Fight for Nate raises $10,000

The Dec. 18 Fight For Nate fundraiser at New Richmond High School raised $10,000 according to preliminary results.

The money goes to the medical fund for Nate Kramer, a 2007 New Richmond High School graduate and school swimming record holder who was diagnosed with leukemia last June after finishing his swimming career at the University of Cincinnati. Kramer is awaiting a bone marrow transplant at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

"We have a preliminary total -- approximately $10,000 -- and that doesn't include the City BBQ fundraiser tonight or the Mary Kay fundraiser that Carol Oetzel is doing," said event organizer Sue Griffin. "I think that's tremendous!"

Click on the photo below to watch a combined video/slideshow from the Dec. 18 fundraiser.


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Lions Spirit Wear Sale Dec. 21

2011 New Richmond High School spirit wear will be on sale from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21 in the high school cafeteria for your Christmas shopping. Hookie sweatshirts are $25, T-Shirts $10, Pajamas $20 and Hats $20.

The Spirit Wear sale will take place during the New Richmond boys basketball team’s game against Hughes.

If you cannot make it to the sale you can print out the order form at the link below and order your Lions Spirit Wear by mail.

Lions Spirit Wear order form

Tourbadours 2011 tour of district

The New Richmond High School Troubadours under the direction of NRHS music director Doug Heflin continued their tradition of touring the district with their Holiday Concert.

Click on the photo below to watch the Tourbadours' 2011 performance at New Richmond Elementary School.


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2011 NRHS Band Holiday concert

The New Richmond High School Concert Band under the direction of Michael McKinley performs its 2011 Holiday Concert for New Richmond Middle School students.

Click on the photo below to watch the band's 2011 Holiday Concert.


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Retiring board members honored

Retiring school board members David Painter and Sharon Stark were honored at the December meeting of the New Richmond Board of Education.

Stark and Painter, who served a combined 12 years, will be replaced by incoming board members David Hawkins and Kim Hayden, both former board members.
Retiring New Richmond School Board members David Painter and Sharon Stark hold Excellent With Distinction car stickers and ceremonial bells presented to them at their last Board meeting.

Board member Fred Heflin praised the two outgoing members.

"I have served on the Board of Education on and off since 1979 and have served with 19 different board members," said Heflin. "I want to compliment David and Sharon because they are at the top of the list."

Painter praised the role New Richmond schools has played in his life.

"Were it not for teacher Suzanne Hale, I would still be sitting on the wall on Front Street," said Painter. "She took a special interest in me and I went on to become the first member of my family to go to college."

Painter praised the two new board members.

"I feel good about the members coming on board," said Painter. "I'm confident the Board will continue to try to reduce the financial cost to the district and to improve on the education experience of students."

NRHS swim coaches honored

A new scoreboard at the New Richmond High School pool was dedicated Dec. 18 in honor of Judy and Joe Middeler who have coached the Lions swimmers for a combined 50 years.

Judy Middeler is in her 36th year as swim team coach while her brother Joe is in his 14th season.

“I think they know how we feel about them,” said New Richmond athletic director Doug Foote.

“I’m not a New Richmond person but there’s something special about this place when you look back and see the Ron Birds (33 years as football coach) and Ron Reids who coach here for 30 years. People stay here forever and ever because of the quality of people they work with. Thank you Middelers, you are the best.“

Former New Richmond swimmers Mark Miller and Alex Lewis spearheaded the fund drive that raised $7500 for the new scoreboard. Among the groups making donations were the New Richmond High School PTO, Girl Scout troup 48026, River Hills Bank and the New Richmond Sports Foundation.

“They are not only great coaches, they’re great people and great mentors,” said Miller. “Granted they may have taught everyone in New Richmond how to swim, but that’s not all of the story. They have been involved with Special Olympics and the Village Food Pantry. They reach out to the community and if someone needs help they will be there to help.”

Click on the photo below to watch a video of the dedication ceremony which preceded the benefit for former Lion swimmer Nate Kramer.

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Art is a family affair at New Richmond

Monroe Elementary’s 4th annual Creative Family Art Night attracted more than 250 people from the New Richmond school district who created artwork at 15 environmentally-friendly creation stations for families.

New Richmond Exempted Village School District art teachers (from left) Amy Cholkas, Adrian Hawk and Tim Cook greet families at Monroe Elementary’s 2011 Creative Family Art Night that attracted more than 250 people.

“The theme of this year’s event was ‘EARTH: Back to Nature’,” noted Monroe visual arts teacher Adrian Hawk. “Families from New Richmond Elementary and Locust Corner Elementary were invited to attend this year.”

Click on the photo below to watch a slideshow from Creative Family Fun Night.


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Each family received a reusable cloth bag at the door and were invited to create a design on the bag that represented their family.

“They then visited the different creation stations, which included natural weavings, upcycled ornaments and flowers using old materials, watercolor paintings of ocean scenes, natural leaf rubbings, flower garden mural painting, and much more,” said Mrs. Hawk, who was assisted by NRE art teacher Amy Cholkas and LCE art teacher Tim Cook.

This event was sponsored by Monroe Elementary’s P.T.O.

Monroe Elementary 2nd grade student Emily Colonel (left) and kindergarten student Piper Ulmer work on the Monroe Flower Garden Mural during New Richmond Exempted Village School District’s Creative Family Art Night.

NRMS selling discount 'Go Cards'

Need a stocking stuffer?

Check out the NRMS Athletics 'Go Card,' a discount card that pays for itself.

The New Richmond Middle School Athletic Dept. will be selling "Go Cards" for our winter fundraiser. The cards arrive Wednesday 12/14/11.

"We have 1150 total to sell," said NRMS athletic director Sue Curfman. "The card is good for one year and can be used as many times as you want. The cost is $10 and the card will pay for itself with the discounts."

Download the Go Card order form for your business savings and locations.

 Enjoy Continuous Discounts at Participating Locations

 Valuable Discounts and Offers Valid Until 11/30/12!

 Pays For Itself in Just a Few Visits … a Great Bargain!

 Makes a Great Stocking-Stuffer or Gift!

Questions? Please contact Sue Curfman: curfman_s@nrschools.org

NRE seeks volunteers for reading program

Retired or have time on your hands?

Like Volunteering?

Want to Build Bridges between YOUR community and school?

Then New Richmond Elementary needs YOU! NRE is starting a program, Book Bridges; building bridges between home and school among 2^nd grade students. We are also looking for help with grade three readers. Volunteers are needed to work with students and provide opportunities to build reading skills. Book Bridges operates Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00a.m.-10:40a.m. Third grade times are negotiable. If interested, pick a day, and please contact Misty Cresap at 553-3181 x15310 or Terry Miller at 553-3181 x15001.

Monroe students support our troops

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

This year, students in the classes of teachers Staci Heiden, Jennifer Huelsmann and Melanie Shoemaker collected reading and entertainment items, snacks and health and beauty items from the Yellow Ribbon Support Center's Soldiers' Wish List.

Monroe Elementary second-grade team captains (from left) Jake Riffle, Katie Williams and Evan Hughes present some of the items the class collected for U.S. soldiers to Keith Maupin and Erica Huff from the Yellow Ribbon Support Center in Eastgate.

Room captains Evan Hughes, Katie Williams and Jake Riffle presented the gifts to Erica Huff and Keith Maupin from The Yellow Ribbon Support Center, a non-profit organization that has sent over 17,500 packages to our troops serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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.

Keith Maupin and Erica Huff (standing with second-grade teacher Staci Heiden) explain the purpose of the Yellow Ribbon Support Center to Monroe Elementary second-grade students who collected items for U.S. Troops.