"@OkemosLax It's already on our agenda to discuss at the district level " Previously, different variations of the O were being used. 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. I certainly knew there was the potential for turnover.. LANSING Students once again filled the Okemos High School halls with chatter and laughter, nearly bringing Christine Sermak to tears. Well, OHS was a mess. You appear to understand a lot approximately this, such as you wrote the ebook in it or I started my career teaching at Okemos High School in 1994 which was the very first year this building opened so I spent ten years as a teacher in the building, and then this is my eleventh year as the building principal. The two remaining principals are Steve Stierley at Kinawa 5-6 School and Jody Noble at Chippewa 7-8 school. It is more of a tough looking, non-wimpy script, Sermak said. Since OHS is a public school, only students who reside within the borders of the Okemos School District, or students accepted through the school of choice application process, may attend OHS. The school offers programs in art, athletics, choir, journalism and orchestra. Principal: Christine Sermak. Course Guide, Master Schedule, Student Handbook, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Join the discussion, Playing Nov. 3-10: East Lansing Film Festivals silver anniversary. blog. I really do hope everything is solved by next year; next year is my senior year and I've yet to have a normal year of high school so I can only hope! However, hes already hirednew principals for Okemos High School, Hiawatha Elementary and Cornell Elementary. Every job has its downsides, and heres what Sermak had to say when asked what she would miss the least. Hood said they're working to fill the positions as. The Lansing State Journal adds: "I spent 21 years at Okemos High School as a teacher, varsity basketball coach, advisor to extra curricular activities and most . Created the Okemos High School Hall of Fame. I'd say that the beginning of most of these problems started after principal Christine Sermak retired at the end of last year. These films range from comedies to dramas to long and short films. JRN@MSU Code of Ethics A strong pool of candidates remains for the Okemos Montessori and Bennett Woods jobs, he said. 2023 www.lansingstatejournal.com. OHS Parent Group Agenda Wednesday, April 21, 2021 9am Zoom Meeting Join Zoom Meeting. It was hard for over a year to not have interactions [with students]. Thats why Amelia Rudolph, a junior, returned for in-person learning at Okemos High School on Monday. Christine Sermak, principal of OHS, said that she strives to overcome any trial and tribulation that may come her way and will continue to offer students and faculty with the ideal learning and working domain. Write A Review Gloria Rozeboom Be the first to leave a review! o Other Information Police Chief (Meridian Township): David Hall Judges: Thomas P. Boyd & Donald J. Allen Jr. Posted in . Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. About 70%of families wanted their children to return to school, she said. Advertisement. Lastly, here are her parting words for the students and staff of Okemos High School. The morning had the excitement of the first day of school as students greeted each other and walked inside. (Class of '65, Oct. 2015, and Class of '67, June 2017, 50th Reunion). And thanks to all teachers who put in countless hours as well. Mobile Reporting Kit Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Contact Information. This was not how Sermak had originally planned to end her career at OHS. I can't say that COVID helped retain employees and I think you're seeing some of those trends in other districts and other, you know, occupations as well, nationally, Hood said. Asst. For reservation or more information on banquet room contact Henry by phone: 517-449-2580 or email: [email protected]. I was at Williamson Middle School for six years as an assistant principal and athletic director in between that, Sermak said. Content is produced by MSU students under the guidance of journalism faculty. 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. Michigan Princess Dinner/Dance Recommended by Class of '65, 2023. Dates seem a bit off though, was the issue from Jan 2021 or starting now in Jan 2022? Principal: Steve Delp. 7:30 PM-9:15 PM Hiawatha Elementary - Library. Hood said the principal position for the high school has already been filled. Just Lansing School District remains online only; its return to classroom learning is set forMarch 22. Sophomores: 324. It has dealt with many cases similar to Okemos High Schools, usually in the defense of Native American tribes. So you want to make a news show? The principals of Okemos High School, Christine Sermak, Hiawatha Elementary, Julie Bellinger, and Cornell Elementary, Tara Fry, are all retiring. Lease to Own Option 2 Take 25% off and pay $59,916 USD once. Newsroom Calendar Hood was not necessarily surprised by the exodus of principals from Okemos. Spartan Newsroom Some students and community members seem to say it switched a few years ago. Okemos put in measures that Lindsey Korb, a junior,thinks will keep students safe, but now its up to students like her to do their part. The bus picked up people at the hotels, toured the old neighborhoods, drove to lunch, drove to the school tours, drove to an open house and finally to and from the Excursion Princess Dinner/dance. I think I will miss the positive aspects of Okemos which truly are the people, Sermak said. "We have seven buildings and we have five principals leaving us.. That's where the description of the YouTube video comes in, so I'll just quote it here: On December 17, 2021, Okemos High School administration released an email saying that to increase student safety and due to recent events, backpacks will no longer be permitted in classrooms starting second semester. Freshmen: 308. Tyler Bailey, a sophomore at Okemos, is indifferent on the mascot issue. JRN@MSU Code of Ethics "I can give a sneak preview," Sermak said. A subreddit for the Greater Lansing (Michigan) Community, Press J to jump to the feed. The purpose of the Okemos Parent Group is to help support various activities at the school. To address the tired and worn out myth of the sinking school. If you see your name among the Okemos High School graduates, someone is looking for you! Probably the hours. 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. Call 888-694-6735 Domain for Sale Sermak.com $79,888 USD Take Advantage of Our Special Limited Time Offer! After extensive backlash from students, parents, staff, and the community as a whole, the Okemos administration will still begin enforcing that rule on January 24, claiming it increases school safety. Its A-wing and each wing of the high school is set on its own foundation. Megan SampVoters at the Hannah Community Center share why voting matters to them. Megan SampTickets can be bought online or at Studio C in Okemos. The Okemos High School's principal on Monday. Okemos Public Montessori at Central ; Wardcliff Elementary ; Kinawa Grades 6-8 1968-95 ; Kinawa Grades 5-6 1995- Chippewa Grades 7-8 1995- High School . Even after dozens of emails, discussions, board debates, and plenty of media exposure, the administration has yet to provide sufficient reasoning as to how exactly keeping backpacks in lockers improves school safety. The ten choices were suggested by the Okemos community and alumni in a community survey which were sorted through by the student mascot committee. Contact Mark Johnson at 517-377-1026 or [email protected]. Mario Migaldi, an Okemos senior, was eager to return to school, see his friends and enjoy his last few months of high school. "I can give a sneak preview," Sermak said. It is similar to the Oregon O with script through it similar to the Kansas City Chiefs.. Big private dining room, check in reception and audio/video set up. The report was a hoax. I dont know what I will do, but you will not find me in a cubicle, you will not find me as a greeter. As Okemos High School is trying to adapt to the changed logo, Sermak is trying to bring the city together by having a consistent design for the new one. To find a solution for better safety, the school needs to start the process properly from the beginning, with public comment and school board discussions working to find a real solution that benefits everybody. (Class of '65, Oct. 2015, and Class of '67, June 2017, 50th Reunion), Henry Kwok, Owner-Okemos Alumni Class of 2003, 4926 Marsh Road., Okemos, MI 48864. 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. Palasty is leaving after 14 years for a new position with. 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. Students will still have access to their backpacks during passing time, increasing hallway traffic, a time when the most students would be vulnerable to potential violence. Like Rudolph, most students at Eaton Rapids Public Schools wanted to come back to school. I love to read so I will read, I will work out, and then Im not really sure. However, our intentions do not have the power to change the way it may make a certain person or people feel about it., Another teacher at Okemos High, Dean Buggia, says it all comes down to perspective., The logo that was being used did not accurately depict a chief from (the) central Michigan (region), Buggia said. Created with. 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. Okemos High School. Write A Review Jason Saros Christine Sermak M in 2016 was employed in Okemos Public Schools and had a reported pay of $426 according to public records. Address: 2800 Jolly Rd, Okemos, MI 48864 Principal: Christine Sermak Number of students: 1,267 (2015-2016) District: Okemos Public Schools Color: . Along with the five principals the district is also losing eight teachers and one counselor. Key Data. Fast-forward to the end of October. Christine Sermak is graduating from her time as Okemos High School's Principal with the class of 2021. We werent allowed to put it (the Chieftain Head) on any uniforms or any of our sweats that we would buy anymore.. Most of all its probably the negativity. Red Cedar 7th Grade Boys Basketball-Aktulga. OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL 2800 Jolly Rd Okemos 517-706-4900 Christine Sermak Principal Andrea Hallead Associate Principal Lamanzer Williams Assistant Principal Brian Fuller Athletic Director CHIPPEWA 7-8 . The principals of Okemos High School, Christine Sermak, Hiawatha Elementary, Julie Bellinger, and Cornell Elementary, Tara Fry, are all retiring. Okemos, Michigan. Sermak said, the new logo was designed by an Okemos High alumnus who is a professional graphic artist in New York.. Street . I dont see anybody, except for my inner group,(I am) wearing a mask at all times andnot taking it down or anything like that.. Okemos High School is a public high school in Okemos, Michigan, USA. Want to see more local news? Okemos High School 2800 Jolly Road Okemos, MI 48864 January 4, 2021 Dear Parents/Guardians and Community Members: We are pleased to present you