NRHS students honor former principal

New Richmond High School students released 650 purple balloons in a memorial service Friday at the high school stadium in honor of former principal Diana Spinnati, who died Nov. 23 at the age of 58 from pancreatic cancer/ Visitation for Ms. Spinnati will be Sunday from 1-5 p.m. following by a memorial service at 5 p.m. in the New Richmond High School gymnasium.

Seniors need passes for free admission

New Richmond High School has changed its policy for free admission to senior citizens.

New Richmond senior citizens 60 and older will continue to gain free admission to New Richmond High School home athletic but the school will require a pass to identify them as New Richmond seniors. Seniors from visiting schools will be required to pay admission.

“We will need NR seniors 60 and over to come to the office, phone or email their names for a pass,” said Foote. “We will also be signing up seniors for passes at Thursday and Friday home games.”

Seniors can call the High School office at 553-3191 or email Mr. Foote at foote_d@nrschools.org to get a pass.

NRHS to honor Military Dec. 7

New Richmond High School will honor all current and former military veterans Friday,  Dec. 7 before the home basketball game against Goshen.

“We will recognize anyone that served in the military before the game at 7:20 p.m.,” said NRHS athletic director Doug Foote.

Any current service member or military veteran interested in attending should contact Mr. Foote at 513-553-3191 Ext, 10003 or foote_d@nrschools.org. 

Spinnati services Sunday at NRHS

Diana Spinnati will be remembered in a memorial service Sunday, Dec. 2 at the place she held dearest: New Richmond High School.

Visitation for Ms. Spinnati, who died Nov. 23 at the age of 58 from pancreatic cancer, will be from 1-5 p.m. following by a memorial service at 5 p.m. in the New Richmond High School gymnasium.

Diana Spinnati holds a lion shaped
desk fan presented to her by the
NREVSD transportation department.

“She had a tremendous impact on the students and staff of NRHS for many years,” said Supt. Adam Bird. “She will be remembered fondly by former students who graduated, or moved on to success in college or career because of her influence.”

Ms. Spinnati was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last January and went on medical leave to undergo treatment. She returned for the month of May and presided over the graduation of the Class of 1012 and then went on permanent medical leave. She last visited the high school on Oct. 5 for the volleyball team’s Spikes for Spinnati game to benefit cancer research.

“Ms. Spinnati was dedicated to the staff and students at New Richmond High School,’ said Mark Bailey, who followed Ms. Spinnati as principal at NRHS. “It’s truly a great loss to our learning community.”

Ms. Spinnati began her career with New Richmond Schools in 1998 when she was hired as principal at New Richmond Middle School. She served as an assistant superintendent in 2003 for 18 months until being named principal at New Richmond High School.

Prior to her career with New Richmond schools, Ms. Spinnati spent 13 years in public education as a teacher for nine years with Mansfield City Schools and as an assistant principal at Talawanda City Schools for four years. 

A 1972 graduate of Wapakoneta High School, Ms. Spinnati attended Wright State University for three years before transferring to Bluffton College where she earned a degree in business education. She received her Masters in Education from Ashland University in 1994.

Ms. Spinnati was the daughter of Joseph Spinnati (Mary) and the late Waneta Kuntz and sister to Frank Spinnati (Sandy) and James Spinnati (Judy) and step sister of Cheryl Iiames; sister-in-law to Vicki Spinnati; aunt to six nieces and nephews and 13 great nieces and nephews. She was a special friend to Carol Ann Coulter, Terri Flamm, Becky Lewis and Christen Davis. She was preceded in death by brothers Alan and Greg Spinnati.

Memorials may be made to the Diana M. Spinnati Memorial Scholarship Fund 1131 Bethel New Richmond Rd. New Richmond Oh, 45157. The E.C. Nurre Funeral Home is handling arrangements. 

http://www.ecnurre.com/obituaries/details.asp?id=2326

NRHS presents HONK! The Musical

The New Richmond High School music department will present ‘HONK! The Musical’ Friday and Saturday (November 16 and 17) at 7 p.m. at the high school theater. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

Cast members Nick Gilman, Ally Shook, Audrey Filer, Olivia Latham, Morgan Huddleston, Dan Wilson and Ashleigh Beard rehearse a scene from Honk! The Musical.

HONK! is an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen’s classic The Ugly Duckling. Directed by Mr. Doug Heflin, the musical delivers a message of tolerance and features Ugly (played by Daniel Wilson), a duckling who is rejected by everyone but his mother, Ida (played by Ashleigh Beard); a sly tomcat (Tyler Davis) who wants to eat Ugly; and other barnyard characters.

Daniel Wilson stars as Ugly and Ashleign Beard as Ida in the NRHS production of HONK! The Musical.

“The cast and crew have done a wonderful job of assisting in making this show work,” said Mr. Heflin. “We have had some challenges to overcome, and the kids have worked so hard to make this show happen.”

“It is a funny show and it is quite a clever bit of writing. This is a new show for me and I really like discovering new creations.”

Besides designing and creating stage props and costumes, the production challenge included turning the orchestra pit into a duck pond. Mr. Heflin is assisted by Mr. Errol Selsby.

“I would like to thank Mr. Selsby for his great work,” said Mr. Heflin. “This show would not be happening without his help.”

Cast List

Ugly – Daniel Wilson

Ida – Ashleigh Beard

Drake – Nick Gilman

The 4 Ducklings – Morgan Huddleston as Billy, Ally Shook as Beaky, Audrey Feiler as Fluff and Olivia Latham as Downy

Cat – Tyler Davis

Queenie – Cierra Edwards

Lowbutt – Jenny Roberts

Bullgfrog – Newton McCollum

Assistant to the Bullfrog – Luke Gilday

Henrietta – Chelsea Fawley

Grace – Rachel Ploucha

Turkey – Craig Hoagland

Greylag – Charlie Spicker

Maureen -- Sydney Clancy

Dot – Abby Jewell

The “Extreme” Geese – Austin Lawson as Barnacles, Justin Patrick as Pinkfoot, Courtney Roberts as Wingtip and Kelsey Williams as Topplestop

Maggie Pie – Skylar McDonald

Camera Operator – Travis Pancake

The Swans – Alicia Bailey as Penny, Stile Sweet as Father Swan, Lindsay Gundler as Mother Swan and Julianne Molitor as Bewick

Farmer’s Voice – Nicholas Wuest

Old Woman – Cassie Smith

Boy’s voice – Zach Rolfes

Girl’s voice – Analiese Rohdes

Troupe – Chelsey Bowling, Haley Curtis, Adrianna Flood, Ella Lindsley, Travis Pancake, Analiese Rohdes (also Choreographer), Zach Rolfes, Cassie Smith, Megan Webster (also Choeographer), Anne-Marie Woods, Maryann Wuerdeman.

Orchestra
Alex Grooms, Paige Anderson, Ashlee Lewis and Rachael Westrick, Mr. Michael McKinley

Tech and stage crews

Courtney Senters (lead lighting), Chandler Cochran (stage manager), Adam Slade (assistant stage manager), Troy Saunders (lead sound), Will Isbell (lead sound), Will Wuerdeman(lights), Andrew Deitsch (lights), Ben Green (sound), Megan Reid(sound) and Brittany Riley (sound).

LCE honors Veterans Friday

Brenda Barnes, Tyler McDonald and Daisy McDonald perform 'God Bless The USA' for Veterans at Locust Corner's 2012 Veterans Breakfast Friday, Nov. 9.

Click on the play button below to watch the perormance.

Monroe Elementary honors Veterans

Monroe Elementary honored Veterans at its annual Veterans Breakfast, Nov. 8. Click on the play button to watch a video of the program hosted by the Monroe Elementary Student Council.

NRMS honors our Veterans

New Richmond Middle School held its annual Veterans Day recognition program Wednesday, Nov. 7 with performances by the Middle School band under the direction of Mr. Michael McKinley and the Middle School choir under the direction of Mr. Doug Heflin.

Mr. Doug Heflin and the NRMS choir perform at the schools annual Veterans Recognition program Wednesday.

Mr. Michael McKinley directs the NRMS band which performed for Veterans .

NRMS student Madeline Walls with her grandfather Phil Zook, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, during the school's Veterans Day assembly.

Korean War veteran Ralph Shepherd at Wednesday's NRMS Veterans Day assembly. (Photos by  Monica Davis)

NRHS donates 52 units of blood

New Richmond High School students and district staff donated 52 units of blood to the Hoxworth Blood Center Oct. 30 in the first of two blood drives at the high school during the 2012-13 school year.

"We had 68 volunteers try to donate on Tuesday, and Hoxworth was able to collect 52 units of blood," said blood drive coordinator Nicole Parker. "Our next blood drive is scheduled for Wednesday, March 6, 2013."

Aaron Strange (right) from the Hoxworth Blood Center prepares to draw blood from NRHS senior Vaughn Kayser.

NRHS Honor Society member Sarah Glenn checks on senior Rodney Berwanger who was one of  52  NRHS students and  district staff members who donated blood during the first of two blood drives this school year.

NRHS senior Ricky Cullison gives a thumbs up  during his blood draw.

Honor Society member Kara Burns helps senior Nate Dixon fill out his paperwork. Dixon was one of  68 NRHS students and district staff members who volunteered to donate blood during Octomber's blood drive.