School News

Congratulations to West Shore Career-Tech and Lakewood High students junior Matt Kerrigan and senior Dan Twardesky on their 10^th place finish in the national 2013 Cisco NetRiders IT/networking competition on May 3. Over 1,800 students from 36 states and Canada competed.

Tim Figueira and Mark Gruber have qualified to compete in the AAA / Ford  Auto Skills Student Competition on May 10^th at Owens Community College in Toledo.   Auto Skills is sponsored by AAA and Ford Motor Company to encourage students to pursue careers as automotive service technicians. Students first qualify for the competition by taking an online written exam. The 10 top scoring teams from across Ohio are then selected to move on to the “hands-on” finals where teams are given new Ford vehicles which are uniformly “bugged” with identical malfunctions to diagnose and repair. Teams are then ranked by the highest quality repair workmanship in the lowest total time.  Tim and Mark will have 90 minutes to repair a 2013 Ford Focus SE.   Student awards include scholarships along with auto tools and supplies.  The top finishing school in Ohio will advance to the national competition in Dearborn, MI this June.  Good luck Tim and Mark! 

For eight summers in a row, 8^th grade students interested in electronics and engineering have participated in a 3 day camp exploring alternative energy technologies. This no cost camp offers students a hands-on opportunity to learn about earth friendly energy sources; wind turbines, solar energy, and fuel cell technology.  Camp will be June 10^th, 11^th, & 12^th.  Registration has begun with a May 17^th deadline. Click here for: Information Flyer   Click here for:  Registration Form
 

Certified Professional Coach and President of Seize This Day Coaching, Diane Helbig was the featured speaker at West Shore’s Stake Holder and Advisory Committee meeting held October 18^th.  This bi-annual gathering brings together professionals who meet with West Shore teachers, alumni, and students to review program curriculum, student activities, and industry trends.  Diane shared with guests that she believes small business is the engine that runs our economy and one of the most valuable assets to support this engine now and in the future is the youth in our community.  Training and preparing these students to enter the world of work is imperative and West Shore’s role in this endeavor is an asset to the communities it serves.  We would like to thank the attendees for their time and dedication to our students, teachers, and staff.  For pictures of the evening, click here.

Are you thinking about what you want to do after high school?  Trying to find the right career for you? The military’s ASVAB Career Exploration program offers students a no-cost, no-obligation opportunity for career exploration and education planning.  A service project conducted by the U.S. Army, ASVAB helps students identify their work-education related interests.  Your results are not shared with the Army.  10th, 11th, & 12th graders can sign-up for the ASVAB program in room B-101 beginning Monday October 22nd. ASVAB testing is on-site at West Shore CTD / Lakewood High School on Thursday November 15th.  The sign-up deadline is Thursday November 9^th.  To visit the ASVAB website, click here.

In June, Interactive Media student Lizzy Taucher traveled to the Big Apple to accept her American Visions Medal National Award from the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing competition. Lizzy’s video Sydney the Giraffe competed with entries from across the country in the Film and Animation category.  Interactive Media teacher Anne McQuay joined Lizzy at the awards celebration, held at Carnegie Hall, where Academy Award winning actress Meryl Streep congratulated the recipients, encouraged them to pursue their creative endeavors, and told them she thinks they are “cool”!   Dating back to 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Award has an impressive history of artists who won the Award during high school including: Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Robert Redford, John Baldessari, Zac Posen, Joyce Carol Oates, John Lithgow, and Ken Burns. Lizzy is excited to attend Cleveland State University to pursue a degree in Film and Animation. Click on Sydney the Giraffe to watch the story of an owl who teaches a giraffe to sing.
 

Learning about earth friendly energy sources was the focus of this year’s Alternative Energy Camp. Fourteen 8^th grade and incoming freshman students spent three days in June learning about the application of different energy sources along with the engineering and design principles required to build a solar car, solar boat, and fuel cell car.  Campers tested their boat designs at the Madison Avenue pool.  Camp instructors were Andre Bruwer, Electronic Technology and Bob Sedlak, Math and Project Lead the Way.  West Shore is pleased to have hosted this camp for close to a decade. Click here for camp photos.

The Lakewood / Rocky River Rotary is offering four scholarships to students in Lakewood and Rocky River. Click here for scholarship information and application. Awards will be presented on June 10th.

The West Shore Career-Technical District (WSCTD) was honored to present Mrs. Patty Ryan, CEO and President of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce with an honorary membership in the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) at its annual Student Recognition and Career Passport Assembly on Tuesday May 21^st.  Mrs. Linda Thayer, Educational Coordinator at WSCTD recognized Mrs. Ryan for her “enthusiastic dedication, service, and support of our students. The partnership between West Shore and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and local business leaders is a valued and important part of our career-technical curriculum.  Mrs. Ryan has been a leader and advocate in the Lakewood community.”   

Congratualions to the 227 West Shore students who received a Career Passport at the annual recognition and awards ceremony on Tuesday May 21^st.   Lakewood Superintendent Jeff Patterson, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kevin Bright, and Board of Education President Mr. Edward Favre were joined on stage by West Shore Educational Coordinator Mrs. Linda Thayer along with fellow Superintendents and Board of Education members from our partner districts to award students their passports.  Click here for pictures of the event.

The Ohio Restaurant Association in conjunction with Ohio ProStart are offering scholarships to high school students enrolled in a ProStart Culinary Arts program.  Click here for scholarship information and applications. April 3, 2013 is the deadline to submit scholarship materials.  Winners will be announced April 25th. 

Discover Your Future Now!  Cleveland State University’s Fenn College of Engineering invites our students to participate in their Engineer For A Day Job Shadowing Program on Friday February 22, 2013.  The event is open to students in grades 9-12 who are seriously interested in the engineering profession.  There is a required orientation meeting for participants on Saturday February 9, 2013.  For the event flyer, click here.  For additional information and the registration form, click here.  Registration forms and materials are available in the West Shore Office Room B-101 and must be turned in to CSU by Friday January 25th.     

A variety of college scholarships are available to seniors.  For a complete list of scholarships and websites that provide additional information on scholarship opportunities, click here. 

We would like to welcome Andre Bruwer, Connie Bellini, Sharon Harwat, Deb Stasek, and Jennifer Starr Manning to their new West Shore teaching positions.  Andre taught math at Lakewood High School and will now teach Electronic Technology.  Connie taught Family and Consumer Science (FCS) at Garfield Middle School and is now teaching  Early Childhood Education/Senior Services. Sharon Harwat will lead the Service Occupations Training program at Lakewood Hospital while continuing to teach FCS classes.  Deb Stasek taught FCS at Harding Middle School and now joins the FCS team at Lakewood High School.  Jennifer Starr Manning is new to West Shore and Lakewood High School.  Jennifer graduated from Iowa State University with a major in Apparel Merchandising and Design, after graduation, she worked at Target Corporation in Minneapolis and then moved to Ohio and received her teaching license in FCS from Ashland University.  Please join us in welcoming these teachers to the West Shore family.  

The end of the school year brings with it a measure of sadness when you are saying goodbye to wonderful colleagues and friends. This year the West Shore Career-Technical District will bid farewell to two wonderful co-workers.  Mrs. Connie Bellini, Teacher Early Childhood Education and Senior Services and Mrs. Deb Slater Career-Technical Aide at Westlake High School. Best wishes to both Connie and Deb as they open a new and exciting chapter… we are sure you will enjoy the adventure! Read Article to learn more about their retirement plans.

West Shore was excited and proud to participate in Electric & Eclectic: A District Showcase highlighting the smorgasbord of opportunities and talented array of students and staff in the Lakewood City Schools and at West Shore.  Clubs, teams, music groups, classrooms all gathered together to share their pride in their district.  Click here to read the Lakewood Observer article featuring this event.

West Shore students took center stage at the 18^th annual Community Leaders Breakfast where business, government, ministerial, and volunteer leaders gather in support of the Lakewood community.  Culinary Arts students prepared and served breakfast to over 150 guests.  Construction Trades instructor, Mr. Mike Dow, and  students Joe Czechanski and Adam Farunia spoke about class projects along with the education and skills gained in the National Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Certified program. Click here for pictures of the event.  To view the Construction Trade’s presentation, click here.  West Shore is honored to have the opportunity to return the support it has received. 

Congratulations to students from the West Shore Culinary Arts program for their second-place finish out of 22 teams at the Annual 2013 Ohio ProStart Invitational in Columbus held on Feb. 17. Students are required to plan the menu, cost the recipes and prepare a three-course meal using only two portable burners within one hour in a 10x10 foot space in this very intense, demanding and difficult competition.

Thank you for your patronage. Ranger Cafe is now closed for the school year.  We look forward to you joining us for lunch when the restaurant opens again in the fall.

Ranger Cafe @ West Shore will be closed during the Lakewood HS Exams and the Martin Luther King Holiday from Monday January 14 through Tuesday January 22, 2013.  Ranger Cafe will reopen on Wednesday January 23, 2013.  Even though the restaurant will be closed, we will continute to take take lunch reservations during this time. We look forward to you joining us in the New Year. Thank you for your continued patronage. 

It’s time to brighten your career path and Explore West Shore! After school on Wednesday December 5^th from 3:05 to 3:30 pm, all students interested in taking a West Shore Career Technical program next year, are encouraged to visit our teachers, classrooms, and labs. Teachers will be on hand to answer your questions.  Please stop by room B-101 to sign up for this year’s preferred placement list and to get directions to the West Shore classrooms. We look forward to seeing you!

The district's middle school and high school students are learning about a web site in their technology, Career Connections and Business classes that is part of an initiative to increase awareness among students and parents of the career possibilities in the Information Technology (IT) field.

We Mean Business was the theme for Business Management and other junior students as they participated in West Shore’s annual Team Building Institute.  Students enjoyed a variety of games and activities involving jump ropes, hula hoops, race cars, and juggling while learning the importance of working together, cooperating, and leading. Click here to view pictures of the day's activities.   

A number of Lakewood High School and West Shore Career-Technical District students have been honored for their artwork both statewide and locally. Senior Zac Webb of West Shore’s Interactive Media program has had his short film, “White Walls, Red Walls,” chosen as a finalist in the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition.  Three other IM students were recognized in Fairview Hospital's Cancer Prevention Poster Contest.

Congratulations to Sydney Ward, Kyle Kasper, Matt Kerrigan, and Liam O’Donnell, members of the Happy Feet Team and winners of Hyland’s Innovation Showdown:  High School Edition held on April 27^th.  Hyland Software, voted one of the Best Places to Work in the US, sponsored the Innovation Showdown to encourage young innovators to learn how to create a business plan, prototype, and presentation to answer the question: “How can you use technology to solve a business problem?”  Networking junior Matt Kerrigan commented, "It was really cool how the project actually all came together. It actually felt like a professional setting. West Shore is great at giving us these kind of opportunities.”  High School students on four different teams spent a week working with industry professionals on-site at Hyland Software and independently after school.  In addition to working with the business professionals, students also received complimentary meals, prizes, and had a rewarding, hands-on, professional experience.  Innovation ideas ranged from the winning team’s feet warmers that recharged kinetically from walking, a medical app that ran on smart phones to aid nurses treating patients, another app which would locate lost keys by giving you a map or alert, and a web based product that could help plan a vacation that merged all sorts of social media; MapQuest, Cheap Gas, and Facebook.  West Shore would like to thank Hyland Software for sponsoring this rewarding program. Click here for photos of the event.

Construction Trades students recently completed a two-story Gambrel style garage in the Lakewood community.  Garage features include:  upstairs workshop, cedar shake siding, side storage area, and a covered walkway to the home.  “This was a more complex garage project than we have done in the past, but the students rose to the challenge and I am proud of their efforts” said instructor Mike Dow.  Click here for a photo gallery of the garage from start to finish. This garage was featured in the Lakewood Observer; to read the article, click here.

Due to OGT testing, Ranger Cafe will be closed Tuesday  March 12th and Wednesday March 13th, reopening  on Tuesday March 19th. Thank you.

For the third year in a row, West Shore Culinary students were glad to lend a hand at the Lakewood Community Service Center’s (LCSC) annual Got Green? event held at Madison Park. Partnering with Crop Bar & Bistro’s Celebrity Chef Steve Schmilor, students prepared, plated, and served food for  270 guests.  Vegetables from this year’s harvest were included in the menu.  Lakewood Community Service Center is proud to celebrate its 30^th year of providing food and services to families in need. Click here for pictures of the festivities which raised $40,000 for LCSC. 

Since 1975, Cornucopia has provided work adjustment training for people with disabilities.  2011 West Shore and Lakewood High School graduates Leonard Bibbs and John Zahurak participated in Cornucopia’s transition program and are featured in the Success Stories section of its  2012 Annual Report.To read about Leonard and John, click here. To learn more about Cornucopia and the opportunities and services they provide, click here. Well done!   

Culinary Arts students assisted local chefs at a fundraiser for the Cleveland International Film Festival.  Students assisted with food preparation, set-up, and clean-up.  Local chefs included:  Nolan Konkoski, SoHo; Ben Bebenroth, Spice Kitchen and Bar; Melissa Khoury, Washington Place Bistro; and
Bridget Thibeault, Luna Bakery. Working with local chefs, at a community event, highlights the hands-on professional experiences offered to West Shore students.  Click here for photos of the fundraiser.

Congratulations to Tim Figueira, Automotive Technology senior, who earned the honor of 4^th Place Runner- Up at the Skills USA contest held at Ohio Technical College on Friday February 22^nd.  Nice job, Tim.

West Shore students, do you have a great idea for a new mobile app, web service, or other new technology you just know would solve a business problem?  Have we got an opportunity for YOU!  Hyland Software, voted one of the Best Places to Work in the US, is sponsoring a program for young innovators to learn how to create a business plan, prototype, and presentation to answer the question: “How can you use technology to solve a business problem?”  Work with industry professionals on-site at Hyland Software.  In addition to working with the business professionals, you will also receive complimentary meals, prizes, and learn some really cool stuff!  To download contest information, click on the following links:  Innovation Showdown Flyer, Contest Application, Innovation Showdown Info Sheet, and Project Log.  If you have any questions, please stop by the West Shore Office in B-101.  Good luck!  

The Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE) is proud to offer the annual $1,000 Darrell Parks Student Scholarship.  Any student enrolled in an Ohio Career and Technical program is eligible to apply. A one-time monetary scholarship will be sent to the recipient’s program of higher education to be used toward tuition and fees.  Click here for additional scholarship information.  To download the application, click here.      

Stephanie Herndon has always enjoyed cooking. Stephanie’s passion turned into a career path while attending the West Shore Culinary Arts program.  Stephanie is on track to graduate from Lorain County Community College (LCC) with an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts in June, 2014.  Stephanie believes “the discipline, food service production, and learning how to get along with fellow employees, all the things I learned at West Shore, have helped me succeed at LCC.”   Way to go Stephanie!

Project Lead the Way students explored alternative energy engineering and design concepts by building solar cell cars.  Teams of students tested their car design, handling, and energy raciing in the halls of  West  Shore!  Click here for pictures of the students’ designs and test runs.

A variety of college scholarships are available to seniors.  For a complete list of scholarships and websites that provide additional information on scholarship opportunities, click here. 

At the second Lakewood High School Health Fair, West Shore’s Medical Office Management, Culinary Arts, Health Careers, and Career Development programs joined with other community organizations to promote healthy lifestyle choices for teens.  Students visiting the fair were given a color coded card featuring different aspects of healthy life choices to guide them through the fair and understand the concept of balance with lifestyle choices. The event was organized by Lakewood City Schools' nurses.  West Shore students and staff provided granola snacks, blood pressure screenings, nutrition information, career development opportunities, along with information on safe and responsible social networking.  Click here to view pictures of the fair.

At their annual Outstanding Student Award luncheon, on Monday March 11th, the Lakewood/Rocky River Rotary Club recognized fifteen West Shore students as the top performers in their career-technical program. Outstanding student nominees exemplify traits of leadership, dedication, responsibility, caring, community involvement, and initiative. Read Article for a list of award recipients and click here for luncheon photos.

Congratulations to our 17 Work Ethic Award recipients who were recognized by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Lakewood/ Rocky River Sunrise Rotary for “demonstrating professionalism, responsibility, and integrity in the workplace.”  Chamber members, Rotarians, family, teachers, and school administrators joined together to celebrate the students’ success on Friday February 22^nd during an award breakfast at Brennan’s Banquet and Catering Center. Read More for a list of recipients.   Click here for photos of the award breakfast.

