Rootstown Communicator Highlights AT&T Classroom by Sarah West Miss West’S Second Grade Classroom Recently Spent Two Weeks at Kent State’S AT&T Classroom

Page 1 The Standard Is Excellence

Home he ummer of t The S s Rover Rootstown 2018 Communicator Rootstown Local Schools • 4140 State Route 44 • Rootstown, Ohio 44272 • (330) 325-9911 News From Around the District Lowe’s Toolbox for Education By Emily Nyszczy

Rootstown High School has received a $5,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant to start a robotics course and club. Students will start the course with an introduction to the engineering design process and robotics through inquiry based activities, engaging students from the start as they learn that most things around them have been made through the engineering design process. As they work through and apply this new set of vocabulary, students will be challenged to think creatively to solve application problems of their new found knowledge. Then, they will progress into learning 3D CAD software, a demanding yet rewarding process challenging their visual-spatial skills. This is followed by the instruction of mechanics needed so that they can develop and construct their robots. The final project consists of students designing and constructing a robot to accomplish a task set forth by the nationally recognized VEX robotics program. These robots will compete at a Parent Technology Night, where all students will be able to show off their hard work over the semester. We are so thankful for our opportunity to grow our technology program and help our students become 21st century learners. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @rovers_tech for updates over the course of the year!

Superintendent’s Message

As I reflect upon the 2017-18 school year, I am extremely proud of the progress that our students have made. The students have made some impressive accomplishments inside and outside of the classroom. I want to congratulate our students for their hard work, and I would like to thank the faculty and staff for their dedication to improving each student’s academic growth and for making a difference in their lives.

Andrew Hawkins Also, I would like to thank the parents and community for your continued support of the Rootstown Local Superintendent School District. The Rootstown Board of Education has decided to place an issue on the November ballot to address our school facilities. As a result, Hasenstab Architects and Rockmill Financial have been selected to assist the Board and the community in determining the design and funding mechanics of this ballot issue. Please visit our district website at www.rootstown.sparcc.org to view the information presented at the previous community meetings as well as upcoming community meeting dates. Finally, I also would like to congratulate the Class of 2018 and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors, and wel- come our incoming Kindergarteners, the Class of 2031! If you have any questions regarding our school district, feel free to contact me. Have a great summer!

Andrew Hawkins Superintendent Page 2 News From the Treasurer’s Office Do you remember the electrical blackout in August 2003? On Sunday, August 17, a series of failures across the Midwest left 50 million people in eight states and Canada without electricity. In New York City, it knocked out power to cell phones, subways, and even Wall Street. While many problems caused a domino effect across the Northeast, one issue with a power transmission line from the Hanna Substation is suspected as being part of the chain of events that led to the blackout. In response, there has been an effort to rebuild the aging electrical infrastructure in Ohio that contributed to the problem. Rootstown Public Utility Property Values

Tax Year Public Utility Values Over the last five years, Rootstown has seen extraordinary growth in Public 2005 $ 10,219,960.00 Utility property valuation. In the last two years, valuation has increased by 2006 $ 9,873,850.00 95%. This is due to the American Transmission Systems Hanna-Shalersville Connie Baldwin 2007 $ 8,511,840.00 Transmission Line Replacement Project. You may have watched some of the Treasurer 2008 $ 8,560,640.00 upgrades to the high-tension power lines going in across town. In 2015, the 2009 $ 8,635,130.00 project added $5,353,190 in new construction, a 39.4% increase. In 2016, the project grew by 2010 $ 8,682,630.00 $7,548,450, another 40% increase. By 2017, total public utility valuation had more than doubled to $29,819,850. Public Utility Property is taxed at the full voted millage rate of 65.4 mills. (Unlike 2011 $ 8,938,330.00 Residential which is taxed only at the effective millage rate of 21.42 mills and Commercial, which 2012 $ 9,592,400.00 is taxed at the effective rate of 27.05 mills). Not only has the growth provided more electrical 2013 $ 10,593,010.00 dependability, the increased revenue to the school district has provided relief to the taxpayers from 2014 $ 13,589,280.00 asking for new operating funds. 2015 $ 18,947,670.00 2016 $ 26,496,120.00 2017 $ 29,819,850.00 Connie Baldwin Treasurer Assistant Superintendent’s Message Terri Hrina-Treharn - Assistant Superintendent, (330)325-2014 Personalized Learning Cohort Throughout this school year I have been meeting with a group of teachers across the district to study personalized learning and see how we can start to make changes that would impact student learning. This is an approach to learning and instruction that is designed around individual readiness, strengths, needs and interests. Characteristics include such things as student voice and choice, student conferencing, and flexible learning spaces. Teachers have engaged in a variety of activities such as participating in professional development, doing walkthroughs in each other’s classrooms, trying new instructional strategies, giving feedback on lessons, self-re- flecting and incorporating technolo- Terri Hrina-Treharn gy and flexible seating just to name Assistant a few. The response from teachers Superintendent and students alike has been very positive. One teacher shared, “I never realized how much of an impact flexible seating could have on my classroom management and student collaboration. Daily, I have students ask if we would be able to use the flexible seats. I get students that I had previously come to my room and ask, ‘Why didn’t you do this when we were in here?’ or ‘I wish I was in your class this year.’”

R-Stars!!! Hopefully you have seen our postings on social media or have been a parent lucky enough to get a phone call to hear your child has been chosen! This is a new incentive we did this school year. Once a month I stopped in a classroom in each building and asked the teacher if they had any “R-Stars.” The teacher let me know which student was chosen as the R-Star as well as why that student was chosen. Students then got their picture taken with the R-Star, received an R-Star t-shirt, chose a prize, and I called their parent/guardian right then and there to share the good news. Please check out our R-Stars for the second half of the year! Page 3 From the Office of Special Education Marcy Spence - Director of Special Education, (330)325-4144 Child Find It is hard to believe that the end of another school year is rapidly approaching! The special education department has had a busy and productive year identifying, intervening, guiding and supporting our families and students with disabilities. As we continue the process of planning for the fall, it is an important time of the year to remind our families and the Rootstown community at large of the district’s responsibility to identify, locate and evaluate all children who may have, or be suspected of having, a disability. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that assures children and youth with disabilities a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). There are six guiding principles of IDEA, one of which, Zero Reject, addresses the Child Find issue. This tenant stipulates that a student must be determined to have a disability that is covered under the IDEA and, because of that disability, the child is in need of specially designed Marcy Spence instruction (special education) and related services. Child Find is the name given to the process required by the Ohio Depart- Director of Special ment of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, through which Ohio schools engage in this process – that is, we identify, Education locate and evaluate all children from three years of age through twenty-one with disabilities. Additionally, through the Child Find process, our schools work hand-in-hand with the state’s early intervention program, Bright Beginnings (formerly, Help Me Grow) to identify, locate and evaluate all children birth through their second birthday, who have or are suspected of having, a disability. The district’s responsibility extends to all children, including those who are in school, advancing from grade to grade, homeless, migrant, wards of the state or enrolled in a private school. Once the district has located and identified a child with a suspected disability, the district commences an extensive multi-factored evaluation process. In the state of Ohio, a child may be found disabled and eligible for special education and related services under one of fourteen catego- ries. These include: Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Emotional Disturbance, Multiple Disabilities, Deafness, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disabil- ity, Orthopedically Impaired, Other Health Impaired, Specific Learning Disability, Speech-Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment (including Blindness) and one preschool disability category, Developmental Delay. Rootstown Local Schools takes its Child Find responsibility very seriously. We are committed to the premise that every child can learn if given appropriate instruction and the right supports. We ask for the community’s help in “finding” any child who may have a disability in order that our district may uphold this essential component of IDEA. During the summer, and, as the new school year begins, any parent, relative, concerned citizen or public/private agency staff member who has a concern about a child’s need for special education and related services is asked to contact our department at 330-325-4144.

Have a restful and enjoyable summer!

Rootstown District News Fit Club By Wendy Lara and Danielle Ray The Elementary students just wrapped up the 5th year of Fit Club. Fit Club consists of 4th and 5th grade boys and girls. Fit club was started and is organized by NEOMED students along with Mrs. Danielle Ray, Elementary School Counselor, and Mrs. Wendy Lara, High School Sec- retary. The students have learned the importance of moving and being active. Activities they enjoy are stretching and many different fun games involving lots of running. Over the years Zumba Fitness has become one of the favorite activities of Fit Club. Fit Club will start again for a new session in the fall. Did you know, in her spare time, Mrs. Lara is a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor?

Pictured left to right, Riley Monegan, Colbie Curall, Reise Thomas, and Autumn Riemenschneider Hannah Hindel Page 4 More District News Rubber Band Contest This is the sixth year that Rootstown eighth grade students have participated in the Rubber Band Contest for Young Inventors sponsored by the Akron Global Polymer Academy at the University of Akron.

The students were required to “demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity by creating an invention that incorporates the use of rubber bands.” Along with the invention, each student wrote an essay explaining what the invention was, how it worked, how the rubber bands were incorporated, and how the world would benefit from the invention.

The following students entered the contest: Landon Bengtson, Emma Borberly, Clara Butcher, Ne- veah Campbell, Stephen Corley, Isaac DiTirro, Delta Nichols, Emma Parrish, and Autumn Stefancik. We have two finalists this year. Gyllien Anderson is a finalist in the science and engineering category, and Jack Foster is a finalist in the arts and leisure category. As finalists, they will each receive $150.

“1984” The students in eighth grade Honors ELA read “1984” by George Orwell. They then traveled to Magical Theatre in Barberton, Ohio to see the play. As a culminating activity, they created the rubric and board games with standards based questions. The winner of each game had to love Big Brother. Page 5 High School A3: Academics... Arts... Athletics Ward Davis Building (330) 325-7911 • James Conley - Principal P.B.I.S. (Positive Behavior Intervention and JUULing Supports) Newest Vape Trend We have made many new changes to our PBIS It looks like a small USB flash drive but contains system. Starting with our new acronym of Rovers the nicotine equivalent of a pack of cigarettes, and are Responsible, Respectful, and Role Models. often escapes detection. The trendy gadget debuted This acronym is applied to a matrix of locations in 2015, and its popularity among teens has seemed throughout the building to promote positive to explode overnight. According to the Center for behaviors and hold students accountable for their Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a 2016 behavior. The three locations the high school has study, more than 2 million U.S. middle and high chosen to focus on are the restrooms, cafeteria, and James Conley school students used e-cigarettes in the past 30 Kalee Oberlin hallways. In the fall, we will be holding a meeting H.S. Principal days, including 4.3% of middle school students H.S. Counselor for parents and community members to hopefully and 11.3% of high school students. E-cig use in extend PBIS into the homes and businesses of our community. Ulti- general has grown an alarming 900% among high school students from mately, when students leave the halls of Rootstown High School we 2011-2015. want them to be Responsible, Respectful and Role Models. To further connect PBIS to our community we are reaching out to community The JUUL is a devious danger. The way a JUUL works is it heats members for support and ideas. One of the important pieces of PBIS is up a liquid made up of artificial flavors, nicotine, glycerol, and pro- rewarding students that exemplify positive behavior. If you as a com- pylene glycol. The device turns the liquid into a vapor you inhale. munity member have ideas on how to reward students that are mod- Since e-cigs don’t burn real smoke, but rather vapor clouds that mimic eling positive behavior or donations to reward students, please reach smoke, people often claim they’re safer than cigarettes. However, tests out to Mr. Conley at 330-325-7911 Ext. 1002 or email him at conley@ have found that the vapor from some e-cigs contains carcinogens and roversk12.org. toxic chemicals, as well as tiny, potentially toxic particles from the device itself. Smokeless doesn’t mean harmless. Is your teen JUULing? A JUUL device kit starts at about $35 and a package of four JUUL pods is $15.99. A JUUL is only meant to be purchased by individuals 21 or over, and on its website, JUUL has partnered with Vertad Technologies to validate your name and date of birth against public record. It’s important to start a conversation with your teens about e-cigarettes, whether you suspect they are using them Girls 4STEAM on not. With the Juul, you might open with a general, nonthreatening By Emily Nyszczy question, “Hey, I just read about this thing. What have you heard about it?”—and see what they say. Explain the serious health risks of e-ciga- Ten young ladies from RHS rettes and your concerns about potentially developing a habit. attended GIRLS 4STEAM: A hackathon event, at Kent State “Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students.” Morbidity this spring. This event was and Mortality Weekly Report, Center for Disease Control, 16 June designed to inspire students in 2017, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6623a1.htm. grades 7-12 to become technology innovators. During the course of the day, the young ladies learned about circuits, website design, python programming, 3D design, and much more! At the end of the day, they were given time to work on passion projects and then presented these to their parents, mentors, and other participants. Our teams created two computer games, designs in 3D, twinkling star lights, and a modified heart rate sensor and notification light (shown in picture). They left the day excited to bring their new knowledge back to the school. I am beyond impressed with all of the hard work, perseverance, and dedication they showed over the course of their Saturday, making me #proudtobearov- er.

Page 6 Middle School Learners Today - Leaders Tomorrow

Mabel Schnee Building (330) 325-9956 • Robert Campbell - Principal Industrial Tech Sixth Grade Math Many students in industrial tech this year Miss Lieberth’s sixth grade math students designed Tiny Houses attempted and successfully completed advanced inspired by the TV show, “Tiny House Hunters.” This project allowed projects. From cabinets to desks, from wood students to bring creativity into the math classroom as well as apply carvings to jewelry, making projects ran the their geometry skills to solve real-world problems. The students were gamut, whatever their creative young minds could required to find the area and perimeter of each object within their home conceive. However, one student demonstrated and construct their own word problems regarding their homes for other exemplary ability and created a soprano ukulele classmates to solve. The students worked very hard on their tiny hous- completely from scratch, not es and showcased both their artistic and mathematical talents! Great from a kit. Robert Campbell job, Sixth Graders! Gyllien Anderson had M.S. Principal an idea and accomplished the challenging task with enthusiasm and deter- mination rarely seen by an eighth grader. At this point she need only apply the finish and strings to complete her luthiery endeavor. Gyllien, like many other students this year, has been a joy to work with.

