Thursday, May 31, 2012

Teachers volunteer for math boot camp

School may be out for the summer for students, but it was back to the classroom for New Richmond Exempted Village School District’s intermediate elementary math teachers this week.

The math teachers spent the first three days of their summer vacation attending a voluntary unpaid Fraction Boot Camp to prepare for the new state and federal math standards.
 
New Richmond Exempted Village School District math coach Barb Weidus
conducts Fraction Boot Camp for district math teachers who volunteered for the
3-day unpaid training.
 “Fraction Boot Camp is a professional development program designed to prepare intermediate math teachers for changes in math instruction included in the new Common Core State Standards,” explained John Frye, director of pupil and staff services for the NREVSD.

Fraction Boot Camp is being conducted by Barbara Weidus, an education consultant hired by the Board of Education as the district math coach for the 2012-13 school year as part of the district’s emphasis on professional development for its teaching staff.
  
NREVSD teachers (from left) Kelly Gabriel, Kely Heckard and Dianne Keuhner
take notes during Fraction Boot Camp designed to prepare teachers for
the new Common Core math standards.

“Changes in the alignment of standards at grade levels has moved the introduction and mastery of fractions, decimals, and percentage, including additional, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions, equivalent fractions to grades 3 through 6,” explained Frye.

Volunteering for the 3-day training program were Erin Parker, Michele Jackson, Todd Jackson and Kelly Gabriel from Locust Corner Elementary; Karen Cahall, Kelly Heckard and Dianne Kuehner from New Richmond Elementary; and Elaine Ellis, Margaret Allen, Elizabeth Florea and Kelly Dunham from Monroe Elementary.



Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Mark Bailey named NRHS principal

Monroe Elementary School Principal Mark Bailey has been named principal at New Richmond High School effective August 1, 2012, New Richmond Supt. of Schools Adam Bird announced Tuesday.

Monroe Elementary Principal Mark Bailey
has been named principal at New Richmond 
High School.

Bailey, who has been principal at Monroe for the past 12 years, replaces NRHS Principal Ms. Diana Spinnati who has requested medical leave for the 2012-13 school year.

"Ms. Spinnati has requested a medical leave,” said Bird. “Our prayers continue for her as she fights her battle against cancer."

Prior to becoming principal at Monroe, Bailey was a teacher and instrumental music director at New Richmond High School for 12 years. Under his leadership, Monroe Elementary went from passing only two of 12 state achievement tests to passing all 12 for the past four years and becoming the district’s top performing elementary.

"Mark is an established educational leader in our district and has a tremendous resume after leading Monroe Elementary from a rating of Continuous Improvement to Excellent," said Bird, who has started a search for a replacement for Bailey at Monroe.

"We are looking for a replacement for Mr. Bailey starting today,” said Bird. “The deadline for applicants is June 22."

Bailey said he is looking forward to the new challenge but sees little difference between dealing with elementary age students and high school students.

NRHS Principal Diana Spinnati went on
medical leave for the 2012-13 school
year after leading the 2012 NRHS
graduation ceremony Friday, May 25.
(Jim Robinson photo) 
“They are different challenges but one thing I’ve learned with students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade, is kids are just kids,” said Bailey. “They are just at different maturity levels.”

The new job gives Bailey an opportunity to fulfill a goal he set when he began his teaching career at New Richmond.

“When I was doing the high school band I wanted to make a difference on a larger scale,” said Bailey. “I had the opportunity to go from 100 students to 500 students when I went to Monroe and this is another opportunity to grow that personal goal of making as big of a positive impact as I can for my hometown.”

Bailey had high praise for Ms. Spinnati and the Excellent rating New Richmond High School achieved under her guidance.

“I’m a person that believes not everyone is replaceable and I think people bring unique skills to situations that can’t be replaced,” said Bailey. “Obviously Ms. Spinnati set a standard for excellence that I hope I will be able to continue.

“You can’t replace people. You can fill positions and it’s my hope to go in and establish myself there as an instructional leader in a very positive, team oriented fashion with my staff and to continue to grow New Richmond High School so it can reach its full potential.”

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Watch 2012 NRHS graduation ceremony

Click on the photo below to watch the 2012 New Richmond High School graduation ceremony.
Right click here and select Save Target As to download the video

Friday, May 25, 2012

2012 Graduation Ceremony

The 132nd Graduation Ceremony of New Richmond High School was held Friday at the NRHS Stadium.
Hats fly into the air at the end of the 2012 graduation ceremony.
NRHS principal Diana Spinnati seats the 2012 graduates.

NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird delivers the keynote speech.
Savannah Glenn gives the valedictory speech.

School Board members handed out diplomas. Board member Fred Heflin is pictured presenting diploma to Erica Jones.

Monroe 6th grade keynote speech

Sports columnist and author Lonnie Wheeler, whose dozen sports related books include ones with baseball legends Hank Aaron, Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson, gave the keynote speech at Monroe Elementary's 2012 6th grade recognition night.

Click on the play button below to watch Mr. Wheeler's speech.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Author visits classroom via Skype

What better way to deliver a book report than to the author.

That's what New Richmond Elementary School 5th grade language arts teacher Judy Schaechter accomplished this week when she connected with author and Storyworks editor Lauren Tarshis via Skype.

"Lauren Tarshis is the author of the popular 'I Survived' series books and is the editor of Storyworks magazine which we use in our 4th and 5th grade reading programs," said Schaechter. "John Frye (Director of Pupil and Staff Services for NREVSD) had talked with Lauren when the district was considering going to Storyworks and suggested I contact her to do a Sykpe session with our class and she readily accepted our invitation."

Besides delivering book reports directly to the author, Schaechter's students, along with the 5th grade students of Dianne Kuehner and Brennan Hatfield, suggested ideas for future 'I Survived' books.

Click on the Play button below to watch the classroom session with author Lauren Tarshis.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Principal performs with kindergarteners

Monroe's 2012 Kindergarten students performed 'First Grade, First Grade' with Monroe Elementary principal Mark Bailey accompanying them on the trumpet during Monroe's 2012 Kindergarten Recognition Tuesday. Click on the play button below to watch the performance.

Monday, May 21, 2012

NRHS scholarship winners

2012 New Richmond scholarship winners were announced at New Richmond High School's senior awards day.

Some of the 2012 NRHS scholarship winners are pictured with principal Diana Spinnati. Pictured are (Back row from left) James Feldkamp, Cameron Burnam, Ryle Beckerich, and Ms. Spinnati; (Front Row from left): Jordan Berger, Sammi Gregory, Kirstin Mattingly, Robin Tucker, Sarah Shoemaker, Hannah Lang. (Photo by Joyce Montgomery).
The scholarhip winners were:
David Sanders Memorial: Dustin King
NR High School PTO: Ryle Beckerich & Courtney Grogan
Kevin All Campbell Memorial: Savannah Glenn & Robin Tucker
Fisher Memorial: Emily Travis
Locy Memorial: Sarah Shoemaker
NRHS Faculty: Rachel Heflin
Jane Marsh Memorial: Sarah Molitor & Robin Tucker
New Richmond Legacy: Savannah Glenn, Jake Glenn, James Feldkamp, & Sam Ploucha
Dwayne Woodruff: Alex Ariapad
NREA: Khyla Parsons & Sammi Gregory
Charles & Margaret Frank Memorial: Sarah Molitor
New Richmond Elementary: Ryle Beckerich
Roberta Wildey Windle Scholarship: Sarah Shoemaker
Snider-Heil: Sam Ploucha
Buckeye Lodge #150 F&A.M: James Feldkamp
Monroe Township Historic Society: Mikaela Rupp
Susan Jane Girbert Memorial: Dustin King
Dr. William R. Miller Scholarship: Courtney Grogan
NRHS Cross Country Scholarship: Alex Ariapad
Guy B. & Mabel Lykins Scholarship: Kirstin Mattingly
Clermont County Counselors Assoc. Scholarship: Sarah Shoemaker & Sammi Gregory

Four district art students honored

Four New Richmond Exempted Village School District elementary students were among 40 Ohio students who had their art work selected for display in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus during May as part of Ohio’s celebration of 2012 Arts Day.

Dawson Pennington (1st grade) and Aubree Story (6th grad) from New Richmond Elementary and Galvin Ulmer (2nd grade) and Justice Schuster (3rd grade) from Monroe Elementary were selected for the prestigious honor.

More than 1000 arts advocates attended the May 9 event hosted by Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council.

Pennington and Story are students of Amy Cholkas at New Richmond Elmentary. Ulmer and Schuster are students of Adrian Hawk at Monroe.

“This year, the Ohio Art Education Association joined with the Ohio Citizens for the Arts, the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, and Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board to recognize the talents, creativity, and innovation of students who receive high quality arts education instruction as part of their academic experience in school,” said Cholkas.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Monroe 4th quarter awards breakfast

Monroe Elementary held its 4th quarter awards breakfast Friday, May 18 for grades 4 through 6.

NRMS awards Wednesday, May 23

New Richmond Middle School will present its awards and "Celebrate our Success" ceremony for the 8th grade will be held at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 23 at the NRMS gym. Among the awards to be presented at the American Legion Award, Archie Griffin Award and Sons of the American Legion Award. "Parents are certainly invited and encouraged to attend this event as the 8th graders leave for the high school," said NRMS principal Court Lilly. The NRMS band and chorus concert will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at the NRMS gym.

Massey presented with retirement bell

New Richmond Supt. Adam Bird presented retiring Monroe PE teacher Curtis Massey with a retirement bell from the Board of Eduction. Click on the play button below watch the presentation and comments from Mr. Massey, who is retiring after 16 years with New Richmond Schools and 43 years overall in teaching.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Sherry Davis honored at NRMS

Retiring New Richmond Middle School intervention specialist Sherry Davis was honored by Supt. Adam Bird, current NRMS principal Court Lilly and former NRMS principal Diana Spinnati and some of her former students at a retirement celebration at the school Thursday.
Sherry Davis receives her retirement bell from Supt. Adam Bird.
Sherry Davis celebrates retirement with former students Maggie Campbell, Dustin Kennedy, and Beau Painter.
NRMS principal Court Lilly, NRHS principal Diana Spinnati and Supt. Adam Bird were on hand at the retirement celebration for NRMS intervention specialist Sherry Davis.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Transportation honors Ms. Spinnati

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District transportation staff surprised high school principal Diana Spinnati with a gift of a desk fan shaped like a lion.

"We wanted to do something special for Ms. Spinnati for all the support she has given our drivers over the year," said driver Patricia Davis. "So when we saw this Lion it was the perfect gift for her."


New Richmond High School principal Diana Spinnati holds the lion fan presented to her by bus driver Patricia Davis on behalf of the district transportation department.

New Richmond High School principal Diana Spinnati (left) is pictured with members of the district's transporation department who presented her with a desk fan in the shape of a lion.


Monroe honors Mr. Massey

The staff at Monroe Elementary surprised retiring physical education teacher Curtis Massey with a retirement party at Tuesday's morning staff meeting. Mr. Massey is retiring after 16 years with the New Richmond Exempted Village School District including 11 at the middle school and 5 at Monroe. He previously taught 27 years at Covington Holmes.

Click on the play button on the video link below to watch a video of Mr. Massey's retirement party.


The Monroe staff dresse liked their retiring gym teacher for his retirement party. Mr. Massey is picture with visual arts teacher Adrian Hawk. They're holding stop and slow signs which Mr. Massey uses when he monitors the hallways.

Monroe principal Mark Bailey tells Curtis Massey he will be missed by the staff, students and parents at Monroe Elementary.
Curtis Massey is pictured with teacher Jill Blauwkamp who added a Stop/Slow sign to her Mr. Massey costume.  




Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Bus aide Diane Gardner honored

The New Richmond Exempted School District Transportation Department honored retiring bus aide Diane Gardner at a recent retirement party at the Monroe Township transportation facility. She is pictured with NREVSD transportation director Wayne Prescott (left) and superintendent of schools Adam Bird.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Career Day at Monroe Elementary

Monroe Elementary held its Career Day Thursday, May 10 with 10 speakers talking to the school's 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes about their career opportunities.

The speakers included Monroe Township fire chief Tom Marck, Cincinnati Reds promotions director Patrick McGrath, toy designer Andy Herrmann, pilot Scott Hefren, woodcarvers Cliff Reeder and Bob Manning, nurse Gayle Heintzelman, advertising specialist Jennifer Crowley and youth minister Brian Mitchell and TV reporter Laura Borchers.

Monroe Township fire chief Tom Marck (center) and Monroe EMS members Beth Cameron and Billy Haynes talk to Monroe Elementary students on Career Day.
Cincinnati Reds Promotions director Patrick McGrath discusses his job with Monroe Elementary students on Career Day.

Monroe Elementary teacher Jill Blauwkamp is pictured with Mr. Cliff Reeder, a 90-year-old World War II veteran and woodcarver who spoke to Monroe Elementary students about his craft on Career Day.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Clermont County Today at NRHS

Clermont County Communications Director Kathy Lehr featured the Japan America Society's cultural event at New Richmond High School April 18 on a Clermont County Today report.

2012 Kaleidoscope of The Arts

Click on the photo below to watch a slideshow video of New Richmond's 2012 Kaleidoscope of the Arts. Photos for the slideshow provided by NREVSD Visual Arts educators Stacy Gibbons, Amy Cholkas, Tim Cook, Adrian Hawk and Amy Hauserman.

Right click here and select Save Target As to download the video

Preschool Screening for 2012-2013

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District will conduct preschool screening for the 2012-2013 school year May 21-23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at New Richmond Elementary for all eligible students in the Monroe Elementary, New Richmond Elementary and Locust Corner Elementary areas.

Each district  elementary area has been assigned the following screening dates.

For children from the:         Date/Time
New Richmond Elem. area:     May 21, 2012 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Monroe Elementary area:        May 22, 2012 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Locust Corner Elem. area:       May 23, 2012 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
 
What is screening?

Screening is a developmental assessment process conducted by preschool teachers and support staff to identify 3 and 4 year old children in the New Richmond School District, who may be eligible to attend our preschool program.

Who is eligible?

Our program is strictly for NREVSD residents only.

Our program is designed for 3 and 4 year old children. Any child attending screening must be 3 years of age on or before June 1, 2012.

Where do I go?

All screening will be conducted at New Richmond Elementary. Families should enter in the main doors (under the awning) by the office and follow the arrows to classroom #205 for registration.

What to bring?

In addition to your child, you will need to bring the following paperwork:

* Child’s original birth certificate

* Child’s social security card

* Immunization record

* Custody papers (if applicable)

* A copy of one of the following for income verification:

1. W-2

2. Income tax return

3. Food stamp case number or AFDC case number

* A copy of one of the following for address verification:

1. Current driver’s license

2. State ID

3. Utility bill

Questions?

Call: Erika Hauke 553-3181 x 15206

E-mail: hauke_e@nrschools.org
Screening Helpful Hints

Do bring all the required paperwork. If you do not have your child’s Birth Certificate and Social Security Card, order them now. You must present a Birth Certificate and Social Security card at the time of screening. No child will be admitted into the program without a Birth Certificate and Social Security Card.

Do consider the time of day you attend screening. If your child is a morning person, attend in the morning. If your child is happier in the afternoon, attend after lunch. The time of day you attend our screening, has no bearing on enrollment consideration.

Do bring your child well fed and well rested, the wait can be long. Consider bringing a snack for your child while you wait.

Do dress your child in play clothes with gym shoes … no flip flops please!

Do have only one adult attend the screening with your child. This adult may be a parent or grandparent, however, we ask that you carefully consider how well your child will separate from and cooperate with the adult who brings them to screening. If your child will not separate from the adult, we will not be able to conduct the screening.

Do leave siblings at home. We have limited space in the screening area and the elementary students are still in session. We need to be quiet and respectful of the learning that is taking place in the building.

Do prepare your child. Talk to your child many times about what will happen on screening day. If a child knows what to expect, they tend to be less fearful and more willing to cooperate. Explain to your child what a “big” boy/girl they have become and how fun going to school will be. Explain on screening day how they will meet new teachers and how excited we are to meet and play games with them.