Thank You for a Wonderful Year at Horace Mann

     As I review this year's blog entries, I am in total awe of the wonderful year we had at Horace Mann. Our students grew academically, socially and physically.  Staff members worked hard, blending tried-and-true techniques with new curricula and their ever-present love for children.  Parents and other volunteers became involved at unprecedented levels, supporting the work of the students and teachers.  And we had fun, too!


     This was my 20th year of service in public education here in Ohio--thank you for making 2015-16 the best year yet.  The challenges and rewards of being principal of Horace Mann are second-to-none, and I look forward to returning in August to continue our work--and play--together.

     Have a safe and satisfying summer!

Dr. Merritt Waters

Big Fun at Horace Mann!

We fit more fun into last week at Horace Mann than seems possible!  Be sure to visit the Horace Mann PTA Facebook page to see lots of great pictures (https://www.facebook.com/Horace-Mann-Elementary-PTA-209919922407687). These are the cool things we did:

Monday:  Lakewood Public Librarians presented to each grade level about summer reading opportunities and the library's 100th birthday celebration.

Tuesday:  CAVS Spirit Day, Volunteer Thank You Brunch, CHAMPS class 5th graders visited Garfield.



Wednesday:  3rd Grade Field Trip to The Nature Center, 1st Grade Walking Field Trip to Webb Park to meet Grant Elementary Pen Pals.

Thursday:  Wicked/Wizard of Oz performance by The Beck Center Sign Language Choir


Friday:  Field Day (4th Quarter Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports Reward), Picnic Lunch, BOGO Book Fair, One School One Book Finale, May Star Student of the Month Drawing, 5th Grade Instrumental Concert


Congratulations to our Star Students for May:
Kindergarten:  D'Lila Burns, Aliyah Rush
1st Grade:  Leonard Bonner, Bridget Katzenberger,
                  Mariam Othman, Connor
2nd Grade:  Joseph Smiddle, Nora Kelly
3rd Grade:  Nathan Kopko, Liam Wallace
4th Grade:  Ashan Mabuoi, Aidan Weisman
5th Grade:  Aidan Parch, Sophie Craciun








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The Mann This Week: State Testing, Safety Drills, Humphrey, and Field Trips

     With the end of the year fast - approaching, it was a smorgasbord of activity at Horace Mann last week.  Starting with academics, we officially completed our Ohio AIR testing sessions.  Our technology worked very smoothly and there was extra help on hand from central office to be sure teachers and students had support.  We had great student attendance which resulted in very few make-ups.  Thank you to kids, teachers, parents and staff for all the teamwork to get through this important process.  We won't receive results until well into the 2016-17 school year, and they will be sent home to parents when they arrive in district.

     Sticking with academics but moving a the fun side of things, enthusiasm for The World According to Humphrey continues to ride HIGH, HIGH, HIGH!  Humphrey is visiting classrooms, daily prize drawings are happening and most importantly, kids are reading :-)

     Part of the core mission at every school is to keep students safe.  The State of Ohio sets requirements for the number of fire, tornado and lockdown drills schools need to conduct each year, and we gladly comply.  Last week, we finished off our annual quota, running one of each.

     Finally, two fun field trips happened last week, with kindergarten heading to The Cleveland Zoo and Horace Mann's Future Club meeting Grant's Future Club at Webb Park for a picnic lunch and group photo taken by a drone.  Big thanks to teachers and parent volunteers for taking our students out-and-about!

The Amazing Horace Mann PTA

     Last week was Staff Appreciation Week at Horace Mann.  Our PTA went all out for this opportunity to pamper our teachers/support staff for 5 days straight!  Using what they learned via feedback about prior years' events, PTA provided a potluck lunch on Monday, morning coffee and goody cart on Wednesday and Dewey's Pizza for lunch on Friday.  On Tuesday and Thursday, April Crone, parent of a HMES first grader and licensed massage therapist, provided chair massages.  Talk about taking good care of us :-)

     Not only was PTA busy with providing for the Horace Mann staff last week, but they were also busy receiving accolades at the annual Lakewood Council of PTAs Installation and Recognition Ceremony, held at Harding Middle School on Wednesday, May 4th.  Here is the (long) list of honors garnered by Horace Mann as a result of PTA's work and/or nominations:

• Outstanding Educator of the Year:  Cristina Smith, Horace Mann Teacher
• Helping Hands Award:  Chris Bringman, Horace Mann Family Resource Coordinator
• Perfect Attendance at Monthly Council of PTAs
• Ripples Award (Silver) for volunteer hours logged this year
• Family Engagement Award for PTA/school partnership for our Positive Behavior Instruction & Supports 
• President's Award:  Nora Katzenberger, Horace Mann PTA President

     As principal of Horace Mann, I could not be more grateful for the work of so many PTA members.  It is a true collaborative relationship, and I look forward to even more involvement for parents in the years ahead.  If you are not yet an involved member of PTA, please consider joining or volunteering.  It is a rewarding, worthwhile experience that makes a real difference in the lives of everyone at our school!

