JANUARY 2016

Tom Isaacs Superintendent

THE WCESC CONTINUES TO DEVELOP A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP WITH MIAMI UNIVERSITY A group of Miami University delegates including Dr. Michael Dantley, Dean of Miami University College of Education, Health and Society, visited the John Lazares Alternative School on November 2, 2015 followed by a luncheon at WCESC. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the progress of the joint projects between the two organizations and discuss future potential initiatives and projects. Miami University has been a strong partner. Examples of such projects that have been mutually beneficial are the mentorship program, Aware grant and the Health Wellness program at John Lazares Alternative school. Several new projects were discussed for the future.

From left to right:

Dr. Denise Taliaferro Baszile, Dr. Michael Dantley, Dr. Suzanne Klatt, Dr. Jean Eagle, Dr. Justin Guilkey, Pat Paré, Alleyn Unversaw, Kim Sellers, Mike Bidwell, Dr. George Sehi, Michelle Hight, and Dr. Kevin Bush

JANUARY IS OSBA’S APPRECIATION MONTH IN HONOR OF SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ESC

GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS

We would like to join the Ohio School Boards Association in extending our “THANKS” to the WCESC Governing Board Members. We appreciate your continued consideration, support and persistence in maintaining the integrity of the WCESC. Your contributions are valued!

Jimmy Allen Nona Cress Jiley Farley Diane Horvath Sally Williams

KIM SELLERS, SUPERVISOR

Coordinated Care We have had an extremely busy first half of our year. Although faced with many challenges of increased number of referrals to Clinical Committee, (25% increase in referrals from Juvenile Court/court orders as well as Unruly charges), we have remained under budget despite the rising costs of residential placements and population growth that remains steady in our county. Kim Sellers, Kevin Stevens, a few staff from Coordinated Care as well as a few members of the Warren County Clinical Committee will be participating in the Cohort 3 Project ENGAGE three-day high fidelity wraparound training this spring. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Ohio Family and Children First are partnering to implement ENGAGE (Engaging the New Generation to Achieve their Goals through Empowerment). The ENGAGE goal is to develop a statewide system of care framework that coordinates and adapts policy, fiscal, and administrative actions to support the successful transition of Ohio’s youth and young adults to adulthood. The wraparound process aims to achieve positive outcomes by providing a structured, creative and individualized team planning process with four specific phases (engagement, plan development, implementation and transition). Services should be individualized, family driven, youth guided, culturally competent and community based.

Clinical Committee

The Warren County Clinical Committee, under the leadership of Kevin Stevens is seeing an increase in the number of youth requiring placement due to mental health needs. The per diems of these placements are also on the rise. A three-year review of placement costs are as follows:

Fiscal Year # Placed Total Cost 13 10 $277,188 14 13 $304,598 15 14 $365,060

The Clinical Committee has built a good relationship with the Marsh Foundation who is a residential placement provider. Over the last five years the per diems at the Marsh Foundation have been on the rise. In 2010 the rate for a placement was $135.00 per day. Today that same placement costs $195.00 per day. If a child is not Medicaid eligible then that rate can rise to as high as $225.00 per day. When possible, the Clinical Committee seeks funding assistance through Warren County Children Services PASSS Committee. The PASSS (Post Adoption Special Services Subsidy) Committee allows up to $15,000 per year to help pay for residential placements for youth.

The Clinical Committee continues to meet monthly to review what children are in placement and to determine if that child should remain in placement. Only youth who are a substantial risk of harm to self or others are placed.

The Warren County Clinical Committee has partnered with Camp Joy to provide weekend respite for youth with multi-systemic needs. The program at Camp Joy provides youth with a unique two-and-a-half-day experience. It is intentionally made overnight so that kids get a relief from their everyday routine while giving parents and guardians a needed break. Youth are provided an outdoor experience while being connected to positive adult role models. While at Camp Joy youth are able to swim, participate in ropes courses, learn about nature, learn interpersonal skills and possibly develop lifelong friendships. For many children this is their first camp experience. The Clinical Committee has found respite to be a valuable resource in helping to keep youth out of residential placements.

