Minerva Local School District (ECRWSS) NON-PROFIT ORG. 406 East Street Occupant US POSTAGE PAID Minerva, Ohio 44657 Minerva, OH 44657 CANTON, OHIO PERMIT NO. 1005

MINERVA LOCAL SCHOOLS

THEMANEMANE EVENTEVENT Fall 2015 Every Child, Every Minute, Every Day VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 1 Welcome Back to the 2015-2016 School Year I am honored to be the Superintendent of the Minerva Local Schools. Great things are happening in our district and it is an exciting time to be a Minerva Lion. Minerva has an outstanding tradition of excellence in academics as well as athletics. Our goal of the Minerva Local School District is to graduate 100% of our students, and leave us prepared for college, the military, or the workforce.

Inside this edition, you will find a link to the Minerva Plan. The Minerva Plan is a five-year plan that focuses on continuous improvement. Please check out our district goals on the Minerva Local School’s website at www.mlsd.sparcc.org.

On behalf of the Minerva Local School District Board of Education and myself, I would like to wish everyone a safe and outstanding school year. Thank you for your continuous support. Go Celebrity Cooks Lions! A special thank you to the Minerva Local School Board for providing a wonderful luncheon for all staff. Minerva staff members were excited and surprised to see guest grill masters Mr. Joe Chaddock, former Minerva Superintendent now serving as the Stark County ESC superintendent, Mr. Robert Foltz, Minerva Local School District board president, and Mr. Gary Chaddock, Minerva Local School District superintendent.

Gary Chaddock Superintendent Fall Senior Service Day Minerva High School will be conducting its annual Senior (l-r) Front row: Stanley Pennock, Vice President; Service Day on November Bob Foltz, President; Jeff Evans, Member; 6, 2015. The Minerva High Back row: Rob Yeagley, Member; Susan Crawford, Member. School seniors will be going out into the community to provide leaf raking, painting and small household / yard maintenance chores. The service day mission is to provide assistance to community members who are in need of help. If you are in need, or know of others, please contact Alex Albert at 330-868-4134 and provide your address and phone number. We look forward to serving our community!

For the most up-to-date Minerva Local Schools information, visit our website at http://mlsd.sparcc.org District News STAY CONNECTED Minerva Local Board of Education Robert Foltz ...... President Schools Stanley Pennock ...... Vice President Susan Crawford ...... Member Jeff Evans ...... Member Transportation Rob Yeagley ...... Member (Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the News third Monday of each month.) Minerva Local Schools transports approximately Minerva Administration 1,100 students and travels over 1,300 miles on 406 East Street 15 scheduled routes on a daily basis. The buses Minerva, Ohio 44657 traveled 238,306 miles for the 2014-2015 school year and consumed 36,485 gallons of diesel fuel. The 330-868-4332 total costs for transportation for the year were $980,000. Fax: 330-868-4731 The Transportation Department is looking forward to a great 2015-2016 school year! We have a few www.mlsd.sparcc.org new faces joining our bus fleet this year and a few changes of bus drivers on different routes! However, Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. most of the routes will continue to be the same as in the past few years. Listed below are the bus drivers with their route number: Mr. Gary Chaddock...... Superintendent Mrs. Teri Hollar...... Secretary to Superintendent Bus 2: Cheryl Patterson Bus 14: Sandy Collins Mr. Aaron Hawk...... Maintenance Supervisor Bus 4: Richard Merrick Bus 15: Melissa Henderson Treasurers Office Bus 5: Joe Mardis Bus 16: David Krizon 330-868-4942 Bus 6: Jeanette Leyda Bus 17: Tracy Evans Fax: 330-868-6122 Bus 7: Ron Smith (R.G. Drage Career Center) Bus 20: Mark Leasure Mr. Larry Pottorf...... Treasurer Bus 10: LuAnn Duff Bus 21: Janis Moore Mrs. Robin Fry...... Accounts Payable/Receivable/ (R.G. Drage Career Center) Budgetary Secretary Bus 11: Barbara Campbell (Out of district students) Bus 23: Tammy Horn Mrs. Jodi Locke...... Payroll Bus 13: Darlene Sutton Pupil Services/Curriculum/EMIS 330-868-5855 Fax: 330-868-4731 Minerva Local looks forward to transporting your children this school ?...... Gifted Coordinator year! We want to remind parents and Mrs. Becky Miller...... Curriculum Director students to be aware of loading and Mr. Andrew Burman.... Special Education Director unloading students at bus stops. We Mrs. Lisa Ayers...... EMIS/Certification/ would like to offer the following tips Special Services to remind your child while getting off and on the bus: always remain in direct Food Service eyesight of the bus driver; get to the 330-868-6293 bus stop at least 10 minutes before your Fax: 330-868-6815 assigned time; take 10 giant steps back Mrs. Stacey Bettis...... Food Service Director from the curb while waiting for the bus and 10 steps when exiting the bus; Bus Garage never try to get anything left on the bus 330-868-4222 after exiting; never reach underneath Fax: 330-868-6815 the bus; always follow the driver’s Hours: 6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. directions for how to cross the street; Mrs. Teri Hollar...... Transportation Coordinator be alert to traffic and look both ways; Mr. Stanley Gassman...... Mechanic AND always cross in front of the bus, but only when the bus driver signals it Mr. David Henning...... Mechanic is safe to do so! The Mane Event is a publication of Minerva Local Schools, a nonprofit organization. The Federal Race to the Top Grant The main goal of our bus drivers is funds this newsletter. News releases, story ideas, comments the safety of your child! If you have and suggestions should be addressed to The Mane Event, questions or concerns please contact Minerva Local Schools, 406 East St., Minerva, OH 44657. Teri Hollar at 330-868-4332, ext. 3709. Circulation is currently 5,500.

