In 2018, the Ohio Department of Education began a new system for our state called the Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS). Although this is now almost 3 years old, many people are still unaware of what it is.  This article is written with the intent of educating our district families about the background of PBIS, the implementation of the system at Greenville and how it is continuing to be used within our district.

According to the State of Ohio Department of Education (ODE), their purpose for trying to institute a PBIS system was to create a “schoolwide systematic approach to embed evidence-based practices and data-driven decision- making to improve school climate and culture to achieve improved academic and social outcomes and increase learning for all students”. This was adopted in November of 2018, by then Gov. Kasich, in House Bill 318. In this bill, schools were required to provide professional developments and/or state trainings to help train teachers. PBIS was required to be implemented by every school in the 2019-2020 school year.

Parents are encouraged to report any positive test, or case of COVID-19, to their school by calling in to the building principal or reporting to the building when they call in their child’s absence.

Known positive COVID-19 tests will be communicated by building, on the district website, if that information is confirmed.  It will be reported by building case number only.  No identifiable information will be shared or discussed.

The Greenville City School District has twenty-one additional positive COVID-19 cases.  We also have forty-six recovered cases at this point.  This still leaves the district with twenty-five isolated active cases.

The local health department is aware of the additional cases and will do appropriate follow up and contact tracing.

In order to keep our students and staff healthy, we ask you to keep a safe social distance, wash your hands often, and wear masks to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Thanks for your ongoing cooperation with our guidelines to deal with the COVID-19 virus.

Go Wave!

While you may not be familiar with psilocybin, chances are you have heard of psychedelic mushrooms, or shrooms. Psilocybin is the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms. Though many of us associate psychedelics with the 60’s, there has been a resurgence of interest in their use. In November, Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin, and it has America talking. The question is, are you talking to your teens about this substance? If not, let us help you get the conversation started.

Here’s Some Info to Know! on Psilocybin
Psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs were broadly banned under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act.
It is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning, it has no legally accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse.
In May 2019, Denver, Colorado became the first city to decriminalize psilocybin, with Ann Arbor, Michigan; Oakland and Santa Cruz, California joining shortly after.
Washington D.C. passed a ballot initiative to decriminalize this substance earlier this month.  

According to the Ohio Department of Education, remote learning occurs when the learner and educator, or source of information, are separated by time and/or distance, and therefore, cannot meet in a traditional classroom setting.  School Districts faced a situation last spring that had never been experienced as schools were ordered to close across the state, suddenly in March, due to the pandemic.  Districts moved from traditional to remote learning.  Greenville City Schools had initiated tools for remote learning that helped make this transition.

This sudden change caused Greenville City Schools to use a digital mode to provide remote learning.  Digital mode is defined as remote learning, delivered via computer or internet-based means.  As a district, the Greenville City Schools Board of Education had already approved one to one learning using iPads, so we were able to make the change with regular interaction between students and teachers via iPads and the internet.  The District also had purchased Kajeets, mobile hot spots and provided those for students without internet access. During spring and summer months, parents and staff voiced that they greatly appreciated the smooth transition and communication and also their desire for a unified platform to deliver instruction, track and report educational courses.  A group of educators studied the available platforms, Learning Management Systems, and recommended that the Board of Education purchase Canvas.  Canvas was every teacher’s first choice and came with strong recommendations from Hilliard and Delaware City Schools, as well as The Ohio State University, Miami University, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Cincinnati.  Canvas was determined to be a useful tool either to continue remote learning or for traditional learning in the classroom.

November is here to kick off the holiday season. Just like most things in 2020, Thanksgiving is bound to look different this year due to COVID-19. At a time when we might normally be gearing up to travel to grandma’s house or preparing to host extended family members for dinner, this time around we may be forced to break yet another tradition. But instead of dwelling on the negative, it is more important than ever that we count our blessings and focus on gratitude—for the health of it.

Experts say there is actual science behind being grateful, and that it is central to our physical and mental health. “Grateful people are healthier, happier, and more satisfied with their lives,” says Dr. Christine Carter, a Berkeley researcher whose work is focused on the science of happiness. “They are more resilient and have a higher sense of self-worth. Grateful teens are less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs and less likely to have behavior problems at school. The list goes on and on.”

What makes a leader?  Leadership is a developed skill.  At Greenville Middle School, opportunities for students to develop leadership are fostered.  Research supports the need for youth not only to learn leadership skills, but to have authentic opportunities to apply those skills.  Youth who are leaders are healthier in their relationships, learn responsibility, learn teamwork, and are more productive members of society.  https://www.pcycnsw.org.au/why-youth-leadership-is-so-important/

Monday November 1, 2020- Greenville Ohio-  Did you know, innovations enabled by Manufacturing in the USA results in products that assist workers, make buildings safer, consume less energy, and save lives? According to the National Association of Manufacturers, “Manufacturers in Ohio account for 16.60% of the total output in the state, employing 12.56% of the workforce.”  At Greenville High School Career Technical Education Center (G-CTEC) we offer programs that equip students with the technical and transferable life skills they need to launch rewarding careers. October is Manufacturing Month and we celebrated this industry and it’s positive impact on Darke County.  This Manufacturing Day, we connected students and employers to help raise awareness of the awesome training programs and careers available in the high-tech world of advanced manufacturing.

Greenville Middle School’s remote learning option welcomed approximately one hundred and fifty students to back to school this year!  The online program provides learners with the opportunity to work through all areas of the curriculum with certified Greenville teachers. Access to assignments, resources, and instruction is provided through Canvas, and students receive additional support and extended practice through Microsoft Teams, Zoom, ConnectEd and a variety of other technology applications.