Miami University Service Learning Partnership

The Warren County ESC and Miami University piloted a Service Learning Partnership for students enrolled in EDT 190 and EDP 20. By doing service learning in Warren County, Miami students enrolled in the two courses gained awareness and were engaged in non-traditional schooling contexts, while considering various teaching and learning experiences. Miami students served as tutors and mentors to students (age range from 13 to 21) who have faced challenges in their educational and personal/family situations. These students need academic and social support, and need to have peers with whom they could speak about life choices and directions. The first semester was a success. Twenty-three total students were served through GOVS, two at Mary Haven and one at the Alternative School. Kim Sellers, Shawn Lenney, Brian Barot, Kevin Kincer and Tony Miller will continue to partner and meet with Dr. Roland Sintos Coloma and Dr. Darrell Davis from Miami University to expand this initiative.

Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Education Health Classes

Approximately 535 students at Little Miami High School, Lebanon High School, Springboro High School and Springboro Junior High received substance abuse education in their health classes. Students were able to see a power point presentation, view educational material, and were given prevention memorabilia. All schools have booked dates for students in health class next semester.

School Conference/Open House

Approximately 100 students and adults participated in school conferences/open house at Carlisle High School on September 24th. A substance abuse prevention table was set up with educational material and prevention memorabilia to take home, along with a running slide show of the dangers of drugs.

Individual/Group Sessions

30 students from Mason, Little Miami, Carlisle and Lebanon High Schools have participated in individual or group sessions for tobacco education, substance abuse education and good choices sessions in lieu of suspension or to reduce the number of days out of school.

Prevention Tables During Lunch

On November 16th dozens of kids at Carlisle High School stopped by a substance abuse prevention table set up during the lunch periods. Students were able to ask questions and pick up substance abuse prevention memorabilia (candy, wrist bands, buttons, etc.). A similar event took place December 7th scheduled in coordination with Solutions at Lebanon High School.

Project AWARE

Project AWARE Warren County

Mission – To help local community collaborations improve the health, well-being and educational needs of children and families

Vision – Children and families will be socially, emotionally, and behaviorally resilient and productive citizens.

The Project AWARE team has been busy working toward our mission and vision statements through various activities and trainings. PA continues to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid training to any Warren County educational employees, as well as any Warren County Community member. The Warren County PA team surpassed our goal for year one of training over 150 adults who work with youth ages 12-19. Project AWARE is currently in the process of collecting information and stories on the impact of being trained as a Youth Mental Health “First Aider”. Each month PA WC has a Youth

Mental Health First Aid training set up and registration can be accessed through the WCESC website. Trainings for groups of 12-30 can be arranged on an as needed basis.

PAX Good Behavior game is an evidenced based program. Mission – To help local community collaborations improve the health, well-being and educational needs of children and families that provides classroom strategies to allow young students regulate their own behavior. Project AWARE WC is collaborating with Mental Health and Recovery Services of Warren and Clinton Counties to increase the use of this evidenced based program in Warren County. Frances Witt (Project AWARE liaison) was trained as a PAX Partner in order to provide coaching for teachers who are new to PAX. In December, PAX training was provided in Warren County.

One of the goals of Project AWARE is to provide greater access to mental health resources in our priority communities as well as any other interested school district. To accomplish this goal, Project AWARE is working to support behavioral health services in schools by using the school’s already existing framework of PBI S (Positive Behavior Intervention System) or OIP (Ohio Improvement Plan). In order to serve those communities as a whole, PA is also facilitating roundtable discussions with parents, the faith community, and young people in targeted school’s catchment area.

Future plans for Project AWARE WC include looking at a school to career transition program for high school students, additional services for youth who are at high risk for mental health issues, and additional PAX training. If you have any questions about how Project AWARE could work with other ESC programs, please contact Vycki Haught at Vycki.Haught@warrencountyesc.com.

Resource Coordinators Children’s personal and family difficulties affect how they are doing socially and academically at school. To help at these difficult times, the school’s Resource Coordinator can assist students becoming more successful in school and help parents learn more about resources that may help their child and family. This program has been such a success in the schools eliminating non-academic barriers to education. The Resource Coordinators did an amazing job over the holidays ensuring that families in need received coats, gifts, and food. A special thank you goes to Charrise Middleton for organizing the Giving Angels program (gifts) that assisted 25 families served through Coordinated Care programs at the ESC, as well as 100 students at Waynesville. Additionally, Charrise assisted in providing 50 meals to families in Waynesville. Jennifer Miracle provided assistance for 202 families at Little Miami (in partnership with Spirit of Christmas ministries). In Carlisle, Bryan Coffey was instrumental in assisting 139 families this holiday season. At the Warren County Career Center, Wendy Grab assisted in helping 50 families this season! A big thank you to all of the Resource Coordinators for your hard work, compassion and willingness to work late and go above and beyond to ensure families in need received assistance.

Warren County School Crisis Response Team The Warren County School Crisis Team was developed in 2011 to serve as a resource for local school districts in such times of crisis. The purpose of the team is to augment the school or district’s team functions by assisting when added resources are necessary. At the request of the school or district, the team can serve as intervention specialists in the aftermath of a crisis or as collaborating experts when evaluating at-risk youth. All team services will be provided under the direction of designated school or district personnel. For more information about how to access services, please go to: http://www.warrencountyesc.com/1/Department/298.

CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT YOLANDE F. GRIZINSKI, ED.D

OTES Revised for Future Trainings The theme of 2016 appears to be described by the word “NEW.” The Ohio Department of Education and NIET have completely revised the training for the educators who need to take the future Ohio Teacher Evaluation Training (OTES) sessions. The revised training will focus on not only the credentialing requirement but also will integrate more information about the evaluator as instructional coach. The Warren County Educational Service Center will offer two training sessions for those needing the initial credential on the following dates this summer:

June 20, 21, and 22 2016 July 19, 20, and 21 2016

Registration for these two trainings will be on STARS closer to the time of the event. The three-day format will remain the same. There will be no cost to attend the trainings; however, lunch will be on your own. If any staff would like a refresher or a condensed update, please let me know, and I will be happy to schedule. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email Yolande.grizinski@warrencountyesc.com Master Teacher information has been emailed to all districts in the WCESC Consortium. Included in the information were the teachers who need to renew their designation through the ODE’s renewal process. February 16, 2016 - Intent to apply for initial review or renewal April 15, 2016 - Deadline for Master Teacher materials submission by 4:00 p.m.

2015 Data Released by PARCC by Dan Michael, Ph.D. It has been painfully slow getting data results from last year’s tests. Since almost all of the tests were based upon new standards, it is very useful to determine how districts did in preparing their students. Each time a new test battery is developed, there are districts that get off to a good start and others that lag. Using published data from 2014 and 2015, I developed a measure of “gains” for districts versus the state averages for % Proficient. If a district generates a positive number from this measure it means that their district made gains in % Proficient at the expense of other districts. For every positive number there is a negative that balances it somewhere in the state. The graph below represents district performance on a batch of ELA tests (grades 3-8) that represents in a significant way the core of a schools’ job in preparing students’ ELA skills prior to High School. All Warren County schools looked at were in the positive, and that is an impressive result. The same graphs exist for Math and I also looked at other SW Ohio districts. If anyone has any interest in exploring this data further. Please contact me at: Dan.michael@warrencountyesc.com

Kathy Carpenter to Conduct On-site Visits in April

Kathy Carpenter will be working onsite in the county the week of April 4th to provide mathematics support, including county-level meetings on Tuesday, April 5 and Thursday, April 7, 2016.

Please contact her at Kathy.Carpenter@warrencountyesc.com by February 15th with the following two items: 1. Onsite coaching needs your district may have 2. Topics you would like to see her address at county-level math meetings

Resident Educator Coordinator, Bobbie Grice

Bobbie’s Corner

Looking back over 2015, the Resident Educators have faced many challenges and opportunities. The Mentors have gone through four sessions of the ODE Refresh Program held here at the ESC.

We have more Resident Educators than we ever have had. We presented workshops on School Law, Parent Conferences, the Resident Educator Summative Assessment and others.

Going forward, our RE1s and RE2s will each have a workshop given by Ann Anzalone who is widely known throughout the United States for her inspiring sessions.

Our RE3s are working on their final submissions for their RESA, which, when passed will enable them to apply for their first five-year license.

Leadership is the main area of work for our RE4s. They chose what leadership areas in which they wish to participate.

I will be meeting with all REs to do a wrap-up to make sure all have completed the year’s program.

The Resident Educator program is constantly evolving so stay tuned to see what changes are in store for 2016-2017.

The next Administrator’ Meeting will be held on January 14, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00p.m.

