This free camp, set to run for five days from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., is being sponsored by the DPS Foundation in conjunction with the Sodexo Powerlink Partnership, which handles facilities for the school district.

Students must attend all five days of the camp—featuring daily basketball activities, mentoring, goal setting and life skills—and parents are responsible for transportation.

Camp participants will be selected by the Gregory Kelser Basketball Camp in partnership with Winning Futures and will be based upon application responses to essay questions, transportation commitment and administrator comments. Students will be notified if they have been accepted.

Kelser, the Detroit Pistons’ basketball television analyst for Fox Sports Detroit, is a graduate of Detroit Henry Ford High School, a former Pistons’ top draft pick and 1979 NCAA champion and All-American at Michigan State University.

Download the Greg Kelser Winning Futures Basketball Camp application

The goal behind the event was to promote a drug-free educational experience and highlight construction/engineering careers as an option for students once they graduate from high school.

Students in grades 7-12, who have signed a drug-free pledge, attended the event to engage in hands-on masonry, carpentry and electrical work, and were able to operate heavy construction equipment.

The students rotated through various skilled trade sessions including electronics, HVAC, carpentry, masonry and plumbing.

Students also viewed displays and demonstrations of engineering excellence, and performed skits that highlight a drug-free theme.

 Construction Science Expo Coalition Members

• American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan
• American Society of Civil Engineers Michigan Chapter
• Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan
• Michigan Concrete Association
• Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association
• Michigan Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust Funds
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324  

Construction Science Expo Sponsors

• Michigan Department of Transportation
• The Black Caucus Foundation
• Michigan Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust Funds
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324
• Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association
• Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan
• Michigan Concrete Association
• American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan
• American Society of Civil Engineers Michigan Chapter

A new governing council for DSA, which is expected to lead to significant joint ventures and unprecedented opportunities for DSA students, include representatives from the Detroit Arts Corridor Organization, the University of Michigan School of Education and Hudson-Webber Foundation.  Partners include the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Sphinx Organization, Mosaic Youth Theater, and University Musical Society.

This is the first governing council named as part of a broader initiative by DPS to have highly qualified and committed citizens and parents serving on new councils of an initial cohort of 10 DPS Self-Governing Schools where decisions about hiring, curriculum and budgets will all be made at the school level.

“We recognize that schools require consistency and stability for school improvements to truly take root and that a “one-size fits all” model to educating over 60,000 students does not make sense,” DPS Emergency Manager Roy Roberts said. “By shifting authority to make vital decisions to the school level, DPS offers schools both the ability to maintain consistency in their programs and the ability to make decisions that best serve the needs of their particular students.”

“The goal is to help Detroit School of Arts become the highest performing arts-infused high school in America,” Roberts said.

The newly-named governing council members are:

• Ms. Katy Locker, Program Director, Hudson-Webber Foundation, Detroit

• Dr. James Kelly, Founding President and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and former co-director of Strategic Management of Human Capital

• Dr. Lester Monts, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Senior Counselor to the President for the Arts, Diversity and Undergraduate Affairs, and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Music, University of Michigan

• Dr. Elizabeth Birr Moje, Acting Dean, Associate Dean for Research, and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, School of Education, University of Michigan

• Mr. Stuart Frankel, Owner and Founder, Stuart Frankel Development Company; and Chair of the Detroit Arts Corridor Organization

• Dr. Glenda Price, President Emeritus, Marygrove College; Dr. Price serves as Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan trustee, Detroit Institute of Arts director, Detroit Symphony Orchestra secretary, Focus: HOPE chair, The Center for Michigan director, and Michigan Colleges Foundation trustee

An Order signed by Roberts requires the appointment of a parent to this council as well.

“As an educator and member of the Board of Directors of both the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Detroit Institute of Arts, I have had a long term interest in the Detroit School of Arts,” Dr. Price said.  “Therefore, I am pleased to be a part of the process which will enhance the educational opportunities for the students at DSA. The rich cultural history and intellectual resources that these institutions will bring to the students will ensure that they receive an education in the arts that is unparalleled in this country.”

“We are humbled by the trust this signals and the awesome responsibility it entails,” Moje said.  “As such, we are committed to developing young people’s capacities as learners, as artists, and as community leaders, and identifying and tapping resources from multiple state and national arts and academic groups for the benefit of student learning. We are also committed to integrating the arts into academic course work and to working with the teachers and school leaders to offer the highest level of academic curricula and professional development for teachers.  In sum, we are committed to a collaborative partnership with school leaders, teachers, parents, and students, and look forward to embarking on this work with the community.”

The Self-Governing Schools model allows DPS to do the following:

• Set clear academic and financial goals for each self-governing school that must be met if the school wishes to retain its self-governing rights and status.
• Select a governing council for each school that will be made up of civic, community, business, government, and local leaders, along with parents, that will take responsibility for the performance of that school in partnership with the principal and teachers at the school.
• Place 97% of state funds at the school level after debt service and fixed cost obligations are deducted, as well as 100% of available federal funds to the schools.  Governing Councils and principals will be empowered to make decisions about budgeting, hiring, curriculum and operations to best meet the needs of their schools.

With these actions, principals will be required to be instructional leaders, not chief administrative officers, and principals and teachers in self-governing schools will be expected to take advantage of the new autonomy and flexibility at the school level to pursue learning strategies that will work, Roberts said.

The DPS Office of Self-Governing Schools within DPS will continue to manage the district’s 26 self-governing schools – 16 DPS authorized charters and 10 small high schools – beginning next school year.

Together, these schools will educate approximately 7,500-8,000 students this fall.  Chief Innovation Officer Doug Ross leads this effort.

The boards of the schools generally are comprised of five to nine citizens with backgrounds that will contribute to the governing of a school, including one parent. Charter board members and council members of the self-governing schools will be formally appointed by the Emergency Manager.

The 10 DPS schools included in this initiative include the small schools at Cody and Osborn high schools, as well as Detroit School of Arts, Dr. Benjamin Carson High School for Science and Medicine and Detroit Collegiate Preparatory Academy. The district is also seeking board members for two new DPS-authorized charter schools at Rutherford and MacDowell schools.

Be there for “PSL In The Park” when Coach Juan Sanchez’s Cowboys and Coach Norm Taylor’s Crusaders battle for the Mega Division city championship.

The action gets started at 5 p.m. with the East-West Division city championship game between CMA High’s Pharaohs, coached by Ray Stephen, and Henry Ford High’s Trojans, coached by Kenneth Jackson.

In the semifinals Friday, Western defeated Cass Tech 13-7 and King nipped Renaissance 2-1 to advance to the Mega Division finals. The West Division won against the East in the semifinals as CMA shut out Finney 8-0 and Ford advanced past Osborn 14-6.

Last year’s PSL championship game produced the first perfect game in the history of Comerica Park as Western’s Todd Phelps shut down Renaissance. This year’s championship doubleheader holds promise for more action-packed suspense.

The entire school district will be represented in what has become an annual occasion for league-wide pride as the PSL All-City boys’ baseball and girls’ softball teams will be introduced during an on-field ceremony between games.

Tickets are just $5 and can be purchased the day of the game at the Comerica Park box office. Gates open at 4 p.m. Bring the whole family. Come watch our Proud Strong Learners swinging PSL-style in the park!

Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Sports Information Director
Detroit Public Schools
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863

A sun-soaked crowd at Buysse Ballpark saw Coach Garrard Taylor’s Lady Phoenix (21-5 overall, 11-0 league) score twice in the first inning and never look back in capturing their 13^th PSL championship in last 15 years.

“We have a tradition,” Taylor told the Detroit News. “There was a lot of maroon and white in the stands and that’s from former players, players coming up, fans and parents. So we have the nucleus of a winning tradition and everybody believes that we can win the championship every year.”

Coach Julie Schneider’s Lady Technicians (11-5 overall, 10-1 league) trailed 6-1 entering the seventh inning and mounted a rally that fell just short. With the potential tying runs on base, Renaissance pitcher Kayla Banks closed the door by getting the last of her 16 strikeouts.

“We did it the hard way, but we did it,” Taylor said. “Sometimes you don’t play well and you get out here and you still have to win the game and that’s what we did. That’s what champions do.”

Contact:
Chuck Johnson
Sports Information Director
Detroit Public Schools
chuck.johnson@detroitk12.org
313-870-5863

All middle school students from Marcus Garvey Academy attended the event. City Year volunteers gave a “Power Greet” to students as they arrived to the building with songs and dancing.

