Tecumseh TidbitsSeptember 2020

High School Yearbook Class Practicing Photography Skills

Tecumseh math teacher Guil Herrick passed away September 2, 2020. Mr. Herrick joined the district in 2017 and was well known due to his friendly and outgoing personality. Before becoming a teacher he worked as a TV broadcaster. Mr. Herrick shared these talents as he

created many instructional videos to help staff and students learn different computer programs and education platforms.

Mr. Herrick had a tremendous impact on the staff and students of Tecumseh High School.and he is greatly missed.

To submit content or event information for Tecumseh Tidbits, please email lisa.moon@tecumsehlocal.org

THS Math Teacher Guil Herrick Remembered By THS

Normally, this time of year the high school yearbook staff would be all over the school taking pictures for the 2020-21 yearbook. Since they can’t be in the building right now, the students have been perfecting their skills and practicing different techniques from home. Here are some of the pictures they have been taking.

Pictured above is one of the instructional videos Mr. Herrick created to help staff members record lessons using Screencastify.

Tecumseh TidbitsChoir Teacher Mrs. Lombard Adapts to Digital Learning

All classes have had to make some changes and adjustments as the district has moved to a digital learning format for first quarter and the middle school and high school choir classes are no exception. Mrs. Lombard has made some changes to the daily format, while still preparing students for future performances once those are allowed to resume. The choir classes are working on their singing three days a week by rehearsing using a silent rehearsal during their Google classroom meeting times. Students can’t all sing together due to lag time over the various computer connections. They cannot be synchronized; however, students can practice individually on their own. Each class is learning three songs a quarter and once the groups are able to all come together, they will be ready to fine tune those for a performance. There are tentative dates set for concerts this year. When students aren’t individually rehearsing songs during their class time, they spend two days a week working with Noteflight, a music notation and collaboration program that links directly to Google Classroom. Every year the seniors in choir design a t-shirt for choir students to wear for the Festival of Flight performance. The festival has been cancelled for this fall but seniors have worked together coming up with a shirt they feel represents this school year. (design pictured below)

Melinda Lombard spends time with her classes using Google Meets.

(left and below)Choir students are using Noteflight, a music notation and collaborative program.

More pictures taken by high school yearbook staff

members.

It’s Official- Tecumseh Has a Girls’ Golf Team

After three years of being a club sport, Tecumseh now has a girls’ golf team. Under the direction of head coach Hank Oakes and assistant coaches Jack Mecham and Josh Mooney, the team members have learned a lot and improved their skills as the season has gone on. Golf team members include Lyndsey Back, Elyse Frazier, Evelyn Barber, Mackenzi VanBeber, Emily Parks, Breanna Fair (not pictured) and RoseMarie Rogers. Pictures below and on next page are from a recent match against Northwestern, Shawnee and Jonathan Alder at Reid Golf Course in Springfield.

Tecumseh Tidbits

Tecumseh Tidbits

Tecumseh TidbitsCurbside Check Out Available at All TLS Libraries

Even though students are learning from home right now, the resources and materials in their school libraries are still available for them to use. Each library in the district is offering curbside pickup and this is available through the home page of each school building, under the library tab on the left. At Park Layne Elementary Mrs. Ray is choosing a book for each student in the school and sending that book home when their classroom materials are picked up every two weeks. She’s basing the selections on students’ check out history (for 1st graders) and on student interests for kindergarteners. At all other school buildings students can request a book and pick that book up the next day. Mrs. Eber (at Donnelsville), Mrs. Eldridge (at New Carlisle Elementary), Mrs. Minna (middle school) and Mrs. Brown (high school) are all available for any questions you might have. Returning books is easy with drop off boxes located outside the elementary buildings and the main offices open for drop off at the middle school and high school.

Checking out a book is easy! On the home page of each school, scroll down to Library (located on the left side). This will bring up the library page for that school where you can find the book you want and place it on hold to be picked up. When it’s ready, you will receive an email- this usually happens within 24 hours!

You’ll find this on each library’s home page and it will connect you with all the information you need to check out a book and use other resources..

NCE Students & Parents Pick Up Materials and Enjoy a TreatStudents and their parents got to enjoy an icy treat when they came to New Carlisle Elementary to pick up materials last Thursday. As they pulled up in front of the building, they were greeted by staff members and the Kona Ice truck.

Tecumseh Tidbits

Second grade teacher Teresa Gray feels that her teaching fundamentally hasn’t changed first quarter, even though the way she is reaching out to students has. Most important to her is developing a relationship with each student and forming a sense of community within the classroom. That’s the heart of teaching, and that hasn’t changed. Mrs. Gray feels it’s also extremely important to create a relationship with parents and caregivers so they feel comfortable reaching out to her. She also wants to give a huge shout-out to parents and the community for helping their children learn and thrive in this digital environment this year. Mrs. Gray uses a variety of techniques to help her students learn. She records every lesson and posts them for students and parents to view again if they want. She also uses differentiation and customizes every assignment to each child, giving each one content and exercises that will benefit him or her the most. She incorporates resources like Nearpod, where students can interact and have fun competing as they review things they have learned. To encourage students reading Mrs. Gray is constantly looking for digital copies of books that match students’ interests and reading levels to share with them. Even though Mrs. Gray finds her students are thriving and learning in this digital environment, she’s looking forward to the day when they are all back in her classroom.

One routine Mrs. Kottmyer has established with her class is a daily hello and goodbye ritual.  It helps kids get focused and ready and provides a little sense of community and belonging as a class. (pictured right) Jamboard (below) is another fun activity that she uses regularly to get students interacting with their classmates and with her. Adding a sticky note to a class virtual bulletin  board allows students to have a voice and also share ideas with their friends.  She summed things up by saying, “Connecting to my students  is the key and it is my goal to provide students with the love and support they deserve no matter whether I am teaching in front of them or on the computer.”

Mrs. Gray poses by her weather station, which students look forward to using once they are back in the classroom. The weather station was purchased with a grant gives students the chance to use several pieces of scientific equipment as they follow the weather. Students use a thermometer (to measure indoor and outdoor temperature), a barometer (to measure pressure), an anemometer (to measure wind speed), a wind-sock  (for direction), a rain gauge (for precipitation), and a hygrometer (to measure humidity).  They also use 2 special thermometers (regular and vermitex) to measure the soil temperature and quality in their worm farm.

Teachers Adapt To Online Learning & Looking Forward To Students’ Return

Mrs. Heidi Kottmyer, second grade teacher at Donnelsville, works hard everyday during live meetings to build routines and make connections with students despite this very different school year. She knows how important routines and discussions are in the regular classroom and feels they are even more important now.