1. education
2. graduate school
3. college

Volume 3, Issue 1
September, October, November 2014
Superintendent John Schroth
Treasurer Angela Dotson
Oberlin City
Schools Adopt
A New Math
Curriculum
The Oberlin Board of Education recently approved
the adoption of two mathematics series. Eastwood
and Prospect schools will begin using McGraw-Hill’s
My Math series this fall. Langston will be using
Glencoe Mathematics Courses 1, 2, & 3. Both series
were selected with strong recommendations from a
teacher selection team that reviewed 5 potential
programs. Two of the programs were eliminated
because they did not align with the standards, nor
George Viebranz is
the new Curriculum
Director for Oberlin
City Schools. He is a 32year veteran of
education, who worked
at Berea City Schools
for most of his career,
retiring in 2004 as the
district’s Curriculum
Coordinator. George
spent most of his
teaching career in grades 7-12 mathematics and
science classrooms. For the past 10 years he has been
a contributing author and producer for KQED/QUEST,
bringing the science of sustainability to general
public television audiences. He spent 8 years as part
of the science and mathematics and science
Oberlin Schools at Work Fall 2014
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present the rigor expected by Ohio’s new standards
and the International Baccalaureate expectations. The
teachers used guidelines from the Muther Materials
Selection process to eliminate two other programs
from consideration, and recommend the adoption of
My Math and Glencoe Math. Teachers attended
professional development sessions provided by the
publishers during the week of August 11-15. Perhaps
the most engaging part of these programs are the
rich online resources and activities that are available
to all teachers, students and families in Oberlin for 7
school years beyond the purchase, in addition to the
textbook program. The implementation of the
program will be used with the assessment systems in
place within the Oberlin Schools to assure that each
student’s progress toward learning objectives is
monitored and addressed . Many thanks to the
teacher team and Ms. Ann Glass for conducting a
thorough selection process.
education, sustainability and the environment, and
international comparative education. When asked
why he had an interest in Oberlin Schools he said, “I
just felt that Oberlin was a good fit. It is a good school
district with a lot of things going on. There are also
some professional challenges around continuing the
improvement of mathematics and science education
that can impact all of Oberlin’s students.”
THIS ISSUE
Fall
New Math Curriculum
Fall Sports Schedules
New Employees
Kindercamp
Backpack Program
Exchange Students
Page 1
Focus on Sports…
Athletic Director: Ty Stillman tstillman@oberlin.k12.oh.us
Langston Middle School
Volleyball 7th -4:30pm /8th -6:00pm
8/25/14 Home vs. Black River
8/27/14 @ Wellington
9/3/14 Home vs. Keystone
9/8/14 @ Columbia
9/10/14 Home vs. Brooklyn
9/15/14 Home vs. Fairview
9/17/14 Home vs. Clearview
9/18/14 @ Firelands
9/22/14 Home vs. Buckeye
9/24/14 @ Brookside
10/2/14 Home vs. Columbia
10/6/14 @ Brooklyn
10/8/14 @ Fairview
10/13/14 @ Clearview
PAC Tournaments 10/16/10/18
Football 7th & 8th / 4:30pm
9/2/14 @ Wellington
9/9/14 Home vs. Brooklyn
9/16/14 @ Buckeye
9/23/14 Home vs. Firelands
9/30/14 @ Lutheran West
10/7/14 Home vs. Columbia
10/14/14 Home vs. Clearview
10/21/14 @ Fairview
Cross Country 7th & 8th / 4:30pm
8/19/14 @Carlisle Horse Trails (Icebreaker)
9/3/14 @ New Russia Twp Trails
9/11/14 @ Avon
9/16/14 @ Open Door
10/11/14 PAC Championship
Oberlin High School
JV Volleyball 5:30pm (unless otherwise indicated)
8/18/14 Home vs. NE Ohio Prep School
8/20/14 Home vs. Crestview
8/26/14 Home vs. Black River
8/30/14 @ Wellington 10:00am
9/2/14 Home vs. Keystone
9/4/14 @ Lutheran West
9/6/14 Home vs. Brooklyn 10:00am
Page 2
9/8/14 Home vs. Open Door
9/9/14 @ Columbia
9/15/14 Home vs. Fairview
9/16/14 Home vs. Clearview
9/18/14 @ Firelands
9/23/14 Home vs. Buckeye
9/25/14 @ Brookside
9/30/14 Home vs. Lutheran West
10/4/14 Home vs. Columbia 10:00am
10/6/14 @ Brooklyn
10/7/14 @ Fairview
Girls/Boys Varsity Cross Country
8/18/14 @ Carlisle Horse Trails 4:30pm
8/23/14 @ Seneca East 9:00am
8/30/14 @ LCCC 8:00am
9/3/14 @ New Russia Twp. 4:30pm
9/6/14 @ Brecksville-Broadview Hts. 8:00am
9/16/14 @ Open Door 4:30pm
9/20/14 @ Black River 10:00am
9/27/14 @ Vermilion 8:00am
10/4/14 @ LCCC 8:00am
10/11/14 @ Carlisle Horse Trails 9:00am
Varsity Volleyball 6:30pm (unless otherwise indicated)
8/18/14 Home vs. NE Ohio Prep School
8/20/14 Home vs. Crestview
8/23/14 @ New London 2:00pm
8/26/14 Home vs. Black River
8/30/14 @ Wellington 11:00am
9/2/14 Home vs. Keystone
9/4/14 @ Lutheran West
9/6/14 Home vs. Brooklyn 11:00am
9/8/14 Home vs. Home vs. Open Door 7:00pm
9/9/14 @ Columbia
9/15/14 Home vs. Fairview
9/16/14 Home vs. Clearview
9/18/14 @ Firelands
9/23/14 Home vs. Buckeye
9/25/14 @ Brookside
9/29/14 @ Christian Community-Grafton 5:00pm
9/30/14 Home vs. Lutheran West
10/4/14 Home vs. Columbia 11:00am
10/6/14 @ Brooklyn High School
10/7/14 @ Fairview
10/9/14 @ Clearview
Oberlin Schools at Work Fall 2014
Girls Varsity Soccer
8/2/14 Alumni game 4:00pm
8/7/14 Homes vs. Open Door 11:00am
8/9/14 @ Avon Lake 12:00pm
8/13/14 Home vs. Clearview 6:00pm
8/18/14 @ Independence/Stan Skoczen Stadium 5:00pm
8/27/14 Home vs. Shaw High School 5:00pm
8/30/14 Home vs. Lake Ridge 5:00pm
9/3/14 @ Spencer Park/Black River 5:00pm
9/6/14 Home vs. Wellington 1:00pm
9/8/14 @ Open Door 4:30pm
9/10/14 @ Brookside 7:00pm
9/13/14 Home vs. Brooklyn 1:00pm
9/15/14 @ Vermilion 5:00pm
9/17/14 @ Columbia 5:00pm
9/20/14 Home vs. Buckeye 1:00pm
9/24/14 @ Firelands 5:00pm
9/27/14 Home vs. Fairview 1:00pm
10/1/14 @ Luth West 5:00pm
10/4/14 Home vs. Keystone 1:00pm
10/6/14 Home vs. Cuy Heights 5:00pm
Boys Varsity Soccer
8/2/14 Alumni game 4:00pm
8/9/14 @ Midview 12:00pm
8/16/14 @ Willard 1:00pm
8/18/14 @ Vermilion 5:00pm
8/20/14 @ Midview 5:00pm
8/23/14 Home vs. Elyria Catholic 7:00pm
8/30/14 Home vs. Lake Ridge 7:00pm
9/6/14 @ Wellington 1:00pm
9/8/14 Home vs. Open Door 5:00pm
Mike Law - OHS Football Coach
Mike Law comes to Oberlin High School after a three year
coaching stint with his alma mater Oberlin College. He
spent his first two seasons with the Yeomen working as the
running backs coach. During that time he worked with
Moses Richardson who is fifth all time in rushing yards at
the college. In his final season Law transitioned to coach the
offensive line and worked to pave the way to have the
fourth best rushing season in school history.
A 2011 graduate of Oberlin College, Law was a standout
offensive tackle for the Yeomen, starting 31 games at left
tackle and earning All-NCAC honors after the 2010
campaign. Prior to attending Oberlin College, Law played
under current Lorain County head coaches Mike Elder
(Avon) and Bill Fishleigh (Amherst) at Perry High School. He
Oberlin Schools at Work Fall 2014
9/10/14 Home vs. Brookside 5:00pm
9/13/14 @ Brooklyn 1:00pm
9/17/14 Home vs. Columbia 5:00pm
9/20/14 @ Buckeye 1:00pm
9/24/14 Home vs. Firelands 5:00pm
9/27/14 @ Fairview 1:00pm
10/1/14 Home vs. Luth West 5:00pm
10/4/14 Home vs. Keystone 3:00pm
JV Football
9/6/14 @ Brookside 10:00am
9/13/14 @ Brooklyn 10:00 am
9/20/14 Home vs. Buckeye 10:00am
9/27/14 @ Firelands 10:00am
10/4/14 Home vs. Luth West 10:00am
10/11/14 @ Columbia 10:00am
10/18/14 @ Clearview 10:00am
10/25/14 Home vs. Fairview 10:00am
Varsity Football
8/15/14 @ Bay High 6:00pm
8/22/14 @ Berkshire 6:00pm
8/29/14 Home vs. Lutheran East 7:00pm
9/5/14 Home vs. Brookside 7:00pm
9/12/14 Home vs. Richmond Heights 7:00pm
9/19/14 @ Buckeye 7:00pm
9/26/14 Home vs. Firelands 7:00pm
10/3/14 @ Lutheran West 7:00pm
10/10/14 Home vs. Columbia 7:00pm
10/17/14 Home vs. Clearview 7:00pm
10/24/14 @ Fairview 7:00pm
10/31/14 Home vs. Brooklyn 7:00pm
earned All-Ohio honors in
both his junior and senior
season.
Oberlin Schools Athletic
Director commented, ”While
searching for a coach , I took a
great deal of time finding the
best possible fit for Oberlin.
With the new direction that the football program is
heading, having an energetic, hard working football
professional lead our program is great for all parties
involved. Mike has played for some of the greatest coaches
in the area and is a true student of the game. Mike is a
dynamic individual who I trust to bring this program and
this community pride in the near future.”
Page 3
Langston Middle School Welcomes A New
Principal for 2014-2015 School Year
Chris Frank is excited
and honored to serve
the Oberlin community
as the new principal at
Langston Middle.
School. He has lived in
Oberlin with his family
since 2002. He and his
wife, Monica, are the
proud parents of two
wonderful children
who attend Oberlin City Schools. Christopher is 10,
and is entering the 5th grade, and Marianna is 8, and
entering the 3rd grade this year.
Professionally, Mr. Frank has spent the majority of his
career teaching History and Career-Based
Beth Hanlon is the new Spanish teacher at Oberlin
High School. She grew up in Medina and earned her
undergraduate degree in Spanish in 2001 from Akron
University. She then earned two masters degrees in
Spanish and Education from the University of Akron
in 2004. During that time she had the opportunity to
study in Santander, Spain and in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
She taught at Our Lady of the Elms in Akron in 20032004 school year and at Bellevue Senior High School
from 2004-2007. Since then, Ms. Hanlon has taught at
Wellington High School until 2014.
Intervention to 9th & 10th grade students at Oberlin
High School as a satellite employee of the Lorain
County JVS. He considered himself very fortunate to
have been given the opportunity to coach many
sports while at Oberlin High School. In 2012, he was
hired by EHOVE Career Center as an Assistant Director
of Career and Technical Programs. At EHOVE, he was
able to gain a unique perspective of education and
the Career & Technical world through the supervision
of such programs as Forensic Science, Criminal
Justice, EMT/Fire Fighter, Culinary Arts, Automotive
Tech., Diesel Tech, and Early Childhood Education.
Mr. Frank feels passionate about education and the
drive for excellence with students, colleagues and his
community. He is excited about the new year and
being back home where his family and career began.
Her love of technology
leads her in constant
search of new classroom
technology to enhance
the learning experience of
her students. She is a
member of the Ohio
Foreign Language
Association and has been
a member of the Ohio
Foreign Language
Association’s Executive Board as the Executive
Recorder/Editor for Print Publications for three years.
In 2009 she earned National Board Certification. She
has lead student trips to Costa Rica in 2010, 2012
and 2014.
Page 4
Oberlin Schools at Work Fall 2014
Margo Trinter is the new
Eastwood Elementary
music teacher. Ms. Trinter
grew up in a small
farming town of
Carrollton, Ohio where
she began her music
career as an eight year
old. In 1998 she joined
the Canton Children’s
Chorus based out of
Canton, Ohio. She enjoys singing with a choir and
participates in Choral Spectrum. Through her school
years she participated in band, choir and steel drum.
She attended Ashland University where she majored
in Music Education and received a Bachelor of Music.
She is married and currently lives on the family farm
in Vermilion, Ohio.
For the past two years Ms. Trinter has been teaching
K-8 music at I CAN Schools, located in Cleveland,
Ohio. She started this program and has achieved
several successful expectations and concerts. She has
enjoyed the musical success of students rising to their
full potential and fulfilling their dreams.
Ms. Trinter is excited to be the new music teacher and
hopes to enrich Eastwood’s music program. Her goal
is to help children gain a new perspective on music
and their world. She looks forward to the first day of
school to begin making music with her students!
Environmental Dashboard Workshop
Oberlin Teachers attended a three-day hands-on
summer workshop designed to further explore and
develop ideas for using the Oberlin Environmental
Dashboard to support and enhance the existing
curriculum. Environmental Dashboard monitoring
and displays have now been installed in all four
Oberlin Public Schools. Dashboard is a technology
and approach for measuring and sharing information
about resource flows through buildings and the
whole city. It celebrates the positive environmental
thought and actions of community members. The
overarching goal of the Dashboard project is to
engage, educate, motivate an empower students and
adults in Oberlin to value and conserve the
environment and to celebrate community. Specific
educational goals in schools are to support IB,
enhance teaching of content associated with the core
curriculum and state standards, and to develop
students’ “systems thinking” skills. The workshop was
Oberlin Schools at Work Fall 2014
a combination of presentations,
discussions/brainstorming and hands-on exploration
of the Environmental Dashboard. Eastwood teacher
Kristi Walter, Prospect
teachers Robin
Diedrick and Joy
Harrison, Langston
Middle School teachers
Jen Sanders and Vickie
Mowcomber, and
Oberlin High School
Teachers Donna
Parrish, Donna Shurr
and Jennifer Smillie
joined other Lorain
County teachers and
Environmental Dashboard three
day seminar group includes:
Oberlin College
Oberlin College faculty, Oberlin
Faculty for the three
Schools teachers & Lorain
day seminar.
County teachers.
Page 5
Oberlin Schools BackPack Program
Letters inviting eligible Eastwood School and
Prospect School children to take part in the Oberlin
BackPack Program will soon be going home with
students. The Interact Club of Oberlin High School
will be packing the bags with food every Thursday, so
children will have healthy food and snacks over the
weekend. This program is being made possible
through a number of grants and the energy of the
high school students. The following have made
generous donations to support this project: The
Oberlin Schools Endowment Fund, The Oberlin
Rotary Club, The Community Foundation of Lorain
County Youth Fund, The Bill Long Foundation, Oberlin
Salvation Army, The Stocker Foundation through the
Second Harvest Food Bank, The Nordson Foundation,
Interact Club fundraisers and other private donations.
Exchange Students
Share International
Experiences
While in Brazil, Serenity experienced museums, shops
and local sights. She enjoyed the close knit
intergenerational family there including a
grandmother, and aunts and uncle who operate their
family business.
Serenity Crowley’s parents believe that their
daughter has “experienced life in a world class city
with a loving extended family that treated her like
their favorite cousin from America”. Over the summer
Serenity participated in the Family to Family
Exchange program sponsored by the Oberlin Rotary
Club. Jacqueline Nunes da Silva from Sao Paulo, Brazil
stayed with Serenity’s family for four weeks and then
Serenity traveled with Jacqueline to Brazil. While with
the family in Oberlin, Jacqueline participated in the
week long Quaker summer conference, traveled with
the Crowley family to Washington, DC and to a retreat
in Detroit where she participated in a community
service project for the homeless population. The
family also spent a weekend on Kelly’s Island.
Page 6
Parents are encouraged to accept the invitation to
participate in this program for their child and return
the forms to the school secretary or their child’s
teacher. Questions regarding the program can be
directed to Mrs. Donna Shurr, advisor of the Interact
Club. dshurr@oberlin.k12.oh.us
“The experience challenged Serenity to appreciate
this interesting and engaging world around us and
feel confident about finding her way wherever she
may go, ” says Mr. Crowley.
Pictured in center: Serenity Crowley in Brazil with
her exchange family.
Oberlin Schools at Work Fall 2014
Senior, Heidi Fredrickson
has enjoyed a Family to
Family Exchange Program
this summer sponsored by
the Oberlin Rotary Club.
Heidi stayed with Enora
Piard at her house in
Valognes, France, which is
a town in Normandy. Heidi
is pictured to the left at La
Louvre. She and Enora
flew to Paris and spent a day touring La Louvre before
going to Valognes. Heidi enjoyed touring The Eiffel
Tower and a World War ll Museum.
While Enora was with Heidi’s family earlier this
summer, they traveled to Disney World and took a
cruise to the Bahamas. They also spent time in
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia. Enora loved Amish
Country, Cedar Point and Oberlin.
Steven Mentzer was a Rotary Youth Exchange to
Taipei, Taiwan from August 2013 to June 2014. He
spent the entire 2013-2014 school year at JingWen
High School. Besides going to high school, Steven
studied Chinese at Damzhiang College for the entire
year. He was also provided a culture class to learn
Chinese culture and helped his teacher teach English
to his high school class. During his stay, Steven was
able to travel the entire country of Taiwan, seeing
cultural sites, museums and natural parks. His
exchange included staying with three host families,
all with children. This
gave him the
opportunity to see the
variety of living
situations in the
country. Highlights of
his visit included the
opportunity to live the
Chinese culture
providing him with the
best possible
environment to learn
Chinese. After only one
year Steven considers
himself fluent and
enjoys having
conversations with
anyone who will share
with him. Through this
exchange program he
also has met many
students from around
the world and has
developed close
friendships with international students not just from
Taiwan. Although Steven would like to return to
Taiwan someday, this program has given him the
desire to travel to other countries first. With the
Rotary Exchange Program, students spend an entire
year in preparation for travel by learning cultural
awareness and bonding with other outbound and
inbound students. Steven made many presentations
in Chinese to his school and many rotary clubs. He
continues to share presentations in Oberlin.
Oberlin Schools at Work Fall 2014
Heidi’s dream of seeing France has been fulfilled as
well as improving her language skills and walking the
same ground in peace as her grandfather during
World War ll.
Page 7
Exchange Programs Offered By Rotary Club
Hosting an exchange student can be an incredibly
rewarding experience for your family, providing an
international experience without leaving home. Host
families provide room and board and share their lives
with exchange students, involving them in family,
community and cultural activities. Any family wishing
their son/daughter to experience such as this should
contact Mrs. Shurr in the Fall to begin their
application. dshurr@oberlin.k12.oh.us
There are two programs available for high school
students.
• STEP-Short Term Exchange Program
Family to Family Exchange-Through STEP young
people host a student from a range of many different
countries and then return to their home for four
weeks. Through STEP, young people from many
different countries get the opportunity to spend a
summer together, learning about different countries
and cultures.
• Long Term Exchange Program
Long-term outbound student spend a full academic
year with multiple host families in a foreign country.
They attend school, just like other teens in that host
country, and are active participants in the lives of
their host families. While abroad, host Rotary Clubs
provide assistance, including a monthly allowance
and opportunities to meet other Youth Exchange
students, make new friends, and experience an
entirely new culture. The first step in becoming an
exchange student is contacting the Oberlin Rotary
Club or Mrs. Shurr at OHS. Once approved by the local
club, students must attend district interviews and,
following that approval, will attend orientations that
are designed to prepare the student and his/her
family for this unique experience.
Kindercamp at Eastwood
Kindercamp was held at Eastwood School this
summer. The curriculum consisted of four different
themes. Bugs, Beach, Circus and Camping. Each week
students rotated to a new theme classroom. They
were engaged in hands on, manipulative based
centers as well as small group differentiated
instruction with their teacher. They created themed
crafts, went on scavenger hunts and practiced their
fine motor skills. Each day Oberlin Community Service
provided a free healthy bagged lunch for any student
Page 8
who wished to participate. To ease the transition into
Kindergarten, students had the opportunity to
experience a typical school day by participating in
Phys Ed, Art, Music, Computer Lab and Library.
Breakfast was provided for parental workshops in
which important information was shared about the
upcoming school year. On the final day a family picnic
where each class performed a special selection and
families had a chance to socialize was held.
Oberlin Schools at Work Fall 2014