HOWLAND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT I S S U E
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O C T O B E R
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Teachers including, Mrs. Jaclyn Wise, left, and Mr. Sam Bellino, right, assisted students in grades 2-8 as they completed their diagnosic testing through Exact Path.
HOWLAND SCHOOLS TAKING THE 'EXACT PATH' TO EDUCATE STUDENTS Howland
Local
Schools
kicked
off
the
2019-2020
school
year
with
H O W L A N D S C H O O L S a
new
N E W S L E T T E R
program that’s aimed at tailoring student learning to each student’s individual academic goals. Exact Path by Edmentum combines diagnostic assessments with individualized learning pathways to promote growth among students in
TABLE OF CONTENTS
math, reading and English language arts.
Letter from the “Our teachers are always looking to improve their instruction and over the past
Superintendent • P. 2
few years, we have been using different workbooks to collect data and use for common assessments.
It was actually our English language arts team that
Grandparents Brunch • P. 4
reached out to Edmentum for additional information,” said Howland Middle School
Principal
overwhelming,
Stephen
and
Kovach.
finding
a
tool
“Data to
collection
help
us
make
in
education
data-driven
regarding our instruction will ultimately help with student growth.”
Cont. page 3.
becomes
AIR Testing • P. 5
decisions Important Dates • P. 6
LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT We began the school year with some important and needed
updates
to
our
schools.
Efficient
air
conditioning systems have been installed in our five buildings, bringing significant relief to our students, families
and
staff
during
school
and
other
extracurricular events and activities. This also offers additional opportunities to open our buildings during non-instructional hours to partner with local entities and organizations, as well as lease our facilities for additional
revenue
that
once
may
not
have
been
Kevin Spicher
possible due to the lack of a comfortable climate-
Howland Local Schools, Superintendent
controlled environment.
The high school, built in 1949 is now celebrating 70 years
as
an
Schools.
educational
cornerstone
Cost-efficient
include
painting,
parking
have
cosmetic
signage,
been
ADA
completed
in
Howland
updates
considerations to
the
interior
that and and
exterior of the building and campus. Our intent was to
create
a
more
welcoming
and
educationally
conducive environment for our kids and families and continue school’
to
instill
pride
traditions
opportunities
for
from
our
while
current
past
in
paving
and
future
our
“old
continued students
and
we have until state facility funding for townships like Howland becomes fair and attainable for our taxpayers. The stadium turf and face lift have been made possible by community donors contributing to the original Community Stadium Foundation, board matched funds, and other private and in-kind contributions. The board contributions for the turf stem largely from no longer being required to maintain grass fields for play in the district, an estimated savings of over $100,000 annually. The video scoreboards in the stadium and the high school gymnasium are 100%
families.
fiscally solvent through generous community Another improvement to our high school campus is the
installation
sound
system,
functionality colored
of
stadium
and
many
changes.
concession
turf,
You
stands
video
other will
scoreboard,
cosmetic see
painted
the
gray
and
cream
with
the
traditional orange and black accent colors that we know and take pride in at Howland.
These updates
are not just for football, but offer a clean, dry and maintained
facility
for
many
other
events
and
opportunities to bring kids and community together such as band/musical performances, soccer, family movie
nights,
community
events,
tournaments
and
partnerships and contributions. It is important to continually share that the operating funds that the district received from a levy in 2018 are not contributed to the improvement of our facilities. These operating funds are used for day-to-day operations and educational/curricular needs of our students and staff. The bulk of the funds generated from the operating levy passed in 2018 are not used for facility or campus improvements. Percentages of annual Permanent Improvement funds already coming into the district are used facility and campus improvement purposes; therefore, no additional taxes to make these
other additional revenue streams.
important improvements for our kids, families, and The
Board
of
Education
and
administration
are
community.
committed to responsibly making the best of what
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EXACT PATH (CONT.) Throughout the month of September, students in grades 2-8 used Chromebooks to complete diagnostic assessments.
Those tests were able to precisely pinpoint students’ instructional
levels, strengths, and needs.
Howland’s teachers will now be able to use the data collected
from those tests to target their instruction to meet each student’s individual needs. Students who are struggling with certain concepts can be given assignments tailored to boost their understanding.
For students who are advanced in certain areas, assignments can be given to
challenge their abilities.
“Exact
Path
individual
gives
needs,
every all
of
student which
is
a
highly
personalized
delivered
through
learning
technology,”
path said
that’s H.C.
unique Mines
to
their
Principal
Jennifer Stephenson.
