Saturday, January 9th, 2010

Course choice to expand

Celina High School

By William Kincaid
Photoshop, forensic science, comparative anatomy - these are just a few of the additional courses students at Celina High School can take next year under the new trimester schedule.
Students at Celina High School will choose from these and other class choices in February for a new five-period, trimester schedule set to replace the traditional nine-period, quarter system used for the last ten years.
It is intended to allow students to focus on fewer subjects at any given time and take more electives.
The trimester schedule was presented as an alternative to the current schedule where students are often subjected to a heavy course load. Also too much time is being wasted out of class, according to High School Principal Jason Luebke.
With less time spent outside of the classroom, students will be able to enroll in classes that otherwise would not be available.
Some students are excited while others are hesitant about the coming transformation that will expand each period from 42 to 65 minutes.
"The more they know, the better they feel," Luebke said about the trimester. He said students should receive their approved schedules this summer.
Many teachers are enthusiastic about the new schedule,as well.
"I'm really excited about the extra courses I can teach," English teacher Kelly Black said.
Black, who has taught at the school for 14 years, was asked by Luebke if she had any ideas for new electives.
Next year, she will teach creative writing II and successful speaking.
Those in creative writing II will contribute content, edit and publish the school's literary magazine and participate in workshops where they will critique others students' work.
In addition to learning critical thinking and writing skills necessary for college and many jobs, the students will engage their imaginations in ways often not afforded by the state-mandated curriculum.
"I'm trying to bring that back out in the kids," she said, adding that her students in Creative Writing I compose poems, songs and scripts.
Successful speaking, Black's second new class confirmed for next year, will prepare students for talking in front of groups of people.
Other new classes proposed for next year include guitar, history of pop music, earth and space science and leadership for life, Luebke said.
But whatever core subject or elective classes students choose, they will stay in each of their classes next year for 65 minutes - 23 minutes more than this year's periods.
The longer classes are intended to allow teachers to instruct more in depth.
"I think the trimester is more like a college schedule," Luebke told the newspaper this week. "It's really beneficial to all students."
In an infromational handout, Luebke wrote that teaching for retention and teaching fewer concepts to a deeper level is the aim of the trimester.
Success is likely dependent on each teacher sustaining the attention of their students by varying instruction.
To do so, a class might be broken into a lecture, lab and group projects.
"It's all about how we approach it in the classroom," Luebke said. "They'll (teachers) adapt - it's going to take some time."
Teachers will receive professional development to prepare for the transition, such as an in-service session scheduled for March 30. A guest speaker will talk about varying instruction.
"Our teachers have to buy into it," Luebke said about a successful trimester. "It's got to come from teachers."
"We all have to work together," Black said.

Trimester facts:
The following trimester issues were addressed in a fact sheet provided by Luebke:
• No other school in Celina's vicinity is on the trimester. However, many schools in Indiana and Michigan have been using trimesters for many years. Schools in the Toledo and Cincinnati areas and throughout Ohio are beginning to implement this schedule.
• Research indicates retention of content is higher when it is taught for depth as opposed to breadth.
• An absence will be more costly because periods are longer.
• Each department will develop a scope and sequence that is strickly adhered to by all its members.
• Band and choir programs will actually have a greater amount of time during the school day.
• Tri Star will operate in the same capacity as it does now under the current quarter schedule. Grades will be reported quarterly for Tri Star classes and on the trimester schedule for regular classes.
• The main advantage is students will focus on fewer subjects at any given time.
• The post-secondary class option would remain as it is. However, school officials are working to expand their partnership with Wright State University-Lake Campus to develop more dual enrollment options to high school students for college credit.
-William Kincaid
Additional online stories on this date
A 33-year-old Celina man, who allegedly considers himself a role model for juveniles, faces a new charge stemming from actions in connection with a pending case in Mercer County Common Pleas Court. [More]
MARIA STEIN - Everybody knows that in rivalry games the records get thrown out the window, but in Friday's battle between the Marion Local Flyers and the St. Henry Redskins, all conventional wisdom got tossed out as well. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
NEW BREMEN - Mayor Jeff Pape wants to settle the matter of rehiring retired village employees once and for all. And he sees a key to solving the stalemate as getting input from local residents to assist in the decision-making process.
Sisters of Precious Blood treated people with dips in pools, teas and exercise
MARIA STEIN - For thousands of years, tea has been served for pleasure, treatment, protection and rebellion. At one time in Great Britain tea was thought to be harmful to health and even lead to moral decay.
Mercer County health officials this week decided to let the county prosecutor's office deal with property owners who refuse to tap into the county's sanitary sewage system.
Area businesses who have failed to make necessary upgrades to their walk-in coolers could face operating license suspensions.
Although 17 of 18 bus
A season-best offensive performance helped Celina pick up its first Western Buckeye League win of the season.
Darin Waterman scored a career-best 32 points to help lead Celina to a 78-66 victory over Wapakoneta on Friday night at The Fieldhouse.
ROCKFORD - Coldwater jumped out to a quick lead and took advantage of a number of Parkway turnovers to stay unbeaten on the season with a 69-38 win in Midwest Athletic Conference action at Panther Gymnasium on Friday night.
NEW BREMEN - On a night where points were at a premium, the New Bremen Cardinals found just enough offense to defeat the Minster Wildcats 52-28 in Midwest Athletic Conference play on Friday night at New Bremen High School.
Western Buckeye League Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
St. Marys fell behind early and could never catch up, snapping a two-game winning streak as Bath defeated the Roughriders 60-45 at The Tub in Bath Township in Western Buckeye League play.
Midwest Athletic Conference Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Fort Recovery dominated the first three quarters to keep a share of the Midwest Athletic Conference lead after dispatching Versailles 64-39 on Friday night at Fort Site Fieldhouse.