Directions Cares for Classrooms Grant Program

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November 18, 2022

K-12 teachers who work for public, private, or charter schools in eligible counties* (see below for a list) are invited to submit an application to be considered for a classroom grant. These educator grants are being provided by Direction Credit Union’s Directions Cares for Classrooms Grant Program.

The program is designed to alleviate the financial responsibilities teachers sometimes experience as they try to fund additional experiences or materials for their students on their own. Barry Shaner, President/CEO of Directions Credit Union, has expressed that the Directions Cares for Classrooms Grant Program is the credit union’s way to “say thank you to all the wonderful educators for making a difference.”

Through their grant program, Directions Credit Union will be donating up to $15,000 to be awarded as classroom grants during the 2022-2023 school year. Individual grants can provide educators with up to $500, which can be used for purchasing various resources for the classroom, ranging from audiovisual material to books.

Grant applications must be submitted by December 1. A second application cycle will begin on January 1, 2023. Winners for the second grant cycle will be announced on or before March 1, 2023. All K-12 teachers in eligible locations are encouraged to apply here.

*Grants are available for educators in the Directions field of membership, which includes the following counties: Ashland, Crawford, Fulton, Huron, Knox, Lucas, Richland, Tuscarawas, Wayne, Wood, Monroe (MI), and Lenawee (MI).

Emotion Motion Podcast Helps Children Find Their Feelings

By

Mary Rose Kulczak

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November 17, 2022

Megan the Mermaid helps children identify their feelings in The Emotion Motion Podcasts.

Little children face a range of big emotions every day. Too often, they have a hard time labeling that feeling, which can lead to confusion during the best of times. Add the stress of a pandemic, and many families were facing a daily minefield of behavioral battles.

It was in the midst of this struggle that The Emotion Motion podcast was born. Created by Move This World’s founder Sara LaHayne, the podcast launched in September 2020 in the hopes of reaching families isolated at home, giving them the tools they needed through an approach called S.E.L., or Social Emotional Learning.

“Move This World created The Emotion Motion Podcast as a response to the real pressures parents and children faced during the early stages of the pandemic,” said Kathy Krupa, the company’s chief growth officer. “Learning from home meant screen time was at an all-time high and socialization was at an all-time low. Working parents were suddenly faced with adjusting to their new realities while also managing the social, emotional, and educational impact of remote learning on children.”

Children who were missing school, friends, and family were also lacking the social structure typical of their normal daily interactions. The podcast developed a new way for kids to learn and grow through the trials using storytelling, play, connection and expression that would help spark family conversations.

Sara LaHayne, founder of Move This World and creator of The Emotion Motion podcast.

“The Emotion Motion Podcast was a fun way for us to engage children in educational content focused on social and emotional development without the use of screens. It was originally meant to be another arrow in parents’ quiver of ways to help their children develop these important skills during a really challenging time in their lives.”

New season, new podcasts

Primarily geared to children ages 3 to 8, the engaging podcasts feature Megan the Mermaid and her underwater life with family and friends.

“The overwhelmingly positive feedback from listeners has inspired us to continue with the podcast for the following two years,” Krupa said. “Through storytelling, The Emotion Motion Podcast uses relatable moments from our real world and allows listeners to experience them from a different perspective. Megan the Mermaid and her underwater friends navigate underwater life, whether that be making new friends, experiencing loss, or just going to the dentist for the first time.”

Move This World has created three seasons of podcasts since its inception, with themes such as “Sand Dollars and Sense,” “Play Date Problem Solvers,” “A Wave of Sadness,” and more.

“Each episode is designed as an opportunity for children to practice crucial skills in their emotional development, such as empathy, self-awareness, and mindfulness,” Krupa said. “It is also an invitation for both children and their families to get up, move, play, sing, and interact with stories that help children develop their emotional vocabulary, recognize their feelings, and learn emotional management strategies to support their well-being.”

The S.E.L. approach

Krupa explained the concept of Social-Emotional Learning and its impact on children.

“Mental, social, and emotional growth are natural parts of child development. Social-emotional skills are developed when children are playing on the playground, taking turns, waiting in the lunch line, participating in team sports, or working with their peers on a project. These skills are developed naturally and inherently in childhood, but in order to have maximum impact, research shows that we need sequenced, active, focused, explicit instruction in skills like self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.”

Through storytelling, The Emotion Motion Podcasts help parents and children sail through a sea of thoughts and feelings.

“Storytelling is a powerful mode of learning,” Krupa said. “We use fantastical storytelling to captivate our audience and make it relatable by weaving in real-life scenarios. The characters in our stories are faced with the same challenges that our listeners navigate every single day. By incorporating the emotional management tools that Move This World has created and by making the podcast participatory, we have created a fun, engaging podcast that allows children to be both entertained and to develop their emotional toolkit at the same time.”

