Helping Junior Achievement

The school was a corporate sponsor for the recent Junior Achievement of Lorain County's Ghostly Gala bowling event.

Over $10,000 was raised for the organization, which will use the funds to provide financial education programs in every school district throughout the county.

Pictured from left are Joyce Mondak, Meg Story, Eric Woods, Crystal Garmon and Pete Rogers.

College visit planned

Students from Life Skills Center of North Akron will travel 10 a.m. Nov. 9 for a college visit at Stark State College of Technology.

Family Educational Services Coordinator named

Kelly Alexander was named Family Educational Services Coordinator for Life Skills Centers.

She most recently served as Family Advocate for Life Skills Center of Summit County.

Report: One in every ten U.S. schools are dropout factories

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Advocates back charter schools in newspaper article

Terry Ryan is vice president for Ohio programs and policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and Emmy L. Partin is a researcher for the institute. The institute's sister organization, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, supports charter schools and sponsors four charter schools in Dayton. They wrote the following piece in Sunday's Dayton Daily News.

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Getting ready

A Life Skills Center of Liberty City teacher was quoted in story about her Black Family Retreat event at North Miami Beach.

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Trumbull school hosts Harvest Party

Slide show from Harvest Party hosted by Life Skills Center of Trumbull County and YouthBuild Trumbull County.

State representative visits Dayton school

Ohio Rep. Arlene Setzer (R-Vandalia) visited the Life Skills Center of Dayton Friday.The visit was requested by Springfield GRADS Coordinator Peggy Kelly and coordinated by Ohio Coalition for Quality Education President Ron Adler.

Thirteen GRADS teachers as well as Mound Street Academies Superintendents Sue Garretson and Anne Bean joined Setzer in the visit.

Elyria school to host trick-or-treat program

WHAT: The school is inviting GRADS students into the school to trick or treat from classroom to classroom. The GRADS program helps equip teen parents with the skills needed to do well in life, including self-esteem, developing healthy relationships, leadership, economic impendence, how to manage stress and employability skills. The students in the program also are required to host a community service project.

WHERE: Life Skills Center of Elyria, 2015 West River Road North, Elyria, Ohio 44035

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

School mentioned in story about upcoming Fifth Annual Trumbull County Make a Difference Day

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Letter of thanks for Braille books

To the Canton Life Skills students,

On behalf of the Stark County District Library, I would like to thank you for the beautiful Braille books donated to our collection. Student writing is always a joy, but to have them put into Braille makes it all the more special to the library and its patrons. You put a lot of thought and creativity into your writing and your teacher put great effort into having them published. It was definitely a labor of love that will be appreciated for years to come. thank you again for your wonderful work.

Sincerely
Vicki Muzzi

Stark County District Library Resource Director

Dayton No. 2 in nation in charter school enrollment

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Columbus No. 10 in nation in charter school enrollment

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Youngstown No. 3 in nation in charter school enrollment

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Cleveland tied for no. 6 in charter schools

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Cincinnati tied for No. 6 in nation for charter schools

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Youngstown No. 3 in nation in charter school enrollment

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Trumbull school to help with Harvest Day activity

WHAT: Life Skills Center of Trumbull County staff members will be helping YouthBuild Trumbull County staff members and students with a Halloween Party for children. The event is open to parents and their children up to 10 years old.

WHERE: Life Skills Center of Trumbull County, 458 Franklin St. S.E., Warren, 44484

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 26, 2007 from 5-7 p.m.

The center's goal in having this activity is to educate parents on “Trick or Treating” safety. School leaders feel by offering this Harvest Day activity, it would be a positive alternative for our community’s families by allowing children to interact with one another in a safe environment. We chose this activity to be a part of the well known and respected “Make a Difference Day” being held on October 27.

YouthBuild has been participating in “Make A Difference Day” for a number of years now. Part of our mission is to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations by showing our community members that the younger generation has the desire and capabilities to offer their services to society.

School holds poetry classes

WHAT: Life Skills Center of Trumbull County is continuing poetry classes for its students Tuesdays in November.

