District News
A Message from the Superintendent
Greetings Lebanon Parents, Caregivers, and Community,
This is the second edition of our new electronic newsletter called The District Digest. You can expect to find this e-newsletter in your inbox once a month.
At a professional learning conference I attended recently with superintendents from across the state, we were challenged to consider how to create future-ready schools while respecting the history and the culture of the district. It is a balancing act, but the focus must be on preparing opportunities for our students. I believe that is the beauty and the challenge of what we are doing at Lebanon City Schools.
Lebanon City Schools has a strong foundation and rich history, but we are also leading the way when it comes to career education opportunities for our students. Our students and staff are doing amazing things in our classrooms and community by creating real world experiences and opportunities for authentic learning. I want to continue to encourage you to engage with the district and consider this important area of career development opportunities.
Please contact my office if you are interested in partnering with the district to provide opportunities for our students to learn about your business, industry, or career. We are working to find more opportunities and partners for our students in all grades and buildings. These partnerships are essential for our future-ready schools and student learning and also an example of our mission: Building Community.
Onward Lebanon,
Isaac W. Seevers, Superintendent
Good Things Happening in Lebanon Schools:
Preschool Apple Orchard
Mrs. Schmelick's preschool class at Bowman Primary turned their classroom in to an apple orchard! Students learned different words associated with apples (pie, core, red, etc.), played with different apple items in their sensory bins, played with their Apple Cider Stand, painted with apples, learned how to make applesauce, and even ate some apples as a snack!
A Glass Experience
Renowned glass artist Darren Goodman visited Berry Intermediate last week to teach students about his work and to share his "Glass Experience" performance. Using a portable furnace he heated up pieces of glass into a molten blob then used tongs as a tool to create a long-stemmed flower. The students were amazed!
#Building Community!
Students in the Service Learning Class at Lebanon High School helped unload a food shipment from Shared Harvest and stocked shelves at the Lebanon Food Pantry. The average volunteer hour is worth $29.95 to the non-profit agency - Lebanon's students donated more than $300 in time to their community by volunteering. Way to go!
Flashlight Reading
Each Friday students in Ms. Messinger's third grade class at Donovan Elementary get to read with the lights out! They can sit anywhere they want in the classroom and read by flashlight. They love Flashlight Fridays!
Homecoming Parade
Warrior Pride was on full display during our Homecoming Parade in September! Click here to see photos from the parade.
Taking Learning Outdoors
Students in Mrs. Hale's sixth grade class at Berry Intermediate walked to the Katie Aylor and Brandi Cook Nature Trail near the school recently to gather stream water in jars. They took the water-filled jars back to their classroom to inspect under the microscope, looking for microorganisms.
Upcoming Calendar of Events
- October 4 - Berry Band Concert, District Performance Center, 160 Miller Road, 7 p.m.
- October 11 - Voter Registration Deadline - are you registered to vote?
- October 11 - Orchestra Concert, District Performance Center, 160 Miller Road, 7 p.m.
- October 12 - Early Voting Begins - Vote in person at the Board of Elections or with your mailed Absentee Ballot
- October 13 - Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Bowman Primary School, 825 Hart Road, 7 p.m.
- October 13 - Lebanon High School Band Concert, District Performance Center, 160 Miller Road, 7 p.m.
- October 17 - Board of Education Meeting, Central Office, 160 Miller Road, 6 p.m.
- October 18 - Lebanon High School Choir Concert, District Performance Center, 160 Miller Road, 7 p.m.
- October 20 - End of First Quarter
- October 20 - Facebook Live with the Superintendent, 7 p.m.
- October 21 - Staff Work Day - No School for Students
- October 24 - No School - Fall Break
- October 25 - Community Builders Recognition Program, District Performance Center, 160 Miller Road, 6:30 p.m.
- October 26 - Coffee Chats with the Superintendent, Coffee Caravan, 706 Deerfield Road, taking place at 8 a.m. and at 6 p.m
- November 8 - Election Day - Lebanon City School District has a 9.64-mill substitute levy on the ballot
Three LHS Students earn National Merit Scholarship Honors
WARRIOR PRIDE ALERT! Congratulations to Ava Repka, Anna Johnson and Jack Gordon, seniors at Lebanon High School, for being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program!