The Covid-19 era has introduced a new set of educational challenges, but the remote teachers at Greenville Middle School are proud of how students have taken the initiative to meet those challenges head on. Students are gaining confidence and competence in using 21st century technology, and they are demonstrating an increased ability to problem solve and think outside of the box when approaching learning tasks. Participating in online platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams allows students to improve their communication and presentation skills as well.

When it comes to talking to our children about the dangers of drugs, we tend to focus the conversation on illegal or “street” drugs. While those drugs are extremely dangerous and absolutely should be part of the conversation, we cannot forget to include the high risks involved with the misuse or abuse of prescription drugs. In fact, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the U.S. and is profoundly impacting the lives of teens.

Parents can make a huge difference. In addition to following the three simple steps shared in the previous Know! Tip, KNOW!, SECURE, DISPOSE To Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse, parents are encouraged to talk, and then talk some more with their children on this subject. Experts say children whose parents talk early and often about the dangers of drugs are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs in the first place. Unfortunately, only 22 percent of teens report having specific conversations on the topic of prescription drug abuse with their parents. With that in mind, many parents can take a simple, but monumental step toward prevention by starting these important conversations.

October 19, 2020, Greenville, Ohio- Greenville High School is proud to announce the newest addition to the opportunities offered to students.  Greenville High School is offering Project LIFE.  Project LIFE is a comprehensive, multi-year transition-to-adulthood program in which individuals (ages 16+) with disabilities can develop practice and strengthen skills that are high predictors for increased adult independence and successful, integrated community employment.  Project LIFE is a combined education and work experience program that give high school students and young adult “interns” with developmental disabilities the opportunity to learn and build skills leading to future employment and a more independent adulthood.

October 24th is National Prescription Drug Takeback Day; a day to rid our medicine cabinets of unused, unwanted, and expired over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

Here’s why:
The most common way young people get their hands on prescription medications for misuse is to simply reach into their home or a grandparent’s medicine cabinet.  
Prescription medicines are one of the top drugs of choice among high school students, following alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco.
Youth who misuse prescription drugs are also more likely to smoke cigarettes, engage in heavy drinking, and use illicit drugs, including marijuana and cocaine.

Prescription drugs are meant to help us, but they can harm our children, ourselves, and others when abused or misused.

Again, this year Greenville High School will open its doors to community members seeking a warm, safe place to walk on winter evenings.

The public is invited to walk at the high school from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays beginning Monday, Nov. 30, and continuing through March 25, 2021. There will be no walking during Christmas break. Also, if school is closed during a day or there are parent/teacher conferences, then it will be closed to walking that evening. A complete calendar of available walking dates will be available to walkers at the sign-in desk.

Greenville High School opened its doors to walkers many years ago. The Greenville Board of Education has continued to support this activity in the high school.

The desire to connect with others is universal, which is why social media has exploded over the years among people of all ages. When it comes to teens, just about everyone has at least one social media account to be able to connect with their “friends” at any given moment. A child’s virtual and in-person connections are important and highly influential in their lives, however, it cannot compare to the importance and influence of the parent-child connection—for better or worse. It’s the relationship between the parent or other caregiver and the child that serves as the backdrop of present and future interactions with others and highly impacts how young people make decisions. The parent-child relationship must be fostered and strengthened for healthy adolescent development.

Children whose relationships with their parents can be characterized as consistent, warm, kind, loving, and stable, are much more likely to: initiate positive social interactions with others, respond to situations with empathy, be cooperative with others, exhibit a higher self-esteem and make healthy life choices, including the decision not to use alcohol and other drugs.

Please click on the following links for online learning training.

Greenville City Schools has an updated Reset and Restart plan to begin school this fall.  Our school plan along with the county plan is posted on this website.  Our plan is to educate as many students as possible in school, following safety protocols.  We will also offer a remote option for students that are health compromised or concerned about returning.  We need for everyone with a student to read the plan and then complete the survey by July 24th.  It is a brief, two minute survey and will help us plan for transportation, in school and remote learning in the fall.  Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and support.  Go Wave!

The Greenville remote education option would be provided and overseen by Greenville teachers.  Students in the remote option would remain Greenville students.

There’s a dangerous new TikTok game that educators and parents should know about—the Benadryl Challenge. The idea is to take as many Benadryl tablets as necessary to hallucinate or “trip out,” while of course capturing it all on one’s cellphone to then share with others. A 15-year-old Oklahoma girl died last month attempting this challenge, and three more Texas teens ended up in the hospital.

The pandemic wreaked havoc on many families’ summer plans, and now as school starts back in session, it appears the turbulence will continue. Some schools plan to take place in-person, some plan to go virtual, some are planning for a blended version. Regardless of how it starts off, most schools have been clear that all plans are subject to change depending on COVID-19 numbers—which gives way to more uncertainty.

Uncertainty means different things for different people, as we are each faced with unique family dynamics and circumstances. However, we are all in the same boat when it comes to the concern for how these changes will impact our children’s academic success, mental health, physical well-being, and futures.

PREF ACE: All Ohio schools closed for the remainder of the school calendar beginning on March 17, 2020, by order of the Governor and the Director of the Ohio Department of Health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 2, 2020 guidelines were released. School district superintendents from each public school district in Darke County, along with the Darke County Educational Service Center, and Darke County Health Department met on July 6, 2020 to identify common practices for school re-opening in Darke County.

These general principles will guide each school district as they move forward with reopening schools throughout Darke County: