South Range Local Schools
Raider Review Fall 2023-2024
🍎 Welcome to the winter edition of the Raider Review 2023-2024 🍎
A message from Dr. Jarred Zapolnik, Superintendent of Schools
Hello South Range Local School District community:
Welcome to 2024 and a grateful start to the year! As we step into the promising year of 2024, I want to extend my warmest welcome to each and every one of you. I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the tremendous effort and dedication students, staff, and the community has shown throughout this first semester of the year.
Reflecting on the first semester, I have witnessed everyone's hard work, which has set a positive tone for the months ahead. I am truly appreciative of the collaborative spirit that defines our district. The Spring 2023 Ohio School Report Card results capture just a small aspect of the district's commitment to the Raider Way, with our students' performing at high levels! Our district earned five-stars for overall achievement, gap closing, and early literacy with an overall rating of 4.5 stars. The fall 2023 third-grade reading scores indicate an impressive 79% of our students scored Proficient or higher. Our current third grade students are currently ranked #1 compared to 17 other districts in the county. Together, we are working to Get Better Every Day (GBED) and it's inspiring to witness the commitment to our shared mission. Your contributions make a meaningful impact on the lives of our students and the success of our district.
As we navigate the challenges and opportunities that 2024 will undoubtedly bring, let's continue to work together, support one another, and strive for excellence in all that we do. I have no doubt that, with our collective efforts, we will achieve remarkable successes in the coming months. Thank you for your ongoing dedication, and here's to a year filled with growth, achievement, and shared triumphs. It is the Raider Way.
As I mentioned in November, the Raider Way allows our team to work to uphold the rich traditions of being "the community centerpiece building on excellence." To ensure our mission and vision are always in the forefront of our work, the amazing staff and administration will continue to focus on the following four key components of the Raider Way:
High Expectations
Communication & Collaboration
Student Performance
Safety & Resources
As always, please check out our district's website for pertinent information: https://www.southrange.k12.oh.us/
With great enthusiasm and excitement, Go Raiders!
Dr. Jarred Zapolnik
Superintendent
Welcome to 2024!
Student Performance
Communication & Collaboration
A message from Mr. Nero, Treasurer of Schools
South Range Local School District receives money from the state and federal government. This money helps educate the students. The following information identifies the plan (i.e., CCIP) and numerous grants. For additional financial information, please contact Mario A. Nero Jr., Treasurer/CFO at 330-549-5475.
Continuous Comprehensive Improvement Plan (CCIP) – Federal/State Grants
The Treasurer is fiscally responsible for a Federal/State grant budget of approximately $1,000,000 for FY2024. He works closely with the Superintendent to report, monitor and plan fiscal operations. This process entails the utilization of the Continuous Comprehensive Improvement Plan (CCIP) within the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) website. The CCIP provides the monetary amount of grant dollars awarded, spent, and/or reduced to the district.
Grant Breakdown:
· Title I-A Improving Basic Programs (15%) – Federal Grant that is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Provides financial assistance to districts for children from low-income families to help meet challenging state academic standards.
· Title II-A Supporting Effective Instruction (3%) – Federal Program intended to increase student academic achievement. Title II-A dollars can be spent to increase the number of highly qualified teachers in classrooms and/or reducing class size.
· Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment (1%) – Federal Grant funds that are utilized to build on the success of utilizing our school resource officer throughout the K-12 campus. The intended outcome is to offer more safety services for our students, both physically and mentally.
· IDEA-B Special Education (29%) – Federal program from the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Part B. Funds are used to support special education and related services.
· ARP ESSER (34%) – Federal money received for a wide range of activities to address the needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic, including any activity authorized by the ESEA, IDEA, etc.
· School Bus Purchase Program (18%) – State Grant award for districts to help offset the cost for aging school buses.
🌟A message from our Board of Education🌟
South Range Local School District Board of Education (BOE)
Brian Bagwell, President
Terri Lally, Vice President
Liz Johnson, Member
Tyler Bates, Member
Dr. Jack Dawson, Member
Meet our newest Board of Education members!
Tyler Bates and family
Tyler graduated from West Branch High School and attended Kent State University to Study Construction Management. After college Tyler married Christa (Parks) a South Range graduate. They have two 3rd generation Raiders, Travis (6) and Trevor (5). Today, Tyler is a project manager at Lindy Paving, where he manages large heavy highway construction projects in western Pennsylvania. Tyler and his family enjoy being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and camping. I am honored to serve the great South Range community and will commit to supporting our students and staff in ways that are representative of our communities’ values.
