warming up for their competitions that will occur soon. I'd like to take a little time this month to highlight a new program that we are able to offer to our students through the generosity of Mr. David Lee Morgan, Jr.

   Mr. Morgan was a guest speaker in our building last May during Right to Read week. He spoke to our students and the faculty about the book he had written about LeBron James. Mr. Morgan enjoyed Crestwood Middle School students so much that he worked with Mrs. Harris, one of our 7th grade language arts teachers and the teacher who originally made contact for him to visit our school, to develop a character education program that he now teaches one day a week to our students.

   Mr. Morgan, who is a sports writer for the Akron Beacon Journal, designed the character education program using the Winner's Manual, a book that Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel gives to his football players.

  Mr. Morgan knows Coach Tressel well and is in the process of writing a book entitled, More Than A Coach, which features stories about Coach Tressel and his philosophies on and off the field told by his former players.

   Each Friday, Mr. Morgan comes to CMS and works with approximately 75 students on a different fundamental, like attitude. He shares with the students real life experiences that tie into the value being discussed. Mr. Morgan's dynamic personality engages the students week after week. The schedule is set up so that Mr. Morgan is able to speak with every student in the school over a four week period of time.

   I thank Mr. Morgan for volunteering his time to work with our students at CMS. I also thank Mrs. Harris for making this connection that has been so valuable to our school and for working with Mr. Morgan to develop the program.

  Our school is a better place because of the volunteer efforts of people like David Lee Morgan, Jr.

Andy Hill

Principal, CMS

David Lee Morgan, Jr. has traveled all over Northeast Ohio speaking to students about the importance of education. Mr. Morgan spoke to our school last spring and found our students awesome, very attentive and engaging. He collaborated with language arts teacher Mrs. Harris to continue with a Character Education program and tailored it to teachings that Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel taught his players at Youngstown State and Ohio State.

CRESTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dear Parent/Guardian(s)

  It's hard to believe that almost half of  our school year is over! We are now in the full swing of our winter athletic season and  our Power of Pen and Math 24 teams are

Coach Tressel gave each player a book called ``The Winner's Manual'', and Mr. Morgan has based his program on that book. He hopes to inspire students to be the best you can be in everything you do. He stresses the basic elements of life that can help anyone become a better person regardless of what they do in life.