Congratulations to the LHS Quiz Bowl Team - February 2010

Congratulations to the LHS quiz bowl team! The team won the West Shore B-C quiz bowl championship defeating a tough Manistee team twice to take the trophy.




Congratulations to Ted Malt and the Jazz Band for winning the CMU Jazz Festival. - February 2010
The band took first place in every category!  This is a success story for students and all of our music staff. Check out the LHS Band's web site.

Congratulations to the K-12 music program - March 2009

This short story is the result of our entire team of fine arts educators, grades K-12.  We are the school of choice for the fine arts.

The bands traveled to Manistee a week ago Thursday and played at the MSBOA District One Band festival.  The panel of judges had over 150 years of band director experience.  The best panel we could have!  The band received straight A's across the board between 4 judges.  Also both the 7th and 8th grade bands under the direction of Bob Parker received Division One Ratings.

Judges insisted that we submit an application to the 2010 Michigan Music Conference held at DeVos Hall next January. Here are two quotes from the judges after the performance. "This is one of the best band sounds I have heard in 25 years."  "People across the state need to hear groups like Ludington."  If selected, this would be the first band since 1938 to achieve such an honor.  Only 4 high school bands from the state would be selected.  The band would play for band directors from all over the state exemplifying what band programs should be like.   The students will be interviewed via essay to reflect on where their commitment is in regards to an extended schedule of rehearsals and preparation.   This may be a once in a lifetime event for all of us. Bob and Ted will discuss this with students and parents, but just to be asked is an honor.

They have found new ways to increase private instruction.  Ms. Julie Schlief, 20 year staff member at the Interlochen Academy of the Arts is now teaching our students on a private basis two times per week.  Students who would usually have to pay almost $2000 dollars to attend Interlochen in the Summer now have the opportunity to get private lessons for a minimal weekly fee.  Our outside private staff consists of over ten teachers from as far as Grand Rapids.   Thirty-five students are taking private lessons. 

They are having great success with the teacher/mentor program.  Sixth grade students are being taught daily by some of our best high school students.

This year's O-Funk Basketball band broke a record with 65 players signed up.  Students run the show and design their own shirts. This is a volunteer group.  Parents and students love this group.  Fans around our conference have recognized the unusual participation and quality of this ensemble.

Finally, CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE  (www.ludingtonbands.com)  You will be impressed - it's a link on the LASD website under the high school area. Ludington has produced an incredible amount of Music Majors all over the country in the past ten years. This year is no exception.  Evan Kramer, ranked #4 in the state, will be pursuing a career in Music Education at one of 5 MAJOR colleges --from U of M, MSU, IU to Minnesota.  Patrick Cooper will be pursuing a Music Degree from either Western or MSU.  Patrick was ranked #5 in the state on French Horn.  Katie Smekar will be pursuing a degree in Music at Western Michigan, and was ranked #3 in the State on Cello, and finally Cass Sherlock will be pursuing a career in Music Education on Trombone at either U of M, MSU or CMU.

BPA Receives State Recognition - February 2009

Next month, during BPA's State Leadership Conference, Ludington HS will receive the Chapter of the Year Award for the State of Michigan! There are approximately 250 chapters in Michigan.  "The state officers had several schools to choose from and were very impressed ... for all the wonderful things we are doing in our community and school.  LHS BPA is truly deserving of this recognition," Maurice Henderson, State Director of BPA.


Great news from the LHS student club, Business Professionals of America!!!

Saturday, at the 2009 Regional Leadership Conference, approximately 550 students attended from regional 8; LHS students came away with 15 awards!  This was an amazing accomplishment.

Carly Campbell, Lucas Flagg and Jameson Tomaski were recognized for their community involvement and BPA activities and received the Diplomat Torch Award!

For competition:
Kelsey Schoenlein won 5th place in Desktop Publishing
Will Thibault won 1st place in Fundamentals of XHTML, and 1st place in Business Spelling
Shaun Butterfield won 5th place in PC Troubleshooting and 2nd place in Computer Networking Concepts
Jameson Tomaski won 5th place in Economic Research Project and 5th place in Computer Networking Concepts
Awston Winters won 2nd place in Information Technology and 4th place in Computer Networking Concepts
Chaz Mertes won 5th place in Insurance Concepts and 1st place in Parliamentary Procedures
Carly Campbell won 5th place in Management, Marketing and Human Resources
           

The boys varsity tennis team has just been awarded the All -Academic Team Tennis Award by the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association. Our GPA was 3.79 for our starting 12 players, Nick Thomsen, Joe Larson, Tony Perez, Gavin Sanders, Joe Lister, Reid Sanders, Mike O'Callaghan, Wes Paine, Tyler Hackert, Mike Hackert, Spencer Lindbloom, and Tyler Reed.


Three Ludington High School seniors made Michigan All-State High School Band while competing with hundreds of musicians. Patrick Cooper ranked fourth on French Horn and Evan Kramer ranked fourth on alto sax. Only eight were excepted in both instruments. Katie Smekar ranked third on cello out of 14.  All three students will play at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids on January 24th.