Schools

Westlake High School teams aced the recent Student Model Home Design Contest at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center in Brecksville, taking the top three prizes of the competition, and seven of the top ten.

The WHS senior team of Jacob Hoffman, Jacob Lemanowicz and Theodore Poulos took first place and the overall grand prize, winning the $1,000 scholarship. They also won two specialty category awards for “Best 3D/CAD Drawings” and the prestigious “Architectural Award of Merit.”

Second place overall and $300 went to the WHS junior team of James Lydon, Katherine Garruto and Avery Starin.

Imagine if Abraham Lincoln had a conversation with John Wilkes Booth. What would one of our greatest U.S. presidents have said to his assassin?



Eighth-graders at Lee Burneson stepped back into history last month as they participated in the Civil War Encampment and Ball, both longtime traditions at Westlake's middle school.



The May 15 encampment began with an authentic Civil War-era supper in the school's cafeteria, which was transformed into a mess hall from the 1860s. Nearly 300 students dined on a menu consisting of chicken stew, beef jerky, rice, beans, biscuits, cornbread and of course, cake. There wasn't a pizza slice or Sloppy Joe in sight.



After the meal, the students were escorted in small groups by parent volunteers serving as regiment leaders to watch some of their classmates portray characters, the famous and the not-so-famous, in small scenes from the bygone era.



One Bay High graduate serving in Qatar and more than a dozen Bay High graduates serving active duty stateside will receive Bravery Boxes from current Bay High Key Club members, whose participation in the project resulted in quite a learning experience.

Richard Gash, Class of 1992, and members of his unit deployed in Qatar from the westside of Cleveland, will enjoy boxes filled with treats like coffee, tea, dried fruit, cheese, candy and student-baked cookies. Also included are personal amenities like toothpaste, magazines, liquid soap, batteries and lip balm.

"Tracking down the names of the alumni who are serving was the biggest challenge," said Anita Bauknecht, the students' advisor. "But it's worth it. We know packages from home are one of the biggest morale boosters for our troops."

The Bay Village Board of Education has approved a new logo for its Bay Village Rockets athletic teams, music groups and other student activity groups. It is a sleek, blue and red rocket designed by Bay High senior, Marek Mutch. Mutch’s design took first place in a Bay Rocket Logo Contest held by the district in November. The second place winner was senior Kaleigh Sima and third place went to junior Max Langer.

The Bay Rocket Logo Contest generated 167 student entries ranging from the traditional, to the whimsical, to the sophisticated. The selection jury of 20 members included students, staff, coaches and parents. Using a voting and discussion process that winnowed down the number of entries through a process of elimination, the three top winners were selected.

When Lee Burneson Middle School Language Arts teachers Paul Roth and Jennifer Seighman gave their seventh-graders a letter-writing assignment, they never expected it to produce a prosthetic arm.

More precisely, it was one of actor James Franco’s prosthetic arms used in the filming of “127 Hours.” The uncle of student Joe Gardner, Tony Gardner, is a special effects expert who happened to work on the movie set and designed the prosthetic arm.

The item was the result of an outrageous request letter-writing assignment in which students learn to write a business letter – part of the Ohio Department of Education’s standards for Language Arts classes.

Students in Mrs. Szelesta's first-grade class had a special visitor recently. Bay Village Mayor Deborah Sutherland helped them with their morning class assignments.

"I had so much fun with Mrs. Szelesta and her class!” said Mayor Sutherland. “They were all so engaging and energetic. I was very impressed with the creative, integrative, and interdisciplinary teaching that takes place at Normandy."

Mrs. Szelesta came away with a good impression of the program and the Mayor's visit. "It was nice to know that she could really see all that goes into a first-grader's day," she said. "Tying shoes, Band-Aids, forgetting a lunch, a ponytail falling out and forgetting library books were all minor things, but 'major' first-grader problems that she experienced with me all in the first hour of the morning!"

Twenty-four Lee Burneson Middle School and Westlake High School artists earned awards in the 2010 Cuyahoga County Regional Scholastic Art Competition and Exhibition, a celebration of the artistic talent of local teenagers. The awards were based on works submitted last spring.

The young artists compete for cash prizes, medals and scholarships. Students who receive Portfolio Awards and Gold Key Awards will continue to the national competition held in the spring in New York City. Past winners of the national competition include Truman Capote, Robert Redford, Andy Warhol and Sylvia Plath.

For 30 years, the Cleveland Institute of Art has hosted the Scholastic Art Competition to recognize creative achievement in area students grades seven to 12. A panel of local professional artists and art educators was organized by the Institute to jury the exhibit and select the awarded pieces from nearly 1,700 entries.

Five Westlake High School students have been selected as Student Senators by the Cleveland chapter of Facing History and Ourselves for this year’s conference at John Carroll University.

WHS juniors Michelle Canestraro, Rachel Evans, Andrew Spreng, Lindsay Weeast and Jaclyn Wulf were nominated by their Social Studies teacher, Elizabeth Noren, last spring and will serve as conference facilitators and leaders. Student Senators also will hail this year from Beachwood, Brush, Cleveland Heights, Hawken Upper, Lakewood, Shaker Heights, Shaw, St. Joseph, St. Martin de Porres and Twinsburg high schools.

Westlake High School swept the 13th annual Student Model Home Design Contest held Jan. 22 at Westlake High School. The winning model home designs will be featured at the Great Big Home and Garden Expo, Feb. 6-14 at the I-X Center. 

The Westlake High School senior team of A.J. Suever & Jeff Thaler took first place and the overall grand prize, winning the $1,000 scholarship. 

Second place overall and $250 went to the Westlake High School senior team of Matt Schmitz, Erich Beyer and Conner Dempsey. 

Finishing third overall and taking the $100 cash award was the Westlake High School team of senior Julie Wang and sophomore Robert Schill. They also won the $400 cash award for “Best Presentation” and $100 for “Best CAD Drawings.”  

A team of 20 Lee Burneson Middle School students took the top Quality Research Award of a LEGO robotics regional competition. 

The Westlake Math Demons robotics team competed in the 2009 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League (FLL) competition. This is the second straight year they earned the top research award, this year for their research into biodiesel fuels. The team also was recognized with a pin for “gracious professionalism” for their handling of adversity with persistence and tenacity.

Forty-nine Westlake High School juniors and seniors earned recognition from the College Board for their scores on the Advanced Placement Program (AP) exams. Our students are among the 18 percent of the 1.6 million students worldwide who performed at a sufficient level to earn an AP Scholar Award.

Recent graduate Charles Clum qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4 or higher on a five-point scale on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

Fourteen students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are recent graduates Lawrence Alatrash, William Barnes, Olivia Crandall, Meredith Eyre, Aidan Fenix, David Goldense, Julie Kendall, Katelin Mcardle, Alyssa Michaud, Kelsey Michels, Rachel Piskos, Kevin Rankin, Kimberly Schmitz and senior Victoria Eberts.

This time, all the cheers were for Chad DiLillo.

The Demons’ No. 1 fan, DiLillo, who has touched the hearts of the Westlake community with his unmatched spirit and enthusiasm, was given a rousing send-off this week at the high school.

On Thursday, students, faculty members, alumni, parents and civic leaders who have grown to love Chad, lined the school’s hallways for a “State Send-off,” a tradition typically reserved for any student or team who qualifies for an OHSAA championship.

No Demon ever deserved one more than Chad.

Annual WHS prom assembly stresses smart choices, showcases fashion

Although it is cold and dreary outside, spring is just one month away and with that comes high school prom and graduation season. Never was this more evident than on the morning of Friday, Feb. 15, at the Westlake High School Performing Arts Center as the PTSA Prom Assembly unfolded before the Westlake High School class of 2013. 

