Coloma Newsletter

Dear families,

March is a time of renewal and reflection, bringing both the promise of spring and the celebration of Women's History Month. This month, we embrace the changing seasons while honoring the resilience, achievements and lasting influence of women throughout history.

March is not only a time to look ahead but also an opportunity to reflect on the past and those who have shaped our world. From pioneers in education and science to champions of social change, their impact continues to inspire future generations. In our schools, we encourage students to learn from these trailblazers and recognize the importance of opportunity for all.

At the same time, spring marks a fresh start, a time for renewed energy and progress. As we move into the final stretch of the school year, we remain focused on supporting our students in reaching their goals, both inside and outside the classroom. We appreciate your continued partnership in fostering a positive and enriching environment for every learner as we remain committed to Coloma.

Here’s to a season of inspiration, learning and growth!

Sincerely,

Dave Ehlers

February's poll winner was Skilled Trades (Automotive Technology, Welding, etc) with 46%.

This month’s athlete spotlight is on Brody, a standout freshman at Coloma High School! Brody is a dedicated three-sport athlete, competing in football, wrestling and golf while maintaining an impressive 3.88 GPA. His hard work on the mat has already earned him remarkable achievements, including placing third at the MHSAA Individual State Tournament, First Team All-Conference honors and recognition on the Second Team All-Southwest.

Brody’s commitment to both academics and athletics showcases his drive, perseverance and leadership.

Keep up the great work, Brody—congratulations!

Coloma High School Shines: Celebrating Student Success in Academics, Arts & Athletics

As March comes to a close, Coloma High School has much to celebrate, with numerous student accomplishments across academics, sports and the arts that are worth recognizing.

The CW Tech Robotarians, FRC #2959, had a strong season competing at two FIRST in Michigan District events with their robot, Scuberto, for the FIRST Robotics Competition game Reefscape. At the St. Joseph District event (March 6-8), the team placed 26th out of 40 teams and earned the Spirit Award for their enthusiasm and dedication. They then competed at the West Michigan District event (March 20-22), where their robot improvements helped them rank as high as 5th before finishing 19th with a 7-5 record. The team advanced to the semifinals and won the Gracious Professionalism Award for their commitment to supporting other teams. Though they fell short of qualifying for the state competition, the Robotarians demonstrated remarkable skill, teamwork and perseverance. Sophomore DJ Rigozzi played a key role in manufacturing parts, maintaining the robot and mentoring Coloma Middle School’s robotics team

The Coloma High School Band earned a Division I rating at the MSBOA District Band Festival on March 6th at Paw Paw High School. This outstanding performance has secured their spot at the MSBOA State Festival in April. The band, directed by Marc Hartman and assisted by Skylar Pullins, both in their first year at Coloma, also performed in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Coloma.

In March, Coloma High School also hosted its Academic Letter and Chevron Presentation, celebrating students who achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher after the first semester. These students exemplify academic excellence and dedication, setting a remarkable standard of achievement and perseverance.

The competitive cheer team brought home an impressive 7th place at the MHSAA finals. Their dedication and teamwork were evident throughout the season, and this achievement reflects their hard work and determination.

The Girls Comet Bowling Team competed in the Elite 8 at the state finals, marking a huge accomplishment for the team. Their skill and teamwork were on full display throughout the competition, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts.

These achievements are just a glimpse of the success our students continue to achieve at Coloma High School. From academic achievement to athletic triumphs and musical excellence, our students continue to make us proud. Congratulations to all our Coloma students and teams!

The Significant Events in the Life of a Coloma Junior High Student: A National Reading Month Story

Coloma Junior High School is celebrating Reading Month with an exciting lineup of activities designed to inspire a love of reading and highlight the importance of literacy. This year, the school is participating in the "One School, One Book" initiative, where students are reading The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus together.

Throughout the month, students are encouraged to take part in daily "Drop Everything and Read" moments, where they pause their regular activities to read for a few minutes. As an added incentive, each student who participates receives a random reading sticker for the day. Collecting these stickers leads to fun rewards like potted live succulents, pens, notebooks and more!

Students who collect three stickers will earn admission to Coloma’s Carnival on March 28th, where they can enjoy treats like popcorn and cotton candy, along with exciting games and prizes, including Plinko and Ring Toss. Giant yard games such as Jenga, Connect 4 and Yahtzee will also be available. The cafeteria will be decked out in a vibrant carnival theme, creating a fun atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

This initiative not only encourages reading but also fosters a sense of community and excitement within the school. We are grateful to Gina Dressander, 8th-grade English teacher, for organizing the carnival and bringing this engaging event to life.

The month’s events serve as a reminder of how important it is to foster a love of reading in our students. With their enthusiasm and dedication, we look forward to seeing even more students excited about reading and learning this month.

Keep up the great work, Junior High!

A Delicious Tradition: Intermediate School Students Experience Hands-On Cooking Fun

The annual cooking experience at Coloma Intermediate School was once again a hit! Thanks to the collaboration between the PTO and Chartwells, students had the opportunity to dive into a hands-on culinary adventure.

