Community Connect
As part of the senior honors English curriculum at Streetsboro High School, this all-hands-on-deck service-learning project inspires students to develop and implement solutions to real-world problems affecting their community. This year, students created a babysitting service and partnered with local restaurants to offer discounts to working parents for a night out. “It’s putting these big projects in their hands and letting them know they can make a difference,” says program creator Katylyn Kuchta. 8585 State Route 14, Streetsboro, 330-626-4902, scsrockets.org
NASA Hunch
An out-of-this-world elective offered at North Ridgeville High School partners the NASA Glenn Research Center with students who learn how to design and create space-specific products, such as transportation cargo bags used in orbital flights. “Partnering with NASA for a course like this is a unique way to expose students to something new,” says principal Tom Szendrey. “It’s a practical application for the things they already learn in school.” 34600 Bainbridge Road, North Ridgeville, 440-327-1992, nrcs.net
Tiger Shuffle
Focus is half the battle. At T.C. Gurney Elementary School in Chagrin Falls, teachers have created an off-the-wall obstacle course that runs throughout the halls with a vinyl hopscotch path, balance beam and a crab walk to help motivate high-energy students and increase motor skills. “It’s a matter of being a little creative and doing attentive research to benefit the students,” says Dayna Vilk, intervention specialist. 400 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls, 440-247-5500, chagrinschools.org
