Grants to help Toronto students explore sciences

SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCE — Three Toronto High School students participating in career technical education through a partnership with Belmont College spoke about that experience and displayed some of the safety gear they employ. From left are: welding student Caden McGrath, HVAC student Dryden Murray and welding student Heath Thomas. — Warren Scott

TORONTO — Three Toronto schoolteachers have been awarded grants for special projects designed to give their students a firsthand look into the world of science.

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

Sismondo noted the funding is through the center’s Best Practice Grant program aimed at promoting the instruction of science, technology, engineering and math.

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

Blazek, a biology teacher at the junior-senior high school, said when her students were identifying various plants on the school grounds recently, she heard them talking about the spotted lantern fly, an invasive insect.

GRANT RECIPIENTS — At Thursday’s meeting of the Toronto Board of Education, Ron Sismondo, director of curriculum and professional development for the Jefferson County Education Service Center; presented grants for three science projects at Toronto schools. With him are grant recipients Michelle Blazek, left, biology teacher at Toronto Junior-Senior High School; and Nikki Wright, a first grade teacher at Toronto Elementary School. Jason Kodysz, an earth science teacher at the junior-senior high school, also was awarded a grant from the center. — Warren Scott

Their comments led her to develop a unit in which about 80 students will design and build traps for the bug while learning about their impact on the local ecosystem.

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

Wright said she will use her grant to establish Imagination Builder Stations where pupils in grades K-5 will build with Legos, solve puzzles and engage in other tasks designed to foster critical thinking skills.

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

Kodysz, who teaches earth science, said through his grant, students will use a telescope to photograph objects in outer space and use altimeters and other means to create a topographical map reflecting the elevations of various locations in Toronto.

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

Caden McGrath and Heath Thomas, both juniors learning welding at the college; and Dryden Murray, a senior learning about the repair of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, told of how they have been introduced to those skills gradually so they are comfortable with them.

They noted their instructors’ emphasis on safety and displayed some of the gear they wear for their protection.

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

She added, “The Belmont instructors are really impressed by our kids and how well they have progressed.”

Board president Andy Reeves told the three the board is proud of them and how they have comported themselves. He added there’s a strong need for professionals with trade skills.

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

The teachers explained the concept of a wax museum to their pupils, then challenged them to create their own “exhibit,” appearing as a historic figure or celebrity and delivering a short speech from facts they had gathered about them for a special program.

Visitors to the “wax museum” included younger pupils and parents, who formed a long line into the school on the day when it was held.

Also on Thursday, the board:

• Approved the services of McKinley Architecture and Engineering of Wheeling, at a cost of $31,525, as a consultant for the installation of artificial turf at the school’s baseball and softball fields.

It also approved a change order of $31,525 for additional work to the fields to meet stormwater pollution prevention measures cited by the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District.

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

• Approved the hiring of Rich Coburn as junior high assistant basketball coach but rescinded the hirings of coaches for the junior high school girls basketball team because just two girls tried out for the team.

Board member Jay Foster asked if there is a way to involve the girls in the boys basketball program, if only for practices.

Superintendent Maureen Taggart said it is possible for them to play on the boys’ team.

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

• Observed a moment of silence for the late Charles “Chip” Mick, a former railroad crew supervisor who served as a custodian for the school district; and Tabitha Merideth, a health and physical education teacher there.

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

It was announced the board’s next meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 12.