Powell Pride

POWELL TOWNSHIP SCHOOL

101 DEUTSCH AVE. , P.O. BOX 160

BIG BAY, MI 49808

Office phone :906-345-9355 or 345-9476

Office Fax: 345-9936

In case of power outage:

call Kim’s cell, 362-7275 to contact office

School Website www.powell.maresa.org

PTS Library Website

http://ibistro.uproc.lib.mi.us/powell.html

OFFICE HOURS

8:00 am-4:00 pm Mon.-Fri.

Superintendent: Sam Oslund

E-mail address : soslund@maresa.org

Home phone: 345-9690

Administrative Assistant: Kim Bourgeois

E-mail address: kbourgeo@maresa.org

Home/cell phone: 362-7275

Kaylee Loonsfoot

Jason Kinnunen

Jenna Thompson

Zoie Havel

Addie Varty

Alexander Novotny

Nolan Havel

Jan vandenEnde

Chad DeMay

Violet Webster

December/January Calendar Nov. 24-Dec.2—Food Drive

Dec. 15-18 - Santa’s Workshop

Dec. 18 - School Board Meeting 6:30

Dec. 22 - Christmas Program 7:00

Dec. 23 - Field Trip to Marquette

Dec. 24-Jan. 2- Christmas / New Years Break

Jan. 15 - School Board Meeting 6:30

Jan. 16 - 1/2 day—end of 2nd marking period

Students of the Month September for

Good Work and Study Habits

Camila Tierrablanca

October for Self Control

Hugh Schoonover

Powell Township School Christmas Program Monday, Dec. 22

7:00 pm

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HONOR ROLL

Connor Phillips Jan vandenEnde Nicholas Rader Devin Santilli Kyler Young

Juliann Phillips Jenna Thompson Demi Mathews

Sofia vandenEnde Alex Durand

Thomas Kinjorski Liam Thew-Forrester Camila Tierrablanca

Katie Varty

Food Drive The Parent Teacher Community Group is

once again sponsoring the PTS food drive, challenging students to bring non perishable food items to donate to the TV6 Canathon. The classroom that has the most food, by

weight, will win a milkshake party!

Cross Country Track Team 2014

Many thanks to our volunteer

coaches Jerry and Sue Sherman

for another year of providing

our students with the opportuni-

ty to compete in cross country

track. The Shermans have de-

voted many hours for the past

several years to the PTS track

program. The pictures on this

page were all taken by Jerry

and Sue during this years meets

and practices.

Recording the accomplishments

of these hard working students

is important to the Shermans.

With the help of Nick Cartier

and Quick Trophy of Mar-

quette, the Shermans designed

and donated a new record board

to be hung in the hallway at

school. Names from the old

record board were transferred to

the new one, so alumni record

holders, stop by and see if your

record has been broken!

Good job Bobcats!

ICE RINK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED SHOVELING, FLOODING, AND PLOWING

PLEASE CALL THE SCHOOL IF WE CAN ADD

YOUR NAME TO THE LIST TO CALL WHEN

ICE RINK MAINTENANCE IS NEEDED.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Annual Fall School Hike

The destination for this years school hike was the Little Garlic Falls. The students , staff and

a few parents donned their rain gear and trekked through some soggy trails. Teachers

took advantage of the many opportunities for

hands on education along the way. The poems below were written and illustrated by

5th and 6th grade students.

Ice rink fun from years past.

The one thing our high school students say they miss when they leave Powell Township School is Shelly’s lunches. Fresh vegetables, fruits and

healthy lunches are provided daily by Shelly Beaudry, with special atten-tion to likes and dislikes of each student. A recent letter to Mr. Oslund

from the Michigan Dept. of Education commended our district for the ad-ministration of the National School Lunch Program, after a thorough review

of the program completed last spring. Good job Shelly !!

The salad bar, offered everyday.

2015 Big Bay Phone Book The Big Bay Phone Book is being updated

and the new edition will be printed soon.

