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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 [email protected]
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 [email protected], 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
[email protected] or phone at 419-738-3422 #1118.
Monday, February 15—President’s Day, Office Closed
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