Our teachers loved Newsela and are using the tool in classroom across the County. Karen McKinley will be presenting another tool that is designed to enhance vocabulary.

GIFTED SERVICES CHUCK WIGGINS, SUPERVISOR

Our WCESC gifted coordinators (Mary Franzosa, Karen McKinley, Jessica Spradlin, and myself) have been working with our districts on completing ODE requirements for claiming gifted services. These requirements have become more time consuming as districts have added services based on the new gifted indicator. In particular, the addition of high school services has added an extremely large number of Written Education Plans (WEPs) and waivers of service.

All of our districts will have completed their whole grade testing by March 1. After those results are received, coordinators will be conducting second opportunity testing individually or in small groups. At the same time, most districts will also have the coordinators complete testing based on parent and teacher referrals. The coordinators will score the tests, communicate results with parents, update district databases, and report changes to EMIS. On the state level, our staff has been closely following the progress of the new gifted operating standards in Columbus and all responded to the ODE survey. Once the standards are finalized, we will be reviewing the changes and making recommendations to our districts. In addition, I have been nominated as a representative from OESCA to serve on the Regional Gifted School Feasibility Study Committee. I look forward to this opportunity to represent the districts and students of Warren County.

OT/PT DEPARTMENT CAROL KLINE, SUPERVISOR DANETTE MOORE, LEAD PT

SARA ERWIN, LEAD OT Kim Scoville, PTA, in Middletown created a Motor Break Book for 2015 to use with her teachers. It is called Classroom Exercise Breaks for Elementary Students. A copy may be obtained by contacting kim.scoville@warrencountyesc.com On Tuesday, December 15, Robyne Magness, OT for Kings and Loveland Districts presented a "Handwriting 101" professional development for the kindergarten and first grade teachers at Kings Mills Elementary. Teachers had been reporting issues with students having weak fine motor and handwriting skills. As part of the in-service, she provided teachers with watch for behaviors and practical interventions they can implement in the classroom and a basic understanding behind how children develop good fine motor skills. Many of the teachers expressed how much they learned and what they could use immediately with their students. The end goal for the in-service is to strengthen the tier one and tier two RTI services. The OT/PT department has been busy with an in-service in October for the therapists and a one-day in-service on behavior with Dr. Greene coming up in February. Please go to the Warren County ESC website under workshops to check it out. He is an excellent speaker on behavior in the classroom. It is good for therapists, teachers, principals, counselors and all educational professionals working with students. Carol, Dani and Sara are also busy with observations of the therapists within their buildings.

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT KATHIE MACNEIL, PH.D.-SUPERVISOR

In September, it was noted that the School Psychology department would be working on a strengths based approach to their personal professional model of practice. A strength-based approach is a positive psychology method that seeks to emphasize the strengths, capabilities and resources of an individual. It is developmental and process-oriented. A strength-based approach identifies a

person’s internal strengths and resources as they emerge in response to specific life events (Resiliency Initiatives-Alberta, Calgary, Canada). Dr. Wayne Hammon (2010) from Resiliency Initiatives cited the following core principles of strength-based practice:

1. An absolute belief that every person has potential and it is their unique strengths and capabilities that will determine their evolving story as well as define who they are - not their limitations (not, I will believe when I see – rather, I believe and I will see).

2. What we focus on becomes one’s reality – focus on strength, not labels – seeing challenges as capacity fostering (not something to avoid) creates hope and optimism.

3. The language we use creates our reality. 4. Belief that change is inevitable – all individuals have the urge to succeed, to explore the world

around them and to make themselves useful to others and their communities. 5. Positive change occurs in the context of authentic relationships - people need to know

someone cares and will be there unconditionally for them. It is a transactional and facilitating process of supporting change and capacity building– not fixing.

6. Person’s perspective of reality is primary (their story) – therefore, need to value and start the change process with what is important to the person - not the expert.

7. People have more confidence and comfort to journey to the future (the unknown) when they are invited to start with what they already know.

8. Capacity building is a process and a goal – a life long journey that is dynamic as opposed to static.

9. It is important to value differences and the essential need to collaborate – effective change is a collaborative, inclusive and participatory process – “it takes a village to raise a child”.

During the September collaborative staff meeting, the School Psychologists along with their WCESC OT, PT and SLP colleagues identified their strengths in one of the areas of active listening and collaborative teaming; both skills critical to the roles these related service personnel fulfill. The individual strengths identified were assembled into our strengths based tree gracing the walls at the WCESC main office.

