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Goodbye Sugar, Hello Nutrition for Learning
“We’re hoping to present new foods in a way that makes them want to try it; make it fun as much as nutritious,” Piero said. “I’m no Rachel Ray, but we’ll do the best we can with presentation.” The grant is very specific in the kinds of foods that can be offered to children: No fruit leathers, juice, dried fruits, trail mix or smoothies, and dips allowed only for vegetables, preferably yogurt-based. Although the grant money can be used only to purchase the fruits and vegetables, nutrition education is the key. “The intent of the program is to encourage children to consume fresh fruits and vegetables away from school as well as while in school,” the grant states. Piero hopes to recruit participation by community members, including parents, dieticians, exercise physiologists and other healthcare professionals. A survey during the first week of school will pinpoint which fruits and vegetables already are part of students’ diets, and a packet for parents will encourage produce consumption at home. “The obesity rate in 
Juicy-ripe strawberries … crispy-tender green beans … a sweet and succulent red pepper … beginning this fall, Franklin students will be tasting the healthy life.
School officials hope they’ll take a taste for fresh produce home with them, Thanks to a federal grant, written by teacher Pam Piero as part of her administrative internship,
Citing other health initiatives at the school such as an Aultman health fair and the weekend food backpacks provided by the Stark County Hunger Taskforce, Piero said the grant is designed to help the
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+ Type 2 diabetes – once known as adult-onset diabetes – is now often diagnosed in children.
+ Nearly 17 percent of
+ Sixty percent of overweight children have at least one cardiovascular risk factor such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
+ Based on current overweight and obesity trends, one-third of children today will develop diabetes over their lifetime.
SMART Technology is Today's #2 Pencil
SMART boards are more than glorified chalkboards, Gensburg said. They also allow teachers to save lessons and are adept at publishing, graphics, recordings, videos, links, sound and second- and third-party software. The boards, which have been around for two dozen years, are being integrated in classrooms across the country. Massillon City Schools has 20 installed in classrooms throughout the district. The key to true integration, Gensberg said, is professional development. “Teachers are restricted (in using technology) only by their knowledge of the computer and by themselves.” SMART boards are just the first step in cutting-edge classroom technology, and technology “should never be separated any more from education goals,” Gensberg said, Paraphrasing MIT professor Seymour Papert, he pointed out that “the time has come to use technology the way pencils were used – as a tool that students could not learn without.” The Massillon City Schools’ mission, he said, should be that every class has a SMART board in front of it – and a teacher who is comfortable using it.
Massillon
Both administrators and teachers received an end-of-year lesson on how best to use interactive SMART boards for 21st century students. Technology, said Bret Gensburg, of Eagle Technology Integrations, who presented the technology overview, serves as “a vessel of moving information from us to the students. Schools are trying to fit yesterday’s education, curriculum and concepts into today’s students, and it’s time to change the standard delivery mechanism.”
Project MORE Rewards Students and Mentors
“One on one may seem so simple,” Gorrell Principal Kathy Harper said, “but I really believe even though you may never see the fruits, what you’re doing will impact every facet of these children’s lives as they go into adulthood with better reading skills. There’s nothing better than giving that gift to a child and what you give them will last a lifetime and beyond.” 
They were lauded and applauded, showered with food and gift baskets, but Project More volunteers at Gorrell Elementary say they’re the ones who are grateful. It was a gift, the core of dedicated volunteers said, to see some of the neediest students improve their reading skills by leaps and bounds. 
Project MORE (Mentoring in 
Joni Gates, a former teacher who describes herself as “rewired not retired,” mentored three 
Project MORE volunteers went the extra mile even beyond the gift of their time, Jenny… said, as they shared their lives with Massillon students, establishing relationships with kids who may not receive much one-on-one reading time with the adults in their lives. 
In return, the volunteers found the systematic program easy to implement and flexible with their schedules – not to mention rewarding. “I thought it was the most wonderful program ever,” one volunteer enthused. “I really enjoyed it,” another said. “Thanks for asking me to do it, and I’ll be back next year.”
our time could be the most valuable gift a
Volunteers are needed for the next school year. For more information, please contact Marva Kay Jones at mjones@massillon.sparcc.org or at 330-830-3900. To see a Project MORE brochure, visit www.ohioprojectmore.org.
Page-Flipping, Fast and Furious
Almanac Challenge
Here’s an easy one: How many justices make up the U.S. Supreme Court?
The Almanac Challenge grand champions were the team of Taylor Wicks, Garret Dean, Mackenzie Brenner and Brian Harris, who each received a McDonald’s gift card. All 52 semi-finalists won a pizza and pop party.
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Smith 'Graduates' Leave With Musical Salute
Smith End-of-year
It was "One, Two, Three O'Clock", time for summer vacation at Smith Thursday as fourth graders "graduated" from elementary school.
The class of 2017 left with a musical salute to their school, "On the Radio" directed by Nancy Hannon. Students covered the musical bases with tunes from the 40s to the 80s, with a special focus on the 50s by the poodle-skirted and t-shirted performers.
Students also received awards for service, attendance citizenship, and achievement, with the L.J. Smith Award going to Quentin Heck. A cake and punch reception for friends and relatives followed the event.
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Students Edge Teachers at MMS
Final score leaving the hardwood Wednesday - 52-50 in favor of the youngsters. Final score heading into summer and into the seventh grade - everyone wins with a spirit of friendly competition and cooperation. 
In the case of MMS sixth graders versus a team of their teachers, the two groups mixing it up on the basketball court: 
School's Out, Learning's Not
From left: Sandy Howell, AT&T Telecom Pioneers Summer Reads chairperson; MCS Assistant Superintendent Marva Kay Jones; Wade Main, Pioneers treasurer; Shirley Bush, Pioneers president. 
School stops for the summer, learning should never end. That’s the philosophy behind the donation of 350 summer activity books for Massillon City Schools kindergarteners by the AT&T Telecom Pioneers. Members of the nonprofit volunteer organization, made up of active employees and retirees of the telephone company, hope to help the youngest students retain the materials they’ve learned during their first year of school and be ready to hit the ground running in first grade. The books provide one page a day of fun activities in reading, writing, math and language skills. Parents are included, too, by checking the work and encouraging the ongoing learning process. The AT&T Telecom Pioneers will be back in the fall, they said, for feedback – literally. They’ll check with students and teachers on how the summer work went and provide pizza or ice cream for the hard-working students.
65 ABLE Students Earn GED
A mother and her daughter who set the same goal … two brothers who shared a loss … a native of It was the helping hands of the ABLE staff and volunteers who gave her the boost to accomplish the first step toward her goal of becoming a midwife, she said. “You must have hard work, determination, willingness,” she said, “and appreciate the efforts of others. You don’t’ make it alone.” Help, she said, is there, if you simply reach for it. FACT: More than 40% of American adults do not read one book in the course of a year. ABLE 5.09
Netsai Wesley arrived in 
“Never stop trying, never stop learning,” she said, “even if you fail, you have to try some more. You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” Fellow classmate and speaker Brenda Smith Wilson concurred. You, a family member, a friend – go back to school, she advised.
Beginning this fall, the superior-rated MCS ABLE program will be located at the Massillon City Schools Educational Complex at
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Congratulations, WHS Class of 2009!
2009 graduation
Under a picture-perfect blue sky Sunday, the Washington High Class of 2009 turned their tassels and headed out from Paul Brown Tiger Stadium into the world.
Congratulations and best wishes, new WHS alumni, from your Massillon City Schools family. You've made us proud!
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MMS Helps Comfort Area Disaster Victims
Seventh graders in the enrichment flex time at 
When everything else is gone, a little toothpaste goes a long way toward making life seem at least a little bit normal.
After representatives from the disaster relief organization explained their role in the community, the students spread the word, sending out letters and broadcasts to parents, making pleas to students via classroom visits, fliers and hallway displays.
After the donations came in, the seventh graders assembled the kits that contain a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, a wash cloth, a comb, pocket tissues, lotion, deodorant, a razor and shaving cream.
Recycling is Profitable at Bowers
Talk about getting an idea off the ground. One of the entrepreneurial efforts at Bowers Elementary involved a plastic bag, some string, and an action figure. Instructions: Toss high in the air and enjoy. The emphasis was on economics in Mary Beth Liossis’ gifted fourth grade class, but recycling came in a close second, whether to save the earth or save some cash. Recycled paper became a sweet ride for the E-raser Facers being sold in hopes of raising cash for a swim. Plain, they sold for 25 cents; with personality like eyes, mouth and hair, buyers were asked to cough up 50 cents. Add another quarter if you want your E-raser Facer to be transported in style in a paper car. Bowers Businesses
“We saw a picture in a magazine and thought, hey, we could start a business together,” Jalen Fogle said. With an investment of $2.30 in pipe cleaners and action figures, he and classmate Drake Stenger were hawking their parachute toys for 50 cents a pop. “We want to give the money we make to the needy,” Jalen said. The parachute part of production (recycled plastic grocery bags), they pointed out, were free.
So were the plastic fast food cup “seconds” Asheton Paul, Garrett Fox and Brandan Broome rounded up to create their “finger springs” – tiny trampolines that they discovered could also be used as snapping music makers or microphones. With $3 in rubber bands and balloons, the trio was charging 75 cents for their multi-talented product. Their goal: Sell 10 finger springs to produce enough profit for a pizza.
