This Week in the Ann Arbor Public Schools
June 17, 2005

Final Edition for the
2004-2005 School Year

This Week's Good News!

• Congratulations to everyone on the completion of another school year.  May I speak for everyone and just say that working in education is always interesting, exciting, challenging, unpredictable and never boring?  It's the time of year when we all are looking forward to some rest and rejuvenation.  I wish you all a peaceful and rejuvenating summer vacation.
• Congratulations to Huron Junior Patrick Julius, son of Jo (Lakewood) and Doug (Huron) Julius, who has just published his first book.  It is a serious work entitles "Special Relativity from the Ground Up."  A thorough but enjoyable study of Special Relativity, from its initial postulates all the way up to the world famous E=mc2. Designed to be easy to understand, but also complete in explaining and deriving. Readers should have basic understanding of physics and algebra, but need not be familiar with advanced math or Special Relativity.  Anniversary edition: Published one hundred years after Einstein's paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies," to the month.  For more information visit:  www.lulu.com/content/131604
• For the first time student jewelry artists were invited to submit entries into an exhibit of professional jewelers, Jewelry + Objects, sponsored by the University Metal Instructors and the Michigan Silversmith's Guild.  This is a juried event and participants have to go through a careful selection process based on excellence in design and technical mastery.  Pioneer student Fan Zhang won the Eastern Silversmiths Guild Student Award and had another entry selected for the exhibit as well.  Several other Pioneer students have their work featured:  Ysabel White, Dan Canto (two entries), Emma Spitzley, Alexandra Dietz, Danny Rinkowski, Caitlin Burke and Emily Cox.  The exhibit is on display through June 25, 2005, at the Ann Arbor Art Center.
• Fine Arts Coordinator Lynda Berg was recognized by Lester P. Monts, University of Michigan Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Senior Counselor to the President for the Arts, Diversity and Undergraduate Affairs and Professor of Music, for her leadership in launching the "Expressions of Diversity" arts contest.  Student artwork was featured at the University's conference, "Futuring Diversity," in May.  Mr. Monts writes, "The arts are an invaluable tool for revealing the richness of our differences, for building community across diverse groups of people and for deepening understanding of our shared and unique qualities.  In processing the conference evaluations, we have been pleased to discover that many participants have cited the arts (including the K-12 art display) as being one of the most meaningful elements of the entire conference.   Thank you for the countless ways that you and your colleagues assisted with this event."
• Forsythe teacher Angela Newing received a very nice letter from the parents of two of her students.  "Thank you so very much for all that you have done to help Lisa and Peter to grow this year.  They will never forget Algebra A/B or the wonderful teacher they had.  You have taught them how to take notes, prepare for tests, work cooperatively with others, face challenges, meet deadlines, assume responsibilities, cope with disasters, appreciate successes, take risks, stretch their minds, communicate with teachers, and, yes, even a whole lot of algebra!  We have been dazzled since day one with the clarity of your instruction and the high expectations you have for your students.  We know Lisa and Peter will continue to benefit from lessons they learned from you as they face the challenges that lie ahead in high school and college.  You have given them a taste of what to expect, and have helped them to discover ways to dig deeper within themselves to meet ever increasing challenges.  We are grateful.  Thank you for being a teacher.  Thank you for teaching our kids.  We will be forever grateful for the way that you have touched their lives."

Condolences

..To Claudia Siewert, Tappan, on the death of her mother-in-law.

You and your family are in our thoughts at this difficult time.