Orchard Lake Middle School Counseling Program Receives National Honor

The American School Counselor Association award recognizes 'comprehensive, data-driven' school counseling programs.

Orchard Lake Middle School counselors Felicia Neumann and Lauren Field will receive the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation during a July 2 ceremony at the American School Counselor Association’s annual conference in Philadelphia, PA. The RAMP designation, awarded to schools whose counseling programs align with the criteria set in the ASCA National Model, recognizes schools that are committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and creating an exemplary educational environment. More than 450 schools have received the RAMP designation since the program’s inception. Only one other school in Michigan has ever been honored. “This year’s RAMP honorees have shown their commitment to students and the …

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Whiz Kid: Maya Solomon Climbing Youth Tennis Ranks

Citing the Williams sisters' triumphant tennis careers as an inspiration, Solomon competes against high school girls as part of regular practice.

Do you know our next Whiz Kid? West Bloomfield Patch welcomes suggestions for students, youth groups and even sports teams who wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or email the information to editor Tim.Rath@patch.com. Please include all these details:

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Feature Photo: D'Agostini Holds Court at OLMS

Judge Diane D'Agostini of the 48th District Court spoke with students from Orchard Lake Middle School in West Bloomfield Friday.

Whiz Kid: Strome Leads Congregation to Crop Walk

For her Bat Mitzvah project, Melissa Strome involved the community in her cause.

Every week, Patch spotlights young people in the West Bloomfield community who are successful, talented and just plain awesome. We're pleased to introduce this week's Whiz Kid: Do you know a special young person in the community who deserves a round of applause because he volunteers instead of playing video games after school? Or maybe your daughter's science club is trying to challenge the way we think about the energy crisis? Or maybe your son's lacrosse team won its first game in three years? Everyone deserves a little attention, and we want to tell these stories. So email your Whiz Kid nominations to Editor Tim Rath at Tim.Rath@Patch.com. Please include the name, age, school, achievement and key to awesomeness, as well as a photo. Then…

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Weekend Countdown

'Peter Pan' Opens Friday at High School

The split-cast show will go on 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Even though it's only Tuesday, it's never too early to start planning ahead for next weekend. We are going to pick some of the fun and interesting events daily to help you plan and count down until it's the weekend again.  Our pick: OLMS students open Peter Pan Where: West Bloomfield High School, 4925 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield When: 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday Why go: Orchard Lake Middle School's spring musical, Peter Pan, is opening on Friday night with a second show scheduled for Saturday. One performance in the split-cast show will be led by eighth-grader Seth Betman, and another will be led by Mara Soverinsky as the title character. Tickets are available for $10 over the phone (248-865-4480) or at the door if possible.

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Dual 'Peter Pan' Leads Excited for Spring Musical

Seth Betman and Mara Soverinsky said that the Orchard Lake Middle School's split-cast production opening March 23 offers a unique take on a fun character.

Each week, West Bloomfield Patch features students doing amazing things in their schools and in their communities. This week, we're proud to feature two students: Do you know our next Whiz Kid? West Bloomfield Patch welcomes suggestions for students, youth groups and even sports teams who wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or email the information to editor Tim.Rath@patch.com. Please include all these details:

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On the Schedule: Boys Swimming and Diving Kicks Off

The West Bloomfield High School boys varsity swimming and diving team kicks off this season tonight against Rochester Adams.

Looking to keep up with your favorite in prep sports action today? Check out what's on the schedule for high school athletes from West Bloomfield for Thursday, Dec. 8. Girls basketball Boys swimming and diving Ice hockey Boys basketball Boys basketball Girls basketball Is your student athlete playing in one of today's games? Do you have a camera? Send us a snapshot of the game and the final score and we'll post it on Patch!

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On the Schedule: Middle School Hoops

The Abbott Eagles and the OLMS Vikings boys basketball teams will tip off this afternoon.

Looking to keep up with your favorite in prep sports action today? Check out what's on the schedule for high school athletes from West Bloomfield for Monday, Dec. 5. Boys basketball Boys basketball Is your student athlete playing in one of today's games? Do you have a camera? Send us a snapshot of the game and the final score and we'll post it on Patch!

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English Channel Swimmer Birmelin Returns to Orchard Lake Middle School

The West Bloomfield teacher and Farmington Hills resident said she intends to use her successful swim as a learning tool for the rest of her career.

Since completing her lifelong dream of swimming the English Channel last month, teacher Jenny Birmelin has rededicated herself to inspiring her students at Orchard Lake Middle School in West Bloomfield, where she has taught mathematics since 2003. As the Farmington resident instructed a sixth-grade class on the second day of school Thursday, Birmelin saw a group of children who were trying to get acclimated to new surroundings. Addressing the students by the names of their former elementary school—“Monica, a Green Gator”—Birmelin worked to make the students feel comfortable by bringing back what was already familiar to them. It’s an idea from which she benefited during her 28.04-mile swim Aug. 20, as she was accompanied by companion …

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Scott Campbell

4:39 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011

There's no doubt Jenny will be an inspiration to her students and hopefully others. Forget star athletes -- our kids need more role models like this. Thanks for bringing this nice follow-up to the Channel swim story, Tim. It's great that Patch can make us aware of things like this.   more ›

Orchard Lake Middle School Teacher Birmelin Swims English Channel

Birmelin swam the Channel in 11 hours, 31 minutes and 7 seconds Saturday, recording the 414th-fastest time out of 1,651 solo swims.

West Bloomfield teacher Jennifer Birmelin successfully swam the English Channel on Saturday with a time of 11 hours, 31 minutes and 7 seconds. Birmelin left Shakespeare Beach near Dover, England, at 4:05 a.m. GMT (12:05 a.m. EST) Saturday and arrived in Wissant, France, at 3:36 p.m. GMT (11:36 a.m. EST) to record the 414th-fastest time out of 1,651 solo swims. It was the culminating event in a lifetime of swimming for 34-year-old Birmelin, a mathematics teacher at Orchard Lake Middle School, Farmington Hills resident and a 1995 graduate of Farmington Hills Harrison High School. "I've been in pursuit of many things during many stages of my life ... Every training swim or race was different and each of them provided lessons to prepare for …

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Timothy Rath

5:38 pm on Monday, August 22, 2011

Scott, thanks for the comment. Here's what Birmelin said about her companion swimmers: "Channel rules say I must swim 2 hours alone first, before a companion is allowed to enter the water, if pilot approves. Typically when the swimmer is doing okay, they aren't needed ... My husband got the chance to hop back in the water for what was the final hour with me. He and Karen Rosinski wore wetsuits …   more ›