2 Ferndale High Seniors, Roosevelt School Recognized by School Board

The Ferndale Board of Education passed resolutions of congratulations Monday night for two seniors and .

The board recognized the achievements of Natalie Melnick, a commended scholar in the National Merit Scholarship competition; Jordan Haines, a National Achievement Scholarship recipient; and Roosevelt Primary School as one of 38 schools in the U.S. to be named a National School of Character.

Natalie Melnick, 2011 Commended Scholar in the National Merit Scholarship Competition

Melnick ranked among 34,000 students of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT). A total of 1.5 million students took the test nationwide.

"I had a great education in Ferndale," Melnick told the board. "Some people think because it's not a private school, it's just Ferndale, there isn't a lot, but you can take so many AP (advanced placement) classes. ... And even after school, or 10 days before school is out (for the year) and (the teachers) are tired and done, they still help you and push you through."

Melnick served as color guard captain for the state champion marching band, has participated in theater, musical theater, orchestra, Tuesday Nite Singers, student newspaper, National Honor Society and the varsity girls soccer team. She is also class vice president, mentors freshmen and works with special education students through the school orchestra’s CARES (Creative Arts Reinforcing Educational Socialization) program.

She plans to pursue her college education at Kalamazoo College, where she received the prestigious Trustee Scholarship.

Jordan Haines, 2011 National Achievement Scholarship recipient

Haines received the 2011 National Achievement Scholarship that recognizes African-American high school students for outstanding performance on the PSAT.

Haines is one of only 700 students who received the scholarship out of more than 170,000 students who competed for it nationwide, and he is only the second student to receive the scholarship.

"I've enjoyed Ferndale schools and my progression through Ferndale schools," Haines told the board. He discussed the experiences he's had through Ferndale schools and how diverse and "great" they've been.

"One thing I did notice (is) that MIT asked me to recognize a teacher I'd like to thank, and I had a lot of trouble doing that," he said. "You can only choose one, and that was difficult. ... It's a testament to Ferndale High School."

Haines will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Through high school, he earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. He is president of the Class of 2011, president of the National Honor Society, serves on the executive board of the United Student Assembly student government (USA) and is drum major for the state champion marching band.

Haines is also a mentor for the CARES (Creative Arts Reinforcing Education and Socialization) program and LAWS (Leaders Acting with Students), captain of the IMPI Robotics Team, opinion editor of the student newspaper, treasurer of the Junior State of America and a member of the wind ensemble.

Roosevelt Primary School designated as National School of Character

Roosevelt is one of 38 schools across the United States that was designated as a National School of Character by the Character Education Partnership.

Principal Dina Krause, teachers of the school and a few parents were on hand for the recognition.

"I'd like to say thank you to her for her hard work at Roosevelt," Ferndale School District Superintendent Gary Meier said. "I appreciate her hard work and thank you very much."

Character Education Partnership recognized Roosevelt for achieving a standard of excellence for incorporating CEP's 11 Principles of Effective Character Education through its National Schools of Character program.

As a school of character, school board President Chuck Moeser read from the resolution, Roosevelt is a school that brings out the best in everyone, including students, staff, parents and community members, through its schoolwide Brain-Smart Start program.

During a rigorous evaluation process, representatives from the Washington-based Character Education Partnership visited the school and determined that Roosevelt has successfully created a school culture in which all children thrive socially, emotionally and academically.

"(The evaluator) said it was very difficult to receive recognition for a first-time school," Krause said. "(After the evaluation), they called back for more data, and since I'm the 'data queen,' I had that available for them. Then they told us we are a model school of hope."

Krause has been invited to attend the 2011 National Schools of Character Forum on Character Education in San Francisco in October, where she will be presented with the school's award. Krause is also considered a character education ambassador for Roosevelt Primary School who will serve as a leader and model for other educators, providing outreach and sharing the positive impact character education can have.