(I heard this from a current teacher at a different school with close ties to OHS). Sermak said it's so emotional. 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 . and Hulett and Hagadorn Roads on the East and West. Big private dining room, check in reception and audio/video set up. Dates seem a bit off though, was the issue from Jan 2021 or starting now in Jan 2022? Principal Christine Sermak retires after 21 years atOHS, School board decides on return to in-person date of March8. Principle: Christine SermakOkemos High School(517) 706-4902christine.sermak@okemosk12.net, Facility Coordinator:Cathy McKenna 517-706-5032 cathy.mckenna@okemosk12.net, Athletic Director: Brian Fuller 517-706-4930 brian.fuller@okemosk12.net, Director of Guidance Services:Hedlun Walton, MA, LPC 517-706-4921(office) hedlun.walton@okemosk12.net, Choir/Drama High School: Clare Bellamyclaire.bellamy@okemosk12.net, Science: Dave Chapmandave.chapman@okemosk12.net, Media/Okemos Channel: Matt Ottingermatt.ottinger@okemosk12.net, Superintendent of Okemos Public Schools: John Hood john.hood@okemosk12.net, Tour Chippewa Middle (the old High School starting 1960), Principle Jody Noble jody.noble@okemosk12.net, Choir Director for Kinawa Middle: Elizabeth Reedelizabeth.reed@okemosk12.net, Hampton Inn 517-349-6100 discounted rate of $129.00 at Okemos Rd and Jolly Rd (NE corner) 2200 Hampton Place, Okemos. Hallead was the only one with credible experience in Okemos, but it quickly became obvious that she wasn't really the best. It's a plane! Update: Jankowski learned after the filing of this story that the boys basketball team at Okemos High School has an outbreak of COVID-19. "We are in the process (of a new logo)," said Christine Sermak, principal of Okemos High. (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2018/02/okemos-high-school-prepares-students-for-future-learning/). This hasnt felt like a job or career, its been more like a calling. It's been difficult for Richard Smith, an Okemos senior, and his instructors, too. Visit the FOX47News Website. Christine Sermak coaches the OHS girls varsity basketball team. Since 1984, the OEF has given more than $1 million to enhance academic experiences for our students. I know Im taking precautions and I just hope that everyone else is, she said. Her role as a counselor is to help students with all kinds of concerns ranging from emotional college stresses to career planning. Private banquet room avaliable. His departure was also significant because this was the second time he'd done something like this: back in the 2017-18 school year, he left his principal position at Columbia Central High School less than 10 days into the school year. Is it true that they want students to use clear bags as alternatives to backpacks? She taught with Rachel Freeman (English) and Diane Dockus (English) and grew up competing against Danielle Tandoc (Science) in sports. So you want to make a news show? View Christine Sermak M Full Profile . She oversees a student body about three times the size of her previous "I spent 21 years at Okemos High School as a teacher, varsity basketball coach, advisor to extra curricular activities and most recently as the principal,"Sermak said in an email to the Journal. Christine Sermak. Big private dining room, check in reception and audio/video set up. Okemos High School (OHS), ranking among the top 10 high schools in the state of Michigan, OHS has a mission statement that encourages their staff to provide a tradition of daily excellence in order to meet the needs of each individual student. It is one of two high schools in Michigan to reach the top 100 for STEM achievement, an evaluation that includes test data in advance placement classes like calculus, physics, computer science, chemistry and statistics. This year the meeting dates are as follows: Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. It is similar to the Oregon O with script through it similar to the Kansas City Chiefs.. Meetings are held at the school about five times a year on Fridaysat9 am and run for about an hour. Key Principal: CHRISTINE SERMAK See more contacts Industry: Public senior high school. "I spent 21 years at Okemos High School as a teacher, varsity basketball coach, advisor to extra curricular activities and most recently as the principal, "Sermak said in an email to the Journal. Ive played school or thought about being a teacher and educator since I was twelve, and we used to have chalkboards, so I would have a chalkboard in my basement where I could play school; some people played house or ball but I played school, Sermak said. Okemos High School Reviews 2800 Jolly Rd, Okemos, Michigan 48864, United States Add A Teacher Laura Ross Be the first to leave a review! News and information from the Michigan State University School of Journalism. When Okemos High School students resumed in-person learning Monday, they joined the rest of the school district and 13otherGreater Lansing school districts that now have kids back in the classroom. Key Data. Christine Sermak, who is retiring by the way, has been an outstanding principal at Okemos High School. She hopes to succeed with that tough looking, non-wimpy logo to represent Okemos. 