Put-in-Bay School News – October, 2020 by Steve Poe, Superintendent
Sixty-nine children in grades pre-kindergarten through grade twelve started the 2020–21 school year. We wish a warm welcome our new students: Rocco Scarpelli, pre-K; Skyler Stoiber, pre-K; Owen Woischke, pre-K; Brooklyn Williams, 1st; Addison Dress, 2nd; Duncan Breudigam, 3rd; Nicolas Fiorilli, 3rd; Brenden Breudigam, 5th; Ava Fiorilli, 5th; and Brennan Jones, 6th.
Several students in grades 10-12 are participating in a new semester-long course offering called Career Explorations. Students will create a portfolio that include items such as a resume and cover letter as well as other certificates and examples of student work that they can use during interviews. Additionally, students are working toward individualized goals to guide them on their specific career path. These goals include items such as college application submissions, applying for scholarships, determining potential college majors, and working towards earning the Ohio Means Jobs Career Readiness seal for their high school diploma. One of the most exciting aspects of this course is the opportunity for students to learn about various career opportunities right here on South Bass Island. Students, along with their teacher Mrs. Kowalski, have gotten the unique chance to tour various establishments and speak with island residents about their career paths. Some of the industries that the students have already explored are construction with Fox Stone Products, hotel management with Commodore Resorts, and retail with Island Hardware Store. Future explorations this semester include the Post Office, National Park Service, Police Department, EMS, Island Air Taxi, Ohio Edison, Miller Boat Line and more.
It is with great excitement that Put-in-Bay School announces the October arrival of Rebecca Lenke. Rebecca will be sharing with our students, Grade 6 through Grade 12, information on Health and Sexual Reproduction. She comes to Put-in-Bay having earned her Master of Science in Nursing, her Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licensure as well as her Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty. Miss Lenke’s background and clinical experience has included settings such as: RW Minick Health Center, Franklin Pediatrics, Mercy Health, Bay Park Women’s Center, ProMedica and Ottawa County Riverview Healthcare Campus. Her wealth of knowledge and career experience will be valuable for all students to learn from. Students will also gain first-hand knowledge and insight regarding the nursing profession.
Members of the Put-in-Bay Police Department will be visiting the school on Friday October 9th to lead a variety of safety topics. Put-in-Bay Police Captain Matt Mariano, Sgt. Eric Seitz, Detective Sgt. Dana Mullins and Detective Sgt. Randy Sehl combine over 60 years of police service and experience, and will be presenting “Stranger Danger Awareness” to elementary children, “Internet Safety” to middle school age students, and “Social Media Safety” to the highschoolers. In addition, all students will practice a mock “lockdown drill” in the classroom, followed by a soft lockdown/evacuation scenario presented to all students after lunch. The Put-in-Bay Police Department looks forward to teaming up for school safety throughout the school year.
Uncertainty became the new norm for 2020 and changed what the cross-country season would look like. Due to a limited meet schedule, this year’s team decided to take their running shoes to a couple neighboring islands. They not only held practices on South Bass Island, but also on Middle Bass Island and Kelley’s Island. The team is led by veteran runner Elora Hubner and also includes returning runner Ava Heineman. Two new faces round-out the team with the addition of Cody Kowalski and Lukas Kostura. The team is looking forward to finishing out the season with runs at Osborn Park in Sandusky on October 3 and the Browns Backers 5K on October 11. Elora will compete at the OHSAA District Meet on October 24.
Our running club program has returned for 2020. This is a year around club and is open to all students, K-12, with the addition of a rookie running club for grades K-4. Combined, our running club is proud to have twenty-nine runners. Running club is now the largest club activity we have at Put-in-Bay School! We appreciate all the time and work Mrs. Johnna Danes has done to encourage our kids to get out and run.
The Put-in-Bay Panther Volleyball team has done whatever it takes to get the season going this year. The team is wearing masks, social distancing, and sanitizing to comply with all protocols to in order to play this fall. The girls are practicing hard and are grateful for every game and practice. The current record of the team is 3-2. The Panthers are led by three seniors: Elena Schroeder, Lucy Schneider, and Nora Ladd. They are providing great leadership and excellent play. Kate Brynes, Macy Ladd, Lilian Frederick, McKenna Stacy, and Ella Kostura round out a small but deep squad. The team has five regular season games remaining and for the first time in school history, the volleyball team will enter the state volleyball tournament. Hopefully the girls can make a deep run in the tournament. Go Panthers and Get your growl on!
The Great Lakes Islands Basketball Tournament scheduled for the first weekend in December is cancelled. We look forward to hosting this tournament in 2021 with teams from Beaver Island, Washington Island, and Mackinac Island participating.
The annual Harvest Dinner is cancelled this year, as well. A possible alternative fund raiser for the Gustav Heineman Scholarship is being discussed.
The 2020 school yearbooks have arrived and are on sale for twenty dollars. Call or stop by the school if you would like to purchase one!
Our school utilizes “School Messenger” to inform parents of important announcements such as school closings or delays. We will now make this available to everyone in our community. If you would like to be notified by text or voice message of school closings or delays, announcements of events, etc. Please contact the school at 419-285-3614 to sign up.
Put-in-Bay School volleyballers earn a hard-fought victory in the home opener for the Panthers. The Panthers welcomed into the Jim Poulus Rec facility the Monclova Christian Thunder. The Panthers won in a back and forth, five-sets match: 25-9, 19-25, 27-25, 16-25, 15-12. The Panthers came out the gate hot with an impressive 25-9 win. The Thunder bounced back, taking advantage of mental errors by the Panthers for a 25-19 win. In the third set the Panthers showed grit facing set point 24-23. Th team evened the game up and won 27-25.
In the fourth game the Thunder, behind strong serving, easily defeated the Panthers 16-25. This set up a final set to 15. The Panthers started out with a 5-2 lead, but Monclova evened the game and the team traded points to 12-12. Junior Kate Byrnes stepped up to serve and delivered two aces, finding the weak spots in the defense. The Panthers made the final play to win 15-12. The Panthers were lead by Macy Ladd’s 10 kills, Elena Schroeder’s 8 aces, and Kate Byrnes’14 assists. The Panthers next competition is against their cross-lake foes at Danbury on Saturday, 12 September. Go Panthers! Get your Grrrowl on!
Put-in-Bay Panthers open the volleyball season with a 3-1 victory over the Bowling Green Christian Lions. This afternoon the Panthers won the opening set 25-20 behind a strong game from sophomore Macy Ladd. The team was a bit rattled in game two and lost 15-25. However, led by three seniors–Elena Shroeder, Lucy Schneider, Nora Ladd–the girls won the next two games 25-15, 25-14. Lillian Frederick, McKenna Stacy, and Ella Kostura made key plays throughout the games.
Put-in-Bay School Superintendent Steve Poe announces a Parent/Transition Team Meeting on Wednesday, 26 August 2020.
This 15 August 2020 memorandum is from 
Anyone interested in a teaching position at Put-in-Bay School should email a cover letter stating areas of interest, resume/credentials, copies of current certifications, and three references to: