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Gorrell Kindergarten Classes “Marching” Right Along with Learning
In connection with the SUNBEAMS grant from Malone University, two of Gorrell’s kindergarten classes have been learning about penguins. They studied penguin homes by experimenting with ice and water. They studied how the penguins stay warm - with their feathers and by huddling together. The students used math skills to measure and compare their own height to the height of a 4-foot Emperor penguin. They also played penguin math games. Students had time to dress as penguins in order to role play being a penguin, hatch their cotton babies from eggs and practice carrying their babies on their feet. They performed a penguin drama with paper penguins they made. Fiction and non-fiction books about penguins were used. Also, the teachers used penguin poetry to increase students’ fluency. 
Fueling Minds and Bodies
Healthy food and exercise is not just for the students these days, at least not at Franklin. The school recently found out that they were awarded another grant this year to improve their overall health and this one is focused on the parents and community. Later this school year, Franklin will be presenting Parent Academy which is an educational evening planned around healthy meal planning and increased physical fitness targeting the families. This program goes hand in hand with the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program the students and staff have been enjoying all year. We are very excited to be able to provide nutrition education to not only our students, but our families as well. With an alarming increase in childhood diseases directly related to poor nutrition and lack of physical activity, this grant will allow Franklin Elementary to take the next step in helping our students stay a step ahead. Nutrition does not stop when the bell rings on Friday for the students at Franklin. Thanks to a partnership with the Stark County Hunger Task Force, students are able to receive food for the weekend. Students enrolled in the Backpack Program receive on Friday two breakfast and lunch items for the weekend. A dedicated group of parents separates the food into plastic bags which then get delivered to the students’ book bags. The program allows students to satisfy their hunger in addition to helping ease the food burden on families during these difficult economic times. Franklin is trying to meet the needs of the whole child by fueling students with healthy food, allowing them to focus on academics. 
Emerson Library is Special Spot
Each week th The students at Emerson are very lucky to have an individual who cares about their well-being as much as she does. Mrs. Corbin follows up each chapter and book with discussions about what was read. Mrs. Corbin takes each class one to two times per week for 40 minutes at a time. This gives her a chance to not only read to the students but also do special projects and activities.The last project that was completed was about penguins. Not only does this situation work out well for Corbin in the library but most classroom teachers love the idea of the extra reading time. Most of the classroom teachers split up their classes in half and send students for about 20 minutes at a time. The students are thrilled to go see Mrs. Corbin. You can hear a pin drop in her room when she is reading a story to the students. They get so caught up in the stories that they don’t want to leave. They beg for more! The students have a great time during their library time. They look forward to seeing Mrs. Corbin each week in the library!
e Emerson librarian, Paula Corbin, reads books, creates activities and makes interesting lessons come to life. She does it all because she loves to see children read and learn.
This allows the classroom teachers time to work with the other half of the students in a small group setting or even one-on-one if needed. Teachers also use the split time for intervention if students need the extra support in certain areas.
Bowers to Create Children’s Sensory Healing Garden
ArtsinStark, from the the County Arts Council, offers grants to the community and schools to promote learning. SmArts Grants are offered to schools and their teachers to provide access and exposure to non-traditional ways of learning as well as improving teaching practices. The Mission of ArtsinStark in part states, “growing the arts to create smarter kids.” They are committed to creating smarter kids, new jobs, and healthier communities. SmArts grants help to promote learning by linking the arts with academics by using dance, music, theatre, creative writing or the visual arts. So what is our SmArts Grant all about? Please read a description of our grant: Marvin Dickerson – Stained Glass artist P.R. Miller – Recycling artist Sandy Rees – Special Education Teacher Faith Roehlig – Master Gardner ~Submitted by Bowers Elementary School
MCS Teachers are Students for the Day
Students may be snug in their beds come Jan. 15, but certified staff will be ready to learn. During the districtwide in-service day, elementary school teachers will receive an update on reading curriculum adoption and hear author and speaker Bruce Boguski. Middle school teachers will focus on the 100 Book Challenge, receive first aid training and revise the curriculum map. At Washington High, faculty will receive advanced SMART Board and AED training, along with career and tech updates and a Collins Writing review and common assessment development. A medication update regarding Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will be directed at nurses, while counselors and psychologists will discuss trauma and trauma screening tools. We hope all students and their families enjoy their day off – but be certain to spend some time reading. “Reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body." ~Richard Steele ~MCS Curriculum Department
Students Touch New Technology
All Massillon special education classes will be receiving new technology, including laptops, computers, SMART tables and SMART boards, thanks to Anything that can be done on a computer is controlled on the whiteboard with touch. Students and teachers may also write and move objects around the screen - the possibilities are as endless as the imagination. Chalk and blackboard are obsolete as students are involved and captivated by the board. Daily lessons are made more interesting and fun, with students learning and practicing content by interacting and cooperatively working together. ~MCS Pupil Services 
Academic Challenge Enjoys Winning Season
In its first year under adviser Sharon Eslich, the team ranks third place in the league behind second place Jackson and first place Hoover. Although much of the success can be pinpointed to hard work and talent, the team likes to think that at least a little of it lies in superstition. During every bus ride to the match, the team has Kit-Kat bars to eat. The team must also touch a bolt on the bus and pick their feet up off of the floor every time they go over railroad tracks. These superstitions have lead to an undefeated record on the road and seem to be a vital part to the team’s success. The team has played Jackson, Central Catholic, Lake, Sandy Valley, Louisville, Perry, St. Thomas Aquinas and Glenoak. Massillon faced league-leading Hoover on Dec. 10. The varsity team is made up of Dylan Tracy, Tyler Bennett, Kyle James, Ben McCullough, Patrick Starrett, and Ariana Parry. In the photo above, Andrew Eslich, Kyle James and Mackenzie Henry prepare for their showdown with Hoover. Practices are held twice a week after school, and the team competes in matches once a week. The league tournament is scheduled for Feb. 1. Kyle James, WHS staff reporter/ Photo Credit: Dakota Carpenter
After dropping its first match of the season in a close contest with Jackson, the Washington High Academic Challenge team has rattled off seven straight wins.