2 MANE EVENT Fall 2015 District News Online Cafeteria Deposits Search for Available Students Minerva Local Schools is excited about giving parents the ability to manage their child’s meal with Disabilities account over the internet using PayForIt.net. This technology benefits the schools, the parents, and the students. The schools will be able to provide parents up-to-the-minute information about The Minerva Local School District is responsible for assessing their child’s lunch account. Parents will no longer have to worry about money not reaching the and identifying all children within the Minerva School District cafeteria or their child running out of money. Students will not have to worry about being singled boundaries who are suspected of having a disability, between out for having a low lunch account balance. the ages of birth through 21. The school district provides Parents may sign up for a PayForIt.net account at any time. PayForIt.net integrates seamlessly special education services to eligible children beginning at with the district’s software so that when money is deposited it should be available for students age 3 and continuing through age 21. We conduct district-wide to use within four hours, in most cases. Once the account is activated, parents may start taking preschool screenings in the fall and spring for all children who advantage of all the features PayForIt.net offers, including: are 3, 4, and 5 years of age. Preschoolers suspected of having • Set up of recurring payments so there’s no worry about your child not having money. a disability would have developmental delays in the areas of • The ability to see your child’s balances on the main screen. communication (speech and language), fine or gross motor, • Email reminder option to notify you when your child’s account balance is getting low. hearing, vision, cognitive, pre-academic, or social/emotional • Convenience of depositing skills. If you know of a child who may have a disability or money 24 hours a day, 7 would like more information about special education, special days a week. programs, or the preschool screening program, please contact • The availability to see what your school principal or Andrew Burman, Director of Special your child is buying for Education, at 330-868-4134, ext. 3704, or burmana@minerva. lunch (within the last 30 sparcc.org. days). E • Online step by step tutorials on how to use PayForIt.net. Parents of 7th Grade Students • A safe and secure environment. Reminder that all students entering 7th grade are required to have a booster dose of the Tdap (Tetanus, Additional information regarding PayForIt.net registration and the associated convenience fees Diptheria and accellular pertussis) immunization by the can also be found under the food service icon on the district website at http://mlsd.sparcc.org. start of 7th grade. This law was put into effect in 2011 due to the outbreak of Pertusssis (Whooping Cough). If your child has not had this yet, please call your doctor and schedule an appointment. You can also go to a local health department, where payment is either free or $15. Free and Reduced Lunch If your child has not had this immunization, we are Did you know that published reports recently indicated that over 23% of Ohioans under the age of five required by law to exclude students from school. live on the “brink of hunger?” Help for families in Minerva is available from the federally funded school Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Many children in the Minerva Local School District receive Health Services free or reduced price breakfasts and lunches every school day. Almost 1,100 of our 2,000 students If your child needs to take medication during the school (over 53%) participate in the free and reduced breakfast and lunch program. We hope you will carefully day: review the income chart to determine if your family might benefit from receiving free or reduced price breakfasts and lunches at school. • All medications must be delivered to the school by a parent, in the original container. Free and reduced price lunch applications are available on the district website and are distributed to • If the medication in not a prescription, you must fill parents and families at the beginning of each school year. Applications may be completed at any time out the non-prescribed medication form. during the school year as family income and circumstances change. Please download an application or • If the medication is a prescription, the doctor must fill request an application from any of our schools. Only one application is necessary for the entire family. out the licensed physician’s form. You must fill out the prescribed permission form. We encourage families to apply in order to improve the health and wellness of their children and also • MES: All medications are kept in the school clinic. to help Minerva Schools receive their share of federal and sate dollars. Many federal funding programs • MMS & MHS: Students are allowed to keep Tylenol, use free and reduced price lunch information to provide funding for schools. Your approved free and Ibuprofen and other over the counter meds in their reduced lunch application helps the district qualify for more federal and state funding. lockers, as long as they have their form turned into the Applications are confidential and subject to strict approval and verification according tostate office. • If a child is to carry an Epi-pen, inhaler, or any other and federal guidelines. If you have any questions or concerns about the free and reduced price life saving medication, there needs to be a back up breakfast and lunch program, please contact the school your child attends or Food Service Director, dose in the school office/clinic. Mrs. Stacey Bettis, at 330-868-6293. • Medication forms can be found on the Minerva Local State law mandates that students who qualify for a “free” lunch are not required to pay school fees. School District Website or you can request them from Parents/guardians must sign off on a waiver form for the information to be shared and fees to be waived. the school. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Olivia The Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines will be used for determining eligibility. Children from Scott, Health Services Coordinator, at 330-868-4011, families whose annual income is at or below the Federal Guidelines are eligible for free and reduced ext. 3510. price meals. http://mlsd.sparcc.org 3 MANE EVENT District News Special Services I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself as the new Director of Special Services for Minerva Local Schools. I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to come back to the community in which I was raised and to have an impact on those who call Minerva home.

