Helping out

Life Skills Center of Columbus North Administrator Joe Buckalew reported a successful Pennies for Patients campaign this year.

"We are extremely proud of our students who have donated approximately $700 to this organization which is devoted to helping children with leukemia," Buckalew said.

He promised his students that he would shave his head if they reach a goal of $1,000.

For information about the drive or to make a pledge, call 614-891-9041.

Story about LSC Columbus North graduate

A friend's encouragement is what Ali Oakes needed to go
back to high school to finish her diploma.

"Emilie told me this was my last chance," Oakes said.

So after moving to Columbus from Alabama, Oakes took
the opportunity and enrolled last June at Life Skills
Center of Columbus North.

"A high school diploma is pretty important to me," she
said. "It gives me the opportunity to get a better
job."

Oakes said she likes the pace of the school.

"She's a pretty hard worker," said her teacher Felicia
Smith. "She really puts in the time."

After graduation, Oakes said she wants to enroll in
community college and eventually pursue a career in
sports coaching.

Student has poetry published

Life Skills Center of Columbus North student Christin Johnson had a poem recently published in the "Teen Speak" section of The Columbus Dispatch.

Christin, 17, has attended the school since July. Her interests include sign language and singing.

Her poem, "My Morning," was dedicated to her mother.

Here is her poem.

My Morning

Morning woke me up today.
Singing the most exquisite song,
Nothing can compare
To such beauty
My Morning

The pureness of this tune is irresistible
Adoration knowing no distress
And agony now a stranger
Few to give thanks to
One being
My Morning

Mesmerized by the compassion she has for me
Her empathy being never forgotten
The existence of morning,
For eternity…a blessing
Fallen and picked up
Taken such care of
By one I want to thank
My Morning

To my bewildered mind:
The tender love that you hold
No longer destructed

Misery forever terminated
The troubled living days of my past
No longer a part of me
Torn into pieces
From one I care so deeply for
My Morning

What a joy it is to me
To live this serene life
All possible by you
My Morning

My recognition of love for you
Believing to be
Unfathomable

My days all to be continued
Because of you
My Morning

Giving you the respect
I know you deserve
Much more love
From me to you
Many more thanks
I say to you
Forever a pleasure
To have met you
Forever mine
My Mother
My Morning

Written and composed by Christin Johnston
Copyright 2007

Life Skills Center of Columbus North open house

The school, located at 1900 E. Dublin-Granville Road, will host an open house noon Feb. 4.

For information, call 614-891-9041.

Life Skills Center of Columbus North Jan. 2008 graduates

Kristen Bauer --- Columbus

Porsche Black --- Columbus

Kendrell Chambers --- Columbus

Marrio Busack --- Columbus

Gail Hodge --- Columbus

Ali Oakes --- Columbus

Emilie Richardson --- Columbus

Stephanie Medina --- Columbus

Kadi Kamara --- Columbus

Wesley Vargas --- Columbus

Ashley Chapman --- Gahanna

Rachel Kaczmarek --- Westerville

Megan Morris --- Westerville

Marlon Byrd --- Canal Winchester

Kevin Thomas --- Reynoldsburg

Amber Wilson --- Washington Court House

Life Skills Center of Columbus North featured graduate

Ali Oakes talks about her experiences at the school. She is expected to graduate in January.

Holiday Food Collection

Students and staff are asked to bring in non-perishable food through Dec. 18 at Life Skills Center of Columbus North

The food will be used to replenish the school's food pantry, which helps students and staff who are in need of extra assistance throughout the year.

The lab who collects the most food will receive a pizza party on Dec. 21.

The event is sponsored by the school's GRADS program.

Graduation date

Life Skills Center of Columbus North will hold its winter graduation 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Fawcett Center in Columbus.

Columbus No. 10 in nation in charter school enrollment

Read story here

Schools in process of adding lunch program

Life Skills Centers of Columbus North and Columbus Southeast are in the process of adding a lunch program for its students.

The board of the schools recently approved the program.

Life Skills Centers Special Projects Coordinator Ron Jones said the program should take 3-6 months to be implemented.

"We're ready to move forward and offer free meals to everyone," Jones said.

Students will be asked to fill out a lunch application prior to the implementation of the program.

A pilot program was started at Life Skills Centers of Canton, Summit County and Dayton earlier this year and was successfully implemented, Life Skills Center Vice President Rodd Coker said.

Columbus schools consider pilot lunch program

Life Skills Centers of Columbus North and Columbus Southeast are considering launching a pilot lunch program for students who qualify financially.

"We're in the process of talking to the boards this month about the program," said Life Skills Centers Vice President Rodd Coker.

Participating students are asked to fill out a lunch application before taking part in the program.

“Research shows that there is a correlation between good nutrition and student achievement,” said Life Skills Centers Special Projects Coordinator Ron Jones. “One of out goals is to provide every Life Skills Center student a nutritious meal at no charge.”

The pilot program was started at Life Skills Centers of Canton, Summit County and Dayton earlier this year and was successful, Coker said.

Green living

Life Skills Center of Columbus North teacher quoted in story about living simply.

Read Columbus Dispatch story here

Parents pleased with school

John and Lilly Cavanaugh of Columbus recently sent a letter to Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted about their son, Wesley, who just graduated from Life Skills Center of Columbus North.

Last year, he attended Life Skills Center of Dayton before his parents moved to Columbus.

"Wes struggles with a serious medical condition which had previously caused him to drop out of school," John said in his letter. "With the help of social workers at Kettering Medical Center, we learned about the 'Fast Forward Program' and enrolled him at Life Skills.

"As a result of this individualized attention and caring staff at Life Skills, Wesley passed his Ohio Graduation Tests and is on track to graduate this June. This has been a life-changing experience for him and we ask you to ensure that these centers remain open across the state of Ohio."

Life Skills Center of Columbus North graduates

1. Travis Thompson: IEP student who earned 8 core credits + 1 work credit at our school. He never looks for the easy way out--he really puts the effort into his work. He will end up with a 3.5 GPA. He is a student who appreciates diversity.
2. Stephanie Strawser: Earned 6.5 credits + 4 work credits with us. She completed right before her 23rd birthday, but still needed to pass two OPT's. She has worked full time, so she found it difficult to make it to school for tutoring. When she finally did come for tutoring, she ended up passing both the OPT and OGT math tests. She never gave up.
3. Shakenya Ingram-Williams: After attending six different high schools, she earned 3.25 credits with us and passed her last OPT at our school.

Story about Columbus North student on Channel 4

Columbus schools graduation details

WHERE: Fawcett Center, Lane and Olentangy, Columbus

WHEN: 7 p.m. June 21

SPEAKER: Columbus Councilman Hearcel F. Craig

Life Skills Center of Columbus North graduation list

Shaniqua Adanadus-Columbus
De’Angelo Akins-Columbus
Amal Ali---Columbus
Nicole Buchanan-Columbus
Anthony Davis-Columbus
Elizabeth Duncan-Upper Arlington
Kyle Gibson-Columbus
Brandon Gwinn-Columbus
Je’Vohn Hill-Columbus
Shakenya Ingram-Williams-Columbus
Leroy McCreary-Columbus
Ahmed Mohamud-Columbus
Johnnt Paris-Columbus
Breklyn Paulitzky-Worthington
Lynnell Randall-Columbus
Sarah Romaniuk-Worthington
Anthony Rudd-Columbus
Stephanie Strawser-Blacklick
Travis Thompson-Gahanna

Teacher is world-traveler

A Columbus teacher has taken her message of peace worldwide.

Linda Hancock, a teacher at Columbus Life Skills North who is an author and prize-winning poet, has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people and world leaders about her global organization entitled Poetry and Praise Productions Inc.

The group was recognized by the State of Ohio and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman during its tenth anniversary last year.

Through her group, she travels globally to talk about ways to make the world a better place.

She’s met with the President of Cambodia and the vice-president of South Korea. She’s also met with presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush.

Her most recent trip was a three-week trip to Africa in January to train teachers to teach. She was sent by the United States Department of Aid for International Development (USAID), and the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH).

Students take part in school choice hearing

Students from Life Skills Centers of Columbus Southeast, Columbus North and Springfield participated in a recent House Finance Committee Hearing on school choice.
The Ohio House recently unanimously voted to adopt a budget which protects school choice.

Life Skills Center student writing about dad's service in Iraq

Jeanne Mills, a student at Life Skills of Columbus North (Ohio), recently had her children’s book “When a Father Goes to War” published by Nationwide Learning Inc., based out of Topeka, Kansas.

Mills’ father Grant, served on the Army National Guard Recovery Team from June 2005-June 2006 in Iraq, helped recover equipment damaged by attacks.

Her book deals with being separated from a loved one serving overseas.

“My dad was in the Marines when I was little,” she said. “(But since then) I never was separated (from him) for over a week. It was very hard.”

The 18-year-old Columbus resident started her work in March, when she wrote a poem for a school assignment.

The poem developed into an essay and then the book, which was published in December.

Mills said she wants to share her experiences with other students in the area.