November 29, 2007

Quote of the week:

Cherish your vision and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.

     --Napoleon Hill

District News:

• Representatives from Greenhills, Springfield Township and Forest Park joined parents, community members, staff and administrators from Winton Woods City Schools at “First F.I.R.E.,” the district’s annual meeting concerning financial information on revenues and expenditures. The meeting was the first annual update to inform the public on school funding and the ways the district is working to reduce expenditures. “We are concerned with containing costs as well as giving a quality education to our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Camille Nasbe.

Principals Anita Williams from Winton Woods High School and Dwight Campbell from Winton Woods Middle School began the evening with a video presentation of questions about school funding.  The second part of the evening’s presentation was a discussion of the district’s revenues and expenditures and was hosted by the principals of the district’s kindergarten through sixth grade buildings. Steve Denny, principal at Winton Woods Elementary School, acted like a guest on the district’s version of the television show “The View,” with principals Linda Giuliano (Winton Woods Primary South), Dr. Claire Crook (Winton Woods Primary North) and Tonya West-Wright (Winton Woods Intermediate School) serving as hosts. 

 The evening wrapped up with a presentation entitled “The Fruits of Our Labors” that detailed the ways the district is working to reduce expenditures. Superintendent Camille Nasbe was joined by Treasurer Tom Golinar in presenting this information.  The district has implemented cost-saving measures such as using centralized printing in buildings and containing utility costs by joining a pool of districts that gets lower rates through bulk purchases. The largest savings, however, have come with the recent reconfiguration of the district’s elementary schools. “Reconfiguration has reduced costs for the district by $1.6 million,” said Golinar. “Those costs will be reduced further with cost of living increases that we’ll save on in the future.” 

Anyone with a question about district finances may submit it at the “Comment Corner” on the district website at www.wintonwoods.org. Comment Corner is found under the “About Us” section. 

Thank you to all the local businesses who donated the food and drinks that were served throughout the evening: Riley’s (apple pies) and the Bearcat Grill (hot wings) in Greenhills, the Forest Park Papa John’s (pizza) and Wal-Mart (cheese and vegetable trays), and the Tri-State Juice Company (Coke products).

• Winton Woods Primary School North will once again honor men and women of the military with its sixth annual Hall of Heroes Open House on Saturday, December 1. The Hall of Heroes is the creation of retired Winton Woods fifth grade teacher Glenn Grundei, and is a permanent display of photos, newspapers, and memorabilia that tells the story of every war since World War I. It is also Grundei’s way of thanking members of the military for being modern day heroes.
 The guest speaker for this year’s Hall of Heroes is retired Air Force Col.  Dean Smittle, who serves as military analyst for WLW-AM (700) and is heard on Jim Scott’s morning show. Displays at this year’s event will  include:
 World War II Women’s Army Corp (WAC) - Dr. Lynn Ashley  
 World War II Navy Nurses - Bonnie Rost
 Korean War Veterans - Bob McGeorge
 Military Memorabilia – Dusty and Dakota White
 Military Memorabilia - Delhi Veterans 
  “This year’s program is dedicated to Edna Johnson, a World War II WAC  from Greenhills and to all veterans who have passed,” said Grundei.

• District 14 Honor band will be performing this weekend with a number of students from Winton Woods City Schools. The Honor Band high school group includes Evan Schultz on bassoon and Tyler Lendl on tuba. The Junior High group includes Tom Foertmeyer on alto sax, Meghan Stifel on bassoon, Adrianna Ivory on flute and Michael Spalding on bass clarinet.

These students auditioned for and made this prestigious group back in October. The concert is Sunday, December 2 at 3 p.m. at Walnut Hills High School.

Winton Woods High School News:

• Winton Woods families and community members are invited to “Wok 'n Rock at Molloy's,” a benefit in support of the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble’s trip to China.  The benefit will take place on Thursday, January 10, 2008 from 7:00–10:00 p.m.  Tickets are $25 per person in advance; $30 per person and cash only after January 3.  Food and soft drinks will be provided, and a cash bar will be available.

The evening will also feature entertainment by former Varsity Ensemble member Anna Beljin and her father, Milovan (www.annaandmilovan.com). Anna and Milovan have created an acoustic pop/folk/blues sound that will take guests from the 60's to the current hits.  Anna is currently a freshman at Miami University, but she and her father still perform regularly at such venues as Parkers Blue Ash Grill, The Blind Lemon, Arnold's, College Hill Coffee, and the Dilly Deli Restaurant.

