Enjoy The Break

Just two days away from Christmas, I don't think there's much doubt it will be a white one this year. As a matter of fact, it's snowing right now, adding to the nearly 10" already on the ground.

To all students and staff, we made it! Some were concerned that going these extra two days might result in extreme absenteeism. After all, many school districts dismissed their students for the holiday break on Friday, December 19, a snow day for nearly everyone across the state.

The major concern for Grosse Pointe was whether we would meet the 75% attendance threshhold that is established by the State of Michigan. The regulation from the state is that 75% of a district's students must attend for the day to "count" toward the days/hours requirement.

I am happy to report that our attendance was better than expected. While we might average about 92% attendance on any given day, we were better these past two days than many feared. On Monday, 12/22, we had about 86% of our students attend and today we had about 82% in attendance. In either case, we were in good shape.

So off on vacation we go. In talking to students and staff, it seems many more are staying close to home this year. But no matter what you are doing over the next 10 days or so, have fun and be safe.

Here's wishing you the very best the New Year has to offer.

Much To Be Thankful For

At a time of such economic upheaval, especially in Michigan, it is easy to get embroiled in negative conversations. It disturbed me to watch how representatives of the "Big Three" were treated by members of Congress, especially when the legislators may secretly believe they have more to gain from a collapse of the Big Three than if they were to remain solid.

I have a vested interest in this discussion. Many members of my family were employees of the auto industry and my youngest daughter and son-in-law are new engineers with GM. There isn't a day goes by that I don't worry about their economic future with the company. It even goes so far that I worry about my oldest brother's GM pension and health care. It appears that no one is really protected financially anymore.

However, there are times I am extremely grateful. I am hopeful that the new leadership in Washington will lead us to better times. Time will tell if serious changes are possible, but the optimism and positive messages that I have observed so far can only help a cautious public. It has been my experience that confidence is the best predictor of success. Until we are confident, we have little chance of moving forward with the bold steps that are likely necessary to climb out of this hole.

I am also thankful I work in a community that is so supportive of education. I'm not exaggerating when I say that we have "great" kids. They are bright, respectful, and committed to doing well. They have educational aspirations far beyond high school, making our jobs much easier.

As we enter the Holiday season, I wish all of you the very best of the New Year. We must be confident that '09 will be an improvement over the challenges of '08. And for that, we will be thankful.

Happy Holidays!

Early Results Are In

As I shared with you last time, we just hosted and completed our school improvement audit. The visiting team of five educators was here last week for more than two days. During the visit there were formal conversations with 41 stakeholders and informal conversations with countless others. All in all, I felt both the process and feedback we have received so far have been very worthwhile.

As mentioned earlier, there are seven standards that constitute the school improvement process. Many facets are included in the process, with the visiting team looking for artifacts or evidence of vision and purpose, teaching and learning, wise use of resources and effective communication.

Within each of the seven standards, there are four potential categories:
1. Not evident
2. Emerging
3. Operational
4. Highly Functional

The visiting team found South H.S. to be "highly functional" in five of the seven standards. For the other two, we were deemed to be "operational". The two standards needing attention are Leadership and Governance and Use of Data.

To improve in Leadership and Governance, we must spread our vision and commitment to goals throughout the South community. The visiting team felt that not enough stakeholders were on board with clear goals and the commitment to improvement. The good news is that this is an area we can address with improved communication.

To improve in the area of Use of Data, we need to gather and utilize data more frequently than we have to this point. We need to capture data on student performance on individual assessments and have teachers use that data to drive instructional decisions. As with the previous standard, we can address these deficiencies with a commitment to better utilize data.

It has been more than six years since South experienced an external audit for the purposes of accreditation, and we won't receive the official written report until January. In this case, we passed the test and are deemed "accredited" by the visiting team. However, we have work to do and we have already begun to address those concerns.

We will keep you posted regarding our progress and I would like to give particular thanks to those that participated in the process.

It's Time For An Outside Look

Beginning tomorrow evening, we will be going through an external audit at South. The purpose is to see if we are doing what we claim to be doing in regard to school improvement. In this case, an external review team made up of five educators will take a close look at what we do, why we do it, and how we do it.

During two full days on December 3-4 the team will meet with many stakeholders of the South community. This list will include students, teachers, parents and administrators. The visiting team will take a close look at our specific school improvement goals and the rationale behind them. They will check to make sure we use data effectively and have instituted programs that address weak areas identified by the data.

This audit is part of earning "accredited" school status. Over the years, the process has changed as a result of legislation and changes in governing bodies. What used to be simply North Central accreditation has come under the umbrella of an organization called AdvancEd. This group has developed a process for school improvement combining No Child Left Behind (national) and Education Yes (state) initiatives. There are now seven standards and 40 indicators of success that must be addressed. The visiting team will look for artifacts or evidence of our commitment to the process.

An external review gives us a look at our school that we can't through our own eyes. Going into the audit, we feel we are in good shape. However, my greatest hope is that we will get honest feedback so that we can get even better. After all, when it comes to school improvement you should never be finished.

Wish us luck!

Filled With Pride...

As most of you know, I've been a school administrator for a long time. In addition, this is the fourth high school where I have been principal. However, this past weekend contained a series of firsts for me. It's the first school where we have been picketed by an outside group. The reason of course was the Point Player production of "The Laramie Project". The Westboro group did show up, even though there were only three of them.

Another first for me was the tremendous show of support for our students and school by members of the Christ Church congregation. I have to personally thank Rev. Brad Whitaker for his organization of a most impressive and visible (but silent) show of support. I would estimate the throng that followed the protesters from the church to the school to be in the neighborhood of 100-150 adults. Their symbolic act was to shield the students from the protesters by turning their back to them. It was very moving for me to see that many people assemble on a Friday afternoon for the sake of doing what is right and to support the students of South.

Another proud moment for me was to watch the South students that did assemble near the protesters once school was dismissed. The students, while passionate, allowed the protesters to do their thing and did not attempt to engage them in a negative manner. The Laramie cast was there in full force and many pictures were taken. I couldn't help but think that specific 30 minutes must have made them feel all the rehearsals were worthwhile.

The capstone of the weekend for me was the performance of the play. Without question, this was the most significant school play during all my years in education. There was an electricity in the auditorium even prior to the curtain going up, and the house was full. I guess we should thank Westboro for all of the free publicity.

The show itself was simply terrific! Lois Bendler was the director and provided consistent, steady leadership throughout the events leading up the performance. Each of the students did a great job and it was hard to believe they were high school students. I can't imagine a professional group providing a more passionate performance.

There were countless moving moments during the show and many tears were shed by those in the audience. Everyone involved with this production has earned my utmost respect for their efforts in putting on a performance that will have lasting impact. I left convinced that the message of tolerance and respect for others will live in the hearts of those in the audience, and cast.

All in all, "The Laramie Project" brought with it a great deal of controversy. I would be lying if I told you I was not the least bit concerned that something could go wrong. However, in retrospect it was a tremendous show with a powerful message and like so many performances with South students, it was superb. I couldn't be more proud of what they have done.

Sometimes The Best Advice Is Just To Watch

The past couple of weeks has been a bit of a learning experience for me. I guess I didn't realize people had such strong and personal feelings about issues that appear more neutral to me.

My previous blog was written in the early stages of feedback about the school's performance of "The Laramie Project". Since that time, most of the buzz has died down even as the opening of the play draws nearer. However, I still get an occasional email or voice mail message where someone shares their very strong opinion. Most people are still supportive of the school's position but there are occasions where I am criticized. What has surprised me is the depth of feelings.

I was told by the Farms police today that we should expect the protest to take place. The requested time is 2:45-3:30 on Friday afternoon, November 21, the day the play is to open. They claim to be sending 4-6 people and have already requested the appropriate permits and the particular area for the protest.

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church are very legally astute and they will do their part to operate within the law. They are probably hoping that members of our community will engage them in a war of words, or worse. I believe the best action we can take is to let them protest for their 45 minutes and leave peacefully for their next appointment.

Our goal should be simply to observe the actions and reactions that result from endorsing a controversial play like "The Laramie Project". Because of the protest, our bubble of Grosse Pointe will get to experience the wide-ranging views of many observers. Some will be vocal, but most will not. Either way, watching it unfold should cause us to think and give us a brief glimpse of true democracy in action.

The Laramie Project

For those of you that aren’t aware, the drama group at South known as the Pointe Players are performing “The Laramie Project” on November 21-22-23. This play was conceived from hundreds of interviews that chronicled a town’s reaction to a killing that occurred just over 10 years ago. The background is that Matt Shepard was gay, a college student, and was brutally murdered by two men.

This is taken from Time magazine…A month after the murder of Matthew Shepard, the frenzied media coverage was beginning to subside. But just then the beleaguered town of Laramie got another influx of visitors. They were actors from NYC who had cast themselves as reporters. The actors talked to more than 200 people and amassed over 400 hours of interviews over the next year and a half. Verbatim excerpts from those interviews make up the text for the play, an unusual mix of drama and documentary.

The Westboro Baptist Church out of Topeka, KS sent a fax to the The Detroit News on Monday stating that they were planning to protest the play here at South on 11/21. This is the same group that protests at funerals of slain US soldiers from the war in Iraq. Their theory is that these military deaths are the punishment for a country that supports homosexuality. They were in Grosse Pointe to protest a military funeral at the War Memorial less than a year ago. They also stated they would protest the play unless a military funeral elsewhere supersedes the need to protest here.

Since Monday, I have also been contacted by The Free Press, WJR, and 97.1 concerning the project. They wanted to know if we were going to cancel the play because of the potential protest. After telling them we would continue with our plans, I see two potential outcomes:
1) There is no formal protest and our talented kids perform in front of a larger than anticipated audience because of all the free publicity.

