ROCKY RIVER, Ohio - Lutheran High School West has had a presence in Rocky River since 1958.
The school, which has an enrollment of about 435 students, received the 2017 Quality Business Award from the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce last month.
"We chose Lutheran West because the school's involvement in the business community is exceptional and provides real-life experience for the students," said Liz Manning, chamber executive director.
Lutheran West has undergone a renaissance in recent years, with an updating of the school's exterior and new landscaping. A performing arts center was added in 2013 and all-weather playing fields were installed in 2012.
The school established the Senney Honors Academy in 2012 to encourage high-achieving students to excel. Dean Becky Slack said members learn from national leaders and have an opportunity to put that knowledge into practice.
Lutheran West has been active in the Rocky River chamber since 2013. It hosts a Leadercast, co-sponsored by the chamber, each spring. Business management classes attend chamber meetings each semester. In addition, Lutheran West students have interned with the chamber and assisted at the annual Business Expo. The chamber also sponsors a Lutheran West student to attend Ohio Business Week in Columbus each summer.
"Lutheran West, led by Principal Dale Wolfgram and his talented team of administrators and teachers, sets an example of the best we can be in serving our students. We are proud to call Rocky River home," said Marty Uhle, interim superintendent.
Lutheran West is at 3850 Linden Road, adjacent to Westgate.
Kindergarten information: Bay Village parents whose children will be 5 on or before Aug. 1 are invited to attend a Bay Village kindergarten information meeting at 7 p.m. March 2 at Normandy Elementary School, 26920 Normandy Road, Bay Village. Due to limited space, the meeting is for parents only.
The kindergarten information packet, which is required for those registering for the 2017-2018 school year, will be distributed at the meeting. Appointments also can be made for required kindergarten readiness screenings that will take place in April.
In addition to an overview of kindergarten and kindergarten readiness, there will be information tables for those with questions regarding day care, kindergarten readiness, speech therapy, early entrance and volunteer opportunities;
Visit bayvillageschools.com for more information.
One school, one book: Students at Bassett, Dover, Hilliard and Holly Lane elementary schools in Westlake are participating in OneSchool, OneBook, a schoolwide literacy program that has all pre-kindergarten to fourth-graders reading the same book at the same time with their families.
This is the third year for the program in Westlake, but the first year all elementary buildings are participating. The program begins Feb. 27, where the book title will be revealed at an assembly in each building. Before the launch, students will watch three short videos that will provide clues about the book.
Students will read the same chapter on the same schedule. Then on March 15, there will be an assembly at each building to celebrate the book. There will be additional events during the three-week program, including reading one chapter aloud at Porter Public Library and guests/celebrities reading a chapter aloud to a classroom and discussing the book and their love of reading with students. Volunteers interested in reading a chapter aloud to students should contact Jenny Larcey at Bassett Elementary, larcey@wlake.org.
School officials said child-friendly businesses in the city also will partner with the district by posting a sign in their window indicating they are a. OSOB business partner. When families spot the signs, students will search the business to find a specific character from the book hiding inside. When a child finds the character, he or she gets a ticket that is turned in for a raffle prize at school. Businesses interested in partnering with the schools on this venture should contact Sarah Gorius of Holly Lane School at Gorius@wlake.org.
Other questions can be directed to Kim Tucker, Hilliard Elementary principal, tucker@wlake.org.
Coterie to meet: Shane Phillips, a one-man band, will perform country music at the next Rocky River Coterie meeting at 1 p.m. March 1 at the Don Umerley Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River.
Love for Larissa: When Larissa Davis, the best friend and college roommate of Taylor Ratliff, a Lee Burneson Middle School seventh-grade math teacher, was deployed to Kuwait with her Army unit, Ratliff wanted to do something special for her.
