The Lorain County JVS is pleased to announce the 2^ndQuarter Honor Roll. The JVS Honor Roll recognizes students who have achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher for the first 9-week term. Students are listed by their associate school below. 

Amherst
Matthew Arcuri, Megan Arnold, Grace Devine, Kara Finney, Branyan Frederick, Nathan Gezzer, Madilyn Helwig, Kailey Hoopes, Mya Koler, Aaron Kukucka, Lathan Austin, Kaitlyn Lemaster, Logan Mack, Carl Mazze, Maddison Morrow, Madison Murphy, Mason Murphy, Mercedes Murphy, Caleb Osko, Josiah Rivas Amador, Robyn Ruffner, Don Sabella III 

Avon
Stephen Danczak, Megan Doman, Andrew Griffiths, Katherine Maki, Mia Marin

Avon Lake
Alexander Gould, Tristan Hansen, Zachary Lookenott, Tyler Madden, Isabella Perez, Patrick Perez, Joseph Reinhart

Brookside
Nicole Baisden, Lindsey Boykin, MaKenna Butler, Jamie Clesh, Andrew Davis, Ashley Durham, Cayden Gainer, Ethan Garlock, Mackenzie Glass, Samantha Glass, Mia Hall, Seth Harris, Diana Kinnear, Lillian Magee, Brandon Melvin, Michelle Miller, Victoria Nelson, Christopher Nott, Cody Nusbaum, James Patton, Emily Perry, Rebecca Porter, Michael Schilens, Kylee Sherrill, Jeffery Taylor, Andrew Turk, Ashley Wallace, Aliyah Wilson

Clearview
Thomas Boone, Samantha Brown, Alicia Burnworth, Maria Camacho, Victor Castillo, Sydney Collier, Samuel Garcia, Victor Goncalves I, Jacob Kuzak, Jared Sams, Jacob Stavesky

Columbia
Corey Garrow, Jeffrey Hershey, Tyler Hicks, Katelin Hughart, Amelia Jessen, Joseph Kobiloinsky, Casandra McDowell, Nolan Miller, Joshua Morlock, Logan Smith, Rachael Sprouse, Stephen Stansberry, Brian Wells, Nathaniel Wetzel, Alyssa Wilkins

Elyria
Olivia Coward, Eric Cray, Kaelee Demyan, Armoni Emery, Jesse Everson, Dillon Farmer, Austin Fields, Iziah Fridley, Zaavan Grady, Anna Hale, Danyale Harmon, Gavin Hennigan, Damarilys Hernandez, Levi James, Lou’Vaughn Johnson, Isabella Karl, Marcus Krick, Alexander Meier, Sarrina Ramon-Beebe, Kristen Reid, Roberto Rivera, Kody Roszak, Noah Shawley, Casandra Strawderman, Michael Vasi, Summer Wells, Moesha Willis, Michael Wooley

Firelands
Victoria Barnett, Erin Cox, Noah Hammond, Casey Koepp, Matthew Lake, Asandra Larges, Bethany Leon, Amber Michalski, Tyler Miller, Spencer Morrow, Derric Rogala, Sydney Sexton, Brandon Sherrard, Brian Smith, Julia Smith, Isaac Sultzer, Joy Vaughn, Brianna Whitmore, Ryan Wilhelm, John Willis

Keystone
Bailey Ables, Curtis Bacsi, Jared Bacsi, Hailey Blackburn, Michael Coghlan, Ashley Collins, Macie Hecock, Summer Jackson, Kyle Jarvis, Logan Keener, Lucas Kincaid, Alec Kurz, David McCullough, Michael McDonald, Kailee Mull, Bradley Novak, Kimberly Pinkerton, Jason Rising, Haylee Sickels, Ciarra Thompson, Leah Worthington

