February 12, 2010

Well, let’s see. What have we been up to the last couple of weeks? Watching it snow, watching it snow, and watching it snow some more. I’m mindful of what these interruptions in schedules do to everyone’s work, and I know playing catch-up is difficult. But I also know you’re up to it and we’ll recover quickly as we always do. And I think winters like this make us appreciate spring even more when it comes! I had to chuckle at a quote I read yesterday: “There’s one good thing about snow. It makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor’s.” As someone who took care of a couple of acres by myself for many years (and not always very well), I can appreciate that!

I want to applaud our Facilities & Grounds staff who did an amazing job of keeping the heat and water on and clearing (and re-clearing, and re-clearing) our campus during the one-two punch Mother Nature threw at us this past week. You almost have to have been here to see what they dealt with. To give you an idea, I’ve included a photo of just one of the many massive snowdrifts they dealt with on campus. Thanks to a great team for a great job!

This past weekend, I attended the second in a series of three weekend seminars in the Cleveland area. The focus of this month’s seminar was technology in education, and it was really good information. First, I immediately recognized how very fortunate we are at Ohio Hi-Point to have the resources we do to put amazing technology into the hands of our students. We’re ahead of the game. I also thought about the many challenges we have faced and overcome related to the freedom we give our students. But it’s a constant struggle, balancing freedom with protection and responsibility. One of the speakers recommended a book that I’ve ordered and will be reading as soon as I get it, 21st Century Skills – Learning for Life in Our Times. I’ll let you know what I think. And I invite you to read along with me; I’d be anxious to hear your thoughts.

Since I haven’t done much lately but watch weather reports and try to reschedule meetings and activities, let me share some of what others have been doing at OHP!

On January 29, the high school held its TAD Incentive Day for the second nine weeks. Students who had perfect attendance and no discipline or tardies were treated to a special Movie Day. The cafeteria was set up like a movie theater and the students were treated to an array of snacks to enjoy before the movie. The movie shown was 17 Again. After the movie, the students were involved in drawings for prizes such as Wal-Mart gift cards, tubing passes for Mad River Mountain, and Burger King gift cards. In addition, the committee tossed out an assortment of t-shirts to the crowd. (See photo at right.) Our students were great achievers for 2nd quarter: 86 students met the criteria and 60 participated in this event. Congratulations to them all!

Sometimes we need to be reminded by our own of all the great things Ohio Hi-Point does for students. When I shared in a recent blog about the Career-Tech Legislative Conference the administrators and I attended, I received the following from Rex Kear, our Career-Based Intervention teacher at Upper Scioto Valley:

Kim, I knew once you started to talk to our legislative group that Ohio Hi Point Career Center would be a no brainer. Just think about scratching the surface: Vocational, 2 plus 2 , Dual Credit, articulation agreements, the Federal Gov’t putting money into community colleges because that is the way to get jobs, jobs, jobs…85% of jobs will come from associate degrees. My students even though they are 9th and 10th graders get excited about tech-prep, dual credits, articulation agreements, and associate degrees. You invest 2 years of college--say $20,000--almost guarantee a job you like (career) and get paid $45,000 with benefits. In today’s economy to have that much potential should get everyone excited. Especially when it is already in place and is flexible enough to fit the changes of the near future. Well I just got carried away. Thanks for all you do for kids! Go Team Go!

Rex, you did an amazing job of condensing into one paragraph the many benefits of career-tech and our impact on the workforce and economy! Thanks so much for sharing your kudos with your peers.

By the way, one result of our visits with legislators in Columbus is that Representative Dave Burke toured our campus on Thursday morning. Unfortunately, with our delayed schedule, he didn’t get to see students in action. But he and his aide Kinsey Jolliff certainly got to see first-hand the amazing facility and technology that we are so fortunate to provide to our students (see photo at right). Representative Burke, Kinsey, and I talked at length after the tour and I was able to share with them my concerns about our current and future funding levels. While I expressed that we will be responsible and make good decisions to position our District to weather these difficult times, I also expressed that we will need his support in advocating for equitable funding as the Ohio School Finance Advisory Council studies our funding system. He’s on board!

Senator Karen Gillmore is scheduling a visit for later this month (she wanted to make sure to be here when students are in session). I’ll let you know when we get that visit scheduled--be ready to have your students show their stuff!

I hope you’ll have time to enjoy the opening of the Olympic Winter Games this weekend--be sure to root for Bellefontaine’s own Louie Vito in the snowboarding competition on Wednesday!! Enjoy your extended weekend, share the love on Valentine's Day, make some snow angels (that’s a winter sport!), and stay safe.