Before taking the shared position with Minerva and Brown Local, I was an intervention specialist at Perry Local schools in the kindergarten through fifth grade self-contained resource room for students with moderate to intensive disabilities. Just as I signed on as Director of Special Services, I also committed to a lifetime with Leslie (Dunlap) Burman and our two dogs Bella and Izzy.

Andrew Burman, Director of Special Services Railroad Awareness What is Child Find? OHI-RAIL, which owns the railroad tracks that currently run Child Find is the process of locating, evaluating, and identifying children with disabilities who may throughout Minerva has requested for Minerva Local School be in need of special education and related services. Local school districts are required by federal and District to advise all parents and students to avoid walking state laws to find children who may require special education services and related services such as on the railroad tracks. It is a safety hazard and considered speech, occupational, or physical therapy. trespassing. If you have any question or concerns, please contact OHI-Rail at 330-868-4894.

What does a “disability” mean? For children ages birth to 3 – A physical or mental condition that may result in a developmental delay.

For children ages 3 through 5 – A documented deficit in one or more of the following developmental areas: communication, vision, hearing, motor skills, social emotional/behavioral functioning, self-help skills, and/or cognitive skills.

For children ages 5 through 21 – Identification of one or more of the following conditions: autism, deaf blindness, hearing impairment including deafness, cognitive disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and/or visual impairment including blindness.

The Minerva Local School District promptly responds to all children suspected of having a disability free of charge. Once the school district is notified about a child who is suspected of having a disability, the child’s parent(s) are contacted and informed of their rights as required by the Individual’s Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) and the Operating Standards for Ohio’s Schools serving Children with Disabilities.

If you know of a child who is suspected of having a disability under IDEA or Section 504, contact Andrew Burman, Director of Special Services, at 330-868-5855, or via email at burmana@minerva. sparcc.org

4 MANE EVENT Fall 2015 District News The Minerva Plan Minerva Local Schools was awarded Straight-A grant dollars from the state of Ohio for demonstrating innovation in education as a member of the Young Entrepreneur’s Consortium. The five-year plan recognizes the need to model continuous improvement by establish goals, strategies and action steps, as to how we can “get better” as a district while successfully completing the “work streams” of the grant.

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE PLAN TO: *Increase technology integration by 100% *Increase dual enrollment by 50% *Implement PBL and WBL 50% *Improve ACT and Compass scores by 2% HOW WILL WE LOOK DIFFERENT BY 2020 • One –to –one technology integrated in classroom instruction • Curriculum aligned to intervention and preparation for ACT • Career exploration and community partners will be developed for WBL experiences Visit the Minerva Plan on our district web site at www.mlsd.sparcc.org.

http://mlsd.sparcc.org 5 MANE EVENT Minerva High School Message from the Principal IMPORTANT DATES SEPTEMBER Greetings and Welcome Back to another 4 Teacher Trade Day/NO SCHOOL for Students School Year!! 7 NO SCHOOL/Labor Day On behalf of the outstanding staff at Minerva High School, I would like to welcome 8 Lifetouch Picture Day our students and families to the 2015-2016 school year. I hope that everyone had 10 Jostens Class Ring- Sophomores.....7:45 a.m. a safe, fun, and relaxing summer. We are very excited to work with each of you to 11 Olweus Kick-Off Assembly Whole School make this year an engaging and meaningful educational experience. District in the Stadium...... 2:00-2:25 p.m. 11 Open House...... 5:00-6:00 p.m. I would like to start by welcoming and introducing the new staff to Minerva High School: 25 First 9 Weeks Mid-Terms sent home • Sharon Akins: In-School Restriction Monitor OCTOBER • Tina Givens: Lunch Proctor 1 Parent Teacher conferences..... 3:30-8:30 p.m. • Theresa Hepner: 2 ½ hour Cook 12 County In-Service Day/NO SCHOOL for Students 14 ACT Aspire Test for All Sophomores • Cathy Hart: Half-Day Special Education Tutor 23 Waiver Day/NO SCHOOL for Students • Jimmy Jenkins: Moving from Special Education Tutor to a Full Time Teacher with our Career Based 23 End of First Nine Weeks Education Program. 26-30 Fall OGT Week • DeeDee Lautzenheiser: Athletic Secretary (Upper Classmen Retakes Only) 30 Report Cards sent home • Kyle Lucas: Agriculture Teacher (Through R.G. Drage) • Heidi Soles: Attendance and Financial Secretary NOVEMBER • Athena Spinell: Language Arts at the High School and Math at the Middle School. She will also be 20 Second 9 Weeks Mid-Terms sent home serving as our Head Cheerleading Coach. 26-30 NO SCHOOL/Thanksgiving Break • Heidi Truxall: Intervention Specialist (Through the County ESC). We are really excited to add these new additions to our team. They are all outstanding educators who care about putting the needs of their students first.

Our mission at Minerva High School is to make sure that we are meeting the social, emotional, and academic needs of our students. Our goal is to make sure that we are preparing our students to be life long learners, and to make sure that all students have a clear plan by the end of their sophomore year to either:

o Further their education o Acquire a skill that prepares them to enter the workforce STAY CONNECTED o Become a member of the United States Military Our staff is committed to our school district’s motto of “Every Child, Every Minute, Every Day”. Minerva High School 501 Alemeda Avenue We also have very high expectations for our students. We believe that every student has the ability to Minerva, Ohio 44657 learn. We will stress to our students each day that it is their job to come to school prepared to learn. We ask our students to follow three basic principals each day, be where you are supposed to be, do what 330-868-4134 you are supposed to do, and to treat people right! We are striving to create an environment where all Fax: 330-868-5973 students feel comfortable coming to school, and not doing your work is unacceptable. We know that Twitter: @MHSMinervaLions we have outstanding students who will rise to these expectations. Mr. Brete Yeagley...... Principal In closing, we look forward to the opportunity to work with our outstanding students and families. Mr. Alex Albert...... Assistant Principal Please feel free to call (330) 868-4134 or e-mail me at [email protected] if you have any Mrs. Kathleen Sechrest...... Secretary questions or concerns. We look forward to partnering with you to make this a great school year. Mrs. Heidi Soles...... Secretary Go Lions, Guidance Brett Yeagley, Principal Mrs. Jennifer White...... Guidance Counselor Mrs. Sharon Fankhauser...... Guidance Secretary Athletic Department 330-868-6705 Fax: 330-868-7993 Mr. Donald Spinell...... Athletic Director Mrs. DeeDee Lautzenheiser...... Athletic Secretary

