Winter 2012 School Reporter - Brecksville-Broadview Heights City ...

Newsletter for Brecksville-Broadview Hts. School Community
www.bbhcsd.org
David Tryon Elected Board President
At the January organizational meeting of the Brecksville-
Broadview Heights Board of Education, the Board elected David
Tryon as President and Mark Jantzen as Vice President for 2012.
President Tryon said, “We appreciate the hard work of Board
members who preceded us, including George Balasko and Alan
Scheufler. We are excited to start this year with new Board members
Mark Dosen and Michael Ziegler and returning Board member
Kathleen Mack. This Board has diverse background experience.
We are enthusiastic and anxious to continue the district’s tradition
of excellence, combined with fiscal responsibility and transparency.
We welcome input from parents and community members.”
In addition, committee assignments were established for the
Board for 2012 and are listed on the district’s website. Also, the
Board’s compensation was reduced from $125 per meeting in 2011,
which is the maximum amount allowed by law, to $100 per meeting
for 2012, a 20% reduction.
Communicating with the public is both
an opportunity and an obligation for the
Brecksville-Broadview Heights School
District. Achievements and accomplishments
of students and staff need to be
shared with stakeholders as do financial
information, facility updates, state testing
results, curriculum changes, new standards
and many topics of importance. Today’s
communication tools range from traditional
newsletters to social media to electronic
newsletters. They can be received in the
mail, on mobile devices or via a website.
Last year, our district established a
new committee comprised of community
members proficient in the communications
field. They have been working with
Superintendent Scot Prebles and Board of
Education member Kathleen Mack to evaluate,
improve and expand the district’s communications
in a transparent, accurate and
timely manner.
Prebles and Mack, along with Kevin
Brennan, Michael and Christina Chase,
Jinny Farr, Patrick Gallagher, Cathy
Harbinak, Kumar Madhaven, John
Schinker, Lila Tamulewicz and Ann Marie
Williams, inventoried the district’s communications
tools and would like to share
a brief description of all and their intended
audience.
Winter 2012
Board of Education President David Tryon (left) and Vice President
Mark Jantzen were initially elected to the Board in 2009.
Communicating with Community is Priority for District
Communicating with the general public
including parents:
District website: www.bbhcsd.org, the
district’s most frequently used communication
tool, lists and updates information on a
variety of topics. The website is the linchpin
for communications offering information
on how to access or sign up for all other
communication tools.
“Email Alerts” may be requested by anyone
visiting the district’s website. By doing
so, you will receive an email each time
new information is posted on the topic(s)
of interest to you. For example, Middle
School News, Alumni Information, Board
of Education meeting agendas, financial
reports, etc.
“The School Reporter,” a traditional community
newsletter, is mailed to all addresses
within the school district on a quarterly
continued on page 2

Communicating with Community (continued from page 1)
basis. Past copies are available on the district’s
website under Communications.
Electronic Newsletters are sent out
monthly to all subscribers within days following
regular monthly Board of Education
meetings. To receive electronic newsletters,
please visit the district’s website and self
subscribe by clicking the small red envelope
in the left column, midway down the
page.
Social Media is now used by the district.
To follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter,
please click the appropriate icon on the
bottom of the website. These options allow
the district to post items on a timely basis
that are delivered immediately to the
recipients.
BEE-TV allows the district to film informative
and entertaining videos to be viewed
on local cable channels 22 in Brecksville
and 74 in Broadview Heights. Residents
without cable may view the videos on the
district’s website.
Communicating Specifically
with Parents:
Communication with parents includes
news about a particular school and/or
Pre-registration is available via the district’s
website, www.bbhcsd.org. Please visit
the homepage and follow the instructions
to pre-register your child.
After pre-registering your child, you will
receive a confirmation email which will
give you information on what you need to
do to complete enrollment. Please note the
following information:
Kindergarten registration is scheduled
at the Education Center, 6638 Mill Road,
Brecksville, OH on March 13 (8:00 a.m.
– 4:00 p.m.), March 14 (12:00 p.m. – 8:00
p.m.) and March 15 (8:00 a.m. – 4:00
p.m.). You do not need an appointment on
these dates.
Your enrollment will not be complete
until the registrar has all required documents.
It is important that you bring the
following documents with you when you
register:
classroom, as well as student specific
information.
Electronic newsletters are available
monthly from each school as well as from
the Parent School Organization. Topics
range from a specific topic such as cyber
bullying to a list of upcoming events and
important dates.
Building specific webpages are a part of
the district’s site and include updates
from principals. Many teachers also have
their own websites to assist students.
Blogs are a tool used by building principals
to communicate with parents on a
variety of topics.
Electronic bulletin boards are in the
lobbies of each school and list upcoming
events.
Progress Book allows parents and/
guardians to view a students’ grades and
assignments. Access to Progress Book is
handled at the building level.
Teacher conferences are offered routinely
and may also be scheduled as needed.
All staff members have email accounts
which are available via the website.
