April 2007/Volume 4

Berea High Philharmonia Performs Berea City Schools at National Conference in Detroit Talk about achieving dreams you never imagined Once Again Ranked in possible! The Berea High Philharmonia orchestra, directed Top 100 in the Nation by Deb Wesoloski, achieved many of those dreams by being invited to perform at the American String Teachers’ for Music Education! National Conference in Detroit. The Philharmonia performed on stage at Max Fisher Music Hall, home of the Detroit The Berea City School District has again been chosen as Symphony, then had one of the “Best 100 Communities for Music Education” the privilege of serving in the nation, and it is one of only nine school systems as the “demonstration in the country to achieve this recognition seven or orchestra” for Mark Wood more years. Thousands of teachers, school and district of the TransSiberian administrators, school board members, parents, and Orchestra. At Mark’s community leaders, representing communities in all 50 session, they performed states, participated in the web-based survey sponsored several of his arrangements for an audience of more by a partnership of leading organizations in the fields of than 200 orchestra directors from across the United States. Mark Wood, who worked with our students last music and education. year, had high praise for the Berea High Philharmonia, As noted on the American Music Conference noting that they had received many compliments from website, studies have shown that active music-making the teachers who attended his session. correlates with: During the conference, students were able to take • Increased spatial-temporal reasoning and better advantage of many excellent learning opportunities. math scores; Highlights included their participation in master classes • Better reading ability; with well-known string clinicians Kathleen DeBerry • Lower incidence of drug use and antisocial Brungard, cellist Tanya Carey, and string bassist Milton behavior; and Masciadri. Berea High violinist Katherine Hodder • Increased wellness. performed the 3rd movement of the Bach A minor Violin According to research published in the July issue Concerto in Fritz Gearhart’s violin master class, while of Neuropsychology, published by the American BHS violist Claire Sayler played a Bach Suite for the Psychological Association, children with music training viola master class with Nancy had significantly better verbal memory than their Buck. David Balakrishnan and Mark Summer, members of counterparts without training. And the benefits are the Grammy Award-winning cumulative - the longer the training, the better the Turtle Island String Quartet, verbal memory. also led the Philharmonia in a “Arts are designated as core subjects within the workshop that featured them federal No Child Left Behind Act, and the districts . . . playing one of the quartet’s who are being recognized here today know that music Violinist Fritz Gearhart striking jazz string quartet education is connected to success in school and in demonstrates some compositions. And finally, the life,” said Mary Luehrsen, Director of Public Affairs and techniques to BHS students were inspired by a Government Relations to NAMM, the International Music student Katherine performance of the Detroit Products Association. Hodder in his master Civic Youth Orchestra, with For more information, visit www.amc-music.org class. renowned concert violinist and soloist, Midori. Artsonia Honors Big Creek Two District Students are Geographic Teacher and Student Bee Semifinalists Kathy Jadud, art teacher at Big Creek Elementary, Congratulations to has been recognized by Artsonia - the world’s largest Roehm student Christian online kids art museum - for outstanding leadership Cervantes (left) and Ford in the area of Arts Education. The school’s online art student Bryan Ciccarella, gallery (www.artsonia.com/schools/bigcreek1) ranks who both qualified to #1 in the state and #1 in the nation, according to represent their school Artsonia. The Leadership Award presented to Mrs. at the state level in the Jadud honors teachers who go beyond the classroom National Geographic Bee walls to encourage family and community involvement at Ohio State University’s in arts education. The award also recognizes Mansfield Campus. In significant achievement in the area of technology order to qualify, each integration within the school arts program. State and had to place first at their nationwide rankings are based on specific criteria, school’s Bee, then as one which demonstrate both aspects of the Leadership of the Top 100 scorers Award. in the state of Ohio on the Qualifying Test. Big Creek student One winner from each Mahnoor Anjum and art state will advance to the teacher Kathy Jadud national competition to display Mahnoor’s be held May 22 and 23 in artwork which will be Photograph by Dave Cornelius Washington, D.C. in a new art textbook.

