2008 Woodie Awards
Extreme school makeover
Most individuals are used to seeing home renovations on television. But Clare Public Schools received its own type of fix-up in a ...
By: Angie Favot
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: News
Amber Crosby thinks "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"-style renovations are important for schools.
That's why Crosby spent her weekend painting a mural in Clare Middle School.
"It's a worthy cause, especially to get involved with a school in a community around Central," the Cadillac senior said. "It's like we're in Extreme Makeover, but without Hollywood."
Around 300 volunteers from the Student Michigan Education Association of Central Michigan University and from the community joined together to paint Clare Public School district's primary, middle and high schools. They met from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and hosted an open house Sunday.
Student Michigan Education Association President Heather Pilarz organized the second annual event. Last year, the students painted Ganiard Elementary in Mount Pleasant, and this year, Pilarz said they chose Clare schools because they needed the most updates.
"The community support of our project is here, and the schools definitely needed work done," the Walker senior said.
Volunteers painted lockers, murals, walls, bathrooms, asphalt games such as hopscotch and the middle school library and teachers' lounge.
The teachers' lounge also received five new tables and about 20 new chairs that volunteers assembled.
Crosby was painting a mural in the fifth grade hallway that meshed music, athletics and education. Volunteers also painted a mural in the library and the school's Pioneer mascot was painted in the commons.
Carol Santini, Clare Board of Education secretary, was among the community volunteers.
"I'm thrilled CMU is doing this," she said. "It is great for the kids and the community."
Middle school teacher Jason Koch worked with Pilarz to organize the makeover, which began last November. Koch graduated from Clare High School and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from CMU.
"This is my home school and it is important to me," he said.
Koch teaches career education, technology skills and a conservation class in Clare.
"We will be ready to start school Monday morning," he said.
Koch organizes mentors sponsored by Clare businesses to come into classes and work with students. To thank those businesses, framed, "thank you" signs lined a first floor hallway to show the students appreciation.
Eighth-graders Courtney Goheen and Jillian Luplow volunteered during their spring break.
"I think the students are going to like it," Goheen said.
Luplow said her friends are going to be very surprised.
news@cm-life.com
That's why Crosby spent her weekend painting a mural in Clare Middle School.
"It's a worthy cause, especially to get involved with a school in a community around Central," the Cadillac senior said. "It's like we're in Extreme Makeover, but without Hollywood."
Around 300 volunteers from the Student Michigan Education Association of Central Michigan University and from the community joined together to paint Clare Public School district's primary, middle and high schools. They met from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and hosted an open house Sunday.
Student Michigan Education Association President Heather Pilarz organized the second annual event. Last year, the students painted Ganiard Elementary in Mount Pleasant, and this year, Pilarz said they chose Clare schools because they needed the most updates.
"The community support of our project is here, and the schools definitely needed work done," the Walker senior said.
Volunteers painted lockers, murals, walls, bathrooms, asphalt games such as hopscotch and the middle school library and teachers' lounge.
The teachers' lounge also received five new tables and about 20 new chairs that volunteers assembled.
Crosby was painting a mural in the fifth grade hallway that meshed music, athletics and education. Volunteers also painted a mural in the library and the school's Pioneer mascot was painted in the commons.
Carol Santini, Clare Board of Education secretary, was among the community volunteers.
"I'm thrilled CMU is doing this," she said. "It is great for the kids and the community."
Middle school teacher Jason Koch worked with Pilarz to organize the makeover, which began last November. Koch graduated from Clare High School and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from CMU.
"This is my home school and it is important to me," he said.
Koch teaches career education, technology skills and a conservation class in Clare.
"We will be ready to start school Monday morning," he said.
Koch organizes mentors sponsored by Clare businesses to come into classes and work with students. To thank those businesses, framed, "thank you" signs lined a first floor hallway to show the students appreciation.
Eighth-graders Courtney Goheen and Jillian Luplow volunteered during their spring break.
"I think the students are going to like it," Goheen said.
Luplow said her friends are going to be very surprised.
news@cm-life.com
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Katie
posted 4/07/08 @ 6:41 AM EST
The MEA is what's wrong with our education system in Michigan. Unions are bad for us.
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