1. education
2. school

SPRING2014-15
EarlyChildhoodProgramsExpandat
HarveyEducationCenter Beginning in the fall of 2009, the old Cedar Street
Elementary School was repurposed and renamed
the James C. Harvey Education Center. The James
C. Harvey Education Center houses administrative
and special education offices, a maintenance office,
as well as early childhood special education classrooms and the Mason Public Schools’ Child Development Center. The Child Development Center
offers a variety of school year and summer programs for children ages three to fifth grade including a before and after school program from 7 am to
6 pm to meet the growing needs of our community.
For the 2015-16 school year, the James C. Harvey
Education Center will be near capacity due to an
increase in demand for our early learning programs.
The increase in students at the Harvey Education
Center is a reflection of our growth in enrollment
district-wide. Over the past four years, our district
enrollment has increased by 7.4% and the projection is for continued growth around 7% for the next
five years.
ImportantDates:
Locaon Key
C.D.S.
Special Ed.
Hearing Impaired Office
Administraon
Speech/Language
Head Start
P.T./O.T.
E.C.S.E.
Ready, Set, Go
Maintenance
To learn more about the programs we offer at the
Child Development Center, please call (517)
676-6528.
April 28
H.S. Conferences
4:30-7:00 pm
June 4-5
H.S. Only—Exams
(1/2 Days)
Insidethisissue
May 31
Graduaon
MHS Fieldhouse
3:00-5:00 pm
June 5
Last Day of School
(1/2 Day)
Mason State Bank 5K Run/Walk..3
Redwings Art Recognion………….2
Bulldog STEM Academy……………..3
Red Carpet Gala Breaks Record…4
The “Big Sck” Awards…………….. 5
Robocs Compeon….…………….6
RedWingsArtCeremony
The Mason Public Schools Foundaon
(MPSF) recently recognized Mason Middle
School industry technology instructor, Mr.
Thomas Bullock and students from his
industrial technology classes, at a ceremony
held at the Mason Middle School for their
arsc ability and skill in craIing a Red
Wings art piece.
The artwork was donated to the MPSF and
sold at the Red Carpet Gala Dinner and Aucon for $3,000. Roger Cargill donated the game-played hockey scks and ScoH Russ and Kurt Creamer
of Oracle Financial Soluons were the winning bidders.
Proceeds from the sale benefit Mason Public Schools.
“Hockey s
cks from current Red Wings Pavel “Pasha” Datsyuk, Niklas Kronwall and Drew Miller, Jason
Williams, Val$eri Filppula, Brad Stuart, Derek Meech, Darren Helm, Bre$ Lebda, Jakub Kindl and Jonathan Ericsson were also used in the project.”
GreenAcresVisits
The residents at Green
Acres retirement living
community have had more
company than usual thanks
to third grade students at
SteeleElementary.
Mrs. Dornbush’s students
share smiles, stories, songs
andgiftsofaf"irmationwith
their senior friends during
each visit. On their last
outing students shared
specialheartsandcandyfor
Valentine’sDay.
These visits allow children
to interact with many
community members who
mightnototherwisereceive
manyvisitors.
ExcellenceInEducationHonoree
The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce
recognized area excellence at the Annual 2015 Awards Dinner on Wednesday,
February 11, 2015. Awards were given
to praiseworthy businesses, groups and
individuals in front a crowd of supporters and community members.
This year’s Excellence in Educaon Award winner is Mrs. Karen
Harvey. Mrs. Harvey has exemplified, inspired, and impacted
students as a School Social Worker at Mason High School for the
past 30 years.
Karen has a wealth of knowledge and connues to be an avid
learner. She has represented Mason in the Tri-County Safe and
Drug Free School Work Group and is acve in various building
school improvement commiHees of posive behavior supports
and early warning signs for students at risk. Karen has also
served on the Crisis Team, Dropout CommiHee and Bullying
CommiHee.
Congratulaons Mrs. Karen Harvey on your well-earned award.
Keynotes / Page 2
RegisterNowfor
theMasonState
Bank5KRun/
Walk
BulldogSTEMAcademy
Over the past two years, approximately half of Mason’s 4th and 5th
grade students have excitedly stayed aIer school to connue their
learning. What sparks this excitement? The Bulldog STEM (Science
Technology Engineering and Math) Academy!
The Bulldog STEM Academy (BSA) is an aIer-school enrichment
program. Students work with LEGO® Educaon WeDo Robo
cs Kits to
explore hands-on, project based acvies. Students build LEGO® modules, connect them to computers, and then program soIware that
automates their robots. Thus far, students have completed nine
different modules creang everything from a Roaring Lion to a
Rocking Sailboat.
The 75 LEGO® Educaon WeDo Robo
cs Kits were purchased with
funds generously donated by the Mason Schools Founda
on, which
allowed the program to be free for all students. In addion, 45 Mason
staff members, two student teachers, and several Naonal Honor
Society students have supported the BSA program since its incepon.
Thanks to the generosity of the community, and the hard work of Mason staff, the BSA brought people from all five Mason schools together, working toward the common goal of exposing elementary students
to STEM.
Runners, walkers and
Bulldog
supporters
alike can register now
for the 27th Annual
Mason State Bank 5K
Run/Walk event to be
held Friday, May 1,
2015 in downtown
Mason with net proceeds to benefit Mason
Public Schools.
Register online at
www.masonstate.com.
Those who register on
or before April 24,
2015 pay only a $25
entry fee for the 5K
Run/Walk. Early registraon is only $10 each
for
the
Children’s
1-Mile Run and Kids
100-yard Dash.
This event is part of the
Playmakers Race Series. You must be preregistered by April 21,
2015 to be guaranteed
a shirt, so don’t delay!
It’s fun for the whole
family.
Next year, the LEGO® Educaon WeDo Robo
cs Kits will be embedded
into the 4th and 5th grade
curriculum. This will allow all
students to have the opportunity to experience learning
in this excing and challenging way!
Pictured are 4th grade students at
Steele Elementary.
Keynotes / Page 3
Mason Public Schools Foundaon
ThankyoutotheRedCarpet
GalaDinner&Auction
sponsors:
Planum Bulldog Sponsor
Dart Bank
Dean Transportaon
Verizon Wireless Zone of Mason
Gold Bulldog Sponsor
Gestamp North America
Highland Engineering, Inc.
LAFCU
Mason Opmist Club
MSU Federal Credit Union
Wolverine Engineers & Surveyors,
Inc.
Anonymous donor
Silver Bulldog Sponsor
Mark and Melissa Cook
Mike and Lisa Hamm
Oracle Financial Soluons
Reith-Riley Construcon Co., Inc.
Vision Real Estate
Steve and Carolee Ware
Zielinski Dental
Bronze Bulldog Sponsor
Marlon and Margaret Brown
CE&A Professional Services
Tom and Kathy Cochran
CP Federal Credit Union
Peter and Kalene Curs
Tom and Jessica Curs Family
Dave and Carrie Geyer Family
Hair & Company on Ash
J & J Properes of Mason, LLC
J2 Design
Eric and Kathy Joneson Family
Lynne and Roger Marn
Commissioner Robin Naeyaert
Patrick and Lisa O’Connor Family
Marc and Rita Ramsey
Frances Trail and Bill Schneider
Brian and Chrisne Spitzley
Rita Vogel
Truffle Raffle Sponsor
ScoH and Lori Hofmann
Mason Public Schools Board of Educaon members
In-Kind Sponsor
ASAP Prinng, Inc.
Diaz School of Music
Mason Insurance Agency, Inc.
Meijer
Publicom, Inc.
Sheridan Realty & Aucon Co.
Keynotes / Page 4
Red Carpet Gala raises a record breaking $30,400
The Mason Public Schools Foundaon (MPSF) Red Carpet Gala Dinner
& Aucon held on Saturday, Feb. 7,
2015, neHed $30,400, the highest
amount since the event’s incepon in
2011. The total net raised in 2014
was $28,000.
A highlight of the event was a live
aucon item craIed by Mason
Middle School students from three of
Mr. Thomas Bullock’s industrial
technology classes. The wall hanging
was created from game-played Red
Wings hockey scks.
“We are thrilled to have raised so
much money to benefit the Mason
Public Schools,” said Carrie Geyer,
MPSF board member and gala commiHee chairperson. “The hundreds of
Bulldog supporters who either
aHended or sponsored the event and
donated or purchased aucon items
are to be commended. It is through
their generosity that we were able to
beat our previously high total.”
“It’s very excing to see the community come together to support the
foundaon and Mason Public
Schools,” said Ron Drzewicki, Mason
Public Schools superintendent. “In
my me here in Mason, I have been
extremely impressed by the strong
sense of community pride. This
money will help the district equip our
schools with the technology so
necessary in today’s world.”
MPSF has donated more than
$285,000 to the Mason Public
Schools over the past several years.
Funding has primarily supported the
district’s
efforts
to
provide enhanced technology in the classroom.
The Red Carpet Gala
was held at Walnut Hills
Country Club in East
Lansing. Sheridan Realty
and Aucon Co. was
presented with the 2015
“Top Dog” award for
going above and beyond
to support Mason Public
Schools.
Hundreds of businesses and individuals donated to the live and silent
aucons or were in-kind or cash
sponsors of the event. To view photos of the event, visit masonpsf.org.
The Mason Public Schools Foundaon was established in 1984 by
several dedicated community members sharing a common cause:
expanding and enhancing the educaonal experiences of Mason Public
Schools students. Those wishing to
make a donaon to support the
efforts of the MPSF may do so online
at masonpsf.org.
Nearly 200 people aHended the Mason Public Schools
Foundaon Annual Red Carpet Gala Dinner & Aucon for food,
fun and bidding on Feb. 7, 2015, to benefit Mason Public Schools.
The“BigStick”Awards
Mason and surrounding communies may remember Mr. Vaughn (V.J.) Rawson as the “Whimsical WhiHler,”
specializing in wood carvings of holiday figures and other Americana folk art.
Members of the Mason Varsity Football team knew Mr. Rawson as an avid football fan, a man that knew players off the field and the man that individually recognized their “big” accomplishments on the football field.
Mr. Rawson shared his arsc abilies by collecng and hand-carving a “big sck” for these hard working athletes. His wife, Mrs. Stephanie Rawson would then paint the “Big Scks” which made each one unique. Football players were recognized for a big hit, a big play that changed the outcome of the game or a play that got
the crowd fired-up. Each recipient will forever treasure this special recognion from Mr. Rawson.
Following Mr. Rawson’s passing on January 8, 2015, this year’s 2015 Class A, Division 3 football team, former
team members and Coach Jerry VanHavel aHended Mr. Rawson’s celebraon of life by proudly wearing their
football jerseys and carrying their “Big Scks”. Mrs. Rawson stated, “Vaughn would have been moved to tears
to see all those current and past football players honoring him.” His last Bulldog game was Mason’s win over
DewiH for the championship. He was thrilled to have witnessed it.
What football players may not know is that Mr. Rawson set aside two more years’ worth of “Big Scks” for the
future teams of 2016 and 2017! Mr. Rawson’s “Big Sck” legacy will connue to movate Mason’s finest football players for years to come.
The Mason Football community would like to thank Mr. Rawson and his family for sharing their love of Mason
football and special talents with our student athletes.
Class of 2015 Graduaon Ceremony—Sunday, May 31, 2015—3:00 p.m.—H.S. Fieldhouse
KindergartenRoundUp
Elementary schools are rounding-up
students eligible to aHend Kindergarten
in the Fall of 2015.
Any child that will be five years old on or
before September 1, 2015 is eligible to
enroll.
Parents should contact their
child’s resident school for an enrollment
packet.
If you are unsure of your resident school,
please contact the Transportaon
Department at 517-676-6496.
Keynotes / Page 5
MasonHostsFIRSTFRCRoboticsEvent
Mason High School hosted it’s second FIRST
Robotics Event called, Recycle Rush, on April 2,
3 and 4, 2015. The event was locally sponsored
by Jackson National Community Fund.
The FIRST mission, both here in Mason and
around the world, is to inspire young people to
be science and technology leaders by engaging
them in exciting mentor-based programs that
build science, engineering and technology skills,
that inspire innovation, and that foster
well-rounded life capabilities including selfconfidence, communication, and leadership.
Five years ago Mason High School rejoined
FIRST after a long absence. With the support of
the Dart Foundation, Dart Container, Mason
Public Schools Foundation and the Mason Optimist Club, the team has grown and spawned
additions to the High School curriculum including an Introduction to Robotics class as well as a
newly formed Competitive Robotics class.
Mason has a history with FIRST. Dart Container and Mason High School worked together to
form a team that was involved with the launch of
FIRST. Thus, it is only fitting that one of the
only Mid-Michigan events currently running
happens here in Mason, Michigan.
This year’s event “Recycle Rush” had teams
working in groups of three robots to stack recycling containers on stacks of storage totes. The
higher teams could stack totes the more points
they accumulated. In early January, teams from
around the world learn the layout and rules for
that year’s game. Following the global kickoff
teams have six weeks to design, build, and program the robot for competition. Many students
put in hundreds of hours outside of school to
build and complete the robot.
FIRST promotes the ideas of “cooperation” and
“gracious professionalism” encouraging teams to
Keynotes / Page 6
work together and share ideas to produce the best
possible outcome.
For the event, an army of volunteers, both from Mason and from other teams, got involved to transform
the Mason Field House and Auxiliary Gym into the
competition field and pit area. During the event
over 100 volunteers gave of their time to help make
the experience the best it could be for students. Initially, teams arrived to set up and get their robots
inspected on Thursday, April 2nd. On Friday, April
3rd, State Representative Tom Cochran greeted
teams to Mason High School and the Mason Community. During the two day event, eighty qualification matches took place to rank teams for an elimination tournament Saturday afternoon. At the end of
the competition, a trio of Flint Schools took home
the championship for the Lansing Area District.
More importantly over 800 students from around the
state were able to share their hard work, meet and
network with business and industry experts, and
share in a positive learning opportunity.
FIRST in Michigan has been thrilled to be working
with Mason High School for the past two years.
Many teams and organizations are looking forward
to next year and the opportunity to come back to
Mason and compete in the 2016 FIRST Robotics
Event.
Congratulationsto
MasonPublic
Schoolstop10
graduatingseniors
fromthe
Classof2015!
Valedictorians
Meg Darmofal
Taylor Delbridge
Olivia Fassezke
Stone Miller
Ellie Phillips
Ethan Spitzley
Emily VanHavel
Salutatorians
Aaron Rustem
Jacob Sd
Bailey Surbrook
Keynotes / Page 7
Congratulations, Ms. Higgins
MASONPUBLICSCHOOLS
BOARDOFEDUCATION
Ralph Beebe, President
Becky Brimley, Vice President
Laura Fenger, Secretary
Julie Rogers, Treasurer
Laura Cheney, Trustee
Kurt Creamer, Trustee
Tom Curs, Trustee
It is the policy of the Mason Board of
Educaon that no person be discriminated against, excluded from parcipaon in, denied the benefits of, or
otherwise be subjected to discriminaon, on the basis of race, religion,
color, naonal origin or ancestry, age,
sex, height, weight, or handicap, or
being a disabled veteran, or a veteran
of the Vietnam era, in any program,
acvity, or employment involving the
Mason Public School District.
On March 17, 2015, Mason High School teacher, Ms. Krisn Higgins
was recognized as Michigan LoHery’s Excellence in Educaon award
winner.
Ms. Higgins was recognized
with a $500 check from the
Michigan LoHery and her
class will receive a $500
grant!
She had the honor of being
interviewed by MSU Basketball Coach, Mr. Tom Izzo
about her two Leadership
courses.
When asked about the award she stated, “it was tough to be singled
out (for such an award) because she knows she works with such
great people.”
You are great too, Ms. Higgins! Congratulaons on your recognion.
MasonHighSchoolPresents...
Students are in final rehearsals for this year’s musical “Joseph and
the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.” Mark your calendars for
May 7, 8, 9, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., in the high school auditorium.
The musical has a family-friendly storyline, with universal themes
and catchy music. Our students have been rehearsing for several
weeks and the show is ancipated to be well-aHended.
Tickets can be purchased at the door the evening of the show.
Bring your whole family and celebrate an evening of the Arts.
MASONPUBLICSCHOOLS
SUPERINTENDENT
Ronald Drzewicki
[email protected]
Phone: 517-676-2484
CHIEFFINANCEOFFICER
Cheryl S. Wald
[email protected]
Website: masonk12.net
INTERIMDIRECTOROFCURRICULUM
Matthew Stuard
[email protected]
400S.CedarSt.
Mason,MI48854
DIRECTOROFHUMANRESOURCES
Rick Brooks
[email protected]
NEWSLETTEREDITOR/GRAPHICSDESIGN
Heather Waldrop
[email protected]