The Harper Woods School District
Herald
The School District of the City of Harper Woods
Fall 2014
20225 Beaconsfield
Harper Woods, MI 48225-1395
313/245-3000
The school year begins with student
Did you
know that... achievement on the rise and new
New Beacon Elementary School program
helps kindergarteners
get off to a good start.
New technology
brings students more
learning opportunities
(page 3)
Varsity football
players serve as
mentors for teammates
(page 4)
Band Boosters host
20th annual Band-ORama (page 5)
Varsity soccer team
develops new skills
(page 6)
Specialist helps
young students become
better readers (page 7)
First Unity in the
Community program is a
success (page 7)
Talk to us helps
community members
get information, ask
questions, and stay in
touch with the Harper
Woods School District
(page 8 )
There are a lot of
good things happening
in the Harper Woods
School District
(HWSD). Again this
year, we are proud to
announce that student
achievement is on the
rise. In fact, on the
most recent ACT test
(a national test that
measures college
readiness of high school
students) HWSD scores
increased almost 3½
times the state average.
That’s good news.
On other tests we
are seeing similar
increases in student
achievement. Our
efforts to make sure all
students are succeeding
is paying off as we
continue to close the
achievement gap
between our lowest and
highest achieving
students. What this
means is that while our
top students continue to
achieve and improve,
8th grade students Gregory Stweart, Cinderra Kelly, D’Juan
Powell, Lauryn Felton, and Earl Hall take a quick break between
classes.
students who are
struggling are also
receiving the help they
need to be successful.
We have added two
new learning opportunities as we continue our
commitment to
providing HWSD
students with the most
up-to-date technology
and real-world learning
experiences.
To help prepare
students for a career in
Digital Media and
Production, we have
added a new Digital
Media class and lab.
Equipped with state-of
the-art computers and
technology, students in
the Digital Media class
and other high school
classes will use the lab to
develop advertising
materials, design
information literature,
(Continued on next page)
Page 2
Student achievement
and create digital programming.
Students will also use the lab to
design the school yearbook,
develop media productions, and
produce the student online
newspaper.
But that’s not all that’s new this
year. Students in the Math and
Engineering Career focus area will
assist the HWSD as we go “green”
through the development of a
renewable energy project.
Installation of a solar panel and
small scale windmill power
(continued)
generating device at the
secondary campus is underway.
Students in math, science, and
engineering classes will collect
data, monitor energy savings, and
conduct action research projects
related to the renewal energy
initiative.
If you are a community
member who does not have
children in our schools I invite
you to “see for yourself” all the
great things that are happening in
the Harper Woods School District
by attending student music and
choir performances and athletic
events that are held throughout
the year. Check our website at
www.hwschools.org for
upcoming events.
Todd Biederwolf
Superintendent
New Beacon Elementary School program helps
kindergarteners get off to a “good start”
Getting off to a good start in
school is really important.
That’s why Beacon Elementary
has implemented a new
program designed to assess how
kindergartners are doing in the
first 45 days of the school year.
Called the Kindergarten
Entry Assessment (KEA), it is a
tested and proven program for
observing students and
assessing their progress as they
begin kindergarten.
“The first few weeks of
school are an important time for
kindergartners and their
teachers,” said Janet Gottsleben,
Beacon Elementary School
principal. “Early identification
of what a student knows and
has learned in the first 45 days
can help teachers with
instructional content and
delivery of lessons.”
Through the assessment,
teachers observe children in the
classroom every day. This helps
them understand what the new
kindergartners know and can do.
The assessment results
provide teachers and parents with
important information about a
child’s learning and development
in five important areas:
mathematics; literacy and
language; approaches toward
learning; social and emotional
development; and, physical wellbeing, muscle development and
coordination.
Using the information
provided by KEA, teachers can
individualize instruction and
parents learn how they can
provide learning opportunities
beyond the regular school day.
Beacon Elementary School Kindergarten
teacher Deborah Bloomhuff records
student progress as she conducts the
Kindergarten Education Assessment
(KEA) with students.
Page 3
Technology expansion brings new opportunities
Not many other school
districts can say that they have a
personal computing device (iPad,
tablet, or laptop) in every
classroom for every child. But in
the Harper Woods School
District, we can.
Again this year, the Harper
Woods School District has “rolled
out” even more learning devices
for students. All classrooms in
kindergarten through eight
received iPads for each student.
In addition, all classrooms in
grades eight through 12 received
MacBook Airs for individual
student use.
“Incorporating these new
learning devices into classroom
instruction has changed the way
students learn,” said Andy
Hopkins, Harper Woods
Instructional Technology
Specialist. “For example, in
addition to using the devices to
work on lettering and number
skills, kindergarten students have
personalized their devices by
creating a “Selfie” and making it
the wallpaper on their computer.
When they turn on
“Incorporating
these new learning
devices has
changed the way
students learn.
”
-Andy Hopkins
their computer, their picture
pops up on the screen.”
In upper elementary grades,
students use the devices to take
advantage of learning apps such as
Spelling City for vocabulary and
Google Earth for geography
projects.
“Our goal is not just to use
apps but to create projects that
challenge and engage students
through collaboration with
others,” said Hopkins.
At the middle school, students
have iPads and MacBook Airs for
individual use. Instructional
Technology Specialist, Silas
Williams works with teachers and
students to use the new
technology to support classroom
instruction.
“Harper Woods teachers are
highly motivated to engage
students in learning through the
use of technology,” said Williams.
“For example, HWMS math
teacher David Perry uses two
specialized math apps, IXL Math
and Wowzers to provide additional
learning support for his students.
Mr. Perry follows classroom
instruction with time for students
to practice what they’ve learned
by using the two math apps.”
At the high school, the
expanded technology roll out
brought MacBook Airs for student
use.
“Many teachers are using the
new devices to incorporate the use
of a learning management system
to help students communicate and
to create and store data
electronically,” said Williams.
“Students are responsible for
creating documents and projects,
Silas Williams, HWSD Technology
Specialist (right) demonstrates a new
learning app for HWHS student Deshawn
Wafer.
storing them in the cloud, and
when completed, turning in their
assignments to their teachers
through an electronic dropbox.
Since most colleges require the
use of a learning management
system, it makes sense for Harper
Woods High School to follow
suit.”
In high school social studies
classes teachers are using
Socrative.com to create digital
assessments. Students use the
app to take quizzes via their
MacBook Airs. Students receive
immediate testing results and
teachers can quickly gauge the
current level of understanding of
the entire class.
Both Hopkins and Williams
agree that it’s a great time to be a
student and a teacher in the
Harper Woods School District and
have the ability to experience all
of today’s instructional technology
on a daily basis.”
Page 4
Veteran Varsity football players serve as mentors
for new teammates
There’s more to being a
Harper Woods High School
(HWHS) student athlete than
practicing and participating in
competitions.
“While winning is wonderful,
our varsity football team seniors
are learning how to teach,
encourage, inspire, and motivate a
young group of student athletes
who are playing varsity football
for the first time,” said HWHS
Varsity Football Coach Jimmy
Henry. “Our senior players
(Ronald Robertson, Stanley May,
Deshawn Williams, Naylan
Johnson, Charles Holt, Brandon
Gainer II, and Jeremy Holmes) are
committed to leading by example.
They are working with our
inexperienced players both on
and off the field.”
Many of the Pioneers are
playing varsity football for the
first time. They are learning and
developing their talents every day.
Because so many team members
Quarterback (senior) Naylan Johnson and defensive end (senior) Charles Holt work
with HWSD Varsity Football Coach Jimmy Henry at an after school team study session.
are inexperienced, some of the
veteran team members have been
playing a different position than
they are used to playing. As an
example, the team has an
experienced 6’4", 180-pound wide
receiver playing offensive guard, a
position usually filled by players
who can be 240-280 pounds. But,
the veteran wide receiver has
stepped up to the challenge
because that is where the team
needs him most.
According to Henry, the entire
team is made up of talented,
polite, and hard-working young
men. “They are willing to give
their all to help the team
succeed,” he said.
The day for a varsity football
player is long. After attending
school all day, these student
athletes participate in after-school
study sessions, practice sessions,
strength exercises in the weight
room, and, of course, weekly
competitions.
Varsity Football team seniors Charles Holt, Naylan Johnson, Stanley May, Ronald
Robertson, and Jeremy Holmes prepare for an upcoming game.