2) There is a formal protest and we use that opportunity as a “teachable moment” to discuss with students the feelings associated with strong beliefs that reflect our individual moral compasses.

In either case, our kids benefit from performing the play.

I wanted to let you know so that you were prepared for potential questions. I have to tell you that phone calls and email messages that I have received have been 99.9% in support of our position.

Thanks for reading.

A National Perspective

I had the good fortune to spend last weekend in Washington D.C., as a result of being selected to represent Michigan as principal-of-the-year. All 50 states except Indiana sent their state winner to a phenomenal networking opportunity sponsored by MetLife.

I would be remiss if I didn't give credit to MetLife for their sponsorship as it's the most pampered I've ever felt at an educational workshop. The weekend began with a tour of White House and Capitol Building, but didn't end there. We had great accommodations, terrific food, a dynamic speaker, all of it capped off by a black-tie award dinner on Saturday evening.

There were several things I learned during the weekend. One--there is no magic bullet out there. I facilitated a discussion focused on support for struggling learners in math and literacy. I had really hoped that at least one member of this extraordinary group of educators would have the answer I've been searching for. I figured there must be a software program or teaching methodology somewhere that hooks kids in a different way and translates into significant learning. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The programs that claim success all boil down to a teacher committed to building relationships with a passion for education that is limitless.

The second thing I learned is that many of us face the same problems. No matter what part of the country we were from we all deal with a segment of our population that is just hard to reach. There are kids in schools across the country that just don't understand the benefits of education and lack the support structure to help them reach that understanding. That is all the more reason why the teacher is so critical.

The most encouraging part of the weekend was my own realization that we are on the right track here in Grosse Pointe. The programs we have implemented to reach our most struggling learners are similar to others across the country. Many schools are double-blocking or double-dosing math and literacy instruction to give students more time with those critical subjects.

On the other hand, the push for a more project-based education that has been outlined in our High Schools 2.0 presentations is still ahead of the curve. Other school districts may have parts of it implemented, but I feel our overall plan is better developed and more far-reaching.

So we will continue on the path we have established. It is ever-changing and sometimes difficult, but I am more convinced than ever we are headed in the right direction. Wish us luck!

Decision Time

You would have to be blind not to notice there are crucial decisions all around us. Tuesday, November 4th is now just around the corner. I've had many native Grosse Pointers tell me they've never seen so many people declare their interest in specific candidates as evidenced by the widespread yard signs.

I realize I'm getting older and that I sometimes forget how important events from previous decades once were, but this election appears to be the most important I've experienced. It was a short 2-3 years ago that national pundits referred to Michigan's economic woes as a one-state recession. I even remember references to "Michissippee" because of our declining industrial production. Nearly everyone at the time blamed it on the decline of the Big Three and their loss of market share. Unfortunately, the troubles weren't solely tied to the automotive industry and the rest of the nation has now caught up with us and the entire country is experiencing a recession.

So we have big decisions to make. And those decision will impact us both nationally and locally. At this stage of the campaign, I'm tired of the rhetoric and negative ads and am really anxious for Election Day and to learn the results.

We also have crucial elections relative to our local Board of Education. There are four candidates running for two spots. Study the candidates and what they represent and make a decision that best represents your interests. As a former social studies teacher, my best advice is simply to vote. We are fortunate to live in a place where we can speak our mind and exercise our freedom.

College Applicants, Beware!

A recent article in "The Wall Street Journal" had a title similar to that listed above except that is added...Your Facebook Page is Showing. It turns out that 10% of admissions officers from 500 top colleges and universities acknowledged looking at social networking sites to evaluate applicants. And of those colleges making use of the online information, 38% said that what they saw "negatively affected" their views of the applicant.

The two sites that are viewed most often are Facebook and MySpace. The WSJ article offered the following advice to members of the social network:
Don't:
- Include offensive language or references to illegal behavior on your site.
- Make offhand, negative comments about colleges.
Do:
- Establish privacy setting so your posts aren't accessible to the general public.
- Consider all communication could be public one day.

Our teens are experiencing a totally different world than parents and most adults in the school experienced while growing up. Some of it is better; some of it is worse. Probably our best course of action is to warn them of potential pitfalls that might arise solely because of their inexperience. Good luck with your efforts!

A Successful Week!

Every year I approach the week of Homecoming with trepidation. Although it typically goes well, I'm never really at peace until about this time...Sunday evening when the week is over.

I guess it only makes sense that when you intentionally get kids excited and near the point of exhaustion, the setting is ripe for accidents to happen. Add in the fact that competition among the classes is part of the design, and teenagers will sometimes make choices that are harmful to others.

Fortunately, we were able to avoid any major pitfalls in 2008. The students were very good throughout the school day, at the parade and game, and at the dance. As a matter of fact, I took some time to visit classrooms on Friday before the assembly, and you wouldn't have even known it was Spirit Week. Students and teachers were on-task and fully engaged in the lessons at hand. All in all, I was very proud of the student behavior.