Choirs Sing For, With Community
Advanced Choir, Washingtonians and Concert Chorale go out in the community during the holiday season. They sing at community programs like the Candlewalk, which was held on Dec. 6, but their itinerary also includes caroling, singing for nursing homes, elementary and middle school assemblies and even at some restaurants. “Honestly, I feel awesome reaching out to the community and having the opportunity to touch people’s lives…it just gives you a great feeling,” said senior Washingtonian and Advanced Choir member Kathleen Bachtel. The members of these choirs start working on Christmas music right after their first concert which is about early October, and during the summer they begin to work on “Messiah” music. Sammy Kay Smith, a senior in Washingtonians and Advanced Choir loves “Messiah” and that her father and all four of his sisters come back to sing with her in it. She said, “It always has been and always will be a great tradition to push together past and present singers.” Maggie Henderson, a junior in Advanced Choir said she “absolutely will be returning for alumni! After singing it, you can’t imagine another Christmas season not doing the ‘Messiah.’” About the preparation for these outings, getting ready for the Christmas season seems to be hard work. “It could be a simple song with two parts or a crazy jazz ballad with four or eight voice parts in places…keeping your pitch and doing the tango or ballroom dancing is NOT as easy as it looks,” said Tyler Bennett, senior Advanced Choir member and Washingtonian. “We always have fun with it no matter what, though,” said Kathleen. Concert Chorale, which is a small group of students picked from the Concert Choir, also sings out in the community. “The hardest was when we first started meeting,” said sophomore Dariean Urban, but, she added, everything works out in the end. The choirs are taught to use their musicality and facial expressions to connect to the community during this holiday season. Sammy Kay and Kathleen both share a memory from their junior year in Washingtonians singing at Shady Lawn Retirement Home. “I looked up just as something lovely happened,” said Kathleen. “An elderly couple was sitting right in front of us. The lady was crying and her husband gently rested his hand on hers.” Kathleen also shared a memorable moment with Tyler from this year. The Washingtonians went to Shady Lawn again for the Christmas Festival and were supposed to sing three songs for six performances. “The community heard about [us singing] and word got passed around that in the end, we did nine performances!" Tyler said. “I don’t remember a time that we haven’t gotten a positive feedback from the people,” said Sammy Kay. She also said that sometimes people will share memories about when they were in high school. “We show our want to give back to the community and are taking time out of our day to go and perform for them, something most people would not do,” said Tyler. “These are amazing opportunities to get our faces out there are show the community [what we can do].” “There isn’t a really good thing to say about the food in my opinion. But the song on the other hand is crazy good!” said Maggie about fruitcake. “[Marshmallow World] sure can get annoying after singing (or hearing) it seven times in one day, but it’s so fun and just brings a young joy to the holidays,” said Sammy Kay. She also said that “Marshmallow World” shows the old fashion flirting with the boys making that first move, and the girls being shy, when in the end, they just pick on each other. But the favorite of both Maggie and Sammy Kay is “Sing Dem Hern.” Maggie said, “There’s nothing like everyone turning their heads to watch us sing down the aisles!” “It’s one of those songs that every kid who wants to be in choir dreams about singing and when they hear it, it gets stuck in their head for the rest of the day!” said Sammy Kay. Through all of this, though, there is still a message remembered by each member in its own way. “I think the holiday concerts mean a lot to the community," Maggie said. "The holiday season really brings people together…I think people are starting to appreciate the smaller things in life, and that’s what the choir does. We make a connection with the community that lasts a life time." Above:
Most people in the community expect to see certain things out of these groups. With all three of these groups there are traditional songs that are heard every year and very familiar to the public. Three of these songs are “Fruitcake,” “Marshmallow World,” and “Sing Dem Hern.”
Help Readers Succeed at MMS
Students are reading and building skills but need more books. Reluctant readers are inspired to read and readers are being rewarded for their efforts. Parents have an opportunity to support reading at Massillon Middle School by purchasing a book at the holiday concerts. Massillon Middle School Book Fair is being held in the library through Dec. 16. Students will visit the book fair with their language arts class. Book Fair profits benefit the library and the 100 Book Challenge. Book Fair will be open during the band holiday concert Dec. 10, and the choir holiday concerts Dec. 14 and 15. 100 Book Challenge is a tool to encourage reading: ~Susan Woutat, MMS library media specialist
Fall Feted at Whittier Elementary
The fall celebration was performed for the entire school and parents. Student Brandilyn Isles had fun singing to an audience. "We practiced using expression and using our loud voices so everyone could hear," she said. The entire program was directed by music teacher Mrs. Hannon. She summed up the program by saying “it was awesome and the best second grade program we’ve had.” ~Submitted by Whittier Elementary School
The second grade classes at Whittier Elementary recently celebrated fall with songs, poetry, dance and plays. Each class chose a different fall holiday.
Thanksgiving, Past and Present
Black is for the soil Indians planted by hand. Red is for the cranberries that they found. Orange if for the pumpkins big and round. Yellow is for the corn that they grew. Brown is for the turkey they ate, too! ~Submitted by Smith Elementary School
Smith Elementary first graders, along with Mrs. Cross’s students, recently celebrated Thanksgiving with a feast. For the last week, students have been engaged in a variety of lessons to have a better understanding of Thanksgivings. The learning began with reading the book "Oh, What a Thanksgiving." Students were engaged in creating a Venn Diagram comparing Thanksgivings of the past and present. 
They were able to design and color their tepees to represent the homes of Native Americans.
Gorrell School is the Place to Be
The grant involved studies of how bats help control the insect population and students later took a trip to Cleveland's Playhouse Square to see a performance of "Stellaluna." Some were even given the opportunity to get up close and personal with a real bat. The group lunched in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where a student group performed for them. In the Pollution Solution class, the kids created their own land environment and then discussed the energy that could be used on the land as well as the pollution that may be a part of the environment. Then, they put their properties together and discussed how each environment has effects on the other and devised plans for conserving energy and lessening pollutants. Another class activity of the day was to collect a specimen of water from Lake Noah and then perform tests to discover what life forms, pollutants and chemicals may be present. This was definitely a favorite activity and the teachers at Camp Y Noah were excellent. During the first quarter, Mrs. Jenkins’ third grade students met with their Resident Artist, Mrs. Jill Malusky Back, education director from the Massillon Museum. Staying true to the recycling theme, the students brought in recyclable items to create Agent Green, a scarecrow that was entered in the Spring Hill Farms first annual scarecrow contest. They won a first place trophy along with a pizza party from Kraus’ Pizza! Our wonderful and forever busy PTO provided us an entire day with COSI to study electricity. We had opportunities for "hands-on" learning experiences. Gorrell students also observed Red Ribbon Week with various activities provided by Mrs. Link, our building counselor. She introduced us to our first c Finally, our new beginning would not be complete without spirit week! We enjoyed different ways to show our support to the Massillon Tiger football team. 
We have had a great start in our second year of our SmArts Grant, Going Green at Gorrell. The entire school joined forces in a building-wide recycling project, learning what's necessary to take care of our planet Earth. 
In Mrs. Wicks' fourth grade class, the SmArts Grant funded an October trip to Camp Y-Noah in Clinton. the day of outdoor education included a water safety class followed by canoeing. It was amazing to see all of them on the water, steering their own canoes. 
haracter pillar of study, "respect" for ourselves and our fellow classmates.
Celebrating Success at Franklin!
Not so long ago, Franklin School faced major consequences - its students fleeing to community schools, forced administration changes and loss of funding by way of paying for government-mandated services; improvement plans also had to be submitted to the state. The school was in the worst shape of any in Stark County. But, this year it’s a success story. Franklin climbed out of improvement status — which it had been in for the past seven years — by making strides with all of its students, including minority and economically disadvantaged. Before the bell rings to start another school day, Franklin’s approximately 300 students in grades pre-K through 4 fill the gymnasium. They read morning announcements, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and another pledge that gives rise to smiles and, more than that, administrators say: A belief in what once seemed out of reach. I really think we’ve become purposeful,” said Susan Gardner, who is in her 15th year of teaching. “We really focus on the standards. We are really working together to get everyone in the school on the same page.” Not only did Franklin achieve an “effective” rating, its students exceeded expected growth over the past two years and all student groups (including minority and low-income) achieved high enough marks in mathematics and reading to meet “adequate yearly progress,” a measurement mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. The school has a high percentage of low-income (nearly 88 percent) and special-needs students (13 percent), and nearly half of its student body is minority students. Medure and his staff took up the challenge of increasing the odds of success by ensuring more opportunity for tutoring, volunteerism, intervention for children at risk, spurring parents to get involved and, just as importantly, getting kids to believe they could achieve. Medure attributed the achievement to tutoring programs, partnerships with community organizations and focused intervention targeting struggling students. A program called, “Project More,” brought volunteers into the classroom to work one-on-one with students and provide extra staff support. Parental involvement also was key. 
