Dowagiac Union Schools

Dowagiac Union Schools

Central Office Newsletter, December 2024

Message from Superintendent Blomgren

Happy Holidays to all of you!  

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break, and you are looking forward to the Christmas season!  We have started off our winter with some challenging weather already.  As you know, we have had to close school twice prior to Christmas break, which is a bit unusual.  With that being said, please know when winter weather is forecasted, my transportation director and I conduct early morning assessments of road conditions to ensure the safety of our buses, student drivers, and all individuals involved in transporting students to and from school. Safety and precautions will always be on our minds as we determine whether it is safe to have school during the winter months.

The transition from fall to winter is always an exciting time for schools.  Winter brings about so many fun activities in our schools which I have been able to observe and see firsthand. Grandparents day at the elementaries, elementary holiday music concerts, the middle school and high school band and choir concerts, as well as the start of winter athletic programs.

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DMS/DUHS Band Concert 12/11

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Mrs. Lillie's Second Grade Class at Kincheloe

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Girls Varsity Basketball vs Niles

Also, Dr. Dunn and I were honored to recently have had the opportunity to present service pin recognitions to our 5, 10, 20, and 30 year staff members.  Please see pictures and individuals recognized below in our newsletter.  We can’t say enough about each of these awesome educators, their commitment to our school community, and the impact they have had on our students over their years of service!  Thank you and congratulations!

Go Chieftains! 

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Greg Blomgren

Superintendent

Years of Service

5 Years

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Andrea Cline, DMS Art Teacher

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Jamie Hannapel, JGE 5th Grade Teacher

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McKenzie Collins, DMS SPED

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Nicole Conlin, PHE Principal

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Rozanne Scherr, Admin. Payroll/Benefits Clerk

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Eric Charles, Boys JV Basketball Coach

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Herb Whitaker Jr., JV Football Coach

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Cindy Brinker, PHE KG Teacher

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Katrina Race, JGE Title 1 Para-Pro

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Monica Fisher, KNE KG Para-Pro

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Tonya Brooks, DUHS Secretary/Athletic Assistant

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Lynn Thomas, SLE Media Aide

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Tim Masterman, JV Football Coach

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Sharon Riecke, SLE Media Aide

10 Years

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Stacy Ritchie, Admin. Director of Finance

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Jessica Rohdy, JGE ECSE Teacher

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Debra Wegner, JGE 1st Grade Teacher

20 Years

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Lisa Hornburg, KNE Para-Pro

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Donna Batty, KNE Secretary

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Lissa Carter, DUHS Student Services Secretary

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Rhonda Lyle, JGE Health Aide

30 Years

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Denise Stockwell, DUHS English Teacher

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Pat Lyle, DMS Science Teacher

Building Highlights

Justus Gage Elementary

Michigan Big Apple Crunch: Every October, Michigan celebrates the apple harvest through the Big Apple Crunch, an initiative that promotes healthy eating, supports farm-to-school programs, and encourages the consumption of local produce. This year, Shelton Farms generously provided our students with Granny Smith, Gala, and Red Delicious apples.

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Kincheloe Elementary

Winner: Ms. Piazza won a teacher award of $500 for classroom supplies and materials from Honor Credit Union.

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Patrick Hamilton Elementary

Student Council: Patrick Hamilton brought back Student Council, it is a student-led organization that has been put in place to represent the interests of the student body. These members were voted for by their peers to represent their school community.

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Sister Lakes Elementary

Special Persons Day: On October 21st, students at Sister Lakes had the opportunity to welcome a special guest to their school. They engaged in painting activities and enjoyed quality time together.

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Dowagiac Middle School

Honor Roll Breakfast: A total of 259 students in grades 6 through 8 were honored with a special Honor Roll Breakfast in recognition of their achievement of earning a grade of B or higher in all their classes during the first marking period.

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MSEL U.S. East Champions

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Dowagiac Union High School

Mr. Litten and his students traveled to Battle Creek to explore the Youth in Government program, which is organized by the YMCA. In February, this group will visit Lansing to participate in activities within the Michigan Legislature. Each student will draft a bill on a topic they are passionate about, presenting their rationale and arguments in the hopes of garnering support from their peers in Michigan. Should their efforts prove successful, there is a possibility that their bills could be submitted to the Michigan Legislature, thereby influencing policy in the State of Michigan.

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CTE Students Begin Building a Tiny Home

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September Students of the Month

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October Students of the Month

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BUS DRIVERS WE NEED YOU!

Join our Dowagiac Union Schools family! We are actively seeking dedicated bus drivers to ensure the safe transportation of our students to and from school. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this opportunity, please share this information with them.


Link to application: https://www.applitrack.com/dowagiacschools/onlineapp/

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Newsworthy

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Teacher/Staff Spotlight:

Tharan Suvarna, Patrick Hamilton

How many years have you been teaching? 

This is my fourth year teaching 

Why did you decide to become a teacher? 

To make an impact in kids’ lives.

Outside of school, what do you enjoy doing for fun? 

