Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 10

Lansing State Journal CHQOLS Contact Schools 377-1112 E-mail: schoolslsj.com www.lsj.com 2B Friday October 13, 2006 Covering education in the Greater Lansing area People News VlCKKI DOZIER vdozierlsj.com 377-1112 10 colleges will be present. The presentation begins at 5 p.m. Webberville chief to meet with residents WEBBERVILLE Superintendent Bill Skilling welcomes community members to meet for coffee and conversation at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 20 at Angel's Cafe, 104 E.

Grand River Ave. Also in Webberville, the district's choirs will perform at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 in the high school gym, 309 E. Grand River Ave.

DAR essay contest open to high schoolers Students in grades nine through 12 are invited to enter an essay contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The winner will receive $25, and all entrants will receive a certificate. The topic is "At Sea or at Home Different Perspectives on the Voyage to the New World." Maximum length is 750 words. The deadline is Dec. 1.

To submit entries, write to joycegs55aol.com or call 669-3947. From staff reports In Brief Lansing Christian to host college fair Wednesday Lansing Christian School, 3405 Belle Chase Way, is hosting a free college fair Wednesday. Representatives from at least a dozen About this report The State Journal is running state report cards, plus analysis, of area schools. This daily series starts at the elementary level and will progress to area high schools. j.i.

East Lansing Pinecrest Elementary 1811 Pinecrest Drive. Enrollment: 369, grades K-4 Summary: Pinecrest Elementary School maintained an A composite grade for 2006. Students showed improvement in both math and English language arts, and the school aced other indicators of performance based on the staffs East Lansing Marble Elementary Address: 729 N. Hagadorn Road Enrollment: 327 Summary: Marble Elementary School's performance in both math and English language arts showed significant improvement compared with 2005, helping push to the composite grade from a to an A for 2006. The school is grades K-4.

About the scores: The state determines overall performance figures; indicators of school performance reflect the school's self-assessment. Source: www.michigan.gov mde About the scores: The state determines overall performance figures; indicators of school performance reflect the school's self-assessment. Source: www.michigan.gov mde Overall performance Student Achievement English Language Arts Mathematics A Achievement Subtotal Indicators of School Performance A Preliminary Grade A AYP Status Met AYP Composite Grade Overall performance Student Achievement English Language Arts A Mathematics Achievement Subtotal A Indicators of School Performance A Preliminary Grade A AYP Status Met AYP Composite Grade Eight women to be inducted into Hall of Fame Eight women of distinction will be inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame at an annual awards dinner at 5 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Sheraton Detroit Novi.

The event recognizes women who have made a significant and long-lasting impact on Michigan and in their communities. Inductees in the Contemporary Division are Mary Esther Daddazio, Nancy Hammond, Dr. Helen Hornbeck Tanner and Marge Piercy. Historical Honorees are: Margery Feliksa (1925-2001), Martha Strickland Clark (1853-1935), Dr. Dora Stockman (1872-1948) and Viola Liuzzo (1925-1965).

The Michigan Women's Studies Association also will honor Antonio "Tony" Pido with its Philip A. Hart Award. The award is presented annually to a Michigan male citizen who demonstrates a unique understanding and support of women's issues and concerns, and who has contributed significantly to the advancement of women's rights. Pido served as a member of the Michigan Women's Studies Association Board of Directors for more than 20 years. He was a dedicated worker for civil rights for all and was active with many organizations including the Mid-Michigan Asian Pacific American Association and the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame.

Tickets are available by calling the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame at 484-1880. Church fall salad luncheons enter 38th year This year marks the 38th year of the annual church fall salad luncheons. Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ will host a luncheon Wednesday. Those attending can check out the mini-bazaar and the bake sale. The church is at 125 S.

Pennsylvania Ave. The last luncheon of the season is Oct. 25 at First Presbyterian Church, 510 W. Ottawa St. This luncheon will feature a used book sale.

Lunches are served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and there is a $6 donation at the door. Take out is available. For information, call 482-3339.

Carl School reunion scheduled for Saturday All past students and their spouses are invited to attend the Carl School Reunion. The group will gather from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Towar Hart Baptist Church, 6157 Towar East Lansing. Donations of $1 per person will be accepted at the door. Those wishing to may bring a dish to pass.

Tableware, dishes and beverages will be furnished, as well as meat and potatoes. For more information contact Greg Criss at 332-6980. People News appears Sunday through Friday. Have an item about people in and around Lansing to contribute? Please mail items to Vickki Dozier, People News, Lansing State Journal, 120 E. Lenawee Lansing, MI 48919, fax them to her at 377-1298 or e-mail them to vdozierlsj.com.