Looking to read related stories? Try these: “Wixey Center for Wellness Brings Meditation to the Community,” “Kindness Rooms: Student Volunteers Promote Mental Health,” and “New Voice-Activated Podcast for Kids: Pinna’s Interactive Storytelling.”

It’s Time to Tell Your Storied: Toledo Company Creates Digital Heirlooms

By

Andrew Kersten

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November 16, 2022

Jonie Johnson hopes that through Storied, families and loved ones can capture the special moments in their lives for decades to come.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, which is the driving force behind Storied, a local company that captures authentic and digital heirlooms through autobiographical documentation of families. These keepsake items are then passed down to loved ones so that their legacy and story continues in years to come. “It’s all about preserving our past and present with delicacy and heart, for our future,” says Jonie Johnson, owner and founder of Storied.

Getting Started
Johnson’s journey to bringing Storied to life came from a deep passion and connection she shared with her grandmother, who was also her best friend. Her grandmother taught her that all of us, no matter how different we may seem on the surface, are connected in some way. Johnson carried that with her and used it as a foundational piece in Storied.

Upon the passing of both her grandmother and grandfather several years ago, Johnson was left coping with the grief and loss. Then, on a whim, while cleaning her house one day and listening to a podcast, she wished she could listen to her grandmother’s voice one last time. “That’s kind of when the seed was planted,” she said, adding that she believes capturing those types of keepsakes holds a special place in someone’s heart.

From that moment, Johnson expanded on that feeling of loss and used it to build Storied to preserve the words and voices of loved ones so that even when they pass, their stories carry on. “Even something as simple as turning on the camera on Christmas morning while the family is opening their gifts is powerful, and it’s something that only your family knows how sweet the sentiments are years later.”

Creating the stories

Johnson believes the best way to capture the best moments is in someone’s natural space, or somewhere they’re comfortable like their home. She then meets the family one-on-one to get to know them and what they’re comfortable with so the final piece looks as natural as possible. “Everything is going to be me going to them,” she says.

Johnson works both independently and with freelancers, depending on the extent of the project. She generally does audio and photography herself, while video components are done as a team. When production begins, the team usually captures shots of the home, personal mementos, any family photos, and footage of each subject. Each photo shoot usually lasts three hours.

In post-production, Johnson works from home with various editing software to add music and other desired elements that result in a product that can range from 10 minutes to 30 minutes long. You can view one of the finished products here.

Package prices range from $800 – $2500. If you would like to start telling your story, you can reach out to Johnson on her website or by emailing her to get a consultation scheduled.

“I’m committed to making sure that you won’t regret having this irreplaceable memorabilia,” she adds. “We’re more connected than we think, and when we lose someone, it changes you in a way you don’t immediately realize.”

The Gretchen A. Zyndorf School Days Series Returns for the 2022-23 School Year

By

Caitlin Hudson

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November 15, 2022

The Valentine Theater has announced the 2022-23 Gretchen A. Zyndorf School Days Educational Theatre Series lineup!

It is a milestone year for the program and the Valentine, as it has been 10 years since the program’s inception by the late Gretchen A. Zyndorf. This year’s lineup includes:

- Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School

The Emperor’s New Clothes

This is Not a Pipe Dream

The Wright Stuff

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

The Ugly Duckling

Warriors Don’t Cry

According to The Valentine’s website, shows are performed by “professional touring companies in educational theatre productions” and are “geared to schoolchildren for field trips during the school week.” The production descriptions also include recommended age groups for each show, which range from Pre-K up through high school, and even provide links to study guides to enhance the educational experience. Showtimes are at 10am and 12:15pm and are usually around one hour in length.

Who was Gretchen A. Zyndorf?

The School Days Educational Theater program was created and developed by the late Gretchen A. Zyndorf, who passed away on December 7, 2019, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Ms. Zyndorf was a powerhouse in our community. She not only served on the board for the Valentine Theater, but she also supported Toledo’s other iconic arts institutions: the Toledo Symphony, the Toledo Opera, and the Toledo Museum of Art.

Her generosity and support were not exclusive to the arts community; she frequently volunteered at and gave generously to the Toledo Humane Society, Humane Ohio, the Toledo Hospital, the Sight Center of Toledo, and enjoyed providing home cooked meals for the Cherry Street Mission.

Ms. Zyndorf even wrote, directed, and produced her very own children’s musical, Captain of the Crossing Guards, which was performed at the Valentine Theater in August of 2018.

To learn more about Ms. Zyndorf and her profound impact in our community, click here.