Students then heard from Compuware executives, including Denise Starr, Chief Administrative Officer, and engaged in fun activities such as a “Body Pride” rap sing-along, technology exercise, photos with Detroit Lions player Don Carey, mascots Roary, Paws, and Ronald McDonald.

WDIV Local 4 News Anchor Rhonda Walker delivered the keynote address on “What It Takes to be An All-Star” by giving students advice on how to be successful and make smart choices.

“This is a very special relationship that Compuware has with Marcus Garvey,” Walker said to the students. “You are very fortunate to have such a large corporation care this much about your school. It is not normal for a business to invest this much time into a local school, but they do it because they want you to succeed.”

Walker urged the students to make good decisions now and to carry those good habits into adulthood.

“Make the decision to make good choices now,” she said. “Having a successful life is not hard if you make good decisions. And one of the best choices you can make this early in your life is to go to college.”

“A college degree is one of the most important tools that you’ll need to become successful, and no one can take that away from you,” Walker added. “That should be your priority, and it actually starts now with staying focused on your goals and getting the best grades possible.”

The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is partnering with PNC Bank to host a professional development series for DPS teachers.

Approximately 40 DPS teachers participated in Professional Development programs on May 14 and May 17 at the Detroit Children’s Museum.

Teachers were trained on the onsite Grand Prix activities and logistics that will take place at PNC Bank Free Prix Day at the Grand Prix on Friday, June 1, where DPS students will use the Raceway at Belle Isle Park street circuit to apply their learning to the fast-paced world of racing.

During the training, teachers were also provided with parent and educator guides and supplies for pre-race educational activities.

Two mathematics and science programs are being incorporated in DPS classrooms centered on racing to support an innovative math and science curriculum.

The first program, called Fifth Gear, combines a mathematics and science curriculum to generate excitement among DPS fifth graders for careers in science, technology, engineering and math through real-world application in motorsports.

PNC is also working with race organizers to incorporate materials from the bank’s philanthropic program, Grow Up Great, a multi-year, $350 million initiative designed to improve early childhood education, particularly in underserved areas.

PNC Grow Up Great now reaches eight Detroit Public Schools and serves more than 200 pre-K students.

In addition to the Fifth Gear students, children involved in the Grow Up Great program will also participate in age-appropriate, structured race-themed activities at PNC Free Prix Day.

Helping to create the next generation of racing fans, the students will experience the excitement of world-class auto racing in the Motor City first hand as they watch all of the on-track action that day from the grandstands.

Students will also work with actual race teams and engineers competing in the Grand Prix and representatives from Plymouth-based Ilmor Engineering to experience hands-on activities that will build on what they’ve learned in their classrooms.

In all, over 600 DPS students are expected to visit Belle Isle on June 1.

When:

Saturday, May 19 : 9am—3 pm
Sunday, May 20 : 12 PM—3 PM

Where:

the Belle Isle Greenhouses

perennials * annuals * herbs* heirloom tomatoes * organically grown vegetable transplants
geraniums * hanging baskets

Proceeds to benefit the Golightly Career and Technical Center agriscience program

For further Information 313.378.3841 or 313.331.7760

Plant Sale Volunteers receive discounts on purchases. Call today to learn more!

http://golightlyctcagriscience.webs.com/

Sponsored By: The Golightly Agriscience Advisory Board, a 501 c3 organization

2012 Golightly Career and Tech Center Plant Sale Flier

2012 DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL LEAGUE GIRLS’ SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, FRIDAY, MAY 18
 at University of Detroit Mercy
Admission $3
Consolation game, 2 p.m.
Southeastern vs. Western
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, 4 p.m.
Cass Tech vs. Renaissance

SEMIFINALS: (Monday, May 14 at Renaissance High)
Cass Tech 8, Western 7; Renaissance 28, Southeastern 1
 QUARTERFINALS: (Thursday, May 10 at Maheras Gentry Park): Cass Tech 28, Mumford 27; Renaissance 15, King 0 (2 1/2 innings); Western 16, Crockett 1 (4 innings); Southeastern 18, Cody 17

PSL Championship Games
Wednesday, May 23, at Comerica Park
East-West Championship game, 5 p.m.
Mega Division Championship Game, 7 p.m.
Admission $5. Gates open at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Comerica Park box office