School Supplement 2009:
Akron Education Campus
Now that students are “back” to school, the focus is on academic success and how to maximize available learning time. Sometimes, what the teacher covers in class does not “connect” with the student’s internal “knowledge base.” When this connection is not made, learning does not occur. This is neither the fault of the student or the teacher.
The Akron Education Campus seeks to fill in these “gaps” and to strengthen the connections between the new material and the student’s understanding of the material through individual instruction that supplements (not replaces) what is learned in school. Our primary emphasis is on the basic skill of reading and understanding what is read. That is critical to every facet of education. For those wishing to enhance reading skills or to improve their understanding of mathematics or science, individual programs are offered. 330-666-1161. www.akroneducationcampus.com..
Andrews Osborne Academy
Andrews Osborne Academy is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day (age 3 to grade 12) and boarding (grades 7-12) school, on a 300-acre campus located in Willoughby. Our academy offers early childhood, elementary, middle and secondary education to students in a multi-cultural setting. Contact the office of admission for enrollment information. 440-942-3600. www.andrewsosborne.org.
Birchwood School
Birchwood School, a K-8 private school on the west side of Cleveland, celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Birchwood recently expanded its facilities, providing the school with additional space to carry out its world-class academic programming. The school added two science labs, and Birchwood’s Future Problem Solving program, claiming international finalists two years in a row, now can research and practice in the creativity and innovation lab.
The expansion also includes a Foreign Language Lab that will host Birchwood’s K-8 Spanish program and the middle school Latin I and II classes. Staff and parents now have a Gifted Resource Center that offers work space and resources to address the needs of our gifted learners. Also, the new music room has created opportunities for the school choir and ensembles, and provides for after-school private music lessons. 216-251-2321. www.birchwoodschool.org.
CLUB Z! Tutoring
Club Z! Tutoring has helped more than 300,000 students improve their grades and academic self-confidence. Our program is successful because it provides flexible, individualized, one-on-one instruction in the comfort and security of your home. We serve students of all ages, pre-kindergarten through adult, in all subjects. Our proven curriculum is second to none.
Our 30-plus tutors are experienced, degreed professionals and/or state-certified teachers with impeccable credentials and a heartfelt enthusiasm for teaching. We meet with the student and parents to determine tutoring needs. We also conference with the student’s school and teachers to ensure we are providing the best instruction possible for each individual.
We provide ongoing, constant evaluation by the tutor. Teachers and parents review the child’s progress, and communication with the school is ongoing to assess improvement in the classroom. We offer affordable rates and no long-term contracts. 440-398-2929 or 330-722-7890. www.clubztutoring.com.
Gilmour Academy
Our Gilmour mission is “to develop the competence to see and the courage to act in creating a more humane and just society.”
As a Catholic, Holy Cross school, we are called to educate the mind and the heart. We partner with families to develop a safe, nurturing and morally-consistent environment with a vibrant family spirit in which students can find their voices.
Our expectation of a Gilmour graduate is one who has mastered the ability to think critically and to communicate, collaborate and solve problems effectively, but also one who has developed the essential skills and habits necessary for lifelong learning and a disposition toward serving others. The longer we are able to work with students, the greater the opportunity to help students embody this mission.
Gilmour Academy, located at 34001 Cedar Road, Gates Mills, can be reached at 440-442-1104 or online at www.gilmour.org.
Hawken School
When James A. Hawken established Hawken School in 1915, he did so with a single purpose: to prepare his students for the real world. Today, nearly a century later, the world has changed, but Hawken School’s commitment to forward-focused education has not.
Hawken’s unique approach to teaching engages students and helps them become confident, respectful individuals. With a Lower School that builds social and academic skills in a safe and nurturing environment, a Middle School that challenges and supports each student, and an Upper School that offers a college-like environment, Hawken adapts as your child grows.
A national leader among independent schools, Hawken emphasizes the development of character and the cultivation of skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic world. By the time Hawken students graduate, they are ready for all the opportunities the world has to offer. 440-423-2955. www.hawken.edu.
Hershey Montessori School
At the Concord Campus (ages 2 months-12 years), 10229 Prouty Road, the natural environment is brought into each classroom at every level:
Teachers select plants and miniature biomes that will engage children’s interaction and support the language and botany lessons they receive.
Learning materials are made of natural materials wherever possible.
Windows are designed to be low and to invite children to observe the outdoors.
Each classroom has direct access to its own garden, as well as use of the raised vegetable garden beds.
All the children utilize the nature trails, pond, small animal barn and equipment to challenge physical outdoor play and climbing.
These experiences of the younger students are a link to the more extensive work of the adolescent community (ages 12-15) at our Huntsburg Campus, 11530 Madison Road. The entire 100-acre farm and woodland property of this campus is considered “the classroom.” 440-357-0918. www.hershey-montessori.org.
Homework Help on TV (Time Warner Cable)
Time Warner Cable is dedicated to supporting education. What better way to assist our schools than providing homework help for students?
Developed and produced through a partnership with Youngstown State University, “Homework Express” is a 30-minute TV show airing weekdays at 4:30 p.m. on NEON (Northeast Ohio Network), channel 23.
During the show, students can talk live to teachers about math homework. The teacher uses a dry-erase board to go step-by-step through the problem on the air.
NEON is your local channel for everything Northeast Ohio. Available exclusively to Time Warner Cable customers, NEON was created as a prime time network to remind viewers of all the great community projects, sites and entertainment available right in our own backyard. NEON shows are also available on demand on channel 501.
Check ou t “Homework Express” and other great educational programs on NEON today. More info at www.TWCNEON.com.
Hudson Montessori School
The Hudson Montessori School campus is nestled on seven wooded acres in the historical Western Reserve region. The campus includes a 30,000-square-foot main building with a state-of-the-art library, music and art studio, gym and large classroom spaces. The Outdoor Learning and Play Environment offers opportunities for creative play, as well as areas for scientific and math exploration. The middle school is housed in a dedicated building on the north side of the campus.
The education program at HMS offers a unique experience for all learners. Emphasis is on inner motivation, using the child’s natural curiosity and delight in discovery. All of this occurs in a multi-age, safe and caring environment that builds upon the child’s interests and offers activities to fit each individual’s needs. Hudson Montessori School welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds, ages toddler through middle school. 330-342-9334. www.hudsonmontessori.org.
Huntington Learning Centers
Today it is almost necessary for college-bound students to arm themselves with ample preparation time and specialized instruction before attempting to take the ACT or SAT. This is the driving force behind Huntington Learning Center’s exam-preparation programs.
The programs are designed to significantly strengthen subject-matter knowledge, build confidence and improve test-taking skills. One-to-one sessions are offered during the day, after school and on weekends to be flexible to the scheduling needs of each student.
Students begin with a diagnostic assessment to measure existing skills and knowledge gaps that are critical to SAT and ACT success. During the instructional process, they also take real SAT and ACT exams on an ongoing basis to ensure they are mastering the material and improving their test-taking abilities.
7983 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights, 440-526-9450, broadview_heights.huntingtonlearning.com
2222 Warrensville Center Road, University Heights, 216-382-8461, university_heights.huntingtonlearning.com
4176 Kent Road, Stow, 330-673-7200, stow.huntingtonlearning.coming to assess improvement in the classroom. We offer affordable rates and no long-term contracts. 440-398-2929 or 330-722-7890. www.clubztutoring.com.
Lake Center Christian School
Lake Center Christian School in Hartville offers a high-quality, K-12 educational experience from a Biblical worldview. The school was birthed in 1947 with 183 students.
LCCS excels in preparing students for post-secondary education, whether college-bound or pursuing technical/trade options, as evidenced through competitive test scores, advanced placement options and supportive services that align with state of Ohio standards. In addition to excellent academics, LCCS provides enrichment options, foreign language classes, a comprehensive K-12 fine arts program and many co-curricular opportunities at all levels.
LCCS belongs to the prominent Ohio High School Athletic Association and
fields interscholastic teams in soccer,
volleyball, golf, basketball, baseball, softball and track. LCCS is a member of the
Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Mennonite Schools Council and is accredited through ACSI and the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. 330-877-2049. www.akroneducationcampus.com..
Lawrence School
Do you know a student who has great potential, yet struggles with academics and learning in school? Lawrence School serves bright students in grades 1-12 whose learning and attention differences make it difficult for them to succeed in a traditional classroom environment.
Lawrence recognizes that not all students learn in the same way. In every classroom, teachers identify and nurture each student’s unique strengths, and allow that student to develop the skills and confidence to succeed. Through small class sizes, advanced technology, multi-sensory instruction and hands-on learning opportunities, students are able to grow as successful learners. Extracurricular, athletic and social activities provide a complete school experience.
With campus locations in Broadview Heights and Sagamore Hills, Lawrence serves more than 300 students from more than 70 communities throughout Northeast Ohio. 440-526-0717. www.lawrenceschool.org.
Learning Rx
Many people are surprised to learn that IQ score can increase. We were raised to believe that IQ is a fixed number, but brain researchers have discovered that the brain is capable of changing and growing connections between cells. These connections, or synapses, not the cells themselves, increase the brain’s powers by increasing the number of paths for information to take.
