techniques.Lullaby ~ A five week class for newbornsthrough 14 months and their care providerClass One~The Rhythm of Life An exploration of how the rhythmsof daily life strengthens language and physical development. Songs,movement with music, the importance of “parentese”, reading storiesdramatically, etc. Class Two~True Colors With play songs, dancing,telling stories and singing we will use bright colored scarves to ex-plore the joys of our colorful world. Class Three~You Rock My WorldLullabies for rocking a baby to sleep, dance and movement together,creating rituals and routines. Class Four~Learning While MovingLearning through musical games, finger plays and dance/movement.Class Five~The Beauty of You, the Beauty of Me, the Beauty of UsStaying positive and finding the beauty in every moment. Buildinghealthy relationships with the arts.$45.00 for 5 weeks(scholarships available for those who are WIC eligible)Thursdays 10/6/11-11/3/11 11am - 12pmW.K. Kellogg Agricultural School

WOODFIELD MALL AND IKEA SHOPPING EXCURSIONSaturday, November 12, 2011 $59.00There’s almost too much to see at this enormous shopping mallcomplex in Schaumburg, IL. 290 stores await our exploration, aswell as the new IKEA store. Restaurants and theaters abound.Call 488-5018 for more information.


WELCOME BACKBLUE DEVILS!

for the 2011-2012 School Year!

from the Teachers of Gull Lake

G U L L L A K E E D U C A T I O N A S S O C I A T I O N

Rotarians Name New PresidentFor Local Chapter

Peter Graham is the President of the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club for 2011-2012. He has been a Rotarian for five years. Before becoming President,he was Chair of the Membership Committee. As President, he leads the

club’s efforts to serve the community – particularly its young people. Theclub also is involved in several world projects such as clean water anderadication of Polio. Pete is a retired social sciences teacher, having taughtin the Kalamazoo Public Schools for 30 years – 16 of which were atKalamazoo Central High School.

Pete was active in Richland Village government for many years. He servedas President, Council Trustee, Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, andVillage Treasurer. He is a U.S. Army veteran and holds a BS from EasternMichigan University and a MA from Western Michigan University.

He and his wife, Rusty, have two sons and six grandchildren.Rotary is an international organization of people who seek to serve to make

their communities and the world better. The Gull Lake Area Rotary Clubmeets at 7:30 am on Thursdays at the Richland Area Community Center onCD Avenue in Richland. Our meetings are open to anyone and we welcomevisitors.

ADVERTISE IN THE COMMUNICATOR!269.488.5000 ext 1004

or [email protected] more information

News from Richland Township

The joint Board ofTrustees of RichlandTownship and RichlandVillage moved todevelop a millagerequest to fund therepair, upgrade andmaintenance of theRichland CommunityHall. This millagerequest will be on theAugust or November 2012 election ballot. The Board will meet September21, 2011 to establish the specifics of the millage request.

Reminder – Township Taxes are due in the office Sept 14 or penalty andinterest will be assessed. If you have refinanced or purchased your propertyin the past 120 days and your taxes should be paid by a mortgage companyor title company, I suggest you call the office to verify that the bill was paid.

If you need your tax bill to be sent to a “winter “ address, please notify theoffice before November 1 so we can change the mailing address.

Marsha Drouin – Treasurer

Have you ever wanted to be a Fire Fighter? Richland Township is lookingfor a “few good men and women” to answer the call! We will be providing aFirefighter School starting soon. Call Richland Township office for details at629-4921.

GETHITCHED

WITHASA


Notes from the Nursing StationJoni Knapper RN, BSNGull Lake SchoolsDistrict Nurse488-5020, ext. 1512

As we begin the new school year, I want to remind families that GullLake Community Schools has participated in vulnerabilityassessments and crisis education through the county. We hope that

we will never have to use these crisis plans, but a great deal of effort hasbeen put into preparation, in the unlikely event of a disaster. Should anemergency or disaster occur while school is in session, a detailed disasterplan has been developed with the safety of your student(s) given thehighest priority.

Your cooperation in emergencies is necessary. Please review thefollowing and discuss them with your family. Planning ahead will helpalleviate concern and confusion during emergencies.

• Emergency announcements will be disseminated through all meansavailable to this school district including radio, television and otherelectronic means.

• DO NOT telephone the school. Telephone lines must remain open foremergency communications.

• The decision to keep students at school will be determined on what issafest for your child.

