District Wide Positive Behavior Progam...Details on Page 12

GALESBURG-AUGUSTA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 1076 N. 37th St. Galesburg, MI 49053 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID LAKE MICHIGAN MAILERS, INC. RAM ANNOUNCER December 2015 www.g-aschools.org **ECRWSS** Residential Customers District Wide Positive Behavior Progam...Details on Page 12 Administration Offices 1076 N. 37th St. Galesburg, MI 49053 (269) 484-2000 Primary School (Pre-K through 4) Principal: Shaun Sportel (269) 484-2040 ssportel@gacsnet.org Middle School (5th - 8th Grades) Principal: Darin Schmidt (269) 484-2020 dschmidt@gacsnet.org High School (9th 12th Grades) Principal: Christie Robinson (269) 484-2010 crobinson@gacsnet.org GA GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS

Page 20 - DECEMBER 2015 Building Healthier Classrooms Pioneering Healthy Communities (PHC) is a partnership of community members and organizations who have a vision to create a community where all residents are given equal opportunity for healthy and active living; and as a result of our work, that our community is the healthiest place to raise a child in Michigan. The PHC Committee is lead by Sherman Lake YMCA staff. This summer the PHC committee presented to Galesburg-Augusta teachers and staff, sharing ideas and research on the importance of healthy eating and physical activity in the classroom and how these factors affect academic performance. Many studies have found that what children eat not only affects their behavior but also their ability to learn. PHC presented ideas for healthy school celebrations and rewards, hoping to reduce the amount of sugar and processed foods students receive during school hours. The committee shared some nutritious and delicious snacks with the teachers and staff, demonstrating that celebrations can be fun and healthy. We also had the opportunity to hear from our own teachers, Jill Rekis and Erica Cataldo on how they are incorporating nutritious foods into their classes and the benefits they have seen. Research also shows that recess and physical movement is very important to students academic success. The PHC committee presented teachers with a deck of Brain Breaks cards; activities that get kids out of their seats and moving for a short period of time. It has been proven that even these short bouts of activity help kids to focus better. Parents and teachers can find more ideas for building healthier classrooms at Pinterest. com/shermanlakeymca. DECEMBER 2015 - Page 1 From the Desk of Superintendent Dr. Bazzi Superintendent s Message Superintendent Bazzi Warm tidings to each and every one of you! Dear Galesburg-Augusta Students, Staff, Families and Community: This is traditionally a busy time of the year as the semester begins to wind down and plans of celebrating the upcoming holidays begin to take shape. The holidays allow us to give pause to our busy lives, and reflect on our proud accomplishments. The season offers us a chance to say thank you to the entire school community for all of the support that you provide to our students and our staff. We are members of a special family here at Galesburg-Augusta and we have much to be grateful for and to appreciate. We are thankful that, despite difficult and uncertain times with the state s economy, the school district has been able to steer a steady course and remain true to its mission. We are fortunate to have students who are motivated and enthusiastic and teachers and staff who are experts in their profession and who have a wellearned reputation of caring, reaching out and advising. In the spirit of this holiday season, I want to extend my thanks to all of you for everything that you do for the school district. As we enjoy the upcoming holidays, it is my wish that each of you receives and returns the seasonal bounty of blessings and good tidings that make these days truly special. I believe the faces of our children best express the true meaning of this holiday season. They radiate a sense of unbridled enthusiasm, untainted hope and unabashed joy for life and the opportunities that await them. To the students, parents, teachers, staff and friends of Galesburg-Augusta, please have a safe and joyous holiday season. Warm tidings to each and every one of you! In education, Dania H. Bazzi, PhD Superintendent of Galesburg-Augusta dbazzi@gacsnet.org GA GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS Administration First Row: (left to right) Dania Bazzi (Superintendent), Christie Robinson (High School Principal), Aaron Wright (Special Education Director) Second Row: (left to right) Darin Schmidt (Middle School Principal), Shaun Sportel (Primary School Principal), Brian Dolph (HS/MS Dean of Students) Child Find system required The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires all states to have a comprehensive Child Find system to assure all children who are in need of early intervention to special education services are located, identified, and referred. Part C of IDEA, early intervention, focuses on children aged birth to three. If you have a registered Homeschool and suspect your child might have a disability please contact: Early On (children birth to three years) Kathy Hollis at 269-250-9649 Pre-primary Evaluation Team (children three to five years) Felicia Burnett at 269-250-9670 (children five & up) Aaron Wright 269-484-1005 Vision Statement: To be the preferred small-school district in our region Mission Statement: The Galesburg-Augusta School District, in partnership with the home and community, will teach each student the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be a productive and ethical citizen. G-A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES Monday, December 21, 2015 Monday, January 18, 2016 All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held in the high school media center.

Page 2 - DECEMBER 2015 I am sure you are all aware of a letter that I believe, was mailed to all registered voters in the Galesburg-Augusta School District. This letter was sent out by Concerned Citizens of G-A. I first want to state that the district respects an individual s right to vote any particular way on a ballot proposal. Although, this letter contains inaccurate information. The letter states, The portion of the proposed bond expenditures that are related to rebuilding, remodeling, and re-equipping existing facilities could be completed over time with a sinking fund. This statement is inaccurate, as school districts are not allowed to use sinking fund dollars to equip or re-equip existing facilities. Second, the letter states, In 25 years, the district would have $12.7 million dollars for existing building repair and maintenance. Again, this statement is inaccurate, school districts can only ask for sinking fund millage up to 20 years. November 3rd - Bond Proposal Dear GA Community, Third, the letter states, NO PLANS INCLUDED: Six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) have been allocated toward new technology. This component lacks any explanation. Again this statement is very inaccurate, the bond committee has been completely transparent with regard to the district s intentions of those funds. The district s technology infrastructure was to be updated, so that all buildings had strong and reliable wireless networks. The updated infrastructure would then support the expansion of devices available to our students. As we know, technology is ever-changing, it is hard to predict what technology is available two or three years from now. There would have been a technology committee to determine the hardware and software that would best meet the needs of our students and those decisions would have been made based on cost, competitive advantage, and most importantly what would best enhance the learning experience for our students. Finally, the letter states, A new athletic complex is a want not a need. The bond committee did an extensive study with regard to renovating the existing stadium and building a new athletic field at the high school. The cost to renovate the existing stadium is roughly $2.9 million, while constructing a new one would cost $3.2 million. The committee felt since the cost difference was nominal, it would be better to invest in locating the field at the high school. We invited the public to take a tour of the facilities to determine if they felt this was a need or a want, the offer still stands today. Unfortunately the vote was not in our favor on November 3rd. I want to thank the bond committee, board, staff, and community members for all their efforts. I know many people gave it their all. At the end of the day, we respect the will of the voters and will move forward. I promise to continue to advocate for the children of Galesburg-Augusta and continue to provide the very best education. I am so proud to be a part of the G-A family and I am proud to be a RAM. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email or call. Best regards, Dania H. Bazzi, PhD Superintendent of Galesburg-Augusta 269-484-2000 dbazzi@gacsnet.org Stay connected to by: DECEMBER 2015 - Page 19 News Release M-STEP Results Reset the Academic Bar of Higher Expectations for Michigan Students October 27, 2015 LANSING Michigan has reset the bar on learning with the release of the rigorous M-STEP statewide student assessment results taken last spring. With this all-new and more rigorous test, we expected statewide student scores to be lower than what we d seen with the old MEAP tests, said State Superintendent Brian Whiston. While the overall scores on this new test are low, they aren t as low as we first thought they could be. In order to prepare our students for the careers of the 21st Century and to vault Michigan to become a Top Ten education state in 10 years, we need high standards and rigorous assessments, Whiston added. This year s results set the new baseline from which to build. After 44 years of the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test, 80 percent of Michigan students across the state sat down in front of computers to take the first-ever M-STEP. A paper and pencil option also was available for the handful of districts not yet prepared to test online. Whiston said the M-STEP measures the state s standards that give students a deeper understanding to what they are learning. It requires students to move beyond bubble sheets and multiple choice questions to a more interactive, engaging assessment. Students also must demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving, and deeper knowledge through written responses. Wherever we set the achievement bar, the students will jump over it, Whiston said. It s about expectations. As a state, we need to raise the expectations. The M-STEP results will be released in a staggered sequence, with the public release of statewide aggregates today. Schools and districts then will receive testing data through the MDE secure web site for schools access only. Later this year, school and district aggregate results will be available. 2015 Michigan Merit Exam ACT Scores Beginning in the spring of 2016, the SAT will serve as Michigan s college entrance exam and the M-STEP English language arts and mathematics assessments, reducing testing time by up to eight hours. Michigan s federal ESEA Flexibility waiver, approved by the U.S. Department of Education in August, provides that Michigan will not complete or issue public, highstakes accountability in the form of top-to-bottom rankings and school report cards until Fall 2017. Additionally, MDE will provide schools with useful reports and data that can be used to guide and improve student instruction based upon the first year of implementation of the M-STEP later this year. MDE provided preliminary reports to schools within about two weeks of the close of each testing window. The 2016 M-STEP will include improvements announced this summer by the department, based upon feedback from school districts during the first administration of the test and survey responses from more than 26,000 students and 5,000 parents following the spring testing window. MDE heard that the testing time was an issue for schools in this first implementation and made some initial adjustments during that testing window. The department later announced that for Spring 2016, the testing time for the Michigan Merit Exam will be reduced by eight hours, and by two and a half hours for grades three, four, six, and seven. The test also will be administered in smaller portions over multiple days so students will not be required to complete the test all in one sitting. Whiston said that the department currently is conducting an assessment vision workgroup with education stakeholders to see how student assessments can be streamlined for spring 2017 and beyond.

Page 18 - DECEMBER 2015 G-A High School Athletic News: Athletic Hall of Fame s New Members: 2008 Girls Softball Team The 2008 softball team finished the regular season with a 33 and 3 record. The three losses were to seven-time state champion Kalamazoo Christian by a 1 to 0 score, a 1 to 0 eight inning loss to Division 2 state champion Niles and a 3 to 0 loss to Division 1 state finalist Portage Central. Counted among G-A s victims were Haslett, Mattawan, Coloma, Portage Northern, Wayland, Buchanan, Vicksburg, Otsego and Comstock. 2008 marked the third straight year that the Rams had won the K.V.A. championship. In the seven game run to the State Championship the Rams would give up just one run, that coming in the first game with Kalamazoo Christian 6 to 1. The team would shutout the next six opponents. The semi-final The landscape of education is continually changing. In the face of this change, school boards can either be totally reactive simply responding as best as possible to the forces at work or proactive identifying forces at work both within the school system and external to it and developing a deliberate, well thought-out plan for dealing with those factors. As leaders of your school district, it s important for the board of education, together with other district leaders, to look into the future and anticipate opportunities for and roadblocks to preparing your students to be successful. Almost every school board member and administrator wants answers to the same questions: How do we improve student achievement? How can we provide rich educational experiences that are equitable and meet a variety of needs? Where do we have gaps and how do we close them? The best way to answer such questions and plan to move forward is to follow the same process that businesses have used for decades strategic planning. WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED STRATEGIC PLANNING? Strategic planning is a tool for mapping your district s short- and long-term future. The process typically includes gathering qualitative data in the form of stakeholder input and feedback; identifying core beliefs; defining your mission; developing a school district vision; reviewing past and present quantitative performance data; and ultimately defining the best strategies for the district s future. In addition to the deliverables mentioned above, setting district goals and direction: Establishes clear expectations; Drives the organization to pursue excellence; Empowers and energizes the staff; and Ensures alignment between community values and district operations. game with Gladstone would go 13 scoreless innings before the Rams scored 3 in the 14th for a 3 to 0 win. In the finals matchup with 37 and 2 Allen Park Cabrini it was all G-A. The only Cabrini hit came in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs. The 5 to 0 win would give the Rams a 40 and 3 season record, a State Division 3 championship and place them in the top 50 of the Rivals.com top 50 National poll. The Rams would also put themselves in the M.H.S.A.A. record book with wins (40), hits (436), doubles (97), triples (33) and shutouts (26). IS YOUR DISTRICT READY FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING? By Debbie Stair WHAT IS THE BOARD S ROLE? School boards, sitting in trust for the entire community, are responsible for clarifying the district s purpose by articulating the desired end result. District staff is responsible for achieving those results. The board plays an important role throughout the process, most importantly by: 1. Ensuring a transparent and inclusive planning process 2. Adopting the identified goals 3. Monitoring the results on a consistent basis 4. Using the plan as the basis for ongoing decision-making 5. Communicating the progress regularly with all stakeholders A successful strategic plan is not a book on a shelf. The planning retreat is not the completion of the project. The planning process must result in a plan that is geared specifically for implementation. A strategic plan is an ongoing project with the real work beginning when the board adopts the goals. Strategic planning is a rewarding, yet highly intensive process. Effective strategic planning requires the full commitment of the board, district leadership, staff and community. Is your district ready for strategic planning? Galesburg-Augusta is ready! We are partnering with MASB to create a District Strategic Plan that is aligned to our Vision, Mission, and Values. Please check our district Facebook and district website with regards to how you can be a part of this process. We need your voice to be heard. DECEMBER 2015 - Page 3 Foundation 2015-16 Education Enhancement Grants Each year, the Foundation administers grant dollars specifically set aside to allow faculty and staff members the opportunity to provide their students with innovative and creative programs to supplement the classroom experience. GACSF will award over $4,900 in 2015-2016 toward the following programs for G-A students: Scott Walker Meagan Brummel/Scott Walker Leslie McCaw Laura Britain Stacey Ryder Mary Johnson Ann Mayo Amanda Headley Tracy Way Darin Schmidt Dania Bazzi Patricia Sexton Dania Bazzi was awarded $6,000 from the Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo for a grant to create a mobile library-the RAM Reading Bus. In addition, she was also awarded $500 from the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation. The funds will be used to fund the RAM Reading Bus. The project entails creating the RAM Reading Bus, which will be a rolling library that travels around Galesburg and Augusta bringing books and literacy programming to families providing a strong tool for successful school progression during the summer. During scheduled stops, children will be able to check out books. Also, at each stop volunteers will read stories to children and interact with them and their families. Students leave for the summer and the school does not always maintain an academic relationship with Technology for Band Program Guitar & Ukulele Program Kindergarten Literacy Center & Letter Naming Alphabet Mat Sixth Grade Field Trip to Greenfield Village 3rd Grade Operetta Positive Postcards Literacy and Math Learning Aids Education for the Arts Field Trip & On-Site Performance Ram Reading Café Student Learning Environment Ga-Ga Pit Ram Reading Bus At-Risk Student Supports 2nd Place Winner of the Learning Network Grant - $6,000: Dania Bazzi from Galesburg-Augusta the students or families. One thing all educators can agree on is that if students read during the summer, this would reduce the effects of the summer lag. Even though we are blessed to have libraries in Galesburg and Augusta, not all of our students are able to regularly visit them throughout the summer. The intention of the RAM Reading bus is to ensure that students have access to high quality, grade-level appropriate reading material over the summer. Stay connected to by:

Page 4 - DECEMBER 2015 G-A Primary School News: Celebrating America!! On Friday, September 11 at 1pm. Schools all over the U.S. stopped to sing the Star Spangled Banner. Mrs. Brummel went on the announcements and led us in singing. Constitution Day was September 17th Students in all grades participated in multiple activities to mark that event. Hands-on science project studies owls As part of the third grade science curriculum, Mrs. Ryder, Mrs. Sutter and Mr. VanDyk s classes are studying animals and their characteristics. Third grade students got to experience a handson project by dissecting owl pellets. Owls can not digest the fur and bones of their prey, so they regurgitate it. The students had a hooting good time trying to figure out what the owl ate by matching the bones up with a chart of common owl prey. After they finished their lab reports, they tried their hand at reconstructing the animal and gluing the bones down to paper. Galesburg Fire Station visited by 2nd and 3rd graders As part of Fire Safety Week, second and third grade students at G-A Primary got to experience first-hand what it is like to be a fire fighter and learn about fire safety. Students got to see what a fire fighter looks like close-up with all their equipment and learn NOT to be afraid of them. They are here to help us. Students also got to learn what to do if there is a fire in their home and they got Weekly RAMS Ticket to be awarded This year we started a District Wide RAMS Expectations. RAMS stands for Respect, Achieve, Manage, Succeed. These expectations are posted in all areas of our school and are used as a reference daily. When students show RAMS expectations, they are awarded a RAMS ticket. Weekly winners are chosen every Friday and announced at 2:00 p.m. Winners receive a certificate, a prize from the prize box, and have their picture taken to be displayed in our main hallway under the bulletin board titled Changing the World, One RAM at a Time. Promoting a healthy lifestyle Students in Grades 1 through 4 participated in our Walk-to-School Event. Students that rode the bus and parents who wanted their children to participate were dropped off on Blake street. All the to use the real fire hose to put out a fire. The field trip was complete with the students riding back to school on top of a real fire truck. It was an amazing day!! teachers walked with the students to school to promote a healthy life style. DECEMBER 2015 - Page 17 G-A High School Athletic News: Athletic Hall of Fame s New Members: Steve Howes Steve was a 1973 graduate. He earned seven varsity letters with one in football, two in track and four in wrestling. On the track team Steve pole vaulted and ran the mile and half mile his junior and senior years. Steve made his mark on the wrestling mat. His freshman record was 31and 8. He was the first freshman to make the finals of the Kalamazoo Invitational. He was the K.V.A. champion in his weight class and placed 2nd in the Regionals. As a sophomore his record was 40 and 5 with all five losses at the hands of seniors. He was the first sophomore to make the finals of the Kalamazoo Invitational which he won. He won five of the seven invitationals he wrestled in. He again won the K.V.A. championship, placed 2nd in the Regionals and 4th in the State. His junior year was slowed by a bout with mononucleosis. He still managed to post a 28 and 10. At the Parma Invitational he took first place defeating the unbeaten and defending state champion. He finished the season with his third K.V.A. championship, a Regional championship and a State championship. He became G-A s second wrestler to win a State Championship. Steve s senior season resulted in a 38 and 3 record. He won five of the six invitationals he wrestled in. He won his fourth K.V.A. title and a second straight Regional title. In the State tournament he lost in the first round to the eventual State champion. He finished his career with a 137 and 26 record. He had the second highest total wins in G-A history. Steve wrestled in the National Wrestling Tournament all four years. It was during his final tournament that he suffered a back injury. He attended Western Michigan University on a wrestling scholarship but that back injury continued to cause him problems and he finally had to give up the sport he loved. Bret Stephenson Bret was a 2000 graduate who earned eight varsity letters with four in basketball and four in baseball. Bret s four years in basketball were quite remarkable. His freshman year he was G-A s Offensive Player of the Year and the next three years he was the team s M.V.P. As a freshman he was the leading scorer in the K.V.A. The next three years he was an ALL- K.V.A. 1 st team selection. He was All- State 5th Team as a sophomore and All-State 3rd Team as a senior. His career stats placed him 23rd in the state with free throws made with 337, 19th in the state with 869 rebounds and 19th in the state with 200 blocked shots. Bret was a four year starter on the Ram s baseball team. He was the team s best pitcher in 1998, the team s best hitter in 1999 and the team s Most Outstanding Player in 2000. Bret attended Kalamazoo Community College. He was a two year standout on both the basketball and baseball teams. Bret has been very active in the G-A basketball program since 2002. He has coached both boys and girls basketball from 7th grade up to varsity. He is currently the Assistant Girl s Varsity coach. 1970 Boys Tennis Team 1970 marked the 20th straight year that the Rams won the K.V.A. League Championship. Rick Lindsay won his second straight single title and Carl German and Bob Adkins won the doubles title by defeating teammates John Manning and Mark Maxson. In the Regionals the Rams won their eighth title in 10 years and 18th in the past 20 years. In singles competition it was Rick L indsay winning the title over teammate Tom Hogg and the doubles team of Carl German and Bob Adkins beat teammates John Manning and Mark Maxson again. G-A won its seventh State Class C-D title and second in a row. Rick Lindsay won the singles title thus becoming G-A s second player to win a State singles title. Bill Hoard was the first singles champion in 1962. The doubles title came down to a third matchup between German/ Adkins and Manning/ Maxson. This time it was Manning and Maxson winning a three set match to take the title.