Indicators of school performance Indicators of school performance (out of 36 possible) (out of 36 possible) Curriculum Alignment 36 Advancedoupjework 36 Curriculum Alignment 36 Advanced Coursework 36 Continuous ImprovernenT 36" Famirylrwolvernent 36 Continuous Improvement 36 Family Involvement 36 Performance Mgrnt. Systems 36 Student AttendanceDropout Rate 36 Performance Mgmt. Systems 36 Student AttendanceDropout Rate 36 Teacher Qualrof. Development 36 4-year EducationEmployment Plan 36 Teacher Qual.Prof. Development 36 4-year EducationEmployment Plan 36 Arts Education and Humanities 36 School Facilities 36 Arts Education and Humanities 36 School Facilities 36 Extended Learning Opportunities 36 Extended Learning Opportunities 36 Possible score 396 Possible score 396 Total Score 100 percent "ZZ1.

Total Score 100 percent Performance Indicators Composite Grade A Performance Indicators Composite Grade A Comments from school officials High pointsAreas to improve: Officials would not provide comments for specific school buildings. Plan of action: (Editor's note: East Lansing provided a plan of action that is not specific to a single building; officials said it applies to all schools.) At each school, plans are developed through the North Central Accredita Improvement initiatives involve the collaboration of educators in buildings, grade levels and departments, and district wide curriculum committees. These initiatives require integration of multiple systems to effect change, including curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development and student support. tion (NCA) school improvement process. Building teams work collaboratively to achieve school improvement goals, which are based on comprehensive analysis of multiple sources of data.

The goals drive each school's improvement plan, constructed of research-based interventions to increase student achievement Celebrating Hispanic heritage WiL IBS r- Aft I ,1 Opening Doors of Opportunity By Jodi Stanley Special Contributor It is hard to keep up with Omar Cuevas, the director of Fifth Third Bank's Hispanic Marketing Development Department and the Employee Benefit Banking program. These programs promote financial literacy and help new Latino residents learn about banking in the U.S. Though Mr. Cuevas and his sister grew up with their mother in southern California, it was anything but a single parent household. His grandparents and several uncles were right there to help.

As positive role models they taught him solid moral values. As a second generation American Hispanic, Mr. Cuevas recalls going places with his mother and grandmother, serving as translator. This gave him a unique insight into blending the two cultures that would shape his life. He also remembers that when times were tough, there were local organizations that helped them meet such needs as housing, food and transportation.

These memories, along with strong family support, fostered his passion for helping other families facing new socio-economic opportunities and challenges. When Mr. Cuevas started his own family, he and his wife, Alma, decided to relocate to a smaller community to raise their children, now 8, 7 and 5. They chose West Michigan. The entire family lives and thrives in the Hispanic tradition of family support and networking.

In Grand Rapids, Mr. Cuevas began work at the Fifth Third BECKY SHINKAansing State Journal Reading: Dansville High School student Autumn Epley (right) reads to Cumberland Elementary School third-graders Sierra Bates (from left), Tony Coscarelli and Tyler Nguyen last week in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. High school students put call center. "I made sure I exceeded expectations on everything I was given to do," he recalls. And his excellence was noticed.

He was recruited by a competitor to market banking services to the Hispanic community. There he met the late Joe Castillo, a mentor who fueled his passion for serving. Mr. Cuevas has served on the boards of the Hispanic Center and Youth Commonwealth, and also holds positions with organizations such as United Church Outreach Spanish lessons to work Ministry, offering education in financial literacy and food pantry services to the Hispanic com munity. He is part of two migrant councils and works with the Mexican Consulate in Detroit.

He also speaks at area schools, encouraging students to reach high and pursue their goals with confidence. I Dansville students help youngsters learn about culture By Nicole Geary Lansing State Journal Two teachers crossed cultural and school district lines with a learning experience for i Ultimately, he returned to Fifth Third where he continues to broaden services to the Hispanic market. "I am very happy that our bank has doubled the number of bilingual staff," he says. For Omar Cuevas, this is far more than a job. His life is dedicated to preserving the loving tradition of the Hispanic family, while opening the doors of opportunity and prosperity for the next generation.

J1 third-graders last week at Cumberland Elementary a Making crafts: Cumberland Elementary School third-grader Barry Stroble creates a flower with Dansville High School student Jessica Wieferich last Omar Cuevas, Director of Fifth Third Bank's Hispanic Marketing Development Department. Photo by James Markus Hispanic Heritage NIE program sponsored by week. The Dansville students visited Cumberland to lead hands-on lessons. school. HISPANIC Advanced HERITAGE Spanish language MONTH students in Tracy Galloway's Dansville High School class visited the Lansing school to lead hands-on lessons in traditional Hispanic art, music and dance.

It was a celebration to mark Hispanic Heritage Month and a special moment of pride for one of Cumberland teacher Melissa Iott's students, Daymara Rodri- "I hate to function as if one month is yours, another is vours we trv to look as it as though we're a community of guez, who is from Cuba. "She was able to shine and show people what happens in her home every single day," said Iott, who tries to integrate multicultural activities in her classroom throughout the year. LANSING NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION NIE Is a 501c3 non-profit organization administered by the Lansing State Journal. Fifth Third Bank learners. Contact Nicole Geary at 377-1066 or ngearybj.com.

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