Tips and Tidbits

A YOUNGSTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER DEC. 8, 2 0 1 7 V O L . 8 TIPS AND TIDBITS YCSD adds 2-hour delay option Historically, freezing temperatures and snow accumulation meant one thing for the Youngstown City School District: school cancella- tion. This year, there will be another option. For the first time, the Youngstown City School District will use two -hour delays when appropriate during inclement weather. “In the past, YCSD has closed school for the whole day even when the weather and road conditions were expected to improve,” said CEO Krish Mohip. “That’s a full day of instruction lost to our children. We can’t afford to do that anymore.” He stressed that the district will still cancel school if weather and travel conditions require it. “Safety obviously has to come first and we’ll never jeopardize that,” the CEO said. Colleen Murphy-Penk, chief of transportation, explained that bus routes will be the same on two-hour delay days as on regular school days. But pick-ups will be two Chaney Cowboys hours later. Although the change marks a first for YCSD, Murphy-Penk said there’s no Coming Up reason the city schools can’t implement the two-hour delays when appropriate just like other Mahoning Valley school districts do. Breakfast will not be served on days when school starts two hours later. Stu- 12/14, Parent- dents will report directly to their third-period classes and there will be no community meeting, classes for juniors at Choffin Career and Technical Center 9 a.m. at Williamson. on two-hour delay days. School dismissal 12/21, PRIDE times will remain the same. When a two-hour delay is required, information will be meeting, 5 p.m., Rayen Early College publicized through local media, district social media sites and at Intermediate School www.ycsd.org. 12/21, 6 p.m. Chaney VPA Winter Performance, auditorium 12/22, Last day of school before winter break Happy Holidays! DEC. 8, 2 0 1 7 V O L . 8 Athletics Arena Marking YCSD Sports History In 1942, Chaney High School graduate Frank Sink- wich was awarded the Heisman Trophy, the first graduate from a Mahoning Valley high school to earn the football honor. Seventy-five years later, he remains the Valley’s only Heis- man winner. Sinkwich, who was born in Croatia, was a halfback at the University of Georgia. He was the first player from the South- eastern Conference to win the Heisman, an annual award that recognizes the sport’s best college player. Sinkwich, also known as Flatfoot Frankie, led the Georgia Bulldogs to an 11-1 record and a 9-0 Rose Bowl victory over UCLA in 1942. Sinkwich died Oct. 22, 1990, in Athens, Ga., and his New York Times obituary said he set S.E.C. records for passing and total offense in 1942, rushing for 795 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also completed 84 of 166 passes for 1,392 yards and 10 touchdowns. In his three-year college career, he ran for 2,271 yards and 30 scores and passed for 2,331 yards and 30 touchdowns the Times reported. Sinkwich played two seasons with the Detroit Lions and owned a beer and wine distribution company. YCSD is planning an event, probably in late January, to mark the anniversary of Sinkwich’s Heisman and to recognize other promi- nent athletes from throughout the district’s history. Details will be announced later. District earns grant, chance at new helmets for being Heads-Up certified Thanks to a nomination from drawing to win $25,000 in player safety in high school response, Heads-Up tackling, Ronnie Casey Jr., YCSD won Xenith helmets. football. Heads-Up blocking and other a $1,000 grant in a weekly Sixteen schools will earn the To be eligible, schools or medical protocols. contest sponsored by the Ohio $1,000 athletic grants and two school districts must enroll in The campaign, open to high Lottery Commission, the schools will win the $25,000 USA Football’s Heads Up school football teams in Ohio, Cleveland Browns and Xenith prizes. Football Program. runs through Jan. 31. Helmets. The sweepstakes is part of the The program offers certifica- University Hospitals also is But there’s more. The district Cleveland Gives Back Pro- tion clinics and educates part of the program, covering is now entered into a random gram. Its goal is advancing coaches about concussion certification fees for some. “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” — Anthony J. D'Angelo Swimming for Health, Safety Swimming is a great form of exercise and three well-known Mahoning Valley institutions have joined forces to ensure more children have the opportunity to enjoy it. Through a partnership among the YMCA of Youngstown and its Central Y, the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley and the Youngstown City School District, hundreds of Youngstown school children are “diving in” and learning to swim. The United Way is funding the program to allow YCSD second-graders to take weekly swim lessons at the Central Y. “The YMCA is proud of its partnership with the United Way and Youngstown City Schools in providing swim lessons to nearly 400 Youngstown City School second-graders this 2017-8 school year,” said Thomas M. Gacse, president/CEO of the YMCA of Youngstown. “Over the past 50 years, the Central YMCA in downtown Youngstown has taught swimming skills and water safety to more than 20,000 Youngstown children. The YMCA is committed to the City of Youngstown and has been fulfilling its mission and making a positive impact on the community for more than 130 years.” About 260 second-graders from six YCSD elementary schools have been taking the swim lessons since October with students from the three remaining district elementary schools to start in January. “Our students are having such a great time learning how to swim,” said Krish Mohip, CEO of the Youngstown City School District. “We’re very fortunate to have organizations like the YMCA of Youngstown and the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley to work with us and to provide our children with this opportunity.” Swimming provides a fun, low-impact work- out that can be practiced throughout a person’s lifetime. "The United Way is proud to support the Y's Swimming Program,” said Bob Hannon, president of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. “It's a perfect fit under out Early Education Focus Area. We have a long standing relationship with the YMCA of Youngstown, and we will continue to work together so we can positively impact the children in Youngstown and the Mahoning Val- ley.” Joseph Meranto, YCSD superintendent, said the children reap the biggest benefits of the program. “Without this program and the district’s partnership with the YMCA of Youngstown and the United Way, many YCSD students likely wouldn’t have the chance to learn to swim,” he said. “Swim lessons simply aren’t affordable for many families.” That means potential safety risks. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, nationwide 350 children younger than five drown in pools each year and 2,600 are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year from near-drowning incidents. The safety concerns are even greater among minorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that African-American children ages 5 to 14 drown at nearly three times the rate of their white peers. .

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