From the Principal's Office

I am honored to serve as the new JVS High School Principal! Every month we'll be sending out a newsletter to update parents on what's happening at the JVS and keep you informed on upcoming events. If you have any questions or concerns, I am always available. Feel free to contact me via phone at 440-774-1051, ext. 22273, or via email at tpelto@lcjvs.net.

Tina Pelto, Principal

Lorain County JVS

This month the JVS would like to spotlight Christopher Farr. Chris is a senior in the Precision Machine Technology class, and is from Midview High School. He landed, what we think, one of the coolest jobs in the Summer Internship Program – building aircraft wheels and brakes!

Chris worked as a Machinist in the Aircraft Wheel and Brake Division at Parker Hannifin Corporation in Avon. Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 300 Company, with 60,000 employees producing nearly a million different products. The Aircraft Wheel and Brake Division is part of Parker Aerospace, an operating group of Parker Hannifin, which creates products for both commercial and military aircraft.

The opportunity for Chris to work at Parker started last November when Annette McIver, JVS Career Services Specialist, reached out to Tamara Hagerty, Human Resources Manager at Parker, to nurture the partnership between the JVS and the company. In February of 2019, Parker Aerospace sent Jeff Peters, Division Lean & EHS Manager, and Dennis Richards, Operations Manager, to the JVS to talk to our manufacturing students about opportunities for employment at the Avon plant. Chris Farr introduced himself and made such a great impression with them, they called him for an interview!

After a successful interview, Chris had to undergo a full government background check and security clearance, which included hair testing to ensure that he is drug and alcohol free. The entire process took several weeks, then Chris was offered a highly competitive wage.

As a Summer Intern, Chris worked 40 hours per week at Parker Aerospace machining airplane parts. He started work early every day, working from 6:00 am until 2:30 pm. Chris didn’t mind the early hours as there was no traffic on the way to work. He said he arrived to work on time to have a cup of coffee with his fellow machinists before starting the day. Chris told us, “I absolutely loved working with the company. The machinist team was very helpful and very friendly.”

Chris did an excellent job in Summer Internship position according to Ryan Lloyd, Production Team Leader, Aircraft Wheel and Brake. “As the production team leader we enjoyed our first experience partnering with LCJVS and providing Chris a place to learn and grow as a machinist. Chris fit in very quickly with our production team and used his time here to gain as much knowledge as possible from our experienced machinists. Chris demonstrated a great work ethic and eagerness to work and learn as many machine cells and products as he could in his short time here. We gave Chris an opportunity to complete several machining tasks in two and a half months, and he was able to keep up and provide us with a valuable resource during a very busy time. We are looking forward to having Chris back this fall, on a part time basis, as he continues his development and education as a machinist with the JVS and Parker Hannifin. Hosting Chris was a great experience and opportunity for Parker Hannifin, and it has been our privilege to assist in the development of the next generation of machinists.”

Chris used Haas, Mazak and Tsugami CNC machines to build parts for the Predator B (Drone), V-22 Osprey (tilt rotor aircraft), and General Aviation products. He also used manual drill presses to complete reaming, the process of boring out a hole in a piece of metal. Chris’ work was so precise that his tolerances were at .0001. His parts were checked by employees in various departments in layered audits to ensure they were perfect. Chris’ entire department worked together to complete projects. Chris had to sign off on every job he worked on. He said, “That was my own footprint of my career so far.”

As an intern, Chris sometimes had to do machining jobs that no one else in his department wanted. He didn’t mind that either. “That’s still knowledge I gained that the company taught me that no one else would have. I can put that on my resume.”

John Green, Instructor of the Precision Machine Technology class at the JVS, had nothing but praise for Chris. "It was no surprise to me that Chris performed very well during his internship with the company. Chris is always excited when he has the opportunity to learn new skills. I am proud to say Chris is a model PMT and LCJVS student, and has shown respect and maturity beyond his years."

Chris is eligible for Early Job Placement starting in October. Parker Aerospace has already offered him a placement for the school year. Chris plans to stay at Parker and work his way through college. He plans to pursue a degree in Manufacturing Engineering at either Lorain County Community College or Akron University.

We are so proud of Chris and his accomplishments! We can’t wait to see what he will do next!

October is Manufacturing Month in the United States. As we turn our focus to manufacturing, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at how the JVS celebrated last year!

Residents in the Lorain County JVS District will vote on a ballot issue this November 5:

• A 0.66 permanent improvement (PI) levy (for a ten year period) that will fund safety, technology and building upgrades to the district’s facilities.
  

