Volume 3 No. 8
Arbor Preparatory High School's robotics team, better known as "Team 5853" or the "Termigators," recently took home a District win after getting a second chance at competing in the quarterfinals for the FIRST in Michigan Robotics Competition. After multiple trips from Gibraltar to Ypsilanti, the team gave their all during thirty hours of competition with other high school robotics teams around the state. Despite a loss, the Termigators held their heads high and persevered onto the next competition.
 
In the weeks leading up to their next competition, they strategized and adjusted their programming so that they would serve as a great teammate for any robot selected into their alliance. After a series of both wins and losses, the team was just shy of being in the top 12 teams participating and moving onto the finals. However, one of the top 12 teams could no longer participate due to a break in their robot, giving Arbor Prep another chance.
 
The Termigators began the quarterfinals as an #8 seed team. They chose their robot alliance based on both skill and character. Team 5853 was pitted against a #1 seed to begin and, defying the odds, won the matchup. They finished the finals with a 6-0 record and took home the District win. In a competition where they were counted out, they proved that, given this second chance, they were able to be successful.
  Next year, senior members of Arbor Prep's robotics team will be attending Michigan State, Eastern Michigan and one member will be going directly into the armed forces. The remainder of the underclassman team will continue with their advanced placement courses as well as continuing with the robotics team. A handful of the students have even decided to join Arbor Prep's Early College program, which gives them the opportunity to begin engineering and/or coding classes. The students are looking forward to more of their peers joining their phenomenal team and are grateful for Bay Mills' continued support of both Arbor Prep and Team 5853.
 
Arbor Preparatory High School in Ypsilanti is a 9th-12th grade academy with the mission to prepare their students for success in college. The academy offers academically challenging and relevant courses to prepare students for the rigorous coursework they will experience in their future academics.
 
Learn more about Arbor Prep by visiting their website: https://arborprep.com/ 


Fortis Academy in Ypsilanti not only offers their talented students great programs and courses to grow academically, but also promotes and prioritizes teachings on being virtuous members of society. The academy believes that strong hearts and minds, on top of a strong education, can make a profound impact on the world. They live out this belief by intertwining the principles of personal growth and personal responsibility into their curriculum at every age. Students are recognized and celebrated for living out monthly morals on their path to personal growth, as well as given a contract at the beginning of the school year to help them understand personal responsibility.
 

The mixture of the two components of teaching virtues and academics creates students who are well-rounded for their future pursuits, not only in regards to their scholarly endeavors but with their personal lives as well.
 
The academy lays a strong educational foundation early on in the student's life through a variety of subjects as well as specials, electives, and extracurriculars. Starting in kindergarten, teachers begin forming young minds by building up their understanding of compassion and empathy for one another. This helps the students form ideas and express those ideas in a respectful way through their writing and classroom discussions. Their social studies curriculum ties in as the learners are taught the values of American democracy and how this can help them to both analyze and engage in the world around them as thoughtful citizens.

 
From third through fifth grade, educators begin to elaborate on the topics of respect, cooperation, and personal responsibility. This goes hand-in-hand with enhanced reading comprehension and the formation of inferences and the ability to draw meaningful conclusions. This comprehension also assists the students in writing their own stories, essays and poems. In science class, they begin to learn more about complex human and animal systems, as well as matter, energy, and rock formation. Their lessons are intended to help students apply concepts into real-world situations regarding technology, mechanics and engineering.

 
As sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, students end their journey at Fortis and begin preparing for high school, college, and beyond. They are encouraged to analyze and question the world around them, which helps in understanding the complex issues that affect their communities and the world. Their social studies curriculum gives them the tools to understand their responsibilities as citizens of the United States. Math class also intertwines into their everyday life, as the students learn about tying geometry theories and patterns into the fabric of their lives, as well as how to devise strategy with probability problems.

Fortis provides activities beyond core curriculum before, during and after school hours. Throughout the school day, various specials, such as art, physical education, and music are provided to further form well-rounded individuals. After school, students have the opportunity to participate in team sports, such as flag football (for both boys and girls) and cross country. Outside of sports, Fortis students have the chance to engage in unique, character-building clubs such art club for kindergarteners through second-graders and safety club for sixth through eighth graders.
 
One of the most exciting opportunities for students, specifically third through fifth grade girls, is Girls on the Run. This ten week after school program, "allow[s] every girl to recognize her inner strength" and "inspires girls to define their lives on their own terms." As stated before, Fortis believes in developing a strong heart and a strong mind, which is embodied through this program. They are not only encouraging the young women of their academy but inspiring the students to carry out the positive mission of Girls on the Run, passing it on to both younger and older classmates.
 
Learn more about Fortis Academy by visiting their website: 
Interested in gaining educational experience? Or are you looking to add to your resume? Consider becoming a charter school board member for a public school academy authorized by Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office!
 
At Bay Mills Community College, we support a quality education to urban, minority and/or poor children.
 
Bay Mills will provide all of our academy boards with pertinent training so that they are able to make choices that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies .
 
Our public school academies are always looking for new members that bring a range of skills, experiences and desire to help the Academy students to excel academically, as well as having the goal of advancing the mission of Bay Mills.
 
Some requirements of the position:
  • Engagement with the goals of the Academy
  • Enthusiasm to be an ambassador for the Academy
  • Willingness to fulfill the obligation of a board member, as well as continue to uphold the standards of being a board member
           
Board Member Qualifications:
  • Citizen of the United States
  • Resident of the State of Michigan
  • Submit materials requested by the College Charter Schools Office such as:
    • Public School Academy Board Member Appointment Questionnaire
      • Must include authorization to process a background check of the nominee
      • Submit annual disclosure of conflicts of interest
Members of the Board of Directors shall include:
  • At least one parent or guardian of a child attending the school
  • One professional educator; preferably a person with school administrative experience
Members of the Board of Directors shall NOT include:
  • Any member appointed or controlled by another profit or non-profit corporation
  • Academy employees or independent contractors performing services for the Academy
  • Any current or former director, officer, or employee of a management company that contracts with the academy
  • College officials or employees 
All Academy Board members shall serve in their individual capacity, and not as a designee of any other person or entity. If it is found that a person is serving as a representative or designee of another person or entity, they shall be deemed ineligible to serve as a Director of the Academy Board. They shall be removed from office in accordance with provisions found in the Resolution or Schedule 2: Bylaws.
 
Note that a Director serves at the pleasure of the College Board, and may be removed with or without cause by the College Board at any time.
           
Working with an Academy is the perfect opportunity to advance your career interests, expand your knowledge on education and help children receive a quality education that will last a lifetime. Apply to become a board member today!

For more information or to receive an application, please contact Megan Ringuette, Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office Compliance Coordinator at 906-248-8419 or mringuette@bmcc.edu.
About Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools
Bay Mills Community College began authorizing charter schools in the year 2000 and now authorizes 46 schools serving approximately 22,000 students. Fall 2015: 22,729 and Spring 2016: 22,257
 
Our Mission: To ensure a quality education for urban, minority, and/or poor children by improving and expanding educational opportunities through innovative oversight methods. To provide academy boards with the necessary support and training so that they may make educated decisions that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies.