Comet Comments—
Coloma High School Newsletter
September 2015
Principal, Mr. David Ehlers
MISSION STATEMENT:
We are dedicated to fostering pride in the school, the community and nourishing a positive
self-image for every student. Our belief is that all students can and will learn best when
excellence is expected; educational achievement will be obtained only when students are
encouraged and challenged to attain this excellence.
FROM THE DESK
OF
PRINCIPAL,
DAVID A. EHLERS
The school year is in full swing as we just had
one of the most participated and exciting spirit
weeks in recent times followed by a pep assembly
in which the entire junior high attended! Unfortunately the football team was not able
to secure a win on Homecoming night. They
fought valiantly, played a great game, and showed
how far they have come in a short time.
I would like to provide some clarification to
our attendance policy as I have had a few questions. A student has 8 “free” absences each class,
each semester. While absences may be excused,
they still count towards the total. There are some
extreme reasons why absences might not count
towards the total but they are rare. I ask that you
not schedule appointments during school or allow
your child to miss unless it is extremely important
or necessary (very sick) as being in school is very
important! If your student does exceed the absence limit, s/he will have to make up time in after
school detention of Saturday School per the student handbook or credit will be withheld. Please
refer to pages 10 and 11 of the student handbook
for more clarification. Questions may be directed
to the high school office.
GO COMETS!!
COUNSELOR’S CORNER
PSAT TESTING
Juniors can take the PSAT/NMSQT
test Wednesday, October 14th in the
high school auditorium. The NMSQT
part of this exam is the National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test for the
National Merit Scholarship Program.
They can only qualify for the National
Merit by taking this exam in their junior year.
Cost: $15.00
Place: Coloma High School
Date: Wednesday, October 14
Time: 7:50 a.m.—11:15 a.m.
YOU MUST SIGN UP IN THE
HIGH SCHOOL OFFICE BEFORE
OCTOBER 9TH.
REMINDER TO PARENTS: All of
the COLLEGE BULLETINS (CB’S)
that are given to seniors and juniors in
their English classes throughout the
year are also published online on the
Coloma High website. This year we
will also be sending them to your email address through the instant alert
system
— Mrs. Fran Megyese
VISION:
TOGETHER…..
STRIVING AND
WORKING FOR
EXCELLENCE IN
EDUCATION
UPCOMING DATES
October 7
Count Day— Please
make sure your
child is in
attendance!
October 9
High School
Progress Reports
e-mailed to parents
Comet Comments—September 2015
MATH DEPARTMENT NEWS
by Mrs. Cari Houston
The ancient Greeks are known for their constructions of geometric figures. These are important because precise measuring devices were
not available in ancient times. Today, as in the
time of the Greek geometers, a construction is still
produced using only a straightedge and a compass.
The compass nor the straightedge has a measurement scale. Therefore, in this activity students
will learn how to construct lines, segments and
angles by making arcs and circles. They will also
use constructions to determine certain properties
of geometric figures.
Constructions have many practical applications
in the real world such as dress designers, carpenters, and architects must know how to copy and
bisect angles and segments.
Comet Marching Band Places 1st at Grand Haven Invitational
by Mrs. Cheryl Thomas
On September 26th our marching band traveled
to Grand Haven for their Marching Band invitational. Out of 4 total bands in Class C, Coloma placed
first and earned additional awards for Best Marching, Best Percussion, and Best Color Guard.
We travel to the Hastings Marching Band Invitational on October 3rd and we perform at 6 p.m. On
October 7th, we travel to Paw Paw Middle School
to Participate in MSBOA District 6 Marching Band
Festival and we perform at 7 p.m. There are entry
fees for Hastings and Paw Paw. Our last performance of the Pirate show is October 16th at the last
home football game.
Holding the awards are Drum Majors Alexis Ludwig and
Sydney Miller and Color Guard Captain Emma Tavolacci
Pictured (l-r):
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Comet Comments—September 2015
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
by Mrs. Elaine Moore
Financial Literacy is an important and necessary skill set for high school students. Students in Financial
Management at Coloma High School are being taught how to manage their finances through Dave Ramsey’s
Foundations in Personal Finance curriculum, generously sponsored by Fifth Third Bank. The curriculum
teaches teens how to avoid debt, save intentionally and spend wisely. Since 2010, the Bank has helped educate more than 600,000 students on its way to educating one million students by spring of 2017. Through
Fifth Third’s sponsorship, we are able to give students the tools they need to succeed financially in life.
H&R Block is also a sponsor of Virtual Business Personal Finance online. Students learn key personal
financial skills and demonstrate competence in an online simulated work. They learn skills such as: Budgeting & Saving; Choosing & Balancing a Checking Account; Fixing Your Credit; Paying Taxes; Finding a Job;
and Investing for Retirement.