6 MANE EVENT Fall 2015 Minerva High School Student Parking Minerva High School Open House AAll students who drive must register their vehicle, and must Minerva High School will be hosting an Open House Friday, September 11, 5:00-6:00 p.m. The purchase a parking pass from the main office. Parking passes open house will coincide with our first home football game. We would like to invite the community are $30. Students will be permitted to park in the Red marked into our building to see all of the positive things we have happening at Minerva High School. areas on the West side of the school. Parking spots are on a first come first serve basis. Students who park on campus must enter the building through the main office. Visitors (please park in the white marked areas on

the west side – front) Any visitor who enters the high school and will be anywhere in the building other than the main office must: sign in, leave their license with our secretary, and wear a badge for the duration of their stay. School Handbook and Policies The school handbook is posted on the Minerva High School website, it includes the school rules and policies. Please be sure to read through these handbooks, so that both you and your child are familiar with them. Student Trips In June Spanish teacher, Shelley Tinlin, and took a group of France and Spain Trip students to Europe for 13 days. Those on the trip included Cody Marks, Lane Elton, Kaylie Thomas, Olivia Tinlin and Intervention Specialist Kim Davis. The group first visited Paris where they shopped the Champ Elysee, saw first-hand how perfume is made at the Fragonard Perfume Boutique, visited the Louvre Art Museum, climbed the Eiffel Tower, and took a night cruise down the Seine River. Students then traveled by train to Spain where they visited Barcelona, Zarzagoza, Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, and Costa del Sol. Highlights in Spain included visiting the Sagrada Familia, a cathedral that Antonio Gaudi started to build in 1882 and that will be finished in 2020. They also enjoyed visiting an 8th century mosque in Cordoba. Students also enjoyed the national dish paella and soaking up the sun on the Mediterranean Sea.

Science teacher, Stacey Peters, led our travel club on a trip to Puerto Rico. There the students explored the El Yunque rain forest, Camuy Cave, and the El Morro Fortress. The students also toured, Old San Juan, Ponce Art Museum, and an operating coffee plantation. Additionally, students took authentic cooking and salsa dancing lessons. Two highlights of the trip were snorkeling and night swimming in the Biluminesent Bay. The students ended their week with a relaxing day on Fajardo Beach.

