Volume 2, Issue 5 | February 6, 2024

If you have suggestions for the next issue of Hub Happenings, email Mary-Beth Matthews at mmathew1@tps.org. If you see three dots, make sure you click on them to see the expanded copy.

HUB HAPPENINGS

Collaborative leadership is a core pillar of the Schools as Community Hubs work. It exists at each Hub, and across the entire strategy to guide the work and ensure excellence in implementation. We are thrilled to recognize our Hubs Strategy Council (some members are pictured below), composed of leaders from the full continuum of education, as well as other sectors including healthcare, housing, local government, business, and community based non-profits. These leaders contribute their expertise, leverage resources, and champion the work. We are thankful for their leadership! For more on the Hubs Strategy Council, or the Hubs work in general, email Gayle Lake or read here: Hubs Strategy Council Structure

NEWS FROM THE JONES LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

OF BUSINESS HUB

Heidy Eckel, Hub Director

The Art Tatum Zone, Lead Partner

"We kicked off the year together with a Family Night! We invited families to an event where they ate, had fun-filled activities, and enjoyed live music," shares JLAB Hub Director Heidy Eckel. "Our Hub wants to work on increasing parental engagement and one way to do it was through this event, where families got to spend time with other parents, students, and staff at JLAB. We also had our Open House that night so new families could get a taste of what JLAB is all about. More than 120 people showed up and enjoyed the night!"

NEWS FROM THE PICKETT ACADEMY HUB

Aloee Jackson, Hub Director

The Art Tatum Zone, Lead Partner

In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day last month, dream kits were assembled for students in grades third through fifth at Pickett Academy, thanks to the generosity of SSOE. "Each student will receive a blanket, a plush toy, a book, and a note to encourage them to keep reaching for their dreams," writes Hub Director Aloee Jackson. She says SSOE also donated 70 hygiene kits with soap, vasile, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash. "Thank you Candice Harrison and SSOE for working with the Art Tatum Zone and Pickett Community Hub."

NEWS FROM THE REYNOLDS ELEMENTARY HUB

Zahra Collins, Hub Director

Pathway 4 Successful Leadership, Lead Partner

Students and families, along with staff members, had a lot of fun during the month of January at Reynolds Elementary. Take a look:

NEWS FROM THE RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY HUB

Jazzma Chandler, Hub Director

The YMCA of Greater Toledo, Lead Partner

Riverside Elementary Hub Director Jazzma Chandler this month is shining a light on her Hub's special partnership with Perrysburg First Church, the first partnership she formed when she became Hub director. "Over the past two years, Jodi and everyone at the church have just been a call or email away. They show up to all Hub events, whether they are the partner making it happen or just coming to support and be helping hands in any way they can," Ms. Chandler writes. "Last year, they hosted an Easter Egg Hunt at Riverside and it was a huge success. This year, outside of their consistent help, they have hosted our Cookies and Cocoa event for Christmas, donated bookbags for our Back-to-School Bash, and they even adopted five of our families for the holiday season." She adds: "Perrysburg First Church is the reason we were able to start the Community Closet and they do a great job consistently bringing items in to add to the closet. We will forever be thankful for this partnership!"

NEWS FROM THE ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL HUB

Mark Ferrell, Hub Director

Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio (JA),

Lead Partner

“Junior Achievement is beyond excited to have welcomed the new Hub Director, Mark Ferrell, at Rogers High School," writes Kristian Vander Putten, operations manager for Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio (JA). "Mark has already proven himself as an asset in the halls at Rogers, with the students, staff, and community. Mark, and the staff at Junior Achievement, have been engaging weekly with a select group of students teaching JA Personal Success – a six-week session that illuminates the skills required to be successful in the business of life. Sessions are led by local business professionals and JA, covering topics such as interview skills, conflict resolution, collaboration, and innovation. The students at Rogers have been extremely engaged during the sessions and look forward to returning the following week.“

NEWS FROM THE SCOTT HIGH SCHOOL HUB

Joe Peterson, Hub Director

New Concepts, Lead Partner

VIB (Very Important Bulldogs) 

Scott High Hub Director Joe Peterson proudly writes: "It brings us great joy to share some fantastic news and celebrate the accomplishments of our exceptional seniors. We are pleased to announce that a remarkable group of students has achieved a 100 percent Green status, signifying that they have successfully met all competency and readiness requirements for graduation."

A special lunch was catered for the Very Important Bulldogs (VIB) to honor and recognize these outstanding students. The celebration took place in the cafeteria during each lunch period.

"This special recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and perseverance demonstrated by these students throughout their high school journey," Mr. Peterson shares. "We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our incredible school counselors and assistant principal for their efforts in creating and executing the Very Important Bulldogs (VIB) program."

Glass Blowing with TMA

Representatives from Scott High School's Career Tech and Art departments, as well as from the Hub and the Toledo Museum of Art, recently collaborated to introduce the captivating art of glass-blowing to the school's students and staff members.

"This collaborative effort has brought the mesmerizing glass-blowing studio back to our campus," Mr. Peterson writes. "A special shoutout to Kacey McCreery from the Toledo Museum of Art, who facilitated the session using the portable furnace named the Baby Dragon."

Mr. Peterson adds that the students and staff had the incredible opportunity to create unique pieces, choosing from paperweights, glass flowers, or birds. "This hands-on experience not only adds a creative flair to our curriculum but also allows students to explore the intricate world of glass art," he writes. "The partnership with the Toledo art museum enhances the educational experience, exposing students to professional guidance and fostering a deeper appreciation for artistic expression."

We are exploring the launch of a Hub at our Escuela SMART Academy! Our focus over the next several months will be to connect with our community served through Escuela and learn about the strengths and challenges they face. We need an exceptional (and bilingual!) Community Engagement Specialist to lead the work. If you know someone who might be interested, please share this link.

DID YOU KNOW...

...There are Four Pillars of our community Hubs work: collaborative leadership, active family and community engagement, integrated student supports, and innovative learning opportunities? We talk about them a lot and aim to ensure each of these pillars is evident in each Hub. Can you spot examples in the work shared from January?

UPCOMING EVENTS

Our final Town Halls have been scheduled for spring. Please join us for one or all! See registration information on the flyer to the right or visit our Hubs website for information on each Town Hall.

• Riverside Town Hall (500 Chicago), Wednesday, February 28, at 3:30 p.m.
• Scott Town Hall (2400 Collingwood), Wednesday, March 20 at 5 p.m.
• Rogers Town Hall (222 McTigue), Wednesday, April 17, 6 p.m.
• Reynolds Town Hall (5000 Norwich), Wednesday, May 1, 3:30 p.m.

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS

Riverside Elementary School

Black Excellence Event (Spotlighting Local African American Leaders Who are Excelling in Their Careers)

• When: Wednesday, February 21
• Where: Riverside
• Who: Middle school students at Riverside

Hygiene Classes

• When: Thursday, February 15
• Where: Riverside
• Who: Riverside students (Taught by Scott High School Med Tech students)

Scott High School (2400 Collingwood Blvd)

Sip, Set, & Achieve

• When: Wednesday, February 21, 3 to 5 p.m.
• Where: Cafeteria of Scott
• Who: Scott students and local community members

Toledo Grows Seed Swap

• When: Saturday, February 24, Noon to 3 p.m.
• Where: Scott Field House
• Who: Scott students and local community members

Through the Halls of Scott High School (Black History Presentation)

• When: Wednesday, February 28, 6 p.m.
• Where: The Louise Brower Performing Arts Theater at Scott
• Who: All community members

Schools as Community Hubs launched in Toledo in 2012 as a way of organizing resources to meet the needs of students, families, and residents in the neighborhoods surrounding our schools. Currently, TPS has six full-service community schools that promote academic success, foster health and well-being, and facilitate family and community engagement - and we're exploring two more. To learn more, visit our website to explore our FAQs and other helpful resources. Schools as Community Hubs is funded in part by Toledo Public Schools, and its lead partners: New Concepts, Pathway 4 Successful Leadership, The Art Tatum Zone, and YMCA/JCC of Greater Toledo.

For more information on Schools as Community Hubs, contact Gayle Lake at glake@tps.org.