Raising fun and funds

Koepsell students celebrate another year of unique learning

By Julie Stevens
C & G Staff Writer

Michael Davis went shopping before heading off to school on June 16.

Davis, an 8-year-old third–grader at Koepsell Education Center in the South Lake School district, was more than excited to get to the last day of classes and begin celebrating the K-6 school's “Fun Day.”

But first he had to do his part — like the other 200 students at the school — and also get ready to celebrate fund-raising.

“I got chicken soup,” said Davis, who took advantage of the sales at Framer Jack with his siblings and his mother Kristine that morning. “And jelly … peanut butter.”

And when asked why they purchased the items, a shy Davis simply said, “for people.”

Michele Galant, a Koepsell parent and member of the elementary school's Family Council, said the annual year-end fête was not only a celebration of the last day of school and the start of the summer vacation, it was also a day for helping the Lighthouse Outreach program.

The Lighthouse Outreach program assists displaced individuals who are in need of everything from canned goods and baby items to soap, diapers and toothbrushes, Galant said.

After donating their items, the students headed outside to enjoy the many activities and games, such as those ever-popular “inflatables,” or inside the gymnasium, where the scent of cotton candy and popcorn saturated the air. Galant said Koepsell parents funded all the activities made available during the morning celebration.

In front of the school were brand new cars, provided by Lochmoor Chrysler in Detroit. Anyone, specifically parents and teachers, who wanted to go on a test drive around the school loop, was asked to fill out a survey and donate $5.

Galant said the money collected through the event was to help offset transportation costs for field trips during the next school year, a small fund that was cut from the district's budget this year.

Galant said members of the Koepsell Family Council hold fund-raisers all year long to pay for the year-end celebration. She said that in addition to giving fun to the students, the students also have a chance to give back and vice versa.

“We get to do something for our community as well as our kids,” said Galant, a mother of two Koepsell students who has been involved in the school for eight years.

“I get geeked up over stuff like this,” she said. The Koepsell Family Center is similar to a parent-teacher organization, however there is no elected board or president.

Michael's mother Kristine Davis, a first-year Koepsell mother, said she was more than happy to get her family involved in the Koepsell tradition.

“We transferred from another district, and I just love it here,” said Kristine Davis. “It was the best decision me and my husband ever made.”

Davis and Galant said parents and students enjoy the unique education that is offered at Koespell, which is based on the teachings of William Glasser.

A psychologist, William Glasser teaches a learning method called Choice Theory, which emphasizes how behavioral choices affect learning.

“It's a different kind of learning,” said Angie Skiba, the mother of a new kindergartener and a third-grader. “It's about learning self-evaluation and being responsible for the choices that you make.”

Koepsell classrooms are made up of multiple grades that allow students to learn at a pace that is best for them.

“If you are self-motivated and want to learn this is a great place to be,” said Kristine Davis. “They respect the choices that they're given.”

Principal Pam Balint said she was one in a group of nine South Lake teachers who spearheaded efforts to get the school re-opened in 1996.

Balint, who once taught a 5/6 class, said the elementary-level school had a successful run in the 1970s, but because of a decline in student enrollment, it was sold to a local church.

Balint said that after many years, and because of enrollment projections reflected an increase, the district eventually bought the school back.

“We held a last-day party to celebrate a successful first year,” Balint said. “And it's been a tradition here ever since.”

Many thanks for Jeri Griffin Buboltz, parent and member of the Koepsell Family Council, who suggested this story and provided the photos.

Check out the Koepsell Education Center web page.

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