The swim and dive team members hold up their hands to signify the team’s fifth consecutive Downriver League championship. Below is the 10-girl contingent that traveled to the state finals at Eastern Michigan University, where Trenton finished 15th.

The boys and girls cross country team earned first place in both Jamboree I and II, and also the Huron League meet.  Seven members of the boys’ team and one member of the girls’ team competed at the state level.

     Girls’ swimming and diving team won their second consecutive Huron League Girls’ Swimming and Diving Championship, which was held at Milan High School. Seventy-seven (77) points separated Grosse Ile from the runner-up, Milan. There are 18 girls on the team. All 18 girls, whether swimmers or divers, scored points in the meet every time they competed. GI was the only team to do that among the competing teams. 

     League champions are Madelyn Hoying, Clare DeAngelis, Jamie Benson and Anna Finazzo. All Huron League selections include the previously mentioned swimmers plus Amber Geeting and Andrea Blanzy. On top of that, Jamie Benson, Anna Finazzo, Clare DeAngelis and Madelyn Hoying set a new school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay. 

     The GIHS sailing team recently competed in the Great Lakes Championships at Pontiac Lake Yacht Club. The young team did very well with a third place finish in the Club 420 and a third- place finish in the Laser Classes.

     The Lady Devil volleyball team were Huron League champions for the second year in a row; won the district final over Huron; and made it to the Regional final against Ann Arbor-Gabriel Richard. Girls’ golf finished a great season with a 15-1 overall record this season. They were League and Regional Champs and placed 6^th in the MHSAA state finals.

     The boys’ tennis team had an impressive season. They finished with a 4-0 league record; finished first in the league meet for the 30^th year, second at regionals, and 10^th at the D-4 state finals.

Boys’ varsity soccer also had an exciting season, winning the Huron League title, districts, and regionals to finish in the Final Four of the state tournament.

     The football team, despite some injuries, had a good season record of 5-4 and is looking forward to next year.

     The GIHS equestrian team had its best season ever, winning the District championship, the Regional championship and finishing as the Reserve Champions at the state level.

     The Grosse Ile Township Schools are proud of the accomplishments of these student-athletes and the championship history of its athletic teams: 23 MHSAA State Championships, 13 State runner-up finishes, 112 regional champs, 92 district champs, 136 Boys and 157 Girls Huron League championships, 36 Academic All-State teams, 75 Academic All-State athletes, and 302 All-State athletes.

     Article provided courtesy of the Grosse Ile High School Athletic Department.

The 1975-76 team, which won the school’s first state trophy.

The 1985-86 team, which included Police Chief Steve Voss and Dave Greene.

The 1995-96 team, the only squad to record an unbeaten record.

BY JOE HOSHAW Jr.

trentontrib.com

     The 2015-2016 hockey season will coincide with three significant milestone anniversaries for the vaunted Trenton High School hockey program.

     It will mark the 40^th anniversary for the school’s very first state championship, the 30^th anniversary of the 1985-1986 championship and 20-year mark for the 1995-1996 undefeated championship.

     So Head Coach Chad Clements — a product of the program himself and member of the undefeated championship team —wanted to celebrate the accomplishments of all three teams at a game this year.

     And that will be the case between periods at the upcoming home game against Wood-haven Friday, Dec. 18. Making the selection of the Woodhaven game even more fitting is the fact that Trenton’s next-door rival is now coached by Bryan Sullivan, a member of the 1975-76 squad — and one of his assistants is Mark Bronson, who was as assistant coach in Trenton at that time.

     Here are a few other noteworthy connections between past and present, provided by Trenton hockey historian Shawn Parker:

     Current Trenton Police Chief Steve Voss was a member of the 1985-86 team.

     Andy Greene’s eldest brother, Dave — the first member of the Greene family to pick up a hockey stick — was a member of the 1986 championship team.

     Turner coached the 1976 and 1996 squads; while Skip Howey was coach of the 1986 team.

     Current Trenton Superintendent Rod Wakeham also was an assistant coach for the 1996 team.

     Many other former players and coaches are expected to be on hand that evening, and a post-game gather is played for Legends 1926 Bar & Grill, which is located on the second floor, above the main rink.

     For additional information, contact Parker at (734) 674-1015.

Kids may not always remember everything we say — but this survey shows that they do listen and learn from our example.

     (BPT) Most kids start learning about money earlier than a lot of people think — and it’s usually from watching their parents.

     Three out of five young adults say their parents’ advice or example had the greatest influence over how they handle their finances today, according to findings from a Bank of America/USA TODAY survey. That parental involvement had a big effect on the practice of good financial habits. Of those who say their parents did an “excellent” or “good” job teaching them about money, 74 percent have savings and nearly half make a regular budget.

     “Talking to your kids about money and using everyday moments to teach practical lessons is not only important, it works,” said Andrew Plepler, global corporate social responsibility executive at Bank of America. “It’s OK to be repetitive — kids may not always remember everything we say — but this survey shows that they do listen and learn from our example.”

     Parents who would like guidance on how to teach kids valuable financial lessons can find help online. The website BetterMoneyHabits.com — a financial education resource by Bank of America and education innovator Khan Academy — offers easy-to-follow videos and tips to help parents teach important financial lessons to children of various stages and ages. 

 Elementary lessons

     A child in elementary school is just learning how money works, so simple lessons are best. For example, a trip to the store for back-to-school shopping can be an opportunity to learn about how to comparison shop and save money. Ask your child to examine the prices of different folder and notebook styles and find the lowest priced items.