Dr. Jack Dawson
Jack and his wife, Kayla, recently moved back to the Youngstown area to start his practice.They are both South Range graduates. They are blessed to have three wonderful children. They have always cherished the Raider community and are honored to be back in this school district and rejoining the wonderful town they grew up in.
Check this handy-dandy snow day calculator.
How to find out if we have a weather-related delay/closing:
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check our website
- Make sure you are registered on our school's text messaging system
- Peruse local news media: WFMJ, WKBN, WYTV
And for tired parents...
News from the Cafeteria 🍕🥞🌮
The first half of the school year has been going great thus far in the cafeteria. Student participation among all grade levels has been high and the student’s are really enjoying the meals the kitchen is serving.
We have been doing “Wellness Wednesday” monthly with our elementary students, encouraging them to try a new food or healthy recipe, while receiving a sticker that says, “I tried something new today!” We also do our monthly fun special events with K-4 such as dinosaur day, Mickey Mouse’s birthday, and Grinchmas! We look forward to more Wellness Wednesday recipes and special events like “Fair Week” coming 6 months prior to the Canfield Fair. Food Service Director, Kaitlyn Pierce, also has plans on surveying students at all grade levels to learn more on likes, dislikes, and possible new ideas to bring to the cafeteria for students to enjoy.
The district’s Wellness Committee met in October and December to discuss our school’s current wellness policy, along with any new ideas to incorporate health & wellness throughout our school with students, teachers, and staff. The committee decided to start a school-wide walking challenge between the three buildings, and was interested to see if the community would like to join the walking challenge too. Please complete the survey attached to this newsletter if you are interested in participating in a community walking challenge.
Lastly, a reminder that we encourage all families to complete a free & reduced meal application. The meal applications can be completed online after setting up a Payschools account. Please see attachments for further directions. You can also fill out the application on paper and send it in to your student’s building office. The application can be completed at ANY time during the school year, not just at the beginning. If your financial situation changes at all during the year we recommend you complete and submit the form to the school.
Any questions, please feel free to contact food service director Kaitlyn Pierce. Kpierce@southrange.org
A message from Mr. Rohan, Principal of South Range High School
On behalf of the entire High School staff, we would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year. In this new year our goal is to continue and add to the strong academic, social and extra-curricular foundation that have become synonymous with our school district. 🍎 All the HS staff members that have value added data for their classes met with the county consultants in December to review their results, plan a course of action for next steps and familiarize themselves with tools to improve our student’s learning and monitor progress.
Staffing
We are all sending thoughts and prayers to Mrs. Diane Krumpak as she recovers from a surgical procedure. As she feels better each day, we anticipate her return to school in the beginning of February. At the same time, we welcome Mr. David DiGiacomo, as her long term sub. Dave is a recently retired science teacher from Poland and we are grateful he is here working with our students.
Student Performance
👍The following individuals obtained the highest rank in Scout - The Eagle Scout Award;
Nick Usis- Project included materials, design and construction of new bridge in Coy Park.
Nathan Engle- Project included materials, design and construction of benches for On Target.
We had 3 students get selected for the OMEA District 5 Honors Jazz Band for Mahoning County.
Cameron Ward - trumpet
Alaina Dupont - trombone
Olivia Leskey - piano
They had to learn music on their own and submit an audition video, and we are very proud of their hard work to get picked over students from the whole county. They will perform at an afternoon concert on January 27 at Powers Auditorium.
News from our Speech and Debate Team: Members earn recognition through points and degrees in the NSDA Honor Society. Each new degree represents hours of learning, practice, and improvement by your students thanks to dedicated coaching.
Congratulations to:
Solena DeJesus - Special Distinction
Peyton Hines - Superior Distinction
PTO
Thanks to the High School PTO and all those that helped out with this years Santa’s workshop. All of our elementary students were able to successfully shop for Christmas gifts for their friends and family members. Also, thanks to the several high school student helpers for their assistance in setting up the workshop and helping out with the shopping.
SRHS Winter Sports
🏀🏆Winter sports seasons are well on their way as we quickly approach the midway point of the respective schedules. As always, please check the school’s website for up to date schedules and events.
Congrats Alaina, Cameron & Olivia
Girls Basketball!
SRHS Jazz band and Choir
A message from Mr. Szolek, Principal of South Range Middle School
Students In The Spotlight
Our South Range Middle School students continue to perform beyond expectations both in and out of the classroom!
Spelling Bee 🐝
The annual spelling bee was held on January 5th. This year’s school champion, who will represent SRMS at The Vindicator Spelling Bee, was 8th grader Brooke Gilbey. Finishing as the runner-up was Molly Bagwell (Grade 5), while Reese Brogan (5th grade) finished in 3rd place. A special thank you to our 6th grade team of teachers for organizing the Spelling Bee. We would also like to thank our Middle School PTO for providing the prizes. Congratulations to all of the following grade level representatives:
- 5th Grade: Reese Brogan, Zoey Stepuk, Karaline Scott, Molly Bagwell, Lili Wanee
- Alternates: Alyse Tyson, Zach Nicholhoff
- 6th Grade: Daisy Burns, Jacob Erskine, Mason Shaw, Lexi Sheador, Weston Ramps
- Alternates: Dominic Lordi and Trever Thompson
- 7th Grade: Levi Moff, Skylar Kinney, Jack Martinez, Adele Stansbury, Sarah Weems
- Alternates:Giorgio Mariano and Matthew Tomanio
- 8th Grade: Brooke Gilbey, Justin Dawson, Cooper Hicks, Nic Thomas, Juliana Swiskoski
- Alternates: Lacie Greier and Hannah Uplinger
🌟 Raider Spotlight🌟
Our “Raider Spotlight” students are recommended by our teachers for going above and beyond in the areas of stewardship, friendship, mentorship, leadership or scholarship. Congratulations to our November “Raider Spotlight” students:
- Grade 5 - Colton Burns
- Grade 6 - Liam Powell
- Grade 7 - Miles Wilfong
- Grade 8 - Sydney Slagle
Athletics🤼
On the wrestling mat, our middle school team fared extremely well in the “Best of the Midwest,” the largest, most prestigious tournament ever attended by our wrestlers. Special congratulations are extended to the following individuals who placed in the top 10: Drew Starkey (3rd), Matthew Tomaino (5th), Scott Leach (6th), Ralph Stellato (6th) and Ryan Nicholson (10th).
Fine and Performing Arts
District 5 Honors Band
This group is made up of the best musicians from Mahoning Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. Over 600 students auditioned for this prestigious group and we had 4 students chosen from South Range Middle School. They performed at Stambaugh Auditorium on November 18th, 2023 and did an excellent job! The students who participated were:
- Callie Roller (Flute)
- Mia Quinlin (French Horn)
- Keith Williams (Trombone)
- Katlyn Durch (Trumpet)
YSU Honor's Band
This is a new honors band hosted by the Dana School of Music. Students from Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula county were nominated by their directors. We had 4 students selected to participate in this unique opportunity. Students will rehearse challenging music and work alongside the BEST middle school musicians in our area. They will also attend seminars led by college music professors about their perspective instruments. Their concert took place on January 13th at Ford Theatre-Bliss Hall, starting at 12PM. The students participating were:
- Harper Bailey (Bass Clarinet)
- Mia Quinlin (French Horn)
- Sydney Slagle (Clarinet)
- Keith Williams (Trombone)
Drama 🎭
The middle school drama team wowed both the student body and the community with their performance of “The Lion King.” The school play was wonderfully entertaining and showcased our students who might have a future in acting and/or singing! Mrs. Fryfogle, in her first year as drama team director, did a fantastic job and we would like to thank her for committing the time and energy to our drama program. Also, thank you to Mrs. Durch for the hard work she put into the set, costumes and make up. Finally, the biggest shout out of all goes to this year’s cast and crew. “The Lion King” cast members were: Faith Adams, Anaya Alvarez, Atiana Alvarez, Evie Ashman, Molly Bagwell, Harper Bailey, Hunter Biddle, Autumn Blackburn, Isaak Blackburn, Ava Burnett, Daisy Burns, Aaliyah Catania, Addie Conti, Felix D’uva, Justin Dawson, Dallas Dispenza, Savannah Duncan, Taylor Dustman, Kaitlyn Edwards, Jacob Erskine, Owen Fowler, Danica Gaal, Blake Greier, Lacie Greier, Gemma Groves, Ava Heaven, Alexis Jesko, Isabella Keyes, Ava Livesay, Will Lowery, Addison Malysa, Devon May, Lauren Meyers, Ella Monroe, Lilly Mook, Avery Munson, Gianna Nagy, Zach Nicoloff, Claire Perry, Andrew Phelps, Callie Roller, Lyla Sam, Adele Stansbury, Brady Stratton, Vanessa Stratton, Hannah Strupkus, Elle Thomas, Nick Thomas, Olivia Tranovich, Abigail Tringhese, Jace Tuchek, EvaLine Vaughn, Lili Wanee, Helena Webber, Nick Wellington, Satia White, Kenzie Williams and Elora Windsor. This year’s crew members, providing the behind-the-scenes work, were: Grace Humphrey, Lilliana Alvarez, Corey Angus, Braden DuPont, Evan Mansour, Olivia Munson, Colsen Maxwell, Hannah Tringhese and Keith Williams. Assisting our middle school crew members, from the high school, were Mackenzie Mariotti, Julian Dispenza and Brooke Neilsen.
🍪 Bake for Good Project 🍪
The 6th grade students took part in the Bake for Good project from the King Arthur Baking Company. The students were joined by a rep from the company, on December 6th for a presentation. During this presentation, they learned the process of making bread from scratch while incorporating math and science skills and content.
The students were asked to bake the product with their family in order to spend some quality time together. The recipe made two batches. One batch for the family to enjoy together, and another batch which was given to someone the student had chosen that has influenced them. The students wrote a letter to their special person based on the language arts standards. The students delivered the bread and the letter to their special person over the past three weeks.
The students were excited to spread kindness throughout the community! Here are some pictures from the time spent with family and delivering to their special person!
Bake for Good Project
Bake for Good Project
Bake for Good Project
Bake for Good Project
Bake for Good Project
Bake for Good Project
Bake for Good Project
Bake for Good Project
Bake for Good Project
A message from Mr. Matos, Principal of South Range Elementary School
🏫Happy New Year
I hope that you and your family are doing well this holiday season and from everyone here at South Range Elementary we would like to wish you a Happy New Year! I would personally like to thank all of our parents and community members for your support this school year. From the mitten tree and our fundraisers to our Holiday Sing concerts, our parents' generosity always comes through to help our staff, students and community. Your donations are noticed by everyone and we appreciate all of your kindness.
Our students continue to work hard and Get Better Every Day as they remain focused on doing their best. Our 3rd grade students completed their first attempt of the Ohio State Test in English Language Arts in October and we are prepared to move forward and work towards continued academic success. All of our students throughout the K-4 are striving every day to improve their academic, social and emotional growth and we are seeing great gains in all areas this year.
Again, I’d like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! As always, on behalf of the Elementary Staff I would like to thank everyone for your continued support.
Curriculum
Our 1st-4th grade language arts teachers have been working with our county consultant, Corrie Nelson, to explore new resources and to map out our new Wonders reading series to create consistency within and across grade levels. This has proven to be a beneficial process as our teachers are collaborating on which instructional practices and strategies are working well and which strategies need to be examined further. As we move into the new year, we will see how our Really Great Reading program that is being utilized in Kindergarten, fits with the early literacy skills students are expected to have as they begin Wonders in 1st grade.
Also, as we begin the new year, our district has formed a K-12 mathematics committee to review potential new resources to use for our math instruction and intervention. We are excited to learn about these new materials as we take a critical look at what will be the best fit for our students. We will keep our parents informed of where we are at with this process over the next several months.
Grade Level Spotlight - 3rd Grade
Each year, our 3rd grade students have 2 opportunities to take the Ohio State Test in English Language Arts. The first attempt is in the fall and the second is in the spring. We receive the results of the fall test in December just before we leave for winter break. This year, I am happy to report that 79% of our 3rd grade students scored Proficient or higher on the October OST in ELA! The average score of our 3rd grade students was 725, which is in the Accomplished range. In comparison to 17 other local school districts, our elementary was #1 and compared to the Ohio state average of 48%, our overall passage percentage was 31% higher. Looking at other trend data, our fall of 2023 Proficient or higher percentage of 79%, is 21% greater compared to our average fall passage rate of 58% from 2015-2022. I would like to say congratulations to our students and staff on this outstanding achievement. Our team will now work to look closely at our instructional strategies and testing data for areas of improvement and opportunities for growth. Again, congratulations to our students and staff on a job very well done!
