Grand Marais Schools

Friday, September 9, 2011, the Grand Marais Polar Bears’ Soccer team filed onto the home field full of determination and high spirits. They had two victories under their belts, having defeated Beaver Island  on the 26th and 27th of August. While the Bears played to win, they lacked the experience to walk away with the victory. Coach Warren Scaife believes that the team played with heart and, with more practice, they will come together. We look forward to watching the team mature and expect a great season. GO BEARS!!!!

The 18th Basket

Grab your discs and head out to the School Forest because Superior Pines is open…unofficially….we will have our Grand Opening ceremony on July 30th. We hope to see you at the Grand Opening, we will have a 50/50 raffle, brats and hotdogs, cold refreshments and a great time.

Although the course is open and ready for use, it is still a little in the rough, so bring some close toed shoes and pick up a few sticks as you play. So come and enjoy the Upper Peninsula’s first professional quality disc golf course!

Directions: Enter Grand Marais and head East on H-58. After 3 to 4 miles, turn left into the School Forest and then left onto Superior Pines (road before the bridge). Park past the chimney and look for post hole #1 and our coming soon trailhead kiosk.

Hope to see you out there!

The 13th Basket

Preliminary measurements over Creek

This year’s project wrapped up a two-year goal, which was to build a bridge over 1^st Creek, better connecting the Donahey Woods with the National Park, and also to move the bench that blocked the Donahey trail from the stairs.  The second phase of this project will begin next year as we clear trail and make a trailhead sign for the trail we will extend along the ridge from 1^st Creek to Sable Falls.

We started this project and school year studying bridges, and to highlight this, we took a field trip to the Mackinac Bridge to study the innovation and ingenuity that went into that local landmark. Kim Nowack, the chief engineer of the bridge, gave us a presentation on the aerodynamic features of the bridge that allow it to withstand the strong winds over the lakes.  While the rest of the school toured the underbelly of the bridge, Rachel Bodak and Kelcie Lundquist won (through an essay contest) the chance to view the bridge from the top of the towers, needless to say, an opportunity of a lifetime for all involved.

Then on Martin Luther King Day, the majority of the students pulled two telephone poles (thanks for the donation Chris Siegwart) from the end of the Point to the top of the Donahey Woods. Although there was much nay saying and doubt about whether or not we would be able to move the poles without modern machinery, the students worked together and showed the power of teamwork.

We then went about the equally challenging task of getting the state on board with our project as we collectively filled out a permit with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment…which was denied. So we reapplied and redesigned our bridge, drawing it to scale multiple times, and in the process the students got a couple of really good lessons on Bureaucracies and red tape.

Finally, on the last day of school we set out to build our bridge and move the bench on the stairs to ‘open’ the Donahey trail. I had my own doubts on whether we would be able to finish both tasks in one day, and I was also really worried that mosquitoes might carry one of the students away. Luckily though, it was a cooler day with a strong west wind and despite working over a swamp for the day, I didn’t hear anybody complain about a bug bite.  As the teams of students set about their individual tasks to aid the entire group, the sound of “One, two three, PULL” resonated through the woods.  Through teamwork and cooperation, both the bridge and bench were completed and we walked back to school patting each other’s backs saying our good-byes for the summer.

Teamwork

Moving a bench

Not only does this new bridge add to our town’s list of assets, but it also helped us build up one of our most important assets, the young people of this town.  We hope you will check our bridge out and enjoy the hike on the other side, it is breathtaking….in more than one way!

Haulin' wood

Bridge inspectors

As many of you know, Governor Snyder’s 2011 budget recommendations call for a 5% across the board cut to education in Michigan. Obviously all schools across the state will be affected in a negative way by these cuts. Unfortunately for Burt Township School, the recommended cuts include our 22d (“Saving Paradise”) money. This money currently represents 21% of our operating budget and it is unknown how we would cut enough from our expenditures to remain a viable school. Please help us in our fight to keep our school funding at a sustainable level.

The 22d fund is meant primarily to help 5 schools, Burt Township, Whitefish Township, Beaver Island, Detour and Mackinac Island stay open as the schools are the only option for education in their communities. Grand Marais  students, in particular, would be faced with a 60 mile bus ride without our local school open and running. Is that really an option the state advocates for our kids?

Please click on the following links for more information and to see what you can do to help save our school in these difficult times.

Thank you for all of your support and GO BEARS!

