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Quest for Success program topic for Steubenville Kiwanis

GUEST SPEAKER — Mark Masloski, Jefferson County Educational Service Center administrative assistant and Quest for Success program manager, was a recent guest speaker at the Steubenville Kiwanis Club where he was introduced by club President Janna Rusinovich-Sims. -- Janice Kiaski

STEUBENVILLE — An update on the annual “Trivia Night” fundraiser and a presentation from a representative of the Jefferson County Educational Service Center constituted one of the February noon luncheon and business meetings of the Steubenville Kiwanis Club held at the YWCA of Steubenville.

Tom Timmons, club secretary-treasurer and chair of the upcoming 10th-annual trivia night competition, said 15 teams are on board for the fundraiser that will be held March 14 at Steubenville High School’s Commons, but more teams can still sign up.

It begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. and offers participants an opportunity to test their knowledge in a “fun, fast-paced trivia competition” environment.

The entry fee is $120 per team for up to 10 people on a team with the fee including 10 mulligans. Teams interested in participating can contact Timmons at (740) 314-9574.

Teams will compete for cash prizes — first place, $500; second pace, $250; and third place, $100 — and bragging rights at the fundraiser that also will include a Chinese auction and a 50-50 drawing. Teams may bring their own snacks.

Club President Janna Rusinovich-Sims presided at the meeting where Mark Masloski, JCESC administrative assistant and Quest for Success program manager, was the guest presenter. He was accompanied by Martariesa Fiala, community coordinator at Quest for Success, which is available for fifth- through eighth-graders in Jefferson County schools with programming to boost math and literacy skills and social development.

Quest for Success is sponsored by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center and funded through a five-year $850,000 21st Century Grant from the Ohio Department of Education. The grant is in its third year, according to Masloski.

The purpose is to increase opportunities for students to succeed in literacy, mathematics, social development, family support and community involvement.

Programs are available before school from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and after school from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Quest Center at 2550 Cherry Ave. and in the afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

It involves not only Quest staff but community resources such as Coleman Professional Services, he noted.

“The biggest thing about this grant is you need to keep on writing this because in two years, we’re not going to have this money anymore so we’re trying to do some things to keep us sustainable,” he noted.

“Our grant is for five through eight, but if you know someone who would benefit from this program, let us know because it’s very effective for our students,” Masloski said.

The grant also provided for the takeover the alternative school that had been in years past at the Justice Center.

“We currently have about 62 students that have attended at least 30 days so far this year,” he said. “Every day we have about 25 to 35 kindergarten through 12 students,” he said, citing some examples of the school days as including everything from character education and college readiness to hands-on life skills, such as instruction on eggs and the many ways they can be prepared.

The alternative school is a nontraditional place for some students who need “five to 10 days to straighten up” but others who may thrive in the full time setting.

It provides “a structured, behaviorally-enhanced approach to students who demonstrate a pattern of maladaptive behaviors that may include poor attendance, aggression toward others, withdrawal, poor peer/adult relationships and court involvement,” according to its website.

“The primary goal of the program is to teach students the behaviors necessary to return to their home school program and to function within acceptable behavioral norms of the community.”

For information, call (740) 283-3347.

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