Save The Dates: Kindergarten Registration
👩👩👧👦👨👨👦👦👨👦👦👩👧👧👩👧👧👩👦👦🚸
Kindergarten registration for students who live in the South Range Local School District will be taken the week of March 4 - 8, 2024. Parents/Guardians of children who will be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2024 may register online and make an appointment for screening by going to our school’s website during the designated week. The kindergarten screening dates are set for Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3. Time slots will be from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Students to be registered must be residents of the South Range School District.
Parents/Guardians of students that live outside the district can check the district website for the most up-to-date information about when open enrollment for new students will take place. This information will be available following the February 28, 2024 board meeting.
Fall Sports All-NE8 Recognitions
Congratulations to our All-NEA selections
Football
1st Team
Blake Ewert
Brady Crumbacher
Gus Valentine
Logan Butcher
Kamron Aquisto
Luke Starkey
Tristan Toy
2nd team
Cam Carr
Dylan Smesko
Aidan Dominguez
Gaven Nagy
Volleyball
1st Team
Anna Toy
2nd Team
Sarah Kuhns
Boys Golf
1st Team
Michael Garwacki
Jack Carey
2nd Team
Luke Rohan
Griffin Pahanish
Girls Golf
Player of the Year
Chloe Puhl
2nd Team
Bethany Witmer
Boys Soccer
1st Team
Logan Butcher
Luca Regule
2nd Team
Barnabe Duhautois
Jack Staffeld
Caden McConnell
Girls Soccer
2nd Team
Devin Sauerwein
Lillah Angus
Boys Cross Country
Player of the Year
Emmitt Slabach
1st Team
Charles Reigrut
Max Freeze
2nd Team
Caleb Baun
Xavier Winner
Girls Cross Country
1st Team
Sydney Penick
2nd Team
Emma Purton
Isabella Smith
Abigail Baun
Rebecca Ruthrauff
🏈Raider Football🏈
2023 NE8 Champions
🏐Raider Volleyball🏐
Congratulations to Freshman Anna Toy, YSN Freshman of the Year
⛳RAIDER GOLF⛳
Congratulations Chloe Puhl, NE8 Girls Individual Champion
👮A message from Officer Hassey, School Resource Officer👮
On behalf of everyone at Beaver Township Police department, I want to wish everyone a healthy and blessed new year. The school year has reached it halfway point and our department has been doing a lot or training behind the scenes to better serve the students and staff of South Range.
First I would like to announce that Officer Brian Hartman has fully retired from law enforcement. After retiring from full-time status Ofc. Hartman was still serving as a part-time resource officer. At the end of the year he decided to make himself fully available to his family, including his grandkids which he loves spending time with. Ofc. Hartman was a spectacular School Resource Officer and for many years and I wish him nothing but happiness in his retirement.
In early November members of the Beaver Twp. Police department along with other law enforcement agencies conducted a campus wide lock down drill. A mock command center was established by command staff of Beaver PD in an attempt to make this as “real word” as possible for the officers while not disrupting the school day for students and staff. Many of the agencies who participated, including Beaver Twp., did so with their K-9 companions. All students, teachers, and staff were found to be secured in their rooms after the lock down was announced and all of the safety measures the South Range campus has in placed worked just as it should. Thank you to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Canfield PD, Boardman PD, Youngstown PD, and Liberty PD for your assistance.
In December all of the officers with Beaver PD participated in active shooter/intruder training on campus. It was on a weekend so no students or staff were directly involved. The training was a great opportunity to get all of our officers familiar with the campus and have everyone on the page when responding to such an incident. I’m proud of the way our department responded to the training and various scenarios we worked though.
School Safety- Ohio School Safety Center
I would like to remind everyone that the Ohio School Safety Center has a free anonymous reporting system that accepts tips via call, text, webform, and through their mobile app. Information is accepted 24 hours a day. The tip line allows students and parents to anonymously share information with school officials and law enforcement about threats to student safety. This can include threat to a single student or a group of students. Students can also report incidents of bullying, hazing, verbal or written threats, concerns about self-harm or suicide. The number is 844-723-3764. That’s 844-SaferOH. The Ohio School Safety Center partners with the Ohio Dept of Education to follow up with affected school and law enforcement agencies to make sure that incidents are investigated, action is taken, and resources are provided when necessary.
🚌
Any parents or students who drive to the school around 7:30a.m. and 8:00a.m as well as 2:30p.m. and 3:00p.m. please be aware of the 20mph school zones. This includes State Route 46 and Green-Beaver Road. Beaver PD along with Goshen PD and the Ohio State Highway Patrol are increasing patrols in the area to help alleviate the complaints of speeding during these times. Also, if the speed limit on the roadway during these times is 20mph, please keep the same pace (if not slower) while driving though the campus parking lot.
A message from Mrs. Kanotz, Interim Director of Special Services✨
Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
To assist in the identification of students who may need special education services South Range Local Schools utilize a multidisciplinary approach to intervention for all children grades K-12. South Range Local Schools incorporate a Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to address the needs of all students. Staff collaborates with teams, including parents, to support all levels of need. There are experts within and outside of the school system to identify student needs. Student data is monitored regularly with teams of teachers, administrators and other professionals as necessary to implement successful interventions to meet the needs of each individual child.
Child Find
The South Range Local School District has the responsibility to identify and evaluate children with disabilities ages 3-21 years of age requiring special education services. Special Education is defined as specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions and in other settings; and instruction in physical education. Special education is for students who by basis of the severity of their disability and needs require specially designed instruction in order to progress and benefit from the general education curriculum.
Parents who suspect their preschool child may have a disability should contact Mrs. Jaclyn DiSibio. For preschool purposes: "A child with a disability” may include a child who is at least three years of age and less than six years of age; and experiencing developmental delays, as defined by standards adopted by the state board of education and as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures in one or more of the following areas: Physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, or adaptive development; and who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.
If you have a child up to age 21 years who has or is suspected of having a disability, please contact Jaclyn DiSibio, 330-549-4078, jdisibio@southrange.org
Gifted
In collaboration with the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio, the South Range Local Schools provides Gifted Services to students who qualify. Teachers continue to review student assessment data to help identify students who may meet the requirements for identification as a gifted student. Parents should have received the Written Education Plans and letters identifying the areas of services for your student.
504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly called “Section 504,” is a federal law that protects students from discrimination based on disability. Section 504 assures that students with disabilities have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to students without disabilities. To be eligible, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
At South Range Local Schools, students who are eligible for Section 504 have a team of qualified educational personnel evaluate needs as well as develop, review and revise plans on an annual basis. This team works with the families of the students to ensure that all students have access to a free and appropriate public education. Letters were sent home to all students who are eligible for a section 504 plan and the plans are shared with all pertinent staff members.
Please note the Section 504 plan leads in each building:
- Elaine Brancaccio - Elementary School- 330-549-5578
- Brenda Petit - Middle School- 330-549-4071
- Ericka Burkey - High School- 330-549-2163
English Learners
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, Ohio must identify English learners, annually assess their English language proficiency, provide reasonable accommodations for them on state assessments, and implement accountability systems that include long-term goals and measures of progress.
Special Education Public Input
All school districts are required annually to obtain public input for the use of federal IDEA (Special Education) funds for the following school year. As we begin to plan for next school year, if you would like to provide recommendations for the use, please feel free to reach out Mrs. Jaclyn DiSibio.
A message from Dean Pagnotta, Director of Technology
Interactive Flat Panels to Meeting Educational Needs
South Range Local Schools is developing a Technology Committee to provide a vision and mission for the next three years. Our committee considers what technologies can best assist with learning in the classroom. It is also a plan to align the use of technology to curriculum and educational standards. Since we have built our K-12, we have used our current computer-to-projector-to-Smartboard technology. Though it serves its purpose, we have tasked our committee, selected teachers, and students to demonstrate, interact, and engage with a number of Interactive Flat Panels (IFP).
Moving forward we are hopeful to replace our current systems with new interactive displays. The cost for this replacement is less expensive than a projector replacement that is currently in all of our classrooms. We have been provided non-charge demos of many products thus far: BenQ, Promethean, Samsung, Smart Technology, Cleartouch, Boxlight Mimio Pro4
Teacher’s are able to weigh the pros and cons of each IFP as they are placed into their classroom. Students are actively engaged in using the technology as well.