“There is no more blanket teaching,” said Principal Michael Medure. “You have to meet the cultural nuances that are out there. You have to bring your ‘A’ game every day.”
“As rising learners, we are here to believe in ourselves, achieve our goals and succeed.”
“Everyone pitched in, and the teachers were here before school, after school. It’s them,” Medure said. “They’ve been working for this, and now we’ve got it.” 
Emerson Kindergarteners Explore Autumn
The Emerson kindergarten classes have been studying the season of fall and activities that happen during this time. In class we have been studying the life cycle of both apples and pumpkins and learning about gourds and Indian corn. The children are having fun comparing, estimating and measuring the pumpkins. In September we took a field trip to Varian Orchards to further explore nature, seasons and plants. Each child received a pumpkin donated by Paige's uncle, and we want to send a big thank you to her Uncle Jim.
Bowers Implements New Goals
The Bowers Building Leadership Team, in support of the District Leadership Team, has created reading, math and school climate goals to reach for and achieve by the end of this year. While all buildings in the district have aligned their own goals to the district goals, each building has created its own specific action steps that will help them reach these goals. Soon, our building plan will be on the Web site so we invite you all to look at our plan. Of course, our reading and math goals are to promote our students to be at the proficient or greater level with the standardized tests that our students must take. So what is a school climate goal? Our school climate goal is geared toward reducing the incidents of all behaviors that lead to suspensions. We are also promoting positive behavior and school participation activities at E.G. Bowers Elementary School. We believe that activities that promote participation with our children, staff, parents and the community will lead to a positive school climate. We are doing this several ways: v Bowers Beginnings – Each morning, all students and staff meet in the gym to begin the day. Positive messages from Project Wisdom, a character education program, are read. Students are recognized for good behavior from the previous day. v Bowers supports another character education program with Character Counts. Each month, activities are done in the classroom to practice each of the pillars of character – trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. We have been discussing and celebrating the pillar of responsibility for September and October. v Students are celebrated every month from each classroom based on the criteria for those pillars of character. The students honored for responsibility for September and October were given a t-shirt for their success at being responsible citizens at Bowers. v A positive behavior management plan with a color wheel or chart has been implemented school wide. Green equals a good day; yellow, the children have received a warning; blue is a loss of a privilege; red is a phone call or note to parents. The goal for each child every day is to have a “green” day. v Students who met the criteria of at least 33 “green” days for the first grading period were treated to a movie and popcorn in the gym on Oct. 23. A great time was had by all. v Students will be working for another “green” day reward in January with a sock hop. Plans for a fun day of learning group dances like the Hokey Pokie, Macarena, Chicken Dance and the Electric Slide will be part of the festivities. Of course, there will be treats as well. There will be reward events for March and June as well. We will be celebrating good behavior all year long. v The Bowers Education Action Team (B.E.A.T.) parent group has been a great support with our school climate goal. They donated popcorn for our Friday event at the movies. They have also purchased great shirts for all the students that show different colors for each grade level. We are scheduling T-shirt days for the children to wear their shirts to show school pride. The B.E.A.T group has recently spruced up our front door with mulch and mums, making the Bowers campus very inviting. There are many more activities planned this year to promote school unity and parental involvement which, again, promotes a healthy school climate. We have Family Nights at each grade level, a Princess Dance and Spaghetti with a Prince along with our annual Pancake Breakfast, Carnival Night and Fun Day at Bowers. Last week, we celebrated Red Ribbon Week. The children participated in daily activities to promote healthy behaviors and make good decisions. This week, we are celebrating Spirit Week for the traditional Massillon/McKinley football contest. Monday is Million Dollar Monday for our Million Dollar Tigers, Tuesday is pajama day for the Tired Pups, Wacky Wednesday is for wacky clothes, Thursday is Orange and Black Day for Obie, and Free Choice Friday is to wear clothes for one of our favorite teams like the Massillon Tiger football team. The children will be purchasing spirit links all this week and the money will be donated to the United Way. This is a great activity to have our children participate as they are doing something good for the community. We also had students from Washington High volunteer to work with one of our classes at Bowers. They helped our students make spirit necklaces. 
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