March 19, 2008

Quote of the week:

A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.
                                                --Kahlil Gibran

District News:

• There will be a community meeting on budget reductions on Wednesday, April 2 at 7 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 City Schools Treasurer Tom Golinar who has been officially licensed by the Accountancy Board of Ohio as a Certified Public Accountant.  Golinar passed all four parts of the new CPA exam on his first try. In 2006, only 7.1% of those who took the CPA exam passed all four sections of the new exam the first time it was taken. The four parts of the exam are financial accounting and reporting, auditing, regulation (tax and law), and business environment and concepts.

"Less than three years ago, our treasurer, Tom Golinar, set a goal to become a Certified Public Accountant.  This involved studying in his spare time for a series of very rigorous exams, the last of which he passed this past December,” said Superintendent Dr. Camille Nasbe. “The Winton Woods family is very proud of his accomplishment and salutes his dedication. While achieving this goal was a professional milestone for Tom, it is an added bonus for the Winton Woods taxpayers who are the direct beneficiaries of his increased skill and leadership in the school finance arena."

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

Winton Woods High School News:

• With over 2,000 marketing students participating in 38 events, the competition was stiff at Ohio DECA’s 65th annual Career Development Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus on March 18. Yet four Winton Woods High School Sports Marketing students met the challenge and will now compete in April at the International DECA Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Noleena Booker placed third in Apparel and Accessories Marketing; Dan Clark placed fourth in Sports and Entertainment Marketing Individual Series competition; and Ashley Wiehe and Ariana Sanders placed fourth in the Financial Analysis Team Event.  This qualifies them to compete at the International DECA Conference with over 13,000 marketing students from the 50 states, plus Germany, Guam and Canada.

Other Winton Woods Sports Marketing students who won recognition were Steven Cleary, who placed in the Top 10 in Sports and Entertainment Marketing Individual Series; Antonio Etter and Andrew Finnerson in Sports and Entertainment Team Event and Mitchell Williams and Roderick Fitzgerald in Buying and Merchandising Team Event.

Eleven students from the Winton Woods Sports Marketing Program competed at the Ohio DECA competition.  Their performance at district-level competition in February qualified them to compete in this event.

• Representative Steve Chabot visited Winton Woods High School to meet with Chorus Directors David Bell and Ben Spalding and members of the Varsity Ensemble on March 18 to commend them for their “hard work, dedication and long rehearsals” in preparing for their upcoming visit to China to perform in “A Choral Salute to the Beijing Olympics.” The chorus will be traveling to Beijing and Shanghai over spring break.

Chabot presented the group with a framed copy of the proclamation he read on the floor of the House of Representatives and a flag that had been flown over the Capitol.  Chabot also commended the choir directors for their work with the students. “It takes quite a talent to bring that talent together,” said Chabot.

• Varsity Ensemble members received embroidered windbreaker jackets they will be wearing throughout their tour of China. The jackets were donated by the Winton Woods Music Boosters and embroidered by Distinctive Togs with a logo designed by Varsity Ensemble parent Amy Lord Flury.  Special thanks go out to Music Booster President Barb Cooper, Marcia McGill of Distinctive Togs and Amy Flury.

Choir members will also proudly wear embroidered golf shirts given to them by Mr. Don Gillespie, father of Winton Woods High School basketball coach Donnie Gillespie. The shirts will be worn as the group performs at an exchange concert at Experimental School attached to the Haidian Teachers’ Training College of Beijing. 

• Varsity Ensemble members used their annual “Tune Up Concert” to sing their thanks to the many supporters who are helping to send the group to China. Director David Bell took time out of the concert to express his gratitude to the many individuals who have made the trip possible through financial contributions, help with fundraising or telling the choir’s story. The list ranged from district staff to community members to local media outlets. “We didn’t receive many big contributions from large corporations,” Bell said of the more than $100,000 raised. “We did receive a good number of smaller contributions from people who wanted to help us achieve this dream.”

At the concert, the Varsity Ensemble premiered its performance of “In Harmony (He')” by Rollo A. Dilworth, who is conducting the choir in China at “A Choral Salute to the Beijing Olympics. Other pieces performed include “Gate Gate” by Brian Tate, “O Nata Lux” by Morten Lauridsen and “The Battle of Jericho” by Moses Hogan.

"It is my vision that this opportunity will help to open doors for our students at a critical juncture in their lives,” said Bell. “Many of these students have never traveled far beyond the world that ends at the borders of our community.  It is my hope that this will be a life-changing experience that will help our students to see a broader world view that will have an impact throughout their adult lives."

To see the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble perform “The Battle of Jericho” from the concert, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BheKvSbWpQg. The video is courtesy of Music Booster President Barb Cooper.