“I am so proud of the entire
team,” said Henry. “They have
youth, energy, and enthusiasm.
They challenge each other to be
the best, and, they challenge me
to do my best, too.”
Page 5
A dress rehearsal for competition
Harper Woods Band Boosters host 20th annual
Band-O-Rama event
To help area bands get ready
for the upcoming Michigan
School Band and Orchestra
Association competitions, the
Harper Woods Band Boosters
hosted Band-O-Rama 2014. This
year marks the 20th year the
Harper Woods Band Boosters
have hosted the day-long event.
The purpose of the event is to
provide area bands with a “dress
rehearsal” for upcoming
competitions. “What is unique
about the event is that students
don’t compete against each
other,” said Shannon Rogers,
Harper Woods School District
Band Director. “Each band
performs its entire halftime show
before a panel of judges. The
judges critique each performance
HW Marching Band
earns Division I rating
The Harper Woods Pioneer
Marching Band earned a
Division I Rating of Superior at
the Michigan School Band and
Orchestra Association (MSBOA)
Marching Band Festival held at
Warren Mott High School on
October 8th. This is the highest
rating possible.
The band performed their
halftime show for a panel of three
judges, grading the band in
marching, music, and general
effect.
Congratulations to HW band
director Shannon Rogers and the
HW marching band.
The Harper Woods High School Marching Band completes their halftime show for
Band-O-Rama judges.
and each band is given an overall
performance evaluation,
suggestions for improvement, and
a video of their performance.”
Thirty-three Harper Woods
band members participated in this
year’s Band-O-Rama. Band
members from 14 other southeast
Michigan school districts also
participated.
Band-O-Rama is just one of the
many fundraising activities
sponsored by the Harper Woods
Band Boosters. This hard-working
volunteer organization meets
throughout the school year and
conducts a variety of fundraisers
to provide student scholarships
and grants for the purchase of
instruments and music -- all of
which support the Harper Woods
School District band program.
Stay in touch with
the HWSD through
Facebook and Twitter
All parents, students,
To learn
moremembers,
about
alumni,
community
andthe
otherprograms
interested parties
andare
invited to “like” Harper Woods
services offered by
Schools on Facebook and to
“follow”
@HWSchools
on
the Harper
Woods
Twitter.
School District
Use
these
links:
for
visit
our
website
Facebook, www.facebook.com/
(www.hwschools.org)
hwschools
and for Twitter,
www.twitter.com/hwschools or
@hwschools.
Page 6
New sport is popular
Varsity Soccer team develops game skills
Harper Woods High School
students are developing an
appreciation for the game of
soccer.
Most Harper Woods students
have had little exposure to soccer.
However, many students are
finding that they enjoy it,
especially when they can see their
own skills improving over the
course of just one season.
The HWHS team lacks playing
experience, so their win-loss record
isn’t what the team would like it to
be. Coach Rob Cummings said,
“We play a lot of larger schools
with teams that have a bigger pool
of talent to draw from and teams
that have much more playing
experience. Because of this, we are
focusing on improving personally
at each position, and as a team,
we always practice good
sportsmanship.”
focusing
“... weon are
improving
Captain, Zachary Skerritt and goalie Hassan Johnson enjoy playing soccer and are
learning the skills it takes to be successful at the sport.
acquiring and one that will
certainly prove even more
valuable in their future academic
endeavors and careers,” he said.
personally at each
position and
as a team ....
The boys’ soccer team is led
by seniors Kyle Boyer and
Zachary Skerritt. The assistant
captain is junior Justin Wentland.
Cummings says that team
members have learned that you
can play a really great game and
still come out on the losing end.
“So, learning how to win and lose
with grace is a skill everyone is
Cummings says there are
many great leaders on the team
and everyone plays an important
role. There are eleven positions
on the field and the person
playing each position faces a
different challenge in each game.
That’s why communication on
”
and off the field is key to
developing and maintaining a
cohesive team.
According to Cummings, one
big attraction of soccer is that it is
a sport people can play at any
level, from beginner to expert,
from toddler to retirement age. It
is certainly a sport that our
HWHS students are learning to
enjoy.
Page 7
Specialist helps students improve reading skills
We all know that reading is an
important skill. It helps us
become life-long learners. For
young children, learning how to
read helps develop language skills.
