2007-08 Points of Pride

An incomplete (but fun and impressive) list of the accomplishments of

our school district, our teachers and our students this year.

 

District-Wide:

  • The district completed a comprehensive strategic plan, setting priorities for 2007-11.
  • East Lansing High School ranked 6th in Michigan in Newsweek's 2007 Poll of Top High Schools, placing ahead of all other mid-Michigan high schools.
  • The ACT Organization recognized ELHS - and only 380 other high schools across the country - for the rigor of its core courses.
  • ELHS courses are being aligned with new state curriculum requirements.
  • ELHS teachers developed new graduation requirements for the Class of 2011 and beyond to bring East Lansing into compliance with new state requirements.
  • ELPS hired a new Director of Technology and a Coordinator of Communications.
  • New programs and textbooks were adopted for K-5 math, 6th grade social studies and high school economics.
  • The district received an unqualified opinion (the best opinion available) in its audited financial statements for the year ending June 2006.
  • The East Lansing Educational Foundation awarded over $20,000 to district teachers.
  • Students in every school participated in the Sarah Tarpoff Writing Project and/or the Matt Epling Creative Arts Competition.
  • Interns from Michigan State University worked in most East Lansing schools.
  • The district purchased two new school buses.

 

In Our School Buildings:

  • ELHS Physics teacher John Plough received the MSU Green Apple Teaching Award for alumni who inspire students to study math, science and engineering.
  • ELHS Quiz Bowl finished as State Champions and 13th in the nation.
  • Seven ELHS students were National Merit Finalists and 59 students were members of the Class of 2007 National Honor Society.
  • ELHS AP Physics students won first place in the Michigan Physics Olympiad.
  • ELHS 10th grader Adam Davis received an "Honorable Mention" for his film "The A-maze-ing Corn" in the East Lansing Children's Film Festival.
  • MacDonald Middle School students Rollin Baker and Roan Ma were chosen to participate in the Mid-West Music Conference in the All-State Orchestra.
  • Red Cedar Elementary Principal Mindy Emerson received the MSU Crystal Apple Award for Outstanding Educators from the MSU College of Education.
  • Donley students were pen pals with MSU athletes as part of their year-long Read to Succeed program.
  • The ELHS Theater Program has been selected by the American High School Theater Festival to perform at the Edinburgh (Scotland) Fringe Festival in 2008.
  • The East Lansing Educational Foundation recognized Paul Fagan, June and George Szypula, Lee Griffin, Kevin Kelly, Rollie and Marilyn Ledebuhr, David Heeke, Marge Andrews and Sandy Gebber for their many contributions to the East Lansing Public Schools and the East Lansing community at their annual awards recognition dinner.
  • Marble School's Jonas Hallstein, Joe Croom, Adrian Berding and Matthew Heeder took 5th place in the Michigan Elementary Team Chess Championship.
  • The MSU chapter of Kiwanis Circle K received a $500 grant to sponsor "Turn off the TV week" at Glencairn.
  • Students from Glencairn and Whitehills formed part of the Human 100 Commemorative Photo at the kickoff of East Lansing's Centennial Celebration.
  • ELHS Orchestra students were chosen for the All-State Orchestra and received invitations to the Youth Arts Festival.
  • The ELHS student PRIDE team worked with world-renowned sculptor Jim Cunningham allowing him to create a sculpture for permanent display at ELHS.
  • Glencairn musicians Caitlin Hegg, Emily Wibert, and Maeve Pascoe participated in the Capital Area Music Teachers Association's Student Achievement Testing Program for school-age children who study piano or voice.
  • Approximately 150 MacDonald Middle School students qualified to participate in the Midwest Academic Talent Search.  Of that number approximately 80 chose to participate by taking the SAT or the ACT.
  • New computers were purchased for Glencairn and Whitehills Schools.
  • New up-to-code playgrounds will be installed at Donley and Marble Schools during the summer.

 

Our Students Giving Back:

  • Whitehills students launched "Operation Green" to make their school more earth-friendly and reduced daily lunchtime landfill trash from 12 garbage bags to two.
  • Donley first graders raised $700 to help the rhinoceros at Potter Park Zoo.
  • Red Cedar students raised over $600 through their Pennies for Patients Program for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, and raised over $900 for The Heifer Project through their Read to Feed project.
  • Pinecrest students held a Penny Drive to raise money for the Rainforest Action Network's Protect an Acre Program. 
  • Nearly 20 MacDonald Middle School students tutored 40 - 50 Donley Elementary students every Thursday after school in the 'Kids Care Too' program.
  • Whitehills students ran a Red Cross Food Drive, participated in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and created Valentines For Vets.
  • Marble's Art Club raised money to run an after school art club for fourth graders.  Club members then raised $1,200 for the school's Reef Tank by selling their ceramics.
  • MacDonald Middle School students participated in East Lansing Friends (Elfs), a program that matched 35 MacDonald Middle School students with special-needs students to help with social skills.
  • Twenty-three MacDonald Middle School students and students from all over the district helped lead their schools through the Peer Assisted Leadership Program (PALS).
  • Glencairn's annual Walk The Walk Fundraiser raised money for the school and the Humane Society.
  • Marble students' "Magnet World" project raised $150 for animals at Potter Park Zoo, their Stocking Stuffer Drive collected gift and personal care items for 35 needy children.  Marble students raised $450 for families in Kenya and first graders raised $300 for the Greater Lansing Food Bank.



East Lansing Public Schools

Nurturing each student · Educating all students · Building world citizens

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