Additional funding from this levy would allow us to:

• Make needed upgrades to the building so it can accommodate advanced technologies used to prepare students for high-demand jobs
  
• Ensure there is enough functional classroom space to be able to continue to provide training to the nearly 1,300 students enrolled at the school, who come from every part of Lorain County
  
• Add pipes and water access needed to install sprinkler systems for fire suppression
  
• Reinforce the structure of the building, which is more than 50 years old
  
• Add safety systems to prevent unauthorized intrusions during the school day
  
• Install climate systems and air handlers so the labs can continue to be safely used for training students
  
• Without additional funding, the JVS will have to continue to divert funds from the classroom and training to make essential repairs to the building to best ensure its function and safety
  

The deadline to register to vote is October 7, 2019. Go to: myohiovote.com to register or change your address.

Early voting starts October 8th. All registered voters have the option to vote early.

October 10 -- JVS Parent Conferences

October 11 -- NEOEA Day (No School)

October 28 -- Building-Wide Advisory Meeting

November 1 -- Teacher Inservice Day (No School)

It's never too early to start thinking about graduation! Click HERE for graduation requirements from the Ohio Department of Education.

Here is an excerpt from “Been There, Been Through That…9 Tips for Parents of High Schoolers”, by Amy McCready, author of “The Me, Me, Me Epidemic” and “If I Have to Tell You One More Time”.

As I talk to parents of teens with so many questions, and often frustrations, I want to share with them the lessons we sometimes only learn by making our way through things. There’s no magic wand to ensure that’s it’s all smooth sailing, but if I can impart a little advice from someone who has been there, and been through that – it would start with these nine things…

1. Be the sleep police. Most teens are running on empty when it comes to sleep; but we all know they need sufficient shut-eye to think straight, make solid decisions, keep cool under pressure, and to enjoy the moments. While controlling how much sleep your teen actually gets is, well, an impossible dream –make sleep a priority in your house.

2. Don’t discount their stress. In today’s world, high schoolers are under more stress than ever - getting good grades, excelling at sports, preparing for SAT’s, part-time jobs, building their college “resume” (which starts as a freshman), steering clear of bullies, trying to have a social life and meeting your expectations. Sometimes a snippy remark or rolled eyes is a sign that your teen is overwhelmed. Seek to understand what’s going on below the surface and don’t take everything personally.

3. Listen more than you lecture. Like any of us, kids just want to be heard. They want to know that we “get them.” That we’re listening. Be aware of how much time you spend “ordering, correcting or directing” (a guaranteed recipe for power struggles) and instead, spend more time listening and understanding.

4. Don’t sweat all the small stuff. Bed’s not made? Room’s a mess? Towel lying on the bathroom floor AGAIN? Yeah, I know. It can be irritating, because if you’ve told them once you’ve told them a hundred times, right? So, tell them again if you must but please, please don’t sweat the little stuff. Pretty soon they’ll be out on their own and you’ll miss them. Wet towels, rumpled bedsheets and all

5. Go to every event. Every single one that you can. They want and need your support. Even though they may not say it, they love to see the wonder and pride you feel as you watch your teen flourish and create their own accomplishments. Be there for those moments. Celebrate who they are. Let them know you are their biggest fan.

6. Spend one-on-one time with them as often as you can. Even though they are teens and are biologically wired to “individualize” – your kids still crave emotional connection with you. Spend one-on-one time with them on a daily basis if possible.

7. Push them out of their comfort zones. High school is the time for kids to figure out who they are and explore their passions. Give your kids the encouraging nudge to try something new – whether it’s in the arts, sports, volunteering - anything that sparks their interest.

8. Create a “Decision-Rich Environment.” High school is the time to learn how to make decisions and do for themselves. The more practice they have making little decisions, the better they’ll do making decisions when the stakes are much higher. But – be prepared. Your kids will make poor decisions along the way – and that’s okay. Create a safe environment where mistakes and failures are what they are – opportunities to learn.

9. It will work out. Whatever it is. Breathe. Here’s the thing – nothing lasts, not the good or the bad - so don’t wrap every emotion and anxiety up in the problems. And please, don’t try to control it all – because you can’t. Your kids will make their own way. There will be missteps and consequences and lessons learned. They’ll find the right path. They’ll be just fine.

And from files of “What would my kids say?” – here’s what my rising senior thought should be included in advice to parents of high schoolers:

• Feed us in the morning before school.
  
• Be sure to have food waiting for us when we get home from school/practice. (A reoccurring theme!)
  
• Don’t snap your fingers when you dance. In fact, don’t dance at all.
  
• Don’t ever say “hip”
  
• And when in public, don’t EVER text using Siri!

Bed bugs -- ugh! We hate to even think about them! Unfortunately, as the weather turns colder we must face the reality that insects will try to make their way into our warm building. In the event that a bed bug is spotted, the JVS does follow a protocol recommended by the Lorain County Health Department. The classroom is meticulously cleaned and vacuumed, including all furniture. The room is then sprayed with Steri Fab Bactericide. We want to keep everyone in our JVS Family safe! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to give us a call.