Going to basketball and  football games for Dowagiac Schools. I am a Lions season ticket holder, I enjoy playing sports video games, watching TV and sports, hiking and camping in the football offseason. 

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2024/11/23/teacher-staff-spotlight-tharan-suvarna-patrick-hamilton-elementary/

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Edwardsburg, Dowagiac spikers sweep district foes

THREE RIVERS — Both the Edwardsburg and Dowagiac volleyball teams made quick work of their Division 2 district opponents in Monday’s quarterfinal round in Three Rivers. 

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2024/11/05/edwardsburg-dowagiac-spikers-sweep-district-foes/

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Leader Pub Submitted Photo

DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac City Council recognized its “newest and youngest” member Monday in a special ceremony. City of Dowagiac Mayor Don Lyons appointed JeNora Lucas-Croom an honorary member of the Dowagiac City Council, reserving for her a seat in her name at the press table. “It was exciting but I was kinda nervous,” Lucas-Croom said.

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2024/11/01/pat-ham-student-appointed-honorary-member-of-dowagiac-city-council/

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Teacher/Staff Spotlight:

Dara Killarney, Dowagiac Union Schools Transportation

How many years have you been driving a school bus? How many years have you been with your current school district? Started in 2017 with Dowagiac Union Schools (Driving for 7 years)

Who is your biggest role model and why? I am honored to say that my grandpa and grandma West are my biggest role models. When life gets hard, they kept pushing through with love, laughter, and smiles. Grandma was a foster parent, which showed strength, love, and caring. Grandpa showed that dreams can come true with owning his own business. Best of all, they both showed a role model can be someone new everyday. Never give up!

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2024/10/30/teacher-staff-spotlight-dara-killarney-dowagiac-union-schools-transportation/

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Teacher/Staff Spotlight:

Denise Stockwell, Dowagiac Union High School

How many years have you been teaching? How many years have you been with your current school? 

This is my 30th year of teaching. All 30 have been in the Dowagiac Union School District. I taught at Central Middle School/Dowagiac Middle School for 27 years, and this is my third year at DUHS. I have taught Adult Education at Pathfinders for four years as well.

Why did you decide to become a teacher? 

My grandmother was a teacher, and I have many other relatives who were teachers – I guess it is a family tradition! I enjoy working with students and witnessing them learn. It is very rewarding when students realize more about themselves as learners, readers, and what they want from their futures.

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2024/10/02/teacher-staff-spotlight-denise-stockwell-dowagiac-union-high-school/

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Teacher/Staff Spotlight:

Kim Deering, Dowagiac Middle School

How many years have you been teaching? How many years have you been with your current school? 

23 – I have been at the Middle School all but five of those years.

Why did you decide to become a teacher? 

Honestly, I always wanted to teach, but when I went to college I dabbled in psychology, business, and criminal justice before settling into Education. I was drawn to the creative side of designing engaging lessons and hoped to be a positive role model for students.

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2024/10/09/teacher-staff-spotlight-kim-deering-dowagiac-middle-school/

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Area cross country runners qualify for state meet

PORTAGE — 18 Leader-area runners qualified for the state finals in Saturday’s MHSAA Division 2  and 3 cross country regionals held at Portage.

The top 15 individual runners and the top three teams advance to the state meet, which will be run at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn Saturday.

On the boys side, Dowagiac’s Owen Saylor and Edwardsburg’s George Scupham finished fifth and ninth overall to qualify for the finals. Saylor posted a time of 16:12 and Scupham 16:30 to become the only Division 2 state qualifiers for Dowagiac, Edwardsburg or Niles.

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2024/10/29/area-cross-country-runners-qualify-for-state-meet/

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Dowagiac girls golf wins SAC Lakeshore title

RICHLAND — The Dowagiac varsity golf team stepped up to win the SAC Lakeshore Division Championship Wednesday at Eastern Hills. The Chieftains shot 387 to win the event, paced by medalist Rebecca Guernsey who shot a conference-best 75. First team All Conference Winners: Rebecca Guernsey (Medalist), Carlee Spagnoli – First Team, Jaden Kusch – First Team, Olivia Stockwell – Honorable Mention, Madison Winchester – Honorable Mention.

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2024/10/03/dowagiac-girls-golf-wins-sac-lakeshore-title/

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Emma Stanger and Kaleb Smith were crowned homecoming queen and king.

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Dowagiac earns 63-0 homecoming win over Brandywine

DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac football team only needed to play two quarters on Friday to earn a homecoming win against visiting Brandywine.  After the Chieftains jumped out to a 63-0 halftime lead, the short-handed Bobcats chose not to go on with the game. Dowagiac led 35-0 at halftime. The Chieftains’ 63 points were their most since the 2017 team defeated Otsego 67-7 and its 63-point win margin was the most since 1999, a 70-0 win over South Bend La Salle.

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2024/10/04/dowagiac-earns-63-0-homecoming-win-over-brandywine-in-game-called-after-halftime/

Fun Happenings

Spirit Week/Homecoming

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Friday Football Tailgate, Senior Night, and Pink Out Night

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