SASA ranked FIFTH in Michigan on State's 'Top to Bottom' Schools List

Congratulations to SASA Faculty, students and parents -- you deserve the ranking for your hard work and dedication!!!

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2010/08/saginaw_arts_sciences_academy_1.html

Fall Student Orientation Dates -- RETURNING Students' Orientations scheduled for August 24 at 10 am or 5:30 p.m. in SASA Aud., ---- NEW STUDENTS' Orientation will be September 1 at 6:30 p.m. in SASA Aud., teachers will be present Sept. 1.

Fall Student/Parent Orientation Dates -- RETURNING Students and parents Orientations are scheduled for August 24 at either 10 am or 5:30 p.m. in the SASA Auditorium, need only choose one time to attend, allow approximately 1 hour.

Class schedules will be distributed and students will be able to submit needed corrections or necessary preferences prior to the start of school.

NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS and Parents -- a New Student Orientation will be held on September 1 at 6:30 p.m. in SASA Auditorium, teachers and school administration will be present for overview, questions and classroom visits. Plan to be with us until about 8:00 p.m.

Attendance at one annual Fall Orientation is required for all new AND returning students, accompanied by at least one parent or guardian, according to district procedures.

Call the SASA office at 989-399-5500 if you have questions or concerns.

School Supplies Needed for Fall Entry to SASA

Supplies needed by students for schooling at SASA are pretty simple -- basic ink pens, #2 pencils, a set of colored pencils, some fine tip markers, and notebooks (1-2 100-sheet spiral notebooks, and 1-2 1" 3-ring binders. Lined paper can be college or standard ruled. Scissors should have rounded tips for middle schoolers. Each student is asked to contribute 1-2 boxes of Kleenex or tissue to their homeroom teacher's classroom.

Most students will eventually need a graphing calculator for math homework, so it is best to have parents plan to get them one capable enough to last them for several years. It should handle through Algebra II/Trig or Calculus, especially if they are in Math/Science as a Concentration. We ask that all parents engrave their child's names on the backs of their calculators to avoid loss. The following statement is from the ACT exam permitted calculator rules. Most commercial packaging for Texas Instrument calculators and other brands will note whether they are allowed on the ACT exam and through which course level the particular calculator model is appropriate. We encourage only those that are permitted on the ACT and MI Merit exam to be purchased for school use. The Texas Instrument models TI-83 and TI-84 (or comparable brands) will meet most students' needs for at least 4 years of math in grades 6-10.

From the ACT rules:
"Only certain types of calculators may be used during the ACT test. Most four-function, scientific or graphing calculators are permitted, but some features may have to be disabled before the calculator can be used. Devices that include calculators among their functions, such as cell phones, laptops, and PDAs, are forbidden, as well as calculators with built-in algebra capabilities or QWERTY keyboard buttons. Also, certain specific models of calculators are forbidden, including the following: all Texas Instruments model numbers that begin with TI-89 and TI-92, as well as the TI-Nspire CAS (the non-CAS TI-Nspire is allowed); the Hewlett-Packard hp 48GII model and all model numbers that begin with hp 40G, hp 49G, or hp 50G; the Casio Algebra fx 2.0, ClassPad 300, and all model numbers that begin with CFX-9970G; and all electronic writing pads or pen-input devices, except for the Sharp EL 9600."

"Prohibited calculators include all calculators in all of the following series:
* Casio CFX-9970G (including, for example, CFX-9970GE)
* Casio Algebra fx 2.0
* Hewlett-Packard HP-40G
* Hewlett-Packard HP-49G
* Texas Instruments TI-89
* Texas Instruments TI-92
(including, for example, TI-92 Plus)"

At SASA, much of the work students will do throughout middle and high school will include electronic research using computers and the internet. SASa is an installed wireless school, so personal student and teacher laptops can be brought to school if they are equipped for wireless access to our network. Laptops that bypass the district network server and filter are prohibited, such as those that operate wirelessly with a direct phone service modem card. SASA has over 140 wireless laps for classroom use, and over 100 desktop units, so individual student laptops are not needed, but are permitted. However, the school is not responsible for loss or damage to student-owned equipment of ANY kind.

We provide students each fall with notebook-style Student Agendas/Planners suitable for recording daily assignments and integrated use in our daily instructional lessons.

Student cell phones and all electronic communication devices are not permitted in keeping with the Board of Education's policy. Non-transmitting Ipods or CD players can be used before or after school, or during the lunch period but are brought to school at the student's own risk in case of loss. The school is building-wide wirelessly-accessible so students may bring personal laptops to school for use through the district network. Like other devices and belongings, students choosing to do so assume all risks for doing so.

Band instruments are discussed in each respective level of Band classes. If students own their own musical instrument, they can bring it after consulting with the teacher on the first day of school. Student in the first level Beginners Band class will have 6 weeks to decide on their instrument and will be fitted at school by a representative from Herter Music. Most SASA parents purchase or lease-to-own an instrument for their child(ren), but are advised to do so only after consultation with the teacher. The investment will pay off -- students can take up to 7 years of band instruction at SASA for credit. We have a limited number of instruments to rent at $40 year; first priority is given to approved free and reduced lunch-eligible students. Percussion kits run about $250.

Any other particulars regarding needed supplies for specific visual arts, theatre or dance classes will be covered in classroom visits during SASA's new student orientation tentatively scheduled for Wed., Sept 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the school.

Specific supply questions can be e-mailed to the principal, Mrs. Melleretha Johnson, at mjohnson@spsd.net for forwarding to the child's teacher(s).

SASA Student Kellie Rankey Earns Top Honors at National and State History Contest

SASA soon-to-be 8th grader Kellie Rankey placed best in the state and one of the best in the nation in June 2010 at a National History Day competition.

Rankey, from Bay County, was ranked above her competitors at the district and state level with an historical research paper on the invention of Kevlar — used as the main component in the construction bulletproof vests.

You can read Kellie Rankey's award winning essay "A report on the history of Kevlar" in the Bay City Times at this link:
http://www.mlive.com/special-sections/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/06/sasa_student_kellie_rankeys_st.html

National History Day competition has students challenge each other and lets them present their work as a historical paper, exhibit, performance, documentary or a website. The contest is sponsored by The History Channel and this year’s theme was innovation in industry.

Rankey made the unusual choice in her topic in order to inform the public and bring to light a little-known product outside of law enforcement circles. She was quoted in the article by Andrew Dodson for the Saginaw News as follows: “Kevlar stood out,” she said. “It’s something I’ve heard of before, but it’s obscure enough and important enough to write about.”

In March, Rankey took top honors for the middle school level at the Delta College Planetarium. In April, her 20-page essay rose to the top at the state competition at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.She won state honors and went on to finish 13th at the national competition in Maryland.

For her research, she interviewed retired Saginaw Police Officer Michael Jarabek, who was shot twice in the chest in the fall of 1990. Jarabek was saved by his bulletproof vest, a uniform item now required of officers on patrol.

Joining Kellie Rankey at the Nationl Competition was John Bihn, a SASA Math/Science Concentration junior. John competed at the state level with a qualifying finish for the nationals with his video documentary exploring the history of the riverfront Saginaw site that SASA sits on today.

Congratulations, Kellie and John, for helping to make a new piece of history in awarded excellence for SASA students!

Law Day 2010

Law Day 2010 has passed and the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy’s team has had another successful trial.

With senior student attorneys John Parcell, Samuel Nolan, and Nicole Smith, under the direction of local professional attorney Jeffrey Rupp, SASA was able to steer to victory at the Saginaw County Court House in April 2010.

Along with some brilliant performances by Mackenzie Rennick, Allecia Butler, Matthew Brown and Brandon Perry as the defense witnesses, the case fell together nicely. SASA was able to prove that the defendant was innocent on the DWI charge, while not being able to protect him from the MIP charge. With the case in hand, SASA was also able to bring home the Performance Award for the 2010 Law Day.

TWENTY-FIVE AND COUNTING -- SASA'S NUMBER OF MI YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL STUDENTS QUALIFIERS REACHES RECORD LEVEL

With the Michigan Youth Arts Festival just weeks away (May 13-15) at Western MI University, news is arriving nearly daily at SASA identifying additional students as qualifiers to attend the prestigious state-wide convocation of student talent in all areas of visual arts, performance, music and writing.