• In event of a serious emergency, students will be kept at their schoolsuntil they are picked up by parent or an identified, responsible adult.This person will be identified by emergency information provided byparents. Students will ONLY be released to parents and personsidentified on emergency forms. Students will be released at designatedreunion locations on the school campus.

• In case of a situation where Lockdown or Shelter in Place procedure isin effect, signs will be posted on exterior entrance doors. Students willnot be released until it is deemed safe.

• School transportation:• Event occurs during morning pickup. Students on the bus will be taken

to school, others waiting will remain at home and responsibility ofparents.

• Event occurs during afternoon delivery. Routes will be completed ifsafe. If unable then students will be taken to nearest safe schoolbuilding and pickup information will be disseminated.

Please impress upon your student(s) the need to follow directions ofschool personnel at all times, but especially in times of emergency. I amavailable for questions and concerns at 488-5020, x. 1512. Thank you andhave a safe year!

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Local community member MariaGesmundo, the Local Event Coordinator ofa locally known and successful programentitled, “Break the Grey” has arranged,through a partnership with the ShermanLake YMCA and Gull Lake CommunitySchools, to present this amazing, thoughtprovoking program to Gull Lake HighSchool, Middle School and Gateway Acad-emy students as well as neighboring schools,the week of September 12-15th, 2011. Thefollowing is her open invitation to all resi-dents of Gull Lake Community Schools.

Dear Gull Lake Students of MiddleSchool, High School and GatewayAcademy,

“Break the Grey” is a multi-mediaassembly and concert eventdesigned to promote characterdevelopment and to assist teensstruggling with issues of self worth,bullying, depression, suicide, drugsand alcohol abuse. “Break the Grey”was founded by recording artist and

motivational speaker, Bill Ballenger,whose life choices took him to rockbottom, and then inspired him toturn around and help America’sschools challenge teens to makebetter choices than he did. Bill

shares his experiences and learningabout choices – the good and thebad - and their consequences. ”Breakthe Grey” has an immediate impacton youth during the assembly, help-ing them understand how valuablethey are and that it is possible to

reach their dreams no matter whattheir situations are today!

Gull Lake High School is hostingtheir evening concert on Thursday,September 15th at 7pm in the gymna-sium. Doors open at 6 pm. A local

band from our Richland area,Slingstone Apostle, will be openingfor BALLENGER. Other participatingschools also hosting assembliesthrough-out the week are: Parch-ment, Comstock, Galesburg-Augusta,and Climax Scotts. Free tickets canbe picked up at Cabina’s: 9975 M-89,Richland, MI, the week of the event.Free tickets will also be given out atall assemblies.

“What kind of community do youwant to live in? I want to live in the kindof community that cares for its chil-dren, seniors, and those in trouble.”

This was a question asked andresponded to by Jill Adamski, our GullLake Community Schools Board Pres-ident in the Gull Lake Communicator,April 2011 issue. It inspired me and Irecommend reading it if you haven’talready. Not my kid you say? I wasone of those kids who came from anamazing family and yet made somepoor choices as a teenager. Thosechoices haunted me for many years. Ibecame involved with “Break theGrey” after attending the BarryCounty assemblies and concert. Themessage moved me so much that I feltpassionate about doing something tobring it to the schools in our area.

We live in an awesome communitywhere families really care about theirchildren, their education, and theirlife experiences. We also need to careabout the success of all children inour community - because that is the

kind of community we aspire to be!As Jill asks, “What kind of communitydo you want to live in?” I respond bysaying – Please, let’s pull together ourresources to help all our youngpeople make better choices and in sodoing, uplift and even save as manylives as we can! How many of youknow at least one person under theage of 21 who has died or sufferedgreatly from a poor choice?

In light of these importantconcerns related to the welfare of ouryoung people, I am so excited to seethe people in our community, localorganizations and churches unitingto bring this message of hope to ourteenagers and to help them under-stand how valuable they are and theimportance of the choices they make.

The Sherman Lake YMCA is part-nering with us to collect and dispersethe donations that must be raised tobring “Break the Grey” into our area.They are also housing and feedingthe “Break the Grey” team. We arethankful for their shared vision tohelp our community youth! Pleasehelp us fund this outstanding youthdevelopment and awareness event.We need your support! Believe meyour donation will make a difference!SEND ALL DONATIONS TO:Sherman Lake YMCA –Gull Lake Area Break the Grey6225 N. 39th St.Augusta, Mi 49012(checks payable to: Sherman LakeYMCA-Break the Grey Gull Lake. Alldonations are tax deductible.)

