N e w s l e t t e r f o r B r e c k s v i l l e - B r o a d v i e w H t s . S c h o o l C o m m u n i t yFall 2016www.bbhcsd.org

2015-16 State Report Card Results for BBHCSD

The Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District’s test scores and ratings on the most recent Ohio Department of Education’s Report Card are the eighth highest in the state and fourth highest in both Cuyahoga County and all of Northeastern Ohio. (To view the entire report card, please visit the Ohio Department of Education’s website.)

However, the current report card represents the third year in a row of different state tests, making it difficult for districts to trend data. Educators across Ohio want the state tests to remain consistent allowing districts to progress toward a non-moving target. While agreeing that the report card is valu-able, educators believe it is only one item in a field of many that measure our students and schools achievement.

The Ohio Department of Education predicted scores would be lower this year and our district received a D in Gap Closing, which shows how well schools are meeting performance expec-tations for the most vulnerable students in English language arts, math and graduation. While not acceptable, this grade was anticipated and Curriculum Director Margaret Niedzwiecki has been working for the past year to make adjustments in instruc-tional planning and curriculum to improve this and other scores.

Superintendent Joelle Magyar believes that we have a dedicat-ed and professional staff and students who are eager to learn. She emphasized that the district will continue to work with struggling students while improving the rigor and quality of education for all students.

Superintendent Reaches Out to Students as StakeholdersSuperintendent Joelle Magyar hosted the first gathering of

her new Student Advisory Board at the Education Center over a pizza lunch on September 28. Believing that students are an important group of district stakeholders, Magyar invited two students each, from grades 4 through 12, to be members of the advisory board...hopefully until their graduations.

Building administrators, who did a great job of identifying interested and involved students, selected the participants. The fourth and fifth graders were not intimidated by the older stu-dents and easily shard their opinions and ideas.

The Student Advisory Board meetings will be on a quarterly or as needed basis. Topics covered at the September meeting ranged from secondary course offerings to the desire for more extra curriculars at the middle school and Central School to the school calendar. Magyar looks forward to continually meet-ing with this group of advisors and learning what is of interest or concern to them and their peers.

Quality Profile Prepared by District

For the third consecutive year, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District, along with approximately 60 other school districts in Ohio, prepared a Quality Profile for their communities highlighting student, staff and district success and achievements.

The Quality Profile initiative is sup-ported by the Alliance for High Quality Education and is intended to be a companion piece to the District Report Cards issued annually by the Ohio Department of Education.

The Quality Profile was emailed to parents and is posted on the district’s website and paper copies are available at each school, public library and other locations throughout the community. To view the document, visit www.bbhcsd.org’s homepage.

Gold Cards for Senior Citizens

Once again this year, senior citizens who reside in the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District are entitled to attend all home school-sponsored activities free of charge. This includes sports events, plays and concerts. Any resident age 60 or over need only to request a Gold Card for presentation at school activities for free admission. In case of assigned seats for events such as plays, advanced reservations must be made. If you currently have a Gold Card, you do not have to reapply for a new one each year unless your card has been lost or destroyed. To obtain your Gold Card, please contact the high school office at 740-4700.

The Cleveland Browns, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society and the National Football League, spent October promoting breast cancer

awareness. The Browns provided opportunities for high schools to dedicate one home football game to help raise awareness for their “ A Crucial Catch”

campaign. During that week, all players, coaches and fans were encouraged to wear pink to show their support.

BBHHS football and volleyball teams got so involved in this worthy cause that the stands at an October home game were a blaze of pink. Browns

players Britton Colquitt, Spencer Drango, Malcolm Johnson, Corey Lemonier, and Cody Parkey visited the school ..and helped students decorate our

stadium as thanks for their dedication to Breast Cancer Awareness.

Non-Profit org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCleveland, Ohio

Permit 1629

Board of EducationMark Jantzen, President Kathleen Mack, Vice President Debbie Bernauer Mark Dosen Michael Ziegler

Joelle Magyar, Superintendent Cathy Harbinak, APR Editor

ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER

Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District6638 Mill Rd. Brecksville, Ohio 44141Phone (440) 740-4000 www.bbhcsd.org

DATED MATERIAL

News & NotesChris Coad, Director of Business Services, announced the district received a

grant in the amount of $19,915.09 from the Bureau of Workers Compensation

for lifts for middle school and high school special needs students. The lifts were

installed in September and assist school staff with the movement of students who

are physically challenged. Coad continually researches and applies for grants that

will not only save the district money, but also help students and staff.

The district is happy to assist with the promotion of community events and

programs for students per board policy. Flyers are posted in electronic format on

the district’s website under Flyer Central. This saves paper and time and reach-

es a broader audience. Remember to check Flyer Central on the website under

“Parents” frequently for after school programs, activities and/or athletic opportuni-

ties that may be of interest to your family.

The safety of students has been and remains a top priority in Brecksville-

Broadview Heights City Schools. This year a new screening process has been put

in place for some volunteers. Background checks, which will be paid for by the

district, are required for some volunteer opportunities. A link has been added to the

left side of the district website’s homepage, www.bbhcsd.org, which allows a volun-

teer to request a secure background check. If uncertain whether or not you need a

background check, please contact your building principal or assistant principal.

The 2016 BBHHS Boys 200 Freestyle Relay Team of Mark Krusinski, Michael

Lynch, Matthew Martin and David Madej swam their way this summer to a National

Championship, a feat accomplished by only six Ohio schools ever in all sports.

Congratulations to Coach Krusinski and his talented swimmers for having the fast-

est relay time in the entire country.

Thirteen BBHHS Seniors Recognized by National Merit Scholarship Program

Four members of the Class of 2017, Dana Dosen, Erin McMahon, Rushil Raghavan and Jessica Wang, have been named as Semi-Finalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Competition.

These students earned scores on the PSAT taken in their junior year that were among the highest in the state and qualified them as National Merit Semi-Finalists. The number of semi-finalists varies from state to state, as the number selected is proportional to the percentage of the total number of graduating seniors in each state.

These Semi-Finalists will continue in the competition to become National Merit Finalists by fulfilling several additional requirements in the coming months. First, they must attain an SAT score that confirms their achievement on the PSAT qualify-ing test. They must also demonstrate a record of outstanding academic performance throughout high school and be endorsed and recommended by their high school principal. In addition, the students and school officials must complete a detailed scholarship application that includes a student essay and information about their participation and leadership in school and community-based activities.

The National Merit Scholarship Program also honored nine additional BBHHS seniors, Justin Bowen, David Dierker, Bridget Fallon, Alyssa Holzinger, Brielle Marlow, Patrick Meng, Jose Prakash, Ryan Serraglio and Jaewon Yu, as Commended Students. A score in the top 5% of all students who took the PSAT last year result in recognition as a Commended Student.

Class of 2017 National Merit Semi-finalists are (left to right) Jessica Wang, Rushil Raghavan, Dana Dosen and

Erin McMahon

The BBHCSD’s Gallery of Achievement inducted five new mem-bers on October 13. Four graduates and one former faculty member were selected for their lifetime achievements and contributions to society.

Superintendent Joelle Magyar welcomed inductees Daniel Biggs, Sr., Class of 1960; Heather Hippsley, Class of 1975; Dan Kalinsky, Class of 1978; Judi Cooke Krew, Class of 1979;

and B.J. Niccoli, wife of the late Tony Niccoli, Teacher and Coach. Brecksville Mayor Jerry Hruby, Hadden Hippsley,

Joe Mueller, Don Faulhaber, Jr., and Jeff Watkins, respectively, introduced the inductees and presented them with their plaques. After speaking before members of the fresh-men and sophomore classes and honored guests, the new members of the Gallery of Achievement attended a luncheon at the high school.

This is the ninth induction ceremony for the Gallery of Achievement, which now boasts 44 members. The Gallery of Achievement Selection Committee consists of a member from the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Alumni Association, the Schools Foundation, Brecksville Chamber of Commerce, Broadview Height Chamber of Commerce, the school district and a high school student representative. To learn more about the Gallery and how to nominate an individual, visit the district’s website: www.bbhcsd.org.

Gallery of Achievement Adds Five New Members

School Next Competitors

2016 Gallery of Achievement Inductees (left to right): Dan Biggs, Heather Hippsley, Dan Kalinsky,

B.J. Niccoli representing her late husband Tony Niccoli, and Judi Cook Krew.

Brecksville Broadview Heights Middle School was one of only seven middle schools from across the world to recently send a team of students to the Association for Learning Environments’

LearningSCAPES Conference. These seven teams competed in the final leg of the 2016 SchoolsNEXT competition held at the Philadelphia Center for Architecture. With the intent to

bring them into the planning and design of learning environments, students were asked to rethink the requirements of 21st century learning environments and develop solutions to educational

design challenges. Attending from BBHMS were (left to right) Jackson Travers, Dima Mioissis, Sam Sbrocco, Lauren Donnella and Suzie Horejis.