Scholastic Games: Recent Episodes
Scholastic Games
Barb Piscopo, Executive Director of the Lorain Historical Society, discusses several active programs based around student involvement applied to the Society’s motto, “History is the Foundation for strong, vibrant communities.” She discusses the efforts of Lorain County Community College students in recording oral histories, particularly from Lorain’s Latino community as well as development of the society’s newest initiative for the African American community in Lorain. She also talks about how the Lorain Historical Society will be involved in this year’s 55th annual Lorain International Festival
American teenagers, particularly young women, are in the midst of a mental health crisis as social media and smartphones are contributing to high levels of depression, loneliness, sadness, and even suicide in some cases. Rebecca Jones is the Child and Adolescent Services Director of the Mental health Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County. She describes the types of cases her office has encountered in county schools and successful strategies and remedies that are being employed.
Deanna Strauss-Hersko, Manager of the Career Technical Pathway, part of “Bridges to Success” at Lorain County Community College, discusses with Vince Ventresco, an Avon High graduate and early participant in the program, a program developed by LCCC at the request of Avon High School. It is already benefitting students who had been seeking career paths during their senior year in high school. Ventresco, one of the program’s first participants, talks about how it led him to pursue an eventual bachelor’s degree for applied science in Microelectronic Manufacturing
Jennifer Harmon, the Community Engagement Director of the Elyria Public Library System, describes a new mobile program being introduced by the system to assist people in workforce training and development. It helps individuals complete paperwork for government assistance programs, and it’s done inside a new mobile training vehicle called the EWOC, short for the Elyria Workforce and Outreach Center. The new vehicle serves as a mobile classroom with instructors to assist those in need of training
“We Serve” is a national program offered to high schools giving students opportunities to assist students from other districts with tutoring or service assistance. In this interview, Krystine Frisch, a veteran English teacher at Avon Lake High School, gives details on how 60 Advanced Placement English students from her school tutored first and third graders at Clearview’s Vincent Elementary School to prepare for their state reading exams. This highly successful program is only one of several involving voluntary participants from Avon Lake high school. She further explains how “We Serve” can be available for other interested schools
Ken Trump of National School Safety and Security returns with more detail on a timely topic. In this second interview, he details the training of building staffs for awareness and response to the possibility of a security breech which can occur unexpectedly on campus. He also offers additional insights on student safety
Safety and Security in our public school buildings are the topic of this Dialogues interview with Ken Trump, the President of National School Safety and Security Services. His company, a preeminent, nationally recognized consultant on school safety and security, is based in Cleveland, and was recently hired by the Lorain City Schools to enhance their programs. He explains evaluation process and training exercises which include administrators, teachers, and consultations
An issue which has been facing educators for centuries continues today here in Ohio: ”How to teach our children to read.” Dr. Sue Corbin is Chair of the Division of Professional Education at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio. In this interview, she discusses the latest challenges to educators in Ohio, maintaining that politics and money are again influencing the Science of Reading program being “thrust upon educators.” The opinions of a professional educator on this controversial topic are presented here in detail.
Lorain County Community College continues to be a leader in Ohio and across the country in providing local high school students programs and activities geared to career planning and development. This extraordinary progress has taken place under the leadership of college president Dr. Marcia Ballinger. In this annual update for Dialogues, she discusses the highly successful “Bridges to Success” program where high school students earn college credits while attending LCCC classes in career exploration and life planning. She also explains the free, virtual “Fast Track” program which offers industry recognized credentials to adults in high demand employment areas.
Virginia Waratinsky, a veteran former teacher in Elyria schools is the Scholarship Chair for The Lorain County Retired Teachers Association (LCRTA). She announces new scholarships for qualified Lorain County students. Her exciting news is two special programs sponsored by the LCRTA. She outlines the efforts of her organization to support advancing the education of local students and offers insights to those who wish to seek these special aid opportunities. Their website is LORCORTA.org.