Some of the pros we discovered – this new technology limits the number of devices between the teacher and the student. The IFPs all turn on and are ready to go! There are less points of failure. This also reduces the total cost of ownership. It is a good time to get into the IFP market, costs are down and education content continues to grow. Another pro, teachers and students can share an inactive experience. Many products we have reviewed can enable a teacher to invite students or other teachers to collaborate on lessons. There are also remote capabilities. If students are remote or unable to physically attend class, they can join sessions from anywhere with a computer and internet connection. In fact, every IFP is a computer, you can store content and have information readily available. Many IFPs we reviewed will also save your profile, which allows shared use without losing settings. Finally, updates make it future proof, devices get software updates so you always get emerging education content and technology.
Professional development and best warranty will be very important considerations in our decision making process. Compatibility is key as well, moving teachers from one platform to another should not be a difficult task. We are taking our time with this process, evaluating and making sure we collect as much information as possible. We are also looking into other sources of finance to limit the cost to the school district.
School Psychologist Updates by Elaine Brancaccio, SR Psychologist
Multi-Tiered System of Supports
Staff at South Range are dedicated to providing a comprehensive system of support for all students through the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). This framework ensures that every student's academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs are met through a proactive and data-driven approach.
As part of the MTSS process, our school utilizes a three-tiered model to address the diverse needs of our students. Tier 1 is considered the universal level which provides all students with high-quality, evidence-based instruction and interventions in the general education setting. This means that every student receives effective instruction and support from highly qualified educators in their regular classroom environment.
For students who require additional support, Tier 2 interventions are provided through targeted small-group instruction and specific interventions tailored to student’s needs. This is in addition to Tier 1 instruction. The support and time a student receive Tier 2 provisions varies depending on the frequency, time and intensity of additional supports or modifications that can be offered. Data is usually collected weekly to monitor the student’s response to these changes so adjustments can be made in real time. Tier 2 is also provided in smaller group settings to ensure that explicit instruction can be received at the student’s skill level with more corrective feedback measures, opportunities to respond and feedback. Analysis of skills are used to provide the necessary instruction and interventions. These services can be provided by the general education classroom teacher , RTI teacher or a Title I teacher.
Tier 3 is for students who require even more intensive support along with the core curriculum. Similar to tier 2 modality, students are progress monitored weekly to ensure a good intervention match to academic or behavioral needs. Time, intensity and frequency are modified. Differences at tier 3 include the use of specific research-based interventions. A student’s response to this level of instruction and intervention is collected and used in decision making if eligibility of special education services is suspected. When the possibility of a disability is considered, the team and parents will meet to discuss the options available. This may involve personalized learning plans and specialized services to address a student’s unique challenges.
At the heart of our MTSS process is the use of data to inform decision-making. Our educators regularly collect and analyze student data to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach allows us to monitor student progress, adjust interventions as needed, and ensure that every student is making meaningful gains. By utilizing a range of assessment tools and progress monitoring measures, we can effectively track student growth and make informed decisions about a student’s educational journey.
Through the MTSS process, we are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Our dedicated team of educators, support staff, and administrators work together to ensure that every student receives the support they need to thrive academically, behaviorally, and socially. By implementing evidence-based practices, utilizing data to guide our decisions, and providing targeted interventions, we are empowering every student to reach their full potential and achieve success.
Counseling Messages 💡
High School Career & College Preparation
February is important for the Class of 2025 because of the events just for their grade. The first event is the National College Fair on Thursday, February 8. Mrs. Burkey, Miss Sylvester, and Mrs. Amendola will travel to Pittsburgh so juniors can meet with different colleges and universities nationwide. Then, on Thursday, February 15, Mrs. Burkey will hold a junior class assembly to discuss the College Admissions process.
For many 11th graders, this may be the first time they've discussed plans for life after high school. She will hold the same meeting in the evening for parents and guardians of the junior class. The next event occurs on Tuesday, February 27, when the junior class participates in the free ACT. They will complete the ACT online during the school day. South Range juniors attending the MCCTC will come to South Range to take their free ACT the following week, Tuesday, March 5. Finally, at the end of the month, Mrs. Burkey invited speakers from Kent State University's TRIO Program to speak with the juniors in a class assembly to discuss post-graduation goals and choices.
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Middle School Counseling/Career Planning
Career exploration continues at the middle school! Interest surveys were completed with all 7th and 8th grade students to determine level of interest in specific Career and Technical Education course paths. Building Trades drew the strongest support. Eighth graders continue to work with Mrs. Petit and the Career Counselors from the ESC to identify soft skills, match interests with careers, and explore training requirements for careers of interest. During the second semester, 7th graders will be participating in interest inventories to help them match their interests with potential careers. They will then identify what courses and experiences can help prepare them for those careers.
In March, 8th grade students will be invited to a High School scheduling night where they will receive curriculum guides and course recommendations. Scheduling and course requests will take place prior to spring break.
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Elementary School Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
In an effort to support the students and staff, Mrs. Maynard, the elementary school counselor, is collaborating with both Mr. Matos, elementary principal, and Mrs. Brancaccio, school psychologist, on two different initiatives. First, Mrs. Maynard and Mr. Matos meet with all K-4 teachers at different times once a month to review academic, social and emotional data from the past month. These meetings guide Mrs. Maynard in her next steps on how to best support our teachers and students in the classroom. Next, Mrs. Maynard is working with Mrs. Brancaccio to streamline our MTSS (Multi Tiered System of Support) form for our teachers. This form is used to collect valuable student data that comes from our teachers and from Mrs. Maynard to see how we can best support our students in a variety of ways. Mrs. Maynard is communicating daily with our staff, students and parents as they work together to meet the diverse needs of all of our students.
Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTO)
Elementary PTO
The elementary PTO is our main organization that provides various types of support to the students, staff and administration for our many classroom and curricular needs. I would recommend to any of our new or existing parents, to become a member of the PTO to meet new parents and to get involved with many of the events that take place at our school. As December came to an end, the PTO helped support our holiday celebrations with treats after our Holiday Sing programs in kindergarten and 2nd grade and running our classroom parties before winter break.
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The annual PTO Auction was held on Saturday, November 11th, 2023 at the Lake Club. The auction is the PTO’s largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds from the auction go directly to our students, staff and classroom needs. This year was the biggest and most successful as the PTO was able to raise over $50,000! This will go directly back to supporting the needs of our students and staff, as well as, providing educational enrichment opportunities for our students throughout the year.
Faces in the Crowd
Mr. Bill Beaver, SRHS
Bill is an excellent Inclusion teacher that works with all sophomore students. He is our Middle School Cross Country coach and the Head Coach of our Girl's Varsity Track and Field Teams. He and his wife Bre, a 2012 SR grad, are expecting their first child in late January/ early February. Congratulations to Mr. Beaver and God Bless him and his family!
Ms. Sierra Bradley, SRMS
We would like to welcome Mrs. Sierra Bradley to our Middle School family! Sierra graduated from South Range in 2014 and returns to "The Range" as one of our 5th and 6th grade Intervention Specialists. In her short time here, Sierra has already had a positive impact on the academic and social/emotional growth of our students. Her expertise in the classroom and effective implementation of intervention strategies have proven her to be a valuable team member and we look forward to having her at South Range Middle School for many years to come!
Mrs. Bradley and her husband, Tyler, also welcomed a new baby girl, Parker, on May 18th of 2023. Their son, Thaddeus, will turn 2 on January 24th.
Sierra stated that she "loves being back at South Range and feels welcomed by those teachers that were once her role models."
Mrs. Brooke Stewart., SRES
Brooke has been a teacher at South Range Elementary for 21 years. Her first 4 years she was a long-term substitute and a part-time tutor. Her next 16 years were in kindergarten and this year, Brooke is our K-3 art teacher. We created the new art special as part of our daily rotation and as we searched for a part-time art teacher, Mrs. Stewart was looking to make a change. This was necessary because Brooke and her husband Chris were expecting a new baby in September! Brooke took on the challenge of creating our new K-3 art program from the ground up. This included everything from designing a visually stunning art room and researching Ohio’s art curriculum to creating exciting lessons and projects for her students. Feedback from our students and parents has been extremely positive and we look forward to the future of our elementary art program. In addition to her new position, Brooke and her husband Chris of 20 years purchased Burbick Farms in Columbiana at the end of 2020. Chris works the farm and runs his concrete business, while Brooke runs the store after school. They have 4 children, Ezra (19), Gwenna (17), Silas (11) and Elim (4 months).
Interested in hosting an evening with Dr. Zapolnik and his team?
We have had a few families interested to host Dr. Zapolnik and a few members of the team for a meet and greet at the family's home. The purpose of the meet and greet is for the families to share their insights about the district: Wishes, wonders, and worries! Dr. Zapolnik and his team will spend time listening to learn from YOU how to Get Better Every Day (GBED)! If you are interested in hosting Dr. Zapolnik and a few BOE members, please complete the subsequent form. Thanks!
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