April 30, 2008

Quote of the week:

The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.
-- John Lubbock

District News:

• The Winton Woods City School District Board of Education has introduced three different ballot initiatives, as well as the possibility of placing one of those on a ballot for a special election on August 5, 2008. These initiatives include a 7.95 mil operating levy, a 7.5 mil operating levy, or a 1% alternate base earned income tax to generate $4.4 million per year. The purpose of the levy is to approve additional funding for general operations of the school district. The final decision to proceed with any August levy will occur by May 14.

 The failure of the district’s March levy led to the recommendation of nearly $1  million in budget cuts for the 2008-2009 school year.  These adjustments were voted on and approved at the April 28 Board meeting. These cuts include additional personnel cuts, wage freezes for administrative and exempt personnel, increases in student fees, and the loss of high school busing. 

 These reductions come on the heels of an additional $1 million cut from the  district’s 2006 budget, and $2 million in savings in 2007-2008 achieved through  reconfiguration of the district’s elementary schools.

 Should additional funding not be secured in calendar year 2008, the district will  be forced to proceed with across-the-board elimination of certain extracurricular,  optional programs including athletics, optional arts and music offerings; K-8 busing  outside of a two-mile radius; as well as increased classroom sizes to make up the  continuing shortfall.

 Winton Woods City Schools serves 3,800 students of Greenhills, Forest Park,  and Springfield Township, as well as required services to additional 1,000 private  and parochial students of those communities.

• Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4 – 10.  Please take some time to tell our teachers how much you appreciate them.

• School Nurse Day is May 7.  Please let our nurses know how much you appreciate all they do for our students.

Winton Woods High School News:

• A group of 10th grade biology students at Winton Woods High School celebrated National DNA Day by wearing t-shirts specially designed for the event by tenth grader Candido Garcia.  Garcia’s t-shirt uses the DNA double helix as the basis of his design, with two people on each side of the helix and one person on top. Chemistry teacher Laura Burton said Garcia’s design was chosen by a panel of teachers and students from designs submitted from five tenth grade biology classes. “Candido’s design got the whole global concept of DNA,” said Burton. Senior art instructor Carol Becci-Youngs helped Garcia edit and clean up his design. 

The other finalists in the t-shirt design contest included Kylie Schmittou (“Yay for DNA”), Keizayla Fambro (“Get your DNA On”), and Juwairya Ali (“Gene and Genome”).  Burton used $125 in grant money to print 20 shirts with Garcia’s design.  All finalists received a shirt, as did students whose names were drawn in a raffle.

National DNA Day is an opportunity for students and teachers to learn more about genetics and genomics. It was created to commemorate the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of DNA's double helix. According to Joyce Feltz, manager of Instructional Programming at Miami University, breakthroughs in genetic science lead to better understanding and treatment of diseases, new techniques in forensic science, and a deeper appreciation of the relationship between humans and other organisms. National DNA Day was April 25, 2008.

The DNA Day project at Winton Woods High School was coordinated by Winton Woods High School Science Teacher Laura Burton and Science Intervention Specialist Denise Davenport. 

• A huge thank you goes out to everyone who donated money for the Winton Woods High School Band Uniform Tag Day on Saturday, April 26.  The students who participated raised over $3,900 that will go directly to the purchase of new marching band uniforms. “This is getting us so much closer to our goal,” said Band Director Dani Ashbrook.

A special thank you to the adults who drove the students all over the district: Band Director Kim Ohlweiler, Band Director Kara Barbee, Band Director Matt Buhl and parents Candy Hein, John Jordan, Bob Rocklin, Thelma May, Veronica Pope, and Cheryl Piper. 

In addition to the Tag Day, the band has also sold poinsettias, butter braids, and uniform pillows to help raise money for the new uniforms. Band members will also be performing at a few local events for donations, including a Memorial Day service on Sunday, May 25 at 2:00 p.m. at Arlington Cemetery.  Business sponsors are being sought for this event, and the Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home has come on board with a generous contribution.

“While fundraising efforts are going well, the goal has not yet been met,” said Ashbrook, who had to cut back her first uniform order. “We are getting 125 uniforms now, and some more in the future,” she said. “That cuts the cost down to $44,000 roughly.”  Besides student fundraising, the Winton Woods Music Boosters are paying for half of the new uniforms.  

If you would like to make a donation, please make checks payable to “WWHS BAND” and send them to Dani Ashbrook, Director or Bands, Winton Woods High School, 1231 W. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45240.
 
 Be a part of the spirit!  Know that you helped make it all possible when you see the new uniforms at future district events.

• The Senior Recognition Band Concert will be Thursday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium.

• Academic Awards Night will be Tuesday, May 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium.

• The Winton Woods High School prom, “Diamonds Are Forever,” will be May 3 at 8:00 p.m. at the Kolping Center.

