Grindstone Elementary - Berea City School District

July 2010/Volume 15
Berea City School District: Berea, Brook Park, Middleburg Heights, and a portion of Olmsted Falls
The Time To Act Is Now
“After years of declining enrollment and community planning to find the most effective education
at the lowest possible cost, we have the right solution,” said Berea Schools’ Superintendent
Derran Wimer. “We have now developed the final step in a plan that improves education and
reduces operational costs.”
This plan is the only way to prepare our students for the futures they face, protect the
desirability and marketability of our neighborhoods, and save millions in operating costs now.
It addresses the fact that 50-year-old school buildings do not meet the needs of students and
communities in the 21st Century.
Grindstone Elementary – On
Time and Under Budget
“It will cost us much more in the long run and delay critical educational improvements.
Every year that we wait, we lose $3 million that could go for a better future.”
The first step was combining the four Berea elementary schools into one, which the district is
doing without ANY additional taxes. The next step is to combine our high schools. Said Board
of Education president, Dave Pusti, “We need a new high school facility to provide our students
with 21st century quality – labs, technology, academic programs, and extracurriculars. This is
an educational necessity and significant community advantage that will save millions each year
by reducing duplication in operating and educational costs.”
This plan will:
• Build a brand new state-of-the-art high school with facilities essential to educational
success;
• Renovate Midpark into a middle school with amenities that no other middle school would
be about to offer;
• Upgrade Ford for 5-6th graders to match the advanced curriculum of the other schools;
• Cost the owner of a $100,000 home $7/month (which comes out to $2/month when the
operational savings are included).
Says Superintendent Wimer, “Waiting is counterproductive. It will cost us much more in
the long run and delay critical educational improvements. Every year that we wait, we lose
$3 million that could go for a better future. That’s $5 a month on every hundred thousand of
property value.”
The time is now. Construction costs are low. Interest rates are low. The new high school
and superior 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade facilities will cost $7 a month, while closing several
inefficient schools and the administration building.
Says Wimer, “So, for the difference - $2 a month - we can dramatically improve educational
facilities, programs, and quality, and stop the waste that’s built into operating our current
facilities. For $2 a month, we can make huge strides for our middle and high school students and
stop pouring money into old and inefficient buildings. We cannot afford to ignore this reasonable
investment in all of our futures. This plan saves our money and builds our future.”
Cost - $100,000 home: approximately $7 per month or $88 per year
Total amount of issue: $87 Million
(which includes funds to begin renovations on existing buildings)
Annual operational savings once new high school is built: $3 Million
Election Date: November 2, 2010
Make sure to drive down Race Street in Berea
to see the exciting new elementary school
under construction there. The new school,
which will serve all the elementary students in
the city of Berea, has been named Grindstone
Elementary, and it is being built at no
additional cost to taxpayers. The district will
pay for its construction out of the operational
savings realized by closing Fairwood, Parknoll,
Riveredge, and Smith elementaries.
“This new facility will save millions in
operating costs for the future, by consolidating
our elementary schools while achieving
significant savings on utilities through the
latest “green” technology,” said Superintendent
Derran Wimer. “This is a major step toward
positioning our school district for the future,
and we were able to take that step without
any additional tax.”
Recently, PTA members visited the
construction site to see how their new school is
progressing. “This is a wonderful opportunity
for our students,” said PTA Council President
Ana Chapman. “I think it’s important that
the district is doing such a great job of saving
money and preparing us for the future. With
this building and a new ‘green’ high school,
the district will save millions of dollars while
giving our kids an excellent educational
environment and programs that will prepare
them well for the 21st Century.”
Visit www.berea.k12.oh.us to view the site
by Construction Cam.
FIVE Eagle Scouts are in the Berea High
Graduating Class of 2010
Cleveland Council on World Affairs
Conference
by Laurie Scriven
According to the Greater Cleveland Boy Scout Council, the rank of
Eagle Scout represents less that 3% of all registered Boy Scouts in
their council and nationwide, so having FIVE Eagle Scouts in one
high school graduating class is truly amazing! Congratulations
to these Berea High seniors and Eagle Scouts (from left): Tommy
White, Andrew Kilgore, Eran Karanouh-Schuler, Matt Horning,
and Nick Haag for their outstanding achievement.
Berea High Teacher Wins
Crystal Apple Award
Congratulations to Mr. Christopher
Reynolds (left), Berea High School
French teacher, who received
The Plain Dealer’s Crystal Apple
Award for outstanding teaching.
Mr. Reynolds, pictured at the awards
announcement at Berea High with Superintendent
Derran Wimer, was nominated by Mrs. Susan
Hans and the Berea High PTSA.
Berea High Math Student Excels
Congratulations to Berea High
student Yumeng Nie who qualified
for participation in the Ohio High
School Mathematics Invitational
Olympiad (OHMIO) based on her Ohio
Council of Teachers of Mathematics
(OCTM) test and was then invited to
participate in Ohio’s math team for
the American Regions Math League
(ARML) competition at Penn State
in June. Teams from all over the
United States and foreign countries participate in ARML.
Penn State is one of three sites in the United States for
this prestigious event. Yumeng, a sophomore, was selected
for this honor based on her performance on the OCTM and
OHMIO tests.
2
The term globalization has
become a “buzz word” in
education, the media, and
the business world. What
does it mean for Berea City
Schools?
