UTICA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
The Raider Report
Davis Junior High
Steven Bernier, Principal
Deane Spencer, Assistant Principal
www.uticak12.org
January 2009
Principal’s Message
Welcome to 2009!
Dear Parents and Students,
Happy New Year! I hope the holidays were restful and you were able to share the season together with your
families . The current state of our economy is still very unstable, but being able to be with family members
can help ease the pain of uncertainty. Our strength comes from the love we have for each other and our
families.
During the Holidays, Davis Junior High students, parents and faculty were able to contribute to our families in
need by providing a canned good drive, toys for tots and food baskets. The staff of Davis raised over $1,250
dollars and we were able to but together a baskets for our community members that have hit hard times.
Through the care and compassion of our family, we can over come most obstacles.
Students should be aware of the semester exams coming up on January 14, 15, and 16, 2009. Students will be
dismissed at 11:10 on the 15th and 16th. All students should be spending time studying in each subject. A
little in every night beginning now. Be sure to take advantage of the teachers study sheets and previous tests
and quizzes. Second semester will be a time for changing classes and teachers.
We have had a very successful first 20 weeks of school. Our students have been extremely focused and we
have seen dramatic improvements in our students grades. We have over 35% of our students on the honor roll.
We celebrated 66 students with perfect attendance, and 230 students with perfect behavioral records. The
Principal’s Student Advisory Board is currently looking for additional ways to celebrate the excellent
educational program at Davis Junior High. Our parent club members are currently researching and putting
together a new “Fundraiser” for next year. We are looking forward to even better results the next 20 weeks.
Our next Parent Club meeting will be on January 21st at 9:00 a.m. Our evening meeting has been changed to
January 22nd at 6:30 p.m. to try to accommodate more of our parents. I hope you can make either of these
meetings. It is important for your student to see you involved in their education by attending meetings and
being a part of the “Davis Raider way of Life”.
Lets make 2009 a great year!
Steven Bernier
Principal
11311 Plumbrook * Sterling Heights, MI 48312 * Phone (586) 797-2700 * Attendance (586) 797-2799
Davis Mission Statement
Davis Junior High is dedicated to creating a successful partnership of staff, parents and community to prepare our
students to be positively contributing members of society, and productive responsible citizens. We promote under-
standing and respect for all people and strive to inspire our students to become knowledgeable, caring, self-directed
and productive learners who readily meet the challenges of a diverse world and global economy.
BOX TOPS for the
Spring Field Trip Cancelled
LCCE Classroom!
Unfortunately, we have some sad news to report regard-
The Life Centered Career ing the planned trip to Philadelphia/New York. Due to
Education class will be collecting Box Tops for Edu- the low number of students signed up, and the inability
cation. Students can drop their box tops in the collec- to fill at least two busses, we must cancel the trip at this
tion container in their first hour classroom. The win- time.
ning class will be treated to donuts and juice at the end
of each semester. The pink box tops can be found on
your favorite Pillsbury, Betty Crocker and Cheerios
boxes!! Our trip was originally budgeted for three busses,
which is how many we have taken the previous three
years on the school trip; but currently, we have only a
bus and a third filled for this trip. Since our final costs
are based on the total number of participants, the over-
all trip price is set to increase by almost $100 more per
person based on the current numbers we have. We feel
this will put the trip out of reach for many families and
Students! it does not make the trip financially viable at this time.
Please be sure to stop by the Main
Office and check our lost & found!
Everyone who enrolled will receive a full refund, and
the paperwork has already been submitted for you to do
so. Please allow 2-3 weeks for the refund to be proc-
essed. If you have specific questions regarding this
please feel free to contact us.
We apologize for any inconvenience this change may
cause and we deeply regret that such a decision had to
be made.
Important Dates to Remember:
Jan 5th Classes Resume
Jan 15th Early dismissal 11:12—Mid term Exams
Jan 16th Early dismissal 11:12—Mid term Exams
Jan 19th Martin Luther King Day—No School
Winter Sports Raiders of the Month
Freshman Girls Basketball
January 6th at Eppler December
January 8th at Ford Silvana Aliaj
January 14th vs Jeannette
January 16th vs Malow Aaron Bradley
January 20th at Grosse Pointe North
Dillon Smedley
January 22nd at Shelby
January 28th vs Sterling Heights Amber Holloway
January 30th at Eastland
Evan Georges
Freshman Boys Basketball Sarah Mouat
January 7th vs Roseville
January 9th vs Grosse Point North Damian Grzesiak
January 13th at Jeannette
January 14th vs Shelby at 5:30
Matt Willaert
January 21st vs Cousino Emma Blair
January 23rd vs Jeannette
January 27th at Roseville Devon Stagg
January 30th vs Heritage
Alexandra Salinas
Seventh & Eighth Grade Girls Basketball Jackie Medlow
January 6th vs Jeannette
January 8th at Shelby Kevin Fisher
January 12th at Heritage Chris Connor
January 15th vs Malow
January 22nd at Bemis Taylor Ward
January 31st vs Eppler
Emari White
Seventh & Eighth Grade Mirna Awrow
Boys Basketball
January 26th vs Bemis
Hannah Garr
Chelsea Dukic
Amy Rogers
Board of Education’s commitment to
students recognized during January
The month of January marks the annual ob- “The third-rate mind is
servance of School Board Recognition Month,
a time to salute the work of Board of Educa-
only happy when it is
tion members and celebrate the power of pub- thinking with the majority.
