Horace Mann Music Program Breaks New Ground

Mr. Waryk and I started here at Horace Mann at the same time in the fall of 2013.  As we planned the first music concert, we both thought it would be great to have a performance in the cafeteria space.  However, we knew from what others shared that there was no way we could fit for a whole-school performance.

In those 5 years, we've had many wonderful performances in the gym, attended by hundreds of friends and family members here to see students sing and play.  Can you remember your favorite moment?

While things have been very good, Mr. Waryk just couldn't get the opportunity to use our professional-grade stage out of his mind.  We talked about ideas, and problem-solved various aspects of putting on a show in the cafeteria.  I can tell you...he thinks of everything!

As many of you know, all the brainstorming came to fruition last Friday with the Horace Mann Spring Showcase.  Our students in special music groups (Band, Orchestra, Choir and Singers) put on a wonderful show against the backdrop of bright stage lighting, crisp sound and, of course, the velvet curtain.

We owe a hearty thank you to parents for supporting your children's musical talents, PTA and our staff for flexibility on concert day (especially our custodian and Mrs. Mac behind the scenes).  We hope families enjoyed the options of morning and afternoon performances, a link to live stream the concert, longer sets by each group and the availability of the book fair.  Any feedback is welcome as we make notes for next year. 

Here are a few still photos:

Horace Mann 5th Graders "Go Wild" on Field Trip

We are very fortunate to have a world-class hands-on science "lab" nearly in our backyard.  Many readers have been there:  The Lake Erie Science & Nature Center in Bay Village.  How it has grown since my grandmother used to take me there as a little girl in the 70s!

Courtesy of our generous PTA, Horace Mann 5th graders enjoyed the wide variety of experiences available at the Center.  The awesome photos in the link show the boys and girls (so close be being middle schoolers now) learning about habitats on earth...and beyond:

Lake Erie Science & Nature Center Photos

I hope the memories of this trip are fond and last our 5th graders well beyond the 6 weeks they have left at The Mann.  Many thanks to Mrs. Martzolf and Mrs. Robinson for arranging the trip and to our PTA for covering the cost.  Horace Mann is ALL IN!

Thank You, Mrs. Murphy!

Mrs. Kathy Murphy has served Lakewood City Schools as an Educational Assistant at the elementary, middle and high school levels.  Our Board of Education recognized her at the meeting on Monday, April 9, 2018.  Please read on to learn more:

Kathy Murphy shows her love for the students of Horace Mann every day by being prepared.

She shows her love by arriving at school quite early most days, to ready the special needs classroom, both in terms of materials and the game plan for the day. She is mindful of the communication, social, and academic needs of students, making sure she understands the many tasks she will attend to during the day to help students learn.

Kathy Murphy shows her love by every day by being prepared to support students with and without disabilities. Whether in the cafeteria, on the playground or in general education classrooms for inclusion, Kathy focuses sharply on opportunities to facilitate positive interactions among diverse students. We appreciate her artful mix of high expectation and plenty of support!

Kathy Murphy shows her love every day by keeping safety first. She is attentive to our building’s safety protocols and the medical needs of the students she serves. She also has made it a point to continue her own education, especially, but not limited to aspects of physical and mental well-being.
It is due to this last area of preparation that we honor Kathy Murphy this evening.  She conscientiously put her knowledge, skill and love into action by implementing what she had learned in a district CPR course.  She successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on our student, re-opening his airway.

We are so thankful that Kathy Murphy shows her love for the students at Horace Mann every day by being prepared.

Following those remarks, Mrs. Murphy (with characteristic humility) thanked her classroom team (Mrs. Cheryl Smolen and Mrs. Beth Sayler) as well as School Nurse, Katy Corrigan.

Horace Mann Principal Merritt Waters, Kathy Murphy and Ed Favre, Board of Education President