At Concept Schools, we want to take every opportunity to celebrate the great work our teachers, school administrators and students put in every single day. Check out some of the great things our schools have done as of late.
Gateway Science Academy Teachers Save Music Program
Gateway Science Academy’s music program isn’t going anywhere thanks to music teachers Ashleigh Moffit-Brunngraber and Catherine Van Winkle.
When GSA’s band director unexpectedly left, the program faced potential elimination. Determined to save it, Moffit-Brunngraber stepped up, rallying parents, staff, and administrators to keep music alive at the school. She and Van Winkle divided responsibilities—Van Winkle leading a new symphony orchestra for grades 7-12, and Moffit-Brunngraber managing the 6th-grade band. This partnership revitalized the program and allowed GSA’s students to continue to have an outlet to express themselves through music.
Recognizing the power of music to bring people together, Moffit-Brunngraber launched the GSA Community Band, inviting students, staff, and teachers to participate.
"Sitting in with these guys reminded me why I loved playing music as a student,” 6th Grade ELA instructor Chris Wheeler said. “It’s refreshing to see a program like this thrive.”
Their efforts have already yielded success—6th grader Anthony Barbata became the first GSA student to join the Metro District 8 Honor Band. Parents have also praised the impact of the program, with Angelique Bey expressing gratitude: “Mrs. M-B’s dedication has brought my son so much joy and growth as a musician.”
Through passion and perseverance, Moffit-Brunngraber and Van Winkle have not only preserved GSA’s music program but elevated it, inspiring students and the community to embrace the power of music.
Michigan Math and Science Academy Lorraine Principal Brings School Community Together With At-Home Meals
When Durdymammet Illmammedov was hired as MMSA Lorraine’s principal last year, he had a goal to connect with his staff on a deeper level. He parsed through different ideas of how he could achieve this but arrived at one a little outside of the box: what if he hosted MMSA’s staff members at his home and got to know them outside of a school setting?
Illmammedov committed to this new approach over the last year and has now hosted his entire staff since the start of his tenure at MMSA. His next goal is to have every student’s family come over to break bread at his home.
“I just wanted to get to know them better,” Illmammedov said of his staff. “When I first invited them, they were very curious why I was inviting them over. I told them that it wasn’t for anything specifically other than wanting to build relationships with them. I was new to the building so I wanted to get to know them and I wanted them to get to know me.”
Illmammedov and his wife, who are both Turkish, have introduced their guests to authentic meals from their home country. The most popular dish has been the börek, which is a pastry made of thin layers of dough stuffed with cheese, potatoes, spinach and meat.
Illmammedov and his wife have also been accommodating to those with particular pallets. One person requested macaroni and cheese while someone else couldn’t eat anything outside of fish which Illmammedov and his wife happily made the adjustment for. There’s only one rule Illmammedov has for these occasions: guests can’t bring their own dishes.
“That was a no-go from my side,” Illmammedov said laughing. “I said, ‘you are my guest, so you will bring nothing.’ So I banned them from bringing anything.”
Given the success of these school-wide dinners, Illmammedov plans on continuing this unique tradition as he continues to build a strong school culture at MMSA.
Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown Honored With Buddy Bench
Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown was among 16 schools to be chosen to receive a “Buddy Bench” from the Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC). The bench was created out of 100 lb. of recycled caps that were collected by students and teachers since the start of the school year.
The OSSC, which supports schools across Ohio with crafting anti-bullying initiatives and other safety measures to ensure students can grow in a positive learning environment, presented the school with the bench on Dec. 20.
“We are excited to receive a buddy bench because it provides a safe and welcoming space for students who may feel lonely or need someone to talk to,” HSA Dayton Downtown’s principal Emily Mershon said. “It encourages kindness, inclusivity, and the development of new friendships among classmates. This bench will help create a supportive and caring school environment where every student feels valued and connected.”
Pair of Chicagoland HSA Students Win CONSEF Design Poster Contest
The annual CONSEF Design Poster Contest took place this year and our students did not disappoint.
The theme for the contest was “From Classroom to Careers: STEM In Action” and featured contestants from the junior (grades 5-8) and senior (grades 9-12) divisions. Each student had to create a design on a 8.5” x 11” sheet of paper and include the words “Concept Science & Engineering Fair” somewhere on the poster.
Our winner in the senior division came out of Horizon Science Academy Southwest with a poster created by Mia Ramos. Check it out below:
Our winner in the junior division was HSA Belmont Elementary student Kendra Martin. Check out their design below:
Other Finalists (In Alphabetical Order)
Alan Rangel – HSA Columbus High School
Amiyah Strong – GSA Fyler Middle School
Ja’ziyah Brown – HSA Lorain
Jonathan Simmons – HSA Toledo High School
Tiyoni Cole – HSA Noble Academy Cleveland
Valeria Avila – HSA Lorain
Vivian Spieckerman – GSA Fyler High School
Wesley Gamble – GSA Fyler Middle School
For more information about CONSEF, check out its website here.