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I S S U E 6 0 J A N U A R Y - F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Traveling Around the World

By Katie Dietrich, MD Teacher, New Bremen Elementary

Our classroom spent the month of December

exploring various holidays from around the

world. Each student made a suit case that held a passport that they

stamped each time they entered a new county to learn about a

different holiday. The students spent time

studying Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia

Day, Las Posadas, and Christmas in a few

different countries. While traveling around

the world, students marked a map with

pictures of each holiday and created a

timeline. Students made ornaments for

each holiday and put them on a tree

outside of their classroom. Traditions in

their families around this time of the year

were compared to some of the traditions

they learned about in the other countries. Students realized that

most holiday traditions have a lot in common: family, fun, and

food. The class made and tried Latkas, sweet potatoes, and

gingerbread.

Giving Back . . . With Fun!

By Linda Tebbe, Director, Opportunities for Youth

The Opportunity for Youth students teamed up with the Transition students on December 17 for a Christmas party celebration. The OFY students spent the previous afternoon decorating Christmas cookies and filling candy bags as a way of saying thanks to the Transition students for bringing our lunches each day from Wapakoneta Middle School. After everyone enjoyed a pizza party, the Transition students then led the

students in some games and activities including having groups of three

transpose one of its members into a snowman using toilet paper and

construction paper. The process was quite entertaining, and the results were

impressive. Then they participated in a “musical present” game similar to

musical chairs (but without all the running!) where multiple gifts were

unwrapped round by round. Finally, teams of students Continued on page 2

“Education Built Around You”

By Jen Korte, Director

ACE (Auglaize County Educational) Academy provides a rigorous education for students in

grades K-12, who access their curriculum from home using the internet and a computer. ACE

provides an option for students who are not able to attend the typical classroom (i.e. medical

conditions, anxiety issues, credit recovery, etc.) Highly qualified teachers (including

intervention specialists) teach students through both online tools and face-to-face tutoring.

Enrollment in ACE—

Requirements: Must have access to internet service

Cost: Free

Accepting students in all grade levels

Call our office at 419-738-4572 for more information and to set up orientation.

ACE Services

Personalized, Individualized, Simplified

A variety of educational programs to expand opportunities for students (includes Course

Conflict, Acceleration, Summer School, and Additional Course Offerings)

School-Within-A-School Model: This approach establishes within the home school a smaller

educational unit to provide services based on student need. This is created, built, supported,

and modified on district needs: Credit Recovery, Course Options, Course Conflicts, & Home-

based Instruction.

Assist districts with software programs such as Compass and GoogleDocs (recently assisted

Hardin Northern).

For more information contact: Jen Korte, Director at 419.738.4572 or jkorte@auglaizeesc.org

Giving Back continued from Page 1

raced each other to

pick up candy canes

and place them in a

cup using a candy cane

and no hands. If they

could keep from laughing, they did

pretty well.

All the students and staff appreciated the afternoon. Many thanks go out to all the ESC staff members who donated candy and decorating supplies and to all the students who helped plan the many activities.

SST6 Professional Development Opportunities:

Feb 2—Ohio’s State Test Accessibility Training for District Test Coordinators Feb 3—Ohio’s State Test Accessibility Training for Special Ed. Supervisors Feb 5—Regional Itinerant Network Feb 9—OIP Implementation Support Meeting Feb 10—Regional Transition Council Feb 11—Special Education Network—Functional Behavioral Assessment Feb 25—FBA & PBIS Follow-up For more information, check out their website at www.sst6.org, and view the Professional Development Calendar or call 419-738-9224.

West Central Ohio Autism Community Support Group Meetings

The West Central Ohio Autism Community would like to invite you to our Autism Support Group! Meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of every month (except July, Aug. & Dec.) from 5:45pm-7:15pm at the Lima Public Library, meeting room #2. Anyone who has been touched by Autism is welcome! The group is committed to giving support, sharing resources, providing education and advocacy for individuals with autism, their families, friends and professionals who touch their lives. We hope you can join us! For more information, please call WCOAC at 419-998-4701, email at wcoac@wcoil.com, or check out our Facebook page at West Central Ohio Autism Community.

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Talk to experts to assure your child is on track in the areas of growth, vision, hearing, foot and ankle, language, motor skills and behavior. If concerns are identified, parents are educated about the services and resources available so their child can get help early and start school healthy and ready to learn.

Wapakoneta St. Marys

Monday, March 7 Monday, March 14 3:30-6:00 p.m. (arrive by 5:30) 3:30-6:00 p.m. (arrive by 5:30) Wapakoneta Elementary School St. Paul’s United Church of Christ 900 N. Blackhoof St., Wapakoneta 201 N. Perry St., St. Marys

To pre-register, contact Charlotte Axe at 1-800-531-6134 or 419-738-3410.

Special Education Professional Development Amy Becher, Special Education Director

On Friday, January 15, the school-age special education

staff met all day in teams to conduct a self-review of their

IEPs. They used the Office of Exceptional Children’s

Strategic Improvement Self-Review tools to identify

strengths and needs. This information will be used to guide future professional development

trainings.

Project Independence Karen Smith, Assistant Superintendent

Project Independence moved to a new location in the Annex

at the ESC. The students and teachers are enjoying a new

kitchen and a new atmosphere for their daily learning

activities.

Leadership & Grit Kelli Tebbe, Curriculum/Gifted Coordinator

Eighth graders at New Bremen participated in a book study on

prominent leaders and were tasked to combine the ideas in their books

to define leadership and grit. Groups of students were then asked to prepare a creative

presentation and present at an assembly for grades 5-8. Each group was evaluated by seven

local community members using a rubric. The students were very invested in their books and

found all types of creative ways to present including PowerPoint, Prezi, making videos, and

more. These students not only had an opportunity to demonstrate leadership with their peers

but had a chance to teach others. Great job to all of the students and their hard work as well as

Mrs. Mauch & Mrs. Burden who put this project together. Thank you for inviting the ESC to

judge at this event!

Hardin County Design Team Mary Riepenhoff, Curriculum Director

Members of the Hardin County Design Team drafted

definitions for 'common language' which will be used to frame

the schools as learning organizations in Hardin County.

The Team's next step is to take the 'common language' back

to the districts and identify the practices, programs,

personnel, and/or policies which reflect and support the

definition of each word. By identifying these items, the

Hardin County school

districts, as a whole, will

begin to brand and

articulate what it means

to be educated in Hardin

County’s learning

organizations.

School Safety Kelli Tebbe, Curriculum/Gifted Coordinator

Working with Navigate Prepared, a company who specializes in school safety

response systems, the Auglaize County ESC safety plan has been organized into

an app for easy access in the event of an emergency. Onsite staff participated in a

training to learn how to download and use this app.

Legislative Roundtable Ann Harvey, Superintendent

Three times a year, the ACESC

brings together superintendents

and treasurers from several

surrounding counties to meet

with senators and representatives

from the state and federal

governments to discuss

educational items.

Pictured are (from left) Tom

Hancock, aide to Senator Faber, Senator Keith Faber, Representative Jim Buchy, Senator Cliff

Hite, and Cameron Warner from the office of Representative Jim Jordan.

The main topics of discussion were HB 212, HB 420, SB 3, College Credit Plus and EMIS.

Opportunity for Youth Linda Tebbe, Director

OFY students have been taking advantage of the opportunity to make up

credits and work at their own pace in their blended classes and online

classes. So far, they have completed over 50 ½-credit and full-credit

classes ahead of schedule. Four students have completed their

coursework for graduation, and one more hopes to finish by the end of the week. In addition to

regular coursework, January will include topics of seeking employment, applications for post-

secondary school, applications for vocational school, and helping students with tax forms.

Field Trip to Apollo Linda Tebbe, Director

On Friday, January 29 Apollo Career Center held their annual 411Blast

for area sophomore students. Two students from Opportunities for Youth

(OFY) and one student from Auglaize County Educational (ACE)

Academy attended the day. Students had the opportunity to meet

teachers and students in two programs of their choice. A student from

OFY, visited Construction Equipment Technology and

the Welding divisions. He said, " I really liked the

construction section. I could see myself doing this. It was incredibly

interesting."

January Principals Meeting Mary Riepenhoff, Curriculum Director

Donna Dickman, Director of Partnership for Violence Free Families

(PVFF) presented prevention programs and services available in

Auglaize and Hardin counties. Principals from Hardin and Auglaize

County attended. For further information of services provided by

PVFF visit www.pvff.org.

The Auglaize ESC will host a Mental Health First Aid training February 12 See below for

registration information.

The Auglaize Sheriff's Department informed and engaged

principals in the Let's Start Talking program designed to

increase communication, and strengthen the relationship

between students and law enforcement in an effort to prevent

poor choices, especially with drugs. Deputy Samuel D. Blank,

the Auglaize County D.A.R.E. deputy and a certified S.R.O.

(school resource officer) and Sheriff Allen Solomon presented

their vision for the schools. They invited schools to schedule multiple opportunities for students

and law enforcement in Auglaize County to connect. Visit the Let’s Start Talking site: http://

starttalking.ohio.gov/

Upcoming Trainings Mary Riepenhoff, Curriculum Director

February 12—Mental Health First Aid training, 8:00am-5:00pm. This

program is open to any school staff. Register by following these steps

Site: www.mhfa.care, click Initiatives drop down menu - select

Mental Health First Aid. Scroll to find Register button. Select the

February 12 training session. Complete form, submit.

February 22—Crisis Prevention Intervention—Refresher (CPI-R): 8:30-11:30 a.m.

3-hour refresher course for staff members that have taken the full 8-hour training

in 2015, 2014, or 2013. Register by contacting Deb Kraft via email at

dkraft@auglaizeesc.org or phone at 419-738-3422 #1118.

Monday, February 15—President’s Day, Office Closed