Well, we’re wrapping up another week and another month! Hard to believe we’re almost into October. This past week has been a busy one with a lot of excitement around OHP.
Tuesday we hosted our first Staff Breakfast for the year, and I want to thank all of you who attended and all of you who signed up to serve on OHP Congress Committees. These committees are the “backbone” of a lot of the improvement efforts in our district, and the time you commit to the work of these committees really makes a difference! I also want to thank all of you for your consideration of supporting United Way. Together we can make such an impact in helping those in need in our community, which ultimately helps us all.
Wednesday I heard State Senator Karen Gilmore speak and was happy to hear what an advocate she is for young people in our region. She stated her beliefs about the value of assuring that all students complete high school and move on to higher education, and she recognizes that “higher education” takes many forms. She commented to me that she has attended several community events in our facilities and has been very impressed. I told her I’d love to have her visit while our students are here and assured her she’d be even more impressed!
Thursday I attended a meeting of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) Board of Regents Committee. I volunteered to serve on this committee in light of all that is happening with dual enrollment, CT2 articulated credits, and the transfer of Adult
Workforce Education to the Board of Regents. The committee is made up of several superintendents from both K-12 districts and career-technical districts. As the group talked about the importance of academic rigor, raising standardized test scores, and improving ACT and SAT scores in order to get students into college, I asked them not to lose sight of the fact that we want students to go on to college (which isn’t always a four-year college) for a reason. I think we in career-tech really have a handle on realizing that higher education is a means to an end and not an end in itself. Discussions such as this make me proud of the impact we have on students’ lives and the impact we have on economic development.
As I drove onto campus coming from a meeting Friday morning I saw a fire truck in our parking lot, which always makes me a little uneasy. But then I saw the preschoolers from our Early Childhood Education Program exploring the truck (with their teachers, of course!) What a great opportunity for them! It’s nice to see our community public safety services folks partnering with us to give these students the thrill of getting up close and personal with the “big red truck” and no doubt teaching them a lot in the process!
One of the added benefits of our student laptop program and student e-mail accounts is that I occasionally hear from our students. Friday (which happened to be the last day I could call myself “40-something”) a student e-mailed me:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! We share the same birthday. I thought it was cool that I share the same birthday with two of the OHP staff Members. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I am sorry if I have inconvenienced you with this email. Thank you for your time.
I’m not sure what little birdie told him it was my birthday (sure hope age wasn't discussed!) And I’ll keep the “other staff member” anonymous. But what a nice gesture! I thanked this young man and told him I was not only not inconvenienced by his e-mail but was delighted to receive it.
This week Robin Curley, Animal Technology teacher, shared with me an e-mail she had received from the father of one of her students:
Ruth and I are very excited and proud about (our daughter’s) opportunity to attend college and truly appreciate all the efforts you personally and the rest of the Marysville and Ohio Hi-Point staff have spent in support of (her). Without everyone's dedication and belief in her, this wouldn't have been possible. We know college will be a struggle for (her) but believe the Marysville schools and Ohio Hi-Point have provided (her) the best education for her needs and provided her a strong base on which to continue her education. It is difficult to say, but starting next year it is up to (her) to finish the journey we all helped her start. Thank you very much for your continued support of (our daughter) and please pass along our thanks to everyone else that has supported (her) over the past 12 years.
This is a perfect example of how we "partner" with our partner schools to help students achieve success, and we rely on the foundation they give these young people. Thanks for sharing, Robin!
We also have a lot of satisfied customers as a result of the customer service many of our programs provide. Diana Payne, English teacher, shared with me an e-mail she had sent to Rodney Peterson and his Auto Technology class:
Just wanted to thank you and your students again for such a FANTASTIC job on my mom's car. My mom is now in a nursing home, but I had to take her out Friday evening to see her car - it looks brand new! That car hasn't looked that good in YEARS! She was tickled, and I am amazed at the job your students could do in such a short amount of time! Thank you again! You guys are great!
Rodney and students—you made someone’s day!
I’ll be away on vacation next week cycling in Vermont. Right now the weather forecast looks cool and potentially rainy, but I’m sure it will be beautiful even still. For those of you familiar with the Stephen Covey principles, I’ll be doing some serious “saw sharpening”! But I know I’m leaving our students and district in good hands. Have a great week!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
September 19, 2008
As we’ve listened to the news around the state and nation this week, I can’t help but think how fortunate we are. As those crazy winds blew through on Sunday, I kept wondering if it was as bad as it was in Ohio hundreds of miles away from where Ike made landfall, what must it have been like in Texas?!? Really makes me feel for what those people went through (and are still going through). And as I hear many surrounding schools continuing to remain closed due to the power outage, I’m grateful we only had to miss one day. I suspect we’ll be glad we still have days left when January and February come along!
Speaking of Monday, that day was a perfect example of the teamwork our OHP staff shows when the going gets tough. I was on the phone most of the day (from a home with power, thankfully!) staying in touch with Robert Walker regarding conditions on campus and speculating when we might get power back. He and his crew kept a close eye on our electronic systems, powered several items down so that there wouldn’t be a damaging surge when the power came back on, and they got a head start on cleaning up the debris on our campus. John Case continued to check the status of our network and made a trip to campus late Monday afternoon after the power came on to assure that everything would be up and running for Tuesday morning. Don Jaunzemis monitored the status of our cooler and freezer to make sure the food was kept at safe temperatures, and he had even identified a location to move the food to preserve it should our power not have come back on by Tuesday. I so appreciate that our staff just sees what needs to be done in an emergency situation, steps up to do it, keeps everyone necessary informed, and gives me the information I need to make good decisions. Way to go team!
Even though our schedule interruptions (due to water and power outages) have been somewhat disruptive, I can at least say our students have been grateful! One young man shared with me in the cafeteria line that he really enjoyed Monday (even though his mom made him clean up the yard) and he appreciated that it came on a Monday so the weekend was longer. I told him I was glad we could oblige!
The week was unexpectedly shortened for us all and my week has consisted mostly of meetings and paperwork: but there have been some new developments. On Wednesday, we had two visitors from Bowling Green State University, as well as the Mayor of Bellefontaine, pay a visit to tour our campus and discuss possibilities for bringing bachelor’s degree programs to Logan County which would build on associate’s degrees that are earned through our community college partners. They were very familiar with our College Tech Prep programs and were impressed with the many articulation agreements we have in place. Local officials are very eager to bring new postsecondary partners to Logan County to improve the educational level of our workforce and to help retain our young talent. We discussed several areas of most need including healthcare degrees, teacher education programs (particularly in secondary math, science, and special education), and graduate-level coursework for educators needing to renew or upgrade licenses. While having no higher-education institution in Logan County has been a disadvantage, it has resulted in several schools seeking to provide services locally, which can only benefit our high-school students and adults. I expect to see new partners joining our campus soon!
A few of you asked for the answers to the questions posed in my blog in honor of Google’s 10th birthday, and here they are! The population of Uzbekistan is 27.8 million, the state bird of Maine is the blackcap chickadee, and Napoleon Bonaparte was 5 feet 7 inches tall. There you go—remember those tidbits—they may help you win “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” someday!
Fall officially starts Monday—it’s really here! And the Columbus Dispatch reports that today is “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” I’ll let you do with that what you will!
Have a great weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather!
Speaking of Monday, that day was a perfect example of the teamwork our OHP staff shows when the going gets tough. I was on the phone most of the day (from a home with power, thankfully!) staying in touch with Robert Walker regarding conditions on campus and speculating when we might get power back. He and his crew kept a close eye on our electronic systems, powered several items down so that there wouldn’t be a damaging surge when the power came back on, and they got a head start on cleaning up the debris on our campus. John Case continued to check the status of our network and made a trip to campus late Monday afternoon after the power came on to assure that everything would be up and running for Tuesday morning. Don Jaunzemis monitored the status of our cooler and freezer to make sure the food was kept at safe temperatures, and he had even identified a location to move the food to preserve it should our power not have come back on by Tuesday. I so appreciate that our staff just sees what needs to be done in an emergency situation, steps up to do it, keeps everyone necessary informed, and gives me the information I need to make good decisions. Way to go team!
Even though our schedule interruptions (due to water and power outages) have been somewhat disruptive, I can at least say our students have been grateful! One young man shared with me in the cafeteria line that he really enjoyed Monday (even though his mom made him clean up the yard) and he appreciated that it came on a Monday so the weekend was longer. I told him I was glad we could oblige!
The week was unexpectedly shortened for us all and my week has consisted mostly of meetings and paperwork: but there have been some new developments. On Wednesday, we had two visitors from Bowling Green State University, as well as the Mayor of Bellefontaine, pay a visit to tour our campus and discuss possibilities for bringing bachelor’s degree programs to Logan County which would build on associate’s degrees that are earned through our community college partners. They were very familiar with our College Tech Prep programs and were impressed with the many articulation agreements we have in place. Local officials are very eager to bring new postsecondary partners to Logan County to improve the educational level of our workforce and to help retain our young talent. We discussed several areas of most need including healthcare degrees, teacher education programs (particularly in secondary math, science, and special education), and graduate-level coursework for educators needing to renew or upgrade licenses. While having no higher-education institution in Logan County has been a disadvantage, it has resulted in several schools seeking to provide services locally, which can only benefit our high-school students and adults. I expect to see new partners joining our campus soon!
A few of you asked for the answers to the questions posed in my blog in honor of Google’s 10th birthday, and here they are! The population of Uzbekistan is 27.8 million, the state bird of Maine is the blackcap chickadee, and Napoleon Bonaparte was 5 feet 7 inches tall. There you go—remember those tidbits—they may help you win “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” someday!
Fall officially starts Monday—it’s really here! And the Columbus Dispatch reports that today is “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” I’ll let you do with that what you will!
Have a great weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
September 12, 2008
As we wrap up another week, it’s finally feeling like fall and fall activities are ramping up. We really don’t get a period of time to “ease into” the school year anymore or “wind down”—it’s just full steam ahead from start to finish!
Ohio Hi-Point is recognized as a valuable asset to the community and a partner to other organizations in so many ways. A great example is a visit we hosted last Friday evening for Dr. Stephen Jones, the new President of Urbana University, and his wife Judy. I had the pleasure of giving them a tour of our campus (they were impressed, as most are!) Having moved here recently from Alaska, they were not familiar with the career-technical system in Ohio and were amazed at the comprehensive program offerings and opportunities for students to earn college credits. After the tour, we were joined by other Logan Co. folks who serve in some board capacity at Urbana University (I serve on the Foundation Board) for a reception in the Urbana University house on our campus. Dr. Jones shared with us his vision for the University, and he referenced OHP several times as an organization he wants to partner with to bring more college options to Logan Co. We’ve already set a follow-up meeting, and I expect our partnership with UU to expand greatly in the near future!
Monday I attended a meeting of the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents to begin to draft a response paper to Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut’s 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education. As I’ve shared with you over the past several months, the new University System of Ohio will encompass Adult Career-Technical Education (including ABLE) officially on January 1, 2009. Our group wants to assure that Chancellor Fingerhut clearly understands the assets and value-added that both Adult and Secondary Career-Technical Education bring to the University System and that we are given equal footing with community colleges and four-year colleges as to funding and ability to delivery training which can lead to college credit. The devil is in the details, and those are yet to be worked out, but I’ll keep you posted!
Tuesday morning we hosted the annual Logan County School/Family Court Meeting as we have for several years. I’m always struck at these meetings the magnitude of issues that our young people face these days, and how important our work is in helping them to succeed. The reality is, we can’t save them all. But I think all of you at OHP do a darn good job of taking kids from where they are, teaching them critical career skills and life skills to help them taste success, and give them a hand-up to the next step in their careers and education. You should all be proud!
I stepped in during the orientation for our new Practical Nursing classes on Wednesday morning—what a big group! These students will be in our daytime and evening courses on Main Campus as well as at our Marysville and Urbana satellite sites. It was fun to see the anticipation on their faces (and maybe a little fear) and to imagine them at their graduation as were the students at the PN graduation last week. It’s going to be hard work, but they’ve got great futures ahead of them! Thanks to Amy Main, Nursing Program Coordinator, for the invitation.
We had our annual Sloan Reception Thursday afternoon to honor Dr. Earl Sloan’s birthday and to thank our Sloan Trustees for their generous support of our programs. We give our students, both high-school and adult, an opportunity to thank the Trustees personally for the impact the equipment purchased with Sloan funds has had on their training. I have to tell you, these students bring me to tears every year (I know—it doesn’t take much. But I saw some of you other staff members getting a little weepy-eyed too!) The Trustees seem to be more overwhelmed by the expressions of gratitude every year. I looked at the photo of Dr. Sloan on the wall and wondered if he could ever have imagined the impact his generosity would have on so many lives. He’d be proud. Thanks to our staff for such a great turnout—it means so much to the trustees and the students!
Robert Walker, Facilities & Grounds Supervisor, shared with me earlier this week that Roy Angle, his long-time mentor and local engineer, passed away. Robert represented the District at the funeral, and he shared with me that the minister commented that Roy was instrumental in securing the site for Ohio Hi-Point Career Center which has since served thousands of young people for their futures. In addition, he noted that the Career Center which Roy was instrumental in getting started has been such a benefit to this community and all the surrounding areas as well. What a touching tribute! Many thanks to Roy for all he did to make our existence possible.
I’ve often said that the many talents of our staff never fail to amaze me! Bob Newland, Auto Collision Teacher, shared with me some of his handy-work. Take a look at the website www.purpleharley.com. Bob painted the red and white Bike of the Month in the center of the page. Beautiful job, Bob! Do you do bicycles?
I’m sure you’ve all heard or read in the media that Governor Strickland has enacted $540 million in budget cuts for the 2008-2009 budget year. (Yep, that’s this year!) The press releases state that several areas, including foundation funding (our per-pupil funding) and career-technical “enhancements” are exempted from the cuts. We have received word from Kathy Shibley, Director of ODE’s Office of Career-Technical Education, that although she has not received specific direction regarding the cuts, it appears that the reference to career-technical “enhancements” includes High Schools That Work, OCIS, part of the Tech Prep Expanded Grant, Correctional Institutions Tech Prep, and the Agriculture 5th quarter program. This is reassuring, since we are involved in most of these programs. Shane Haggerty, Communications Coordinator, and I are preparing a press release to inform our stakeholders how we expect these budget cuts to impact us and what we’re doing to prepare. Keep an eye on our website for that to come out!
There’s going to be some water falling from the sky this weekend. Don’t panic—for those of you who can’t remember the last time you saw such a thing—that’s rain! Have a great weekend!
Ohio Hi-Point is recognized as a valuable asset to the community and a partner to other organizations in so many ways. A great example is a visit we hosted last Friday evening for Dr. Stephen Jones, the new President of Urbana University, and his wife Judy. I had the pleasure of giving them a tour of our campus (they were impressed, as most are!) Having moved here recently from Alaska, they were not familiar with the career-technical system in Ohio and were amazed at the comprehensive program offerings and opportunities for students to earn college credits. After the tour, we were joined by other Logan Co. folks who serve in some board capacity at Urbana University (I serve on the Foundation Board) for a reception in the Urbana University house on our campus. Dr. Jones shared with us his vision for the University, and he referenced OHP several times as an organization he wants to partner with to bring more college options to Logan Co. We’ve already set a follow-up meeting, and I expect our partnership with UU to expand greatly in the near future!
Monday I attended a meeting of the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents to begin to draft a response paper to Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut’s 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education. As I’ve shared with you over the past several months, the new University System of Ohio will encompass Adult Career-Technical Education (including ABLE) officially on January 1, 2009. Our group wants to assure that Chancellor Fingerhut clearly understands the assets and value-added that both Adult and Secondary Career-Technical Education bring to the University System and that we are given equal footing with community colleges and four-year colleges as to funding and ability to delivery training which can lead to college credit. The devil is in the details, and those are yet to be worked out, but I’ll keep you posted!
Tuesday morning we hosted the annual Logan County School/Family Court Meeting as we have for several years. I’m always struck at these meetings the magnitude of issues that our young people face these days, and how important our work is in helping them to succeed. The reality is, we can’t save them all. But I think all of you at OHP do a darn good job of taking kids from where they are, teaching them critical career skills and life skills to help them taste success, and give them a hand-up to the next step in their careers and education. You should all be proud!
I stepped in during the orientation for our new Practical Nursing classes on Wednesday morning—what a big group! These students will be in our daytime and evening courses on Main Campus as well as at our Marysville and Urbana satellite sites. It was fun to see the anticipation on their faces (and maybe a little fear) and to imagine them at their graduation as were the students at the PN graduation last week. It’s going to be hard work, but they’ve got great futures ahead of them! Thanks to Amy Main, Nursing Program Coordinator, for the invitation.
We had our annual Sloan Reception Thursday afternoon to honor Dr. Earl Sloan’s birthday and to thank our Sloan Trustees for their generous support of our programs. We give our students, both high-school and adult, an opportunity to thank the Trustees personally for the impact the equipment purchased with Sloan funds has had on their training. I have to tell you, these students bring me to tears every year (I know—it doesn’t take much. But I saw some of you other staff members getting a little weepy-eyed too!) The Trustees seem to be more overwhelmed by the expressions of gratitude every year. I looked at the photo of Dr. Sloan on the wall and wondered if he could ever have imagined the impact his generosity would have on so many lives. He’d be proud. Thanks to our staff for such a great turnout—it means so much to the trustees and the students!
Robert Walker, Facilities & Grounds Supervisor, shared with me earlier this week that Roy Angle, his long-time mentor and local engineer, passed away. Robert represented the District at the funeral, and he shared with me that the minister commented that Roy was instrumental in securing the site for Ohio Hi-Point Career Center which has since served thousands of young people for their futures. In addition, he noted that the Career Center which Roy was instrumental in getting started has been such a benefit to this community and all the surrounding areas as well. What a touching tribute! Many thanks to Roy for all he did to make our existence possible.
I’ve often said that the many talents of our staff never fail to amaze me! Bob Newland, Auto Collision Teacher, shared with me some of his handy-work. Take a look at the website www.purpleharley.com. Bob painted the red and white Bike of the Month in the center of the page. Beautiful job, Bob! Do you do bicycles?
I’m sure you’ve all heard or read in the media that Governor Strickland has enacted $540 million in budget cuts for the 2008-2009 budget year. (Yep, that’s this year!) The press releases state that several areas, including foundation funding (our per-pupil funding) and career-technical “enhancements” are exempted from the cuts. We have received word from Kathy Shibley, Director of ODE’s Office of Career-Technical Education, that although she has not received specific direction regarding the cuts, it appears that the reference to career-technical “enhancements” includes High Schools That Work, OCIS, part of the Tech Prep Expanded Grant, Correctional Institutions Tech Prep, and the Agriculture 5th quarter program. This is reassuring, since we are involved in most of these programs. Shane Haggerty, Communications Coordinator, and I are preparing a press release to inform our stakeholders how we expect these budget cuts to impact us and what we’re doing to prepare. Keep an eye on our website for that to come out!
There’s going to be some water falling from the sky this weekend. Don’t panic—for those of you who can’t remember the last time you saw such a thing—that’s rain! Have a great weekend!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
September 5, 2008
Boy, these four-day work weeks go fast! Here we are at Friday again. I hope you all had a terrific Labor Day weekend.
I had an e-mail late last week from a young lady (19 years old) who had dropped out of school before the 9th grade and realized she needed to return to school to complete her education. She was initially interested in one of our high-school programs, and I explained she needed to get her eight high-school credits first. I told her if that wasn’t possible through her home school, she should certainly contact our Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) program to get started on her GED preparation. I congratulated her on recognizing the value of continuing her education and wished her the very best. The fact that she contacted us first made me think of our vision . . . “To be the premiere choice to prepare a world-class workforce for new and renewed careers.” The great thing about education is there is no wrong time to get started, and I’m proud that OHP has offerings to assist people at all stages of their lives.
Wednesday at the Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting, I was able to present a letter of thanks to the Chamber for their very generous donation to our Scholarship Fund as a result of hosting the “Rally at the Peak” (formerly Honda Homecoming) Vendor Fair on our campus in July. I assured them it will help many of our students to continue their studies and to contribute to a strong and healthy economy in the region as high-skilled employees. Because the contract we have entered into for our House Bill 264 energy-saving loan fund does not allow our property to be used for profit-making activities, we will no longer be able to host the Vendor Fair. But I have offered the new organizers (Honda will no longer be involved) the use of our campus for other activities related to the event. My sincere thanks to the many students and staff who volunteered to assisted with the event over the past two years (and to JoEtta Spain for organizing them all!) Your willingness to help has clearly brought benefit to our students!
At Kiwanis on Thursday, our guest speaker was State Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Stratton. Contrary to what I might have expected, she did not give a re-election speech (even though she is running for re-election) and did not give us a rundown of the mundane aspects of her position. Instead, she focused on how she has been blessed through her work to be able to advocate for adopted children and the mentally ill. She ended with a story about her missionary parents, a stranger who helped them in time of need, and how that assistance has come full circle in her life. It’s a wonderful story with an amazing twist at the end that illustrates how we never know the impact of even our smallest acts of kindness. If you Google “Violet Moon Story,” it will take you right to a U-Tube video of Judge Stratton telling the story. It’s well worth 7 ½ minutes of your time!
Speaking of Google, the Columbus Dispatch reports that September 7 is the 10th anniversary of the founding of Google . . . “before which finding the population of Uzbekistan, the state bird of Maine, and the height of Napoleon Bonaparte might have taken us more than 60 seconds.” (Know the answers to those?) How did we ever live without Google?!?
Thursday evening was the 25th annual Adult Education Graduation Ceremony for the Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing. This is always such a touching ceremony, and this year’s was no exception. At the beginning of the ceremony, I saw what appeared to be a brother and sister, probably about four and six years old respectively, squeezed into one chair in the front row of the Seminar Center. I have to say they looked bored to death during the typical introductions and speech-making (particularly mine) that started the evening off. But when their mother walked across that stage to receive her diploma, they gazed up with huge smiles in absolute awe and admiration for her. What a proud moment for that family, and what a great example she set for them as a lifelong learner!
We had a smaller group of PN graduates than usual this year (21 graduates) because it was just our daytime PN class. But next year, with combined daytime and evening classes from Main Campus and our satellites in Marysville and Urbana, we’re anticipating over 80 graduates! Think about the impact the many hundreds of graduates from this program have had on the healthcare industry in our communities over the past 25 years. Our PN staff has to be proud of that—I sure am!
It looks like we’re finally going to get some rain this weekend! I’m grateful mostly for the sake of the farmers, then for those of us who like to garden, and finally just for all of us who have lawns that look like straw mats. The cooler weather will be welcome as well. Enjoy your weekend!
I had an e-mail late last week from a young lady (19 years old) who had dropped out of school before the 9th grade and realized she needed to return to school to complete her education. She was initially interested in one of our high-school programs, and I explained she needed to get her eight high-school credits first. I told her if that wasn’t possible through her home school, she should certainly contact our Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) program to get started on her GED preparation. I congratulated her on recognizing the value of continuing her education and wished her the very best. The fact that she contacted us first made me think of our vision . . . “To be the premiere choice to prepare a world-class workforce for new and renewed careers.” The great thing about education is there is no wrong time to get started, and I’m proud that OHP has offerings to assist people at all stages of their lives.
Wednesday at the Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting, I was able to present a letter of thanks to the Chamber for their very generous donation to our Scholarship Fund as a result of hosting the “Rally at the Peak” (formerly Honda Homecoming) Vendor Fair on our campus in July. I assured them it will help many of our students to continue their studies and to contribute to a strong and healthy economy in the region as high-skilled employees. Because the contract we have entered into for our House Bill 264 energy-saving loan fund does not allow our property to be used for profit-making activities, we will no longer be able to host the Vendor Fair. But I have offered the new organizers (Honda will no longer be involved) the use of our campus for other activities related to the event. My sincere thanks to the many students and staff who volunteered to assisted with the event over the past two years (and to JoEtta Spain for organizing them all!) Your willingness to help has clearly brought benefit to our students!
At Kiwanis on Thursday, our guest speaker was State Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Stratton. Contrary to what I might have expected, she did not give a re-election speech (even though she is running for re-election) and did not give us a rundown of the mundane aspects of her position. Instead, she focused on how she has been blessed through her work to be able to advocate for adopted children and the mentally ill. She ended with a story about her missionary parents, a stranger who helped them in time of need, and how that assistance has come full circle in her life. It’s a wonderful story with an amazing twist at the end that illustrates how we never know the impact of even our smallest acts of kindness. If you Google “Violet Moon Story,” it will take you right to a U-Tube video of Judge Stratton telling the story. It’s well worth 7 ½ minutes of your time!
Speaking of Google, the Columbus Dispatch reports that September 7 is the 10th anniversary of the founding of Google . . . “before which finding the population of Uzbekistan, the state bird of Maine, and the height of Napoleon Bonaparte might have taken us more than 60 seconds.” (Know the answers to those?) How did we ever live without Google?!?
Thursday evening was the 25th annual Adult Education Graduation Ceremony for the Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing. This is always such a touching ceremony, and this year’s was no exception. At the beginning of the ceremony, I saw what appeared to be a brother and sister, probably about four and six years old respectively, squeezed into one chair in the front row of the Seminar Center. I have to say they looked bored to death during the typical introductions and speech-making (particularly mine) that started the evening off. But when their mother walked across that stage to receive her diploma, they gazed up with huge smiles in absolute awe and admiration for her. What a proud moment for that family, and what a great example she set for them as a lifelong learner!
We had a smaller group of PN graduates than usual this year (21 graduates) because it was just our daytime PN class. But next year, with combined daytime and evening classes from Main Campus and our satellites in Marysville and Urbana, we’re anticipating over 80 graduates! Think about the impact the many hundreds of graduates from this program have had on the healthcare industry in our communities over the past 25 years. Our PN staff has to be proud of that—I sure am!
It looks like we’re finally going to get some rain this weekend! I’m grateful mostly for the sake of the farmers, then for those of us who like to garden, and finally just for all of us who have lawns that look like straw mats. The cooler weather will be welcome as well. Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
August 29, 2008
Well, we’re off and running with a brand new school year! It was great to welcome our new staff last Monday and our entire staff back last Tuesday. And it’s always great to have our high-school students back both on our Main Campus and in our Satellite programs. We’re glad to have a breather during the summer to get caught up on work and prepare for the coming school year, but it’s great to have the hallways filled with the smiles and voices of our students again.
Of course, our adult education students are with us year-round, with start-ups and graduations at various points in the year. With new programs being started here on Main Campus and out in our communities all the time, it’s tough for me to keep track of (I know the adult ed. staff probably tire of my asking and re-asking when classes are starting, who’s teaching where, and when classes finish!) One big event that’s coming up for adult education is our Practical Nursing graduation which will take place on Thursday, September 7, at 7 p.m. in the Seminar Center. Join us if you can—it’s a very moving ceremony as these adults of all ages embark on their nursing careers!
I’ve had a chance to be in our Main Building and interact with students a little bit over the past week, which is always a treat. Somehow I’ve managed to hit the lunch line three days in a row at the same time and have had lunch with Megan from Professional Turf and Landscaping. She’s been so good to sit and talk with me on those days, and I’ve learned a lot from this young lady. One thing I learned is that the idea of putting a penny in your hanging flower baskets to keep bugs off is a myth. So don’t waste your pennies! Thanks for clearing that up, Megan. I also talked with Brittany from Early Childhood Education II in the lunch line one day. When I asked her how her program as going, she said, “I love this program. It’s my life!” She has big plans for winning at state competition this year; and judging by her determination, I think Brittany will make that happen!
On Wednesday, Doug Limes presented me with a copy of a drawing (framed and all) that one of his students, Robert, had done titled “Battle for High Point.” This young man is quite an artist and likes to sketch various historical battles. He created this one depicting a battle to defend our campus, and it’s really amazing. You’re all invited to stop up and see it. Thank you Robert for the drawing, and thank you Doug for sharing!
If you’ve been on campus I’m sure you’ve noticed the many facilities improvements we’ve made this past summer. Summer is always a real rush to get these projects started and completed at least to the point where we can function within such a short time. The new flooring and furnishings have made a huge improvement, and our Facilities & Grounds staff pulled off a miracle moving all of that lab equipment in and out during the project. I appreciate everyone's patience as we put the finishing touches on some of the work and wait for some back-ordered items to come in. In the end, it’s well worth it and ultimately benefits our students. As we’ve worked in phases over the past several years to upgrade our campus, I’ve been so pleased with the gratitude our students have expressed for the improvements and for their maturity in taking care of the new items. Just goes to show, I think, that if you expect great behavior out of students you usually get it.
I’m on a mailing list with the Ohio State University Learning Center, and about once a month I receive an e-mail called “Leadership Moments.” This week I got one that reminded me so much of all of you and the excellence you demonstrate every day:
The opportunities for excellence are all around us. They come in many different forms: emails requesting help, demands for an unexpected report, a fellow employee facing a problem with new software, a customer calling with a billing problem, a guest showing up early and in desperate need of a room, a new deadline for a proposal, a leaking faucet, a hysterical patient in need of medical help, or a lost person seeking directions. All around us are people who need and seek our help. They are a burden if we choose to see them as such; alternatively, they are also opportunities to create masterpieces. It is up to us to choose how to view and to respond to them.
We do not need to wait for tragic events, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, or legendary occurrences. Every new day brings opportunities to transform tedious mechanical work to fine art in a moment of Daily Choice. Rather than planning to do excellence one day in the future, or waiting for opportunity to knock on the door, we need to discover excellence in everything we do. The opportunities are numerous as the people we meet and communicate with every day. The people who are impacted by the results of our work are our opportunities for excellence.
Reference: Arussy, L., (2008). Excellence every day: make the daily choice – inspire your employees and amaze your customers. Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.
I see examples of excellence every day in our district in the way you serve our students, deal with the public, take care of our facilities, and work collaboratively to be the best career-technical school we can be. We’re off to the start of another great year, and I look forward to celebrating excellence even more than ever.
As summer starts to near its end, the nights get cooler, and the crickets get louder, I’m trying to take advantage of as much great summer food as I can. I think the sweet corn this summer has been absolutely out of this world! I was reading an article about “corn on the cob facts” (I know, I need to expand my reading repertoire), and I learned that each ear of corn has about 600 kernels, and there is one strand of silk for each kernel. Who knew?
As much as I’d like to say enjoy the beautiful weather we’re going to have this weekend, we could really use rain instead! But enjoy the warmth and sunshine—before we know it the snow will be flying. Have a great weekend!
Of course, our adult education students are with us year-round, with start-ups and graduations at various points in the year. With new programs being started here on Main Campus and out in our communities all the time, it’s tough for me to keep track of (I know the adult ed. staff probably tire of my asking and re-asking when classes are starting, who’s teaching where, and when classes finish!) One big event that’s coming up for adult education is our Practical Nursing graduation which will take place on Thursday, September 7, at 7 p.m. in the Seminar Center. Join us if you can—it’s a very moving ceremony as these adults of all ages embark on their nursing careers!
I’ve had a chance to be in our Main Building and interact with students a little bit over the past week, which is always a treat. Somehow I’ve managed to hit the lunch line three days in a row at the same time and have had lunch with Megan from Professional Turf and Landscaping. She’s been so good to sit and talk with me on those days, and I’ve learned a lot from this young lady. One thing I learned is that the idea of putting a penny in your hanging flower baskets to keep bugs off is a myth. So don’t waste your pennies! Thanks for clearing that up, Megan. I also talked with Brittany from Early Childhood Education II in the lunch line one day. When I asked her how her program as going, she said, “I love this program. It’s my life!” She has big plans for winning at state competition this year; and judging by her determination, I think Brittany will make that happen!
On Wednesday, Doug Limes presented me with a copy of a drawing (framed and all) that one of his students, Robert, had done titled “Battle for High Point.” This young man is quite an artist and likes to sketch various historical battles. He created this one depicting a battle to defend our campus, and it’s really amazing. You’re all invited to stop up and see it. Thank you Robert for the drawing, and thank you Doug for sharing!
If you’ve been on campus I’m sure you’ve noticed the many facilities improvements we’ve made this past summer. Summer is always a real rush to get these projects started and completed at least to the point where we can function within such a short time. The new flooring and furnishings have made a huge improvement, and our Facilities & Grounds staff pulled off a miracle moving all of that lab equipment in and out during the project. I appreciate everyone's patience as we put the finishing touches on some of the work and wait for some back-ordered items to come in. In the end, it’s well worth it and ultimately benefits our students. As we’ve worked in phases over the past several years to upgrade our campus, I’ve been so pleased with the gratitude our students have expressed for the improvements and for their maturity in taking care of the new items. Just goes to show, I think, that if you expect great behavior out of students you usually get it.
I’m on a mailing list with the Ohio State University Learning Center, and about once a month I receive an e-mail called “Leadership Moments.” This week I got one that reminded me so much of all of you and the excellence you demonstrate every day:
The opportunities for excellence are all around us. They come in many different forms: emails requesting help, demands for an unexpected report, a fellow employee facing a problem with new software, a customer calling with a billing problem, a guest showing up early and in desperate need of a room, a new deadline for a proposal, a leaking faucet, a hysterical patient in need of medical help, or a lost person seeking directions. All around us are people who need and seek our help. They are a burden if we choose to see them as such; alternatively, they are also opportunities to create masterpieces. It is up to us to choose how to view and to respond to them.
We do not need to wait for tragic events, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, or legendary occurrences. Every new day brings opportunities to transform tedious mechanical work to fine art in a moment of Daily Choice. Rather than planning to do excellence one day in the future, or waiting for opportunity to knock on the door, we need to discover excellence in everything we do. The opportunities are numerous as the people we meet and communicate with every day. The people who are impacted by the results of our work are our opportunities for excellence.
Reference: Arussy, L., (2008). Excellence every day: make the daily choice – inspire your employees and amaze your customers. Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.
I see examples of excellence every day in our district in the way you serve our students, deal with the public, take care of our facilities, and work collaboratively to be the best career-technical school we can be. We’re off to the start of another great year, and I look forward to celebrating excellence even more than ever.
As summer starts to near its end, the nights get cooler, and the crickets get louder, I’m trying to take advantage of as much great summer food as I can. I think the sweet corn this summer has been absolutely out of this world! I was reading an article about “corn on the cob facts” (I know, I need to expand my reading repertoire), and I learned that each ear of corn has about 600 kernels, and there is one strand of silk for each kernel. Who knew?
As much as I’d like to say enjoy the beautiful weather we’re going to have this weekend, we could really use rain instead! But enjoy the warmth and sunshine—before we know it the snow will be flying. Have a great weekend!
Friday, May 30, 2008
It occurred to me as I started this message that in last Friday’s TGIF posting I said last week was the last Friday in May. Oops! That would be today! (Surprised no one corrected me on that—you must all be as dazed and confused as I am at this hectic time of year!) But this really is the last Friday in May and it wraps up an absolutely wonderful week at Ohio Hi-Point.
The highlight of the week was Wednesday with our Senior Awards Breakfast and our Convocation. These are two great events that really wrap up the high-school year and put a nice bow on it, reminding us of why we come to work every day—student achievement! It was kind of hard to focus in my office during the middle of the day as the Seniors went through Convocation rehearsal up on the hill—I could sense the anticipation and I was really excited for them. And, while I know I’m just a little biased, I really believe our Convocation ceremony gets more beautiful and more touching every year! I’m not the only one who was impressed; here are some comments I received by e-mail from others:
To each of you and the faculty, I'd like to commend you for an excellent Convocation last evening. It appeared to be the biggest I can remember. What a beautiful setting and evening! The graduates, the faculty, the families and friends, and the press made it a memorable evening. We have a great deal to be proud of and are grateful for each of you as board members. Thank you for all your efforts and leadership. Please pass along.
Anne Reames, OHP Board President (Bellefontaine)
The Convocation last night was again a replica of the top-notch dedication the staff and administration has to provide a setting for the students and parents that they will remember for a lifetime. The program was excellent and the facilities looked great. Please pass along my appreciation for their efforts.
Bill Ramsey, OHP Board Vice President (Benjamin Logan)
What a wonderful ceremony last night!!! I heard some of your staff say it was the best one yet! I am so sorry I haven't attended before now, and I am so glad I went last night. Great job!
Nancy Wood-Allison, Superintendent (Upper Scioto Valley)
I’ve included a photo of the procession from the Peak of Ohio at the right. To see the other great photos from the event, visit our website at www.ohiohipoint.com. I can’t begin to thank all the individuals who had a hand in making this Convocation so lovely; but please know that I realize it takes a tremendous team effort; and you can take satisfaction knowing that your work means a great deal to me, our Board, our community, and most importantly our students!
I also received some high praise late last week from partner school staff for three of our staff members who went above and beyond to help one of our students reach success:
I would like to let you know how much help 3 of your employees were to our school. We had a student who did not pass the Social Studies OGT. Through the process of informing students of scores and checking to see if (this student) qualified under the alternative pathway for graduation, three of your employees were very helpful. These are Shelly Swaney (Instructional Supervisor), Lynne Hall (Guidance Counselor), and Darlene Roll (Intervention Aide). I would like you to know how much these ladies did to help us out.
Thank you,
Craig M. Hurley, Principal (Upper Scioto Valley)
I appreciate Craig sharing, and I hope these three ladies realize the impact they’ve had on this student’s life. Thank you!
Sometimes our students don’t reach success along the path we would like, but I firmly believe we “plant a seed” for success within every student we serve! One perfect example was shared with me by Dave Marsteller, our Carpentry Teacher. He received this e-mail from one of his former students. (Note: I've omitted the student’s name and have not corrected for spelling or grammar!)
Hey Mr. Marsteller, well I lied on your voice mail im writing you now. But that's cool I hope. Anyways like I said I never knew you sent me a letter. Right now I'm on a 3 day home visit and I'm helping my mom clean and I found your letter. I was totally shocked. Thank you for writing me. Well I was in JDC for 4 months then they decided to send me to Xenia- Miami Valley Juvenile Rehabilitation Center. I've been there since January 25th. I've got 40 some days left and ill be done. I've gotten the opportunity to graduate. I had to double up on my school work, but now i get my diploma in 9 days!!!! Well yesterday on my way home i passed the house. Man you guys are doing a GREAT job on that house. I love the brick it looks awesome. But hey i want you to know I'm not giving up on my dream to become a carpenter! Im 18 now and I'm going to be a graduate soon and I'm going to talk to the superintendent and hopefully he will let me come to do night classes with you! I'm DETERMINED!!! Its my dream and I'm going to fulfill it. So hopefully you could put in a good word with him if he happens to ask about me. I'm sorry i basically bailed on you. I made a really big mistake but im not letting that hold me back. So i just wanted to tell you thank you so much for writing me and you may write me were im at if you would like.
Dave has to feel good about the impact he had on this young man, and I think the fact that this student reached out to communicate with Dave reflects the respect he has for Dave as a teacher and mentor. Dave, I think this young man is going to make it! Thanks for the crucial role you played in his life.
While I’m on the topic of achievement, I have another staff achievement to share! I received this e-mail from Susie Knox, Practical Nursing Instructor and our resident running coach:
I did not know if you were aware that Mary Jo Alstaetter (ProjectSEARCH Teacher) walked the Cleveland Rock and Roll Half Marathon this past Sunday (13.1 miles). I think she should be acknowledged for this accomplishment. Mary Jo is pumped up and signing up for two more! I am trying to encourage other staff to follow in her footsteps, particularly two of my Get Fit for Life team members that have done a super job moving toward a healthier weight. Our team is leading the weight loss challenge going into the final weigh-in; we had lost a total of 71 pounds between us with our Monday weigh-in. We were never mentioned early on as we did it slow and steady, but we have persisted.
Mary Jo agreed to let me share this so long as I encouraged others to get active too. Thanks, Mary Jo, for being such an inspiration—and best wishes in the other events you’ll be walking in!
I also want to congratulate all of you who have participated in our “Biggest Loser” contest. Winning is great; but whether you were the “biggest” loser or not, if you reached a goal or are off to a good start, that’s what counts. Keep it up!
This will be my last TGIF for the year, as most of our staff will be off enjoying their summers, participating in professional development, taking classes, or just recharging batteries! My heartfelt thanks to all of our staff for another wonderful year and for all you do for our students! Have a wonderful summer, be safe traveling, and I’ll see you back here in the fall!
The highlight of the week was Wednesday with our Senior Awards Breakfast and our Convocation. These are two great events that really wrap up the high-school year and put a nice bow on it, reminding us of why we come to work every day—student achievement! It was kind of hard to focus in my office during the middle of the day as the Seniors went through Convocation rehearsal up on the hill—I could sense the anticipation and I was really excited for them. And, while I know I’m just a little biased, I really believe our Convocation ceremony gets more beautiful and more touching every year! I’m not the only one who was impressed; here are some comments I received by e-mail from others:
To each of you and the faculty, I'd like to commend you for an excellent Convocation last evening. It appeared to be the biggest I can remember. What a beautiful setting and evening! The graduates, the faculty, the families and friends, and the press made it a memorable evening. We have a great deal to be proud of and are grateful for each of you as board members. Thank you for all your efforts and leadership. Please pass along.
Anne Reames, OHP Board President (Bellefontaine)
The Convocation last night was again a replica of the top-notch dedication the staff and administration has to provide a setting for the students and parents that they will remember for a lifetime. The program was excellent and the facilities looked great. Please pass along my appreciation for their efforts.
Bill Ramsey, OHP Board Vice President (Benjamin Logan)
What a wonderful ceremony last night!!! I heard some of your staff say it was the best one yet! I am so sorry I haven't attended before now, and I am so glad I went last night. Great job!
Nancy Wood-Allison, Superintendent (Upper Scioto Valley)
I’ve included a photo of the procession from the Peak of Ohio at the right. To see the other great photos from the event, visit our website at www.ohiohipoint.com. I can’t begin to thank all the individuals who had a hand in making this Convocation so lovely; but please know that I realize it takes a tremendous team effort; and you can take satisfaction knowing that your work means a great deal to me, our Board, our community, and most importantly our students!
I also received some high praise late last week from partner school staff for three of our staff members who went above and beyond to help one of our students reach success:
I would like to let you know how much help 3 of your employees were to our school. We had a student who did not pass the Social Studies OGT. Through the process of informing students of scores and checking to see if (this student) qualified under the alternative pathway for graduation, three of your employees were very helpful. These are Shelly Swaney (Instructional Supervisor), Lynne Hall (Guidance Counselor), and Darlene Roll (Intervention Aide). I would like you to know how much these ladies did to help us out.
Thank you,
Craig M. Hurley, Principal (Upper Scioto Valley)
I appreciate Craig sharing, and I hope these three ladies realize the impact they’ve had on this student’s life. Thank you!
Sometimes our students don’t reach success along the path we would like, but I firmly believe we “plant a seed” for success within every student we serve! One perfect example was shared with me by Dave Marsteller, our Carpentry Teacher. He received this e-mail from one of his former students. (Note: I've omitted the student’s name and have not corrected for spelling or grammar!)
Hey Mr. Marsteller, well I lied on your voice mail im writing you now. But that's cool I hope. Anyways like I said I never knew you sent me a letter. Right now I'm on a 3 day home visit and I'm helping my mom clean and I found your letter. I was totally shocked. Thank you for writing me. Well I was in JDC for 4 months then they decided to send me to Xenia- Miami Valley Juvenile Rehabilitation Center. I've been there since January 25th. I've got 40 some days left and ill be done. I've gotten the opportunity to graduate. I had to double up on my school work, but now i get my diploma in 9 days!!!! Well yesterday on my way home i passed the house. Man you guys are doing a GREAT job on that house. I love the brick it looks awesome. But hey i want you to know I'm not giving up on my dream to become a carpenter! Im 18 now and I'm going to be a graduate soon and I'm going to talk to the superintendent and hopefully he will let me come to do night classes with you! I'm DETERMINED!!! Its my dream and I'm going to fulfill it. So hopefully you could put in a good word with him if he happens to ask about me. I'm sorry i basically bailed on you. I made a really big mistake but im not letting that hold me back. So i just wanted to tell you thank you so much for writing me and you may write me were im at if you would like.
Dave has to feel good about the impact he had on this young man, and I think the fact that this student reached out to communicate with Dave reflects the respect he has for Dave as a teacher and mentor. Dave, I think this young man is going to make it! Thanks for the crucial role you played in his life.
While I’m on the topic of achievement, I have another staff achievement to share! I received this e-mail from Susie Knox, Practical Nursing Instructor and our resident running coach:
I did not know if you were aware that Mary Jo Alstaetter (ProjectSEARCH Teacher) walked the Cleveland Rock and Roll Half Marathon this past Sunday (13.1 miles). I think she should be acknowledged for this accomplishment. Mary Jo is pumped up and signing up for two more! I am trying to encourage other staff to follow in her footsteps, particularly two of my Get Fit for Life team members that have done a super job moving toward a healthier weight. Our team is leading the weight loss challenge going into the final weigh-in; we had lost a total of 71 pounds between us with our Monday weigh-in. We were never mentioned early on as we did it slow and steady, but we have persisted.
Mary Jo agreed to let me share this so long as I encouraged others to get active too. Thanks, Mary Jo, for being such an inspiration—and best wishes in the other events you’ll be walking in!
I also want to congratulate all of you who have participated in our “Biggest Loser” contest. Winning is great; but whether you were the “biggest” loser or not, if you reached a goal or are off to a good start, that’s what counts. Keep it up!
This will be my last TGIF for the year, as most of our staff will be off enjoying their summers, participating in professional development, taking classes, or just recharging batteries! My heartfelt thanks to all of our staff for another wonderful year and for all you do for our students! Have a wonderful summer, be safe traveling, and I’ll see you back here in the fall!
Friday, May 23, 2008
May 23, 2008
Happy TGIF on this last Friday in May (yikes)! I apologize I didn’t get this out prior to the end of the school day; just too much going on! But I know I don’t have to tell all of you that.
This is that time of year I get my favorite case of writer’s cramp signing all the certificates of award for our students (and wishing I had prettier handwriting!) It starts about mid-May with all of our high-school honors and continues right through GED graduation in June and Practical Nursing graduation in September. This is the real “payoff time” for our students as they achieve their goals here and move on to the next step in their career pathways. As I signed the high school Certificates of Completion this week, I recognized several familiar last names. We should be proud of the fact that we serve so many students whose siblings have attended OHP. For a parent to allow us to serve two or more children is a real show of confidence in our fine programs! I also recognized a couple of last names that matched those of our staff and, as I’ve said in the past, allowing us to serve a child is the ultimate compliment from a staff member!
Our programs provide customer service to our communities in more ways than I can name, and I often receive compliments on the fine work our students do. This week I received a letter from Jennifer Wanamaker, PTO President at Fairbanks Elementary, about such fine work. Jennifer wrote:
The Printing & Graphics Program under the supervision of Tom Carrig is top notch! Our PTO was in need of notepads and staff tee shirts for Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week. In addition, we needed a design to be printed on tee shirts for our Spring Fairbanks FUN’d Walk. Through the efforts of Angie Walls coordinating with Tom Carrig, our need was filled and expectations exceeded! The Printing & Graphics Programs designed and made over 70 notepads, 182 tee shirts for our walk, and 46 tee shirts for our elementary staff. The staff raved over the original design and high quality of their new shirts. It was the highlight of their week! . . . I understand that one student in particular worked extra hard on this project. Please acknowledge the efforts of Jennifer Grube. Her vision and ability are incredible!
I happened to visit the Printing & Graphics lab while this project was underway, and I agree with Jennifer! The tee shirts were adorable. Thank you to Mr. Carrig and Mrs. Walls for giving our students this opportunity to shine!
I also received a letter from Marysville Middle School this week applauding the efforts of another of our staff members. (It’s been a fun week to open the mail!) Janet Dunn, Marysville Middle School Career and Consumer Science Teacher, wrote:
On behalf of the students, staff, and administration of Marysville Middle School, I wish to thank you and the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center for making presentations about Ohio Hi-Point Career Center possible for our eighth-grade students during the 2007-08 school year. JoEtta Spain and the student ambassadors provided very informative and engaging talks for our middle school students. Eighth grade students are very excited to plan their high school and career futures. Learning about the opportunities that await at Ohio Hi-Point are important facts to add to their pool of choices. . . . It is my hope that many Marysville students will exercise the opportunity to visit your campus during their freshman and sophomore years to gain an even deeper awareness of the wonderful opportunities that are available through Ohio Hi-Point. I hope that Marysville Schools will continue to enroll quality students in your programs and that our students will use their skills to become positive and productive members of our community.
What a tribute to JoEtta and our student ambassadors! Thanks for the fine work you do in representing us to Marysville and our other partner schools.
As you know, we’re all about accountability in career-technical education, and that applies to all of our programs which serve all age levels. We received word this week that our ABLE (Adult Basic Literacy Education) Program received a Superior rating from the Ohio Department of Education for the 2006/2007 school year. This rating is based on a review of several areas including student achievement, enrollment, retention, cost per student, student standardized test scores, and administrative requirements. Congratulations to Sharon Halter, ABLE/GED Coordinator and her talented, dedicated staff for the fine work they do in serving our adult population. And speaking of our GED program, I strongly encourage you to attend our GED graduation on June 5 at 7 p.m. in the Seminar Center. This is one of the most touching ceremonies I have the privilege of attending every year, and it’s a reminder to us all that achievement comes at all ages and through many forms of motivation. I promise you you’ll be inspired!
As for events for the week, I’ve had some interesting ones! Monday I had a visit from Ed Roberts, a legislative aide in the office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. He had heard about Ohio Hi-Point Career Center in workforce development discussions with both the Logan and Champaign County Chambers of Commerce (good for us!) So he called to set up a meeting to see what we’re all about. I talked with Mr. Roberts about our many high-school and adult education programs and the value we bring to workforce development training. Then I gave him a tour of our campus. Unfortunately, our students had left for the day, but several of our staff members were in their labs. Whenever I get the chance, I’ve learned it’s best to be quiet and let our staff tell their story; and they did a fantastic job! Mr. Roberts was, as so many are, amazed at what we offer and the high level of academic and technical education that our students receive. My thanks to Craig Bales, Art Spragen, Deb Purcell, and Tammy Heitmeyer for doing us all so proud!
Thursday afternoon I, along with several other staff members, stopped by the Construction Trades Academy Project House Open House. Once again, our Construction Trades Programs have outdone themselves in constructing a beautiful home for developer Dave Duff. It doesn’t get much more “authentic” than this as far as putting technical skills to work in the real world! The students obviously took a great deal of pride in their work, and the many parents and friends who visited also beamed with pride. Congratulations to Mr. Hedges, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Limes, and Mr. Marsteller for another successful year! And I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but stay tuned for some really neat innovative technology on next year’s project house.
Thursday evening I attended the Mad River Region Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Awards in Springfield (I serve on the Logan County Junior Achievement Board). Jerry Shiffer was honored posthumously as a Hall of Fame Laureate; many of you will remember that Jerry was the visionary behind our Aviation Occupations Program. Congressman Dave Hobson was also honored. I sat next to former U.S. Congressman Clarence Brown who lives in Urbana and was pleased to learn that he is very familiar with Ohio Hi-Point and our programs. He was especially complimentary of our efforts to provide satellite programs in Champaign County to better serve that area with both high-school and adult programs. I don’t know when I’ll quit being surprised that we’re as well known as we are—we really have done a commendable job of getting the word out about what we do!
Well, it looks as if it’s finally going to start feeling like spring (maybe even summer!) this weekend. I hope you have (or had) a wonderful extended weekend and that you took time to remember those who have served our country as well as those whom you’ve lost who are dear to you.
This is that time of year I get my favorite case of writer’s cramp signing all the certificates of award for our students (and wishing I had prettier handwriting!) It starts about mid-May with all of our high-school honors and continues right through GED graduation in June and Practical Nursing graduation in September. This is the real “payoff time” for our students as they achieve their goals here and move on to the next step in their career pathways. As I signed the high school Certificates of Completion this week, I recognized several familiar last names. We should be proud of the fact that we serve so many students whose siblings have attended OHP. For a parent to allow us to serve two or more children is a real show of confidence in our fine programs! I also recognized a couple of last names that matched those of our staff and, as I’ve said in the past, allowing us to serve a child is the ultimate compliment from a staff member!
Our programs provide customer service to our communities in more ways than I can name, and I often receive compliments on the fine work our students do. This week I received a letter from Jennifer Wanamaker, PTO President at Fairbanks Elementary, about such fine work. Jennifer wrote:
The Printing & Graphics Program under the supervision of Tom Carrig is top notch! Our PTO was in need of notepads and staff tee shirts for Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week. In addition, we needed a design to be printed on tee shirts for our Spring Fairbanks FUN’d Walk. Through the efforts of Angie Walls coordinating with Tom Carrig, our need was filled and expectations exceeded! The Printing & Graphics Programs designed and made over 70 notepads, 182 tee shirts for our walk, and 46 tee shirts for our elementary staff. The staff raved over the original design and high quality of their new shirts. It was the highlight of their week! . . . I understand that one student in particular worked extra hard on this project. Please acknowledge the efforts of Jennifer Grube. Her vision and ability are incredible!
I happened to visit the Printing & Graphics lab while this project was underway, and I agree with Jennifer! The tee shirts were adorable. Thank you to Mr. Carrig and Mrs. Walls for giving our students this opportunity to shine!
I also received a letter from Marysville Middle School this week applauding the efforts of another of our staff members. (It’s been a fun week to open the mail!) Janet Dunn, Marysville Middle School Career and Consumer Science Teacher, wrote:
On behalf of the students, staff, and administration of Marysville Middle School, I wish to thank you and the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center for making presentations about Ohio Hi-Point Career Center possible for our eighth-grade students during the 2007-08 school year. JoEtta Spain and the student ambassadors provided very informative and engaging talks for our middle school students. Eighth grade students are very excited to plan their high school and career futures. Learning about the opportunities that await at Ohio Hi-Point are important facts to add to their pool of choices. . . . It is my hope that many Marysville students will exercise the opportunity to visit your campus during their freshman and sophomore years to gain an even deeper awareness of the wonderful opportunities that are available through Ohio Hi-Point. I hope that Marysville Schools will continue to enroll quality students in your programs and that our students will use their skills to become positive and productive members of our community.
What a tribute to JoEtta and our student ambassadors! Thanks for the fine work you do in representing us to Marysville and our other partner schools.
As you know, we’re all about accountability in career-technical education, and that applies to all of our programs which serve all age levels. We received word this week that our ABLE (Adult Basic Literacy Education) Program received a Superior rating from the Ohio Department of Education for the 2006/2007 school year. This rating is based on a review of several areas including student achievement, enrollment, retention, cost per student, student standardized test scores, and administrative requirements. Congratulations to Sharon Halter, ABLE/GED Coordinator and her talented, dedicated staff for the fine work they do in serving our adult population. And speaking of our GED program, I strongly encourage you to attend our GED graduation on June 5 at 7 p.m. in the Seminar Center. This is one of the most touching ceremonies I have the privilege of attending every year, and it’s a reminder to us all that achievement comes at all ages and through many forms of motivation. I promise you you’ll be inspired!
As for events for the week, I’ve had some interesting ones! Monday I had a visit from Ed Roberts, a legislative aide in the office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. He had heard about Ohio Hi-Point Career Center in workforce development discussions with both the Logan and Champaign County Chambers of Commerce (good for us!) So he called to set up a meeting to see what we’re all about. I talked with Mr. Roberts about our many high-school and adult education programs and the value we bring to workforce development training. Then I gave him a tour of our campus. Unfortunately, our students had left for the day, but several of our staff members were in their labs. Whenever I get the chance, I’ve learned it’s best to be quiet and let our staff tell their story; and they did a fantastic job! Mr. Roberts was, as so many are, amazed at what we offer and the high level of academic and technical education that our students receive. My thanks to Craig Bales, Art Spragen, Deb Purcell, and Tammy Heitmeyer for doing us all so proud!
Thursday afternoon I, along with several other staff members, stopped by the Construction Trades Academy Project House Open House. Once again, our Construction Trades Programs have outdone themselves in constructing a beautiful home for developer Dave Duff. It doesn’t get much more “authentic” than this as far as putting technical skills to work in the real world! The students obviously took a great deal of pride in their work, and the many parents and friends who visited also beamed with pride. Congratulations to Mr. Hedges, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Limes, and Mr. Marsteller for another successful year! And I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but stay tuned for some really neat innovative technology on next year’s project house.
Thursday evening I attended the Mad River Region Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Awards in Springfield (I serve on the Logan County Junior Achievement Board). Jerry Shiffer was honored posthumously as a Hall of Fame Laureate; many of you will remember that Jerry was the visionary behind our Aviation Occupations Program. Congressman Dave Hobson was also honored. I sat next to former U.S. Congressman Clarence Brown who lives in Urbana and was pleased to learn that he is very familiar with Ohio Hi-Point and our programs. He was especially complimentary of our efforts to provide satellite programs in Champaign County to better serve that area with both high-school and adult programs. I don’t know when I’ll quit being surprised that we’re as well known as we are—we really have done a commendable job of getting the word out about what we do!
Well, it looks as if it’s finally going to start feeling like spring (maybe even summer!) this weekend. I hope you have (or had) a wonderful extended weekend and that you took time to remember those who have served our country as well as those whom you’ve lost who are dear to you.
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