May 14, 2008

Quote of the week:

"Only the educated are free."
-Epictetus

District News:

• The next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 19th at 7:00 PM in the Board room at Central Office located at 1215 W. Kemper Road.

• The “Board Meeting in Review” from the April 28 meeting has been posted on the district website (www.wintonwoods.org) under Board of Education.

• Winton Woods City Schools’ recent Community Leadership Meeting was an opportunity for leaders from Greenhills, Forest Park and Springfield Township to learn what’s happening within the school district while sharing important information and events about their own parts of the district. “It’s a way to keep in touch with your communities and let you know all the good things going on here,” Winton Woods Superintendent Dr. Camille Nasbe told those who attended.

 The community meetings began four years ago as a way to “engage the leaders of Greenhills, Forest Park and Springfield Township in meaningful dialogue and show them the educational opportunities our students are being offered,” said Winton Woods Communications Specialist Gina Burnett. “Our community leaders have many opportunities to talk with district residents, and it’s our hope that they will share what they learn at these meetings.”  

 At the most recent meeting, students Brianna Davis and Ellie Nightingale, 2008 Superintendent’s Scholars for graduating in the top 16 in their class, talked about their experiences in the district and their plans for the future. As KEY Club President and captain of the girls’ volleyball team, Nightingale stressed the leadership qualities she learned during high  school. Davis, who is a member of National Honor Society and the high school’s student-led gospel group Gospel Keys, said she learned “to be a person who shows pride in the things they do but to be humble about it.” Both young women will be attending Xavier University next year.

 Senior Steven Cleary, who is president of the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble, discussed the group’s recent trip to China to perform at a pre-Olympic music festival and how it allowed him to see that “it really is a global marketplace.” He also talked about the group’s performance with the Cincinnati Pops, along with the Lakota East High School Eastside Voices. He said interacting with the other high school students was yet another opportunity to put Winton Woods’ name out in the community in a positive way. “Being able to knock down those walls and preconceived notions (about Winton Woods students) is the most  empowering thing I’ve done since I’ve been in high school,” said Cleary.

 Winton Woods High School Senior Counselor Kevin Jones talked about the high school’s recent trip to Spain and thanked the communities for their involvement with the recent Job Fair where Winton Woods High School students had 170 interviews with 11 area companies. “We know this was a community effort,” said Jones.

 Winton Woods Character Education Coach Mimi Gilmer spoke about the upcoming Global Leadership Camp that the district will be hosting at Winton Woods Intermediate School in August and about the grant the district received to promote character education. “We’re trying to make  character education a way of life not a poster on the wall,” said Gilmer.

 Board of Education member Tim Cleary talked about the district’s upcoming levy. “Education is expensive. That’s the reality of it,” said Cleary as he held up a large rock that he keeps by his seat on the Board. “But we are looking under every rock to save every dollar.”

 At the meeting, Greenhills Municipal Manager Jane Berry discussed how her village is “gearing up for summer time,” while Forest Park City Manager Ray Hodges said his city doesn’t have one large project in the works but has “a number of projects in the city.”

 “These meetings have become a mutually-beneficial networking opportunity for our district and community leaders,” said Burnett.  

 Those attending the Community Leadership Meeting were: Greenhills Muncipal Manager Jane Berry, Greenhills Council members Chris Visnich and Greg Hermes, Greenhills Police Chief Tom Doyle, Greenhills Village Voices member Bobbe Kugele, Greenhills Alumni Association member Jackie Noble, Forest Park City Manager Ray Hodges, Forest Park Mayor Chuck Johnson, Forest Park Steppers member Pearl Lewis, Forest Park Assistant Fire Chief Mike Rupp, Forest Park Council member Diana Herbe, Forest Park Chamber of Commerce Board member Barrie Owen, Forest Park Recreation Coordinator Kenisha Crum, Messiah Lutheran Youth Pastor Steve Wilson, Winton Woods Superintendent Dr. Camille Nasbe, Business Manager Steve Mathews, Treasurer Tom Golinar, Board  member Tim Cleary, Technology Director Rhonda Hobbs, Senior Counselor Kevin Jones, students Brianna Davis, Ellie Nightingale and Steven Cleary, Communications Specialist Gina Burnett, Publicity Writer Teresa Cleary, Character Education Coach Mimi Gilmer, and Winton Woods High School Principal Anita Williams.

