Posts Tagged ‘Center of Excellence’
Grand Rapids Construction Completed!
Wow, June is already here! I hope everyone is enjoying their summers. Players, I hope that while you are enjoying some down time, you are training hard for the upcoming season.
I am really excited to share this update with you all! Have a look at the photos below. We have completed the construction of the academic wing at our Center of Excellence at Southside Ice Arena here in Grand Rapids. While we are currently in the process of furnishing and branding our academic setup, construction is complete and the space looks fantastic.
Once complete, the TPH-Grand Rapids CoE academic setup will feature 3-4 different learning spaces, allowing us to customize the learning experience and put each individual in an environment where he or she learns best. The space will feature a traditional, rectangle-style classroom area, high top tables for active learners, comfortable chairs for students who learn best in a relaxed environment and independent study spaces for students who value quiet and privacy. Individualizing and customizing the learning experience is the name of the game with the CoE model. I know our Director of Academics Leah Sarnicola is super-excited to take charge of this space and foster a culture that promotes discipline, structure and most importantly, academic performance.
If you are interested in the Center of Excellence for the 2019-2020 school year, please feel free to reach out to me at any time and we can arrange a day and time to have a conversation either over the phone, or on-site at the CoE. If you’re ready to take the first formal step towards securing your space at the CoE, please visit the link below to apply and reserve your spot.
Center of Excellence student-athlete Spencer Sova talks about his magical season
DETROIT – Spencer Sova’s still trying to catch his breath.
It was quite the hockey season for the TPH Detroit Center of Excellence student-athlete.
Sova captured both a state and national title with his Little Caesars ’04 squad in a magical 14U season.
The Southfield, Mich., resident credited the bonds formed with his teammates for all the success his team had this season.
“At the beginning, we had a lot of new faces in our room, but we all bonded pretty quick and became a really close team. That’s pretty much what won us nationals, just everyone being so close and listening to each other.”
On March 10, Sova and the Little Caesars squad captured the 2019 MAHA 14U Tier 1 state title with a sweep of Honeybaked in the best-of-three final round. That secured their spot at the 2019 USA Hockey Nationals in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Little Caesars squad marched through the field in Penguins country, eventually beating Florida Alliance 4-0 in the 2019 USA Hockey 14U Tier 1 national championship game.
“It was great. Some of the games we had there, especially against Pittsburgh, was like a junior hockey game atmosphere. Our fans were nuts and it was just a lot of fun.”
Hearing the buzzer sound to officially declare LC as national champions was a surreal moment for the CoE student-athlete.
“Honestly, it was the best feeling I’ve had in hockey my whole career. Everyone was just happy for each other. The way we put in work this year, it was just amazing.”
Sova was one of the anchors on the blue line for the LC squad; they allowed only six goals over the course of six games at the national tournament.
It was Sova’s first experience at nationals, and he said he loved every minute of it. He also appreciated the flexibility offered by his online classes through Edmentum – Sova was able to get ahead in some classes before making the trek to Pennsylvania, then catch up on his studies after.
“When I was at nationals, I focused mainly on hockey,” Sova said. “Other kids had to work on homework and stuff. I was just focused on hockey the whole time… The flexibility we had was great.”
Sova thanked his TPH coaches for helping him build on his fundamental hockey skills and his understanding of the game throughout the season.
“A lot of my skills and stuff have improved a lot since I started attending the CoE. Just my mental game, too, on the ice – like where to be, when to make my moves and stuff.”
For more information about the TPH CoE, click here.
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Through academics, mentorship and athletics, TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, Total Package Hockey has assisted in the academic, athletic and hockey development of over 600 players who have advanced to junior, collegiate and professional hockey. Since inception, 45 #TPHTrained student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Draft, while 280 have committed to the NCAA level – 189 of which are Division I. In addition, 99 players have been selected in the OHL Priority Selection and 353 have signed tenders or been drafted in the USHL and NAHL. While TPH is proud of its student-athletes who have achieved success on-the ice, it is the process of developing young men and women as people, first and foremost, that our world-class team of coaches and mentors take the most amount of pride in. While it is our responsibility to prepare each individual for success on the ice, it is our mission to prepare each and every individual for success in the ultimate game – the game of life! To learn more about TPH, visit www.totalpackagehockey.com.