     An allowance is another tool for teaching the building blocks of money management. Experts typically recommend parents who follow this approach to give young children 50 cents to $1 per week for every year of their age. Some parents start with a smaller amount and only raise it once they feel their child can handle the responsibility. 

Moving up to middle school

     At this age your child may be ready for more complex money-management skills, including saving for larger, medium-term goals such as coveted clothing or electronics. Work with them to build a savings plan around a goal and track progress. For bigger-ticket items, consider matching contributions to reward your child’s savings efforts. If she wants a new phone that costs $200, for example, you could ask her to save for half, and agree to cover the remaining $100.

     This age is also a good time to talk about digital spending. All those in-app purchases, music and game downloads can add up. Instead of allowing your child to download at will, consider setting up online accounts to require a password for purchases and set a monthly spending limit. When he asks you to make a digital purchase, discuss the cost and how what he’s asking for will fit into the budget.

High school lessons

     By high school, your teenager will be much more independent and will have had a lot more experience with money. If he is managing a larger allowance or even an income from a part-time job, it may be time to open a checking account.

     Checking accounts come with a lot of responsibility, but walking him through the process of setting one up and establishing best practices for banking and managing money responsibly will set the foundation for sound money habits far into the future.

     As your teen gets older, she may start to have bigger ideas about things she wants to do or purchase – such as planning a spring break trip or graduation party or buying a car. Take the opportunity to talk about how much it could cost, work with her to map out a budget for all related expenses, and identify ways for her to help contribute, say for a plane ticket or the party invitations.

     At some point, most teens are offered opportunities to take on debt, perhaps through loans or credit cards. You can help prevent impulsive decisions (and costly outcomes) by teaching teens some key guidelines about borrowing money.

     For example, most teens might not understand that there is a cost to taking out a loan or charging purchases to a credit card if you stretch the payments out over a long time.      

There is of course a benefit to borrowing money responsibly as a way to build credit so show your teen your credit report and discuss your own experiences to show how good and bad decisions affect credit and purchasing power.

     Whether your child is just starting to learn the value of money or is old enough to have a bank account, the money skills you set while they are young could help them develop financial skills for a lifetime. For more ideas on teaching kids about money – as well as resources on everyday money matters for adults – visit www.bettermoneyhabits.com. 

BY JOE HOSHAW Jr.

trentontrib.com

     The Trenton Healthy Community Coalition made an appearance at last month’s Signature Event, with a special presentation by its director, Ruth Sebaly.

     The Signature Event is the annual fundraiser of the Trenton Educational Foundation, which helps fund special academic programs for Trenton Public Schools.

     Sebaly was part of this year’s program because the theme chosen for the event was, “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds.”

     She, along with Trenton Athletic Director James Trush and Trenton Public Schools Food Services Director Brian Bahr comprised a program that helped demonstrate the various ways the community and the district is encouraging healthy lifestyles among students.

     Sebaly talked about a recent contest held among Trenton students to help determine the logo for Healthy Trenton, which was initiated earlier this year through a joint venture between the city of Trenton and Oakwood Southshore, which since has become Beaumont Trenton.

     Bahr spoke about food choices available to students and Trush outlined the range of athletic opportunities available through the high school.

     The Healthy Trenton coalition has been meeting since November of 2014. Through the past year, the group has been working to make the community familiar with the effort and encourage participation.

     The group is set to shortly launch a new website, www.healthytrenton.org, which will be an evolving site dedicated to education of children, adults and seniors. Upcoming projects include the creation of the “Passport to Health,” along with videos to make healthy tips and ideas more interactive.

     The Passport to Health, which will be launched next year, will contain informative and potentially life-changing information that families and individuals can use in their daily lives. It will include detail maps for walking and biking tours in Trenton, interactive games that can be played at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, along with workplace resources, active family resources and health quizzes.

     Incentives for reaching health goals will be also rewarded in 2016. Items that can be won by reaching health milestones will be posted on the website and will change often to encourage return visitors.

     Sebaly said the group is hopeful these steps have initiated healthy choices by residents and will continue to educate the community. Measurements are taken every year to see if obesity, diabetes and related issues have dropped due to some of these initiatives. It is expected that these results will be realized in a five- to 10-year time frame.

     Kathy Kane contributed to this report.

Student Athlete of the Month: Griffin Sawyer/ Hockey, Senior

After making the varsity hockey team his sophomore season, Trenton senior Griffin Sawyer has continued to grow both on and off of the ice. On the ice, Sawyer has been a key member of the team that won another state championship in 2014 and recently was named captain, an honor that has been held by many of the top players who have come through Trenton. Off of the ice, he has been an active member of the student body, with memberships in both the Interact Club and the National Honor Society. Despite all of these commitments, Sawyer has managed to maintain a 3.34 grade-point average as well as open a business with his brother, Andrew. The two developed the Sawyer Development Institute over the summer, which aims to help young athletes reach their potential both on the field and in the classroom. Beyond this year, he hopes to continue playing hockey in juniors or even for a college team. If he winds up taking the college route right out of high school, he would major in business with a concentration in entrepreneurship, with possible hopes of eventually owning his own gym with his brother. Whichever direction he chooses to go in, his parents, Rob and Vicki, will be proud of him, “His energy and leadership has a great influence on everyone around him. His positivity can be very contagious.” 

Publishers Note: Griffin also was our very first student reporter. His past columns here.

BY SHEILA R. McAFEE

trentontrib.com

 Four years ago, when Peyton Szczechowski entered Trenton High School as a freshman, the “word of advice” she took to heart was to join the Interact Club.

     “I was new to the school district, and was told the Interact Club was a great way to meet people,” she said.

     Indeed it was. As a service and social club sponsored by the Trenton Rotary Club, Interact boasts a consistent membership of more than 100 students, offering them the chance to develop leadership skills while making a difference in their world, locally and globally, in keeping with the vision of Rotary.

     Szczechowski has been an active and eager participant in large and small club activities — she helped paint the Little Free Library at North McLouth Park on Westfield last year, and this year, her senior year, she is club president.

     When the Trib spoke with Szczechowski, she was laying the groundwork for several club projects that coincide with a traditional giving time of year. 

     She said that, according to Rotary guidelines, the Interact Club must develop and implement at least two service projects that impact the local community and one that has an international impact. In actuality, the group reaches out beyond expectations to help others.

     It took part in the Goodfellows newspaper drive Nov. 21, joining a student volunteer force that canvassed the city delivering a special edition of The Trenton Trib. In doing so, the students collected donations to help the Goodfellows pursue their goal of raising $30,000 to make sure there was “No Child Without a Christmas.”

     Next on the schedule was the annual Jingle Drive, held Dec. 12, where Interact Club members set up a spot and spent 12 hours in the parking lot adjacent to Martenson Funeral Home on West Road. 

     Szczechowski said club members stayed outside to draw attention to local organizations that assist the homeless and hungry, including the Trenton Food Pantry, the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots. This past December marked the 15^th year for the collection of canned goods, blankets and gently used clothing and toys.

Some years, the weather is better than others. This year the group caught a break due to the unseasonably warm December temperatures. In years past, though, they have stood out in driving wind and snow to conduct the collection effort.

     Szczechowski works closely with THS staff advisor Chad Clements and fellow board members, with input from Trenton Rotarians Bruce Jocks and Jane Dunn.

     There are a few new ideas Szczechowski said she was thinking about bringing before the group for consideration, adding to a list of other good works that has included sorting cans collected and donated to the Trenton Food Pantry by local Boy Scout troops, hosting pancake breakfasts and sponsoring a skating event for visually impaired students.

     International projects have included a collection for items to fill Christmas shoeboxes and a community-wide effort to pack bags of dry food meals for Kids Against Hunger, which ships the food to Third World nations for distribution. Last January the event resulted in the packaging of 10,000 bags.

     Szczechowski, who is a member of the THS basketball and track teams, plans to pursue a degree in education, focusing on special education.

     “That plan hasn’t changed since third grade because of the influence of teachers and children I have met since then,” she said.

BY MELANIE YOUNG

trentontrib.com 

     Eighth-grade students at Arthurs Middle School have some exciting new technology tools to utilize thanks to a grant provided by the Trenton Educational Foundation.

     Arthurs Technology teacher Valerie DePaoli applied for the grant and received $5,000 to purchase Lego Mindstorms EV3 kits for the students.

     According to Lego, the EV3 materials and software give students a hands-on approach to develop problem-solving skills and can engage and motivate students to learn science, technology, engineering and math concepts.

     DePaoli has been teaching in Trenton for 16 years and for six years in the Arthurs Technology Lab. The grant of $5,000 allowed her to purchase 12 complete sets of robots. The robots will be part of the technology curriculum so all students in technology classes will get to use them.

     The idea to seek the grant came to her because of her seventh-grade students and their interest in the robotic arm that she utilizes in some of those classes. The school only has one, which isn’t really enough to teach the amount of children in each class. The cost to purchase another arm would be $8,000-$10,000, so she sought out other options. She was able to purchase more kits to use with more students with the EV3 program.

     The eighth-grade students will utilize the EV3 program in conjunction with their studies about computer programming. The students also use a program called Scratch, a programming language where kids can program interactive media such as stories, games and animation.  According to DePaoli, “Adding the Lego robots is a continuation of that.” 

     The students will build the robots and program them to follow a maze. They will then be disassembled and used for the next class. The first classes utilized the kits in mid-October.

     DePaoli believes the kits will be a great asset to her students. “I’m hoping they can get experience with programming because there are so many jobs that use programming. I wish I would have known more about it.”

     In addition to robotics, the Technology department has something for all students at Arthurs Middle School. There are 16 different classes available to DePaoli to utilize. Currently, sixth-grade students are learning aspects of keyboarding and computer graphic design. Seventh graders are learning about computer animation.

 Along with computer programming, the eighth-grade students also learn a little about career exploration. 

     Thanks to the Trenton Educational Foundation, the new curriculum will help give those interested in robotics a chance to learn about the field and may provide more interested students for Trenton High School’s Robotics Club. They compete in FIRST Robotics competitions statewide. Their team is called the Trenton Torquenados. For more information, visit the group’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/groups/FRC5090/.

     The Trenton Educational Foundation was established in 2008 by community leaders. The mission is to maintain an extra margin of excellence by employing private resources to supplement traditional school funding. Funds are used to supplement six core areas of education. Educators are encouraged to submit applications for grants by following submission deadlines.  

Dean Kellie

BY MELANIE YOUNG

trentontrib.com 

     As the official transportation company for the Trenton School District, Dean Transportation not only transports students, it is a community partner as well.

