BlendED 9-12
Columbus Online Academy, Columbus City Schools
April 30 2022
Shout Out To Kaleigh Dodge
Kayleigh Dodge came into the Hilltop Library to take her Government OST test. After testing, she was able to return the book "Every Day" by David Levithan that she picked up the month before and pick up the sequel "Someday." Testing at the library gives her a chance to find a good book.
McChesney's Students of the Month
My Students of the Month are as follows:
February: Alaina Easley, Lucie Miller, Arielle Parris, Jordyn Palmer
March: Maureece Raleigh, Markayla Johnson, Ameerah Parris, Braydon Messer
April: Aaliyah Page, Davianna Smith, Mianna Williams, Rylee Taylor
It was very difficult to pick just a few of our students because so many go "above and beyond" with their schoolwork, their attendance/participation, and their kindness toward one another. Be sure to look for my May Students of the Month in the next newsletter. All students of the month receive a gift card.
Teacher Charlene McChesney and Braydon Messer
Arielle Parris and Ameerah Parris
Rylee Taylor
Teacher Gemma Park
Students have fun in the photo booth with Principal Christian Angel
Teacher Michelle Jeffries
Teacher Michael Motley
Ameerah and Arielle Parris
Teacher Deb Rheyne helps in the Spanish station while Manny Lias works on a puzzle
Teacher Alex While works with Jose Vazquez on math
Counselor Julia Maggard works with Dre'Aira Lindsay
Internship Coordinator Steve Baker works with Braydon Messer
Teacher Marcus Edwards Takes a Break from the Science station
Teacher Gemma Park helps students in the math station
Rodney Hughes
Josiah Kelley
Students line up for pizza
Aniya Coady
Kenneth Finley
Anita Lindsay, Dre'Aira Lindsay, Angel Lindsay
Gaming station is a hit
Head Custodian Latasha Washington
Teacher Caleb Martin
Technology Specialist Kelly Holbrook
Gift cards were a hidden surprise
Dre'Aira Lindsay
By Victoria Norwood
Dre'Aira Lindsay joined the newsletter staff to strengthen her writing skills and showcase her creativity. Lindsay said, "I felt it would be a great opportunity to put myself out there while strengthening my skills. I am glad I joined because I am a better writer and discovered that I am a good poet."
When asked what she liked about the newsletter, Lindsay said, "Other than writing stories, I enjoy working with the staff. Everyone works together wonderfully. We are the dream team."
When asked about the most challenging part of the newsletter, Lindsay said, "finding the balance between schoolwork, things outside of school, and finding the time to work on stories, but this team is very understanding, and we all still manage to get each issue done in time."
As for her plans after BlendED, Lindsay said, "I've always been interested in science from a young age. I recently found a new interest in cooking, so why not take both things you enjoy and put them to good use. I decided that I wanted to go to school and get a degree in Food Science & Technology. I plan to work at a big food production company and further my education to obtain a Ph.D. I feel this career will always be in demand because we will always need food as a society, and I will network my way to the top to ensure our food chain is secure."
Lindsay said that students should join the newsletter because there is a lot of freedom to write about specific topics. Lindsay said, "You also learn all of the different writing styles. If you are looking for something to strengthen your resume, I recommend joining. It gives you experience in journalism and allows you to meet new people. It is a great skill to have under your belt."
Bits & Bytes
Alexandia Morrow
By Victoria Norwood
Grade: 10th
Family: 2 brothers & 4 sisters
Hobbies: Makeup, making jewelry, doing my nails, & hanging out with my friends
Favorites: K-pop, Korean steamed dumplings, neon yellow & lime green
Goals: To go to college & make my parents proud
Fun facts: I'm really good at dying hair. I have dyed mine, my sister’s & my friend’s. I'm also pretty good at building things.
Cecilia Clark
Grade: 12th
Awards Won: I won the invention convention.
Family: I have a normal-sized family with two brothers and two dogs. I am currently the only child left living at home.
Hobbies: I enjoy painting and playing drums.
Favorites: I love 90’s music, the color pink, and seafood.