Puerto Rico Trip http://mlsd.sparcc.org 7 MANE EVENT Minerva Middle School Message from the Principal IMPORTANT DATES Hello, my name is Scott Cassidy and I am honored to be the new principal of Minerva Middle School. When first hired, I was so excited to work with the staff SEPTEMBER and students at MMS because of its great reputation for caring and nurturing 4 NO SCHOOL every student that comes through the doors. Then, when I started to work with 7 NO SCHOOL/Labor Day the staff I quickly found that the culture for success and academic excellence was even better than advertised! I saw that each teacher was a content specialist in his OCTOBER or her field. They are motivated and equipped with resources and technology to 1 Parent Teacher Conference...... 5 - 8 p.m. help students succeed. 7 - 9 Sixth Grade Outdoor Education It became clear to me that each staff member truly values the district motto: “Every child, every 12 NO SCHOOL minute, every day.” It is awesome to see the amount of positive energy in the building as the students 23 NO SCHOOL begin the 2015-2016 academic year, and I am excited about the future at MMS! Go Lions! Scott Cassidy, Principal New Staff Here is a look at the new staff at Minerva Middle School • Linda Baumberger is serving as middle school technology support. With so many upgrades in district-wide technology MMS is excited to have her on board. • Athena Spinell is teaching 8th grade math at the middle Welcome Class of 2022 school and language arts at the high school. She is also the new cheerleading coach. Athena is a Minerva graduated This year’s 6th grade class includes 143 students. The class of 2022 got a chance to tour the building, who has two years of teaching experience at Salem Middle meet teachers, and get their schedules before school started. MMS is thrilled to welcome them aboard! School. • Casey LaHa has been hired as part-time secretary. She has been very involved in P.T.O. at the elementary. New Security Cameras Installed • Meghan Kishman is our new librarian. She is excited to be with us and has lots of new ideas for the library. Meghan is School safety is Minerva Local’s top priority. Research has proven that academic performance increases also the varsity softball coach. when students and staff feel safe and secure while at school. Because of this, Minerva Middle School has increased security and school safety by adding high definition cameras at entrances and in hallways. • Tyler Radalia is the new intervention tutor at MMS. He is a Louisville and Grove City graduate and is also coaching middle school football. • Tammy Farrell has joined the cafeteria staff this year. Reminders • Missy Ronches is our new at-risk tutor. She is a teacher from North Carolina and New Jersey. She comes to MMS Entering the Building Doors open at Minerva Middle School at 7:20 a.m. with 16 years of teaching experience. Students may enter the building at the Bus, Athletic or Main Entrance doors. Students may choose to eat breakfast in the cafetorium during this time. All students will report to either the cafetorium or gym until 7:45 a.m. A student is tardy after 7:49 a.m. The student’s day ends at 2:33 p.m. Call Off and Written Excuses The Missing Child Act requires any student who STAY CONNECTED is absent for the day to be called off. It is the student’s responsibility to bring a written excuse that is signed by a parent or guardian to the office for each absence. Minerva Middle School 600 East Line Street • Minerva, Ohio 44657 Dress Code The clothing a student wears to school is an area of decision-making involving 330-868-4497 the student and their parents. Good judgment would indicate that see-through clothing, hats, bare feet, bare midriffs, soiled or torn clothing, clothing with offensive illustrations/graphics, slogans, Fax: 330-868-3144 racial or ethic slurs, backpacks, sunglasses, and body piercing are not permitted. Also, no sagging Twitter: @MinervaMMS pants, sleepwear, short skirts or shorts (must be relaxed shoulder, extended fingertip length), low-cut Mr. Scott Cassidy...... Principal tops, spaghetti straps or sleeveless attire (must cover the entire shoulder) are not permitted. Jeans with small holes are allowed provided the holes are below the relaxed shoulder, extended fingertip Mr. Donald Spinell...... Assistant Principal length. Unnatural hair colors are not acceptable for school attire. Mrs. Ashley Lutz...... Secretary Mrs. Casey Laha...... Secretary School Handbook and Policies All students will be given a handbook that includes the school rules and policies. Please be sure to read through these handbooks, so that both Guidance you and your child are familiar with them. Mr. Lance Willison...... Guidance Counselor

8 MANE EVENT Fall 2015 District News Minerva Local Schools Initiates Little Lion “Power of the Pride” Summer Camp Approximately 40 students in kindergarten through second Anti Bullying Program grade participated in the Minerva Elementary Little Lion The district is beginning a new effort to help prevent bullying. On September 11, 2015, it will hold Summer Camp. Camp Coordinator Lauren Syverson led the a district K-12 kick-off assembly with percussionist Elec Simon, who has performed internationally staff in providing students direct and small group instruction with “Stomp,” as its speaker. Superintendent Gary Chaddock said through the Olweus Bullying in the areas of reading and mathematics. The theme for the Prevention Program, “students will learn about the three-week camp was insects. The students were treated with effects of bullying and what they can do to stop it a visit from a beekeeper, and provided resources on insects even if they are a bystander.” Teachers were trained from the Minerva Local Library and Stark County Parks at the August 19 teacher workday to recognize the Department. Students were provided breakfast, lunch and art characteristics of bullying and how to prevent it for classes as part of the camp. our students.

This research-based, school-wide “systems-change” program has been used successfully in schools all over the country and around the world with positive results. Stark County has been recognized nationally as a leader in facilitating this program.

Olweus is not a curriculum that students participate in for only a few weeks. Rather, it is a coordinated effort by all the adults in the school and community to supervise and intervene when any bullying happens. As part of the program, students participate in class meetings to learn about the effects of bullying, what they can do about it, and how they can work with adults at school to put a stop to it even as bystanders. Parents will have meetings too, so they can support the messages students are getting in school. This type of program is about changing the whole school climate to make it a safer, more positive place to learn.

To show solidarity and commitment to this program, Minerva Local Schools is working with the Lion’s Den to purchase T-shirts designed by Minerva High School art students. Every staff member and student will have the opportunity to wear the shirts frequently throughout the school year. As part of the kick-off event, any student wearing the T-shirt that day can help form the tunnel at that evening’s home football game.

http://mlsd.sparcc.org 9 MANE EVENT Minerva Elementary Mark Scott is the new IMPORTANT DATES SEPTEMBER Principal at Minerva 7 NO SCHOOL/Labor Day 10-22 Magazine and Cookie dough Sale Elementary 11 Power of the Pride Assembly...... 9:30 a.m. With Michelle Nervo retiring this spring as the Principal of Minerva 11 Olweus Kick-Off Assembly Whole School Elementary School, Mark Scott is excited to take the position for the 2015- District @ HS Stadium..... 2:00-2:25 p.m. 2016 school year. Mr. Scott is a 1997 graduate of Minerva High School 11 Home Football Game and 2001 graduate of Muskingum University with a degree in Elementary Pride of the Power Tunnel. 6:45-7:15 p.m. Education. He also earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration 24 MES Open House...... 5:00-7:00 p.m. from Kent State University. Mr. Scott worked as an intervention specialist for the Minerva Local School District from 2001-2010. He then spent three years OCTOBER as a Principal and Special Services Director with the Beaver Local School District. For the past two 7-8 Lifetouch Individual Pictures years, Mr. Scott has worked as a Special Education Director in both Minerva and Brown Local Schools 12 County In-Service Day/NO SCHOOL through the Stark County Educational Service Center. Mr. Scott’s wife, Olivia, is the Health Service 22 Tri C Fundraiser Kickoff Coordinator for Minerva Local Schools. They have two children attending the district, Anderson and 23 Waiver Day/NO SCHOOL for Students, Mackenzie. Certified Staff report for inservice 23 End of First Nine Weeks 30 Report Cards go home 30 Halloween Parties...... end of day Welcome New

NOVEMBER Teachers 5 Parent Teacher Conferences.... 5:00-7:00 p.m. Minerva Elementary welcomes four new teachers to 5 Cookie Dough Pick Up our building for the 2015-2016 school year. Jenna 12 Parent Teacher Conferences.... 5:00-7:00 p.m. Sweitzer is a graduate of the University of Akron 26-30 NO SCHOOL/Thanksgiving Break and will be teaching third grade this school year. She comes to Minerva with two years experience as a Title One reading teacher from Perry Local. Minerva DECEMBER Elementary also hired three new Title One reading teachers. Hillary Hoppel and Brittany Taylor are 18 Winter Holiday Parties (end of day) both starting their first years in the classroom after student teaching at Minerva Elementary School and 2-Jan. 3 Winter Break/NO SCHOOL graduating from the University of Akron last year. Amanda Widlicka comes to Minerva Elementary with two years experience from Perry Local Schools. She is a graduate of the University of Malone. JANUARY Minerva Elementary is excited to have all four of these teachers making a positive impact on our 4 School Resumes students each and every day. 15 End of Second Nine Weeks 15 Waiver Day/NO SCHOOL for Students, Certified Staff Reports for Inservice Student Drop-Off and Pickup 18 NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Day 22 Report Cards Go Home Morning Drop-Off/ Afternoon Pickup Parent drop-off and pickup can be crazy when dealing with 800 students. To make mornings and afternoons run a bit smoother, please follow the procedures listed below.

Buddy Benches Morning Drop-Off • 8:10-8:40 am If a student feels lonely at recess, all they have to do is sit on Use curbside service to drop off students at Door A in the front of the building. This is the only door a Buddy Bench that was placed out on the playground. When that is open in the morning. Please do not use the Library or YMCA parking lots for drop-off and a student sits on a Buddy Bench, they are inviting other pickup. students to become their friend. The benches were dedicated on April 10, 2015, after an anti-bully assembly. Afternoon Pickup • 3:15 pm There are several pick-up options. Please make sure your child and his/her teacher know which door you will use during afternoon dismissal. Minerva Elementary is on Door A - Curbside pick-up in a vehicle Facebook and Twitter Minerva Elementary will be sharing its 2015-2016 school year Door D - KINDERGARTEN Pick-up ONLY. Please do not arrive before 3:00 pm due to the Middle story on social media. Please like our Minerva Elementary School bus pick-up. School page on Facebook and follow elementary principal PLAYGROUND - Walkers & Car-Riders (students meet an adult or walk to a parked car along the Mark Scott @MarkscottMES, and assistant principal Diane sidewalk by the playground fence) Ruff @DianeruffMES, for updates about positive events taking place and information about our school. Bus dismissal begins at 3:20 at Doors D & J

