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November, 2016 • Plain Paper • Page 7
GlenOak Care Team Supports At-Risk Students More than ever before, students today face a variety of social, emotional and familial challenges. Sometimes it’s not possible for students to separate their personal problems from their lives at school. In response, GlenOak High School has developed a specialized Care Team to identify and address the needs of at-risk students. Utilizing interdepartmental collaboration on behalf of the student, the GlenOak Care Team seeks to help our students achieve their potential by working through problematic issues. Care Team is a school based student services initiative that uses resources and staff support to increase student achievement by combining educational interventions with needed support services. The Care Team consists of a variety of members of the school staff from administrators, counselors, teachers, intervention specialists, youth-serving agencies (mental, physical and behavioral health providers), to other support personnel. Students enter Care Team through a referral process. Administrators and staff members may refer a student directly to Care Team by completing a “Care Team Referral Form”. Parents and guardians who would like to request support services can also contact an administrator or staff member to complete the referral form. There are many reasons a student may be referred to
Care Team such as suicidal ideation, depression, behavior issues, medical issues, anxiety, stress, family concerns, substance abuse, eating disorders, peer relationships, cutting, etc. “Care Team is to help meet the needs of students that can not be met in the classroom. We are providing support services to limit or eliminate barriers to learning”, says school counselor and Care Team leader Heather Zapolnik. GlenOak’s Care Team meets weekly to identify and discuss students referred, and weekly agendas are created based on the referrals received. All information collected or discussed in Care Team is strictly confidential, and documentation is secured according to State and district regulations. Care Team gathers information about each student’s specific situation and needs, creates an individualized plan to help the student, and continues to monitor him or her until the problems have been resolved. Care Team utilizes resources from different areas of the school community to provide ways to address and solve barriers to classroom learning. When a student’s need is beyond the scope of GlenOak’s programs, Care Team provides information on community resources available for parents to obtain assistance for their child. The Care Team ensures that our students have compassionate advocates during challenging times,
College Credit Plus Gives Course Options to Students College Credit Plus (CCP) is Ohio’s dual enrollment program, which provides an opportunity for students who are college-ready to earn transcripted college credit while in grades 7–12. Students have the opportunity every year from April-June to apply to take classes for the following year. Plain Local teachers who have earned adjunct status with the college or university primarily teach courses at GlenOak High School. Plain Local Schools has established partnerships with the University of Mount Union, the University of Akron, Walsh
University, Kent State University, Stark State College, and Malone University. There are currently CCP classes offered in the following subject areas: Math, Science, Social Studies, English, Foreign Language, Communications, Business, Nursing, and Fire Science. There are over 500 students in grades 9-12 taking advantage of these courses with the potential to collectively earn almost 2,000 college credit hours! For more information on the CCP program in Ohio, please visit education. ohio.gov or call your student’s school.
while creating a safe and supportive school environment. The goal of Care team is to increase student access to educational, social, emotional, behavioral and physical health services to develop healthy and resilient youth who succeed in school
and life. Overcoming these barriers can improve academic achievement, school climate and attendance, and reduce discipline problems. GlenOak High School is founded on the philosophy that all students have a right to
academic programs and services that meet their unique need and help them achieve their full potential. In times of need, students experience a caring community coming together to provide support services whenever or wherever they are needed.
Pictured (L-R) Erykah Lofton, Alix Doratori, Elizabeth Cirese, Eliahs Sumpter, Kenna Harrington, A’rya Taylor. These students make up the GlenOak High School Social Justice team.
Plain Local Creates Social Justice Team Students come to school with a wide range of strengths. They are a diverse group: they participate in a variety of athletics, they have different cultural backgrounds, they are seeking academic challenges. Students also come to school with a wide range of needs. Some students have financial hardships, some have learning differences, some have mental health concerns. As a school district, we are continuously striving to meet the needs of all learners while striving for excellence for all. We are excited about a new opportunity that will strengthen what we already
do in our district. Stark County received a Straight-A Grant to support local school districts in creating Social Justice Teams. Plain Local is proud to be a part of this grant, called “All-In: Ensuring Success for All Students,” focuses on training staff and building the capacity to ensure that equity and socially-just practices are provided for every student by every adult in our district. Plain Local staff, students, and parents make up the Social Justice Team. Staff is receiving training, reviewing practices, and discussing ways to implement better
teaching practices in order to achieve equity across all learning environments. Students are collaborating on a service project that will impact the community. Parents are invited to share their ideas on how to build a stronger home-school connection. These three groups will continue to work together toward the goal of success for every student. We are excited about the positive changes that Social Justice will bring to Plain Local. Strong schools are a reflection of a strong community. Social Justice is one more way we can be Eagle Strong.