Winton Woods High School News:

• Thirty-three members of the Winton Woods High School class of 2008 have received the High Schools That Work (HSTW) Award of Educational Achievement. “These students are to be commended for their efforts,” said Winton Woods High School Principal Anita J. Williams. “By taking challenging courses in high school and performing well on rigorous exams, they have increased their likelihood of success in the workplace and further education.”

 Winton Woods High School award recipients are: Desirae Bedford, Noleena Booker, Karen Budke, Vinson Butler, Daniel Chandler, Steven Cleary, Josephine Cole, Julia Curtis, Brianna Davis, Michael Day, Jason Doan, Cory Evans, Shannon Flury, Ciara Hale, Ryan Hopster, Kierra  Johnson, Sarah Landis, Jamie-Lee Morris, Donte Ramsey, Jennifer Rowell, Emily Russell, Ariana Sanders, Megan Schneider, Timothy Silas, Katherine Siragusa, Cherish Smith, April Thompson, Nicholas Topits, Erynn Townsend, Lidya Tsegay, Whitney Varney, Mitchell Williams, and Royal Williams. The students were selected through a randomized process and were tested in January. The test is given every other year. 

 Students qualify for the HSTW award by completing a college-preparatory course of study in at least two of three subject areas (English/language arts, mathematics or science); completing a concentration in a career/technical area, mathematics/science or the humanities; and meeting readiness goals in all three subject areas on the HSTW Assessment. Students will receive their HSTW award certificates in June, along with a $10 Borders gift card from the regional office.

HSTW, a Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) initiative, is the largest high school improvement effort in the United States, with more than 1,100 school sites in 32 states. HSTW is supported by member states and grants from organizations such as the Wallace Foundation, Goldman Sachs Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, Whitehead Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. SREB was founded in 1948 as America’s first multi-state compact for education.

• The annual Winton Woods High School Jazz Band and Varsity Ensemble Show is Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.  The show is preceded by the annual Art Show in the lobby. The Art Show will open at 6:00 p.m.  Community members are welcome!

• Winton Woods High School senior Rico Williams signed a letter of intent on May 7 to play college tennis this fall at the University of Charleston. 

• Winton Woods High School tenth graders will hold their annual multi-genre festival throughout the day on Thursday, May 15 in the library.

• The entrance wall inside Winton Woods High School is again the “College Wall” and is decorated with signs bearing the names of graduating seniors and the schools they will be attending in the fall. Thursday is “College Gear” day for the seniors. They will be wearing t-shirts from the colleges they will be attending.

• This is senior week at Winton Woods High School and students have been dressing according to different themes. Monday was “Dress to Impress Day,” Tuesday was “70s Day,” Wednesday is “Twin Day,” Thursday is “College Gear Day,” and Friday is “Spirit or Senior T-shirts Day.” 

• Members of the high school’s Ambassadors and Student Council are helping out this week at Right to Read events at Winton Woods Elementary School and at the Book Fair at Winton Woods Primary North. WWPN Media Specialist Karen Emmons has been delighted with the students who have volunteered at her school. “These are the most unbelievable students,” said Emmons. “So polite, so articulate. They have been so helpful.” 

• The players from the Seniors vs. the Forest Park Firefighters basketball game are washing the fire truck and having a cookout at the Forest Park Fire Station on Wednesday, May 14. The firefighters defeated the seniors this year in a close battle.

• Winton Woods High School’s Spring Sports Awards ceremony is Monday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria.

• Winton Woods High School’s Music Awards Banquet is 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. Tickets are required for this event.

• 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 to 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. This year’s sale will be held from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the front of the school for greater visibility. If you’d like to reserve a space or have questions, contact event coordinator Debbie Day at 729-0420 or dayogames@yahoo.com.

Winton Woods Middle School News

• The Winton Woods Middle School Spring Choral Concert is tonight, Wednesday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Choral awards will also be presented.  Special concert guests are the members of the Winton Woods Intermediate School choir.   

• Winton Woods Middle School band students will be participating in OMEA District Contest at New Richmond High School on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17.  Chaperones are still needed for both days. Please contact Band Director Kara Barbee if you are available to help at barbee.kara@wintonwoods.org or at 619-2449.

• The Winton Woods Middle School Women’s Chorus, under the direction of Jennifer Melms, received a rating of Excellent and won first place in Class A competition for all female choruses at the “Music in the Parks” choral competition at King’s Island Amusement Park on Saturday, April 26.  

The Winton Woods Women’s Chorus members who competed are: Sara Ante, Braylyn Bell, Savannah Bryant, Katelyn Budke, Kristen Budke, Brianna Chenault, Rachel Clark, Emily Cleary, Xazeria Creer, Kevana Cross, Princess Dean, Sami Fishwick, Tori Grever, Stacia Hackmann, Jessica Hafner, Katie Hall, Indigo Hammons, Paidra Harris, Kristina Hayles, Makeyla Henderson, Haleigh Holtman, Adrianna Ivory, Ambri Johnson, Jasmine Jones, Katey Kelly, Kelli Kress, Daisha Lewis, Ashley McCaster, Hayle McQueen, Sabrina Mercer, Dorian Moore, Kayla Orso, Danielle Owens, Kendra Phillips, Donisha Ramsey, Kenya Reaves, Ashley Reed, Kierra Rice, Nijiyah Rowland, Berenice Ruiz, Chrissy Schriefer, Ashley Smith, Chynna Smith, Kylie Stigar-Burke, Olivia Suggs, Raven Walker, Maya Walton, Shanice Wiechman, Briana Wiley, Chanel Williams, Kenya Williams, and Joy Woodall.

As a combined men’s and women’s chorus, Winton Woods Middle School had won first place at this competition for the last two years.

• Winton Woods Middle School is proud to announce its “Students of the Month” for April 2008. These students were nominated by the teaching staff because of the quality of their work, their efforts in class, their responsibility level and behavior at school, their attitude, and their relationship to their peers and teachers. Seventh grade “Students of the Month” are: Terrell Bell, Pamela Dees, Maria Fiore, Juwan Hawkins, Ryan Murray, Landon Pickett, Zach Purdin, Mohammad Shafi and Blake Warren; eight grade “Students of the Month” are: Darrin Conners, Jessica Hafner, Patrice Leonard, Tireale Mack, Johana Masin, Carvee Ou, Jaron Pez and Harrison Reid.

• The Spring Sports Awards for Winton Woods Middle School are Thursday May 15.  This is a different date than what appears on the district calendar.  

• Students from Winton Woods Middle School will be participating in Math and Science Day at Kings Island Amusement Park on Friday, May 16.

• The Winton Woods Middle School Honors Night is Wednesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the gymnasium.

Winton Woods Intermediate News:

• Clarice Taylor's fifth grade class from Winton Woods Intermediate School was the winner of Superintendent Camille Nasbe's "Proficiency Godmother Challenge" in preparation for the Ohio Achievement Tests. Taylor's class defeated nine other homerooms, including Janet Smith's fifth graders, in the final competition on May 8 at Waycross Community Media. Team members Alex Kuhn, Will Tekulve, Matt Smith, teacher Clarice Taylor, Jazmine Edwards and Ryan Capal helped win a trip to COSI for their class.

Winton Woods Elementary News:

• It’s "Right-to-Read" week at Winton Woods Elementary School where students are being encouraged to "Dive into a Good Book" at the beach.  The school lobby is set up as a beach for students to enjoy.
• Field Day is Friday, May 23, and volunteers are needed. 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 kids, please contact the main office at 619-2490.
• The third grade Academic Awards Ceremony will be Thursday, May 29 at 10 a.m.  The Academic Awards Ceremony for fourth graders is Thursday, May 30 at 10 a.m.
• Beginning Friday, May 30, WWES will go to minimum school days to end the year.  Dismissal for the last three days of school will be at 1:20 p.m. instead of the usual 3:35 p.m. dismissal time.  This will be effective for Friday, May 30, Monday, June 2 and Tuesday, June 3.  The last day of the 2007 - 2008 school year is June 3.  Please make transportation, daycare and childcare arrangements as needed.

• The Dad's Club event for May is a family campout on this Saturday, May 17.  This is a special “moms-invited” edition of the WWES Dad’s Club. The campout starts at 6:30 p.m. on the back playground.  The cost is $5 per person and covers the cost of food.  Please pre-register and pre-pay by Wednesday, May 14.  We need to do this to plan for how much food to purchase. 

Remember this is a special “Moms Are Invited” edition of Dad’s Club with an overnight campout right here at the school on Saturday, May 17, so bring your tent and sleeping bag.  If you don’t have a tent, you can sleep inside the gym or under the stars.  In the event of inclement weather, we’ll turn the campout into a lock-in in the gym.  The evening will feature a child-friendly movie in the gym.  Feel free to call our main office at 619-2490 if you have any questions.

Winton Woods Primary News:
• Primary North congratulates the following students for earning Good Character awards this month: Kendall Smith, Siana Nixon-Coston, Jordan Parsons, Onagite Abisina, Victoria Freeman, Jaylen Gadfrey, Sharon Ayala and Libby Ott.  Classroom winners this month were Mrs. Vandivier's second grade class and Mrs. Wright's first grade class.

• Primary North is hosting the Boonshoft Wild Animal Assembly during the next two weeks.  Students in grades K-2 will enthusiastically participate in hands-on activities like “The Good, The Bad, and The Bugly,” “Step into the Past” and “Tiny Einstein.”  

• The Primary North and Primary South Scholastic Book Fair is all this week.  Students will visit the Book Fair to purchase books for summer reading.      Thanks to our families for their support of our schools and giving the gift of reading to your children.  Proceeds from the Book Fair will be used to purchase new books for our school libraries.

• Primary North would like to extend a very special "thank you" to Mrs. Anita Williams, principal of Winton Woods High School, and the high school’s Student Council and Ambassadors for assisting our Primary North students on their visit to the Book Fair this week.  The high school students made a huge impact on our K-2 students with their helpfulness, politeness and being positive role models.  Thank you to the following high school students for being such wonderful examples as our leaders of tomorrow: Danielle Driskill, Sarah Landis, Ashley Weihe, Jazmine Thomas, Desirae Bedford, Ashley Whyte, Dacresa Pennington, April Thompson, Megan Schneider, Julia Curtis, Jasmine Hudson, Ray McCray, Angel Edwards, Rachel Hollin, Katie Siragusa, Karen Budke, Emily Russell, Derick Sekyere, Luke Spencer, Jason Doan, and Steven Cleary.
• Primary North and Primary South are celebrating Right to Read Week with many activities for the students.  Primary North students will be writing their own ending to a tall story that is being read each morning this week.  Several endings to the book will be read over the intercom on Friday.  The front lobbies at both primary schools are decorated as beaches. The Right To Read theme is "A Road Trip To the Beach."  Students are traveling to the “beach” to read every day.  Ms. Radel at Primary South is reading a beach book to student each day.  There is also a daily theme at Primary South, and everyone receives a flower lei on their first trip to the lobby. Goldfish crackers are the snack for the beach. Each day the students are permitted to have an item for the beach. Monday is sunglasses day; Tuesday is T-shirt with writing day—so everyone can read each other’s t-shirts; Wednesday is bring your sandals to the lobby day; Thursday is beach hats day; and Friday is Hawaiian leis day.

• Primary South has extra yearbooks for sale.  The cost is $15.00 for the yearbook and $16.50 with the Zoom insert.  Cash only.
• The Red Cross is providing a program called "Wind in the Toy Box" on May 16 for Primary South students in grades K-2.  This is an educational program on tornado safety that uses puppets to teach children on how to find a safe place in their homes. 

Community News:

• On Tuesday, June 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. the League of Women Voters is promoting a free seminar for citizens, students and public officials. Topics include open meeting responsibilities and insights into making a citizen public records request and the lawful compliance.  The event will be held in the Greenhills Community Building at 8 Enfield. Call the League of Women’s Voters at 281-8683 or e-mail sgorman@eos.net to register.