Exact Path uses data and reports to measure growth among students and track real-time progress.
Early research conducted by Edmentum shows that students experience growth
when Exact Path is used in focused sessions of just 20 minutes per week, per subject.
“Howland
Local
Schools
is
excited
about
the
adoption
of
Exact
Path.
Students
will
be
responsible for their own learning and will also be given challenges from their teachers. There will be friendly competition among classrooms so that all students are excited about their individualized learning and growth,” said Erin Pierce, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction.
Teachers in grades 2-8 will be able to analyze data from the Exact Path diagnostic tests to individualize their instruction to better meet the needs of all students.
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H.C. MINES WELCOMES HUNDREDS TO GRANDPARENTS BRUNCH H.C.
Mines
hosted
its
annual
Grandparent's
Brunch
on
Wednesday,
September
25,
and
Thursday
September 26. The school welcomed 621 guests over the two day event!
JUNIOR CLASS ATTEND SKILLED TRADES EXPO Members of Howland High School's junior class were
among
4,000
students
from
Trumbull,
Mahoning, Columbiana, Mercer and Lawrence counties
in
Mahoning Thursday, which
Valley
various displays
open our
skilled from
construction
at
Skilled
September
was
connected
attendance
to
26,
the
Trades 2019.
students
in
juniors
to
trades
industries.
the
equipment
first-ever Expo The
grades
professionals
skilled
on
event, 7-12, in
the
Interactive trades
simulators
were
and on
hand for our students to explore.
4
THIRD GRADE TO COMPLETE AIR TESTING Our third grade students will be completing the American Research Institute's (AIR) assessment in reading on October 21, 2019 through October 24, 2019.
The test will be administered on
Chromebooks in two, 90-minute sessions.
This
test is the first of two AIR assessments that are administered to meet the requirements of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
This test is extremely important.
We ask that you
please consider our testing days prior to scheduling appointments or other out-of-school committments.
TESTING TIPS Throughout the year: Read to/with your child and make time to discuss what you've read. Encourage reading for pleasure regularly.
Know what kind of homework teachers expect and make sure your child completes it. Provide a regular, quiet place for your child to read or complete homework. Set high expectations for grades and attendance. Take an active interest in what your child is doing in school. During the weeks leading up to the test, begin to talk with your child about doing his or her best. You know your child better than anyone.
Emphasize the importance of
the test, but remember to build confidence.
The night before the test: Make sure your child goes to bed on time so he or she is well-rested. Keep your routine as normal as possible.
Upsetting natural routines
may make your child feel insecure. Be positive and confident in the fact that you know your child will do his or her best. Plan ahead to avoid conflicts on the morning of the test.
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MARK YOUR
OCTOBER
CALENDARS Tuesday, October 1 National Bullying Prevention Month Begins | Oct. 1- Oct. 31 Wednesday, October 2 Picture Day | HIS, Springs, 6th Grade Senior FAFSA & Financial Aid Night at 6 p.m. in the HHS cafeteria Monday, October 7 Senior Voter Registration Due Spirit Week | Oct. 7- Oct. 11 Nonviolence Week | Oct. 7- Oct. 11 Wednesday, October 9 Junior Parent Information Night Thursday, October 10 7th/8th Grade Picture Day Friday, October 11 No School - NEOEA Day Homecoming Game Saturday, October 12 Homecoming Dance Monday, October 14 Stop the Bleed Program - 7th Grade Underclassmen Picture Day Wednesday, October 16 H.C. Mines Picture Day PSAT Hats Not Hate at HIS 6
Thursday, October 17 Savy Science Day H.C. Mines Family Math & Science Night Monday, October 21 3rd Grade AIR Test (Reading) School Bus Safety Week | Oct. 21Oct. 25 Tuesday, October 22 3rd Grade AIR Test (Reading) Wednesday, October 23 3rd Grade AIR Test (Reading) Stop the Bleed Program | 7th Grade Thursday, October 24 3rd Grade AIR Test (Reading) HIS Fall Dance Friday, October 25 10th Grade to TCTC Saturday, October 26 ACT Test Monday, October 28 Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 29 College & Career Fair at Eastwood Mall Wednesday, October 30 Glen Halloween Party 9th/10th Grade Parent Information Night Thursday, October 31 H.C. Mines Halloween Party Friday, November 1 Springs Halloween Parade & Party End of Quarter/Early Release 7