During my tenure as superintendent, I have been continually impressed by the progress made within our district.  Thanks to the efforts of our teachers, support staff, students, parents, administrators and board members, we have maintained our "Effective" rating on the state report card for two years, seven of our buildings are ranked as "Excellent" and we are closing in on our goal of achieving excellence as a district.

In order to deliver the quality education that we provide to our community, there is a cost involved which must be funded through levy requests.

On March 4, we will present two levies to the public: Issue 8, a new continuing 5.5 mill proposal and Issue 9, a 3.1 mill renewal levy that will not increase taxes.

Issue 8 would allow for upgrades in the areas of safety and security, textbooks, technology and staff development. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $14 per month or $168 per year and is the lowest new money request from the Parma Board of Education over the past 40 years.

Issue 9 is a no tax increase renewal that provides funds for building maintenance, utility costs and the continued delivery of a quality education to our students.

Additional information regarding Issues 8 & 9 is contained in the treasurer's section of this edition of Images Online as well as on the homepage of the district website.

Please take the time to become informed about these two issues and please exercise your right to vote.

The outcome of the March 4 election will certainly play a significant role in the future of our district and our community.

Winners at the Great Lakes Science Center Invention Convention 2007-2008

The very prestigious Chairman’s Choice Award was presented to Jessica Wilson, a student at Hillside Middle School.  This award is presented to an invention judged to be of overall winning caliber, and includes a consultation with patent attorneys.

There were 50 Superior Innovator Awards presented in all, with 30 going to PCSD students.

The 30 Superior Innovator Awards, including a $50.00 Savings Bond were presented to:

Greenbriar Middle School

John Kennick/The Green Shingle

Michale Sterpka/Appliance Cord Buddy

Megan Berardinis/Painless Beauty

Kim Tretiakow/Painless Beauty

Sarah Carney/Deodo-Go

Courtney Monda/Deodo-Go

Alexander Conroy/Boomerang Books

Kelli Kiffer/Boomerang Books

George Gabar/Anti-Booking Bookcover + Pocket

Brandon Sykes/Anti-Booking Bookcover + Pocket

Taylor Caprella/The Economizer

Alex Scott/The Economizer

Daniel Galek/Soapifier

Bryan Schatmeyer/Soapifier

Jena Klefman/Sock Cop

Shelby Stocker/Sock Cop

Kylene Oswald/Perfect Polish

Shannon Basalla/Perfect Polish

Savanna Roldan/Egg Credible Egg Tray

Natalie Eberhardt/Egg Credible Egg Tray

Brittany Salay/The Reflective Breakwall Bouncer

Elizabeth Walker/The Reflective Breakwall Bouncer

Alisha Turner/Kiddy Komfortor

Jamie Fitch/Kiddy Komfortor

Hillside Middle

Olivia Clark/The Glove Dryer

Steven Grzincic/O.C.D Oxygen Cart Dock

Shiloh Middle

Valdimir Mikitin/Built In Lighter Candle

Minela Zulpljanin/Minela Zulpljanin (extendable razor)

Melanie Missig/Pack-It Jacket

Naomi Virnelson/Pack-It Jacket      

The registration guides for high school and middle school are posted on the front page of the PCSD web site. Parents and community may use this link to help prepare their students in planning their courses for 2008-09 school year. Registration begins this month in the high schools and middle schools.

Our district Assessment Council will hold its second meeting for this year on Wednesday, January 30th at the Red Rees Professional Learning Center.

Beginning in February, grade level meetings will be held for grades 3-6 in Science. Teachers will review past Ohio Achievement Testing and prepare for the spring testing. Resources from the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Resource Center will be demonstrated and explored.

The Parma ABLE Program is open to adults in need of basic skills. Free classes are offered in the following:

GED Test Preparation, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Citizenship Test Preparation, and Adult Basic Education.

We have even begun to offer Distance Learning classes in GED Test Prep and ESOL.  The classes are offered at various locations within Parma, Parma Hts, and Seven Hills.  Classes are taught in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings to accommodate the schedules of most.

Please go to our website at www.parmacityschools.org/able or call the office at 440-885-8339 if you have any questions.

2008 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Please follow this link to see the entire 2008-09 football schedule for Byers Field:

http://www.parmacityschools.org/athletics/schedules/upload/2008FootballSchedule.pdf

Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you at Byers Field in 2008! 

Please visit our website to view the variety of programs offered through the Career and Technical Department:

http://www.parmacityschools.org/careertech/index.cfm

COMMUNITY BUSINESS SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

The Community/Business/Schools (C/B/S) Partnership Program is designed to promote business and community involvement with the students of the Parma City School District.  Supporting our youth is the responsibility of all segments of our three communities, Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills, including schools, businesses, congregations, government, parents, teachers, retirees, service groups, professional organizations, civic associations and all concerned individuals.

You are invited to any of the upcoming monthly  meetings to find out what C/B/S is all about and how you can get involved!  Please check our website at www.parmacityschools.org/cbs and call 440-885-8306 for more information.

CITY OF PARMA OFFERS INCENTIVES

The City of Parma is offering a variety of incentive programs for residents and business owners in 2008.  The following is a partial list.  More information can be obtained by calling the Community Services and Economic Development Department at 216-661-7372 or by visting www.cityofparma-oh.gov.

COME FLY WITH US

The Normandy Drama Workshop proudly presents "Normandy International Airlines" as the 2008 Senior Show.  Tickets are $5 at the door and showtimes are 7 p.m. on Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 2.  A 1 p.m. matinee is scheduled for Sunday, February 3.

The Saturday show features an option to enjoy a pasta dinner catered by Stancato's Restaurant and preferred seating for the show along with your ticket.  The total is $15 and reservations for the dinner/ticket package must be made in advance by e-mailing Director Joe Hnat at hnatj@parmacityschools.org.

Thank you for your support of the Normandy Drama Workshop.

PIEROGI DINNER

You're invited to the annual Back the Schools Committee Pierogi Dinner on Friday, February 22 from 3-7 p.m. at Parma High School.  Dinner choices include:

Yellow Perch - perch, pierogies, cole slaw, applesauce, roll, beverage and dessert for $8

Pierogi - pierogi, cole slaw, applesauce, roll, beverage and dessert for $7

Chicken Tenders - chicken, potato chips, applesauce, beverage and dessert for $4

Carry-out service is available for all orders.

Entertainment will be provided by middle and high school music and drama students from throughout the district.

Tickets are only available in advance through February 14 and can be purchased at any school building or at the administrative center on Longwood Avenue.

All proceeds will benefit the students of the Parma City School District.  Thank you for your support.

TOWN HALL MEETINGS

The members of the Board of Education, Superintendent Zatik and Chief Financial Officer Basalla invite you to attend a town hall meeting and get answers to your questions regarding the upcoming school levies on the March 4 ballot.

Tuesday, January 29 - Parma High

Thursday, January 31 - Valley Forge

Tuesday, February 4 - Normandy

Each meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will feature discussion about Issue 8, the new 5.5 mill continuing request, and Issue 9, the 3.1 mill no tax increase renewal levy.

WELLNESS COMMITTEE NEWS

The Wellness Committee IS offering a HI/LO Aerobics class Tuesday evenings from 5:15-6:00 and Thursday afternoons/evenings from 4:30-5:15. Cost for participation in this class will be $5 per class, due at the class time. The class will be meeting at Parma Senior High in Room 207. All participants will be required to sign a liability waiver before participating in this activity. The instructor for this class is a teacher in the Parma City School District, who also used to be a Fitworks instructor.

Class Dates                TUESDAYS: February 12 and 26, March 4, 11 and 18

                              THURSDAYS: February 14 and 21, March 6 and 13

Curriculum Tuesday was taken into account for date scheduling, as was Parma Senior High Conference Night. There will be no classes on Tuesday 2/19 or Thursday 2/28.

LUNCH MENU WEBLINK

Please use the following link to access lunch menus for the elementary and secondary schools:

http://www.parmacityschools.org/cafeteria/lunchmenu/index.cfm

We thank our students, staff and parents for their support of the food service program.

PRIDE AWARD WINNER

The staff of the PACT is proud to announce that Cox Communications and the Parma Area Community Television Network were recently presented with a Parma Area Chamber of Commerce Pride Award for bringing an innovative concept to the Chamber service area through the broadcast programming of Channel 74.

Thank you to all of the students, teachers, support staff, administrators and parents who have contributed to our productions.

And thanks to all of you for watching the PACT Network on Cox Channel 74.

PRODUCTION PRINTING ALERT

Due to the volume of printing concerning information pieces dealing with levy Issues 8 and 9 and other green sheet requests currently in the shop, we are forced to delay processing green sheet requests.