Ava earned the prestigious honor of being named a National Merit Semifinalist. Anna and Jack earned the high honor of being named Commended Scholars. They earned these honors for achieving high scores on the preliminary SAT college admissions test.
Each year about 1.5 million students take the PSAT. Of those, 50,000 students nationwide with the highest scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program either as Commended Students or Semifinalists. As a Semifinalist, Ava can now apply to become a Finalist to earn scholarship awards.
Information about the Nov. 8 levy
Lebanon City School District has a 9.64-mill substitute levy on the November 8, 2022 ballot:
- The levy will not raise taxes
- The levy is not asking for new money
- The levy will combine three existing levies into one
- The three levies being combined into one were first approved by voters in 2005, 2011, and 2019
- The district will continue to receive $12.2 million in funding and operating expenses from the substitute levy
- With the substitute levy, the district will receive additional tax revenue when new homes and businesses are developed
Visit our website to learn more: https://www.lebanonschools.org/levy-info
Opportunities to Ask Questions about the Levy
You're invited! We planned a number of opportunities for the community to meet with District Administration to discuss and ask questions about the levy. There is no RSVP required for these open-invitation, informal gatherings:
- October 20, 7 p.m. Facebook Live with the Superintendent - tune in to our Facebook page to join Mr. Seevers for a question and answer session about the levy. More info about this Q&A forum will be shared closer to the date.
- October 26, Coffee Chats with the Superintendent - taking place at Coffee Caravan two times: at 8 a.m. and at 6 p.m. Coffee Caravan is located at 706 Deerfield Road.
Onward Lebanon: Hope Squad
The latest episode of Onward Lebanon, our monthly TV program, highlights the student-led club called Hope Squad. Hope Squads are school-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs. Hope Squads formed at both Lebanon High School and Lebanon Junior High School during the 2019-2020 school year. Click here to watch the episode.
In an interview with Superintendent Isaac Seevers, Hope Squad advisors Jessica Houdieshell and Josh Chasteen, together with students Randi Hill and Cash Chandler, discuss the work the Hope Squads are doing at their schools to create positive mental health awareness.
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony October 13
The Lebanon Hall of Fame event is back this year after a brief hiatus due to the pandemic. This year, we will induct four individuals: Amy Brewer, Diana Davis, Donna Davis Norris, and Steve Poitinger.
The Induction Ceremony will take place Thursday, October 13 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Bowman Primary School, 825 Hart Road, Lebanon. To attend, please RSVP here.
The Lebanon Hall of Fame was established to honor the distinguished and significant contributions made by retired or former staff, former Board of Education members, volunteers, and active members of the community at large. Click here to see a past list of recipients.
It's SOCK-tober! Donate socks to the Warrior Closet
October is SOCKtober and we're collecting sock donations for the Warrior Closet! New athletic socks of all sizes (child sizes to adult) are needed, ankle or low cut style is preferred.
Ways to donate:
- Collection bins will be located in the office areas at Bowman Primary, Donovan Elementary, and Berry Intermediate during the month of October - drop off your donations during normal school hours.
- A collection bin will be located at the Countryside YMCA as well.
- You can purchase socks from Amazon using this wish list - socks can be delivered directly to the Warrior Closet, or delivered to your home and you can drop them into one of the collection bins.
Warm feet = warm hearts!
We're Hiring Substitutes
We are hiring substitute workers for the following positions: K-6 substitute teachers, special education assistants, custodians, cafeteria workers, and nurses.
Student Accident Insurance Offered
Our school district has made arrangements with Student Protective Agency to provide student accident insurance for those wishing to purchase coverage. Click here to learn about the types of coverage offered and to apply. Mail completed applications to Student Protective Agency, 300 Coshocton Avenue, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 along with a money order or check payable to Student Protective Agency. The school will be notified as to who takes out coverage. Click here or call Student Protective Agency at 800-278-2544 for more information.
Onward Lebanon! Go Warriors!
Do you know the words to Onward Lebanon, our fight song?
Email: planicka.wendy@lebanonschools.org Office: 513.934-5880