February 13, 2007

Quote of the week:

Snow and adolescence are the only problems that disappear if you ignore them long enough.
      --Earl Wilson

District News:

• There is a one-hour meeting with Dr. Nasbe, Superintendent, for parents of athletes on Wednesday, February 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school library to discuss the future of athletic programs pending the passage of a levy.

• There will be a one-hour meeting with Dr. Nasbe, Superintendent, for parents of choir, orchestra and band students, on Thursday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school library to discuss the future of music programs pending the passage of a levy.

• If you would like to participate in the planning of the levy campaign, please come to the meetings each Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Board of Education office.

Winton Woods High School News:

• Congratulations to Winton Woods High School senior Noleena Booker, who will be featured as Channel 9’s Student of the Week on tonight’s 5:00 p.m. broadcast.

• Congratulations to Asia Hernandez, who has been nominated to represent Winton Woods High School at the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar in June.  HOBY’s purpose is to bring together a select group of high school sophomores who have demonstrated leadership qualities so that they can interact with groups of distinguished leaders in business, government, education, and the professions to discuss present and future issues.  Dominique Reeves has been nominated as the alternate.  Thanks go to the Winton Woods High School KEY Club for donating the $150.00 seminar fee.
 
• Winton Woods High School Senior Counselor Kevin Jones and junior Nam Van Tran were featured in an editorial in Sunday’s Cincinnati Enquirer discussing Governor Ted Strickland’s new plan for seniors to go to college their senior year and receive dual credit.

• Scheduling night for grades 10 and 11 will be Thursday, February 21 from 5:00-8:25 p.m. in the high school library.  The Winton Woods PTSA will be selling soup that night to make money for scholarships.  Come early to get your favorite!

Donna Schultz, Career Specialist at Scarlet Oaks, will also be at the high school this night to answer questions regarding programs at the Great Oaks campuses. Sophomores interested in a program at a Great Oaks campus need to apply immediately as program placements began February 1.

• AP tests for English, Physics, Art, American History and Calculus will be given May 5-16.  Registration begins March 10 and ends March 20.  The fee this year is $85.00.  A non-refundable fee of $20.00 is due at signup, with the balance due by April 18.  All students in AP classes are required to take the test.

• The district’s annual Cherry Pie Concerts will be Tuesday, February 19 and Wednesday, February 20 in the high school auditorium.  Tuesday night’s concert will feature the fifth and seventh grade bands, as well as the high school Concert and Jazz Bands.  Wednesday night’s concert will feature the sixth and eighth grade bands, the high school Symphonic Band, and the middle school Jazz Band.  Refreshments are served after the concert at the cost of only $1.00 per ticket for a wide variety of desserts and drinks.  

• Three Winton Woods High School students are playing in the Northern Hills Bassoon Ensemble.  Tenth grader Evan Schultz and ninth graders Kareesha Springer and Christina Dawson are part of this unique, 12-member group that is made up of six high school and 6 college students. “The group performed at the Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA) Conference last Friday,” said Winton Woods Band Director Dani Ashbrook. “It was fantastic. I was very proud, as the whole district should be.”

• Over 60 Winton Woods High School students participated in this year’s Solo and Ensemble Contest held at Colerain High School.  Students may compete in Class A, the most difficult music, then Class B, followed by Class C. “Class C high school music still presents a lot of challenges in this setting,” said Band Director Dani Ashbrook.  Ratings range from 1 (Outstanding), 2 (Excellent), 3 (Acceptable), 4 (Poor), and 5 (Very Poor).