Developing
Global
Citizens for NE Ohio’s
Future is a professional
development series. Currently, the Berea City School
District is in a collabaorative partnership with the Cleveland
Council on World Affairs, Kent State University, BaldwinWallace College, Oberlin City Schools and Oberlin College,
Painesville City Schools, Chardon City Schools, Cleveland
State University, and other area teachers, professors, and
community leaders. Berea High Principal Vincenzo Ruggiero,
and teachers Rebecca Papakonstantinou, Chris Reynolds,
and Laurie Scriven are district representatives, and have also
participated in the Building Bridges to the World initiative to
encourage teachers’ global awareness.
For many years, Berea High
has been active in recognizing
diversity with celebrations such as
Café Harambee and Unidad Latina;
support for the AFS program;
creation of the Senior Seminar
class, which fosters understanding
of world religions, political issues,
and gender issues; and celebration
of International Education Week with speakers representing
many countries, including working with political cartoonists
from the Middle East, a delegation of Brazilian teachers,
students from Serbia, and a group of young Turkish leaders.
Last year’s Global Symposium, held jointly at Midpark and
Berea High Schools, was a unique opportunity to expand the
global perspectives of both staff and students. Berea High has
also created a “Global Student Award” to recognize students
who embody the characteristics of a “global citizen.”
As the world becomes more interconnected, communities,
in particular educational institutions, must evolve and adapt
to the changes that are taking place daily, at a rapid pace.
The Berea City School District is well on its way to becoming
"global."
Partnering with Berea City Schools
in education and the arts.
Midpark Excels at State Track Championships
by Coach Rick Mack
Midpark Track was well represented at the OHSAA State Track Championship Meet
on June 4 & 5 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. Two boys and seven
girls competed for the Meteors, with six of the nine athletes earning a place on the
awards podium.
Senior David Mogilnicki (long jump) and junior Conner Neu (discus) both made the
finals in their respective events, with David just missing placing (9th), while Conner,
in his second visit to the State Meet, placed 7th with a throw of 170' 11".
Juniors Rachel Lasorella (pole vault), Renee McKee (high jump), Jasmine Poljak
(shot put), and Kaila Barber (long jump) represented the team in their field events.
Renee, in her second visit to the Meet, made it to the podium with a jump of 5' 4" and
placed 8th. On her last attempt, Kaila moved from fourth to first with a leap of 19'
8.25", winning her first State Title.
The girls 4 x 400 meter relay team of senior Corinne Pasela, junior Anna Lobas,
Photograph by Kyle Lanzer/Sun News
junior Val Shymske, and junior Kaila Barber, qualified 8th in the preliminaries for the
event finals, and then powered their way to a 5th place finish in the finals!
The big story of the weekend, though, was junior Kaila Barber. After qualifying in four events, Kaila had to face the top 16 girls
in the State in each event. After earning a trip to the finals in the 100 meter dash, Kaila lined up to run the prelims of the 300 meter
hurdles. In the previous meet, Kaila had posted the nation's fastest time this year in the event, so all eyes were on her. Kaila exploded
from the blocks and took an early lead. Then, coming down the final straight, she hit the third-last hurdle, falling hard, as the other
runners quickly passed her by. Without hesitation, Kaila sprang up and found a way to grab the fourth and final spot in the final.
After an hour-long rain delay, the Division I finals began. On a wet track, Kaila rallied to finish 3rd in the 100 meter dash. She
then proceeded to complete her final jump, winning the Long Jump title. Then, about forty minutes later, she ran the 300 meter
hurdle final. Running in lane 8, Kaila won her second State Title, in a time of 42.04. She ended her finals by anchoring the 4 x 400
M relay (that finished 5th) with a 400 m leg of 53.35. Her final tally: two State Titles (Long Jump & 300 M hurdles), one 3rd (100 M
Dash) & one 5th (4 x 400 M relay). In addition to the State Track Awards, Kaila was also named 2009-2010 Gatorade Ohio Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
Barber is the first Gatorade Ohio Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Midpark. The award, which recognizes
not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated
on and off the track, distinguishes her as Ohio's best high school girls track & field athlete. Kaila has maintained a 4.63 GPA in the
classroom. An active member of the Key Club, she has volunteered locally on behalf of animal rescue efforts, youth sports programs,
and a fundraising campaign to benefit the needy in El Salvador. Kaila is an absolutely selfless athlete. She will compete in any event
at any time, and her quiet diligence inspires excellence in those around her.
Berea High’s Robertson is State Champ in 300M Hurdles
Photograph by Kyle Lanzer/Sun News
Berea High sophomore, Donovan Robertson, persevered in the Division 1 OSHAA State
Track Championship Meet in Columbus in spite of adversity. Robertson slipped and fell
on the wet track midway through the 110 meter hurdles, failing to clear a hurdle and
was therefore disqualified for the race.
Although he was shocked and disappointed, he was determined to make a comeback
in the next event. And he did he ever! In the 300 meter hurdles, in which he had placed
sixth at State last year, he won the event with a time of 37.19 seconds.
Robertson was also part of the 1,600 relay team of Aaron Young, Connor McKnight,
and Tyler Harris, which placed eighth in the finals and made it on the podium with a
time of 30:20.16.
His ultimate victory at the State Championship Meet capped off an outstanding year,
as Robertson was the Southwestern Conference Boys Track MVP this season as well as
the District and Regional Champion in the 110M Hurdles and the 300M hurdles.
Berea and Polaris Partner to Deliver Community Education Services
Beginning this August, the Berea City School District and Polaris Career Center will join forces to offer adult and
community education classes. For decades, both organizations have provided high-quality programs and services.
By merging operations, both will be able to continue to provide these vital services in the community.
"We're thrilled to be partnered with Polaris to deliver educational services. By collaborating with Polaris, we'll
be able to maintain high-quality community education services for our residents," says Derran Wimer, Berea City
School District Superintendent.