We had a great turnout at the dance last night. I don't have a final count of students in attendance, but I know that more than 1200 tickets were sold before they went on sale on Friday. And from my vantage point, all of them appeared to have a great time.

Homecoming at South is a big venture. There are countless students and parents that work extremely hard to pull it off. A certain segment of students from each of the classes invest an incredible amount of time into the Homecoming festivities. They have watched older brothers and sisters enjoy the excitement of Spirit Week and they want to uphold the tradition.

The people that deserve to be thanked are too numerous to mention. It begins with the class sponsors, both parents and teachers. This group of adults put in countless hours of supervision and many open their homes to the students. The hosts of the float parties go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. Students are protected, entertained, and leave well nourished.

Particular thanks must go out to Dan Dickson, our Student Association president. Dan is a very effective organizer who leads by example. His fingerprints were left on all aspects of Homecoming and he led the charge to make meaningful improvements to the traditions we have held for many years.

I'm not sure of the particular reason, but it seemed that more parents than ever were complimentary of the events of Spirit Week. And I believe we are all thankful that a community like ours can put together healthy entertainment like this for our school community. However, I'd be lying if I said I wish it wasn't over.

Remember To Do Your Part

This may be new information for most parents, but beginning this year all high school teachers will enter grades through Pinnacle. The result is that grades are available electronically to students and parents at all times. The middle schools have been providing feedback in this manner for a couple of years, so many of you may already be accustomed to this type of access.

I encourage you to check your son or daughter's grades at regular intervals. We will no longer send interim reports to the home because access through Pinnacle is more timely and provides much greater detail.

To access Pinnacle/Parent Connect go to www.gpschools.org and click on the top center portion of the page for Pinnacle, Parent & Student Connect. Make your selection using your assigned PIN and PASSWORD. There are two viewing opportunities for internet monitoring: Parent Connect and Pinnacle. In order for you to take advantage of these viewers, once you have successfully logged in to Parent Connect, you must provide the district with a current email address. Please be sure to enter this information into Parent Connect by using the account menu item (top, right-hand side of Parent Connect screen).

To access electronic gradebook information, select Pinnacle. For Pinnacle, remember to select South High at drop-down window. To view attendance, schedule, demographic, cafeteria debit balances, click on Parent Connect.

Please note: Parents have their own PINs and passwords for Parent Connect. Students and parents share the same log-in and password for Pinnacle. It is the student ID number and network log-in password. If you don’t know your child’s ID number and password, please ask them to share this information with you. In the meantime, the district is in the process of mailing Pins and Passwords to all families. Please look for this information during the week of 9/22.

The first marking period ends on Friday, October 31. That means that October 3rd would normally serve as the midpoint of the first quarter. Grades entered by that date would provide the data leading to an interim report. Use this place in time to determine if your son or daugher's progress is where you feel it should be.

On the other hand, one drawback of this type of access is that parents may "hover" over every single grade and overreact to a missing or late assignment. When in doubt, please contact the teacher via email to get a more ocmplete picture.

I wish you well as you monitor this type of grade reporting, and I believe it has the potential of making us more effective. After all, "knowledge is power".

It's Been A Grand Start

As we're finishing the first full week of the school year, there are several thoughts going through my head about the time we've spent together so far.

The first is of the ribbon cutting for the new pool facility this past Sunday. I was surprised to see approximately 400 people attend the event. However, I believe that nearly all of them left impressed with the features of the new building.

The girls' swim team will actually have their first practice later this afternoon with the first meet scheduled for next Tuesday, September 16. Although it has been more than 30 years without a "home" swim meet, this facility will serve our needs for decades into the future.

The first eight days with our students have also been very productive. They have been enthusiastic and most compliant. When I step into classrooms, they are on-task and engaged. At lunch they are chatty and energized, but that is exactly what you would expect of high school students on their break.

I also want to personally thank Dr. Steve Minnick, the Director of Medical Education at St. John's Hospital. Over the summer, in partnership with Biology teacher, James Adams, a job shadowing experience was established for approximately 25 South students. However, this wasn't your typical job shadowing experience.

These students accompanied physicians, surgeons, and interns three days a week over four weeks. They were in surgical rooms for C-sections, tumor removals, and a leg amputation. They followed physicians on rounds with their patients, and sat in meetings with the pathology department. As I spoke with the students about the experience, it struck me that this could only happen in Grosse Pointe. We are blessed with an excellent medical facility within minutes of our community, and former and current parents that operate that facility. This experience was a life-changer for some of these students, and they will be forever grateful to the staff at St. John's for making them feel so welcome.

I have also been part of meetings with members of the Mothers' Club. The biggest event that was discussed is the Auction that will be held next spring. The date is March 14th and the location is Lockmoor Country Club. They have a big goal in mind, to the tune of $80,000 that will likely be earmarked for building technology.

