Above & Beyond: WCS teacher post goes viral, leads to student meet-and-greet with Browns’ quarterback

Cloie Jones meets Baker Mayfield
WCS kindergartner Cloie Jones and her teacher Brandi Gaszo meet Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield

Through a social media post, Brandi Gazso, a kindergarten teacher at Lincoln PK-8, made it possible for one of her students to meet Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Ms. Gazso posted photos of student Cloie Jones in a Mayfield jersey and shared that she is the “BIGGEST Baker Mayfield fan!” – talking about how much she likes him – so much so that she has earned the nickname “Cloie Baker Mayfield” among her classmates.

Ms. Gazso’s tweet went viral and caught the attention of Mayfield’s wife. As a result, the Mayfields invited Cloie to a game, where she, accompanied by Ms. Gazso, received a few presents and got to meet her hero.

Ms. Gazso’s efforts to help make a Cloe’s’s dream come true – a story that has now been shared among news outlets locally and statewide –  is one more example of a Warren City Schools teacher going above and beyond for a student.

#GoRaiders #WCSTeachersRock #WCSGoingAboveAndBeyond #WeAreWarrenProud #WCSProud

Cloie Jones meets Baker Mayfield
Cloie Jones & her parents with Vince Coll of WKBN
Cloie Jones with Melanie Mayfield
Cloie Jones with Melanie Mayfield
Cloie Jones with Baker Mayfield
Cloie Jones with Baker Mayfield

Men of Distinction kicks off 2019-2020 Program

The Men of Distinction mentoring program in November kicked off its second year with guest speaker Vince Peterson.

The program was launched at Jefferson last year but has expanded this year to include Willard. The program targets boys in grades 6 though 8 and pairs them with men in the community.

Mentors come from all walks of life, including local pastors, business leaders, coaches and community organizers. The program aims to teach young boys that no matter what their circumstances are, they have control over their own lives and have the power to make their own choices.

The middle schoolers and their mentors participate in community service projects, social activities and school functions. Once a week, the pairs get together to discuss grades, school behavior, peer pressure or family issues.

The mentorship program serves as another example of Warren City Schools’ Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) efforts put into action by encouraging the development of self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve school and life success; using social-awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships; and demonstrating decision-making skills and responsible behaviors in personal, school and community contexts.The program is made possible through grant funding from the Turning Foundation.

 

Congratulations to Our Twenty Under 20 Winners!

Congratulations To Our Twenty Under 20 Winners!
Congratulations To Our Twenty Under 20 Winners!

Three Warren G. Harding students have been selected as 2019 Twenty Under 20 Winners.

Cullen Faulk, Elyssa Hawkins and Xavier Allen were selected by the Tribune Chronicle as recipients of the newspaper’s longstanding program that recognizes 20 high-achieving individuals younger than 20 years old for their leadership skills through volunteerism, extracurricular activities and academic achievements.

The program, in its seventh year, is co-sponsored by Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley and Kent State University at Trumbull.

 

WGH-Jefferson students ‘Buddy Up’ for Bigs/Littles Program

The Jefferson Warren G. Harding Big Brother Big Sister program kicked off the 2019-2020 school year Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Warren’s Jefferson PK-8 School as part of Buddy Up Day.

Dozens of students from Warren G. Harding High School are mentoring third-grade students at Jefferson throughout the year. The Bigs/Littles will continue to meet monthly throughout the school year.

The program kick off was held in conjunction with Start With Hello Week – a program that teaches students to make a difference with their peers in simple, fun and impactful ways. They take small but powerful actions to promote connectedness and inclusion, and to identify and help lonely students who are showing signs of social isolation. Jefferson joined thousands of schools and youth organizations across the country for Start With Hello Week.

WCS BOE Welcomes John Fowley to School Board

Newly appointed school board member John E. Fowley took his oath of office and was sworn in on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the regular Warren City School Board of Education meeting.

Warren City School Board of Education: Seated from left, Vice President Patricia M. Limperos and President Regina Patterson; standing from left, Andre Coleman, John E. Fowley and Robert Faulkner Sr.
Warren City School Board of Education: Seated from left, Vice President Patricia M. Limperos and President Regina Patterson; standing from left, Andre Coleman, John E. Fowley and Robert Faulkner Sr.

The board selected Fowley to fill the unexpired term of former board Vice President John Lacy. Patricia M. Limperos was named board vice president.

Previously, Mr. Fowley served as president of the Garfield School PTO and the WGH Band Boosters. He also co-chaired four successful school levy-renewal campaigns. He was sworn in by Judge James A. Fredericka.

 

Volunteers greet students on the first day of school

The United Way of Trumbull County, Warren City Schools and Second Baptist Church of Warren partnered again this year to greet, encourage and cheer on our students on the first day of school.

On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the full group of volunteers helped students at Warren G. Harding High School kick off the 2019-20 school year their first day back to school before splitting up to go to one of the PK-8 schools to greet elementary and middle school students.

Volunteers gather at Warren G. Harding High School Tuesday, Aug. 20, to greet Warren City Schools students on the first day for the 2019-20 school year.
Volunteers gather at Warren G. Harding High School on Tuesday, Aug. 20, to greet Warren City Schools students on the first day of the 2019-20 school year.

Back To School Celebration

More than 1,000 people gathered Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Courthouse Square in Downtown Warren for our annual Back to School Celebration.                   Students and their families, along with school leaders and community members, helped kick off the 2019-20 school year with a celebration that included refreshments, games and various activities.

WCS Convocation: Welcome Back!

Superintendent Steve Chiaro, along with school board members, district administrators and community leaders, welcomed Warren City Schools staff back to class during the Aug. 16 district-wide convocation at Warren G. Harding High School. Keynote speaker Vincent Peterson reminded everyone of how important each one is in the lives of the students they serve.

Vincent Peterson, keynote speaker, talks to Warren City Schools staff staff at the Aug. 16 district-wide convocation.
Vincent Peterson, keynote speaker, talks to Warren City Schools staff staff at the Aug. 16 district-wide convocation.
Welcome Back WCS Staff!
Welcome Back WCS Staff!

Aligning SEL to the Fish Philosophy: A Brighter Future For ALL Children

Warren City Schools’ administrators spent two days of professional learning in August with Hector Montenegro, Ed.D., aligning the core concepts for Social-Emotional Learning to the Fish Philosophy.

Warren City Schools' administrators participate in activities to enhance SEL strategies.
Warren City Schools’ administrators participate in activities to align the core concepts of SEL to the Fish Philosophy.
Warren City Schools' administrators participate in activities to enhance SEL strategies.
Social-Emotional Learning in Action at WCS.

 

Montenegro is an internationally recognized keynote and motivational speaker who has appeared at conferences, conventions, universities, and schools around the world.

His time in Warren was devoted to providing technical expertise to further advance the science and practice of school-based social and emotional learning.

Lincoln 5th-grader scores 1st-place Challenge 24 trophy

Challenge 24 WinnerCongratulations to 5th-grader Maxwell Milton who placed first in his category at the annual Challenge 24 math competition.

Milton is a student at Lincoln PK-8 School. He was among the more than 180 students from across Trumbull County who participated in this year’s event.

The competition tests the math skills of students in grades 4 through 8. Categories are by grade level: 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th/8th.

The students look at cards containing four numbers of any combination of 1 to 9, and then use addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to come up with the final number of 24.

Competitors may use each number on the card only once. Four students at each table compete to win the highest number of cards by the end of each round. The first student to come up with an answer taps the table and recites the steps he or she took to arrive at the number 24.

There are penalties for students giving incorrect answers.

Sponsors were the Tribune Chronicle, Trumbull County Educational Service Center and Cortland Bank. The event was at Warren G. Harding High School.