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. Faculty Population: 95. Theyre the reason why were here.. It is still a struggle for people (the alumni), but more on an emotional level, not an intellectual level, Sermak said. Banquet room seatsup to 120. Tyler Bailey, a sophomore at Okemos, is indifferent on the mascot issue. Other Schools in Okemos Public Schools. Principal: Steve Delp. They have innovated in ways and taught expectations in ways that have been amazing for students.. Newsroom Calendar Before that, she taught in the English department for ten years. Christine Sermak: Return To Main Menu. Thanks a ton for the positive feedback. Most school districts are choosing to do it voluntarily (switch logos), Leslee Fritz, director of public affairs, said. Okemos High School. please contact Christine Sermak, Principal, for assistance. A celebration to honor Dr. Lanzetta is scheduled for Thursday, May 13 from 4p.m.-7p.m. OKEMOS, Mich. Okemos Public Schools will be seeing a big staffing change for the upcoming school year after losing five of their seven principals. Spartan Newsroom I will certainly be back. Hedlun Walton, counselor at OHS, has been working at the school since 2002. They had many great candidates for the position, and they picked out a new principal before the school year ended last year. 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. Spring Lake HOA Meeting. Its bittersweet. OKEMOS, Mich. Okemos Public Schools has narrowed down it's ten mascot choices to four. Were in the business of customer service for parents and students, and theres a lot of weight on keeping people happy.. To honor her legacy, the OHS Press is reflecting past few decades with an in-depth interview about her time here. Hood said they're working to fill the positions as. This includes: SAT/ACT Testing Snacks, Lanzetta Scholarship, Caught Reading Program, Teacher Luncheons, Wish Lists from OHSStaff,OEF Banquet, Okemos Cares, Post Prom and Senior Farewell. 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. Megan SampTickets can be bought online or at Studio C in Okemos. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. But we hope current teachers, students and alumni will understand that if it is hurting students, it needs to be changed., Sermak agrees, saying it was a conscious effort to be respectful and have cultural sensitivity.. It's dumb that they thought a proper solution to bathroom vandalism was to simply not let students use the bathroom, but it's even dumber that it's stayed that way for half of the school year so far. "While retirement is bittersweet and I am not sure what I will do next, I look forward to the next chapter with optimism. Great for Okemos Class Reunions, birthday parties & business meetings. Its been ranked as a top flight public school in the state for 30 years straight for a reason. I do understand why he wanted to leave, as he probably didn't feel very welcomed by people and all he saw was pretty much the worst of the school, however I do think it's kind of petty to leave two months into your new job (especially one moderate prestige) just because of some problems that he could've worked to find solutions for. Its so emotional. So Im going to take this summer and rejuvenate and try to find balance. The personal connections that the staff and students have made are very unique. Due to confidentiality, the student's name cannot. Christine's daughter and my daughter became pretty good friends in high school. Want to see more local news? Gretchen Whitmer encouraged Michigan schools to resume in-person learning by March 1, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Okemos High School Principal Christine Sermak is retiring. That myth is almost as entertaining as hearing kids from other local schools ask me about the McDonalds in our lunch room which doesnt fucking exist, the loud complainers exaggerated while the servants are bullied, are the adults response to the failing youth, whod rather murder each other than learn the truth, than to build a community that supports one another. Kids arerespectful, parents have been great and staff haveworked hard, DeFrance said. Freshmen: 308. The center court for basketball used to be the Chieftain Head and we had to change it to the O so that could be upsetting to some.. Christine Sermak M Overview. I truly thought I was going to go another four years I was actually looking forward to a couple of years not having my own kids in the building and just being able to be a full-time principal and enjoy the evening activities versus being pulled between Do I make dinner at home tonight? or Do I go to an athletic or musical event? but this past year has really taken a toll on me and that was really the tipping point, Sermak said. It is the only high school in the Okemos Public Schools district. Even with the drawbacks, she had overwhelmingly positive things to say about the position and the Okemos