We desperately need upgrades to our technology. I believe we are at a tipping point when students of other districts will have advantages over South students because of technology available to them. We must keep up. Just as the new pool will be a great marketing tool to keep and draw more families, we must think of our technological capacity in a similar manner. The access to technology will supplement what is already an extremely well developed curriculum and dedicated teachers.

Place the date on your calendar of March 14 for the Auction. The format of this one will be different in that the majority of it will be held online. People from across the world can bid on the auction items. As the date draws nearer we will need you to reach out and touch alumni and supporters of South (and the High) to maximize its success.

Here's hoping the next few weeks are as successful as the first two.

News On The Calendar

I realize this is just the Friday before the start of the school year, but I wanted to give you information about the next big Holiday vacation. We have an unusual calendar this school year. Students are scheduled to be IN SCHOOL on Monday and Tuesday, December 22-23.

During most years, those would be days of vacation to lengthen the Holiday break. However, in order to meet the state mandate of 1,098 hours of instruction and still end the school year during the second week of June, those two days of instruction are necessary.

I am providing early notice to seek your cooperation regarding the attendance of your sons and daughters. We must have 75% attendance on any scheduled school day in order for it to "count" toward the state audit. If we were to fall short of the mandated hours, the only recourse is to reduce other scheduled vacations or remain in school longer into the month of June. I don't believe either case is desirable for students.

Now that we are into the Labor Day weekend, the start of the school year is imminent. We are more than ready for the staff to arrive on Tuesday and students on Wednesday. We look forward to another great year with our students at South.

Minor Changes for 2008-09

I can tell the school year is about ready to start because I see more students and adults every day. The building looks great already, with a significant amount of fresh wax creating a real shine on the floors.

I want to give you just a couple of updates. During the school day, we lock nearly all of the exit doors after the day has begun. We use the cutoff time of 8:15 to give students a chance to enter prior to being locked out. After that time, there are only two doors open to the main building.

The entrances available to the public or late arriving students are entrances E and A. Entrance E is accessed from the S-lot near the old greenhouse. This is the entrance best used by the public because there is a greater chance for parking in the S-lot. Entrance A (under the bridge connecting the main building to the IA building) is best accessed from the Fisher lot, but there is no parking available for the public.

A second change is with ID badges and lanyards. As with any new program, we experienced some growing pains last year, but all in all, it was a very successful implementation. This year we are planning the following:
- Students must wear their ID with a lanyard at all times during the school day, including lunch.
- The ID is to be worn with a lanyard, not clipped to clothing. Students do not have to purchase a school lanyard.
- If a student does not have their ID or lanyard, they are to purchase a new one in the amount of $1 each/$2 total. Students will not be allowed to "charge" the cost of a new ID/lanyard.
- If a student does not have the money, they will be sent to In-School Suspension for the remainder of the day or until a proper ID is secured. They may make a phone call home to have either the money or ID/lanyard brought to school and once received, they will be returned to class.
- If the ID/lanyard is in the locker, the student is to get the ID/lanyard and then proceed to class. I suggest to parents and students that a spare be purchased and kept in the school locker in case the first one turns up missing.
- Disciplinary consequences will be issued for students wearing the ID of another student.

The two changes above have improved our building security significantly. Reducing access to just two entrances and requiring students and staff to wear ID badges have restricted the number of unwanted visitors to our building. Of course, parents are always welcome, but we do want you to enter through the proper entrances.

With the start of school just two weeks away, we are anxious to get started and look forward to what our students will accomplish in '08-09.

Only With A Great Deal Of Help

Just about any day now, each of the homes affiliated with the South community will receive their Fall Registration Packet in preparation for the opening of school. Ironically, this mailing is often referred to as the "Principal's Mailing". In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

Back on July 22, the registration packets were put together here at school. Using one of the classrooms in the new science addition, there were approximately 50 volunteers weaving among the tables picking up flyers that were earmarked for each of the packets. The work began at shortly after 8:00 and ended just before noon. Needless to say, it is a huge undertaking to stuff almost 2,000 packets with all of the requisite information that is sent to the homes.

I have to thank many members of the Mother's Club, and especially the new president, Jane Bashara, for putting together such a strong group of volunteers. In addition, there were several fathers and students involved with this year's mailing.

Please take the time to go through the packet carefully. Each of the flyers has a specific purpose, and we are often asked at a later date about information that was provided in the registration packet.

We are looking forward to another successful year with our South students and parents.

It's Going To Be Very Impressive

One of the joys of the summer of '08 has been watching the progress of the new pool. To those of you that drive by the new structure on Fisher Road, you're only catching a glimpse of what will be one of the real jewels of the South campus. This is going to be a very visible and highly utilized facility that will serve generations of future students.

There has been real progress over the past couple of weeks in the appearance of the facility. For starters, the brick is nearly complete on the exterior of the building. They are placing the limestone on the main entrance this week, with the remainder of the brick soon to follow.

Inside, the hallway terrazzo is being poured as I write this update. The final coat of paint is being applied to entire pool facility, while the auxiliary gym is already complete with paint and just waiting for the floor to be installed. This gym will host countless practices for all levels, and will be used as a performance gym for many of the freshman level sports.

