Behind the scenes
Part 2 on our story behind the 'changemaker' mural
Monteith parent Nafeesah Symonette brought a bold idea to the elementary school: to create a collective mural of contemporary influences from the African Diaspora and, through a combination of art and literature, teach children about 22 “changemakers” and their contributions as part of Black History Month.
Nafeesah, a former educator with a B.F.A. in painting and drawing and a M.A. in arts administration, met in the fall with Monteith Principal Shelleyann Keelean to discuss the intersection of arts education and culturally responsive pedagogy.
This led to a new approach to Black History Month reflecting age-appropriate cultural identity representation.
The first step was to identify the changemakers who would be featured in this pilot project. Principal Keelean connected Nafeesah with third-grade teacher Samantha Desandre and Title I teacher Shanelle Mitchell to assist in curating a list of 22 changemakers for each classroom, Young 5 to grade 4, with each child literally having a hand in the project by coloring the number-coded puzzle pieces and learning about their class’s changemaker.
The goal was to select a broad spectrum of changemakers who were relevant to the 21st century, while also honoring the past. Moreover, the project leaders looked to select people who contributed not only to the Black experience, but to the American experience as a whole, making change for the benefit of the broader society.
The project “could not have happened without Samantha and Shanelle’s involvement,” Nafeesah said. “In order for something like this to happen, you have to have someone on the ground, in the building, to answer questions. They did that. They helped teachers work through any challenges. The project would not be what it is without their support and their involvement.”
The end result was worth the labor-intensive process, all three educators agree.
“The kids blew me away,” Nafeesah said. “We’re talking Young 5’s through fourth grade. I certainly was expecting them to do a good job, but I didn’t expect that the portraits would turn out so beautifully.”
“It was a learning process across the board,” Shanelle said. “When all was said and done, everybody loved it.”
Samantha credits Nafeesah for bringing the project to the school and executing the work behind the scenes to make it accessible to teachers and students. Also, as a teacher, she was inspired by the process.
“Honestly, in seven years of teaching, five buildings, I have never gotten to participate in anything this cohesive, that is this intentional,” she said.
Nafeesah’s vision is that the project will start a conversation and “live on” past the 2021-22 school year. She would love to see it expanded to all the elementary schools in the district and even to the secondary schools.
Deputy Superintendent for Educational Services Roy Bishop agrees that the pilot project could benefit all students in Grosse Pointe and hopes to see it manifest at other elementary schools.
“Having every student see themselves and feel that connection is essential to learning,” he said. “Being represented in the classroom and hallways and the literature they read gives students a sense of belonging and is critical to their overall academic success. This is what we mean in our strategic plan when we talk about empowering students, valuing diversity, and creating a culture of unity.”
Eagle Scout gives back to music program
When students store their musical instruments in the new instrumental music storage cabinets at Pierce Middle School, they see a familiar phrase inscribed at the top: “Make a great day.”
This is Grosse Pointe Public School System music department chair James Gross’s “signature inspirational quote,” according to Grosse Pointe South High School senior Charles Logan.
Charles is particularly familiar with the phrase, as he has been part of the district’s orchestra program since fifth grade, the last four at Grosse Pointe South. His freshman year he played violin in concert orchestra and the past three years he has participated in South’s symphony orchestra.
It was a natural choice for Charles, a member of Boys Scouts of America Troop 96, to approach Mr. Gross and ask him if he had any ideas for his Eagle Scout project.
“Everyone says pick something you’ll be passionate about,” Charles said. “Do it for an organization you really want to do it for. To that end, I then thought of Mr. Gross and the orchestra program. I would say outside of scouting, it is the program that has shaped me as a person the most. I knew I would want to give back and create quality work for it.
“The other reason I decided to take this approach is because of Mr. Gross,” he continued. “He is an exceptional teacher and mentor. He is filled with wisdom, kindness and humor. Long story short, I look up to him a lot. I have ever since I first met him in honors orchestra in fifth grade, and continue to do so seven years later. He is someone I knew would not only be easy for me to work with, but also invested in the project and in the process of me becoming an Eagle Scout. On top of that, I knew I would also be driven to create a quality project for him.”
In this spirit, Charles approached Mr. Gross after class one day.
“I don’t think I even finished the word ‘project’ before he told me he needed middle school instrument storage,” Charles said. “So, the project was born. We decided to make the shelves for Pierce as they needed the storage the most.”
In mid-September, Charles stopped by Pierce, spoke with Mr. Gross and Pierce Principal Sara Dirkse, took some pictures and measured some doors.
He completed the project on Feb. 1. The whole process — planning, (lots of) paperwork, design, construction and installation — “took 26 people a grand total of 522 man-hours,” he said.
“Looking back on the project, I was right about how I thought I would feel making something for the orchestra program,” Charles said. “I wanted to produce something high quality, sturdy, visually appealing, and lasting. I believe I did. Mr. Gross was wonderful to work with. He was straightforward with what he wanted done, his schedule was flexible and he was cheerful throughout the whole process.”
