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Two-time National Book Award finalist Deborah Wiles spent some time recently with eighth-grade students at the Willard PK-8 School discussing her writing and reading from her novel “Anthem.”

The book tells the story of two cousins who must take a road trip across American in 1969 in order to let a teen know he’s been drafted to fight in Vietnam. Full of photos, music, and figures of the time, the book illustrates what it’s like to be young and American in troubled times.

Wiles, who specializes in writing children’s books, lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Students in Mr. Johnson’s Senior Studio class at Warren G. Harding High School have been busy painting a special canvas provided by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The students are participating in the ODOT Paint the Plow program. ODOT delivered snowplows to several area schools, including Harding, in September for students to paint.

The class designed their project around the theme of the movie “Krampus.”

ODOT is scheduled to pick up the completed project the week of Oct. 16.

The Paint the Plow program allows local schools and non-profit organizations to paint an ODOT snowplow blade with messages of snow and ice safety, state, school, or community pride, or patriotism, according to ODOT’s website.

Eighth-graders from Warren City Schools recently gained some hands-on experience at mass producing a product during a visit to America Makes in Youngstown.

The students, from the district’s four PK-8 schools, attended the 2nd Annual Manufacturing Day event at American Makes. The event was sponsored by American Makes and the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition (MVMC).

School counselors from Jefferson, Lincoln, McGuffey and Willard schools, chose 36 students, collectively, to attend. They were chosen based on their responses to various surveys that they complete in their classes as well as in Naviance, the online platform used to support students’ exploration of their interests and how those interests can help them discover what they want to do after graduation. 

The students worked in small teams brainstorming and using the design process to manufacture a product, using a budget, creating a prototype, and presenting their products to their peers and local manufacturers. The produced prototypes for wheels for a car. However, they soon discovered that it wasn’t just about making a wheel, but rather the process to efficiently and economically mass producing a product. 

The experience was an opportunity for the students to experience engineering, design and modern manufacturing happening right here in the Valley, organizers explained.

The Ten80 Education group facilitated the team through the entire process while representatives from local manufacturing industries mentored the groups.  The industries included Brilex, FoxConn, Valllourec, City Machine Technologies, Hynes Industries, America Makes, and the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition. 

In addition to those industries mentoring, they also provided an “Open House,” or forum, along with Schwebels and Linde, for students to ask questions and learn more about what the different companies do as the adults shared about their industries.  

Local manufacturers shared real-life examples and challenges they face during the Engineering Design Cycle, and tools that support their efforts (blue-prints, proto-typing, problem-solving, etc.)

Students at Willard PK-8 School recently spent some time giving bracelets to classmates who have been good friends.

The middle school students helped the K-2 students make the bracelets. Some of the bracelets had the recipient’s name.

The Willard Friendship Bracelets activity was part of the school’s commitment to encourage students to “Be A Good Friend.”

Kindergarten students from Warren City Schools four PK-8 Buildings – Jefferson, Lincoln, McGuffey and Willard – traveled to the Garfield Community Garden the week of Oct. 2, 2023, to spend some time with members of The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program.

Topics and activities included:

• The Importance of Pollinators and Pollinator Plants Students visited the Monarch Way Station and Pollinator Gardens where they learned about Monarchs, native butterflies, and native bees, and observed pollinators at work and pollinator plants. Each kindergarten class received milkweed seeds.
• A Vegetable “Hunt” that included information about how different kinds of vegetables grow, i.e, root vegetables, vines, etc., and seasons in which they are planted and harvested. Students were asked to identify vegetables. Volunteers were stationed at the vegetable stops. Each class received samples.
• Garlic planting. Instructed and assisted by volunteers, each student planted a garlic clove in a prepared plot. Each class was given a garlic pot to grow in the classroom and teachers were given information about growing garlic.
• Viewing the African Corn Patch Each class learned about Winnie’s fantastic corn patch.

To better teach his students in the lab, metals and welding instructor Tom Sullivan spent part of Warren City Schools Oct. 4, 2023, Waiver/Professional Learning Day honing his skills on the new cutting machine at Warren G. Harding High School.

The machine is actually a 2022 Torchmate 4800 CNC Plasma Table made by Lincoln Electric Cutting Systems. 

The four welding booths and four welding simulators at Harding were all produced by Lincoln Electric.  The school district has developed a great partnership with the company’s office in Cleveland dating back at least seven years, explained Suzette Jackson, assistant curriculum director for grades 6-12.

Plasma tables are used in manufacturing, agricultural, engineering and construction fields to cut iron, stainless steel, aluminum and other metals using a plasma torch. Plasma cutting machines are computer automated, allowing for a high level accuracy for a precise cuts. They have been used to make signs, yard art, outdoor furniture, gates, indoor décor, wall décor, emblems, fire pits, decorative panels, and sculptures, among other items.

The district was able to purchase the plasma table with federal grant funding through an Expanding Opportunities for Each Child grant.

In Mrs. Mickler’s 3rd grade class at McGuffey PK-8 School, one goal is for her students to collectively garner 50 compliments from others, including teachers and staff.

If a student receives a compliment while walking down the hall, he or she may tally it on Mrs. Mickler’s Compliment Chart. Once the class reaches the 50-mark goal, the students will be rewarded with an activity, such as a party, to celebrate.

It’s all part of Warren City Schools efforts to facilitate Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) among all students.

Meanwhile, in Mrs. Waldman’s 1st grade class, students earn McGuffey dollars they can redeem at the McGuffey Store. Some are saving up for various items such as stickers, candy or other snacks, bracelets and special drinks. Other rewards include being permitted to take their shoes off in class, sitting with a friend for the day or a positive call from the school to the student’s home.

To support the work that has been started in many areas to best meet the needs of students, Warren City Schools held an additional Waiver/Professional Learning day for district staff on Wednesday, Oct. 4.   

For example, Health/PE teachers worked on their pacing, benchmarks, and collaboration.

Students at Jefferson PK-8 School are enhancing accountability for their actions as part of a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) activity that requires them to pay attention or miss their opportunity to shout BINGO and claim a reward.

Students gathered in the cafetorium Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, to play the popular card game.

“We choose different activities based on specific behaviors,” explained Mesa Morlan, Jefferson special education coordinator.

With BINGO, the students have to pay attention to the letters and numbers being called out to create BINGO. If they don’t miss a call out, they lessen their chances of making BINGO by missing the letters and numbers being called out.

Los Angeles, California music producer Lawrence Grey helped jazz and symphonic band students at Warren G. Harding High School record and enhance some of their musical arrangements as part of a demonstration focusing on electronic music.

Grey, founder of YPG (Young Producers Group), spent some time at the high school on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, demonstrating how he records a piece of music then uses Ableton computer software to mix and enhance the work by adding various effects, such as drum beats and patterns.

Grey said he seeks to teach students how to “make the kind of music they like to listen to.” Youngstown State University music education professor Dr. Daniel Keown accompanied Grey during his visit to Harding.

“As one of the few districts in the Mahoning Valley with a dedicated Music Technology course, we jumped at the chance to have Lawrence come in and work with our students. We are grateful to Dr. Keown and YSU for their assistance in providing us with this opportunity,” said WGH Assistant Band Director Heather Sirney.

Grey created YPG in 2010 after working with the youth at an alternatives to incarceration center in Brooklyn, N.Y. called the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA). Grey earned a Master’s Degree in education from UCLA; a Bachelor’s degree in music from NYU, with a focus on electronic music composition. He is also an Ableton Certified Trainer.