WHERE: Life Skills Center of Trumbull County, 458 Franklin St. S.E., Warren, 44484

WHEN: 10-11 a.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays in November.

Marcia McCreary and LuAnn Stiles, English teachers at the school, are hosting "Poetry and Pastries" workshops.

In these workshops, students learn techniques for writing poetry.

Attendance is voluntary. Students come just to learn more about poetry and to increase their writing skills.

Students often share their writings in class and they truly enjoy listening to each others work. So far, over 30 students have attended the workshops.

The school will hold a poetry contest at the end of the workshops where winners will win prizes. First place will be a $50 gift certificate, second place a $25 gift certificate, and third place a $10 gift certificate. There will aslo be 10 honorable mentions. Students will be allowed to submit 2 poems each for the contest. They winners will also receive award ribbons in a ceremony.

School to host blood drive

Life Skills Center of Akron, located on the fourth floor of the Arcade Building, 80 W. Bowery St., will host a blood drive 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 6 at the school.

If the school reaches its goal of 25 donors, it will receive $500 in scholarship funds for students.

Pontiac school to participate at education event

WHAT: Life Skills Center of Pontiac Family Advocate Gerald Massey and students from the school will participate in a Oakland County Coalition of Hispanic Services Education Event. Massey will do a presentation, while several students will serve as interpreters. The school will also have a table at the event. Over 300 people are expected to attend.

WHERE: St. Michael's Catholic Church, 120 Lewis Street, Pontiac, Mich. 48340

WHEN: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007

Teacher to speak at New York City conference

English teacher Elizabeth Fogle, a 2007 graduate of Ohio Northern University, will present on Friday, November 16 at the annual convention for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) in New York City, which is slated Nov. 15-18.

Discussing the need for collegiate clubs focused on preservice teachers, her presentation highlights the need for peer-to-peer communication at the college level to aid in the development of prospective teachers.

She founded the Secondary Education Society along with four fellow students while at Ohio Northern University. One, a teacher in Maryland, and the other three, still students at ONU, will also take part in the presentation.

"We wanted a way for current students at the university to stay in touch with alumni," she said. "Since I work at a charter school, it gives me an opportunity to share my experiences with those who are still waiting to get into the classroom."

The society meets on campus but also has an online forum for alumni to respond to student questions.

Fogle has been with Life Skills Center of Dayton for four months and is a University of Dayton graduate student. She graduated from Benjamin Logan High School in 2004 and currently lives in Riverside, Ohio.

Professional clothing drive successful

Four large bags of professional clothing were collected durinng a drive held by the corporate offices of Life Skills Centers.

The clothes are for students to borrow for job interviews.

Clothing was given to Life Skills Center of Lake Erie.

Teacher to speak at New York City conference

English teacher Elizabeth Fogle, a 2007 graduate of Ohio Northern University, will present on Friday, November 16 at the annual convention for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) in New York City, which is slated Nov. 15-18.

Discussing the need for collegiate clubs focused on preservice teachers, her presentation highlights the need for peer-to-peer communication at the college level to aid in the development of prospective teachers.

She founded the Secondary Education Society along with four fellow students while at Ohio Northern University. One, a teacher in Maryland, and the other three, still students at ONU, will also take part in the presentation.

"We wanted a way for current students at the university to stay in touch with alumni," she said. "Since I work at a charter school, it gives me an opportunity to share my experiences with those who are still waiting to get into the classroom."

The society meets on campus but also has an online forum for alumni to respond to student questions.

Fogle has been with Life Skills Center of Dayton for four months and is a University of Dayton graduate student. She graduated from Benjamin Logan High School in 2004 and currently lives in Riverside, Ohio.

School honoring military

Life Skills Center of Canton students will be working over the next few weeks on thank you notes and drawings to help mark Veterans Day.

The notes and drawings will be on display at the school.

Here is an example of a drawing created for the display.

Operation First Response featured on Channel 33

Helping Out

Slide show from Life Skills Center of Cincinnati staff members visit to the Ronald McDonald House of Cincinnati

Operation First Response featured on Channel 33

NBA superstar visits Florida Life Skills

Dwayne Wade advises students to ‘keep working hard and you’ll graduate’

On Sept. 7, Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat visited with the students and staff at Life Skills Center of Broward County.