• Thanks to the generosity of teachers, staff and administrators, Winton Woods High School was able to award 120 prizes to students with perfect attendance during OGT week. Prizes ranged from gift cards to iTunes, Best Buy and area restaurants to sports apparel. The grand prize was a season pass to King's Island. 

• Representatives from Cincinnati Financial came to Winton Woods High School on March 18 to conduct a seminar dealing with interview skills and resume writing with students who are participating in the upcoming Job Fair on April 9 at the Forest Park Senior Center.

• Winton Woods High School honored those athletes participating in bowling, basketball, wrestling, and cheerleading during its annual Winter Sports Awards ceremony on Monday, March 17. Special awards presented include: 

Boys Bowling
Most Valuable Bowler – Jason Koeninger
Most Improved Bowler – Kyle Day
Warrior Award – Brandon Thomas
Charlie Fredrick Sportsmanship Award – Maurice Richardson

Girls Bowling
Most Valuable Bowler – Jazmine Burton
Most Improved Bowler – Lakia Cunningham
Warrior Award – Jessica Rice
Charlie Fredrick Sportsmanship Award – Jasmine Rice

Wrestling
Most Valuable Wrestler – Joe Booker
Most Improved Wrestler – Royal Williams
Warrior Award – Eric Stearns
Charlie Fredrick Sportsmanship Award – Cordell Boyd

Boys Basketball
Academic Award (Highest G.P.A.) – Danny Goins
Defensive Player of the Year – Maurice Norman
Chairman of the Boards – Allen Payne
Mr. Ice (Best FT%)  - Kierre Greenwood
Most Improved Player – Maurice Norman
Warrior Award – Dominique Brown
Newcomer of the Year – Thomas Owens
Charlie Fredrick Sportsmanship Award – Danny Goins
Offensive Player of the Year – Warren Niles
Best Field Goal % - Trevor Niles

Cheerleaders
Most Valuable Cheerleader – Valerie Roberson
Most Improved Cheerleader – Brittney Cheatham
Charlie Fredrick Sportsmanship Award – Ashley Weihe & Lyndsay Tankersley

Girls Basketball
Best Offensive Player – Jasmine Shaw
Best Defensive Player – Dayeesha Hollins
Most Assists – Jasmine Shaw
Best Free Throw Shooter (80.4%) – Courtney Lumpkin
Most Improved Player – Angel Edwards
Best Rebounder – Cherish Smith
Leadership Award – Kiki Johnson & Courtney Lumpkin
Charlie Fredrick Sportsmanship Award – Kiki Johnson
Warrior Award – Zipporah Tidwell
Most Outstanding Players – Jasmine Shaw & Dayeesha Hollins

• 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 619-2437 or email ashbrook.danelle@wintonwoods.org.

Winton Woods Middle School News:

• There will be an OAT incentive assembly this Thursday afternoon for students.  During the assembly the eighth grade volleyball team will play the lady staff members.

Winton Woods Intermediate School News:

• There are only twelve 2007-2008 Yearbooks still available to order. After these are gone there will not be any extra copies left to purchase at the end of the school year. Order forms are available in the school office.

Winton Woods Primary News:

• Primary North and Primary South Spring Picture Day is Thursday, March 20.  Each school has it own policy for appropriate dress for spring pictures.  Primary North is allowing "out-of-uniform" for picture day.  However, students MUST dress appropriately.  Primary South is allowing students to bring a change of clothes, but must be in uniform before and after picture taking.
• The last day of the 3rd quarter is March 20.
• Third quarter report cards will go home on April 3.
• Primary North and Primary South will each host a Fine Arts Night scheduled on April 17 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.   This is an opportunity to view student work and will serve as an Open House for new parents.

• The Primary South Award Assembly is scheduled for April 11th from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Winton Woods Community PTA News:

• Market Day needs your help. The Winton Woods Community PTA is looking for 3-4 chairpersons to run the Market Day program for the 2008-2009 school year. The new chairpersons can choose a new day and time for this program, and the current chairwomen, Jackie Colvin and Yvette Edwards, will train their replacements as much as possible this school year! For more information contact Jackie Colvin(jackie9391@zoomtown.com) and Yvette Edwards (edwards.yvette@yahoo.com).
 
 
• 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!

Community News:

• The Forest Park Library will have an evening program called "How Should I Read with My Child?"  This program is designed to teach adults how to interact with their small child with picture books in order to help develop language and pre-reading skills in toddlers and preschoolers.  The session will demonstrate easy and fun techniques. 
 
The program is for adults only.  Participants will receive a gift bag of new books to take home and use with their child.
 
The program is on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Forest Park Library.  Advance registration is required by April 1 in order for materials to be prepared ahead of time.  You can register by calling 513-369-4478.
 
Forest Park Library is located at 655 Waycross in Forest Park at the intersection of Waycross and West Sharon. 
 
Don't miss this free opportunity to learn ways to help your child prepare for reading and have fun.