April 2024

The purpose of the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation is to raise, steward and distribute resources to enrich the education of students in the St. Joseph Public Schools District.

UPTON MS NAMED MICHIGAN GREEN SCHOOL

Michigan Green Schools is dedicated to assisting all Michigan schools to achieve environmental goals that include protecting the air, land, water and animals of our state through promotion of good ecological practices and environmental stewardship by students.

“I liked that we got to help our school and our community and that we were recognized for our efforts.”

- Norah Gendernalik 6th grade

"I’m happy that we can help our environment and our community. It was nice that we could be awarded this award for what we did.”

- Vivian Van Hekken 6th grade

I really enjoyed composting and helping eliminate waste in the cafeteria.

- Thanishka Girish 6th grade

"I liked the freedom and creativity that went into our BEAR Time Club work. I especially liked working on the bulletin board to showcase all our hard work."

- Ella Westerbeek 6th grade

"I’m proud that the students took it upon themselves to choose the activities that they wanted to accomplish to better our school and community. It was a joy to see them collaborate on topics and activities they were passionate about. None of our success would have happened without our Foundation Grant!"

~Mrs. Melissa Foster

7th & 8th grade Science Teacher

Upton MS Environmental Club Advisor

2024 SJHS Mock Trial Team

Mock Trial is a club that provides students with in-depth, hands-on exposure to the legal field. Each year,

students receive case materials (affidavits, exhibits, and other legal documents) and prepare both a

prosecution and defense. Students develop lines of questions, openings, closings, and objections. Students

then compete against other schools in a simulated trial. Students are judged based on the quality of their

performance and the strength of their arguments.

"The SJHS Mock Trial Team competed at the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids on March 9th. This year, teams in the state took on a civil negligence case. Both our plaintiff and defense cases competed well. We're looking forward to the criminal case next year! Thank you SJPS Foundation, for our grant which covered registration fees."

~Ms. Gabby Hardy, SJHS Teacher

Mock Trial Team Club Advisor

Team Members (in order of group photo): Juhi Bhatt, Tank Shaw, Dahlia Gibbons, James MacEachern, Betsy Fiesbeck, Ramzi Dumke (captain), Lincoln Vetne, Bo Hutchinson (captain), Travis Chapman, Sofia Hall, Kaitlyn Flick, Fiona Rusk.

“In Mock Trial, we learned about the intricacies and workflow of a courtroom as well as social skills like public speaking and self confidence. Over the course of the season, we bonded as a team and put in hours of hard work, growing closer together and leading to a great competition!"

~Fiona Rusk, 10th Grade

"Four to five hours a week, from late November through early March, I get to interact with smart, funny, respectful, and (mostly) responsible high school students who are interested in learning about our court system. In a crazy, chaotic, and often-polarizing world, they tend to give me hope that we can get past our current problems."

~Attorney Mark Sanford

Berrien County Prosecutor

Mock Trial Team Mentor

STUDENT FOUNDATION SPREADS JOY AT SJPS

View BIG CHECK DAY grant deliveries

SURPRISE! $260,893 of grants awarded

CONGRATULATIONS

REN BALDWIN!

2024

Margaret B. Upton

Volunteer Leadership Award Recipient

The SJPS Foundation is fortunate to have

Ren Baldwin serving on our Board of Directors

and couldn't be prouder!

Presented by United Way of SW Michigan

Lifetime Achievement Donor Wall

Located in the lobby of the SJHS Performing Arts Center

Contact Executive Director Sue Riemland for more information or your giving report

BRICK ORDERS DUE MAY 1

Become a permanent part of the SJHS campus!

Download order form

We can offer no greater gift to our children than to dedicate ourselves to educational excellence.

March Memorials

We offer our sincerest sympathies in your bereavement. Gifts to the SJPS Foundation in memory of loved ones are a fitting tribute, and will assist the Foundation in our mission to raise, steward and distribute resources to enrich the education of students in the St. Joseph Public Schools.

In Memory of David Edmunds

Tony and Judy Belski

In Memory of Tom Miller

Tony and Judy Belski

Passaro, Kahne, Taylor Law Offices

Sue Plummer

In Memory of Ted Kuball

Meryle Merritt

In Memory of Mary Jane Waldenmaier

Steve and Patty Nordberg

March Donors

Donor names in blue indicate membership in the SJPS Foundation Superintendent's Circle

Bob and Lynn Basselman

Kevin and Brenda Bird

Michele & Wayne Demchinski

Cecilia Diaz & Luis Lopez

Kris '89 & Sean '85 Ebbert

Tom & Maureen Fischer

Fleming Brothers Oil Co.

D.J. Frietas

Charles '83 & Lori Grandy

The Herald Palladium

Dr. Gyl & David Kasewurm

Jordan & Catherine Kirshenbaum

Frank V. & Karen B. Linn

John & Sue Marohn

Pat and Carol Moody

Kristopher and Kelley Rich

Joe & Christina Strickler

Paul W. & Rose Suchovsky Trust

SJPS Teacher and Staff Giving

Thank you teachers, administrators and staff for all you do for our students.

GO BEARS!

Kristina Allen

Connie Bacolor

John Bacolor

Heather Bartz

Kristen Bawks

Lauri Berry

Greg Blomgren

Kimberly Borlin

Lauren Borre

Alaina Brady

Erica Brown

Kristin Burnette

Heather Caid

Gandalf Church

Michelle Cohoon

Andrea Confer

Jenna Covert

Christine Crandle

Lara Crawford

Jamie Culver

Matt Culver

Lara Crawford

Deborah Darr

Heidi De La Foret

Linda DeLapa

Megan Dongvillo

Colleen Elkins

Gary Etter

Kimberly Fordham

Melissa Foster

Jennifer Francis

Kelsey Froelich

Brenda Graham

Kevin Guzzo

Jenna Hawkins

Joseph Haydon

Daniel Hernandez

Allie Hoskins

Jill Hubble

Jamie Huber

Jason Huber

Joyce Hunter

Cindy Igoe

Kaitlyn Karpus

Maria Kern

Lisa Knuth

Carolyn Kodis '13

Laura Kovnat

Jesseca Lafayette

Amber Lange

Stephanie Lear

Ann LeClear

Bridget Lorenz

Katie Mandarino

William McComber

Angela Mellott

Samantha Miller

Mary Ann Milletics

Kim Mishler

Dana Morris

Nita Nicholie

Kara Nicholson

Tracy Olson

Amy Peterson

Sara Petrosius

Andrew Pratley

Natalie Rank

Kathy Reck

Joe Rommel

Susan Schweir

Sara Smith

Traci Smith

Sara Smothers

Tina Uzelac

Brianne VanHekken

Gail Wadel

Tracy Wagner

Amanda Wallace '12

Dana Walsworth

Ashley Wells

Ryan White

Melanie Wolf

Jeanna Younger

IN OUR MAY ISSUE: CLASS OF 2024 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS!

DONATE ONLINE

SJPS Foundation | 2580 S. Cleveland Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085 | 269-926-3252 | ww.sjpsfoundation.org

The St Joseph Public Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation.

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