10 MANE EVENT Fall 2015 Minerva Elementary Attendance and Absence Electronic GradeBook Program ProgressBook GradeBook is a classroom management solution that integrates grade book, lesson plan development, Procedures/Policies attendance, special education, and parent communication into one comprehensive, web-based system. The ProgressBook Absence from School and/or Class ParentAccess website displays student’s averages, progress Poor attendance disrupts the continuity of instruction. Classroom participation is an important facet details, report cards, attendance, schedule, homework, of the educational process and cannot be reconstructed. A correlation exists between attendance and classroom information, events and other school information achievement. At Minerva Elementary, all students are expected to be in attendance in school, in class, in read-only format. every day. 1. If it is necessary for an elementary child to be absent from school, the following expectations are From any computer with Internet access, ParentAccess to be met: provides both parents and students with 24/7 access to school a. In compliance with the Missing Child Law of the State of Ohio, we ask all parents to notify the grades, homework, school resources and teacher messaging. school office each day of a student’s absence by calling Minerva Elementary at 330.868.4011. • Easily check student grades online along with student b. When returning to school after an absence, it is the responsibility of the student to arrange for averages, test and assignment scores, assignment details, make-up work. homework, participation, teacher messages, attendance, teacher web pages, student schedules, report cards and Attendance Policy more. State law specifically requires that every child up to the age of 18 must attend school. Absences are • Parents can view all of their children’s progress from a either classified as excused or unexcused. The law is very clear on what constitutes a legal excuse for single login. an absence from school. • Monthly planner helps organize students’ homework and Reasons for excused absence from school (based on Ohio attendance laws) extra-curricular activities. 1. Illness (doctors excuse may be required) 5. Observation of religious holidays • Easy access to contact information allows parents and 2. Illness inside the immediate family (with limitations) 6. Medical appointment teachers to readily communicate. 3. Death in the immediate family 7. Court appearance 4. Death outside the immediate family • Encourages students to be accountable for their educational responsibilities. Because of the wide variety of reasons for a student’s absence from school, the validity of an absence will be determined by the administration in each individual case. When a student reaches five (5) • Immediately identify and communicate with teachers about absences, a medical excuse will be required and a reminder letter will be sent home to the parent potential errors on assignment marks. reviewing the excused absence policy. After a student reaches fifteen (15) absences, a required joint • Routinely monitor student attendance and tardiness. meeting with parents, administration and support agencies will be held.

The Class of 2028 Are You in the Loop? Don’t miss important phone messages from our Participates in “Get Ready school. Minerva Elementary uses automated calling for Kindergarten” Program for important announcements and reminders. If From August 10- you are not receiving messages or have recently 14, 2015, 120 changed your phone number, please call the office at students enrolled 330-868-4011 to update your phone information. in kindergarten for the new school year and participated STAY CONNECTED New Cafeteria Floor in our Get Ready for Kindergarten program. Installed Students spent four half-days working with their Minerva Elementary School new kindergarten teachers. They took part in 130 Bonnieview Avenue Minerva Elementary received an upgrade in fun learning activities and explored Minerva Minerva, Ohio 44657 the cafeteria this summer by laying new tile in Elementary to ensure they were prepared and 330-868-4011 place of the carpet. Minerva Local maintenance comfortable for the first day of school. Students Fax: 330-868-3681 staff completed the removal of the existing were provided a no-cost breakfast and lunch each carpet flooring and all finishing of the new tile day and Principal Mark Scott provided parents with Mr. Mark Scott...... Principal while MInerva graduate Marty Peterson of a brief orientation. Students were also provided bus Mrs. Diane Ruff...... Assistant Principal MTK Flooring completed the installation. A orientation and took a short ride in the community. Mrs. Shirley Krumlauf...... Secretary cost analysis of the project has the new floor All six kindergarten teachers participated in the Mrs. Jeannette Haas...... Secretary paying for itself in a very timely manner due to program as well as staff members from our partners a reduction in maintenance hours and supplies. Guidance in the SPARK Program. The week concluded with Mrs. Dianne Ferrell...... Guidance Counselor a Get Ready for Kindergarten Celebration on the elementary playground, sponsored by the PTO. http://mlsd.sparcc.org 11 MANE EVENT District News

12 MANE EVENT Fall 2015