TPH Academic Partner Ranked #1
Edmentum has taken first place on the Quality Matters Scoreboard with 127 QM-certified courses for 2019.
MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Edmentum, a global education leader and pioneer in online teaching and learning solutions, now holds the #1 spot on the Quality Matters Publisher Certification Scoreboard for highest number of courses holding a Quality Matters (QM) Certification Mark, with 127 courses approved. In 2019 alone, 40 Edmentum courses were newly certified. Edmentum’s online courses, accessible through both Courseware and EdOptions Academy, provide solid, research-based curricula built from the ground up to align with state-specific academic standards and online learning best practices to empower student success.
Quality Matters (QM) utilizes its nationally recognized Rubric to measure the design efficacy and alignment of critical components in K–12 educational courses. The QM K–12 Publisher Rubric measures 39 different education Standards, with seven of those Standards considered “Essential.” Reviews are conducted by QM-Certified K–12 Course Reviewers—a course earns the QM Certification Mark once it meets QM Rubric Standards at the 85 percent threshold or better and meets all Essential Standards. Quality Matters has also reviewed each course for proficiency against the 52 iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses that have been utilized nationally. All 127 of Edmentum’s QM-certified courses are now listed in the QM directory of certified courses.
“We are very excited to be at the top of the Quality Matters Publisher Certification Scoreboard for the 2019–20 school year,” said Shane Dennison, state and federal programs manager at Edmentum. “We are committed to providing the highest-quality online courses, and it feels great to have that hard work recognized with these course certifications.”
The QM Certification Mark is the nationally recognized symbol of online and blended course-design quality, and it represents a research-based approach to creating learning environments that provide learners with a clear pathway to success. Seven U.S. states directly utilize the QM review process and findings for their K–12 course approvals, while several others indirectly utilize the QM K–12 Publisher Rubric.
About Edmentum
Edmentum, Inc., is committed to making it easier for educators to individualize learning for every student through simple technology, high-quality content, and actionable data. Founded in innovation, Edmentum’s powerful learning programs blend technology with individual teaching approaches. Edmentum is committed to being educators’ most trusted partner in creating successful student outcomes everywhere learning occurs. Edmentum solutions currently support educators and students in more than 40,000 schools nationwide. For more information, visit edmentum.com.
About Quality Matters
Quality Matters (QM) is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations. When you see QM Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process.
Read original article at: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190827005144/en/Edmentum-Claims-1-Spot-Quality-Matters-Publisher
Indy CoE Partners with Styner Sports Training
Greg Austin, Director of the Indy Center of Excellence, is pleased to announce that Styner Sports Training will provide the off-ice strength and conditioning program for the CoE student-athletes for the 2019-2020 school year.
“This is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to receive the professional off-ice strength and conditioning that Styner offers,: stated Coach Austin; “Off-ice conditioning is an important component of training elite hockey players and creating the well-rounded athlete.”
Chris Clyne, owner of Styner Sports, shared the announcement on Facebook. “We are excited to build on this relationship and eager to help develop these high end players.”
Styner Sports Training has been in business for several years and trains both individual players and also many of the local high school hockey teams. Of note, Styner Sports trained local NHL player Mason Jobst, forward for the NY Islanders.
The Center of Excellence Model Heads to the Desert
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that its eighth Center of Excellence will be housed inside the Ice Den in North Scottsdale, AZ. TPH and Coyotes Ice LLC, have joined forces to bring its Study, Train, Play academy-style model to the desert for the 2020-2021 school year.
