The Columbus Symphony performed two concerts for Station students this week in the Station auditorium. Associate Conductor Andrés Lopera led the orchestra in performances of symphonic works targeted specifically toward young people. Maestro Lopera joked with the young audience and clued them in to various intricacies of the music being performed. Students and staff had a blast listening to these talented musicians perform.
Some might call Pat Scales an underdog. In his time at Hilliard Schools, he was on an IEP, and credits his tutors and coaches for where he’s at today.
“While feeling the need for additional support, teachers like Mrs. Donnelle, Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Bundy, and coaches like Mr. Stephanic and Mr. Schlecht, helped fill the voids,” he said.
After graduating from Davidson High School in 2000, he attended DeVry University where he graduated with a degree in computer engineering in 2003. Jobs in the field were limited at the time, so he found himself in a product research role with Limited Brands.
He discovered while growing up working with his stepfather that he was also good with his hands, so started a handyman business where he helped family and friends with projects on evenings and weekends. This led to work on a 600-unit rental facility on Ohio State’s campus that ended up being his lifeline when he was unexpectedly laid off in 2008. He ramped up his work on the rental property as well as his freelance handyman jobs. This morphed into his current business, Pat Scales Remodeling, a design/build residential and commercial remodeler offering a unique project process to allow for a custom renovation for each client.
The company has grown to 20 employees, including his wife, Katie O’Connor Scales, a 1999 graduate of Hilliard Davidson. The company has made Columbus Business First’s Fast 50 list for the past four years and has been listed as a top remodeler in Columbus Business First since 2014.
Pat was involved in football, cross country, wrestling, and track and field throughout middle and high school. He said athletics, particularly wrestling, gave him a sense of discipline that has contributed to his success in life and business.
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Beacon’s Innovation Discovery Center (IDC) is lucky to have two teachers that brighten not only their learning space but the entire school community. Kara Ripp and Rhonda Beauchamp teach in the IDC, a space that provides advanced-learning environments that inspire students and teachers to flex their creativity by applying cloud computing to solve real-world problems. These enhanced classrooms also encourage students to cultivate their interests in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and the arts in their daily lives outside the classroom.
Kara and Rhonda go above and beyond when it comes to providing unique, enriched experiences for their students. Kara, an avid gardener outside of teaching, has provided students resources to grow their own community vegetable garden. “The kids love to see the vegetables grow. It’s hands-on learning, and it’s caring,” said Kara. Rhonda, who has been at the IDC for quite some time, is always recommending books to students and staff. She tries to find books that are uniquely tailored to students, such as the book Little Daymond Learns to Earn; this book introduces kids to the basic ideas about money and starting their own businesses. Rhonda strives to inspires awe and curiosity in her students, as she likes to expand the students’ knowledge and drive to learn about a diverse array of topics.
Both Kara and Rhonda are positive rays of light for students and staff at Beacon. They both encourage their students to put their best foot forwards as well as empowering them to work together as a team. Both center their attention on planting seeds of kindness, which has demonstrated a ripple effect on students and staff. “Caring and kindness make a community.”
Outside of the classroom they both spend much time giving back to the community. Rhonda volunteers at the Hilliard Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, which is a 16-week course to volunteer to help the police and fire department. She is the organization’s treasurer and helps patrol Hilliard’s 4th of July parade, as well as helping people who need medical attention. She also volunteers with Hilliard’s Trunk or Treat, where she helps with traffic control. Kara is a big advocate for normalizing the conversation around self-care. She is always honest and vulnerable when it comes to her and her family’s health. “If we are transparent about our health, it’s good to know there are other people struggling with you and you’re not alone.” Kara also has a generous heart that is always wanting to help others. When asked what she would do if she were to win a million dollars, she said she would donate it because she has everything she needs. She would want those with less privilege to gain more.
Kara and Rhonda are truly invaluable members of the community, and we are so grateful to have them shaping our kids’ learning and futures. Keep up the good work and know we are thankful!
Congratulations to Hilliard Darby sophomores, Jennifer Norris and Alyssa McDowell, who won the 2023 Central Ohio Miniature Bridge Building Competition, and Noelle Hampton, Halle Atkinson, and Angela Santiago, who placed third out of 63 teams. These students designed a bridge structure with the highest load-to-weight capacity ratio over a predetermined span using supplied materials.
The purpose of the event is to provide the opportunity for students and the local civil engineering community to interact and help students:
1. Learn how to apply principles of physics and math to bridge design and construction;
2. Undergo the process of preliminary design, detailed design, and construction of a miniature bridge to understand the hard work and challenges of the civil engineering world;
3. Experience firsthand the procedure of testing an engineered element to better under its capabilities;
4. Learn about the many facets of a fascinating and challenging career in civil engineering.
Anyone who knows Hilliard Darby Media Specialist Nikki Henkel would say she is a beaming ray of light. She is a great resource for students and staff, and she always promotes positivity around her. As the world started dealing with COVID-19, Nikki struggled as her daily exercise routine was disrupted; many of the gyms she used before and after work were shut down. While talking to her colleagues, she uncovered many of them also had the same problem. Nikki, also the wellness coordinator at Darby, decided that she should start a fitness group that would meet outside a few times weekly to work out. She designed HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workouts that were fun and brought people together throughout the difficult times. She started these workouts three years ago, and she still has a constant group of people that attend. The group calls themselves the TRIBE.
“COVID was not a positive experience, so it was fun to get together and lift each other up, and as long as you’re moving and grooving, it’s a positive. Also, it’s a good time to connect with other staff who are a part of the TRIBE. They lift each other up, and we realize the strength as a whole. It’s good to get together with positivity,” Nikki said. She learned that positivity is infectious and that it can spread throughout a classroom a lot quicker than COVID can.
Nikki has taught in the district for over 26 years, and she says that things have changed since she began her career. She has learned that now, more than ever, she needs to support students to navigate the world as well as academics. “How do we support kids to navigate the stress and anger that they bring with all that baggage that is unseen at school? Once we see that, we can navigate that and help them.” Nikki is always a positive, smiling face that students can go to, whether they are having issues inside or outside of the classroom.
Nikki said that her favorite thing this year at Darby is the people. “We have such a unique place, and we have something really special here at Darby.”
Congratulations to Memorial Middle School 8th Grader, Kat Drovdlic, who has been chosen to perform in the Junior High Honor Choir at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference which will be held February 22-24 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kat was chosen through a rigorous audition process and will join 200 singers from across the United States for three days of rehearsals and concerts for thousands of choral music educators. She will get to work with acclaimed conductor and composer Andrea Ramsey. We are so proud of Kat and congratulate her on this outstanding accomplishment!
