Greetings from The Ginn Academy! We've had a lot of exciting things happening that we're going to share with you in this month's blog post. But first of all, if you aren't already following us on Twitter, please take a moment to add us here, and also here, on Facebook.
Also, if you are a friend or relative of one of our alumni, please know that news updates and photos of them are always welcome for the blog. Please send to TheGinnAcademy@gmail.com.
A few weeks ago, representatives from State Farm's Youth Advisory Board visited to present a huge check (literally!) for over $42,000 to our media specialist, Ms. Adrienne Khan. Ms. Khan applied for a grant to help our science club renovate our vivarium and an empty lot next to the school. She and the GA science club will work with Ohio State University agricultural extension educator Jacqueline Kowalski to plant a community garden outside and plants and vegetables in the vivarium inside.
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| Ginn Academy students with Cleveland city councilman, Mike Polensek, Ohio Representative, Bill Patmon, Euclid State Farm agent, Andre Payten (holding check), Principal Nick Petty, Media Specialist, Adrienne Khan, and OSU extension educator, Jacqueline Kowalski. Photo courtesy of State Farm |
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| A portion of the Ginn Academy science club with advisor, Ms. Khan |
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| Ginn Academy's vivarium, an enclosed space for plants and animals in the center of our school. |
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| The empty lot next to Ginn Academy which will soon be used for a community garden, thanks to a grant from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board and Ms. Adrienne Khan. |
There are plans currently underway to integrate these resources and corresponding lessons into all of the different areas of our curriculum, and Ms. Khan also hopes to bring in a chef to work with the boys once the vegetables are ready for harvest. She and the science club have already visited numerous operating community gardens for inspiration.We will most definitely keep you posted on our progress with this.
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| Photo courtesy of Adrienne Khan |
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| Photo courtesy of Adrienne Khan |
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| Photo courtesy of Adrienne Khan |
On October 15, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson presented Ted Ginn, Sr. with a key to the city and a proclamation stating that October 15th will from now on be Ted Ginn, Sr. Day. An honor well deserved.
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| Left to right: Ted Ginn, Sr., Ruby Ginn (Coach's stepmother), Mayor Frank Jackson, Jeanette Ginn (Coach's wife), Pastor Howard, Hazel Parker, and Albert Ratner. Photo courtesy of Judy Rickel |
Coach Ginn has had a pretty exciting few weeks, come to think of it. At the end of September, he was honored as a new member of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, along with Earl Boykins, Mike Hargrove, Dan Miller, Pat Morin, Harry Weltman, and Mr. Ginn's longtime colleague, St. Ignatius football coach, Chuck Kyle.
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| Jeanette and Ted Ginn at the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony |
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| Ted Ginn, Sr. and Chuck Kyle at the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony |
The students in this photo from morning session were recognized because their parents had attended the previous evening's curriculum night. Mr. Fox's freshmen in the second photo cleaned up the cafeteria after breakfast without being asked, which is very cool.
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| Demick Fields, a senior, leads morning session with announcements followed by the school creed. |
We had our first visit from West Point recently! Army Captain Michael Wright came to talk with our students about what it takes to attend the US Military Academy.
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| Ginn Academy students with Army Captain Michael Wright from West Point. Photo courtesy of Captain Wright |
We will guarantee that if we have leftover cookies from an event, we'll have a swarm of always hungry, growing boys in the office within minutes!
Some news from the University of Illinois, where two of our young men, Justin Hardee and V'Angelo Bentley, are sophomores. V'Angelo's mother, Angela, sent us this link to a story about him in the U of I newspaper and a photo of the two before they played in a football game.
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| Ginn Academy graduates, Justin Hardee and V'Angelo Bentley, both football players at the University of Illinois. Photo courtesy of Angela Pope |
Ginn Academy's HealthCorps coordinator, Jasmyne Jackson, testified last month at a congressional briefing on the state of health and physical education in American schools, sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Marcia Fudge (OH). She shared insights in working with young athletes and helping them understand the connection between sport, health, nutrition, physical activity and academic performance.
Ms. Jackson also deserves congratulations as she learned last week that she has been accepted into medical school at both the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan.
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| HealthCorps coordinator, Jasmyne Jackson, with Dr. Oz at Ginn Academy |
We are now the proud owners of three Vitamix blenders, courtesy of Dr. Michael Roizen, the Cleveland Clinic, and Cleveland-based high-end blender manufacturer, Vitamix. So far, Ms. Jackson has been using them as part of her HealthCorps curriculum and the boys have even been enjoying green smoothies!
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| Smoothies with our new Vitamix blenders! Photo courtesy of Jasmyne Jackson |
Please save the date for our HealthCorps Health Fair (9:45-11:45) and our inaugural Empty Bowls event (11:00-2:00), led by GA art teacher, Judy Rickel. Both are on December 12th. More information in next month's blog story.
We will have our second annual Turkey Bowl for all students and families on Thanksgiving Day, November 28th. More info coming soon.
Thank you for your support of our school! We are so thankful for all of you!
Kind regards from everyone at Ginn Academy