From Monday, February 4 to Friday, February 22 we will be in a blackout situation. Green sheets currently in the shop, and those submitted between now and February 22 will be processed as quickly as possible.

However, we are anticipating that green sheet requests will take at least ten working days to process because of the increased volume. We will complete your request as quickly as possible, but cannot guarantee completion during this blackout period.

This "Alert" does NOT impact the Copy Center. Copy Center requests will continue to be processed in 48 hours or less, and returned to the buildings as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your patience and continued support.

XEROX HONORS PRINT SHOP

The Xerox Corporation selected the Parma City School District’s Production Printing facility at Parma High School as a case study. On Tuesday, December 18, representatives from Xerox’s corporate headquarters in New York and the Cleveland area were on hand to present a “Case Study” award to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sarah Zatik and the Parma Board of Education.

As a result of this honor, Xerox will introduce the operation of the Parma City School District’s Production Printing facility and its use of high-tech equipment as a model for other educational institutions and businesses. Xerox employees will study the case file to help them better assist other customers seeking a low cost, high quality answer to their reproduction and printing needs.

Progressive implementation of innovative improvements has enabled the district to emerge as a leader in educational printing operations. In March of 2007, Parma became one of the first locations in the country to install a Docutech 180, a machine that prints at 180 pages per minute in either black, or black and a spot color such as green blue, red or orange. The Docutech is able to merge up to five different paper stocks into a single brochure, pamphlet or notebook providing the district with a wealth of ways to produce educational and administrative information.

The Docutech is teamed with a Xerox 8000 full color printer that provides color copies for educational use. Biology drawings, art class projects, maps and other classroom materials need to be in full color for students to understand the nuances of the item they are studying. The 8000 allows this to be done in a cost effective and efficient manner.

Another key component of Parma’s operation includes the Copy Center which has been reproducing curriculum materials for classroom teachers for over a decade. Approximately 55,000 requests are annually processed totaling over 11,000,000 individual copies of materials that are used directly by students.

The Parma City School District handles all of its reproduction, graphics and printing in house with the Production Printing Department at Parma High School serving as a cornerstone of the district’s education program.  In addition, the facility prints all of the district’s forms, envelopes, letterhead stationary, business cards, posters, school newspapers and certificates. This totally self-contained production center saves the district hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Please join us on March 18 & 19 at Parmatown Mall to register your child for kindergarten for the 2008-09 school year.  Sessions will be held each day from 7:30 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. directly across from Dick's Sporting Goods indoor mall entrance.

Your child must be five years old by September 30, 2008 to be eligible to register for the 2008-09 school year.

The following documents are required by law for registration:

Certified birth certificate, confirmation of residency, immunization records, Social Security card or number, and if the parents are divorced, the parent with legal residential custody must bring a certified copy of court order awarding legal custody.

Confirmation of residency means a current utility bill for a homeowner, the lease and a current utility bill if the parent rents an apartment, or for those renting a private home or living with someone, an Owner/Tenant Form obtained from the Student Services Department or printed from the Parma Schools website. This form must be filled out by the owner and proof of ownership as listed on the form should be attached. The parent must also verify residency with a utility bill, pay stub or bank statement in his or her name.

Those who are unable to attend these dates can register children at the Parma Board of Education Building, 5311 Longwood Avenue in Parma. For additional information, call 440-885-8794, 95 or 96 or visit our web site at  www.parmacityschools.org and look for Student Services under the Departments tab.

A LOOK AT LEVY IssueS 8 & 9

ISSUE 8

Is it new?

Yes

How much is it for?

5.5 mills

How does it compare?

LOWEST new money request in 40 years  

What type of levy?

New and Continuing

When does it go into effect? 

January 2009

What will it cost?

$168 per year or $14 per month per $100,000 home valuation

How will it be used? 

3/10 mill technology

3/10 mill textbooks

2/10 mill safety and security  

2/10 mill staff development                          

4.5 mill operation of district

How will it help?

Reaching for EXCELLENCEon State Report Card

ISSUE 9

Is it new?

No, it is a RENEWAL

How much is it for?

3.1 mills

How does it compare?

No change in taxes collected since 1986

What type of levy?

RENEWAL for a 5 year period

When does it go into effect? 

January 2009

What will it cost?

WILL NOT INCREASE TAXES

No increase regardless of home value          

How will it be used? 

Building Maintenance & Utility Costs

Tires and Gasoline for Buses

General School and Cleaning Supplies

Student Supplies and Activities

Current Operating Expenses

How will it help?