If you would like to volunteer tohelp with this event, contact Maria N.G e s m u n d o , 2 6 9 - 3 1 2 - 2 3 9 5 ;[email protected]

For more information on “Breakthe Grey”, and Bill Ballenger, go towww.breakthegrey.com and viewvideo testimonials from principals inmany of our surrounding areas, suchas Battle Creek, Barry CountySchools, Paw Paw, Jackson, andHillsdale. “Break the Grey” is alsocoming soon to the Three Rivers,Otsego, and Kalamazoo/Portageareas.

Gull Lake Community Schools Announcements

Break the Grey Coming to Gull Lake Area Schools– September 12-15, 2011 –

Students Become ‘Ambassadors of Music’By: Haley Smith

Every two years Gull Lake High SchoolBand Director Floy Latham nominates stu-dents to participate in the Southern Michi-gan Ambassadors of Music. TheAmbassadors of Music is an organizationthat sends groups of band and choir stu-dents from all over the United States to sixdifferent European countries to perform.Gull Lake High School has participated so farin the 2007, 2009 and 2011 tours. For the2011 tour Tanner Hostetler, Zoey Rose, AijaRozentals, Josh Shivley, Dani Smith, HayleySmith, Sarah Thoman, and Brian Whaley par-ticipated. Two parents, Charmaine Hostetler and Cathy Smith, also wenton the tour. All eight students participated in both the band and the choir.The group consisted of 112 students, 21 staff members, and 36 parentsand family members from all over Southwest Michigan.

The band and choir met at Mattawan High School July 8-10 to practicetheir music. The whole group left for its 16-day tour on July 12th. The firststop on the trip was London. From there they visited France, Switzerland,Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy and Germany. When asked what their favoritecountry was, everyone would say Switzerland because the people thereloved the music and the students. The group performed a total of fiveband and choir concerts in Europe and one in America. At the concertsthe students got to see how music is a universal language. Along the wayall eight students gained new experiences, friends and lessons that willstay with them for the rest of their lives.


Gull Lake Athletics

Dear Blue DevilFootball Fans,

I want to take amoment to person-ally thank you for

your support of theGull Lake High School

football program. Theexcitement is building! The backingof parents, family members, and ourcommunity is an essential ingredientin our success each year. You are animportant part of our team!

We are striving daily to build aprogram centered on developingyoung men into successful leaders,constructed on the firm foundationof: academic success, character,hard work, and service. Thank youfor sharing in that vision and

partnering with our footballprogram. Our young men have had agood summer so far, and things arebeginning to take shape for a great2011 campaign.

I want to invite all of you to attendtwo special events as we begin our2011 season. The first is “Blue DevilBash” on Friday, August 26th for thehome opener against Otsego. Therewill be a large pre-game tailgate partyin the north end of our stadium, withseveral Richland-area businesseseach hosting their own tent. Be sureto come early as there will be food,games, give-away items, and morebefore our 7:00PM kick-off. We hopeyou will join us! A special thanks toour All-Sports Boosters on makingthis possible!

I also want to make sure you don’tmiss “Blue Devil Benefit” on Friday,September 9th. It will be “More ThanA Game” as we take on South Havenand also fight for a cure for cancer.“Blue Devil Benefit” t-shirts arealready on sale for $10 and your shirtis your admission to the game on the9th! Wear it proudly as our commu-nity unites for this great cause!There will also be other fundraisingopportunities during the game, aswell as a survivor’s walk and tributeat half-time. All proceeds will go tothe American Cancer Society.Questions can be emailed [email protected] or findour event on Facebook by searchingkeyword “Blue Devil Benefit.”

As a coach, I am always looking forchances to teach my players thatbeing a football player is bigger thanthem. They need to know they canmake a positive impact on oursociety through servant leadershipbecause of the platform being afootball player provides. “Blue DevilBenefit” is a great opportunity totangibly show my players that theycan make a life changing difference.But we cannot do it alone—we needthe support of our entire community!I hope you will join us for thisspecial event!

Tim Hiller, Head Coach

Football: “It’s more than a game”

GULL LAKE BLUE DEVILS ATHLETICS SEPTEMBER SCHEDULEThis is the beginning of a great year for Gull Lake sports.