     Four years ago, when Dean Transportation took over the transportation duties for Trenton students, parents were understandably a little concerned what the change would mean for their children. They were used to seeing the familiar bus drivers, many of whom were members of the community themselves, transporting their children to school.

     Owner Kellie Dean understood the parents’ concerns, and most of the drivers that the children were accustomed to seeing were hired by Dean as long as they met the qualifications.  The company even recognized the driver’s seniority.

     “We were very pleased that the majority of the drivers came over. It kept continuity in the community,” he said.

     The change to an outside transportation company has benefitted the community in many ways. The partnership has allowed the district to upgrade the buses the students ride on, and to replace the aging fleet. When Dean took over, the age of the buses was 11-12 years old. Now, the average bus age is 5 to 6 years old.

     Dean also utilizes state-of-the-art technology to make buses safer. Each bus has a computer with GPS system, as well as a child reminder system that alerts the driver if a child is left on the bus. The drivers also have radio communication, computerized routing and cameras at their disposal.

     In addition to upgrading the buses and technology, Dean has a national reputation for its training program. Drivers receive hundreds of hours of training in subjects such as defensive driving and passenger safety.

     Family-owned Dean Transportation had a humble beginning as a special education transportation company many years ago with one vehicle. A parent of a child with polio hired a neighbor to drive his son to school. Soon others joined in to transport other special needs students and the company was born.

     Kellie Dean, himself a former special education teacher and administrator, has owned the company for 25 years. His business has increased as school districts have looked for ways to replace aging bus fleets and improve budgets. Currently, the company serves 130 school districts in Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Traverse City and East Detroit. Locally, they manage transportation services for the Taylor School district and provide transportation for the Dearborn Crestwood district, as well as Trenton.

     Now, in addition to student transportation, Dean offers many different transportation options. Other services they provide include Dean Trailways, Dean Black Car service and a school management company.

     Dean Transportation showed its support of the community as a sponsor of the recent Trenton Educational Foundation‘s “Signature Event.” They were invited to participate by the Foundation and were happy to do so.

     “We want to be more than the yellow bus company,” Kellie Dean said. “This event gave us the opportunity to show our support of the school district.”

     School Superintendent Rodney Wakeham appreciated the company’s involvement.

     “We were pleased that Dean Transportation was able to participate at the level that they did,” Wakeham said. He added that the company also provides a monetary gift for needy families in the district.

     Since this is the fourth year of a five-year contract, the Board of Education will have to open up the bidding process for district transportation services sometime next year. Kellie Dean said his company plans to be part of the process.

     “We want to continue in the district. We love providing transportation to Trenton,” he said. 

     Dean was quick to mention that the drivers make it easy to work with the Trenton District. “The drivers are the ones making it work. They are supportive of the students every day. I’m very pleased with the job that they do.”

     Dean Transportation is hiring for various jobs, including substitute drivers and support staff in order to provide uninterrupted service to students. Go to deantransportation.com/jobs for more information.

BY BRIAN RZEPPA

trentontrib.com

      While a big victory over a rival is always important in the eyes of sports fans, the big story during Trenton hockey’s game last month against Woodhaven occurred during an intermission.

     Three separate state championship winning teams gathered on the ice during the first intermission, many of the players seeing each other for the first time since they graduated high school.

     In all there were more than 50 members of the teams in what was a great moment not only for the players themselves, but also for their families and the community as a whole.

     Trenton head coach Chad Clements was approached with the idea by PA announcer Shawn Parker earlier in the year and he made the decision to run with it after remembering an experience from his own playing days.

     “When I played in 1996, we had the 1976 team come out during one of our games and to my knowledge I don’t think we’ve done it since,” Clements said. “It was a great experience for me then, so when Shawn Parker popped it into my head I thought it would be great to bring back. All of the former players really embraced it, too. To honor them, especially the 1976 team, was really important since it’s been 40 years since some of these guys have seen each other.”

     It was a great opportunity not only for the former players in getting to catch up with their old teammates, but Clements believes that it could make a big impact moving forward for the players currently suiting up for the Trojans.

     “I think this is a great thing for these guys on the team now. There are only a few of them that were on the state championship team in 2014, so most of them don’t have that experience of winning a championship. For them to see these guys forming these lifelong bonds is a good thing to see. It’s a positive experience all around.”

     The idea from Parker ended up being a great success for both former and current players, and Clements believes that this could be an event that occurs more often than it has in the past.          

     “I would like to try to get the state championship teams together for their 10, 20 and 30-year anniversaries,” he said. “It would be tough to do yearly, but I would like to keep honoring these teams. A lot of guys haven’t been back to the rink in 20 years and things have changed and I’d love for them to see the changes and see each other.”

THS HAPPENINGS : BY MARIA HEDGES, ZOE VAN AUKEN & NINA BALDWIN

     Every year Trenton High School has a canned food drive for families in need over the holidays, and students and teachers alike contribute to help us reach our incentive goal of 5,000 cans. The incentive is an hour off of school the Friday before Christmas break, which is an attention grabber for students and teachers. Trenton has been able to reach this goal almost every year, which is very impressive, to say the least.

     A smaller contest is held between all of the first hour classes in the school, with a Panera bagel breakfast for the class that collects the most canned goods. Some teachers offer extra credit for cans brought in, which tends to influence more students to help out.

     This year’s winner was Mrs. Lowe’s AP Environmental class, which brought in almost one-fifth of the school’s total cans. Economic times can be tough and money can be short during the holiday season, but regardless students in Trenton are still able to collect a mass amount of cans to donate to other people who need them. These cans are sent to the Trenton Bus Garage and St. Tim’s church to be sorted and boxed by students and volunteers of the city.

     Students from both the high school and the middle school traveled to the Trenton Bus Garage to help other volunteers sort and box cans and fresh produce for families in Trenton.  There were thousands of cans to sort through and separate, but the efforts from student volunteers got the job done in a matter of hours.

     The fresh produce was also separated into boxes by students and sent to households that needed them, along with a respective amount of canned goods to feed all of the family members. This fundraiser feeds any of the families that contact the city and are in need of food for their family or for themselves. The amount of food donated is able to supply most of the needy families in Trenton, even if it’s only for a short while.

     The amount of people who helped out with this fundraiser and donated cans displays how unified Trenton is as a community, and how people can come together when times are tough to give to the less fortunate and help others around them.

     Although there was an incentive to donate, that little push motivated numerous students to give to people in need and unify individual efforts to accomplish something as a whole school, and as a community. Helping someone in need and making a difference in someone’s life is incentive enough, and students at Trenton High School never fail to reach beyond themselves to improve the lives of those around them.

     Student correspondents Nina Baldwin, Zoe Van Auken and Maria Hedges are seniors at Trenton High School.

Dr. Michael Doyle

Dr. Michael Doyle

 Principal’s Corner

     Trenton High School has had a very busy and successful first trimester. We began the trimester with receiving our results for the Class of 2015 and their ACT results. The Trenton High School Class of 2015 had a composite ACT score of 21.4. State of Michigan composite ACT score for 2015 was 20.1. The composite score from Trenton High School was the best composite score for the past five years in Trenton.

     In English, Trenton High School scored 20.6. This was an increase in Trenton from 20.5 on 2014. The state score was 19.4 in 2015. In Math, Trenton High School scored 21.1. This was an increase from 20.3 from 2014. The state scored 19.9 in 2015. In reading, Trenton High School scored 21.6. This was an increase from 21.5 from 2014. The state scored 20.3 in 2015. In science, Trenton High School scored 21.6. This was an increase from 21.1 from 2014. The state scored 20.4 in 2015.

     Congratulations to the Trenton High School Class of 2015. Your hard work, effort, and dedication are certainly reflected in your ACT scores Also, in the spring of 2015, Trenton High School has students take Advanced Placement courses in the following subjects: English language and composition, English literature and composition, microeconomics, macroeconomics, psychology, U.S. history, calculus AB, calculus BC, statistics, biology, and chemistry. 

     Trenton High School had a total of 117 students take 160 exams in the above subjects.

     Advanced Placement Scholar is granted to students who receive scores of three or higher on three or more AP exams.

     The following Trenton High School students earned AP Scholar: Alex Boettner, Katherine Boucher, Lucy Moberly and Thomas Wolsek.

     Advanced Placement with Honor is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams and scores of three or higher on four or more of these exams. The following Trenton High School students earned AP Scholar with Honor: Michael Geppert, Sarah Kushner, Evelyn Metric, Brooke Penny, Brooke Thanasiu and Mckensie Winn.

     Advanced Placement with Distinction is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of three or higher on five or more of these exams. The following Trenton High School students earned AP Scholar with Distinction: Benjamin Blythe, Jacob Blythe and Claudia Petrucco. Congratulations to all of our Advanced Placement students on their fine work!

     In addition to the fine academic work at Trenton High School, a number of other recent events took place at Trenton High School:

     Trenton High School students along with students from the other Downriver League Schools participated in Challenge Day.

     Our more than 160-member Trenton High School Marching Band hosted nine other schools in the annual Trenton Band Invitational.

     The Trenton High School Quiz Bowl has been busy with its competitions. We also had a Homecoming Dance with almost 600 students in attendance.

     Administrative Assistant Carol Wierzba received a Golden Apple award from the Trenton Board of Education.

THS students performed the fall play, “Rehearsal for Murder”, in the THS auditorium.

     The THS Counseling Department hosted “Challenge Day”. Student Activities Director Lori Holcomb took almost 70 THS students to Central Michigan University for “Leadership Day.” Ms. Holcomb also led the THS National Honor Society in inducting 83 THS students into the THS National Honor Society.

     The Trenton Educational Foundation held the annual Signature Event. The TEF inducted former TPS Board member Carol Oakley, National Hockey League player Andy Greene and retired Air Force Lt. General Ronald Sams in the TEF Wall of Fame.

     We are very proud of the tremendous choices students have at Trenton High School. Our academic, athletic, fine arts, and music programs make THS an excellent place for all students.

     Please do not hestitate to contact me at doylem@trenton-schools.com or (734) 692 4531.

     Go Trojans!

Over the past four weeks I have learned a lot about the fields of journalism and marketing. To begin with, the Trenton Trib is a well-run newspaper that does a lot for the community. It helps businesses advertise themselves and become known throughout the town. The Trib interacts with the people of the town, making citizens want to receive and read the paper. I have learned how important newspapers are, because without them, businesses would not be succeeding.

     The Trenton Trib always has something new to offer, whether it is a fun holiday contest, or an event to help an organization. There are many organizations that do incredible things for citizens, but many people don’t even know it. The Trib helps those organizations advertise on social media and in the paper, so the public is aware of what they do for us.

     Aside from what the Trib does for the community, there is more behind the scenes work that goes on. Advertisements just don’t get thrown onto one page randomly. A great deal of work goes into which advertisement is placed where in the paper. Businesses have to call in and request a spot for their ad to be. Some even claim spots for an entire year.

     The Trenton Trib has also grown tremendously. Their papers are sold in many places where people pick them up and read them. When I first came here, I wondered how many people still read the paper, due to the amount of technology there is in the modern world. Now, I have learned that many people do, because newspapers like the Trenton Trib have just had to adapt to it, mainly by using the Internet and social media.

     To be successful, you also have to have a dedicated team. All of the people working here at the Trenton Trib are dedicated to everything they do, and are very good at their jobs. Therefore, I have really learned a lot about this career. I am happy to say this has been a great experience, and that I know the Trib will continue to succeed for a long time to come.

                High school student Morgan Ciecko worked at the Trenton Trib in a four-week job-shadowing program arranged through the  Downriver Career Technical Consortium. The DCTC combines academics with career and technical education to prepare students for college and/or a highly skilled career. Participating high schools include Carleton Airport, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Riverview, Huron, Southgate, Trenton and Woodhaven/Brownstown. Morgan interviewed in a competitive process to be able to participate in the job-

BY BRIAN RZEPPA

trentontrib.com

Trenton’s Jaylin Jordan charges up court with Grosse Ile’s Joe Lonc in hot pursuit during a December clash between the two schools.

Coach Jay Babyok goes over strategy with the team during the Grosse Ile game.

     After two consecutive losing seasons and the departure of last year’s leading scorer, Christian Mercure, the Trenton High School basketball team went into this season hoping just to be competitive.

     Through the first portion of the year, they’ve done more than that. With a few big wins, including one over rival Carlson, the Trojans have hit the ground running and are looking to build off of their strong start.

     The team went into the Christmas break at 4-0, capping that run with a 66-51 win over Grosse Ile Dec. 18.

     According to Head Coach Jay Babyak, the team is led by a trio of seniors, along with a junior that is in his third season with the varsity squad.

     “Jaylin Jordan is a senior and he’s been with us for three years and he’s really done well to this point,” Babyak said. “Another guy in his third year on the team is Ryan Barker, who’s a junior. Those two, along with our center Loren Sauve and his cousin Josh Sauve have been coming up big for us and we’re going to look to them to continue to contribute.”

     Along with the experience that was gained over the course of the past couple of seasons, the team has been developing a level of camaraderie that has helped through the early part of the season. 

     “Compared to past years, the chemistry on this team is very good,” Babyak said. “Everyone gets along and they all gel and it’s just made it a different type of team compared to the other ones that I’ve had to this point.”

     In addition to the more experienced players that have seen playing time, Babyak already has been grooming his key players for beyond this season; a key to creating long lasting success for the program.

     “Looking toward the future, we’ve already had some juniors contributing,” he said. “Trevor Towe has shown us some potential and two guards, Joel Childers and Stevie Moore, will both be back next year so it’s looking promising already.”

     They have been off to a great start, but Babyak intends on taking things one game at a time and won’t get too caught up in their initial success. The overall focus has been on the development of each player and he plans on keeping it that way.

     “Going into the season I was hoping just to win a few games and compete in the league and to get better each game, but I think to this point we’ve exceeded expectations and done better than most people thought that we would.   With that being said, it’s a long season and anything can happen so we just need to keep focusing on trying to get better as a team.”

renton resident Mia Teifer, who attends St. Mary Catholic Central High School in Monroe, recently signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Wayne State University and be part of the women’s swimming and diving program at the school.

     Teifer was one of six Michigan students who last month joined the program, which is headed by 19-year head coach Sean Peters.

     “We are very thrilled about getting not only the number of women signed, but about the quality of each individual,” Peters said. “I believe the swimmers that committed to (WSU) are going to make an instant impact and certainly provide help in areas of need. We also signed a couple really top-notch divers. It’s only going to enhance an already excellent female diving program.”

     Teifer, a diver, has been a four-year letter winner at St. Mary under head coach Sam Randazzo. She earned all-state first-team accolades in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and helped lead her team to second-place finishes in the Huron League both last year and this year.

     In 2012 she was voted the Region Diver of the Year. She also competed at the Division 3 state meet the last three years and was selected as diving MVP all four years, was elected a team captain her senior year and was a scholar athlete.

     She is the daughter of Christina and Terry Teifer.

Grant McClellan

 Hockey, Senior

The ability to excel in one sport takes years of hard work and practice, let alone three sports. Senior Grant McClellan has managed to do that though, as he’s been a varsity athlete in baseball, football and hockey since his sophomore year. During his time with each of the teams, he has received various individual awards such as first-team all-league in football and hockey, as well as the Captain’s Award in football, too. In addition to that, he has also excelled on a team level with league championship in football, a regional championship in baseball and a state championship in hockey. He has managed to accomplish all of this while still carrying a 3.2 GPA and standing out as a leader off of the field. “He’s one of the vocal leaders on and off the ice, THS hockey Head Coach Chad Clements said. “He was a captain on the football team. He was a three-year player for hockey and he’s just naturally talented and gifted on the athletic fields. He really kind of gets people together.” McClellan is undecided as far as what he’ll be doing following his graduation in the spring, but he plans on eventually majoring in sports medicine and hopes to be an athletic trainer. His parents, Jim and Allison, are proud of his accomplishments and look forward to seeing all that he can do after he graduates.

BY DENISE SOBH

trentontrib.com

      A Trenton Board of Education seated its new officers for 2016 at its annual organization meeting, held Jan. 11.

     Sean Gearhart will serve as president, David French is vice president Mike Hawkins is secretary and Rachel Helton is the treasurer.

     A variety of topics were discussed during the meeting, including Superintendent Rodney Wakeham’s report, which included a Downriver superintendents’ meeting that took place on Jan. 14, Black out Bullying week that took place Jan. 11-15 in grades through K-12, and the school district being closed on Monday, Jan. 18, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

     Lastly, the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) is offering workshops to both veteran and new school board members that started in January and goes until the late fall of 2016.

     There were two presentations given during the meeting. One was by Keri Marsh on behalf of Stop Underage Drinking and Drugs. Curriculum Director Ann Deneroff gave the other presentation on behalf of the M-Step Spring 2015 test results. The report consisted of changes to the test and areas of improvement/where students excelled.

     There also was a discussion to update the ongoing building utilization student.

     The board also approved its schedule of meetings for the year. Board meetings are not televised, so residents interested in attending a school board meeting should mark the following dates on their calendar: Feb. 8, 22 and 24(special meeting held at 1 p.m. to receive the exit report of the AdvancED External Review Team.), March 7 and 21, April 4 and 25, May 9 and 23, June 13 and 27, July 25, Aug. 22, Sept. 12 and 26, Oct. 10 and 24, Nov. 14 and 28, and Dec. 12.

     The meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 2603 Charlton Road, Trenton.

     Trenton Public Schools administration last month also sent out a press release to note that January is “School Board Recognition Month” in Michigan.

     “Trenton Public Schools is joining 541 local and 56 intermediate school districts across the state to thank these community volunteers for their untiring dedication to public education,” the release stated. “Serving on a school board has been described as one of the toughest volunteer jobs in America. Yet Michigan’s public school board members dedicate countless personal hours to attending meetings, school functions, and hours of preparation for the decisions they must make.

     “Collectively, school board members in Michigan have spent about 7,000 hours attending training and professional development. They are dedicated individuals who are committed to the continuing success of our schools and students.”

School board members develop policies and make decisions that help shape the future of our education system. They bear responsibility and oversight for an annual budget of $25.5 million, 2,685 students, 270 employees and five buildings.

     “We proudly join educators and community members in saluting these education advocates as they provide vision and leadership for student achievement, academic programs, district funding and school facilities,” the release continues. “Their service ensures that decisions about local public schools are made by those most familiar with the needs of our community’s children and families.”

     Along with the four board officers for the coming year, the seven member board also includes trustees Cristine Howe, Thomas Kinney and Wayne Seiloff.

Random acts of kindness is theme of anti-bullying week

      This year has started off on a good note for Arthurs Middle School students. In January, we had Black Out Bullying week. BOB week is a program where students work together to end bullying at our school and beyond.

     This year our theme was “random acts of kindness,” and for our school’s random act of kindness, we collected supplies for the Trenton/Woodhaven Animal Shelter.

     Students brought in dog food, laundry detergent, cat toys, blankets, peanut butter and anything you can think of that helps animals. Our Knight Pride classes continued the theme. We talked about ways bullies can get to you and how you can help those who are being bullied or just having a hard time.

     One of the best things about our school is its variety of elective classes. I talked to a couple of students about their experience in a class called Jazz Improvisation.

     “Jazz Improvisation is a very advanced class filled with amazing students who are learning new ways to play music. Not by reading a page, but by making music without writing anything down,” says Alexa Francis, a flute player.

     Carlo Carnago, a saxophone player, is also taking this class. He says, “This class teaches you more than you need to know about improvisation, but in a good way. Mr. Kopera does an amazing job at teaching it.”

     Another class, Remember the Holocaust, is taught by Mrs. Stackpole. Everyone who has taken it agrees that it’s a powerful class they’ll never forget.

     “It evokes feelings that you never thought you had, and you get a sense of realization that you have it good in life,” says eighth grader Madelynn Przytula.

     Have a great February! See you next month.

     Student correspondent Mia Moberly is an eighth grader at Arthurs Middle School.

 Student Athlete of the Month

 Competitive Cheer, Senior

A model student and athlete, senior Erika Brower is as involved in Trenton High School just about as much as a person can be. She has been on the varsity competitive cheer team since her freshman year and has taken home many accolades, such as the team MVP, first-team All-District and All-Region and she was named Miss Trojan Cheer this past year. In addition to that, she was a member of the tennis team and served as the Student Council class historian, National Honor Society treasurer, German Club president, German NHS president, Electronic Media Club captain and is a member of the Math Club, as well as performing in the school musical. All the while, she has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and has her sights set on some major schools. While she hasn’t made a final decision yet, she has narrowed down her choices to the University of Michigan or Michigan State University, where she plans to enroll in the mathematical biology program. Her intended career path is also undecided at this point, but she has taken an interest in biomechanical research and may pursue the field further. Her parents, Jeff and Jeanie, take pride in the self-motivation that she displays in each of the activities that she does, as well as the compassion that she shows for others throughout.