More paths mean faster processing. Scientists have used brain imaging technology to prove that efficient learners use more direct routes from point A to B when processing information. How does a brain learn to use the shorter, faster route? With training.
Brain training is different from tutoring, which focuses on a specific academic subject. Using intensive, one-on-one training, individuals of all ages can raise IQ scores by improving their cognitive skills set. These skills include auditory processing, visual processing, short and long-term memory, comprehension, logic and reasoning, and attention skills. 330-668-9711. www.learningrx.com/akron-bath.
Legacy Prep Christian Academy
Guess how much your child is worth. They’re priceless, right? Our children deserve the best education that will elevate them into a successful lifestyle and career.
Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy will help kids reach for the sky and climb to higher levels of achievement through learning, challenges and rewards. We personally invite you to visit our academy and see for yourself how the students are radiant with pride as they recite scripture, place into effect their Christian teaching and values and strive to be the very best they can be. Our children deserve a safe, positive, spiritually healthy environment where Godly standards are taught. Legacy Prep students enjoy highly trained and A.C.E.-certified educators and administrators who care for their well-being. Indoor and outdoor learning is encouraged. 330.644.1400. www.LegacyPrep.com.
Math Monkey
We have just introduced our “online” tutoring program. It is one-on-one tutoring with a master’s degree tutor. You work at home on your schedule in one-hour sessions for $25 each. The tutor has access to your textbook, as well as homework assignments.
Your sessions are customized to address your needs in the present and in the future. Students in grades 3 through junior college are eligible for assistance. All math subjects, SAT/ACT test prep, chemistry, biology, physics, advanced placement and test prep are covered. Tutors hold master’s degrees in the subjects they teach.
Students have an initial meeting with a counselor to evaluate the need, and a tutor is selected. Customized assessments are available at the parent portal to enable parents to view their child’s progress.
Math Monkey hours are 1:30-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Math Monkey is at 28500 Miles Road, Unit D, Solon. 440-914-0060. www.mathmonkey.com.
Mathnasium
“Children don’t hate math, they hate being confused and intimidated by math,” says Dan McPadden, director Mathnasium in Willoughby. McPadden and his staff are dedicated to helping children gain confidence and learn the foundations to be successful in math.
At the learning center, students can go year-round and at their own pace to boost math skills. The teachers are highly specialized and only teach math to students in grades 1-12.
The key to understanding math is number sense, which does not develop by accident. It is the result of a process of encounter and interaction with a specific set of concepts and skills presented in a way that makes sense to the learner.
At Mathnasium, children learn math by receiving a personalized program that introduces the math concepts, not just formulas. Mathnasium creates individualized workbooks for students, has diagnostic testing and employs methods that will get the calculator out of the student’s hands. 440-942-6284. www.mathnasium.com.
Menlo Park Academy
Menlo Park Academy, in its second year of operation but new to West Park, educates 125 gifted K-6 students in a tuition-free environment. As a community school, MPA must meet the same educational standards as public schools, but is not bound by geography. Several cities provide busing for MPA students. For those who drive, affordable before and after care is available.
MPA offers small class sizes and a curriculum tailored to meet gifted students’ different learning needs. If not engaged, students learn early to conform to lower expectations. MPA believes the limited gifted services most district schools offer are not enough. In addition to regular music, art, Spanish, technology and gym classes, MPA offers electives in violin, Mandarin and creative writing. 440-925-6365. www.MenloParkAcademy.com.
Notre Dame Elementary School
In partnership with parents, the school community promotes high academic standards, fosters spiritual development, cultivates leadership and reaches out to others. Fully accredited by the state, Notre Dame Elementary School follows the academic curriculum standards set by the Diocese of Cleveland.
Art, music, Spanish, computer, gifted and enrichment classes enhance our core curriculum. A vibrant athletic program compliments creative classroom learning. Leadership skills are generated with participation in student council, newspaper and more. Spiritual development is fostered by daily religious instruction, prayer, sacramental preparation, liturgical celebrations and outreach.
School tours are available at 9:30 a.m. the first Monday of each month. Join us for our open house from noon-2 p.m. Jan. 31 and for our Learning Fair on April 21. Notre Dame Elementary School, 13000 Auburn Road, Chardon. 440-279-1129 or
440-286-7101, ext. 5920, for preschool. www.notredameelementary.org.
Ohio Distance & Electronic Learning Academy
The Ohio Distance and Electronic Learning Academy (OHDELA) is the premier online K-12 public charter school serving students across Ohio. At OHDELA, we inspire minds, engage students and families, and provide a learning experience for life.