The Valentine offers virtual outreach, too!

The theater also offers a virtual Story Time via their website, free of charge, and is accessible to everyone with an internet connection. The appropriate age group is listed under each video, ranging from Pre-K to fifth grade.

Story Time was born out of the pandemic in 2020, “as a way to help us stay connected and learn more about the people in our community,” says Virtual School Days Coordinator, Kelby Sodeman. “The program was such a hit that we have kept it going – filming and producing about 3 to 4 new episodes each year.”

Each episode of Story Time is read by local leaders in our community, including:

Toledo Met’s Michael Lang
Toledo Police Officer, Burna Guy
Current Mayor of Toledo, Wade Kapszukiewiczk
Former Toledo Mayor, Mike Bell
Former Toledo Mayor, Donna Owens
And even Ohio’s First Lady, Fran DeWine!

“My all-time favorite is Ebone Wawaru, who performs with the Toledo Opera, reading When Marian Sang,” says Sodeman.

There are now over 30 episodes of Story Time to watch, with more coming soon!

Tickets, contact, and other information:

Interested? Check out the 2022-23 brochure here!

Groups of 14 and under:	Groups of 15 and over:
$10 each	$9 each

Tickets for the School Days Educational Theater program may be purchased throughout the school year at the following rates:

For reservations you may:

Fill out this online form

Email Kelby Sodeman, School Days Coordinator

Call the Valentine at (419) 214-4803

Fax (419) 242-2791, Attention: Kelby Sodeman

Or mail your reservation form to:

The Valentine Theatre, School Days
410 Adams Street
Toledo, Ohio 43604

The complete policies, procedures, and theater etiquette are available here.

Little Free Libraries: Open books thrive in Toledo

By

Toledo Parent Staff

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November 14, 2022

FreeLibrary_Splash_0418 — Local lending libraries, as well as those around the world, are listed at littlefreelibrary.org.

By Morgan Kovacs and Olivia Fraser

With the rise of technology, demand may diminish for a good, old-fashioned paperback book. In a world obsessed with rushing and multitasking, a good book, that begs for focused attention, slows us down and limits outside distractions feels like a breath of fresh air.

That feeling is why the Little Free Library movement has been thriving in the Toledo area over the past few years. The project aims to increase access to books for people of all ages and backgrounds, inspire a love of reading, build community and spark creativity by exchanging millions of books across the country each year.

One little library can be found near Elmhurst Elementary School in North Toledo, where Chad Stanton built his own schoolhouse themed free little library several years ago.

“I realized there is a generation of kids who have probably never stepped foot into a library,” Stanton said. “I wanted them to have access to real, great books.”

Stanton said his library is a neighborhood hit with a constant turnover of books and kids always running right to it during walks.

These little libraries, with all sorts of designs, sit in neighborhoods and playgrounds around the area, each holding books available for the taking. There is just one catch: those who take a book must leave one of their own — an anonymous book exchange.

Another Little Free Library stands near Beverly Elementary, in front of Rick and Rosie Sabo’s house. They constructed the little library in 2014.

“We first saw a library in Maumee on Ford Street,” Rick said. “We then researched free libraries and found the site for Little Free Libraries. Ours is a registered Little Free Library with a nameplate.”

“We just wanted to provide to our Beverly neighborhood with the opportunity to read. If it helps one person, old or young, then it is worth the time spent,” Rick said.

Finding the library

When libraries are registered with the website freelittlelibrary.org, they are placed on an interactive map. Anyone can log on and discover Little Free Libraries near their neighborhood, making for a fun outdoor adventure.

Despite the rising popularity of e-readers, tablets and iPads among kids today, Rick said their library is visited frequently. “People use it very often as we are on a busy corner. Since we are on a school route, the kids from Beverly School stop by and look daily. Some people spot it as they drive down South Detroit and turn around and come back for a look and a book.”

Community effort

These little libraries encourage community involvement as it depends on donations in order to continue providing different books.

“Some of the books in the Sabo’s library are donated by neighbors, and others come from Grounds For Thought, a coffee shop in Bowling Green which has a wonderful
program— bring in books, get credit, and receive new books of your choice,” Rick explained.

Finding joy in reading has no age limit, so Free Little Libraries are not just for kids.

When creating the blueprint for their library, the Sabos decided to build two shelves: top for adults, bottom for kids.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, up to 60 percent of low-income families do not have books in their homes for their children to read.

With the Free Little Library movement, people like the Sabos help bring books to those who do not otherwise have the resources.

For Charlotte Bronte lovers, Rosie always keeps a copy of her favorite book, Jane Eyre, in their library.