If you would like to be listed in the book,

please call Kim at school. The phone

book is $4.00 and will be available at

Crams and the school in December.

MILLAGE ELECTION The school board and staff thank community

members for your support in the millage election

held in August. The vote to renew the 18 mils,

which expired this year, as well as 2 additional

mils to be used only when the millage is rolled

back by the Headlee Amendment, will keep the

district operating for many years to come. These

operating funds will allow the district to make

needed facility repairs, replace aging busses, and

provide a strong educational program. If you

have questions regarding the millage or any of

our programs, please do not hesitate to contact

us at the school office.

Powell Township Board of Education Kristin DeMay and Diane Burns were elect-

ed in November, each running as write-in candidates,

to serve four year terms on the PTS Board of Educa-

tion. Kristin and DJ join members Ben Kent, Bill

Kinjorski, and Jennifer Thompson in making deci-

sions and overseeing the education program at PTS.

Thank you , Kendra Roell for your four

years of service as treasurer on the board.

Parent-Teacher-Community-Group (PTCG)

Invitation open to all !!

Next meeting, Dec. 11 at 5:30 at school. The PTCG sponsors events to provide activities for students

and currently is raising funds for playground improvements. The new

fenced playing field and wood chips playground surfacing are

improvements completed to date. The desire of the group is to build a

playground with natural structures reflecting the history of our area.

Past events include the Winter Carnival, Santa’s Workshop,

Food Drive, Halloween hayrides, dances, and talent shows.

The group can be an avenue for parents or community mem-

bers to voice concerns or provide suggestions on school programs.

The teacher representative, currently Sarah Webster, facilitates com-

munication between school staff and the group, when needed.

The current group, led by President Amanda Beerman, recon-

vened a few years ago, after a lull of activity due to lack of volunteers.

Amanda was discouraged that the activities she enjoyed as a student at

PTS were not occurring. We applaud her efforts as well as current of-

ficers, Jolyne Abbott, Kristin DeMay, Kellie Santilli, Patty Thoma, Sa-

rah and past treasurer Mark Webster, who committed many hours to

the playground improvements, for your time and commitment.

The food drive, encouraging students to give what they can

toward the TV6 Canathon, is not a fund raiser, but an effort to encour-

age students to be part of the gift of giving. PTCG provides milkshakes

as a reward to the class who contributes the most food by weight to the

drive. The milkshakes are made and delivered in personal milkshake

glasses with the students names’ etched on them.

All parents are encouraged to become a part of the group, even

if attending meetings is not possible. Contact any member to express

ideas or volunteer for an event. Any help is appreciated.

Check our the PTCG Facebook page: Powell Township School PTCG

PTCG will again offer “Santa’s Workshop”, an opportunity for students to purchase inexpensive gifts for family mem-bers and friends. Donations of gift items and/or wrapping paper are greatly appreciated. Please bring donations to the school by Monday, December 15th. Thank you

Dec. 15 - 18

January is School Board

recognition month.

Thanks to you all !!

Powell Township

Christmas Tree Lighting

Powell Township Hall

Saturday,

Dec. 6 at 6:00 pm

Treats and caroling

and a visit from Santa!

Big Bay Church Bazaars Saturday Nov. 29

Community Presbyterian and St. Mary’s Crafts, baked goods, rummage sales, lunch

Halloween fun!

Some great costumes as

usual! Grand prize win-

ner this year, Conner

Lawer, dressed as a

gangster.

Thanks to judges, Kathy

Nelson, Karen Kiskis

and Mary Ellen Krieg.

WORMS

The first and second grade showed the fifth and sixth grade how

to manage our worms earlier this year. We are learning how we

can recycle our school’s food waste into rich fertilizer for our

plants. Thanks to Mr. Gill, we have a beautiful hand made worm

bin, and thanks to Shelly, for saving us the salad scraps!