There is a large crew of men placing tile on the pool bottom and they will soon proceed to the pool deck. The locker rooms already have tile on the floor and they will soon start on the walls of that space.

The temporary parking lot that was located in the outfield of the baseball field has been removed and the area is being graded for installation of sod so the field can be restored. This should all be accomplished within the next couple of weeks.

This will be a facility that will make the community very proud. I know that it will be utilized day and night to meet the needs of swimmers throughout the Grosse Pointes. In addition, the building will have a fitness facility located in the lower level that will service all of our student-athletes for years to come.

The target date is still scheduled for Labor Day of this year, but even if the opening is delayed a bit, it will be well worth the wait to get top-notch construction of a first-rate facility. I believe that nearly all of us look forward to the opening of the new natatorium.

So What Do You Do All Summer?

Many people are often surprised when they find out I have little time off over the summer, usually taking just a week in July and a few scattered days elsewhere. I guess they can't imagine what a principal does when there are so few staff and students in the building.

Ironically, activity over the past few days is some of the most important work we do all year. Tim Bearden (North principal) and I, along with a committee of teachers, have interviewed ten teaching candidates over the past two days. In this particular case, we are looking for an English teacher for North H.S. and a science teacher that will travel between the two buildings.

We don't take this process lightly. I've often called it a $2 million investment, because a teacher might average $60K per year and will usually teach more than 30 years.

The process includes an initial paper screening of the large pool of applicants, a first round of interviews to reduce the list even more, and a second round of interviews of those we believe best fit the vacancy. In some cases, there will be a third round of interviews prior to the final recommendation. Then our candidate is sent over to central office for a final interview and subsequent job offer prior to official action by the Board of Education.

Fortunately for us, there are many applicants for the vacancies that arise in Grosse Pointe. For the recent English vacancy, there were almost 150 candidates that applied. Mr. Bearden conducted a first interview with 27 of them, and the larger committee interviewed nine of those candidates. From there, the list was pared down to a select few candidates for a third round of interviews.

Placing a highly qualified and enthusiastic teacher in front of the classroom is the best start we can give our students. From there is takes proper mentoring, collegiality and support from others in the department, and effective evaluation to insure continued success. We are hopeful that with our newly acquired high school teachers we have taken the first big step.

The More I Learn, The More I Learn I Have To Learn

Even though I'm a veteran administrator, the road to success seems to be constantly changing and is filled with more curves and off ramps than ever before. And just when I think I've come to understand the new road map, a newer version is printed. In other words, the more I learn the more I understand there is even more to learn.

For example, last week from Sunday through Wednesday, I attended the Summer Retreat sponsored by the state Principal's organization. The weather was great and the scenery was beautiful in northern Michigan, but there was also a great deal to learn.

The title of the conference was "Leadership That Works", however, it was really an intensive learning environment on the nuances of the ACT. As most of you know, the ACT now makes up the bulk of our state assessment, commonly called the Michigan Merit Exam (MME). This is the annual test given to all students in the spring of their junior year.

To do well on the ACT, it is imperative that juniors have taken the right classes along the way. That means a college-prep curriculum with the rigor necessary for strong academic performance. Over the first two years of MME testing, our students have done quite well. However, when students struggle, it is almost always because they are behind grade level in math and English.

We have been working with the middle school staff to make sure students enter the high school with the requisite skills. However, the task seems to be getting more daunting than ever. And as you might guess, these same students entered middle school lagging behind their classmates. We have to develop some type of summer learning experience that provides an opportunity for them to catch up with their peers.

What became most obvious to me during the sessions last week is that more than ever the reputation of our school will rest largely on two performance areas; 1) performance on the MME (ACT) and, 2) performance on Advanced Placement (AP) tests.

The task lying ahead of us is to make sure students are in the right classes, the correct standards and benchmarks are being taught in those classes, and students are prepared to take assessments in the format of the ACT. To do anything less is setting up our students, and ultimately our school, for failure. We will do better than that.

Another Successful Year In The Books

This is an unusual time of year in the school business. Nearly all of the adults are gone for the summer, as grades were due today at noon. Custodians are already hard at work moving furniture out of classrooms to prepare the floors for the fall rush of students. The gyms are full of bouncing balls as the summer camps are in full swing. Yet despite the flurry of activity, I often get a little nostalgic about the year just ended.

We were fortunate to have a beautiful evening for graduation. The weather was less humid than in the days leading up to the ceremony, and we graduated 428 seniors in less than 90 minutes. The student speeches were inspirational and the audience appeared appreciative.

The Commencement ceremony is the culmination of a great deal of hard work from a wide variety of people. Of course, students put in 13 years of effort to master the academics of an institution like the Grosse Pointe Public School System. Parents shuttle their sons and daughters back and forth to countless activities over that same time frame. Teachers must balance the needs of each individual student while trying to make sure to cover every standard and benchmark in the mandated curriculum that must be delivered to all students. Everyone has done their part.

