ENROLLMENT DOWN

This year our overall enrollment has fallen to under 13,000 students.  This means that we have lost nearly 400 students from the same time last year.  The drop in enrollment has many ramifications for all of us.  The most important one is that we could lose up to $560,000 in state aid that was included in our budget forecast.  This unanticipated loss of dollars will mean we will have to tighten our belts even though we just passed a new money issue in May.

As many of you know the district lowered the millage from the original 7.9 mils we felt we needed to 5.9 mils.   This was done because we realized the economy in Northeast Ohio was not strong enough for our taxpayers to absorb the additional two mils we needed.  When the Chief Financial Officer made his five-year forecast, it was based on the lower millage but he also assumed the enrollment would remain stable.

We have been tracking where these 400 students have gone.  It appears over a fourth of the students we lost have been enrolled in area charter schools, some of the students have enrolled in Internet virtual schools, some are being home schooled and some have simply moved out of the area.

We are in the process of gathering data for a ten-year enrollment projection that will take all of these factors into consideration, and provide us with accurate estimates of what our enrollment will be in the coming years.  Obviously, if this enrollment decrease continues it could mean down the line we will need to be looking at all of our options.

Our current timeline is to complete our enrollment study by the spring of 2006.  I will keep you informed as we continue to gather data and make our projections.

The district would like to congratulate Dentzler Elementary School for being recognized as an "Excellent" school by the Ohio Department of Education.  Superintendent Zatik and Deputy Superintendent Dinklocker recently surprised the staff with a cake and a banner commemorating this outstanding achievement.

Bravo to Principal Clapp and all of the tremendous teachers and support staff at Dentzler!

REMINDER FOR ELECTION DAY

Classes are in session on Tuesday, November 8 and those schools which serve as polling locations will be open to voters as well.

The ALP program has been a flurry of activity. The third and fourth grade students will be going on field trips to the zoo and Cleveland Botanical Gardens related to their critical thinking units. The fifth and sixth graders just finished their Science Olympiad and are about to start a research project on the physical adaptations that animals develop related to their environment.

All grade levels will be participating in an improvisation/communication/teamwork workshop with members from the Cabaret Dada comedy troupe.

The Mission Statement of the Parma ABLE program is to provide quality educational programming for adults

as they strive to reach their goals in their roles as learners, family members, citizens, and workers.

The Adult Basic and Literacy Education Program (ABLE) offers classes in:

Students are invited to attend ABLE classes free of charge since the program is grant-funded.

Classes are held at different times and locations in the area:

Parma Regional Library

Parma Snow Library

Parma Hts. Library

Valley Forge High School

Orientation/Registration sessions are mandatory for students before they begin attending class.

These Orientation/Registration sessions are usually offered at the beginning of each month at each site.

November Orientation/Registration is offered at Valley Forge High School in the cafeteria

on Tuesday, November 1 at 7:00PM.

Please call 440-887-4877 for additional information.

As a part of the "Safe, Warm and Dry" program, capital improvements are continuing throughout the district.  Several parking lot repair projects are underway and the first has been completed at Parma Park Elementary.

The staff at all of our schools that are undergoing improvements as well as the district's board and administration appreciate the patience exhibited by parents and guardians as well as neighbors in the surrounding areas.  Please understand that these temporary inconveniences will soon provide better facilities for our children and our community.

IT'S TIME FOR FREE SPEECH!

As a part of the district's ongoing outreach efforts, we have created a speaker's bureau.  Choose from a list of fifteen current administrators who will come to your church or congregation, civic organization, senior center, or library group at no cost to talk about interesting topics outside of a traditional school setting. 

Among the topics are: Estate Readiness, Personal Safety, How to Purchase Digital Equipment, America's National Parks, Food Planning and Nutrition, Parenting Skills for Special Needs Children, Helping Your Child Deal with Grief, as well as eight other areas.

Let our staff share their knowledge in a brief ten to twenty minute presentation which we are certain you'll find worthwhile.

Please call 440-885-8787 to speak with Audrey Splete or contact her via e-mail at audreysple@parma.k12.oh.us to schedule a speaker and get a full list of topics.

FUTURE PUBLICATION DATES FOR IMAGES ONLINE FOR THE 2005-06 SCHOOL YEAR ARE:

November 7, November 21, December 5, January 9, January 23, February 6, February 20, March 6, March 20, April 3, May 1, May 15, and June 5.

ALL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO IMAGES ONLINE MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE THURSDAY PRECEDING PUBLICATION.  DEADLINE TIME IS 12 NOON.

ELKS ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge #1938 of Parma recognized six students from the Parma City School District as winners in the organization’s ninth annual Americanism Essay Contest which carried a theme entitled “What Old Glory Means To Me.”

On October 18, Leading Knight Lori Sottosanti led a ceremony during which the students were commended by Parma Mayor Dean DePiero and Councilmen Stuart Boyda, Sean Brennan and Scott Tuma as well as Seven Hills Mayor David Bentkowski and the lodge’s Exalted Ruler Robert Michalski.

Division I winners from the fifth and sixth grade were all from Renwood Elementary School and included: Haley Marie Civittolo–First Place; Alexander Stojsavljevic–Second Place; and Jesse Smith–Third Place.

Division II winners from the seventh and eighth grade were all from Shiloh Middle School and included: Steven Trodden-First Place; Alexandra Tabory-Second Place; Karyn Lally-Third Place.

First place winners were awarded a $150 savings bond, second place winners earned a $100 savings bond and third place contestants received a Certificate of Achievement from the Elks’ State Americanism Chairman.

The Americanism Essay Contest debuted in the 1997-98 school year with the American flag being a central focus each time.  Past themes have included “What the Pledge of Allegiance Means To Me” and “What Freedom Means To Me”.  The topic for this year is “What I Feel When I Look Up At The American Flag.”

The photo was taken by Parma Elks Lodge member Mike Miker.

The Copy Center reports that currently it is running 1.5 million copies over the 2.7 million allocated for the first quarter.  This is not unusual since the first quarter includes copying done in August for staff members preparing for the new school year.

The PTA is sponsoring a School Board Candidates Night this Wednesday, October 26 at 7PM at Normandy High School. Come to hear the views of those seeking election to the Parma Board of Education.

The Parma Council of PTAs presents "Smart Ways to Keep Your Child Safe" on Wednesday, November 16 from 7-9:30 PM.  Come to the Parma Senior High School Cafeteria following the PTA Council regular meeting at 7PM to gather valuable safety tips that families can use. Please direct any questions to Cheryl Kienast at 216-661-6934.

Dentzler School's Fall Festival was held on the evening of Thursday, October 13th. Festival events for Dentzler families included a variety of children's games, a cake walk, face painting and crafts as children decorated pumpkins and created Halloween bats. Here is Deputy Superintendent Dr. Christina Dinklocker painting a student's face.

The H. T. Bee from the Hometown Buffet restaurant joined the festivities as families enjoyed dinner and treats of caramel apples, cotton candy and freshly popped popcorn. Cornstalks, pumpkins, chrysanthemums and bales of hay were purchased by families as autumn decorations for their homes.

SADD, which stands for Students Against Destructive Decisions, is an extra-curricular program at Hillside.  The goal of SADD is to teach students about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and smoking.  Also, it teaches ways to resist peer pressure, and ways to just say no.

          This year, SADD has several different committees.  Students can take part in any of these.  Red Ribbon Week spreads the message about Saying No To Drugs.  The Chicken Dance is where the students raise money for a fund such as Hurricane Katrina.  Then, depending on how much money is raised, Hillside teachers go on the roof of the school and do the chicken dance.  SADD also holds the Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game, the Giving Tree, the Positive Choices Quilt, and other things as well.

          Every year, SADD has a great chapter.  It’s awesome to see how many students sign up just to help lead other classmates away from alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful drugs.  I know this year is going to be just as good as, or maybe even better than, past years.

At the end of September John Glenn students and staff gathered to celebrate student involvement in the district-wide Summer Reading Project and to listen to speeches from Student Council candidates running for office. Students then practiced their civic responsibility with a popular election.

The Voyagers of John Glenn kicked-off National Disability Awareness Month on Oct. 3rd with an assembly presented by Cleveland Signstage Theater. The performance entitled D.E.A.F. presented skits and educational activities aimed at creating an awareness of the needs and characteristics of non-hearing community members. Announcements for the week of Oct. 3-7 focused on famous people with disabilities and individual classrooms presentations focused on the needs and characteristics of disabled students in our own learning community.

John Glenn's PTA is hosting a Fall Social on Friday, Oct. 21st with a Harvest Dance and Pumpkin Patch. The annual Fall Festival Parade will be held on Thursday, Oct. 27th. Highlights and pictures to come!!

John Muir Elementary celebrated in grand fashion on Thursday, October 13 as 275 of our parents, students and faculty gathered for our Fall Festival. The evening was marked by pie-eating contests, face painting, games, and much, much, more. Special thanks to our fabulous PTA for organizing a fun-filled community event!

Kudos to our PTA for purchasing an electronic scroll sign that is displayed in our main entrance doorway. The sign will assist in our goal of providing up to date information to our parents and to celebrate student accomplishments.

Please remember that there will be school on Election Day, November 8.

DISABILITY AWARENESS WEEK   Oct. 17-21 is Disability Awareness Week.  Teachers will be discussing the different disabilities and how they affect a person’s life.  Members of our PT/OT staff are giving demonstrations on our morning PVTV program.  We will end the week with a wheelchair basketball game assembly on Fri.  Ask your child about it. 

Red Ribbon Week is coming Oct. 24-28.  
“We CAN make a difference.  We CAN say no to drugs.”  The emphasis is on CAN as we coordinate a CAN food drive with Red Ribbon Week.  A box will be placed in each classroom to collect canned goods beginning Oct. 17th.  Bringing in a can will enter them in a drawing for a small incentive prize reminding them to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Oct. 24 – Rm. 16 to Fire Safety House

Oct. 25 -Rm. 19 to Fire Safety Housse

                Rm. 13 to Rito’s

Oct. 27 – Miss Rueger to Columbus

Oct. 28 – End of Marking Period

                NO SCHOOL - Students

Oct. 31 – 1:30pm. Fall Festival Parade

Book Fair Starts

Nov. 7 – Parent Evening Conferences

Nov. 8 – ELECTION DAY – Please VOTE

The students at Pleasantview have been observing Disability Awareness Month through a variety of activities. The highlight of the month was a special assembly with the Cleveland based dance troupe "Dancing Wheels". The "Dancing Wheels" performance demonstrated that people with and without disabilities can work and participate together as equals in many activities such as dance. Founder member and President of Dancing Wheels, Mary Verdi-Fletcher spoke to the students about her own disability and the challenges of reaching her personal quest of becoming a professional dancer.

Ridge-Brook Is Honored

On Monday, September 26, 2005 the Board of Education members along with our Superintendent Dr. Zatik recognized Ridge-Brook's staff and parents for being the recipients of the National PTA's Parent Involvement School of Excellence Certification. This award upholds the highest standards of parent involvement.  We are very excited and happy to have received this prestigious award.

Shiloh’s fall pep rally was held on Thursday, October 13. The football and volleyball teams were both featured at the rally. The students cheered them on with the help of the Shiloh cheerleaders and the band under the direction of J. Calvin. Tickets were sold all week for a chance to participate in the teacher vs. student tug-of-war contest. All the proceeds from the ticket sales went to the Katrina Relief Fund.

State Road Elementary School PTA will be hosting it's First Annual Fall Fun Fair on Saturday, October 29th, from 1-5 p.m. on the front lawn of the school. There will be 12 different carnival games that will cost one to four tickets to play. Food and beverage items will also be available and will be purchased with tickets also. Tickets will be sold for 25 cents each. Winners at each carnival game will receive prize tickets that can be redeemed at a prize redemption booth. Activities will include an inflatable obstacle course, speed pitch, five pin bowling, basketball bounce, ring-a-ling, and many others. If it rains, events will be moved indoors. All are welcome! Call Pam at 440-886-6292 for details

Thoreau Park was proud to host Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro on Monday, October 24.  During a press conference concerning Halloween safety, he encouraged parents to take an active role in preparing their children for the event and to become familiar with neighborhood surroundings.  We are honored to have been chosen as the location for the press conference and also ask all parents to exercise extra caution during Halloween.

Forge opened its new fitness center with contributions from football, boys and girls basketball, wrestling and the VF adult booster club. The $20,000 pledges went toward special flooring and will buy additional equipment. Additionally, these groups have pledged $6000 annually for the next 3 years to make this a true “state of the art” facility. Located in the main building area it is glass enclosed and visible to all. It is used for our weight training classes as well athletic workouts. Thanks to all that helped with this project.

Three courtyard renovations were completed last spring. Thanks to career drafting, for securing grants for the project and doing much of the physical labor, and student council for monetary contributions. Total donations exceeded $20,000 for these renovations. Pool Renovation is on schedule and our pool should be open before 11/1, in plenty of time for swim season. We will also begin immediate use for our PE classes as well.

85% of Forge Students Taking the AP Literature Test Received a Score of 3 or Higher! Top Score AP Calculus: Jen Sroka AP Literature Top Scorers: Dan Beaudet, Melody Blackburn, Rob Fowler, Jim Garmson, and Alex Lazar

PTSA Flea Market is Sat. 10/29, from 9am-3pm

Forge dominated the Parma Area Fine Arts Awards Fine Arts Winners: Lindsay Wolan, Virginia Schminke, Mike Sender, Kaitlin Becker and Sara Shanfelt.

"Lucky Chances" Weekly NFL Rally $550 Prizes...Call 842-7548

What a Great Homecoming dance last Saturday! 1150 in attendance! Congratulations to Queen Patty Sobieski and King Benny Balough