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