Be a part of it…join us in cheering your BLUE DEVILS on to victory!

September 1Varsity Football at Paw PawTennis HOME vs. K. Christian

September 6Golf @ ColdwaterSoccer HOME vs. Marshall

September 7Varsity Tennis @ Harper CreekJ.V. Tennis HOME vs. Harper CreekVolleyball HOME vs. Battle CreekCentral

September 89/JV Football @ South HavenTennis HOME vs. AlleganSoccer @ Coldwater

September 9Varsity Football HOME vs. South HavenGolf @ Marshall Invitational

September 10Cross Country @ Harper CreekInvitationalVarsity Tennis @ Hackett InvitationalSoccer HOME vs. Eaton RapidsVarsity Volleyball @ Cereal CityTournament8A and 7A Volleyball @ Comstock

September 12Golf @ SturgisTennis HOME vs. SturgisSoccer @ PlainwellMS Cross Country Invitational HOME

September 13Cross Country HOME vs. PortageCentralSoccer @ Harper Creek

September 14Varsity Tennis @ Loy NorrixJ.V. Tennis HOME vs. Loy NorrixVolleyball HOME vs. Marshall

September 159/JV Football HOME vs. Three RiversMS Volleyball HOME vs. Harper Creek

September 16Varsity Football @ Three Rivers

September 17Cross Country @ Holly InvitationalTennis Parent/Child Tournament HOMEVarsity Volleyball @ FruitportJ.V. Volleyball Invitational HOME

September 19Golf HOME vs. PlainwellVarsity Tennis @ LakeviewJ.V. Tennis HOME vs. Lakeview

September 20Cross Country @ Loy NorrixSoccer @ Loy NorrixMS Volleyball @ Marshall

September 21Tennis @ SMAC Tournament HOMEVolleyball @ Coldwater

September 229/JV Football @ VicksburgSoccer @ LakeviewMS Volleyball HOME vs. LakeviewMS Cross Country @ Delton Invitational

September 23Varsity Football HOME vs. Vicksburg

September 24Cross Country @ West CatholicInvitationalGolf @ SMAC Finals @ Pine View GolfCourseVarsity Tennis @ Greater KalamazooInvitational @ MattawanSoccer HOME vs. Portage NorthernFreshmen Volleyball Invitational HOMEVarsity Volleyball @ Portage CentralInvitational8B Volleyball @ Harper CreekInvitationalMS Cross Country @ ComstockInvitational

September 26Varsity Tennis @ Greater KalamazooFinals @ MattawanVarsity Volleyball @ Portage CentralInvitational

September 27MS Volleyball @ SturgisMS Cross Country @ Harper CreekInvitationalSeptember 28Tennis HOME vs. PlainwellVolleyball @ Harper Creek

September 299/JV Football HOME vs. AlleganMS Volleyball HOME vs. Coldwater

September 30Varsity Football @ Allegan

October 1Volleyball @ Greater KalamazooTournament @ Kalamazoo Central H.S.


Gull Lake Athletics

Gull Lake Band

Gull Lake Sports BoostersUpcoming Events

August 26 Blue Devil Bash, 5-8 pm. An opening night tailgate cele-bration sponsored by Gull Lake Sports Boosters , RichlandArea Business Association, and other local businesses. GoodFood and Fun!

September 9 Blue Devil Benefit. 7:00 pm. Support the American Can-cer Society and Gull Lake Football in a Survivor Walk at half-time. Shirt sale of $10 includes entry into game.

October 7 Homecoming.. “Drive One 4 Your School.” Take thisgreat opportunity to test drive several of the hottest Fords andhelp us raise money for Gull Lake Sports at the same time.Brought to you by Galesburg Ford.

October 8 Texas Hold ‘em Poker tournament. Gull Lake CountryClub. More details to follow.

Become a Gull Lake Sports Booster.Find more information at www.gulllakesportsboosters.org

The Gull Lake Blue Devil MarchingBand presents its 2011-2012 march-ing show ‘The Knight’, featuringmusic by Gary P. Gilroy (ASCAP).‘The Knight’ promises to be one ofthe most exciting performances theband has ever presented. The BlueDevil Band traveled to CentralMichigan University on July 25th andreturned July 30th after an intenseweek of Band Camp. Over the courseof 6 days, they were successfully ableto complete nearly half of theirmedieval show and perform a sneakpeak to the parents of the bandstudents. The Gull Lake MarchingBand has a busy schedule ahead of

them, including the first homefootball game on August 26, only 3weeks after the conclusion of theircamp. During those weeks, the bandplans to complete the show in itsentirety, so that it can be performedat half-time. Band Director, FloyLatham, is thoroughly excited for‘The Knight’ and believes it will beanother great season for themarching band. ‘The Knight’ willhook audiences from the beginningwith powerful music, a passionatestoryline, and complex and intricatevisuals performed by the band.Viewers will be drawn back to see‘The Knight’ again and again, as one

cannot take in allof the visual ele-ments in just oneshowing. From in-tense swordfights, to the fallof the queen, tothe death of anoble knight,‘The Knight’promises to be aperformance thatwill draw crowdsand garner the at-tention of eventhe most die-hardfootball fans.

Gull Lake Proudly Presents Your 2011 Blue Devil Marching Band!Introducing: ‘The Knight’

Contributed by: Christina Avery and John Hudson

SAVE THE DATE!Gull Lake’s 8th Annual Marching Invitational

Saturday, October 1, 2011By Ken Ball, Publicity Chair for GL Marching Competition

As the steamy days ofsummer give way to the coolbreezes of fall, it can only meanone thing…Blue DevilMarching Season! Once againthe Gull Lake CommunitySchools and Gull Lake BandParents Association will behosting its 8th Annual GullLake Marching Invitational onSaturday, October 1, 2011. ThisMichigan School Band andOrchestra Association(MSBOA) competition willfeature High School bands from across the region vying for awards inMarching, Music, Visual Effect, and Music Effect and will feature anExhibition Performance by our own Blue Devil Marching Band.“Competition Marching is a lot more than the old-fashioned march in ablock and make shapes, it’s much more involved, more dramatic” saysGay Jackson, this year’s Committee Chair.

“Last year we had one school basically re-enact the story of the CivilWar and the healing that came after, and another that worked a footballgame into their routine”. This year promises to have just as creative aline-up. So come on out and enjoy a great day of music, marching and funfor the entire family. Concessions will be available on site.

Olivet High School Marching Band, October 2010, Civil WarRe-enactment - Photo Courtesy of Warren Whaley

Businesses interested in advertising in the event program can contactJackie Redmond at 629-5316. For more information you may visit the BandParents’ Website at http://gulllakeband.com/.


Community News and Events

Camp Great LearningGets Young Learners

Ready for School!by Peggy Kendrick,

Summer School Coordinator

Gull Lake’s “Camp Great Learning”Summer School program providedthree weeks of fun, but intensiveinstruction for our incoming first,second and third grade students thisAugust. Located at the RyanIntermediate building, the summerschool staff provided individual andsmall group learning to get ouryoungest learners ready for back toschool. Students continued many ofthe research-based programs theydid during the school year, as well asmany other best practices inteaching and learning. A variety ofapproaches and activities wereutilized including Brain Gym, teamteaching, reading to “Lucy theLiteracy Dog”, utilizing onlinelearning programs, and havingvisitors from all over the districtcome as guest readers. This was agreat treat, especially when guests“dressed the part” of the story,brought props like Petoskey stones,brought a young friend or a studentfrom the high school who is also a“Great Leader”.

The Summer School staff appreci-ated all the support from our visitorsfrom the district, as well of that ofthe parents. The students werealways enthusiastic and ready tolearn each day. Our youngest stu-dents are now ready for the schoolyear and more GREAT LEARNING!!


Gull Lake Schools Foundation

READ and RIDE Summer Camp 2011Giddy-up and read!!!!! That’s what 17 1st graders did the week of July18-22 at READ and RIDE Camp at the Cheff Center in Augusta. We are

enjoying year two of a three year multi-year grant given by the Gull LakeCommunity Schools Foundation. We were fortunate to have a number ofother sponsors who supported this endeavor by “sending –a-student-to -

camp” as well. Students practiced their oral reading fluency, phonicsskills, expanded their reading vocabulary, and exercised both sides of

their brain! They enjoyed riding horses in the arena while playingphonics games, and experienced a trail ride, too! Each day the students

prepared selections to read to their special friends, trained therapy dogswho like to listen to children read! Confidence, reading fluency, and funabounded at our great week at camp. What a great opportunity for our

students to grow and learn in such a concrete way. Thanks to all of thosewho supported this innovative camp experience!!

communicator - michigan state university

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