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The Four-Year Dash: 2009-2013
Each student is compiling a sort of time capsule documenting what life is like as he or she leaves middle school and prepares for the transition to Washington High, while envisioning the possibilities of the next four years. While creative and engaging, the exercise also incorporates - Writing a letter to their future selves - Creating a timeline of their own past and predicted future life events - Goal-setting, academic and personal - Adding up all the elements with personal touches.
That line between the date of our birth and date of our death has been referred to as “the dash.” 
They’re recording the "now" – current local government, school officials, media favorites, personal preferences, photos, collages, even the last text message they received – and also asking questions about the "later." Like, how will WHS remember you? Aspirations abound: valedictorian, star of the school play, homecoming queen, Ohio State-bound, captain of the football team, senior class president.
“We want them to think about what they’re going to make of their life between now and high school graduation,” said eighth grade principal Renee Parr, who adapted “the dash” concept. Parr will be able to keep tabs on her students’ progress over the next four years – she’ll be making the transition along with them, taking a spot as an assistant principal at Washington High.
Fire Safety is Hot Topic at Bowers
Eighty pounds worth of big, bulky gear … a face-obscuring mask … a voice-changing oxygen tank … it’s enough to scare anyone in an already-scary situation. Thanks to a visit from the Massillon Fire “Don’t be scared if you see me come in wearing this or sounding like this,” Jim Swain told the group as he donned the protective gear. Swain and Chuck Floyd reminded the students of fire safety basics- stay low to get out of the house, arrange a safe meeting place for family members and once outside, don’t go back in. “That’s our job,” Swain said. The duo fielded questions about the $300,000 pump truck they brought with them, explaining gauges and levers and knobs and demonstrating equipment and gear like axes and extinguishers and chainsaws. For those who want to grow up to become firefighters, they said, a word of advice: Graduate. Then, be ready for more education to keep the job. 
Department, however, Bowers students now know that a suited-up firefighter is the go-to guy or girl when there are smoke and flames.
MCS Names Most Improved Students 2009
Brianna Howard, for instance, “shone with improvement” this year, her teacher said, because “she’s not the type to give up on anything she does, even if it’s difficult for her.” Nicholas Hammond became a classroom role model. Kyshad Tate’s efforts to better himself moved his teacher, Erin Sykora, to tears. The Most Improved awards have been presented for the past 14 years by the Massillon Academic Booster Club, with t-shirts presented by SportsStuf and the school plaques sponsored by Judge and Mrs. Eddie Elum. Emerson
Only eight of
This year’s Most Improved Students in the district received the t-shirts, a certificate and their name engraved on a special plaque in their school, all evidence of the exemplary effort they put forth to go from there to here, to be better than they were.
At
Nicholas Hammond, grade three; nominated by teacher Andrea Moore.
Brianna Howard, grade three; nominated by teacher Sue Bettilyon
Kyshad Tate, grade two; nominated by teacher Erin Sykora
Gorrell
McKenzie Gore, grade two; nominated by teacher Marie Stoner
Smith
Joselyn Iraheta-Flores, grade kindergarten; nominated by teacher Kristy Elliott
Nathan Ledome, grade one; nominated by teacher Malia Gerber
Jarid Rice, grade six; nominated by teacher Martha Grigg
Andrew Smith, grade eight; nominated by teacher Cali Turley
MMS Artists Learn from the Ancients
MMS Art
Time and distance are no problem for sixth grade artists at
The students in Sara Hobe’s classes created life-size sarcophagus lids (a stone coffin used by the Egyptians, bearing sculpture, inscriptions and other decoration) along with glazed clay Egyptian cartouches, an oval or oblong figure on ancient Egyptian monuments that enclosed characters representing the name of a sovereign.
They’re working now on Japanese scrolls, which feature nature, architecture and everyday life in watercolors. 
Seventh graders recently created and designed a clay mask that boasted powers while fifth graders incorporated circular weaving into paintings. Eighth graders tried their hand at monochromatic painting, which uses one color, allowed only white to tint and black to shade.
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Seniors Give Back to Massillon
Before they donned caps and gowns, WHS seniors rolled up their sleeves and slipped into work gloves. Sr Community Service 5.09
The Class of 2009 fanned out over their community Friday to give back in appreciation of the support they've received. Work crews could be spotted at South Sippo Park, Springhill Historic Home, downtown Massillon and the city police and tax departments.
After hours spent working up some sweat equity for Tigertown, the group returned to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium for lunch and activities that included whiffleball, an obstacle course, a pedestal joust and a rock climbing wall.
