Grants will help Toronto students study science | News, Sports, Vacancies

WE SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE. Three Toronto high school students participating in career technical education through a partnership with Belmont College spoke about the experience and demonstrated some of the protective equipment they use. From left to right: welding student Kayden McGrath, HVAC student Dryden Murray and welding student Heath Thomas. — Warren Scott

TORONTO — Three Toronto school teachers have received grants for special projects designed to give their students a first-hand look at the world of science.

Ron Sismondo, director of curriculum and professional development, attended Thursday’s Toronto school board meeting to announce an award of $700 each to Michelle Blazek and Jason Kodysh, science teachers at Toronto High School; and Nikki Wright, a first-grade teacher at Toronto Elementary School.

Sismondo noted that the funding comes through the center’s Best Practices Grant program, which aims to promote the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Sismondo said 50 projects were proposed by teachers in several school districts served by the center, making it difficult to select recipients.

Blazek, a high school biology teacher, said that while her students were recently identifying different plants on school grounds, she overheard them talking about the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect.

GRANTS RECIPIENTS — At Thursday’s Toronto Board of Education meeting, Ron Sismondo, director of curriculum and professional development, Jefferson County Educational Services Centre; presented grants for three research projects in Toronto schools. With him are grant recipients Michelle Blazek (left), a Toronto high school biology teacher; and Nikki Wright, a first-grade teacher at Toronto Elementary School. Jason Kodysh, a middle school earth science teacher, also received a grant from the center. — Warren Scott

Their comments prompted her to develop a unit in which about 80 students will design and build insect traps while studying their impact on the local ecosystem.

Blazek added that the students will work with Ohio State University’s Jefferson County Extension Service to raise public awareness about the insect and teach residents how to create their own traps.

Wright said she will use her grant to create Imagination Builder stations where students in grades K-5 will build with LEGOs, solve puzzles and perform other tasks aimed at developing critical thinking skills.

“All activities will be STEM based and hands-on. After basic instruction, students will be able to create and build with minimal teacher input.” she said.

Kodysh, who teaches earth science, said his grant will allow students to use a telescope to photograph objects in outer space and use altimeters and other tools to create a topographic map showing the elevations of various places in Toronto.

On Thursday, the Toronto Board of Education also heard from three of several students gaining career skills through a partnership between the school district and Belmont College.

Kayden McGrath and Heath Thomas, both juniors studying welding in college; and Dryden Murray, senior HVAC repair technician, talked about how they gradually became familiar with these skills so they became comfortable with them.

They noted their instructors’ focus on safety and demonstrated some of the equipment they wear for their protection.

Betsy Jones, the high school’s principal, noted that students attend college once a week while completing high school courses and have the opportunity to earn certification in their chosen fields.

She added: “The Belmont instructors are very impressed with our kids and how well they are progressing.”

Board President Andy Reeves told all three that the board was proud of them and the way they conducted themselves. He added that there is a dire need for professionals with trade skills.

The board also viewed a video of the Historical Wax Museum program organized by fourth grade teachers Hailey Cooper, Dana Rex and Reagan Stead.

The teachers explained the concept of a wax museum to their students and then challenged them to create their own. “exhibit”, act as a historical figure or celebrity and give a short speech based on the facts they collected about them for a special program.

Visitors “Wax Museum” It included primary schoolchildren and parents who lined up in a long line to enter the school on the day of the event.

Also on Thursday advice:

• Approved $31,525 for McKinley Architecture and Engineering of Wheeling as consultant to install artificial turf on school baseball and softball fields.

He also approved a change order of $31,525 for additional field work to comply with stormwater pollution control measures cited by the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District.

Field Turf of Calhoun, Georgia, is the contractor on the $1.2 million project, which is expected to be completed by the spring.

• Approved the hiring of Rich Coburn as assistant junior varsity basketball coach, but canceled the hiring of junior girls basketball coaches because only two girls tried out for the team.

Board member Jay Foster asked if there was a way to get girls into the boys basketball program, at least for practice.

Superintendent Maureen Taggart said they could play on a boys team.

• Accepted the resignation of Custodian Rich Leasure, who is retiring after 18 years with the school district.

• We observed a minute’s silence in memory of the late Charles. “Chip” Mick, a former railroad crew chief who worked as a school district superintendent; and Tabitha Merideth, health and physical education teacher.

Meredith, who died of cancer, was known for advising her students to be kind to each other.

It was announced that the next board meeting will be held at 17:00 on December 12th.

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