STUDENTS “DIG”
WORLD HISTORY
This fall students got down and dirty in World History and got a feel for what challenges historians
have putting together the mysteries of our past. Mr. Marfia brought in artifacts from his past and had
students study them and try to put together his past. They were not allowed to use firsthand accounts from
what they heard Mr. Marfia tell them about his past. They had to only use what they uncovered. It
demonstrated for the students how things can make sense with their schema (prior knowledge) but not be
correct. That is why many things in history we believe today may be found incorrect later when further
research is done. Many students were stumped by the Manistee Football helmet that Mr. Marfia has that
looks just like a Michigan helmet. Upon careful research and the uncovering of more artifacts students
could place Mr. Marfia at Manistee and see their colors were blue and gold.
Many historians have to be part detective and part researcher. It is amazing what you can discover
when you are willing to dig into the history of our world.
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Comet Comments—September 2015
COLOMA HIGH SCHOOL IS A
CERTIPORT AUTHORIZED TESTING CENTER
by Mrs. Elaine Moore
Certiport and Microsoft have partnered with
the state of Michigan to help students develop
technology skills through the Microsoft IT Academy program and earn industry recognized certifications that prepare them for college and a career.
Coloma High School has been named a Certiport Authorized Testing Center (CATC) and will
offer the globally recognized Microsoft Office
Specialist certification exams to their students in
Business, Finance, and/or IT classes. CATCs are
the only authorized distributors of Certiport offerings. In today’s digital economy, colleges and employers are looking for talented individuals who
can prove they possess basis IT and application
knowledge. Certiport’s certification portfolio prepares students for further studies and builds resumes.
What is Microsoft Office Specialist Certification? Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification is the premier credential chosen by individuals
seeking to validate their skills and advance their
careers. Students at CHS will be working on individual MOS certification for PowerPoint, Word,
and/or Excel. Students can work independently in
class and advance to the MOS Expert certifications
in Word and Excel.
Benefits of a student having MOS certification
include: achieving industry-recognized certification, boosting their resume, differentiating themselves from other applicants, heighten earning potential, and preparing for a successful future.
To learn more about Certiport and certification
offerings go to certiport.com
Choir Fundraiser
October 17
“ N ight at the Café ”
High School Cafeteria - 7 p.m.
CHOIR CONCERT
October 29
High School Auditorium
6 pm — Grades 6—8
7 pm—Grades 9-12
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Comet Comments—September 2015
The Cup Stacking Challenge
by Mrs. Tonya Kimmerly
Welcome back students and staff! The beginning of
the year is full of questionnaires, policies and procedures. Earth Science teacher, Mrs. Kimmerly, took a
different approach with the first day activities. Students
were divided into groups and given a seemingly simple
task: create a pyramid by stacking plastic drinking cups.
The trick was they were not allowed to use their hands!
Teams were first asked to brainstorm what makes teams
successful. Then the students completed the challenge
using a rubber band and strings to move the cups from a
single stack of 6, into a 3-2-1 pyramid, and back into a
single stack. After the activity, they were asked to reflect on their successes and challenges within their team.
What things worked well? What things didn’t? Their
ideas were then used to create our classroom expectations. The Cup Challenge was a nice way to get the students working together and communicating. What a
great start to the year! Hope your year is off to a good
start as well !
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Comet Comments—September 2015
CHS Automotive Technology—A Berrien County CTE Program
The Automotive Technology Program at Coloma
High School has mostly completed the introductory safety training and students now know how to lift Automobiles with a variety of lifting systems. Our next major
course of study will be tire service and repair as well as
Oil Changes and the science behind how engine oil
works in the modern engine.
Your automotive program at Coloma High School is
accredited by the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation or NATEF in Maintenance and
Light Repair. This is a division of Automotive Service
Excellence or ASE the national non profit that certifies
Automotive Technicians in the United States and many
other countries. Our students have the opportunity to become ASE certified their senior year in up to 9 certification areas. Student certification is good for 3 years and is
non renewable. It is intended as an entry level certification to bridge the gap until they have 2 years of experience and can take the full blown ASE certification exams.
The automotive program at Coloma High School also
competes each year in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge. Click here for more information. In this
competition a team of 5 students competes against the
clock to tear down and rebuild a Chevy Small Block engine. The top teams in each region go to the nationals
where they compete for full ride scholarships to the top
Automotive and Diesel Schools in the country.
As the year progresses we will be learning how to
Perform Wheel Alignments and Brake service as well as
a myriad of other repair and diagnostic procedures. If any
parent has a question about their child's education in this
course feel free to email me at rransom@ccs.coloma.org
Ryan Ransom CHS Automotive Technology Instructor
Master ASE Certified and MLR Certified.
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Comet Comments—September 2015
HOMECOMING COURT 2015 !!!
PICTURED L-R:
Front Row—
Brett Bullock
Sabrina Ball
Courtney Kroschel
Gabby Gordon
Emma Tavolacci
Back Row,—
Temarreyeh Hardin
Kevin Clark
Chase Potter
Ashley Sipla
Not Pictured:
Anthony Adkins
AND THE WINNERS ARE………
Congratulations!!
Sabrina
and
Chase
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Comet Comments—September 2015
COLOMA HIGH SCHOOL
SEPTEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH !!
Congratulations to:
(l-r) Senior—, Junior—,
Sophomore—, Freshman—
Coloma High School
“Home of the Comets”
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
OCTOBER 31
DON’T FORGET TO SET YOUR
CLOCKS !
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