Eighth Grade Math Keeping Teens Engaged in the Summer Bayley Reyes, Austin Burke and Logan Furry use a straw, dental floss and cardboard For middle schoolers, summer is a time to relax, to represent wires connecting an antenna to a unwind, and enjoy life outside of school. Sleeping, roof. The students then used the Pythagorean swimming, watching YouTube/playing Fortnight, Theorem to determine the length needed for and eating are all perfect ways for teenagers to each wire if the figure was enlarged to actual spend their days all summer long (at least in their size. This helped students visualize the triangle opinions). Unfortunately, those activities alone do formed and what missing information they not allow for a balance between fun and structure needed to find. There were wires that required during those summer months. Since most families Amelia Mohan the students to use the Pythagorean Theorem are those where the parent(s) work during the day, M.S. Counselor multiple times. it is important to try to vary the activities for children so that they are not completely bored by the Cameron Kuharich and Autumn Stefancik middle of July. Here are some suggestions to help your children have a use their smartphones to scan QR codes. These fun and healthy summer, while keeping them busy and more productive codes were clues to solve a puzzle. The clues during their time off: described different characteristics of graphs that were hung up outside. Students needed to 1. Foster an environment for reading. Many children read during the determine which graphs matched their clues. school year as part of their classwork, but do not pick up a book Then, students were left with one graph that all summer long. Encourage your child to find books on topics was never described. The students then created that interest them (this includes comic books, newspapers, maga- their own clue for that graph. zines) and have them read a little bit each day. That will make the transition back to school and homework when August comes much Students in Pre-integrated math worked in teams to create robots. easier. The robots were to contain various shapes (cylinders, spheres and 2. Encourage help around the house. Doing chores not only helps cones) that they have studied how to find the volume of in class. Stu- you out during the day, but also helps children to have life skills dents were to then find the they will have into adulthood, be better team players, make them volumes of each part of their more responsible as well as help them build self-esteem through a robots. Finally, students job well done. created a story and name about their robots. Many of 3. Organize family activities. These activities should be done daily, our robots had very helpful but if that is not possible, they should be at least 3-4 times weekly. skills and abilities including Quality time spent with your kids doesn’t mean you have to travel completing homework, wifi around or spend large amounts of money. Play catch outside, go to capabilities, entertainer and the library, or watch a movie together. The time you spend togeth- time traveler. er as a family helps build your relationship as a family. It is critical to get time together that does not involve working or school. 8th Grade Language Arts 4. Make time to exercise. Being an overweight child leads to Students in eighth grade Honors ELA participated in the American emotional and physical problems including depression, diabetes, Chemical Society’s Illustrated Poem contest. Emma Campbell won heart disease and knee and foot problems. Exercising can include for the Akron area grades 6-8 category which includes Portage, Stark, walking, walking the dog, bicycling, swimming, and even some and Summit counties. The theme was “Dive Into Marine Chemistry.” dance video games! She won a $25 Amazon gift card, and the class won a $25 Domino’s Pizza Party. Congratulations, Emma! Allow your child to enjoy the summertime - August will be here before you know it. Remember that summer can be enjoyable and productive See the website for more information. at the same time. I hope that you all have a wonderful summer and we https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/outreach/ccew/illustrat- will see you next school year! ed-poem-contest/winners.html Page 7 Elementary School R o ve r P.R . I . D. E