Berea Community Education course information will be listed in all Polaris Adult Education catalogs which
are published three times a year. Fall 2010 catalogs will be mailed out at the end of July. Call 440-891-7600 to be
added to the mailing list or visit www.polaris.edu for additional information.
Berea High School’s “Top 10”
Nicholas Joseph-Park Williams - Valedictorian - son of Jonathan and Denise Williams - will attend Princeton University with a
major in Molecular Biology
Best Buy at 15 Scholarship; Board of Education Scholarship; Class of 1976 Merit Scholarship; Phi Beta Kappa Award; Commended National Merit
Scholar; John Phillip Sousa Award; Wilbur Swartz Mathematics Award; US Marine Corps Distinguished Scholar Award; Distinguished Club
President for Ohio District Key Club International; Social Studies Department Award. Activities: Key Club President; Marching Band; Symphonic
Winds; Orchestra; SWC Honors Band; Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony; National Honor Society; Academic Challenge; Small Steps for Big Hopes
Benefit Walk; Food Bank Volunteer; SPEA “Into the Light” Suicide Prevention Walk; Service Projects for Key Club & Kiwanis.
Ashley Marie Kozak - Salutatorian - daughter of Mike and Judy Kozak - will attend Kent State University majoring in Visual
Communications
Kent State Trustee Honors & Honor’s Residence Scholarship; Kiwanis Club of Berea Scholarship; American Legion Post 610 Scholarship; Award of
Merit; Global Student Award; Outstanding Social Studies Award; Outstanding Senior Student in Spanish Award; Joe Stitt Award; Varsity Girls Track
Captain; Third Letter in Girls Varsity Track. Activities: Senior Class Office Class Correspondent; National Honor Society; Key Club; Girls Varsity
Track; Camp Mi-Bro-Be Counselor; RSVP Teacher’s Aide.
Taylor Renee Hinton - Third in Class - daughter of Betsy Hinton and Matt Hinton - will attend Allegheny College majoring in
Environmental Science
The Trustee Scholarship from Allegheny College; OHSAA Scholar Athlete Award; Marine Corps Distinguished Scholar Award; Marine Corps
Scholastic Excellence Award; ECF Giant Eagle Scholarship; Berea Association of School Administrators Scholarship; LINK Gifted Service Scholarship;
Eloise Tressel Award; Duncan J. Moore Memorial Scholarship. Activities: Cross Country; Marching Band; Girls Track & Field; Symphonic Winds;
National Honor Society; Camp Mi-Bro-Be Counselor.
Nathan Malachowski - Fourth in Class - son of Mark and Lois Malachowski - will attend Allegheny College majoring in
Environmental Science and Philosophy
Trustee Scholarship; Garden Club Scholarship; National Merit Scholarship; Corporation Scholarship. Activities: Camp Mi-Bro-Be Counselor; National
Honor Society; Academic Challenge; French Club; Marching Band; Tuba Line; Symphonic Winds; Berea High School District Green Team.
Adrienne May Ellis - Fifth in Class - daughter of Ellen Hansen-Ellis and Ken Ellis - will attend Gettysburg College with an
undecided major
Gettysburg Presidential Scholarship; Jack Kocher Award for Band; Academic Achievement Award 4 years; Academic Hall of Fame Inductee. Activities:
Marching Band; Student Council; National Honor Society; Gifted Services; Academic Challenge; AFS Club; Jazz Band; Meistersingers; Camp Mi-BroBe Counselor; Transitional Housing Inc. of Cleveland Volunteer.
Adam Michael Rhoades - Sixth in Class - son of Jon and Kristine Rhoades - will attend Bowling Green State University majoring in
Integrated Secondary Mathematics Education
Bowling Green State University Centennial Scholarship; National Honor Society Scholarship; Paul Swaddling Memorial Scholarship; Academic
Achievement Award; Outstanding Volunteer Award; Award of Merit; Global Student Award; J.B. Crabbs Award. Activities: Class Officer/Student
Government; Teacher’s Aide; National Honor Society; Business Advisory Council; Freshman Mentoring; Junior Achievement; Pancake Breakfasts;
Vacation Bible School; RSVP.
Ashley Nicole Hart - Seventh in Class - daughter of Paula Hart, Wayne Hart and Heavenly Roberts - will attend The Ohio State
University majoring in Organic Chemistry or Psychology
Gates Millennium Scholarship; J.B. Crabbs Award; Outstanding Academic Achievement Award; Scholar Athlete Award; Outstanding Volunteerism
Award; Award of Merit; Global Student Award; Leadership Award; Carolyn Kreighbaum Memorial Scholarship; Jessica Leigh Brown Golf Outing
Scholarship; Pam Smith Scholarship; US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award; 110% Award; Coach’s Award & Captain’s Award; Player of
the Week Award. Activities: Office Aide; Football, Basketball & Competition; Cheerleading; Girls Track Team; Physics Club; SADD; National Honor
Society; Peer Mediation; Morning Announcer, Senior Class President; Educational Community Foundation Student Trustee; Freshmen Mentoring;
RSVP; Youth Group; District Say-It Summit; Math Tutor; Serving dinners at Downtown Homeless Shelter; Coe Lake Clean-ups; Youth Choir.
Caitlin-Marie Joyce Bobb - Eighth in Class - daughter of Diane Bobb - will attend Purdue University majoring in Pre-Veterinary
Medicine
Purdue University Presidential Scholarship; Dr. Paul C. Gallaher Scholarship; Kiwanis Club of Berea Scholarship. Activities: Varsity Track & Field;
Yearbook Club; Peer Tutoring; Academic Challenge; Environmental Club; Key Club; National Honor Society; Coe Lake Clean-ups; Neuroblastoma
Research Walk; Volunteering at Ridgeville Animal Hospital & Crossroads Animal Hospital.
