MILESTONES

MILESTONES

EDUCATION

Rating for preschool

West Branch Preschool received five stars from the Ohio Department of Education.

In an effort to ensure high-quality preschool education for all students, the ODE and Step Up to Quality enacted a one to five star rating system for all state funded preschools in Ohio.

Preschool programs are rated on family involvement, community engagement, student assessment, curriculum, program assessment, transitions, communications, lesson planning and delivery and professional development.

West Branch’s rating means the preschool engages in the highest quality education for all students and families.

New team member

WARREN

Sarah Braun, former school program supervisor at Homes of Kids Inc. Child and Family Solutions, will join the Eastern Ohio Education Partnership team Wednesday.

Braun will serve as EOEP Network Action Team Manager. Her primary role will be as a catalyst for cross-sector collective impact across the Mahoning Valley in four focus areas – early childhood education, third-grade reading and eighth-grade mathematics proficiency, and postsecondary and career readiness.

Writing tournament

West Branch High School students placed at the First PenOhio Writing Tournament.

Students competed at the first PenOhio writing tournament on Jan. 14. The 20-team tournament was at The Mandel Center for the Humanities on the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College. During each of the three rounds of competition, students were challenged to write a creative story on an assigned prompt in only 40 minutes.

The varsity writing team placed fourth, and the junior varsity writing team placed fifth.

Band festival

The Ohio State Middle School Honor Band Festival representatives selected West Branch Middle School students to perform.

Jeff Legros and Abby Stephens were selected to play the trombone and french horn, respectively. Alternates Danielle Harrison, trumpet, and Olivia Buehler, flute, were also selected.

Students will take part in one of four 90-piece concert bands. Each honors band rehearses and performs with the festival guest composer, as well as their dedicated conductor.

The concert will take place Feb. 25 in Mershon Auditorium on the Ohio State University campus.

Milestones is a regular Sunday feature in The Vindicator. Articles must be submitted within 30 days of the Milestone event. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want a picture returned. Pictures also may be picked up at the paper’s Front Street facility at the security guard station. Send items to: Milestones, c/o The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501.