West Geauga Athletic Director Joe Leonette along with sophomore Jax Shenkle and juniors Alison D'Alles-sandro, Alec Newlon and Anna Sheridan attended the OHSAA…
OHSAA Leadership Conference
West Geauga Athletic Director Joe Leonette along with sophomore Jax Shenkle and juniors Alison D’Alles-sandro, Alec Newlon and Anna Sheridan attended the OHSAA Leadership Conference in Columbus earlier this month. Through recommendations from their coaches and teachers, the four students represent outstanding leader-ship.
At the conference, the students engaged in various activities and leadership topics with high school students from other districts. One particular keynote speaker, Shawn Harper, former NFL player with the Rams, Colts and Titans, seemed to set the tone for the students at the conference.
“His message of positivity and not giving into peer pressure are relatable for all students,” commented Shenkle.
After the conference, students took a tour of the OSU campus.
“This conference has really made an impact on these students to continue being role models for their fellow teammates on and off the playing field,” said Leonette.
Bus Safety Week
The West Geauga Local School District and the surrounding community joined with other schools and com-munities to recognize National Bus Safety Week Oct. 19-23. The national theme this year is based on a child’s statement: “Be smart be seen, I was in a safe place!” The district reminds children to practice safe practices while waiting at the bus stop, while riding the bus and walking to school.
The big yellow school bus has become an institution in the country, with children and families benefitting from the safe transportation service provided by these vehicles and the staff who operates them. Often we take for granted the benefit of this service, even while school and transportation staff continue the focus on maximizing safety and efficiency.
More than 800,000 Ohio students ride on school buses each day and nearly 16,000 bus drivers, mechanics and supervisors statewide are dedicated to providing safe transportation for Ohio children. National studies show school buses are among the safest method for transporting young people.
This year’s national campaign focuses on reminding children to wait at their driver-designated place of safety. Stay out of the streets and be alert to their surrounding environment.
At the same time, the district wants to remind motorists who travel during school hours when children are present to remain alert for the unpredictable things that children sometimes do. When one sees the red lights flashing and stop sign on the big yellow school bus, watch for children getting on or off the bus. Ohio law requires drivers to stop clear of the school bus until the bus driver cancels the red lights.
“Ensuring the safety of our students is crucial,” is the message of Dr. Markwardt, superintendent, and the Chesterland Police Department. “We are training our bus drivers to be cautious, but we need help from parents to make sure children remain alert and mindful of good safety practices when walking to the bus stop or to school.”
The district’s transportation depart-ment offers the following tips to children while getting on and off the bus:
Get to the bus in plenty of time, wait at your driver-designated place of safety, take 10 giant steps away from the bus when unloading, always follow the drivers directions for how to cross the street, be alert to traffic and look both ways and if you must cross the street, always cross in front of the bus.
West Geauga Local Schools has bus safety brochures that are available at the transportation office, BOE office or a downloadable version is available on the district website.
College Athletic Recruiting Process
Nov. 5, 7 p.m.
Dynamite Sports will present an educational presentation on the college athletic recruiting process in the West Geauga High School gymnasium. The program is for student-athletes in grades 8-12 and their parents.
The presentation focuses on how the college recruiting process works, including academic guidelines; specifics on the NCAA eligibility center; how to evaluate a child’s talent; creating a recruiting plan; differences in NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA & junior colleges; realistic expectations on getting an athletic scholarship and scholarship limits; recruiting standards; the three options of marketing the student-athlete; college visits; setting realistic expectations and confronting the misconceptions on college recruiting and other suggested topics.
Attendees will receive a free SAT/ACT prep DVD valued at $200. Limit one per family; shipping and handling not included and the DVD must be ordered online.