• This summer the Winton Woods Music Boosters will help operate the concessions areas during the Western and Southern Financial Group Tennis Tournament at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.  Volunteers are needed (ages 16 and up) to work five-hour shifts during the men’s tournament from July 25 – August 3 or during the women’s tournament from August 10-17.  Shifts are available both during the day and at night.  Experience isn’t needed; you’ll be trained.  Volunteers will receive a free shirt and a meal ticket each day worked.  Parking is free and in a specially-designated volunteer area.  If transportation is a problem, Music Boosters will be happy to arrange a ride for you.

The Winton Woods Music Boosters will receive a $25 donation for each five-hour shift worked.  All money will go to the Booster’s uniform fund for the replacement of band uniforms; choir dresses, skirts, robes, vests and bow ties; and orchestra tuxedos and shirts.

To volunteer, contact John Jordan at 729-5449 or jjordan_8528@fuse.net.

• The second annual Winton Woods Music Boosters “Stop, Shop and Swap Gigantic Yard Sale” is returning this summer on Saturday, August 2 at Winton Woods High School.  Save the date and save your stuff!  This is a good time to clean out your basement and get rid of your used items while helping out a worthy cause.  It’s also a perfect opportunity to buy some gently-used school uniforms or find that special treasure.  If you’d like to reserve a space or have questions, contact event coordinator Debbie Day at 729-0420 or dayogames@yahoo.com.

• The Cincinnati Pops invites friends and family of Winton Woods High School to enjoy a 25% discount off the May 9, 10 and 11 “Magical World of Disney” Pops show at Music Hall. Members of the Varsity Ensemble will be performing with the Pops for these three performances. Tickets may be ordered online at www.cincinnatisymphony.org and insert promo code 2498 to receive your special discount, or call the CSO Box Office at 513-381-3300 and mention that you are a friend of Winton Woods High School.

Winton Woods Middle School News:

• Congratulations to the Winton Woods Middle School chorus students who upheld their stellar record of performance at the “Music in the Parks” choral competition at King’s Island Amusement Park on Saturday, April 26. The seventh and eighth grade girls’ chorus won first place in the “class A” women's chorus competition.  The seventh and eighth grade boys’ chorus won second place in the “class A” men's chorus competition.  As a combined chorus, Winton Woods Middle School had won first place at this competition for the last two years.

Winton Woods Intermediate News:

• Congratulations to Winton Woods Intermediate School students and staff for successfully completing the Ohio Achievement Testing. Thank you to students (and their parents) for the outstanding attendance on testing days. 

• Congratulations to art teachers Mrs. Eversman and Mrs. Pearson for their outstanding art display at the Board meeting on Monday, April 28.  The exhibition of student work was excellent.  We would like to thank all of the parents and students for attending the event.   
 
• Mrs. Smith’s and Mrs. Taylor’s homerooms are the winners of the Proficiency Godmother Challenge that was held in preparation for the Ohio Achievement Tests.  These students competed in the academic challenge, which was led by the Proficiency Godmother Dr. Camille Nasbe, against the eight other homerooms and were able to earn the most points.  The final competition will be held on May 8 and will be taped by Waycross Community Television.  Congratulations and good luck to these students!

Winton Woods Elementary School News:

• By the end of the day on Wednesday, third graders will have taken both the reading and mathematics tests and will have completed their Ohio Achievement Tests for 2008.   Fourth graders finished up last week.  The tests have gone very well.  Great job students!  Parents, thanks for your ongoing support!

• To celebrate the successful completion of the OATs at WWES, there will be a special celebration called the “Bearcat Bash!” on Friday, May 2 at 2:30 p.m. in the gymnasium. The University of Cincinnati Dance Team will visit Winton Woods Elementary and perform for the whole student body.  The members of the UC Dance Team were the National Dance Team Champions this year. Several members of the 2007 UC football team will also be present. 

After the performance, these college students will talk to the third and fourth graders about striving for college, the importance of working hard and keeping good grades, and staying away from bad decisions like drugs and alcohol that can take away from their dreams.  We think this will be hugely successful, and that the kids will truly enjoy and learn from the event.  Parents are invited to attend.
 
• Our entire school will be taking a field trip to the Underground Railroad Museum and Freedom Center on Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 21—and we need chaperones! The third grade will be making the trip on Tuesday, while the fourth grade visits on Wednesday.  This is a wonderful and highly educational opportunity for all of our children. 

To make this happen, we will need plenty of parent chaperones.  The ratio we are after is one adult for every 10 students.  Bus transportation and free admission will be provided at the 10:1 rate.  Any parent interested in attending may do so, but some parents may have to pay if there is more than one adult for every 10 children actually accompany our students.  Please call WWIS at 619-2450 to request the Winton Woods Community PTA's main office.  Thanks to our WWC PTA for their support with this, and thanks to the Freedom Center for sharing its "Schooled On Freedom" grant and financial resources with WWES.  

• Another high-powered, educational field trip is taking place for WWES fourth grade students on Wednesday, May 14.  Fourth graders will travel by bus to the University of Cincinnati to take part in a large-scale economics simulation that they've been working on in-class for some time entitled the StEP or Student Enterprise Program.  This is an entrepreneurial fair that several schools around the city take part in at UC each year.