Our current qualifiers to the 2010 MYAF are as follows:


Rachel Reid 11-12 Gr English/Language Arts (ELA) Concentration Instructor -- MYAF Invitees/Honorees:

Fiction Winners-Certificate of Merit & MYAF Invitees/Honorees:
1. Nickolette DeClerck, "Machine", 12th Grade,
2. John Hanskett, "Pebble Road", 11th Grade,
3. Nick Herd, "More Bars, 11th Grade,

Poetry Winners-Certificate of Merit -- MYAF Invitees/Honorees:
1. Kiri Brasseur, "Thaumatrope", 12th Grade,
2. Jacob Gorski, "You Bring Out The Old Woman In Me (from Sandra Cisneros)", 11th Grade,
3. Katie Francis, "Tuesday Afternoon" 11th Grade,
4. Sevonna Brown, *The Inside of Me Was Stenciled in Colors of You", 11th Grade,
5. Carly Veverka, "My Grandmother’s Afghan, 11th Grade.


Jared Morningstar, Instructor, ELA Concentration, Gr 9-10; MYAF Invitees/Honorees:

Fiction Winners-Certificate of Merit:
1. Jessica Lalonde, "Waking Dream" (GR 9),

Poetry Winners-Certificate of Merit:
1.Philip Bernstien, "Plastic " (GR 10),
2. Christin DeFord, "Butterflies and Wishing Wells" (GR 10),
3. Precious Humphrey, "Once Golden Eyes" (GR 9),
4. Hope Kemerer, "June Night", (GR 9),
5. Caroline Sawatzki, "Impostor", (GR 9).


Visual Arts 2d: Becky Sullivan, Instructor:

Danny Millar, Gr 12, AHHS/SASA 2D Art.

Senior Danny Millar's work will be exhibited in the Governor's Traveling Show (Top 30 in state), and was adjudicated in the Top 18 in the state.


Music Composition; Mike Brush Instructor:

Hope Currie, Gr 11, SASA.


Dance Performance and Choreography:

This year the SASA High School Dance Concentration will perform two pieces at Michigan Youth Arts Festival at WMU. The two pieces are "Realign", choreographed by Ryan Schmidt (SASA guest teacher), and "Frantic, Fear, Foreseen", choreographed by Alyssa Sauvie (sophomore, SASA).

Both pieces will be performed at the Saturday Morning Dance Showcase Concert. " Frantic, Fear, Foreseen " has also been chosen as one of two dances to be performed at the Thursday night Grand Opening Gala Celebration.

Alyssa Sauvie is the first student choreographer ever to have her work chosen for MYAF performance the opening night Gala Celebration.

Mrs. Meagan Bublitsz is the dance program instructor and principal choreographer for the SASA instructional program.

The nine dancers participating in the MYAF 2010 Dance Showcase are:

Kamahria Crittle (9),
Domonique Freeman (11),
KeeLee Holihan (11),
Starletta King (9),
Jaden Moten (11),
Alyssa Sauvie (10),
Shatarea Simms (10),
Maureen Sullivan (11),
Erika Thomas (11).


Music Performance -- Matthew Corrigan, Bands Instructor:


Three instrumental music students qualified as state semi-finalists; Samuel Wilkins, Erika Trigg and Alex Emonds.

Mr. Morningstar and Mrs. Bublitz will attend the festival as chaperones.


Deepest thanks to the Morley Foundation for funding assistance to make the MYAF experience possible for our students!

Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards Brings SASA Students National Recognition

Congratulations are in order for the SASA Visual and Language Arts students with regard to the Scholastic Art and Writing 2010 Awards. The Gold Key is the most prestigious of these awards, and pieces earning Gold Key Awards for art were placed on exhibit at the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development at the University of Iowa from March 7 through March 31, 2010. Gold Key Award winners were recognized at the opening of the show. Portfolios and individual pieces earning Gold Key Awards are forwarded to New York City for further judging and possible exhibition.

VISUAL ARTS AWARDS

797 students submitted 1866 pieces of art for adjudication in the “Region-At-Large” competition consisting of 12 participating states.