“The Phoenix area is a growing hockey market and we couldn’t be more excited to become a part of the Arizona hockey landscape,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to bring the Center of Excellence to a community like North Scottsdale and be housed in an immaculate, state-of-the-art hockey facility like the Ice Den Scottsdale. The area is flourishing with youth hockey players and the market itself is second to none. Being part of the fabric of North Scottsdale and its surrounding communities, as well as having a partner who is as passionate and progressive as Taylor Burke means we are positioned to continue exceeding expectations of student-athletes, their families and all members of the hockey community. This is a great day for TPH, one we have been working towards for a long time.”
Bowen references Taylor Burke, a Minnesota native with an impressive business and philanthropical resume. The Burke family was responsible for the birth of the NHL Coyotes, spearheading Winnipeg’s relocation to the desert in 1996. Shortly after the team relocated, the family built the Ice Den Scottsdale which resulted in an immediate impact and changed the youth hockey landscape in the state. In 2011, program growth demanded the addition of a third sheet of ice, followed in 2014 by the acquisition of a second two sheet facility in the southeast valley. Over 20 seasons later, the building remains the Official Practice Facility of the Arizona Coyotes and offers hockey and skating programming for all ages and abilities. Constantly evolving and adapting to the needs of its players and skaters has been a key to the facility’s success.
In addition to offering quality programming, investing in the community remains top priority for the family. Since its inception in 1996, the Burke Family Foundation has directed its philanthropic efforts to partnerships and programs committed to providing and enhancing resources in the areas of health, education and athletics.
Still considered by some as a non-traditional hockey market, keeping top hockey prospects in the State of Arizona has in some cases proved a challenge. Burke believes the addition of the Center of Excellence to the Phoenix market will help entice the area’s youth to pursue their hockey goals, but remain at home in the process.
“Our motivation for partnering with TPH is to provide driven hockey players across all youth associations opportunities to master a sport that teaches so many valuable life lessons,” Burke said. “In partnering with TPH, we are providing the next level of that and so much more. Young hockey players in our area who have dreams of playing at the highest levels of hockey now have an elite-level training and academic learning option right in our backyard. The CoE model will incentivize families to keep their young hockey players at home, maintain the quality lifestyle the Phoenix metro area offers all of us and provide their sons and daughters access to a hockey academy that is truly cutting-edge. TPH’s arrival is a great win for hockey families across the entire Arizona hockey community.”
The “cutting-edge” program Burke speaks to references TPH’s on and off-ice Hockey-Athlete training curriculum, as well as its completely individualized, customized blended academic learning experience through Edmentum. Student-athletes attend the Center of Excellence on a clock similar to traditional school and receive elite-level hockey training and mentorship, all while studying in a learning environment that blends a proven, NCAA-accredited online learning platform with on-site academic leadership.
It is important to note that from an academic perspective, the Center of Excellence is not a “home school,” nor is it a “virtual school.” The CoE is a blended learning environment that utilizes an online platform to maximize academic development and outcomes customized for each individual student-athlete.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUSqFfk6wl4[/embedyt]
It is important to note that from an academic perspective, the Center of Excellence is not a “home school,” nor is it a “virtual school.” The CoE is a blended learning environment that utilizes an online platform to maximize academic development and outcomes customized for each individual student-athlete.
“The CoE model creates a best-of-both-world’s scenario,” Nathan Bowen explained. “Student-athletes complete their coursework online and have the option to take school home or on the road with them every day, with no fear of days missed due to their travels. At the same time, when student-athletes are on-site, they study under the direction of an academic leader who is focused on fostering a positive culture, maintaining accountability and putting a learning plan in place for each individual based on where, when and how he or she works best. Our layered academic approach ensures that when it’s time for our student-athletes to focus on hockey, whether its training at the CoE, practicing with their club teams or jumping on a plane to travel to games, they are on-pace or ahead in their courses.”
The process of implementing everything Bowen referenced is well underway. From a facility standpoint, Coyotes Ice President Mike O’Hearn says preparations are being made at the Ice Den Scottsdale as we speak.
