Benzie County Central Schools
Annual Report
2007-2008

 

9222 Homestead Road
Benzonia, Michigan  49616
(231) 882-9653

Dave Micinski, Superintendent

www.benzieschools.net


Betsie Valley Elementary
The community of Betsie Valley will provide opportunities in a safe environment to empower students to learn and succeed in today's society.

17936 Cadillac Highway
Thompsonville,  MI 49683
(231) 378-4164
Patti Yauck, Principal
www.benzieschools.net
Student Achievement School Staff Classroom Activities
Celebrations and Assemblies Parental Involvement Special Programs
  MEAP RESULTS  

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Student Achievement

Students had the opportunity to participate in the Record Patriot Greeting Card contest, art contests, the Terrific Kids program, Girls on the Run, and Presidential Fitness program.  A countywide food drive was held.  Students were encouraged to demonstrate good behavior through the '100 board.'  Fourth and fifth grade students were recognized for outstanding academic achievement through honor roll and effort honor roll.

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Classroom Activities

First Grade

  • Visited the farmer's market and beach to expose the students to our wider community. The beach experience was a whole group experience for vocabulary development and visualization for drawing in emergent journals. The market was again an awareness of what foods are grown locally with the focus on good nutrition.
  • Integrated regional dances of the U.S. (merengue, polka, waltz, Texas two step, cajun zyedeco) to teach counting patterns within a mathematical context and received a grant for folk dancing instruction.
  • Received a grant from Kiwanians to research the beaver within our local wetlands.  The beaver study served as a model last year as an integrative science, social studies, language arts unit and is now part of our first grade curriculum for science.
  • Eric Caryl's art was studied as we read all his books and then recreated this style for illustrations in the Four Season Story of the Life of a Beaver Book.
  • MSU extension visited the classroom on several occasions to help support the district's wellness program by demonstratinig healthy food choices. 
  • Planted flowers for school beautification project.
  • History Alive dramatizatons of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Johnny Appleseed by a guest teacher.

Third Grade

  • Visited Grand Rapids and the Frederick Meijer Gardens
  • Created a classroom travel agency outlining of the states of the southeastern US

Fourth Grade

  • Attended Buckley Education Days Field Trip
  • Participated in Homecoming Parade
  • Observed a Fire Safety Presentation
  • Made a class book "V is for Veterans" Alphabet book for Veteran's Day Assembly
  • Enjoyed several visits by State Trooper Schneider about the topics of bullying, peer pressure, fire safety, gun safety, disaster preparedness, &
    internet safety.
  • Participated in the Beach Bums Reading Program - 14 students earned home runs
  • Visited Mackinac Island

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Celebration and Assemblies

The reptile man visited Betsie Valley as well as a Young Author's Assembly.  Veteran's Day was celebrated with a special guest speaker and a program for all veterans.  Third, fourth, and fifth graders all participated in Christmas program titled “A Place in the Christmas Choir”.  Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders all participated in Spring program titled “Go Fish”.  Over 20 students in K-5 participated in a Spring Talent Show held at their school.

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School Staff
 Mrs. Patti Yauck - Principal
Mrs. Linda Philo, Secretary

Mrs. Sarah Grandstaff - Kdg
Mr. Tom Luebke - Kdg
Mrs. Aimee Erfourth - 1st grade/2nd grade
Mrs. Sally Eichberger - 1st grade
Mr. Asa Kelly - 2nd grade
Mrs. Maureen Dodge - 3rd grade
Ms. Michelle Herban - 4th grade
Mr. Mark Wassa - 5th grade
Mrs. Nancy Reed - Music
Ms. Jen Rosa - Art
Mrs. Lisa Bluhm - PE

Mr. Steve Cox - Special Ed
Mrs. Kathy Crowell - Title I
Mrs. Mary Couturier, Parapro
Mrs. Kitty Norman, Parapro

Mrs. Deb Purkiss - Library
Mrs. Margie Malkowski, Parapro
Mr. Mike Fekete  - Custodial Staff
Ms. Wendy DeLisle - Custodial Staff