Kyle Adler Kranz - Ninth in Class - son of Pete and Christine Kranz - will attend The Ohio State University majoring in Exercise
Physiology
Principal’s Roll; Scholar/Athlete Award for Winter Sports; MVP of Swim Team; Trustee’s Scholarship for OSU. Activities: Freshman Football Team;
Varsity Swim Team; Career Shadowings; Academic Challenge; Baldwin-Wallace PSO Student; Assisted elderly neighbors; Developmental landscape
project; Volunteered for multiple functions for the City of Berea.
Stacie Nicole Wyles - Tenth in Class - daughter of Jim and Sandy Wyles - will attend The University of Akron majoring in Mathematics
The University of Akron Presidential Scholarship; State Board of Education Award of Merit; US Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award; Berea
PTA Council Scholarship; Outstanding Art Student Award; Health & Physical Education Outstanding Senior; Girls Basketball Doc Davidson Award;
Girls Basketball Scholar Athlete; Girls Basketball SWC Honorable Mention. Activities: Junior Varsity Girls Basketball (Captain 2 years); Varsity
Girls Basketball (Captain 2 years); Girls Basketball All Star Game; National Honor Society; Physics Club; St. Mary’s Church Confirmation Leader.
4
Midpark High School’s “Top 10”
Rachel Anne McConnell - Valedictorian - daughter of Michael and Cheryl McConnell - will attend Grove City College majoring in
Christian Thought and English
Orchestra Outstanding Musician Award; Phi Beta Kappa Award; Reno CEO Memorial Scholarship; Dr. Paul C. Gallaher Scholarship; Midpark
Alumni Scholarship; Stephen C. Parish Jr. Memorial Scholarship; Middleburg Hts. Women’s Scholarship; Midpark Music Boosters Scholarship;
National Honor Society Scholarship. Activities: Orchestra; National Honor Society; Youth Group prayer team and leadership team; Camp Mi-Bro-Be
Counselor; Take a Break Program for people with special needs; Peru Mission Trip.
Corinne Nicole Pasela - Salutatorian - daughter of Tim and Pam Pasela - will attend Case Western Reserve University majoring in
Engineering
Academic Letter; Chemistry Studentof the Year; Excellence in Mathematics Award; Scholastic Letterman Award; OHSAA Scholar Athlete Award;
Bruce Bar Scholarship. Activities: Soccer; Track; Snowboarding; National Honor Society; Mock Trial; Ohio Math League.
Kristin Suzanne Tripi - Third in Class - daughter of Gregory and Suzanne Tripi - will attend The University of Akron majoring in
English Education and English
The University of Akron Scholarship; The University of Akron Honors College Scholarship; Bob Studier Jr. Scholarship; Educational Community
Foundation MHS Scholarship; Midpark PTA Book Scholarship; Phi Delta Kappa Scholarship; English Department Award. Activities: Cross Country;
Marching Band; Track and Field; Shakespeare Club; Key Club; National Honor Society; Ambassador Club; Dance Team; Camp Mi-Bro-Be Counselor;
Buckeye Girls State; Band Librarian.
Timothy Donald Vath - Fourth in Class - son of Tom and Laura Vath - will attend Cuyahoga Community College majoring in
Mathematics
AP Scholar Award; Academic Letter; Presidential Award; Cuyahoga Community College Academic Excellence Scholarship; Brook Park Memorial PTA
Scholarship. Activities: Vice President National Honor Society; Mock Trial; Juggling Club; Basketball (3 years); Lead guitarist/song writer in local
band “Skies of December.”
Jacob Allen Pauley - Fifth in Class - son of Allen and Laura Pauley - will attend Miami University majoring in Mathematics
Miami University Merit Scholarship; Bob Grewe Math Award. Activities: Golf.
Andrew William Marton - Sixth in Class - son of Dave Marton and Marlene Reiff-Marton - will attend The University of Akron
majoring in Aerospace Engineering
The University of Akron Honors Scholarship. Activities: Wind Ensemble; Marching Band; Camp Mi-Bro-Be Counselor; Mock Trial.
Michael Ryan Nakon - Seventh in Class - son of Mark and Robin Nakon - will attend Denison University majoring in U.S. History
and Economics
Ford Middle School PTA Scholarship; MHS PTA Book Scholarship; Medical Mutual Kent J. Clapp Memorial Scholarship. Activities: Boys State;
Academic Challenge; Soccer Team; Baseball Team; Blood Drive; Camp Mi-Bro-Be Counselor.
Danny Guan - Eighth in Class - son of Chun and Nancy Guan - will attend Case Western Reserve University majoring in Mathematics
and Education
Case Merit-based Scholarships. Activities: National Honor Society; Student Council.
William Raymond Roth - Ninth in Class - son of Timothy and Beth Roth - will attend Baldwin-Wallace College majoring in Secondary
Mathematics Education
Baldwin-Wallace College Scholarship; Paul Swaddling Memorial Scholarship; Midpark PTA Book Scholarship; Veterans of Foreign Wars Brook ParkBerea Post 6676 Scholarship; Cleveland Scholarship Recipient; Award of Merit. Activities: Midpark Magic; Symphonic Choir; Drama Club; National
Honor Society; School Theatre Productions; Key Club; Peer Tutoring.
Alexandra Suzanne Rodgers - Tenth in Class - daughter of Danita Power and Ronald Rodgers - will attend Kent State University
majoring in Nursing
Middleburg Hts. Women’s Club Scholarship; Middleburg Hts. Chamber of Commerce Scholarship; Berea Board of Education Scholarship; Kent
Trustee Scholarship; Helen Painter Medallion Scholarship; Social Studies Department Award. Activities: Drama Club; Plays and Musicals; Symphonic
Choir; Midpark Magic; Camp Mi-Bro-Be Counselor.
5
Ford Eighth Grader is Best of the Best in the
Power of the Pen
For 25 years, the Power of the Pen, Ohio’s
award-winning educational enhancement
program devoted to excellence in creative
writing, has held annual interscholastic
tournament competitions for young
writers throughout Ohio. Through
instructional aids provided to teachers,
Power of the Pen served more than
120,000 students this year, and more
than 7,500 of them competed directly in a
Power of the Pen tournament.
Hayley Novak, Ford Middle School
eighth grader, experienced outstanding success at this year’s
tournaments. She placed 5th at the District meet; 12th at the
Regional meet; and was chosen as one of only a few hundred
writers statewide to compete at the State Tournament, held at
the College of Wooster. After the first three rounds of writing,
Hayley was one of fifty students who qualified to go on to the
“Power Round” of writing. At the awards ceremony later that day,
Hayley was selected to receive a Best of the Best Award, which
means that her writing was judged to be one of the top writings of
the year. Write on, Hayley!
Ford Math Teams Win Ribbons
Seven Ford Art Students Named Winners in
Earth Day Art Contest
For more than 20
years, the Earth
Day Coalition has
hosted
an
Art,
Poetry, and Essay
Contest. Designed
for grades K-12,
the contest offers
cash prizes to as
many as 35 winning
participants from
Cuyahoga
and
Photograph by Christine Donahue
bordering counties.
(Front row from left) 6th-grade winners Anna Umstott,
Congratulations
to
Andrea Cunningham and Cheyenne Hall. (Back row
from left) 7th-grade winners Brooke Repasy, Kelsey
these Ford students
Herbert, Ben Baldwin and Stephanie Hales.
in Mrs. Christine
Donahue’s
art
classes – Brooke Repasy, Kelsey Herbert, Ben Baldwin, Andrea
Cunningham, Cheyenne Hall, Anna Umstott, and Stephanie
Hales – who were ALL named winners out of hundreds of entries!
Anna, Andrea, and Cheyenne were winners in the 4-6th Grade
group, and Brooke, Kelsey, Ben and Stephanie were winners
in the 7–12th Grade category. Mrs. Donahue and her students
attended the awards ceremony at the Cleveland Metroparks
Zoo in April, where they met Senator Sherrod Brown and Mayor
Frank Jackson. Each student received a $50 cash award. Their
artwork was on display at the Zoo, and pieces will also travel to
regional libraries throughout the year.
Photograph by Linda Mitrik
(from left) Ford Math award-winners John-Paul Richard, Frank
Cerny, Kevin Albrecht, Max Reardon, and Christopher Mitrik
celebrate their accomplishment.
At the Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of Mathematics
(GCCTM) regional competition in May, two Ford sixth grade
math teams won ribbons. Congratulations to the Blue Ribbonwinning team of John-Paul Richard, Kevin Albrecht, Nick
Klingbeil, and Christopher Mitrik; and to Red Ribbon winners
Frank Cerney, Max Reardon, Brianna Scamaldo, and Erica
Truong.
Ford Teacher Chosen Outstanding Teacher
by Math Council
DID YOU KNOW...
The Berea City School District is using more laptop computers,
which by design have always been energy efficient due to their
ability to perform for extended periods while running on battery
power?
6
Ford student Malik Houston and
teacher Jeanne Binggeli work on a
math problem at Ford.
Congratulations to Ford Middle
School teacher, Mrs. Jeanne
Binggeli, who was chosen to
receive the Outstanding Teacher
Award for the West District of
the Greater Cleveland Council
of Teachers of Mathematics
(GCCTM). She was recognized
for this accomplishment at the
annual Awards Banquet at
Baldwin-Wallace College in May.
Congratulations, Mrs. Binggeli!
Ford Student is Double Winner
Congratulations to Ford Middle School
seventh-grader, Elena Joyce, for having won
the Award of Excellence in Literature from
the Ohio PTA's Reflections Program for her
poem, "Beauty Is...". This is the highest
award possible in her category (Middle
Grades 6-8) at the State level, and qualifies
Elena's poem to advance to the National
PTA level.
Designed to enhance rather than
replace a quality arts education, the National PTA's Reflections
Program provides opportunities for students to express themselves
and to receive positive recognition for their artistic efforts. This
year in Ohio, there were more than 16,000 student participants in
the areas of Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual
Arts, Film/Video Production, and Dance Choreography.
In addition to the PTA Award, Elena, for the FIFTH year in a
row, once again won the Marilyn Bianchi Children’s Playwriting
Festival. Her play, “Center of the Universe,” was chosen to be
performed at the Dobama Theater on June 17 – 20.
For 32 years Dobama Theater, a small professional theater
company in Cleveland Heights, has produced the work of young
playwrights, ages 6-18. Each year the theater receives between
400-500 plays written in classrooms or at home by young people
all over Cuyahoga County. What distinguishes the plays that win
the Festival and end up on the stage is the playwright’s capacity
for original storytelling and imaginative dialogue and characters.
So what motivates Elena to do so much writing? “I like
words and different meanings and sounds of words in poetry,”
she says. “Plays are great because you get to tell a story through
conversation and action; it’s very structured. Poetry is fun to
write because you can be really free, or you can be really strict
with a structure, and it’s still a poem. I read all the time and
am constantly learning new words and new ways to say things.
I really like getting recognized for my writing, but I would do it
anyway.” Clearly, Elena has the “write” stuff!
Ford Student’s Destination is Broadway
Congratulations to Govanna Miller,
Ford eighth-grader, who was accepted
to attend the 2010 Destination
Broadway musical theater workshop
school to be held this summer in New
York City. Govanna auditioned with
Michael Rafter, who conducted Gypsy
on Broadway and also won an Emmy
for his musical direction of the movie
version, which starred Bette Midler.
The focus of this summer workshop is
on dance, voice and acting skills, as well as audition techniques,
and Govanna will have the opportunity to work with Rafter as
well as other notable stage and screen personalities.
At Ford, Art + Science = Winners!
Congratulations
to Ford Middle
School art student,
Ryan
Queen,
whose
original
animated video,
SuperKidney To
The Rescue, was
chosen
“Best
in Show” out of
(from left) Ford science teacher Mr. Joe Zumpano
more than 500
celebrates at the Great Lakes Science Center with
submissions in the
“Best in Show” winner Ryan Queen and art teacher
Mrs. Anne Cole.
2010
Cleveland
Clinic Explorers
Program. Ford students Alan Tisher and Hailly Trotter also
won “Honorable Mention” Awards for their artwork. Their
award-winning art was featured in an EXPLORERS booklet
and is on display at the Great Lakes Science Center, that
began with a formal reception and dedication on May 20.
An esteemed panel of art, media, and healthcare
professionals, including Tim Shuckerow, Director of Art
Education and the Art Studio at Case Western Reserve
University; Gregg Grossman, PhD., of Cleveland Clinic’s
Cole Eye Institute; and Cynthia Lowry, Art Department
Chair at Gilmour Academy, used four criteria to evaluate
each submission: interpretation, creativity, technique, and
initiative.
EXPLORERS is an innovative program that employs the
visual arts to engage young people in grades K-8 in the study
of health and wellness. Using the EXPLORERS program, Ford
teachers Mrs. Anne Cole (art) and Mr. Joe Zumpano (science)
collaborated to offer their students an interdisciplinary project
that combined a study of kidney health with the students’
artistic interpretation of the learning. Their project, “What is
the Value of a Kidney? Priceless!!,” explored the role nutrition
plays in kidney health and the value of kidney donation. The
project culminated with a reception for students at Ford and
a “priceless” opportunity for them to hear and ask questions
of organ donors and recipients connected to the Berea City
School District. A Cleveland Clinic team was also on hand to
film and interview students and panelists.
In addition, Ford
students, Dakota Bannerman
and Brittany Holbert, had
their artwork selected by The
National Kidney Foundation
of Ohio for recognition. Their
collaborative piece was one
of the SIX winning selections
in the First Annual Creative
Kidney Contest, and was part
of the “What is the Value of a Kidney? Priceless!!” project.
The students were honored at the Kidney Walk, and note
cards with their work were produced and sold at the event.
7
Ford Lego Team Wins First Place Award
Photograph by Gayle Schmuhl
(from left) Ford sixth-graders Sam Cerny, Frank Cerny,
Max Reardon, Brandon Campana, and John Paul
Richard pose with one of the Lego Olympic Judges as
they celebrate their First Place Award.
Congratulations to the Ford Lego Club for their great showing at the 20th Annual Lego
Olympiad at Lorain County Community College Spitzer Center recently. Students
Brandon Campana, Frank Cerny, Sam Cerny, Max Reardon, and John Paul Richard won
a First Place Award in the Theme Division for sixth graders, where they had to build a
space rescue mission; and students Jason Erison, Greg Heinzman, Jenny Mendis, Amanda
Quinones, and Delaney Yasenchack who took a Third Place Award in the seventh grade
Theme Division. Special appreciation goes to Mrs. Cindy Koontz and Mrs. Devon Dunson,
sign language interpreters, for enabling Jenny and Greg to compete.
To get a sense of what the First Place Team had to respond to, here are the instructions
they received: “40 years ago today the Apollo 13 astronauts were hurling through outer
space in a capsule that had been damaged in an explosion. There was no one to rescue them;
they had to find a way to save themselves. Today your job is to design and build your own
ideas of outer space rescue equipment. It can be a space tow truck, a deep space hospital, a
moon ambulance, a Mars rescue suit, or anything else to help rescue people in space. Your
design should be original, from your own imagination. It can be static or moving, or even
motorized or automated. The judges will judge you on what you have to work with, so
having a special kit with lots of motors will not be an advantage. Do your best work. Outer
space is a dangerous place!”
Midpark's P.A.T.T. Program is Moving Forward
The P.A.T.T. (Pets Are Teachers Too) Program at Midpark started four years ago
and helps students with special needs concentrate in the classroom. This spring,
Midpark P.A.T.T. students Jessica Kibort and Tony Kintzle wrote feature articles
about the dogs and the program in The Midpark Monitor, giving an overview of the
program and describing the impact of the death this spring
of the oldest dog in the program, Chase.
Says Monitor advisor, Ms. Kelly Metzger, "I have worked
with Jessica and Tony in my Publications class this year.
They have displayed a high degree of integrity and ambition
in this class, as is needed from student reporters. The way
they both have grown in the past four years has been nothing
short of amazing! They have so much love for the dogs, and
it shows through their constant support and passion for the
P.A.T.T. program."
According to Tony's article, "These dogs offer a calm (from left) Carolyn Howell,
atmosphere because they can sense the students' feelings “Misty,” and Taylor Brown.
and comfort them, so students can get their work done even
when they are stressed out." Noting that even some of the teachers are impressed at
how the dogs have helped their students, he reports that Miss Katherine Mitchell,
Midpark teacher and P.A.T.T. coordinator, has seen that the students' reading,
writing and communication skills have improved greatly as well.
Jessica wrote about the difficulty of dealing with the loss of Chase, saying, "When
I heard about what was happening to Chase, I was devastated. Ever since I came to
Midpark, Chase had comforted me and helped me get used to the school days." Jessica
also interviewed Miss Mitchell, noting that the teacher's main focus for students was
to "process the information and support them, while grieving and dealing with life's
lessons."
In an outpouring of affection at the loss of the canine "founder" of the program,
students decided to "adopt" a courtyard at Midpark, and a number of students
and parents donated their time to rake, pull weeds, remove old bushes, and plant
two trees and a variety of ornamental grasses. They raised the money to fund the
improvements, and will be creating birdhouses and birdfeeders to install in the
courtyard as well.
In addition, Midpark student Carolyn Howell, with assistance from MHS student
Taylor Brown, has just completed a book about the P.A.T.T. program as seen through
the eyes of Chase. It’s entitled “A Chase for Happiness,” and Carolyn and Taylor are
hoping to find a publisher soon.
Says Metzger, "The P.A.T.T. Program has worked wonders with students at
Midpark. The love and affection these dogs offer really helps students grow in their
self-confidence, which then allows them to create a stronger personal identity and
connection with the people around them."
Berea High Junior Wins
Engineering Awards
Congratulations
to Berea High
Junior,
Josh
Malone,
for
winning a 2nd
Place NEOSEF
award in the
Engineering
11-12th
grade
category for his
project, “Reading
Your Mind –
Controlling
Robots
with
Human
Brain
Waves.” The engineering goal of this project
was to leverage various technologies to
design and construct a system that is capable
of directly controlling robots by reading and
interpreting human brain activity. Josh also
received EIGHT special awards – 1st Place
from the CSU Fenn College of Engineering;
1st Place from the National Society of Black
Engineers; Outstanding Science Fair Project
Award from the U.S. Air Force; First Place
Innovations Award from the Cleveland
Clinic; Outstanding Project Award from the
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute;
Outstanding Science Fair Project award
from the National Society of Professional
Engineers; the Vinarcik Family Award;
and 2nd Place award from the Institute of
Electrical & Electronic Engineers.
Midpark Student Wins Second Place in
National Young Composers Competition
Congratulations to Midpark junior, Eric
Fegan, who won 2nd Place in the 2010
Pikes Peak Young Composers Competition
for his composition, "Titan," which was
written for piano and orchestra. The Pikes
Peak Young Composers Competition was
created in 1995 to provide an opportunity
for young composers throughout the State
of Colorado to create original music. The
Competition is now open to young people
ages six to eighteen throughout the world.
This competition allows musicians in grades K through 12 to
create music, have their compositions professionally evaluated by
a panel of expert judges, and to publicly perform their music.
Berea High Wild School Site featured in
National Newsletter
Congratulations to Berea High and its
science department, which earlier this year
was named the 100th Wild School Site, along
with the Coe Lake Nature Trail, by the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources. Their
site has recently been featured in a national
newsletter: The Newsletter of the Association for Conservation
Information. Read the article on the district’s website www.
berea.k12.oh.us > Berea High School > Activities > Berea High
Wildlife Site. An interview with Berea High science teacher,
Mrs. Mary Draves, was also featured on the ODNR website.
Big Creek Art Students Excel
Artworks by two of Mrs. Kathy Jadud’s art students at Big Creek
Elementary were selected for recognition this year in two very
different settings.
First grader, Vincent Suhm,
had his picture from the “Mini
Monet” lesson shown on Artsonia,
the online website of the “World’s
Largest Kids’ Art Museum.”
There it was seen by Ms. Rebecca
Kohler from Teacher’s Discovery,
a Michigan company that provides
resources for teachers, including
traveling art exhibits. Ms. Kohler
requested - and received - permission to use Vincent’s art in their
traveling exhibit about Monet.
Second grader, Palash Mittal, was one of five Big Creek students
who entered this year’s Doodle 4 Google contest, where students
were asked to redesign the Google logo
based on the theme, “If I Could Do
Anything, I Would…” Palash’s artistic
response to the theme was, “Skate Our
Planet Through Crisis.” Two State
Finalists were chosen from each state
from the four grade-level categories,
out of more than 33,000 entries, and
Palash’s art was selected as one of the
State Winners.
Ford Destination Imagination Team Was
Outstanding
Midpark National Honor Society Cleans Up
In May, thirteen members of the
Midpark National Honor Society,
along with teacher/advisor Scott
Piesen, took on the task of cleaning up
around Lake Isaac and the trails that
surround it. The project was headed by
junior Bryan Ciccarello. He contacted
local authorities and set up all of the
planning and organization. It turned
out to be a great learning experience
for everyone.
Photograph by Stacey Jennings
(from left) Ford Destination Imagination team members Phil Forrest, Alex Dargay,
Carlee Kime, Christopher Nakon, Paolo Valdez, and Dylan Reagan.
Photograph by Bryan Ciccarello
(from left) Josh Bird, Mr. Scott
Piesen, Renee McKee, and
Shannon Pasela cleaned up the
Lake Isaac area in Middleburg
Heights.
Photograph by Bryan Ciccarello
Harjoat Singh shows some of the trash
collected by the Midpark National Honor
Society.
