Alumni game to honor first softball champions

New Richmond High School Fast Pitch Softball celebrates the 25th anniversary of its first Championship team. The 1991 team defeated Western Brown 3-2 to win the school's first softball sectional. Come to the ALUMNI GAME on April 16 at 2:30 pm to celebrate this great accomplishment. This year's alumni shirts are available at http://www.allstarsportswear.net/index.php.

Each purchase will make a $5 donation to the softball team. Deadline for ordering the alumni shirt is April 2nd.

There will be a social immediately following the game at the Green Kayak.

NRMS Science Olympiad going back to state

New Richmond Middle School’s Science Olympiad team is making what is becoming an annual trip to The Ohio State University for the state Science Olympiad finals after a strong second place finish in the Cincinnati Regional Science Olympiad competition March 5 at Xavier University.

 The NRMS team finished with 77 points, 11 behind Mason Middle School “A” team (66 points) and 35 points ahead of third place Mason Middle “B” team. New Richmond Middle School’s “B” squad finished 6^th in the 13-team competition with 133 points.

New Richmond Middle School was the defending Cincinnati Regional champion. The team’s second place finish secured a berth at the State Science Olympiad to held April 9 at The Ohio State University.

Click on the Play button below to watch a video slideshow from the Science Olympiad Regional.



 “It takes a tremendous amount of organization behind the scenes to help students grow and do their best work in Science Olympiad,” noted NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird.  “I am very thankful for the leadership of our coach Pam Hughes and the army of parent volunteers that contribute.”

Science Olympiad students compete to win individual and school awards. First to sixth place medals are awarded to students in each event and first to sixth place trophies will be awarded to the top teams in each division. Teams can reach the National Science Olympiad Tournament by placing in the top two at state tournament.

Science Olympiad is a national non-profit organization devoted to creating a passion for science, improving the quality of science education, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science. The interscholastic tournaments are held at the regional, state and national levels.

 Science Olympiad competition consists of a series of 23 team events reflecting the ever-changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. By combining events from all disciplines, Science Olympiad encourages a wide cross-section of students to get involved. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation.

 “New Richmond took two middle school teams with a total of 23 students.,” said Mrs. Hughes.  “Every student on the NR teams brought home at least one medal. This is the first year that we've had sixth graders on our team (Jacob Weiskittel, Annie George, Grace Reid, and Ruby Horgan).

 Kayla Sullivan is the NRMS Science Olympiad assistant coach. Parent volunteers include Amy Weiskittel, Amy Daniel, Andrea Schultz, Tracy Maguire, Monica Davis, Dr. Adrienne Hammill, Christie Heinzman who help with coaching particular events.

New Richmond Middle School medal winners:

 In Air trajectory:  1st place Joe George and Lauren Weiskittel
In Anatomy: 2nd place Becky Hammill and Jetta Mccart
In BioProcess Lab : 6^th place Madison Torres
In Bottle Rockets: 1^st place Ronja Frigard and Hannah Schultz,  5^th place Ethan Daniel and Cece Gilpin
In Bridge Building: 3^rd place Ronja Frigard, 4^th place Ethan Daniel
In Crave the wave: 4^th place Hannah Schultz and Joe George, 6^th place Caleb Adams and Matthew Heinzman
In Crime Busters: 2^nd place madison Torres and Tatem Lindner
In Disease Detective: 1st place Becca Davis and Riley Hawkins, 6^th place Tatem Lindner
In Dynamic Planet: 2^nd place Becky Hammill
In Experimental Design: 1^st place Jetta McCart, Dani Williams, and Tatem Lindner, 6^th place Ellie Mansfield and Ashlee dale
In Food Science: 1^st place Madison Torres and Lauren Weiskittel, 6^th place Sammy Pratt and Matthew Heinzman
In Fossils: 4^th place Matthew Heinzman and Ashlee Moore, 5^th place, Madison Torres and Ronja Frigard
In Green Generation: 3^rd place Becca davis and Ellie Mansfield
In Invasive Species: 4^th place Sammy Pratt, 5^th place Lauren Weiskittel and dani Williams
In Meteorology: 3^rd place Becky hammill and Lauren Weiskittel, 6^th place Matthew Heinzman and Ethan Daniel
In Picture This: 1^st place Hannah Schultz and Becky Hammill, 2^nd place Ellie Mansfield
In Reach For the Stars:  5^th place Joe George and Dani Williams
In Scrambler: 1^st place Becca Davis and Sammy Pratt, 3^rd place Ronja frigard and Lauren Weiskittel
In Wind Power: 2^nd place Hannah Schultz, in 3^rd place  Ethan Daniel
In Write It, Do It: 5^th place Joe George and Lauren Weiskittel

NRE student wins T-shirt design contest

Karley Wrigglesworth, a fourth grade student at New Richmond Elementary, has won the annual Clermont County Spring Litter Clean-Up T-shirt Design Contest. Karley and her teacher, Meredith Zimmerman, were given certificates of appreciation by commissioner David Uible on March 7 for contributing to local education efforts to promote litter prevention and recycling.

The Southern Ohio Association of Realtors (SOAR) and Clermont County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) sponsored the contest and awarded Karley a $100 prize, plus an additional $100 prize for the New Richmond Elementary School art department.  The litter clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, April 23.

John McManus, Administrator of Clermont Soil and Water District, displays the winning design as Karley Wrigglesworth, her teacher  Meredith Zimmerman and Carrie McIntosh-Owens of SOAR look on. 

Karley’s design was chosen from 82 entries submitted by K-12 students from Clermont County and the East Fork Little Miami River watershed. Karley learned about the contest from her teacher and was the only entrant to do her design on an actual T-shirt.

“My mom had a bunch of markers,” said Karley. “We got a few T-shirts out and started working on them.”

