MRESC InFocus Newsletter-Fall 2018
Serving Educators in Hardin, Logan, and Shelby Counties
How You Can Reach Us
Email: contact@mresc.org
Website: www.mresc.org
Location: 121 South Opera Street, Bellefontaine, OH, USA
Phone: 937-599-5195
Twitter: @MidwestRegESC
Our Newsletter: This publication is designed to spotlight initiatives, success stories, and programming being implemented by the ESC and its partner districts. We are very proud of the work our staff members are doing in partnership with area districts to meet the needs of area students and their families.
If you have any questions regarding the MRESC, please feel free to contact us at 937-599-5195. You can also email us at contact@mresc.org.
INSPIRE CAREER CONCERT
Linking Students and Local Businesses
By Connie Schneider, Shelby County Youth Development Liaison
Mercer, Auglaize, Shelby and Darke Counties hosted an inaugural event, INSPIRE CAREER CONCERT for high school seniors on October 3 during Manufacturing Week at Eldora Speedway. The goal was to actively link high school seniors from a 4-county area to local businesses for future internships, summer, or full-time employment possibilities in the future. This inspirational event focused on helping students find their voice and career path. This was a great opportunity to bring high school seniors together with local employers in order to make a meaningful/personal connection before they graduate. The event included a career fair (both in the morning and afternoon), two keynote speakers, and a band that kept the students energized.
The keynote speakers included Jeremy Bout, President of Edge Factor. After spending 12 years using technology to bring ideas to life in the manufacturing industry, he leads the Edge Factor team in producing inspiring films and accompanying interactive resources to inspire the next generation of makers. As a critically acclaimed filmmaker, public speaker and entrepreneur, Jeremy’s story-driven keynote presentations include underlying life skills lessons, such as hard work leads to success - it won’t be handed to you, you will be pushed out of your comfort zone, and failure sucks, but it’s what you do when you fail that defines you.
The second keynote speaker was Michelle Poler. She is the Founder of Hello Fears, a social movement empowering millions to step outside of their comfort zone and tap into their full potential. She has spoken at TEDx, Google, INBOUND, Facebook, ESPN, Netflix, Procter and Gamble, Microsoft, Toyota, World Domination Summit, Festival of Media Global, and many more. Michelle has empowered over 20,000 students at schools and universities around the world to live with courage, find their authenticity and embrace their growth paths.
There were 1000 students from Mercer, Auglaize, Shelby, and Darke Counties registered with almost 100 local businesses attending. We continue to believe our best hope for talent acquisition is right here at home.
The event was sponsored by Gold Sponsors: AAP, Crown Equipment Corporation, Schwan’s Mama Rosa’s and OhioMeansJobs in Mercer, Auglaize, and Shelby Counties. The other organizations include, The Fremont Company, Hometown Opportunity, Auglaize Mercer Business Education Alliance (AMBE), Partnering for Progress, Darke County Economic Development, Workforce Partnership of Shelby County, Mercer County ESC, Auglaize County ESC, Midwest Regional ESC, Darke County, Sidney Shelby Economic Partnership, Auglaize County, Mercer County, Shelby County, City of Sidney, NKTelco, and Eldora Speedway.
38th Annual Logan County College Day
Meeting with Military Representatives,
2-year Schools
4-year Institutions
by Karen Sorreles, Logan County Youth Development Liaison
Representatives of some 70 institutions of higher learning and the military were on hand to meet with approximately 1,200 local juniors and seniors, from Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Indian Lake and Riverside High Schools.
In addition to speaking with representatives from various educational options, students also attended a session with a panel of speakers and were advised on procedures, what to expect and an opportunity to ask general questions. College reps received a continental breakfast as well as a boxed lunch prepared by Benjamin Logan FCCLA students.
Representatives are asked to complete an evaluation and gave an overall rating of “Outstanding” and “Above Average”. They also added comments such as “Great Event”, “I always enjoy this Fair”, and “Super sweet and thoughtful students.” Students were very engaged and found the fair very helpful.
Special thank you to Mary Rutan Hospital, Grand Rental and Easton Water Solutions for their continued support of the students in Logan County.
Logan County Youth Leadership Kickoff
Youth Leadership members from all Logan County Schools met at Myeerah Nature Preserve on Friday, September 21, 2018 to kick-off the 2018-2019 school year.
Life Reps Owner, Marcia O'Brien facilitated active team building, problem solving and leadership development within the Youth Leadership Team, with a challenge to identify and grow into the Big Ideas of Leadership.
Amy Keller, MS, RDN, LD, Clinical Dietician from Mary Rutan Hospital/Healthy Living Coalition, spoke to students about creating healthy habits for a future of healthy living with a main emphasis on the dangers of caffeine. “Healthy Habits, Healthy You” through Mary Rutan Hospital generously provided lunch for the students.
The 9th-12th grade Impact Teams met and brainstormed four countywide activities to “impact” their community and several activities that will impact their district. Be on the lookout for the Impact Teams raking leaves, helping at the Ring of Lights, playing games and visiting at nursing centers and helping the local shelters. They also have many ways they plan to impact their homeschool as well!
The 9th & 10th grade students will attend programs this year to enhance leadership skills, such as communication, public speaking, decision making, priorities, and more. Two new programs are being planned, focusing on 11th and 12th grade team members to further enhance their leadership skills.
Youth Leaders Take Part in Oldest Street Race
Several Youth Leadership Impact team members showed up bright and early the Saturday of Memorial weekend to assist the Logan County Chamber and other volunteers with the “Oldest Street Race”. It was a beautiful day for a run and a very successful turnout.
For more information about Logan County Youth Leadership activities, please contact Karen Sorreles at ksorreles@mresc.org.
SWD Lifecycle Study
By Craig Ludwig, MRESC Director of Special Education
Miss Sayre’s SWD class at Jackson Center has been studying monarch butterflies. Miss Sayre brought in several monarch caterpillars and some milkweed branches and leaves. The leaves had butterfly eggs under them. Students got to see newly hatched caterpillars grow. When the caterpillars were fully grown, they formed chrysalises.
They took all the caterpillars, chrysalises and life cycle posters to present to middle school science classes. When the butterflies hatched, they released them in the courtyard. The middle school planted butterfly gardens to attract the Monarchs next year.
Kindergarten Bootcamp
By Nichole Dearth MOT, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist Midwest Regional ESC
The first Kindergarten Bootcamp was held at Ada Elementary August 6-10th with 41 children signed up. Bootcamp focused on fine motor and social skills through daily themed activities. Children left with a daily take home activity to encourage follow through and practice at home. The program was designed and run by occupational therapist, Nichole Dearth with assistance from occupational therapy assistant Lisa Closson.
The Hardin County Community Foundation generously funded the camp through a grant with additional donations from the Ada Academic Boosters and local businesses. Occupational therapy assistant students from Rhodes State College volunteered their time to help run the program.
It's a Great Day to be a Chief!
by Molli Jackson, Director of BCS Success Center, VLA, and RE Program
The Bellefontaine High School Success Center is off to a great start! Currently the Success Center has 60 students that are working hard each day to meet his/her daily academic and personal goals. One of our main focuses this school year are the 7 A’s. The 7 A’s help students realize the importance of soft skills needed in the work place. Each week every student selects one A to focus on.
Our Work Force Wednesday lessons teach: team building, leadership, accountability, attitude and a variety of other important skills. Students also create a resume and complete job applications. The goal for ever BHS student is that they will take these skills and go out into the world and make a difference!
Health and Development Jamboree
By Lori Berger, Early Childhood Director
MRESC Early Childhood program collaborated with other multiple agencies in Hardin County for the Health and Development Jamboree on August 27th at Simon Kenton School. The event offered hands-on activities promoting health and well-being for children and adults of all ages. We had over 50 children brave the heat to join us in kicking off the new school year.
We hosted our Fall Developmental Screening on September 14th at Ada. This screening was open to all children ages birth through 5 in Hardin County, and advertised through fliers in the community and school district. Some of the local private preschools require their families to attend this annual screening to ensure children’s delays are being identified prior to Kindergarten. Through this event, we were able to identify six children that need additional developmental screenings/evaluations.
We will be hosting our 5th annual Boo on the Boardwalk on Friday October 26th at Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve. This event will offer hands-on activities for children to engage in, activity suggestions and materials for families to take home, as well as trick-or-treating on the Boardwalk through the woods. This event is a collaborative effort between ODNR, MRESC Early Childhood Program, Hardin County Early Intervention, and Simon Kenton Preschool. This year, we are also inviting school-aged children from Hardin County SWD Units and Simon Kenton School. School Administrators are encouraged to attend to see how we can expand this event. Please contact Lori Berger for further details (LBerger@mresc.org).
Within the classrooms, educators have a strong focus this year on early literacy skills and embedded collaborative teaching. All classrooms are implementing the Heggerty series as well as the STAR program (Sit Together And Read). We are working hard to support families in continuing these activities at home so that we see much larger educational gains. Teachers, Instructional Assistants, and Related Service members are meeting monthly to discuss strategies to implement program wide to ensure all needs and developmental levels are being addressed through the classroom environment and activities.
Creativity and the Lotus
The “Lotus Diagram” is a fun tool for brainstorming that many students enjoy — especially creative thinkers! By using word association and color, the Lotus diagram can help students in taking notes, creating projects, or “going deeper." In the example below, the center box contains the central concept. Each of the colored surrounding boxes then contains an aspect of the central concept — like Mother Teresa's background in the example below.
That colored box is then moved over, and the white boxes surrounding the colored box contain topics, ideas, questions, or facts about that item (like background). The Lotus diagram can prove a great way to organize thoughts, to pre-write, or to add depth and complexity to a topic.
Byrdseed: An Amazing Resource!
When we’re busy in the classroom, it’s often challenging to find the time to compile and evaluate excellent resources. Enter Ian Byrd, gifted expert, former teacher, and master resource provider. His website, byrdseed.com, offers a unique mix of strategies and tips for working with the gifted. Read on to explore!
Do you ever struggle to generate deep, complex questions related to Bloom’s? Despair no more: the Differentiator offers amazing help! Just plug in key words and concepts, and the program generates strong, rigorous questions that include thinking skill, content, products, groups, and resources. Check it out here: http://byrdseed.com/differentiator/
Differentiation Helps:
- Math curiosities: https://www.byrdseed.com/category/differentiating/math/math-curiosities/
- ELA: character analysis choice menu: https://www.byrdseed.com/a-deep-complex-extension-menu-for-character-analysis/?icn=srs
- Deep Thoughts: helping kids reflect ~ https://www.byrdseed.com/reflecting-with-depth-and-complexity/
If you have questions about the MRESC's Gifted Programming or need support serving gifted students in your classroom, please contact Erica Baer at ebaer@mresc.org
Brightening the Climate at Opportunity School
by Sybil Truster, Director of Administrative Services & Innovative Programs
The Shelby County – Sidney City Opportunity School recently renovated the office at Sidney High School. This area has served as a hub for students, parents, faculty and administration since 2008. The staff was faced with the dilemma to either upgrade or invest in new construction in order to bring the facility into the 21st Century. Priorities were established, a cost analysis was conducted, and a decision made by the staff to proceed using an architectural sketch designed by Greg Johnson and Hilary Davis (Opportunity School team members).
Opportunity School and Sidney High School staff members volunteered their time and talent to transform a dull, drab, inconvenient office into an up-to-date headquarters, complete with conference areas for students, family and mentors. Aged plaster board, walls, and carpeting were torn out, old fluorescent lighting and wiring were replaced and an interior door was updated. The walls were given a fresh coat of paint, new lighting was added and a poured sparkle slab lightened the entire work area, as well as the mood of staff and students.
It is clear that the Opportunity School culture is shaped by the teamwork of the entire community; from the Superintendents of Sidney and the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center to the staff, local business and students.
The academic advisors recognize that the Opportunity School environment has a profound effect on student learning including - noise level, temperature, proper lighting and furnishings. It is within this setting that students will work with their mentors, discuss issues with advisors, and make important decisions that will impact their futures.
The Opportunity School staff would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their generous contributions toward the completion of the updated office: Brian Snyder, Travis Davidson, Mike Herbert, Mike Shonk, Rock Raterman, Brad Martin, Kevin Shoffner and Jason McLain. Major contributors of either money or supplies include: Sidney City Schools, the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center and Sidney Lowes. The Opportunity School Staff (Clark, Roll, Hoewischer, Barhorst, Davis, Kohl, Johnson and Truster) did a preponderance of the demolition, painting and cleaning. Direct collaboration among the stakeholders allowed everyone in the loop throughout the process, to rally support for funding, encourage participation, maintain morale, instill ownership, and facilitate the understanding of the project.
If you have questions about the MRESC's Opportunity School Program, please contact Tom Clark at tclark@mresc.org or Sybil Truster, Director at struster@mresc.org
Curriculum Department Supports Standards Revisions
By Dave Shellhaas, MRESC Curriculum Director
Dave Shellhaas, Curriculum Director at the Midwest Regional ESC, is supporting districts in making successful transitions to the newly revised academic standards in the core subjects. Dave worked with districts last year to transition and realign math and language arts curriculum and instruction based on the revisions recently adopted by the State Board of Education. This year the ESC is working with districts to support their transition to the science and social studies standards adopted late last winter.
Although the revisions were not major, it is still important to revisit and cross-reference the changes based on what the teachers have been teaching. Dave supports the districts by walking them through the various documents and explaining when the revised standards will be first assessed on the state assessments. He also supports the districts by providing them with dynamic classroom resources that he has compiled and posted on the ESC’s website, www.mresc-learning.org for each subject.
A Modified Orton-Gillingham Approach
Monday, Oct 22, 2018, 08:00 AM
Botkins Local School District, OH, USA
Employee Discipline: 3-Part Series (Part 1)
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2018, 09:00 AM
Sidney Board of Education, South 4th Avenue, Sidney, OH, USA
Embedding Tech Tools
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2018, 09:00 AM
Ohio Northern University, S Main St, Ada, OH, USA
Problem Based Learning 101
Tuesday, Nov 6, 2018, 09:00 AM
Sidney Board of Education, South 4th Avenue, Sidney, OH, USA
Math Interventions: Getting Your Grade K3 Students Engaged in Math
Wednesday, Nov 7, 2018, 08:30 AM
Ohio Northern University, S Main St, Ada, OH, USA
Our Directors are a well-informed, highly-skilled team of specialists with a vast range of experiences. Through a wide network of connections with colleagues across the state, relationships with ODE, and memberships in various regional, state, and national organizations, the MRESC team is able to deliver pertinent information and answer specific questions regarding school improvement, professional development, parent engagement, curricular initiatives, and more.
Please contact a member of our Director team if you are interested in customized curriculum services, onsite workshops, professional learning communities, etc. We are interested in helping you develop cost effective options that are aligned to your individual needs. Our phone number is 937-599-5195 or 937-498-1354.
Dave Shellhaas, Director of Curriculum & School Improvement
Email: dshellhaas@mresc.org
Shawn McElroy, Director of Organizational Development
Email: smcelroy@mresc.org
Sybil Truster, Director of Administrative Services & Innovative Programs
Email: struster@mresc.org
Erica Baer, Director of Student Achievement & Gifted Coordinator
Email: ebaer@mresc.org
Craig Ludwig, Director of Special Education
Email: cludwig@mresc.org
Lori Berger, Director of Early Childhood Education
Email: lberger@mresc.org
Meaghan Tidwell, Director of Special Education, Indian Lake Local Schools
Email: mtidwell@mresc.org
Jeanie Riethman, Student Services Administrator
Email: jreithman@mresc.org
Connie Schneider, Youth Development Liaison (Shelby County)
Email: cschneider@mresc.org
Karen Sorreles, Youth Development Liaison (Logan County)
Email: ksorreles@mresc.org
Stewart Watkins, Information Technology Coordinator
Email: swatkins@mresc.org
Midwest Regional ESC
Our Vision: To Be Your First Choice in Educational Services
Our Mission is to partner with school districts to improve outcomes for students and families with innovative, specialized services and programs at reasonable costs
Email: contact@mresc.org
Website: www.mresc.org
Location: 121 South Opera Street, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311
Phone: 937-599-5195
Twitter: @MidwestRegESC