On March 1, top spellers from Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake counties competed in the Tri-County Spelling Bee at the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve...
Pacifico Wins Tri-County Spelling Bee
On March 1, top spellers from Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake counties competed in the Tri-County Spelling Bee at the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve. Parker Pacifico, an eighth-grader at West Geauga Middle School, was crowned champion. Parker will now represent Northeastern Ohio at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
WGEF Awards $18,400 Grant
Students in Alan Duncan’s West Geauga High School robotics classes will soon be able to build, program and operate drones thanks to an $18,400 grant from the West Geauga Educational Foundation (WGEF).
WGEF is an independent nonprofit group that raises funds to support innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the West Geauga School System. Teaching and learning, like other areas, evolve. But it isn’t always clear which new approaches might work. “Seed” funding from WGEF allows teachers and students to try new programs, materials and technologies.
Twice during the school year – in November and February – WGEF reviews applications from teachers, administrators, students and parents to determine which programs to fund that will enrich and enhance educational experiences for West Geauga students. Over the past 37 years, the foundation has provided more than $500,000 in funds to support educational programs.
With this grant, the robotics program will provide students with the opportunity to learn electronic/circuit design and construction, coding, engineering and operation of both land and air drones. Students will design and modify the drone kits using the 3D printers purchased previously from a grant provided by the West Geauga Educational Foundation.
The students will be able to practice flying indoors by streaming any location around the world on the Touch IT TV, also provided by a WGEF grant. Real time telemetry data is collected and can be tracked to give the most realistic virtual experience possible. Students will also have the opportunity to test and obtain FAA certification, which means they could be hired to operate drones right out of high school.
Other programs the foundation has funded over the past few years include: 3D and CAD Project, Google Virtual Field Trips, Aquaponics Global Food Production, Elementary Robotics and Coding, Café Achieve, Great Lakes Theater School Residency, Lifeliqe Interactive Science Application, STEAM / Makerspace program, the IXL Online Learning Tool, StarLab Planetarium, live streaming equipment for WGMS athletics and many more.
To learn more about the West Geauga Educational Foundation or to get involved, visit wgef.org or email wgedfoundation@gmail.com with any questions. The foundation welcomes more members.