Goals: To learn how to drive and move out
Why BlendED? At my old school, I was bullied.Emmanuel Lias
Grade: 9th
Awards won: Football trophies
Hobbies: Drawing, playing, coloring
Favorites: Music & the color blue
Family: 1 brother, 5 cousins, 1 aunt
Jobs: Babysits siblings & helps mom at a nursing home
Goals: Starting a business that helps the homeless or a nursing home and becoming a teacher.Devonte Galloway
Grade: 10th
Awards Won: I won a Hard Work Award for drumline. I worked my way from not knowing anything music related to leading the drumline.
Family: I have a normal-sized family with two brothers and two dogs. I am currently the only child left living at home.
Hobbies: I enjoy drumming, drawing, making graphic effects, and developing games.
Favorites: Music, sports, art, civil war, Napoleonic Wars, revolutionary war
Jobs: I care for my siblings, and I think no pay should be needed because they are my family and responsibility.
Goals: Graduating and joining the Blue Devils
Why BlendED? To be better at school and have the support system I need to graduate.
Quincy Wilder
Grade: 10th
Awards: Honor roll
Hobbies: Sleeping, watching TV, playing video games
Favorites: Music, french fries, the color purple, and football
Family: Sister, grandma, and grandpa
Goals: To become an actorHenry Sprouse
Grade: 12th
Family: I have a large family.
Hobbies: Sports and games
Favorites: Music, food, and football
Job: Walmart
Goals: To graduate and make money
Why BlendED? So I can work at my own paceJa'Mya Busby-James
Grade: 9th
Hobbies: Drawing/sketching and cleaning
Favorites: The color blue
Family: I have a large family, and I love everyone on both my mom's and my dad's side of my family.
Job: I don't have a job yet; my parents want me to focus on school first. But I do want to start volunteering at animal shelters.
Why BlendED? I have bad anxiety, and I'm scared to go back to school.
Goals: My goal is to become a veterinarian.
Takara Ray
Grade: 10th
Awards: Student of the month, A & B award, Most Improved, All A’s for the year
Hobbies: Basketball, cheering, listening to music
Favorites: R&B, Hip-Hop, the color blue
Family: 4 brothers & 2 sisters
Why BlendED? To balance work and school
Goals: To be successful in everything and to get a scholarship to an HBCU
Leslie Norris
Grade: 10th
Awards: I have gotten 50k streams in 1 year.
Hobbies: I make music, play games, and do lots of math.
Favorites: Juice Wrld, pizza, and the color purple
Family: My mom, my dad, and my sister
Job: I don't have a job, just chores
Why BlendED? My mom signed me up.
Goals: My short-term goal is to finish school with a high GPA. My long-term goal is to become a very successful musician.
Support Center Shares Office Space with BlendED 9-12 Staff
Columbus City Schools' BlendED 9-12 staff members work in the same space as the Support Center staff. This unique space-sharing partnership has allowed staff members to get to know one another and collaborate.
The Support Center, previously known as I-PASS or Options For Success, is an online program for students who cannot attend in-person classes at their home schools due to disciplinary consequences. The hearing office assigns students who choose to participate in lieu of suspension.
Before the pandemic, multiple buildings housed this program. The maximum number of students allowed to attend at once previously was 15. Now that the program is online, that number has increased. Three hundred thirty students have participated in the program this school year. Students removed from school for a level 1 or 2 behavior incident attend the program for 20-45 days. The program helps with counseling, resolving conflicts, and building students' confidence.
Students' schedules include four courses: math, science, English, and social studies. Classes are an hour long each period, and they also receive an hour lunch period. Next year, students will have social and emotional learning activities each day through a recently hired staff member.
Saradhi Narra, a teacher on special assignment, is one of the staff members at the support center. Narra is in his fifth year. Before working for the Support Center, he worked at East High School as a Dean of Students, a science teacher, and a track coach. When asked what he liked about his job, Narra said, "I love the opportunity that students get a second chance after making a behavioral mistake at school. Even if there is a behavioral mistake, the number one thing a student needs is education, and I don't like taking education away from students."
When asked about challenges, Narra said it is sometimes difficult to track down assigned students and get families oriented to the program. The Support Center only has six staff members, including Narra. One staff member teaches the elementary students, and four staff members lead the secondary core classes. Narra's job includes several responsibilities, including answering all support center calls, scheduling students, making sure grades are recorded in Infinite Campus, communicating with home schools, and communicating with families.
