Reading becomes Greatest Show at NRE

New Richmond Elementary students were greeting with their principal Gary Combs and their teachers dressed in circus attire Monday to kick off the school's annual March 300 Minutes program.

Click on the photo below to watch the 300 Minutes kickoff video.


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"This year's program has a cirus theme and students who achieve their goal of reading for 300 minutes during March will be treated to a performance by the Amazing Portable Circus on March 25," explained Combs.

Combs and his staff spent the weekend decordating New Richmond Elementary like a cirus for the month long event. They were joined at Monday's kickoff by members of the University of Cincinnati track team and the Bearcat mascot.

NRE surpasses Pennies goal

New Richmond Elementary's Student Council raised $2639.15 during its Pennies for Patients Campaign for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which culminated Friday when second-grade teacher Julie Winkelman took a pie in the face in a contest with principal Gary Combs and fellow teachers John Bagley and Connie Hammer.

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NRE had set a goal of raising $1000 for its donation to the Leukemia & Lyphoma Society in the name of cancer patient Ajax Knoechel, 2-year-old son of New Richmond High School teacher Stacy Knoechel. Part of the money raised will be donated to the Knoechel family to help with medical expenses.

Students donated $97.48 to see Ms. Winkelman get a pie in the face from Joyce Montgomery, Literacy Lab Coordinator/Librarian Assistant at NRE. Principal Combs was a close second with $94.15 in donations.

Brennan Hatfield's 5th grade class led the NRE classes with $352.05 in donations to the Pennies for Patients Campaign. David Smith's 1st grade class was next with $328.78. Both classes won a pizza party for their efforts.

NRHS holds blood drive

Students and staff at New Richmond High School donated 48 units of blood to the Hoxworth Blood Center during the school's annual blood drive Feb. 23. The blood drive was coordinated by NRHS teacher Jamie Kipfer.

Senior Kortney Weber gets moral support from classmates Kaila Lee and Jeffe Noble as she prepares to give blood while senior Cody Piper makes his blood donation in the background

Kevin Daniels from the Hoxworth Blood Center prepares to take blood from NRHS head cook Cindy Hukler-Leen who donated before her work shift.

NRHS band to perform at benefit concert

The New Richmond High School concert band, under the direction of Mr. Mike McKinley, will be performing in the Finneytown Charity Band Festival at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 11 at Finneytown High School’s William R. Swartzel Performing Arts Center.

Bands from Finneytown and Princeton High Schools also will be performing in the concert that will benefit food pantries serving the New Richmond, Finneytown and Glendale areas.

New Richmond High School band director Mike McKinley directs the band during a rehearsal for the band’s March 11 performance at the Finneytown Charity Band Festival.

“Admission to the concert will be a charitable donation at the door,” explained McKinley.

Donations being accepted at the door include canned goods or other non-perishable food items; shampoo, gel or conditioner; body lotions, wash and soaps; deodorant; baby wipes, diapers, baby food, baby oil; gently used or new clothing, jackets and coats; gently used or new baby clothes, strollers or toys; kids toys or games.

Monetary donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to either the New Richmond Food Pantry or Valley Interfaith, which serves the Finneytown-Glendale area.

The bands will be observed by guest clinicians from University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music and Miami University.

Dr. Ann Porter from the College Conservatory of Music and Dr. Steven Lytle from Miami University will be listening to each band’s performance and also will be working with each band following their performance.

Benefit for Ajax Knoechel

When: Friday, March 4, 2011
Where: New Richmond High School (NRHS)
Time: 5pm

Come out to NRHS and show your support for Stacy, Josh and Ajax Knoechel! Ajax was diagnosed with leukemia in September. All funds raised will go to help the family through this difficult time. Here are the events for the evening (Tickets will be sold March 2nd and 3rd as well as at the door on March 4th for the Spagetti Dinner (limit 300 people) & Talent Show (limit 500 people):
• Spaghetti Dinner and Bake Sale (5pm)
• Cake Walk
• Talent Show featuring New Richmond’s finest (7pm)
• Silent Auction of artwork by Monroe Elementary Art & Earth Club Artists
• Perennial Plant Sale
o Please contact Sue Griffin if you have questions: griffin_s@nrschools.org

NRE nears fund-raising goal

New Richmond Elementary's Student Council is near its goal for its Pennies for Patients Campaign for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The campaign ends Friday when principal Gary Combs and teachers Connie Hammer, John Bagley and Julie Winkleman learn who gets a 'Pie in the Face' for raising the most money.

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"Student Council has chosen Ajax Knoechel for their Honored Hero," said Joyce Montgomery, Literacy Lab Coordinator/Librarian Assistant at NRE. "Our school goal is to raise at least $1,000 which will be donated to the LLS in Ajax's name along with New Richmond Elementary."

Monroe February MegaCitizens

New Richmond's Monroe Elementary honored 29 students in February as MegaCitizens.

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LCE collects 904 items for Food Pantry

Locust Corner Elementary teachers Chris Schlaak (Steelers jersey, #75) and Jeffery Durm (Packers jersey, #5) are pictured with LCE students (from left) Doug Brewer (6th grade), Ellie Feld (5th grade), Cameron Frazier (5th) and Atticus Block (6th) with some of the 904 items the school collected for the New Richmond Food Pantry during SOUPer Bowl 2011.


New Richmond’s Locust Corner Elementary collected 904 items for the New Richmond Food Pantry during its participation in the SOUPer Bowl of Caring during the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 4.

SOUPer Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group 20 years ago. Since that day, more than $71 million has been raised for local charities across the country around Super Bowl weekend.

Through this mission, young people learn what it’s like to make a positive difference in the world – as they collect food, raise money and volunteer to work in charities that provide food to the hungry and compassion to those in need.

“I am proud to say that through the LCE SOUPer Bowl for the New Richmond Food Pantry our students, staff and parents donated 904 items,” said LCE principal Julie Renner. “These food and hygiene items will help restock the shelves at the New Richmond Food Pantry and support individuals and families who are in need throughout New Richmond.

“Thanks to all in Locust Corner Elementary who supported this community service project!”

NRHS talent shows to benefit Ajax Knoechel, Lions Outreach

Faculty and students from New Richmond schools will be performing in two talent shows March 4 to benefit needy students at New Richmond High School and to help with the medical expenses for leukemia patient Ajax Knoechel, 2-year-old son of high school science teacher Stacy Knoechel.

“Our daytime in-school show will benefit our Lions Reach Out program which helps needy high school students,” said New Richmond High School language arts teacher Sue Griffin.

“We’ve opened this year’s talent show to students from all New Richmond schools and have added a nighttime show along with a spaghetti dinner and cake walk to help Josh and Stacy Knoechel with their medical expenses for their son Ajax. ”

Griffin expects between 15 and 20 acts for the talent shows. Tickets are $5 per person and available at the door.

The spaghetti dinner will be held from 5 to 5:30 p.m. March 4 in the high school cafeteria and will be followed by a cake walk in the school gymnasium prior to the 7 p.m. talent show. Cost of the spaghetti dinner is $5.

“We need donations of decorated cakes for the cake walk and baked goods for sale,” said Griffin, who can be contacted at griffin_s@nrschools.org. “We also need donations of spaghetti sauce, garlic bread, pasta, plates and pop and need people to help serve and cook.”

Anyone wanting to make donations for the dinner or to volunteer as servers or cooks can also contact NRHS science teacher Logan Minning at minning_l@nrschools.org.

Lions Reach Out raised $4500 last year and provided everything from Christmas presents to athletic gear to prom dresses and shoes for needy New Richmond High School students.

Middle School 2nd Quarter Honor Rolls

New Richmond Middle School
2nd Quarter Honor Rolls

7th grade Merit Honor Roll

Alicia Bailey, Adrianna Flood, Evan Grippa, Timothy Hammer, Chase Heflin, Brooklyn Klein, Harrison Light, Kelsey Nichols, Erin O’Toole, Cydney Stiles, Kendal Warren.

7th grade High Honors

Dylan Allen, Rachael Autzen, Emily Belmont, Ethan Benjamin, Chad Brewer, Brianna Chapman, Hannah Clifton, Noah David, Shawn Elam, Kristin Evans, Kaitlyn Flake, Nicholas Flake, Hayley Hawkins, Jacob Hayden, Ariel Huber, Morgan Huddleston, Ariel Johnson, Dustin Kennedy, Nicholas Kirby, Jade Kunz, Nicholas Laub, Allyson Lutz, Joseph Maxwell, Taylor McKinley, Jesse Noble, Holly Reinert, Kiara Rivera, Malea Roberson, Eric Rolfes, Tyler Sammons, Allison Shook, Jenna Swormstedt, Taylor Waitman, Magic Weir, Lindsey Williams, Michael Williamson.

7th grade Honors

Cidney Adams, Lacey Bayless, Miah Bayless, Destiana Berling, Chelsey Bowling, Ryan Brunk, Kendal Collier, Kiley Doane-Deardorff, Kerrigan Dyer, Ross Flenniken, Kaylee Gibbs, Blake Gibson, Casey Goodheart, Karl Greifenkamp, Zoe Hallahan, Maren Hance, Elise Holdsworth, Hannah Lake, Hunter Lansaw, Barrett Leahy, Ella Lindsley, Morgan Malicoat, Seyvon Marshall, Kyli Meder, Kayla Olenick, Sydney Padgett, Darik Page, Laura Painter, Connor Pike, Amanda Redmon, Robert Sarbell, Corey Secen, Hali Stamper, Thelma Sturgill, Stile Sweet, Stacey Tucker, Brian Waddle, Maisie Waters, Matthew Waters, Megan Webster, Jonathon White.

8th grade Merit Honor Roll

Audrey Feiler, Austin Fischer, Alexander Grooms, Griffin Mulvaney, Jennifer Roberts, Eric Williams.

8th grade High Honors

Rachel Benton, Marie Bezold, Anthony Blome, Micha Brumbaugh, Kyle Campbell, Emily Carter, Katelyn Chumley, Emma Feld, Matthew Graham, CJ Grogan, Kyle Heidlage, Dalton Henderson, Emily Hensley, Madison Holdsworth, Sierra King, Olivia Latham, McKenzie Lauver, Maggie Mulloney, Ella Neess, Katelynn Nichols, Kayla Nort, Taryn Rupp, Troy Saunders, Eric Sholz, Charlie Spicker, Ashley Stephens, Karlyn Thul, Maxwell Tumbleson, Kyle Weeks, Daniel Wilson, Leah Wolfer.

8th grade Honors

Daman Abner, Tyler Anderson, Wendy Appelmann, Andi Bateman, Tristin Baumann, Austin Berger, Isiah Bostic, John Buckingham, Rachel Burdell, Miles Burnam, Mariah Corbin, Jacob Craig, Kelsi Curry, Halee Curtis, Tyler Davis, Lacie Decatur, Jazmine Dyer, Madeline Farmer, Kayla Gardiner, Derek Gelter, Kyle Gilday, Skylar Gould, Lyle Hawkins, Patrick Jones, Alexandra Jump, Cody Kirschner, Bryce Kroeger, Christina Lawrence, Hannah Lewis, James Mahan, Madeline McDaniel, Alexandra Meadors, Alexis Meder, Mande Myers, Ashley Redmond, Patrick Richardson, Analiese Rohdes, Aaron Schweickart, Savannah Scott, Bryant Sharp, Joseph Singleton, Lindsay Slone, Hannah Slye, Carrie Stapleton, Rachel Taylor, Jordan Utter, Brittany Walls, Shyann Webb, Mary Williams, Steven Wolf, Nicholas Wuest, Alexandra Zellner, Taylor Zimmer.

Monroe students help animal sanctuary

Students at New Richmond’s Monroe Elementary kept with the school’s tradition of giving up holiday gift exchanges to help animal shelters this past holiday season.

“In lieu of giving each other gifts this past holiday season, Monroe Elementary 4th and 6th grade students decided to help a special organization in our New Richmond community,” explained Monroe art teacher Adrian Hawk, who coordinated the project.

“Together these two grade levels collected over 377 items for the animals at Angel’s Rest Animal Sanctuary! These items range from foods and toys to cleaning supplies and pet beds.”

(From Left) Susie Woolery (mother of Monroe 4th grade teacher Jill Blauwkamp, and Monroe Elementary teachers Jenny, Kim Kreimer, and Adrian Hawk and volunteer Brian Ealy load up the 377 items Monroe’s 4th and 6th grade students donated to New Richmond’s Angels Rest Animal Sanctuary.

Monroe’s lower grades 1-3 classes have passed on the traditional holiday gift exchanges to help the Clermont County Humane Society in past years.

"We were flabbergasted at the tremendous show of support from the teachers and students of Monroe Elementary,” said Perla Medina-Kinne, the founder of Angel’s Rest in New Richmond.

“We received many goodies and supplies for present and future sanctuary animals that we will put for good use. We especially want to thank art teacher Adrian Hawk for her continued support and for organizing this pet food and toy drive."

Angel’s Rest’s mission is to take animals out of situations where they would be facing imminent danger and provide them with a comfortable place to spend the remainder of their lives.

“We take in abused, neglected, sick, old or otherwise unwanted animals and strive to provide everyone that enters our doors with the care they need and deserve to ensure that they live out the rest of their lives in peace, comfort, well fed and loved,” said Medina-Kinne.

Medina-Kinne her husband Mike are artists who photograph animals and wildlife.

“Perla will be visiting the 4th and 6th grade students at Monroe in the coming months to talk to them about the sanctuary and to personally thank them for their kindness and generosity,” said Hawk.

Monroe teachers Jill Blauwkamp, Kim, Mary Kay Thede, Jan Fender, Betsy Florea, Lauren Lindsley and Jenn Mills help Hawk with the project.

Anyone wishing to make donations to Angels Rest can contact the organization at their web site, http://www.angelsrestanimalsanctuary.org/.

NRE begins leukemia fundraiser

Richmond Elementary Student Council will begin a three week Pennies for Patients Campaign for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Friday, Feb. 4.

“Student Council has chosen Ajax Knoechel (a leukemia patient and son of New Richmond High School teacher Stacy Knoechel) as their Honored Hero,” said NRE Literacy Lab Coordinator Joyce Montgomery. “Our school goal is to raise at least $1,000 which will be donated to the LLS in Ajax's name along with New Richmond Elementary.”

Of course, every campaign must have a competition and the classroom that collects the most money will earn a pizza party and the runner-up will receive an popsicle/ice cream party.

“We also have some staff members volunteer to have their face on a jar and the staff member that raises the most money will get "A PIE IN THE FACE" (scheduled for Feb.25th),” said Montgomery.

NRE principal Gary Combs and PE teacher John Bagley have already agreed and two other candidates will be drawn at a staff meeting.

Troubs’ Holiday Concert DVDs on sale

New Richmond High School’s Troubadours are selling professionally mastered music video DVDs of their 2010 Holiday Concert to help finance the group’s trip to the Heritage Music Festival in Annapolis, Md. March 31-April 3.

The Troubadours are about $4000 short of the $79,000 needed to finance the trip for the 118-member group to the Heritage Music Festival. The Troubadours last trip to the Heritage Music Festival Chicago in 2008 resulted in a first place performance.

New Richmond High School's Troubadours, under the direction of music director Doug Helflin, rehearsh for their performance at the Heritage Music Festival in Annapolis, Md.

Troubadour trips are scheduled in three year intervals giving each student an opportunity to participate once in their career as a Troubadour.

“It would be great if a corporate sponsor would come forward and help with the full amount,” said New Richmond music director Doug Heflin. “The DVD sales will help us give scholarships for students who were unable to raise their individual cost of the trip.”

The 2010 Holiday Concert DVD is available for $15.00 through individual Troubadour members, Mr. Heflin at the high school or by contacting trip committee parents Cheryl Smith, Jill Cochran, Carla Schreiber or Gail Burnam.

“An invitation of this type is only extended to ensembles that have already achieved high level successes in vocal performance,” said Cochran.

“We have an ‘Everyone goes or no one goes’ philosophy and raise all of our funds privately to ensure that each of our children, regardless of their financial resources, will get the benefit of this experience. Many of these children have never been on a trip of this distance, let alone had the opportunity to perform in a place such as Annapolis. “

The Heritage Festival started 30 years ago with a goal to recognize, encourage, and celebrate musical artistry and excellence at the high school and middle school levels, has evolved into the country’s most prestigious high school music festivals.

Monroe 2nd Quarter Awads Breakfast

Monroe Elementary held its 2nd Quarter Awards Breakfast Jan. 27 to honor outstanding achievements in the classroom during the second quarter of the 2010-11 school year.

Click on the image below to watch a video of the awards breakfast.


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