The Prom Assembly is presented every year to the seniors at Westlake High School to promote smart decisions during the deadliest time of a student’s life, the last 100 days of their high school career. Members of the class of 2013, their parents, community members, PTSA President Therese Squeri and school board members Anthony Falcone, Barbara Leszynski, Carol Winter and Tom Mays were greeted by masters of ceremony Cara Murthy, class president, and partner Corbin Dunlap.

A grand time was had by all at “Creating Opportunities: 2013,” Bay Village Education Foundation’s seventh annual fundraiser. The sold-out event was a smashing success this year, raising nearly $20,000. Held at Arrabiata’s Italian Restaurant in Bay Village on Sunday, Jan. 27, the fundraiser featured a silent auction filled with unique items, including a weeklong vacation in a Florida condo near Disney and a VIP evening in a suite for a Lake Erie Monsters game.

The Rocket Raffle, new to the event this year, gave guests the chance to win a giant collection of scratch-off lottery tickets, and the ever-popular “Wheelbarrow for Education” raffle was a big hit yet again.

BVEF treasurer Jeff Kalata was surprised with a lifetime achievement award, recognizing his many years of service to the organization. Kalata has been a trustee since 1997 and treasurer since 1999.

Five Westlake High School students and four Lee Burneson Middle School students won Gold Key awards in the Cuyahoga County Scholastic Art + Writing Competition, which recognizes creative achievement of seventh to 12th grade students throughout Cuyahoga County.

Senior Julianne Aprile, junior Kelsea Patterson and sophomores Paige Dawson and Christa Beyer won Gold Key awards. Sophomore Madeline Lee won four Gold Key awards. Representing LBMS with Gold Key awards are eighth-grader Jane Fitz, who won two Gold Keys, eighth-graders Sneha Ramachandran and Ben Sposet and seventh-grader Allie Routhier.

On Tuesday, Aug. 14, the West Shore Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Welcome New Teacher Luncheon at the Westlake Holiday Inn. The luncheon is organized by the Chamber’s Education Committee and is designed to recognize and welcome new teachers into the Westlake and Bay Village communities.

Twenty-five new teachers attended the luncheon and represented a wide range of grade levels and subject areas. For the second year in a row the luncheon was sponsored by Fairview Hospital.

State Representative Nan Baker, as the featured guest speaker, talked about how job creation and education are absolutely critical to the future of Ohio. She gave an overview of the legislation that has either been passed or is being considered that has helped Ohio soar from a dismal 47th place to the No. 2 job creator in the country in just 18 short months, even as our country’s economy continues to struggle.

In four years of high school, our new Bay High graduates have raised many thousands of dollars for good causes. They have won countless awards, given dozens of fine performances and played in hundreds of athletic competitions.They also completed the requirements necessary to graduate from Bay High School's rigorous academic program.

So on Monday, June 4, under a vivid blue sky in Bay High Memorial Stadium, 182 soon-to-be alumni celebrated four years of learning, service and growing up.

Bay Village Schools faculty, from kindergarten teachers on through high school teachers, marched from the high school in the black gowns of the college-degreed, showing the colors of their higher education alma maters. Once seated, they watched their students march in, young women in white with red flowers, young men in Bay Blue.

Ten Westlake High School English students earned awards from the Cleveland Clinic for their literary interpretations of peer-conducted scientific research.

The Cleveland Clinic eXpressions Language Project is an interdisciplinary program that utilizes written communication to engage high school students in the world of scientific research. Through project-based, peer-to-peer learning, students produce literary interpretations of research documented by Cleveland Clinic summer interns.

The students produced literary works mirroring the research of fellow students Andie DeMarsh and Lauren Choban, summer science interns with the Cleveland Clinic. DeMarsh studied mother/baby bonding, while Choban studied concussions – a hot button topic in the news in recent months.

Bay High School Principal Jim Cahoon, who has served in his position since 1999, announced he will retire at the end of this school year.
 
