Lima South Science and Technology Magnet students engaged in fun science lessons on Tuesday. The Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District hosted the life science lessons for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Various topics were on the table, including living versus non-living, energy transfer, the food chain, and even worms. Not only can the science lessons be brought back to the classroom, but they will also help prepare students for field trips planned in the spring.
From
To
Many Elida residents voiced strong concerns about the financial future of Elida Local Schools at Tuesday night's special board of education meeting. Currently, the Elida School Board is weighing the idea of putting out a $2.7 million renewal levy as the current levy expires at the end of 2025. In the unofficial 5-year forecast presented by Elida Treasurer Larry Kaiser, the district's expenses are forecasted to outpace revenues by an increasingly growing margin. On Tuesday evening, many Elida residents publicly addressed the board with their concerns if a renewal levy is not pursued.
Education is changing, and learning through experience is helping reinforce the lessons students are learning in the classroom. The Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges held their annual conference at Rhodes State College, and they brought in educator and author Candy Van Buskirk to talk about the changing dynamic of education. She says that student engagement has declined, and students respond more favorably to hands-on learning. With two-year colleges helping train the next generation of the workforce, helping students get real-world experiences is key.
Area kids are partaking in a fun way to learn both life skills and concepts from the classroom. The Lima Family YMCA launched their cooking class snack attack. This week, kids aged from 7 to 13 years old followed a recipe to cook up some fresh strawberry breakfast tacos. The cooking program not only allows kids to develop and build critical cooking skills but also allows them to integrate important lessons and concepts from the classroom, such as math and measurements, into following instructions.
Making the best out of a bad situation is just one of the lessons Cridersville Elementary School students were learning on Tuesday. The "GOOD" program has become a staple for fourth graders at the school as former teacher Ron Derry educates them about the struggles he faced after becoming blind. Derry taught in the Columbus area and decided to continue working with kids by starting his own motivational program, "Go On—Or Defeated," known as "GOOD," and has encouraged thousands of students across Ohio to make good life decisions.
On Monday evening, Temple Christian School unveiled their new elementary building to the public ahead of the upcoming school year. Around 150 people came out to the facility located at 750 Brower Road in Lima. The 32,000 square-foot facility, formerly the Lima Manor, will house grades kindergarten through 5th grade and includes 16 classrooms, a complete kitchen and lunchroom, and additional office space. Over the past 5 years, Temple Christian has observed a 45% increase in the student population to a current enrollment of 360 students. As the elementary students move into the new building, school officials are ready to serve the growing number of students.
They have locations around the county to provide free, comprehensive programming for children and their families and are currently taking applications. Allen County Head Start and Early Head Start are programs under the West Ohio Community Action Partnership that work with children from birth to 5 years of age to get them ready for school. The program is for low-income families to provide social, emotional, and intellectual growth to their children. They not only work in the classroom but also offer home visits to provide support in parenting skills.
owling Green State University is helping fill the need for teachers by helping professionals get their teaching license. Dr. Angela Thomas spoke to the Lima Rotary Club about their alternative program to get a teaching license. Professionals with bachelor's degrees in STEM or who have worked in related fields can take a one-year course to get certified to teach math and science in middle and high schools.
They have taught thousands of students among them, and they are helping others to teach future generations. The Allen County Retired Teachers Association awarded 13 teachers with grants totaling $3,100. The money was used for projects that encourage students to learn in different ways, from flashcards to sensory tables to graphic novels.
Vantage Career Center hosted an open house on Tuesday for those considering a career as a registered nurse. At Tuesday's open house, attendees had the opportunity to tour the nursing facility, meet instructors, and ask questions about the program.