Winton Woods High School received seven “1s” and three “2s” in Class A; four “1s” and three “2s” in Class B;  five “1s,” two “2s,” and three “3s” in Class C. The students who performed solos all study with private teachers, and the students who entered the competition with ensembles spent many hours outside of school preparing for this event.
Results for Band Ensembles are:
Bassoon Trio (Evan Schultz, Christina Dawson and Kareesha Springer) received a “1” in Class A. 
Misc. Sax Ensemble (Shannon Flury, Emily Cooper, Demetrius Boswell, Chiaki Teshima, Erynn Townsend) received a “2” in Class A.
Brass Sextet (Danny Rodgers, Megan Hein, Karen Budke, Keenan Harmon, Rachel Hollin, Tyler Lendl) received a “1” in Class B.
Flute Trio (Kumari Sadler, Brianna Dennis, Ashley Williams) received a “1” in Class C.
Clarinet Trio (Jadienne Lord, Courteney Straus, Sarah Landis) received a “1” in Class C.
Woodwind Quintet (Tori Clark, Kaitlin Otto, Jackie Jordan, Kareesha Springer, Alandria Allen) received a “1” in Class C.
Low Brass Trio (Kayla Scott, KYla Scott, Corey Robinson) received a “2” in Class C.
Woodwind Trio (Johnniece Hitchcock, Kaitlin Otto, Loucresha Hitchcock) received a “3” in Class C.
Results for Orchestra Ensembles are:
String Duet (Justin Hisle, Marika Gonther) received a “1” in Class A.
String Quartet (Justin Hisle, Malcolm Thompson, Patrick Kelly, Marika Gonther) received a “1” in Class A.
String Choir (Justin Hisle, Katie Siragusa, Malcolm Thompson, Brittany Cheathem, Sydney Murdock, Matthew Zalar, Amanda Williamson, Patrick Kelly, Bethany Hudson, Bryttani Byrd, Demarco Kinamore, Marika Gonther, Daryl Thomas, Christina Ingle, Ryan Phillips) received a “2” in Class B.
String Quartet (Matthew Zalar, Brittany Cheathem, Bethany Hudson, Christina Ingle) received a “2” in Class B.
String Duet (Sydney Murdock, Demarco Kinamore) received a “3” in Class C.
Results for Band Solos are:
Evan Schultz (Bassoon) received a “1” in Class A.
Kareesha Springer (Bassoon) received a “1” in Class A.
Christina Dawson (Bassoon) received a “2” in Class A.
Megan Hein (Trumpet) received a “2” in Class A.
Corey Stewart (Trombone) received a “1” in Class B.
Kylie Schmittou (Trumpet) received a “3” in Class C.
Results for Orchestra Solos are:
Justin Hisle (violin) received a “1” in Class A.
Malcolm Thompson (Violin) received a “1” in Class B.
Amanda Williamson (Violin) received a “1” in Class C.
Patrick Kelly (Viola) received a “2” in Class B.
Marika Gonther (Cello) received a “1” in Class B.
Results for Vocal Solos are:
Sarah Monroe (Soprano) received a “1” in Class A.
Megan Hein (Soprano) received a “2” in Class C.
• Orchestra Night at Winton Woods High School will be Tuesday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium.

Winton Woods Middle School News:

• The Winton Woods Middle School Science Fair will be held on Saturday, February 23 in the school’s gymnasium.  The Science Fair highlights projects in earth, biological and physical sciences.  Students have been working hard on their projects, and winners in all categories, as well as the grand prize winner, will be announced that morning.

• Parents are invited to join their students at Winton Woods Middle School for student-led conferences on Wednesday, February 27 from 5:00-8:25 p.m. Students will share their work and discuss their academic goals for the remainder of the school year.  Each teacher will be in his or her classroom, scheduling 10-minute sessions with each parent. This allows only 18 sessions for each teacher, so please call early to guarantee a time. To schedule a conference, call the counseling department between 7:30 - 2:30 p.m. at 619-2422.

• Winton Woods Middle School will hold its annual "Career Fair" on Thursday, March 6 in the gym. The fair provides eighth grade students the opportunity to have a first-hand experience with volunteers representing many different career paths.  The fair will be held from 8:15-10:45 a.m. and allows students to ask questions and learn about different career options. 

Winton Woods Intermediate News:

• Winton Woods Intermediate School’s Honor Roll Celebration was held on Friday, February 8.  Student Council representatives helped plan the activities for the 159 students who have achieved this honor. 

• On Friday, February 8, students participated in an assembly by Bright Star Children’s Theatre entitled Heroes of the Underground Railroad.  The students enjoyed the assembly and were able to ask the performers questions following the performance.  WWIS would like to thank the Winton Woods Community PTA for providing our students with this opportunity.

At the beginning of each assembly, the Pennies for Postage Campaign was discussed.  WWIS will collect pennies for postage needed to mail books to students in Malawi, a country on the continent of Africa.  The books were collected last year by students and staff at Winton Forest Elementary School. 

• Winton Woods Intermediate School will have Valentine’s Parties on Thursday, February 14.  The parties will begin at 2:00 p.m.  Please contact the office if you can volunteer. 

• Parent volunteers are needed to assist with the COSI Program on March 5 and 6.  Students will be able experience some hands-on science lessons throughout the school day, but we need help to make this happen.  Please call the office as soon as possible to let us know if you will be able to attend.  We need at least 20 parents on both days to make this a successful day. 

Winton Woods Elementary News:

• The February Dad's Club event will be roller skating on Saturday, February 16 from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. at Skatetown USA in West Chester.  Look for the Dad's Club flyer in the WWES February/March Newsletter coming home this week.
 