“The collective vision of Coyotes Ice and TPH, is to create a one-stop-shop on the Ice Den grounds for all CoE attendees,” O’Hearn said. “We have identified space that will house a state-of-the-art academic wing and training center, both within steps of the ice arena’s main doors. We plan to offer on-site lunch plans, athlete-friendly snacks and a space for video sessions. This vision is in line with TPH’s philosophy of creating mini-campus style setups within their CoE locations. Our hope is that the TPH-Phoenix Center of Excellence will set the standard for what a CoE should look like.”
Even though the 2020-2021 school year is roughly nine months away, TPH will be releasing a variety of informational materials and will be scheduling a handful of both virtual and on-site open house events over the next several weeks. In the meantime, CEO Bowen hopes that Phoenix area hockey families will build up a sense of intrigue and give him and his team the opportunity to “show” the hockey community how the Center of Excellence will impact the aspiring elite hockey player, athlete, student and person.
“The vision of Total Package Hockey is to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. From being around Taylor and his team as well as interacting with others in the market, it is evident that in North Scottsdale and the surrounding areas, there is both passion and an expectation for doing things the right way. The CoE model is by no means perfect, but we believe it has the power to change lives for the aspiring elite hockey player, on the ice, in the weight room, in the classroom and most importantly, in the ultimate game- the game of life.”
TPH invites all interested Phoenix Center of Excellence candidates to visit the links below.
Kirsten Simms selected for U18 USA Women’s National Team
Congratulations to Kirsten Simms for being selected to the U18 USA Women’s National Team. In addition to this opportunity, Simms is also a 2022 commit to the University of Wisconsin.
“It is an incredible honor to be selected to this program. I am very excited and humbled by the opportunity to represent USA as a member of the U18 Women’s National Team. I really appreciate the many coaches and people who continue to support and encourage me in this journey, and I look forward to keep working as hard as possible to improve as a player and teammate every day” -Kirsten Simms
Simms has always competed at the highest levels of hockey including seasons spent with Compuware, Little Caesars, and Selects Academy. Simms was awarded MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in her first season with Selects Academy.
Simms is a TPH Center of Excellence alum, attending 7th and 8th grade at the Detroit location. Simms has participated regularly in the TPH 8 Week Progressional Program since its inception as well as other TPH training programs.
We are excited for the opportunities ahead for Kirsten and we will be cheering her on as she represents our country.
GET TO KNOW KIRSTEN
Nickname: Simmsy
Who are you inspired by?: Kedall Coyne-Schofield for how incredibly hard she works and for her dedication to the growing hockey as a sport.
Favorite Professional Team: Tampa Bay Lightning, especially getting to watch how Kucherov plays
Favorite NHL Players: Nikita Kucherov and Artemi Panarin
Sunsea Williams Joins TPH Atlanta
Total Package Hockey is excited to announce the addition of Sunsea Williams to the TPH Atlanta team as Director of Academics. Williams is joining TPH Atlanta after spending the last 4 years working in Student-Athlete Academic Support Services at Georgia Tech.
“I am truly grateful for this opportunity and very excited to join the TPH family! I am really looking forward to building relationships with the students and parents and utilizing the skills that I have gained to efficiently uplift the academic program.”
“We are very excited to add Sunsea to our team here in Atlanta. She will bring leadership, structure and knowledge to the Center of Excellence classroom here,” said Brad Schell, Director of Hockey Operations, “Coming from an institution like Georgia Tech, we are excited for what Sunsea will add to the student athlete experience especially in terms of culture and tradition.”
Born and raised in South Bend, IN, Williams is a Northern Illinois University Graduate with a Bachelors in Sociology and Masters in Adult and Higher Education. In her time at Northern Illinois, Williams Ran track and field and cross country at Northern Illinois University. Prior to her previous position, Williams served as an Academic Coordinator (2015-2017) and Assistant Director of Academic Programs (2017-2019) at Georgia Tech and a year as the Athletic Academic Advisor at Jacksonville State University
Please join us in welcoming Sunsea to the TPH Family!