Welcome to our Digital Newsletter
What's inside:
- Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra + Constantine Elementaries
- Meet Layni Rentfrow: How This Falcon is learning to Fly!
- Constantine Middle School: Journalism Class Capturing the World Around Us
- English Language Learners Services at Constantine
- Letters to Santa: Connecting our Elementary Students
- Athletics: Fall Sports Update
- Meet Interim Superintendent: Patrick (Pat) Breen
- District Updates
🎼 Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra + Constantine Elementaries, Yes, Please!
Elementary music is getting a taste of professional music thanks to Chris VanderMei and her vision to share music of all types.
This year Eastside and Riverside Elementary are experiencing the likes of famous composers like John Hamilton in the classroom, and outside of the classroom, a special show in partnership with Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO).
This fall, a percussion duo from KSO joined our students at Riverside Elementary for a rhythmic performance. Sharing beats on everything from snare drums, to tambourines and even a steel drum.
This won't be the last time our Elementary music partners with KSO. Another special program in partnership with KSO is scheduled for our students at Eastside Elementary this winter. And later this school year our 3rd graders will travel to see the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra live in concert.
We are thrilled for all the musical enrichment this year brings to our students and are grateful to Chris VanderMei as she brings these special programs to our students. Be on the lookout for Eastside Elementary Music Concert coming April 2025!
Meet Layni Rentfrow and How this Falcon is Soaring!
Layni Rentfrow, a high school senior at Constantine Public Schools, is in her second year of the Teacher Academy program through CTE, and this year, her exceptional performance has not gone unnoticed. Layni has been recognized by her mentor teacher and the Teacher Academy Advisory Committee for her hard work, dedication, and passion, which shines through in her daily efforts.
Nearly every weekday, Layni can be found in Mrs. Andrea Muckel’s kindergarten classroom at Eastside Elementary, where she has been thriving under Mrs. Muckel's mentorship for the past two years. But teaching wasn’t always Layni’s goal. In fact, when she first joined the program, she wasn’t sure if it was the right fit for her. However, after a period of exploration and observations across grade levels, Layni found her fit with our youngest learners.
"I enjoy the conversations you can have with little kids," Layni shared. "They’re brutally honest, and you know what they say is authentic."
Though working with kindergarteners can be chaotic at times, the most rewarding part of Layni’s experience is the warm greetings and hugs she receives. "The energy is exciting! They want you there, and sometimes they greet me before I can greet them," she said with a smile.
When asked if she plans to pursue teaching as a career, Layni’s answer was clear: "One hundred percent my career!" Her vision includes returning to Eastside Elementary, a place she’s grown to love.♥️
Layni credits much of her success to her mentor, Mrs. Muckel, and the supportive atmosphere at Eastside Elementary. "Mrs. Muckel has taught me everything, and being in the same classroom for two years has really helped me grow," Layni said.
Recently, Layni was invited to attend a Teacher Advisory Committee session. Here she was able to share ideas and give feedback on the academy to help develop future program initiatives. She also received some great recognition. Constantine’s Learning Coordinator praised Layni for her performance, sharing that at one point Layni was described as having the "IT" factor that makes a great teacher.
Mrs. Muckel shared a story highlighting Layni’s natural ability in the classroom: “Layni noticed a student struggling...... without being prompted..... (Layni) grabbed their materials, and sat with them to help. She was patient and kind. It’s moments like these that make her a stellar teacher.”
Congratulations, Layni, on your amazing work and for finding your passion. Your Falcon family is proud of you and looks forward to your bright future!
Constantine Middle School Journalism Class
🎥 Middle School Journalism: Capturing the World Around Us
Journalism is more than just reporting—it's about capturing life and the world around us and sharing it with others. That’s exactly what the Middle School Journalism class at Constantine is doing. This hands-on course is teaching students how to capture their world and create engaging content for Constantine Middle School staff and students.
Launched last year, the class received a boost from a community foundation grant, which provided iPads to help students film, edit, and produce daily news segments. The class does everything from filming, scripting, captions, all the edits, extracting audio, crops, enhancements—everything - And they do it all in one class period, which is about 50 minutes.
Each student is part of a group, and each group is responsible for a section of the news. They cover everything from current events and athletics to weather and global news. The students film their segments, write scripts, and return to the classroom to edit. They cut clips, add captions, adjust audio, and make enhancements. Afterward, the student editor, which rotates throughout the year, reviews the content and provides feedback. Once final adjustments are made and content is teacher approved, the broadcast is shared with the school.