Birth record (birth certificate, attested
birth record)
Two (2) proofs of residency (e.g., driver’s
license, utility bill, tax statement)
Immunization record
Official court custody orders, if applicable.
You are able to print out all appropriate
forms from the website. All original documents
presented will be returned to you on
the day you register.
The high school is piloting a YouTube
Channel to share student work.
The Communications Committee will
continue to work with the district to
expand and improve communication venues
and content.
Below is a reference chart listing the district’s
electronic and social media.
Electronic & Social Media
Communication Tools
Website: www.bbhcsd.org
Facebook Page: Brecksville-Broadview Heights
City Schools
Twitter Accounts:
District: BBHSchools@bbhcsd
High School: BBHHS-Go Bees @ BBHHS
Transportation: BBHTransportation@ bbhtrans
Hilton School:HILT-MARTIN
E-alerts and electronic newsletter: to sign up for
either enter - email subscription - in the search box
on top right of website’s homepage
BEE-TV: Cable channel 22 in Brecksville
and 74 in Broadview Heights
Kindergarten Pre-Registration For 2012-2013 Taking Place Now
PARENTS INTERESTED IN ALL-DAY
KINDERGARTEN: If you are interested in
applying for the all-day, every day tuitionbased
kindergarten program, please complete
the all-day application, bring it to registration
along with a deposit (check only)
for $390.00. We are hoping to have 18 students
per school so that we can have a class
at all three elementary schools.. Tuition for
the 2012-2013 school year is $3900.00. A
video about the all-day program is posted
on the district’s website.
Information about Kindergarten
Screening appointments for all students,
school and community organizations, such
as the Parent School Organization (PSO)
and Safety Town will be available when you
register.
Please call 440-740-4027 if you have
questions regarding Kindergarten
Registration.

For Hilton Teacher Morgan Kolis Technology is a Way of Life
Melanie Broxterman and Morgan Kolis (right)
presented at state “Etech Ohio” conference.
Hilton Elementary School Special Education teacher Morgan
Kolis was invited to speak last month at “eTech Ohio 2012
Educational Technology Conference.” Believing that “Next Gen”
concepts are applicable for all students, Kolis works to incorporate
the use of technology to develop innovative learning models and
personalized educational pathways for her students.
Kolis is so passionate about technology that she actually found
co-presenter Melanie Broxterman, a special education teacher
in Princeton City Schools, via social media. They connected on
Twitter and moved on to become Facebook friends when they dis-
The Brecksville-Broadview Heights City
School District affirms that no persons shall,
on the basis of sex, race, color, national
origin, or disability, be excluded from participation
in, be denied the benefits of, or be
subjected to discrimination under any educational
program or activity conducted under
its auspices. This shall extend to employees
therein and to admission thereto. Inquiries
concerning the application of this policy may
be referred to the superintendent or designated
coordinator. This policy shall prevail
in all board policies concerning school
employees and students.
Title VI complaints (sex, race, color,
national origin, or disability) should be
referred to: Richard Evans, Director
of Human Resources, 6638 Mill Road,
Brecksville, Ohio, 44141, phone 440-740-
4005.
Input Sought On Federal Funds
The Brecksville-Broadview Heights City
School District receives notification of
their entitlement of federal funds allocated
in accordance with the Individuals With
Disabilities Education Act, Public Law
92-142. Utilization of these funds is designated
to provide services and programs for
disabled students.
Persons who wish to comment on how
to utilize these designated funds are wel-
Non-Discrimination Policy
come and encouraged to contact Dr. Carla
Calevich, Director of Curriculum and
Instruction, 6638 Mill Road, Brecksville,
Ohio, 44141, phone 440-740-4028.
Records Access and Confidentiality
Under the Federal Education and Privacy
Act of 1996, parents or adult students (18
years or older) in the Brecksville-Broadview
Heights City School District have the right
to inspect and review official student records
and related information upon written request
to the principal of the building to which the
student is assigned. An appointment for the
review of the records will be made at a mutually
convenient time as soon after the receipt
of the written request as possible.
A parent or adult student who believes that
information contained in the educational
records of the student is inaccurate or misleading
or violates the privacy or other rights
of the student may request in writing that
the records be amended.
A student’s records and related information
shall not be released to any individual,
group, organization or agency, except with
the written consent of the student’s parents
or an adult student himself/herself.
Exception to this rule would be in regard to
compliance with judicial order (subpoena)
or other situations as defined by law and/or
Board of Education Policy.
covered a shared interest in technology and iPads. Both teach students
with moderate-intensive special needs and wanted to share
their ideas with other professionals.
They collaborated on a presentation proposal over Google Docs
and Twitter and submitted it to the conference. Once accepted,
they started working on their presentation over Facebook, Twitter,
Google Docs, and Skype. Kolis and Broxterman actually never met
face to face until the night before their presentation.
Their well attended presentation was entitled “APPvice: Using
iOS Devices to Support Students with Special Needs.” It included
Apps for each subject area they teach and video of students successfully
using the Apps.