This year, students rolled up their sleeves and learned how to make homemade noodles from scratch. They got their hands doughy, kneading, rolling and cutting the dough into perfect noodle shapes. The best part? Chartwells’ talented chef showed them how to prepare a mouthwatering sauce to complement their fresh noodles.

Once the noodles were cooked, students enjoyed the fruits of their labor with a delicious meal, choosing from a variety of sauces. The excitement on their faces as they watched their hard work come to life was priceless.

This cooking tradition has become a favorite at Coloma Intermediate, combining learning with a sense of accomplishment. A big thank you to the PTO and Chartwells for making this interactive and tasty experience possible. We can’t wait to see what next year’s culinary adventure will bring!

Coloma Elementary Wraps Up a SUPER Reading Month!

Coloma Elementary students wrapped up an action-packed Reading Month with their book of choice, Almost Super! Throughout March, young readers celebrated with thrilling themed trivia, special guest readers and a chance to build their own superhero identities.

One of the most exciting Wacky Wednesday events was Build Your Own Superhero Day where students tapped into their super-powered imaginations, designing heroic costumes that showcased their unique abilities. From caped crusaders to masked masterminds, creativity soared through the halls!

But the superhero fun didn’t stop there—every Wednesday Coloma Elementary had a whole lineup of super-powered celebrations:

• ️ Pajama Day – Even superheroes need their rest! Students cozied up in their favorite PJs for a day of comfortable reading.

• Dress as Your Favorite Superhero – Whether it was a classic comic book hero or a self-created champion, students brought their favorite superheroes to life.

• ️ Disguise Day – Every hero needs a secret identity! Students dressed up in clever disguises to stay undercover.

• Pick Your Superhero Family – Students suited up in green for the Bailey Brigade or gold for Team Johnson on March 26th, showing off their superhero spirit in a battle of school pride!
  

Adding to the excitement, Daily Superhero Trivia challenged students’ minds each morning. Classroom winners were entered into a drawing, and lucky heroes earned a trip to the Book Vending Machine—because every superhero needs a great origin story!

And what’s a superhero saga without legendary mentors? Coloma Elementary had guest readers take on individual chapters of Almost Super, including:

• Mrs. Severin as "Captain Knowledge" and Mrs. Staffen as "Professor Brainstorm" kicked things off with Chapter 1

• The Guardian of Records, aka Mrs. Brown, joined students to read Chapter 5 aloud

• Natalie Contreras and Mavis the service dog (aka Multilingual Marvel and the Barking Beacon) read Chapter 15 to students

• Superintendent Ehlers even joined in on the fun as the mighty Chapter 17 reader
  

With so many heroic activities, Reading Month at Coloma Elementary was truly SUPER! Our young readers proved that with great books comes great imagination, and we can’t wait to see what adventures they take on next!

Hello Fans,

No pup-arazzi, please! I’m not sure if you’ve seen it yet, but yours truly was featured in ANOTHER news story in the Tri-City Record! I hope all this fame doesn’t go to my fluffy head.

With all the lights flashing, cameras clicking and autograph requests (okay, maybe just extra belly rubs), things can get a little overwhelming—even for a cool pup like me. But when excitement or stress starts to build, I remember to take a deep breath, pause and regulate my emotions.

Whether you're feeling nervous before a big test or just extra wiggly from all the spring excitement, try my favorite tricks:

• Take deep breaths – in through your nose, out through your mouth.

• Find a quiet spot to take a break.

• Use a calming strategy like squeezing a stress ball, counting to ten or thinking of something that makes you happy—like, say, a wagging tail or a friendly pup./
  

Even superheroes (and super dogs!) need a moment to reset. So next time you feel overwhelmed, channel your inner Barking Beacon and practice a little emotional regulation. You got this!

Consider this my autograph,

Mavis

We are excited to shine a spotlight on Ryder Porter, a fourth grader at Coloma Elementary! Ryder is a great student who consistently shows a positive attitude and a strong work ethic.

He’s always eager to help others and is a true team player. When he’s not excelling in the classroom, Ryder enjoys spending time with friends and being a positive influence in his school community.

Keep it up, Ryder—you’re a true Comet!

We are thrilled to recognize the incredible Ms. Shelley Smith, who has quickly become a valued member of the Coloma team. This is Ms. Smith’s first year at Coloma Community Schools, and she brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to her role. Ms. Smith divides her time between the Junior High and the Intermediate schools, providing Title Services to students across both buildings.

At the Junior High, she teaches ELA and Math Plus, while also providing intervention support at the Intermediate. Her classroom is a welcoming space where students feel motivated and excited to learn each day. Ms. Smith’s ability to connect with students and create a positive, engaging atmosphere truly sets her apart.

We are grateful to have Ms. Smith as part of our Coloma family. Her passion for education and dedication to her students is evident, and we look forward to all the great things she will continue to accomplish in her role.

Thank you, Ms. Smith, for all you do to support our students!