Mr. Beckeman's Blog

The R-P Robotics team recently competed in a competition and came home with the Judges Award.

The Judges Award is an award given to a team that the adult judges choose after an interview process, and while looking at an engineering notebook that the students have to create while building their robot.  This notebook includes all of the students’ ideas, plans, sketches, modifications, what worked/what didn’t, etc.  Our students were picked, or stood out from the others, due to their work ethic and their ability to design a working, competitive robot that was built and designed with their own hands.

While we did not win this competition, the Judges Award a very prestigious award.  Our students continued to hold their heads high through many challenges to their robots.  The definitely represented Reeths-Puffer and the robotics program very well.

To see photos of the competitors, click on the link below:

Robotics Competition

We have one more opportunity this week for parents to come to campus and discuss the progress of their student with their teachers Thursday evening from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the arena. 

I realize that our parent internet viewer is a handy tool in receiving up-to-date progress information on all classes, but it cannot provide parents the details of performance in class everyday like a conversation with the teacher that’s in the room with their student.

Tuesday night’s crowd was light.  I’m hopeful that Thursday night will bring more parents in to talk with our instructional staff. 

Please make every effort to attend conferences Thursday night!  Parents, we are here for you!

Coach Sikkenga had this to say about this year’s team, “This season was a great success as we brought together student athletes from NM, MCC and R-P to share the Rocket pride.  Our team record or 15-7-1-3 was the 3rd best in school history but more impressive is our return to the academic all state team list and the incredible team attitude that allowed our kids to advance to the Regional semi-final game with an inspiring performance against Rockford. The joy of seeing a team become a family over the course of the season was amazing as the 5 student athletes learned the R-P way and participated in our Holiday skates, Skating with our special friends, powder puff hockey and our terrific team and family dinners.  The depth and quality of this years team allowed us to overcome many obstacles that would have derailed many seasons and allowed us to have a successful and enjoyable season.”

I was in attendance at senior night and witnessed the warm reception given to our seniors.  It didn’t matter if their home school was North Muskegon or Reeths-Puffer, they were applauded for their efforts as truly valuable team members.  The underclass players embraced them as brothers, all from the same hockey family.  It was a great sight to behold as I also considered each senior one of my own Rockets.

At the school board work session Monday night, board member, Mary Schaab commented on how impressed she was to see how successful our co-op with North Muskegon went for its first season.  Her remarks included team dinners and home gatherings where parents and players from both schools came socialized as if the players had gone to school together for a long time.

Coach Eric Sikkenga allowed me to come into the locker room after the first period of play at senior night when our Rockets competed against Rockford.  The video below will give you a brief glimpse into the life of a Rocket hockey player.

The photos below (thanks to Jodi Griffin!) were taken of our seniors in their last game on home ice.

Kam Fowler moves the puck into the zone

John Snider battles for possession

Doug Grevious prepares to check a Ram

Michael Berge skates to open ice

Keith Robbins weaves between defenders

Other action photos taken from senior night…

Aaron Andrews holds off a Ram attack

Rockets battle for a loose puck

Rockets win another face-off

Rockets celebrate a goal!

As we look to the next year, the future is bright for our hockey partnership with North Muskegon!

No More Sidelines held their annual Gala in downtown Muskegon Saturday evening and without doubt, everyone in attendance had a wonderful night as auction items were plentiful as was the delicious selection of tasty dining treats compliments, of C.F. Prime.

Mrs. Beckeman and WZZM TV 13 Morning Host Ms. Lauren Stanton help with a fundraiser

The music for the evening was donated by R-PHS teacher Mr. Pat O’Neill and his son, Connor

C.F. Prime had tasty food stations located in four different locations.  This photo shows the Thai food station.  Other stations included lobster & gorgonzola dipping stations with fresh bruschetta, a veggie and fruit station and bananas foster station.  There were appetizer trays of sorted foods as well as delicious pastry desserts at each table.

There were nearly one hundred different silent auction items to bid on along with incredible large package items that were auctioned off by radio personality, Mr. Andy O’Riley, a dear friend of NMS.

Auction extraordinaire, Mr. Andy O’Riley preparing to raise funds through the live auction portion of the Gala

R-PHS senior, Chris Sturgis gets his photo taken with Mr. Beckeman, TV 13′s Dave Kaechele and Lauren Stanton

Mrs. Lee (second from left), Mr. Gurr (fourth from left) and Ms. Gardner (far right), all R-PHS staff members are pictured here enjoying the night.  Also pictured are, Mr. Lee (R-P grad) and Mrs. Gurr.