“If we ask people to look for deficits, they will usually find them, and their view of the situation will be colored by this. If we ask people to look for successes, they will usually find it, and their view of the situation will be colored by this”.

Kral, 1989

The school psychology department also held its annual professional team building and collaboration day in November. The department’s Stone Soup day has a long standing tradition and was originally

designed as a way to build team work among the growing school psychology staff. The day is built loosely around the story of Stone Soup in which three soldiers convince villagers to each contribute an item to boiling pot of water to create a soup that was fit for a king. This year’s professional discussion focus was multi-faceted and included one discussion surrounding classroom behavior management strategies and various ways to collaborate with teachers on enhancing or developing their classroom management program.

Annette Kosmac, Lindsey Callahan and Courtney Rupp: Discipline and Behavior Committee leading the discussion of classroom management strategies

The other portion of the day was devoted to discussions surrounding transgender youth. The Families and Community Committee of Amber Baer, Michelle Dickstein and Kathie MacNeil presentation included information surrounding statistics regarding the climate of acceptance for LGBTQ youth in our schools as well as understanding all of the various terminology that is included in the literature on transgender individuals.

Amber Baer hosted a Jeopardy game to learn key terminology used in the literature discussing transgender individuals

Ms. Baer then read the book Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall. The story’s synopsis is as follows: “Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let's draw strawberries!), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can't be red, no matter how hard he tries! Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He's blue!”

MDESC CLASSES KATHIE MACNEIL, PH.D.-SUPERVISOR

This quarter’s our showcase classrooms are the Intermediate MDESC program located at Royalmont Academy and one of the High School MDESC programs located at Franklin High School. MDESC at ROYALMONT ACADEMY submitted by Patty DeVer We are having another great year here at Royalmont Academy. Inspired by Dr. Kathie MacNeil’s beginning of the year “Tortoise and the Hare” motivational theme, we began the year studying reptiles and amphibians. Jill Buffenbarger, WCESC nursing supervisor, let her turtle Shelly stay in our class. The other units that we studied included the solar system, bats & squirrels and various fall topics. We cook something related to our units on Fridays to incorporate math and science standards. Have you heard that we are working hard to earn money to buy a classroom hammock? We have a classroom can-crushing business, in which each student takes a turn crushing cans. The crushed cans are taken to the recycling facility and sold. We also had a nut and candy fundraiser to help raise funds to purchase the hammock. We are very close to reaching our goal. Rita Gross’s SCC class and our class have had many presentations together. Marta Farrell from the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation Department has visited our classrooms to share her programs on animal adaptations, bats & the environment, buzzy bees and soil ingredients. Brittney Bowman also came to visit to provide a presentation on snakes. Our class has gone on several educational community outings. In September we went to Pine Hill Lake Park to support our learning of fall related topics. The students fed the ducks, went on nature walks and had a picnic lunch. In October we went to Iron’s Fruit Farm where we went on a hay ride, visited their animals (chickens, pigs, peacocks and turkeys) and had donuts and cider.

Our November trip was to the Great Wolf Lodge where we watched the interactive presentation in the main entrance and then explored the water areas. It was a valuable sensory activity.

In December, we were guests at Kings High School for an international Christmas activity with KHS teachers Angela Zlatic and Junior Ili along with their staff and students. In addition to having international Christmas books to read, we baked cookies, made crafts and finished up with all three classes singing Christmas carols and dancing. It was such a fun collaborative day! Our music teachers, Doug Parrot and Elaine Hood are back. As well, the therapy dogs visit once a week. Dr. Troup’s speech language therapy graduate students from UC are back supporting our classroom this year. Mr. Brown, Royalmont Academy’s new high school principal has arranged for Royalmont HS students to come in and work with our students. The high school have assisted our students with completing some academic tasks, provide support to students in Art class as well as help prepare and assist our students during lunch time. We also will be having Mr. Roalef’s 3rd grade students become our class buddies starting in January. Our class buddies engage in social activities with our students by playing games, playing music and doing craft activities. These two partnerships provide our students with many opportunities to engage with a wide variety of peers. During the week, different students participate in Royalmont’s art, music, gym and Spanish classes. We also have been included in schoolwide activities. Recently loaded with Big Mac switches, jingle bells and red and green construction paper hats, our class went from room to room singing Christmas carols to the Royalmont students and staff. The students joined us in song and some of the classes had their pictures taken with us.