Page 16 - DECEMBER 2015 G-A High School Athletic News: DECEMBER 2015 - Page 5 G-A Primary School News: GALESBURG-AUGUSTA BOY S BASKETBALL SCEHDULE 2015-16 DATE OPPONENT LEVEL SITE Tues. 12-8 K-Christian JV/Var Home Thurs. 12-10 Schoolcraft JV w/girls Home Fri. 12-11 Schoolcraft Var. w/girls Away Tues. 12-15 Comstock JV/Var Home Thurs. 12-17 Delton JV w/girls Home Fri. 12-18 Delton Var. w/girls Away Tues. 1-5 Mendon JV/Var Home Thurs. 1-7 Gobles JV w/girls Away Fri. 1-8 Gobles Var. w/girls Home Tues. 1-12 Constantine JV/Var Away Thurs. 1-14 Lawton JV w/girls Away Fri. 1-15 Lawton Var. w/girls Home H.O.F. Thurs. 1-21 Martin JV w/girls Away Fri. 1-22 Martin Var. w/girls Home Tues. 1-26 Bloomingdale JV/Var Away Thurs. 1-28 Hackett JV w/girls Away Fri. 1-29 Hackett Var. w/girls Home Tues. 2-2 K-Christian JV/Var Away Thurs. 2-4 Schoolcraft JV w/girls Away Fri. 2-5 Schoolcraft Var. w/girls Home Snowcoming Thurs. 2-11 Delton JV w/girls Away Fri. 2-12 Delton Var. w/girls Home Mon. 2-15 Lawrence JV w/girls Home Tues. 2-16 Lawrence Var. w/girls Away Thurs. 2-18 Gobles JV w/girls Home Fri. 2-19 Gobles Var. w/girls Away Tues. 2-23 Constantine JV/Var Home Senior Night Thurs. 2-25 Lawton JV w/girls Home Fri. 2-26 Lawton Var. w/girls Away Tues. 3-1 Hartford JV/Var Away Thurs. 3-3 Hackett JV/Var Away JV games will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights, followed by the varsity games, which will start at approximately 7 p.m. JV boy s will play the 2nd game of the night on Thursday nights These games will start at approximately 7 p.m. Varsity boy s will play the 2nd game of the night on Friday nights. These games will start at approximately 7:30 p.m. Athletic Hall of Fame s New Members: On January 15th and 16th G-A High School will induct the Class of 2016 into the Hall of Fame. The inductees will be introduced between the Boys and Girls Varsity basketball games on Friday the 15th. On Saturday the 16th they will be formally inducted at a luncheon to be held in the hgih school cafeteria. This years inductees include football and track performer Tom Dieterman, wrestler Steve Howes, basketball and baseball perfomer Bret Stephenson, the 1970 K.V.A., Regional and State Championship Tennis team and the 2008 K.V.A. and State Division 3 Champion Softball team. Tom Dieterman Tom was a 1968 graduate. He earned nine varsity letters with two in basketball, three in football and four in track. Tom played guard on the basketball team. The 1967-68 squad won a District title. In track Tom was teamed with Bill Maskill, Steve Smith and Ron Mazur in the 880 relay. They set a school record in 1967 and went on to place 8th in the State finals. In 1968 he teamed with Phil Brown, Eugene Guyberson and Mike Carpenter in the mile relay. They placed 2nd in the State Finals earning All-State recognition for their efforts. In football, Tom was the starting left halfback on the 1966 and 1967 teams that went undefeated and won K.V.A. and State Class C championships. In 1966 Tom rushed for 982 yards and scored 81 points. He was named ALL-K.V.A. 1st team. In 67 Tom rushed for 1,087 yards, and scored 115 points. He was named 1st team ALL-K.V.A., 1st team All-Wood T.V. and 1st team Class C All-State. Tom ranks second in career rushing at G-A with 2,190 yards, fourth in career scoring with 202 points and third in touchdowns scored with 33. His rushing total in 1967 ranks sixth best for a season and his 115 points in 67 rank fourth best for a season. Continued on next page Western Michigan University nursing students share the importance of a good nights rest Students in grades 2nd through the 4th grade learned the importance of getting sleep and rest every night. Students discovered the necessity to get 10 hours of sleep and were presented with things to do before going to bed and what not to do to get a good night s rest. The lesson was presented by the Western Michigan University nursing students. The program with WMU is in its 12th year in which students are presented with a variety of health topics. Saying Goodbye to Board Vice President Robert Rob Piper Longtime Augusta resident and board member, Robert Piper recently resigned from the Galesburg-Augusta Board of Education, due to fulfilling a lifelong dream of living on a lake. Rob was first elected to the Galesburg-Augusta Board of Education in 2012. Although, he has been actively involved in the G-A community for a long time. His son, Tyler Piper graduated from G-A in 2004 and his daughter, Halley Piper graduated from G-A in 2006. Also, his wife Susie worked for G-A for 20 years. Rob also coached JV and Varsity baseball for six years. Rob served our country for 31 years in active duty service with the United States Army and the Michigan Army National Guard. He retired as a Sergeant Major and earned numerous accolades during his service (Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and Overseas Service Medal). Rob s dedication to Galesburg-Augusta is as impressive as his dedication to our military. Serving as the Board s Vice President, Rob made himself accessible to everyone Robert Rob Piper within the G-A Community. He has been loyal, dedicated, and passionate regarding all things related to Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools. Rob s education philosophy is, Every child deserves a quality, well-rounded education in a safe environment which is free of prejudices. While serving on the board, Rob did everything to ensure our students had the best education possible. Rob Piper will be deeply missed by everyone at Galesburg-Augusta. We wish him and his wife Susie good health and happiness on their new adventure. Evening Classes NOW FORMING! Every student can learn just not on the same day or in the same way! ~George Evans GACS Credit Recovery We are offering evening classes for students who need to earn credits. Classes are delivered online. Courses are available 24 hours a day. Students report Mondays and Wednesdays 2.5 hours/day. Courses will run from February - June. Corses are monitored by a certifi ed teacher in the classroom. Accepting All Students is opening the doors to any student that may need a chance to recover credits during the school year. The evening program will be tailored to individual academic needs based on credit deficits. All credits have the potential to transfer to a student s home district. Enrollment fees are: $100/session in district, $150/session out of district. Scholarships are available on the school s website for all enrollees or at http://goo.gl/forms/usjzsozcjm Contact Christie Robinson Principal 269-484-2010 Robinson@garams.org www.g-aschools.org

