CONGR ATUL ATIONS, POL ARIS CL ASS OF 2020!
SUMMER 2020 EDITION
POLARIS HONORS THE BEST OF 2020 2020 STUDENTS OF THE YEAR
SARAH EIFEL AND LYDIA RABNE
ON PAGE 5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2
Polaris Frontline Heroes
3
Superintendent’s Message – Embracing the New Normal
4
Adult Education Happenings
6
Polaris Satellite Programs Get National Recognition
HONORING OUR POLARIS FRONTLINE HEROES! Polaris students are the definition of ESSENTIAL. We’re proud of the many current and former Polaris students who have served and are currently serving on the frontlines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it’s the medical/public safety field or the service sector, our students are playing a KEY role. Here are a few of our #PolarisHeroes (we included a teacher too!). Thank you for all you do! Milan Janca, 2015, Fairview High School
POLARIS MEDICAL ASSISTING Josh Roman, 2015, Berea-Midpark High School
POLARIS EMT/FIRE TRAINING Hannah Mutti, 2018, Berea-Midpark High School and Riley Perez, 2019, Strongsville High School
Josh is a paramedic at Donald Martens. This spring, he took a volunteer deployment to New York City to help in the fight against COVID-19.
Milan graduated from Kent State University in 2019 with a nursing degree and is now an ICU nurse at the Cleveland Clinic main campus.
Both are EMTs for Physicians Ambulance and studying to be paramedics.
Logan Jones, 2020, Berea-Midpark High School
POLARIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE Tyler is a security officer for T.D. Security. He’s currently working at a local logistics company ensuring trucks are going to the proper destination.
POLARIS EMT/FIRE TRAINING
This spring, Jared Volen, Strongsville High School, Cody Ratliff, Brooklyn High School and Adrianna Caracalla Miller, Brooklyn High School, all former Polaris Criminal Justice students, were officially sworn in as Cleveland police officers.
Tyler Campbell, 2018, Strongsville High School
Josh Allen, 2009, North Olmsted High School
POLARIS EMT/FIRE TRAINING Josh is a firefighter and paramedic for the Cleveland Heights Fire Department.
POLARIS AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY Logan has worked throughout the pandemic at Sunnyside Toyota in North Olmsted as an apprentice technician.
Mike Haydn, our satellite Project Lead the Way Engineering instructor at Olmsted Falls High School, did his part to help in the fight against COVID-19. This spring, he partnered with Makers for Medics at Maple School in North Olmsted to help make PPE face shields for frontline workers. COMPASS | 2
EMBRACING THE NEW NORMAL By Robert Timmons, Superintendent
Congratulations, Polaris Class of 2020! We have just witnessed the graduation of 610 Polaris high school, satellite and adult education students who are now one step closer to achieving career success. What a year it has been!
“You’ll be remembered for your perseverance, your flexibility and your willingness to embrace a new normal.”
We completed the major portions of our $58.2 million renovation and celebrated with an October ribbon cutting ceremony. Our Computer Networking Academy students embraced Our new bakery, restaurant and salon their distance learning experience and used Zoom and other officially opened to the public, and we online tools to explore the exciting world of coding. breezed through the holiday season. We started back up in January with a building full of students eager to finish the second half of the year on a high note. Then came Friday, March 13th, the day our building closed, due to COVID-19. “Social distancing” and “flattening the curve” became the phrases of the day, and we all learned the difference between epidemic and pandemic.
Very quickly, though, our teaching staff rallied and embraced new, innovative approaches to delivering career-technical education. They engaged students using Zoom, Google Classroom, Remind, Infinite Campus Messages, YouTube and many other educational tools. Our students responded. In fact, more than 90% participated in daily activities and many continued to earn valuable industry credentials and certifications. I’m proud of you, Class of 2020! I know in my heart you will not be defined by this pandemic. You’ll be remembered for your perseverance, your flexibility and your willingness to embrace a new normal. Graduates, you’ll always be part of the Polaris family, and we hope you keep in touch. I know you are destined for GREAT things! Best of luck, Polaris Class of 2020!
