District Literacy Coordinator Kathy Horvath is the 2006 Coughlin Automotive You Make a Difference recipient for the Newark City Schools.  The annual award recognizes Licking County teachers for their outstanding effort to “Make a Difference” in the lives of their students. 

Superintendent Keith Richards surprised Kathy with the news of her award earlier this morning at Kettering ES, where she was working with a group of teachers and guest author Michael Rosen .  Mr. Richards presented her with a bouquet of flowers.  Kathy and her nominator Caitlyn Dennison , a seventh grade student at Lincoln Middle School , will attend a dinner in March hosted by Coughlin Automotive Group.

Caitlyn credited Mrs. Horvath ’s ability to teach reading and writing for making a difference in her life.

Fifty-three other Newark teachers received one or more student nominations for this award as well.  Congratulations to all who received a nomination for this award!

Kristen Allerding, Roosevelt

Cindy Baker, Lincoln

Polly Bassitt, Central

Melissa Broschak, North

Stephanie Brown, Central

Melinda Buchholz, West Main

Sharon Caldwell, McGuffey

Sally Clary, Lincoln

Fred Davis, Roosevelt

Todd Dehus, North

Renee Derr, Roosevelt

Rhonda Dodderer, Central

Mat Dunham, Lincoln

Susan Falkenberg, Miller

Vickie Flanagan, John Clem

Renee French, West Main

Linda Harvey, John Clem

Julie Hawkinberry, Clem/North

Shellie Herrmann, North

Ann Hickman, John Clem

Cary Hock, Central

Monica Holmberg, Ben Franklin

Amy Hornbeek, Miller

Becca Jayne,  Conrad

John Johnson, John Clem

Sherie Judy, John Clem

Tod King, Lincoln

Gary Klingel, Roosevelt

Ann Kloss, Conrad

Jane Krueger, John Clem

Gary Lanning, Roosevelt

Linda Leffel,  John Clem

Candy Link, John Clem

Ann Linn, Newark HS

Debbie Marcus, Roosevelt

Kathy Miller, Conrad

Rod Mount, Roosevelt

Nick Myers, Roosevelt

Karen Rank, Kettering

Kim Robison, Ben Franklin

Martha Rucker, North

Nancy Schaefer, North

Leslie Shea, Lincoln

Nancy Somerlot, Central

Bob Steinbrecher, Roosevelt

Bob Stevens, Roosevelt

Barb Stockdale, Conrad

Barb Swonger, Kettering

Lita Van Reeth, Lincoln

Laura Vehorn, Lincoln

Melissa Wasiniak, Central

Effective February 1, 2006, Riverside Radiology will no longer participate in the United Healthcare Network. 

As a customer of United Healthcare, you will not be able to utilize Riverside Radiology as an in-network provider after this date.  Consistent with the terms of your benefit plan, emergency health care services provided by Riverside Radiology will continue to be covered as an in-network benefit.  Non-emergency services will continue to be covered if your benefit plan includes non-network coverage.

Questions may be directed to Benefits Coordinator Kitty Armbrust at 328-2138 .

Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be 44.5 cents per mile for business miles driven.

The new rate for business miles compares to a rate of 40.5 cents per mile for the first eight months of 2005. In September, the IRS made a special one-time adjustment for the last four months of 2005, raising the rate for business miles to 48.5 cents per mile in response to a sharp increase in gas prices, which topped $3 a gallon.

Employees submitting reimbursement for mileage should follow these reimbursement rates:  

January 1 – August 31, 2005 =  40.5 cents per mile
September 1 - December 31, 2005 =  48.5 cents per mile
January 1, 2006 =  44.5 cents per mile.

If you have questions, please contact Treasurer's office at 328-2120 .

The Ohio State College of Engineering and the Ohio State-Honda Partnership will host the Engineers in Motion Workshop for high-ability high school students will be held June 18 - 23, 2006 at the Columbus campus.

The workshop is open to high school students who are completing their 9th or 10th grade year and who have an interest in engineering. Interested students must fill out an application to be considered.  There is a $50 application fee, which is refundable if the student is not selected to participate in the program. The application deadline is March 15.

Attendees will learn about the various disciplines of engineering, participate in hands-on demonstrations and experiments, visit Honda of America in Marysville, and have opportunities to discover Ohio State ’s campus. Students will stay on campus in dormitories, and housing and meals will be provided for the entire week.  

Additional information and applications are available online at  http://wie.eng.ohio-state.edu/EIM2006.html or contact Kristina Kennedy at 614-247-7936.

Greetings from Main Street !

Congratulations to Kathy Horvath and the 53 Newark teachers who were nominated by current and former students for the annual You Make a Difference award presented by Coughlin Automotive Group! 

Now Millicent isn’t a teacher (I just hang out with them), but I imagine that being told “You’ve made a difference in my life” by a student must be like chocolate icing on the cake!  And we have a whole lot of very wonderful teachers and staff members here in Newark – so the competition is tough.  Great job, everyone! 

Earlier this year, Music Teacher Nick Myers (RMS) was honored with a Licking County Leaders for Learning award.  Now his alma mater, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, plans to recognize Nick in an upcoming issue of MVNU NOW.  While Nick is excited about the recognition, he’s more excited to a be a teacher.

“It is exciting to be a TEACHER,” Nick recently told Principal Beth Phelps.  “I am proud to work at Roosevelt!” 

Now how’s that for a testimonial?  We’re proud of you too, Nick.  Congratulations!

We're sending get-well wishes to Library Aide Deb Doyle (WMI).  Deb is recovering at home from a mild heart attack she suffered earlier this week.  We miss you, Deb !

Now Super Bowl XL is this Sunday (in case you’ve been too busy to notice).  Millicent, who plans to watch the SB XL at half time for the commercials, knows some of you are ready for some football!

See, there are sports fans, there are rabid sports fans…and then there’s Music Teacher Ann Robinson (WMI).  She’s a h-u-g-e Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

But you may already know that because Ann, her family and her Steeler-themed family room appeared on NBCi newscasts (Channel 4, WCMH) on Tuesday evening at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.  Sports anchor Joe Weasel talked with Ann about her family’s passion for the Steelers. 

Seahawks Fans: send your love to Ann here.  (And be nice!) J

What’s happening in your corner of the district?  Send me your news to share! 

That’s all for now – more next time.

Millicent