Letter to community
State Budget Talking Points
Sample letter to reps
Contact list

Elementary Students Climbing

The Rock Climbing Wall serves as a great teaching aid, classroom motivator and has helped to improve overall student performance.  In most classes, students must earn Climbing Points with good behavior and by completing in-class and homework activities.  When the class acquires enough points, they earn a fifteen-minute session in the Climbing Room.  This reward system has helped many students that typically would struggle to complete assignments, to complete them regularly.  Students have also begun to peer-pressure each other into behaving properly, and working, in order to earn the Climbing Points.  The Rock Climbing Wall also provides a quick source of exercise that can be used at any time when students need to get some blood and energy moving.  With many courses it also serves as a great review area for vocabulary and content where the teacher will call out a vocabulary word or question as students climb and they give the definition or answer.  The physical activity, coupled with the pleasant experience and higher levels of oxygen circulating in their brains has caused a noticeable increase in their vocabulary and information retention.

The Rock Climbing Wall has also been a great aid in developing positive physical fitness habits and it has helped to combat childhood obesity.  Rock climbing is a sport that, while improving agility and physical dexterity, also allows a participant to reach the maximum heart rate in a matter of minutes.  This occurs because the heart must work hard to pump blood to muscles in the arms that are being held above head level and working hard to hold the weight of the body against the wall while fighting the forces of gravity.  It also greatly improves overall body coordination and provides students with a non-competitive activity that improves their self-confidence. Rock climbing is an activity that young people excel at, and after a few times of practice their bodies learn how to move more agilely.  Within a few weeks, students realize an improvement in their endurance, strength and overall climbing ability. Of course, it is also fun and the students really enjoy ‘playing’ on the wall.

A hearty “Thank You” goes out to all of the Grand Marais community members who supported the Outdoor Adventure Club with this project. It would not have been possible without your support!

Students hard at work in beginning stages

-Mr. Prill

Hello everyone, just wanted to let you know that our disc golf course has made the front page of the Professional Disc Golf Associations website, check it out at www.pdga.com. Also, the baskets have arrived….and are taking up all my basement space….now we are only waiting for the snow to melt…..it could be a while…

Petroglyphs on Rock State Park Island in Lake Michigan

Mr.Prill

1st Creek Bridge and Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In commemoration with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we Polar Bears had a pleasant male bonding experience and also began the first step towards completing this years service learning project.

We drug two telephone poles from the Point all the way to the end of Woodland Park where they will wait for the next step of the project. Once the snow melts phase two will begin and we will move the poles down into the Donahey Woods to 1st Creek. We will then use part of the poles for the sills on each side of the creek, then the two poles will lay across the creek resting on the sills, and the bridge will be covered with 2×6 decking.

Although there was much belly aching about moving the poles using man power…and quite a bit of doubt that we could actually do it….the students made small work of the task once they started. All said and done, the two poles were drug about two miles in under 3 hours.  Everyone involved was impressed with their work and how easy it was to drag the poles that weighed in at about 700 pounds. It truly showed the power of community and what we can accomplish when we work together in a coordinated manner.

The overall goal of this project is to help the Township better develop its hiking trails in hopes that it helps the Town’s tourism industry. Once the bridge is completed the school will begin working with National Park Rangers to improve the trails leading from 1st Creek to Sable Falls and the Grand Sable Dunes.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” The students attending Grand Marais High School answered that question by honoring King’s celebrated birthday with a day of service. The 7th through 12th graders cheerfully braved frigid temperatures and sometimes driving snow to give back to a generous community.

The students got an early start and divided into two groups. The boys drug two telephone sized poles about a mile and a half for an ongoing bridge building project meant to serve hikers in the area. The girls borrowed numerous shovels and cleared

Miranda Potter

Many shovels make light work

walks, driveways, porches and steps for members of the community. Smiles, waves and friendly words made it obvious that the community appreciated the students’ efforts.

2010 K-12 Christmas Program

Superior Pines Disc Golf Course, the Upper Peninsulas first professional quality disc golf course is one big step closer to completion. With generous monetary support from Burt Township as well as the Grand Marais Chamber of Commerce, SPDGC was awarded a 2% Funding Request Grant from the Sault Tribe of Chippewa.  Although the total amount awarded has not yet been disclosed, Burt Township Schools would like to thank the Sault Tribe for their generosity.

Throughout the fall school year, students in Outdoor Woodshop began the first steps of opening the course by clearing the holes and trails of brush.  The next phase will begin this spring as Woodshop class students make the signs to be used on the course.  The real grit and hard work of placing baskets and posts will begin in the summer and the course will be complete and open to the public in mid August. Be sure and check our website for updates on this exciting project and bring your discs with you next time you come vistit!  And again, thank you Burt Township, Grand Marais Chamber of Commerce and Sault Tribe of Chippewa for your support, this project would not be possible with out it.             -Mr. Prill