Remote Learner Information

November 16, 2020

To our new Remote Learners and Families:

First of all, we want you to know you will be missed in the classes and halls of Poland Seminary High School this week. As we begin this transition to new full Remote Learning at this time, it is important for all students and families to know that classes will not look the same for those that were In-Person OR for those that were Remote heading into this week. Teachers will communicate directions for class expectations directly. Please make sure you are attending every period, every day during the scheduled class times. Teachers will require all students to have some face-to-face instructional time and may also require students to complete an assignment, etc. Teachers will also be accessible for additional Office Hours daily from 2:15-3:00. All questions directed to teachers after 3:00 pm will be answered within 24 hours. 

Teachers are calculating attendance for all Remote Learners. Attendance includes meeting face-to-face requirements of each teacher, each period of class. Remote student attendance is required by Ohio’s schools, and students will be considered for Truancy if necessary. Following Ohio state law, you can click on this Poland Attendance/Truancy Fact Sheet to reference. 

If you are not able to attend to your schoolwork for a day due to illness, you should have a parent call you off of school to the main office- just as you would if you were an In-Person Learner. This information is critical for both your attendance record and for teacher record. 

We wish you well through what continues to be a challenging year for everyone. We appreciate how well you continue to persevere and are always here if you need anything. Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving from everyone at Poland Seminary High School. 

YOU ARE INVITED TO AN INFORMATIONAL VIRTUAL MEETING

Who  - Parents/students graduating in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026* or 2027*

Why  - Ohio’s College Credit Plus or “CCP” dual credit program.  

When  - Wednesday, December 2, 2020 from 6:00 - 8:00pm

Where  - This session will be conducted virtually. We’ll be sending an all-call with information on where our virtual links will be posted for the session. We’ll also be posting information with specific CCP guidelines and procedures for PSHS, YSU, EGCC and Kent State University.

Poland High School Guidance Counselors will explain how your son or daughter can earn college and high school credit concurrently. 

*Students entering grades 7 & 8 in 2021 are eligible to participate. HOWEVER,  Eastern Gateway Community College rules state that students must be at least 16 years old.  YSU students 14 or younger must be accompanied by a parent at all times while on campus.
 

TWELVE OUTSTANDING STUDENT-ATHLETES ARE NAMED NATIONAL FINALISTS IN THE HEISMAN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTED BY ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE

The National Award Program Releases the Names of 2020 National Finalists

New York, NY, Nov. 9, 2020 — From an applicant pool of thousands of high school scholar-athletes graduating with the class of 2021, 12 students have been named National Finalists in the Heisman High School Scholarship competition awarded by The Heisman Trophy Trust and Acceptance Insurance. Poland Seminary High School’s Jackie Grisdale is one of the 12 national finalists. 

The Heisman High School Scholarship is presented by Acceptance Insurance. From its inception in 1994, the program has leveraged the reputation of the Heisman Memorial Trophy as a symbol of great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.

The Heisman High School Scholarship presented by Acceptance Insurance extends the Heisman prestige to the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors by celebrating and rewarding outstanding male and female scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories happen not only on the field, but also in their schools and communities. The Heisman Trophy Trust was proud to partner with Acceptance Insurance in 2020 to present these prestigious scholarships.

Over the past 26 years, the program has honored more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors and provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships to students and more than a million dollars to high school academic and athletic programs across the country.

The program honors the nation’s most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athletes. By inviting male and female students from schools across the country to share their stories of leadership and impact, the program aims to inspire all students to harness their potential, push their limits, and use their talents not only to advance their own futures, but to improve the communities and world around them.

In their first year as presenting sponsor, Acceptance Insurance pledged an additional $25,000 scholarship donation to the program. The 2020 National Finalists will receive a $1,250 college scholarship and compete for the chance to be named the 2020 male and female National Winners. National Winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 on the Heisman Scholarship Website.   The two National Winners will each receive a $5,250 college scholarship.

To learn more about these finalists, or for a complete listing of all 2020 winners visit the Heisman Scholarship Website.

Meet Dr. Edwin Holland, Interim Superintendent Poland Local Schools  

Dr. Edwin Holland has three decades of experience in suburban and rural education. For 13 years of his career he served as a superintendent in three school districts in Cuyahoga and Summit Counties. Dr. Holland was named Interim Superintendent by the Poland Board of Education in October. 

“My experience as a superintendent with school funding and improving student achievement gives me the experience that I need, and the community will be able to use it to help improve and build upon the level of excellence that Poland Schools has been known for,” said Dr. Holland.” I want to be able to help maintain this transition for the board and community, while we build upon getting a new superintendent.”

Dr. Holland will work with the Board of Education to develop a search plan to hire the next superintendent. Dr. Holland has worked on several searches to fill key executive positions of superintendent and treasurer for school districts, and has also participated as a candidate in  several searches. Dr. Holland also plans on working with staff and the community to find out what’s important in the search for Poland’s next superintendent. Dr. Holland hopes the Board of Education will be able to hire a new superintendent in the spring/summer of 2021. 

When it comes to transparency and accountability, both will be critical factors in the superintendent search.  The district will provide transparent communication to the community about the superintendent search, and how the district is being maintained throughout the transition. 

 “The role of increasing accountability is taking responsibility for what needs to be done with integrity, but also the need for transparency is communication,” said Holland. “Communicating to the community how the distinct operates, how decisions are made and how it’s going to impact and create change within the community.”

 Dr. Holland started his career in education as a social studies teacher  and was a head track coach and football coach. He also served as a high school principal in a Division 1 school. 

“Academic, athletics and the arts are extremely important to me in education,” said Holland.

Commended Students in the 2021
National Merit Scholarship Program

The principal, Kevin Snyder, of Poland Seminary High School, announced that Will J. Davies and Anthony F. Gallo have been named Commended Students in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation  (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2021 competition for the National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2021 competition by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). 

“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success, commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resources; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

Right:  Wil Davies, Left:  Anthony Gallo - National Merit Scholars Commended Students

Stadium Closed for Track and Turf Replacement

Poland, Ohio- The Poland Schools Stadium will be closed until further notice starting    June 1, 2020. The stadium has been previously closed, this is a continuation of the closure. The track and turf at the stadium are being replaced in preparation for the start of the fall athletic season. All other outdoor athletic facilities on school grounds will open on June 1, 2020, including tennis courts and baseball/softball Fields. We ask all community members who use any of those facilities to visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov and follow the Responsible Restart Ohio guidelines that are mandated by Governor DeWine. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

2020 Yearbook Online Order Information