Other Little Free Libraries in the Toledo Area

Toledo Museum of Art

These two Little Free Libraries are located on the campus of the museum at 2445 Monroe St. The libraries were donated by the Toledo Museum of Art Library League to encourage an inclusive, accessible, and multisensory campus.

Brookside Chestnut Hill OHMC

Book lovers can find several little libraries in Ottawa Hills thanks to an Eagle Project, including one located at 3498 Brookside Rd., Ottawa Hills.

The Bookhive

The Bookhive is a Little Free Library located at 3802 Elmhurst Rd. The inspiration behind this library comes from the daughter of a man who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and forced into retirement. She always wanted to have a little library, so her dad made this one out of an old kitchen cabinet. It was finished with the help of a friend who recently lost their father and donated the post and paint supplies to the Bookhive.

Ellen Palmer Lending Library

The next Little Free Library was created to honor the memory of Meadowvale Elementary’s reading literacy teacher, Ellen Palmer. To get the community to read a book or help children learn to love books, one of Palmer’s co-workers said, “Read a book. Get caught reading. She would love it.” It is located at 2755 Edgebrook Dr.

Little Free Library TPA

Students and staff at the Toledo Preparatory Academy manage a library at 824 6th St. It is accessible to those at the school as well as the neighborhood community to improve book access.

Sarah’s Symphony of Stories

A perfect spot to find a new book and read outside, this Little Free Library is located at 2019 Riverview Ct. in a quiet neighborhood, and it even has a bench conveniently located nearby!

Toledo Police D Michael Collins Station

The Little Free Library inside the Toledo Police Department’s D Michael Collins Northwest Neighborhood station located at 2300 W Sylvania Ave. is an off-the-beaten-path option. The library was established by the Toledo Police Department Foundation to honor their fallen Officers Dia and Stalker.

Operation Surprise Attack Helps Sick Children & Families

By

Julie Pompa

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November 14, 2022

For families whose child is diagnosed with a serious illness, life is anything but normal. But at that critical point, a stealth volunteer team can spring into action to help relieve at least some of the burdens local families may face.

“We try to take some of the burdens off the family while their child is sick,” said Lisa Fulton, president and founder of Operation Surprise Attack. Fulton identifies the organization’s mission as “surprising sick children in our community by attacking them with an outpouring of love, encouragement and support.” Established in 2007, the organization became a 501( c ) 3 nonprofit in 2021.

Thousands of cards, help and support

Over the years, Operation Surprise Attack has organized campaigns to collect thousands of greeting cards, gifts and financial donations for sick children and their families in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. They reach out for financial support, gift donations and greeting cards from every corner of the community – businesses, schools, health care providers and the public.

Four general “card launches” are scheduled each year around Valentine’s Day, spring, back-to-school / fall (which is also Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month) and the holidays. “When I started Operation Surprise Attack, it was just me, and I was working with families across the country,” Fulton said. She’d spend hours on the phone asking local schools for greeting cards and talking to businesses about making donations.

“It’s been difficult locating kids to support, because we have to rely on word-of-mouth from the community,” she explained. When she learns of a possible child to support, she will have the family complete a recipient application. Then they can be scheduled for an upcoming card launch. “Today there’s nothing else like what we do, and I have an amazing team. This is really my life’s calling.”

Gearing up for the holidays

Local business Taylor Automotive is a corporate sponsor, providing funding and making cards for each card launch. Meijer is funding holiday activities. The group has created fundraisers with businesses throughout the community and held card-making events at fairs and other community events this past summer, at local churches and businesses, and through regional schools.

They are primarily focused on creating cards and gathering gifts to present to the children, but families are not overlooked. “Because children have to travel (to other cities) for treatments, we like to help families out with gift cards, and also help with household needs, such as groceries and utility payments,” said Fulton.

The families in each card launch tend to stay in touch with one another, as well as the group, as time goes on, said Fulton. And they are establishing a fund to help with the expenses for continued treatment, and for final expenses if a child passes.

Holiday card launch is December 21

This year, the group has selected four children for holiday “attacks”: Danica, 11, from Taylor, MI; Ivy, 3, from Manitou Beach, MI; Jackson, 14, from Perrysburg; and Brody, 4, from Tiffin. Greeting cards and other items will be gathered from now through December 16 and delivered to children on December 21.

People are invited to participate by providing cards, or working within their group, business, church, etc., to have a card-making event. They establish a wish list of family items on Amazon for contributions during the launch period, and individuals and organizations will often “adopt” a child on the list to sponsor. Donations are also accepted.

Operation Surprise Attack is located at 27100 Oakmead Dr., #307, in Perrysburg. Contact them at 567.331.2162 or through their website or Facebook or Instagram pages.