No More Sidelines would never have come to life if it weren’t for the vision of Mrs. Cyndi Blair (pictured above).  Mrs. Blair’s daughter, Alivia, (a Reeths-Puffer Rocket) who was born with special needs would be the inspiration to ensure that Alivia would enjoy that same things her other children experienced.  It was this inspiration that gave birth to No More Sidelines.  What started out as a small group of kids on the northside of Muskegon has blossomed into an organization known throughout West Michigan and across the state. 

The video clip in the link below was shown on TV 13 the week leading up to the Gala held this past Saturday.  Click on the link provided to learn more about No More Sidelines.

TV 13 Video on NMS

No More Sidelines has plans of establishing a community center for all friends of NMS in the coming months along with establishing vocational opportunities for the kids.  To learn more about No More Sidelines, visit their website by clicking on their site: http://www.nomoresidelines.org/

Next week is a big week for our juniors as they engage in Michigan’s high stakes assessment known as the Michigan Merit Exam.  We’re gearing up for “Super Tuesday” as our freshmen and sophomores will take ACT’s PLAN assessment and the juniors, the ACT with writing.

We have added a Career Assembly during 4th & 5th hours on Super Tuesday to provide opportunities for students to interact with current professionals in Michigan’s six career pathways.

Our assessment week looks like this:

Tuesday, March 6th

Seniors:  Have the full day off due to ACT testing

Juniors:  Take ACT 1st – 4th hours, eat lunch during 5th hour and have a normal 6th hour

Sophomores:  Take PLAN 1st - 3rd hours, enjoy first lunch then attend the career assembly 4th & 5th hours then attend 6th hour

Freshmen: Take PLAN 1st – 3rd hours, enjoy first lunch and follow same schedule as the sophomores.

Wednesday, March 7th:

Seniors:  Have the morning off and report to school for hours 4th – 6th

Juniors:  Take the ACT WorkKeys assessment hours 1st – 3rd and have normal schedule the rest of the day

Sophomores and Freshmen have a normal day

Thursday, March 8th:

Same schedule as Wednesday except juniors will complete the Michigan portion of the MME.

Some tips for preparing for Super Tuesday:

• Carefully read the instructions on the cover of the test booklet
• Read all directions and questions carefully
• Pace yourself–don’t spend too much time on a single passage or question
• Pay attention to the announcement of five minutes remaining on each test
• Use a soft No. 2 pencil with a good eraser.  Do not use a mechanical pencil
• Answer the easy questions first, then go back and answer the more difficult ones if you have time remaining on that test
• On difficult questions, eliminate as many incorrect answers as you can, then make an educated guess among those left
• Answer every question.  Your scores on the multiple-choice tests are based on the number of questions you answer correctly.  There is no penalty for guessing
• If you complete a test before time is called, recheck your work on that test
• Mark your answers properly.  Erase any mark completely and cleanly without smudging

Cell Phone & MP3 Reminder: 

Do not bring your cell phone to the testing room.  If the cell phone is used at any time or rings at any time, not only your test, but the tests of all the others in your testing room will have their test voided along with their score!

Remember your calculator & 2 sharpened No. 2 pencils!!

Get a good night’s sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast before coming to school.

Do your very best! 

One of our initiatives this year has been to broaden the opportunities for students to get involved with school beyond the classroom through memberships in various groups and organizations.  Our most recent video (produced by Mr. Schlaff, counselor) shares information on some of the groups/organizations available to students.

If you would like to view the other two videos in this series, click on view!

One more!  Click & View

Next week Tuesday, March 6th and Thursday, March 8th, we will host parent/teacher conferences in the arena from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

PRIZES will be awarded to four lucky winning ticket holders too!  The following prizes will be awarded for winning ticket holders:

• First Ticket Drawn:  $50. gas card to Wesco
• Second Ticket Drawn: $50.00 gift certificate to the Rocket Express
• Third Ticket Drawn:  Rocket All-Sports Pass for the 2012-13 school year
• Fourth Ticket Drawn: $50.00 gas card to Wesco

For every teacher you conference with on your student’s schedule, you will receive a ticket (from their teacher).  At the conclusion of Thursday night’s conferences, I will draw four tickets and place them on my blog.  So, in order for you to see if you won, you will have to access my blog. 

This is a great time for you to discuss the progress made in your high school student’s classes directly from their teachers.  For the parents of seniors, this will mark the last parent/teacher conference for your son or daughter!  Make it a point to hear from their teachers one last time about the expectations still remaining up to and through graduation.

The Rocket Express will also be open for your Rocket shopping needs.  If you have yet to see our school store, I know you’ll be impressed with the selections available to you.  A big thanks to Tammy Whynot, our store director, who has done a marvelous job of stocking a Rocket fan’s every need and desire!