Bertha Bradshaw Building (330) 325-7971 • Jeffrey Turner - Principal As the 2017-18 school year has come to a close, “Ravenna Creates Art On Main” returns for 2018 on Saturday, June I would like to acknowledge those who helped 23rd from 11a.m. to 5p.m. Art On Main will be held along Main Street make this a successful year. I appreciate all of your between Prospect and Meridian Streets in Ravenna. Our art teacher, support. Miss Horvath, will host a display of the elementary students’ artwork during this free event. Special thanks to: Congratulations • The Rootstown Elementary students, who come Congratulations to Mr. Tim Springirth (Grade 5 Intervention Spe- to school with a positive attitude and terrific work cialist), who was recognized as an outstanding educator at a banquet in ethic. April. Mr. Springirth won the award for State Support Team Region 8 • The teachers, who spend many hours preparing and will travel to Columbus in June to see if he is awarded top educator lessons to maximize learning opportunities for of Ohio! our students. Jeffrey Turner • NEOMED, Townhall II, Children’s Advantage, PTA Board for the 2018-19 School Year Portage County Sheriff’s Department, Mahoning E.S. Principal County ESC, Kent State AT&T Classroom and • Jamie Matthews-President • Ralph Paulus-Vice President SST8 for their service to the building all year. • Douglas Matthews-Treasurer • Deanna Day-Secretary • The parents and community members, who supported the building by Congratulations to the new board members! Thank you to the volunteering at the school. 2017-2018 Board! • The PTA, for their support of the staff and students throughout the year. As we prepare for the relaxing summer ahead, I • The district and school support staff, for helping to make the school want to thank all of the parents, students, teachers run smoothly throughout the year. and staff for a wonderful school year! I feel very As you can see, many people helped make this a wonderful year. fortunate and lucky to work in such a welcoming Please know that I appreciate everyone’s time and effort to make this and kind district with great students. This has been school excellent. Enjoy your summer as a family. a busy year for all! Below is a brief recap of this past year’s activities. Sincerely, Mr. Turner Red Flags This year, our 5th grade class completed the STEM Lab Red Flags program. With this program, students The lab was purchased and equipped through a grant written by learned what positive mental health is, how to ob- Danielle Ray the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center/STEM and was tain it, what mental illness is including depression, Elem. Counselor made available for districts that are aligned with the Mahoning County the signs and symptoms of depression, and who/ Educational Service Center. On May 10th, our grade 3-5 students were how to seek help. This class did a phenomenal job able to experience the use of 3D printing, robotics and spheros, drones, participating, asking questions, and learning the information. Because virtual reality goggles, and virtual reality learning. This was a great untreated depression has a high correlation with suicide attempts and opportunity for our students to experience STEM - S(Science) T(Tech- completions, it is my belief that there exists a strong need for this type nology) E(Engineering) M(Mathematics). of curriculum to be offered for our students. Sadly, suicide still is the third leading cause of death in teenagers and young adults. As a parent, Open House 2018-19 listed below are signs and symptoms of depression: • Anger, irritability and agitation are typical • Kindergarten will be on August 23rd from 5:00-6:00 p.m. • Deep feelings of sadness and hopelessness • Grades 1-2 will be on August 23rd from 6:00-7:00 p.m. • Anxiety and fearfulness • Grades 3-5 will be on August 23rd from 6:30-7:30 p.m. • Physical complaints: headaches, stomachaches • Withdrawal from family & friends Kindergarten 2018-2019 • Loss of interest/pleasure in activities • Extreme sensitivity to rejection & failure • Kindergarten Baseline Screening will take place on August 21st and • Low self-esteem, guilt, feel worthless 22nd at the scheduled time given in April. • Trouble concentrating & making decisions • Class lists for kindergarten will be posted on the west doors after • Loss of energy/increased fatigue 12:30 p.m. August 23rd. • Insomnia or oversleeping • Changes in appetite & weight (up or down) • Half of kindergarten will attend school on Thursday, August 30th, and the other half will attend on Friday, August 31st. All parents might see any of these symptoms in their children on • All of kindergarten will attend on Tuesday, September 4th. occasion. It is time to seek professional help when: • Multiple symptoms appear • Over a long period of time Grades 1-5 Class Lists for 2018-19 • Symptoms are interfering with the child’s ability to function: Class lists for grades 1-5 will be posted on the west doors after 3:00 refusal to go to school, personal hygiene, grades, lack of friends, p.m. on August 22, 2018. troubled relationships, running away, self-injury, substance abuse • Child talks about wanting to die and has thoughts of suicide Accelerated Reader Celebration Positive Behavior Intervention Supports - PBIS Grades 2-5 students who met or exceeded their AR goal were treated to a trip to Pump-It-Up! We had nearly Grade 1: Ava-Elizabeth Bell As we look to the future of our school, we are continuously reflect- 400 students who made their goals all Grade 2: Addison Pownall ing on the needs of the staff and students, as well as how to best serve four nine weeks! The following students everyone. As such, we as a district have made changes to focus on the Grade 3: Isaac Simkanin behavior and behavior expectations that a proud Rover should demon- had the highest AR goal completion per- Grade 4: Ethan Oesch centage for the school year: strate. As we enter the 2018-2019 school year, we will lose our Rover Grade 5: Abby Borbely PRIDE acronym and replace it with the following: Summer Accelerated Reader (AR) By focusing on these areas, students Please join us Mondays this summer and staff will be better equipped to be at Reed Memorial Library in Ravenna successful in their educational journey to to AR test on books read at home. We becoming lifelong learners. Please look will alternate morning and evening for more information to come home closer sessions every other week to try and a c c o m m o d a t e w o r k s c h e d u l e s . S t u d e n t s *No AR the week of July 2rd be- to the start of, and throughout the next may only test at the library on the as- cause of the July 4th holiday. school year! signed days. Page 8 Athletics Keith Waesch - Athletic Director, (330) 325-2006 Baseball Team Wins Back-to-Back Caleb Edwards (3rd) and Michael Prikryl (qualifier) became Roots- town’s first-ever freshmen to wrestle in the state tournament. Championships The Rover baseball program won its second straight league title this spring, joining the 1988 & 1989 squads as the only time in school history the program has notched back-to-back league championships. After beginning the season with a series split against Lake Center Christian, the Rovers recorded eight straight conference victories to claim the out- right title by two games over Mogadore. Keith Waesch Athletic Director The 19-3 overall record combined with the 20-7 record from a season ago marks the best two-year Photo courtesy of Eldreth Photography run (winning percentage-wise) in school history. Rootstown Leads All-Sports Trophy Race The Rovers were led by a tremendous pitching staff (1.90 ERA) and At press time, Rootstown appears headed toward winning the an offense that scored 198 runs (9 runs a game) while batting .349 as a P.T.C. County Division All-Sports Trophy race. Final results will be team. announced in early June once all spring sports competition has been Four Rovers earned All-Portage Trail Conference first-team honors. completed. Senior outfielder Giovanni Sibbio (.360 avg., 16 stolen bases), junior The trophy is awarded to the school with the highest number of pitcher Ben Shank (4-0, 1.40 ERA, .394 avg., 31 runs scored), junior points earned in both the P.T.C.’s County and Metro Divisions at the catcher Thayne Ocel (.468 avg., 33 RBIs) and junior third baseman Matt conclusion of the school year. Points are earned based on a school’s McGrath (.362 avg., 30 runs scored, 19 RBIs, 14 doubles) were selected finish in each sport in which at least five schools in the division field a by the coaches as first-teamers at their respective positions. program. Ocel was also selected by the baseball coaches’ association to the All- Crestwood (County Division) and Woodridge (Metro Division) won Ohio second team. the all-sports trophy a year ago as the trophy was awarded for the first time Rover Winter Sports Scholar-Athletes The following winter sports participants earned scholar-athlete status during the 2017-18 school year. A student-athlete becomes a scholar-athlete by earning a varsity letter and a 3.4 grade-point average or higher during the season. CHEERLEADING: Allie Chapple & Jeanette Noveron BOYS BOWLING: Justin Devies & Josh Flachbart GIRLS BASKETBALL: Savannah Stefancik, Nicole Bobbs, Sarah Caruso, Alyssa Reinagle, Natalie Siglow & Kasidy Smith BOYS BASKETBALL: Jacob Hays, Adam Helmling, Caleb Kaut, Nathan Moore, Michael Shipp, Ben Shank & Kaden Grubbs WRESTLING: Owen Conroy, Ryan Boyle, Niko Chilson & Alex Banks Photo courtesy of Eldreth Photography Homecoming Game set for Sept. 28 Carpenter, Girls’ 4x100 Team Advance to State Meet The annual Homecoming football game has been scheduled for Junior Logan Carpenter and the Rover girls’ 4x100-meter relay team Friday, Sept. 28, vs. Southeast High School. represented Rootstown at the state track and field meet this spring. Homecoming festivities will begin at approximately 6:20 p.m. with Carpenter captured the Division III regional meet discus title with a kickoff at 7 p.m. throw of 156 feet on his final attempt at Massillon Perry High School. Carpenter qualified for the state’s biggest stage for the second consecu- The Homecoming dance will be held in the high school gym on tive year. Saturday, Sept. 29. The girls’ 4x100-meter relay team included seniors Emily Drago and Follow Rover Athletics on Twitter Meaghan Hahn, and freshmen Paige Cremeans and Alexis Washing- ton. The squad finished third at the regional meet with a time of 50.82 Rootstown athletic director Keith Waesch has established a Twitter seconds. account to keep Rover fans updated on upcoming events and game scores involving our middle and high school teams. Results from the state meet were not available at press time. You can receive daily tweets by following us @roverathletics, the official Twitter home of Rootstown athletics. Wrestling Program Continues Historic Run Those who don’t have a Twitter account, can still receive updates The Rover wrestling program continued its dominance of the Portage via text message. Simply send a text to 40404. In the body of the text, Trail Conference with its third straight league title and seventh champi- type follow @roverathletics. onship in the past eight seasons. Rover Sports Schedules on Internet The program also enjoyed success at the state level again in 2017-18 as it finished among the top 12 teams in the individual tournament for Rootstown high and middle school sports schedules are available on the seventh straight year. the Internet. Schedules can be accessed by logging on to www.sched- ulestar.com and then searching under Rootstown High School. Five Rovers qualified for the Division III state wrestling tournament this winter. Juniors Chris Langguth (4th place), Niko Chilson (5th) and The schedules are as up-to-date as those in the athletic office. Ryan Boyle (7th) placed for the second consecutive year. Schedules are subject to change. Page 9 Around Rootstown Rootstown Foundation and Alumni Association By Denny Pickens The Rootstown Foundation’s Rover Spirit Award for 2018 went to Sam DiTirro. Sam was selected by the scholarship committee based on his efforts above and beyond the average student to show Rover Spirit. Sam will receive $1000.00 toward his continuing education. Presenting the award is Vice President, Stephanie Farkash, and President, Denny Pickens.

Rootstown Lions Club By Terri Haddad The Rootstown Lions Club is a group of Rootstown Citizens that are dedicated to serving the Community of Rootstown all throughout the year through a variety of Community Projects. Our club was chartered on February 20, 1957. Our club motto is “We Serve.” Some of the recent Community Services provided by our club include: • “GOOD Awards” for Rootstown students • Backpack Ministry Donation • Annual Easter Egg Hunt • Avenue of Flags – Flags were placed along Tallmadge Rd & SR 44 • Memorial Day Parade • College Scholarships to Rootstown graduates Congratulations to our scholarship recipients, Tori Taylor and Sam DiTirro. Our club awards scholarships each year to graduating seniors of Rootstown High School. Good luck to both of you in your future endeavors.. Tori Taylor, Lion Joe Paulus and Sam DiTirro. Be sure to stop by our booth at the Portage County Randolph Fair. We are known for our signature B.B.Q. Beef Sandwiches. Our fair booth is one of our largest fundraisers of the year. You can find us across from the Grand Stand. Do you or someone you know need a reflective address sign? The purpose of the Reflective Address Signs is to help Police & Fire locate your residence quickly in the event of an emergency. For more information contact Lion Jeff Pickens at [email protected]. “Like Us” on Facebook so that you can stay abreast of current community projects and events that our club is sponsoring and the many ways we are serving the Rootstown Community all year long.

Rootstown Area Chamber of Commerce By Denese Schneckenburger Lunch and Learn You are invited to join us on June 12th, as we Lunch and Learn with Brad Ehrhart, President, Portage Development Board. Hear from Brad as he updates the group on the progress of business in Portage County, new and exciting changes taking place in the area and what The Portage Development Board can do for business of all sizes. Registration includes lunch. $8.00/person. Visit the chamber website for the registration link. www. rootstownchamber.org 2018 Scholarship Presentation Each year, the Rootstown Area Chamber of Commerce awards scholarships to graduating seniors of Rootstown High School. The Board of Directors, on behalf of all chamber member businesses are once again pleased to have been a part of this. We congratulate this year’s recipients, Desiray Furry and Salvatrice Maltempi, and wish success to all 2018 graduates. Save the Dates: 2018 Business and Community EXPO – This year’s annual EXPO will be held on Saturday, October 27th, at The NEW Center. Check the chamber’s website for booth registration and more details coming out this summer! Santa Comes to R-town – Santa will once again be visiting the R-town community on Saturday, December 1st, at the Rootstown Elementary School. More details and event sponsorship information will be posted to the chamber’s website in July.

Rootstown Township By Brett Housley The Rootstown Township Trustees would like to wish everyone a very happy and safe summer. We hope for many sunny days and that you are able to utilize and enjoy the Township park. We are in the process of expanding the trails and adding more grass fields. Don’t forget to bring your fishing pole, but remember that you can’t take the fish home with you. We would like to remind anyone that plans on using one of the pavilions that it is necessary to reserve it by calling the town hall and speaking with the Zoning Department at (330) 325-0341 or stopping by the Town hall during regular business hours. The Fire Department would like to thank everyone for their support by passing the Fire Levy. Rootstown Township is pleased to provide a FREE rapid access program to its citizens. This program allows for emergency responders to rapidly access homes to provide critical medical care without causing unnecessary and costly damage to the residence in the time of an emergency. This program consists of securing a key box outside your residence that only the Rootstown Fire Department has access to. If you are interested in finding out more about the program or would like to have one installed, please call the department at 330-325- 7233. The Road Department has been busy repairing the roads from the harsh winter. They are also doing preventive maintenance on the roads and the equipment. The township Trustees meet the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. We would love to see you there. Please check out our web page for addi- tional details and contact information for the Township Employees. Page 10 Around The Campus and Rootstown PTO News By Deeanna Egli Thank you to all the parents and teachers who have assisted with our many programs this past year. We hope you all have a safe and happy summer! It’s never too early to think about joining! All parents, teachers and community members are invited to join the PTO. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Middle School Home Ec. Room. Yearly dues are $5. Throughout the year, PTO sponsors several activities for the children including dances, 8th grade recognition and honor/merit roll awards. Help us support our wonderful Middle School teachers, staff and students! Look for the Roverwear Sale to begin in September. We appreciate your support with our fundraisers! Incoming 8th grade students – Class of 2023 – Planning for your trip to Washington DC has already begun. Trip dates are Friday, October 12th – Sunday, October 14th. If you are still interested in attending, please contact Heather Lohman at 330-221-9852 or Lynn Strahler at 330-414-5011 as soon as possible. WHY JOIN THE PTO? Be in the know. PTO helps you keep up with what’s happening at your school. You’ll find out what you can do to make a difference for your child and to make your school an even better place. Speak up. PTO is a forum for exchanging ideas. Your membership can be a means to effectively suggest changes at your child’s school and to be involved in making them happen. Through PTO you can be a more effective advocate for your child and all children. Thank you to our outgoing officers, Kathy Galloway and Jacqui Calvarese. We appreciate you! 2018-2019 Officers Co-Presidents: Deeanna Egli 330-472-9491 and Jamie Cooper, Secretary: Amber Campbell, Treasurer: Ruthann Kula

Music Boosters By Cary Stefancik, President As we reflect upon another year of accomplishments, we can be proud of how far we have come as a music program. All of our students have grown in ability and professionalism as musicians and have continued to represent our schools and community, as well as themselves, with integrity. With each performance, it is easy to see how talented they each are. When you spend time with this amazing group of young people it is quickly evident how much each contributes to our Band family. It is an awesome privilege to have seen them grow as individuals, and as a group who most often functions like a quirky and loving family. We have another successful marching season behind us and can hold onto memories of friendship and fun as our students played current pop hits like “Shut Up and Dance,” “Bang Bang,” and “Uma Thurman.” We carry with us colorful memories of our four senior Color Guard members who are about to graduate and begin their new life full of adventure. We have seen changes to our band program that has required our beginning band to move from the fifth grade to the sixth grade level. After watching their concert, we can all say not only has the sixth grade come a long way in this first year of study, but we can include this descriptor of them; Fabulous! We all look forward to hearing them grow in their musical ability. Our seventh and eighth grade band has continued to impress as they grow in their playing ability and we look forward to seeing their talent return to us in the coming years. Their concert was outstanding! Our High School Concert Band remains small, but mighty, and continues to grow. With the birth of the Jazz Band during last school year, we have seen it flourish as an extra-curricular activity this year. Jazz Band is expected to be included in the daily courses offered in the upcoming school year. With so much accomplishment behind us, you would think our Director and Music Boosters would be content, but not us! We all look to the future with anticipation of our 11 freshman and 2 new students planning to join our Marching Rovers in the fall. These new additions will take our band from only 20 musicians up to 30! Our students will again go off to Camp Whitewood to prepare for another marching season. We will add a majorette this year and will return with a new Color Guard and have a new and exciting musical line-up. We also look forward to another year of vast musical growth and plan to participate in Solo and Ensemble contests next school year. Our Booster program supports not only the bands, but the entire musical program in all three of our schools. Music Boosters impacts students in both band and choir. We supplement our quality music program with new instruments and repair of existing school owned instruments, pay for most of the cost associated with Marching band for each student, purchase recorders for the elementary students and so much more! Through support of the Boosters, you are a vital component to the success of so many students! We encourage the donation of any unwant- ed instruments to our program as we can refurbish them or trade them in towards the purchase of newer models to ensure all of our students have an opportunity to participate in the school bands. As most of our money is raised through the operation of the concession stand in Rover Stadium, we encourage your consideration to lend a hand. We always need volunteers to help run our business! If you would like to help, please contact any Booster member or Mr. McCloskey, our Director of Bands. The Boosters meet in the High School Music Room the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. Please consider joining us on June 12th.

Rootstown Travel Club By Cara Craig We are excited to announce multiple upcoming trips that any current Rootstown High School student, parents and alumni are invited to join. We have decided to plan our trips farther into the future so that students and families can plan ahead. Freshmen can now look forward to that “Senior Trip,” and students have more of a choice. Summer 2019: Barcelona, London and Paris – See the Eiffel Tower at night, stroll along the Champs Elyseés, tour Parq Guell and visit La Sagrada Familia. Finally, see the Tower of London and Big Ben. Summer 2020: The Greek Isles – Spend time walking among the whitewashed houses with a backdrop of the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea. Visit Ath- ens, Delphi, and the Temple of Poseidon. Summer 2021: The Best of Belize – Scuba dive along a Barrier Reef, float through underground caves and rivers and discover Mayan ruins. Summer 2022: WWII and the Western Front: England, France, Germany and Austria - Experience the D Day beaches of Normandy, visit the battle scarred Rouen Cathedral and tour the sites associated with the Battle of the Bulge. Travel by train to the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charley. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Craig at [email protected]. Meetings will be held in September introducing the trips to the students. Please note this is not a school sponsored activity. Page 11 2018/2019 School Calendar August December April 23 All Certified Staff In-service 7 Interims Distributed 19 Good Friday - No School (1/2 day) 24-31 Winter Break - No School 26 Interims Distributed 24,27 All Certified Staff In-service 28 First Student Day January May 1-4 Winter Break - No School 27 Memorial Day - No School September 18 1st Semester Ends 3 Labor Day - No School 21 MLK Day - No School June 27 Interims Distributed 22 2nd Semester Begins 2 Graduation - Seniors 28 Staff Prof. Dev. Day - No 5 Last day for Students School February 6 All Certified Staff In-service 7 Parent/Teacher Conf. -Elem/ (1/2 day) October HS/MS 11 Parent/Teacher Conf. - HS/MS 22 Interims Distributed Calamity Days begin on June 6, 2019 12 NEOEA Day - No School 15 Staff Prof. Dev. Day - No 16 Parent/Teacher Conf. - MS School 18 Parent/Teacher Conf. - HS/ 18 President’s day - No School Elem March November 25-29 Spring Break - No School 1 Parent/Teacher Conf. - Elem 22 3rd Grading Period Ends 2 1st Grading Period Ends 21-23 Thanksgiving Break - No School The regular Board of Education School District Personnel meetings are held every month Superintendent...... Mr. Andrew Hawkins ...... 330-325-9911 at 6:00 p.m. Please visit our Treasurer...... Ms. Connie Baldwin ...... 330-325-9911 district website at Assistant Superintendent...... Dr. Terri Hrina-Treharn ...... 330-325-2014 www.rootstown.sparcc.org for Director of Special Education...... Ms. Marcy Spence ...... 330-325-4144 the specific dates. The public Elementary Principal...... Mr. Jeff Turner ...... 330-325-7971 is cordially invited to attend all Middle School Principal...... Mr. Robert Campbell ...... 330-325-9956 meetings. High School Principal...... Mr. James Conley ...... 330-325-7911 Note: Date may occasionally Director of Business Affairs/Trans...... Mr. Matt Collins ...... 330-325-0189 change due to inclement weather Director of Food Services...... Mrs. Peggy Shewell ...... 330-325-4139 or holidays. Board of Education President...... Mr. Tom Siciliano ...... 330-325-2176 Board of Education Vice President...... Mrs. Amanda Waesch ...... 330-351-1945 The monthly board agenda and Board of Education Leg. Liaison...... Mr. Norm Reynolds ...... 330-297-0431 minutes can be found on the Board of Education Co-Student Liaison...... Mr. Eric Kline ...... 330-357-1495 district website at Board of Education Co-Student Liaison...... Mr. Scott Krieger ...... 330-389-8278 www.rootstown.sparcc.org.

Other Numbers of Interest Rootstown Schools, in US Senator Rob Portman...... 202-222-3353 collaboration with the US Senator Sherrod Brown...... 202-224-2315 community, will provide a US Representative Jim Renacci...... 330-630-7311 quality education in a safe Governor John Kasich...... 614-466-3555 environment for students to State Senator John Eklund...... 614-644-7718 become productive, State Representative Kathleen Clyde...... 614-466-2004 Ohio Department of Education...... 877-644-6338 lifelong learners. Page 12 Rootstown Local Schools Non-Profit Org. Rootstown, Ohio 44272 U.S. Postage PAID Canton, OH Permit #207

The Rootstown Communicator Highlights AT&T Classroom By Sarah West Miss West’s second grade classroom recently spent two weeks at Kent State’s AT&T classroom. The AT&T classroom is a research laboratory where students are able to experience a technology-rich learning environment while engaging in 21st Century Learning. Prior to the experience, the children studied traditional African Folktales and the elements of these stories. At Kent, the children were visited by Dr. Babacar M’Baye, Associate Professor of English and Pan-Afri- can Studies at Kent State University. He shared with the students specific elements of African Folktales and read traditional folktales to the children. Students were also invited by Dr. D. Amy-Rose Forbes-Er- ickson, Assistant Professor of Pan-African Theatre, to visit the African Community Theater on campus. Dr. Forbes-Erickson shared versions of Anansi the spider stories and told students an Anansi story. An- ansi is a common character in African Folktales and is viewed as a “trickster.” The children used these experiences to write and digitally publish their own Anansi stories using the online platform Buncee. While at the classroom, students were introduced to their G Suite for Education accounts and worked with Google Classroom, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms. Another focus of the two-week experience was promoting students’ interest in STEM (Science, Technology, En- gineering, Math). Students used Ozobot “Smart” robots and Edisons. Students learned how to program both types of robots using drag-and- drop block-based programming language. Following their experience at the AT&T classroom, the second graders were visited in their classroom by Miss Nyszczy’s Pre-Calculus students who worked with the students on using computer programming to program the Ozobots.