Recycling

As many of you may find out this week, we are making changes to the recycling program at Vantage. The recycling program has been operated by the Building & Grounds program for the last few years and they have done a fantastic job during this time. I want to thank them for all the time they put into this program and for being such a great example for our school. It is overwhelming to think about all the paper and aluminum that they have collected over the years. Besides the great example they provided to us about conservation and improving the environment, they also showed us what it is to be humble and not feel that a task is below any of us doing. Actually the Merriam-Webster definition of humble is: given or said in a way that shows you do not think you are better than other people. I believe the Building & Grounds students showed us exactly how to be humble and serve others. I just heard recently that we don't serve because we aren't confident in who we are. We are worried about what others will think, or what they will say. The Building & Grounds students performed a service that was needed and one that kept our building looking beautiful.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) states on its website "that a paper mill uses 40% less energy to make paper from recycled paper than it does to make paper from fresh lumber". Recycling aluminum uses only 5% of the energy required by virgin production (The Economist June 7, 2007). Actually recycling has been around for a long, long time but got really popular during war times. With the significant material shortages due to war efforts, it made it necessary for people to reuse goods and recycle materials. The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), reported in May 2015, that recycling and waste made a $6.7 billion economic impact in the state of Ohio and employed 14,000 people.

This year we will have the opportunity to serve just like the Building & Grounds students did. Mr. Unverferth has notified all instructors and staff that there will be a sign up sheet for people to sign up to help with recycling. This will be a great opportunity for all service clubs, labs or even classrooms to sign up and do your part to help improve the environment and our school. If this is something that you are interested in, please ask your lab instructor or classroom teacher. If we have enough people sign up, you may only have to do it once a year. Please encourage your friends to sign up also and everyone do their part to make this school an awesome place to be and learn. I am looking forward to seeing all the different students who put service above themselves and are confident enough in themselves to pitch in and help. I can't wait to sign up and hope you will to.

What Is Your Hope?

On the first day of school for both the Juniors and Seniors, they were greeted by a big sign that stated "What is your hope?". The students were then asked to write on a large banner what their hope was for this year. The idea came from Mrs. Falk who first saw this done on YouTube. It was being put on by Parkway School District in St. Louis Missouri. I'm not sure what the initial reaction was of the students as they walked into school and already had an assignment to complete, but I can tell you the outcome was awesome.

After the second day when the seniors had a chance to sign it, the banners were put on display in our commons area. They are hanging on the wall for all to see. I would hope all of the students and staff would take some time and read them. I found the responses to be really interesting and really allowed us a little peak into the window of our students life. Many of them hoped to meet new friends, to not be lonely, to obtain a certain GPA or have excellent attendance. The more I read the banners, the more my eyes are opened to the thoughts of the students as they come to Vantage.

I want each and every student to at least think about what is your hope for the year, even if you didn't sign the banner. When you set goals and have hope for the future, you begin to walk the path of a very successful life. I remember a quote from one of my all time favorite movies, The Shawshank Redemption, Andy stated "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies".

I was talking about the banners with Mrs. Wilhelm and I asked her what her hope was. What she told me had such an impact on me that I want to share it with all of you. She said, "I only hope that all the students truly realize how much we care for them". WOW! What a great statement and one that I do hope our students realize. When we tell you to push your chairs in or remove your hats or pick up your trash, we are only doing it because we want to teach you to be the best person you possibly can. We want you to be ready to go out into the real world and be a positive influence to others and also be successful in your career. We have a wonderful, caring staff here at Vantage and each and everyone of us cares about all our students. It makes us so proud when we hear stories of our graduates successes. We love to have our grads come back and visit and tell us what they are doing. We truly take a lot of pride in our school and every student.

I'm sure you are wondering what my hope for this year is. I had to think about if for awhile because there are so many things to hope for. I finally came down to this statement; I hope that I can be there for all of our students and that the students will come to me when they are hurting or need to talk. I never like to hear that a student struggled with a problem alone or tried to deal with a bad situation on their own. Please know that I am here for you and together we can work through the issues you are dealing with. I hope that you will trust me and trust our confidentiality. Let's all keep hoping because hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.

Welcome Students

Well I have been back from summer vacation for almost two weeks now and I guess it is time to start another year of blogging. I hope you continue to follow the blog and I will try my best to make it interesting and informative. I thank you for reading and following along.

New students will start back on Monday, August 22nd and then on Tuesday, we will have everyone back to school. I hope the new students are looking forward to a wonderful year here at Vantage and all the opportunities that are available to you. I realize many of you will be nervous, excited or even a little scared about coming to Vantage. I understand all that because I realize you are making a big move. You are leaving many of your friends and starting over at a brand new school with all new people. Trust me when I say that you just need to give it a couple of weeks and you will be fine. In no time at all you will feel very comfortable around here. You will know your way around the building and you will be meeting new friends, some who just might become friends for a lifetime. Everyone here at Vantage is so glad you chose to come here for your final years of high school. We will do our best to provide you with all the opportunities to be successful not only in college, if you choose to go, but also in your future career. I promise that you will be more prepared for your career of choice simply because you came to Vantage. I think that before long you will agree with me when I say that we have some of the best teachers and staff in the area. Please set some high goals for yourself this year and work hard to achieve those goals.

I also welcome back the seniors this year. I wish you all the best in your final year of high school. When you come back this year, you will notice some new faces around the building. As many of you know, we have a new Director of the high school. Mr. Tony Unverferth (Mr. U) has replaced Mr. Winans as the Director. We wish Mr. Winans all the best as the new Superintendent at Wayne Trace High School and thank him for a great job here at Vantage. Replacing Mr. U in the social studies classroom will be Mr. Ray Gibson. Mr. Gibson will be teaching Military History and the Government & Economics class. Mrs. VanTilburg has decided to take some time off from teaching and spend it with her new baby. We will miss her a lot but look forward to working with her replacement Ms. Diane Font. Ms. Font will now be teaching Medical Office Management. Mrs. Alaina Ellis is the new front office secretary. She is replacing Mrs. Diane Mercer who is now retired and spending some quality time with her family and her quilting. We will also miss her tremendously but know that Mrs. Ellis will greet all our guests and students with that same warmth and friendly smile. One final change for this year is our wonderful Student Services secretary. No we did not lose Mrs. Hatcher, however, she is now married and is Mrs. Yearling. Congratulations and many wonderful years Mrs. Yearling.

Finally, I hope all of you come back with at least one big goal for this year. If I can recommend one goal for you, it would be to shoot for a great attendance year. I can't stress enough how much attendance and grades are related. Would you believe our top 11 students averaged 4.0 school days missed. Our bottom ten students missed an average of 23 days. If you come to school every day, you will be successful. Well welcome back and let's have a great school year.