Springboro Community Schools

August 30, 2012

BORO E-NEWS
THANK YOU!
Thanks to our community, parents and families, teachers and staff and everyone who has made the first days of school so successful! Weve seen volunteers greeting buses, helping in the lunchrooms and working in the offices since the first day of school. We are grateful for everyones efforts in getting the 2012-2013 year off to a fantastic start! Here is a kindergartner arriving on his first day. Awesome first days happen when we all work together.

WENDY KULL JOINS BOARD OF EDUCATION

OUR COMMON GROUND: PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST

Todd Petrey, Superintendent
As Springboro has grown through the years, weve added buildings, programs, technology and teachers, but the heart of our district is unchanged. In every challenge, we excel when we find our common groundwhen we put our students first. Now our schools approach the cusp of still more change. Public education throughout our state and country is preparing to adopt new college and career readiness standards, the new Common Core Curriculum, and new standardized testing as well as teaching strategies. Personally, I am excited for this renewed focus on individual student achievement. And I am thrilled to be in Springboro to help usher these changes into such a dynamic school district. Column continued on page 4.

Wendy Kull was sworn in as the newest member of the Springboro Board of Education during the boards meeting on Tuesday night. Kull (pronounced cool) is a 1996 graduate of Springboro High School. She holds a business degree with a major in finance from Miami University, and she is the parent of four children who attend Springboro Schools. Kull replaces Scott Anderson who resigned from the board earlier this summer.

IN THIS ISSUE:
MORE ABOUT OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION...........................2 JR HIGH GRANT NEEDS PARENT SUPPORT----------------2 SPORTS HEADLINES.................6

Springboro Community Schools

August 30, 2012

More About Our Board of Education

The recent appointment of our newest Board of Education member Wendy Kull provides a great opportunity for the school community to consider the responsibilities of this board. Springboro Community City Schools are public schools, which means citizens control our schools. This occurs through the election of a five-member Board of Education (BOE) that serves staggered four-year terms. BOE members are elected on Election Day in the November of odd-numbered years. On occasion, sitting BOE members must appoint a replacement to a vacant board position as they did on August 28. As the policy-making body for the district, our board is responsible for budgeting, oversight of operations, including everything from facilities to transportation to technology. The BOE also is responsible for longrange planning, approving curriculum and analyzing school and student progress. In addition, Ohio collective bargaining laws require school boards to negotiate salary and benefit levels with employee groups. Balancing fairness to employees, keeping pace with the market in order to attract the best people, and accomplishing this with limited resources is a challenge. Board members are not engaged in the day-to-day management of the district; however, they work closely with the superintendent and treasurer and hold them responsible for managing the schools in accordance with district policies. BOE members must be at least 18 years of age, US citizens, and registered voters and residents of the school district. They serve without pay, but receive a stipend for attending meetings. In this civic-focused and highly-demanding position, BOE members are dedicated to providing the best possible educational opportunities while also providing a vital link between the schools and the community.

JR HIGH SCREENS 4 SCHOOLS GRANT APPLICATION NEEDS PARENT HELP

With past success in grants for technology, the Junior High is applying for a $25000 grant for new tablets through the Screens4Schools program from 3M. New tablets could be used throughout the curriculum to support teaching and learning for individual students as well as for whole class activities. A key part of the grant application is parent support. If you are the parent of a current or future Junior High student and would like to support this grant application, please visit http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/di gitalwish/screens_for_schools_3 Mcontest From this site, you can submit a 200-500 word essay to explain how $25,000 in new tablets could improve the learning experience at the junior high for your child. All entries must identify a teacher or school official from the Junior High. Remember to submit your essay on behalf of Springboro Junior High, and tag Amy Woods, one of our Junior High math teachers. Contact Amy Woods at the Junior High at awoods@springboro.org for more information on this grant.

Springboro Board of Education Kelly Kohls, President David Petroni, Vice President Wendy Kull Don Miller Jim Rigano

DATES TO KNOW MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 LABOR DAY - NO SCHOOL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 VARSITY FOOTBALL vs. FAIRMONT WEE PANTHER NIGHT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 7 p.m. BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 DELAYED START

Springboro Community Schools

August 30, 2012

Welcome New Staff!

DENNIS ELEMENTARY

Springboro Teachers Attend STEM Institute

Four Springboro teachers began this school year with new curriculum they helped to develop as part of the Warren County STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Summer Institute in August. Michael Beckmeyer (high school science), Elizabeth Andrews (high school science), Julie Crace (high school art and photography), and Linda Gillum (junior high mathematics), are excited to bring the latest in technology and innovative lesson plans to their students.

(Top, left to right) Andrea Cook, Intervention Specialist; Laura Coffey, Second Grade; Krista Henkle, Gifted Coordinator; Mandi Bryant, First Grade; Leslie Grady, Intervention Specialist. (Bottom, left to right) Caitlin Parker, Intervention Specialist; Terrah Hunter, Assistant Principal; Emily Romigh, Second Grade; Kayla Horvath, Second Grade. Angie Duncan, counselor for first and second grade at Dennis and Five Point was unavailable for the photo.

SPRINGBORO INTERMEDIATE

They attended the two-week STEM Institute held at Sinclair Community College. These teachers are now involved in a 30-week online learning community through Miami University. The Institutes plan is to establish a common understanding among secondary and postsecondary educators and business leaders of what students need to know to be ready for college and workplace success in STEM fields. It is funded through a million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation. This is the second year that Springboro teachers have participated in this institute.

(Left to right) Debra Covey, Language Arts; Dave Hall, Intervention Specialist; Karen Natale, Study Hall Monitor; and Carol Beech, Intervention Specialist

Springboro Community Schools Superintendents column continued from page 1.

Our united focus on our students and their achievement is the ideal foundation on which to build. Everything we do is directed toward accelerating student achievement. Some recent examples include:

August 30, 2012

business of our district, and they are equipped to assist in any of our school buildings as needed. Streamlining our staff in this way results in significant cost savings. Asking the tough questions. We have learned that more money does not necessarily mean higher test scores. We will equip our teachers and classrooms, but we also will be fiscally responsible at every turn. For example, the decision to combine the schools at Dennis and Five Points into one school at each location was not easy; however, it already has resulted in savings. These turn-around savings from the one-building concept can be reinvested back into instruction. Springboro is a very special placebut we face a global challenge. With a significant gifted and highachieving student population, involved parents and strong community supportthere are no limits to what our students can achieve. We only risk limiting our district when we lose sight of our single best resource and single greatest responsibilitythe kids. It is time for us to look ahead and boldly approach the future and the changes in education. With the heart of our district dedicated to our students, I am confident we will succeed.

Keeping pace with technology.

We are investing in the infrastructure to eventually go wireless in every building as our teachers are bringing lessons to life in real-time on Smart Boards, interactive software and programs, online research and more. This is far more than using our smart phones to play gamesthis ties to technological fluency for college and career readiness.

Investing in our classrooms.

Weve invested $350,000 in a highly acclaimed reading curriculum for 1st through 5th graders. This literacy program brings guided reading texts back into our fourth and fifth grades for the first time in many years, and it ties lessons to the Common Core Curriculum benchmarks for our students. Our Board of Education approved adding AP classes and math classes to better serve our high school students. In our

Innovative problem-solving.
Many of our teachers find creative solutions to tackle some of our hardest problems on behalf of their students. For example, two Junior High teachers, Linda Gillum and Amy Woods developed a plan to help targeted students improve their math scores. This resulted in above-average gains in just the first year and students moving from failing to passing on the OAA. Using technology and texts, these teachers could provide individualized instruction and study support at no additional cost, and our students experienced increased confidence with improved performance and exam scores.

Promoting instruction and streamlining administration.

When I returned to Springboro, I quickly was reminded of the tremendous teaching talent we have. Now we also are bringing that instructional leadership to our administrative team. Our central office is a staff of educators. They will have a laserlike focus on instruction as they manage the

Springboro kindergarten students working together on their first day of school.

Springboro Community Schools

August 30, 2012

Welcome New Staff!

FIVE POINTS ELEMENTARY

Boro Moms Club 4th Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fri., Sept. 7 5:00-7:00 p.m. High School Commons before the Fairmont game Tickets $5.00 in advance $7.00 at the door

(Back, left to right) Amy Pelletier, Morgan Pledger, Valerie Kenney, Maria Lockridge, and Janet Leahy. (Front, left to right) Stacey Messinger, Lori Riegel, and Amie Kinder.

Price includes Spaghetti with sauce, bread stick, salad, drink and yummy desserts! For tickets or more information contact Kelly Hicks ddlh@aol.com Heather Belanich hbelnich2@woh.rr.com Robin Rigg rrrigg@ameritech.net.

BORO E-NEWS The online newsletter for Springboro Community CITY Schools Upcoming E-News (tentative): SEPTEMBER 13 and 27 OCTOBER 11 and 25 NOVEMBER 8 and 29 DECEMBER 13 If your SCHOOL-AFFILIATED ACTIVITY would like to include information in the next E-News, send your story and photos to boronews@springboro.org.

Fifth graders walk their first grade buddies to the school buses at the end of the day during the first week of school (above).

Five Points Elementary welcomed back students with a special sign on the front lawn (right).

Springboro Community Schools

August 30, 2012

Panther Varsity Sports Headlines

CROSS COUNTRY
The boys and girls cross country teams started the season in Sandusky at the Run to Fun Invitational. The girls team was led by Rachael Mahle in first, Lycia Hollon in second, Keaton Case in third, Kim Streetz in sixth and Kaylee Koch in fourteenth place. This outstanding effort put the Panthers first out of six teams. The boys team also had a very good showing finishing fourth. Leading the way were Eric Greenwood in fifteenth place and Ethan Ott in seventeenth place. Other scorers were Michael Carlisle, Alex Stickney, and Grant Schneider. Our Cross Country team competes in the Lebanon Invitational this Saturday, September 1.

FOOTBALL
The Panthers opened the season by defeating Mason, the seventh ranked team in the Cincinnati Enquirers preseason poll, 10-7. They play in Centerville Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

BOYS GOLF
The varsity boys golf team achieved strong second place finishes in the GWOC Preseason Tournament, the Greenville Invitational, and the Shaker Run Elite Shootout. Last Saturday, they won the Arrow Invitational. Alex Elger shot one under par 70 to lead the Panthers. The team tees off in West Carrollton this week.

GIRLS GOLF
The varsity girls opened the season with a seventh place finish in the GWOC Preseason Tournament. Morgan Eib led the Panthers with an 88. The girls face West Carrollton and Centerville this week.

BOYS SOCCER
Last week, the varsity boys fell to Mason 3-0 and tied Butler 1-1. They lost to Beavercreek at home on Tuesday. The travel to Wayne tonight for a 7 p.m. game.

GIRLS SOCCER
The varsity girls opened the season last week with a 4-0 win over Butler and a 4-1 win over Sidney. The traveled to Beavercreek Wednesday night, and will face Wayne at home this Saturday at 1 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
The varsity girls opened their season losing to Oakwood (the number one team in Division 2 in Dayton). They defeated Wayne 5-0 before losing to the number one team in the state, Dublin Jerome. Last weekend they won the Beavercreek Doubles Tournament. First doubles winners were Julie Brockman and Andrea Busse, and fourth doubles winners were Ashley Lewis and Blair Schumacher.

VOLLEYBALL
The Panthers travel to Beavercreek tonight. 6