Gold Key Awards presented to works from the SASA 2-D Visual Arts Class, Teacher Becky Prine Sullivan, include:

Portfolio of 8 pieces – Marianne Elizalde – Grade 12;
Portfolio of 8 pieces – Danny Millar – Grade 12;
Monster #1 – Drawing - Marianne Elizalde – Grade 12;
Coke Bottle – Drawing - Marianne Elizalde – Grade 12;
Mother Earth – Drawing - Marianne Elizalde – Grade 12;
Prismatic Reflections; Personal Deceptions – Drawing - Danny Millar – Grade 12;
Smoker – Nicolas Sarmiento – Painting - Grade 12;
Infant Swallowings – Painting - Sydney Veverka – Grade 10.

Silver Key Awards given to submissions from the 2-D Visual Arts Class, Becky Prine Sullivan, Instructor, include:

Portfolio of 8 pieces – Nicolas Sarmiento – Grade 12;
Urban Angst – Drawing - Marianne Elizalde - Grade 12;
Reaching Happiness - Batik – Marianne Elizalde – Grade 12;
Nelophobia – Painting - Danny Millar - Grade 12;
Weeping Woman – Painting - Anna Mahan – Grade 10; ,br> Alienation – Painting – Jalita Patton Grade – 10;

Honorable Mention Awards, 2D Art, Becky Prine Sullivan, Instructor:

Portfolio of 8 Pieces – Brianna Fulmer – Grade 12;
Move Over – Drawing - Brianna Fulmer – Grade 12;
Pensive to the Point of Perplexity – Painting - Brianna Fulmer – Grade 12;
His Last Word was “Moo” – Painting - Danny Millar – Grade 12;
Manifestation of Imagination – Drawing - Danny Millar – Grade 12;
(Alexander Graham) Bell Sent a Letter, He Wants His Phone Back – Drawing - Danny Millar – Grade 12;
A Day at the Zoo – Drawing - Nicholas Sarmiento – Grade 12.


Awards from the 3-D Visual Arts Class – Sally Allan, Instructor, include:

Gold Key Awards:

Play Ball – Ceramics – Ce’ Erica Roland-Ferguson – Grade 9;
Orb of Confusion – Ceramics – Donovan Webb – Grade 11.

Silver Key Awards, 3-D Art, Sally Allan, Instructor:

Sharpie Monstrosity – Mixed Media – Audrey Berkan – Grade 10;
Double Stuffed – Mixed Media – Donovan Webb – Grade 11;
Heavenly Bodies – Ceramics – April Weber – Grade 12;
Black Horse – Ceramics – Michelle Perry – Grade 12;
Tea Puzzle – Ceramics – Austin Kemp – Grade 10. Honorable Mention awards, 3-D Art, Sally Allan, Instructor:

The God of Corn – Ceramics – Donovan Webb – Grade 10;
Teapot 2009 – Ceramics – Michelle Perry – Grade 12;
Grace – Ceramics – Julius Woo – Grade 12.




LANGUAGE ARTS AWARDS

Over 900 entries were submitted to the Multi-state Writing Regional competitions. Students were invited to the Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards ceremony and the Gold Key Art Exhibit, held at the DesMoines State Historical Building on Sunday, March 7, 2010. The multi-state regional program celebrates both young artists and young writers. All Scholastic Art and Writing award winners present were honored on stage.

2010 Language Arts Scholastic Writing Awards, Instructor Rachel Reid, SASA's \Language Arts Concentration 11/12 Grade class included:

Silver Key Award: “Bicycles”-Short Short Story- Ben Beltran- Grade 11.

2010 Scholastic Language Arts Writing Honorable Mention Awards given to entries from Jared Morningstar’s SASA Grade Language Arts 9/10 Concentration class include:

“My Grandmother’s Afghan” – Poetry- Carley Veverka- Grade 11;
Lauren Ingram’s poem collection, “Falsifier”;
Hope Kemerer’s poem, “Picture Book”.

Excerpts from SASA’s Silver Key Award winner Ben Beltran’s Short Short Story, “Bicycles", as well as portions of several Honorable Mention short poetry pieces by Carly Veverka, Lauren Ingram and Hope Kemerer can be found on this SASA website under "Awards".

Congratulations to these SASA students, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Allan, Mrs. Reid and Mr. Morningstar for the pursuit of excellence and much dedicated creative energy!

SASA Gr . 8 and High School Band Receive ACCOLADES at Spring MSBOA Festival and Solo & Ensemble Festival

The SASA 8th grade concert band and SASA High School band under the direction of Matthew Corrigan each received superior ratings on Saturday, March 6, 2010.