The finished results are three cabinets, each containing 20 cubbies, made of birch veneered plywood with maple and pine trim.
“In the end, I am very proud of the finished project and I am truly joyful and honored I could help a program, and a teacher, who have done so much for me over the last seven years of my life,” Charles said. “I do not know where I would be without orchestra or without Mr. Gross. They are both irreplaceable.”
Charles will receive his Eagle rank in June at the Court of Honor, when he will become Eagle Scout for life. Eagle Scout is the highest achievable rank in the Boy Scouts. It takes on average 4 to 6 years to complete the process of becoming an Eagle, and only 4 percent of Scouts achieve the rank. The two biggest requirements are the completion of a Scout-led service project, and the earning of 21 merit badges.
“Charles is one of our shining stars in the Grosse Pointe Public School System,” Mr. Gross said of his longtime student.
North Quiz Bowl team heads to states
Grosse Pointe North’s Quiz Bowl, which has not lost a league match since 2019, kept its streak alive. On Wednesday, Feb. 9, the team defeated both The International Academy of Macomb and The Utica Academy for International Studies to win the postseason Quiz Bowl tournament.
“Naturally, we love winning, but it’s also gratifying to see the students enjoy the world of trivia,” said longtime Quiz Bowl coach Ben Henri and king of trivia himself as the 2020 Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament champion. “Most of them have a depth of knowledge in certain areas that far outstrips my own mental catalog. Plus, they are learning the difference between esoterica and trivia. Knowing Derek Jeter’s batting average in 2002 is an interesting factoid, but the only way you could know it is by memorizing.”
According to Ben, trivia comes from the word “trivium,” which is a place where crossroads meet. The plural, “trivia,” means “three ways.”
“It was sometimes used to describe the meeting of the three original schools of rhetoric, grammar and logic,” Ben explained. “So, knowing that Derek Jeter is one of six players in the American League to hit over 3,000 hits while staying with a single team for their entire career — that’s trivia. You may not know that entire list of athletes, but knowing that Jeter spent his entire career with the Yankees and that he was a prolific hitter could lead you to guess his name.
“And I’ll leave it to the readers to figure out the other five,” he added.
Next up for the team is the virtual state tournament on April 9, where team members will compete against the top talent across Michigan. Mr. Henri said they are waiting to hear about the national competition, which last year was held virtually as well.
Richard celebrates 100th day of school
South writers earn Scholastic Writing Awards
Each year the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers identifies students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and presents them with Scholastic Art & Writing Awards to recognize their achievements and give them opportunities for exhibition, publication and scholarships.
This year Grosse Pointe South students Jarif Rashid and Julia Gebeck earned Honorable Mention status for their writing submissions, Jarif for his personal essay and memoir, “Lessons (to be) Remembered” and Julia for her science fiction and fantasy story, “Defender of the Home.”
“We always make certain our young writers are aware of these prestigious awards, but the submission process can be daunting and most of that work is up to the individual student,” said South English teacher Meaghan Dunham. “I was fortunate to work with Julia last year in Creative Writing. She aced the course and was then motivated to share a piece of her best writing in this way.
“Jarif approached this competition from a different angle,” she continued, “as he worked with both (English teacher) Sandy McCue and myself to hone a personal essay that practically compelled him to share it with a broader audience.”
Jarif, a junior, provided the following description of what inspired his award-winning piece:
“During my grieving process following the tragic death of my father, I took the completely wrong direction and attempted to subdue memories of my father because they hurt to think of. This inevitably ended up making me feel very guilty and consumed my mind during my sophomore year, which resulted in me spiraling into depression and losing touch with everything. In this piece, I tried my best to honor his memory by highlighting the important choices and sacrifices he made, and I also wrote about how my grieving process affected me. The overarching point of this piece was not only to honor my late father’s dedication and sacrifices, but also to let people who have or are currently in similar situations know not to make the same mistake that I did, and take the grieving process with an adult.”
Time seemed to cease its flawless flow as I stared off into the grim darkness of a now somber night encapsulated with endless teardrops amidst my grief. I heard nothing, I felt nothing, I saw nothing. So many families flooded the forlorn apartment in the frozen frames of time. Beside me were people I had a comforting attachment to, and yet nothing and nobody were worth even a glimpse. Was this a dream? It was certainly too realistic, no, this was surely a cruel nightmare that would end any moment now; all I had to do was wait. I made up my mind: I would stare through this morbid window until this horrific nightmare was over, and then forget it ever happened. — from “Lessons (to be) Remembered”
Julia, a senior, was inspired to write her piece after she was babysitting for her younger cousins. To ease their fear of nightmares, she came up with an elaborate story to convince them their cat would keep them safe.
The cat looked at the mother as she entered the room, watching as she walked towards the child, speaking in soft tones. The child pointed at the closet, eyes wide and fearful. The cat turned her head, following the pointing finger. Children are hardly ever wrong. From beneath the closet door, she saw a twisting shadow sneaking its way through the gap. Another nightmare. She narrowed her eyes knowingly, sitting back on her haunches, waiting for the closet door to open and her opportunity to strike.