Photograph by Dave Cornelius District Adopts Congratulations to Big Creek kindergarten student Rapid Notification System Mahnoor Anjum whose picture was selected for inclusion in the new art textbook series, Exploration in Always looking for a way to improve communication, Art. Mahnoor’s picture was selected by the publisher the Berea City School District has adopted the from the Artsonia website where Mrs. Jadud posts her use of ALERTNOW Rapid Notification System. This students’ work. This site has over 1 million pieces of system enables the district or the individual schools artwork, and Mahnoor’s was one of approximately 20 to communicate a message to all parents with one pieces that were selected. Great work, Mahnoor! phone call. If there is a need to communicate a school emergency or school closure, the principal or superintendent can communicate the information directly to all parents, calling up to six numbers, in a matter of Alumni News minutes. This system also will enable the administrators to The Berea City School District salutes communicate routine information to parents regarding Midpark graduate and Navy corpsman Jason school activities, late buses, report cards, open Strejcek (Class of 1997), who was recently house and other events. featured in a news article on the United States Marine Initially, the school district will Corps Public Website News (http://www.iimefpublic. be gathering additional contact phone usmc.mil/forward). Jason, who is about to complete numbers and verifying information for his second deployment to Iraq, is part of a three-man emergency calling purposes. The system Military Transition Team living alongside Iraqi soldiers of will be tested toward the end of April Company 4, 3rd Battalion, 1st Iraqi Regiment, 7th Iraqi and during the month of May. Full Army Division. As of mid-March, Jason has treated more implementation of the system will occur than 25 wounded resulting from acts of terror. in the 2007-2008 school year.

Midpark Students Qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Exam Juniors Mark Matthews (left) and Mark Syvuk recently took the American Mathematics Contest (AMC), and had scores high enough to qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME). The purpose of the AMC is to identify students who possess true mathematical talent. Only the very best students qualify for the AIME. 2 Photograph by Dave Cornelius Photograph by Dave Cornelius Photograph by Dave Cornelius Members of the Berea High Robotics Team take a Midpark Robotics Team members prepare to “Rack break in the “pit” between match rounds. ‘n’ Roll” with their robot (bottom right) during the 2007 FIRST Buckeye Regional Robotics Competition at Cleveland State.

Ford Girls’ Basketball Team Wins Southwest Conference Championship

Photograph by Dave Cornelius Orchestra Festival Returns

The Berea City School District’s Orchestra Festival was welcomed back this year, with the help of classical radio station WCLV and the Kiwanis Clubs of Berea, Brook Park, and Middleburg Heights. Although the program was rescheduled twice due to inclement weather, the final performance on February 20 was outstanding. The audience was treated to performances by the 5th and 6th grade All-City Orchestras, directed by Mrs. Debbie Wesoloski and Ms. Thelma Feith, accompanied by Mrs. Congratulations to the Ford Middle School 8th-grade Debbie Spink. They also enjoyed performances of the Girls’ Basketball Team for winning the 2007 Southwest combined Ford and Roehm Middle School String Orchestra Conference Championship. The team, coached by Danielle and the combined Berea and Midpark High School Krivak, compiled a 16-0 record, going undefeated during Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of this year’s guest conductor, Mr. Jeffrey Lindberg, from the College the regular season AND winning all three games of the of Wooster. Music included works by Bach, Pachelbel, Southwest Conference Tournament. Stravinsky, and Williams, and the students also performed a patriotic medley dedicated to all veterans in the audience and families of veterans and current members of the United States Armed Forces. 3 District to Induct Six Distinguished Hall of Fame Members

The Alumni Associations of Berea and Midpark High Schools will induct four graduates and two former staff members into their Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame this year. The induction ceremony and dinner are open to the public and will take place on Thursday, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. in the Berea High School cafeteria. Tickets are $20 per person and reservations are required. Please call the Administration Building at 440-243-6000, ext. 6230, for reservations. The annual event, now in its fi�eenth year, honors graduates and retired staff members of the school system who have achieved distinction in their careers or fields of interest.

You may have read about Dr. Paula Silverman, Berea High Class of 1973, since she has been a recipient of Cleveland Magazine’s “Top Docs” award for several consecutive years. Dr. Silverman currently serves in many capacities with the University Hospital System. Since 1988, she has been the Director of the Breast Cancer Program, as well as Director of Ambulatory Practice Sites for the Ireland Cancer Center of UHC. Dr. Silverman completed her Residency and Fellowship training at UHC in Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology from 1981-1987. She received her M.D. at Case Western Reserve University, where she has also been an Associate Professor of Medicine for the past ten years. Dr. Paula Silverman Berea High Class of 1973

Berea High graduate Krist A. Jake, Class of 1962, spends most of his time with the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival which he founded in 2003. The Festival is a volunteer-driven non-profit, dedicated to using film to improve public Picture understanding of the environmental, social, and cultural importance of marine ecosystems. For the past four years, Unavailable they’ve produced an acclaimed festival of films whose subjects include ocean science, industry, culture, sports, and adventure. Krist is also President of Redwood Capital Corporation which he founded in 1982, a leasing and remarketing Krist A. Jake firm for mid-range mainframe computer equipment throughout the U.S. During the mid-1990s, Redwood Capital Berea High Corporation shi�ed its focus to provide tailored advisory services and venture capital funding to early stage companies Class of 1962 based in the San Francisco Bay area.

Dr. Lynn Vavreck, Midpark Class of 1986, is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles. Lynn studies campaigns and elections, and has published research in the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, and British Journal of Political Science. Before going to UCLA, Lynn held a faculty appointment at , a research position at , spent a year at the White House, and worked on a presidential campaign. Lynn’s work positions her at the intersection of private business and public research. She serves as a consultant to two venture-funded start-ups measuring people’s advertising exposure and political preferences (Integrated Media Measurement Incorporated and Polimetrix). With the help of Polimetrix, in the fall of Dr. Lynn Vavreck 2006, Lynn organized and implemented the largest study of Congressional Elections ever fielded in the United States, the Midpark High Cooperative Congressional Election Study. The project involved over 38 research universities and 100 scholars. Results Class of 1986 from the project have been discussed in the New York Times, Washington Post, and on National Public Radio. Lynn received her B.S. and M.A. from , and her M.S. and Ph.D. from the .

Richard C. Voigt, Midpark Class of 1978, is the current President and CEO of Today’s Business Products. A current resident of the city of Strongsville, Rick is a trustee for Strongsville’s Chamber of Commerce, and also serves on the Executive Board for Boy Scouts of America. Rick has also served as President of the Rotary Club of Strongsville, where he had previously been awarded “Rotarian of the Year” three times. Rick’s list of accomplishments and recognitions is extensive, including a wide range of community involvement.

Richard C. Voigt Two outstanding retired staff members of the Berea City School District will also be inducted into the Midpark High Hall of Fame, becoming honorary alumni of both schools. John Presnell retired in 1988 as an elementary Class of 1978 teacher from Big Creek Elementary School. He had served the district as both a teacher and a principal since the mid 1960s. While Principal at Lechner Elementary School in Berea, John developed an exchange program with an inner city Cleveland elementary school. He was a Jennings Scholar, served in the Air Force (Staff Sergeant), and received his Masters Degree from Western Reserve. John Presnell Staff

The late Victor Colantoni (1923-2007), was the Supervisor of Operations for the Berea City School District from 1972 to 1985. His skills and knowledge about boiler repair and maintenance provided the school system with superior coal, oil, and gas boiler operations. Victor trained many custodial employees to achieve high levels of success with the heating operations in their buildings during his tenure with the district. Even a�er retirement, he continued to wear many hats, working at the Shell Service Station at Bagley and Pearl Roads, and in Security at Hopkins International Airport and Giant Eagle Supermarket in Berea. Victor Colantoni 4 Staff Berea High Goes Hollywood Fairwood Students Win Trophy at Destination Imagination

Photograph by Dave Cornelius

Photograph by Dave Cornelius Tom Savini, special make-up effects artist, director and actor, founded the Special Make-Up Effects Program Congratulations to Fairwood Elementary students at the Douglas Education Center in Pennsylvania that (from left) Rachel Budzilek, Kayla Drager, Riley bears his name. Savini made a special visit to Berea Harris, Taylor Sasak, and Sarah Strinka, for capturing High School last month to speak to students in Mr. Jim a third place trophy at the Region 16 tournament for Bycznski’s Visual Effects Art Program. Said Rhonda Destination Imagination held at Lorain Community Ottoviani, admissions representative from the Douglas College on March 24. The students, coached by Mrs. School who accompanied Savini, “The special effects Tracy Silvestro, earned many compliments from the appraisers for their teamwork and creative work on program at Berea High School is absolutely phenomenal. “Switching Traditions.” This required the students to The students here have a rare advantage in being use improvisation techniques, research on customs able to learn special effects while in high school. To from six different countries, critical thinking, and our knowledge, there is no other high school in the imagination to present a skit with three scenes United States that offers such a unique and advanced highlighting the use of senses in each tradition. program.” The team had only thirty minutes to write their skit, Here, Berea High senior, Justin Kolker, had the prepare their props from limited materials, and unique opportunity of sharing his art with Savini, who rehearse before performing. They really had to think complimented him on his work, noting that Justin’s quickly to put their excellence into action! design was very original with very good form. Savini particularly loved the texture Justin used. Art students from Midpark and Polaris also joined the Berea High class for this inspiring session with an award-winning and world-famous artist.

Brookview Students Help to Break a World Reading Record

On December 13, 2006, 547,826 readers in 2,451 locations, 50 states and 28 countries, gathered together to break the Guinness World Record™ for the “Most People Reading Aloud Simultaneously in Multiple Locations.” All students present at that time either read or had read to them the same excerpt from Charlotte’s Web. Even students at recess or at lunch participated. Students had to sign a registration form, and Mayor Elliott from Brook Park and NewsChannel 8 were there to witness this event. Brookview will receive a certificate of recognition for their involvement as they joined students from all over the world to break the existing record for the most people reading aloud simultaneously in multiple locations that is now held by 155,528 students in the United Kingdom. For more information you can log in to www.walden.com

5 Dreamcatcher Auction is a Great Success

More than 200 guests attended the 7th annual fundraiser As Elaine Myers, a regular attendee of the for the district’s Educational Community Foundation auction, noted, “The Foundation’s auction is one of the in March. This year’s auction, which raises funds to best events sponsored by the district. It has become support educational opportunities for district students, an evening when members of our three communities was the most successful to date, raising more than can meet and enjoy a wonderful auction, with all the $35,000. Current net worth of the Foundation, which was proceeds going to the best of causes…our children.” established in 1997, is now close to a half million dollars. In addition to building the endowment through the annual auction, the Foundation also oversees a voluntary payroll deduction program for Berea City School District employees. This program provides thousands of dollars in funding to both staff and students for educational experiences that have included the Coe Lake Nature Trail and Riparian Restoration Project and the “Electrify Your Strings” workshop and concert. The greatest area of growth for the Foundation in recent years has been in the Foundation Scholarships. Many of these come to the Foundation from graduates or their families, who feel such a strong connection to the district that they wish to help inspire excellence in future generations. An Photograph by Dave Cornelius excellent example of this would be Photograph by Dave Cornelius Auctioneer Bob Hale encourages Rick and the Brian Atkins Scholarship that will Retired principal, Cindy Schulz to increase their bid on one of be awarded for the first time this Julie Kalbrunner, the donated items in this year’s auction. year in the amount of $5,000. As was one of the a result of many generous private, many volunteers civic, or corporate donations, more for this year’s Corporate sponsors for the event were Blaze Building than $25,000 in scholarships will be Dreamcatcher Corp., The Hoffman Group, National City, the Brewer- awarded to graduating seniors of Evening. Garrett Company, and Performance Benefit Solutions. Berea and Midpark High Schools this Table sponsors this year were West Shore New Holland, year. Inc. and NatCity Investments, Inc. The evening featured If you are interested in learning more about music by the Berea High String Quartet, and a variety the Educational Community Foundation, setting up a of donated auction items, ranging from a pig roast for scholarship fund, or making a donation, please contact twenty guests to a week’s stay at a home in Nantucket Eileen Herold, Foundation Chair, at 440-234-3605, or Gail and artwork from Frederick C. Graff and other well-known Tierney, Liaison for the Foundation, at 440-243-6000, local artists. ext. 6259.

The Cleveland Indians Came to Brookpark Memorial Elementary . . . As part of their press tour, members of the Cleveland Indians visited BPM on January 24th. Indians’ Director of Media Relations, Bart Swain, introduced Grady Sizemore, Andy Marte, Tom Mastny, and Indians’ mascot Slider. After some brief comments from the players, our students had time to ask questions. Our fifth-graders in Mr. Zienkowski’s class had prepared a number of excellent questions about the players’ backgrounds and experiences. The assembly concluded with a raffle for signed baseballs, jerseys, hats, and other souvenir items. Our thanks go out to the Cleveland Indians, the players, and especially to Monica Woodard, Community Relations Coordinator, for organizing such a wonderful event for our school! 6 Then, the Cleveland Cavaliers Came to Big Creek Elementary . . .

Leah Kennedy might not be tall enough to slam dunk a basketball, but Daniel Gibson of the Cleveland Cavaliers recognizes Leah as a ‘slam-dunk’ reader.

Photograph by Dave Cornelius

Photograph by Dave Cornelius On Thursday, March 8, 2007, the Cleveland Cavs teamed up with Scholastic Books to celebrate a special NBA Read-to- Achieve event at Big Creek Elementary School. Shannon Brown, Daniel Gibson, and Dwayne Jones conducted a Reading Timeout to read “Clifford Goes to Hollywood”. Seventy-two students were recognized for outstanding achievement/ improvement in reading. Our ‘slam-dunk’, ‘rookie’, ‘all-star’ and ‘MVP’ readers were awarded a certificate and gift bag, along with a “high five” from the Cavs players. In addition, Read-to-Achieve backpacks were given to the entire student body at Big Creek. The evening was a huge success! And Finally, the Cleveland Browns Came to Smith Elementary! On April 4, Mr. Joe Jurevicius, #84 of the Cleveland Browns, visited Vivian L. Smith Elementary School as a guest speaker. As part of Smith’s focus on “Character Keys,” Mr. Jurevicius spent some time with Smith fourth- and fifth- graders telling them how important it is for people to be trustworthy. He reminded them that they should always be trustworthy with family members and friends, and it is also very important for all his Brown’s teammates. There was an opportunity at the end of the presentation for students to ask a number of questions, and Mr. Jurevicious also gave away six autographed footballs to lucky, raffle-winning students.