• There will be two “Mad Science” assemblies at WWES on February 20 presented by “Seismic Steve” Hackmann from Mad Science.  Mad Science is an upcoming after-school enrichment program that takes place for six weeks beginning March 6.  This is a return trip to WWES for Mad Science.  The program was offered during first semester and was a runaway hit.  All are welcome to attend if you can make it on February 20 at 9:00 or 10:00 a.m.

• February 7 was Chinese New Year!  This was the third of three room parties put on by our much-appreciated room parents with the Winton Woods Community PTA.   Thanks to each of our room parents, Mrs. Mavridoglou, our WWC PTA Room Parent Coordinator, and Mrs. Peggy Lovro, our Chinese language and culture instructor for all of their help with these parties for our children. 

• WWES will be observing African-American History Awareness month during February.   During the month, we’ll take some time studying and appreciating the unique and vital contributions of African-Americans to our culture, country and world.  Each day in February we’ll spend time as a school, on the announcements, going over African-American firsts.  For example, Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1967 - 1991). 
 
• The WWES Multicultural Celebration will be Thursday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m. in our gymnasium.  Entitled "A Day In the Life...," this program will feature students from each grade-level team and our fourth grade Select Chorus as they present songs, games, dances, stories and fashions from six different continents.
 

Winton Woods Primary News:

• Primary North and South Valentine Parties are Friday, February 15 at 2:00 p.m.  A special thanks to all our fabulous parent volunteers.
 
• Primary North and South students, staff, and parents were visited this week by the Bright Star Children's Theatre.  In Aesop's Fables, two Elizabethan actors played all the roles for "The Tortoise and the Hare," "The Lion and the Mouse," "The Monkey and His Shadow, and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."  The plays followed two traveling actors through many of Aesop's best-known morality tales at rapid speed. This production was a powerful, energetic drama that captivated the audience while teaching a valuable lesson.  A special thank you to our PTA for bringing Bright Star to our schools.  The librarians reported a rush on checking out Aesop Fables from the library after the show.                                                                                                                                
• Primary North and South’s Family Reading Night is scheduled for students and their families on Thursday, February 21 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Primary South, located at 825 Lakeridge Drive. The evening will be filled with fun and educational reading activities for everyone!
 
• Primary North and South students’ “Six Flags Six Hour Reading Club” forms must be turned in to the school by February 22 to earn their free admission ticket valid at participating Six Flags theme parks. This is an exciting program that encourages children in grades kindergarten through 6 to read for fun. The Six Flags Six Hour Reading Club is part of Read To Succeed, a free educational program designed to enhance language arts curriculum. Six Flags has created this program in cooperation with Weekly Reader, a leading publisher of classroom periodicals.
 
• Primary North is jazzing up the month of February!  Jazz was born in the United States with origins from Africa.  The students of Primary North are exploring the evolution of  jazz from the tribes of Africa to the present day rappers.  The students will explore jazz through literature, music, art, movement, writing and math.  The celebration of jazz will conclude with a concert by the Winton Woods High School and Middle School bands.  The concert is scheduled for February 26 at 10:00 a.m. The community is invited to come celebrate Black History Month
with the students of Winton Woods Primary North and the musicians of the high school and middle school.
 
• Primary North students and staff congratulate Candice Mixon from Mrs. Sterling  second grade class for being nominated to represent Primary North at the district level for the character trait of citizenship. 

We also want to congratulate the winners of the Character Hands for the week of February 4: Imani Jameson - Mrs. McCann, 1st grade, Will Esquivel - Mrs. Wright, 1st grade, Cari Sullivan - Mrs. Wright, 1st grade, Sara Gidisa - Mrs. Vandivier, 2nd grade. Miss Murray’s first grade class won the esteemed “Golden Hand” because the whole class demonstrated good character.  Congratulations to everyone for the good efforts.
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• Primary South students and staff welcome Terri Schermerhorn as their new Intervention Specialist. 
 
 
Community News

• Heather Horter, a 1988 Forest Park High School graduate, is getting the word out about the upcoming “Walk 4 Hearing” on Saturday, June 7 at Fred Beekman Park in Columbus, Ohio. The kick-off gala is Saturday, April 12 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Dave and Buster’s in Hilliard, Ohio. The purpose of the walk, which is sponsored by Ohio Hearing Loss Association of America, is to heighten the awareness of the growing hearing impaired population and to get resources into the right hands. For more information about the Walk 4 Hearing, visit www.walk4hearing.org.