October 2023 District Newsletter

Sycamore Community Schools has earned an overall 5-star rating on the 2023 Ohio School Report Card. Sycamore Schools was one of only 11 local school districts to achieve a 5-star overall rating. This achievement marks a significant milestone, being the first time since 2016 that the district has secured the highest overall rating, even under the previous letter-grade system in place prior to the pandemic.

Additionally, ODE provides a performance index for each district, which is based on how well all students perform on state tests. When compared to other local districts, Sycamore Schools had the third highest performance index of local school districts. This year, Sycamore Schools earned a score of 105.2, marking a 1.2-point increase from the previous year and an impressive 12-point surge from the 2020-21 school year, taking the performance index back to pre-pandemic levels.

In the 2023 report card, the district also garnered an impressive 5-star rating in four out of the five components. Learn more about the report card and hear from district leaders about the impressive performance.

Sycamore Community Schools is proud to be named the #3 school district in Ohio! The district and several of its schools have landed in the top rankings by the nationwide ranking site Niche Report.

Sycamore Community Schools was named the #3 Best District in the state of Ohio, up one spot from the previous year. The district was also ranked #58 out of nearly 10,800 districts across America. The district received an A+ grade from Niche, which only 2% of public and private school districts across the country achieve.

All four of Sycamore’s elementary schools were ranked in the top 10 of Niche’s 2024 Best Public Elementary Schools in the Cincinnati area. The district's Grades 5-8 schools were also in the top 10 in the state, while Sycamore High School was also in the top 5 in the state. See where your school ranked.

Congratulations to our 15 outstanding Sycamore High School seniors for achieving the prestigious status of Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program! This remarkable achievement places them in the top one percent of high school seniors across the entire United States. Meet our National Merit Semifinalists.

We are thrilled to announce a record-breaking achievement for our students in the world of music! This year, we have a staggering 28 students selected for the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras (CSYO), our highest number in recent memory. Two Sycamore Junior High students were also selected for CSYO, a huge accomplishment for these eighth graders! Several of our students have also been chosen for the prestigious OMEA All-State Ensembles.

This year, 7 students have been selected as performers, and 4 as alternates for All-State Band and All-State Orchestra. Additionally, 8 of our talented students have earned spots in the OMEA Southwest Region Orchestra, a significant step toward All-State Orchestra selection.

We also have three students who have been selected for the Cincinnati Youth Jaz Orchestra, the CSO Nouveau Chamber Players, the Cincinnati Youth Choir, and the May Festival Chorus. See the list of students who received these incredible honors.

While our stunning new building is buzzing with students and staff, construction crews continue site development at the junior high campus. The lower bus lot and event lot are nearly complete. Crews are also working on installing five tennis courts.

The brand-new Sycamore Stadium home fieldhouse is completed! We are still fundraising for Phase II, which includes the full interior of the home fieldhouse. Learn more about how you can support our #AlwaysAnAviator Campaign.

Work continues on the Seger Family Natatorium. Crews have begun building the walls and the roof around the pool. We're right on track for completion in April 2024, and we can already feel the anticipation building! 🏊‍♂️ You can still support this project by donating to our #AlwaysAnAviator Campaign.

• Sycamore Board of Education Meeting: Oct. 4, 7:30 am at District Office
• Sycamore Board of Education Meeting: Oct. 18, 7:00 p.m. Location TBD
• End of the First Quarter: Oct. 26
• NO SCHOOL Teacher Records Day: Oct. 27

There are many great events, including Family Fun Nights, Walk-A-Thons, Book Fairs, and Halloween parades happening at your student’s school this month. Be sure to check the online district calendar for the most up-to-date information. Want to sync calendars to your device? Click here for instructions!

Help our students identify their passions and explore exciting career opportunities! The Sycamore Business Advisory Council is seeking community members to participate in our weekly Career Exploration Speaker Series and Educational Workshops.

Interested in talking to students about your career? Fill out this Career Exploration Form

Would you like to help students learn how to build resumes, develop interview skills, and network? Reach out to Christine Dauenhauer: cddauenhauer@gmail.com

Each month, our school-based therapists will be providing important social and emotional wellness resources for families.

October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month. Rates of clinical depression are on the rise among school-aged youth and adolescents, and it is important for the parents and caregivers of these young people to recognize the signs early. The document provides important information on symptoms of depression, what causes depression, treatment for depression, and how to support your young person’s recovery.

Help us celebrate and recognize our staff who have done something special!

Each month this school year, the district will select a nominee to be recognized as an Awesome Aviator. All you have to do is fill out this form to submit a nomination. You can fill out a form as often as you would like this year.

Who can be nominated? Any Sycamore staff member: a teacher, administrator, educational assistant, bus driver, custodian, administrative assistant, etc.

We are looking for simply beautiful moments that remind us to be grateful that #WeAreAviators

Sycamore Community Schools use a number of tools to keep students and families informed and engaged in their learning. We wanted to take a moment to clarify what each tool can be used for. Use the document below to learn more about Parent Portal, Canvas, Final Forms, Remind, and our other communication tools.