The entire process—from start to finish—happens within a single class period. It’s a fast-paced, immersive experience that keeps students engaged and working hard to meet daily deadlines.
Beyond the technical skills of filming and editing, students are developing valuable life skills like teamwork, public speaking, writing, and time management. This class does it all, giving students a unique opportunity to learn the ins and outs of journalism while having fun.
Great work Constantine Middle School journalism students—your dedication is producing outstanding results, both in the classroom and beyond!
English Language Learning
Constantine Public Schools English Language Learner (ELL) Services: Supporting a Growing Diverse Student Population
Did you know Constantine Public Schools offers English Language Learner (ELL) services across the entire district, from Young 5’s through 12th grade? In recent years, we’ve seen a significant increase in students whose first language is not English. With this growth, the need for additional support has become essential. To meet these needs, in the 2022/2023 school year, Constantine introduced an ELL Director to lead the expansion of our services. In just three years, our ELL program has grown from supporting 10 students to now serving over 70 students!
Our ELL students come from diverse backgrounds, including countries like Nicaragua, Mexico, and Guatemala, and even our foreign exchange students receive language support. Leading the way for our ELL program is Ms. Stephanie Marks, who has been instrumental in ensuring our students and staff receive the resources they need to succeed.
Here’s what ELL support looks like across grade levels:
- Early Years (Young 5’s through 5th Grade): Focus on foundational language skills, vocabulary building, and communication.
- Middle School: Transition to more academic language, comprehension, and subject integration.
- High School: Preparing for academic success, meeting graduation requirements, and getting ready for college or career pathways.
The program’s goals are to promote language proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students continue to access core content while acquiring English, with a strong emphasis on cultural integration and celebrating diversity. Ms. Marks shared that one of the challenges she encounters is students' hesitancy to learn English—not due to a lack of interest, but because they fear forgetting their native language. She addresses this by communicating in their language and meeting them where they are in their English journey, making small compromises to ease the process. Often, it’s as simple as reassuring them that it’s okay to learn more than one language, and that by continuing to use their native language, they won’t lose it.
Ms. Marks collaborates with staff across the district, providing translation services, professional development, and resources to incorporate language learning into daily lessons. Each student’s progress is carefully assessed, and the program is tailored to meet their varying individual language proficiency needs.
Thank you Ms. Marks for paving the way for our ELL program. We are proud to offer these comprehensive services to support our growing and diverse student population at Constantine Public Schools!
Letters to Santa
đź“®Letters to Santa: Connecting Our Elementary Students
This winter, Riverside and Eastside Elementary schools partnered for a heartwarming holiday tradition—writing letters to Santa. Riverside's fifth graders spent the morning with Eastside's first graders for a special winter-themed event that fosters collaboration, creativity, and connection between the two schools.
During the event, students were paired in small groups, with the older students guiding their younger peers through the writing process. The fifth graders helped the first graders brainstorm ideas, assisted with spelling and letter spacing, and provided plenty of cheerful encouragement along the way. Laughter filled the room as the children worked together, creating special memories and festive letters.
Mrs. Dentler, a teacher at Eastside, shared that this annual tradition began three decades ago with former teacher Mrs. Hill, who continues to volunteer in the classroom. “It’s a tradition that has stood the test of time,” Mrs. Dentler explained, highlighting the lasting impact of this beloved event.
The fifth graders shined as role models, supporting the first graders with their special writing lesson. Through this event, students not only practiced writing but also built connections that help strengthen the bond between our elementary schools. What a wonderful way to celebrate the season and spread some holiday cheer!
Fall Sports 2024
Falcon Athletics: Fall Season Recap
This Fall, Falcon Athletics had an outstanding season filled with impressive achievements. Our football team clinched their second consecutive District title, while the volleyball team wrapped up an outstanding season with an impressive 33-5-2 record—and that’s not all!
Our Falcon Fall teams had 15 student-athletes earn All-Conference honors, 7 earn All-Region recognition, and 5 student-athletes were named All-State. We’re also proud of our 2 teams and 9 individual student-athletes who earned Academic All-State honors. To cap off the season, we had a Cross Country runner represent us at the State Meet. Every fall sport had student athletes represented in at least one of these categories.
Congratulations to all our Falcon Student-Athletes for an exceptional Fall season!
Meet the Interim Superintendent: Mr. Patrick Breen
Constantine Public Schools is proud to introduce our Interim Superintendent, a familiar face with a passion for education and community— Mr. Patrick (Pat) Breen.
Born in Elkhart and raised in Southwest Michigan, Mr. Breen always knew he wanted to be a teacher, inspired by the positive impact his own teachers had on him. After graduating from Taylor University in 2006, he spent six years teaching high school Social Studies in Wabash, Indiana, where he was involved in almost every extracurricular, from student congress, senior class advisor, NHS, running scoreboards at games to coaching football at every level.
In 2013, after earning a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Indiana-Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Mr. Breen returned to Michigan to become Assistant Principal and Curriculum Coordinator at River Valley Public Schools. During his eight years at River Valley, he also served as Athletic Director and Principal for grades 6-12.
In 2021, Mr. Breen joined Constantine Public Schools as the High School Principal, drawn by the district's values and sense of community. Now, as Interim Superintendent, he continues to focus on fostering strong relationships with staff, students, and families.
Outside of work, Mr. Breen enjoys spending time with his wife Stacie and their two children, Addison (12) and Levi (9), who are active in sports like flag football, soccer, swimming, hockey, and basketball. He is a proud and enthusiastic (sometimes loud) supporter of their activities, balancing family time with his hobbies like golf and attending Notre Dame football games.
Why Constantine? "I was drawn to Constantine because of the strong leadership and the shared values I saw here. The community’s pride and support for the schools were apparent when I first visited, and it’s the people that have kept me here. We have a wonderful, genuine community that works well together."
Hopes for the Year: "My hope is to strengthen the connection between our families and students. Building relationships and trust are key to teaching and learning. I want to support our staff in making those connections every day, both in the classroom and within the community."
Message to the Community: "I’m excited to serve as Interim Superintendent and proud to continue our district’s commitment to a safe and strong learning environment. I believe in the vision in place at Constantine Public Schools and am dedicated to supporting our talented staff and students in reaching their full potential."
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Patrick Breen as Interim Superintendent!
District Updates
Constantine Public Schools is excited to share some important updates!
Roofing Project:
Starting in the summer of 2025, Eastside, Riverside, Constantine Middle School, and Constantine High School will all be getting new roofs. Construction is expected to begin in June 2025, right after the school year ends. We are grateful for the time and effort dedicated to bringing this project to contract, ensuring our facilities continue to serve our students and staff for years to come. Look for updates in the next school year!
Annual Financial Report Completed:
This fall, our Annual Financial Report, also known as audit, was complete. The purpose of an audit is to give an independent review that assesses the district’s fiscal management and operations.
This comprehensive review evaluates the district’s financial positions, compliance with state and federal grant regulations, as well as the effectiveness of our internal controls. We are proud to announce that Constantine Public Schools received an "unqualified opinion" with no audit findings, demonstrating our strong commitment to responsible financial management.
Free Fresh Food Distribution:
We’re thrilled to highlight the return of the Free Fresh Food Distribution to Constantine! Constantine High School is now a host site for this important initiative, which wouldn't be possible without the support of volunteers and local businesses. A special thank you to Constantine Flooring Center for sponsoring our first distribution event in November, Fibre Converters of Constantine for generously sponsoring an entire year of events, and Mark McGlothlen for his passion and efforts in bringing this program back to our community.
Thank you all for your continued support of our district as we work to better serve our students and families!
Upcoming Dates:
- December 24, 2024 - January 3, 2025 - Winter Break, No School
- January 6, 2025 - School Resumes
- January 21, 2025 - Free Fresh Food Distribution
- February 7 & 10 - Mid Winter Break, No School
- February 12 - Student Count Day
- February 18, 2025 - Free Fresh Food Distribution
For the most current board meeting dates please click the button below.
Staff Spotlights
Do you know a Constantine Public Schools staff member who goes above and beyond for students? Does your kid come sharing positive stories about a CPS staff member? Let us know by filling out our Staff Spotlight form. Together we can show appreciation for the outstanding individuals who help make our school district special!
Credits:
Pictures: Thank you to all the photo contributors! Special thank you to Katie McAnarney, Jill Herlein & Breanna Bristol for sharing their professional work.