Building Our Future Together: Committee Finds Major Problems; Recommends New Buildings

Mayor Don Walters reading to Price second graders for the ‘Reading by Nine’ program.

In 2006, then Principal Dyanne Schoterman and second grade teachers Juli Mains and Roseann Kostoff developed a program called Reading By Nine. This program was created because by the age of nine, some of our students, were not reading at grade level and many of those who were weren’t being fully challenged. Today, our current principal, John Musat, believes that Reading By Nine is one reason Price Elementary has earned an “A” on the State Report Card for K-3 Early Literacy. Cuyahoga Falls City Schools earned one of only 27 “A” grades in the 612 public school districts across Ohio.

The goal for our second graders is to have them reading at or above grade level by the end of the

academic year. To achieve this, the last hour of each day is spent reading with an adult, going to Title One reading for additional support, working on the computer, doing word work, or seeing a teacher for additional intervention help.

The program uses the help of parent and community volunteers, former teachers, Title One teachers, and classroom teachers who attend an in-service at the beginning of the year for training. Then, our students are assessed to determine their individual reading levels. After the assessment, the students work every day for 60 minutes in groups, doing various activities to improve their reading skills. And at the end of the grading period, our students receive a book

for each level they pass.

Reading By Nine could not be successful without our volunteers! If you would like to volunteer please call Price School at 330-920-3806.

‘Reading by Nine’ Program Elevates Price Students

After over seven months of meetings, tours, community research and data analysis, the ‘Building Our Future Together’ Committee has recommended a facilities master plan to the school board. The Ohio Facility Construction Commission has approved the plan, and has offered to pay for 27% of the construction costs.

The two-phase recommendation calls for new building construction across the district, beginning with the construction of a new secondary education campus on the current Bolich property. The campus

would host a 9-12 building and a connected 7-8 building, arranged with a campus feel, while maintaining appropriate separation. 

“What the committee learned first-hand, was that every one of our buildings have very significant problems with their heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical and roofing,” said Hal Kendrick,

Director of Business and Operations. “These are the behind-the-scenes issues that most parents and community members just don’t have a chance to see.”

The committee also learned that none of the district’s school buildings meet minimum state standards. Other major building issues included limited classroom technology, out-of-date fire suppression and security systems, and major accessibility issues for students and residents with disabilities.

“Unfortunately, our classrooms just don’t have the space, flexibility or

technology that today’s students need. Our students need buildings that can provide safe, educationally-conducive classrooms with the up-to-date learning technology in order to succeed in the future,” said Superintendent and

CEO Dr. Todd Nichols.

Over 50 community leaders, district staff, parents, students and residents made up the committee that has been meeting since last November. Please visit the district’s website and Facebook page for more information and coverage of the building plan throughout the summer and fall.

Stay Informed!Take a Tour: Take a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour and see the challenges our buildings face. Guided tours will be scheduled through the summer. See the district website, Facebook page, and next month’s ROAR! for more information on dates and times.

Host a Speaker: Active in a community organization? Let us come to you! A district representative will take a few minutes to inform your organization about the conditions of our schools, and what is being done to address their needs.

Please contact Dr. Todd Nichols, Superintendent at cf_nichols@cfalls.org to arrange a speaker for your organization.

Original 1922 High School building – still in use.

There’s never been a better time to become involved in your local schools. Go to cfalls.org and learn how you can help. Go Black Tigers!

A Special Section Dedicated to Black Tiger Headlines & Achievements June 2015

RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS

CFSD Upcoming Events:July 7 Board of Education Meeting,

6:00pm, High School Little Theater

July 18 All Class Reunion - “Taste of Cuyahoga Falls” Check out the calendar on CFSFAA.org

Need more info? Check out cfalls.org

Authentic Learning: Students Get Real Experience – CFSFAA Gets a New LogoA major push in the CFSD is to create authentic learning opportunities for our students as much as possible. One of these opportunities was recently created for the students in Mr. Wargowsky’s 2D Design class at CFHS. Bethany Mong from the Cuyahoga Falls Schools Foundation & Alumni Association (CFSFAA) contacted Molly Hartong of Molly Hartong Design and Matt Weiss of Right Brain Design Group about creating a logo for their organization. After some discussion, Weiss and Hartong suggested that this would be a fantastic project opportunity for Wargowsky’s class. “What better way for students to get some real experience, as well as, developing a logo for an organization that benefits our students and district.”, said Weiss.

Hartong, Weiss and Mong worked with Mr. Wargowsky on developing and introducing a creative brief for the students that would spell out the guidelines for the project. Mong also informed the students that the winning designer would receive a $100 prize. That seemed to pique the interest of the students! “I was amazed to see how the students just jumped in. As soon as we introduced the project, many of the students started developing and sketching their concepts. I was truly inspired by their confidence.” said Hartong.

Over the next few weeks, during a couple of the classes, Hartong and Weiss along with Mr. Wargowsky sat with students and gave them feedback on their design ideas. “We were impressed with the diversity of ideas that the students came up with. Most of the students really put a lot of effort into designing a logo that fits the vision of the CFSFAA.” said Weiss.

After a few rounds of revisions, a number of concepts were sent to the CFSFAA for consideration. “We were really impressed with the creativity of the students, but ultimately there was one in particular that really stood out to all of our board members.” said Mong. That winning design was created by now graduated Noah Lillquist! “Noah’s design really captured the mission and goals of our organization.” Mong continued, “We are looking forward to using our new logo on all of our marketing materials!”.

“We’re so proud of the talent that exists in our district, and any opportunity to highlight and grow that talent is a win for us. This is a true example of a team effort, wherein the teaching staff, local business owners, students, and the CFSFAA were able to work together for the benefit of our kids. You can’t ask for more than that!”, stated Mong.

“I really enjoyed this project” said Lillquist. “Who knows? Graphic Design may be a possible career that I would enjoy pursuing.”

This is just one of the projects that the CFSD is introducing into our classrooms. “Working with our community and business partners and developing these types of opportunities for our students are invaluable.”, said Dr. Nichols, Superintendent and CEO of CFSD. “It’s a win-win”, says Nichols. “Our students get real experience, and in this case, the CFSFAA gets a new logo!”.

Congratulations on winning this contest (and on your graduation) Noah! Whatever you decide, we know you will be another Black Tiger success story!

Bethany Mong from the CFSFAA (left) and Noah Lillquist (right) hold the winning design Noah created along with the check presented to him.

Some of Roberts Middle School students participated in a reading festival on Monday, May 18th. The festival was facilitated by Courtney Rubino, and was planned by students, using academy (AIE) time. All students were invited to attend. However, in order to be eligible, they had to read three novels: The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Homesick by Kate Klise, and Trouble Don’t Last written by the guest author, Shelley Pearsall.

Pearsall, an award-winning author who lives in Silver Lake, has been the guest author for three years. She started the morning with a presentation about her novels and the writing process. She also discussed her soon-to-be-published novel which a small group of our students were privileged to read in an advanced-copy format. Those same students are writing book trailers for the new novel and Pearsall is going to feature them on her website. Additionally, in September, each of those students will receive an autographed copy of the novel and has graciously been invited to a book release party being held at Strongsville Library.

Help from a Cuyahoga Falls Schools Foundation grant, the Roberts Middle School PTA, and Mr. Holzapfel, allowed students to take part in various activities related to the novels they had read. Participants spent time doing everything from mazes, to making pies from scratch, to hand-crafting and sewing quilt squares, to learning about how music soundtracks are created. We are very proud of the work that our students did to plan the reading festival, and those who attended truly enjoyed the experience.

Local Author, Shelley Pearsall Visits The Roberts’ Reading Festival

We are pleased to highlight another amazing CFHS student, Catherine LaSpina. On June 2, Catherine graduated a year early from CFHS with a 4.48 GPA and has already earned 104 college credits! She hopes to enter Kent State University’s joint BS/MS program for biochemistry where she would hopefully graduate in two years at the age of 18 with her Masters of

Science in Biochemistry!

Through the post-secondary classes that Catherine was able to take advantage of, she was exposed to great opportunities and resources which allowed her to be paid to tutor Chemistry, Physics, and Math at KSU, to present science demonstrations to KSU freshman chemistry classes, and to make the President’s List four semesters in a row at Kent State University.

Scientific research, internships, and volunteering in medical settings were also part of Catherine’s academic experience through the CFSD and post- secondary program. But she isn’t just a scholar; in her spare time, she also dances ballet, hip-hop, and Latin-style and is a certified lifeguard.

Congratulations, Catherine! We are all very proud of you!

Coming this September, Joe Nowak of CF City Schools, in a cooperative with Robert Felmly from the City of Cuyahoga Falls will work with CFHS students in another authentic learning opportunity. As part of a new broadcasting class offered at CFHS, the District and City will collaborate in helping the students develop their skills toward “live air” activities.

“By the second semester, we hope to have our students regularly presenting the good news of the CFSD!” said Nowak. In the meantime, Felmly and Nowak will be working together to get the students engaged in production.

Stay Tuned!

Student Profile: Catherine LaSpina

96.1 WCFI Prepares to Go Live in Fall ‘15

Catherine LaSpina

There’s never been a better time to become involved in your local schools. Go to cfalls.org and learn how you can help. Go Black Tigers!