HOWLAND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT I S S U E
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D E C E M B E R
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Top left: Madison Lipczynski Top right: Mrs. Andrea Jones and her classroom Bottom left: Mrs. DIane Taylor and her classroom Bottom right: Jaelynn Fant.
HOWLAND SCHOOLS MARKS WORLD KINDNESS DAY Students at Howland Schools participated in World Kindness Day on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
At Howland Intermediate School,
students were taught about the importance of being kind to one another. Each classroom also had the chance to become the “I” in kind.
Letter from the Superintendent
P. 2
Band to Disney
P. 3
Educator Honored
P. 4
Salute to Social Studies
P. 5
Challenge 24
P. 7
Mark Your Calendar
P. 9
They, along with students at Howland High School, were also
encouraged
to
don
their
favorite
cardigan
sweaters
to
not
only
honor the late television icon Mister Rogers for his kindness, but also to promote kindness throughout the district.
World Kindness Day is
an international holiday that was formed more than 20 years ago to promote kindness throughout the world. It’s observed in the United States, as well as many other countries including Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.A.E.
LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TIt has been an exciting time as we close in on the end of
Increased clubs and activities available to our kids
the calendar year with accomplishments in our academic,
Removal of pay to participate fees for students
activity, and athletic arenas.
Centralized
Disney
after
activities too.
outstanding
wrapped
up
Our band just returned from
performances
with
some
and
significant
our
fall
recognition,
Congratulations to our girls cross country and boys
sub
calling
system
to
insure
the
highest
percentage of staff coverage Free Senior Citizen passes Removal of “pay-to-participate” for student activities
soccer for qualifying and performing so well at the state
New crosswalks; sidewalks; flashing signage, pedestrian
level!
traffic signals (Township Grant)
We
are
proud
of
the
determination
and
effort
demonstrated by our kids, coaches and advisors in all of our
Random drug testing for student activity participants to
extracurriculars and value the support from our parents.
deter, intervene, and assist
The end of the calendar year also marks the beginning of
Added
my
communication venues
sixth
year
serving
as
superintendent
of
Howland
Twitter,
Facebook,
All-Call
Instructional
challenging but rewarding role in the very same halls and
students in grades 5-12
campuses
WiFi installed in all buildings including HS and MS fields
I
walked
as
a
student,
teacher,
and
including
Forms,
Schools. It has been an honor and privilege to serve in this
that
technology
Final
Chromebooks
for
principal. I am appreciative of the Board for understanding
Building air-conditioning systems
the big picture and value the students, parents, and staff
Stadium Turf and updates
for insight gained as we continue to maintain the traditions
Increased number of high school Advanced Placement
of our past and introduce innovative educational paradigms
and College Credit courses
required
Improved transportation efficiency by 50% combining HS
to
graduates
keep
to
ahead
enroll
in
of
the
curve
post-secondary
to
prepare
education,
our seek
and MS routes
immediate employment, or enlist in the armed forces. As
Reduced
we usher in the new year, we are excited to celebrate the
moving 5th grade to MS
five-year strategic plan accomplishments and are already
Reconfigured district (1-5) to educate students at each
setting new goals and action strategies to ensure the same
grade level in the same building
efficacy
Updating accessibility needs as noted in buildings on a
for
initiatives.
the We
next
have
five-years
been
of
fortunate
strategic to
have
planning witnessed
operating
costs
by
closing
a
building
and
continuum
significant changes and improvements, some of which are
Added
bleacher
handrails
listed below:
assist with bleacher safety
and
stair
modifications
to
Installed filtering systems to purify water consumed by Removal of modular classroom trailers
students and staff
Implementation of all-day kindergarten
This is not an exhaustive list of the improvements made in
Identification/access badges for all staff
the Howland Schools. The Howland Board of Education and
Installations of security vestibules and electronic access
administration
built into all main entrances
changes in district practices and operations necessary to
Upgraded cameras installed in buildings
improve our schools and continue on a path of excellence
New security cameras on all buses
for kids and community.
Addition
of
school
resource
officer
for
a
total
of
two
parents
and
will
continue
community
to
commit
to
making
the
We value the support from our business
and
organizational
officers (HPD partnership)
partners and look forward to what’s in store for the next five
Exact Path Online individualized education (2-8)
years and beyond!
Big Ideas math curriculum at the high school Interactive Read Aloud and Guided mini lessons (K-4)
Sincerely,
Interactive Maker-Space classrooms (K-4)
Kevin Spicher
PAX
Good
Behavior
health/instructional
strategies
program
2
Howland Local Schools Superintendent
Howland High School's marching band performs at
Approximately 190 members of the Howland High School marching band traveled to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, to perform at Magic Kingdom.
KINDNESS IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR HOWLAND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATOR Kindness
is
a
quality
Howland
High
School’s
within
his
classes
specifically
kindness.
exhibited throughout his career.
episodes of Netflix’s The Kindness Diaries and
his kindness and the efforts he’s made to instill
then
kindness
which
among
students
at
Howland
High
discuss they
would
with
his
showed
show
his
discuss
Director of Student Services Sean Borawiec has Just recently,
He
to
students
kindness
the
students
ways
throughout
in the
School were nationally recognized. Borawiec is
week.
one of 30 finalists selected by the Random Acts
“It got students talking. They couldn’t wait to
of Kindness Foundation to attend The Kindness
come to class and tell me what they had done
Experience in Denver, Colorado, in April.
to bring a smile to someone else’s face,” said
“I think it’s simple. It doesn’t take a whole lot to
Borawiec.
be kind to others.
This past spring, Borawiec filled out a seven
Kindness is infectious,” said
Sean Borawiec. Nearly
20
page
Foundation’s
The
help purchase gifts for children in need through
named a semifinalist and had to complete a
the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Each
30 minute telephone interview.
year,
did
Borawiec learned he was selected to travel to
the
Colorado in April to attend the training, which
importance
students’ of
being
grow
understanding kind.
as of
Throughout
his
Kindness
the
Experience.
to
of
for
Kindness
seemed
started
considered
collecting donations from students and staff to
Borawiec’s
Borawiec
be
Acts
donations
ago,
to
Random
the
years
application
In
September,
he
was
Just recently,
is focused solely on the science of kindness.
career, he’s been able to continue those lessons
“I
am
really
in kindness. A couple of years ago, he started
experience.
carving out time
learn
with
I
looking cannot
our
staff
forward
wait and
to
to
share
this
what
students,”
said
Borawiec.
“I think it’s simple. It doesn’t take a whole lot to be kind to others. Kindness is infectious." - Sean Borawiec
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I
Veterans Day 2019
Salute to Social Studies WWII Ve teran Mr. Duff et discusse s his time wit h the US Navy
r. nM a r e isits Vet v k s roc ent Sch d u t hs s wit ring p S at ary Prim
Mr. Kosib a, a 97 year old WWII Veteran enlighte ned our student s with h is experie nces fro m his serv ice to ou r country .
Ohio Optometric Association presents Realeyes program to Howland students
The anatomy of eyes, eye disorders and eye safety were all topics of discussion during the Ohio Optometric Association’s recent visits to Howland Intermediate School and Glen Primary School. Volunteer optometrists from the area presented the Ohio Optometric Association’s interactive program Realeyes on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. Realeyes, which is funded through a grant from the Ohio Department of Health Save Our Sight Fund, is offered free of charge to schools. This is the second year in a row the district has partnered with the association to offer the program to students.
Optometrists with the Ohio Optometric Association presented Realeyes to students at Glen Primary (top) and Howland Intermediate (bottom).
Howland Middle School student educates peers on diabetes Howland Middle School student Grace Winters recently led a diabetes awareness campaign at school. Winters, who lives with Type 1 diabetes, came up with the idea after realizing not many of her classmates understood the disease. She approached Principal Stephen Kovach with her ideas to raise awareness and he gave her the green light to move forward with her plan, which included reading facts about diabetes on the morning announcements and encouraging the student body to wear blue, the color associated with the disease. Grace Winters, top, reads a fact about diabetes on the morning announcements at Howland Middle School. Below, she poses with her classmates, who wore blue blue to bring awareness to the disease.