Wade said he had heard many great things about Life Skills Centers and just wanted to see for himself.

To the great surprise of our students, Wade casually walked into each lab and created a lot of excitement.

Wade happily signed autographs and posed for photos with each student.

He also asked several students to explain the class work that they were working on.
Wade told students, "Keep working hard and you'll graduate."

Student fares well in competitions

On July 31, student Linda Felizor auditioned for "American Idol" on a local television program called Deco Drive. Linda was immediately selected for the next round!

Felizor also recently performed the song “Should Have Known Better” by Monica recently at American Airlines Arena in Miami for the next round of the American Idol competition.

She has also been invited to perform later this year at the Apollo Theater in New York City.

GIRLS INC. helps empower female students

Life Skills works with GIRLS INC., a local nonprofit that focuses on empowering young female students.

Lupe Tapia, community educator, with Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver was recently at the school.

Tapia presented the various free services offered by Girls Inc.

Girls Inc. offers many after school teen programs including sports, art, dance, computer access and homework tutoring. Friday nights at Girls Inc. are girls nights out doing fun activities such as field trips, going to dinner and movies.

Girls Inc. has a Taking Care of Business class that is designed especially for high school girls to educate them on women's health and provide them with skills to make healthy choices.

Another class offered by Girls Inc. is Mi Avenida which is a college prep program.

Girls in this program also have the opportunity to be referred to National Scholarships and the Daniels Fund.

All girls who complete this class receive a $75 cash incentive.

Community Service/Volunteer hours can also be completed at Girls Inc.

Student tells her story

News update from the school

Fifteen students from Life Skills Leon County are dual enrolled at Lively Vo-Tech Institute.

They will receive one year of hands on job training and when finished will be certified in their respective programs.

They will spend four hours per day at Life Skills working on their high school diploma and four hours at Lively completing job training classes.

We salute our future Auto Service Techs, Legal Administrative Assistants, Medical Administrative Assistants, Culinary Operators, Commercial Photographers, Accountants and Commercial Art Technologists.

We will have as our honored guest speaker on Sept. 7, Aarick Hasberry - Executive Chef for Cherry Laurel.

He will do a healthy cooking and nutrition demonstration.

He is the former chef for Florida State University Suwannee Room, Michael's Italian Grill and Chez Pierre. He has degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. He has volunteered for Life Skills before when he served as a volunteer judge for our school’s October 2006 Talent Show!

Khari Harrison, Area People Director, for Waffle House, Inc. was the guest speaker on Aug. 22. He was so impressed with the students in the Job Club that he has committed to working with us in the future in numerous areas including job placement, referring community resources, etc.

Keller on the radio

Life Skills Center of Elyria student George Keller was featured earlier today on the "Les in the Morning" program on WEOL radio in Elyria.


Listen to the interview here

School art contest winner announced

Life Skills Center of Canton student Jonathan McGregor, 19, a Plain Township resident, won a fall art contest by the school. Jonathan's picture is called "Harvest Moon."

"I've been drawing since I was little," he said. "It's something I love doing. My mom likes to draw. She influenced me."

The contest was judged by staff members.

"His picture was very creative," said Polly Ainsworth, a Title One English teacher at the school and Tuscarawas Township resident. "It was inspirational to other students because they looked at it and wanted to learn from his techniques."

Ainsworth said he wants to have art contests weekly through the fall at the school.

McGregor says he enjoys Life Skills.

"It allows a smooth transition from other schools," he said, adding he is hoping to graduate in December.

Student artwork

Jonathan McGregor's art is spotlighted here.

Northeast school holds community luncheon

Life Skills Center Northeast held a community luncheon at the school Oct. 3.

About 20 representatives from area agencies to hear staff and students speak about the school. A tour was also offered.

The luncheon was hosted by Family Advocate Balaia Ali.

Resource fair planned

The school has tentatively planned a resource fair for Nov. 8, where students can meet with representatives from community agencies.

New logo for Life Skills

By GLENN WOJCIAK
Hats Off Newsletter

Life Skills Centers have a new logo.

