Perrysburg Schools Spotlight - August 2016 Edition

We hope you enjoy our monthly eNewsletter, spotlighting excellence in our programs, students and employees!



Did you know, although students are not in classrooms over the summer, teachers are in the classrooms themselves! Here are just some of the professional development activities that took place this summer.

Six 8th grade language arts teachers attended a Summer Literacy Institute at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The three-day seminar focused on developing strategies to help struggling students overcome obstacles to become strong readers and writers of nonfiction. Earlier in the summer, five high school teachers and an administrator attended a similar conference in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

A two-day retreat took place in June for the members of Hull Prairie Intermediate School's Faculty. This was the first meeting that brought the whole team together. They discussed planning for the coming year to prepare for the new school for 5th and 6th grade students, which will open in the fall of 2017.

NWOi3 (Northwest Ohio Innovate, Instruct and Inspire) is a group of eight area school districts that, over the course of the last three summers, are creating digital resources for 16 courses in English Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies in lieu of purchasing textbooks. Seventeen Perrysburg teachers are on the team of over 60 teachers. They met for a week of boot camp in June and they had work sessions 1-2 days per week in July in addition to writing on their own. The high school will be ready for this school year and the junior high will be ready next school year, with more projects to come. Not only does this save money on textbook adoptions for all school districts involved, but it also enables custom content as well as the flexibility to update the materials as changes occur instead of waiting several years for a new textbook to be purchased.



Caitlin Madigan, an 8th grader at Perrysburg Junior High School, is not only a high-achieving student and leader among her peers, she has also been a member of the Greater Toledo Gymcats Team since 2010. She is a Level 9; gymnastics students begin competing at Level 3 and Level 10 is the highest before “Elite,” which is for Olympic hopefuls. She practices at least 12 hours per week and some nights until 9 p.m. Caitlin’s ultimate goal is to go to college and compete in gymnastics at that level. She does all four events—vault, bars, beam and floor—but bars are her favorite. So far in 2016, she was the Ohio USA Gymnastics Level 8 State Vault Champion and 14th All-Around at YMCA Nationals.

Caitlin loves math and science, has always been interested in medicine and nutrition and exercise are passions for her as well.

Caitlin was selected to be a part of the High Impact Peer Program (H.I.P.P.) this past fall. It is a two-day camp offered through PJHS designed to develop leadership skills and self-confidence to a cross-section of student leaders and potential leaders. Along with developing leadership skills, a strong emphasis is placed on anti-bullying awareness and prevention. She really enjoyed this experience.

Caitlin may be going into 8th grade, but she still volunteers every year at the Toth Carnival. She is very helpful with her younger brothers. She went door-to-door for Citizens for Perrysburg Schools' fall levy campaign with her mother, Missy Madigan, who chaired the campaign. She is eager to learn about how the world works, politics and community organizing. Caitlin has also participated in choir for special events at Saint Jerome Walbridge.

We’re so proud of all of your hard work and accomplishments, Caitlin!



Not only does Sarah Bedee teach 2nd Grade at Toth Elementary School, she also did her student teaching there and was even a Toth student herself! One activity that the second grade does each year is Pioneer Day, where they transform their classroom into a one-room schoolhouse, use no technology and eat only foods that would have been available during pioneer times. “It’s a fun day that they remember forever,” said Ms. Bedee.

But of course throughout the rest of the year, technology is used regularly. Even in such an early grade, students are using classroom sets of laptops for individualized reading assignments and the class signs out Mini iPads for different learning centers, such as learning cursive. The class also uses “Plickers,” which enable the teacher to quickly assess if students understand a concept by scanning the room as they hold up cards.

During this past school year, the 2nd grade teachers each specialized in a given subject, a practice that will continue this coming school year. “By focusing on math, I’m able to tailor my lessons more and delve deeper into planning and ensuring we are best meeting the needs of each student,” Ms. Bedee explained.

After winning a classroom grant through the Perrysburg Schools Foundation (PSF) to replace her students’ chairs with stability balls in 2012, Ms. Bedee became more involved with PSF, and is now a Board Member chairing the grants area, where she leads the review of grant applications. “It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to gain a different perspective on things, not only working with my colleagues and their novel ideas through PSF, but also working with community members who also volunteer for PSF who aren’t teachers but are supportive of our mission.”

To suggest a program, student or employee for an upcoming Spotlight, please contact Rachel Zickar at [email protected].