The holidays are over and classes are back in session after a week off, but that doesn’t mean there’s no more fun. From left, Springfield Plains Elementary students Lauren Navodi, Emmalyn King, Sophia Love and Katelyn Bradstreet gather, Monday, to work on a 3D puzzle during some free time. Photo by Andrea Beaudoin

From left, kindergarteners Kayla Miller, Addison McDaniel, and Madison McGraw try out an Etch-A-Sketch at Clarkston Elementary. Classes across the district were back in session Tuesday, Wednesday for kindergarteners. Photo by Laura Colvin

Hard to believe summer vacation is over and it’s once again time to hit the old books.
Rest assured, the Oxford Leader is ready to cover a wide variety of school events, from the classrooms to the athletic fields to the stage. Want to see your students in the paper? Let us know what’s happening by calling (248) 628-4801 or e-mailing shermanpub@aol.com.

While students around the Lake Orion school district may not all have been celebrating the first week of school last week, there was a group of students found in Webber Elementary School’s Classroom 1 that were.
The students, members of Webber Community Preschool, were happy to be back with the teachers and friends, learning and having fun.
Currently three preschool sessions are offered for ages three and four, with a Monday through Thursday half-day session, a Monday and Wednesday half-day session and a Tuesday and Thursday half-day session.
Fees are offered on an annual, semi-annual or monthly basis.
Community preschool is hosted through Lake Orion Early Childhood, and enrollees do not have to be residents within the Lake Orion school district.
There are still spots available at the preschool hosted at Webber, as well as ones located at the Community Education Resource Center (CERC). For more information, call Early Childhood at (248)693-5439.

Oxford students went back to school Tuesday after nearly three months of fun in the sun.
Lockers were opened, school supplies unpacked and hugs exchanged all over the district. For some, it was the very first day of their school careers. For others, it was the first day of their senior year.
As usual, The Leader will continue to be your official source of school news from board of education meetings and sporting events to classroom projects and special assemblies.
If it involves Oxford and Addison kids, you’ll find it here.

Local engineering professionals bringing A World In Motion back to Clarkston schools this year are hoping to expand the program.
They’ll need some help, though.
“We’re looking for additional volunteers from the community,” said Mary Ann McCracken, GM lead engineer for fullsize trucks.
“The more we get, the faster and easier it will be to grow this,” said Bob Ferer, assistant program manager for fullsize trucks at General Motors.
The program was started in 1990 by the Society of Automotive Engineers to improve American students’ math and science education.
AWIM programs run at Clarkston, Springfield Plains, and Pine Knob elementary schools. They hope to expand it to Bailey Lake Elementary and Sashabaw Middle School.
“Within the Clarkston School District, we have been concentrating on fourth and fifth grade, but would like to grow the program into the middle school also, if we can get the volunteers to support it,” McCracken said. “It’s an opportunity to leave work and go out and support the community.”
“Volunteers get so much out of it,” Ferer said “They serve as a role model for the kids.”
Volunteers for the program have mostly been engineers from General Motors Corporation. Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and CEO, is on the AWIM Executive Committee,
and Ed Koerner, GM chairman, is on the AWIM Advisory Committee.
AWIM also has volunteers from Chrysler Automotive, Dow Automotive, and Iafrate Construction. Many are also parents of students in the schools.
“Participation in this program is very rewarding,” McCracken said. “I personally have thoroughly enjoyed the enthusiasm that the students exhibit as they work on their projects within their teams.”
Volunteers spend an hour a week during seven-week sessions in grades 4-12. Anyone with engineering or scientific experience is welcome.
“We hope to increase participation from other engineering and technical individuals from the community,” McCracken said.
“Retirees are a great untapped resource,” Ferer said.
During sessions, volunteers share stories and lead practical workshops, geared to state science standards and benchmarks. Students work together in teams of 3-4 to design, test, and build a product based on the specifications set forth by a fictitious company called Earth Toy Designs.
At the end of each session, groups prepare a formal presentation, delivered to a board of professional engineers.
“I’ve had four years in the program, I’m always impressed with the answers we get, with the amount of thought,” Ferer said.
To volunteer, go to www.awim.org. Navigate to “volunteer signup,” and designate “Clarkston Schools” as area of interest. This year’s session is expected to start in January, although a 5th-grade program would start earlier.
“I’d like to start in late fall with the fifth graders,” Ferer said. “There’s an opportunity to take a group to the SAE Olympics in March at the Ren Cen.”
Students would get to meet with industry leaders at the Detroit event, he said.

It’s a new year for the Clarkston Board of Education, with a new trustee, schedules, and assignments.
Stephen Hyer was reelected board president in a 4-3 vote. Karen Foytech earned the three votes.
‘I didn’t expect to be nominated,? Foyteck said. ‘There are no special priveledges (as president), just extra work.?
Hyer said he is looking forward to the new school year.
‘It will be a challenging year,? he said. ‘I appreciate my collegues electing me.?
Other officers are Vice President Barry Bomier, Treasurer Ron Sullivan, and Secretary Joan Patterson.
Cheryl McGinnis took her seat on the podium for the first time, volunteering for Oakland Schools designate, Oakland County School Board Legislative Committee representative, Michigan Association of School Boards legislative member, and Policy Revision Committee.
The school board renewed its membership in lobbying groups National School Board Association, $4,750 dues, and Michigan Association of School Boards, $7,171.
The associations lobby state and national public officials and public opinion on issues such as school funding, health care costs, and curriculum standards.
McGinnis and other board members, who can attend if they wish, will attend association meetings for informational purposes only.
‘If there is a need for an action item, I’ll bring it back to the board first,? McGinnis said.
Last school year, Clarkston trustees were asked to vote on issues, Patterson said.
‘I was surprised ? we went there for information and were asked for a vote,? she said. ‘We didn’t know that would be asked of us.?
If asked this year, board members should abstain, Sullivan said.
NSBA will host two conferences in Washington D.C. and its annual conference in Orlando, Fla. If a Clakrston board member wants to attend, the board will have to consider and approve travel expences before registration.

Joseph Rapdas, a third-grader at Clear Lake Elementary, writes his name on the blackboard as Oxford students went back to school Tuesday. For more back to school photos see pages 14 and 15. Photo by Casey Curtis.

Clarkston public school students have almost two more weeks of summer vacation left, but for students of Oakland Christian School’s Clarkston chapter, classes started Monday.
Located in Clarkston Community Church, 6300 Clarkston Road, the school offers early childhood and licensed childcare, and kindergarten through third grade.
For more information, call Principal Erin Akers at 248-625-1324.

The minute those big yellow buses pulled up, summer was officially over.
Kids sobbed and parents rejoiced as Oxford’s K-12 students went back to school Tuesday. Stayed tuned to the Oxford Leader throughout the year for the most complete school coverage anywhere.
From student achievements and sports to school board meetings and curriculum changes, the Leader has it all.
The Leader is an absolutely essential school supply for both students and parents. To get a $30 per year subscription, call (248) 628-4801. Operators are standing by.
For more back-to-school photos from Daniel Axford, please see Page 22. ? CJC