Dr. Michael Doyle

Dr. Michael Doyle

 Principal’s Corner

     In 2005, former Trenton Superintendent Dr. John Savel and the Trenton Board of Education had the vision to improve all schools in Trenton in key areas. One of the areas was to make Trenton Schools “safe and healthy.”

     Through the support of the Trenton community, a bond was passed to help improve the safety and health of the Trenton Schools. This included improvements to the heating and cooling of the school. Major improvements were made to the science department with labs, classroom, space and equipment. 

     Trenton High School has a number of items in place to keep the school safe. As part of the bond, safe entrances were created at all schools. Only one entrance is open for public use after 7:30 a.m. at Trenton High School. All other doors are locked. All visitors must sign and sign out. The students must sign in and sign out after 7:30 a.m. Students are only allowed to leave with parent permission. We also have closed campus for lunch.

     In the past, through the work of the Trenton Police Department, an “active shooter” drill was held at the high school. The Trenton Police Department, in conjunction with the high school administration, drilled in real time as if an “active shooter” was in the high school. The Trenton Police Department practiced this mock situation in the high school should there ever be an active shooter in the building. Both the school and Police Department are better prepared should such a situation arise.

     Trenton High School also has worked with the Police Department and city officials to hold a “table-top” simulation should an emergency arise at the high school. All of this is a cooperative effort to keep all students in the Trenton Schools safe.

     Under the new laws passed in Michigan, Trenton High and all buildings in Trenton must conduct at least five fire drills per school year, three of which must take place by Dec. 1. There must be a reasonable interval between each drill. Also, two tornado safety drills per school year must be conducted, one of which must take place in March as well as three lockdown drills per school year, including security measures appropriate to an emergency “such as the release of hazardous material or the presence of a potentially dangerous individual on or near the premises.” At least one of the drills must take place by Dec. 1 and at least one after Jan. 1. There must be a reasonable interval between each drill.

     Trenton High, again with the cooperation of the Police Department, will conduct an “internal threat,” and an “external threat” as part of the lockdown drills, as part of the three mandatory lockdown drills.

     It’s also important to note that Trenton High School will conduct at least one of the “internal threat or external threat” drills during lunch, or at another time when a significant number of students are present, but not in classrooms.

     On a different note, Trenton High School is also gearing up for an External Review through the AdvanEd process. This process will take place Feb. 22 through Feb. 24. This is the accreditation of Trenton High School as part of the District Accreditations team. Trenton High School has been fully accredited since 1927.

     A team of five educators, with the lead from out-of-state and in our case Missouri, will be spending time evaluating Trenton High School and the other three buildings in the Trenton Schools. Staff works to continually improve the Trenton Schools. This is an external team coming to Trenton to evaluate, support, provide feedback, and suggestions to help make Trenton Schools a great place for learning.

     Team members will be spending time in classroom, meeting with administration, staff, students and community members. The team will be presenting to the Board of Education. For the external review, an executive summary has been created, a self-assessment report, stakeholder feedback diagnostic, student performance diagnostic, AdvancEd Assurance, and the School Improvement Plan, all completed by Jan. 24.

     There will be a special Board meeting on Feb. 24, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. as the External Review team will report their findings in the Board of Education Conference Room of the Neil E. Van Riper Administration Building, 2603 Charlton Road, Trenton. 

     Dr. Michael Doyle is principal at Trenton High School.

 BY MAX MONAS

     Arthurs Middle School swimmers competed last month in the Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Swimming and Diving Championships near Lansing.

     The fastest seventh- and eighth-grade swimmers from all over the state of Michigan competed against each other. There is no team champion, just individual and relay champions.

     The AMS swimmers who competed were Andi Ford-Learman, Alexa Francis, Dayna Franzel, Olivia Livernois, Emma McClelland, Morgan Sieloff, Kelly Truitt, Spencer Boling-Hamer, Alex Herin, Caden Westrate and Michael Wolsek.

     Swimmers finishing in the top 16 of each event earned medals. In the first event of the day, the 200-yard medley relay, Spencer Boling-Hamer, Alex Herin, Michael Wolsek, and Caden Westrate took a first place and in the process set a new school record in that event. Later in the meet, the same four swimmers finished third in the 200-yard freestyle relay, setting a new school record.

     In the individual events, Michael Wolsek then proceeded to earn a first-place finish in the 50-yard butterfly and a second place in the 100-yard backstroke. In both events he set new school records. Spencer Boling-Hamer finished fifth in the 100-yard individual medley and third in the 100-yard breaststroke. Spencer’s 100-yard breaststroke time is a new school record. Alex swam to a 17^th-place finish in the 100 individual medley and an 11^th-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke. Caden placed 15th in the 50-yard freestyle.

     Alexa Francis, Emma McClelland, Olivia Livernois and Morgan Sieloff finished 10th in the 200-yard medley relay. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Andi Ford-Learman, Dayna Franzel, Morgan Sieloff and Kelly Truitt finished 32nd. In the final relay of the day, the 400-yard freestyle relay, Alexa Francis, Kelly Truitt, Olivia Livernois, and Emma McClelland placed 14th.

     In the individual events, the medal winners were Alexa Francis and Emma McClelland. Alexa finished 15th in the 200-yard freestyle, and seventh in the 100-yard backstroke. In the 100 yard backstroke, Alexa set a new school record.         Emma finished ninth in the 50-yard butterfly and 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke. During the season, Emma also set a new school record in the 100-yard individual medley.