From the Flight Deck
September 2019 Staff Newsletter
From Frank
Dear Sycamore Staff
As I said on our opening day, our district is full of champions..you. We have begun 2019 - 20 school year in spectacular fashion, and our positive first impressions are resonating throughout our district. We have weathered some unusual transportation challenges and, as typical but never taken for granted, our transportation department rose to the occasion and performed in exemplary fashion. As I traveled the district and visited our buildings, it is clearly evident we have THE best maintenance and facilities staff anywhere. What spectacular work each and every one of those great people did to ready our learning environments. Special kudos to our child nutrition department for ensuring that our great students in the Aves Academy program, at their new location, have access to breakfast/lunch each and every day.
We have received results from last year’s AIR testing. Simply a great job by all for continuing to ensure our students achieve at a high level and to their fullest potential. Although one measure of how we measure academic performance, it is nonetheless a visible marker for our community. I am so proud of all the building teams for their continued commitment to understanding each and every child’s name and need. Beyond numbers of academic growth, you continue to address the needs of the whole child, or the story behind the numbers, while never being distracted from each child’s reality and dignity.
In the next several weeks, we will continue to dialogue with our community regarding the November 5th bond issue. Great questions, strong support, and some reservations are coming our way. We will continue to respect each question, every concern and ultimately the decision of our community. I would encourage you to continue to inform yourself by visiting our website under the tab Master Facilities. There is also more information in this newsletter regarding our plan.
To close, one month into the school year, and I continue to firmly believe our words matter, our actions matter... every single day… and I am proud to call you CHAMPIONS. Thank you for what you have done to make it a great start, what you will do to make it a great year, and for who you are. Go Aves!
Mental Health Awareness Month
#speakupAVES Month is focused on raising awareness and will culminate with Sycamore High School’s participation in the 1N5 Warrior Run on October 5. As a part of the high school challenge, every dollar raised by the team will be reinvested back into Sycamore High School for mental health, mindfulness, and suicide prevention programming. Click here to sponsor the “Sycamore sAVES” team and select “donate.” You can also join the team by registering to be a part of the race by clicking here and select “join the team.”
New Athletic Director in the house
Check out his AD Challenges on Twitter with various Sycamore athletic teams this fall.....must-see entertainment @AvesAthletics #ADChallenge
Board of Education Election and Candidates
In the November election, there are two seats open for our Board of Education. Current Board President Paul Balent and Melissa Weiss, current Vice President, are running for re-election. One other candidate, Brad Comerford has filed to run.
There are specific guidelines in place that govern what can and cannot occur during a campaign; especially on school grounds. If you will remember, I sent these same guidelines out during the last campaign. They are as follows:
Employees will not provide verbal or nonverbal (tee-shirts, buttons, etc.) support of candidates/campaigns or issues during the school day.
Except at the PTO-sponsored candidate forum, no campaign materials or items (brochures, buttons, stickers, etc.) may be distributed at any school or school events (sporting events, PTO meetings or events, booster/advocate meetings, homecoming parade, etc.).
Candidates running for election may participate in the homecoming parade. However, no literature, buttons, stickers, etc., may be distributed during the parade.
No campaign signs will be placed on school property. Signs on a vehicle are exempt if the individual is using the vehicle.
No candidate/campaign presentations may be made to Sycamore staff members or administrators during school hours or during school events.
The district website, newsletters, and an e-mail will not be used to distribute campaign literature.
Candidates or ballot issues campaign ads are not permitted to be placed in the student newspaper.
Campaign ads may be placed in programs for school events if permitted by the event’s sponsoring organization.
Please take a moment to review and call with questions. Thank you.
Meet our New Assistant Principals!
Andrew King - Sycamore Jr. High
Andy brings 23 years of education experience to Sycamore Schools. He served as a guidance counselor at Lebanon Junior High School and Berry Middle School for 18 years. He was also the Dean of Athletics at Lebanon Junior High for three years. Prior to working with students and families in Lebanon, Andy served as a special education teacher at Warner Middle School in Xenia, Ohio for five years. He received his BS in special education from Wright State University, Master degrees from both Concordia University and the University of Dayton.
Sally has 26 years of experience in the private and public fields of occupational therapy. Since 2002, she has served Sycamore students in grades K-6 and their families as an occupational therapist, collaborating with a wide variety of educators throughout the district. Sally received her BS in special education from the University of Cincinnati, Master degree from the University of Puget Sound, and administration certification from Xavier University.
Tricia comes to Sycamore Schools with 7 years of administrative experience and 12 years as a classroom teacher. Previously she served as assistant principal of Endeavor Elementary in Lakota Schools and taught at North College Hill and Princeton school districts. Tricia received her BS in Education from Bowling Green State University, Master degree from the University of Cincinnati, and studied at don Quijote Schools in Spain.
Tricia lives in Montgomery with her husband and daughter, who attends Maple Dale Elementary.
Flu Shots
- Flu shots are covered 100% for members and covered spouses as part of your Butler Health Plan wellness benefits.
- Employees and spouses who are not in the medical plan may participate, but must pay $30 cash at the time of service.
- Quadrivalent is offered.
- You need to schedule your date/time.
- You will need your Anthem ID card to register
Master Facility Plan
Professional Development
The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is an affordable master’s program that combines web instruction from Miami University with experiential learning and field study through AIP Master Institutions in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Jacksonville, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, and St. Louis. The 2020 application is now open at http://AIP.MiamiOH.edu.
In the Advanced Inquiry Program from Miami University’s Project Dragonfly, students join a growing network of conservation leaders while gaining unprecedented opportunities not found in more traditional master’s programs. Online, at the zoo / botanical garden, and in their own backyards and neighborhoods, each student creates and engages in projects that affect positive social and ecological change to improve their communities, the environment, and the human condition.
Applications are being accepted until February 28 at http://AIP.MiamiOH.edu. Courses begin in May 2020.
To support involvement by a broad range of professionals, Miami University discounts tuition for participants accepted to AIP graduate courses. Enrollment is open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree, regardless of academic major or profession.
Interested in a global classroom? Miami’s Project Dragonfly also offers global field courses, which can build toward master’s degrees. Earth Expeditions graduate courses occur online and at pivotal hotspots in 16 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. http://EarthExpeditions.MiamiOH.edu
Project Dragonfly reaches millions of people each year through inquiry-driven learning media, public exhibits, and graduate programs worldwide. Dragonfly is based at Miami University in Oxford, OH.