By: Mark Vest | West Bloomfield Beacon | Published June 7, 2023
‘The Geisler Chronicles’ named Most Outstanding Middle School Newspaper
WALLED LAKE — The James R. Geisler Middle School student newspaper, The Geisler Chronicles, received national recognition by the American Scholastic Press Association as one of the top middle school newspapers in the country.
The Geisler Chronicles was named the ASPA’s 2022-23 Most Outstanding Middle School Newspaper and was one of two schools to earn first place in the intermediate school category for schools with an enrollment of 500 to 1,000 students, according to a press release.
The Geisler Chronicles was created during the 2018-19 school year and currently has 57 students contributing articles about what is happening at James R. Geisler Middle School. The monthly edition includes school news, world and national items, sports, short stories, and reviews.
Co-advisors Torry Yu and Linda Bacon also received a Foundation For Excellence mini grant for the second-straight year, which will allow them to professionally print the final issue of The Geisler Chronicles for the 2022-23 school year.
Workshop offered for individuals living with chronic pain
METRO DETROIT — Jewish Family Service is offering a six-week workshop conducted by certified leaders to teach individuals living with chronic pain how to create a personal plan for success, develop problem-solving skills, improve communication with health care providers, use the mind to calm the body, make healthier food choices and incorporate physical activity into daily life, according to a press release.
“People living with chronic pain often find it interferes with their ability to manage their health and live life to the fullest,” the release states. “Personal Action Toward Health is an interactive program designed by Stanford University to provide the necessary skills and tools to help you manage chronic pain and live a better life.”
The workshop is scheduled to be offered via Zoom 1-3 p.m. June 13, 20 and 27, and July 5, 11 and 18.
The workshop is free and open to adults with chronic pain and other health conditions, as well as caregivers.
According to the release, reservations are required as space is limited.
For more information or to register, call (248) 392-0767 or send an email to jlyons@jfsdetroit.org.
Police employees complete ‘Staff and Command’ program
WEST BLOOMFIELD — The West Bloomfield Police Department recently announced that dispatch manager Jennifer Curran, Sgt. Scott Mong and Sgt. Art Smith graduated from Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety.
Curran, Mong and Smith each successfully completed the 10-week staff and command program held in Troy Jan. 3-May 12, according to an email.
The program, which was implemented by the Center for Public Safety in 1983, has graduated over 30,000 students both nationally and internationally.
The three were students in a class that accommodated a total of 27 students for a 10-week period.
The School of Police Staff and Command provides upper-level college instruction in a total of 27 core blocks of instruction and additional optional blocks during each session, according to the email.
The major topics of study include leadership, human resources, employee relations, organizational behavior, applied statistics, planning and policy development, budgeting, and resource allocation.
Each student is academically challenged through written examinations, projects, presentations and quizzes, the email states.
Upon successful completion, students may be awarded a total of six units of undergraduate credit from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
“The West Bloomfield Police Department anticipates a variety of benefits from our supervisors attending this program,” the email states. “We are proud of our team members who chose to invest so much time and effort into advancing their knowledge and leadership skills.”
According to the township, “this investment will not only benefit the department but the community for years to come.”
Walled Lake Northern senior earns scholarship
WALLED LAKE — Walled Lake Northern senior Ellie Michaels finished as the runner-up at the Sutton Foster Awards May 21 at the Fisher Theater in Detroit.
Michaels earned a $1,000 scholarship and is set to fly to New York City to compete for the 2023 Jimmy Awards, the National High School Musical Theater Awards, June 26 at Broadway’s Minskoff Theater, according to a press release.
Michaels, along with fellow Walled Lake Northern seniors Gabby Alexander and Kade Hopkins, underwent two weekends of workshops led by industry professionals at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts in East Lansing, which culminated with the Sutton Foster Awards Showcase.
“Michaels will continue to pursue her love and passion for performing arts at the University of Michigan in the fall, where she plans to study musical theater in the top program in the country,” the release states.