The annual Spring Litter Clean-Up, coordinated by the East Fork Watershed Collaborative and Valley View Foundation, is an all-volunteer effort to enhance local communities by cleaning up parks, streams and lakes, and other community areas.

“We appreciate the willingness of volunteers to protect our natural resources, including East Fork Lake,” said Mark Calitri, Executive Director for the CVB.  “Clermont County hosts many important events at the lake and surrounding communities; we’re proud to support the volunteers and this event,” he added.

“It helps people learn to take care of the planet,” said Karley about the Spring Litter Clean-Up. “Plus it is a fun event for people to go out and pick up things.”  She said she planned to be out on April 23 doing her part to clean up Clermont County.

Online registration for the April 23 event is open: http://www.springlittercleanup.com/.  For more information, contact Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District at 513-732-7075.

Services Jan. 28 for former NRHS teacher

John Michael (Jack) Ward, 85 of Cold Spring, KY, New Richmond High School’s first vocal music director, passed away on January 23, 2016.

In 1957 he was leading the Glee Club at Xavier University when he was hired away to start a Music Program at New Richmond High School. He taught music at New Richmond for 17 years and developed the school's Les Chanteurs choral group into one of the best in Ohio.

Mr. Ward was a 1952 graduate of West Virginia University where he received two bachelor's degrees, pre-med and Music Education. He received his Master in Music Education from WVU in 1957. He was a Captain in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. His music career began at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Weston, West Virginia where he began playing the organ for the Choir at just 10 years old.

In 1974 he became the Supervisor for the Creative & Performing Arts Program with the Norwood City School District in Ohio. In 1972 he started the adult Choir of 75 singers and orchestra members and the boys Scola at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Ft. Thomas, KY. He took the Choir &  Orchestra to the Vatican to sing for Pope John Paul, II and then to Vienna & Salzburg Austria.
When he retired from teaching he didn't – he taught music students at Northern Kentucky University as an Adjunct Professor and he taught Gregorian Chant & Latin Music to students at Bishop Brossart High School Alexandria, Ky. He is a past president of the Cincinnati MacDowell Society. Give him a piano, a chalk board and a piece of blank sheet music and he was happy.

Jack Ward is survived by his wife of 57 years B. Leann (Nicholson) Ward of Cold Spring, KY; daughters Jeanne (Dave) Riggs of Edgewood, KY; Catherine (Dave) Schwer of Villa Hills, KY; Ann (Patrick) Greely of Alexandria, KY; Tricia (Scott) Corder of Fairfield Township, OH; sons Michael (Carol) Ward of Alexandria, KY and Greg (Mary Beth) Ward of Edgewood, KY; 18 Grandchildren, and 5 Great Grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 27th 2016 from 4:00-8:00 pm at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, 427 S. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, January 28th at 11:00 am at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Fort Thomas, Kentucky. Burial will take place in St. Stephens Cemetery, Fort Thomas, Kentucky. Memorials to St. Thomas Church, 26 E. Villa Pl. Ft. Thomas, KY 41075 or to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 210 Center Ave, Weston, WV 26452. Online condolences can be given at www.dmefuneral.com.

- See more at: http://www.dmefuneral.com/obituary/John-Michael-Ward/Cold-Spring-KY/1583447#obit-services.

NREVSD developing student leaders

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District takes its mission statement seriously and a recent Leadership Conference at New Richmond Middle School was designed help achieve the part of the statement that promises to graduate students able to demonstrate confidence, leadership and responsibility.

NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird tasked NRMS principal Court Lilly and counselor Angela Gray with developing a leadership program for middle school students and student leaders from the district’s fifth and sixth grades.

"We started this experience for 2 reasons,” noted Bird. “First, developing students who will be leaders one day is a part of our mission statement.  Second, it gives us an opportunity to expose 5th and 6th graders to New Richmond Middle School and ease that transition.”

New Richmond Middle School counselor Angela Gray and school principal
Court Lilly (seated), who have been tasked with developing a leadership
program for NREVSD middle school and fifth and sixth grade students,
 discuss the leadership program with Locust Corner Elementary principal Joe Roach.

They selected nationally acclaimed youth leadership development speaker Ted Wiese to kick start the program. Wiese, who is headquartered in Carmel, Ind., presented his Challenge Leadership Program to 40 students from New Richmond Middle School and 32 students from the district’s three elementary schools.

“I cannot brag enough on the program Ted Weise provided at NRMS,” said Gray. “From the moment the students walked into the building they were excited and engaged! Through hands-on activities and fun-loving dialog, Ted brought out the leader in each individual student. It was great to see such a mixture of individuals come together and work side by side on the challenges that Ted put forth. I’m very much looking forward to the students applying what they learned from this experience to their lives.”

Click on the Play button below to watch video highlights of Wiese's program.

Students were divided into 9-member teams who competed in a variety of contests designed to promote skills needed to become a productive member of a team and to emerge as a leader and to work as a productive member of a team.

“Our program is designed for a different leader will emerge from each of our contests,” said Wiese. “Our goal is to get everyone thinking about team building and working together for a common goal and then have everyone develop into a leadership role.”

The Leadership Conference wasn’t just for the positive classroom role models.

“I told our Middle School teachers to give me a list of student leaders in their classrooms, whether it was for  negative or  positive reasons,” said Lilly. “If it was for negative leadership, I wanted them in this program to show them what they could accomplish by becoming a positive leader.”

Go to www.heartedtalk.com for more information on Ted Wiese.

Four athletes to join for Hall of Fame

New Richmond High School’s first Division I college players in football and basketball will join two of the school’s all-time greats in softball and swimming in the 2016 class of the New Richmond Lions Sports Hall of Fame.

