March 12, 2008

Quote of the week:

All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.
--Aristotle

District News:

• There will be a community meeting on budget reductions on Wednesday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Forest Park Senior Center so that district staff, families, and community members can provide feedback to the administration on proposed cuts due to the failed levy.

• Congratulations to Winton Woods Board of Education member Cindy Emmert who will be recognized at the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) regional meeting on March 18 for being on the Board for 10 years. 

• Spring Break begins on Friday, March 21.  Classes resume on Monday, March 31.

Winton Woods High School News:

• Representative Steve Chabot will visit Winton Woods High School to meet with Chorus Directors David Bell and Ben Spalding and members of the Varsity Ensemble on Tuesday, March 18 to congratulate them on their upcoming visit to China to perform in “A Choral Salute to the Beijing Olympics.”

Chabot will present a video of the speech he recently gave on the floor of the House of Representatives in which he recognized Varsity Ensemble’s achievement. He will also present the group with a flag that has been flown over our nation’s capitol. 

• Congratulations to Winton Woods High School Biotechnology student Dacresa Pennington who received the runner’s up award for her Biotechnologies Pathway Capstone Project at the Tech Prep Showcase on February 28 at UC Clermont College.  Pennington and classmates Desirae Bedford, Kia Burston, and Jazmine Burton have worked hard all year to complete their capstone projects.  The capstone is a required portion of the high school’s Biotechnology course, a rigorous two-year program which is part of Tech Prep.  In order to complete the capstone, students must design, research, and carry out a scientific research project from start to finish. 

The conclusion of their projects was to present their research in poster form at the Tech Prep Showcase.  This is an annual event where all students involved in a Tech Prep program present their work. All four seniors did an excellent job on their projects and presentations.  One judge, Chuck Hatcher, from Cincinnati State, was “very impressed” with their knowledge and experiments. 

• Stephen Norman, a 2004 Winton Woods High School graduate, spoke with the juniors and seniors of the Biotechnology class to explain the importance and real world opportunities that their program is offering them.  Norman currently works for a Cincinnati company called Biologic that works with the University of Cincinnati and other research groups to help them develop products of interest to the pharmaceutical industry.  He also spoke of the importance of having business skills along with knowledge of biology. 

Norman emphasized the importance of understanding the global picture when looking at science, technology, and industry.  “The students seemed to really enjoy his presentation and appreciate more what they are learning in school,” said Biotechnology teacher Melinda Reilly.

• Students participating in the upcoming Job Fair on April 9 at the Forest Park Senior Center have been invited to a seminar conducted by Cincinnati Financial and the City of Forest Park dealing with Interview skills and resume writing. The seminar will be March 18 and 19 during sixth bell in the high school auditorium. According to Senior Counselor Kevin Jones, all 160 interview times for the job fair have been filled. “The students have been very interested in this opportunity,” said Jones. 

• The University of Cincinnati football program and Coach Kerry Coombs have officially offered Winton Woods junior Chris Williams a scholarship for the 2009 school year.

• Winton Woods High School will present its Winter Sports Awards on Monday, March 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

• Congratulations to Winton Woods High School Sports Marketing students Ari Sanders, Ashley Weihe, Noleena Booker, and Dan Clark who have qualified for DECA International Competition in Atlanta, Georgia in April.

• You can own a piece of Winton Woods history and help the band raise money for new uniforms by purchasing a Winton Woods band pillow.  Pillows are made from old band uniforms, come in “button front” and “W front” designs, and are $40.00 each.  Delivery will take 4-6 weeks from the time of order. Checks should be made out to Winton Woods High School and orders sent to Band Director Dani Ashbrook, Winton Woods High School, 1231 W. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45240.  Questions? Call Dani Ashbrook at 619-2420 or email ashbrook.danelle@wintonwoods.org.

Winton Woods Middle School News:

• The Phoenix Academy (formerly Project Advance) Open House has been rescheduled for Friday, April 18 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

Winton Woods Intermediate School News:

• With rules like “learn something new” and “have fun,” COSI’s visit to Winton Woods Intermediate School was sure to be a success. COSI came to WWIS on March 5 and 6 with its program “Super Structures” about architecture and engineering. Thanks to the many volunteers who made this a fun and worthwhile event for students!

Winton Woods Elementary News:

• Because of an early release this past Friday, our "Fun Friday" student recognition event for February has been rescheduled to Friday, March 14 for third grade students.  Fun Friday is a recognition program that students qualify for by doing everything expected of them for a month of school.  On Thursday, March 20, fourth grade students will have a special Thursday edition of Fun Friday as spring break begins Friday, March 21.

• Students in third and fourth grade just completed their final run of practice testing for the Ohio Achievement Tests (OAT) on Wednesday, March 12.  The actual OATs will take place starting on Monday, April 21 for our fourth grade students and will run through that week.  Third grade students will begin testing on Monday, April 28 and conclude testing on Wednesday, May 1.  Because every student must take these tests by law, it is critical that all students be present on the days that these tests take place.  Please plan any out-of-town trips or schedule any appointments for days and times other that these weeks.  We want our students to have the very best opportunity to be able to show all that they know and have learned this school year. 

• The third grade spring concert is Tuesday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Winton Woods Elementary in the gym. The theme for this year's concert is "This Place Is A Zoo!" and will feature numerous songs about animals.  We hope to see all of you there!

• Our Dad's Club event is Saturday, March 15 and this month’s activity will be bowling.  We'll meet at Fairfield Lanes in Fairfield from noon until 2:00 p.m.  The cost is $8 per person, which includes shoe rental and all you can bowl for two hours.  We welcome students to come with any significant adult male figure in their lives—dads, step-dads, granddads, godfathers, uncles, older brothers, cousins ... you name it.  Come on out, bowl, make some connections. It'll be fun!
• On Friday, April 4, WWES students will have the opportunity to experience an opera classic entitled The Barber of Seville.  We'll have two shows, one at 9:30 a.m. for third graders and one at 12:45 p.m. for fourth graders.  We're excited at the prospect and appreciative of our WWC PTA for bringing this show to us.  Parents are welcome to attend.

Winton Woods Primary News:

• The Primary North and South Family Reading Night is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, March 12 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. This family event will be hosted at Primary South.  We look forward to seeing everyone there for an evening of fun reading activities for all ages.

• Primary North and South students have been working very hard on the Terra Nova Testing this week.  Congratulations on your hard work!

• Primary North Spring Picture Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 20.  This is considered an Out-of-Uniform Day and students may wear their favorite outfit for their spring Lifetouch picture.  Please dress appropriately. Lifetouch suggests that fun, bright solids work best.

• Primary South Spring Picture Day is also scheduled Thursday, March 20.  Students must wear their school uniforms but are permitted to bring a change of clothes for their spring Lifetouch picture.  Students must change back to their uniforms after their pictures are taken.

• When the adults were voting in the primary elections last week, the students at Primary North also voted. We are proud to announce the library polar bear now has a name. The 5-foot tall polar bear's new name is Angel Bear. 332 students voted and 100 votes were for Angel Bear.  The second runner-up was Polar Bear North (49 votes), then Claws (47 votes). Thank you for voting and remember every vote counts!  Thank you to second grader Taylor Sinkking and Wilma Melson for donating Angel Bear.

• Boonshoft Museum is coming to Primary South on March 17 – 19 to present “Nesting Time.” This PTA-sponsored program is a hands-on workshop for students to learn about birds and the way they make their nests.  Parent volunteers are needed throughout the school day for all three days of the program. To volunteer, please contact Bobbie Johnson at 544-3080.

• Primary South would like to congratulate the following students who have been awarded the Character Counts "Citizenship Award" for February:
Kindergarten: Dezerae' Pollard, Ary Miranda, Danny Marla, Jessy James, Francisco Navarro, Nicole James, and Nathan Washam. 
First Grade: Alayzha Noble, Stephen Platt, Versean Flowers-Ingram, Tamia Scott, Oscar Hays, and Naomi Lowery
Second Grade: Drew Jackson, Bo Vera-Philpot, Marcus Shadd, John Bradford, Jakob Nickel. Matthew Courter, Anna Johnson, and Nick Kress.

Winton Woods Community PTA News:

• The Winton Woods PTA Nominating Committee is actively seeking men or women who would be interested in holding a PTA Board position for the 2008-2009 school year. The only qualifications needed are genuine caring for the kids and a commitment to be involved!
 
If you have any interest in holding an Executive Board position—such as President, Vice President, Treasurer, or Corresponding Secretary (responsible for sending out PTA-related emails)—we’d love to hear from you!  If you have an interest in holding one of the Board positions at an individual school, please respond also. 

We are also looking for parents to represent each school building on a Parent Board. The Parent Board would include the building Vice President, Financial Officer, a teacher representative, as well as parents who would help address the unique needs, events, and programs at that particular building.  We are asking for extra consideration at the Primary North and South buildings as they are in need of Board members.

 
 If you are interested, please contact a member of the WWC PTA Nominating  committee:

 Eileen Mannira, 851-3369 or tmannira@cinci.rr.com
 Michele Richard, michele10613@hotmail.com
 Angela Colyer, 742-9389
 
 Thanks so much for your consideration!