BBHCSD Students Thrive in STEM Classes and Programs Hilton`s

Newsletter for Brecksville-Broadview Hts. School Community
Fall 2015
www.bbhcsd.org
BBHCSD Students Thrive in STEM Classes and Programs
STEM is the acronym for
Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics, and encompasses a vast array of subjects that fall
into each of those terms. While it
is almost impossible to list every
discipline, some common STEM
areas include: aerospace engineering, astrophysics, biochemistry,
biomechanics, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering,
computer science, nanotechnology, neurobiology, nuclear physics,
physics, and robotics, among
many. It is a buzzword of the 21st
Century and the source of countless career opportunities in the
Collaboration
future for today’s students.
STEM is essential to our education system, as school districts across the
country strive to build a stronger curriculum around these subjects.
For BBHCSD students, STEM is an exciting class or club that offers opportunities to collaborate, cooperate and problem solve. It is learning that is both
enjoyable and challenging.
New to the Middle School this academic year is a 12-week STEM class for
seventh grade students and a semester STEM class for eighth grade students.
Middle School science teacher Vanessa Russell, known for incorporating
STEM projects into her traditional science class, joined forces with Principal
Todd Rings to develop and fund these two electives. She won an $18,000 grant
last spring and used it to equip and furnish a STEM classroom in an area
reconfigured by Rings.
Hilton’s Buddy Bench
Thanks to the generosity of fourteen retired Hilton Elementary School
staff members, a bright red Buddy Bench now sits on Hilton’s playground
offering students an opportunity to foster friendship and spread the message of kindness. If a student feels alone on the playground, she or he can
sit on the Buddy Bench and wait for another student to offer an invitation to play or talk.
Russell’s STEM students explore
science, technology, engineering and
math through project based learning
such as robotics, green architecture,
and Arduinos, a popular open-source
electronic board that is capable of controlling just about any DIY hardware
project.
The students construct models and
engineering designs for problems they
are trying to solve. They demonstrate
their knowledge and creativity. Rings
reports that more students wanted to
sign up for the classes than the school
could accommodate. He hopes to
expand the program next year.
High School robotics teacher Craig
Kowatch’s students design and build
mobile robots to play a sport-like
game. While doing so, they learn key
STEM principles and robotics concepts. At the culmination of the class,
they compete head-to-head against
their peers in the classroom in the
VEX Robotics Competition.
Kowatch also coaches the high
school Robotics Team, an extracurricular program. Last school year, the
team’s first, they qualified for state
level competition and are winning
again this school year at regional competitions. This class, too, offers learning while doing.
Not to miss out on STEM activities,
an after school STEM Club, sponsored
by the Central School PSO, was started last year. Under the leadership this
year of parent Betsy Lee, the club has
over 100 students participating.
Problem Solving
Cooperation
Hilton retirees Joanne Beshara, Lynne Bobula, Peggy Ciolek, Barb Cuy,
Peggy Garrison, Sandy Hendricks, Mary Kilbane, Sally Metcalfe, Roberta
Petznick, Ellene Raleigh Lucas, Gayle Sokalowski, Barb Stupp, Kathy
Szczepaniak and Mary Toth donated the bench this fall.
The growing popularity of a Buddy Bench in the United States is
credited to a second grade student in York, PA., who knew that some of
his classmates felt lonely during recess, and he decided to do something
about it. His solution was to install a playground “Buddy Bench” as a
designated seating area where students feeling lonely or upset can seek
camaraderie. The bench is customarily painted in bright, inviting colors.
The student first spotted a Buddy Bench in a brochure for a school in
Germany.
As he does each year, Superintendent Scot Prebles spent the first day of school welcoming students in each building. In this photo he joins Middle School teacher Maria
Schneider and students (left to right): Justin Kunka, Madison Wainer, Carli Began and
Courtni Began.
Gold Cards for Senior Citizens
Once again this year, senior citizens who reside in the Brecksville-Broadview
Heights City School District are entitled to attend all home school-sponsored
activities free of charge. This includes sports events, plays and concerts. Any
resident age 60 or over need only to request a Gold Card for presentation at
school activities for free admission. In case of assigned seats for events such
as plays, advanced reservations must be made. To obtain your Gold Card,
please contact the high school office at 740-4700.
Trying out the new Buddy Bench for this photo at Hilton Elementary School are (left
to right): Neha Kapur, Nadia Lindemeyer, Marcello Matteo and Kayla McGlaughlin.
If you currently have a Gold Card, you do not have to reapply for a new one
each year unless your card has been lost or destroyed.
2015 Gallery of Achievement Honorees
The Brecksville-Broadview Heights Alumni Association inducted the following individuals into the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Gallery of Achievement on Friday, October 9.
Frank DeWolf - Class of 1959
Lee F. Watkins - Class of 1962
Laurie Priest - Class of 1973
Steve Vargo - Faculty 1958 - 1984
The day began with a breakfast for the inductees and their guests. These outstanding
individuals were then introduced and spoke or had a representative speak at a morning
assembly held at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School before students, honored
guests and community members. A luncheon was held in their honor following the
assembly and photos. They were introduced prior to the kick-off of the BEES varsity football game against age old rivalry North Royalton for possession of the “Golden
Shoe.”
