http://bridgemi.com/2014/07/the-five-year-four-year-degree/
In a recent article published for Bridge magazine, Kyle Kaminski explains the financial benefits of finishing a four year degree on time. Check it out here:
http://bridgemi.com/2014/07/the-five-year-four-year-degree/ Educators and many parents as well are aware of the "summer slide". This term refers to the potential for students to lose academic ground during the summer when school is not in session. The good news is that this backward movement is not inevitable - it can be avoided and the solution is quite simple. Kids need to be provided with access to books and have expectations for reading. I realize that summers can be busy but all kids can find 30-60 minutes/day for reading. Consider the following: * Get a local library card. The Lawton Public Library is a great place and sponsors a summer reading program for kids. Check out their website at: http://lawtonlibrary.org/index.html * Help your children find books that appeal to their interests. Kids are motivated to read when they enjoy the content. * Model reading - children are more motivated to read when they see their parents or older siblings enjoying a good book. * Take advantage of technology - many kids today have tablet like devices that allow books to be downloaded for little or no cost. While many of us prefer the feel of a book in our hands, this generation of young people is very comfortable and adept with the electronic media. *Talk to you child's teachers - they may have books to loan out or other helpful suggestions for summer reading. Regular summer reading is good for all students. It helps keep reading skills sharp and allows the following school year to start on a positive note. This past Saturday, several hundred runners hit the streets of Lawton for the annual celebration of the Girls on the Run and Girls on Track programs. These programs provide elementary and middle school age girls with a format of physical, mental and emotional fitness. The program would not exist in our community without the commitment of the coaches, volunteers and organizers - thank you! What I like about this program is the focus it places on accomplishing a goal. Isn't that what education is all about - preparing our young people for the future? Congratulations to everyone involved with the program on another outstanding 5K event! Yet another example of what makes LCS a special place! Tuesday May 6 is National Teacher Day. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all LCS educators for their service to the District and our students. Although I chose long ago to become an education administrator, I will always consider myself first and foremost a teacher. After high school, while pondering my career path, I was impacted by the high regard I held for my teachers but in particular for my high school Government teacher, Dave St. Aubin. I wanted to be just like him. It was then that I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I have great respect for the fine work that is done in our classrooms on a daily basis. The community of Lawton is fortunate to have such a dedicated and capable group of people inspiring and preparing our children for the future. Congratulations to the students, staff, teachers, and administrators of Lawton High School on their recent recognition as one of America's Best High Schools for 2014. This award is based largely on student achievement in reading and math as well as the performance of particular sub-groups of students. The US News honor places LHS among the top 24% of all high schools in the United States. This award recognizes the contributions of families and educators at all levels and provides yet another example of the excellence we stand for at Lawton Community Schools! Our Mission: “Lawton Community Schools exists to provide meaningful opportunities that challenge each student to reach their potential. Through strong connections with students, families and the community we will prepare our students with the 21st Century Skills necessary to compete in a global economy.” I recently had a conversation with my wife about college. We are both college graduates and our 2 children are currently working toward their Bachelor's degrees. My wife and I agreed that anyone in this country has the opportunity to pursue a college degree or advanced coursework in a field of their choice. For those who argue that this is not financially feasible, I argue that via grants, loans and part-time jobs, anyone can pursue a degree. I am living proof that this can happen having used the aforementioned resources to complete college. As I've shared in previous posts, the data is quite clear regarding the impact that college and advanced coursework has on lifetime earnings. So, it really boils down to developing a mindset of post-secondary education for all students. This "college focus" will continue to be emphasized by LCS educators in our attempt to accomplish our mission. Recently, all of our schools observed a dress up day in which they were encouraged to wear clothing supporting their favorite college. Additionally, the middle school held a college door decorating contest. Our high and middle schools will continue to expand college culture activities including visits to and collaboration with area colleges. Post-secondary education for all kids needs to become a shared expectation for students, parents, educators and the community. SATURDAY,
APRIL 5 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Western Michigan University Spotlight WMU Spotlight is designed exclusively for high school juniors and their families to visit Western Michigan University and experience campus. Current WMU students will take you on a guided tour of campus and give you a feel for what life at Western is really like. Western Michigan University Bernhard Center 1903 West Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo Michigan 49008-5408 Phone: (269) 387-2000 Website: www.wmich.edu A Lawton tradition of more than 50 years has returned once again - the annual Lawton Elementary Kindergarten Circus. I estimate that I've now seen 16 of them and they never grow old. Congratulations to our kindergarten students for another fine performance. Thank you and congratulations to the kindergarten teachers and staff as well as the many parent volunteers. Without the help of our volunteers, it would be difficult for the teachers to practice the kids' acts and continue to teach as well. The Kindergarten Circus, yet another 'shining star' in our community! What makes Lawton Community Schools special? In my humble opinion, we are a distinctive place because of the combination of opportunities we provide for all students while maintaining and supporting the individualized attention all kids deserve. In recent weeks, our teams and groups have achieved in a variety of settings. Our Wrestling team concluded its' best season in over 20 years by winning a Regional Title, finishing among the top 4 teams in the State and awarding 4 All-State wrestlers. Our Competitive Cheer team made great improvements earning a Regional berth with a runner-up finish at the District meet. This was accomplished in just the first year of the program's existence. The Boys Varsity Basketball team advanced to the District tournament finals before dropping a heart breaker to Schoolcraft.
Our successes are not just limited to the athletic arena. In early March, our fine arts programs were on display at the annual Collage Concert. Our Drama Club students also excelled with the stage production, Hot Rod. This was followed by our High School Band earning a strong Division II rating at the MSBOA District Festival. We also look forward to sharing more information about an exciting new STEM program that will provide a unique and rigorous learning opportunity for our high school and middle school students. More recently, Lawton High School celebrated the induction of new members into the National Honor Society on the same evening that 9 students presented information to the Board of Education about our Advanced Placement World History course. Our Mission Statement says: “Lawton Community Schools exists to provide meaningful opportunities that challenge each student to reach their potential. Through strong connections with students, families and the community we will prepare our students with the 21st Century Skills necessary to compete in a global economy.” We are very proud of our students and the wide variety of opportunities we provide them in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities as well. All students deserve the opportunity to pursue their interests be they athletic, artistic or specialized coursework. I contend that few school districts can provide the combination of small school attention and big school opportunities found in Lawton. Our schools will continue to place an emphasis on the needs, interests and growth of each individual. On Saturday March 1, the fine arts programs of Lawton Middle and High School were on display as part of the annual Collage Concert and what a fantastic show it was! The event included performances by our bands and choirs as well as the visual arts. The crowd was also treated to a sneak peek of the upcoming performance of "Hot Rod" by our Drama Club.
I cannot imagine anyone in attendance not leaving the show without a high sense of appreciation for the quality of music and art produced by our students. The staff and students involved should be very proud of their performance. While I appreciated every piece, I must admit that the performance of Peter Gunn by our jazz band really stood out. Being a fan of Motown music, I also really enjoyed the male choir member's performance of The Temptations hit, My Girl. Based on audience reaction, the LMS Choir's performance of Katy Perry's Roar was a big hit as well. Great work students and staff! |
AuthorRandom Thoughts will be shared here from time to time by Lawton Community Schools Superintendent Chris Rice. Archives
January 2019
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