Up to the minute articles touting our latest accomplishments.
February 23. 2021 Middleburg Heights, OH – Katie Street, Polaris Career Center Broadcasting & Video Production instructor at Berea-Midpark High School (BMHS), has been honored with the Berea PTA’s "T" in PTA Award. This recognition is given to a certified educator who is involved in and supportive of Berea PTA and has made a positive impact on the lives of children. She was recently honored for her ongoing support of BMHS students and the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) through her membership and support of fundraisers and student competitions. She received special recognition for encouraging her students to participate in the PTA Reflections art competition. Heather Losneck, PTSA President, sang her praises during the nomination process, “We recognize your efforts - both during school and outside of school hours - to make the time to discuss the (PTA Reflections) program, reflect on the theme of ‘I Matter Because’ and ensure their submissions were complete!” Broadcasting & Video Production is one of several Polaris satellite programs that are located at Berea-Midpark High School. The others are Biomedical Science, Engineering and Marketing & Entrepreneurship. Visit www.polaris.edu/hssatellite for additional program details. For additional information, contact Doug Miller at (440) 891-7609 or email dmiller@polaris.edu. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8. 2021 Middleburg Heights, OH – Chef Chris Olszewski, Polaris Career Center Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management Instructor, was recently honored with his eleventh Ohio ProStart Teacher of Distinction Award. This designation honors engaged culinary educators who are dedicated to their students and committed to enhancing the image of the culinary profession. This latest teaching award is one of many for Olszewski. He is the past recipient of the 2019 Ohio Board of Education District Five Teacher of the Year Award, a two-time winner of the National ProStart Educator of Excellence Award, a two-time Ohio ProStart Educator of Excellence honoree, a two-time American Culinary Federation Cleveland Chapter Culinary Educator of the Year, an Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA) Outstanding Industry Educator Award winner and was previously honored with the Crystal Apple Award. Chef Olszewski fosters an environment of respect, passion and opportunity for his students, and his dedication to promoting the culinary industry and preparing his students for career success is unmatched. In fact, many former students have earned related college degrees and/or pursued distinguished careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Under his leadership, Polaris Career Center’s Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management program captured nine Ohio ProStart Invitational culinary championships, four Invitational management championships and back-to-back National ProStart Invitational culinary championships in 2016 and 2017. He and his students have received numerous resolutions from the Ohio State House and Ohio Senate and have been recognized before both chambers. In addition, the program was honored as the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Northeast Region’s 2019 Most Outstanding JVS and Vocational program. Olszewski has been Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management Instructor at Polaris for 22 years where he and his students manage Savour, Polaris’s popular student-run restaurant. In a typical school year, the restaurant serves thousands of customers from the surrounding communities. Chef “O” brings a wealth of industry experience to the classroom. Prior to joining Polaris, Olszewski spent seven years as Executive Chef at Don’s Pomeroy House in Strongsville, Ohio. He received his formal training at the Stouffer’s Culinary Apprenticeship Program in Cleveland, and he has been an active member of the American Culinary Federation for 29 years. ProStart is the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) nationwide high school program that unites classrooms and industry to develop tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice talent. The program reaches nearly 150,000 students in more than 1,900 high schools across 50 states, Guam and Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Europe and the Pacific. For additional information, contact Doug Miller at (440) 891-7609 or email dmiller@polaris.edu ###
February 5, 2021 Middleburg Heights, OH – Berea-Midpark High School students enrolled in the Polaris Broadcasting & Video Production and Marketing & Entrepreneurship satellite programs recently won district awards in the PTA Reflections competition. The PTA's Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. All entries were judged by three different judges: an artist, an art therapist and an English-Language Arts teacher. They judged the artwork based on the following criteria: interpretation of theme, creativity and technique. The Broadcasting & Video Production students competed in the “film” category. In this event, the students had to create an original piece that was animation, narrative, documentary, experimental or media presentation that followed the theme, “I matter Because…” The Marketing & Entrepreneurship students competed in “visual arts.” This event required students to create an original print, drawing, painting, collage, photographic collage, metal etching or punch work, fiber work or computer-generated artwork that related to the “I Matter Because…” theme. Entries were judged primarily on how well the student used his or her artistic vision to convey the theme. In total, 10 students placed at the district level and will move on to compete virtually at the state level later this month. Below is a summary of the winners and the titles of their works: Broadcasting & Video Production Students:
Marketing & Entrepreneurship Students:
For additional information, contact Doug Miller at (440) 891-7609 or email dmiller@polaris.edu. ###
February 1, 2021 Middleburg Heights, OH – Local sophomores, parents and prospective adult education students are invited to take an in-person guided tour of Polaris Career Center during Tuesday Tours. These one-on-one tour opportunities give prospective students and parents an opportunity to explore Polaris’s newly renovated Middleburg Heights campus and get specific high school and adult education enrollment questions answered. Tuesday Tours will run every 30 minutes from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday beginning February 9th and concluding on March 30th. Please note that Polaris will limit the number of students visiting each program and maintain strict social distancing protocols. Below are the details on how to reserve a spot with Polaris high school and adult education staff: High School: Cindy Crisler 440.891.7732 ccrisler@polaris.edu Adult Education: Theresa Liska 440.891.7697 tliska@polaris.edu Polaris offers a wide variety of career-technical programs for middle school, high school and adult students. Middle and high school programs serve students from the Berea, Brooklyn, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, and Strongsville City School Districts. Adult education students come from all over Northeast Ohio. If interested in enrolling now for next school year, sophomores can apply online at www.polaris.edu/register. Interested adult students are encouraged to visit www.polaris.edu/jobtraining or call 440.891.7697 for additional program information. ###
December 29, 2020 Middleburg Heights, OH – Local sophomores and parents are invited to attend one of six Polaris virtual open houses beginning Tuesday, January 12, 2021. These Zoom events are tailored to each of the six high schools Polaris serves, and all are scheduled to run from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Below are the events and dates: Berea-Midpark Virtual Titans Night – Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Brooklyn Virtual Hurricanes Night – Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Fairview Virtual Warriors Night – Thursday, January 14, 2021 North Olmsted Virtual Eagles Night – Tuesday, January 19, 2021 Olmsted Falls Virtual Bulldogs Night – Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Strongsville Virtual Mustangs Night – Thursday, January 21, 2021 Virtual open house attendees are invited to explore up to three Polaris high school programs, meet program teachers, hear from current students and get all their Polaris questions answered. Program presentations will begin at 5:30, 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. Students and parents can visit www.polaris.edu/virtualopenhouse to access the Zoom sessions and start their virtual open house experience on the dates listed above. Students who complete the official Google attendance form will be entered to win a set of Apple AirPods and will earn five bonus points toward Polaris enrollment. In addition, each open house includes bonus “Q & A” sessions highlighting guidance and college credit, special education/IEP and Polaris enrollment. Each will run from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. These Zoom meeting links can also be found at www.polaris.edu/virtualopenhouse. Polaris has also launched a new 360° virtual tour environment allowing prospective students and parents to explore Polaris in a virtual, interactive world. These tours can be accessed at www.polaris.edu/virtualtours. Polaris offers a wide variety of career-technical programs for middle school, high school and adult students. Programs serve residents from the Berea, Brooklyn, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, and Strongsville City School Districts. If interested in enrolling now for next school year, sophomores can apply online at www.polaris.edu/register. Students who apply by Friday, January 29, 2021, will receive 2.5 bonus points toward Polaris enrollment. For additional high school program or enrollment information, visit www.polaris.edu, email ccrisler@polaris.edu or call (440) 891-7732. ###