A Hamster for Horace Mann...and a Few Other Things

Lots of big events this week at Horace Mann!  For the second consecutive year, our students with moderate-intensive disabilities were fortunate to experience Adapted Kids Love Musicals via a grant.  Our students enjoyed singing, dancing and using props such as elephant ears and tiger caps to perform The Jungle Book.  Thank you to The Musical Theater Project for finding a way to bring this amazing program to us again this year, free of charge.

Sticking with music, Mr. Waryk and Ms. Mallchok, our music teachers, outdid themselves with a trip around the world for our Spring Concert.  We were delighted to hear children singing in many different languages!  The 2nd/3rd  and 4th/5th grade choirs are really building their musical talents, impressing us all!  Keep singing everyone, you sound terrific :-)  Thanks, too, to the families who packed our gym to capacity once again.  A video link to the concert will be shared in about a week, and you can also view plenty of great photos on the Horace Mann PTA Facebook page.

Finally, we had a big pep rally to kick off our very first One School, One Book event.  With appearances by the St. Ed's Trash Talkers drum corps., LHS Cheerleaders, Ranger Man and a life-size hamster--all doing the Hamster Dance--it was a rockin' good time!  We owe thanks to Grant School for walking over to join the party, Mrs. Chanter for emceeing, all the staff who planned the event, and PTA for preparing the book packets to go home.  Now, families, it is your turn:  please be sure to read with your child each night and complete the ticket so s/he can be entered to win a prize.  We hope you'll follow the event blog as well (watch for the link in your student's backpack).  Our new school pet hamster (named Humphrey, of course), will be spending time in classrooms for the rest of the school year.  He's a cutie!

Donuts with Moms...Served by Dads!

Who doesn't like a good donut?  This week, a long and successful tradition of inviting parents to school to have a morning donut--with juice and coffee, of course--had a fun new twist.  Some things were the same as usual:  donuts from The Donut Pantry, coffee from The Root, and kids drooling for a Long John, donut with sprinkles or a chocolate cake sinker.   Hmmm, what was different, you ask?

Well, as we know, Donuts with Dads took place in the fall, and the PTA served everyone.  As is usually the case with PTA, that meant moms behind the serving tables.  This time around, it was the moms' turn to eat and have fun, while our thriving All Pro Dads group (led by Kevin Rush) did the work!  In addition to Mr. Rush, we thank volunteers Keith Kopko (pictured with son, Nathan), Matthew Gronn, Shawn Dubecky, Paul Pierce and Evan Meredith (not pictured).

As principal of Horace Mann, I love these days when family members come to school to socialize and have fun with their kids and neighbors.  Thank you so much, PTA, All Pro Dads, family members and teachers for making this event a big success and time of community-building for our school!

Students Visit The Beck; Firemen Visit The Mann

According to the Beck Center's website, "Princess Scargo" is the touching story of young Native American girl who gives up a precious birthday gift in order to save her village. Based on a popular Native American legend, this enchanting adaptation embodies the true spirit of selflessness. 

Horace Mann students made a connection with Princess Scargo this week in two ways.  First, a few of our students performed in this play.  Then, on Friday, all of the students in our homerooms for students with moderate-intensive disabilities took a walking filed trip to our neighbor, The Beck Center, to watch a "sensory-friendly" version of the show.  Students and staff alike enjoyed this free performance.  Thank you, Beck!

Our 3rd graders also had a special lesson this week when the Lakewood Fire Department brought their "fire safety house" to Horace Mann.  Fire Marshal Tim Dunphy explained that 3rd grade is the right time to give kids details about what to do in case of a fire at home.  Each student went into the trailer outfitted as a miniature house and experienced climbing out of the trailer amidst fake (harmless) smoke, going directly to the pre-designated meeting place.   Big thank yous to all the firefighters who came out to work with our eager students.

We are fortunate to have so many amazing amenities right in our own little corner of Lakewood!  Thank you!