with the Annual Education Report (AER) which provides key . Another interesting part of the Okemos logo change seems to be the timetable on the logo switch. OKEMOS, Mich. (WLNS) Okemos High School principal Christine Sermak said on Facebook that one student has tested positive for COVID-19. And, Im excited to find some balance and have a lot less emails.. Even with the drawbacks, she had overwhelmingly positive things to say about the position and the Okemos community. It still is. Okemos, MI 48864 Principle: Christine Sermak Okemos High School (517) 706-4902 [email protected] Facility Coordinator: Cathy McKenna 517-706-5032 [email protected] Athletic Director: Brian Fuller 517-706-4930 [email protected] It gives me hope for our future. But he doesn't believe that's the sole cause. Big private dining room, check in reception and audio/video set up. Some are teachers, counselors, and even school principals. Okemos High School is part of the Okemos Public Schools district in Ingham County. LANSING Students once again filled the Okemos High School halls with chatter and laughter, nearly bringingChristineSermak to tears. Okemos Public Montessori at Central Principal Shannon Nedds will be moving out of the state and Bennett Woods Principal Noelle Palasty will be changing careers. Reviews, hours, contact info, directions and more. Youre transforming educational expectations with cleaning, with mask-wearing, Stewart said. Stewart said the district is ready to shut down a classroom or adjust academic schedules if needed. Though some may assume alumni would be upset about the logo change, the principal disagrees. Hood sent an email with a list of over 20 employees leaving the district. "At our next board meeting, I will be presenting to our committee, standardizing our logo." Sermak went more in-depth than just the idea, though. As much as the teachers try to open it up, its just really not conducive to the normal question-and-answer environment in the classroom.. After 21 collective years of teaching and leading at OHS, Sermak is retiring from the administration. RU; DE; ES; FR; . Date Created: 1993-01-01T00:00:00Z Data Provider: Capital Area District Library (Lansing, MI). 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 . (LogOut/ Megan SampVoters at the Hannah Community Center share why voting matters to them. "It's OK to be a geek or nerd here. I remember when Okemos High School was THE pinnacle of all the high schools in the area. Basically, we went from having two great school leaders last year to having three mediocre administrators now that don't really know what they're doing. Posted on December 18, 2010 by altr3. Looking forward, Sermak has hopeful prospects for the future of OHS. I'm also bummed that Christine Sermak retired last year. I think it was freshmen year, but they really started enforcing it my sophomore year, Robinson said. Not being able to ask questions directly to her teachers made learning difficult for Rudolph. Is it true that they want students to use clear bags as alternatives to backpacks? There were a few other inconveniences that happened because of them, but overall students came to accept it and know that there would most likely be a new principal next year and things would eventually return to normal since it seemed like the worst of the administration failures so far this year had already passed. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines, and Daily Forecasts. Zipcode 48864: Phone (517) 706-4900: School Website okemosk12.net/Domain/14: Principal or Headmaster Christine Sermak: Registered Administrator; First Name Academically speaking, you can't get much better than Okemos Public Schools. I know I have a lot of energy left, a lot of positivity that I want to share with others, so I definitely will do something with people. The Okemos Public Schools has had some administrative turnover at the end of the school year, in terms of our principal leadership," said Okemos Superintendent John Hood. Hedlun Walton, counselor at OHS, has been working at the school since 2002. And even though clear backpacks would be somewhat of a pain and are kind of weird, I think it would be a lot better than the "solution" they have right now, both in terms of convenience and safety. The Okemos Chiefs face a name change 30 years in the making, 'Chiefs' no more: Okemos school board votes to nix nickname, adopt replacement by 2023, Now hiring: Greater Lansing school districts trying to fill 87 teaching vacancies, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. As an English teacher, I never thought I would miss grading essays, but my first year [in the administration] I would have loved to read a Huck Finn essay, Sermak said. Okemos High School 2800 Jolly Road Okemos MI, 48864. Sermak, Bellinger and Fry are all retiring, while Nedds will leave Michigan with her family after 16 years in Okemos schools. It's celebrated and expected," said Okemos Principal Christine Sermak. "He's amazing,'' said Principal Christine Sermak. Report Bullying at Okemos High School in Okemos, MI directly to the school safely and anonymously. Sermak hopes the school will embrace the standardized logo. Superintendent of Okemos schools Cheryl Kreger Hood said he believes COVID could have been a contributing factor to the turnover. It's a plane! Cydne Robinson, a junior at Okemos and varsity softball member, said she thought it was two years ago. Okemos High School Principal Christine Sermak is retiring. No, it's Sarina's Superheroes! 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