Avon Local Schools

Avon S. O. A. R. through Parenting

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The Avon Local Schools programs S.O.A.R. through Parenting are being supported by North Coast Rotary (financially and in-person) for the 2nd year.  Program topics that are immediately relevant to parents with titles such as “Raising Superheroes, Building Strong Relationships, Coping with Parental Stress and Calming the Storm” are identified by Avon Local Schools’ Social Workers Rebekah Bryson and Lauren Eigenbrod. They design the programs to include interactive presentations, group discussions, handouts, resource-links and one-on-one Q&A.  

Attending Families enjoy a light dinner then High School students in Honor Society or Key Club engage the children in activities, once the program begins.  

January 22nd and February 26th are currently the last evening sessions.  Avon parents look out for communications on future programming!

Skillful Presenters and Writers Cover Weighty topics using the 4-Way Test 

/ jinnyn

The 4-Way Test is an ethical problem-solving tool, the subject of which area middle school students write essays and area high school students write speeches for presentation.  Ben Hodge, Superintendent of Avon Local Schools and North Coast Rotary’s Speech and Essay Contest Chair, coordinates both programs with the assistance of Avon, Avon Lake and Brookside teachers.  2024 marked the 12th year for North Coast Rotary’s Speech Contest and the 8th year for the Essay Contest.  

This year, Max Wojtus, Avon High School, won North Coast Rotary’s 4-Way Test Speech Contest and went on to compete with 15 other speech contest winners in the recent District competition. Avon High School junior Anika Singh placed second in North Coast Rotary’s contest; Avon Lake’s Kamryn Hess placed third and Avon Lake’s Tyler Birk and Brookside’s Bree Fawley placed fourth.  Speech topics included: Why Smoking Cigarettes Should be Banned; Money Can’t Buy Happiness; Child Abuse; Hypermasculinity; and Being a Woman in STEM.

Twelve students, six each, from Avon’s and Avon Lake’s middle school participated in the 4-Way Test Essay contest.  They were the top twelve of many submissions.  Six won cash awards and all students were recognized with certificates.  “Embracing Uniqueness” the essay written by an Avon Lake Student; won first place overall and first place for Avon Lake.  Avon Student’s submission “AI in the Art Community” placed second overall and placed first for Avon; and Avon Lake student’s essay “Honesty is the Best Policy” placed 3rd overall and second place for Avon Lake.  Three other Student’s essays won cash awards. 

 

We commend those students who participate in these competitions; they invest extra time and effort to understand and apply ethical decision-making tools like the 4-Way test. North Coast Rotary also recognizes and thanks the teachers, and speech and essay judges who assist us in these programs.