Student arrested after Yik Yak threat

A New Richmond High School student was arrested and suspended from school Wednesday afternoon following a threat posted the night before on the anonymous social media app Yik Yak. The student was not identified.

The threat resulted in a search by New Richmond police, school administrators and high school staff of all of all students entering the high school Wednesday.

“The student was arrested by the New Richmond Police Department and removed from the building ,” said Supt. Adam Bird. “It’s an example of great cooperation between our police and high school staff.”

New Richmond police officer Les Smith performs a bag search of a late arriving New Richmond High School student after a threat was posted on the anonymous social media app Yik Yak Tuesday night leading to a search of all students arriving at New Richmond High School Wednesday.

“Last night a community member brought to my attention something that was on the app Yik Yak that said ‘Watch out New Richmond I am about shoot up the school 2morro’ and we immediately contacted police,” said New Richmond High School principal Mark Bailey.

Bailey, assistant principal Phil Heflin, district Supt. Adam Bird and teachers Jim Robinson and Sue Griffin assisted New Richmond police in the search of approximately 700 students. Clermont County Sheriff deputies also assisted before being called away for an emergency.

“It took less than 45 minutes to perform the search and all classes started on time,” said Bird. “The students were calm and cooperative and everything went smoothly.”

New Richmond police remained on the scene and performed bag searches for students arriving late due to junior and senior options and post-secondary college classes.

“We realize that parents’ No. 1 priority is their child’s safety and that has to come before learning,” said Bailey. “Students have to feel safe and have to know that we take all threats seriously.”

Bailey banned cell phone use in the high school last week after vulgar and mean Yik Yak posts by students. The App is banned throughout the district via its WiFi network and Yik Yak has put up a block on cell towers within 1.5 miles of the high school. The threat has been turned over to New Richmond police for investigation.

NREVSD bans Yik Yak gossip app

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District is closely monitoring the anonymous social media app Yik Yak and is banning it from use in the district.

Yik Yak is available for iOS and Android smart phones and allows users to anonymously create and view posts in a virtual message board within a 1.5 mile radius depending on how many other users are nearby.

An example of a Yik Yak
Post by students this week.

YikYak has come under fire nationally as the new home of cyberbullying and incidents of cyberbullying have been detected by New Richmond administrators.

"Cyberbullying has already occurred,” said New Richmond Supt. Adam Bird. “Many disparaging, ugly, vulgar comments are being made about students and staff using Yik Yak."

Technically, the Yik Yak app is limited to people 17 years and older, but it’s still popular with younger high school students.

New Richmond relaxed its policy on use of cell phones in schools four years ago and may have to reconsider that move because of the Yik Yak app according to New Richmond High School principal Mark Bailey.

“They are allowed to use cell phones at lunch time and in the classroom for academic purposes and apparently that is not happening,” said Bailey. “We now have more than enough iPads and Chromebooks therefore the use of cell phones is no longer needed for research.”

Yik Yak has become a major problem with schools nationwide.

New York Magazine recently highlighted the chaos caused at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut. The magazine article pointed out that one student wrote, “How long do we think before A. B. kills herself?”  A high school in San Clemente, California was shut down this year after an anonymous bomb threat was posted on Yik Yak.

“I have several issues with Yik Yak,” said Bailey. “No. 1, we have students saying mean, hurting things to each other and about staff members. In my mind it is a form of cyber bullying.

“My second concern is that students seem to be on Yik Yak when they should be attending to instruction and learning. I would rather be working with staff and students to improve academics rather than focusing on issues like this.”

Supt. Bird noted that parents must get involved to stop cyberbullying.

“The use of Yik Yak is now being monitored by New Richmond schools and students should know that nothing on the Internet is completely anonymous,” said Bird. “But we only can control what goes on in our buildings, we need parents to help monitor their students use of Yik Yak.”

Cameras monitor NREVSD school buses

There is no “He said, she said” anymore when it comes to investigating school bus behavior incidents in the New Richmond Exempted Village School District.

“Last year, we heard from parents regarding their concern about bus bullying,” said New Richmond Supt. Adam Bird. “In response, cameras have been installed on every bus so that student behavior can be better monitored."

New Richmond schools chief mechanic Chuck Vogel aligns cameras that have been installed on all NREVSD school buses to monitor student behavior and other safety issues.

Every New Richmond school bus has a minimum of two cameras recording video and audio. One is installed above the driver’s seat window and focus on the driver and the bus door. A second camera is above the windshield and focused down the aisle.

“We have installed a third camera on selected bus serving routes where there have been issues,” added Bird.

Video and audio is stored on a SD card which can be reviewed on a computer and burned onto a DVD for use in disciplinary hearings by district administrators. The pair of bus cameras cost $1000 and were installed by district mechanics.

New Richmond schools chief mechanic Chuck Vogel reviews video from a pair of cameras installed on all New Richmond school buses to monitor student behavior and other safety issues. 

Students have taken notice of the cameras and adjusted their behavior accordingly.

“I have noticed a decrease in the number of bus referrals compared to the past few years,” said NREVSD transportation director Wayne Prescott.

Some bus drivers had privacy concerns at first since they would be on camera (which operate anytime the bus engine is running) even when they weren’t on the road. The tradeoff of having an extra set of eyes on their students quickly overcame any privacy concerns.

“I have spoken with several drivers regarding the new cameras, and have had positive feedback,” said Prescott. “Drivers like having an extra set of eyes on their students and they like being able to have the video checked when students tell them that something happen on the bus that they didn’t see or hear."

Red Ribbon Week at NRE and NRMSOct. 27-31

 What is Red Ribbon Week?

lt is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs.

Why? The Red Ribbon Campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. This began the continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a DRUG-FREE AMERICA!

NRE ACTIVITIES FOR RED RIBBON WEEK: LOVE YOURSELF, BE DRUG FREE!


MONDAY, OCT. 27 - LOVE YOUR SCHOOL: School Spirit Day! All students and staff can show their school pride by wearing school colors. *Red Ribbons will be given to all students! Please encourage students to wear their red ribbon each day this week. There will be a drawing every day and the student with the announced red ribbon number will get a prize! Students will be signing a Red Ribbon “Drug Free" pledge banner during lunch.

TUESDAY, OCT. 28- LOVE YOURSELF: Today is Dress for Success Day! Students and staff are encouraged to dress their best - ready for success! Everyone will look sharp and carry themselves with pride! Students will each get a RRW pencil . *Suggested activity — Students are encouraged to illustrate or make a collage showing their dreams for a super future!

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29 - LOVE YOUR TEAM: Today's theme is sports! Wear your favorite college, university, military, or sports team shirt. Students will each receive a RRW bracelet * Suggested activity— Students are encouraged to participate in the National Red Ribbon decorating contest, which is a home based activity (see info below). Allow students time to plan their design.

 THURSDAY OCT. 30 - LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY: Dream Career Day! Students are encouraged to answer the question: What is your dream career? Students will be permitted to wear clothing that match their future career dream. For example, if a student wants to be in the army, they could wear a camou?age outfit. If the student wants to be a nurse or a doctor, they could wear scrubs. Students will be getting RRW stickers today. *Suggested activity— Write a thank you note (individually or as a classroom) to our local law enforcement of?cers for risking their lives to protect our communities and schools from illegal drugs. Be sure to put your cards in Mrs. Gray's mailbox by Friday afternoon.

FRIDAY, OCT. 31- LOVE BEING DRUG FREE: Red Day! Wear as much red as possible today!!! Each student will get a RRW lollipop. We will have a Red Ribbon Speaker, Mr. Scott Wyatt I The schedule is as follows: Pre-K-3rd Grade 2:35— 2:50 and Grades 4-6 3:00- 3:25

New Richmond Middle School has a similar program with Clermont County Sheriff Tim Rhodenberg speaking to students during 6th period on Tuesday


 WIN AN IPAD & $1000 FOR NRE and NRMS,
1.  Work together as a FAMILY to decorate your HOME door, mailbox, or fence with a Red Ribbon and this year’s theme “Love Yourself‘. Be Drug Free.”
2.      Take a picture of your family in Front of your Red Ribbon decoration and upload to www.redribbon.org. You must be 18 years old to enter, so parents must submit the photos. *November 4th deadline.
3.   Ask your friends, Family, colleagues and school contacts to vote For your photo on the Red Ribbon Website!

Message from Supt. Adam Birdregarding public health issues

The U.S. Department of Education has asked us to share information regarding the nationwide outbreak of enterovirus (EV-D68), concerns about the Ebola virus, and the upcoming flu season with staff, students and parents of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District.

To address these public health concerns, the U.S. Department of Education and federal health agencies have a number of informational resources to share with you. (Links to those resources are listed below.)

Almost all of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-confirmed cases this year of EV-D68 infection have been among children.  Many of the children had asthma or a history of wheezing.  Many parents continue to be worried about the outbreak and want information about what they can do to prevent illness and protect themselves and their families.

The CDC has developed information and resources for parents about EV-D68:

• Web Feature, “What Parents Need to Know About Enterovirus D68”
• Drop-in newsletter article , “Parents: Learn the Facts about Enterovirus D68”
• Fact sheet for parents, “What Parents Need to Know about Enterovirus D68”
• General questions and answers for the public
• Keep Your Child from Getting and Spreading Enterovirus D68

The CDC issued a press release on Oct. 14 sharing news about a new lab test developed by CDC for EV-D68 which will allow more rapid testing of specimens.  Because of this new test, confirmed cases of EV-D68 will appear to rise rapidly over the next 7-10 days as specimen testing accelerates.  However, changes in case counts won’t represent a real-time influx of new cases.

As entrovirus season is expected to taper off, flu activity usually begins to increase in October.

While there is not a vaccine to prevent illness from enterovirus, the single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year.  Many resources for parents and others can be found on the CDC flu web site.  CDC recommends that ALL children 6 months old or older get a flu vaccine.
The CDC is continually updating its information on Ebola, information that can be found here: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students has a number of materials available regarding Readiness and Emergency Management of Schools in crisis situations, and those materials can be found here: http://rems.ed.gov/.  

Sincerely,

Adam Bird

Superintendent

New Richmond Exempted Village School District

NREVSD meets reading guarantee

All New Richmond Exempted Village School District third grade students from last year met Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee and advanced to the fourth grade without the need for additional reading instruction each school day.

"We are very pleased with the efforts of our students, staff, and administrative team,” said NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird “We made growing student literacy a priority and are thankful that no students were retained due to the Third Grade Reading Guarantee."  

Author Jinny Powers Berten discusses her Littsie book series
with Monroe Elementary 3rd graders. She was selected
as a guest speaker as part of the new curriculum
 designed by the district's 3rd grade teachers.

Except for students with individualized education plans, Ohio third grade students were required to meet a minimum score of 392 in 2013-2014 on the state reading test to move on to the fourth grade.  The minimum score increases to 394 for 2014-2015 and eventually to 400. This score must be attained either in the Fall or Spring state reading tests.

Of the non-exempt returning students, only three failed to score 392 on the OAA reading last spring but passed the alternative Terra Nova test at the start of the district’s summer reading camp for K-3 students and qualified for advancement.

"It was also made possible through the support of the Board of Education for our reading initiatives,” noted Bird. “The school board supported the hiring of elementary reading tutors and supported the summer reading camp for the past two summers."

The 8-week summer reading camps were directed by Monroe Elementary teacher Greg Chandler and were attended by 137 students in 2013 and 97 students in 2014. The 2014 summer reading camp included a visit by author Tim Callahan, author of the Kentucky Summers adventure series, which is based loosely on his childhood. The school board purchased copies of his books for the camp students as an encouragement for students to continue reading during the summer break.

New Richmond summer reading camp director Greg Chandler introduces author Tim Callahan.

Part-time reading tutors were added at the start of the current school year and work for three hours each day at the district’s three elementary schools. They assist teachers with reading improvement plans for students who appear to be falling behind in reading.

Students in grades K-3 are evaluated to determine if they are reading at grade level and a reading improvement plan is developed to address each student's unique reading problems.

Another factor in meeting state reading standards is the K-12 English Language Arts course of study approved by the New Richmond Board of Education last year. Designed to meet the new Common Core state standards as well as the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, the language arts initiative was the result of more than a year of planning by a district steering committee and grade level teams from New Richmond, Monroe and Locust Corner elementary schools.

Teacher Sue Kelly and some of her summer reading camp
students made a thank you card to the school board for
their support of the summer reading initiative.

“It’s important that we have alignment at the elementary level and agreement on common reading materials so students coming into middle school from our three elementary schools all have the same background, all have the same experiences having read the same books,” said John Frye, director of Staff and Pupil Services for the New Richmond Exempted Village School District.

NREVSD’s third grade teachers not only aligned their reading materials, they went an additional step and aligned their guest speakers. Jinny Powers Berten, author of the Littsie series about an immigrant girl in the 1800s who comes in contact with real characters that lived in Cincinnati such as Nicholas Longworth, Dr. Drake, Salmon Chase, Harriet Beecher Stowe, James Birney and John Rankin, spoke at all three district 3^rd grade classrooms and reviewed book reports from students who read her books as part of the new curriculum designed by the district's 3rd grade teachers.

“The exhibit of their reports was fun for me to see,” said Berten. “As an author, it is very rewarding to see the children interested and learning. Their teachers have done a great job."