Five graduate from Sinclair
Jefferson Township Local School District is proud to announce that five students will graduate from Sinclair Community College today with associate degrees, then Thursday with their high school diplomas.
These five, two of them juniors, have shown determination, tenacity and personal responsibility in working toward their goal of receiving an associates degree while in high school. The rigorous classes they have taken on Sinclair’s campus, during summer school, and at our campus, the Jefferson Township University, will be recognized wherever they decide to go to complete their four-year degrees. Here’s a little bit more about the students in their own words:
Aliah Barker, 17, junior.
“I played on Jefferson’s girls basketball and volleyball teams and was a varsity cheerleader. I will receive an associate degree in liberal arts. My post-graduation plans are to finish my senior year of high school while working toward my goal of a bachelor’s degree in dentistry.”
Victoria Fogle, 17, junior.
“I am the junior Student Council president and editor of the yearbook club. I am receiving my associate degree in history. During my senior year, I will start working toward my bachelor’s degree. My college plan includes earning a degree in psychology and going to law school.”
Amari Goddard, 18, senior.
“I am salutatorian and vice president of the class of 2017. I am a four-year cheerleader, was editor of the newspaper and a staff member for the yearbook. I have been on the superintendent’s list for all four years of high school and I have a 4.31 grade-point average. My associate degree is in criminal justice corrections.”
Celina Lee Peterson, 18, senior.
“I am valedictorian and treasurer of the Student Council for the Class of 2017. I will be graduating with an associate degree in psychology. I want to be a veterinarian. Therefore, I will be transferring to Wright State University, where I will major in biology.”
Monteia Smith, 18, senior.
“I played basketball and volleyball and was on the track team. I am also a varsity cheerleader. I will be receiving my associate degree in liberal arts. Last summer, I received my State Tested Nursing Assistant Certification (STNA) through Sinclair. This fall I will be attending Wright State to further my education in the nursing field in hopes of becoming a neonatal nurse.”
Esther Dennis Middle School sixth-graders will enjoy a field trip to Wright State University on May 25 to fuel their growing interest in higher education.
Students will meet with admissions representatives to discuss enrollment requirements and keys to success in college, participate in a scavenger hunt to gain familiarity with a college campus, visit academic buildings, library, student union, recreational center, etc., and enjoy a chemical combustion demonstration by WSU’s chemistry department.
The annual Science Fair/Expo for students in grades 7-12 will be held May 9 from 3-5 p.m. at Northridge High School. Other upcoming events at the school include Bearstock/Relay for Life and the Senior Award Ceremony (both May 12) and graduation ( June 3, 1 p.m.)
John H. Morrison Elementary first-grade staff will host a kindergarten transition meeting May 10 from 5-6:30 p.m. for our kindergarten students at Timberlane Learning Center. Kindergarten parents and students can tour Morrison Elementary, receive information and ask questions. Pizza and a beverage will be served.
The Morrison Elementary PTO will sponsor the annual spring carnival on May 11. Games, food and fun are on the menu, and board members, administrators, custodians, coaches and others have volunteered to be part of a game that will get them drenched by a bucket of water.
Timberlane Leaning Center PTO is sponsoring a field trip May 15 to Young’s Dairy for all preschool and kindergarten students. Other upcoming TLC events include:
■ The annual Title I Book Swap on May 22 with each student taking home gently used books to enjoy over the summer.
■ The last PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) field trip for this school year May 23-24. Students who displayed 90 percent or higher positive behavior during fourth quarter will enjoy spending time at Wegerzyn Garden.
■ End of the Year Program for kindergarten students June 1 in the Northridge High School auditorium. Students will perform songs they learned during the school year for their families.
Students in grades 1-6 will have an opportunity to participate in Summer STEM Camp this year. The event will be held June 26-30 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Activities will link to literacy development. For more information contact Mrs. Koehl, curriculum director, at 937-278-5885.
Other summer learning opportunities include:
■ Freedom Schools, through United Way, will be held June 19-28 for students in grades K-5. This year, the district is collaborating with United Way to offer the program to 100 students, expanding outreach to twice as many students as in the past. All spots are filled. If you have questions, contact Mr. Petty, project directory, at 937-275-6833.
■ Summer third-grade English Language Arts test administration will be July 10-13. Any Northridge third-grader who has not met the promotion score for the thirdgrade guarantee when we receive our winter ELA results is encouraged to attend this session and retake the state ELA test. Contact Mr. Thomas, Morrison Elementary principal, at 937-276-8341 or Mrs. Inkrott, district testing coordinator, at 937-278-5885.
To be prepared to be amazed. My students are smart, funny, talented and surprising. My first year, my students and I worked on a project for one of our elementary schools that had suffered tremendous heartbreak and loss. The students were tasked to create an identity system to represent the school and parent organization. I didn’t know how my kids would respond from a maturity or emotional standpoint in designing for such a unique client. They responded amazingly! The students cared for that project like it was family. We cried, we laughed and we successfully created something that went well beyond graphic design.
Our district started reforming the culture of our student, teacher and administrator relationships using the tagline,“WE ARE FIREBIRDS.” To me that speaks of family! My family is from Kettering, where my dad started as a custodian and worked his way into an apprenticeship to be an electrician for the school district. I think being a Firebird means hard work, and my parents infused that in me. As Firebirds we are respectful, responsible, safe and kind in the way we treat each other. When we couple these ideals with hard work and pride, the sky’s the limit!