Success of Fitness and Fun Day Illustrated through smiles of students
The Tenth Annual Wood County Educational Service Center’s “Fitness and Fun Day” was held on May 14 at Wood Lane School. The event is a collaboration between Wood Lane and the Wood County Educational Service. Over 170 students from Wood County School Districts and Wood Lane School get to spend a day participating in activities that include swimming, horseback riding, pony riding, petting zoo, fishing derby, Tae Kwon Do instruction, and play in nine inflatable activities.
“We are fortunate once again to have the generous support of Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative,” said WCESC adapted physical education instructor Mindy Barnhart. She added “Their CEO, George Walton continues to see the benefits of donating money to the Wood County Educational Service Center so we can organize an exciting day filled with leisure-recreational activities for over 170 students that receive services from the ESC or Wood Lane.”
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According to Barnhart, many businesses and organizations provide monetary and/or in-kind support. They include Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative, the Bowling Green Subway on South Main Street, Tae Kwon Do from Waterville, Air Extreme (inflatables), Grassy Creek Farms (equestrian therapy), Stacey Creps (pony therapy), and Wood Lane School (use of pool).
Wood County’s local school districts support the event by providing transportation for their students.
“We are extremely blessed and the students look forward to this event,” added Barnhart. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for them to socialize with old classmates and teachers while engaging in leisure activities they may never participate in.”
BG Farmers Market starts Tomorrow!!
Be sure to stop by and check out all the new items offered by Real Ink!!
Wood Lane News spring issue available on-line
Our latest Wood Lane News newsletter is now available on-line. Click HERE.
In this issue-
- Board members volunteer their time and expertise
- Community Resource Fair on May 30
- Walgreens hosting big event for Special Olympics
- Wood Lane’s Occupational Therapy Services
- Community Outreach vital
- Save the date! August 25
If you would like to be on our mailing list for an electronic copy or print copy, send your e-mail and/or mailing address to lsheets@woodlane.us.
Visit Real Ink this Saturday in Toledo!
Real Ink will be selling items at the Toledo Farmers Market this Saturday, May 12 from 8am to 2 pm. Don’t forget that Mother’s Day is Sunday – we may just have the perfect gift for her!!
Drivers, aides, and mechanics honored on “School Bus Driver Appreciation Day”
Transportation employees were treated to a homemade breakfast from supervisors after their morning route today in recognition of Ohio’s “School Bus Driver Appreciation Day”.
The Wood County
Board of Developmental Disabilities (Wood Lane) provides an array of services to youth and adults. One of those services is transportation for students at Wood Lane School and adults that work in the community or at Wood Lane Industries. “School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is a time to recognize the entire team in our Transportation Department,” said transportation coordinator Scott McKeown. Our school bus drivers, school bus aides, shuttle drivers and mechanics provide an invaluable service to children and adults with developmental disabilities in Wood County.”
Facts in Wood County – Wood County is the 6th largest county in Ohio with 617 square miles. Wood Lane’s fleet of buses transport students enrolled at Wood Lane School, adults that work at Wood Lane Industries and athletes who are part of Wood County Special Olympics. Wood Lane’s fleet of buses log an average of 5,000 miles per week. Wood Lane also operates a van shuttle service for adults to get to and from their place of employment in the community. Vans also cover the entire county and average 1,000 miles per day.
“The safe and professional transportation they deliver each day provides opportunities for work, education and integration into our communities,” added McKeown. When traveling on weekday morning and afternoon routes, a bus driver is accompanied by a bus aid to assist with any special needs of passengers being transported. For example, bus aides work with passengers who use wheelchairs by assisting them as they enter the bus via the hydraulic lift and then help secure their wheel chair wheels with special wenches for safe travel.
“I could not be more proud of the job they perform each day, said McKeown “They realize the significant responsibility they have while on the road. Their great attitude and focus on their job is very much appreciated by the individuals we serve and their families.”
About School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
The Ohio Legislature designated the first Monday in May as School Bus Driver Appreciation Day to “increase public recognition of the important function that school bus drivers serve in safely transporting children to and from school.” “Safely transporting students to and from school is vital to education,” said State Superintendent Stan Heffner. “The professionalism of Ohio’s 15,000 school bus drivers is why the school bus remains – by far – the safest way for students to get to school.” Ohio school bus drivers transport over 900,000 students daily, covering 1 million miles per day to accomplish that task. At the same time, the school bus safety record is unsurpassed, greatly exceeding that of automobiles, commercial buses and even passenger trains”
What it takes to be a bus driver in Ohio
To qualify to become a school bus driver in Ohio, an applicant must complete pre-service training and certified on-bus training, pass a driving evaluation and obtain a commercial driver’s license. In addition, drivers must pass pre-employment background and drug screenings. Drivers are required to be re-certified every six years.