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Howland students finish strong at Challenge 24
Congratulations to our Challenge 24 participatnts on an incredible performance at the Trumbull County Challenge 24 math tournament! 7th/8th Grade Division Luke Delida - 1st Place Hannah Zhu - 2nd Place Aubrey Snyder - 4th Place Anthony Dinh - Semi-finalist
(Bottom L to R) Aubrey Snyder, Destiny Chipps, Bo Kuang, Peter Delida (Middle L to R) Hannah Zhu, Henry Dinh, Elliot Gebhardt (Top L to R) Anthony Dinh, Luke Delida, Emma Salamon
6th Grade Division Henry Dinh - 1st Place Bo Kuang - 3rd Place Destiny Chipps - 4th Place
5th Grade Division Semi-Finalists Trevan Brindle Emanuel Hazimihalis Maya Kubancsek Savannah Arbie (Bottom L to R) Nathanial Belden, Trevan Brindle, Gianna Ognibene (Top L to R) Arjun Tuli, Emanuel Hazimihalis, Andrea Jones, Maya Kubancsek, Savannah Arbie
4th Grade Division Semi-Finalists Teagan Schippert Nicholas Alvetro Evan Miller Drew Nemtz
(Bottom L to R) Teagan Schippert, Henry Zwetzig, Drew Nemtz (Top L to R) Maddy Swogger, Ethan Salamon, Nicholas Alvetro, Evan Miller
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HOWLAND HIGH SCHOOL LAUNCHES MINDFULNESS MONDAYS Students at Howland High School now have the opportunity to participate in Mindfulness Monday, a 30-minute mindfulness and reflection session that’s offered once a month. Mindfulness Monday is open to any student who feels they may benefit from the practice of mindfulness. The district is also using Mindfulness Monday as an alternative to some detentions. The idea is that instead of having some students serve detention for repeated minor insubordinate actions such as impulsive acts or the use of negative language they will attend Mindfulness Monday to learn new skills. “We decided to implement Mindfulness Monday as a way to improve our students’ general welfare, as well as promote self-regulation and coping skills for stress and anxiety. It is our goal to reduce certain behaviors in school that are often caused by those emotions,” said Simko. “There is research out there that documents the benefits of teaching mindfulness to students. We are hopeful we’ll soon begin to see them here at Howland High School.” Howland High School’s focus on mindfulness goes beyond Mindfulness Monday. In fact, psychology teacher Gina Camelli has been practicing mindfulness with her students for a number of years. Camelli will oversee the monthly mindfulness sessions, which will actually be led by students. “Since implementing mindfulness in my classroom five years ago, I have not written one discipline referral. The students ask for a meditation session when they feel they need it. Reasons they need it include getting in the right mindset for a big game, to reduce stress and anxiety, and to clear the mind of negativity. On November 5, I presented two mindfulness sessions to teachers in Trumbull County during Innovative Day. There was a lot of interest and the responses from the teachers were very positive,” said teacher Gina Camelli.
Students sit on mats in Gina Camelli's classroom as they participate in the district's first Mindfulness Monday.
MARK YOUR
D E C E M B E R CALENDAR
Sunday, December 1
Wednesday December 11
Tuesday, December 17
HMS & HHS Drummers at
HMS Winter Band
HMSÂ Winter Choir
Howland Tree Lighting at
Concert
Concert
4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, December 3
6th Grade at 6 p.m.
6th Grade at 6 p.m.
7th Grade at 7 p.m.
7th Grade at 7 p.m.
8th Grade at 8 p.m.
8th Grade at 8 p.m.
Glen Holiday Shop (Dec. 3 -5)
Wednesday, December 4
Thursday, December 12 HHS Student Senate
S.M.A.S.H. Assembly at
Blood Drive
HHS
HHS Choir, Carols and
HHS Winter Band
Cocoa at Stambaugh
Concert at 7 p.m.
Auditorium at 7 p.m.
Thursday, December 19 HHS STEM Career Day
Friday, December 13 Friday, December 6
Wednesday, December 18
Glen Holiday Party
Winter Activities Pep
Friday, December 20
HMS Music Appreciation
Rally
to perform at Packard
Glen Kindergartners visit
National Honor Society
Glen, Springs, H.C.
Miracle on Easy Street
Tapping Ceremony
Mines take field trip to Packard Interim reports available
Monday, December 9
Springs Holiday Party
Saturday, December 14 Breakfast with Santa at
Saturday, December 21
Glen
Amy Lowe Memorial
ACTs at HHS
Speech Tournament
HHS Choir, Cookies, Carols at North-Mar at
Monday, December 16
7:30 p.m.
HHS Choir to Shepherd
After school karate
of the Valley
program offered at Glen
Mindfulness Monday at
(Dec. 9-13)
HHS
Environmental recycling
Sunday, December 22 Hanukkah Begins
Monday, December 23January 3 Winter Break
week
Wednesday, December 25
Springs Holiday Shop (Dec. 9-13)
Christmas Day
Thursday, December 26
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Kwanzaa Begins