Maintains vital services and continued quality education

School of Distinction – Congratulations to our students, staff and parents as Dentzler was recently recognized in Columbus as a School of Distinction by State Superintendent Dr. Susan Tave Zelman.  The Schools of Distinction program recognizes schools whose students, including students with disabilities, achieved high academic performance on the 2006-2007 state Ohio Achievement Test and the Ohio Graduation Test.  The Ohio Department of Education is recognizing 96 schools (elementary, middle and high schools) throughout the state and Dentzler is proud to be among this group of schools.

Dentzler’s 50^th Anniversary Celebration – On November 18^th approximately 400 students, parents, staff and community members attended the 50^th Anniversary for Dentzler School.  Clyde Simpson, an astronomer who now works at the Natural History Museum and was in the first kindergarten class at Dentzler, was the keynote speaker.  He related many stories about the early years of Dentzler School.  Other activities included the presentation of a quilt made by the students, the creation of a time capsule, entertainment by the Dentzler band and choir and a tour of the school filled with memorabilia from the last 50 years.

Everyday Math Game Night – Shortly before Winter Break many of our kindergarten through fourth grade students and their families attended a make-it/take-it math game night.  Games were created which could then be played at home to reinforce math skills from our new math series Everyday Math.

Join Us at Our International Fair – On February 12^th Dentzler School will hold its fifth annual International Fair.  Since Dentzler has the highest population of ELL (English Language Learner) students among our 15 elementary schools, we celebrate our students’ cultural diversity.  Ethnic dishes will be shared and students are encouraged to wear their ethnic fashions.  Each student who attends will receive a book to further encourage reading at home.  Everyone is invited to come to this event!

Community Business Schools Partner – Parma Community General Hospital’s Elder Care Center, Dentzler’s CBS Partner, will host a Valentine’s Day event for our Student Council on February 13^th.  The students will visit the center to make Valentine crafts and enjoy Valentine treats with the Elder Care Center’s daytime residents.

Mock City Council Meeting – Our fifth graders have been preparing for a mock city council meeting that will be enacted at the Parma City Council chambers on February 15^th.  Mayor Dean DePiero and Treasurer Anthony Zielinski have initiated this event.  What a great opportunity for our students to experience how their city government works!

Parma Elks Club Essay Contest

One hundred two Green Valley fifth and sixth grade students entered the Elks Club Essay Contest.  The topic of the essay was "What it means to be an American".  Two Green Valley students, Troy Kozak and  Adam Vallo had their essays sent on to District Elks Club competition.  Mr. Norm Fugitt, Elks Club Member, presented awards to these two young men and he gave American flags to all students who entered the contest and their teachers.  Pictured from left to right are Troy Kozak and Adam Vallo, second row:  Mrs. Kozak (Troy's mom), Mr. Fugitt (Elks Club), Mrs. Knerem, the boys' teacher, and Mrs. Vallo (Adam's mom).     

Normandy Honor Students Tutor Green Valley Students

Once, sometimes twice a week Normandy students spend approximately an hour at Green Valley tutoring students.  This collaborative project helps high school students collect community service hours and helps the elementary students improve their skills!  This program was begun by Green Valley Teachers, Mrs. Olsen and Mrs. Price.  Mrs. Macesich, a Normandy Teacher, enlists the Normandy student volunteers.  Twenty-four Normandy students  help Green Valley students.  When Normandy students arrive they retrieve folders prepared by Mrs. Price and Mrs. Olsen.  The folders contain the learning activities for the Green Valley students.  Below are several pictures of the valuable collaboration.

Invention Convention

Congratulations to the 24 Greenbriar students who received awards/savings bonds at the Second Annual Greater Cleveland Invention Convention.  Details are listed above in the ABLE LEARNER section of this newsletter.

Knowledge Master Open

Twenty-three 7th and 8th grade Greenbriar students matched their wits against other middle school students within the state of Ohio and from across the country and came up shining as Greenbriar took 4th place among Ohio middle schools competing in the Knowledge Master Open - Fall 2007 competition in December.  Nationwide, 711 middle schools participated with Greenbriar coming in at 155 overall.

Knowledge Master Open is a grueling competition comprised of 200 timed, multiple choice questions. Students compete as a team, with one student on the computer registering the group response for each question. Pencils and paper are the only items utilized for the completion of the math portion of the questions (along with brain power!).

DARE Program

Here are photos from a recent DARE program.