Thomas Wildey, 1959 graduate who played football at Ohio State; Jeffrey Kuhn, 1962 graduate who played basketball at the University of Cincinnati; Michelle Sweet, 2009 graduate who was a three-sport star in soccer, basketball and softball; and Alex Lewis, 2010 graduate who owns 11 school and league swimming records, will go into the Lions Hall of Fame at the annual induction banquet at 6 p.m. on Jan. 16 in the high school cafeteria.

The Hall of Fame banquet will follow the 4 p.m. Hall of Fame basketball game between the boys varsity against Mariemont. Tickets for the banquets are $15 and available at the high school.

Thomas Wildey, Class of 1959

Whether it was standing his ground against Ohio State coach Woody Hayes or helping bring needed social services to New Richmond, Tom Wildey never backed down from a challenge. When football coaches Dave Bechtel and Robert Tucker were tasked with putting New Richmond High School’s first football team on the field in 1955, one of their first stops was to a hay field in Monroe Township where they saw Tom Wildey and older brother Carl sling heavy hay bales onto a wagon. “These two will do,” they said as they left to scout other future Lions football players. Tom Wildey more than lived up to the young coaches’ expectations and went on to become a four-year, two-way starter at tackle for the Lions, earning all-league honors as a junior and senior before going off to college and making the Ohio State freshman team as a walk on. Hayes tested the mettle of walk on players by using them for tackling practice. Wildey was still standing after 150 hits and make the OSU squad. Wildey got a job in the summer with Cincinnati Gas & Electric, where he worked for 32 years, and never returned to college. Wildey wasn’t just noted for his brawn and was a three-year varsity basketball player for the Lions and ran relays for the track team in addition to throwing the shot and discus. Wildey served for 12 years on the board of the Clermont County Developmental Disabilities and 12 years on the county Planning Commission. He worked for nine years with Clermont County Family and Children First and has been Monroe Township director of services for the past 14 years.

Jeffrey Kuhn, Class of 1962

Jeff Kuhn earned all-star recognition on the basketball court, baseball field and in the classroom for New Richmond during his time in the Eastern Hills League and became New Richmond’s first Division I college basketball player. Jeff was named honorable mention All-league his junior year and after averaging 15 points (including five consecutive games of 20 or more points) and 15 rebounds a game his senior year earning 1^st team all-league honors, Jeff walked on and made the University of Cincinnati freshman team in 1962-63, out of more than 50 players who tried out to join the seven scholarship recruits. UC’s freshman team went undefeated that season, and was widely recognized as the best in the country. Jeff also was a four-year varsity starter in baseball as a pitcher, catcher and infielder for New Richmond. Jeff also excelled in the classroom and was a member of the National Honor Society and served as class vice-president his junior and senior years. Jeff majored in applied mathematics at the University of Cincinnati, and was awarded a Fellowship and two teaching assistantships to pursue graduate studies in applied math while making the academic dean’s list twice. He joined Western and Southern Life Insurance Company in 1967 as an actuarial student following a year of graduate school and remained with the company in full-time or part-time positions through 2014.

Michelle Sweet, Class: 2009

Michelle Sweet was a scholar athlete all four years in three sports at New Richmond. She was named Clermont County Sports Woman of the Year in 2009 as well as VFW Athlete of the Year. She ranks at the top of New Richmond’s record book in softball with a pitching record of 45-11 with more than 369 strikeouts (no records are available for her freshman year). Michelle was a 4-year varsity letter winner in softball as well as a 4-year 1^st team SBAAC All-Star, All-City Honorable Mention from 2007-2009 and a 3-year captain. Her record included a perfect game against Indian Hill in the 2008 sectional tournament. Michelle led the Lady Lions to three Southern Buckeye league titles (2006-08) and a Division II sectional title in 2009 when she pitched a shutout against McNicholas in the title game. Michelle won 16 games her senior year including pitching eight shutouts, a 0.66 ERA and ended No. 1 state ranked Western Brown’s 26-game regular season winning streak with an 11-1 win. She was named New Richmond’s defensive MVP in 2008 and all around MVP in 2009. Michelle was a four-year varsity player in soccer and was team captain her senior season which was cut short by injury. She was also captain of the Lady Lions basketball team her senior year. A National Honor Society member, Michelle graduated 5th in her class in 2009 with a GPA of 4.321. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ohio Northern University in 2015 with a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree. Michelle was also a member of the Rho Chi (Academic Honor Society in Pharmacy) as well as a member of Northern Without Borders completing a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. She played four years of softball at Ohio Northern and was named to the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) all-tournament team 2011 and OAC Honorable Mention in 2013. She was team captain in 2013 and was named NFCA Scholar Athlete 2011-2013. Her team also made an appearance in the D3 College World Series in 2012 being one of only 8 teams. Her team also made appearances in the Regionals 2010- 2012 and won the OAC the same years. 

Alex Lewis, Class of 2010

A typical holiday visit home for Alex Lewis would be a trip to the pool at the ‘Y where he would swim twenty 500-yard workouts. That dedication and hard work resulted in Alex setting 11 school and league records at New Richmond and receiving a four-year athletic scholarship where he would become a four-year star for DI Cleveland State University where he qualified for the United States Nationals three times. Alex was a 13-time Horizon League champion counting relay events during his four years at Cleveland State and was named the conference’s swimmer of the year and swimmer of the meet in 2014. He was the college’s first swimmer to go under 20 seconds in the 50 Freestyle (19.56). Alex was a 3 time District Qualifier & a District Champion in 2009-10 in the 100 Butterfly. Alex was a two-time Division II state qualifier for New Richmond in both the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle events, finishing 4^th in the state in the 100 freestyle and 5^th in the 100 butterfly his senior year.  Alex owns individual school and pool records in the 50 freestyle (22.21), 100 freestyle (s-47.09, p-48.37) and 100 butterfly (s-51.07, p-53.93), 200 freestyle (1:49.57) and was on record setting teams in the 200 freestyle (1:37.02), 400 freestyle (3:44.48) and 400 medley relays. He also holds league records in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle relay. Alex was named team MVP 3-years in a row.  Alex was also instrumental in establishing the NR Alumni Swim Meet held each year. After college, Alex was named head site coach at Xavier University for the Mercy Health Seawolves and produced six Junior Olympic qualifiers in two years. Alex currently is an assistant swim coach at Xavier University.

A record year for giving by NR schools

From donating 30,000 food items to the Village Food Pantry, to raising more than $10,000 to help the needy,  to putting boots on the ground to aide community programs,  New Richmond Exempted Village School District staff, students and community proved once again that care and concern for students and their families is not limited to the classroom.

Virtual Academy director Gary
Combs and his students joined
Transitions Program students to
help Matthew 25 Ministries.

“It is truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of a school district where care and concern for students and their families is not limited to the confines of the classroom and where an attitude of giving and giving back is cultivated at every grade level and extends exponentially into our community,” said New Richmond High School teacher Sue Griffin, whose Lions Reach Out charity raised $8000.

Lions Reach Out fundraising efforts included the Turkey Tuesday basketball game between high school students and staff, a craft fair and a Bengals ticket raffle that raised $700. An anonymous donor donated two Bengals club seats valued at $410 for the raffle. River Hills and Park National banks, Front Street Café, the Green Kayak and the Landing sold tickets.

“That $8000 also includes contributions from staff members and community residents and Chuck and James (entertainers Chuck Grady and James Evanshine) donating their Human Jukebox fees,” said Griffin. “The money put into gifts for kids sponsored by parents and staff members probably added another $2000-3000 to that total.  This year, we took care of about 80 children, ranging in age from an infant to seniors in high school.”

New Richmond Elementary provided gifts for more than 70 students.

“In addition to supporting  the Lions Reach Out Program, the NRE staff partnered with Park National Bank in New Richmond to provide gifts for more than 70 of our students through our first annual Giving Tree program,” said NRE principal Jamie Kunz.

New Richmond Virtual Academy students volunteer at Matthew 25 Ministries.

NRHS Virtual Academy students joined NREVSD Transitions Program students on their monthly trip to Mathew 25 Ministries to package items for the needy.

“It’s good for all students to provide a service to their community,” said Virtual Academy director Gary Combs, who worked with Transitions teacher Lisa Martin to coordinate the effort. “Mathew 25 Ministries was complimentary of the students from New Richmond and invited them to volunteer anytime they like.”

The district food drive set records again for the district, high school, middle school and elementary schools with the high school collecting 15,277 items, the middle school 8800 items and the three elementary schools combining for 6006 items for a district total of 30,083 items for the New Richmond Village Food Pantry.

NREVSD staff, students and their families donated
30,083 food items to the New Richmond Food Pantry.

Last year’s district food drive collected 26,891 items with the high school leading with 14,920.

“It’s an all-time high once again,” said NRHS principal Mark Bailey. “We’ve broken the record for three years in a row.”

New Richmond Middle School staff and students load up some of the 8800
food items collected for the New Richmond Food Pantry.

“There is a wonderful synergy that happens when the things that all of us do together are much greater than what any of us could do individually,” said Griffin.

Monroe gives ‘Good Nights’ to 200 needy children

Thanks to Monroe Elementary students more than 200 needy children will have warm pajamas and new books to read this winter.

Monroe’s 2^nd and 3^rd grade classes have a long tradition of foregoing their traditional Christmas parties to collect items for the needy and community service organizations.

Monroe teacher Staci Heiden stands by five baskets of new pajamas
Monroe students and staff raise for the Pajama Program.

“Staci Heiden (Monroe 3rd grade teacher) approached me about the 2^nd and 3^rd grade classes joining the Pajama Program this year,” said Monroe principal Craig Horn. “It was such a great idea we decided to make it school wide effort.”

Mrs. Heiden set a goal of collecting 200 new pajamas for the Pajama Program, which provides new pajamas and new books to children in need nationwide, many of whom are waiting to be adopted.

“Scholastic publishers donate one new book for every pair of pajamas donated to the program and Monroe was able to give 201 needy children warm pajamas and a new book to read,” said Heiden.

Horn rewarded the school an all-day pajama party Dec. 17 for reaching the school’s goal.

Monroe staff and students were rewarded with an all-day pajama party
 after reaching the school's goal of 200 pajamas for the Pajama Program

The mission of the Pajama Program is to give “every child has a right to a good night” by providing warm pajamas and new books to children in need nationwide with a goal of collecting 1 million pajamas a 1 million books. With more than a week to go the organization has collected 971,273 PJs and 917,046 thanks to the effort of schools like Monroe.

For more information about the program go to http://www.pajamaprogram.org/.

Transitions Program featured in magazine

New Richmond Exempted Village School District’s Transitions Program, which provides students with disabilities in ages 18-22 a functional curriculum including life skills and employment skills, will be featured in the January edition of Ohio’s Salt Magazine.

Salt Magazine's Beverly Draalik (left) interviews
Transitions teacher Lisa Martin.

The cornerstone of the New Richmond Transitions Program is The Brewhaus Bakery Company located on the first floor of the Market Street School where Salt Magazine journalist Beverly Drapalik visited in December and viewed the process of baking and marketing Brewhaus Dog Bones made from spent whole grains sourced from local Cincinnati microbreweries.

Salt Magazine is published six times a year by the Wilmington News-Journal. The magazine is available online at www.thesaltmagazine.com.

Teacher Lisa Martin and job coaches Bobbie Perry, Gaylynne Robinson, Michelle Flood and Shelley Glenn are providing job and living skills for eight students through the age of 23 while saving the district $100,000 a year.

Transitions Program associates market their Brewhaus Dog Bones at November's Cincinnati Holiday Market at the  Duke Energy Center.

Transitions Program associates enjoy a social outing at a Cincinnati Reds game.