The redesign is the culmination of an eight-month long project that was launched following the requests of students and staff members who asked for a new look for the school emblem.

Rodd Coker, Vice President of Life Skills Centers; Monica Jones, Director of Marketing, and Michael Wilson, Marketing Manager, took charge of the effort.

Staff and students were polled on what they wanted the logo to look like.

The elements were incorporated into the new design shown here.

It’s hoped this logo will better represent the goals and ideals of the students and staff at Life Skills Centers where education is paramount.

Students voted overwhelmingly for the logo to include a crest.

The graduates depicted in the logo represent more than 8,000 students who have now achieved academic success and earned a high school diploma with the help of Life Skills Centers.

Look for the new logo to appear soon on promotional items, the company Web site, school signs, and a variety of printed material.

Video, slide show, podcast from Day One of Spirit Week at Elyria school

Video from the event



Slide show from the event



Link to podcast

Listen here

School update

The start of a new school year is both exciting and challenging with many new faces and procedures appearing in our schools.

Benjamin Valdez reports on some of the changes taking place at Life Skills Centers in Colorado and Arizona.

According to Valdez, The Western District in Arizona and Colorado has welcomed Cathy Mills as the district’s new curriculum and training specialist to help with professional development.

A new reading program called Language! is aimed at identifying reading and comprehension difficulties so teachers can provide the individual help students need to raise their reading comprehension.

Valdez said his district is preparing to submit two new charter applications in Colorado. The goal is to open Life Skills Centers in Aurora and Commerce City for the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

The Life Skills Center of Arizona has a new administrator, Diana Lopez. She comes to Life Skills from the Colorado Distance & Electronic Learning Academy and brings with her a wealth of teaching and administrative experience.

Update from Life Skills Centers Southern Region

Tami Augustine, Ohio Southern Regional Director, reports that it’s an exciting time of year as the staff works on new and innovative ways to educate students.

The Life Skills Centers in her region have adopted a new lab model with subject-specific labs.

Students work in the labs after meeting with their homeroom teachers to establish daily goals.

Augustine reports the Southern Region is experiencing more consistent enrollment than ever before, indicating fewer students are leaving for different educational experiences.

Life Skills Centers in the region had their highest percentage of students taking the Ohio Graduation Test during the 2006-2007 school year.

Another result of the enrollment gains is more students taking part in the interesting field trips offered, such as a visit to the Ohio Legislature where students have voiced their support for school choice.

Students at Life Skills Center of Springfield have also taken part in the Muse Machine, a program which brings the arts to schools and students to Dayton where they visit various museums.

The staff and students at the Life Skills Centers of Dayton also seem to be excited about a pilot lunch program. For the first time last year, LSC students were served a hot lunch daily.

It seems to have contributed to increased attendance, fewer behavioral difficulties and, most importantly, more focused students.

The remaining six schools in the region hope to implement the lunch program this year.

New schools opening

By GLENN WOJCIAK
Hats Off Newsletter

Life Skills Centers is celebrating the opening of new schools in Detroit, Mich. and Florida.

Officials from White Hat Management and Covenant House dedicated a new 13,500-square-feet facility at Central High School in Detroit Aug. 14.

Cardinal Adam Maida, from the Archdiocese of Detroit, attended the dedication ceremony along with David Brennan, founder of White Hat Management. Also in attendance were Charles Parsons, President of Life Skills Centers, Janet Burns, Michigan State Executive for Life Skills Centers; retired Life Skills Centers Vice President Mary Kay Shields, and Antoinette Cunningham, Ambassador at Covenant House Life Skills Center Central.

The 150 students enrolled in the new high school will follow the Life Skills Centers model by pursuing their coursework online in four-hour-a-day sessions in a high tech, public charter school. The school accommodates student’s ages 16-19 seeking an alternative to traditional public schools.

Three new Life Skills Centers opened in Florida Aug. 20, increasing the educational opportunities for many Florida students.

Florida State Director Paul Jungkunz said the new schools are Life Skills Center Liberty City in Miami, Life Skills Center Orange County in Orlando and Life Skills Center Polk East, which will soon be moving to Winterhaven from a temporary location in Dundee.