Shane Fillhart teaches math for support center
Shane Fillhart is a Support Center math teacher. Before working for the support center, Fillhart worked in the Arctic region of Alaska as an Assistant Director of the Alaska Technical Center. He also used to teach online in Newark, Ohio, and he has taught in North Carolina. Fillhart has coached girls' softball, church softball, and high school weightlifting.
When asked to share some fun facts, Fillhart revealed that he was once on a telethon as a kid. He also appeared on a show for the Toledo Storm hockey team on a Saturday morning show after showing him knocking down bowling pins with the use of a hockey stick (to steer the ball down the bowling lane).
Fillhart's education was through the University of Toledo, The Ohio State University, Owens Community College, and the University of Findlay.
He chose the Support Center job because he possessed the skills and experience needed. Fillhart enjoys helping students with their math. His biggest challenge is working with students from different math courses simultaneously.
When asked about students who have benefitted from the program, Fillhart said, "I have had several students thank me when they are exiting the program to return to school. Some have expressed the desire to have me as their math teacher for the remainder of the school year. I told them they have to reintegrate into the traditional classroom, but I am here if they should need anything."
Fillhart also mentioned, "Teaching online, though difficult in math, presents a less confrontational format for students to acquire new skills. I try to be as supportive as I can, but I ask the students to try their best when we are working. If they get an incorrect answer, then it's no big deal. We will just fix it and move on, knowing what not to do next time."
LaWanna McGough teaches grades K-5 for Support Center
LaWanna McGough (rhymes with do), known as Kay by her colleagues, is the elementary school teacher for Support Center. She said, "LaWanna is a Native American name that means 'Morning Star' as I was born early in the morning." She loves to read historical fiction, mysteries, spy dramas, and political non-fiction. She also loves her two cats, Buddy and Sissy, who will be three years old in July. McGough also enjoys singing with the Columbus Chorus of Sweet Adelines. She also loves vacations at the beach.
McGough is a K-5 teacher who usually teaches reading and math. She is also the Testing Coordinator for the Ohio State Tests and End of the Year Tests for K-12 students taking classes through the Support Center. When asked why they chose this job, she said, "I did not originally choose this job. It chose me! The Principal, Ms. Angel, needed a K-5 teacher, and there were too many teachers at my school last fall, so I was selected to be in this school instead! And I love it! I will also be teaching here next year, and it's my choice this time!" Her piece of advice was, "So remember, when life makes the road bumpy, hang on tight until it levels off, and it will be a smooth ride!."
Like most teachers, McGough feels there is a lot to cover but not enough time to teach, but she enjoys working with students in smaller groups. McGough believes that her job allows her to get to know each person individually and assist them with learning that may be difficult for them. When asked, "Do you have any stories of students that have benefited from this program?" McGough said, "I can think of one particular student who was having difficulty in a general education setting. This young student has been with me most of the year and has improved so much! He is cooperating, practicing, and learning every day!"
Teachers spend free time marching and running
Some BlendED staff members spent a few days off during April walking and running through the streets of Columbus, Ohio, for various causes. On April 20, many Columbus Education Association members marched in the Short North with fellow CEA members, family, friends, and neighbors. They marched to demonstrate that CEA members are serious about getting a fair contract and the schools that CCS students deserve. Pictured above: Counselor Julia Maggard and Teacher Michael Motley.
On April 30, Teachers Caleb Martin (left) and Michelle Jeffries (right) participated in the Capital City Half Marathon, which benefits the Ohio Health Foundation and has an economic impact of approximately $7.5 million, according to M3S Sports. When asked how she liked the marathon, Jeffries said, "It was good to be back doing races again. When Covid hit, I didn't know when live races would happen again. There's no better experience than a live race."
Steve Baker
Steve Baker is an internship coordinator for BlendED. When asked why he chose BlendED he said, "I am also the internship coordinator at Walnut Ridge. I would stop down to the BlendEd space to see Mrs. McChesney. The more I went, the more I got to know the other staff members. The next thing you know, I was helping enter internship hours. Shortly after this, I volunteered to be the official internship coordinator for BlendEd."
