Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/tag/education/)
INDIAN RIVER, Mich. — Safe, warm and dry. These three words encapsulate the latest Inland Lakes Schools bond proposal. Following an unsuccessful $29.5 million bond proposal vote in May 2022, Inland Lakes Schools District is asking voters to pass a $15.1 million bond for improvements to both the elementary and secondary school. Registered voters in the school district will vote on the proposal on May 7, 2024.
The East Lansing School Board on Oct. 9 discussed the continuation of equity issues in the district. Three years ago, ELPS announced a series of changes to improve its DEI efforts. The district proceeded to try and increase diversity in the faculty and staff and create programs to increase inclusion. In September at MacDonald Middle School, a teacher was suspended for the second time in four months for using racial slurs and inappropriate language.
At a recent East Lansing School Board meeting, parents discussed diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the district. Three years ago, ELPS announced a series of changes to improve its DEI efforts. The district proceeded to try and increase diversity in the faculty and staff and create programs to increase inclusion. In September, a teacher at MacDonald Middle School was suspended for s second time in four months for using racial slurs and inappropriate language. Following these events Brandy Branson, representative for the East Lansing Parent Advocacy Team (ELPAT), proposed a question:
“Are the sessions being looked at from an equity lens?”
“I heard no definitely, everyone skirted around all of that, and I tried very hard on parent perspective,” Branson said.
Free, accessible theater returned to East Lansing June 15 as the Summer Circle Theatre began the season with a production of “Schoolhouse Rock Live!”
Summer Circle Theatre is turning toward a more family-friendly direction, said Katherine Clemons, the director of the show. “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” was the perfect choice to “chauffeur in the new era of family-friendly theater.”
Even though it is a university-run program, Summer Circle Theatre is a fixture in the East Lansing community.
“SCT is a staple in the East Lansing Community,” Clemons said. “We have members who have been coming for 40+ years, never missing a show. It’s a place for the community to gather together and partake in the arts for free together.”
The outdoor courtyard was already half filled an hour before showtime. There’s a tradition in the program that awards a pair of season passes for the upcoming Michigan State University theater season to the first arrivals who remain seated until the show begins, Clemons said.
Sabrina SeldonBelynda Cage speaks with an ELHS student at the city’s “School/Public Safety Listening Session” held on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in the Hannah Community Center. After a fight involving students led to a dropped gun outside of an East Lansing High School basketball game on Jan. 19, community leaders, students and parents called for solutions.
Brave Space founder Alexis Rosado and her mentor Belynda Cage presented one such solution based on mental health at a recent ELHS School/Public Safety Listening Session on Jan. 27 in the Hannah Community Center.
Michigan State University welcomes a record size freshman class to East Lansing this fall. Although exciting, students and staff are reacting to the changes on campus.
Source: Aubrey Rademacher / Haslett High School
Monica Del Castillo, a retired mental health therapist, worked for 25 years at Lansing Community College where she also served as president of the academic Senate. Last fall, she became Haslett’s newest board of education member.
Del Castillo said because of her immigrant childhood experience and mental health background, diversity and inclusivity play a heavy role in the decisions she makes. She said it was one of the main reasons she wanted to be a Haslett school board member.
Del Castillo said, “Working with young adults in a college setting offered me insight into the challenges that young people face. While on the school board, K-12 teachers have reported mental health challenges create the biggest barriers to learning. My first hand knowledge and experience allowed me to strongly advocate for mental health services and initiatives.”
Alex Azima, a professor at Lansing Community College, served on LCC’s Academic Senate with Del Castillo.
World of Winter is a free celebration of DJs, ice sculptures, concerts, food, a series and more that takes place in downtown Grand Rapids each year from January through March.
Exhibitions include Massimals Polar Bears by Scroggin Studio, a line of large abstract polar bear sculptures, and Wave by Squidsoup, an immersive walk through experience of 500 tall orbs suspended.
Trumpet Flowers Exhibition Located in Ah-Nab-Awen Park Photo Credit: Downtown GR Inc.
Other attractions include the Valent-ICE ice sculpture exhibition and events such as a Silent Disco, a drag show, walking tours and live performances.
Local businesses like House of Wine see upticks in customers. “We especially enjoyed being able to pour to-go Downtown Refreshment cocktails like Mulled Wine for guests who were out viewing different World of Winter attractions,” said Emily Lynch, co-owner of House of Wine. “We hope to see it return again next year,”
Many downtown Grand Rapids restaurants and bars set up outdoor spaces for the festival. “Outdoor heated domes provide a great way to enjoy the cozy wintery charm while enjoying some of the best food around, ” said Sara Moore, a local resident.
When you’re done exploring art, head to a Refreshment Area where you can purchase marked containers and enjoy a cocktail or a brew as you walk around parts of the city. Refreshment Map of Areas to bring Alcoholic Beverages Photo Credit: Downtown GR Inc.
“The World of Winter festival is designed to encourage folks to get outside during the winter season.
Coddiwompling isn’t a word you might hear too often, but at TOPOnexus in Harbor Springs, it’s a way of life and learning. Unofficially, coddiwompling is the act of traveling with purpose but with no clear destination. It’s about exploring and being curious, and TOPOnexus believes it’s the most powerful way to learn.
The educational nonprofit organization founded by Molly Ames Baker develops education tools, makes them accessible to the community, and uses those tools to deliver dynamic, place-based and educational experiences.
“We’ve only had a space in Harbor Springs for about a year and a half now,” said Baker. “We started as a traditional LLC, and quickly realized the nonprofit model worked better for us.”
Baker, who has a background in adventure learning and experiential education, said TOPOnexus has been a long-term project.
“TOPOnexus as a concept has been evolving for almost 30 years,” said Baker. “The idea definitely involved my time as an experiential and adventure educator and I began to realize how it could fit in the traditional classroom and through life.”
TOPOnexus currently operates out of Harbor Springs, but they offer opportunities and educational experiences on a national scale for anyone who’s interested in connecting with their communities.
“Our name is our mission,” said TOPOnexus project manager Kate Cohen.
Shay Elementary School and the Harbor Springs Public School District offices in Harbor Springs. Online learning is coming to an end for students and staff of Harbor Springs Public Schools.
HSPS Superintendent Michael Behrmann said in an email there will not be any virtual learning opportunities offered by any of the schools in the district for the 2021-2022 school year. The district offered online and in-person classes through the 2020-2021 school year during the brunt of the pandemic. According to a graph on the district’s website, Harbor Springs Public Schools recorded a varying amount of positive cases since September of last year with a peak of 34 positive cases in April and a significant decrease to three positive cases in May.
To some Harbor Springs parents and students, the decline in cases isn’t enough to ease their worries.
Ally Warner, who’s son Cristyan and daughter Carrigan will be heading to 10th grade and eighth grade respectively, said she has concerns. Carrigan struggles with heart and lung disease, and Dysautonomia, a group of diseases that affects the nervous system.