The Education Foundation's mission is to invest in the students of the Berea School District. 

One of the main ways that we accomplish this mission is through Enrichment Grants. These grants provide opportunities for teachers and staff members to have extra funds to enhance the educational opportunities for our kids.  

This can not happen without support from members of our three communities!  Our Annual Auction is our major fundraiser and one way that you can help support the Foundations - and in turn, enhance our kids' education!


Please consider attending the 15th Annual Auction on March 12, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza in Middleburg Heights.  For more information contact Kim at 216-898-8270.

by SALLY KING

Lea Pulizzi-Smith, teacher of 2nd, 3rd, and adaptive music at Grindstone Elementary, has received a $1400 grant from the Berea Education Foundation to assist her in purchasing nine additional Kohala Baritone Ukuleles and cases to be used in her Grindstone Ukulele Program.

For each of the past three years, Pulizzi-Smith has successfully implemented a 9 week “Ukulele Unit” for the 3rd grade team as well as running a Ukulele Club and an adaptive ukulele class for students with special needs.   Upon receiving this current grant, she has been able to complete an entire class set of 30 ukuleles and cases.  She chose the baritone ukulele for this program because traditional notation methods for ukulele and guitar are alike for both chords and melodies.  Thus, the transition from ukulele to guitar would be easier for students wanting to continue studying string instruments.  During 2013-2014, she also consulted with Mr. Jay Albert, a professional guitarist/teacher and BCSD parent.  He is currently writing a ukulele method book that demonstrates new ways for her to present her ukulele unit to 3rd grade students.

Over the past 3 years of teaching ukulele, Pulizzi-Smith’s program has evolved from an experience in playing ukulele with an alternate tuning system and alternate chord fingerings to a curricular introduction to folk songs and rounds.  Until she received this Foundation Grant, her students   shared their instruments with a partner during class as well as take turns during the 30 minute class.  All students will now have the opportunity to play their instruments for the entire 30 minutes during each of the two classes per week.

The 3rd graders began their unit in January, 2015, and Pulizzi-Smith will start the 3rd grade club during the 4th quarter for students who want to continue playing.  The club for the 4th graders began in October, 2014, since they have already been introduced to the instrument. The additional instruments will enable her to implement the ukulele club for the 4th graders who also wish to continue playing during their 4th grade year.  Students who have a ukulele at home are allowed to bring them to use in the ukulele club, and students with special needs are also able to participate with a modified ukulele class.  She offers the ukulele unit to every 3rd grade class during a 9 week period of their general music class.

The Cleveland Pops Holiday Concert, benefiting the Education Foundation for the Berea Schools, was spectacular!  The Pops Orchestra, led by Carl Topilow, brought their amazing talents to BW's Gamble Auditorium on Saturday night.  The concert was filled with upbeat, exciting, fun-filled holiday tunes including A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Clarinet Hanukkah, I'll be Home for Christmas, Medley from "Frozen" and Cool Yule.  The entire audience was enchanted and engaged throughout the evening. 

This year, the beautiful voices of the Berea-Midpark High School Symphonic Singers and Center Stage Show Choir, joined the Pops. The Symphonic Singers showcased their talents with two numbers from the "Home Alone" movies.

And, Center Stage, directed by Catherine Robison, sang and danced - adding perfectly to the evening's festivities.

Another highlight of the concert was when Berea-Midpark High School student, Freddie Assmus playfully guest conducted the Cleveland Pops Orchestra in Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride.

Soloists, Connor O'Brien and Gordon Leigh Petitt, added their own unique flare to You're a Mean On Mr. Grinch and Happy.  

And the concert ended with a Holly Jolly Sing-Along filled with audience participation.

A fun time was had by all!







The Trustees of the Education Foundation thank all sponsors and patrons, especially Medical Mutual, for making the concert possible.

By SALLY KING

Colleen Ticherich, BCSD sign language interpreter, and Alice Kenny, intinerary teacher of the deaf for the Education Service Center for Cuyahoga County, have been awarded a $3000 grant from the Berea Education Foundation to financially assist them in adapting the “Shared Reading Program” into the district’s program for hard of hearing students.  Ticherich and Kenny recognize that it is critical for the students to have direct communication with their peers and teachers.  Ticherich states, “Having regular monthly gatherings of these students provides them with a peer group they do not find on a daily basis anywhere else.” The “Shared Reading Project” will provide that opportunity. Developed by the Clerc Center at Gallaudet University, the “Shared Reading Project” includes four tiers, each of which would be used in their plan.
The first tier in the program will provide students with guest speakers and career shadowing experiences with deaf professionals from the area.  Deaf professionals can be found in all walks of life and can include graphic artists, engineers, the director of the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, professors, mechanics, and more.  The guest speakers would share their experiences in school and college as well the struggles and successes they faced.  The mode of communication chosen by their parents and families, i.e. oral, sign, total communication, mainstreamed, etc., will help provide a common bond and sense of community.

