Schools

On Nov. 8, the residents of Bay Village voted to approve Issue 3, a 7.2 mill operating levy for the Bay Village City School District.

According to the unofficial returns from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, nearly 58% of voters supported the levy.

“Our residents made our school district a priority, and for that we are very grateful,” said Paul Vincent, President of the Bay Village Board of Education.

Vincent said he and the other school board members are also grateful for the work done by the Citizens for Bay Schools volunteer levy committee.

Bay High School trumpet player Adam Ward was again selected for the Ohio Music Education Association’s All-State Jazz Ensemble. Ward, a high school senior, auditioned alongside top high school musicians from all over the state. This is the second year in a row he was chosen.

This year’s All-State Jazz Ensemble will rehearse in January, and then play a concert at the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Convention, which takes place in Columbus this year, Feb. 2-4, 2023.

“Only five trumpet players were selected for this throughout the state, so this is exciting,” said Darren Allen, Bay High School Band Director.

Being a first-time kindergarten family can be overwhelming. This year, Normandy Elementary School, Bay Village City School District’s grades K-2 building, decided to make the transition easier on students and parents with summer playdates and a monthly Lunch & Learn webinar series.

Once registered for kindergarten, Class of 2035 families had the opportunity to sign up for an optional playdate over the summer – in June or August – to attend a small-group, meet-up event. Each of the four, 60-minute playdates offered building tours, Class of 2035 T-shirts, playground playtime and a photo opportunity with their Normandy Principal Dan Sebring.

“The playdates provided an opportunity for students to see a typical kindergarten classroom and play on their school playground with some new classmates,” said Sebring. “Parents appreciated the chance to meet other parents, share knowledge and create new connections.”

The Bay Village chapter of the League of Women Voters is holding a forum on school funding on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 7:00 p.m. in the Bay Middle School library, 27725 Wolf Road. The purpose of this forum is to help voters understand how public education is funded in Ohio. The Ohio legislature and local communities share responsibility for this important endeavor.  

The forum will provide an overview of Ohio's school funding system, the challenges of ensuring that all public schools have the financial resources to provide a high quality educaton to each student, current proposals to make that happen and implications for the taxpayers of Bay Village.  

The panel of speakers includes: Susan Kaeser, education specialist with the League of Women Voters of Ohio; Matt Dolan, State Senator for District 24; Jim Betts, volunteer facilitator of the Ohio Fair Funding Plan; and Scot Prebles, Superintendent of the Bay School System. Audience Q&A will follow the presentations.

Bay Village City School District has a lot to celebrate in 2022. Bay High School honors its centennial anniversary, the Rockettes high school drill team celebrates 60 years, Bay High Memorial Stadium turns 50 and now the Glenview Center for Child Care & Learning celebrates its 40th birthday.

The Glenview Center – home of Bay Village Schools’ “Little Rockets” – invites past and present students and staff to attend a 40th anniversary celebration during Homecoming Week, from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6. The celebration includes tours of the facility, free frozen treats from the Kona Ice Truck, balloon entertainment, photo memories and more. All are welcome to attend, and no RSVP is needed.

Alexa Davey, director of The Glenview Center, said she hopes alumni and community members will attend to show pride and support for all that Glenview has done over the past 40 years.

The Bay Village City School District is big on tradition, including heritage Homecoming events such as the Thursday night Bonfire and Friday Homecoming Parade (fondly known as the “candy parade” to many). A few new events have been added to the lineup this year, including a Glenview celebration and the Bay Alumni Foundation’s reveal of its new History Corridor at Bay High School, to bring even more families and residents out to celebrate Homecoming Week. Below is a complete list of events taking place throughout the week.

Thursday, Oct. 6

Bay Alumni Foundation’s New History Corridor at Bay High School, 29230 Wolf Road. This new corridor exhibit at Bay High School is open to the public from 4-6 p.m. The Bay Alumni Foundation celebrates 100 years of high school in Bay Village with this new feature.

Glenview Center’s 40th Anniversary Celebration Event, 28727 Wolf Road. From 5:30-7 p.m., Glenview Center for Child Care & Learning invites past and present Glenview students and staff to celebrate its 40th anniversary with frozen treats, balloon entertainment, photo memories and more. This event is free and open to the public.