FISH

Thanks to Trout Unlimited and the seventh and eighth grade,

the Iron River will be stocked again with a “school” of chinook

salmon! The salmon eggs have been delivered and will be

raised in the classroom aquarium through the winter and re-

leased next spring. Last spring approximately 100 Salmon

were released from the project.

Seventh and eighth grade students were given sailing lessons again

this year by local sailors, Jerry and Sue Sherman, Nick Cartier, Pete

Peters, Kristi Mills and Mr. Cherrette. Thank you all for helping out.

The fifth and sixth grade went to Conservation Days in

Chatham at the end of September for a day of learning

sustainable farming and land management practices from

experts in the field. Fortunately, one of the experts was

Jilbert’s Dairy – Mmmm, ice cream!

It takes a whole village to raise a child. African Proverb

CLASS TRIP 2015 Another amazing group of volunteers gathered at Bay Cliff kitchen this month and chopped, diced, rolled, and baked pasties for the annual pasty sale. Thank you to all, especially Arline Erickson, for managing this pro-ject for all these years. The pasty sale is the biggest fund raiser for the class trips and could not be done without the help of the volunteers. The student vote is in, and they will be heading to New York City in June. The group is working with tour companies exploring options and prices.

Girl Scout News The Big Bay Girl Scouts, under the direction of leader Nina vandenEnde, met in November and put together 25 shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse. Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physi-cal aid to hurting people around the world. Small gifts, hygiene products, school supplies, etc. are packed into shoeboxes and delivered to children all over the world. The troops next project is to decorate a Christ-mas tree at Peter White Library and then go caroling at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans. Thank you to Nina and all the girls for your good work.

Friends of Powell Township Scholarship Fund

The Friends of Powell Townshp Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Joe Strielman and has been

awarding scholarships to students who graduated from 8th grade here at Powell since 1986. Many scholarships

have been awarded to students to help defray the costs of post high school education. The fund is supported by area churches, a gift from the VFW club, and individual

donations. Please help support area youth; send your tax deductable contributions to Powell Township Scholarship

Fund, PO Box 160, Big Bay, MI 49808.

Powell Township Education Fund The Board of Education voted to establish an endowment

fund with the Marquette Community Foundation in 2000.

Money from the Carl Don Johnson fund was used to estab-

lish the fund. The MCF provides grants within Marquette

Co., using endowment funds contributed. Annual disburse-

ments are made to PTS from earnings of investments of the

fund. MCF is considered a charity and all gifts made to the

fund are tax deductible. If you are interested in contributing

to the PT Education Fund please contact the Marq. Comm

Foundation at 906 226 7666.

PTS 2014 BASKETBALL Anthony Kinnunen

Sofia van den Ende Drake Scheidt,

Amaya Rodenborg-Kent Demi Mathews

Liam Thew-Forrester Thomas Kinjorski

Camila Tierrablanca

In between track practices this fall, the basketball team prac-ticed and played games with Father Marquette and Bothwell. Because of our size, we are not able to have a team in the regular middle school league, but thanks to coach Nina

vandenEnde, our students are still offered the opportunity to learn the game and compete in games. Our students played

well, were tough competitors and represented PTS with great sportsmanship and ability. Way to go, Bobcats!!

THANK YOU !!! Huron Mt. Club members, through their

Endowment Fund at Marquette Community Foundation, have again donated funds to our school. Every year for the past several years, we have received donations from the club. The funds have been allocated for library books, playground improvements, student enhancement funds which are used for special field trips, assemblies, and most recently an up-

grade to the sound system in the gym.

POWELL EMT STUDENTS

Joe Wilcox, Suzette Stephenson, Chris Root, Jackie, Jenny and Lena Park-Burns

have all given up many evenings and Saturdays since Au-gust taking classes to become licensed emergency medi-cal technicians. They will now be reviewing, and practic-

ing at the hospital and with county ambulance services in preparation for taking the required testing for licensing.