community. And, Im excited to find some balance and have a lot less emails.. A strong pool of candidates remains for the Okemos Montessori and Bennett Woods jobs, he said. I think I will miss the positive aspects of Okemos which truly are the people, Sermak said. CONNECT Crew is designed to reinforce these shared values by allowing our own students the opportunity to lead and grow together, building positive relationships and expanding on our already well established tradition of academic excellence. en-academic.com EN. Let Us Know Are you Principal Sermak? Parents and students alike make it (education) a high priority, so people are willing to invest both time and money to help their students be successful.:Walton said. Okemos High School is located in Okemos, Michigan and serves 9th Grade through 12th Grade students. . Neighborhood Pub offering 24 rotating draught beers, scratch kitchen & craft cocktails. Write A Review Gloria Rozeboom Be the first to leave a review! This includes: SAT/ACT Testing Snacks, Lanzetta Scholarship, Caught Reading Program, Teacher Luncheons, Wish Lists from OHS Staff, OEF Banquet, Okemos Cares, Post Prom and Senior Farewell. I personally think it is OK to use the name, but not the image.. Okemos High School - IMC Prof Library -Conf Room. Others, however, said the process of the logo change has been occurring for at least seven years.. 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 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 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. Comment why voting matters to you at the end of this story. 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. Sending it to okemos schools admin. This is an administrative and policy issue. Okemos High School 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.. Okemos Public Schools: Principal: Christine Sermak: Vice principal: Russ Verrell and Asja Wilcox: Grades: 9-12: Number of students: 1,434 [1] After 31 years, Dr. Lanzetta retired and Okemos High School brought in a former English teacher, Christine Sermak. Get info about Okemos High School & 20 similar nearby businesses. The school offers programs in art, athletics, choir, journalism and orchestra. Room fee waived with purchase of food & drinks. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Write A Review Jason Saros The principals are part of more than 20 staff membersleaving Okemos Public Schools, including eight teachers and one counselor, according to an email sent to families by Superintendent John Hoodlast week. At Okemos High School in Ingham County, it is easy to believe the geeks shall inherit the earth. Christine Sermak is an EOS Integrator at Total Security Solutions based in Fowlerville, Michigan. 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. The window of acceptance is in the late spring or early summer, and is a restricted lottery system. "He has truly transformed our athletic department. Over the past decade, schools throughout the state of Michigan have been changing their Native American school mascot. Sarina's Superheroes Making a Difference. There is a culture of achievement here that extends beyond the classroom. Report Bullying at Okemos High School in Okemos, MI directly to the school safely and anonymously. Created with. The principals of Okemos High School, Christine Sermak, Hiawatha Elementary, Julie Bellinger, and Cornell Elementary, Tara Fry, are all retiring. Address 2800 Jolly Rd Okemos, Michigan 48864 Information School type Public School district Okemos Public Schools. Lease to Own Option 2 Take 25% off and pay $59,916 USD once. . The student mascot committee will go through the rankings and make a recommendation to the school board on Jan. 24. Megan SampVoters at the Hannah Community Center share why voting matters to them. Approximately 99% of Okemos High School graduates go on to colleges and universities; 85% of our students attend four-year institutions, approximately 14% attend two-year institutions, and 1% other (military, employment, or travel). There is a part of the hallway on the 2nd floor where you can see it and measure the distance exactly between the concrete blocks if you would like to see it personally. 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. I think local schools understand that alumni (and communities) feel connected to their school and a big part of that is their mascot, Fritz said. Sermak, Bellinger and Fry are all retiring, while Nedds will leave Michigan with her family after 16 years in Okemos schools. Holiday Inn Express 517-349-8700 discounted rate of $129.00 at Okemos and Jolly (SE corner) 2209 University Park Dr. Staybridge Suites 517-347-3044 discounted rate of $129.00 at Okemos and Jolly (NW corner) 3553 Meridian Crossings Dr. Alex Withorn, Director of Sales Alex.Withorn@AHM-Hotels.com, Home Stay ask local classmates to invite their old friends/classmates to stay at their house, Dean Transportation Darrin Ried, Trip Coordinator 517-319-8366 4812 Aurelius Road, Lansing, MI 48910. 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.