Lee Burneson Middle School seventh-graders show off some of the items they collected to send to their teacher's friend and college roommate during her deployment to Kuwait. Photo provided by Westlake schools.After proposing the idea of a collection of items as a class service project to fellow middle school team members, the project took off. During the past two weeks, students in Ratliff's, Meg Sherban's, Paul Hammond's and Todd Milkie's classes collected books, wet wipes, Amazon and iTunes gift cards, candy, snacks and socks to send to Davis, a combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division.
The class collecting the most items will be treated to a pizza party; the runner-up class will receive donuts.
Ratliff and Davis were roommates for three years at Hiram College and played on the Hiram basketball team. Davis graduated in 2014 and worked for a year before joining the Army, Ratliff said. Her deployment lasts until September.
"She has a great sense of humor and she's still my best friend," Ratliff said, adding that Davis had a tough time adjusting to her deployment, so she wanted to cheer her up. "The idea of 'Love for Larissa' came up with Valentine's Day."
Ratliff's grandfather, a member of VFW Post 5137 in Medina, is donating the coast of shipping the items to Kuwait.
Local history: Alan Dutka will discuss "The Theatrical Grill and its Notorious Neighbors" at the next Rocky River Historical Society meeting at 7 p.m. March 9 at Rocky River Senior Center, 21014 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River. The meeting is open to the public.
Dutka will share colorful tidbits about life on Short Vincent in downtown Cleveland during its heyday. While police raided seedy bars, celebrities like Fran Sinatra and Judy Garland frequented the Theatrical for dinner or drinks. The street was infamous for the eclectic mix of people it attracted, including bookies, gangsters and tourists, and within a block, the Roxy Burlesque and Jean's Funny House attracted a more risque clientele.
Shakespeare competition: Westlake High School will host the English Speaking Union's High School Shakespeare Competition 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the WHS Performing Arts Center. The winner of the Cleveland competition will advance to the national competition in New York City in April. Ann Hasenohrl, a WHS English teacher, is organizing the regional event.
The competition, which began in 1983 in New York City, is designed to develop speaking skills, critical thinking strategies and overall appreciation of literature in high school students. About 200 students from 25 Northeast Ohio schools will read, analyze and recite Shakespeare monologues and sonnets.
Joint Lenten services: Westlake Christian Church and Dover Congregational United Church of Christ will have four joint, weekday community-focused worship services during Lent. Members of both congregations will participate. Worship and communion will be offered to believers from all denominations.
Two services are planned for Ash Wednesday, March 1. The first, which will include distribution of ashes and an informal service, will be at 12:30 p.m. A more traditional service will be at 7 p.m., with imposition of ashes and communion.
An evening service is planned for 7 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, April 13, and an afternoon service will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Good Friday, April 14.
The two churches share space at Dover Congregational's facilities, 2239 Dover Center Road, Westlake.
Library news: Westlake Porter Public Library has numerous programs planned for the coming week. Highlights include:
- American Girl Doll Club: Addy Walker, is set for 2-3 p.m. Feb. 25 for ages 6-11; registration began Feb. 19. Addy is a 9-year-old born into slavery and growing up during the Civil War. There will be games and a crat.
- Friends' Sunday Sounds, 2-3 p. m. Feb 25, will feature Red Light Roxy performing jazz and blues from the 19402 and '50s. Lunch will be served cabaret style; registration is required.
- A drop-in Mardi Gras event is set for 6-8 p.m. Feb. 27. Participants will make a mask or jester's hat; no registration needed.
The library is at 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake. Visit westlakelibrary.org for more information on programs.
College Club West scholarships: College Club West is offering minimum of $2,000 scholarships for the 2017-2018 academic year. Application deadline is March 15.
For information on the scholarships, including eligibility and application requirements, visit collegeclubwest.org.
College Club West is a nonprofit group of women college graduates who live in Greater Cleveland.
Community meal: Church of the Redeemer in Westlake and Clague Road United Church of Christ will host a free community meal 4:30-6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Clague Road UCC, 3650 Clague Road, North Olmsted. No carryout orders are available. The church is handicap accessible.
Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. from Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake for the West Shore Chatter column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.
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