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SPECIAL MEETING, SPECIAL MEMORIES â Twenty years after her birth, âMiracle Babyâ Abbigael âAbbyâ Balzano, seated center, looks at a scrapbook of photos taken after her birth in 2000. With her are her mother, Rachel Balzano, seated left. During a routine prenatal doctorâs visit, Rachelâs water broke and a prolapsed umbilical cord emergency situation put a team of health care professionals at then Trinity East into action to have Abby delivered through a Cesarean section. Retired registered OB nurse Pam Welsh, seated right, was one of those team members who had always wondered what happened to Abby, a question answered when longtime friend and fellow nurse Becky Salvino, standing, connected with Abby, a nursing student at the Franciscan University of Steubenville where Salvino is one of her instructors. The four gathered at Franciscan in March for a first-time meeting where they refrained from mask-wearing for the photo.
Staff writer
TOP FINISHERS â Isabella Fletcher, seated at center in the left lower box, a seventh grader at Harding Middle School, emerged the winner of the 2021 Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee, in which 46 pupils from through the two counties participated virtually to practice social distancing. Appearing with her on a large screen at the Jefferson County Educational Service Centerâs R. Larry George Training Annex at the eventâs closing were other top finishers: Mary Jones, an eighth grader with the Heart of Mary Homeschool Association, second; Luke Kanzelberger, an eighth grader at Bishop John King Mussio Junior High School, third; Angelo Martello, a sixth grader at Harding Middle School, fourth; Abigail Dennis, a seventh-grader at Indian Creek Middle School, fifth; Ava Mizak, a fifth-grader at Bishop John King Mussio, sixth; Adrianna Swartz, an eighth grader at Toronto Junior High School, seventh; Kylie Moffat, a seventh-grader at Bishop John King M
From staff reports
HONORED â Scott Eldredge, a consultant for the Ohio State Support Team Region 12, presented Indian Creek Middle School Principal Holly Minch-Hick with an award for efforts to implement Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports strategies.
(Contributed photo)
MINGO JUNCTION The Indian Creek Local Board of Education got organized for 2021 and celebrated successes during its first meeting of the year.
Officials gathered at Indian Creek Middle School on Thursday where Dan Bove and Kim Mark were elected and sworn in as president and vice president, respectively, during a special organization meeting. The regular session followed and leaders took time to recognize school and board members who made achievements over the past year.
From staff reports
ON TOUR â Members of the Indian Creek Board of Education took a tour of construction at Hills Elementary School in Mingo Junction. Contributed
MINGO JUNCTION Indian Creek school board members got a glimpse of ongoing updates to Hills Elementary School following the regular meeting on Thursday.
Assistant Superintendent John Belt guided the tour and noted progress was being made in the $10 million renovation project included in the district’s main construction plan. In addition to Hills’ upgrades, two new buildings are going up to replace Indian Creek High School and Wintersville Elementary as part of the overall $63 million project, and the sites should be ready for the 2021-22 school year with the older school buildings to be demolished that spring.
From staff reports
MAKING MUSIC â Eighth-graders in Michael Minorâs STEM class at Indian Creek Middle School fashioned thongophones, or percussion instruments made of PVC pipe, and will provide the equipment to fifth-graders in the new rhythm exploration class. Preparing the instruments were, from left, Gianna Bellum, Kayla Myers and Harley Kemp.
(Contributed photo)
MINGO JUNCTION Music and technology have combined at Indian Creek Middle School where STEM techniques are being used to help students find their sound.
Eighth-graders in Michael Minor’s STEM class recently created original thongophones, or percussion instruments made of PVC pipe, to help fifth-graders learn about music. Minor said the idea was formed this summer when music teachers Kim and Kent Howell opted to create a rhythm exploration class instead of recruiting the newest students for band.