NEWS AROUND
POLARIS
Mary Hiros, a Berea-Midpark High School junior in our Computer Networking Academy, received the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC). Our Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science satellite program at North Olmsted High School was recently named as a Cleveland Clinic Banner School! This designation recognizes schools committed to leveraging community resources to advance student enrichment and learning.
This spring, we joined forces with other career-technical schools from across Ohio to help healthcare facilities in need of medical supplies. We were happy to donate our personal protective equipment (PPE) to our partners and friends at Southwest General Health Center.
In April, we inducted 90 students into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) representing our on-campus and satellite programs. COMPASS | 3
440.891.7600 OR VISIT WWW.POLARIS.EDU | #thenewpolaris
ADULT ED. HAPPENINGS WE’RE HERE FOR YOU
Have you been impacted by recent economic events? You can count on us to help you get back on your feet and back into the workforce. Our Adult Job & Career Training programs will prepare you for many of today’s in-demand occupations and provide you with the know-how to find the job that’s right for you. Featured programs include the following: • Automotive Service Technician • Cardiographic Technician • Cosmetology Academy • Dental Assisting • Early Child Care Education/Child Development Associate (CDA) • Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC/R)
• Medical Assisting • Medical Billing & Coding • Phlebotomy Certification • Police Academy • Precision/CNC Machine Technology • Welding
Classes start this fall. Don’t get shutout. Start your journey TODAY! Contact Theresa at 440.891.7697 or tliska@polaris.edu to arrange a personal tour or visit www.polaris.edu/ jobtraining for more information.
YOU’RE INVITED! ADULT OPEN HOUSE
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, FROM 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. Explore our adult job and career training programs and learn more about financial aid options, the tuition payment plan and federal student loans. Call 440.891.7697 for more details.
COMING SOON THIS FALL! Polaris Adult Education classes help you enhance your skills, prepare for new careers or discover new ways to enjoy your free time. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s coming this fall: • Basic Floral Design • Beginning Digital Photography • Certified Yoga Teacher Training • Continuing Advanced Spanish • Film Production • Genealogy 101 – Intro to Exploring Your Family Tree • Personal Fabrication
• Photo Editing Intro • Small Business Essentials Series • Supporting the Immune System Naturally • The Path Away from Protein • The Power to…Personal Branding to Cultivate Your Presence • Wedding Planning Series
Register online at polaris.edu/register or call 440.891.7600 for additional information. COMPASS | 4
POLARIS HONORS THE BEST OF 2020 Sarah Eifel, Business Professional & Office Technology, Fairview High School, and Lydia Rabne, Medical Professions, Strongsville High School, were named the Outstanding Seniors for the Polaris Class of 2020. Both are deserving of top honors and plan to make the most of their Polaris experience.
SARAH EIFEL
LYDIA RABNE
FAIRVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
STRONGSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Sarah Eifel has had an impressive two-year run at Polaris! She earned a 4.0+ GPA and received straight A’s in the Business Professional & Office Technology program. She is Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certified in the following areas: Word, Word Expert, Excel, Excel Expert, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook. She is also master certified in Excel. She racked up all kinds of honors at the regional, state and national Business Professionals of America (BPA) competitions including state titles in Banking & Finance and Financial Math & Analysis as a junior and senior. She was elected to one of six statewide Ohio BPA officer positions and was named BPA secretary for the 2019-2020 school year. She placed in the top 20 in the nation out of over 1,720 entries in the Young Entrepreneur Institute Pitch Challenge. She was a Polaris Student Ambassador and a member of the National Technical Honor Society and the National Honor Society. As an ambassador, she served as the MC for the official Polaris building dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony last fall. Throughout her high school career, she juggled a busy academic schedule while continuing to serve the community. She ran track for Fairview High School and volunteered for Key Club, the American Cancer Society, St. Malachai’s Soup Kitchen, Providence House, the Dublin Food Pantry and the Kitty Litter Rescue Group. Sarah’s Business Professional & Office Technology Instructor, Beth Pagan, sings her praises. “Sarah is a person of integrity and determination. Her drive and ambition will make her successful in whatever her endeavors are after graduation.” Sarah has a clear plan to build on her Polaris experience. This fall, she plans to enroll in real estate classes and pursue a business management degree from Cuyahoga Community College. Her long-term goal is to earn a four-year degree in finance and become a real estate agent and real estate investor. She is the proud recipient of the Polaris Educational Foundation scholarship.
Lydia Rabne built a strong resume during her time at Polaris. She earned a 4.0 GPA in Medical Professions, was named the Outstanding Program Student as a junior and senior and is a two-year member of the National Technical Honor Society. She maintained perfect attendance both years, was a Polaris Student Ambassador and captured a gold medal in Medical Terminology at this year’s regional SkillsUSA competition. Lydia is the definition of high achiever. She has been enrolled in College Credit Plus classes since she was 13 years old and is a member of Cuyahoga Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society! On top of that, she continues to manage a busy work and volunteer schedule. She is active at Grace Church and is a member of the Baldwin Wallace University Women’s Chorus. In addition, she works in the life enrichment department at Kemper House in Strongsville and has worked as a lifeguard at Meadowood Pool and the Strongsville Recreation Center. Her Medical Professions instructor, Liisa Coldiron, raves about Lydia as both a student and as a young adult. “Lydia is not just an outstanding student, she is one of the most outstanding students I have had the pleasure of teaching in 31 years here at Polaris. She is extremely intelligent, but equally important, she is genuinely a warm and caring young woman.” Lydia is on a mission to continue her studies in the healthcare field. She has already earned 37 credit hours from Cuyahoga Community College. She will continue her academic path at Tri-C this fall to pursue an Associate of Arts Degree and an Associate of Applied Science Degree – both in nursing. She then plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Cleveland State University. She has an interest in both pediatrics and geriatrics and hopes to someday become a nurse practitioner. She is the recipient of the Polaris Educational Foundation and the Tri-C Honors Fellowship scholarships.
BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL & OFFICE TECHNOLOGY
MEDICAL PROFESSIONS
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7285 Old Oak Boulevard Middleburg Heights, OH 44130-3375 440.891.7600 www.polaris.edu
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2020 POLARIS BOARD OF EDUCATION
Mr. Thomas R. Herbster, President North Olmsted City School District
Mr. Matt Hrubey Fairview Park City School District
Mr. Greg Surtman Olmsted Falls City School District
Mr. Richard O. Micko, Vice President Strongsville City School District
Mr. James Oper Brooklyn City School District
Mr. Robert Timmons, Superintendent Polaris Career Center
Mr. Joe Bertrand Olmsted Falls City School District
Mr. Neal Postel Berea City School District
Mr. Mike Robinson, Treasurer Polaris Career Center
POLARIS STEM PROGRAMS RECEIVE NATIONAL RECOGNITION This spring, our middle and high school satellite STEM programs were designated as Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Distinguished Schools. This national award recognizes schools that increase student access, engagement and achievement. These programs currently serve over 3,700 students in each of our partner school districts.
“This honor wouldn’t be possible without GREAT teachers and GREAT partnerships.”
The satellite programs at Brooklyn, Mayer (Fairview), North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls and Strongsville Middle Schools were five of 176 middle schools across the U.S. to receive this honor. Not to be outdone, our high school STEM locations at Brooklyn, Olmsted Falls and North Olmsted High Schools also received the PLTW Distinguished School designation. This is no small feat as only 143 high schools nationwide received this award. “What a fantastic honor! We’re thrilled to be able to offer exciting STEM learning opportunities for students in our partner school districts. This honor wouldn’t be possible without GREAT teachers and GREAT partnerships,” says Polaris Superintendent Bob Timmons.
Eight Polaris satellite locations received the Project Lead the Way Distinguished School designation.
In accordance with Title VI of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Polaris Joint Vocational School District’s policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, ancestry, economic status, military status or age in its educational programs, activities, services or employment policies. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of legally acquired genetic information. If you are having a problem or have questions or concerns regarding compliance with Title IX or Section 504, contact: Assistant Superintendent • Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator • 440.891.7643
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