GPA: Cardinal Stritch invites community to annual open house
Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School & Academy will host an open house on Sunday, Nov. 12, from 12-2 p.m. on the school campus, located at 3225 Pickle Rd., Oregon.
Attendees can meet administration and teachers, take a private tour and ask questions about enrollment and the new Universal School Choice Program approved by the State of Ohio.
Cardinal Stritch staff will be available to discuss the eligibility of all Ohio families to apply for the Universal Choice State Scholarships, no matter what school district they reside.
“Open House is a chance for new families, as well as the community, to meet our students, watch performances from our band and learn about athletes, and clubs,” said Jade West, Cardinal Stritch admission and enrollment manager.
Prospective students and families are encouraged to attend and inquire about academic coursework, college credit options, campus ministry, fine and performing arts, athletic programs and clubs. There will also be demonstrations of the school’s World Language Immersion Program, which enables students in grades 7-12 to self-select from 25 global languages to study.
Visiting students will be able to register to be a “Cardinal for A Day” – a preview program is available five days a week which pairs prospective students with a current student with similar interests.
Registration for the High School Placement Test, an admissions requirement for Toledo area Catholic High Schools, will be available for non-Catholic school students on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 8 a.m. at Cardinal Stritch. Honor Scholarships are awarded based on test scores.
Contact West at jwest@cardinalstrich.org or 419-693-0465, ext. 238, or visit cardinalstrtitch.org with any questions about the open house or the admission process.
Homework help
Homework help is available Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. at the Walbridge Library, 108 N. Main St.
Each week, Students in Action will be at the library to help grade school students with reading, math and other educational skills.
Registration is required. To register, visit wcdpl.org/events.
Career resources available
Join Wood County District Public Library for Ohio Means Jobs with Ohio Connectivity Champions on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. in the meeting room at the Walbridge Library, 108 N. Main St.
The Ohio Means Jobs website offers resources for those looking for their first, last or next job.
Program attendees will learn how to navigate the website, apply for jobs, create and post their resume, and get advice to help them along their career paths.
The Connectivity Champions help make getting started with Ohio Means Jobs easier. Powered by the Ohio Management Council, Ohio Connectivity Champions are the “boots-on-the-ground” supports, working to remove barriers to internet access for online learning, telehealth, job seeking, skills development and digital literacy.
Registration is required and may be completed at wcdpl.org/events.
Memorial 5K fundraiser
The family of Skylar Roberts, along with help from the Eastwood cross country team, has organized a memorial 5K run on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. at Eastwood High School, 4900 Sugar Ridge Rd., Pemberville.
Roberts was an Eastwood student who died as the result of a vehicle crash in March. Proceeds raised from the event will go toward starting a scholarship in her name.
This race is open to the community. Registration details can be found at https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Pemberville/SprintingforSkySky.
Students invited to explore
careers in conservation
High school juniors and seniors have the opportunity to explore different career opportunities in wildlife, parks, conservation and other fields through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) job shadow program. “We do crucial work at ODNR to protect our natural resources and provide opportunities for people to explore the great outdoors,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “It is vital that Ohio is able to carry that mission into the future by educating and inspiring new generations of dedicated conservationists.”
A wide variety of career paths are available at ODNR that people may not be aware of. The job shadow program will shed light on those opportunities by pairing high school juniors and seniors with ODNR staff, allowing students to spend the day on the job and learn what a typical day is like.
Participants will gain an understanding of role requirements and job tasks. Students will be able to choose the division they’d like to learn about including law enforcement, engineering, forestry and more.
Read more about ODNR’s divisions at ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/our-divisions.
Students can apply through Oct. 31 on the ODNR Job Shadow webpage, ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/support-odnr/jobs/job-shadow-odnr. The first job shadow day will be held Nov. 17.
ODNR plans to host two job shadow days per year. Dates for the 2024 job shadow days have not yet been announced.
Terra State hosting fall career fair
Terra State Community College will host a Career Fair Monday, Nov. 6 in the Student Activities Center on Terra State’s campus, 2830 Napoleon Rd., Fremont.
The event is free and open to students, alumni, and the community. There is no pre-registration required for job seekers.
More than 60 community businesses will be available for job seekers. For more information, visit terra.edu.
B-C-S board supportive
of shared services agreement
The Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District is expected to approve a shared service agreement with the Ottawa Hills Local School District at their November meeting, which would allow District Treasurer Cajon Keeton to work to assist Ottawa Hills Local Schools until a treasurer is selected in the coming months.
The plan is that Keeton will continue at B-C-S full-time while assisting Ottawa Hills.
In his last contract, Keeton agreed to reduce his overall compensation to allow for some days to utilize for this reason. “This gives me an opportunity to grow and have a better understanding of different districts. I can network and bring best practices and money saving ideas to our district. Any time you learn from others is an opportunity for growth.”
The Ottawa Hills Local School District approved a revised hourly rate agreement with Keeton and he will not receive a salary from Ottawa Hills.
“We support these shared services because of the benefit this brings to our district – Mr. Keeton networks and brings best practice and money saving ideas back to our district,” said Board President Kim Dusseau.
Keeton was the former president of the Treasurer’s Association(OASBO) and has provided guidance and assistance with other schools. He has fought at the state level to retain funds for the B-C-S district.
Owens Community College
awarded Talent Ready Grants
Owens Community College has been awarded $329,363 in Talent Ready Grants. The grants, previously called short-term certificate grants, will help students who have financial aid need to take a credit or non-credit short-term certificate program.
The programs eligible for the grant are in-demand jobs in the medical, advanced manufacturing and first responder fields including Sterile Processing, Tool and Die/Mold Maker, Commercial Truck Driving and Robotics.
“Students can receive up to $2,000 toward the cost of a certificate and can take up to three certificates total,” said Heidi Altomare, Director of Grants at Owens Community College. A short-term certificate requires less than 30 credit hours or 900 non-credit hours.
Students must be financial aid eligible and an Ohio resident.
“We believe Talent Ready Grants are just one of a series of budget line items that can strengthen Ohio’s education and workforce training efforts, particularly at community colleges,” said Randy Gardner, Chancellor of the Department of Higher Education.
In 2022, the Ohio Department of Higher Education invested nearly $190,000 in Owens Community College to create the Short-Term Certificate Grant Program.
For more information, visit owens.edu/tuitionaid and click on Grants.
ODNR to offer geologic research grants
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Geological Survey is accepting applications for the Ohio Geology Student Research Grant program. Now in its ninth academic year, the program supports graduate and undergraduate students who conduct geologic research in the state.
The ODNR Division of Geological Survey will award grants of $2,500 each to three earth science students at Ohio colleges and universities. Grantees will be selected based on the quality of their applications, the strength of their professors’ letters of recommendation, and how relevant their proposed research is to the Division’s mission and to furthering understanding of Ohio geology.
“Every year, we look forward to evaluating applications for the grant,” ODNR Division of Geological survey chief and state geologist D. Mark Jones said. “And every year, Ohio’s geoscience students impress us with the quality of their proposals.”
Previous grant recipients have conducted studies that mapped stratigraphy and glacial features, assessed impacts of human activities on soils, and delineated stream patterns, among other projects.
The deadline for application submission is Friday, Dec. 8. The application and complete submission guidelines can be found on the Division’s website at ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/apply-for-grants/grants/ohio-geology-student-research. Candidates must be enrolled in a full-time graduate or undergraduate earth science studies program at an accredited college or university in Ohio for the 2023–2024 year.
Grants aim to streamline
threat response at schools
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced $4 million in grant funding available to local school districts to buy technology that links them directly to law enforcement in an effort to improve crisis response and crime prevention. “When a crisis is unfolding, school administrators need tools that can quickly inform law enforcement of potential threats,” Yost said. “This grant will equip our school buildings with tools that reduce response times when minutes matter the most.”
