Nagel Middle School announces positive changes to class schedules

PAGE 6

“Experienceship” program connects students with new opportunities

PAGE 3

FHSD invites the community to tour all 11 district properties

PAGE 8

Scot T. Prebles, Superintendent

WH

AT’S

INSI

DE:

Community Connection

Spring 2019

Forest Hills School District

Let’s stay connected!

@FHSchools

@ForestHillsSchoolDistrict

www.foresthills.edu

Performing Arts Shine in Newly Completed AHS Wing

Anderson High School performing arts stu-dents will continue to excel in a renovated,

three-story performing arts wing. The renovation, which includes a band room, percussion room, choir room, orchestra room, black box theatre and storage, was completed in April.

“When this plan was developed, the focus was to provide a space

for all of our performing arts pro-grams to grow and thrive, and I believe this wing does just that for our students,” said Assistant Superintendent Mike Broadwater. “I’m excited to see students using this space, which was graciously provided by our FHSD commu-nity.”

Renovations include enhanced technology for 21st century in-struction. (Story continued on page 5)

The AHS band moved into its new space in early 2019.

Turpin Celebrates Building Dedication and Honor Wall

On May 4, Turpin High School hosted a dedication ceremony to celebrate its renovations and Honor Wall.

Turpin’s renovations provide students with enhanced learning environments, improved technology, better lighting, new plumbing and ventilation, and more. The high school is also now en-ergy-efficient, more secure, provides better handicap accessibility, and an improved traffic flow. The improve-ments were made possible thanks to the passage of a 2014 bond issue.

The Honor Wall, located at the new ath-letic entrance, honors the Turpin High School alumni, faculty, and support staff who served in the armed forces.

BOE President Randy Smith and THS Principal Dave Spencer shake hands during the dedication ceremony.

2 FHSD Community Connection

From the desk of the Superintendent

At the end of each academic year, I reflect on the achievements reached by students and staff and I am proud to say the 2018-2019 academic year marked another fan-tastic year in the Forest Hills School District!

Seven of the district’s high school students were recognized this year as National Merit Scholars. This is an incredible honor earned by less than one percent of high school students in the nation! Add to that, both high schools were ranked among the top 4% of high schools in the state of Ohio this year by U.S. News and World Report once again.

The recently published 2019 Niche Best Districts in America report awarded an overall grade of “A” for the Forest Hills School District. Each of the district’s nine schools earned an “A” and Forest Hills teachers are ranked among the top 1% of all teachers in the nation. In my opinion, our community’s appreciation for and investment in public education continues to provide the necessary resources that ensure these things happen and so that our students are among the nation’s most prepared and competitive. Without continued local invest-ment in the Forest Hills School District, we will be unable to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of students.

Hopefully you have stayed tuned into the budget efficien-cy efforts in which the district is engaged. Cost reductions identified this year alone will save the district approximately $1.5 million. I am hopeful these continued actions affirm our ongoing effort to extend the life of the district’s 2012 operating levy. What started as a three-year commitment has extended into its seventh year. Open and transparent communica-tion regarding the district and its finances is important and I encourage you to visit my blog at https://www.foresthills.edu/departments/superintendent/blog.html or the district’s website, www.foresthills.edu.

I am incredibly proud to be part of the Forest Hills School Dis-trict and I know that the district’s success would not be possible without the strong support of this wonderful community.

Respectfully,

From the desk of the Treasurer

I joined the Forest Hills School District in November 2018 and I am thrilled to be part of this team and help ensure FHSD main-tains a high level of fiscal accountability and transparency into the future. Forest Hills is a celebrated district with a history of providing an excellent education in a cost-efficient manner.

Residents provide 66% of the district’s general operating funds through property tax dollars. State law prohibits inflation in-creases on school property tax levies. Even with continuous cost-saving efficiencies, Ohio schools must return to the bal-lot to cover the costs of inflation. Forest Hills’ last operating levy was forecast to fund three years of operations; however, through careful fiscal stewardship, that levy was stretched to seven years. Over the past few months, the administrative team has analyzed the budget to achieve additional cost efficiencies and further streamline operations with the least amount of impact to students, staff, and parents.

In addition to our continuous budget analysis, our financial focus includes reviewing the asset maintenance schedules to protect your investment in our beautiful schools. The district will continue to pursue shared services and partnerships with other governmental agencies that are advantageous to our students, operations and budget.

In February, the district again received the Ohio Auditor of State Award of Distinction. This award embodies the district’s commitment to sound fiscal stewardship. We appreciate the continued support of our community and are fortunate that the residents of Forest Hills value education and the students we serve.

Please visit www.foresthills.edu throughout the summer and fall as the Forest Hills School District posts additional budgetary updates, data and benchmark reporting.

Sincerely,

Alana Cropper 513-231-3600 Treasurer alanacropper@foresthills.edu

Scot T. Prebles 513-231-3600Superintendent scotprebles@foresthills.edu

2 FHSD Community Connection 3 FHSD Community Connection

FHSD Schools Connecting Community Partners

Samir Daoud, Turpin alumnus and Gold Star Chili owner, presenting project awards to students and teacher, Guye Frye.

Students speak with Jason Hickman from Terracon at the April Experienceship meeting.

From marketing and social media, to law, sports or the culinary arts – Forest Hills students will have greater opportunity to explore potential career interests through real-world experiences. In April, 19 regional employers attended a parent meeting to announce the start of the Forest Hills School District’s “Experienceship” program.

Starting with the class of 2020, engaged businesses and community organizations will offer an increased range of options to FHSD students, including internships (paid and unpaid), job shadowing and apprenticeships. The Expe-rienceship program was created as the district and the Forest Hills Foundation for Education set out to build lasting partnerships, develop a stronger awareness of the evolving needs of the labor force, and provide students with per-sonalized learning experiences. Community partners are more than donors and sponsors; this process requires a high level of engagement.

“We seek opportunities for students to explore, engage, and expe-rience,” said Forest Hills Community Partnership Specialist Donna Lauver. “Students explore through career days, classroom visits, and teacher support. They engage with mentors, guest speakers, project-based learning, career days and job shadowing. They ex-perience first-hand through employer-managed internships and on-site experiences called ‘experienceships’.”

All grade levels benefit from these powerful collaborations. Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, all students had oppor-tunities to engage in projects and explore career options at various levels. Students visited career fairs, heard from guest speakers, and worked with area businesses to create and market new products. “Working within our local community allowed for a project that our elementary students could grasp. They had specific experiences with each business and that made the project feel local and within reach for them,” said Mercer Elemen-tary School teacher, Guy Frye.

Twenty-four businesses will take part in next year’s Experienceship program, including Cincinnati Reds, Zeal40: Creative Agency, Mercy Hospital, Lundrigan Law Group, UPS, Tata Technologies, and more.

For more information about becoming a community partner, contact Donna Lauver at donnalauver@foresthills.edu.

The Dewey family is offering an experienceship at their business, Mt. Carmel Brewery.

FHSD’s Donna Lauver and Beth Davis, from the Forest Hills Founda-tion for Education, meet with experienceship partner, UPS.

FHSD Community Connection 5

4 FHSD Community Connection

Promoting positive mental wellness Why everyone should take part in this community-wide discussion

How can I promote Mental Wellness?

• Build strong, positive relation-ships with family and friends.

• Become more involved in the community (e.g., mentor or tu-tor youth, join a faith or spiritual community).

• Encourage children and adolescents to participate in extracurricular and out-of school activities.

• Work to make sure children feel comfortable talking about prob-lems, such as bullying, and seek appropriate assistance as needed.

Three Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health:

Take care of your body: Regular exercise reduces symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety.

Ask for and offer help: Assess your mental health from time to time and ask for help if you need it. Learn to recognize when someone else may be having problems with their men-tal health and assist them in con-tacting resources for support.

Have some fun: Do something you are passion-ate about once per week. Having interests that are all-consuming and that we can “get-lost-in” bring us into a mental state of “flow,” which increases happiness and creativity.

classroom based instructional curric-ulums to support emotional needs, small group models supporting specif-ic topics, or more intensive and target-ed mental health challenges,” she said.

Experts say mental health and wellness efforts should continue past school doors and be interwoven into all as-pects of a child or adult’s life.

“We want this to be a community-wide conversation,” said Vicky Earhart, An-derson Township Administrator. “This summer we will host a Mental Health Speaker Series and look for additional ways to create a supportive environ-ment around mental wellness.”

During the summer months, you can promote positive mental health and wellness in your home by limiting the use of technology, maintaining a healthy bedtime routine, and eating healthy foods. Experts encourage fam-ilies to go outdoors and enjoy local parks, visit a community event, or sit down to enjoy a meal together.

To find information about local mental health service providers, visit www.ForestHills.edu. To learn more about the Mental Health Speaker Series, visit https://www.andersontownship.org/.news-events.

The Forest Hills School Dis-trict, along with its many community partners and local service providers, is

united on a mission to promote pos-itive mental health and wellness ar-ea-wide. As referenced by numerous mental health professionals, there continues to be growing concern for the number of young people with current mental, emotional and be-havioral disorders, with many emerg-ing in early adolescence. Fewer than 1 in 8 children with mental health concerns receive treatment.

“Mental wellness is all of the proac-tive things we can do to promote positive psychology and positive well-being,” said Susan Graham, Di-rector of Education Liaisons at Child Focus. “Mental illness does exist and there is a portion of the population affected by mental illness. But, we can help prevent mental illness by promoting mental wellness,” she said.

The Forest Hills School District has prioritized mental health and well-ness for years through a structured framework, referred to as Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. The services and supports are designed to promote positive mental health, identify psychological/social prob-lems, and reduce the risk factors that may ultimately lead to school failure.

“This tiered system provides varying levels of intensity based upon the need, level and type of service that is most appropriate for students,” said Betsy Ryan, Director of Teaching and Learning at FHSD. “This includes

FHSD Community Connection 5

4 FHSD Community Connection

Performing Arts Wing (continuted from cover)

The new black box theatre is welcomed by theatre instruc-tor, Chad Weddle. “We are very excited about having a classroom to teach both performance and technical skills in the theatre world,” stated Weddle. “Anderson Theatre has grown exponentially, and the addition of the black box theatre is exactly what we need to continue to provide excellence in educational opportunities,” he said.

The newly renovated orchestra space is located on the 3rd floor and includes ample storage as well as break-out studios for individual rehearsals.

Conductor Felipe Morales-Torres is excited for his students to utilize the new space. “Next year will be my eighth year in teaching, but my first with a dedicated classroom. My students and I are thrilled over the flexibility and focus that this new space will provide,” said Morales-Torres.

Anderson High School Principal Rob Fellows echoed, “We are extremely fortunate to live in a community with an unwavering commitment to the arts. It is our hope that these renovated spaces will help continue the tradition of excellence in Anderson’s performing arts for many years to come.”

Additional renovations will continue at Anderson High School over the summer months. All remaining projects are anticipated to be completed by the start of the 2019-2020 academic year.

The new orchestra space has enough space for equipment, technology and storage.

The new choir room has a grand piano.

See page 8 to find out when you can tour Anderson High School and 10 other district facilities.

“We have already used our new space to collaborate virtually via FaceTime with a guest composer this past February. Our Anderson performing arts students have needed these new spaces for a long time and we are happy to see them become reality,” said Band Director Toby Biederman.

The Anderson bands were the first to move into the spaces in early 2019. The individual percussion room has access to the fields and large equipment can be trans-ported through a garage door. A five-stop elevator in the performing arts wing will aid in the transport of the large equipment to Titus Auditorium, as well.

The new space for the choirs of the AHS Vocal Arts pro-gram will greatly enhance student learning, growth and vocal development. The open floor plan will allow stu-dents to rehearse while seated in a brightly lit room or while standing on the new StageRight Choral Risers, all of which can be easily transported down the hall and onto the stage.

The space will have up-to-date audio/visual equipment and a beautifully renovated, white Yamaha grand piano, generously donated to Anderson High School. AHS Cho-ral Director Stacey Haney said, “I can not wait to see my students’ faces as they ring their first chord in a room with excellent acoustics! Thank you Anderson High School, Anderson Township and the Forest Hills School District!”

FHSD Community Connection 6 FHSD Community Connection 7

Structuring

Success

The approximately 1,100 students at Nagel Middle School have an impressive mix of core subjects to conquer, including math, English language arts, science and social studies. Next

school year, students will have more time to focus on excelling in these four subjects, while also benefiting from the diverse Encore options for which Nagel is known.

By adjusting Nagel’s master schedule and discontinuing Fusion, students and teachers will gain instructional time in four core classes, from 42 min-utes per class to more than 55 min-utes per class. Those minutes add up to an additional 37+ hours of course instruction per year. Fusion was a course in which students connected core curriculum to personal interests and strengths, while also focusing on skills including creativity, collaboration, and communication.

“This is a positive change that will help elevate stu-dent learning at Nagel Middle School,” said Principal Anita Eshleman. “This structure is developmen-tally appropriate for 7th and 8th graders, and our teachers will be able to narrow their focus to ensure they are providing engaging, challenging, and quali-

Positive changes coming to Nagel Middle School

ty instruction in the core classes,” she said. The new schedule structure will reduce the student-teacher ratio, providing opportunity for more personalized in-struction. These smaller teams will foster improved stu-dent-teacher and parent-teacher relationships throughout the school year.

The new structure will also mean reduced transitions for students be-tween classes and will improve work-load balance. However, because class times will be increased, teachers will incorporate creativity, collaboration, and communication. Interdisciplin-ary concepts and personalization will also be included in the lessons.

“These changes will not compromise the highly successful team structure at Nagel. It will allow students and teachers to increase focus on these critical core subjects,” said Forest Hills School District Superin-tendent Scot Prebles. “All of the district’s students pass through Nagel on their way to high school. We want to ensure that their time spent as a Nighthawk will prepare them for future success,” he said.

These changes will go into effect for the 2019-2020 aca-demic year.

Nagel Middle School students working on assignments in class.

“All of the district’s students pass through Nagel on their way to high school. We want to ensure that their time spent as a Nighthawk will prepare them for future success.”

FHSD Community Connection 7

Matt Voorhees, a Turpin High School senior, was named an Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year. In addition to his strong academics, Voorhees has taken on numerous leadership roles and is involved in Key Club, HOPE Squad, cross country, soccer, and track and field.

Jason Moore, an Anderson High School senior, was named an Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year. Moore is senior class president and is part of the National Honor Society, Cum Laude Society, and has won various academic awards.

Lindsey Stelzer, a Turpin High School calculus teacher, was named Teacher of the Year by the Anderson Area Chamber of Com-merce. 99% of Stelzer’s students earn an average of three college credit hours, saving roughly $1,800. Turpin families have saved over $500,000 combined as a result of ten years of Stelzer’s AP calculus courses.

Jean Bode, a Wilson Elementary School counselor, received the Celebrate Excellence Award from the Hamilton County Education Foundation. Bode has been with the district for 24 years and works to foster the emotional well-being of students.

We are FHSD!Celebrating student & staff

achievement:

Forest Hills Foundation for Education Distributes Grants to Teachers

The Forest Hills Foundation for Education awarded nearly $10,000 in grants to FHSD teachers this spring for initiatives that support student success!

The grants will fund classroom projects including a math learning lab at Summit Elementary, where students can learn together, 1-on-1, or with a class. Laura Holtkamp, a Maddux Elementary media specialist, earned a grant to bring Ozo-bots to her classroom. Ozobots allow stu-dents in grades 2-5 to learn about cod-ing in a hands-on, playful environment. Turpin High School teacher Eric Kenter was awarded a grant to develop a collection of high-interest, grade-level appropriate texts for independent reading in the classroom. At Anderson High School, teacher Jennifer Cook was awarded for software that animates the concepts in a first-year calculus course.

In total, 11 grants were distributed to teach-ers in seven FHSD schools.

“The Forest Hills Foundation for Education supports our students and teachers by help-ing those ideas become reality, and ultimate-ly ensuring all students continue to expand their curiosities and interests,” said Superin-tendent Scot Prebles. “If you would like to contribute to the Foundation’s efforts, visit www.FHFE.org.”.

FHFE awarded a $1,500 grant to Summit Elementary teachers Tracy Moran, Lauren Donovan and Michale Sanker.

Positive changes coming to Nagel Middle School

Turpin teacher Eric Kenter with students.

FHFE awarded Nagel teacher Jessica Cox a grant.

Register for kindergarten! FHSD offers both all-day and half-day programs!

REGISTRATION PROCESS:Step 1: Register online at foresthills.edu/registration.Step 2: Make an appointment with the registrar to com-plete registration. Provide required documentation and a non-refundable $75 deposit for all-day kindergarten (if applicable).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:- Parent/guardian driver’s license- Official birth certificate- Custody papers (if applicable)- Proof of residence (mortgage deed, rental/lease agreement)- Current immunization records (if applicable)- ETR/IEP/504 reports/documents (if applicable)

Communication Department 7946 Beechmont Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45255

Kindergarten program questions: Department of Teachering and Learning 513-231-3600Registrar: 513-231-3600 x 2960Attendance area questions: Transportation Department513-231-3335More information: www.foresthills.edu/kindergarten.html

Forest Hills School DistrictBuilding Showcase

FHSD invites the community to tour all 11 renovated or new district buildings!

Thursday, September 196:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.All schools, Central Office (7946 Beechmont Avenue), Operations Center (3652 Round Bottom Road)

Saturday, September 219 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Anderson, Nagel, Ayer, Maddux, Summit, Central Office, Operations Center

Saturday, September 289 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Turpin, Nagel, Mercer, Sherwood, Wilson, Central Office, Operations Center

SAVE THE

DATE