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Home > Blogs > Little Miami and Lebanon Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > April
April 2008
What happened to Hannah Montana?
From local talk radio to national TV news, people are talking about the photos of Miley Cyrus in Vanity Fair. Before Disney found out about the photos and Miley apologized, she said, “… I had a big blanket on. And I thought, This looks pretty, and really natural. I think it’s really artsy.” What are your thoughts about the 15-year-old posing for what many call provocative and even pornographic imagines? And if her parents really were on the set the whole time, what were they thinking?
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LJHS poster contest
More than 50 Lebanon Junior High students honored their city in the school’s first poster contest. The theme of the contest was “My Special Place in Lebanon,” and the top five posters - voted on by the students - are on display at various downtown businesses as part of a traveling art show. Check out my story for a complete list of where to vote.
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LJHS poster contest
More than 50 Lebanon Junior High students honored their city in the school’s first poster contest. The theme of the contest was “My Special Place in Lebanon,” and the top five posters - voted on by the students - are on display at various downtown businesses as part of a traveling art show. Check out my story for a complete list of where to vote.
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Health Talk Series
Dr. Jim Byers will be speaking at 7:30 p.m., tonight, April 28, at the Waynesville Library. As part of the Health Talk Series, Byers will be discussing Fibromyalgia. For more information, call 897-0097.
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Mock crash at Waynesville High today
The SADD organization is hosting a mock drunk driving car crash Friday, April 25 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waynesville High School. Members of the community are cautioned that this is only an assembly and not a real emergency. Miami Valley Hospital’s Careflight helicopter will be landing behind the high school as students and spectators watch the Waynesville Fire Department respond to this mock crash and tend to multiple victims. The school cautions people not to be alarmed if they witness the assembly in progress as it is for the education of the high school students as they prepare for prom, which is at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 7 at the school.
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LMIS breaks ground tonight
Little Miami will break ground tonight on its new Intermediate School, which will open in 2009. The new building opens up the current fifth and sixth grade building to be used as part of what will be called Salem Twp. Elementary. The groundbreaking begins at 7 p.m. tonight, at 7247 Zoar Road in Hamilton Twp. (at the corner or Zoar and Stephens).
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It’s Earth Day
“Living Green” has become more than just an eco-friendly way to live. It has taken on a life of its own, creating entire movements, new construction techniques and the search for alternative fuel sources. In an effort to raise awareness of natural resources and environmental issues, the Warren and Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District is holding an Envirothon Tuesday, May 6, for high school students. Teams of students will compete at five stations for a chance to advance to the state and national competitions. In 2007, 71 teams from 13 counties competed in the Area IV competition.
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Are you a sub?
Substitute teachers are often picked on and tricked - even more so that regular teachers. I want to tell your story, so if you are a sub in Warren County, please call me at 513-696-4507 or e-mail me at rycook@coxohio.com.
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Lebanon Hall of Fame
Congratulations to the 2008 inductees for the Lebanon City School District Hall of Fame: John Zimkus, Cathy Howell, Ellen Donisi and Doris Nell. Each year the district honors several people for their involvement and contribution to the district. The Hall of Fame reception is at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, in the Berry Intermediate School auditorium. The public is invited to attend, but are asked to RSVP to Joyce Kemnitz, 513-934-5771.
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Little Miami seeks input
The Little Miami Local School District is giving students and parents the opportunity to provide their feedback regarding various efforts of the district through a survey. It seems obvious that a school district would want to hear from its students and their parents (who are also taxpayers supporting the district). The district will be collecting data until April 30 and plans to share the results later in the spring.
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How does Viellette situation affect children?
With all eyes and ears on the news that Michel Veillette, charged with killing his family and setting their Mason home on fire, hanged himself early Tuesday in his cell at the Warren County jail, it begs the question of how to explain something like this to children. Veillette himself had four children, ages 8, 4 and 2-year-old twins. At the time of the their deaths, Pulse-Journal staff writer Denise Callahan, who has followed the case extensively, reported that grief counselors were sent to the Mason Heights Elementary School, where the Marguerite was a student. Jacob was in preschool at the Mason Early Childhood Center, where staff members carried on as usual. Two schools serving different ages handled the situations differently. How much do children understand about death and even murder? What is the appropriate response with children who are dealing with the death of a loved one or a friend?
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Schools celebrating art
Little Miami Schools will hold two separate celebrations of the arts this spring and are looking for student help to make the celebrations as spectacular as possible. Artwork from Little Miami’s young, budding artists will be on display at the Little Miami Intermediate School Art Show from 2-6 p.m., Sunday, April 20. In addition, the Rhythms and Renderings show is a district-wide celebration of the visual, vocal and instrumental artists in Little Miami schools. It is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, May 17, at Little Miami High School. The Fine Arts Festival Committee is still looking for talented artists and performers for the festival. In Lebanon, students at Berry Intermediate School will be showing of their “street painting” skills Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m to 3:30 p.m. as they participate in their annual Street Painting Drawing Festival on Water Street.
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Truly special
I was able to witness one of the most remarkable events I have seen in awhile on Friday, April 11, when I attended Lebanon High School’s Daylight Prom for students with multiple disabilities. As Lebanon Principal Sam Ison said, it really does put life in perspective to see the smiles on the students’ faces as they danced, sang and genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. When I was in high school, I had the privilege of working with some handicapped students through a local baseball league that allowed the kids to play baseball by adapting it to their needs. Because of that experience - and now after being at their prom - students with special needs will always hold a special place in my heart. I have to applaud the staff at Lebanon High School for putting on this event and inviting students from Little Miami and Springboro. Look for photos on our website.
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“Here’s to the Night”
Lebanon High School begins the prom season in Warren County at 7 p.m. tomorrow, April 12. Students will be traveling to Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium for their Paris-themed “Here’s to the Night” dance. Be sure to check out web site after the dance Saturday night for a photo gallery. The Lebanon PTO has also organized an after-prom event from 12:30-4:30 a.m. at the high school. To go with its theme, “Rock the House,” students can play Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Dance, Dance Revolution. There will also be inflatables, a photo booth, casino games and crafts.
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School searches: Invasion of privacy or safety precaution
Warren County Sheriff’s Office personnel conducted a canine search of the Warren County Career Center on April 9, finding no illegal substances. The search was part of the school’s crisis intervention plan. Career Center Supt. Maggie Hess and Gary Patton, director of secondary education, said they are committed to ensuring the safety of their students. Sheriff Tom Ariss said the fact that nothing was found is a reflection on the staff and students. Do you think random searches of students’ lockers and vehicles should be allowed? Is it a violation of their privacy or is it necessary to protect kids?
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Lebanon sports history
Lebanon High School government teacher Jay Meno is working on a project to compile a history of Lebanon sports, and he is asking for help. Meno can use everything from photographs to rosters to scorebooks. He said he hopes to have all the items (which he will return) turned in to him by the end of the school year. Meno began the project as part of his studies to complete his master’s degree. If you have information or memorabilia that could help him, contact the high school at 934-5100.
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GED=Degree
With the Warren County Career Center offering more testing times to help people earn their high school equivalency degree, I would encourage anyone who was unable to get their diploma for whatever reason to seriously consider applying for this program.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Education, individuals with a GED or High School Diploma have a 33-percent higher earning capacity in their lifetime than those who dropped out of high school and do not have their GED.
There is a fee to take the test, but the Career Center offers a waiver for those who take the practice test at ABLE. At that time, the GED test can be scheduled by contacting Warren County Career Center Adult Education at 513-932-8145.
The evening tests are on two nights, usually the second Monday and Tuesday of every month from 5 to 9 p.m. The morning tests are approximately every six weeks from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday at the TEC Center on the main campus. Candidates must attend both Monday and Tuesday. More information and test dates can be found here.
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Guidance counselors: who is guiding who?
Well, if you watch ABC’s “Miss Guided,”, a new series about a woman who returns to her high school alma mater to work as a guidance counselor, you would say it is the students who provide their teachers and counselors with information. The show is a humorous representation of a guidance counselor’s interactions with students, but I am not sure how true to life it is. From my interactions with local guidance counselors, they seem to be ahead of the game and enthusiastic about providing their students with the help they are seeking. Miami University Middletown has recognized that and is honoring school counselors with a “red carpet” luncheon Friday, April 18 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. The luncheon will feature Exploring Teen - Adult Relationships by Nancy Ferguson, LISW, Coordinator of Counseling and Disability Services at MUM. For more information, call 727-3216 or e-mail mumadmission@muohio.edu. Is your guidance counselor helpful or is he/she more like “Miss Guided”?
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Jarod’s Law
Warren County Health Dept. officials have started inspecting local schools as required by Jarod’s Law, passed in 2005 and named for Jarod Bennett, a 6-year-old who was killed when a cafeteria table fell on him at Lebanon’s Louisa Wright Elementary in 2003. I spoke with Jarod’s dad, Jim, who said he is hopeful that the law will raise awareness of safety dangers in schools and prevent tragedies. The Bennetts should be commended for their efforts in getting the law passed, especially considering their reasoning for working so hard to do so. So far, only minor violations have been found in Warren County, although some schools in Butler County were not as fortunate, as my colleague Lindsey Hilty wrote recently. Were you affected by this tragedy, or anything related to school safety, that you would like to share? What should school districts be doing to provide safer schools for students?
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Autism Month
April is also National Autism Awareness Month. I had the privilege of meeting several area boys who are living with autism. CNN.com recently ran several stories about autism, too, including a compelling story about an adult living with autism and the continued mysteries about the unknown causes of autism. Two Morrow Elementary School teachers are also helping the cause, participating in the Walk for Autism. Click here for more information, or to donate to “Ethan’s Army” and “Sir Ben’s Brigade,” both named for students living with autism. The money raised will be split between the teams. Have you been affected by autism? I want to hear your story. You can comment here or contact me at rycook@coxohio.com.
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Poetry Month
It seems everything has a “month” in which is it celebrated. Among several other causes, April is the first ever National Poetry Month. Check out the site for ways to celebrate, like “poem in your pocket” day (April 17). My favorite poets are T.S. Eliot (specifically “Four Quartets”), Shel Silverstein and Edgar Allan Poe. Who do you like to read? Do you write poetry? Share your thoughts.
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Cheers for high school drama
Damon Hatten and his wife, Erin Haas-Hatten, have gotten the Little Miami High School drama program off the ground this year and deserve a curtain call for doing so. The arts are typically seen as less important to students and usually the first programs to go when districts face budget cuts. But the couple recognized the advantage to offering students an outlet for their creativity. This week, Little Miami opens its production of “The Crucible,” written in 1953 by Arthur Miller as a response to McCarthyism and blacklisting. The play follows Abigail Williams (played by senior Emily Williams), as she and several other girls tear apart families and destroy the community of Salem by accusing people of ‘dealings with the Devil.’ The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Little Miami High School auditorium. General admission tickets are $7, and $5 for senior citizens and students.