Before working as an internship coordinator, Baker has worked as:
- A history teacher
- A golf coach
- A wrestling coach
- An Emergency Medical Services Technician
- A member of the Navy Reserve
When asked about fun facts Baker said, "Well, I have met several 'celebrities' when I did EMS. We used to cover the Arnold Sports Classic. Arnold Schwarzenegger would always stop by and have lunch with us and thank us for helping. I also spent eight years working at the Memorial Golf Tournament in Dublin. I have met Jack Nicklaus many times. I also spent a couple of hours with Phil Mickelson at a shelter house during a severe weather break. The emergency response team I was on would respond to natural disasters. I have been to Texas and Louisiana for hurricanes. The best place I have ever traveled to was Aruba with my wife."
Baker used to play golf and wrestle in high school. He said, "I was good at golf and being a wrestling dummy to a much better wrestler in high school. My life now is transporting my daughters to their sporting events. My oldest daughter plays travel volleyball, and my youngest daughter plays softball." Another fun activity he enjoys is camping and traveling to different places for vacation.
Baker attended Columbus State Community College to earn his certification in EMS. He also attended Ohio Dominican for his teaching degree.
When asked, "Is there anything else you want your BlendED family to know about you?" he said, "I am incredibly loyal to family, friends, and school. I do not walk away from the difficulty; I try to embrace it. I do, however, put family first. If it affects my family, we have a problem. I think I have a good (maybe dry) sense of humor. I used to use sarcasm and jokes with my students, and they generally enjoyed me, lol."
Angel Lindsay
Angel Lindsay is a School Program Assistant at BlendED 9-12. Her mom is an intervention specialist at BlendED, and that is how she found out about the job opening. Lindsay is also working as a home health aide. She has worked at a dental office, three different daycare centers, and with children who have special needs.
When asked about the benefits and challenges of having two jobs, Lindsay said, “The benefits of working two jobs are paying off bills faster, doing fun things with my family/friends, and having a savings account. The challenge is being tired more often and not having as much time to do other things outside of work; you just have to find a balance that works for you.”
Her job duties consist of scheduling meetings with students about attendance issues. Lindsay said, “I love my new position with my new work family. When I first started, I was a little nervous as I am in any job or starting anything new, but that quickly went away.”
Lindsay developed a diverse set of skills through experience and training. Her educational history includes: dental school in 2009, community health worker classes in 2019, state tested nurses aide classes in 2020, and advanced manicuring in 2021.
When asked what fun facts Lindsay would be willing to share with BlendED, she said, “A few years ago, I met Wendy Williams at her book signing at a new Giant Eagle. I have also traveled to Vegas, Nevada. I love coffee, and I love the color pink.”
Julisa Capers
Julisa Capers is a secretary for BlendED. When asked how she ended up at BlendED she said, "I was moved to CCS Digital Academy from Options for Success once the pandemic shut the program down for the 20-21 school year. Once CCS Digital Academy ended, BlendED began, I moved over with it and the best administrator ever, Ms. Angel."
Before working for BlendED, Capers worked for Sinclair Community College in Dayton for seven years as an administrative assistant. She then moved to Columbus and started working for CCS as an instructional assistant at Columbus Global Academy. Even though Capers enjoyed her time working at Columbus Global Academy, she was then hired as a secretary for the Options for Success program.
Capers enjoys track and field and has run for ten years. Her favorite races were 200-meter dash and relay races. She's even participated in a 400-meter dash.
Capers has attended Wright State University, Sinclair Community College, and Franklin University.
When asked if there was anything else she would like to share she said, "BlendEd 9-12 has the best staff in the Columbus City School district."
Chronically absent or disengaged students can get help from an academic success coach
By Anita Lindsay
If you (or a student you know) are having issues with regular school attendance, there is a free resource to help funded by Department of Education. According to the Graduation Alliance website, they connect families with outreach counselors who will "assess their needs and offer them the support of an Academic Success Coach for the duration of the program. There is no cost to them or to you for this support." Eligible students are those who are chronically absent, are disengaged from learning, or are academically at risk. Contact Counselor Julia Maggard at jmaggard@columbus.k12.oh.us for more information.
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Internship Hours
BlendED 9-12 is a Student-Run Newsletter
Looking for another issue? Click below.
Staff: L. Brooks, D. Lindsay, H. Williams
Editor V. Norwood Advisers: K. McQuate and A. Lindsay
Email: kmcquate@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/domain/4199
Location: 4841 E Livingston Ave, Columbus, OH 43227, USA
Phone: (614) 365-8472