December 2006/Volume 3 Mark Wood ELECTRIFIES Our Strings! Wesoloski. “Educationally, you can’t argue with the results we’ve seen. Our students are creating a better sound and pitch, and they have improved their rhythm and awareness. They are definitely taking a more active role in creating the music.” The Berea High orchestra students will again team up with Mark Wood as one of 17 orchestras selected nationwide to participate in the American String Teachers National Conference next March. He has already asked them to be his “demo group” at the conference. And if you missed this electrifying concert, be sure to mark Photograph by Dave Cornelius your calendars for NEXT October 1 & 2, when Exhilarating! Energetic! Exciting! Fast-Paced! These are some Midpark and Ford orchestra of the words Roehm Middle School students used to describe students will join with the recent “Electrify Your Strings” workshop and concert they Berea High and Roehm for performed with Mark Wood, co-founder and lead violinist of a two-day workshop and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Photograph by Dave Cornelius combined performance with More than 180 Roehm and Berea High orchestra Mark Wood and his band in Berea High student Emily Wolter students in Mrs. Debbie Wesoloski’s classes participated answers Mark Wood’s “challenge” the Ford Auditorium. in the two-day workshop, funded by the Martha Holden in concert. Said Emily, “It was my moment, so I went for it!” Jennings Foundation, the Educational Community Foundation, the Nordson Foundation, the Berea High School PTA, and Wal-Mart. Mrs. Wesoloski adapted Mark Wood’s original compositions and arrangements for the event. IN THIS ISSUE “I thought it was really exciting to meet Mark Wood District Recognized for Excellent Financial Accountability ...... 2 and see what he could do with his seven-string electric violin,” Riveredge Students Make a Difference in the World ............. 2 said Roehm’s Angela Holecko. Emily Poirier agreed. “He was District Teachers Participate in History Grant Project ............ 3 so full of energy and he was able to transfer it to you in the Brookview is “Wild About Books” ...................................... 3 performance.” Allyson (“Chipmunk”) Montgomery said he Ohio Boychoir Invites Another Fairwood Singer ................... 3 made the performance fun and exciting. “It was just awesome Midpark Grad is Miss Ohio ................................................ 4 when we got to stand up and dance!” Added Olivia DiBiasio, Community Recognition and Service ................................. 4 Midpark Student Earns Hero Award ................................... 4 “It made me feel totally different performing with all the Berea High Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month .................. 5 lights, the music, and all the fun things we did!” Berea High Student Published in Medical Journal ................. 5 What was it like performing with a “rock star” like Mark BHS Visual Effect Students are Making Movies .................... 5 Wood? “He didn’t act famous – he was very down to earth,” Smith School 40th Anniversary Blog .................................. 5 said Sedona Strick. Midpark Athletic Hall of Fame Induction 2006 ..................... 6 Mrs. Wesoloski agreed. “We all had a great experience Midpark Senior is Wendy’s Heisman Award Winner .............. 6 Midpark Junior is Southwestern Conference’s MVP ............... 6 with Mark Wood. I thought he was a complete professional, Midpark Grad is Mr. Hero Spokesperson ............................. 6 and he really DID electrify us!” But did it have a positive Some Images of the First Day of School ............................ 7 impact on student achievement? “Absolutely!” said Mrs. Berea Schools Receive EXCELLENT Rating .......................... 8 Berea City School District Recognized Riveredge Students Make a for Excellent Financial Accountability Difference in the World Two years ago, staff, students, and parents at Riveredge Elementary School began a project that would help them to “make a difference in the world.” As part of the school’s annual Right to Read Week, they developed “Reading - A Recipe for Success.” In collaboration with Cuyahoga Community College and the Metro Campus Hospitality Program (Bistro Restaurant), they requested favorite recipes from staff and community members, and created a cookbook published through grants from the Educational Community Foundation and contributions from the Nordson Corporation Foundation and Photograph by Dave Cornelius the Riveredge PTA. (from left) Board of Education president Gale Patten, They then sold Treasurer Randy Scherf, Auditor of State Betty Montgomery, the cookbooks, and Board vice president Dave Pusti during the presentation of the Auditor’s Award for the Berea City School District. and raised more Auditor of State Betty Montgomery presented the Berea than $1,000. With additional help City School District, under the direction of Treasurer Randal Photograph by Dave Cornelius and support from Scherf, with the Auditor’s Award for the district’s exemplary (from left) Adam Martincic, Vanessa 2004 Annual Financial Report. No citations were reported in the Berea Rotary, Boutros, Mrs. Cindy Cordon, Mr. Jack Kafer Riveredge sent (Berea Rotary), and Nick Washington the audit for the year ending 2004. review the Riveredge Cookbook that was “I applaud the Berea City School District’s staff for the proceeds to created and sold to raise money for the school in South Africa. presenting a clear and thorough report of the district’s The Masakhane finances,” Montgomery said. “Fewer than five percent of all Education Centre the agencies we audit are eligible for this award. That says a Masiphumelete in South Africa. The Masakhane Education great deal about the district’s commitment to safeguarding Centre offers early learning opportunities to 106 children taxpayer dollars.” ranging in age from two to six years old, and provides Montgomery also noted the district received the the children with educational opportunities, as well as a Award of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting balanced diet. from the Government Finance Officers Association for 2004. The project also connected Riveredge students with This honor is given to government agencies that publish a the students at the Masakhane Centre through a series of comprehensive financial report according to a strict set of letters. Not only were the Riveredge students thrilled to standards. receive letters back; they also knew they were helping the Montgomery’s office is responsible for auditing nearly African students by giving them a chance to practice writing 5,000 units of state and local governments. in English. And the best part of all was when the school received pictures of the new Masakhane Centre - visible proof that their efforts really had made a difference! Our Vision: To Inspire Excellence Our Mission: To help students achieve dreams they never imagined possible Our Goals: Accelerate Student Achievement Fund the Future Promote Excellence with One Voice 2 District Teachers Participate in Brookview is “Wild About Books” History Grant Project Since January 2006, several Berea City School District teachers have participated in a nationally-funded Teaching American History Grant: the Rivers, Roads, & Rails Project. Mrs. Lisa Hixson, Mrs. Mickey Krivak, and Mrs. Jen Vassel of Brookpark Memorial Elementary School, Mrs. Robin Lashley from Ford Middle School, and Mr. Bill Boone of Berea High School were selected from 38 districts along the Ohio & Erie Canalway for this unique professional development experience, which also involves a three-year commitment for them to work with fellow teachers and staff in the district. The goals for the teachers are: • to improve the quality of history instruction in public Brookview first grader, Claire Hull, proudly schools; displays one of her book choices as one • to improve students’ learning in history; of the winners in the “Wild About Books” shopping spree at Border’s. • to increase awareness of the Ohio & Erie Canalway; • to build a community of learners among teachers, school districts, and historical organizations. Students at Brookview Elementary formed a partnership During the Summer Institute, teachers completed with Tim Proteva, director of the children’s room at the primary source research at the J.E. Reeves House and Brook Park Library last summer, to encourage summer Museum in Dover, Ohio; the Simon Perkins Mansion in reading. Brookview conducted a summer-long reading Akron, Ohio; the Magnolia Flowering Mills in Magnolia, contest for students, with students documenting the Ohio; and the Schumacher Mills in Akron, Ohio. Using these minutes they read each day on a “paw” calendar, and experiences, teachers created unit and lesson plans, and parents signing the calendars to verify the time spent. presented them in a mini conference held at Akron Public Students also completed a book project related to one of Library. the stories they read. The three students with the highest number of reading minutes at each grade level (a total of 15) were invited to join Principal Sue Humphrey for lunch District teachers Mickey Krivak (2nd at Longhorn Steak House in October. from left), Lisa Hixson Mrs. Humphrey also gave each winner a $25 gift (2nd from right), and card for Border’s, and the manager added a $5 coupon as Jen Vassel (far right) well, so the students then were treated to a $30 shopping joined teachers from across the region to spree at the bookstore. Said Mr. Proteva, “Brookview’s