The diplomas get ordered, the chairs are put in place, and the sound system is checked. We try to make sure the hedges are trimmed accordingly, and that the backdrop at South enhances this already majestic building.

When the ceremony is over, it is simply over. You can bet those 428 students will never be in the same place again. Despite all that has united them over the past four years, by 8:30 on graduation evening they will all be on their separate ways. Yes, most will go to the All-Night party, but they are just a bit different than they were a few hours earlier.

In a blink, the class of 2008 became "alumni" of South. I wish them well and thank them for the positive memories that have added to our fine tradition.

We're Getting Close...

Today was my last official day with the seniors from the class of 2008. This has truly been a special class here at South. They are not only the biggest class in recent memory, but they are also one of the most talented and spirited.

This class distinguished themselves back when they were freshmen, within the first weeks of school. They demonstrated a willingness to work together and an unbridled school spirit during their very first Homecoming Week. And they haven't disappointed me since.

Students from the class of '08 possess a great deal of talent across a wide range of interests. There are outstanding musicians, journalists and athletes within this group. They have separated themselves from other students across the state and nation through various competitions, yet have remained humble and always presented South and the Grosse Pointe community in a favorable light.

On the evening of June 12th, I will bid them a final farewell. I am very confident they will do well no matter what path they take for their postsecondary pursuits.

I want to publicly thank them for the leadership they have provided to our underclassmen and for the fond memories they have added to the South tradition. I would also like to thank the parents for producing such great kids, and I wish them well.

The Rumor Mill

Imagine my surprise when reading the police blotter in last week's "Grosse Pointe News" detailing a serious incident at South. The short story spoke of a supposed threat made by a student that he would return "with a gun and his homeys" following a fight with another student. That was the rumor mill, and frankly I don't know how that even reached the paper.

Here is the skinny on what happened...one student approached another in the cafeteria during lunch. A brief altercation took place, but punches were not even thrown. On the way out of the building, the first student would not stop when asked by school personnel. Student number two thought he heard from others that the first student said something similar to the quote cited in the paper. However, when administrators questioned students that were in the vicinity, we could never get anyone to validate anything close to the alleged threat.

In addition, when we met with the student and parent that supposedly made the threat, he reiterated that no threat was made. In addition, the parent never tried to hide the whereabouts of her son, as stated in the police blotter. On the contrary, the parent was most cooperative with school personnel.

This is another example of sensationalism that often reaches the newspaper and the media in general. It happens so often that I normally refrain from responding, however, in this case the information was unusually erroneous.

Just as we teach our students to critically read information they find on the Internet, I hope our parents read and listen with a certain skepticism information they encounter about our schools.

Dropout Factories?

If you've been reading the newspaper in Michigan, or following the local TV news, there has been much written about the dropout rate of Michigan high schools. Some in the news media have even referred to our schools as "dropout factories". A couple of weeks ago Channel 7 even dedicated an hour of prime time with guests such as Bill Cosby and State Superintendent Mike Flanagan to discuss the issue. This is critically important and deserves our attention.

I am happy to report the latest statistics for South High School. We were just informed of the "official" dropout rate for students from the class of 2007. In this case, South's graduation rate was 96.55% in comparison to the state average of 74.98%. For obvious reasons, we are proud of our graduation rate. However, we also realize that even one dropout is too many.

This isn't like the 1950's when the state graduation rate hovered around 50%, yet non-graduates (dropouts) could walk across the street and get a well-paying and career-long job with the auto industry. We have to do better, and all of us know it. At least all of the adults know it. Some teenagers still have to be convinced that there is life beyond next week and that decisions made today may impact their future.

On the right side of this blog page, under the 'Articles of Interest' there is a podcast titled, "The Haunting Impact of School Dropouts" featuring State Superintendent Flanagan. It is worth the 10 minutes of your time that is required to hear his message. The dropout rate should be a concern to all of us.

A Tech Visit

During the last in-service, four staff members from South traveled to Bloomfield Hills Andover High School to see how their teachers have implemented the use of interactive whiteboards. This piece of technology is now in place in every classroom in the Bloomfield Hills district. We were joined there by four staff members from North and two from central office.

The implementation at the high schools began on January 2nd of this year, meaning they have had only about four months to get adjusted to the new tools. However, all of us were very impressed with its use so far.

For our visit, Andover made eight of their teachers from various disciplines available to us to show us how they use the whiteboards. Although each of them use it in different ways, the benefit to students and staff is obvious. The technology is used to provide much more detailed information at a quicker pace. Teacher and student thoughts and ideas can be quickly saved and shared again at a later date. It was readily apparent that interactive whiteboards facilitate increased engagement for students.

We also talked to their tech staff about student use of blogs, wikis and youtube. Simply stated, Bloomfield Hills schools have more open access for students. They have a filtering system, but students are not as "locked down" as they are in GP. The result is that blogs and wikis can be used to supplement what takes place in the classroom. Students can respond to the teacher and other students from their class from their homes.

