| GOBLES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, GOBLES, MICHIGAN |
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All Gobles Public Schools students and staff will receive a complimentary t-shirt. This order form is for parents and community members who would like to purchase the 2016-2017 Team Gobles shirt. Download a form by clicking here.   Third-grader Aiden Polomack is on his way to becoming a digital master. At Gobles Elementary School, technology rocks! All students in kindergarten through grade five now have a special technology class taught by Mrs. Julie Boes. Students and teachers alike love the addition of technology to the specials rotation, which includes physical education and band or music.
Boes, a teacher at Gobles for 22 years, moved from grade five to technology this school year. The goal of the new program is for students to leave elementary school as digital masters ready for learning experiences in middle school, high school, and after they leave school. “With our K-12 One to One Technology, our classrooms now extend learning beyond the four walls," she said. "In order for students to become future-ready for personal success, college and career, and the global marketplace, technology needs to be an emphasis early on." Lower Elementary students in kindergarten, first, and second grades focus on beginner skills like keyboarding, scrolling, and mouse practice. Often, the lessons are taught via computer games so students have fun and learn new skills without even realizing it, Boes said. In the Upper Elementary, students focus on 21 Things 4 Students, an online curriculum that is aligned with state, national, and international standards for technology. Students focus on everything from digital citizenship and internet safety to research strategies and presentation skills. Students are learning how to make these 21st Century tools work for them as life-long learners, Boes said. Boes invites parents to look at the work that students are doing on the K-5 Tiger Technology Website. Students and parents can access the class website and practice technology skills. The first step in celebrating a legendary teacher is to reflect on your education with the three tenets of a legendary teacher in mind:
Now, how do you act on your desire to recognize your personal teaching legend? Active - If your legendary teacher is currently teaching, reach out to them personally. Be sure to cite the specific reason that they are your legend. Inactive or Retired – Send your tribute to the principal of the school where your legendary teacher influenced you. In all of these scenarios, you are encouraged to post your legendary teacher tribute on social media. Be sure to include the all important #legendaryteacher in your posting. See our Board of Education Resolution recognizing Legendary Teacher Day here.  Left to right: Shan Huang, Eirik Eggemoen, and Sophie Sykora. Three foreign exchange students joined the Gobles High School senior class last week. Shan Huang from China, Sophie Sykora from Austria, and Eirik Eggemoen from Norway will spend the rest of the school year here.
Huang, 16, is hoping to learn more about the American sports of soccer and softball. She’s also hoping this experience will help her learn more about the United States while learning to do more on her own. “I want to be more independent and learn how to do things by myself,” she said. Huang is staying with Deb Peterson’s family. Sykora, also 16, is staying with Pam Westcott’s family. She hopes to experience the American way of life, including volleyball and cheerleading. So far, the hardest part of being a Gobles senior has been taking classes and speaking in English all the time. Eggemoen, 17, wanted to live here after a recent U.S. vacation. He hopes this experience will help him to become fluent in English. He is also playing football. He’s staying with Ann Jacus and her family, and plans to become a police officer or join the military after high school. “Having foreign exchange students attend Gobles High School allows our students to see a world beyond the borders of our town,” said Middle/High School Principal Phil McAndrew. “They get to learn about other cultures, customs, and begin to see people from all cultures as people who are not that different from us.” Gobles Public Schools is pleased to welcome eight new teachers this year. Please take a moment and get to know the newest members of Team Gobles! Elementary School  Abby Coombs Abby Coombs – 5th Grade Science and English Language Arts Mrs. Coombs is originally from England. She moved to Michigan in 2008 and graduated from Mattawan High School in 2012. She’s married to Ash, her high school sweetheart from England. Mrs. Coombs attended Western Michigan University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She’s excited to be teaching STEM and other science topics. “I love project-based learning and hands-on activities,” she said. “I hope to share my love and excitement for learning with each of my students.”  Chaley Fleetwood Chaley Fleetwood – 1st Grade Ms. Fleetwood is a 2009 graduate of Bloomingdale High School. She attended Western Michigan University where she earned her bachelor's degree in 2014. Before joining Gobles Public Schools, she taught kindergarten in Battle Creek. Ms. Fleetwood loves to travel, run, kayak, fish, ski, hike, bike, read, and bake.  Brittany Genther Brittany Genther – 4th Grade Social Studies and English Language Arts Mrs. Genther has a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a master’s from Walden University. This is her fifth year of teaching. In the past, she’s taught kindergarten and first grade. Mrs. Genther and her husband, Michael, have a one-and-a-half-year-old son and a baby on the way! The also have two spoiled beagles named Bella and Cain. In her free time, Mrs. Genther loves to go hiking, travel, read, try new places to eat and spend time with her family.  Caitlin Killeen Caitlin Killeen – 5th Grade Math and English Language Arts Miss Killeen graduated from Gobles in 2008 and then attended Central Michigan University where she earned her bachelor’s in education. She spent the last two years teaching ELA and Math at Portage North Middle School. She’s looking forward to doing everything she can to help her students become lifelong learners. Outside of school she loves spending time with family, doing outdoor activities, and playing competitive games. She also enjoys reading and is currently reading the Percy Jackson series. “I can't wait to talk about it with my students!” she said. Middle/High School  Vincent Church Vincent Church – 6-12th Grades Physical Education and Health Mr. Church is originally from Grand Junction. He attended school at Bloomingdale Public Schools where he was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, and baseball.) He graduated from Northern Michigan University where he played quarterback for the football team. After graduation, he taught in Ironwood for three years. He recently earned two master’s degrees from Western Michigan University in coaching and sport performance/sport management. While at WMU, Mr. Church was a graduate assistant and taught several courses. He’s also coached for Kalamazoo United. “I’m excited to have earned employment with an organization that promotes a positive culture,” he said.  Greg Eichler Greg Eichler – Middle School Social Studies Mr. Eichler is entering his fourth year of teaching and coaching athletics. He grew up in the metropolitan Detroit area and remained there until beginning his post-secondary education. After one year of school and football at Adrian College, and another year at a local community college, Mr. Eichler moved on to Central Michigan University where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in education. He began his teaching and coaching career in Glendale, Arizona, where he took up residence for three years. While there, he taught middle school English Language Arts and Social Studies and coached football and basketball. In his free time, Mr. Eichler enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching football, fishing, lifting weights, reading, and enjoying all that the great state of Michigan has to offer.  Heather Rhodes Heather Rhodes – 6th Grade Social Studies and English Language Arts Mrs. Rhodes graduated from Ferris State University with a major in History education and minor in English in 2013. In 2014, she joined the Gobles staff where she worked as a paraprofessional for two years. In January of 2016, she accepted a long-term substitute position teaching 7-9 grades History and English. Mrs. Rhodes and her husband, Brandon have a one-year-old son. She loves playing sports and her favorite is softball. “I do hope to coach in the near future, as I have always had that desire,” she said. She also enjoys reading, being on the lake, and spending time with family.  Hilary Trojniak Hilary Trojniak – 7th Grade Math, 8th Grade Earth Science, and Principles of Engineering Mrs. Trojniak was raised in the small, beautiful, lakeshore town of Ludington. She now lives outside of Kalamazoo with her husband. After graduating from Grand Valley State University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Earth Science and Math for Secondary Education, she taught math, science, and engineering in a small school near Lansing for two years, and middle school math in Battle Creek the following year. Mrs. Trojniak has a great passion for family, teaching, having a positive influence in students' lives, and the outdoors. “I am excited and thankful for the places my life is bringing me,” she said. |