Profits from this benefit will help the Varsity Ensemble further defray the cost of traveling to China in March 2008 to perform at “A Choral Salute to the Beijing Olympics.” All donations are tax–deductible. Checks should be payable to "Winton Woods Educational Foundation" and marked "China Trip."

For more information or for special table reservations for groups of 8–10, call Barb Cooper at 513-602-5602. Molloy’s is located at 10 Enfield Avenue in Greenhills.
 
• Winton Woods High School has announced its spring musical, The Sound of Music.  Choral Director David Bell said the last time Winton Woods did this production, his 17-year-old daughter Amanda was only five and played the part of Gretel.  Ben Spalding, who is now choir co-director with Bell, played the oldest son, Frederick. 

“This is a classic for the whole family and includes opportunities for all age levels,” said Bell.  Performance dates are April 18 and 19, 2008.  Auditions will be held at the end of January.  “Please help us spread the word and bring your friends,” said Bell. “It is a fun show with lots of memories for all!”
 
• Winton Woods High School Academic Coach Keri Thoman took 12 students to the Freestore Foodbank to distribute turkeys and other traditional Thanksgiving food before the holiday.

• The Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble will be performing at CCM’s Feast of Carols on Saturday, December 1 at 5:00 p.m. The links listed below show Varsity Ensemble students in an informational promotional spot about the event. The taping was done for WCET Public Television. Our students appear at both the beginning of the broadcast and at the conclusion of the interview with Dr. Earl Rivers, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and Winton Woods Choral Director David Bell. You can watch the promo either from CETconnect's homepage at http://www.cetconnect.org or from the Arts & Culture page on the site at http://www.cetconnect.org/arts_culture/. 

• Other Varsity Ensemble performances for early December include:
• Light Up Greenhills, Friday, November 30, 6:45 p.m., Greenhills Commons
• Greenhills Community Church Craft Show, Friday, November 30 at approximately 7:30 p.m., 21 Cromwell Road in Greenhills
• Glendale “Houses of Hope” Gala and Auction benefiting the Shiners Burns Hospital on Saturday, December 8 at 5:00 p.m.
• Singing Christmas Tree on Sunday, December 9 at 6:00 p.m. at Dayspring Church of God in Forest Park.
• Winton Woods Board of Education meeting on Monday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. at 1215 W. Kemper Road.

• Congratulations to Winton Woods High School’s Students of the Month for November: Brian Davis and Lidya Tsegay, who were honored at the November 26 Board of Education meeting.

• The Winton Woods Board of Education honored the district’s foreign exchange students at its November 26 meeting and thanked them for their participation in this worthwhile educational experience.  Exchange students this year are: Neele Christophers of Cuxhaven, Germany; Jennifer Hellgren-Starck of Balsta, Sweden; Elodie Latendresse of Quebec, Canada; Chiaki Teshima-Iwakuni of Yamaguchi, Japan; Jakob Heyer of Berlin, Germany; and Maria-Katharina Gonther of Germany.  Many thanks too for the host families who are making this experience possible!

• Students in Lauren Sabour’s World Affairs class are working on exhibits for their Museum of Human Rights, an annual event that will be presented in December at the high school. The exhibits are based upon the rights addressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that acknowledges the basic rights that every human has regardless of the rules set by their government.  The 36 students are researching cases in which people are still being denied basic rights such as safe water, freedom of religion, freedom from slavery, right to education, and the right to seek asylum, among others.  

 The museum will be open in the Winton Woods High School library on  Wednesday, December 12 and Thursday, December 13 during the school  day. It will also be open on the evening of December 13 from 6:30-9:00  p.m. during the band concert.
 
 
Winton Woods Middle School News:

• Congratulations to Winton Woods Middle School eighth grader Emily Cleary, who received the Kiwanis “Character is Key” award at the December 26 Board of Education meeting. Cleary’s certificate, presented by Greenhills/Forest Park Kiwanis president Dale Haller, read: “Your positive attitude, community service, school involvement in extra-curricular activities and exemplary academic record has not gone unnoticed. Your values truly reflect your commitment to be a responsible student not only to your peers, but also to your teachers, parents and community. Keep up the good work!”