Midview
Joshua Abood, Amanda Ashmun, Blake Beaumont, Michara Blue, Chloe Clark, Jeremy Clay, Caleb Cole, Madison Coughlin, Cole Cruise, Kelli Datlenko, Lia Douglas, Savannah Engelman, Beckah Espy, Jamie Gallagher, Veronica Haught, Nicolas Hoon, Tyler Huge, Bradley Hurlbert, Jacob Hwodeky, Patrick Jourabchian, Keith Keim, Thomas Keller, Kayla Lassen, Alexander Leppert, Tyler Lottman, Joshua Luke, Shelby Marks, Killian Moore, Savannah Moore, Connor Munn, Nicolino Nardo, Brennan Novak, Hunter Palider, Shane Ross, Michael Sims, Nicole Von Seggern, Jared Wendell, Andrew West, Autumn White-hupp

North Ridgeville
Megan Beals, Brooke Bird, Nicholas Borlaug, Eric Brannigan, Sidney Coleman, Dominic DiFilippo, Jordan Dobransky, Brandon Dotson, Alyssa Elswick, Hailey Ferry, Michael Flachbart, Bradley Fueglein, Nathan Gage, Nethanel George, Lillith Heiman, Brianna Hiller, Johnathan Hollingsworth, Gabriella Hughart, Alex Jutte, Olivia Kerley, Brett Kiekisz, Brandon Kmiecik, Zachary Koberna, Mark Lengauer Jr., Nicolle Lesiw, Timothy Livingston, Mason Louis, James Mason, Mckenna Mikonsky, Amber Moravcik, Bret Moravcik, Skyler Mshabbek, Hunter Ontko, Nathan Pawlak, Zachary Russell, Erika Shaft, Ethan Soltis, Emily Steinbrunner, Tyler Sycz, Julie Taylor, Devin Thomas, Madison VanBuskirk, Jerry VanSickle III, Tyler Wensing, Victoria Wood, Allison Zvaigzne

Oberlin
Maxine Baggett-Redd, Amelia Bates, Matthias Bates, Angel Bishop, Jeremy Burnside, Christian Leos, Gabrielle Newman, Maxwell Sherman, Nikolas Vayda, Marquis Walker

Wellington
Christopher Beat, Sarah Bremke, Taylor Curtiss, Katelin DeZee, Austin Feron, Evan Gerding, Eva Hartwig, Morgan Hunter, Maxwell Joppeck, Trenton Lyon, Jessica Mileski, Kristen Mileski, Zoey Moore, Madison Mull, Sarah Park, Kyle Pitts, Savannah Roby, Brittanasha Smith, Savannah Smith, Jacob Snyder, Misti Stinson, Matthew Teehan, Kaylee Thorn, Alexis Weaver, Tyler Wilfong, Thomas Williams

The Lorain County JVS Open House on January 28th was a huge success with hundreds of prospective students and their families touring the campus, speaking with instructors, students, support staff, and alumni and participating in demonstrations and hands-on activities.

JVS staff looks forward to seeing parents and family members, especially because they will help the student with the decision to enroll at the Lorain County JVS.

The Open House gave visitors a close-up view of over 23 career technical programs in the areas of Building Trades, Manufacturing/Engineering, Business/Marketing, Culinary, Community Service/Healthcare, and Transportation.  

JVS alumni who also came out to the Open House, spoke to students and parents about what they experienced while attending the school district.

Jairo Cabrera, Lorain County JVS 2001 Masonry Trades program alum, is currently a Field Representative for the Cleveland Bricklayers Union Local 5 and shared how the JVS allowed him to develop a tool that he will have with him for life. “When I entered my apprenticeship program, I was advanced in my class versus other students. The JVS provided me with the tools and knowledge I needed to succeed.”  

Justin Layne, 2017 alumni of the Heating and Air Conditioning program, said that making friends with like-minded students made the JVS an excellent experience for him. “I enjoyed the comradery that you build in your program with people that are learning the same skills you are and who have the same interests as well.”  

The JVS Adult Career Center staff was on hand to register adult students for spring semester classes and talk with adults interested in changing careers or upgrading their skills.  

Enrollment for high school programs is currently going on now.

Lorain County JVS FFA student members, juniors and seniors in the Landscape and Greenhouse Management program, recently competed at the FFA Nursery and Landscape State Competition at the Columbus Convention Center.

The Nursery and Landscape Career Development Event tests students’ skills in maintaining landscape plants and related products, evaluating equipment and services, as well as landscape design. 

Mercedes Murphy, senior Landscape and Greenhouse Management student from Amherst, competed at the state competition and explained some of the portions of the competition. “For the identification portion of the event we had to identify 120 plants and supplies, as well as irrigation systems and supplies, and also read a landscape blueprint and answer questions about it.” 

Murphy placed 1^st in the district and at the state competition she finished 17^th individually out of 130 contestants. Don Sabella, senior from Amherst, placed 2^nd in the district and finished 25^th individually. 

The students’ individual scores were compiled for an overall team score and the JVS team, consisting of Murphy, Sabella, Sydney Collier, junior from Clearview, and Noah Hammond, senior from Firelands, finished 8^th out of 22 teams. 

The National FFA Organization is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership.

The Auto Technology Program at the Lorain County JVS Adult Career Center is a family affair for Steve Kilgore and his son Adrian. The father and son from Elyria, enrolled in the program last June after visiting the Adult Career Center Open House.

“I actually signed my son up. That was the plan,” said Steve Kilgore. “But, he kept asking me to take the course with him. So I ended up joining him.”

Adrian Kilgore said it's weird having your father in the same class with you, but he adds, “I feel like it is better that way. In regular school, I wasn’t focused. There were a lot of distractions. It’s helpful having your father in the same class as you.”

The Kilgore’s have a business where they buy and sell cars. “I know how to do a little work on vehicles, but nothing compared to what I have learned over the last six months,” shared Steve Kilgore. “I enjoy it. It opened my eyes to some different stuff.” The Auto Technology program is 600 hours and scheduled to end in June of 2018.

“I think it’s amazing that they are learning a new skill together,” said Kristian Smith, Lorain County JVS Adult Career Center Director. “I am sure that it will be an experience that they will always look back on with fond memories.”

Kilgore said the one-year program is allowing his son to not only have a trade but eventually go through the certification process. “It's turning out to be great. I wanted my son to learn everything. Now, he’s in a position to make this amount instead of that amount.”

Adrian is already positioning himself to not only work on his vehicle but others in the very near future. “I reworked a wire on the engine, and that was scary, but I liked it.”

Prom can be one of the most memorable nights of the year for high school students. It’s the last time they are together with friends before graduation, and it is a time to celebrate and have fun. 

The Lorain County JVS Early Childhood Education junior FCCLA Chapter recently hosted a prom fashion show to get students ready for prom night, but more importantly, it was an event to have them think about the dangers of driving distracted and impaired.

Every student in attendance was asked to sign a pledge card stating they would have a safe and sober prom, not use drugs or alcohol, and stay alert behind the wheel.  

Star Vaughn, junior Early Childhood Education student from Firelands, explained how the pledge cards work. “We passed out “Prom Promise Pledge Cards” to students who would pledge to drive safely. We also showed a video about a local teenager who was texting and driving and the price she paid for that choice.”

All students who made this commitment were entered into a drawing to win various gift cards, a free prom dress from David's Bridal, or a free tuxedo from American Commodore Tux. 

Karla Schultz, junior Early Childhood Education junior from North Ridgeville, added, “Our class also did a skit showing our peers all the different people in your life you can impact if an accident happens while texting and driving.” 

"My students want to spread the message that it is important to have a safe prom night and to stay away from alcohol and drugs, and to not be distracted in any way while driving," said Hilary Duffala, junior Instructor for the Early Childhood Education program. 

Junior and senior students in the JVS Cosmetology program also provided their skills to the fashion show and did the hair and make-up for each girl in the show.

Lorain County JVS is celebrating Career and Technical Education Month throughout the month of February. CTE Month is a public awareness campaign designed to recognize the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of its programs across the country. 

 
Lorain County JVS is providing career and technical education every day in its classrooms and labs, with the goal of offering education that directly prepares students for high-wage, high-demand careers. As the Lorain County JVS Mission states, “We prepare students to be successful in their careers.” 

 
Superintendent Dr. Glenn Faircloth said the JVS is equipping the current and future workforce with professionally skilled career-oriented individuals who experience hands-on training, participate in state and national competitions, and take part in paid internships and job shadowing while enrolled at the JVS. “It’s remarkable what our students are accomplishing at Lorain County JVS,” stated Faircloth. “They are getting not only the best educational experience possible, but a head start in their careers.”  

CTE encompasses many different professions, including, healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, marketing and business management, website and graphic design, masonry, auto technology, engineering and many more.  

According to Dr. Faircloth, Lorain County JVS is in the process of developing and implementing a five-year strategic plan with the goal of being the model for Career and Technical Education in the state of Ohio by 2023. “We are taking our vision very seriously. Everything we do for the next five years will have that achievement in mind.”  

There are many activities planned for CTE Month from visits to the new JVS health and wellness wing to FFA Week where Landscape and Greenhouse Management and Industrial Equipment Mechanics students host activities to bring awareness to agriculture and related careers. 

 
Along with CTE Month, Black History Month is also celebrated in February, and Dr. Faircloth wants to bring awareness to the many scientists, inventors and other African Americans who contributed to our society in career technical areas. “Numerous African American inventors in history played a major part in making our lives better by creating materials, devices, and instruments used today.”

Andrew Davis, a junior from Sheffield Lake/Brookside High School in the Lorain County JVS Industrial Electricity program, recently attended a week-long Regional Officer Leadership Training in Washington, D.C. Davis was elected Historian of the North Central Ohio Region at the SkillsUSA Fall Leadership Conference in November. All regional officers, which included 46 from Ohio, were invited to this conference.

The purpose of the conference is to develop leadership, receive officer training to execute the duties of a regional SkillsUSA officer, and experience the process of our federal government.

During his week-long stay, Davis attended many training sessions at the SkillsUSA National Headquarters in Leesburg, Virginia which included leadership training, opening and closing ceremony training, and receiving the Statesmen Awards. In addition, the group received a bus-tour of downtown Washington, D.C., toured the Capitol, viewed the wreath-laying ceremony at the Arlington Monument, walked the Arlington National Cemetery and visited the Pentagon. The week-long training concluded with an evening Awards Banquet and Dance at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Davis shared, “my favorite part of the trip was visiting the Arlington National Cemetery. What an experience!” He also noted that the group met with the President of the National SkillsUSA Organization who talked about leadership and what it takes to be a good leader. Davis also said it truly was an awesome experience to meet and work with 45 other regional officers from across the state of Ohio.

Davis plans to continue his studies in the field of industrial electricity, and after graduation next year, apply for an electrical apprenticeship, acquire a journeyman’s card and secure employment in the electrical field. He shared that his father was employed in the electrical field in the steel industry as well.

SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA serves middle school, high school and college/postsecondary students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations. More than 300,000 students and advisors join SkillsUSA annually.

Students from the Lorain County JVS Masonry Trades and Landscape & Greenhouse Management programs showcase their affection for their home state at the Cleveland's Great Big Home + Garden Show.

Masonry Trades students designed and built an O-H brick display, while the Landscape & Greenhouse Management students designed the layout for and planted the red and white tulips as well as assorted evergreen trees. This display can be found in the Garden Showcase section of the event.

Mikeal Mitchell, Masonry Trades junior from Amherst, said that he was excited to attend the event and show his work to his family and friends. “I really enjoyed working on this project,” shared Mitchell. “Our display represents our state and is decorated with landscaping to make it more beautiful. We added larger trees in the back to really push the O-H out more. It turned out great!”

All of the students who participated are listed below by their associate school.

The Great Big Home + Garden Show runs through February 11th, and is located at Cleveland's IX Center.

Amherst
Dylan Buri, Masonry Trades senior; Taylor DeJesus, Landscape & Greenhouse Management senior; Mikeal Mitchell, Masonry Trades junior; Mercedes Murphy, Landscape & Greenhouse Management senior; Don Sabella, Landscape & Greenhouse Management senior; Brianna Vullien, Landscape & Greenhouse Management senior

Avon
Samuel Hodgson, Masonry Trades senior

Avon Lake
Tucker McKinley, Masonry Trades junior

Brookside
William Hawksley, Masonry Trades junior

Clearview
Syaire Cruz, Masonry Trades junior; Victor Goncalves, Masonry Trades senior; Elijah Herda, Masonry Trades junior

Elyria
Bryan Cote, Masonry Trades senior; Jaren O’Connor, Masonry Trades junior; Quinn Parsh, Masonry Trades senior

Firelands
Noah Hammond, Landscape & Greenhouse Management senior; James Osborne, Masonry Trades junior

Midview
Jacob Abahazi, Masonry Trades senior; Jarrett Billy, Masonry Trades senior

North Ridgeville
Timothy Burns, Masonry Trades junior; Gabriella Hughart, Landscape & Greenhouse Management senior

Wellington
Jessica Mileski, Landscape & Greenhouse Management senior; Darrin Scott, Masonry Trades senior; Tyler Wilfong, Masonry Trades senior

It’s a new year and students at the JVS Adult Career Center are pursuing a career in Dental Assisting/Radiography.

The program prepares students for a chairside position in a dental office. The course also introduces dental anatomy, terminology, dental specialties, laboratory procedures, infection control, sterilization procedures, dental instruments, and mixing dental materials. The Adult Career Center also includes a 7-hour initial training course for Dental Assistant Radiographer. 

Instructor Dawn Bush said dental assisting is a growing career. “You can become a Dental Assistant in four months.  You will learn everything you need to know to start your career. You’ll also experience hands-on training in our new dental lab.”  

The program also includes an unpaid internship. The internship is the first step to obtaining a Dental Assistant Radiographer’s certificate in Ohio. 

 
Angela Pasadyn said she still has fond memories of the Dental Assisting program. “I really enjoyed the experience with doing something different than I was doing.   I had a great teacher who guided us and prepared us for helping patients.”  

Former student Mashala Lorentz said she was also impressed with the Dental Assisting program and the positive atmosphere. “I really liked the small class setting so, you end up making great friends along your journey.”

For more information about the Dental Assisting/Radiography program contact, the JVS Adult Career Center at 440-774-1051 ext. 22254.

Lorain County JVS is offering the opportunity for 5th and 6th grade students of our thirteen associate school districts to attend a Career Tech Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday, February 24th.

Career Tech Saturday is a career exploration program designed to give elementary students hands-on experience in various career tech areas. This opportunity can spark the interest of our younger student population by providing fun activities while they learn a new skill set. Students will create a make-it-take-it that they can take home with them.

Students will have the opportunity to plant seeds, transplant, and harvest vegetables, construct a lightening circuit board, give a car a check-up or even make a robot using the head of a toothbrush! Parents/guardians can also observe their student in these environments and will be able to see firsthand all that Lorain County JVS has to offer.

There will also be services and demonstrations available to the parents/guardians, such as flower arranging, and salon services; as well as free Wi-Fi.

There will also be a Career Tech Saturday for 3^rd and 4^th graders on March 10^th.

Students must be registered to participate in both of the upcoming Career Tech Saturday programs.

For the ninth consecutive year, the junior Masonry Trades class is taking part in the ‘Holiday Lights’ event at the Lorain County Metro Parks Carlisle Visitor Center. David Rudisill, Masonry Trades Instructor, enjoys being a part of this event each year. “This is a fun project for my students to work on. It gives them real world experience with things they have been learning in lab; like how to use the wet saw and take measurements, and it is also something they can be proud of,” stated Rudisill. “The students bring their families out to the event, share their work with them and even take pictures. It is a nice tradition for my class.”

The theme for the event is classic holiday movies. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has been the movie selection for the JVS for the past few years. This year, the students created and painted a chimney, complete with the Grinch peeking out, a Christmas tree and gift boxes. Cindy Lou Who, Max, the reindeer-dog, and a sleigh are a part of the display as well. These items were created from past classes and are being used again this year.

Masonry Trades juniors Tucker McKinley from Avon Lake and James Osborne from Firelands shared their favorite parts of this project. “I learned a lot when we were cutting the bricks to the precise measurements. I was able to take lessons from my math course and apply them to this project,” shared McKinley. Osborne is looking forward to sharing his work with his family, when they attend the event together.

You won’t want to miss these spectacular pieces designed, built and painted by JVS students! The ‘Holiday Lights’ at the Carlisle Visitor Center takes place now through December 30.

Student members of the FFA Organization, those students in the Landscape & Greenhouse Management and Industrial Equipment Mechanics programs, recently attend the 360° Leadership Conference in Dublin, Ohio.

This conference took the students on a ‘full circle’ in leadership development, with a goal to provide each students with the tools, ideas and time to develop action plans for their FFA chapters, communities and personal lives.

Sydney Collier, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior from Clearview, said the conference focused on making an impact and how everyone can make a difference in their daily lives. “I can put these lessons into practice by sharing with people that I talk to on a daily basis how we can make a difference by just making the decision to come to school every day and doing daily things that make an impact, like helping people out and being a positive person.”

Landscape and Greenhouse Management Instructor and FFA Advisor Beth Berthold said, "This conference is an important event for the students to attend because they learn to develop leadership skills and are given the foundation to work on their vision for the future. They learn how to integrate these concepts in both their future and professional lives."

Students who attended this conference are listed below by their Associate School.

Amherst: Don Sabella, Landscape and Greenhouse Management senior

Clearview: Sydney Collier, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior

Elyria: Lou’Vaughn Johnson, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior

Keystone: Aidan Marang, Industrial Equipment Mechanics junior; Michael McDonald, Industrial Equipment Mechanics junior; Bailey Zorn, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior

Midview: Thomas Keller, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior; William Keller, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior

North Ridgeville: Nicholas Borlaug, Industrial Equipment Mechanics junior

Wellington: Savannah Roby, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to student members.

Lorain County JVS student members of the National FFA Organization recently spent a Saturday morning enjoying brunch with local farmers.The Brunch with a Farmer event was held at Lorain County Community College and gave the students the opportunity to meet local farmers, learn about the diversity of the farms in Lorain County and enjoy some local food as well.

Students were able to socialize and network with many different agricultural commodity groups during the event. Nicholas Ziegler from Lettuce Heads Aquaponics and Farm, a family run market from Wellington, and Allen Grobe from Grobe’s Fruit Farm from Elyria, were in attendance and spoke about their farms and local experiences.

Savannah Roby, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior from Wellington, stated that the information Grobe’s Fruit Farm shared about the new EverCrisp apples was exciting to hear. “They said how the EverCrisp, which is ‘born’ from a Honeycrisp and Fuji apple, can last weeks longer than other types of apples. I think that is awesome.”

Students also heard a presentation from one local grain farmer, Ken Diedrick, who shared how he is using new technology, such as GPS navigation and drones, to assist him in planting his fields.

Having one on one conversations with the local farmers was meaningful as well. In order to help each guest gain insight and be able to ask questions, each table had one or two local farmers placed at it. This is what Sydney Collier, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior from Clearview, enjoyed most. “The farmer at our table donated the pork for the sausage, and it was delicious.”

Lorain County JVS students that attended are: Sydney Collier, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior from Clearview; Thomas and William Keller, Landscape and Greenhouse Management juniors from Midview; Savannah Roby, Landscape and Greenhouse Management junior from Wellington; Michael McDonald, Industrial Equipment Mechanics junior from Keystone, and Don Sabella, Landscape and Greenhouse Management senior from Amherst.

The Lorain County JVS Early Childhood Education Junior FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) Chapter recently hosted a Bubbles for Babies Night with the ‘Bubble Lady’, on the JVS campus, to help raise awareness about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.

Hilary Duffala, Early Childhood Education junior class instructor, shared how each year her junior FCCLA students select an organization in the community to partner with and then work with them on a particular program. “This year my students selected the Lorain County Health Department’s Cribs for Kids Program. The students selected this program because they wanted to shine a spotlight on SIDS and talk about the importance of “back is best” for infant sleep.

JVS Preschoolers, their parents and other families from the community came out to enjoy the event. The cost for admission was one pack of diapers per child. All diapers collected will be donated to the Lorain County Health Department.

The interactive show took children and parents on an incredible adventure with different shapes, sizes, and colors of bubbles. The ‘Bubble Lady,’ Sue Durante, began the program with small bubbles, and then magically began creating larger bubbles, as well as bubbles within bubbles. The night had the children and parents giggling and laughing out loud.

Durante shared how she has been doing this program for over twenty years and how much fun she is still having. “I love hearing the kids laugh,” said Durante. “They think I am so ridiculous and I just love that.”

Through the Cribs for Kids Program, the Lorain County Health Department provides families with newborns, a pack n’ play and a pack of diapers at no cost, to promote safe sleep. Duffala said, “My students and I want to spread the message about safe sleep, while also helping local families with newborns.”

Kayla Evans, Early Childhood Education junior from Wellington, explained the many facets of the FCCLA project. “There are three different parts to an FCCLA project, and they are school, community and family. For the school portion, we sponsored a jeans day for students and staff and raised over $70.00. This bubble event was the family part, and we are still working out the details of the community portion.”

The bubble adventure ended with each child, and even some adults, getting the opportunity to be placed inside a bubble. “Watching the kids get in the bubbles was my favorite part,” shared Evans. “That was so cool!”

“This night was so much fun,” said Duffala. “Most importantly though, this event allowed the students to share their message about safe sleep with the community, as well as collect diapers for a great cause.“

Four members of the Lorain County JVS FFA Chapter have met the requirements to obtain the State FFA Degree and will receive their degrees on May 3^rd during the FFA State Convention held in Columbus at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. The State FFA Degree is the 2^nd highest level that can be achieved.

Members receiving this honor are: Jessica Mileski, Landscape and Greenhouse Management senior from Wellington; Mercedes Murphy, Landscape and Greenhouse Management senior from Amherst; Jesse Everson, Industrial Equipment Mechanics senior from Elyria; and Don Sabella III, Landscape and Greenhouse Management senior from Amherst.

To be eligible to receive the State FFA Degree from the state association, a member must meet a minimum of 18 standards that include, but are not limited to: received the Chapter FFA Degree; are a current member of the FFA and are enrolled in an agricultural education program; while in school, have completed the equivalent of at least one and a half years (270 hours) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education, which includes a supervised agricultural experience program (SAE); have assisted in the development of the FFA Chapter’s Program of Activities; have participated in at least one school or professional organization activity; have participated in a minimum of 25 hours of community service activities with at least two different community groups outside of FFA; have a GPA equal to or great than 2.0; and have participated in at least two different state sanctioned Career Development Events.

JVS students and staff also celebrated National FFA Week, during the week of February 19^th. The JVS FFA student members had activities planned for each day. These included a corn-hole tournament, selfie station, official FFA dress day, popcorn for JVS teachers and staff and a $1.00 jeans day fundraiser, with all proceeds raised, being donated to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. FFA is a student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership.

It’s right there in the name: Head Start. And for juniors in the Lorain County JVS Early Childhood Education program, this is exactly what they are getting, a head start in their career path.

Star Vaughn is one of these students and she is loving her time at the Amherst Head Start, located inside the Children’s Developmental Center.

“I want to be a kindergarten through third grade teacher and this experience is preparing me for that,” shared Vaughn.

During their junior year at JVS, students have the opportunity to participate in work-based learning experiences, where they are placed at different daycare or early childhood centers throughout the county. The students spend seven to eight days throughout a two month period at these centers, as an extension of their school program lab. This allows the students to gain real world experience as well as acquire new skills specific to the worksite.

Hilary Duffala, JVS Early Childhood Education junior class instructor, explained how the work-based learning process teaches and prepares her students.

“They get real-life experience in classrooms with students who have diverse backgrounds and needs. It is such an amazing experience for them,” Duffala said.

Leanna McGuire, Head Start teacher for more than six years, is thrilled when the JVS students are placed in her classroom.

“It is nice to have JVS students because they actually do this work in their lab every day and you can tell,” McGuire said. “The environment is not overwhelming to them, they already have a few good ideas, and they are coming into something they are comfortable with.”

Head Start is a comprehensive child development program funded by the federal government and the flagship program of Community Action Agencies throughout the nation. The entire family benefits from Head Start which prepares children for Kindergarten and academic success while promoting self-sufficiency in the children and their parents.

LCCAA has provided Head Start in Lorain County since 1966 and is the only Head Start provider the county has ever had.

Getting to see different types of curriculum and teaching strategies by other early childhood professionals is another important aspect of these work-based learning experiences, according to Duffala. Her students get prepared for these experiences from the work they do in their JVS lab, where they run and operate a preschool program.

The junior students operate the four to five year old preschool and are responsible to plan, conduct and evaluate developmentally appropriate activities based on a weekly theme.

Alexis Weaver, JVS Early Childhood Education junior, shared how the work in her JVS lab prepared her for her time at Head Start. “I felt ready with what I needed when I started my time at Head Start because in my JVS program we do lesson plans every week and I was able to bring those ideas with me here.”

The Early Childhood Education senior FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) Chapter recently hosted a Dr. Seuss Pajama Party.

Children in the Lorain County JVS three and four year-old preschool classes and those of JVS staff were invited to wear their pajamas for the evening for this fun and meaningful event.

The children enjoyed hearing numerous Dr. Seuss stories read aloud. They were also treated to dinner, and participated in fun activities and games.

The cost of the evening’s event was simply a new pair of pajamas that will be donated to Neighborhood Alliance, to be used in their emergency shelters.

Early Childhood Education seniors Hailey Blackburn from Keystone and Brooke Bird from North Ridgeville, shared what a great success the event was. “We collected 112 pairs of new pajamas to donate to Neighborhood Alliance. We are so happy that this night was fun for everyone and that our collection of pajamas will help others when they need it most,” said Bird.

The Lorain County JVS Adult Dental Assisting/Radiography program has seven new graduates. The graduates, staff and the student’s friends and family celebrated the completion of the four-month program on March 8, 2018. 

The new Dental Assisting graduates are Danielle Hale, Christina Hayes, Neena Henderson, Breanna Korth, Abigail Melendez, Yvette Sanchez, and Ashley Woods.

The program prepares students for a chairside position in a dental office. The course also introduces dental anatomy, terminology, dental specialties, laboratory procedures, infection control, sterilization procedures, dental instruments, and mixing dental materials. The Adult Career Center also includes a 7-hour initial training course for Dental Assistant Radiographer.

Instructor Dawn Bush said dental assisting is a growing career. “You can become a Dental Assistant in four months. Upon graduation, you will learn everything you need to know to start your career.”

The program also includes an unpaid internship. The internship is the first step to obtaining a Dental Assistant Radiographer’s certificate in Ohio.