Sixth-grade Ford Middle School Destination Imagination team
members Alex Dargay, Phil Forrest, Carlee Kime, Chris Nakon,
Dylan Reagan, and Paolo Valdez competed in the Regional
Tournament in March and qualified to compete in the State
Tournament on April 17 at Mt. Vernon High School. At State,
the Ford Team was ranked “Outstanding,” which qualified
them to compete in the Global Tournament at the University of
Tennessee. The purpose for their community service project was
to educate others about the consequences of teen pregnancy - not
only to teens, but also to demonstrate the costly impact it has on
the community. The students created a website and music video
about this important issue as a way to use technology to convey
their message to the public. Their coach, Stacey Jennings, is very
proud of their originality, creativity, efforts, and team work.
9
District Students Sing in All-State Honor Choir
Thirteen fourth and fifth graders,
representing Parknoll and Smith, were
invited to participate in this year’s
Ohio Choral Director’s Association AllState Children’s Honor Choir. This
prestigious group, under the direction
Photograph by Ana Chapman of Robert Ward, Director of Choral
Smith Honor Choir
Studies at The Ohio State University,
performed in concert in June on the campus of Otterbein College
in Westerville. The concert followed several satellite rehearsals
in weeks prior to the event. Eight Smith
students, under the direction of John
Chapman, performed: Hannah Buncher,
Julia Campbell, Saeanna Caputi,
Greta Drager, Olivia Jenne, Vanessa
Martin, Bridgit McCaffrey, and Andrew
Schoenhofer. Parknoll’s students, under Photograph by Ana Chapman
Carol Konet’s direction, were: Adia
Parknoll Honor Choir
Alford, Alex Cavanaugh, Emily Dezort,
Andrea Lozano, and Alyssa McKnight. Congratulations to these
fine young musicians!
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Berea High
mentary
le
E
e
g
d
e
oncert
r
Rive
Annual C
Smith Goes Nuts - Smith Elementary
E- I- E- I- Oops - Big Creek Elementary
!
10
Hello Dolly! - Midpark High
All City Band & Choir
Music and Me - Parknoll Elementary
First Grade Informance - Brookview
Elementary
Midpark Digital Media Students Win MetroHealth Brain Health Video Contest
Students in Mrs. Sheri Williams’ Digital Media class at Midpark entered a
brand new contest this year presented by the Department of Neurology at the
MetroHealth Medical Center. MetroHealth’s goal was to educate teens regarding
brain health, so they sent letters to 95 area schools requesting a 60-second (or
less) video to be created BY teens FOR teens. A panel of judges then chose the
winning video from among all submissions.
Two groups from the Midpark Digital Media class submitted entries. One
group was named a Finalist, and the other group WON the contest…along with a
class party and a prize of $2,500, which will be used to purchase additional video
equipment for the class. Congratulations to (from left) Mark Hobrath, Anthony
Richards, Dan Nurnberg, Alex Richards, and teacher Mrs. Williams for their
outstanding accomplishment and for wanting to get this important information
out. Not pictured but also involved in shooting and creating the video are
Midpark students Anthony Novak and Mike Matisko. Their winning video will be
distributed by MetroHealth to schools in the area; watch for it soon on BCS-TV!
Photograph by Jennifer Killik from MetroHealth Medical Center
Berea vs Midpark at Progressive Field
The Grindstone competition took a decidedly “Progressive” turn this year when the Braves and the Meteors met downtown on
April 24 in the annual Cleveland Indians Charities Hardball Classic.
2010-2011 School Calendar
August 24............................................................................................................. First Day of School
September 6......................................................................................................... Labor Day
October 15............................................................................................................ Professional Development Day
November 2.......................................................................................................... Staff Inservice Day
November 24........................................................................................................ No School
November 25 & 26............................................................................................... Thanksgiving Vacation
December 20-January 2, 2011............................................................................ Winter Vacation
January 17............................................................................................................ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 21............................................................................................................ Staff Inservice Day
February 21.......................................................................................................... Presidents’ Day
March 4................................................................................................................. No School
March 28-April 1.................................................................................................. Spring Vacation
April 22 & 25......................................................................................................... No School
May 30.................................................................................................................. Memorial Day
June 9.................................................................................................................. Last Day for Students
11
INSPIRING EXCELLENCE...
is the official publication of the Berea City School District
serving the communities of Berea, Brook Park,
Middleburg Heights, and a portion of Olmsted Falls.
Derran K. Wimer
Superintendent
Board Office
390 Fair Street
Berea, Ohio 44017
216-898-8300
Ohio Relay 1-800-750-0750
www.berea.k12.oh.us
Board of
Education
Dave Pusti, President
Dave Thurau, Vice President
Gale Patten
Fred Szabo
Dave Tressel
____________________
Nancy Braford, Editor
Dave Cornelius, Photographer
Gayle Rocco, Desktop Publisher
The Berea City School
District is a member of
the Berea, Brook Park,
and Middleburg Heights
Chambers of Commerce.
Think Globally, Educate Locally
An Equal Educational Opportunity and Equal Employment Opportunity Institution
Our Vision: To Inspire Excellence
Our Mission: To help students achieve dreams they never imagined possible
Our Goals:
Accelerate Student Achievement
Fund the Future
Promote Excellence with One Voice
Students from Brook Park Memorial, Brookview, and Ford designed posters of support and encouragement for the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines,
4th Marine Division as they headed for future deployment in Afghanistan. Hundreds of residents and family members lined the streets of Brook
Park as the unit departed.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 156
Berea, Ohio
ECR-WSS