District News

Winton Woods City Schools is excited to host its 28th annual homecoming week during September 13-17. We look forward to seeing the community, alumni, and a sea of green and blue at the homecoming parade and varsity football game to cheer on the Warriors against the West Clermont Wolves on Friday, September 17. 

For the 2021-2022 school year, Winton Woods High School is looking for individuals to serve as incredible mentors to students in the Academy of Global Studies (AGS). Mentors are needed and will meet twice a month from 7:00 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. at the North Campus. This is a great opportunity to connect with some outstanding students representing our community and help them develop a growth mindset as they complete their first year of high school. 

Winton Woods City Schools is excited to introduce a new academic technology learning program called Newsela to its classrooms. The online platform is another excellent resource that will enhance students' academic learning experience. The program offers various articles at different reading levels that are engaging, current, and accessible to every student. Winton Woods Executive Director of Teaching and Learning for Grades K-6 Dr. Adrienne Martin says it has great resources and will be an amazing asset for their teachers and students.

It is an exciting time to be a Warrior! On August 10, Winton Woods City Schools celebrated the opening of its second newly built campus, Winton Woods South Campus, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Warrior community, partners, staff, students, community leaders, and members were present to join in the historic occasion. “Your support made this possible,” said Superintendent Anthony G. Smith to the crowd. “We are excited to begin this new journey. Thank you for loving our students, teachers, and community.” For the first time in Warrior history, both the North Campus, which opened in March of 2021, and the South Campus will be open for the new school year. The South Campus will serve students in first to sixth grade.

It was a hot summer day when Crew head coach Patrick Riester and a handful of dedicated students met at the Winton Woods lake for a “Learn to Row” session. “This is the first time any of them have rowed,” said Coach Riester. Earlier in the week, the crew team held an Olympics Watch Party at the high school for those interested in joining the team or watching the women and men's Olympic teams compete. After watching the best rowing teams in the world, they practiced on rowing machines that were set up and ready at the event. One of those attendees was sophomore Goma Neopany, who also showed up at the lake excited to get out on the water. 

Winton Woods High School class of 2021 Valedictorian Nicolantonio Prentosito can add National Merit Scholar to the list of titles he has earned so far. When asked what it meant to him when he heard the news, he replied, “It means my hard work paid off.” It definitely did as Prentosito was selected amongst the nation’s top one percent of seniors. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, approximately 1.5 million juniors are entered based on their PSAT scores and selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and abilities.

With art, one can express themself, whether it’s an experience or about a period of life, it’s vulnerable, sometimes relatable, and allows others to see from a new perspective. Ten Winton Woods High School students from Carol Becci-Youngs’ Winton Woods High School advanced art and AP art classes were recently honored at area contests and art shows.

Completing high school is an academic milestone Winton Woods City Schools looks forward to celebrating every year. The community showed their support by decorating graduation ribbons to honor the class of 2021. This is an annual tradition that has spanned nearly three decades and occurs during graduation week. Students can look forward to seeing their name adorned on a blue and green ribbon located south on Winton Road near the high school. “This is a reminder to the students that the community is proud of them. It affirms it is important to us that you graduate,” said Ribbon committee president Rogie Vollmar.

This year, Winton Woods High School’s graduation class earned over $7 million in scholarships with more scholarship dollars coming in daily. On Thursday, May 14, Senior Honors Night was held in the Winton Woods High School (WWHS) auditorium to celebrate the seniors’ academic success and award scholarships.

Over 300 Winton Woods High School scholars received their diplomas at the 2021 Commencement ceremony held at the Cintas Center. Warrior families, staff, alumni, and students were proud to be with one another to celebrate this momentous occasion. “This graduation ceremony was different. We know it being held in person meant a lot to our families,” said Winton Woods Assistant Principal Princess Crenshaw. “It felt like another step forward in the right direction towards things becoming normal again; after a year, we all feel we overcame together.” The energy was set high for the evening as students entered the Cintas Center. Cheers that were louder and lasted longer followed for students who had reached new heights.

For the sixth year, Winton Woods City Schools was selected as a 2021 Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. Every year, districts around the nation are selected based on their top quality programs in the fine arts and like previous years, Winton Woods exceeded expectations. “We have a dedicated group of hard-working passionate teachers who love the students and the community. It makes a difference,” said Winton Woods High School (WWHS) Band Director Danelle Ashbrook. 

It was the beginning of the season for the Winton Woods High School Lacrosse team when they were told to hang up their cleats and put away their gear. Their season, like the rest of the world, had come to a sudden halt. Now with a new year, season, and fourteen members, two familiar faces have returned to the field - not as players but coaches. Warrior alumni and former lacrosse players Nigel Akalaanana, Class of ‘19, and Daris Stallworth, Class of ‘18, were both recruited by Head Lacrosse Coach Christian Twitty as students when they began the game and now as members of the staff team. “My goal is always to bring alumni back to coach,” said Coach Twitty.

And the curtain was drawn for the last time. Winton Woods High School Theater Department said their final goodbyes to their former high school auditorium also known as the David Bell Performing Arts Center on Sunday, April 18. Theater and longtime students who had spent the entirety of their academic career in what is now the former high school were glad they could complete their final show at a building they had come to know and love and call a second home.

“I do not know who I would be without you,” said Winton Woods High School senior and honors diploma scholar Alycia Mcbeil to her Choir Director Beth Miller. “I am going to miss you,” Betisha Pohkrel said somberly to her Guidance Counselor Kim Goins. These and other similar heartfelt words were shared throughout the evening of the Superintendent’s Honors Diploma Scholars dinner. An annual event dedicated to celebrating scholars who received an honors diploma recognized by the state of Ohio for high achievement. Students were also provided with an opportunity to honor their “most influential teachers.” Staff members who have had the greatest impact on their lives and academic career. This year, thirty-nine students were honored for achieving this prestigious academic award.

Winton Woods Middle School began the softball season with fourteen seventh and eighth-grade girls, twelve of whom never played the game before. However, these young ladies continue to show they are excited and ready to step up to the plate. In 2019, Head Softball Coach Kelly Rozelle and Assistant Coach Courtney Wilson became the first coaches of the girls middle softball program - a program the district had not offered before. The team was started to create more opportunities for students and provide a head start for those who wanted to play in high school and eventually in college.

Three exceptionally hard-working Winton Woods High School students will be collecting more than a high school diploma on May 20. This incredible trio consists of Mya Jackson, Renaud Noubieptie Kamgang, and Nicolantonio Prentosito. They have much to be proud of. The trio has attained a challenging academic achievement by earning enough college credits to obtain an associate’s degree. 

It is no secret that Winton Woods City Schools prioritizes providing nutritious meals for all students. From creating a Nutrition is the Mission meal distribution bus to implementing a new menu of fresh fruits and vegetables for elementary students’ daily snack time. These are a few of many reasons why the department received the No Kid Hungry Emergency Grant from the Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) and the GenYouth Covid 19 Emergency School Nutrition Relief grant from the HC Schott Family Foundation. These funds will support child nutrition and meal distribution. Also, for the third consecutive year, the district received the Breakfast Champion Award for demonstrating collaborative and innovative school breakfast practices.

Winton Woods City Schools held its first ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 7-12 North Campus building on March 8. Students, parents, alumni, community, state and local leaders, and staff were all present to celebrate this exciting historic occasion. The event kicked off with a parade by the “best band in the land” - Winton Woods High School’s marching band, led by Ms. Dani Ashbrook.  Before entering the socially distanced beautifully decorated high school gymnasium, guests were greeted with a specially designed mask that read, “Love our children, schools, and community.”