After eliminations among the other top academic teams in the county, the team from Lake Ridge Academy managed its second consecutive win of the Scholastic Games’ annual County Championship. It was the school’s fourth in the 32-year history of the broadcasts. How can one prepare for such competitions? The college bound team members share their […]
Nordson Corporation is not only a source of innovative products for industry worldwide, but it is also a leader in philanthropy in the communities where it operates. Founded in Lorain County, Ohio, the company has financed hundreds of programs since its founding in 1989. Cecilia Render, the long-time Executive Director of the Nordson Corporation Foundation, […]
All are aware of the impact the pandemic has had on the nursing profession. Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, has programs that not only train nurses, but focus on the extraordinary pressures the pandemic has placed on them and ways to deal with those pressures. Dr. Sweeney, who heads the nursing department at […]
Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, was founded in 1850, and has evolved into an institution of distinction including market-driven initiatives to assist students in the pursuit of affordable four-year degrees. One business program offers a tuition-free MBA degree for qualified students. Heidelberg Vice President Tony Bourne offers insight and helpful information for those seeking a […]
Jennifer Harmon is a spokesperson for the Elyria Public Library System which proudly boasts a brand new main branch downtown. It is just part of a growing, modern community library system, and she has all the details in this edition of the Dialogues series.
The Lorain Historical Society has developed a program to instruct teachers about teaching the history of the city. Great stories are told and great people are highlighted. In this “Dialogues on Education,” Historical Society Executive Director Barb Piscopo explains how this new program is developing. She also has other interesting facts about the Historical Society […]
In this “Dialogues on Education,” we hear from Problem Gambling Specialist Scott Anderson from the state sponsored “Ohio for Responsible Gambling.” Anderson outlines the growing issue of young people developing bad gambling habits. Six-Point-Five percent of 14-21-year-olds are now at risk for problem gambling. He talks about signs of risk and what parents and educators […]
The “Bard” comes to Lorain County. In this Dialogues program we learn how Great Lakes Theater Company of Cleveland brings Shakespeare into the classroom at high schools across Lorain County. David Hansen, the Educational Outreach Coordinator for Great Lakes Theater, explains how the week-long residencies introduce students to theatrical productions as they learn the context […]
The Elyria Public School System, the City Administration and local law enforcement are taking action to educate the community on the risks posed by students misusing social media. In this Dialogues program, hear from Elyria Superintendent Ann Schloss on how they are calling on parents to monitor the social media activity of their children after […]
Should teachers be allowed to carry weapons in the classroom? In this Dialogues program hear from the President of National School Safety and Security Services…Ken Trump. He is an expert on school security and safety and he talks about what administrators need to do to combat the escalation of student violence and disruptive behavior during […]
The escalating problem of violence involving students in our schools due to ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. These behaviors are discussed, and assistance is recommended in this Dialogues program featuring Rebecca Jones, Director of Children’s Behavioral Health Services with the Mental Health Addiction and Recovery Service Board of Lorain County. Jones offers some help for parents and […]
This Dialogues program features a local educator who has been nominated as national “Teacher of the Year.” From a field of 3.2 million teachers…Kurt Russell is one of four finalists. He has taught history in Room 200 at Oberlin high school for 25 years. Russell explains his pursuit of teaching and history as his career. […]
Cynthia Andrews, the Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Lorain County, a benefactor of Scholastic Games as well as countless other worthwhile activities in the region, provides us with an update of this areas philanthropic activity including opportunities for individuals to take part. She provides ample evidence of how the organization lives up to […]
The championship has finally arrived and this is one whale of a competition, nip and tuck, at least through the first portions of the program. One thing for sure is that these are two exceptional academic teams, all having adapted well to the challenges of the “Zoom format” during this unprecedented academic year. Taken from […]
Competition is tense as the winner advances to our 31st annual academic championship, to face Lake Ridge Academy in the one remaining program in the series this year. The team members are, as pictured left to right in screen shots, for Avon, Lindsay McKenna, Liam McCarthy and Sam Golik; and for Amherst Marion L. Steele High School, left to right, Donald Theisen, Grant Sooy, and John Perez Strohmeyer. Click above to listen to the program in a new window. To get a quick look at the final results, you can click here to check out our official news release. We recommend, however, that you listen for what might be a surprise outcome.