Once licensed, they will all be serving our community with Powell EMS. Chris was on the service a few years ago and

is now able to return. Joe and Suzette, (both already Powell Firefighters) Jackie, Jenny, and Lena are all PTS

alumni! Thank you for your time and commitment given already and best of luck on your tests!!

POWELL TOWNSHIP SCHOOL SHIRTS SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRTS $12.00

LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRTS $ 15.00

HOODIES $20.00

Order going in first week of December. Call

Kim at school if you would like to order.

NEW THIS YEAR….

BIG BAY OUTDOOR’S CLUB Snowshoeing

Cross Country Skiing Winter Shelter Building

Tracking Mountain Biking

Skating Ice Fishing

Hiking Rock Climbing

Canoeing Kayaking Sailing

Rock Collecting Orienteering

Fishing and more……

Organizational meeting was held Fri. Nov. 21

First event to be announced soon. Community members interested in helping

with any activities are asked to call the school.

Third and Fourth Grade news

My name is Aaron Bradley and I have been teaching some form of elementary education for the past 8 years. I am a 2006 graduate of Alma College and am currently working on my Masters Degree through Grand Valley State University.

This past summer I had several exciting events happen in my life. First and fore-most I married my beautiful wife Dr. Emily

Bradley (Neimi) on August 29. I was also hired to be a 3rd and 4th grade teacher here at Powell Township Schools.

I am beyond excited to work with students, parents and other staff members to help each student meet their full potential. Please feel free to contact me and/or stop in our classroom with any questions or con-cerns.

Some of the projects we have been working on this year in our class:

Inquiry Based Science: students learn science through a series of ex-periment based discoveries. They then record their findings in lab jour-nals much like they will do in high school or college.

Class Economy: students are involved in comprehensive class econo-my including expenses such as fine, insurance, and rent versus wages earned from class jobs they apply for or business they choose to run or start.

Writers Workshop: a system interweaving instruction of grammar, the writing process and traits together in short mini lessons. This allows students to spend larger quantities of time creating original pieces of writing, peer revision, and in general, enjoying the process.

We have enjoyed joining the other students on field trips to the Little Garlic Falls, the Marquette High School play, Annie Get Your Gun, and the Negaunee Veterinary Clinic.

Reading partner and flash card helper, Mr. Gill’s dog, Kite,

enjoys visiting the 1st and 2nd grade classroom.

Good deed marble jar full. Time for a reward fort party! Good job!

Johnathan and Ava cuddle with a baby pig at the Negaunee

Veterinary Clinic when they visited there on a field trip.

Thank you

PTFD firefight-

ers for teaching

us about fire

safety, and let-

ting us try on

your fire gear,

and sit in the

fire trucks!

Powell Township School

PO Box 160

Big Bay, MI 49808

Powell Township Customers

P.O.Boxholder

Big Bay, MI 49808

As this newsletter is being mailed out, the day before Thanksgiving, we realize that we truly

have much to be thankful for here at PTS. We have a staff that is caring and dedicated to

providing children with the best possible educational experience they can while getting

them to school safely, feeding them nutritious meals, providing a clean and healthy school

building, and giving loving attention to those who may be hurt or in need. We have a great

school that we are very proud of and we are all thankful to be a part of it.

As a staff, we are also grateful for the wonderful parents who send their children to our

school. Our recent parent survey was very positive, and we are extremely happy about that.

Of the 31 families who received a survey, 25 of them were returned. Every question regard-

ing whether parents were satisfied about specific district qualities (communication, lunches,

atmosphere, instruction, staff, etc) was answered with “always” or “most of the time”. The

most repeated written comments about what parents like best included positive staff and

small class size. Comments about what improvements they would like included more athlet-

ic opportunities for younger children, more instrumental music opportunities, and more after

school programs. We plan to have a survey for our students as well after Christmas break.

We wish you all the best through the holiday season.

Sincerely,

Sam Oslund