From the Principal's Office
December 2019
December is here! This month starts our End of Course testing. We are also knee deep in the holiday season. It's critical that students stay focused, get enough sleep and avoid distraction. Let's finish off 2019 strong!
If you have any questions or concerns, I am always available. Feel free to contact me via phone at 440-774-1051, ext. 22273, or via email at tpelto@lcjvs.net.
Tina Pelto, Principal
Lorain County JVS
Spotlight on Students
When students come to the JVS, they are in classes with students from 13 different Associate Schools. Successful students grow to respect those who come from different families, communities, socio-economic backgrounds, races, and genders. Their world views grow every day at the JVS with each new person they meet. However, two of our students, Vy Huynh and Youngeun Jang, have expanded their perspectives even further; they are adapting to an entirely different country as part of the International Student Exchange Program.
Vy (vē) is from Binh Duong, a suburb in Southeast Vietnam over 8,000 miles away. Youngeun (yŭng-ĕn) only had to travel 6,800 miles from Yangsan City, South Korea, a metropolis of nearly 350,000 people. Neither had left their countries before they boarded a plane to the United States. Vy’s flight was 20 hours long. Youngeun told us she had a short flight to the United States (13 hours), but her return flight will be longer (24 hours).
Vy told us that the day the International Student Exchange Program came to her school was very meaningful to her because she had “always dreamed to study abroad." Both she and Youngeun had to put in a lot of work to participate. They competed and won scholarships to come to the United States and then each committed to a year abroad. While in this country, they live with a host family.
The Melnyks from Wellington, are hosting the two students. Tammy Melnyk, JVS Instructor and LCCC Adjunct, told us she has hosted 15 foreign exchange students over the last decade. The family hosts students in pairs to ease any anxiety students may feel upon arrival – it helps to have someone there who understands exactly what they’re experiencing. The girls laughed about their first day here. “It was so awkward, you’re living with strangers!” Now they’ve become a part of the Melnyk family. Mrs. Melnyk told us she gets to invest deeply in the life of a student and help them to grow and thrive. Here at the JVS, we are thrilled that we get to play a part in such an influential and worthwhile program.
At the JVS, Vy is enrolled in the Allied Health Program, where she gets hands-on experience in the medical field. Vy participates in an extensive internship program with Hospice of Lorain County. She will have the opportunity to earn her CPR/First Aid Credential, OSHA 10 Credential and the State Tested Nursing Assistant credential. Vy said she wanted to learn how to help people and learn a trade that would be useful. In Vietnam, Vy’s family works in the business field. She said, “Health is different. It is an amazing adventure. I want to challenge myself.”
Susan Wallace, Vy’s Allied Health Instructor, praises Vy’s work ethic. “She is a serious student who works hard every day, maintains a positive attitude, and gets along very well with everyone. She will make an excellent health care provider.”
Youngeun chose the Marketing and Entrepreneurship Program. She is learning marketing and management techniques in the areas of sports, entertainment and fashion. She gets hands-on experience in the class as they run the school’s Corner Shoppe, an experience she never would have had at home in South Korea. “The store is my favorite thing. It’s fun to work with customers and learn about running a business.” Youngeun’s business influences start with her mother. “My mother is a CEO of a tutoring business. Now I’m interested. How can I market her business to get more customers?” It is amazing to think that, in just a short amount of time, this JVS program will have global reach.
Both Vy and Youngeun also take a full course load of academics at the JVS, including English, Math and Civics. Vy said everyone at the JVS is friendly and helpful. Teachers are available to answer questions and help students. They are excellent students, earning straight A’s in their subjects.
JVS Social Studies Instructor Jennifer Pluta has had the pleasure of teaching both girls. “Youngeun and Vy are both amazing students and individuals. I love the passion they have for learning about our government and psychology. They bring a world view to my classes and their classmates enjoy learning more about their cultures and the difference with ours. They set a great example for all of us to embrace opportunities.”
The girls talked about the differences between the United States and Asia, especially when it comes to the impending Ohio winter. Vy tells us the weather is very different here than at home. In Vietnam, it is hot all year long, with an average daily temperature in the 80s. She marveled that in Ohio the weather is cold in the morning, hot in the afternoon, and cold again at night. While we were complaining about the early snowstorm this year, Vy said she was excited to see snow for the first time!
Vy and Youngeun have had the chance to experience typical teenage life here in Lorain County. The Melnyk Family took them to Cedar Point and the Lorain County Fair. They went to the “Black and Blue” roller derby game. Vy participated with her class in the Zero Proof Mix-Off Event at Lorain County Community College. They went with the Melnyks to Niagara Falls for a weekend. The two even played an open mic session at Lodi Music. With Vy singing and Youngeun playing guitar, the crowd wouldn’t stop cheering until the duo gave an encore!
Youngeun tells us that teenage life in South Korea is very different then in the United States. Her school day goes until 9:00 pm. Teenagers don’t drive; they take public transportation. You cannot get your license in South Korea until you are 19 years old. Youngeun said one of her biggest surprises came at a Keystone Football playoff game. “There were teenagers there dressed in all neon colors, even their socks. They had paint on their face and they were jumping around. It was wild!”
Youngeun also made a rather serious comparison, “If you live in this country, you should appreciate it. In South Korea you cannot see the stars. There is no fresh air.” This is something most of us don’t think about as we look at the Lorain County night sky.
There have been other surprises too. One is the widespread use of social media. The students notice that everyone is texting all the time. Youngeun comments that, “I’m not as interested in social media. I prefer to meet, talk in person.” We all could learn a lot from her.
It is clear, as we talk to both girls, that they appreciate the opportunities provided by both the study abroad program and the JVS. Vy discusses the work it took to be able to come to the United States. She has studied English for 12 years. She also studies Chinese and Japanese. She said she is most proud that her decision to study abroad has made a positive impact on her younger brother. After she left, her bother told his parents he intends to study with his whole heart to study abroad like his sister.
Youngeun told us how grateful she was to her mother for encouraging her to study in the United States. “If I miss this chance she gave me, I would never get another chance.”
When the girls return home, they both plan to study hard to earn a chance to study abroad a second time. Youngeun hopes to return to the United States, but next time she dreams of going to Atlanta, Georgia. Vy said, “If I ever have a chance, I’d go to Japan and see the cherry blossoms.”
As the world becomes more interconnected, it is to the advantage of every student to become more culturally competent. Diverse perspectives raise the global consciousness of every student in the classroom. Vy and Youngeun are learning a lot about the United States, but they are teaching their classmates as well. Thank you, Vy and Youngeun, for helping us all to think a little more globally!
The Career Path Less Taken
Dates to Remember
December 2-20 -- Civics End of Course Testing, End of Course Retakes
December 18 -- JVS Preview Night
December 19 -- JVS Board Meeting
December 23-January 3 -- Winter Break (No School)
Parent Corner
Vaping
Vaping among teenagers has reached epidemic proportions across the nation. Over the last several months, there have been reports of severe lung disease in patients who recently started vaping. The Lorain County Health Department has issued an advisory on the use of e-cigarette or vaping products.
“The CDC and the Ohio Department of Health are investigating an outbreak of lung injury and deaths linked to e-cigarette use. So much is unknown at this time that we recommend that residents keep from using e-cigarettes, especially those that contain THC,” says LCBH board member Edward von Hofen.
As of November 12 in Ohio, there have been 47 people in Ohio hospitalized for vaping related illnesses. Across the United States there have been over 800 cases. Patient symptoms have included cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, chest pain, weight loss, nausea, and diarrhea.
Dr. Humberto Choi, a Cleveland Clinic pulmonologist, cautions that vaping in adolescence damages the neurotransmitter systems in the brain. This can cause cognitive deficits, mood swings and loss of memory.
Teenagers often share vape pens with other kids without knowing what is in the vape pen. This puts them at serious risk. They could be inhaling dangerous substances including illegal THC; cancer-causing chemicals; heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead; and diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease often used to flavor the oils used in vaping.
Talk to your children about the risks of vaping. The link below from Stanford University School of Medicine provides information for parents and students about vaping, including health risks for young people and conversation suggestions for parents.