In the past (2005), Kolis presented at an international conference
put on by the Global Issues Resource Center.
The conference was about Conflict Resolution and she presented
on Diversity in Education and how to stop conflict by helping students
get to know each other and recognize differences.
Kolis, a Cleveland Cavalier “Head of the Class” teacher in 2005,
Plain Dealer Crystal Apple Award winner and an Educational
Service Center Educator of the year for 2008, previously presented
at Global Issues Resource Center Conference on Conflict
Resolution and in our own district on the Technology Waiver day
in 2009.
Section 504 Concerns and/or Complaints
For students, employees or residents with
complaints or concerns under Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 can obtain
a complaint form from the District’s 504
Compliance Officer, Kathleen Spirakus,
at 6638 Mill Road, Broadview Heights OH
44147. The phone number is 440-740-4017.
The District’s grievance procedure may be
obtained from the above individual at the
address and phone number indicated.
Science Discovery Zone
High school student Jammy Feng both
entertains and instructs Hilton Elementary
School students at a recent Science
Discovery Zone event at Hilton. High
school students in parent and teacher
Cathy Roderick’s science classes travel to
Hilton and work with volunteers led by
parent Megan Sarfi to teach the younger
students that science can be both fun and
educational.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District
6638 Mill Rd. Brecksville, Ohio 44141
Phone (440) 740-4000
www.bbhcsd.org
DATED MATERIAL
Board of Education
David Tryon, President
Mark Jantzen, Vice-President
Mark Dosen
Kathleen Mack
Michael Ziegler
Scot T. Prebles, Superintendent
Cathy Harbinak, APR Editor
Scholastic Sponsors
Brecksville-Broadview Heights School
District is a part of Scholastic Sponsors
Association.
This NO-COST
program generates
cash for our district
by placing small,
school-approved
ads on our website,
www.bbhcsd.org,
featuring local
retailers and service
providers.
Every “click”
counts, so be
sure to check
out our familyfriendly
sponsors and take advantage of
their special offers and coupons. CASH
FOR YOUR SCHOOL + SAVINGS FOR
YOU!
Scholastic Sponsors is a growing
company that works with many
school districts in northeastern Ohio
and is owned by a parent in our district.
To learn more about Scholastic
Sponsors visit
www.scholasticsponsors.org.
ECRWSS
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Blythe Cassidy
The American Legion Post #196 of Brecksville and
The American Legion Auxiliary recently announced
the winners of the annual Americanism and
Government Test at Brecksville-Broadview Heights
High School. Approximately 142 students in grades
ten through twelve voluntarily took the test on
American, county, city and school board governments,
policies and practices.
Congratulations to the top winners in each grade
level: sophomores Divya Deverakonda and Allen
Drown, juniors Jena Lopez and Nick Fallon, and
seniors Hannah Fiore and Josiah DePaoli. Divya,
Alan, Hannah and Josiah were also named Northeast
Ohio District winners. Students were honored with
lapel pins, a certificate and were awarded a $200 US
savings bond. It should be noted that Hannah Fiore
is a three-time winner of this award.
BBHHS Band Director Steve Cocchiola is pleased
to announce the following students’ accomplishments.
Northeast Regional Orchestra: Matt Adrianowycz,
Taylor Basnett, Tim Klima, Hannah Olsen, Abby
Smith, Christine Soong, Stephanie Swedik, and Mark
Williams
Ohio University Honors Band: Cecilia Chen,
Patrick Grimone, Libby Roether,
Ohio University Honors Orchestra: Matt
Adrianowycz, Nicole Fantozzi, Rayna Henry,
Hannah Olsen, and Conrad Paganini
Non-Profit org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Cleveland, Ohio
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Ohio State University Honors Band: Michael
Bednarsky, Cecilia Chen, Russ Kurak, Libby Roether,
Ashley Rohm, John Verhovnik, and Sarah Zydiak
Bowling Green State University’s Honors Band:
Russ Kurak and Sarah Zydiak
Ohio Music Educators Association All State
Orchestra: Abby Smith
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra: Michael
Bednarsky and Ashley Rohm
Solon Philharmonic Orchestra: Hannah Olsen
The Middle School Power of the Pen Teams, supervised
by Mr. Jeff Moore, faced off against 25 other
schools and over 300 individual writers at District
competition. Currently facing Regional competition,
both teams hope to qualify for State Competition in
May.
Seventh grade team comprised of Camille Begley,
Dana Dosen, Kate Falko, Alyssa Holzinger, Jacob
Luther and Abby Lydey finished in second place.
Individual honors were given to Alyssa Holzinger for
a 20th place finish, Jacob Luther for his 18th place
finish and Kate Falko for her 11th place finish.
The 8th grade team finished in first place.
Congratulations goes out to Saman Hasan, Matt
Skapura for his 18th place finish, Ivana Terziyska for
her 9th place finish, Jamie Cowen for her 7th place
finish, Savannah Williams for her 5th place finish,
and Megan Zhao who wrote her way to a first place
finish.