Berkshire School News

December 19, 2019 by Staff Report

Ancient Ohio Study

Students in Mrs. Wadsworth’s fourth-grade social studies classes recently studied artifacts and ancient cultures in Ohio. For the project based learning (PBL) activity, “Artifacts of the Past and Present,” students were asked to learn about and create an Ohio Native American artifact and then share with the class what they learned. Examples included a fish trap, model wigwam and longhouse, clay pottery and cradleboard. Students also discussed how one day they would be leaving artifacts for future generations to discover. To demonstrate, each student chose an item that they would leave in a time capsule for future generations and archaeologists to study and learn about our culture. Students also created a “virtual” time capsule featuring drawings of items they would include and provided an explanation of why the item was important to leave in the time capsule. Overall, the hands-on learning activity helped students to understand the connection between artifacts of the past and future.

AP District Honor Roll

Berkshire Local Schools is one of 250 school districts in the United States and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 10th annual AP District Honor Roll.

To be included on the honor roll, Berkshire had to, since 2017, increase the number of students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. Reaching these goals shows that this district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP.

“Berkshire Local Schools is pleased to be named among the top 250 schools by the College Board for increasing its number of student participants in Advanced Placement Courses,” said Superintendent John Stoddard. “We try to encourage our students to set high standards for themselves, and this recognition demonstrates student success in pursuit of such achievement.”

National data from 2019 show that among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students with a high degree of readiness for AP, only about half are participating. The first step to getting more of these students to participate is to give them access. Courses must be made available, gatekeeping must stop, and doors must be opened equitably. Berkshire Local Schools is committed to expanding the availability of AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds.

Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors. Many districts are experimenting with initiatives and strategies to see how they can expand access and improve student performance at the same time.

In 2019, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, or both, and/or consideration in the admissions process. Inclusion in the 10th annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years of AP data, from 2017 to 2019, looking across 38 AP exams, including world language and culture.

For inclusion on the 10th Annual AP District Honor Roll, districts must meet the following criteria:

• Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts, and at least 11 percent in small districts;
• Increase or maintain the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students taking exams and increase or maintain the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students scoring 3+ on at least one AP Exam; and
• Improve or maintain performance levels when comparing the 2019 percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher to the 2017 percentage, unlessthe district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70 percent of its AP students earn a 3 or higher.

When these outcomes have been achieved among an AP student population in which 30 percent or more are underrepresented minority students (American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander) and/or 30 percent or more are low–income students (students who qualify for free or reduced–price lunch), a symbol has been affixed to the district name to highlight this work.

Visit to https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/awards/district-honor-roll view the complete 10th annual AP District Honor Roll. 

Holiday Sparkle Shop

Approximately a dozen students who are part of the Berkshire Local Schools Sparkles Team will host a Holiday Sparkle Shop this year to make gifts for the season to say thank you to staff and Sparkle student families. Money raised from the event will help to support community-based outings and activities of the group that help to provide Sparkle students with real life experiences.

The Sparkle Staff of Mrs. Brzozowski, Mrs. Huber and Dawn Fleming, pupil services director, are playing a key role in overseeing the students’ work in making gifts, which began during the week of Dec. 2. Then, during the third week of December, just prior to holiday break, students will distribute their presents to recipients.

Sparkle Students are using their critical thinking and hands on skills to assemble the gifts, along with the Maker Space resources to create gift labels and stickers. Some of the gifts to be created include sparkle snow globes, dog treats, cinnamon stick tree ornaments and a sparkle M&M sparkle cookie mix.

The excitement and collaboration skills of the Sparkle Students in engaging in the first annual Holiday Sparkle Shop has truly demonstrated their individual and collective student growth and achievement. Congratulations to all involved.

LifeChanger of the Year Nominee

Heather Giel has been nominated for the LifeChanger of the Year Award from the National Life Group. The LifeChanger of the Year Award recognizes and rewards K-12 school employees who make a positive difference in the lives of students. Her nomination also places Berkshire in the running for a cash prize as well. Heather Giel, a physical education and health teacher at Berkshire Junior and Senior High School, was nominated by building Principal Michael King.

According to her nomination, which included his commentary and that from students in the district, “Mrs. Giel is a LifeChanger in our students’ lives because of her openness to connect with everyone she meets. She has a desire to push students towards challenging situations to promote learning, character development, and integrity. Mrs. Giel has created a course for leadership and character development that so many of our students are eager to take because the environment is uplifting and positive. Every day, her goal is to help all students become better versions of themselves – less impulsive, more thoughtful, kind and leaders in their generation. She is teaching self-evaluation and regulation. She brings in influential people to speak to her class so they are hearing similar messages and stories of grit, good character and integrity. Her impact is not only recognized by our students, but by her colleagues and administration. Students have said it, but I can also say she empowers me everyday to be positive and be the best version of myself for me and for my students. Her actions are contagious and I’m grateful for her presence and work in our school.”

Congratulations to Heather Giel for making a difference in the lives of students, and for being nominated for LifeChanger of the Year.