“Jim Cahoon has been both a talented instructional leader and a dedicated service community leader,” said Clint Keener, superintendent of the Bay Village City School District. “Our students, staff and community members have been well enriched by his tireless efforts on behalf of us all.”
 
Under Cahoon’s leadership, Bay High has been recognized with a wide variety of distinctions, including being named a 2010 U.S. Blue Ribbon School. Other recognition during Cahoon’s tenure includes Bay High’s inclusion on Newsweek’s Best High Schools in America list and the U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best High Schools list, the Harvard Business School Club of Northeast Ohio’s Excellence in School Management Award, and annually, the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Harold A. Meyer Sportsmanship Award. Thanks in large part to the expansive music program at Bay High, the Bay Village school district has been named to the Best Music Communities in America list since 2003.

A severe case of spring fever and senioritis spread throughout the Westlake City Schools Performing Arts Center on the morning of February 28 as the WHS PTSA Prom Assembly unfolded before the class of 2011’s eyes.

The prom assembly is presented to WHS seniors each year as a showcase of local companies who are involved in the “business” of prom, but also to promote a safe, senior celebratory season.

The assembly began with Masters of Ceremony, seniors Katie Draper and Dane Rimko, introducing Students Against Destructive Decisions Officer, senior Lauren Smith. Smith started off the presentation by giving remarks on the importance of making prudent prom choices this coming May. Along with these solemn words, the program of events handed out to students in the audience also included facts about underage drinking and using fake ID’s to purchase alcohol.

Fourteen Westlake High School students – the highest number in school history – were named National Merit Finalists in the 56th annual National Merit Scholarship program. These high school seniors have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $36 million.
 
These students scored in the top one percent of 50,000 high scorers to achieve Finalist status. They are Gaurav Idnany, Joseph Craven, Raymond Heimann, Abhinay Ramachandran, Daniel Meehan, Matthew Canestraro, Elizabeth Greco, Colin Graber, Rachel Braun, Lynn Orfahli, Andrew Zheng, Arunaditya Kulshreshtha, Ryan McNeilly and Katherine Beaton.

In "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane," author Kate DiCamillo and illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline take us on an extraordinary journey. From the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the top of a garbage heap to the fireside of a hobo’s camp, from the bedside of an ailing child to the streets of Memphis, we are shown a true miracle – even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

The main character of the book is a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. In honor of the book’s publication, Kate DiCamillo’s publisher, Candlewick Press, has created a china replica of the main character Edward Tulane. He has traveled around the country visiting schools, book stores, and libraries alike! Bay Village is one of his stops along the way!

Each year, Bay Middle School students help elderly homeowners with their autumn leaves in the annual Rake Out project. This year was no exception, as more than 140 homes had leaves raked up as part of the 2010 Rake Out, held on a beautiful fall Friday, November 12.

About 600 fifth- through eighth-graders rounded up their rakes, tarps and lots of muscle to get those gorgeous fall leaves off lawns and into piles along the curbs for pick up. They were joined by more than 80 parent and Bay Middle School staff volunteers. Afterwards, Bay Middle School PTSA provided refreshments for all.

Five Bay Village Schools Scholastic Art Gold Key winners will see their work move on to New York City for national judging (with one student sending two Gold Keys). Five Silver Key and eight Honorable Mention awards round out a fine showing for the Bay Village City School District at the 2010 Cuyahoga County Region Scholastic Art Competition and Exhibition. The winners are:

BAY HIGH SCHOOL

• Lindsey Dukles, grade 12 (instructor Cherie Bauer), "Porter Creek," Gold Key 
  
• Meredith Horrigan, grade 12 (instructor Tom Schemrich), "Nugen Toes," Silver Key
  
• Emily McDanels grade 11 (instructor Cherie Bauer), "Red Water Lilies," Silver Key 
  
• Lisa Griebel, grade 12 (instructor Cherie Bauer), "Fruit Loops tea set," Honorable Mention 
  
• Mary Ellen Kaucheck, grade 10 (instructor Cherie Bauer), "Pumpkin Tea Set," Honorable Mention

The College Board has awarded sixty-seven Bay High School juniors and seniors (class of 2009) top recognition for their scores on Advanced Placement (AP) exams taken during the 2008-2009 school year. Advanced Placement courses are college level studies, and students who pass the five-point scale standard exams at a 3, 4 or 5 level are often given college credit for the courses.

Seven seniors achieved the highest honor of National AP Scholar, requiring an average grade of at least a 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of the exams. Seniors Alexander Evanhoff, David Galehouse, Michael Kuper, Megan O’Brien, Lucas Sterle, Daniel Ward and Samuel Williams were named National AP Scholars. These students were also awarded the next highest level AP Scholar with Distinction award.

Fifteen additional seniors earned the AP Scholar with Distinction award, requiring an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of the exams. Brad Aronson, Morgan Barry, Caroline Bloom, Kevin Boettler, David Borocz-Johnson, Owen Dong, Carolyn Emmer, Henry Gerlach, Jeffrey Graham, Brian Harrell, Jordan Hawkins, Tyler McWilliam, Matthew Notarberardino, Jeremie Snyder, and Andrew Yoder attained the level of AP Scholar with Distinction.

"Lots In One," a Westlake Relay For Life team comprised of fifth- and sixth-graders from Parkside Intermediate School, is working hard to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The group of 11- and 12-year-olds will walk in Westlake’s Memorial Day Parade on May 27, hold a major fundraiser on June 1 and participate in Westlake’s Relay For Life event on July 13 at the Westlake Recreation Center.

The Lots In One kids have set a big goal for themselves, a whopping $5,000. They’re hoping that funds from the sale, participation at the Relay event in July, and direct donations to their team’s Relay web page will help them meet this challenge. In addition, the group creates and sells hand-made items, such as friendship bracelets and duct tape crafts to fellow students and others in the community.

Bay Village City School District students garnered eight first-place Gold Key awards, 13 second-place Silver Key awards, and 24 Honorable Mention awards from a field of nearly 1,700 entries in this year’s Cuyahoga County Scholastic Art + Writing Competition. Gold Key winners will be judged at the national-level competition in New York City this spring.

Gold Key winners were Bay High seniors Katie Allen (sculpture, “The Burdens We Carry”), Joseph Strunk (sculpture, “Skater’s Self Portrait”), Francesca Zappala (painting, “Toaster”); freshman Jaccob Sooy (photography, “Extraterrestrial Landing”); Bay Middle School eighth-graders Rose Mlaker (ceramics/glass, “Pressed And Sprigged Pot”), Meredin Oster (painting, “Reflections”), Sarah Stockton (painting, “9 Lives”); and seventh-grader Thomas Koss (painting, “Intensity”).

Westlake High School Girls Fastpitch Softball will sponsor a benefit performance of "Winter Wonderettes" at Huntington Playhouse in Bay Village on Sunday, Dec. 2, at the 2 p.m. matinee.

In the musical, the Wonderettes are entertaining at the annual Harper's Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls must use their talent and creative ingenuity, plus some great holiday tunes as "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," "Jingle Bell Rock," "Winter Wonderland" and many other favorites to save the day. The result is, of course, marvelous! This entertaining show will delight audiences of all ages.

Members of the Westlake High School Class of 2012 earned $82,345 in local scholarships.

Among the educational institutions our students will attend this fall are American University, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cornell University, John Carroll University, Kent State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Miami University of Oxford, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Ohio University, Rice University, Rutgers, The Citadel, The Ohio State University, U.S. Air Force Academy, University of Chicago and Wake Forest University, among others.

The Bay Village Board of Education's Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) has, for more than two decades, served in an advisory capacity to the Bay Village Board of Education. Applications are now open for three-year terms beginning in the fall of 2012.

Members complete research and make recommendations about a wide range of educational and administrative issues, such as transportation, student fees, safety, benchmarking in assessing our educational program and many others.

“Creating Opportunities,” Bay Village Education Foundation’s sixth annual fundraiser, was a smashing success this year, raising over $16,500. The sold-out event, held at Arrabiata’s Italian Restaurant in Bay Village on Jan. 29, featured a silent auction filled with unique items, 50/50 raffle, and the “Wheelbarrow for Education” raffle; as well as fabulous dining and an open bar. Several area businesses and organizations donated a variety of products and services in support of this effort that directly benefits Bay Village students and teachers.

For the second year, it was with heavy hearts that the foundation's trustees and guests remembered the life of a friend, BVEF trustee and Bay art teacher Ruth Purdy-Leslie, who passed away last spring. Dwight Clark, trustee and Bay Village city councilman, made a special presentation to her daughter, Janet Purdy.

The Westlake City School District went to market on Oct. 11 for the refunding of its 2003 series bonds used to finance the Performing Arts Center project.

The refunding saved the taxpayers of Westlake more than $571,000 in foregone interest costs. These savings will be reflected in lower property tax rates to Westlake residents over the life of the bond issue.

A breakdown of the sale:

• The bonds will be delivered on Oct. 25
• The refunding resulted in an interest cost of 3.17% (inclusive of all fees)
• The net present value savings to the taxpayers was 7.05% and exceeded the minimum threshold to proceed as established by the Board of Education as well as nationally recognized best practices for this type of activity
• The refunding did not extend the original maturity date of 2027

Hilliard Elementary School Principal Mary Flanagan was named the Ohio PTA District 12 Outstanding Educator. District 12 covers the outer ring of Cuyahoga County. Flanagan was recognized at the 105th Ohio PTA Convention and Exhibition in Columbus in April.
 
Flanagan initially was nominated by several staff members for the Westlake PTA Council honor of District Outstanding Educator. She received her award at the group’s Founder’s Day celebration earlier this year. PTA Council then nominated Flanagan for the District 12 award.

Westlake City Hall will host “Send-Off to Tralee,” the first phase of the Sister Cities Student Art Exchange between Westlake and Tralee, Ireland, from April 11 through April 19.
 
About 60 pieces of student art in this exhibition will represent artwork from kindergarten through grade 12 from Westlake public and private schools. The international student art exchange is part of Westlake’s 2011 Bicentennial celebrations and reconnects Westlake with one of the countries from which Westlake’s early settlers emigrated.
 
A reception for student participants, their families and friends will be held Monday, April 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. The evening will include a dedication at 6:30 p.m. by Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough, followed by comments from Westlake Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel J. Keenan Jr. and Westlake City Council President Michael Killeen.

Bay Village City School District students garnered seven first-place Gold Key awards, four second-place Silver Key awards, and 21 honorable mention awards in the 2011 Cuyahoga County Regional Scholastic Arts competition.

Winning a Gold Key were Bay High seniors Jordyn Durk (art portfolio) and Alexandra Lacure (mixed media for “Where I Live”); Bay High freshman Emma Mahall (painting for “Mini-vacation” completed while at Bay Middle School); Bay Middle School eighth-graders Hannah Daugherty (mixed media for “Seeing Myself”), Mannon Dorantes (drawing for “Mr. R”), Mallory Fahey (photography for “Chutes and Ladders”); and seventh-grader Thomas Leamon (mixed media for “Interpretation”). Students who receive Portfolio Awards and Gold Key Awards continue to the national competition held in the spring in New York City.

Winning a Silver Key were Bay High senior Albert Fisler (design for “Alligator Letter”), Bay High sophomore Alissa Kolke (digital art for “Sprinkles Promotional Package”), and Bay Middle School eighth-graders Katie Kunze (drawing for “Picnic for One Under the Sun”) and Nina Vizdos (ceramic and glass for “Sea Treasure”).

Volunteers are needed to teach boating skills to 7th grade students this summer as part of the Spirit of America Foundation Safe Boating Program. This is an opportunity to teach young boaters in power boats, sailboats, PWC’s, and paddle sports. 

The classes will be on Mondays, June 14, 21 and 28 at Whiskey Island Marina. The classes begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. You can teach part of the day if that fits your schedule.

A detailed curriculum from this nationally recognized program is provided to instructors and all the equipment is provided by the program. A BCI and FBI background check is required to volunteer. 

Bay High School seniors were treated to a “rockin” good time on Saturday, May 11, after they attended their prom downtown at the Cleveland Browns' FirstEnergy Stadium. The senior parents hosted the 2013 After Prom event at Bay Middle School. This year’s theme was “We Will Rock You” and featured everything rock 'n' roll inspired.

The night of fun featured everything from a rock band to a gymnasium full of inflatables to a country-theme mechanical bull to a Latin salsa-inspired outdoor cantina. Each area included food, music and elaborate decorations to fit the theme. After jumping for hours on the inflatables and getting tossed around by the mechanical bull, the seniors could chill in the VIP room and listen to their friends sing karaoke while they relaxed on the leopard-print chairs and overstuffed couches. Or they could visit the VIP candy bar, dessert bar and the iced coffee bar and then head over to Santana’s Cantina, complete with an outdoor tent decorated with cantina lights and blankets to ward off the cold.

In an extremely rigorous and detailed assessment of its exemplary music program, the Bay Village City School District has been named once again to the NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education list. This marks the tenth consecutive year that the district has been named to this prestigious list.

Each of the schools from across the country receiving the “Best Communities” designation scored in the 80th percentile or higher in the survey's grading process. The districts were measured across curricular and programmatic criteria as well as public support of their music programs.

Participants in the survey answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and other relevant factors in their communities' music education programs. The responses were verified with district officials, and advisory organizations reviewed the data. The survey was developed and administered by The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.

The Bay Village Education Foundation will host its popular annual fundraising event, “Creating Opportunities,” at Arrabiata’s Italian Restaurant in Bay Village on Sunday, Jan. 27, from 5-8 p.m. Featuring one-of-a-kind silent auction items, door prizes, and the exciting “Wheelbarrow for Education” raffle, this unique affair typically sells out.

The cost of a $60-per-person ticket ($30 of which is tax-deductible) includes an open bar, a fabulous food buffet and dessert; all benefiting BVEF and its mission to support excellence in Bay Village Schools.

The holiday season has arrived, with all of the magic and wonder that make this time of year so special. It is a time for rejoicing, connecting with loved ones and creating memories that will last a lifetime. In keeping with the Observer’s annual last-issue-of-the-year tradition, Mrs. Martha Fisher of Westerly Elementary School in Bay Village and Ms. Melissa Graham of Dover Elementary School in Westlake asked their students to share favorite family traditions. These are some of their responses.

A Danish Christmas
by Anna S., 3rd grade, Westerly
In my family we have a Danish Christmas. We have elves that move into our house. They come on Dec. 1 and leave on Christmas Day. The elves in our house are boys and girls, two girls and two boys. One of the girls and one of the boys sit on the mantle and the other elves lay by the Christmas calendar. Christmas calendars are sown from fabric and they have little rings. Everyday the elves leave small presents in the rings. In the winter it’s not so hard to wake up because I can’t wait to see the presents!

New Year’s Tradition
by Elaf L., 4th grade, Dover
My family does something very exciting on New Year’s Eve. We stay up until midnight and bake chocolate chip cookies. We love baking chocolate chip cookies, decorating our house with pretty lights, and hanging up popcorn and cranberry strings. We play games like Monopoly, Scrabble and many more. We also like to sit around the fire and cuddle up together while watching movies until it is midnight. At midnight, we blow whistles and eat our chocolate chip cookies! Most of all, New Year’s Eve is a night to have quality family time!