I have attached a recent article from eschoolnews that speaks to the benefits of students using blogs. You can read it by clicking to the right under Articles of Interest on the link titled, eschoolnews.

Warm Weather and Appropriate Attire

Most of the school year, the dress code is not even an issue at South and for that I am thankful. However, with the onset of the recent nice weather, we are forced once again to look at our dress code to guide our actions. At a recent meeting with the department chairs, the topic came up once again. This is what we're seeing lately--shorts that are too short, tops that are too skimpy, and pants that are worn too low.

As soon as I can figure out what to say and how to say it, I will make a video announcement for the students to serve as a reminder to dress appropriately. However, it will really help us if the parents help in choosing what is appropriate for school.

As a father of three daughters, I realize that what is available in stores often drives the fashion trends. And I understand that short-shorts have made a return to the fashion scene. But that doesn't mean they have to be purchased for the purpose of wearing them to school.

Remember that we are school with approximately 1700 students, and logic tells us about half of them are of the opposite sex. Teenagers don't need any more distractions than they already face when it comes to learning and the onset of spring fever. Please make sure they leave the house properly covered up.

We appreciate your support.

National Honor Society Induction

On Tuesday, April 15, we will host our annual National Honor Societ induction ceremony. This event is always one of our favorites and will be held in the auditorium at 7:00 PM. This year we will recognize 74 juniors that have met the criteria in the four categories necessary for membership into NHS. Those categories are: Scholarship, Character, Service and Leadership.

Although NHS is a national organization sponsored by the national organization of high school principals, each school establishes its own criteria. Rest assured when I tell you that the criteria for membership at South is more stringent than any of the three previous high schools where I have been principal. Because we have such strong students and of high moral character, the area where students fall short is with service or leadership. Membership into NHS requires evidence of a significant amount of service and leadership either within or outside the school setting.

So, congratulations are in order for those inducted. And for those invited but not selected in this round, non-membership simply means you were measured against the very best the state has to offer. There will be another opportunity in the fall for you to demonstrate your strengths to the Faculty Council and we wish you the very best in that endeavor.

News from the Tower

As most of you know, we have a very accomplished student newspaper called "The Tower". In their pre-Easter break edition, they tackled the sensitive issue of student achievement on the Michigan Merit Exam (MME). In particular, they addressed reasons for achievement gaps among the various subgroups. In nearly every case, the reasons behind gaps in learning has everything to do with the classes taken by the students. For obvious reasons, if they haven't been taught the material that is measured on the test, they will do poorly. The solution for us then is to make sure ALL students have access to a similar curriculum. We have made strides in this regard in recent years but need to do a better job to insure that "no child is left behind". I encourage you to get a copy of that particular edition of The Tower to get a closer look at the students' perspective.

Assembly for Students on March 14

Dr. Martin Luther King made a speech on March 14, 1968 in the gym here at South (it was known as "the High" back then). This speech took place just weeks before he was assassinated. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of his speech, we are having an assembly for students on Friday, March 14. The presenter will be Michael Fosberg and his one-act play is titled, "Incognito". Students in grades 10 and 12 will see the assembly during third period while students in grades 9 and 11 will see the assembly during sixth period. I would like to thank the Mother's Club for providing the funds for this activity.

Juniors...It's Almost Time for the MME

Shortly after we return from mid-winter break, our juniors will be tested once again with the Michigan Merit Exam. This test necessitates an adjusted schedule that impacts every grade in the high school during the March 11-13 testing cycle. If you go to the South website, and click on calendars, you will be able to see how the testing schedule will impact students in the respective grades.

The MME is the high-stakes test required of every junior attending a public high school in the state of Michigan. It involves the ACT along with various Michigan subtests to assess progress on the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Taking the test is also a prerequisite for the Michigan Promise Scholarship funds that are designed to assist students in thier pursuit of a post-secondary degree.

We wish all of our juniors well on these assessments!

Recent News

Tim Bearden (North HS Principal) and I recently attended an educational technology workshop in Dearborn. During the workshop, we saw many of the items of hardware and software that other school districts around the state are using. For example, Brandon Community Schools (Ortonville, south of Flint) have implemented the use of interactive whiteboards across half of the district's classrooms last fall, with the remainder to be updated next fall. These pieces of technology help create the atmosphere for increased student engagement and interest.

We are hopeful of getting at least a few units for demonstration purposes into our high schools. This is just one of the examples of the technology that is out there.

PBS Frontline Special

This 9 minute-clip describes the use of technology at suburban Chatham H.S. (NJ). Their integration of technology definitely outpaces the Grosse Pointe high schools, but the clip also shows some disturbing trends, including students who honestly can’t remember the last book they have read (why read, when you can Sparknote). The clip is very thought-provoking and correlates well with much of the information we have read recently.

After viewing the clip, please feel free to share any relevant comments as it relates to our technology plan.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/main.html?pkg=2606&seg=2&mod=0