Students create their own communities and economies within their classrooms and then market the products that they develop and produce to other classes and to other schools at the culminating event in May at UC at the StEP marketplace fair.  Our students will also have the opportunity to tour the UC campus a bit and see what a university is all about.  Again, we'll need a 10:1 student to adult ratio, so if you're interested in being a chaperone for this event, please contact the WWES main office at 619-2490.

• The fourth grade spring concert will be Monday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
 
• Field Day will be Friday, May 23.  If you can help out or would like to donate water, juice, snacks or sporting gear/equipment for this great day of physical activity for our students, please contact the main office at 619-2490.
 
• The Dad's Club event for May will be Saturday, May 17 and will be a special evening activity starting at 6:30 p.m. at the school.   Stay tuned for more details.  Remember that the Dad's Club is open to students in our school district and any significant adult male figure in their lives--dads, step-dads, granddads, godfathers, uncles, older  brothers, cousins ... you name it.   We hope to see you there.
 
 
Winton Woods Primary News:

• Primary North and South Scholastic Book Fairs are scheduled for the week of May 12-16.  Family Night at the Fair is scheduled Tuesday, May 13 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  To help the success of the Book Fair, we need volunteers.  If you can help at Primary North, please contact Jennifer Bedan at 825-4652 or Media Assistant Karen Emmons at 619-2390.  If you can help at Primary South, please contact Media Assistant Stephanie Wheeler at 619-2470.  Remember, reading is the gift you give for a lifetime! 

• Primary South will present "Wind Around the Box,” a puppet presentation that provides students with information about tornado safety on May 2 for morning kindergarten students and on May 16 for afternoon kindergarten, first and second grade students.  The program is sponsored by the American Red Cross.

• Primary South is looking for volunteers to help out with its annual Field Day on Tuesday, June 3 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. This fun celebration of the school year can only happen with your help. To volunteer, contact Primary South PTA Vice President Bobbie Johnson at 544-3080. Even a half hour of time would help so much.

Community PTA News:

• The Winton Woods Community PTA invites all pre-K to sixth grade students and their families to Family Fun Night on Friday, May 2 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Winton Woods Intermediate School.  Join us for an evening of carnival games, prizes, a concession stand, and a PTA grand raffle.  Tickets for both games and food will be sold at the door and are four for $1 or a family roll of 50 tickets for just $10.  Wear your Warrior Spirit Wear for four free tickets at the door.  Each child in attendance will also receive a free kid’s meal certificate to CiCi’s Pizza, compliments of CiCi’s and the PTA.

The raffle includes the grand prize of a 2008 Greenhills Swimming Pool family membership pass (a $185 value), as well as Warrior Spirit Wear and additional prizes.  One free grand raffle ticket is included with the purchase of a family roll of game tickets.  Additional raffle tickets are available to purchase.  We hope to see you at Family Fun Night! (Please remember that students must be accompanied by an adult.)

Parents interested in helping at Family Fun Night are asked to contact Eileen Mannira at tmannira@cinci.rr.com or 851-3369.
 

Community News:

• The last letters for "Operation Letter Storm" to our troops this school year will be collected on Monday, May 5.  These letters will be put in care packages from the Dayspring Church in Forest Park and mailed in time for Memorial Day to those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Japan, and all over the world. The Dayspring Yellow Ribbon Support Group, the Thank You Foundation, and all our troops would like to thank Winton Woods students for their many heartfelt letters of thanks for the sacrifices our troops are making in fighting for freedom.

Special thanks to Girl Scout Troops 48736 and 48235 for donating over 60 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to send to the troops.  This little taste of home was greatly appreciated.  Please send all your letters to Media Specialist Karen Emmons at Winton Woods Primary North.

• The renowned African Children's Choir (ages 7-11) will present a free performance on Sunday, May 11 at the Dayspring Church, 1060 Smiley Road in Forest Park (near Wal-Mart) at 10:40 a.m.  The choir's joyful music is a blend of song and dance and of the diversity of the African people. It features more than ten languages and unique cultural dancing. The children in the choir come from very poor villages, and many are orphans who would like the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness they already know so well. 

Our students are becoming more aware of the world outside their community this year with events such as the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble trip to China and the district’s Operation Letter Storm for our military troops. The African Children's Choir experience gives our students yet another great opportunity to broaden their awareness of children, just like them, who are in need.  You can visit the choir’s website at www.africanchildrenschoir.com.

• The Greenhills Spring Art Show and Sale will take place at the Greenhills Community Building on Sunday, May 25 from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.  Featured artists include Glen Anaple, Susan Stenger, and other local and regional artists.  Also showing is the Gifted Art Student Show from Winton Woods City Schools.  Artists are still being accepted for this show. A percentage of the proceeds from the Spring Art Show and Sale will benefit the Greenhills Historical Society’s Art and Architecture Restoration Fund.  For more Information, call Debbie Mills at 513-851-1999.