Peer model tutors from within the district are the focus of Tier Two.  Each peer model will receive training in working with the students to inspire excellence, develop literacy, and empower our deaf and hard of hearing students as well as non-verbal students.  The district’s non-verbal students would also benefit from visual communication through the monthly gatherings at a central school building.  Ticherich is hoping the student mentoring program will develop into a student-to-student mentoring program that is credit-bearing for high school students.  Peer mentoring would also be used as a “homework help” program, with deaf students tutoring younger students in their own language.  Tier Two of the program will begin after the district’s inservice on October 24.

The “Shared Reading Project” comprises Tier Three.  This project is designed to teach people how to read to deaf children by using American Sign Language (ASL) as well as using  different appropriate strategies when sharing books.  In the Shared Reading Program (SRP) older students and deaf community members will receive training in how to read to as well as with the district’s younger students when they meet in a monthly meeting.  A portion of the grant money will be used to purchase a variety of “book bags” from the Clerc Center.  Each bag will contain a book, a DVD with a signed version of the book by a native ASL user for mentor/parent/student to use for practice, reading tips, and a guide containing activities.  The mentees can borrow a bag for a week at a time for practice at home.

At Tier Four, ASL classes and/or sign clubs will be established at each of the district’s buildings.  The clubs would be open to all students, not just those who are in the same class or grade level of a DHH student from that school.  Direct communication (in sign) is the critical factor in building relationships; the skill level of the signer is not as important as direct communication.  During the duration of the project family reading logs and mentor journals will be maintained, and deaf surveys will be completed at its beginning and end.  The program can continue without incurring additional costs once the materials have been purchased and the mentors have been trained. The numbers from the sign club will be used as the main  measurement of the project’s success.  

Colleen Ticherich has worked as a language interpreter for the past six years.  She also serves as a sign language interpreter for medical, religious, and recreational purposes.  Ticherich teaches American Sign Language (ASL) at Cleveland State University and is the advisor of an ASL club at Middleburg Jr. High School.  Alice Kenny is also a teacher of the deaf.  She is contracted through the ESC and is responsible for all deaf students in the BCSD including any students with learning needs connected with deaf students.

Third Grade Social Studies – Ohio Community Studies Weekly
Recipient:  Lori Gulley, Brook Park Memorial Elementary                                  Amount: $200
This grant will fund the Ohio Community Social Studies Weekly is a 24-week newspaper supplement for her third-grade students.  This publication is written specifically for 3rd graders in Ohio and directly correlates to the new Social Studies learning standards.

LEGO Lessons
Recipient:  Christina Hardwick, Ford ExtendEd Care program                            Amount: $450
This grant will fund the purchase of LEGO sets designed to challenge students, improve focus, provides opportunities for the exploration of how things work and storytelling.  Activity sheets and lessons are included in the kit(s).

Veggie U A+
Recipient:  Christa Holt, Ford Intermediate School CC Unit                                 Amount: $450
Veggie U A+ introduces students to the process of growing herbs and vegetables.  Students also learn about the scientific process of how to produce their own natural food and gain knowledge about nutrition and agriculture.  The grant will fund a Veggie U Garden kit.

Eurhythmics in the Choir Classroom with Dr. Butke
Recipient:  Tracy Gabrielsen, Ford Intermediate School                                 Amount: $400
Dr. Marla Butke, Associate Professor of Music at Ashland University will spend a day with fifth and sixth grade students doing a workshop about Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Dalcroze Eurhythmics is a method of teaching rhythm, structure, and musical expression through music.  The grant will fund the cost of the workshop fee.

Titan PRIDE
Recipient:  Sherri Fox, Berea-Midpark High School                                             Amount: $400
A group of fifty students involved in the Titan PRIDE (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence) leadership program has planned a variety of activities to promote the PRIDE ideals throughout the school year.  Some of these activities include:  Unidad Latino Fest, National Mix it Up Day, Interfaith Celebration, Café Harambee, and Challenge Day.  The grant will fund portions of these events.

Realizing Your Potential – Real Men/Real Talk
Recipient:  Susan Malone, Berea-Midpark High School                                    Amount: $400 
The Realizing Your Potential Real Men/Real Talk Forums are candid talks about issues that afflict African American men and boys.  There are three Real Men/Real Talk sessions throughout the 2014-15 academic year.  The grant will help to fund the forums.

Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Store (PBIS)
Patricia Kukura and Meg Verba, Big Creek Elementary                                  Amount:  $450
This grant will help fund the start-up of a PBIS Store at Big Creek.  Students will earn PBIS bucks for demonstrating positive behaviors and then use the “bucks” to purchase items at the store.  

BY SALLY KING

Jean Spittal,  instructor at Big Creek Elementary School’s  before and after school Extended Program, has received a $1000 grant from the Berea Education Foundation to finance a program entitled, “I Like Who I Am and It Shows!”  Jean created it to be used with the 90 kindergarten through fourth grade students enrolled in Big Creek’s Extended Program. The grant money will be used to cover the cost of books, activities, puppet stand, puppets, rewards, prizes, and supplies needed for the students to make their own personal care kits.

Planned games, stories, and activities will be used on a monthly basis to help each student to recognize his or her importance as well as strengthen their self-image.   The year- long program will also involve the entire staff as well as all of Big Creek’s students.   The monthly activities will be incorporated through the use of the games and stories for all students attending Big Creek.  Each child’s potential and capabilities will be the common theme for each grade level.

The major focus of Spittal’s “I Like Who I Am and It Shows!” program is to enhance each child’s self-esteem as well as recognize and understand the feelings each of us has about ourselves.  A child’s sense of self may include his or her physical appearance, social acceptance, and behavior, yet, it also includes physical, academic, or artistic abilities.  Students are also taught how and why personal hygiene and manners are necessary if one is to function as an acceptable member of family, school, and society.  To demonstrate how feeling good on the outside is as important as on the inside, activities will include “experiments” making their own bath soap, shampoo, and toothpaste.  Role playing, puppet shows, and writing their own “scripts” will assist students in being active participants in the program.

Jean Spittal’s “I Like Who I Am and It Shows!” self-esteem unit is already well underway.  She plans to recognize each accomplishment with a small “celebration” throughout the year to instill a sense of pride and success.  Spittal’s love of her work is clearly evident.  She states, “I learn from the parents and kids.  This is a great job!”

Jean attended Cleveland State and The University of Phoenix, earning her degree in early childhood education.  She also does annual in-service training including First Aid, CPR, and Communicable Diseases. 

Grindstone Elementary kindergarten teachers, Amy Murray and Tami Arthur, love to get their kindergarten students excited about science.  To accomplish this, they combine their classes on a weekly basis for as many fun experiments and explorations as they can fit into their year.  As a result of their efforts, the two Grindstone Elementary kindergarten teachers have received a $400 Education Foundation Enrichment Grant for the 2014-2015 school year.  The grant money will be put toward purchasing materials needed for their spring, 2015, unit on oviparous animals

The goal of Murray and Arthur’s oviparous unit is to introduce their students to animals that lay eggs, to let them see and discover how the chicks grow and develop, and to teach them how to take care of them after they hatch.  With the grant money, some of the items the teachers will purchase will be fertilized chicken eggs from an educational supply company, an EcoGlow 20 Chick Brooder, a 30 gallon aquarium with a screened top, an Ova Scope, and books.  The ova scope will enable the students to observe the chicks as they grow and develop inside the eggs.  Chicken eggs have a 21-day incubation period.

During the weeks the eggs are developing the students will write in their journals to respond about their observations and to report on any daily changes in the chicks.  Students will be taught how to properly hold, feed, and care for the animals.  In addition to observations and journals, other learning activities that will be used are animal life cycle books, videos, art projects, and writing original stories.  Students will try to predict how many chicks will actually hatch.  The culminating activity will be a field to Lake Farm Park.  

When the unit is completed and the chicks are old enough to move on, they will be given to friends who raise chickens to supply eggs for their family’s restaurant.

Ring in the Holiday season with a lively, wonderful Cleveland Pops concert benefiting the Education Foundation for Berea Schools!

On Saturday, November 29, 2014 at 7pm the acclaimed Cleveland Pops Orchestra, hosted by The Education Foundation, will perform a Holiday Concert at Baldwin Wallace University. This top-notch symphonic pops ensemble led by conductor Carl Topilow offers a unique blend of music, entertainment, variety and audience interaction that has made the POPS a jewel in the cultural crown of Northeast Ohio.  

Tickets go on sale today and can be purchased, starting Monday, September 15, 2014 at the Berea City School District Administration Building at 390 Fair Street in Berea weekdays, between 8am-4pm or click HERE for tickets.

Last year, over 350 people attended this spirited concert and kicked off the holiday season with a bang!  It was a fantastic event.  We do hope that you will join us, this year, at this fantastic family-oriented concert!