“Beverly Drapalik interviewed our coaches and associates and followed the entire process of producing dog bones from picking up the grains at two local microbreweries, mixing the grains with peanut butter, eggs and rice flour, molding, baking and packaging the bones for delivery to local vendors,” said Martin.

In Ohio, students with disabilities can forgo accepting their high school diplomas and receive training in life and employment skills by their school district until they reach the age of 23. Formerly contracted out to another district, the Transitions program was moved back to the district in 2014 at a savings of more than $100,000 per year due to the number of students involved.

Lisa Graham, a local parent and entrepreneur, worked with the NREVSD to establish the Brewhaus Dog Bones Company which is managed by the Associates and provides a real business experience for the Associates.

Students participate in all aspects of the program from planning/forecasting demand, making, baking, labeling and weighing bags, processing orders, attending community sales opportunities, calculating costs, counting money (both cash and credit) from sales and then making bank deposits.

“The associates are involved in selling the Brewhaus Dog Bones at a variety of events in the Cincinnati area,” said Martin. “Beverly asked an associate what he liked most about the business, he replied, ‘All of it.’ Brewhaus provides many future employment skills and self-confidence in a variety of setting for the associates.”

One recent event the Transitions class participated in was a booth at the Cincinnati Holiday Market at the Duke Energy Center in November.  Associates produced thousands of small dog bone treats to sell at this event.

 “The goal is to eventually have our own freestanding ‘Brew Bakery’ for supported employment and to continue as a vocational training site,” said John Frye, New Richmond’s director of pupil and staff services. “It’s 100% non-profit and all proceeds go back into growing our program for others to participate. Best of all, your dog will love you for giving a Brewhaus Dog Treat.”

District scores above state cut in all subjects

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District scored above the state established cut scores in all 2015 Ohio State Assessments for grades 3-8 in Reading, Math, English Language Arts and Social Studies and over the state cut in 2015 end of course exams in preliminary results released Nov. 20 by the Ohio Department of Education.

District totals for grades 3-8 include averages of 75 percent or better in 12 of 16 state indicators and above 80 percent in five indicators.

"I am thankful to work with so many hard-working and dedicated people committed to serving our community," Supt. Adam Bird said in releasing the results. "I am also thankful for all that our teachers, administrators, and students did to prepare for the common core assessments last spring. New Richmond is a special place and I am happy to have entrusted my children in your hands these many years."

Here's how New Richmond compared to other Clermont County districts:

MIA Robert Gumbert to be honored

The only Clermont County MIA from the Vietnam War Robert William Gumbert, Jr. To be honored at New Richmond High School Veterans Day 2015 Wednesday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m.

Former New Richmond High School Class of 1967 graduate, Robert William Gumbert Jr., will be honored on Veterans Day in the same gymnasium where he graduated almost 50 years ago. In attendance will be his father, Robert William Gumbert of New Richmond, Ohio. Robert Jr’s mother is no longer living.

 PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. was the oldest of 10 children born to Robert and Geneva Gumbert. He graduated from New Richmond High School in 1967 and was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. On June 22, 1970 PFC Robert W. Gumbert was killed in action; body not recovered. He is the only Clermont County MIA (Missing in Action) from the Vietnam War.

SYNOPSIS: At 0700 hours on June 22, 1970, PFC Robert W. Gumbert was walking point for his squad on a combat mission in South Vietnam. The unit was operating in Quang Ngai Province near the border of Binh Dinh Province, near the coastline of South Vietnam about 10 miles south of the city of Mo Duc, and about 3 miles east of Duc Pho.

While Gumbert was moving through a hedgerow area, an explosive device detonated along the southern edge of the hedgerow at Gumbert's position. The explosion created a crater 4 1/2' deep and 12 feet wide. The two men, SP4 Gary L. Peat and SP4 Joseph M. Turowski Jr., were killed, with SP4 Peat, who was just behind PFC Gumbert, being dismembered.

Source: http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/g/g402.htm

PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. is listed on the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. His name is located on Panel 09W (West), Row 79. Through the work of the Clermont County Vietnam Veterans, Tim Roth of Roth Monuments in Newport, Kentucky and State Representative Jean Schmidt, a monument was dedicated in 2010 at Arlington National Cemetery, Section MK, Site 320 in honor of PFC Robert W. Gumbert Jr. of New Richmond, Ohio.

Cliff Riley, Ohio State Commander for the Vietnam Veterans of America and recipient of the highest national award of the Vietnam Veterans of America will be the main speaker at this year’s event.

Tom Mitchell, HONOR AND REMEMBER Ohio Chapter Director, will be presenting the HONOR AND REMEMBER flag to Mr. Gumbert. The mission of HONOR AND REMEMBER is to create and promote a nationally recognized emblem to remind all Americans of the lives lost in defense of our national freedoms.

New Richmond High School has a Veterans Day Program every year to honor our nation’s heroes from all branches of service. Veterans from WWII to our current war will be in attendance. High School Principal, Mark Bailey, believes it is important to honor our veterans and allow students the opportunity to meet them and hear first hand their stories. Previous speakers at the New Richmond High School Veterans Day Program have been U. S. Representative and Army Reserve officer, Brad Wenstrup and Staff Sergeant Paul Brondhaver, wounded Iraq Veteran from New Richmond, Ohio.

The program is open to veterans and friends of the Gumbert Family. For more information, contact Regina Herbolt at (513) 207-2983. -- http://www.vva649.org/

NRHS craft show seeking vendors

New Richmond High School will host its annual craft fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21.

“We are looking for a wide variety of vendors and visitors to join us for this event, which raises money for our marching band and for Lions Reach Out, a small charity that helps out needy families during the holidays,” said NRHS teacher Sue Griffin.  ““We have lots of vendors with unique, affordable products.  Everything from soap to jewelry to homemade treats will be featured.”

 All vendors will be in prime locations in our gym, cafeteria and theatre lobby and there is plenty of help available to help vendors load and unload. Booth space is only $35. There will be a small additional charge for a table or electrical outlets.

A concession stand will be open throughout the day and we'll have a raffle and bake sale as well. If you'd like to be one of our vendors, or you have questions about the fair, please contact Joyce Montgomery at 513-553-3191x10906 or Sue Griffin at 513-553-3191x10314  for more information.

NRHS science teams excel in competition

The New Richmond High School senior team coached by teacher Pat Crowley finished second overall out of 64 teams in the annual Clermont County Science Challenge competition held at UC Clermont College.

Team members were Sydney Padgett, Kelsey Nichols, Brooklyn Klein and Tim Hammer.

“Our 12th grade team ranked 2nd overall due to several 4th and 5th place finishes,” noted Crowley. “They scored high enough, and consistently enough, to earn the second-most points of any team.  The first-place team (Milford) had 9.5 more total points more than our senior team.”

Science Challenge is a joint venture among local school district teachers and the Clermont County Educational Service Center to provide a youth leadership initiative that uses team and problem solving skills. The program begins at the local school district level and culminates in a county-wide event.

Each team participated in four 50 minute events in Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science, and Nature of Science. Teams had to use their knowledge of physics, life science, and earth science to solve problems similar to what scientists and engineers have to do with real-world issues.

“I am extremely proud of the successes our students experienced at the Clermont County Science Challenge,” said NRHS principal Mark Bailey. “Our senior team placed 2nd out of 64 teams and our underclassmen represented the district equally as well earning many gold and bronze medals.”

The NRHS 9th grade team consisting of Archer Maguire, Quincey Isparo, Rachel Gastrich, Hailey Kramer and Aaron Prescott won a gold medal in Nature of Science and a bronze medal in Physical Science and was ranked 20th overall out of 64 teams competiting.

The NRHS 11th Grade team consisting of Collin Albers, Teddy Mansfield, Joey Hammill, Alex Gardner and Travis Justice won the gold medal in Physical Science.

“Our students' success is a testimony to their dedication and perseverance as well as the support of their families,” said Bailey. “These accomplishments serve as confirmation in my mind that New Richmond has excellent science teachers focused on Ohio's New Learning Standards who develop interesting and rigorous learning experiences for our students.”

John Frye honored for Transition Program

John Frye, Director of Pupil and Staff Services for the New Richmond Exempted Village School District, has been honored as the district’s Career Prep Educator of the Year by the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce for his work with the Transitions Program for students with disabilities and the development of Brewhaus Dog Bones.

This recognition event is part of the Work Readiness Initiative of the Clermont Chamber of Commerce Foundation which brings educators and businesses together to enhance students’ work-ready skills. Frye was nominated by NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird. 

Transition serves students with disabilities ages 18-22 in a life skills, employment skills and functional curriculum.  Currently eight student Associates are served by four job coaches and a teacher who work to prepare them for adulthood. Formerly contracted out to West Clermont, the Transition program was moved back to the district in 2014 at a savings of more than $100,000 per year.

John Frye (second from right in back row) is pictured with Supt. Adam Bird,
teachers, aides and associates of The Brewhaus Bakery Co. which serves
 students with disabilities ages 18-22 in developing employment
and life skills.

The cornerstone of the New Richmond Transitions Program is The Brewhaus Bakery Company located on the first floor of the Market Street School.  

“Brewhaus produces handcrafted, small batch, oven baked dog treats made from whole grains sourced proudly from local Cincinnati microbreweries,” said Frye. “Mrs. Lisa Graham, parent and entrepreneur in our district, established the Brewhaus Dog Bones company which is managed by the Associates and provides a real business experience for the Associates.”

Currently, Listermann Brewing Co./Triple Digit Microbrewery, Mt. Carmel Brewing Co., Rivertown Brewing Co., Bad Tom Smith Brewing, Paradise Brewing Supply, Ei8ht Ball Brewing, Braxton Brewing, Fibonacci Brewing Co., and Old Firehouse Brewery donate spent barley grains and sell the Brewhaus products in taprooms/brewing supply stores.

Mariemont, New Richmond, Oak Hills, Sycamore, Princeton, Mason in Ohio and Ft. Thomas and Boone County in Kentucky participate in the program and use the start to finish non-profit business model to help their students with disabilities (typically ages 18-22) learn valuable work and life skills.

Students participate in all aspects of the program from planning/forecasting demand, making, baking, labeling and weighing bags, processing orders, attending community sales opportunities, calculating costs, counting money (both cash and credit) from sales and then making bank deposits.

Associates in the NREVSD Transition Program are pictured preparing
Brewhaus Dog Bones from spent brewery grain.

“The goal is to eventually have our own freestanding ‘Brew Bakery’ for supported employment and to continue as a vocational training site,” said Frye. “Brewhaus hopes to create a micro industry in Cincinnati from the spent grains that will directly benefit people with disabilities. It’s 100% non-profit and all proceeds go back into growing our program for others to participate. Best of all, your dog will love you for giving a Brewhaus Dog Treat.”

Brewhaus has partnered with Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired to create a paid employment opportunity.

Brewhaus Dog Bones are currently being sold at Rivertown IGA in New Richmond, Party Source in Bellevue, Ky., Country Fresh Market in Anderson Township, Newtown Feed & Seed, Earthwise Pet Supply on Montgomery Road, Family Animal Hospital in Batavia, Cincinnati Hills Animal Clinic on Montgomery Road, Dog Day Every Day on Ohio Pike and Princeton Glendale Road in West Chester, Anderson Family Pet Center on Clough Pike, Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt on Eastgate South Drive, and Gardenia Garden and Home Décor in Milford.

NRHS welcomes back Dwayne Woodruff

New Richmond High School Hall of Famer Dwayne Woodruff returns to his hometown during Homecoming on Oct. 2 to present his Dwayne Woodruff Scholarship to 2015 recipient James Mahan.

Woodruff, who was a three-sport star at New Richmond and led the Lions to the 1974 Clermont County League championship, went on to play college football at the University of Louisville and an 11-year career in the NFL as a cornerback for the Pittsburg Steelers, where  he accumulated 37 interceptions after being drafted in the sixth round in 1979.


As a rookie in 1079, he played in all 16 games and won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV. He made at least 10 starts in nine of his 11 seasons with the Steelers, including 1982 when he was named Pittsburgh Steelers Team MVP. During two of his 11 seasons with the Steelers, Woodruff was rated as the fastest player in the NFL.

The University of Louisville named its academic center within the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex after Woodruff in 2007. Woodruff’s No. 10 jersey was retired by Louisville and now hangs in Papa John Stadium. Woodruff played for the Cardinals from 1976-78 and collected 161 career tackles, while intercepting three passes. He recorded a career-best 97 tackles in 1977 as the Cardinals advanced to the Independence Bowl.

While playing football during the day for the Steelers, Woodruff prepared for his life’s work at night and obtained his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law and became a founding member of the law firm Woodruff & Flaherty, P.C. (now Flaherty Fardo, LLC) out of Shadyside in Pittsburgh.

While in law school, Woodruff was nicknamed ‘The Judge’ by Steeler owner Art Rooney and 15 years after his retirement from pro football, Woodruff lived up to his nickname and became Judge Dwayne Woodruff after being elected to the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County. He was a candidate for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court but lost in the 2015 primary election.

Woodruff is married to Joy Maxberry Woodruff. They are the parents of three children; Jillian an Ob/Gyn Physician, Jenyce an attorney and John a law student at the Duquesne University School of Law.

The Woodruffs have shared their success with Dwayne’s hometown by sponsoring the Dwayne Woodruff Scholarship which gives $2000 annually to a deserving New Richmond High School graduate.

Woodruff and his wife Joy are currently chairpersons of the "Do The Write Thing" in Pittsburgh. The program is an Initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence (NCSV). The Do the Write Thing Challenge gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives in classroom discussions and in written form by communicating what they think should be done to change our culture of violence.

Kindergarten classes sing for grandparents

New Richmond Elementary School Kindergarten students in the classrooms of teachers Courtney Shuman, Sarah Metzger and Katie Alsip will be performing for grandparents at the school's Grandparents Day Friday, Sept. 25.

BOE asks for override of budget veto

The Board of Education of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District passed a resolution at its September 21 meeting asking legislative representatives to sponsor and pass override legislation to Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s veto of PUTPP Reimbursements for FY17 which will cost the district more than $700,000. 

PUTPP Reimbursements are payments Ohio makes to public school districts for local tax losses resulting from deregulation of public utility industry in 2001 that culminated in the lowering of the assessment rates of some public utility tangible properties from 88% to 25%. New Richmond originally received $8.1 million per year but has lost $1 million per year prior to the current biennial budget.

NREVSD treasurer Mike Mowery said New Richmond will lose $720,000 in 2016-17, and should the state continue to phase out PUTPP reimbursements at an estimated 10% per year, New Richmond could see its deregulation payments decrease to $4.7 million in 2019/20.

The Board resolution: 
Resolution Calling on New Richmond Exempted Village School District Legislative Representatives to Sponsor and Promote Override Legislation to the Gubernatorial Veto of PUTPP Reimbursements for FY17. 

WHEREAS, New Richmond Exempted Village School District once derived more than 8.1 million dollars per year from the PUTTP component of our tax base; and

WHEREAS, The State of Ohio, in recognition of the fact that a local tax was, in fact, confiscated, committed to reimburse school districts for the value of that tax; and

WHEREAS, As of FY15, The State of Ohio was still reimbursing New Richmond Exempted Village School District a reduced amount of approximately 7.1 million dollars per year; and
WHEREAS, The Ohio House of Representatives and Representative Doug Green voted to maintain a PUTPP supplement to total state aid for FY16 and FY17 in HB64, the 2016-2017 Biennial Budget; and
WHEREAS, The Ohio Senate, and Senator Joe Uecker voted to maintain a PUTPP supplement to total state aid for FY 16 and FY 17 in HB64, the 2016-2017 Biennial Budget; and

WHEREAS, The Ohio House and the Ohio Senate confirmed their intentions by voting for the Conference Committee Report; and

WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Ohio revoked the intended funding via the Line Item Veto provision of the Ohio Constitution; and

WHEREAS, The Ohio Constitution allows for the legislature to override gubernatorial vetoes through the legislative process.

 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education calls on our primary legislative representation, Representative Doug Green and Senator Joe Uecker to introduce and sponsor legislation to override the gubernatorial veto and restore the PUTPP reimbursement hold harmless provision for FY17; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education will send a copy of this Resolution to the President of the Board of Education and Treasurer of similarly situated school districts materially harmed by the line item veto; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that our Representatives introduce legislation in their respective chambers that will allow New Richmond Exempted Village School District and similarly situated districts to capture the losses associated with the confiscation of the PUTPP tax in permanent law.

NR School Board opposes marijuana issue

The Board of Education of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District passed a resolution at its Sept. 21 meeting opposing Ohio Issue 3, the proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of marijuana in the state of Ohio. 

Board members Kristin Bennet, Tim DuFau, Tony Farmer, Kim Hayden and Kevin Walriven vote for the resolution in opposition to the November ballot issue:

Resolution Opposing Issue 3:

It is recommended that the Board of Education adopt the following Resolution. 

WHEREAS, Ohio voters are being asked to consider State Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of marijuana in the state of Ohio; and

WHEREAS, the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education shares the concerns of Ohio’s doctors, hospitals, children’s health advocates, civic leaders, parents, farmers, other business people, chambers of commerce, law enforcement personnel, addiction counselors and faith leaders; and

WHEREAS, the proposed constitutional amendment allows a private organization to acquire exclusive rights to grow, manufacture and sell marijuana and marijuana-infused edible products to Ohioans for recreational and medical use; and

WHEREAS, the proposed constitutional amendment will allow for more than 1,100 retail stores focusing on the sales of recreational marijuana in the form of marijuana cigarettes, liquids, sprays, and edibles to be located near Ohio’s schools; and

WHEREAS, the allowance for large quantities of recreational marijuana combined with the lack of oversight and control make it very likely that marijuana would fall into the hands of our students;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the elected members of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education, on behalf of the children and community we serve, do hereby express our opposition to State Issue 3, a constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the treasurer be directed to record this resolution in the minutes of the board of education and that copies of the resolution be forwarded to members of the local press for distribution to the community.

NREVSD joins group to oppose mandates

The New Richmond Exempted Village School District has joined 40 other Greater Cincinnati school districts in forming the Greater Cincinnati School Advocacy Network to lobby Ohio legislators to scale back on unfunded mandates returning local control to education.

“By joining the Greater Cincinnati School Advocacy Network we hope to encourage parents, educators and community leaders to contact their legislators to eliminate unfunded mandates. We would like to see reductions in testing time, data-collection requirements and teacher evaluation programs and return local control to schools,” explained New Richmond Supt. Adam Bird.

Some of the unfunded mandates the advocacy group opposes include:

• OTES - the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System • The third grade guarantee • College credit plus • Ohio's new career advising policies • Teacher residency programs • Career technical requirements at the Junior High level.

The Greater Cincinnati School Advocacy Network conducted a random telephone survey of over 800 southwest Ohio registered voters in May 2015.

Some results of that survey:

41.6% percent saying current testing requirements hurt more than helps (26.5%);
50.7% wanted local control of education rather than the Ohio Board of Education (27.1%);
62.1% disagreed with local tax levy funds approved by voters for public schools being shared with for-profit charter and online charter schools;
80.8% said the State Legislature should reduce the amount of mandates and demands it places on public schools, and give more control to communities and local school boards;
93.8% agreed that privately-operated charter schools that receive public tax dollars should be held to the same standards for transparency and accountability as public schools.

BUTLER COUNTY Edgewood City Schools, Fairfield City Schools, Hamilton City Schools, Lakota Local Schools, Madison Local Schools, Middletown City Schools, Monroe Local Schools, New Miami Local Schools, Ross Local Schools, Talawanda Schools

CLERMONT COUNTY
Batavia Local Schools, Bethel-Tate Local Schools, Goshen Local Schools, Milford Exempted Village School District, New Richmond EV School District, West Clermont Local Schools, Williamsburg Local Schools

HAMILTON COUNTYCincinnati Public Schools, Deer Park Community City Schools, Finneytown Local Schools, Forest Hills Local Schools, Indian Hill School District, Lockland Local Schools, Loveland City Schools, Madeira City Schools, Mariemont City Schools, Mt. Healthy City Schools, North College Hill City Schools, Northwest Local Schools, Norwood City Schools, Oak Hills Local Schools, Princeton City Schools, Reading Community Schools, St. Bernard-EP School District, Southwest Local Schools, Sycamore Community Schools, Three Rivers School District, Wyoming City Schools

WARREN COUNTYLittle Miami Schools, Mason City Schools, Springboro Community Schools

NREVSD to conduct intruder drills

If you student comes home from school talking about ALICE, it isn’t in reference to the new girl in school.

ALICE stands for Alert; Lockdown; Inform; Counter and Evacuate, the standard for training and dealing with an intruder during life threating lockdown situations. State law mandates that schools conduct three unannounced ALICE training drills for students each school year. Administrators, teachers and building staffs have had their required intense training session.

NRE principal Jamie Kunz

“Much like we practice other safety drills (fire & tornado) the students at New Richmond Elementary will be practicing up to three safety drills in accordance with state law,” explained NRE principal Jamie Kunz. “These will be unannounced drills so it is important to talk with your child about ALICE.”

Ohio’s School Safety Task Force, formed by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine after the Sandy Hook tragedy, concluded that that lockdown is no longer a standalone strategy to secure in place and aligned Ohio with ALICE standards.

Task Force recommendations included all of the training protocols found in ALICE Training including barricading, evacuating and countering. It also empowers and authorizes decision making by those people under attack.

ALICE training for K-12 students will be age-appropriate and based on curriculum developed by The ALICE Training Institute (www.alicetraining.com).

“Our ALICE drills are designed so that should we ever have a situation, the intruder is not going to find a soft target in our schools,” said NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird.

Some of the conclusions and recommendations of Ohio’s School Safety Task Force:

“Lockdown is not a stand-alone defense strategy.” [Page 50] “When securing in place, this procedure should involve barricading the door and readying a plan of evacuation or counter tactics should the need arise.” [Page 50] “Do not place students in one location within the room.  In the event that entry is gained by a shooter or intruder, students should consider exiting by running past the shooter/intruder.” [Page 59] “Staff and students may utilize methods to distract the shooter/intruder’s ability to accurately shoot or cause harm, such as loud noises or aiming and throwing objects at the shooter/intruder’s face or person. [Page 50] “If students and school personnel are outside of the school at the time of a LOCKDOWN, teachers should move students to the designated off-site location.” [Page 51] “If an intruder enter and begins shooting, any and all actions to stop the shooter are justified.  This includes moving about the room to lessen accuracy, throwing items (books, computers, phones, book bags) to create confusion, exiting out windows, and confronting (assault, subdue, choke) to stop the intruder.  Tell students to get out any way possible and move to another location” [Page 59]

Read the full School Safety report at the following link:

http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Publications/Publications-for-Schools/School-Safety-Task-Force-Report