It also helps them learn how to
listen, and is the key to their
academic achievement.
To make sure Harper Woods
youngsters get the reading help
they need, students are now
receiving support from a reading
interventionist.
“We are excited about this new
position and how it will help
students,” said Cheryl
Puzdrakiewicz, Tyrone Elementary
Principal. “Students are now
receiving the individualized
reading guidance they need during
the regular school day and in small
group settings.”
Leticia Kelly is the new reading
interventionist at Tryone
Elementary School She works
daily with students to develop
their fluency, phonics, and
vocabulary skills.
“In order to become strong
readers students need to fully
comprehend what they are
reading,” said Kelly. “Everyday
we work on vocabulary,
understanding the context of what
is being read, and improving
fluency skills while reading aloud
and silently.”
According to Kelly, fluency is
important for motivation.
Children who do not read
passages smoothly are often
frustrated and don’t enjoy
reading. As a child progresses
through school reading demands
increase. A child who doesn’t
have a strong reading background
will find it more difficult to
achieve accademically in later
grades.
Tyrone Elementary School Reading
Intervention Specialist Leticia Kelly
prepares lessons for her upcoming
reading session with students.
“In the Harper Woods School
District, we want all students to
succeed,” said Puzdrakiewicz.
“Giving students the extra help
they need to be successful readers
will help them in all of their
academic studies.”
First “Unity in the Community” program is a success
Over 100 community
members attended the first
annual Unity in the Community
Resource Fair held at Harper
Woods High School on Saturday
Oct 4th.
The free program, sponsored
by the HWSD, area agencies, and
local businesses featured 20minute roundtable presentations
on a variety of topics, including
Family Safety and Health, Services
for Senior Citizens, Home
Improvement and Crime
Prevention, and many more.
Local business people and
city officials also had an
opportunity to talk with one
another about common challenges
and initiatives.
“Participants enjoyed meeting
representatives from area
businesses, community agencies,
and the Harper Woods City
offices,” said Deborah Whitlow,
Harper Woods School District
Parent and Community
Engagement Specialist. “I think
most participants were surprised
to learn about the wide variety of
community resources that are
available to the citizens of Harper
Woods.”
Bill Warters from Wayne State University
and Deborah Whitelow, Parent and
Community Engagement Specialist for
Harper Woods Schools enjoyed meeting
and greeting event participants.
Page 8
The School District
of the
City of Harper Woods
NONPROFIT
US POSTAGE
PAID
ROYAL OAK, MI
48068
PERMIT #792
20225 Beaconsfield
Harper Woods, MI 48225-1395
ECRWSS
Residential Customer
Do you have
a suggestion or
an idea you
would like to
share?
The Harper Woods School
District has a new feature on
its website. Called Talk to us,
it is a way anyone can ask a
question, report a problem,
check out a rumor, or share an
idea. Simply go to
www.hwschools.org and click
on Talk to us.
You can share what’s on
your mind anonymously or
you can request a response to
what you have written.
Visit Talk to us and tell us
what is on your mind.
The School District of the City of Harper Woods
www.hwschools.org
313/245-3000
Administrative Directory
Todd Biederwolf, Superintendent
[email protected]
313/245-3016
James Dennis, Business Manager
[email protected]
313/245-3016
Specialized Services
[email protected]
313/245-3028
Cheryl Puzdrakiewicz,
Kente’ Rosser, Interim Secondary
Campus Principal
[email protected]
313/2245-3084
Karen Bell, Administrator of
Tyrone Principal
[email protected]
313/245-5379
Janet Gottsleben, Beacon Principal
[email protected]
David Rabbideau, Director of
313/245-5343
Academic Accountability and
Student Services
[email protected]
313/245-3029
Heath Filber, Middle School Principal
[email protected]
313/245-3084
Board of Education
Brian Selburn............................................................................President
Jill Quarker.......................................................................Vice President
Dave Kien.................................................................................. Secretary
Regina Williams...................................................................... Treasurer
Gene L. Hall, II............................................................................ Trustee
Tabithia Mahone......................................................................... Trustee
Joan Mannino............................................................................... Trustee
Regular meetings of the Board of Education are held
on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm.