Friday, December 21, 2012

LCE performs 'Go Where I Send Thee'

Students and staff at New Richmond's (Ohio) Locust Corner Elementary under the direction of music teacher Paige McConnell continued the school's tradition of singing "Go Where I Send Thee" during the pickup of more than 2000 food items and $476 the school collected for the New Richmond Food Pantry.

Click on the link below to watch this year's performance filmed by Locust Corner teacher Jeffrey Durm.

Monroe turns donated food into art

Every year the New Richmond Exempted Village School District holds a Food Drive for the local New Richmond Food Pantry. The 6th grade artists at Monroe Elementary School designed and created sculptures from these donations and were inspired by Canstruction.org.

Click on the video link below to watch a video of this year's Construction Art.



"Each team of artists planned and executed a sculpture that represented their team, the season, things they care about or simply their interests," explained Monroe visual arts teacher Adrian Vance Hawk. "The 6th graders exhibited a great amount of team work and problem solving skills in this effort to make an impermanent work of art."

Canstruction, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that holds annual design and build competitions to construct giant sized, structures made entirely out of canned food. At the close of the competition all of the Cansculptures (TM) are dismantled food used in the structures is donated to the local food banks for distribution to community emergency feeding programs.

"In addition to viewing many different sculptures on the Canstruction website, the 6th graders also talked about poverty, hunger and other social issues in the world and they made a list of things that they can do to make the world a better plac," added Hawk.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

NRHS teachers trumpet in Holidays

New Richmond High School teachers John Callebs and Rylan Shebesta welcome high school students to school by playing traditional Holiday carols on their trumpets. Click on the link below to watch a video of one of this week's performances filmed by NRHS teacher Jim Robinson.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

NREVSD reaction to school tragedy

Message from NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird:

To all NREVSD parents, students, and staff:

I know we have anxious parents, students and staff members concerned and nervous about school tomorrow.  School should be a safe, warm, and inviting place where students feel loved and cared for.  I sometimes hear from students who prefer to be at school because it provides emotional stability and it is upsetting to know that that feeling of security has been shaken due to the actions of an evil mass murderer.

I hope that we can quickly restore that secure feeling in our students tomorrow.  I know that our administrators and staff will be prepared to counsel students.

I would like for our parents to know that we have many security procedures in place.  We practice these procedures and will continue to do so.  We will take time this week to review them as well.

We will also begin the process this week of seeking to improve the procedures we have in place.  I will begin meeting with our Board of Education, administrators, and teachers to discuss how we can improve.

 I ask that our administrators work with our PTO's and parents to gain their insight and ideas.

Parents, I hope that you will send your children to school tomorrow and know that we will be doing our very best to protect them.

Adam C. Bird
Superintendent
New Richmond Exempted Village School District
212 Market St.
New Richmond, Ohio 45157
(513) 553-2616

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Monroe continues tradition of giving

Second and third grade students at New Richmond's Monroe Elementary continued the school's tradition of giving up their traditional holiday gift exchange parties in favor of making donations to worthy causes.

"Monroe's 2nd and 3rd graders have been collecting donations for the Yellow Ribbon Support Center in lieu of a class gift exchange this year," said Monroe second grade teacher Staci Heiden.



Heiden's students and students in the classrooms of Monroe teachers Jennifer Huelsman, Melanie Shoemaker, Ann Marie Anderson and Jennifer Mills collected reading and entertainment items, snacks and health and beauty items from the Yellow Ribbon Support Center's Soldiers' Wish List and presented the items to Keith Maupin and Erica Huff on Dec. 12.

"Our soldiers get fed well in Afghanistan but there's no place to go when they want a snack or shampoo," said Maupin, who opened the Yellow Ribbon Support Center after his son, Matt, was taken prisoner and later executed by terrorists while serving in Iraq.

 
Room captains Roger Meade, Conner Fouss, Landen Patton and Brayden Bayless presented three large boxes of items to Maupin and Huff.

"These items will go into Christmas stockings for soldiers serving in Afghanistan," said Huff. "We've already sent out more than 1000 stockings this year."

The Yellow Ribbon Support Center is located 700 Eastgate South Drive, Suite 430, Cincinnati, OH 45245.

 Anyone wishing to make donations to the center can call Mr. Maupin at 513-752-4310 or contact him by email at keith@yellowribbonsupportcenter.com.

In addition to the donated items the Monroe students wrote letters and Christmas cards for Maupin to pass on to soldiers in Afghanistan.

"I think these cards are more important to our soldiers than these items you donated," Maupin told the students. "They really do like these letters and I hope you students keep writing to them."

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Author Lauren Tarshis visits NRE

Lauren Tarshis, editor of Storyworks Magazine and author of the 'I Survived' series visited New Richmond Elementary Dec. 10 to focus on NRE student Isaac Friedman and the support he gets from his school for an article she is doing on Down Syndrome.

Tarshis, who visited the NRE classroom of teacher Judy Schaechter last year via Skype, visited NRE classrooms to discuss her 'I Survived' books and attended a reception for students, parents and NREVSD staff after school.





Monroe Elementary language arts teachers Kim Ealy (left) and Megan
Smith (right) discuss writing and language arts with author Lauren Tarshis
Archer Maguire and Everett Olenick with author Lauren Tarshis. Everett is showing her a book report he did on one of her books last year.  She autographed it for him.
 
 

Monday, December 10, 2012

Monroe honors artist Charley Harper

Monroe Elementary celebrated Charley Harper Day December 7 with every student, teacher and staff member asked to wear red in honor of Harper's famous Cardinal image.

Each student and staff member also received a button or pin made with an image of one of Harper's artworks.


2nd Grader Gracie Baum in her homemade Charley Harper cardinal outfit is pictured with Monroe art teacher Adrian Hawk dressed as Harper's Cardinal character.
 
"Charley Harper was a local artist who loved nature and painted simplified images of animals in nature," explained Monroe visual arts teacher Adrian Vance Hawk. " His work is known all around the world. He did many poster designs for the Hamilton County Parks and currently has an exhibit at the Cincinnati Nature Center."
 

Jetta McCart wearing a Charley Harper artwork sweatshirt from the 1980's.
 
The City of Cincinnati honored Harper in 2006 by declaring December 8 as Charley Harper Day. Harper died in 2007.

"It was a one time celebration but I thought it was a great way to celebrate a great artist who did great work for the environment and he is an artist that all the young artists at Monroe Elementary study so it seemed right to celebrate an artist in this way," said Hawk.

Patricia Piper's kindergarten class sang the "Charley Harper Song" on the morning announcements.



Monroe principal Joe Roach introduces Charley Harper's Cardinal character during Friday's morning announcements.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Blood drive to honor former Lion star

Family and friends of 2002 New Richmond graduate Bill Martin will host the "Get Big & Give Big" William J. Martin, Jr. Memorial Blood Drive Dec. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hoxworth Blood Center, 7715 Five Mile Road in Anderson Township.

Martin, who was an all-SBAAC and all-district football player on New Richmond's 2001 football team, was killed in an automobile accident in Northern Kentucky last month.

Anyone wishing to donate can register on-line at http://hoxworth.org/groups/theelitegetbiggivebig.html.

"When you register, you must follow each step until you get to "finish" so your appointment will be saved," said Sarah Metzger, one of the blood driver organizers. "Please register ASAP so we can accommodate everyone who wants to participate without running out of spaces at the last minute."



Saturday, December 1, 2012

Craft show attracts 83 vendors

Craft Show coordinators Sue Griffin (left)
and Joyce Montgomery check the vendor
list for the Dec. 8 Marching Band Winter
Craft & Activity Fair.

The New Richmond Lions Marching Band’s Winter Craft & Activity Fair that will take place at the high school on December 8, 2012 from 9-5 p.m. has attracted more than 83 vendors.

The NRHS marching band, which is approaching 100 members, is raising money to buy new uniforms to replace the band’s current 30-year-old uniforms. 

“Our goal is to make this an annual event and one of the area’s biggest craft show,” said Joyce Montgomery, NRHS librarian and vendor coordinator.

“Most of the vendors are donating an item for a raffle, and the latest one is Pets Alive, who has donated 4 free microchips for pets,” said show director Sue Griffin, NRHS language arts teacher. “We hope it will become an annual fundraiser that will benefit a different group each year or split proceeds between several groups.”

The craft show will also include hourly Zumba from 10-3, an open swim in the high school pool, Santa photographs, food and beverages. Approximately a thousand books will also be on sale at a dollar each. The high school PTO will be selling ornaments and New Richmond Middle School will be selling poinsettias and wreaths.

Pre-orders for beaded jewelry featuring the NRHS Lions logo
are being taken by Joyce Montgomery at the high school.
Order forms are available at the link below.

One jewelry vendor has created special beads for New Richmond High School that features the school logo. Mrs. Montgomery is taking pre-orders for the bead items through Nov. 30. You can download the order form at this link: http://www.nrschools.org/Downloads/Pre-Order%20Form.pdf.

“Another vendor will be doing Christmas crafts with kids in the high school art room,” said Mrs. Griffin. “Parents can leave children in this room and shop till they drop!”

Some of the crafters attending will be as follows:  
MayCreations ~ Clay & Crystal Beaded Jewelry...."Has designed a NR Lions Logo" bead for Spirit Wear bracelets & earrings"  (available for pre-order).

Laurel Barn Quilts ~ Handcrafted Barn Quilts for barns, homes, gardens, garages, patios & porches.
ZPottery ~ Handcrafted Stoneware Pottery.
New Richmond Middle School Athletics ~ Poinsettias.
Betty's Sew Creative ~ Handcrafted Appalachian Dolls, Quilts, Table Runners & Wall Hangings.
My Favorite Things ~ Primitive Crafts.
An Original Graham Quacker & Quacker Baskets ~ Handcarved Wood Ducks, Songbirds and Handcrafted Baskets.
UnI Quilts, Quilts Made by You & I ~ Handcrafted Quilts & Pet Toys.
Front Porch Jams & Jellies.
Country Manor Mixes ~ Gourmet Dips, Spreads, Desserts & Oils.
Stevens Photography ~ Pictures with Santa, Christmas Family & Individual Pictures (printed that day!).
White Oak Valley Farm ~ Handcrafted Wreaths of Fresh Cut Fraiser Fir. 
Twisted Sisters Fibre Art ~ Fibre Art Scarves & Wall Hanging.
Beautiful Bags Lady ~ 100% cotton Shopping Bags.
Loraine's Homemade Candy ~ Homemade Candy Turtles, Nut Clusters, Peanut Butter, Coconut, Opera Cream, Chocolate Bon Bons, Lolipops.
Silpada Jewelry. 
Tupperware.
Deck the Halls ~ Handcrafted Home Decor for the Holidays & Other Seasons.
Jamberry Nails.
Scentsy Wickless Candle.s
Two Girls & A Glue Gun ~ Handcrafted Holiday Crafts.
Usborne Books.
Creative Cards ~ Handcrafted Cards for all occasions.
Lia Sophia Jewelry.
Pam Rudd's Handcrafted Pre-Lit Christmas Trees & Christmas Soaps.
Pink Zebra ~ Soy Based Candle Sprinkles, Simmer Pots, Diffusers, Lotions & Soaps.
Mary Kay Cosmetics.
New Richmond High School PTO.
Blue Raven Jewelry.
Thirty-One.
Origami Owl ~ Living Lockets.
Premier Designs Jewelry.
Barbara O'Neil's Lighted Wine Bottles.
Pine Lane Soaps ~ Goat Milk Soaps & Lotions.
Lil Treasures ~ Handcrafted Princess hats, backpacks, headbands.
Pampered Chef.
Granny's Kitchen ~ Handmade Doll Clothes, Aprons & Hand Sewn Items.
Tastefully Simply.
Poises & Peach Trees ~ Framed Artwork.
Krafty Kate ~ iPad covers, bags, & table runners.
Cutie Pie Creations ~ Fresh baked Cakes, Cookies & Cupcakes
IDA Candles
Shannon Marie Pottery.

Other vendors will be selling with handcrafted items such as crochet baby blankets, hand painted Christmas ornaments, wood bears, water color paintings, hand sketched pictures, cross stitch/pillows/quilts, handmade greeting cards and Handcrafted Jewelry.