This year the District V MSBOA festival was held at Midland Central Middle School and involved nearly 140 students from the SASA band program. The High School and 8th grade bands not only received superior ratings,(the highest rating possible) but they also received them unanimously from all of the judges. The festival judges grade performances based on instrumental technique, musical interpretation, rhythm, intonation, and overall musicality. Especially impressive was each band's ability to receive superior ratings in the musical sight-reading portion of the competition.

On February 20, 2010 several members of the SASA High School band competed in the 2010 District V Solo and Ensemble Festival. Fourteen students received the highest possible rating. The Mixed chamber group under the direction of Richard Jensen also received a superior rating. This year all fourteen students as well as the Chamber ensemble will go on to compete in the State Final Solo and Ensemble competition on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at Central Michigan University.

Mrs. Nash, Mr. Corrigan and Mr. Jensen are all extremely proud of the High School band accomplishments. Go SASA bands!

SASA and ARTHUR HILL HIGH SCHOOL PRESENT DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL at the TEMPLE THEATRE MARCH 19-21

SASA and Arthur Hill High School will combine to create a powerhouse cast of over 50 young actors and vocalists to perform Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL at the beautiful Temple Theatre in downtown Saginaw, MI, March 19-21, 2010. Ms. Colleen Cartwright, SASA Theatre Director/Instructor, and Mr. Jeff Larson of AHHS, Drama Teacher and HSM Assistant Director, are combining their many talents and skills along with their students for the production. The collaborative effort kicked off with a "Wildcat Carnival" for local elementary students at AHHS's gym on March 6 from 1-4 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Temple Theatre performance tickets are available by calling the Temple Theatre at 989-754-SHOW or at the schools in the main offices. Ticket cost for the shows is $7 students/$10 adults purchased 24 or more hours in advance at the schools, or $10 students/$13 adults at the door.

At the Feb. 2010 Saginaw Board of Education meeting, Ms. Colleen Cartwright was presented with a check for $5,000 from the National Association of Musical Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, represented by Fred Herter of Herter Music, Saginaw.

Ms Cartwright received the NAMM Foundation grant along with $4,000 in script and score use rights from a 2008 proposal she wrote to NAMM & Disney Corporation to produce and stage Disney's "High School Musical" in mid-March. SASA is one of only 10 schools nationwide to receive the grant this year. We can't wait to see the final production on the stage at the Temple! Come one, come all, see what these WILDCATS can do!

SASA Wordsmiths Sweep Local Essay Contests

Five students at SASA have been recognized in February 2010 for their completed essay entries in two regional annual contests.

Senior Nicole Smith was selected as the high school level D.A.R. Good Citizen for 2010 for her essay addressing the issues of equality and racial prejudice. Her essay was entered in the 2010 Daughters of the American Revolution annual contest for the chapters covering Saginaw and Bay counties. Nicole completed her essay while in school as required over two hours; students are given the prompt when they are seated at the table to write. The 2010 essay topic was "Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It-- Our Greatest Challenges Today". Her essay will now advance to the state level, where further recognition and scholarships are provided.

In the younger student forum, SASA 7th Grader Kellie Rankey received the first place 7th grade honors in the D.A.R. American History Essay Contest, the third time she has placed as a grade level winner in this event.

D.A.R. Awards were presented at an annual D.A.R. luncheon on February 12, 2010 in Saginaw, which was attended by the students, their parents and SASA Counselor Mrs. Tina Gutierrez as the school's representative.

Three students from SASA were named local winners in the 41st annual "America and Me" Essay Contest, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance Company. Sweeping the first through thirds places respectively were Sabrina Vernier, Parker Bradford and Kate Hurtig. As the school's first place winner, Sabrina's name will also be engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the school. Several thousand 8th graders from throughout MI competed in the essay contest. The 2009-10 topic was "My Personal Michigan Hero."

Sabrina's essay will advance to the state level competition, from which the top 10 essays in Michigan will be selected. Each of the 10 state winners will receive a plaque, a medallion, and a cash award of $1,000, and will be honored at a banquet in Lansing. At the banquet they will meet with the state's top governmental leaders and be featured guests at a Lansing Lugnuts minor league game dedicated to their honor.