Mrs. Mary Wixom - Kitchen Staff
Ms. Therese Strang - Kitchen Staff

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 Special Programs
4-H Title I At-Risk programming
Teacher/Student Mentoring Monday Night Ski Program Accelerated Reading Program
Brownies/Girl Scouts Girls Basketball Boys basketball
  After School Golf Club  

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Parental Involvement & Community Support

Betsie Valley's PTS organized three books fairs, an art show/ice cream social, a spring read-a-thon and a Christmas bazaar allowing students to shop for friends and family.  The PTS raised funds through the fall read-a-thon, a spring fundraiser, and partnerships with Target, and Spartan.  Also, parents and friends of Betsie Valley collected Box Tops for Education and Campbell Soup Labels.  Over 35 parents, grandparents, and friends of Betsie Valley helped in various ways throughout the year including, but not limited to:
  • reading with students
  • organizing classroom parties
  • helping with WOG day
  • serving on PTS
  • organizing popcorn days
  • volunteering in the classroom
  • serving as coaches

Crystal Mountain sponsored a golf program  Various people came to speak on their careers.  The Animal Welfare League sponsored a poster/essay contest.  The Betsie Valley Public library sponsored a summer reading program. 

The following business and/or organizations made donations of products/services to Betsie Valley:

  • Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Kiwanis - Terrific Kids
  • A. Papano's Pizza - Terrific Kids
  • Subway

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Explanation of MEAP
The English Language Arts (ELA) MEAP test was a new method of scoring implemented in 02-03 that responded to the federal mandate titled No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The ELA score reflects a combination of the student’s reading and writing scores. These scores are reported at the 4th, 7th & 11th grade level. As part of the NCLB requirements, each level will be obligated to hit a “target” score established by the State of Michigan. Another part of the NCLB mandate required states to also set targets for scoring in the area of mathematics. These scores too, are reported at the 4th, 8th & 11th grade level. Targets for each subject set by the State are different from level-to-level. Eventually, the targets for each grade level must be 100% of all students in all subjects by the 2013-14 school year.

Level I is exceeding Michigan standards, Level II is meeting Michigan standards, Level III is at basic level, and Level IV is apprentice level.

3rd Grade

Math

 Reading Writing ELA
Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007
Proficient Level I 57.1% 50% 65% 28.6% 45.8% 46% 7.1% 4.2% 0% 17.9% 29.2% 23%
Level II 39.3% 41.7% 27% 60.7% 45.8% 35% 53.6% 50% 54% 60.7% 58.3% 46%
Not Proficient Level III 3.6% 4.2% 8% 10.7% 4.2% 15% 35.7% 41.7% 36% 21.4% 12.5% 27%
Level IV 0.0% 4.2% 0.0% 0.0% 4.2% 4% 3.6% 4.2% 12% 0.0% 0% 4%
 
4th Grade

Math

 Reading Writing ELA
Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007
Proficient Level I 59.4% 25% 43% 25.0% 28.1% 26% 3.1% 0% 0% 12.9% 3.1% 13%
Level II 28.1% 62.5% 52% 65.6% 59.4% 70% 78.1% 59.4% 35% 80.6% 84.4% 65%
Not Proficient Level III 3.6% 12.5% 4% 6.3% 6.3% 4% 18.8% 37.5% 65% 6.5% 6.3% 22%
Level IV 0.0% 0% 0% 3.1% 6.3% 0% 0.0% 3.1% 0% 0.0% 6.3% 0%
 
5th Grade Science

Math

 Reading Writing ELA
Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall
2005		 Fall 2006 Fall 2007
Proficient Level I 34.6% 52% 60% 34.6% 48% 24% 38.5% 44% 48% 7.7% 12% 0% 15.4% 20% 20%
Level II 65.4% 36% 28% 34.6% 44% 56% 46.2% 48% 40% 57.7% 72% 80% 57.7% 68% 68%
Not Proficient Level III 0.0% 12% 12% 7.7% 8% 20% 7.7% 8% 8% 34.6% 16% 20% 23.1% 12% 12%
Level IV 0.0% 0% 0% 7.7% 0% 0% 7.7% 0% 4%     0%     0%