FEBRUARY 17, 2014 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 77 America, Ma’am.” Since then, I have visited hundreds of Reminder: Coffee with the schools. I have learned that a school is “How nice,” she said. “Is it rich and Superintendent not a business. Schools are unable to smooth?” control the quality of their raw If you are interested in hosting a material, they are dependent upon the “Sixteen percent butterfat,” I crowed. “Coffee with the Superintendent,” vagaries of politics for a reliable please contact Linda Seman at 440.965.5821 “Premium ingredients?” she inquired. revenue stream, and they are constantly to initiate an informal discussion mauled by a howling horde of with Dr. Hill “Super-premium! Nothing but triple disparate, competing customer groups A.” I was on a roll. I never saw the next that would send the best CEO “Best Ice Cream in America.” line coming. screaming into the night. In a recent conversation with a colleague, I was reminded of a story I was convinced of two things. First, “Mr. Vollmer,” she said, leaning None of this negates the need for told by Jamie Robert Vollmer, a public schools needed to change; they forward with a wicked eyebrow raised change. We must change what, when, former business executive and were archaic selecting and sorting to the sky, “when you are standing on and how we teach to give all children attorney who now works as a mechanisms designed for the your receiving dock and you see an maximum opportunity to thrive in a motivational speaker and consultant industrial age and out of step with the inferior shipment of blueberries arrive, post-industrial society. But educators to increase community support for needs of our emerging “knowledge what do you do?” cannot do this alone; these changes can public schools. In a time of change in society.” Second, educators were a occur only with the understanding, this great country, I find this story major part of the problem: they In the silence of that room, I could trust, permission and active support of fitting. resisted change, hunkered down in hear the trap snap…. I was dead meat, the surrounding community. For the their feathered nests, protected by but I wasn’t going to lie. most important thing I have learned is The Blueberry Story: The teacher tenure, and shielded by a bureaucratic that schools reflect the attitudes, beliefs gives the businessman a lesson monopoly. They needed to look to “I send them back.” and health of the communities they serve, and therefore, to improve public “If I ran my business the way you business. We knew how to produce “That’s right!” she barked, “and we education means more than changing people operate your schools, I quality. Zero defects! TQM! can never send back our blueberries. our schools, it means changing wouldn’t be in business very long!” Continuous improvement! We take them big, small, rich, poor, America. In retrospect, the speech was perfectly gifted, exceptional, abused, frightened, I stood before an auditorium filled confident, homeless, rude, and brilliant. with outraged teachers who were balanced - equal parts ignorance and arrogance. We take them with ADHD, junior becoming angrier by the minute. My rheumatoid arthritis, and English as I look forward to the support of our speech had entirely consumed their As soon as I finished, a woman’s their second language. We take them parents and community members to precious 90 minutes of in-service. hand shot up. She appeared polite, all! Every one! And that, Mr. Vollmer, ensure that the Firelands Local School Their initial icy glares had turned to pleasant – she was, in fact, a razor- is why it’s not a business. It’s school!” District offers the best possible educa- restless agitation. You could cut the edged, veteran, high school English tion for all students! hostility with a knife. teacher who had been waiting to un- In an explosion, all 290 teachers, load. principals, bus drivers, aides, custodi- I represented a group of business ans and secretaries jumped to their feet people dedicated to improving public She began quietly, “We are told, sir, and yelled, “Yeah! Blueberries! schools. I was an executive at an ice Go Falcons! that you manage a company that Blueberries!” cream company that became famous makes good ice cream.” in the middle1980s when People And so began my long transformation. Dr. Robert F. Hill Magazine chose our blueberry as the I smugly replied, “Best ice cream in Superintendent You may view this issue online at: NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID AMHERST, OH The Communities we serve: Amherst, Amherst Twp, Birmingham, Brownhelm Twp, Camden Twp, Florence Twp, Henrietta Twp, Kipton Village, New Russia Twp, South Amherst Village, PERMIT NO. 117 Vermilion and Vermilion Twp. POSTAL PATRON Page 2 2/17/2014 Current 8th grade students and parents are invited to the FHS Freshmen orienta- grams at FHS, LCCC, and LCJVS. Mr. Moore also presented information regard- tion on Monday, March 3rd, at 6:30 p.m. in the Firelands High School Gym. This ing the TEE Program for students interested in the Teaching Profession. Students will kick off the online scheduling process for their Freshman year. who do not have an English class at FHS need to stop in the guidance office to schedule their senior year. There will be a Dual Enrollment parent meeting February 27th, conference night, at 6:30 p.m. in the Library. Parents will learn about the different Dual Enrollment College bound Juniors need to register to take the ACT this spring. You can regis- Opportunities available at the high school and LCCC. ter on-line at www.actstudent.org or pick up a registration packet from the guid- ance office. Freshman Class The Freshman class will start the online scheduling process the week of February Senior Class 24th. Students will learn different opportunities for their sophomore year including The application for the endowment scholarships is now available online. Visit the Project Lead the Way. Project Lead the Way (PLTW) offers a dynamic high Firelands website at www.firelandsschools.org, click the high school> guidance> school program that provides students with real-world learning and hands-on expe- financial aid and college/scholarship resources and view the Scholarship infor- rience. The PLTW curriculum allows students to see how the lessons they learn in mation. Here you can download the local scholarship application. the classroom are valuable tools to be applied in their everyday lives. Mr. Wortmann, a college financial advisor, will be assisting families with the finan- Sophomore Class cial aid process. You can call him at 216-241-5587 with any questions you may The Sophomore class will start the online scheduling process the week of February have. 18th. Students interested in attending the JVS for the 2014-2015 academic school year must apply online at lcjvs.com/high-school/how-to-apply.shtml by March 1st. Attention Seniors who are not at FHS on a daily basis: The Endowment Schol- The Ohio Graduation Test will be March 10th – 14th. All sophomores are required arships and other Firelands Local Schol- to take and pass all 5 portions (Reading, Math, Writing, Science, and Social Stud- arships are available online or in the ies) in order to graduate. This will be their first opportunity to meet this graduation guidance office. These scholarships are requirement. due back to the guidance office by March 21st. Please contact the guidance Junior Class The Junior class participated in online scheduling last week. Students were given office with any questions or concerns. opportunities available to them for their senior year including Dual Enrollment Pro Our office number is 965-5335. Written by Nathan Kromer Kindergarten registration is just around the corner. Make it easy on yourself by having every- A good cause is worth the effort! Through organizing a thing you need for registration, including a complete shot record! If your child has turned 4 years Dance Marathon with BGSU, the Firelands Teen Lead- old, he/she is now old enough to get all of his/her immunizations required for school entry. You ership Corps has done just that. We prepared and can take your child to your regular healthcare provider, to one of the county health department planned this dance with diligent effort to make it as child immunization clinics, or to a retail clinic, in order to get these shots. Just remember to take successful as possible. As BGSU likes to say, “It’s for a copy with you to the healthcare provider, then bring a copy of your child’s shot record with you the kids!”. Our efforts and those of the larger Dance when you register at school. Don’t forget to keep a copy for yourself! Marathon the University holds are run to support the Check www.loraincountyhealth.com for dates, times, locations of health department child im- Children’s Miracle Network. With the support of our munization clinics, or call 440-322-6367. There is a charge for each immunization, but no one is peers and DJ Fester Fest, our school was able to raise turned away from a health department clinic because of inability to pay. Be sure to have your $540 for this organization! Clean your closets and save child’s immunization record with you when you go. you spare change because we have big plans coming up! Our TLC group will be hosting a Goodwill toy If possible, please have them completed before kindergarten registration in March, drive and Pasta for Pennies drive in the near future. and…………… remember your child must be 5 years old ST Thank you to the Firelands Community that makes BY AUGUST 1 these things possible! to register for Kindergarten.