Page 6 - DECEMBER 2015 G-A Middle School News: DECEMBER 2015 - Page 15 G-A High School Athletic News: Message from the Principal: Greetings fellow Rams! We are very excited about the start of the 15-16 school year. We have much to celebrate! Our Activities In Science students will compete in the Transportation and Civil Engineering program this spring, held at the Amway Grand. The Let s Go Learn program provides individualized testing and instruction for many of our students. Geography and Activities in Social Studies are raising the bar for global awareness. Our athletic programs continue to experience a high level of parent and audience support. G-AMS students continue to improve their performance on our RAMS (Respect, Achieve, Manage, Succeed) expectations. Discipline referrals are down 40% from this time last year. The Galesburg-Augusta Middle School Facebook group has taken interactive communication to a new level. With offerings in Design and Modeling, Automation and Robotics, and Transportation and Civil Engineering, G-A Middle School is now a leader in Kalamazoo County for technology and engineering education. I would like to give special thanks to the PASS organization, and to the many volunteers who give of their time and talent in support of our students. We ve already had important activities such as our Halloween Dance and meals for our teachers during conferences. Be part of the excitement! Get involved with our middle school! We are always looking for parent support and input. Go Rams! Darin Schmidt G-A Middle School Colorcycles! This year the Middle School is excited to be participating in the Crayola Colorcycle program! Mrs. Way is collecting all dried-out and old markers in the library. They will be sent to Crayola, who will recycle them. Any style and brand of marker is accepted. It s a small way that G-A Middle School can help color our Earth! Explore! Create! Perform! Physical Education students at G-A Middle School have taken part in an Education for the Arts program, a part of Kalamazoo RESA, named the PACE program. The PACE program provides our 5th 8th grade students with dance and creative movement workshops taught by professional EFA teaching artists during the students Physical Education class time. PACE residencies teach students the elements of the art form, emphasize artistic exploration and the creative process, and celebrate the students creative work. Through hands-on, inquiry-based workshops, students learn the fundamentals of the discipline. For example, dance students might learn about tempo, personal vs. general space, high-medium-low levels, and using the body to convey a feeling, image, or idea. Our teaching artists, Mrs. Becker and Mrs. Soule, guide students in experimenting with these elements by making their own artistic choices to develop an original work. Throughout the creative process, students build skills in teamwork, group problem solving, and accepting and incorporating the ideas of their peers. All residencies culminate with an opportunity for students to share their creative work through a final performance. Volleyball Team Shows True Grit The 8th grade volleyball team had a wonderful season. The team consisted of: Morgan Wallace, Delaney Becker, Madison Schimdt, Mattison Coburn, Michelle Winchell, Brianna Brady, Delany Dack, Skylar Danielson, Lisa Drobny, Summer Hiscock, and Isabelle Austin. The girls had great attitudes and enthusiasm. Overall the girls won two games this season. Our record did not reflect the hard work and effort the girls put into this season. Great Job girls! -Coach Kimble GALESBURG-AUGUSTA M.S. BOY S BASKETBALL 2015 DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME 9-Nov Lawton Away 5 p.m. 11-Nov Martin Home 5 p.m. 16-Nov Comstock Away 4:15 p.m. 18-Nov Schoolcraft Home 4:15 p.m. 23-Nov Kalamazoo Christian Home 4:15 p.m. 24-Nov Martin Away 5 p.m. 30-Nov St. Monica Away 4:15 p.m. 2-Dec Delton-Kellogg Home 4:15 p.m. 7-Dec Kalamazoo Christian Away 4:15 p.m. 9-Dec Delton-Kellogg Away 4:15 p.m. 14-Dec Comstock Home 4:15 p.m. 16-Dec Parchment Away TBD 7th Grade will play first, followed by the 8th Grade GALESBURG-AUGUSTA BOWLING SCHEDULE 2015-16 DATE TIME OPPONENT LOCATION Wed. 12-9 4 p.m. Comstock Eastland Mon. 12-14 4 p.m. Hackett Pinz Wed. 12-16 4 p.m. Bronson Bronson Strike Zone Wed. 1-6 TBD Parchment Eastland Mon. 1-11 TBD Schoolcraft Continental Lanes Wed. 1-13 4 p.m. Coloma Eastland Mon. 1-18 4 p.m. K-Christian Eastland Wed. 1-20 4 p.m. Comstock Eastland Mon. 1-25 4 p.m. Hackett Eastland Wed. 1-27 4 p.m. Bronson Eastland Mon. 2-1 4 p.m. Parchment Eastland Wed. 2-3 4 p.m. Schoolcraft Eastland Mon. 2-8 TBD Coloma Coloma Lanes Wed. 2-10 4 p.m. K-Christian Pinz Mon. 2-15 Conference Make Up Fri. 2-19 4 p.m. Conference Tourn. Eastland 2/26/2016 Regionals 3/4/2016 State Finals GALESBURG-AUGUSTA M.S. GIRL S BASKETBALL 2016 DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME 18-Jan Schoolcraft Home 4:15 p.m. 20-Jan Martin Away 5 p.m. 25-Jan Comstock Home 4:15 p.m. 27-Jan Schoolcraft Away 4:15 p.m. 1-Feb K-Christian Away 4:15 p.m. 3-Feb Martin Home 5 p.m. 8-Feb St. Monica Home 4:15 p.m. 10-Feb Delton-Kellogg Away 4:15 p.m. 18-Feb K-Christian Home 4:15 p.m. 17-Feb Northwestern (Battle Creek) Away TBD 22-Feb Comstock Away 4:15 p.m. 24-Feb Parchment Home TBD GALESBURG-AUGUSTA GIRL S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2015-2016 DATE OPPENENT LEVEL Tues. 12-1 Hartford JV/Var Fri. 12-4 Hackett JV/Var Tues. 12-8 K-Christian JV/Var Thurs. 12-10 Schoolcraft JV Fri. 12-11 Schoolcraft Var. Tues. 12-15 Comstock JV/Var Thurs. 12-17 Delton JV Fri. 12-18 Delton Var. Thurs. 1-7 Gobles JV Fri. 1-8 Gobles Var. Tues. 1-12 Constantine JV/Var Thurs. 1-14 Lawton JV Fri. 1-15 Lawton Var. Tues. 1-19 Olivet JV/Var Thurs. 1-21 Martin JV Fri. 1-22 Martin Var. Tues. 1-26 Bloomingdale JV/Var Thurs. 1-28 Hackett JV Fri. 1-29 Hackett Var. Tues. 2-2 K-Christian JV/Var Thurs. 2-4 Schoolcraft JV Fri. 2-5 Schoolcraft Var. Thurs. 2-11 Delton JV Fri. 2-12 Delton Var. Mon. 2-15 Lawrence JV Tues. 2-16 Lawrence Var. Thurs. 2-18 Gobles JV Fri. 2-19 Gobles Var. Tues. 2-23 Constantine JV/Var Thurs. 2-25 Lawton JV Fri. 2-26 Lawton Var. Tuesday and Thursday JV Games start at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday Varsity Games start 15 minutes after the conclusion of the JV game. Friday Varsity Games start at 6 p.m.