We meet the needs of each student by providing a personalized lesson plan, including foreign language coursework for elementary and high school students, enhanced live sessions that personalize the learning experience, an advanced placement program, extra support for math and reading to ensure success, and guidance and career planning for grades 7-12.
“OHDELA continues to be a wonderful learning experience for my children. The teachers really care, and my kids are excited about school. I’m very satisfied and highly recommend OHDELA,” says Heather Feagain, OHDELA parent.
OHDELA will help your child
maximize their potential. 1-800-493-8680.
OHDELA.com.
Ohio Virtual Academy
Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA), the largest and highest performing eSchool in the state, provides an outstanding education to students in grades K-11. With inspired curriculum and learning program from K-12 Inc. — developed specifically for distance learning by some of the nation’s most respected education experts — as well as comprehensive materials and professional, certified teachers, OHVA gives parents the opportunity to become active participants in their children’s school experience.
According to performance report cards released by the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio Virtual Academy is again the state’s top-scoring eSchool. OHVA is the first and only public eSchool in Ohio to achieve the “Effective School” ranking. No other Ohio eSchool received a higher ranking.
For more information, call 866-339-9071 or visit www.ohva.org.
Old Trail School
Old Trail School is an independent, coeducational day school for toddler through grade eight. Situated on a 62-acre campus in the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Bath, Old Trail School provides a comprehensive curriculum with a commitment to academic excellence, service learning and global sustainability. The school offers a personal, nurturing and academically challenging environment to students and families that emphasizes excellence in academics, athletics and the arts.
Old Trail School offers an expansive athletic program, including an indoor pool and as well as a broad performing and visual arts program featuring five art studios. The school features small class sizes and an expansive after-school program, as well as a variety of public and private transportation options.
The school is accepting applications for the 2010-11 school year. 330-666-1118. www.oldtrail.org.
Peaceful Children Montessori School
Peaceful Children Montessori School offers a multi-age, Catholic Montessori program for ages 3-14 that is a unique alternative to traditional Catholic education. Following the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori, students at PCM thrive in a nurturing, academically challenging environment tailored to meet their developmental needs.
Highlights include a 10:1 student-teacher ratio, an individualized approach to ed ucation, a true community that is nurturing and supportive for children and their families, and many opportunities for service work. Music, art, physical education and foreign language are available for all students and Dalcroze for preschool through grade 3. Also provided are recreational programming with Lake Metroparks and Red Oak Camp, and an adolescent program that meets the needs of young people through strong academics, service opportunities and a micro-economy where students run a small business. 440-256-1976.
Play Academy
Play Academy is an exceptional child care and learning center that accepts children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. We offer a nurturing and caring environment with degreed teachers and a strong educational curriculum.
Little ones are encouraged to explore and discover while they are taking their first steps or writing their first letters. Respect of the individual needs of every child is important to us.
We provide a well-balanced breakfast, lunch and snack and daily physical activities at our indoor and outdoor play area. Curriculum includes music class, art, dance, soccer and piano lessons.
We are closed only seven days a year. Whenever school is out, our doors are open for school-age children for fun and educational activities. Our staff recognizes balanced growth; therefore, we provide opportunities for mental, physical and emotional development. Children learn best through play and positive experience.
We are located near I-271 at 201 Alpha Park Drive in Highland Heights. 440-460-0600. www.playacademy.us.
The Lillian and Betty Ratner School
The magic of Montessori is eagerly discovered by toddlers (18 months) through kindergarteners at The Lillian and Betty Ratner School. Day school students (grades 1-8) enjoy a rigorous, individualized, arts-infused curriculum, now available at our centrally located space in Pepper Pike.
Offering expanded resources for learning, The Ratner School is excited to welcome visitors to tour our facility. A wonderful, two-story arts studio, gym, science room and an instrumental music program are just a few examples of outstanding features.
Children explore their talents, abilities and interests within a supportive framework and sets students on a path for lifelong individual achievement. It is a richly diverse learning community where each child thrives.
Call to schedule a personal tour and visit our Web site.
27575 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike, 216-464-0033, www.theratnerschool.org.
Saint Anselm School
Engaged. Involved. Discovering, sharing, growing. Reaching out to others in faith and service. At Saint Anselm School, we believe that children thrive in an environment that is challenging, yet supportive; one that is enriched in faith, where knowledge and values form the child.
Saint Anselm School offers classes for preschool through eighth grade. We offer Smartboard technology in every classroom. Students take Spanish, computer, art, music, band, enrichment and remedial classes, along with our solid core subject areas.