The grant program, which has been continued after a pilot effort last year, helps school districts purchase crisis-response technology that alerts law enforcement of potential safety breeches on school property.
Examples could include but are not limited to:
• Systems allowing immediate camera access to responding law enforcement.
• Silent panic alarms.
• Gunshot-detection technology.
• License plate reader alerts for vehicles belonging to registered sex offenders.
• Alert systems warning of wanted dangerous individuals.
Districts can apply for a maximum of $30,000 in grant money for use on one or multiple buildings. Schools that applied for the pilot program are encouraged to reapply.
Grant applications will be accepted through Nov. 30 via the Ohio Grants Portal at grants.ohio.gov/fundingopportunities.aspx. Submission date will be a factor in the evaluation of grant applications. Grant award recipients will be notified in January 2024, with grant payment projected for early 2024
Wood Co. Juvenile Court
hosts school administrators
and service providers meeting
On Sept. 27, Wood County Juvenile Court Judge David Woessner hosted the 32nd meeting of Wood County school administrators and service providers.
The meeting took place in the Pratt Pavilion at the Wood County Fairgrounds.
Sixty individuals, including superintendents, principals, assistant principals, school resource officers and service providers from across Wood County, attended the meeting.
School districts represented were Eastwood, Lake, Bowling Green, Elmwood, Lakota, McComb, Otsego, Penta Career Center, Perrysburg and Rossford.
In addition, representatives of the Family and Children First Council, the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Wood County Educational Service Center, the Wood County Health Department, the Wood County Department of Job and Family Services, the Wood County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio and the Children’s Resource Center were also in attendance.
During the meeting, Judge Woessner provided information about programs and resources available to schools and families throughout Wood County.
Programs such as the Juvenile Court’s Intervention and Diversion Program, the Safe and Healthy Sexuality Program, drug testing and other ongoing recourses were reviewed at the meeting.
In addition, Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson and Wood County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the Juvenile Division, Charles Bergman, provided information about services and procedures impacting the schools and families involved in the juvenile court system.
Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn offered comments on the importance of having school resource officers and offered the assistance of the sheriff’s department to those attending.
“Our schools and service providers are important resources for youth and families involved in the juvenile court system,” Judge Woessner said. “Maintaining an open line of communication to discuss options available is essential. Our long-standing meetings with schools and service providers provides an excellent opportunity to exchange information on available programs and services for youth and families.”
Mercy hosts students for job shadowing
Mercy Health is aiming to link tomorrow’s workforce talent to today’s career opportunities by offering job shadowing opportunities to area high school students in partnership with Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio.
Since opening its doors to students throughout the community, Mercy Health has welcomed 85 high school students into its facilities as part of the JA job shadowing experience. Of those, 95 percent of the students said that the experience helped them either determine, eliminate, or want to learn more about a career.
Students from nine area schools visited Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center and Mercy Health – Perrysburg Hospital on Oct. 25 to shadow professionals in areas such as nursing, neurology/stroke, surgery, sports medicine and imaging, as well as other careers such as policing and IT. In addition to receiving hands-on health care experience with Mercy Health team members, the students traveled to Mercy College of Ohio to learn more about educational tracts that are available.
“Over our two-year partnership, Mercy Health has been able to showcase a wide range of jobs in the healthcare industry, but what we are most excited about is that these job shadowing events have resulted in real opportunities being offered to our region’s up and coming workforce,” said Jim Weidner, COO, Mercy Health – Toledo, noting that to date, three of these former students are now employed at Mercy Health.
“Together with Junior Achievement, Mercy Health wants these students to see not only of the various types of jobs available but also offer reassurance that opportunities for success and a stable future exist right here in our community,” he added.
Mercy Health and Junior Achievement will continue to partner to cultivate our next generation of workers and are excited to bring opportunities to students throughout the school year, Weidner said.