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MMS-Gorrell Partners in Reading
“These ceilings are a lot lower than I remember,” one shooting-up seventh grader said. “That’s the cafeteria?” another asked. “Those tables are so tiny.” Another class, creating their own “wild thing” after hearing “Where the Wild Things Are,” selected from a rainbow of feathers and beads and pompoms and doodads. Modeling the fact that reading is fun, the MMS mentors offered guidance and encouragement: “Yours is great!” MMS-Gorrell Readers
It was only a 15-minute walk to Gorrell Elementary from Massillon Middle School, but Monica Shrader’s seventh grade enrichment students felt like they’d walked into a world from long ago.
The MMS students became the leaders during a partnership this week between the two schools. Each of three groups chose a book to read to Gorrell kindergarteners, then created an art project – including rounding up the necessary supplies – for their young charges that tied in to the literature. 
“Hey, I like those yellow hands,” the middle school “teacher” pointed out as the Gorrell students colored pictures of the story’s “Huggy the Frog” and glued on wild yarn hair. “You’re doing a good job.”
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Tiger Swing Band Plays the West Coast
Fifty-three years ago the Massillon Tiger Swing Band strutted down the boulevards in the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, Calif., and this spring the descendants of those musicians were back in black and orange in the Golden State. MTSB members recently performed at 
Lights! Camera! Read!
The week’s finale involved – what else – popcorn and a movie. Franklin Right to Read Week
Their teachers adorned in feathery, floaty boas, their principal spiffed up in a tuxedo,
A cadre of winners was able to “catch a rising star” by correctly identifying a daily passage from a popular book. The prize: a bountiful selection of beautiful books.
Midweek the glamorous gang dressed as their favorite book character and on Thursday they donned their finest and took a runway stroll reserved for “red carpet readers.” Students who surpassed the daily 15-minute reading goal were awarded a reading Oscar, good for a coveted extra recess.
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Franklin Farmers Get Green and Growing
That’s the lesson Marie Glossen’s preschool class is learning from their new class garden just outside their room at Franklin Elementary. Thanks to donations of muscle and mulch, plants and pavers from Renaissance Landscaping and Design, students are learning about the tender loving care plants (and people) need to grow. The outdoor garden, full of Russian sage, Siberian iris, Shasta daisies, columbine, morning glories, sunflowers and wildflowers neatly divided by paver paths, receives attention throughout the day. “Students can choose to work in the Meanwhile, things are green and growing inside the classroom, too. After healthy snacks of grapes, watermelon, kiwi cucumber, snow peas, apples, oranges and more all-natural In fact, one corner of the classroom is gradually becoming a science center, where students track the weather and chart their plants’ progress. One of the most important accessories during inclement weather: A pair of binoculars to get an up-close and personal look at that blossoming outdoor garden. 
garden even during recess,” said classroom aide Karen DelRio. The garden’s plants are all hummingbird and butterfly attractors, she pointed out, adding that she plans to donate her time over the summer to keep the garden growing.
treats, students planted the leftover seeds to see which varieties would grow in their Dixie cup, windowsill test plot. The class tested several hypotheses on the seeds and seedlings, Glossen said, including varying the amount of water, sunlight and air.
Island Utopias Founded at Massillon Middle
MMS Creates Countries 
Just east of 
Parents and friends helped set up before taking the tour.
Some nations were named for their founders: Taylor Wicks’ Taylortopia with the unique unipenueet as its national bird, or Austinopia where the national flag explodes. Others were dubbed in honor of favorites: Gummyville where Gummyvillelans are “caring and sweet and everything in between” or Baswimball, always popular for its emphasis on swimming and basketball, dinosaurs, and national role models Michael Phelps and Lebron James.
Although there are some restrictions – wear the clothes given to you and no sagging those jeans; everyone worships the same God for four hours one day a week and reads the Bible for one hour daily – each person works the same amount of hours, gets the same month-long vacation and receives the same pay. 
Dukington is “about being equal and not having more than someone else,” its founder explains. “Everyone is treated the same no matter what color or sex you are and everyone has the same values and rights to live happily and safely.”
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Massillon Athletes Excel at Exceptional Olympics
Bobbie Baxter, Cory Budd, Jordan Burkhart, Chancelor Burns, Elizabeth Gray, Jack Jacobs, Caleb Mangus, Austin Mills, Zeth Riehl, Blake Stackhouse, Collin Wadian, Ronda Weekly Grayson Combs, Kristine McCord, Travis Moore, Brittany Russell, Brianna Seefong, Kaci Smith Kyle Ball, Jason Ballas, LeeAnna Bonk, Lorenzo Echols, Ashley May, Travis Rucker, Nikki Spencer , Christy Talkington Exceptional Olympics 2009
A gray drizzle did little to dampen 100-watt smiles Friday at the annual Exceptional Olympics.
Massillon
The 2009 slate of events included: 50-yard dash, bean bag toss, bowling, basketball, field goal shooting, softball batting, soccer ball kick, base running, obstacle course, Frisbee toss and football pass. 
Sporting the orange-and-black for
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