To cap off our holiday week, Santa Claus came to the Royalmont ESC wing. Mimi St. Clair’s SCC class joined our class in our room for the visit from our special visitor. We are having a busy school year! FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL submitted by Sara Moore Hello from the MD classrooms at Franklin High School! We have had a very busy and productive school year! We started the year learning about our community and made a visit to the Franklin Police Department. Our tour was given by Police Chief Russ Whitman. We learned about the Police Station and what the officers do in our community. We then walked over to Franklin Fire Department where we were given a tour by Lt Pearson and learned about all the equipment used to keep us safe. Chief Jonathan Westendorf talked to us about all the things they do in our community.

To say thanks to the Fire Fighters and Police Officers we provided lunch for everyone. We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and ate with the Police and Fire Fighters that were on duty. K9 Officer Holland was participating in K9 training with several other Police Departments from around the area. He arranged for us to meet the officers and the K9 officers. They even let us pet the dogs. It was a great afternoon and we learned so much about our community.

For our Government Unit, we traveled to the Warren County Common Pleas Court where Court Administrator Jennifer Burnside led us on a tour of the court house and introduced us to Judge Oda. We had a great question and answer session and even shared some laughs. We met some of the probation officers and we learned the different ways they help people in the community. After our visit at the Court House, we went to the park and enjoyed lunch outside.

For our Habitat and Ecosystems unit, we had folks from Cool Critters Outreach program come and share some of their animals with us. We saw a giant tortoise, snakes, a rabbit and a Bearded Dragon. We were able to touch the animals and ask questions about them. We also learned about their habitats. Mrs. Moore tried to keep the giant tortoise but it was too hard to hide.

Iron’s Fruit Farm was a great community based outing. We learned about the different fruit the farm grows and the jobs on the farm. We took a hayride around the farm and picked our own pumpkins. To start the New Year, we will learn about Physical Science and are planning to do some awesome experiments. For our economics unit we will be making and selling Valentines to our friends at the High School. We will be heading out into the community during the second half of the school to continue our learning of important life skills.

SHAWN LENNEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Check Out the New Greater Ohio Virtual School Web Site! During the first part of the year, the Greater Ohio Virtual School website received a makeover and more improvements are still in the works! In addition to the overall appearance of the website, several key elements where added to help make the site more user friendly and appealing. Direct links to the various GOVS social outlets are now accessible to anyone who visits the site along with access to any special announcements that might be distributed via the new One Call Now automated

notification system. As with any school, communication with students and parents is a top priority. A “School Days Remaining” counter has been added to the homepage and a “Lessons Remaining” counter has been added to the student Virtual Learning Academy homepage. Students and parents can compare these two counters to determine if they are behind, up to date, or ahead with their lessons as they work through their schedule. Guidance Counselor Loren Wall has added a “Counselor’s Corner” to the homepage. Through this link, students and parents have immediate access to college and career advising, courses and scheduling, personal and social support, and test preparation. Access to the new “GOVS YouTube Channel” is now available for students looking for additional resources to help them understand and complete their lessons. There are currently over 50 two-minute teacher videos available to GOVS students that where created by students from the Miami University Education Department. Those students were given access to the Virtual Learning Academy curriculum in order to select specific classes to create videos that would reinforce the content already in those classes. This partnership with Miami will continue through the second half of the year with the expectation of having over 100 videos by the end of the school year. Finally, plans are currently under way to make the enrollment process easier by making all registration forms available virtually. Parents will be able to complete and send all registration materials on-line in an effort to streamline the lengthy enrollment process. You can check out the new website at www.mygovs.com. Make sure to click on the social media links to access the Greater Ohio Virtual School Facebook page and follow us on twitter at @MYGOVS_

JOHN LAZARES ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL MIKE BIDWELL, DIRECTOR

The holidays at the John Lazares Alternative School are

a fun time of giving and sharing for our students and staff. During this time, JLAS has the honor of hosting our annual Thanksgiving presentation where our students get to showcase their achievements. Our

Leadership team shares a speech on what they are thankful for this holiday season. This year was our 15th annual presentation and one of our highest attended. JLAS would like to thank the many ESC employees, administration from our participating districts, and community leaders who took the time to attend this presentation.

