Bridge wins McCree justice award for stories on prison rape. They have innovated in ways and taught expectations in ways that have been amazing for students.. By Allen Martin Meridian Times staff writer It's a bird! "We are in the process (of a new logo)," said Christine Sermak, principal of Okemos High. The mood of this music video is pretty similar to how most students are feeling right now, so I guess we'll just wait it out and see what happens. After the shooting at Oxford, just over an hour away from Okemos, administration decided that they had to do something if only to make it look like they were actually doing something to stop violence. It was hard for over a year to not have interactions [with students]. My hobbies were attending band concerts, musicals and sporting events. Lease to Own Option 2 Take 25% off and pay $59,916 USD once. The principal and board members will give a brief report at each meeting as well as discuss items needing attention relating to Okemos High School. It's kind of a lose-lose situation I'll admit, and there wasn't a great solution to this other than letting it blow over, but they've kept all the bathrooms in the front of the school locked, meaning that anyone in an athletic or fine arts class has to walk all the way back to the academic hallways to use the bathroom now. Though, we have been encouraging it as the department of civil rights., Fritz added, We believe the evidence is very clear that the stereotyping being made is hurting the Native American students.. Even the principal, Christine Sermak, teared up when the kids returned to school on Monday. Speaking of which is the school still sinking or did they sort that out? Okemos Public Schools: Principal: Christine Sermak: Vice principal: Russ Verrell and Asja Wilcox: Grades: 9-12: Number of students: 1,434 [1] All Rights Reserved. We are proud of you! Big private dining room, check in reception and audio/video set up. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. So you want to make a news show? The departing principals are Okemos High School Principal Christine Sermak, Hiawatha Elementary School Principal Julie Bellinger, Okemos Public Montessori at Central Principal Shannon Nedds, Cornell Elementary School Principal Tara Fry and Bennett Woods Elementary School Principal Noelle Palasty. Since then, teachers have had the opportunity to get vaccinated and officials continue to watch for any signs of COVID-19 spread. I always thought I would be an educator, always thought I would be a teacher, and to do it in Okemos and to be here, I am just so proud, I am so grateful, and its because of the people. The old Chieftain logo, represented here in the weight room at Okemos High School. Follow him on Twitter at@ByMarkJohnson. . Even Derm has been around since Sermak started teaching at OHS, the familiar faces a testament to the strong community in Okemos that Sermak describes. (LogOut/ Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Delhi Twp - Holt - Dimondale - Southside Lansing, East Lansing, Haslett, Okemos & Williamston, East Lansing, Haslett, Okemos, Webberville & Williamston, East Lansing - Okemos - Haslett - Williamston - Webberville. What kind of lock down of the bathrooms are we talking about here? Haslett, MI 48840 Certification Michigan Secondary Professional Certificate (6-12) expiring 2017 BA and DA endorsements, Highly Qualified in English Teaching Experience 2000-Pres High School Guided Study Supervisor/Homebound Tutor Okemos High School Principal: Christine Sermak, previously Dr. John Lanzetta 2800 Jolly Rd. They had many great candidates for the position, and they picked out a new principal before the school year ended last year. Want to see more local news? Megan SampVoters at the Hannah Community Center share why voting matters to them. January 26, 2014. There does not seem to be an exact date on the original logo change, but one things for sure: Okemos High School is currently promoting a new logo to represent the school. The two remaining principals are Steve Stierley at Kinawa 5-6 School and Jody Noble at Chippewa 7-8 school. Okemos High School Tomahawk. Brody International Cafe' for Brunch Recommended by Class of '65, (part of the MSU Brody dormatory) at Harrison and Michigan, East Lansing. How the mighty have fallen. By Rose Albrecht Christine Sermak coaches the OHS girls varsity basketball team. Contact Mark Johnson at 517-377-1026 or atmajohnson2@lsj.com. Simply they would have to build a step sometime in the future on the 2nd & 1st floor to adjust and level out where the rest of the schools foundation meets A-wing. Not only are Okemos Public Schools losing 5 of 7 principals, the Greater Lansing school district is currently looking to hire over 80 teachers. That myth is almost as entertaining as hearing kids from other local schools ask me about the McDonalds in our lunch room which doesnt fucking exist, the loud complainers exaggerated while the servants are bullied, are the adults response to the failing youth, whod rather murder each other than learn the truth, than to build a community that supports one another. Sermak worked at OHS for eight years before she was principal of Williamston Middle School. Ethan Fahy, a teacher at Okemos High School, feels differently. Sermak added, These pressures on faculty have pushed some excellent teachers into other professions or early retirement from teaching. Private banquet room avaliable. Sermak said: Overall, I hope the school continues on the path it has established over many decades, though we do face some challenges. Superintendent of Okemos schools Cheryl Kreger Ive played school or thought about being a teacher and educator since I was twelve, and we used to have chalkboards, so I would have a chalkboard in my basement where I could play school; some people played house or ball but I played school, Sermak said. But some of the student body does not believe the logo should have been changed from the Chieftain Head, which represented Chief Okemos, a member of the Chippewa tribe. Principal Christine Sermak retires after 21 years atOHS, School board decides on return to in-person date of March8. See a Mistake? Some students and community members seem to say it switched a few years ago. The departing principals are Okemos High School Principal Christine Sermak, Hiawatha Elementary School Principal Julie Bellinger, Okemos Public Montessori at Central Principal Shannon Nedds, Cornell Elementary School Principal Tara Fry and Bennett Woods Elementary School Principal Noelle Palasty. I'm hopeful that the next full-time principal is at least to her level, and I hope this all gets sorted out before fall of 2023! It is located southeast of the main campus of Michigan State University, between Bennett and Jolly Roads on the North and South, and Hulett and Hagadorn Roads on the OKEMOS, Mich. - Christine Sermak takes over from Principal John Lanzetta, using the passions of her past to tackle the struggles as principal at Okemos High School. We werent allowed to put it (the Chieftain Head) on any uniforms or any of our sweats that we would buy anymore.. Approximately 99% of Okemos High School graduates go on to colleges and universities; 85% of our students attend four-year institutions, approximately 14% attend two-year institutions, and 1% other (military, employment, or travel). Christine's daughter and my daughter became pretty good friends in high school. Along with the five principals the district is also losing eight teachers and one counselor. Okemos High School (OHS), ranking among the top 10 high schools in the state of Michigan, OHS has a mission statement that encourages their staff to provide a tradition of daily excellence in order to meet the needs of each individual student. The window of acceptance is in the late spring or early summer, and is a restricted lottery system. Join the discussion, Playing Nov. 3-10: East Lansing Film Festivals silver anniversary. I just think we happen to have a very veteran leadership team and some of those natural cycles of folks coming and going just happen to converge with five out of the seven leaving, said Hood. The purpose of the Okemos Parent Group is to help support various activities at the school. Christine Sermak, who is retiring by the way, has been an outstanding principal at Okemos High School. It is the only high school in the Okemos Public Schools district. "We are in the process (of a new logo)," said Christine Sermak, principal of Okemos High. Doing Business As: OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL. Sermak, Bellinger and Fry are all retiring, while Nedds will leave Michigan with her family after 16 years in Okemos schools. - News and information from student journalists at the Michigan State University School of Journalism, Overall, I hope the school continues on the path it has established over many decades, though we do face some challenges. If you dont think all high schools across the country havent been slipping and having large scale issues youve been living under a rock. "I spent 21 years at Okemos High School as a teacher, varsity basketball coach, advisor to extra curricular activities and most recently as the principal, "Sermak said in an email to the Journal. Palasty is leaving after 14 years for a new position with. I've watched my kids grow up in the Okemos area while attending Okemos Public Schools. I will certainly be back. Looking forward, Sermak has hopeful prospects for the future of OHS. CONNECT Crew is designed to reinforce these shared values by allowing our own students the opportunity to lead and grow together, building positive relationships and expanding on our already well established tradition of academic excellence. The school offers programs in art, athletics, choir, journalism and orchestra. I mean we are honoring Chief Okemos by being the Chieftains, said Josh Robison, a senior at Okemos and varsity athlete. According to their website, approximately 99 percent of OHS graduates attend colleges and universities; 85 percent of students attend four-year institutions, approximately 14 percent attend two-year institutions, and 1 percent of students enlist in the military or join other means of employment. Meridian Township manager Frank Walsh said that the first thought that occurred to him after the incident was utter terror and something within his 32-year career that he had never felt before. Were in the business of customer service for parents and students, and theres a lot of weight on keeping people happy.. The idea of clear backpacks is what Oxford is doing, and Okemos administration has said that they aren't really considering that as an option. It still is. It also decreases students' mental health by creating extra stress in getting to classes on time and not being able to have an easily-accessible place to store belongings. Date Created: 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z Data Provider: None of this has to do with anything academic or college prep. With Michigan High School Sports approaching a month into the winter season, Colin Jankowski breaks down how Meridian Township Schools are tackling the return to sports during the COVID-19 pandemic. . o Other Information Police Chief (Meridian Township): David Hall Judges: Thomas P. Boyd & Donald J. Allen Jr. Posted in . Each November, the East Lansing Film Festival showcases independent films. OKEMOS Okemos Public Schools is undergoing a mass leadership change with the departure of five of its seven principals, including all four of its elementary school principals. Change). Gretchen Whitmer encouraged Michigan schools to resume in-person learning by March 1, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. That means the district identifies how many students it will accept at each grade level, and if there are applications that exceed that number, they are chosen from a lottery. Let Us Know Are you Principal Sermak? Superintendent John Hood is assuring they're working to fill those positions as quickly as possible. I'd say that the beginning of most of these problems started after principal Christine Sermak retired at the end of last year. I do not believe that the intention of the logo or name Chieftains was hurtful in any way, Fahy said. For reservation or more information on banquet room contact Henry by phone: 517-449-2580 or email: hnk7919@gmail.com. This is only a tiny fraction adding to the backlash they've already gotten so they have a lot of problems they'll have to deal with if they want to get me in trouble for some reason. Sophomores: 324. Im always blown away because all of a sudden you see a student that you see in the hallway in a completely different role and theyre thriving, Sermak said. Even though I didnt get to go to OHS, for the last 11 years Ive gotten to go to OHS so my dream did come true.. Superintendent Mandy Stewart said the decision was made after seeing the community support for in-person learning. "While retirement is bittersweet and I am not sure what I will do next, I look forward to the next chapter with optimism. And thanks to all teachers who put in countless hours as well. It was a hard choice to Sermak went more in-depth than just the idea, though. Mario Migaldi, an Okemos senior, was eager to return to school, see his friends and enjoy his last few months of high school. Youre transforming educational expectations with cleaning, with mask-wearing, Stewart said. It is located southeast of the main campus of Michigan State University, between Bennett and Jolly Roads on the North and South, and Hulett and Hagadorn Roads on the East and West.The current building was completed in 1994, replacing the now Chippewa . The departures leave Hood with several key positions to fill before the newschool year, which will be fully in-person for the first time since early 2020. Comment why voting matters to you at the end of this story. Date was actually December, thanks for pointing that out. By: Mikayla Temple Posted at 12:00 PM, Dec 17,. About 70%of students opted for in-person learning, which resumed on Jan. 19, according to Superintendent Bill DeFrance. Meanwhile, The Michigan Department of Civil Rights had no problem discussing the situation. Chippewa 7-8 school before the school offers programs in art, athletics, choir, journalism and.! 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