New Assessment Tools Help Students Achieve Success by Matt Deevers, Director of Curriculum This past year, the Berea City School District has developed a number of assessment systems that monitor student growth and progress much more effectively. These assessment tools are helping staff members better meet student needs and ensure that all students are moving toward achieving high standards. In the primary grades, we assess students’ literacy development with the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). Findings from this year indicate that far fewer students begin first and second grade “at risk” than in Kindergarten. Also, among those Kindergarten students who began the school year demonstrating skills that were “below benchmark” goals (only about 10%), half showed marked improvement by the middle of the year and were no longer considered to be “at risk.” Similar initiatives have begun in Grades 3 through 10, as we implement the measures of academic progress (“map”). One of our schools in particular, which was the first to develop building-wide instruction and intervention strategies aligned to student achievement levels, has seen some very positive results. Over half their fifth grade students demonstrated more than a year of academic growth in five months! We also continue to keep our eyes on the goal of having all students score above proficient levels on state-wide tests. We are targeting intervention strategies for those students who are most in need, while also looking at the growth of our highest achieving students, to make sure they are being adequately challenged. 7 Midpark Math Teacher Honored IN THIS ISSUE Berea District Again Ranked in Top 100 for Music Education! ...... 1 Midpark math teacher Scott Piesen Berea High Philharmonia Performs at National Conference ...... 1 has been selected as one of five Artsonia Honors Big Creek Teacher and Student ...... 2 recipients of the James Thomas Alumni News ...... 2 High School Teacher Award at Two District Students are Geographic Bee Semifinalists ...... 2 District Adopts Rapid Notification System ...... 2 Baldwin-Wallace College. This Midpark Students Qualify for Mathematics Exam ...... 2 award is named for B-W graduate Robotics Team Competition at Cleveland State ...... 3 James Thomas, who also serves Orchestra Festival Returns ...... 3 as a member of the B-W Board of Ford Girls’ Basketball Team Wins Southwest Conference ...... 3 Trustees. The award is a way for District to Induct Six Distinguished Hall of Fame Members ...... 4 Photograph by Dave Cornelius Berea High Goes Hollywood ...... 5 B-W and its upcoming graduates Fairwood Students Win Trophy at Destination Imagination ...... 5 to recognize a teacher who had a Brookview Students Help to Break a World Reading Record ...... 5 positive influence on his/her life. Midpark grad and Dreamcatcher Auction is a Great Success ...... 6 B-W senior, David Vale (Class of 2002), nominated Scott The Cleveland Indians Came to Brookpark Memorial Elementary .. 6 who will be recognized at a special dinner on April 18 in The Cleveland Cavaliers Came to Big Creek Elementary ...... 7 The Cleveland Browns Came to Smith Elementary ...... 7 which both he and Midpark will receive a $1,000 cash Curriculum Corner ...... 7 award. Midpark Math Teacher Honored ...... 8 Nelson Mandela’s Grandson Inspires Students to Excellence ...... 8

Nelson Mandela’s Grandson Inspires Students to Excellence Prince Cedza Dlamini, humanitarian speaker and visionary, social entrepreneur, and grandson of Nelson Mandela, was the kick-off speaker in March for the Berea City School District’s Leadership Academy for sixth grade students. Working in cooperation with The David Brain Leadership Program at Baldwin-Wallace College, the district has created this avenue to educate students about the importance of leadership and inspire them to make a difference.

Partnering with Berea City Schools in education and the arts.

INSPIRING EXCELLENCE... Non-Profit Org. is the official publication of the Berea City School District U.S. Postage serving the communities of Berea, Brook Park, and Middleburg Heights. P A I D Permit No. 156 Berea, Ohio Board Office 390 Fair Street Berea, Ohio 44017 ECR-WSS 440-243-6000 Derran K. Wimer Ohio Relay 1-800-750-0750 Superintendent www.berea.k12.oh.us Board of Education Gale Patten, President Dave Pusti, Vice President Robert Drake Ken Slovick Fred Szabo Think Globally, Educate Locally ______

Nancy Braford, Editor An Equal Educational Opportunity and Equal Employment Opportunity Institution