The third grade classes at Shawnee Elementary School have been learning about character traits in reading class. Each student was given a character trait and then they had to find a book that portrayed that character trait.
Using their book, the students had to create a diorama, a poster, or a PowerPoint to show how their character portrayed the character trait using evidence from the story. The students worked hard to make these projects. They also shared that they loved sharing their projects with others during a gallery walk through the third grade classes. Shawnee would like to recognize its students of character for the month of September: Kaylee Taylor, Jaxon Hamilton, Ben Hyahsi, June Johnson, Faith Henderson, Ella Carlin, Kennedy Jones, Zach Stewart, Blayke Parker, Chloe Grooms, Sierra Bice, Jay’Cianah Hopson, Brianna Pardue, Jordan Wright, Kylie Hart, Ella Vaught, Jace Whetstone, T.J. Phillips, Liam Eavers, Josiah Funk, and Bruce Lemon. Congratulations to everyone. Nice job.
Tecumseh news: Mrs. Meek’s and Mrs. Anger’s fourth grade students were chosen to be 1 out of 100 classes in the United States to be able to participate in a “Water is Life” classroom mural and art competition sponsored by the Wyland Foundation. Over the next few weeks, Tecumseh fourth grade students along with teachers Leigh Meeks and Lori Anger will be working after school to create a 5’ by 10’ mural fitting the 2015 theme, “Our Coasts and Climate.” The canvas has been provided by the foundation and digital pictures of the mural will be submitted upon completion by Nov. 25. The winner will receive artwork signed by Wyland to be displayed at their school, $250 to purchase art supplies, and a chance to receive a live online painting lesson from Wyland. Best of luck to the fourth graders and enjoy the creative process!
Warner news: WMS health teacher Matthew Simpson invited Diana Hobbs from Family & Youth Initiatives to his classes. Her presentation, “Real Life: A Matter of Choices,” encourages youth to make healthy choices regarding at -risk behaviors. It was also a busy week in Jenny Alex’s Project Lead the Way classes. In Medical Detectives, seventh grade students dissected sheep brains. In Design and Modeling, sixth graders tested skimmers.
In Robotics and Automation, eighth graders built gears. Health and PE teacher Debbie Kriss brought in T-shirts for her sixth grade classes. Students designed T-shirts that promoted healthy choices in conjunction with a unit on alcohol. Slogans included “Don’t Drink and Drive;” “Think Before you Drink;” and “Say No to Alcoho.l” The Junior Honor Society donated $200 to a project sponsored by Blue Crew to donate books and money to Dayton’s Children’s Hospital. Donations help brighten the stay of children.
Gifts are used for birthday presents, end of treatment gifts, and to stock the play and waiting areas at the hospital. Students in Amberly Winegar’s sixth grade math class have been working hard to master their fluency facts. One hundred percent of students passed the first nine levels in math karate, while 85 percent of the students have passed the second level. Seventh grade math teacher Rose Prater coached fellow math and science teachers on how to get started with Gizmos. Prater showed teachers how to set up classes, enroll students, find Gizmos by Ohio’s Learning Standards and by our own textbook series, how to assign Gizmos to students, and how to monitor student progress.
High school news: Congratulations to Caiza Herald, who was selected as a National Language Arts Award winner by the United States Achievement Academy for the 2014-2015 school year. She was nominated by Jen Burgess. Debb Rucker’s two European history classes celebrated Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history. They had tea in real china cups and ate lots of authentic British foods. Students at XHS have a unique opportunity thanks to a successful 25-year cooperation with Greene Memorial Hospital.
The XHS Enclave Program is a co-op for sophomores with an IEP plan that would benefit from a work environment. These students spend their first three periods working at the hospital — getting real life lessons in work. GMH volunteer coordinator Linda Richardson helps work with the students and places them where needed throughout the hospital after a special orientation. Teacher’s aide Tammy Vandyne works directly with the students throughout the year. Treated like Kettering Health Network volunteers, the students wear special hospital shirts and name badges and are asked to follow hospital protocol.
Intervention specialist John O’Patrny believes that this program not only gives the students real job experience, but provides an opportunity to make connections and receive mentoring to help make future career choices. XSTAT (Xenia Students Taking Action Today) continues to be a growing leadership student group at the high school. Twenty XSTAT and 20 student council members went to an all-day leadership conference at UD Wednesday. Staff members working with XSTAT are Bethany Foureman, Mark Serenius, Debb Rucker, and Jaimie Sweet.
Kudos to Tracy Jarvis and the Treasurer’s Office: Congratulations to everyone associated with making our financial operations even more transparent than they already were. Well deserved recognition last week in Columbus.