Life Skills Centers serve a critical need in Florida and more centers are planned there.

“Many kids in Florida need the services we offer -- an alternative form of education,” Jungkunz said.

Florida Marlins infielder Dan Uggla is expected to make an appearance at a grand opening celebration planned at LSC Orange County Oct. 9.

The administrators of the three new schools are Thomas Hanley, LSC Liberty City; Dr. Bonnie King, LSC Orange County; and Regina Castillo, LSC Polk East.

Braille books donated to library

By GLENN WOJCIAK
Hats Off Newsletter

A literature exercise for students at the Life Skills Center of Canton, Ohio has had far-reaching effects.

English teacher Polly Ainsworth instructed her students to write poems and short stories with the goal of having them published for the visually impaired.

The result was a set of 12 books printed in Braille which have been donated to the Stark County District Library.

The project was supported by members of the Canton Philomatheon Society of the Blind, which typed the manuscripts in Braille, and the Massillon Lions Club, which provided a grant to publish it.

Though Braille is a new medium for Ainsworth and her students, she has arranged to have student writings printed in the past. One of those books written by her students was published two years ago with the help of a grant from the Ezra Keats Foundation.

It was distributed to Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland and the Massillon Public Library.

White Hat Management provided extra copies for every Life Skills Center across the country.

Touched by the fact that a former blind student could not read a class book, Ainsworth was inspired to have the latest book printed in Braille.

In addition to providing sorely needed reading material for blind adolescents, the new books have also proven to be uplifting for Ainsworth’s Life Skills students.

“I told the students I would only accept positive writings,” she said.
According to Ainsworth, her students are too often moved to submit creative poems and stories dealing with dark subjects such as death and dying.

“My students were forced to contemplate positive subjects,” she said.
Ainsworth discovered they didn't realize what it would feel like to contribute to society in such a positive way and were emotionally unprepared for the sense of accomplishment that followed.

Some broke down into tears when the books were delivered and they saw their words in print.

“A parent of one of the writer’s came in to shake my hand and personally thank me,” Ainsworth said.

The attractive books, now shelved in the public library, have become a great source of pride for the young authors and their families, some of whom have struggled under difficult situations.

Video, slide show from Day One of Life Skills Center of Elyria's Spirit Week

Video from the event



Slide show from the event

School to host community luncheon

WHAT: Life Skills Center Northeast will host a community luncheon with student and staff members. In addition, a tour of the facility will also be offered.

WHERE: Life Skills Center Northeast, 12201 Larchmere Blvd, Cleveland

WHEN: noon, Wednesday, Oct. 3

"Operation First Response" featured on WKBN

Mobile Dentists featured on Channel 23

Update from Life Skills Centers Northern Region

The start of a new school year is both exciting and challenging with many new faces and procedures appearing in our schools.

Life Skills Center Northern Ohio Region Director Deb Gurich reports on some of the changes taking place at Life Skills Centers in northern Ohio.

According to Gurich, the Northern Ohio Region is benefiting from the additional support provided by new curriculum specialist Jill Coppola, who recently joined the White Hat Management team.

Coppola is helping ensure curriculum is in full compliance and alignment with state and Title I requirements and is assisting with professional development.

According to Deb Gurich, Northern Ohio Director, a modified lab environment this year should help the highly qualified teachers provide more support and interaction with students.

The aim is to improve attendance, the number of credits earned and, most of all, the number of graduates.

Several schools in The Northern Ohio Region also have a new reading program, Reading 180.

It should help identify students with reading and comprehension deficiencies so teachers can work with them individually to improve.

Gurich also reports that Life Skills Centers under her supervision have an open house once a month.

Representatives from area businesses, parents, friends, family members and students are invited.

One of the goals is to allow the vocational specialists to meet with businessmen to talk about student employment, an important aspect of the program for students attending Life Skills Centers.

Grand opening set

A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at the Life Skills Center of Orange County, 4526 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando.

An open house is planned from 8:30-11 a.m. and a continental breakfast will be served.

Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla will sign autographs at the event.