Ever closer to our 31st annual county championship, we have reached the first semifinal. Both of these schools have won Scholastic Games championships twice in the program’s history and both teams certainly believe their time has come to achieve it again, but only one of them will have the chance to advance. Representing Lake Ridge Academy are, as pictured left to right, Tyler Young, Finley Pasatta, and Alex Masgras; and North Ridgeville High Schooi is represened by , left to right, Vincent Kafer, Alex Wood, and Chris Stanulet. Captains Young and Kafer are both two-time “Standout Scholar” winners from their earlier competitions this year. Click above to hear the program (at theplace indicated to open it in a separate window) or click here to read the final results in our official news release.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for students: a special free, science-space program being offered at Cleveland’s NASA Glenn Research Center. Students learn about space flight and apply what they learn to an actual device that was designed by NASA Glenn scientists for the Mars landing of the Rover. Educational Specialist Roger Storm describes the program to […]
New research indicates a drop in overall college enrollment numbers as well as in applications, particularly at Community Colleges. A disproportionate number in Black and Hispanic populations are affected, and the situation has been aggravated by the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this Dialogues interview, the Executive Director of the Higher Education Compact of Greater Cleveland, Maggie McGrath, discusses the problems that can result and offers advice on what can be done to refocus these students so they will be more likely to attend college.
The last of our quarterfinal competitions will round out our list of semifinalists, whose programs will upload in May. The team members representing Lake Ridge Academy are, as pictured left to right, Tyler Young, Finley Pasatta, and Alex Masgras, and representing Oberlin High School are, left to right, Sasha Chen, Zenobia Calhoun, and Marcus Bertoni. Click above to hear the program (we recommend opening a new window for the player), or to read the final results, click here to see our official news release.
Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, the Cleveland suburb, is ranked first in the country for student mobility, meaning that students from low income families are able to advance to middle and higher class positions with the jobs they obtain after graduation. Find out much more from College President, Sister Christine DeVinne, in this interesting profile of the school, which is one of those participating in the Scholastic Games Tuition Credit program, in this episode of Dialogues on Education.
We get closer each week to our 31st annual county academic championship as we present our third quarterfinal. The teams are as follows: Representing Amherst Marion L. Steele High School are, as pictured left to right, D. J. Theisen, Lia Morrison and John Perez-Strohmeyer; and the team from Olmsted Falls High School consists of, left to right, David Vidovich, Rachel Allen, and Elena Strozewski. Click above to hear the competition. We recommend opening the program in a separate window so you can keep browsing as you listen. For those who prefer spoilers, you can click here to read the final results from our official news release.
Now just past its 150th anniversary, the Elyria Public Library System is still going strong with services to the community, some in record numbers during this pandemic. This is an interview with Adam Mathews, the library’s Marketing & Communications Director, who is charged with publicizing numerous events and programs throughout the year. Following a $16 million levy campaign in 2017, the system is currently designing three new library branches and renovation of an existing branch. Here he describes the new main branch being constructed in downtown Elyria and other facets of its operations.
Our quarterfinals, the preliminary portion of our playoffs leading up to our 31st annual county championship, feature academic teams from North Ridgeville High School and Brookside, in Sheffield Village, Ohio. Here are screen shots of the team members from our isolated “Zoom” broadcast: Representing North Ridgeville are, left to right, Vincent Kafer, Alex Wood and Chris Stanulet; and Brookside’s team consists of, left to right, Kassie Brooks, Nico Morello, and Chase Holm. Click above to hear the program, and we recommend the option of opening a separate window. For an instant spoiler, go ahead and click here to read the final results from our official news release.