Merry Christmas

As we finish off our last day of school this year and get ready for Christmas vacation, I just wanted to wish all of you the very best Holiday season. My wish is that all of you find the time to relax and spend time with the people who are important in your life. The new year is just around the corner and I hope that you will come back to school with a positive attitude, some challenging goals and finish the school year strong. Take care and have a very Merry Christmas.

Soaring Eagle

In a typical school system, many people are aware of the outstanding young students who excel in their grades or in their academics. We reward them with all "A" Honor Roll or Dean's list. We have the National Honor Society or the National Technical Honor Society. The athletes are rewarded with All State or All District Honors and of course the championship trophies if so earned. I think this is a great honor that these students deserve and I always look forward to reading the paper and seeing the accomplishments of all the students in this area. However, sometimes there are accomplishments that the student works hard for but often gets overlooked. This could be for various reasons but mainly because it is not school related and it is something they do outside of any school activities. Today I would like to highlight one such student and the awesome accomplishment that he just attained.

Alex Burgei, a senior in Industrial Mechanics who is from Ottoville High School, just earned his Eagle badge as a boy scout. For those of you that are not aware of how someone attains this honor, I will list a few of the requirements. The rank of Eagle Scout may be earned by Boy Scout who has been a Life Scout for at least six months, has earned a minimum of 21 merit badges, has demonstrated Scout Spirit, and has demonstrated leadership with his troop. Additionally he must plan, develop and lead a service project - the Eagle Project - that demonstrates both leadership and a commitment to duty. After all the requirements are met, he must complete an Eagle Scout board of review. The Eagle Project is a chance for the Scout to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a project for the benefit of any religious institution, any school or his community. The project may not benefit the Boy Scouts of America or be solely a fund raising project.

The project that Alex did was for the Ottoville community. He had an "Ottoville Community Park" sign installed at the park on Church St. For this project, Alex had to raise the money for the sign and all the material needed. He had to get approval from the Scouting organization and also from the community. He then had the sign made, installed the curbing, stone and lighting. As you can see by the picture, it is a very professional job and one that the community is proud of. I am proud of Alex for all the hard work he put into this project but also all the work he has put in over the years of being a Boy Scout. Alex is one of those special students that when you meet him, you instantly like him. He is kind, helpful, courteous to the staff and to all the other students. Congratulations Alex and I would also like to congratulate all our past students who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. All of you are in a special group and you should be proud of your accomplishments.

Help for the Holidays

People often talk about the holiday blues or feeling depressed around the holiday season. There is a reason for this. Television, radio and advertisements try to make it feel like everyone is having a "hallmark" type of Thanksgiving or Christmas. If we aren't celebrating like they are on TV, then something must be wrong. If you have been watching any of the movies on the ABC Family channel you will notice a certain theme. It seems like it is always snowing and people are taking sleigh rides through beautiful parks that are all lit up with Christmas lights. The Christmas music is playing, bells are ringing, and in the end everyone is gathered around the decorated table eating a feast made for kings. The movie usually ends with everyone holding hands and going about town singing Christmas carols. The commercials that are on TV can be another problem. It looks like everyone is out shopping and having a great time. They want you to believe that if you don't spend money, you won't be happy. They create the image that you must have everything that is being sold otherwise you won't have a very merry Christmas.


The truth is, the above scenario very rarely ever happens anymore. I don't know about you, but I haven't taken a sleigh ride and sang Christmas carols in a long time. I also realize many of our students have never experienced a Thanksgiving or Christmas like the ones depicted in the movies. I also realize many of you are worrying about how you will eat over the Christmas season. I hope I can offer you some tips and resources that you can use or maybe a friend of yours could use.

1) Don't expect the holidays to be the same as when you were a little child. They NEVER are. You are not the same as you where when you were a child.

2) Focus on what you have, not what you don't. Ignore the commercials where the husband surprises his wife with a brand new luxury car or a diamond ring. This only leaves you wondering, "What about me?" Remind yourself that it's not the stuff that makes the holidays important.

3) The holidays bring back memories of loved ones, I understand that. Give yourself permission to grieve and deal with the loss in your own way. If you want to cry, go ahead. If you want to remember your loved one in a special way, go ahead. Light a candle, put together a scrapbook, decorate the grave stone with flowers, or whatever else you find comforting.

I have a short list of places where you may be able to get help with your meals or other needs during the holidays, please feel free to use these resources, they are there for you. I also hope that you would reach out to someone you know who may be struggling this season. Share this list with them and offer to help them this Christmas season.

           - Trinity Friends Church across from Vantage. Weekly hours are Tuesday from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon and Thursdays from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

           - Van Wert County Dept. of Jobs and Family Services: 419-238-5430. They can help with a short term family financial need of up to $1000.00

           - Salvation Army: 419-238-9100. They will be able to help or lead you to assistance.

           - Van Wert Ohio Community Action Commission: A regional non-profit that partners with local agencies like the United Way and local churches. Click here for their website.

           - Delphos Interfaith Thrift Store: Not for profit combination thrift store, food pantry and financial assistance entity. 419-692-2942

           - West Ohio Food Bank: A great resource. They work with churches all over Allen, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert counties. They will help. 419-222-7946. Click here for the list of Paulding county agencies, but you can also find all agencies for each county on this page.

           - Call 2-1-1, The United Way help center provides free and confidential 24 hour access to a compassionate professional who will review your options for help. This is a great resource. Either call 2-1-1 or visit 211oh.org to chat online.

And as always, please stop by and talk if you are having problems this holiday season. If you need food, clothing or just want to talk about some struggles you are having, my door is open for you. Thanks and I hope you relax and enjoy this holiday season.