For the second year in a row, Culinary Arts students gained excellent professional experience assisting local Chefs plating food, bussing tables, and serving guests at the Lakewood Mayor’s Ball.  In its fifth year, this fundraising event supports affordable arts education programs at The Beck Center. During the evening’s festivities, guests enjoyed delicious food, live music, and a silent auction.  West Shore is proud to be support these community events.  The Mayor’s Ball illustrates what can be accomplished when the community; citizens, schools, cultural centers, and local government join together to support a worthy endeavor. Click here for pictures of the event.

This school year, the Rocket Club plans to build two rockets with basic design specifications to reach a height of 800 feet, carry a payload of two eggs, and return the payload to earth unbroken.  Students will use Rockism software to design and build their rockets.  The club is registered with Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) and the majority of members are enrolled in West Shore’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program.  Contact Club Advisor and PLTW instructor Bob Sedlak in if you are interested in joining.  The Rocket Club meets every Monday after school in Room A203.

Students from Bay Village, Rocky River, and Westlake can ALSO take an elective and/or academic class toward their HS graduation requirements while enrolled in a West Shore program.  For example, a student enrolled in the Business Management program can also take an English class or a cooking class.  Please contact Ellen Pozek at ellen.pozek@lakewood.k12.oh.us or via phone at 216-529-4346 with any scheduling questions.  West Shore looks forward to working with you.  Click here for a complete course catalog of West Shore programs, academic courses, and electives.

The West Shore Career-Technical District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person(s) have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Lakewood City Schools 1470 Warren Road Lakewood, OH 44107

Section 504:  
Christine Palumbo, Director, Student Services   
Phone:  216-529-4201

Title IX: 
Jim Reitenbach, Director, Human Resources/Employment 
Phone:  216-529-4215

Congratulations to Josh Jenkins, 2012 West Shore Business Management graduate.  Josh is one of five Ohio recipients of the Children’s Defense Fund Beat the Odds $5,000 scholarship which “honors outstanding high school students who have overcome tremendous adversity, demonstrated academic excellence, and given back to their communities.”   Business teacher Mrs. Dolores Martin nominated Josh for this scholarship and mentored him through the application and interview process.  Josh was honored at the Beat the Odds awards dinner in Cincinnati on July 23rd. Josh will be attending Kent State University this fall.  To view an autobiographical film of Josh’s moving story, click here. 

The Lakewood Council of PTA’s is offering a scholarship to Lakewood High School Career-Tech students.  Two, $1,000 scholarships are available.  The scholarship application is due by 9am on Friday March 22, 2013.  Please click here to download the scholarship application. 

A photographer for the Lakewood Observer was driving through a local neighborhood and noticed an impressive new garage being built.  When he stopped to check it out, he noticed that the construction crew was high school students from the West Shore Career-Technical District.  Read More in the Lakewood Observer about this exceptional project. 

Ranger Cafe is now accepting reservations.  The restaurant has opened for the school year.  Please call 1- 216-529-4165 and press 1 to make your reservation. We look forward to you joining us for lunch

Restaurant Hours:  Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. 

We have added new seections to our restaurant and dessert menus. 

To view the Ranger Cafe Menu, click here.  

To view the Dessert Menu, click here.
 

West Shore has partnered with DeVry University  to offer  Passport 2 college courses to current Junior and Senior High School students.  Psychology 110 and Introduction to Business and Technology will be offered on-site at the West Shore Career-Technical District / Lakewood High School this school year.  The only expense for students will be the course text book with an estimated price of $80 per course.  Students must complete a DeVry University paper application to register for the course.  There is NO application fee.   Click here to download the application, course descriptions, and dates the courses are offered.   This is an excellent no cost opportunity for our students to earn college credit while in high school.  West Shore is excited to offer this opportunity to the students at Lakewood High School and our partner districts in Bay Village, Rocky River, and Westlake. We hope you or a student you know, takes advantage of this opportunity. For more information, visit DeVry.edu/passport2college or contact West Shore Career-Technical District at 216-526-4163. Registration deadline is Thursday October 25th.