The school also celebrated the holidays with our first themed Word of the Month - Giving. Student, Eric Ratliff, and staff, Larry Ramey, were both celebrated for showing leadership in the area of giving. They were treated to lunch from the principal. During the month of December, “The Original Pancake House” in Montgomery treated our students and staff to a wonderful pancake breakfast. We also were excited to have guest student, Carter Cook

presenting to our students on how to make stress balls and fidgets. For the holiday’s each of our students received a warm article of clothing, hygiene products, candy and something fun to take home. Special thank you goes out to Karen Myers for all of her hard work collecting donations from different local businesses. The winter season is off to a fantastic start at John Lazares Alternative School!

WARREN COUNTY LEARNING CENTER SHELLEY TRAPP, SUPERVISOR

As always there are so many fun things happening at WCLC. The students love to be involved with activities that are fun (and the teachers love when they learn a thing or two also!)

In October the school observed Red Ribbon week with a series of lessons and events to emphasize the making good choices and dangers of substance abuse. All students made pledges and signed contracts to remain substance free. The week culminated with a flag ceremony and a balloon release.

In November we were visited by a representative from the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation. Students in all grade levels enjoyed a hands on science project day. The learned about erosion and water systems all with interactive models. We certainly enjoyed the fact that the presenters were able to tailor

their instruction to all ages and the comments from the students were positive and saw the day as “one of the best science days ever!” One of the busiest, but most enjoyable times of the year at WCLC is when the students start to prepare for the Holiday Open House. It is a flurry of work and excitement and they carefully write invitations to special staff of their home school, decorate their rooms and doors, construct their Gingerbread Houses and convert the gym into the most festive party spot ever!

During the open house the students perform for the guests and practice their social skills by greeting people at the door, starting conversations with our guests, giving tours of the school and serving refreshments. The students take great pride in all they do to put our best foot forward for the guests.

As a special reward, the next day they all got to have PE “Under the Lights” in the gym.

This year, a group of high school students started what we hope to be a new tradition at WCLC. They worked with every student in the building to create a Christmas Tree made out of everyone’s handprints! I was magnificent and so incredibly personal and special. It will become a treasure and a new tradition at WCLC.

High School Students painting Christmas gifts for their parents!

On December 18, the Franklin Police Department brought a great program to our building. Kerry Kazam the Safety Man put on quite a show for the students. Mr. Kazam talked about safety mixed in with a fun and entertaining magic show! The kids were captivated and it was a great way to end 2015 at WCLC!

Kerry Kazam and two “Willing Volunteers! “

WARREN COUNTY HELP ME GROW STEFANIE POST, SUPERVISOR

 The children and families that participate with the Warren County Help Me Grow program and the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities Early Intervention program celebrated the holidays with an early visit from Santa! The children got to talk to Santa, get their picture taken, munch on donuts, make crafts, and socialize. Every child also got to take home a super furry dog or cat stuffed animal thanks to the donation of the West Chester PetSmart! (Check out the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities Facebook page for a video of Santa’s arrival and more great pictures!)

Help Me Grow believes all young children deserve the same opportunities to realize their full potential in life, regardless of economic, geographic, and demographic considerations. The parenting education and child development resources provided to families allows them to maximize this critical period of development in their child’s life, providing a foundation for lasting success. Help Me Grow encompasses two components; Early Intervention and Home Visiting. Learn more at www.helpmegrow.ohio.gov

SOCIAL COMMUNICATION PROGRAM MICHELLE HIGHT, M.S.E., PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

Royalmont/ Ms. Gronotte In our classroom we focus on academic, functional, and communication skills. We do a lot of life skills and vocational work. We just added some new vocational skills in our day such as: sweeping floors, delivering mail to the appropriate classroom, and packing a grocery bag. The kids really benefit from being up on their feet and working with their hands and brain during the day. The children in my classroom have been hard at work, but we don’t forget to have fun! This year we have had the opportunity to have Music Class once a week. The kids really love when they get to play the drums, maracas, and their bells. This past December, we were also graced with the visit of a very special guest, Santa Claus!! Santa came to interact with the students and pass out candy canes. Who isn’t excited when Santa comes to town?

Kings/ Ms. Perkins

Students in the JF Burns Elementary SCC classroom had a festive week before winter break. The students participated in a gift exchange, ornament making, holiday bingo, and an edible Christmas tree craft collaborating with our Occupational Therapist. Leading up to these activities students researched, brainstormed, wrote, and shared their stories on how to appropriately receive and give a gift. They also practiced some color matching during our gift exchange and some picture matching during our holiday bingo game. The students were extremely engaged in the holiday themed activities and had a wonderful last week before break.  

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT ALISHA DEAN, PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

Over the past quarter, the Speech-Language Pathologists have been working diligently by completing evaluations, providing direct therapy services to students with speech and language delays or impairments, supporting school personnel by consulting on individual student’s need, and all other aspects within our scope of practice. Our departments vision is to create an environment of learning with the intention of shaping and deepen our knowledge by actively “thinking” about evidence based research, developing activities/ideas, based on our research knowledge, and effectively implementing our ideas within our daily sessions to build and expand on our student’s speech and language skills in order to be productive citizens in society. In order to provide opportunities of learning, the therapists have been actively participating in various community groups focusing on dissecting the many components in theory of mind and creating a language rich RTI for the therapists to utilize within their districts. In addition, as mandated by the Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, each Speech-Language Pathologist is required to complete 2 hours of ethics training in order to renew their licensure. Linda L Wellman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Lisa A Froehlich, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, and Gregg B. Thornton, Esq. from our Ohio State Board traveled to the ESC to present an interactive professional development on ethical issues within the school-setting. This presentation focused on ethical dilemmas and issues that practitioners may encounter within their daily practice with an emphasis on how to respond when you think there has been a violation.

NURSING SERVICES TERRI ELAM RN, BSN, LSN, NURSING SUPERVISOR JILL BUFFENBARGER RN, NURSING SUPERVISOR

WCESC Says Congratulations to Diana Constance LPN as she retires. Diana has been an integral part of the nursing program since WCESC Nursing began. She was one of the original nurses who helped create the department when school aged services at the Ohio Board of Developmental Disabilities transitioned into several special education programs supported by the WCESC. Diana has devoted her career to working with students with complex, chronic medical conditions in various positions during her time here. She is talented in assisting students to integrate into the classroom as a 1:1 nurse by not only providing excellent

nursing care to students who would not be able to attend school without it, but by also nurturing positive relationships between her students and families, their classroom staff, and the districts she worked for. Diana has worked with students in every school district in Warren County and several districts in Butler and Clinton Counties while in the Preschool Special Needs and Multiple Disabilities programs classrooms and as a 1:1 nurse. She was a CPR instructor for the WCESC staff and assisted with medication training and emergency action plan trainings. We appreciate her broad knowledge of nursing care delivery in the school setting and her flexibility and team work!

Diana joins her husband in retirement and plans to continue her mission work in Honduras providing leadership for medical teams and Christian church development. Diana is also an independent provider of home nursing care.

Congratulations and Best Wishes, Diana!

Welcome New Staff! WCESC Nursing welcomed Jennifer Davis RN to the department shortly before the Thanksgiving break. Jennifer has experience working in multiple disabilities classrooms and we are pleased to have her on our full time staff working 1:1 with a new student requiring specialized health care during the school day.

Congratulations, Karen Spencer RN! Karen Spencer was presented an October 2015, KINGS OUTSTANDING STAFF MEMBER award! Karen works 1:1 with a student who has complex health issues requiring constant monitoring. “She has been outstanding in her work with the student as well as the team! She is an asset to the special education department and the MD classroom at Burns.” Great Job, Karen!                 

The WCESC Nursing Department provides services to assist districts to meet their school health nursing needs whether providing the typical building clinic role or other services tailored to meet special individual student needs such as one on one care or care provided to a number of students in a classroom or WCESC program. All WCESC programs receive School Nurse services and/or support from a Nursing Supervisor managing all aspects of health care provided at school including obtaining medical orders for nursing tasks and medications and required trainings. All WCESC nurses are directly supervised, supported and evaluated by experienced nurse supervisors.

WCESC Nursing Services contacts: • Jill Buffenbarger RN, Nursing Supervisor (513) 695-2900 Ext. 2903 • Terri Elam RN, Licensed School Nurse, Nursing Supervisor (513) 695-2900 Ext. 2959

TRANSITION LIVING CLASSROOM