The Bay Village chapter of the League of Women Voters has unanimously endorsed the 7.2 mill Bay Village school levy on the Nov. 8 ballot. We have issued this endorsement because we believe a well-educated public is necessary for a strong democracy. We also believe that a high-quality public-school system is necessary for a high-quality community.

It is not an accident that Bay Village currently has both – it took hard work over a long period of time. Bay voters have routinely passed school levies every four years or so for our entire history. These levies are important because our community does not have a strong industrial base, nor do we get much money from the state. The citizens of Bay have shown a commitment to this school system which has been a careful steward of our tax money over many years, turning out well educated young people ready to productively move out into the world.

The Bay Village LWV encourages voters to continue investing in the future of both our children and our community by voting YES on Issue 3.

The Observance of Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23, was signed into law in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The lineage society, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution had successfully lobbied for this week in 1955. The local chapter, Martha Devotion Huntington, has provided poster and signage for this remembrance for many years. 

This year, we obtained 200 pocket-size copies of the Constitution and all the amendments to be distributed to the eighth-grade social studies classes at Bay Middle School for the entire year.  

The presentation was made by co-chairmen of Constitution Week Doris Gorgas and Jenny McKeigue, both DAR members. The faculty members are Matt Kralik and Russell Payne, both social studies and history teachers. The presentation was arranged by Robert Koon, Director of Curriculum, and Diana Harrod, Admin Assistant.

The Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA), Ohio’s preeminent professional association for highly effective school librarians and libraries, recently announced that Melissa Wolf, Library Media Specialist at Bay Middle School, is the recipient of the Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month Award for September 2022.

The Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month award recognizes a school librarian who designs, develops and implements a collaborative lesson plan and/or programming that empowers student learning. This award spotlights the importance of both the school library community and librarian, and the pivotal role each plays in transforming learning throughout students’ K-12 education.

Bay Village Schools invites all Bay Village residents to attend a Coffee Chat with Superintendent Scot Prebles. Come meet the new superintendent, ask him a question and find out more about the district’s new Be Proud To Be Bay campaign.

Community members are invited to attend these dates:

• Thursday, Sept. 15, 7-9 a.m. at Mojo’s, 600 Dover Center Road.
• Thursday, Oct. 13, 9-11 a.m. at The Knickerbocker Apartments, 27100 Knickerbocker Road. (Please park on Knickerbocker and call 440-871-3234, #4 to put your name at the door.)
• Thursday, Oct. 20, 7-9 a.m. at Java Bay, 27225 Wolf Road.

If you have any questions, please call Bay Village City School District at 440-617-7300.

The Bay Village Board of Education has proposed a 7.2 mill levy for the public’s consideration on the Nov. 8 general election ballot that would generate $5,342,330 annually during the life of the levy.

Funds from the operating levy would be used to support programs to maintain the high level of programming Bay Village Schools offers its students. The district’s expenses have been higher than revenues for the past three years. Revenue shortfalls can be an indication of the need for additional revenue or budget cuts in order to balance the district’s budget. The last year the district had a levy on the ballot was in 2016.

Bay Village City School District invites the community to attend a welcome reception for incoming Superintendent Scot Prebles from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Bay Middle School. The event will be held in the school's library/media center area.

Come say hello and meet Bay Village Schools' next leader in person. Light refreshments will be served.

Prebles officially started with the district on Aug. 1.

On July 11 the Bay Village Board of Education approved the hiring of Robert Hoon as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Bay Village Schools.

A Bay Village resident, Hoon most recently served as the Director of Exceptional Students for Parma City Schools since 2019.

“I am honored to be charged with building upon the tradition of academic excellence that Bay Village Schools is known for – locally, regionally, and nationally – and that I deeply value as a member of this community,” Hoon said.

Hoon emphasized that he is enthusiastic about collaborating with key stakeholders, including teachers, students and community members to provide clarity and supportive systems within the district.

On July 11 the Bay Village Board of Education approved the hiring of Sean McAndrews, appointed as the next Principal of Bay Middle School. The hiring was a collaborative effort that included Interim Superintendent Char Shryock; Director of Human Resources and Operations Aaron Ereditario (most recently Bay Middle School’s principal); Incoming Bay Village Schools Superintendent Scot Prebles; a team of staff from Bay Middle School; and district leaders.

McAndrews, a familiar name and face at Bay Middle School, served as the school’s principal for 14 years, from 2005-2019.

During the interview process, McAndrews acknowledged the excellence of tradition for which Bay Middle School is known, and his plan for continuous improvement in the future, inclusive of his passion to ensure opportunities exist for all students.

Interim Superintendent and Director of Teaching and Learning Char Shryock is retiring from Bay Village City School District as of July 31, when her interim contract expires. The lifelong educator made the announcement at the June 27 Board of Education meeting.

“Being connected to students has been at the heart of my work, in my 34 years as an educator,” Shryock said. “I plan on seeking out new opportunities to use my experience to have a positive impact on education and students.”

Shryock has been an administrator with Bay Village Schools for 11 years, when she was appointed the district’s Director of Teaching and Learning in 2011. Prior to coming to Bay Village Schools, Shryock served the Fairview Park City Schools for nearly 22 years as a teacher, technology integration specialist, coach and curriculum leader. She started her career with Brooklyn City School district as a building substitute teacher.

The Bay Village Board of Education voted unanimously on June 27 to confirm the appointment of Aaron Ereditario as the district’s Director of Human Resources and Operations. Ereditario currently serves as Principal of Bay Middle School. 

In his new role, Ereditario will lead the district’s personnel program and business operations. He will work out of the Board of Education office, 377 Dover Center Road. The Bay Village resident has worked for Bay Village Schools for the last 11 years, serving at Bay Middle School the last three years, and the eight years prior as Assistant Principal of Bay High School.

Normandy Elementary School welcomes all Class of 2035 incoming kindergarteners and one parent to attend an informal playdate this summer to meet Principal Dan Sebring and other new Normandy Bees. This is an optional event, and you only need to sign up for one date. The two remaining playdates are: Thursday, Aug. 4, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. or Thursday, Aug. 4, from 6 to 7 p.m. Parents can register at: https://bit.ly/ClassOf2035Playdate.

The playdates take place on Normandy's "Whales" playground (on the west side of the school), or in the cafeteria if there is inclement weather. Normandy PTA members will also be onsite to answer questions and accept membership applications.

If you have any questions, please contact Normandy School at 440-617-7350, or email Principal Sebring at dan.sebring@bayk12.org.

Bay High School senior Olivia Konschak received her associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College before she received her Bay High School diploma on May 31.

Olivia has been involved with Bay High School’s College Credit Plus program, where high school students can dually earn high school and college credits toward their degrees. Olivia is Bay High School’s only 2022 graduate to achieve such an accomplishment, enabling her to enter the Baldwin Wallace University Honors Program with Junior status this fall. Olivia plans to continue her college education there, earning a B.S. in Exercise Science. Upon graduation from BW in 2024, she plans to continue her education by working toward a Master’s in Dietetics to become a registered dietitian.

BHS seniors Jack Vanderhorst and Tyler Hagerman were selected as winners of Veterans of Foreign Wars/American Legion Military Scholarships. Sponsored by VFW Post 9693 and Legion Post 385, these scholarships are awarded each year to deserving Bay High School graduating seniors who will be affiliated with the U.S. military while furthering their education.

The winners are selected on the basis of academic performance, community service, extracurricular activities, character, leadership potential, and expressed interest in military service.

Mr. Vanderhorst plans to attend the Merchant Marine Academy. Mr. Hagerman will join the Air Force Reserve and attend college after completion of his military training.

Standards for inclusion on the prestigious Best Communities for Music Education list have increased consistently over the last 20 years, but the Bay Village City School District has once again been honored for its exemplary music program. First recognized with the distinction in 2003 – and each year since – Bay Village Schools is among just 738 districts nationwide, and 47 Ohio school districts, identified for this honor by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for 2022.

The distinction takes on added significance again this year since music education – perhaps more than any other school subject – is most affected by pandemic protocol that includes masking and social distancing.

“Music isn’t a class. For Bay Village Schools, it is our joy, and it is essential to who we are as a district,” said Char Shryock, Interim Superintendent for Bay Village Schools. “This award shows why music is a part of the lives of so many of our students.”

It was a bright sunny day on Friday, April 29, as Arbor Day was celebrated at Dover Intermediate School in Westlake. The students attended a tree planting ceremony celebrating the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day.

Mayor Dennis Clough; Mr. Paul Quinn III, Westlake Service Director; Stan Barnard, Westlake’s Urban Forestry Manager; and members of the Westlake Service Department and the city’s Tree Commission were there to assist with the planting of a tree. Several weeks prior to the ceremony, all fifth-grade students were invited to submit a poster explaining “Why trees are important to me!” 

Forty-nine members of the class generated a poster to enter in the annual contest. The posters were then judged by Stan Barnard, Paul Quinn III and Mary Beth Schneidler, Ken Sadd and Justin Parks, members of the Westlake Tree Commission.

The Bay High School centennial celebration continues!

Bay High School, the Bay Alumni Foundation, the city of Bay Village and the Bay Village Green Team have joined forces to celebrate Arbor Day and 100 years of Bay High School with a tree planting dedication ceremony on Wednesday, May 11, at 4:30 p.m. at Bay High School, 29230 Wolf Road. This event is open to the public.

To celebrate 100 years of high school in Bay Village, an approximately 5-foot, white oak tree will be planted in the front lawn area of Bay High School. A plaque will also be placed at the site that explains the significance of the tree.

In the spring of 2020, like most other non-profits, Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters (WDAB) canceled its annual in-person fundraiser. 

“We got by,” said WDAB President Virnette House Browning. “Budgets were tighter and we had to cut back like many other non-profits in the area,” said House-Browning. 

But not this year. 

Saturday, April 9, was a great night for the organization. With over 300 attendees and support from many local businesses, WDAB raised nearly $25,000.

On Monday, April 11, the Ohio Department of Education announced its Class of 2022 Purple Star Schools, which included all four of Bay Village City School District’s schools: Normandy Elementary School (grades K-2); Westerly Elementary School (grades 3-4); Bay Middle School (grades 5-8); and Bay High School (grades 9-12). This is the first year the district has applied for and received this distinction, and Bay Village Schools is the only district in Cuyahoga County to earn this distinction this year. The designation is for 2022-2025.

The Ohio Department of Education announced that only 94 schools received the esteemed award for the first time. Overall, 263 Ohio schools received Purple Star designations. Purple Star schools show a significant commitment to serving students and families connected to our nation’s armed forces.

The Bay Village Board of Education has named Scot T. Prebles the new superintendent of the Bay Village City School District. The Board unanimously approved the appointment during a special board meeting on Saturday, April 2.

Prebles, who currently serves as superintendent of Forest Hills School District in the Cincinnati area, will start with Bay Village Schools on Aug. 1. His contract is for five years, and he will earn a salary of $180,000 per year.

“I am humbled by this decision and excited to get started,” said Prebles. “This will be a team effort and we are going to make you proud. I will do everything I can to maintain and expand the lighthouse district status of Bay Village Schools in our state and nationally.”

This report contains member observations and selected highlights of the March 21 meeting of the Bay Village Board of Education. It is not an official statement by the League of Women Voters, nor does it represent the official minutes of the meeting.

Resolutions

Resolution to express opposition to the passage of HB 290 (backpack scholarship program): The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution due to concerns that this bill would create significant damage to the fiscal stability of the Bay school system.

Resolution to authorize the Ohio Schools Council Cooperative to Advertise and Receive School bids on the District’s behalf: The board approved the resolution to authorize the Ohio Schools Council cooperative to advertise and receive school bus bids on the district’s behalf in anticipation of receiving state financial support for the purchase of new buses.

Resolution to express opposition to the passage of HB 327 ("divisive concepts" bill): This resolution was requested because of concerns that the bill's passage would damage the quality of instruction in the Bay school system. This resolution passed unanimously.

Six semifinalists have been chosen to interview for the Superintendent position in the Bay Village City School District.

The following candidates were selected from a pool of 29 applicants to be interviewed by the Bay Village Board of Education during executive session on March 14 and 15, 2022.

• Scot Prebles, Superintendent, Forest Hills Local School District, Cincinnati, OH

• Ben Richards, Superintendent, Valley View Local School District, Germantown, OH

• Char Shryock, Interim Superintendent, Bay Village City School District, Bay Village, OH

• Jeffrey Stanton, Human Resources Director, North Olmsted City School District, North Olmsted, OH

• Mark Stefanik, Superintendent, Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, Tipp City, OH

• William (Matt) Young, Assistant Superintendent, Cuyahoga Heights Local School District, Cuyahoga Hts., OH

Bay Village Board of Education President Paul Vincent said he was pleased with the number of candidates who applied, and the caliber of those applicants.

This report contains member observations and selected highlights of the March 7 meeting of the Bay Village Board of Education. It is not an official statement by the League of Women Voters, nor does it represent the official minutes of the meeting.

The Board approved the first reading of revised board policies which are available on the website, bayk12.org.

Various personnel changes were approved.

Finance Committee: School treasurer Meghan Rohde reported the external audit has been completed and no issues were identified. They are making progress on creating a 5-year priority list for capital improvements.

Policy Committee: This committee is developing rules and ethical practices for contracting with private vendors as well as ways to increase community involvement with the board. They are exploring the feasibility of broadcasting board meetings and options to facilitate more community input. Examples under consideration are changing the requirement to provide a home address before addressing the board to only stating town of residence, and decreasing the allotted time to speak from five minutes to three minutes to allow more people a chance to be heard within time constraints.

In October, Bay Village Schools announced that five Bay High School students were recognized in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP), including Semifinalists Milan Oppewall and Aden Bergstresser.

Bay High School Principal Jason Martin was recently notified by NMSP that these two Semifinalists have both advanced to Finalist standing in the 67th annual competition.

These academically talented high school seniors are now eligible for Merit Scholarship awards totaling more than $30 million to be awarded later this spring. These Bay High School seniors are two of only 15,000 Finalists of the more than 1.5 million NMSP entrants.

The Bay Village Education Foundation recently selected the “School Bus Little Library Project” as recipient of a Maynard Bauer Leadership Fund (MBLF) Award. The project proposal, submitted on behalf of the Bay Village City School District Transportation Department, was inspired by Bay bus driver (and Bay alum) Sue Naso.

Transportation Department employees will work in conjunction with Bay High School Computer Assisted Design (CAD) students to design and construct a bus-shaped little library which will be installed outside of the bus garage near the sidewalk to the high school. Once complete, the little library will be stocked with reading materials suitable for all ages that promote literacy and bus safety. It is expected that the project will be completed by late spring 2022.

Congratulations to Bay High School alumnus and Super Bowl champion, Ted Monago, the assistant director of college scouting for the Los Angeles Rams. This 1987 Bay High School graduate got his football start right here in Bay Village, playing for the Rockets. He then went on to play football for Arizona State University as a walk-on athlete.

Monago, who comes from a family of seven children (six of whom graduated from Bay High School), says he was "an average athlete and normal student," but it was the community and school district that prepared him for success.

“We call it the ‘Bay Bubble’ because it’s a unique community,” Monago said. “Quality teachers, dedicated coaches and active parents were always around us, guiding us to become who we are today.”

Annabella Mayer, daughter of David and Jacquelyn Mayer and a junior at Bay High School, earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36.

Fewer than half of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2021, only 4,055 out of 1.29 million students who took the ACT earned a top composite score of 36.

Annabella plays volleyball and participates in track and field at Bay High School. She is also active in Bay High Key Club and serves on the service club’s leadership team. She is a class officer and member of: Student Council, National Honor Society, Model UN, Bay Student Boosters and Bay Village Education Foundation. Annabella also plays the cello in Bay High School’s orchestra and participates in school musicals.

The Westlake Educational Foundation is excited to announce Matthew Eck as the winner of a new 2022 Chevy Trax, donated by Serpentini Chevrolet of Westlake for the benefit of Westlake City Schools’ students.

With the drawing scheduled for halftime of the Westlake boys’ varsity basketball game on Friday, Feb. 4, the forecast did not bode well for an in-person event. Reminiscent of the Foundation’s first car raffle drawing in February of 2021, which was impacted by Covid and a snow day, whether the 2022 drawing would be in front of a live crowd or not was becoming a game-day decision. 

Heavy snow resulted in schools being closed on Thursday and Friday, meaning the basketball game may or may not be played as scheduled. The condition of the roads at mid-day would determine the game’s fate. Fortunately, the snow stopped, and the city’s crews were able to clear the roads. The basketball game was on, and the Foundation’s car raffle drawing would occur at halftime as originally planned.

How do you engage students who have missed out on a year of “normal” academic learning? How do you foster a mindset of perseverance amid challenges? In this current Covid-impacted environment, these are the questions facing teachers everywhere. And for a group of Westlake Elementary School teachers, bringing creative and innovative learning techniques into the classroom is their answer to these questions.

As students returned to in-person learning last year, Westlake Elementary School teachers noticed differences in how students dealt with being in a classroom with their peers and tackling daily educational assignments. When three of the teachers – Brandi Mattingly, Becky Kowalski, and Erin Vanek – heard about the opportunity to apply for a grant from the Westlake Educational Foundation, they applied and were ultimately awarded a grant to purchase KEVA Blocks.

Bay High School is proud to announce that 15 students received 22 awards in the 2022 Scholastic Writing Awards. Of these recognitions, three were Gold Key awards, four were Silver Key awards and 15 were Honorable Mentions. The Gold Key award is the highest honor of distinction in this competition.

Senior Carli Mendelow received a Gold Key in the Writing Portfolio category; Junior Sarina Poling received a Gold Key in the Personal Essay & Memoir category; and Emilia Ullom received a Gold Key in Poetry.

These submissions were entered into the competition by Bay High School English Department faculty members Erin Beirne and Dr. Kristen Srsen Kenney.

The Westlake City Schools District joined more than 700 school districts throughout Ohio to celebrate January as School Board Recognition Month.

“Our school board members are citizen-servants who shoulder critical responsibilities and often make difficult choices for our district,” superintendent Scott Goggin said. “Their focus is always on the future success of the children in our district. Celebrating School Board Recognition Month is one way to say thanks for all they do.”

Serving as a link between the community and classroom, school board members are elected to establish the policies that provide the framework for public schools.

Did you know that Bay Village has offered high school for 100 years? It’s true! Parkview School was completed in 1922, and served grades 1-12. The two-story brick building was built where Bay Middle School now stands, with land purchased from the Cahoon Park trustees. A third story was added to the building in 1925.

Here are some other historical snippets, as shared by the late Bay Village historian Kay Laughlin:

Blue and white started being used for Parkview athletic uniforms soon after the new school was built, and Parkview High School became Bay High School in 1947, thanks to a name-change petition by the Class of 1947. (The Class of 1947 graduated with Bay High School on their diplomas.) Then, in the fall of 1947, a Bay High School sports team took the field under the name Bay Rockets for the first time.

During its Jan. 11 Organizational Board Meeting, the Bay Village Board of Education swore in newly elected Board members Amy Huntley and Dr. Andrey Stojic, as well as retained Board member Dr. Scott Schulz. The oath was delivered by District Treasurer Meghan Rohde.

Upon completion of the swearing-in ceremony, the Board’s first matter of business was electing officers for the 2022 calendar year. Paul Vincent was voted President and Dr. Scott Schulz as Vice President.

“This year’s Board has such a vast array of skills, talent and experiences to bring to the table,” said President Vincent. “As a Board, we are all motivated to continue pursuing student-focused academic excellence for our learning community.”

At the Dec. 6, 2021, Bay Village Board of Education meeting, two resolutions were passed honoring retiring Board members Lisa Priemer and Dave Vegh. 

Both resolutions highlighted the extraordinary level of commitment and dedication these Board members have given to Bay Village Schools during their time of service, including leading during a pandemic. 

“The resolutions passed by our Board in honor of Lisa and Dave shared the specific projects these two outstanding Board members have worked on for our district, but the thank you notes they received from our students really captured the true spirit of their gifts to our district,” said Interim Superintendent Char Shryock. “Both Lisa and Dave have been student-focused leaders during their tenure, and I thank them for that.”

“A glooming peace this morning with it brings … for never was there a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo!” boomed the Prince of Verona to assembled citizens gathered around, many of whom lay slain on the ground, thus ending the beautiful and tragic story of two star-crossed lovers. After a brief pause, the room erupted into laughter and applause, perished characters rising to their feet to grab their backpacks as the bell rang and the Prince of Verona (Marie Hunt, 9th grade) rushed off to get ready to cheer at the season’s first home basketball game.

The performers this day were freshman English students at Bay High who had just ended a week of collaboration, education, and performance with a pair of actor-educators from Great Lakes Theater, the renowned local classic company. The relationship between BHS and Great Lakes has been a wonderful tradition that was, like so many others, halted during Covid-19 protocols. This school year the actors are back in the building, masked (of course) but excited to work with students in person again.