Page 14 - DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER 2015 - Page 7 G-A High School Athletic News: GALESBURG-AUGUSTA VARSITY WRESTLING SCHEDULE 2015-16 DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME 12/16/2015 SAC Quad at Eau Claire vs. Coloma and Eau Claire Away 6 p.m. 12/30/2015 Climax-Scotts Individual Tourn. Away 9 a.m. 1/9/2016 Comstock JV Tournament Away TBD 1/13/2016 SAC Quad at Gobles vs. Watervliet and Gobles Away 6 p.m. 1/20/2016 SAC Quad at Delton vs. Martin/C-S and Fennville Away 6 p.m. 1/27/2016 SAC Snow Date 6 p.m. 2/3/2016 SAC Quad at G-A vs. Decatur and Delton Home 6 p.m. 2/6/2016 SAC Tournament at Bangor Away 6 p.m. 2/10/2016 Team Districts at Homer H.S. TBD TBD 2/13/2016 Individual Districts at Lawton TBD TBD More dates will be added. Please check the school website at g-aschools.org for updates. Meet the G-A Office Staff: (Shirley Hoogstraten; High School Secretary and Doris Wolthuis; High School Counseling Secretary) (Diana Lewis and Linda Dunithan; Primary School Secretaries) (Amanda Whittaker, Cheryl Fryer and Brenda Sutherland; Central Offi ce Staff) (Sarah Larue and Diane Gray; Middle School Secretaries) Stay connected to Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools by: NON- DISCRIMINATION POLICY It is the policy of the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools that no discriminatory practices based on sex, race, religion, color, age, national origin, disability, height, weight, or any other status covered by federal, state or local law be allowed in providing instructional opportunities, programs, services, job placement assistance, employment or in policies governing student conduct and attendance. Complaints or inquiries related to discrimination should be forwarded to: Superintendent of Schools 1076 N. 37th St. Galesburg, MI 49053 269-484-2000 G-A Middle School News: The Sixth Grade Team Pushes the Technology Envelope The sixth grade team is revving up parent communication with use of the Remind app. This app allows teachers to send notifications to parents through their phones in the form of text messages. Remind is a free, safe, and simple messaging tool that helps our teachers share important updates and reminders with students and parents. All personal information is kept private. Middle School Students of the Month for September Congratulations to our Outstanding Students of the Month for September! Lily Cadwell, Robbie Garrett, Kiera Roberts and Max Aguillon have been selected by their grade level teams because they demonstrate leadership, behavioral excellence and are all-around fantastic students! Creating a Middle School College-Going Culture It is necessary to begin preparing our children at an early age for the expectation of continuing education beyond high school. Parental and community support is the essential foundation for creating awareness and a culture of a college-bound mindset. Here are some suggestions for parents to prepare their children for college: As early as possible, research, choose and begin contributing to college savings plans (bonds, bank accounts, 529 Plans or pre-paid tuition plans) so that your money has time to grow. Become as involved as possible with your child s school and work. When your child is in elementary school, encourage him/her to pursue academic challenges and develop good academic habits, leadership, and extracurricular interests and activities so that school is a positive experience. Recognize school as a form of work, that it is your child s job, and discourage any distraction from that goal of going to college. This may include extra monitoring of TV, the Internet, and video games. It is never too early to discuss careers and higher education with your child, especially when younger children have limitless dreams and potential. Make sure your child starts on a college track as early as middle school, giving your child a strong academic foundation for his/her later classes. As your child enters high school, build a relationship with the school counselor and meet with him/her early on so that you and your child can map out a tentative four-year college-preparatory plan (an EDP). The basic college entrance requirements include four years of English, three years of social studies, three years of math, two years of science and two years of foreign language, and one year of fine arts. Post-secondary education ranges from Bachelor degree and beyond programs, Associate degree programs, Certificate programs, Vocational and Skilled Trades, Technical Training, Apprenticeship training, Military training, On-the-job training. There are many options for your child to explore and match to their skills, interests and abilities. Familiarize yourself with the counseling office s resources on financial aid, scholarships, and admissions. Encourage your child to discuss college experiences with people they know such as relatives, friends, coaches, scout leaders, and community members. Encourage, but do not assume responsibility for, your child through the admissions process by helping your child research colleges and narrow his or her options. Be honest with your child about any financial or geographical expectations you many have. Continued next page

Page 8 - DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER 2015 - Page 13 G-A Middle School News: Follow the College Calendar (www.collegeboard. com), which includes standardized test dates, application times, financial aid deadlines, etc. Learn all you can about financial aid and scholarships. There are many programs that officer financial aid to families of all economic classes. Celebrate success and continually express your pride on your child s efforts and goals toward college. On-the-job training - Some careers your child will learn on the job. The employer provides this type of training, which can be short or long and is specific to the job. Apprenticeship training - This training combines paid work experience and classroom training to prepare for a specific occupation. Apprenticeship programs last between one and five years. At the end of the program, your child is industry-qualified and has skills that employers want. Military training - The U.S. military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) prepares people for jobs similar to civilian careers. Your child signs a contract for duty to join. He or she would receive basic pay, allowances and benefits. Your child may also be eligible for additional education and training assistance. Certificate programs - Certificates are six-month to one-year programs that prepare your child for a specific field. Associate degree programs - Technical, community and some private career colleges offer associate degrees. Your child would likely need at least two years of study beyond high school. Bachelor degree programs - Most professional occupations require a bachelor s degree. Your child would likely need four years beyond high school at an accredited college or university Beyond a bachelor s degree - Many occupations, like architect, lawyer and doctor, require education beyond a bachelor s degree. With a post-high school plan, you and your child will be prepared for how to reach these career goals. 