• Students in Patricia New's art class have been busy for the last two months making a difference in their school and community with their "Make a Difference Day" projects using printmaking techniques. “I hoped to have the students dig a little deeper and look around their community or within themselves to find what they truly wanted to change, reflect or affect,” said New. “One of the criteria for all projects I assign is to make art personally meaningful.”

 As part of their Make a Difference Day projects, New said her first bell art  students are planning to visit leukemia patients in the Oncology Unit of  University Hospital.  “The students combined their prints into one large  puzzle for patients to work on while they visit the center,” said New.  The  students also made posters for the school's hallways and personal prints  to display and to keep.

Second bell students are hoping to raise awareness and understanding of  AIDS, with an emphasis on increasing positive choices and prevention.  They also created posters for the school's hallways and made their own  personal prints. Students in fourth bell art plan to visit and make art with  foster children “to help them feel loved and not forgotten,” said New.  They  also made posters for the hallways and created art through printmaking.

“My fifth bell students' printmaking involved personal art and posters in  hopes to help stop racism,” said New. Eighth grader Sariah Ficklin said  she liked creating the hands-on art and was happy for the opportunity to  speak out against racism in a unique way.

“Seventh bell art students wanted to make private or personal changes in  behaviors and attitudes.  These students made personal charts to  measure successes.  They also were involved in printmaking.” 

The project was complicated, said New. “Students brainstormed and  researched topics, made PowerPoint presentations and used the data for  posters and print designs.” They also cut and inked at least three different  layers of color to create an edition of prints. “The editions turned out so  dynamic and were done with such incredible pride that the students will  have an after-school art show near the end of the semester to show off  their work,” said New.
 
• Students in Winton Woods Middle School’s Project Advance will be having their student-led conferences on December 4 from 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.  Students will demonstrate to their parents “Read 180,” “ALEKS,” and “Plato,” computer-based programs for reading, math, Social Studies, and science.  They will also share their favorite books and written work.

Winton Woods Intermediate News:

• WWIS held its Student on the Month Luncheon on Tuesday, November 20.  The following students were selected as Students of the Month for November: Jaylen Lynn, Emma Bedan, Anna Clark, Matthew Smith, Brandon Pointer, Danchelle Fain, Jazmine Edwards, Cody Perkins, Quani Rice, Karen Onianwa, Breyanna Haynes, Bria Frierson, Wilson Harris, Isaac Busken, and Evan Stifel.  The students enjoyed a pizza luncheon during their regularly scheduled lunch time.

The Intermediate School values the positive impact these students have made.  We appreciate the support and influence that parents/guardians make each day as they encourage their students to do their best to make the world a better place.

• Honor Roll students for the first quarter received the Principal’s Award for their outstanding performance.  Students who earned perfect attendance for the first quarter were also presented with certificates.  Thanks to these students for all of their hard work.  Please watch for a listing of their names in the school’s December newsletter.

• Each week students are selected from each pod as “Warriors of the Week.”  Warrior tickets are randomly selected from each pod, and those ten students are called to the office to receive their prize on Friday afternoon.  On Friday, November 16, thirty Warrior tickets were selected and these students won a portable digital radio with an alarm clock.  We would like to thank the PTA for donating these terrific prizes.

• Band, orchestra, and choir students are preparing and anxiously anticipating their first concert of the year on Tuesday, December 11.  This concert will be held at Winton Woods Intermediate School at 7:00 p.m.  Please mark your calendars to join us for this exciting event.   

• We would like to invite all parents to participate in a building-level PTA meeting on Thursday, December 6 at 5:00 p.m. at WWIS. The purpose of this meeting is to increase parental participation at WWIS by volunteering for upcoming events and discussing opportunities for additional parental involvement.  Please contact Mary Smith at mary1943@zoomtown.com with questions.

Winton Woods Elementary News:

• WWES student progress reports will go home with students on Wednesday, December 5.  These informative student grade reports can be viewed in even greater detail online by using Progress Book on the district website at www.wintonwoods.org.  Please refer to our school newsletter for detailed instructions on how to access Progress Book for your student or call our main office at 619-2490 for assistance.
 
• Fun Friday for third grade students for the month of November is Friday, December 7 during our school-wide Intervention and Enrichment time at the end of the school day.  Fourth grade students will have their Fun Friday the following week. 

So far this school year, we've had over 100 students qualify for Fun Friday from each grade level each month.  Fun Fridays are intended to recognize and thank those students who do exactly what they are supposed to do each and every day. The criteria include all homework turned in, no unexcused tardies to school and no disciplinary referrals to the office, detentions or other disciplinary actions during the past month.
  
• On Saturday, December 1, WWES will hold a special community recycling event from 10 a.m. – noon.  Parents and community members are invited to come by and drop-off aluminum cans (maybe all those cans still left over from the big get-togethers your family had over the recent Thanksgiving holiday) with our Recycling Club.  Curbside drop-off service is available for you on this date.  Hope to see you all there this Saturday!

The WWES student Recycling Club collects aluminum cans every week and helps with processing them through for collection. Students are asked to bring in cans every Thursday and drop them off in large bins on their way into school.  WWES is participating in the "Rumpke Recycling Challenge" and is competing against other schools from all over our region.   
 
• The WWES Fourth Grade Select Chorus will be the “opening act” at the Forest Park Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Forest Park Fire Station on Monday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m.  Bundle up and join us at the fire house, located at the corner of Winton and Kemper Roads, for an evening of musical warmth and winter memories. 
 
• WWES yearbooks for 2007-2008 will go back on sale for a limited time starting on Monday, December 3.  The cost is only $8 for a high-quality yearbook that will capture memories from this school year.

Winton Woods Primary News:

• "Wee Warrior News" will be sent home this month with your child.  The purpose of the newsletter is to help inform parents/guardians of upcoming school events. Throughout the year different grade levels will be spotlighted on their accomplishments. The Newsletter may also be viewed on the district website under Primary Schools or at  www.wintonwoods.org/schools/primary-schools/wee-warrior-newsletter.

• Primary North Preschool had a Thanksgiving feast for both the morning and afternoon sessions on November 20.  Children brought one of their favorite foods to share with their classmates. The students put together all their foods and had a feast between the three classes.  The children made Pilgrim or Indian hats to wear while they ate.

Mrs. Wright's first grade students did some simple cooking activities and acted out the First Thanksgiving. Mrs. Denson's first grade class planned a Thanksgiving feast on November 20.  Mrs. Townsell's second grade class performed "The First Thanksgiving Play" on Tuesday afternoon for second grade classrooms.  Afterwards, the class planned a meal with the parents.

Kindergarteners at Primary South also had a Thanksgiving feast on November 20.  Students dressed up as Pilgrims and Native Americans.  Each class made a treat to share with the other classes.

• Primary North music teacher, Agnes Smith, is home recuperating from an extended illness.  Due to this situation, the Primary North Holiday Program is canceled.  We send our best wishes to Mrs. Smith for a rapid recovery.  Thank you in advance for understanding.

• “Penny Wars” between the North Pole and South Pole Primary buildings begins on December 3.  We are encouraging everyone to bring in those pennies!  All money will be donated to Neediest Kids of All.  This is a caring project for our students to give to others not as fortunate as they may be.

• Primary South is remembering summer next week!  Second graders have read the book Lemonade for Sale and will be selling lemonade and popcorn to all of our students at lunchtime. This will give them an experience at being entrepreneurs and counting money.

• Primary South is trying to take care of Mother Earth by recycling aluminum cans.  Each class is competing to see who will bring in the most cans each month. Community members can help us by donating cans to our recycling container that is located in our east parking lot. 

Winton Woods Community PTA News:
• Market Day is offering extra profit for cookie dough sales this month, as well as help with your holiday baking.  These three pound bags of cookies are Otis Spunkmeyer brand and come in pre-sliced pucks for baking. The PTA will earn at least $2.20 per cookie dough ordered. The money earned will help pay for some of the events being planned, such as COSI, Boonshoft and Bright Star Theater.

Please place your order online at www.marketday.com or call Market Day at 1-877-632-7753.  The order deadline is noon on Monday December 3. Pick up for Market Day orders is Friday, December 7 from 6 – 7 p.m. in the WWIS cafeteria.

• The Winton Woods Community PTA’s First Annual Winter Festival is Saturday, December 15 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Volunteers and homemade crafts are still needed.  To make this a great event for our Pre-K-6th grade students, please help.  If you are able to volunteer or donate great homemade crafts for the sale please call Jackie Colvin at 460-1746.