Our children go to Mass together weekly, actively engage in service outreach and are connected with each other, as well as home-bound seniors, through our Prayer Partner program. Our preschool enjoys library, art, music and physical education classes, as well as developmentally appropriate exploration activities.
Here education is about the heart and soul, as well as the mind of the child. Tours available, and visits welcome. 440-729-7806. www.stanselmschool.org today.
Saint Gabriel School
Believe … lead … succeed. Empowered by an academically challenging, Christ-centered education, St. Gabriel students are uniquely positioned to lead and succeed in our rapidly changing society. We know that choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make for his or her future. That is why we consider it a privilege when parents place their children’s education in our hands.
St. Gabriel School in Concord Township offers a vibrant, Christ-centered, coeducational experience in kindergarten through eighth grade with an enrollment of 740 students. We also offer an on-site preschool experience.
We invite you to take a closer look at how St. Gabriel School can enrich your child’s future by attending one of our upcoming open houses. 440-352-6169.
www.St-GabrielSchool.org.
Saint Helen School
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for families to provide a Catholic education for their children. Some families are having such grave difficulties paying bills that the thought of providing Catholic education becomes impossible. The choice of Catholic school makes faith the center of education and includes mutual respect, discipline and academic excellence.
Tuition per child, K-8, is approximately $3,300, or $18 per day. At St. Helen School, we reach out to families in need, especially those who have recently become unemployed. Some Geauga residents have responded with great generosity. One senior citizen donated $25,000 to help four families. Any amount donated is appreciated. St. Helen Church provides tuition assistance for about 25 families. Catholic education is a gift of immeasurable value and lasts for a lifetime. 440-564-7125.
South Suburban Montessori School
South Suburban Montessori School is a flourishing, vibrant independent school educating children 18 months through 12 years of age. SSMS is a private, non-profit organization and has a supportive parent community.
Based on the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori, its hands-on program begins with a foundation of concrete experience and progresses to abstract thinking, enabling children to become independent thinkers and problem solvers. The Montessori approach to education is an “approach to learning,” emphasizing the potential of the child from birth to age 12 in multi-age environments.
Scientifically designed learning materials allow for a varied pace that accommodates many levels of ability by means of developmentally prepared environments under the guidance of professionally trained and certified Montessori teachers.
The school is located at 4450 Oakes Road, Bldg. 6, Brecksville. Call 440-526-1966, or go online at montessori.net” www.ssmsmontessori.net for more information.
Spring Garden Waldorf School
Spring Garden Waldorf School is Northeast Ohio’s premier Waldorf school. This independent, co-ed, elementary school is in the greater Akron area and offers a quality Waldorf education for children from preschool through eighth grade.
Waldorf education is the fastest growing, independent school movement in North America. The curriculum provides a comprehensive academic, artistic, cultural and practical education that encourages students to develop into creative, balanced, responsible and free-thinking individuals. Students who attend are filled with enthusiasm for learning because of the way material is presented experientially and at appropriate developmental stages.
“What every parent would wish as best for his or her children, Waldorf education provides. The fullest development of intelligent, self-confident and caring persons is the aim of Waldorf Education,” says Douglas Sloan, professor emeritus at Columbia University
Spring Garden Waldorf School is at 1791 Jacoby Road in Copley. 330-666-0574. www.sgws.org
University School
Founded in 1890, U niversity School is a boys’ school by design for grades K-12. US boys thrive in an environment that understands how they learn best. US faculty understand, appreciate and celebrate the uniqueness of boys.
Classes are small to ensure individual attention and active participation. University School’s motto, “Responsibility, Loyalty, Consideration,” provides a clear guide for the basic character US seeks to instill in each boy.
Grades K-8 are located at 20701 Brantley Road, Shaker Heights. Grades 9-12 are located at 2785 SOM Center Road, Hunting Valley. Call 216-321-8260 or go online at www.us.edu for more information and for open house dates and times.
Villa Angela- St. Joseph High School
Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School is a comprehensive, co-educational, Catholic high school that carries on the missions and values of the Marianist and Ursuline religious orders that emphasize academic excellence, service, spirituality and inclusiveness to prepare students for 21st century adulthood.
VASJ is a school that embodies today’s Catholic church: rich in racial, cultural, economic and other diversity. Our multiple curriculum tracks meet each student where they are to provide the technological literacy, problem-solving skills, project-based learning and other key features of 21st century learning. VASJ offers superior academics, athletics and extracurriculars, as well as a pre-engineering program in partnership with the University of Dayton. 216-481-8414. www.vasj.com.us.