East Would Earn an "F" Grade

Under Ohio's new school grading system

Ohio is changing the way it rates it schools.   Currently, Ohio schools are ranked in categories ranging from Academic Emergency to Excellent with Distinction based on factors such as standardized test scores, attendance, and graduation rates.

Since the current system can be somewhat confusing, the Ohio legislature passed, and Gov. Kasich signed into law, House Bill 555.   The intent
of this legislation is to simplify the school ranking process using the standard A through F grading system.   Beginning in 2015, this new grading system will be in place for all Ohio schools

On April 10 the Ohio Department of Education released the results of a simulation of the new grading system.   Taking data from the 2011-12 school year, rankings from the current system were converted to the A through F grading scale.

If those new standards were in place today, East would change from a rating of Continuous Improvement to an over-all grade of "F."

Below are the results of the simulation for Summit County schools and for the state as a whole.   The column marked "2011-2012 Rating" shows the rating under the current system.   The other columns show the letter grade that would be issued for each of those categories under the new system (under the current system, these items are shown as percentages).   The over-all grade is listed in the column marked "Performance Indicators."

Summit County schools        Ohio schools

Stock Up on Dragon Wear

Customize your own East High apparel

East Athletic Director, Mr. Rusinek, has entered into an arrangement with the school apparel supplier, MyLocker.   East has its own section on the MyLocker web site where students, staff, alumni, and friends can view the merchandise, customize their selections, and place an order.

Items such as t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, jersies, and caps in mens', womens', and childrens' sizes are available.   And a portion of each sale will be refunded to the school.

To visit the MyLocker site, click on the logo below.

Hey, Middle Schoolers!

A radio program all about you

Ira Glass, host of the radio program, "This American Life," received an e-mail from a California middle schooler named Annie.   Annie lamented, "But in all the time I've listened to your show, I've never heard an episode devoted to what goes on inside the walls of middle school."

So Glass dedcided to do a program entirely about middle school.   The program explores the awkwardness, the peer pressure, the physical and emotional changes endured by all who occupy the realm of middle school.

The entire programs lasts about 59 minutes, but is divided into smaller segments that can be listened to as you choose.

Listen to the program here.

Polymer Academy Seeks Young Inventors

5th annual Rubber Band Contest

The Akron Global Polymer Academy at the University of Akron is looking for students in grades 5-8 with elastic minds for the 5th annual Rubber Band Contest for Young Inventors.

The contest is divided into two divisions:   Arts & Leisure and Science & Engineering.   The goal of the competition is to come up with a new invention that uses rubber bands as a primary component.

A total of $7,400 in cash and prizes will be awarded with the winners of each division earning $2,500 apiece.   Deadline for submitting entries is April 5, 2013.

For complete contest details, visit the Polymer Academy web site here.

Ohio Graduation Test
Doesn't Make the Grade

As Ohio continues striving to upgrade the level of college and job preparedness of its high school students, the Ohio Graduation Test (O.G.T.) will become a thing of the past.

Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, high school sophomores (that will be YOU, current 8th graders) will be required to take a college-readiness exam — possibly the ACT — along with various end-of-course exams.   This announcement was made on November 21 by Michael Sawyers, Acting Superintendent of Ohio Public Instruction, and Jim Petro, Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents.

End-of-course exams will be required for English I, II, and III, Algebra I and II, Geometry, Biology, Physical Science, American History, and American Government.

Why these changes?   Two years ago the Ohio legislature directed state education officials to develop a replacement for the O.G.T. which measures only what a 10th-grade student should know.   It was felt that Ohio students should achieve a higher level of competency upon graduating from high school, and the O.G.T. has proven to be an inadequate measurement of this competency.

For more detail, here is an article from the Columbus Dispatch.

Safety Kids Calendar Contest

East C.L.C. Middle has several winners

Each year the Summit County Prosecutor's Office sponsors a Safety Kids Calendar Contest for Summit County students in grades six through eight.   The students submit drawings that can be used on a safety calendar.

This year's winners were announced on October 30 at an awards ceremony at the Akron-Summit County Main Library.   A total of 1,170 entries were submitted.

Said Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, "I am always impressed by the creativity, enthusiasm, and hard work exhibited by these students"

East C.L.C. Middle School winners were:

• Trayvon Walk   1st place   "Never play with guns" category
• Ariona Ollison   1st place   "Say NO to gangs" category
• Wallace Ball III   2nd place   "Never play with guns" category
• Diana Torres   2nd place   "Stop bullies in their tracks" category
• Brook Cheatwood   2nd place   "No violence at home" category
• Gabrielle Vang   3rd place   "Don't use alcohol" category
• Thanh Huynh   3rd place   "Never play with guns" category
• Tierra Brazil   3rd place   "Don't talk to strangers" category
• Anthony Becton-Clark   Hon. mention   "Don't do drugs" category

Here is the official news release from the County Prosecutor.

Seventh Graders to Keep in Touch
via E-mail

Schools receive $5,000 grant

The Akron Public Schools have been awarded a $5,000 grant for the 2012-13 school year from the GAR Foundation.   This gift will make
possible the continuation of the E-pals for Education initiative between East C.L.C. seventh graders and Leggett C.L.C. fifth graders.

E-pals for Education is an interactive project designed to improve students' writing skills.   Primary students (in this case, fifth graders) corresepond with 7th graders via e-mail and work to complete several technology-based projects.

Later in the year, these Akron students will correspond with E-Pal students from Greece and Rome, Italy.