Fifteen new certificated staff members joined the school district this fall. Each of these
individuals went through thorough screening and interviewing processes. Additionally,
they had to teach a lesson in front of an interviewing committee. We proudly welcome
(left to right, back row): Zach Angeloni, Jennifer Lopez, Seth Clerget, Nick DiFrancesco,
Eric Drexler, and Kyle Graver; and (front row): Andrea Snitzer, Mary Shaffer, Christine
Hammel, Amanda Woltz, Erin Petsche, Margaret Reeves, Gina Tytko Baeslach, Andrew
Hansen and Eric Rinehart. These new staff members filled openings created by retirement
or resignations. No new teaching positions were added for the 2015-16 school year.
Cost Savings Remains a Priority
Reducing costs while being efficient and resourceful is a top priority for
Superintendent Scot Prebles, Treasurer Rick Berdine and the Board of Education.
The Gallery of Achievement was established in 2000 to honor Brecksville-Broadview
Heights graduates and former faculty who have distinguished themselves through community service, personal development and vocational accomplishments. It is a collaborative effort involving the Alumni Association, the Schools Foundation and the district.
Members on the Selection Committee are Dan Biggs, Don Faulhaber, Cathy Harbinak,
Matt Harper and Joe Mueller.
National Merit Scholars
By exploring options and seeking new solutions, the District reduced expenditures by
over $1 million over the next ten years by being proactive in the following four areas.
Most recently, the District, a member of Ohio Schools Council’s purchasing consortium, saved money on natural gas as a result of Group Purchasing Volume Discounts.
Natural gas costs were lower than anticipated in Fiscal Year 2015, thus creating a positive balance for our district. A savings of over $82,500 was realized in the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2015.
The District is also saving $45,000 annually for the next 10 years after severing their
Mills Road buildings’ First Energy lease on transformers. The school system bought new
equipment, at a cost of $550,000, from EUS, and will pay for it over 10 years, at $55,000
a year. The purchase will reduce approximately $100,000 of the annual First Energy bill,
which last year totaled $684,000. The net savings to the District and its taxpayers over
ten years is $450,000.
A recent three-year audit of the district’s five-year contract with Konica Minolta
Business Solutions revealed the district is on track to realize the initial 2012 projected
savings of over $440,000 and has netted a verified savings of $300,000 through July 31,
2015.
For the second year in a row, healthcare premiums for the Brecksville-Broadview
Heights City School District are lower than projected. Treasurer/CFO Rick Berdine
announced the lower premiums are generating savings of $250,000 for the current fiscal
year.
Each of these savings will have a positive impact on the Five-Year Forecast as expenditures in these areas will be reduced.
Quality Profile Highlights District’s
Accomplishments
Brecksville-Broadview Heights is one of 65 school districts
statewide that released in September a Quality Profile, a
booklet highlighting both the educational expectations of the
community and how the district is meeting those expectations.
The Quality Profile initiative is supported by the Alliance
for High Quality Education and is intended to be a companion piece to the District Report Cards issued annually by
the Ohio Department of Education.
The Quality Profile, emailed to parents and others, is
posted on the district’s website and paper copies are available at each school, public library and other locations
throughout the community. To view the document, visit
www.bbhcsd.org’s homepage.
BBHHS seniors honored by the National Merit Scholarship Program: Front row left to right:
Grace Wang, Ivana Terziyska, Megan Zhao, Eric Fu and Thomas Stabile
Back row left to right: Emery Dalesio, Emily Hooke, Madison Trout, Anthony Bodanza,
Nicholas Deuch, Joshua Jacob, Matthew Skapura and Kayleigh Antonelli. Absent from photo Samantha Paskert
Fourteen members of the Class of 2016 have been recognized for demonstrating
exceptional academic ability.
BBHHS Seniors Eric Fu, Ivana Terziyska and Megan Zhao earned status as National
Merit Scholar Semifinalists, placing them in the top one percent of U.S. high school
seniors. The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT
taken during the junior year. These talented students are part of about 16,000 national
Semifinalists who have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately
7,400 scholarships worth about $32 million.
To become a Finalist, the student and his/her high school must submit a detailed
scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s
academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received.
National Merit Commended Scholars are those students scoring in the top 5% of all
students nationally on the PSAT/NMSQT. While these students do not continue in the
National Merit Scholarship process, their achievement commends them for their outstanding academic potential, and places them at the top of the nation’s senior class.
BBHHS has eleven Commended Scholars for 2016: Anthony Bodanza, Kayleigh
R. Antonelli, Emery G. Dalesio, Nicholas C. Deuch, Emily J. Hooke, Joshua
Jacob, Samantha J. Paskert, Matthew A. Skapura, Thomas R. Stabile, Madison E. Trout
and Grace Wang.
DATED MATERIAL
Scot T. Prebles, Superintendent
Cathy Harbinak, APR Editor
Mark Jantzen, President
Michael Ziegler, Vice President
Debbie Bernauer
Mark Dosen
Kathleen Mack
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Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District
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