2015-2016 Middle School Career-Based Activities: All 6th, 7th and 8th grade students will participate in Career Cruising, which is an Internet-based career exploration and planning tool used to explore career and college options and develop a career plan. Career Cruising can be accessed from school, home, or wherever your child and you have access to the internet. Features of the program include: -Assessments -Career Profiles -Multimedia Interviews -College, University, and Apprenticeship Information -Employment Guide -My Plan -Resume Builder -Parent Portal -To register for your Parent Portal account, go to www. careercruising.com/parent and enter your activation code. To receive an activation code, please contact your child s school counselor. All 8th grade students will participate in XTREME REALITY which is a program provided through our collaboration with Western Michigan University. This program is designed to teach students about financial planning, budgeting and saving money. Through this experience, students will be able to connect the relationship between education, income and lifestyle. One of the goals will be developing an understanding of how important college is for all students and how school performance now can translate into scholarships and grants to help pay for their education, decreasing their out of pocket expenses. Our annual Career Day will be held on Friday, April 1, from 8:00 am-10:30 am for all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Our students actively participate in identifying professions they would like to learn more about. Our PASS Parent Group plays a huge role in contacting professionals and inviting them to present to our students. Over the years, this program has been successful in exposing our students to the many options and varieties of professions and engages them in small group discussions and hands-on activities. Continued next page G-A High School News: Stepping Beyond G-A Night 2015 annual event a huge success! Stepping Beyond G-A Night 2015 was a success! We had the largest number of presenters this year than ever before which provided many options for the students and parents who attended. Stepping Beyond G-A Night is an evening event that allows students to learn about life after high school and explore their post-secondary options. Students and their parents can choose to attend three different sessions throughout the evening. This year, there were 11 sessions to choose from with presentations on four year colleges, two year colleges, scholarships, the military, professionalism, FAFSA and TIP, the KVCC Mat2 Program, Americorps, and more! Students were invited to attend the college panel at the end of the event where they were able to ask current college students questions about the transition from high school to college. The evening concluded with a raffle drawing where 12 students won various college and military merchandise. Stepping Beyond G-A Night is an annual event that is both fun and informative, allowing students to form networks and gain a better idea of their post-secondary options. Huge thanks to Gull Meadow Farms for their generous donation of delicious donuts! Senior Salutes and Yearbook Advertising Prices 2015-2016 Galesburg-Augusta Education Foundation The G-A Education Foundation is a non-profit organization established to promote, receive, invest and administer funds or other tangible gifts for students. The foundation was organized to provide an avenue for individuals and businesses to contribute funds into the educational system in an organized manner that can be of financial benefit to the donor and a benefit to G-A students. All gifts are to be used solely for the support or enhancement of educational, literary, artistic or scientific endeavors of the school district. Currently scholarship awards are given to high school seniors from the Galesburg-Augusta community. In the last 30 years, we have awarded over $100,000 in student and staff grants. Why Give? The Foundation s ability to continue its mission depends on the generous support of individuals and groups in the Galesburg-Augusta community and beyond. Your generous gift will be used to enhance the educational experiences of our students by: Supporting Education: Venture grants designed to supplement the educational program and provide teachers and students with unique learning experiences. Providing Opportunities: Projects that enrich students exposure to 21st-century learning and promote the district s commitment to educational excellence. Recognizing Excellence: Opportunities to celebrate quality education while acknowledging the significant contributions of select individuals. Building Futures: Endowed scholarships established to assist those students and families desiring to access quality programs and services both on a post-secondary and basic education level. The Foundation accepts contributions from individuals, families, corporations, civic groups, local businesses and other foundations. All donations support the educational efforts of the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools. If you would like to donate, checks can be made payable to: KCF/G-A Education Foundation and mailed to: 1076 N 37th Street, Galesburg, MI 49053 or you can call 269-484-2000 to discuss. Remember, every dollar helps create better students and citizens in the G-A Community! Thanks for your consideration. You can also donate by using Amazon Smile: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/38-3082334

Page 12 - DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER 2015 - Page 9 G-A High School News: G-A Middle School News: Counseling Dates of Interest February 10: 8th Graders attend the EFE/EFA/EMC open house at the Expo Center February 11: 9th Graders attend the EFE/EFA/EMC open house at the Expo Center February 11: All community members are welcome to attend the EFE/EFA/EMC open house February 15: EMC Presentation by Lisa Ballinger of KRESA February 15-19: Ms. Lake visits classrooms and discusses scheduling options March 4: All scheduling documents are due (EMC applications, course requests) March 7-31: Families complete all paperwork and applications for KVCC if EMC applicant April 11-29: Meetings with families who have applicants for EMC National Honor Society Annual Blood Drive The fall blood drive was another success story with over 100 donors for 101 units of blood. This donation can help save the lives of approximately many people. If you did not have an opportunity to donate during the first drive the second will be held January 18, 2016 at the high school. Participating on January 18, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, would be a great way to give back to your community. Senior Cyber Café While the underclassmen were dutifully completing their PSAT/NMSQT testing the Senior class was provided a cyber café, complete with coffee and snacks. Students were actively engaged completing college applications, essays, and their Stepping Beyond GA portfolios. A special thanks to our kitchen staff, reader volunteers from the community, Ms. Cook, and all the others who helped make this a fun morning for our students. GA Rest Stop The school store has its doors open and in full operation this fall. Ms. Hawk and her marketing students are also currently working to implement an online spirit shop for spirit wear. Watch the school website and monthly newsletters for a link and easy ordering. AP English Our AP English students produced a video and powerful presentation regarding technology and the impact it is having on our world. They researched and presented information highlighting the advances of technology, burden to our environment, and strain on our social dynamics. Members of the community and school were invited to participate in this student-led time of reflection. Students and adults were asked to see how each one of us has the ability to Change Our World. Positive Behavior Expectations Posters such as this are displayed throughout the district encouraging our students, staff, and community to show common respect and courtesy for each other. The RAMS initiative was a three year process that included teachers, administrators, and support staff throughout the implementation. Students are recognized as they move the routine of their day for representing the actions and spirit of our system. Prizes are awarded for students as a token of appreciation and recognition. Special thanks goes to our support personnel at KRESA, Nancy Lindahl and Ethan Alexander. They were wonderful mentors and guides as we build a strong learning environment for our students. As a school-wide activity to promote a college-going mindset, all school staff have been invited to participate in College Application Week by creating a poster with their picture, detailing where they attended college, what they studied and activities they participated in, along with their college logo, and posting this outside their classroom. All 8th grade students will attend MICareerQuest, a hands-on career and college readiness event just for middle and high school students. During this unique experience, students will find out what it s like to be an RN, a foreman, a mechanical engineer and more direct from the people who do these jobs every day! This event is an interactive, hands-on, informational and inspiring career and college readiness program with employers attending from four industry sectors - Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Healthcare, and Information Technology. Representatives from higher education will be onsite to help students make that connection between training, education and careers. Our Physical Education teachers have partnered with EFA (Education for the Arts) and collaborated with professional EFA Teaching Artists to provide students from all grade levels with free dance and theater residencies in their own schools during their physical education classes. PACE residencies teach students the elements of the art form, emphasize artistic exploration and the creative process, and celebrate the students creative work. Through hands-on, inquiry-based workshops, students learn the fundamentals of this discipline. The program is presented through regular classroom settings, art/music/physical education classes. Character Education Programs The YWCA presented their Building Boundaries and Social Media Safety program to all 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Topics included: identifying healthy and unhealthy characteristics within relationships, building and respecting boundaries and social media safety. 1. All 7th grade students participated in the Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention program. The primary goal of this program is to increase the likelihood that school gatekeepers administrators, faculty, staff, and students can identify, intervene, and obtain help for at-risk youth. Additional goals are to educate about issues of mental illness, depression, and substance abuse in a manner that reduces stigma and encourages help-seeking behaviors; and to develop coping, self-esteem, asset-building, stress reduction, and communication skills. Students receive information about local resources available to help them or their friends. www.gryphon.org JUMPSTART/DRIVE is an 8th grade interactive, research-based prevention program provided through Prevention Works. The program is based on the Health Belief Model and Social Emotional Learning Theory and aligned with the Michigan Model for Health Education. Key factors from these models are incorporated into six sessions designed to increase the likelihood that participants make positive decisions in regard to critical health issues. JUMPSTART introduces young people to this information and helps develop the skills that they need to make wise and healthy decisions. www.prevention-works.org Michigan s student safety programs, OK2SAY and the Michigan Cyber Safety Training Initiative, (CSI) will be provided to all of our middle school students. Both programs are free, and they feature content tailored specifically for each grade level. The Attorney General s Office features two customized programs to protect Michigan children. The Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative (CSI) is a national, award-winning program and has been presented to more than one million students. It teaches children the importance of being safe, making smart decisions, and protecting themselves and others while online. The OK2SAY student safety program provides a confidential way to file tips on criminal activity or potential harm directed at students, school employees, and schools. Tips can be submitted 24/7 by phone, text message, email, mobile app, or on the OK2SAY website. www.ok2say.com www.mi.gov/csi

Page 10 - DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER 2015 - Page 11 G-A Middle School News: G-A High School News: G-AMS Students Name Kalamazoo Falcon Gibson Galesburg-Augusta Middle School students Alexis Jones and Bradley Ontis, along with paraprofessional Mrs. Kim Delfsma submitted the winning name Gibson for one of the four peregrine falcons who call the Fifth Third Bank building in downtown Kalamazoo their home. A panel of judges, including Kalamazoo mayor Bobby Hopewell, sorted through the forty names submitted from the community and chose the winning names. The winning names besides Gibson were Birdick, Kazoomi and Athena. The name Gibson was chosen to honor former Kalamazoo business Gibson Guitar. Gibson Guitar employed many Kalamazooans from 1902 till 1984. One of those who worked at Gibson Guitar was Mrs. Delfsma s father, Howard Sutton. The students would check the nestcam daily. It was quite an experience watching the eggs being laid and estimating when they would hatch. Then these students watched as the parent falcons brought food in for the chicks. Competition was fierce as the smallest chick struggled to get enough to eat. In the end, it was the smallest bird that was given the name Gibson. Peregrine falcons are endangered and have used the Fifth Third Bank building for the past 5 years. A nesting box has been installed on the southeast parapet along with cameras so community members can watch the falcons from egg to hatchling to fledgling. You too can watch the falcon s nest in early March of 2016, go to www.kalamazoofalcons.com. G-AMS STUCO Announced The middle school recently announced Student Council members for the 2015-2016 school year. Congratulations to these students. Your service and commitment to our school is appreciated! 8th grade: Lily Cadwell (President), Lauryn Coleman (Vice-President), Daniel Chatman (Treasurer), Rieley Bresson (Secretary, Sam Johnson 7th grade: Jaleeah Baird, Rylan Buller, Dove Chavez, Abby Newton, Aleigha Vos, Andrew Wilks-Millard 6th grade: Morgan Bresson, Connar Burris, Emma Dieterman, Lilly Fiest, Katie Standley, Josie Towery 5th grade: Emmalee Carlson, Isabelle Feltch, Abby Gay, Kayla Nichols, Ted Swager, Jordan West Anticipated Dates for 2015-2016 NHS Blood Drive: January 18, 2016 Conferences: February 24 & 25, 2016 Senior Trip Meeting: March 16, 2016 SAT: April 12, 2016 WorkKeys: April 13, 2016 Senior Trip: April 22-25, 2016 NHS Blood Drive: May 6, 2016 *All dates are subject to change.* Sharing My Thoughts Our school year is off to a fantastic start. Students are working hard both socially and academically making Galesburg-Augusta High School a true model of pride in our home town! We have officially kicked off our district-wide positive behavior program and the effects have been clear. We have decreased behavior referrals at the high school level eighty percent compared to this time last fall. That is credited to the positive attitudes and interactions of our students and staff. You will notice at events and locations both during school hours and beyond expectations have been established and posted so there is no mystery on proper behavior. This may seem an unnecessary measure, but how can we expect our students to follow something we have not made clear to them. In addition, these expectations are reviewed with students at various times throughout the year. Another successful program that is helping with behavior and expectations is Senior Mentors. Each freshman was assigned a Senior Mentor for a peer to ask questions and talk to about high school transition. Freshmen have met with their mentors a few times this fall discussing things such as: dance attire, homecoming participation, bus routes during exams, plagiarism and credits. We will continue to develop this relationship and program for our kids. It is with great pride I call myself a part of Galesburg and Augusta communities! I hope that same pride is shared by all of our students and staff. ~Mrs.Robinson Robinson@garams.org 269-484-2010 x. 1002 Automation and Robotics combines creativity with mechanics Students in A and R are learning about gear ratios and torque. Teams of students designed and built vehicles that included gears to operate visual effects. Like true Rams, they made sure they put their personal touch into the final product!