SASA Achieves High Honors at District V MSVMA Vocal Solo & Ensemble Festival

SASA high school Voice/Keyboard class attended MSVMA District V Solo & Ensemble Festival on Saturday, February 6th. Nineteen Students performed solos and three others combined to create a treble trio. The results were exceptionally strong this year and we are very proud of our students. The scoring ranges from Division I to Division IV with I being the highest honor. SASA received 15 Division I ratings and 5 Division II.

Ten Students received perfect scores in Division I: April Weber, Joshua Trochet, Jacob Dresser, Alejandro Cervantes, Theresa Mahan, Jamieson Greenough, David Brown, Kebbi Kelly, Alyssa Ledesma, Anthony (Rusty) Howard. Additional Div. I placements: Briana Elmore, Walter Woods, Breanne Badger, Mariama Sharper, Kora Nixon.

Div. II finishes: Nicole Lynch, Shamiah Bell, Emerald Joiner, Hope Currie, Brooke Kemerer (Trio), Courtney Barnes (Trio), Allison Larson (Trio).

Congratulations to the VK staff for an outstanding perfomance record for your musical proteges! We commend Voice-Keyboard Concentration Instructor Michael Brush, Assistant Mia Krapf, Accompaniest Noel Howland. Hoo-rah!

SASA Artists Receive Numerous Scholastic Gold Key Awards for Visual Arts

Congratulations to SASA artists for earning the 2009 "Gold Key Award" in this esteemed multi-state, Region-At-Large adjudicated art program.

Nearly 800 students submitted 1,866 entries for judging. The Gold Key Award is the highest honor assigned to pieces in this competition. Gold Key Award winners are invited to attend the award ceremony and to exhibit their pieces at the Belin-Blank Center in Iowa City, Iowa. The show will run from March 7 - March 31, 2010. Gold Key award winners move on to be judged at the national level in New York City later in the spring.

Gold Key Award recipient artists from 2D Visual Arts (Teacher Becky Prine Sullivan), include: Marianne Elizalde, Grade 12, "Monster #1", Ink Drawing, as well as "Coke Bottle", Ink Drawing. Marianne also received a Gold Key Award for her overall 2D art portfolio as one entry with multiple pieces, entitled: "Reaching Happiness", Crayon Batik; "Urban Angst", Ink Drawing; "Nonsensical", Mixed Media Watercolor; "Serenity", Mixed Media Watercolor; "Downtown", Digital Photography with PhotoShop manipulations; "Mother Earth", Ink Drawing; "Monster #1", Ink Drawing; "Coke Bottle", Ink Drawing.
Additional Gold Key Award recognition was received by Danny Millar, Grade 12 for: "Prismatic Reflections; Personal Deceptions", Oil Paint. Danny also received an additional Gold Key Award for his artistic portfolio with pieces entitled: "Bell Sent a Letter...He Wants His Phone Back", Mixed Media; "His Last Word was "Moo", Oil Paint; "Nelophobia", Oil Paint; "Manifestation of Imagination", Watercolor; "Environmental Efficacy", Drawing Mixed Media; "Auspiciously Autumn", Ink Drawing, "This Drawing took a "Wheely" Long Time", Ink Drawing; "Prismatic Reflection; Personal Deceptions", Oil Paint.
A Gold Key was alo awarded to Nick Sarmiento, Grade 12, for his piece, "The Smoker", Oil Paint.

Gold Key Award artists recognized from the 3D Visual Arts Concentration, Teacher Sally Allan, include: Ce' Erica Roland-Ferguson, Grade 9, "Summer", Clay; and Donovan Webb, Grade 11, "Orb of Confusion", Ceramic Tea Pot.

Congratulations to these accomplished young artists -- we look forward to following your works and development as artists for many years to come! To the teachers -- you know how proud we are of these students, and we are also proud of YOU.

Saginaw County Science Fair Names Two Students to Attend International Science & Engineering Fair in San Jose, CA

SASA Senior Nicole Smith and SASA/Saginaw High Sophomore Andrea Pugh were selected as 1st and 2nd place finalists by a team of judges at the 32nd Annual Saginaw County Science and Engineering Fair held in the school facility on February 5-7, 2010. The students will be exhibiting finalists for the all-expense paid trip to San Jose, CA, May 9-14, 2010 with their SASA teacher-sponsors John Barnes (Pugh) and Matthew Miller (Smith). Junior Alexandriya Emonds (SASA teacher-sponsor, Stephen Tack) was named alternate in case one of the top two cannot attend or if one should later be named the MI State Science Fair Finalist to the ISEF. The Michigan State Science Fair is held at Kettering University in Flint on April 10.

Eight other SASA high school students were designated to represent the SCSEF at the MI SEF in April. They include: John Bihn, Elizabeth Curtiss, Kwaku Ofori-Darko, John Shinners, Samuel Wilkins, Magda Hlavacek, and D'Montae Jones.

Results for the Junior (Gr 6-8) and Elementary Divisions (gr 5) will be posted in full as soon as written results are available from the Science Fair Committee organizers.
Names of general and special award winners at all levels can be found at this link:
http://pub.spsd.net/communityeducation/SCSEF2010WinnerList.htm

Congratulations to all of these and the other hard working, deep thinking young men and women and their teachers!

Zehnder’s Snowfest- SASA 3D ART Snowcarver Teams Have a Successful Showing in State-wide Festival Competition

Of the eighteen teams from around the state competing at the High School level, the SASA ‘A’ Team at the 2010 Zehnder’s Frankenmuth SNOWFEST High School Carving Competition earned a second place award, and the SASA ‘B’ Team earned third place at the competition this season.

Student teams were allowed to use creatively customized tools (no power tools allowed) to carve their 6’ x 6’ x 8’ blocks. The tools we used ranged from a handmade 8’ aluminum saw to a horse’s curry comb. Teams were allowed 12 hours on Thursday and 10 hours on Friday to finish their creations. Coach and 3D Instructor Sally Allan was joined by parent/chaperones Mr. Joe Wieland, Mr & Mrs. Roger and Linda Berkan, Mr. Ron Metiva and Mrs. Allan’s husband and assistant-extraordinaire Mr. Sandy Walke.

‘A’ High School Team members for 2010 are: Captain: Audrey Berkan, Shayla Gonsalves, Hannah Riebschleger, Hannah Vitu, Alternate: Michaela Metiva. This team sculpted a broken Goldfish Bowl complete with an escaping goldfish

‘B’ High School Team members for 2010 are: Captain: Vicky Wieland, Marianne Elizalde, Austin Kemp, Nick Sarmiento, Alternate: Sarah Wallace. The “B” Team carved four 7-foot tall books, positioned both open and closed, and an accompanying pencil.

In the State of Michigan Competition, seniors Michelle Perry and Peter Bonk and 2009 SASA graduate Amanda Wright successfully carved a third place finish with their ‘Carousel with Horses’ from an 8’ x 8’ x 10’ block of snow. There were eighteen teams total competing in the Bavarian Inn parking lot. This is Michele and Amanda’s second trip to the State competition. They competed in the State Contest (normally restricted to those 18 and over) last year, a result of winning a first place in the 2008 High School Competition.

Another team in the State Competition, familiar to our students, included SASA graduates Graham Allingham and Clark Cederberg along with Adam Miller.

The Snow Carvers appreciate donations of any amount to our 3D Art school fund for tool refurbishing and cold weather gear.

SASA Dance Program Selected for State Honor: Two Dance Performances Chosen for MI Youth Arts Festival in May at WMU

This year the high school SASA Dance Concentration will bring two creative pieces to the stage at Michigan Youth Arts Festival at Western Michigan University, May 13-15.

The two pieces are titled "Realign", choreographed by Ryan Schmidt of New York (who came to SASA as a fall guest teacher) and "Frantic, Fear, Foreseen", choreographed by Miss Alyssa Sauvie (sophomore, SASA/Swan Valley HS).

Both pieces will be performed at the Saturday Morning Dance Showcase Concert. Alyssa's piece, "Frantic, Fear, Foreseen", has also been chosen as one of two dances to be performed at the Thursday night "Opening Gala Celebration". Alyssa is the first student choreographer -- ever! --- to have her choreography work chosen for showcase in the Opening Night Gala Celebration.

The nine dancers participating in the festival are: Kamahria Crittle (9), Domonique Freeman (11), KeeLee Holihan( 11), Starletta King (9), Jaden Moten (11), Alyssa Sauvie (10), Shatarea Simms (10), Maureen Sullivan (11), and Lakesha Thompkins (12). The SASA Dance instructor, whose piece was showcased in the Gala Opening Celebration in 2009, is Mrs. Megan Bublitz, herself a graduate of the SASA dance program before attending WMU for her Dance degree.

For further information, contact Mrs. Meagan Bublitz at the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy at (989) 399-5500.

NICOLE SMITH Named National Merit Finalist and Candidate for Presidential Scholar

Announcement received January 25, 2010 and February 5, 2010: SASA Senior Nicole Elizabeth Smith, who has also earned accolades for her recent perfect ACT score of 36, is now a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and a national PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR candidate. Nicole is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Gregory and Dawn Smith of Midland. Nicole and her family -- and we --are thrilled! This is the second year for a member of the senior class at SASA to be considered for these prestigious distinctions. Last year's candidate was Nicholas Triantafillou who is now attending the University of Michigan.
Congratulations, Nicole!

SASA Pieces Selected From MAEA Art Exhibit to go to State Exhibition Judging

The Michigan Art Educator's Association (MAEA) recently conducted its annual adjudication for the Region 11 art exhibit. Each art teacher may submit a total of five pieces of art for each age group that is taught (elementary, middle school and/or high school). Winners from the Region 11 exhibit will move on to be judged for the state level shows, including Michigan Youth Arts Festival. SASA Region 11 award winners include:

From 2D High School Art - Teacher - Becky Prine Sullivan
Marianne Elizalde - Grade 12, Prismacolor Marker Drawing titled "Monster #1"
Danny Millar - Grade 12, Oil Painting titled "Prismatic Reflections, Personal Deceptions"
Jessica Walker - Grade 11, Crayon Batik titled "Aves con Flores" From 3D High School Art - Teacher - Sally Allan
Audrey Berkan - Ceramic Giraffe Rattle titled "Finnigan"

From 2D Middle School Art - Teacher - Becky Prine Sullivan
Kristina Roland - Grade 8, Pencil Drawing titled "Conversing with the Past"
Childress Cannon - Grade 6, Prismacolor Marker titled "Trickery"
Anthony Robinson - Grade 6, Mixed Media titled "That's Me"

From 3D Middle School Art - Teacher - Sally Allan
Morgan Wolfgang - Grade 7, Mixed Media titled "Lunar Landscape".

Pieces will be on display at the Saginaw Art Museum on Federal St. through February 21, 2010 during regular museum hours.

2009 ICONS Earns a Gold Medalist Award in Adjudication by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association

The 2009 issue of ICONS earned a Gold Medalist Award in adjudication by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association at Columbia University in New York. This is the highest honor bestowed to high school and college art and literary magazines in the first round of judging. The magazine earned 972/1000 possible points. In addition ICONS was recognized with three of three possible All Columbian Awards for excellence in organization, content and design. The All Columbian Awards indicate that the magazine has scored at or above the 95th percentile in relation to other publications from across the nation and the world. As the result of earning a Gold Medalist Award, ICONS qualifies to move onto the final round of judging for Crown Awards which rewards the top 1% of publications.

The judges' comments relating to the written pieces included: "wonderful alliteration", "the visual imagery and word choice is outstanding; the vocabulary evokes the senses". With regard to the visual art selections, the judges' statements included: "The quality of the art throughout the magazine is excellent", "the detail captured in each piece is amazing", "the multi-layered effect in so many images is outstanding". Overall the critique indicated that ICONS was a "top-notch magazine, a reader's visual and verbal treat!"

ICONS is 100% student produced under the guidance of advisers Becky Prine Sullivan and Jared Morningstar. In addition, Sandra Darland of the District's Information Services Department is involved with instruction of computer technology and instruction related to the printing of the publication.

ICONS Student staff:
Brianna Fulmer - Editor-in-Chief; Marianne Elizalde - Artistic Director; Jessica Walker - Assistant Editor;
Layout Staff: Austin Kemp, Sydney Veverka,
Photography: Chris Reuther, Hannah Vitu, Vicki Wieland,
Prose and Poetry Editors: Portia Brown, Nickolette De Clerk, Katie Francis, Jacob Gorski, Katie Pope, Chris Reuther.

© 2010 Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy
1903 N. Niagara St. • Saginaw, MI 48602 • Tel: (989) 399-5500 • Fax: (989) 399-5515 • Email Us