By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Over the summer Bowling Green City School students weren’t just sleeping in and lounging by the pool. Some students traveled to Italy and learned to fight like gladiators, and one student created an invention that earned him an appointment with a patent lawyer.
Middle School Principal Eric Radabaugh introduced Gabe Pollock-O’Dorisio, who was a state winner in the Invention Convention.
With his creation of “Pollock’s Paint,” Gabe won first place in the government and public safety category. His invention was fireproof paint.
Gabe will now have the chance to compete at the national level Invention Convention to be held at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit.
For his fireproof paint idea, Gabe received a trophy, $400 scholarship, plus a one-hour consultation with a patent lawyer.
Also during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, teachers Jo Beth Gonzalez and Sarah Caserta talked about a student trip to Italy over the summer. They were joined by three of the 12 students who went on the trip – Andy Messenger, Layne Fry and Tressa Greiner – who were clearly still excited about their travels.
The group spent 11 days visiting places like the Coliseum, Roman Forum, St. Francis Basilica, Vatican City, Pompeii and the catacombs. They took a cooking class in Rome, listened to opera, took a Fresco art class, and learned to fight like gladiators.
Gonzalez and Caserta said they were proud of their students’ conduct on the trip, and their openness to learning about different cultures.
Next year’s trip of drama club students is planned for Vietnam.
In other business, Angie Schaal, executive director of teaching and learning with Bowling Green City Schools, explained the latest state report card grades, and put Bowling Green’s in perspective with the other 607 districts in the state.
Schaal said the district is looking at making improvements by setting the goals of:
- Creating higher level thinking skills.
- Giving constant feedback for teachers.
- Making ongoing formative assessments.
Also at the meeting, the school board accepted donations of nearly $10,000 from families, individuals and PTOs, for such items as new library books, fifth grade camp, preschool, and scholarships.
The board also approved student trips, with the costs being paid by families and fundraisers:
- French class students to Montreal, Quebec.
- Model UN students to a conference in Boston.
- Middle School Women in STEM students to attend new zoo curriculum at the Toledo Zoo.
- Intermediate Spanish students to Spain.
- DECA students to conference in Washington, D.C.
- Madrigal students to Chicago.