She had been nightmare chasing for years. This would be easy. — from “Defender of the Home”
Look for information about 2022 Scholastic Art Awards next week.
Alumni Through the Decades
Our 100th anniversary series on GPPSS alumni continues
Daniel SantaLucia
Grosse Pointe North High School
Class of 2012
A year ago, Daniel SantaLucia never imagined he would move to a different country a continent away to pursue the next stage of his career.
“It just wasn’t on my radar,” Dan said.
Then he received an email from his adviser in his Ph.D. program at University of Wisconsin-Madison informing him about a postdoctoral position at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion located in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
The email was from Dr. Serena DeBeer, a professor and director at the institute — and a name Dan recognized as an expert in the field of inorganic spectroscopy. The position would give him the opportunity to work under the mentorship of a staff scientist who, according to German requirements, was slated to retire.
Dan knew if he didn’t apply, he would never forgive himself. He sent Dr. DeBeer an email with his curriculum vitae and some of his research publications. After an interview, he was hired.
Dan moved to Germany in August and began work on Sept. 1, 2021. His post-doctoral study position is funded by the Max Blanck Society, world renowned as a leading science and technology research organization, with 37 Nobel Prizes awarded to their scientists. The hope is that the two to three-year post-doctoral study position will lead to a permanent staff scientist position at the institute.
Dan began his education in the Grosse Pointe Public School System. Until his family moved from Harper Woods to Grosse Pointe Woods, he attended Poupard Elementary School, then spent fourth and fifth grade at Ferry Elementary School. He went on from there to Parcells Middle School.
As a freshman at Grosse Pointe North, he was first interested in engineering — “mainly because I didn’t understand what engineering entailed,” he said. He fell in love with physics and chemistry his junior year when he took honors classes in both subjects, followed by advanced placement courses. He took AP Chemistry with Steve Kosmas, who retired last year, and physics with Don Pata. He has good memories of cardboard boat races in Mr. Pata’s physics class, even though at the time he found it stressful.
The class he found most challenging, however, was AP Language and Composition. His teacher was Kate Murray, now North’s principal, whom he describes as “tough but fair.”
“It really pushed me to my limit,” Dan said, “but I really value that course because it definitely pushed me to be a better writer, and ultimately that had a positive impact on being a good scientist. You have to be able to communicate your results effectively.”
As his first advanced placement class, it also served as “a wake-up call to what a college course would be,” he added.
For college, Dan made a difficult choice between the University of Michigan and Hope College, ultimately deciding the small liberal arts environment would be good for him. He also chose Hope because of its strong chemistry program.
After graduating from Hope in 2016, he spent the next five years pursuing a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also served as a graduate student research assistant.
“It’s an absolutely perfect place to live for a young 20-something starting their career,” Dan said. “The town is really charming. I personally enjoy water sports, canoeing and things, and there are lots of lakes and rivers. It was an absolutely perfect place to do my five years in graduate school.”
Moving to Mulheim was an adjustment, but Dan has enjoyed some of the lifestyle changes, which include the ability to walk or take public transportation everywhere and, for the first time in his adult life, not depend on owning a car. Among challenges has been meeting new people, especially during the pandemic, and learning the language. Three years of German at North with Madeline Salonen, now retired, and a semester in college provided some preparation, but after nearly a half year, Dan is still managing basic conversation with German people.
The best advice Dan says he can offer future North graduates interested in pursuing science as a career is to try to build resilience.
“Science is, oftentimes, very difficult and most of the time things that you try don't work,” he said. “You have to become very comfortable with failing or being wrong; in fact, this is basically an everyday occurrence, if not multiple times per day. You have to just keep pushing until, finally, something works. If you can overcome these types of challenges, then it is an extremely rewarding feeling to push collective human knowledge forward; it's addicting.”
The other advice he has “is to be open minded and objective: embrace being a scientist. For me, sometimes I measure spectra for compounds, and the data just doesn't make any sense. Sometimes there is something wrong with the instrument or the sample you're measuring. But sometimes, you've ruled out any issues with the spectrometer or your sample, and you're just left with data that tells you something that doesn't make sense to you. It's in these moments that you have to be willing to be imaginative, because this is when something you thought was true about the system you're measuring in fact wasn't. Often, when you find out you're wrong, it leads to very exciting — and potentially groundbreaking — discoveries. If you're dogmatic about what you think is true, adamant that the data must be wrong, then you're going to miss important insights.”
GPPSS Online Auction
Items from the former GPPSS administration building at 389 St. Clair are now available to bid on in our online auction.
Auction lots begin to close Tuesday, February 15 at 7 p.m.
Click this link to visit the auction.
School Pointes is a publication of the Grosse Pointe Public School System. To submit story ideas or Pointes of Pride, email info@gpschools.org.