lic education. The second-rate mind is
only happy when it is
The theme of this year’s celebration, “School
Boards Lead Strong,” reflects the efforts of the
thinking with the minority.
men and women in our state who help shape The first-rate mind is only
the direction of Michigan’s public schools. happy when it is thinking.”
The Utica Community Schools is represented A.A.Milne
by its Board of Education, whose seven mem-
bers are also residents of the school district.
They are responsible for setting goals for stu-
dent achievement and approve policies and
budgets affecting the nearly 30,000 students at-
tending our schools. Each year, our school
board members contribute hundreds of hours
to school-related meetings, working for the best
interest of all children.
Members of the Utica Community Schools
Board of Education are: Dr. Carol Klenow,
president; Gene Klida, vice-president; Michele
Templeton, secretary; Carl Territo, treasurer; Dr.
Robert Ross, trustee; Jennifer Prybys, trustee;
and Daniel Meyers, trustee.
“Our Board of Education members face com-
plex and demanding challenges,” said Dr. Chris-
tine M. Johns, Superintendent of Schools.
“Although they come to the Board as individuals
and parents, our school board members have
worked together to become a very strong team,
united in their commitment to student achieve-
ment. I am very proud to be associated with
these outstanding men and women.”
.
Counselors’ Corner
Variety of Sources Inform Parents
Several years ago, Utica Community Schools imple- of School Cancellations
mented a countywide initiative to combat the devastat-
ing effects of adolescent suicide. This program,
known as the Yellow Ribbon program, will be dis-
Inclement weather or building problems sometimes
cussed with the seventh and eighth grade students the
bring unexpected school closings. At Utica Commu-
end of January. We will be discussing suicide aware-
nity Schools there are several ways parents can be in-
ness and prevention. If you wish to excuse your child
formed about these unanticipated days.
from participation in this program, please send a writ-
ten notice to your child’s counselor on or before Mon- School closing information is broadcast on radio sta-
day, January 26. tions WJR, WWJ and WOMC.
Mrs. JoAnn Vulcano will be returning from maternity Television stations airing school closing information
leave at the beginning of January. Look for schedul- are Fox-2 News, WDIV-News 4, WXYZ-News 7 and
ing information and materials to come home the be- UPN-50 News.
ginning of February
Telephoning any school and selecting the school clos-
ing option from the calling menu gives parents access
to the emergency school closing hotline. For parents
Last Chance to Order Your connected to the web, the district’s web page,
Yearbook www.uticacommunityschools.org, lists school closings
under the emergency school closing button listed on
Yearbooks will be on sale at www.jostens.com the main page.
through mid-January. Yearbooks may also be
bought with a check made payable to Davis Junior
High for $25. Mrs Hopp will accept these checks
through mid-January. The price goes to $26 after
that online or through a check. No cash accepted.
Eighth graders invited to open house to learn about academic options
for district freshmen
A series of Open House events to introduce district eighth graders and their parents to three addi-
tional educational options are set for February. Staff from the Utica Center for Mathematics, Sci-
ence and Technology, the Utica Center for Science and Industry and the Utica Academy for Inter-
national Studies and the Utica Center for Mathematics, Science and Technology will be available to
conduct tours and provide a comprehensive overview of programs at these events. They are:
7-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 10 Utica Center for Science and Industry
Instructional Resource Center
14201 Canal Rd. Sterling Heights
Staff will describe the opportunities available in this half-day program designed to prepare stu-
dents for post-graduation opportunities in cutting-edge technological fields such as mechatronics,
engineering or multi-media production.
7-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 Utica Academy for International Studies
Heritage Junior High School
37400 Dodge Park, Sterling Heights
Staff will discuss this full-day International Baccalaureate program designed for students inter-
ested in the world’s diverse cultures. This globally-recognized program prepares students to earn
an International Baccalaureate diploma in eleventh and twelfth grades.
7-8 p.m. Thursday, February 12 Utica Center for Mathematics, Science and
Technology
Instructional Resource Center
14201 Canal Rd. Sterling Heights
Staff will provide information about this half-day program for students academically talented in
math and science. This program develops the skills necessary for the completion of advanced
courses students need as a prerequisite for admission to the nation’s highly competitive colleges
and universities.
For additional information, contact 586.797.6895 or 586.797.6803.