Blue Devil eNews
Reading Community City School District | December 2019
Chamber Awards District Outstanding New Development
The Reading Chamber of Commerce honoring Reading Schools for Outstanding New Development. The Chamber presented the award to Reading Superintendent Chuck LaFata at its holiday award banquet held on December 2.
The Chamber shared this about the award...
"There was absolutely no competition for our final award for Outstanding New Development. It was a unanimous decision by the Chamber Board to use this award to honor the hard work and dedication that went into the new Reading City Community Schools K-12 Consolidated Campus which opened for the 2019-2020 school year."
The Chamber also presented the Shining Star Award to Mr. LaFata for his service to the Reading Schools and his contributions in overseeing the construction of the new school.
"When Chuck retires in July 2020, he will have left behind a legacy of first-class facilities for Reading students and teachers," the Chamber shared in its presentation to Mr. LaFata.
Timeline for Reading's Superintendent Search
Chuck LaFata, who has served as superintendent of the Reading Community City School District since 2016, will be retiring from the district in July 2020. The Reading Board of Education has selected the Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) to manage the search process for a new superintendent. It is the Board's intent to include stakeholder input in the process.
On December 2, OSBA held focus groups to hear feedback from staff, community leaders, parents, and community members. This feedback will help the board to develop a profile of the ideal candidate.
Reading's superintendent search will be launched in December and interviews will be conducted in January and February. The Board expects to hire the candidate in March with the new superintendent beginning his or her official duties on August 1, 2020.
New Security Procedure Begins on December 1
Beginning on December 1, the Reading School District is now using the Raptor Visitor Management System to enhance campus safety. The Raptor system will better allow us to track visitors and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff. The system screens every visitor against registered sex offender databases in all 50 states.
Visitors will be asked to present a driver’s license or valid government-issued ID which will be scanned into the system. Once entry is approved, the building secretary will print a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit.
If you are picking up a student from the office, you must have your identification. An ID will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork. In the event that a person does not have identification, he/she can still be given access to the building but will be escorted by a school staff member.
WLWT News Segment on Security Features of New School
Click here to watch the footage.
Blue Devil Cafe Serves Special Meal to RMS Staff
Reading Seniors Participate in Professional Women in Economics Day
In November, two Reading High School standouts, Kristen Cain and Kylie Schmidt, participated in the Women of Worldpay event held for female college students majoring in economics. Kristen and Kylie were the only two high school participants, selected for their academic success and uncommon maturity.
Women of Worldpay hosted members of the Miami University Women in Economics Group. They listened to a panel discussion of women with economics degrees working in the financial technology industry at FIS-WorldPay and then spent an hour shadowing an FIS employee to learn about the industry, the company, and how women can be successful.
Kylie shared, ”My opportunity to gain knowledge in regards to career fields in economics was incredibly beneficial. It has expanded my horizon for future endeavors and has given me the chance to add options for my future."
Reading's Girls on the Run Finish First 5K
On Saturday, November 16, Reading's Girls on the Run team completed a 5K starting at Sawyer Point running around the stadiums and finishing at Yeatman's Cove.
Reading's team of 12 fifth graders has been training for 10 weeks. In addition to running, the program includes lessons that teach the girls to make choices that will positively impact their lives.
Kudos to our teachers who coached this season: Sarah Nimeskern, Maddie Martin, Jordan Meehan, Alyssa King, Becky Shockey, and Emily Schweppe.
RMS Students Participate in Trick or Treat for UNICEF
To wrap up the Global Read aloud on the novel, The Bridge Home, Reading Middle School sixth-grade students participated in Trick or Treat for UNICEF. This program allows students to raise money for needy children around the world. It was a perfect pairing to the novel, which centered on four homeless children in India. Students raised over $100 for the program!
Reading Elementary's New Character Award Winners
Reading Elementary has a new character award called Nate's Greats! Nate the Navigator is the school's friendly alligator mascot who encourages students to build the habits of optimism, perseverance, empathy, resiliency, and flexibility. These habits are important in building a growth mindset that leads to achievement and success at school. For each habit, various students who demonstrated these habits are nominated by their teachers.
For the habit of OPTIMISM, the following students received the Nate's Greats award in October:
Kindergarten
Sadie Price
Kyle Androne
1st Grade
Ricco Parker
Injila Khan
2nd Grade
Payten Cromer
Ke'Ayir Arnold
3rd Grade
Emma Jean Ward
Milo Syravong
4th Grade
Hunter Saylor
Ishaya Whitaker
5th Grade
Emery Anderson
Cameron Reed
Formica Hosts Plant Tour
"Thanks to the gracious time and preparation of the folks at Formica, our field trip was a success, said Reading teacher Brian Page. "This was the perfect capstone to a seven-week simulation in which students managed a manufacturing facility."
The day was kicked off by Formica's Plant Manager providing an overview of what they do, and how they do it. Students were then led on a tour of the manufacturing facility, where they saw first hand a plant just like the one they worked on in their simulation.
Students Learn Hands-On Science Lesson
Creative lessons are seen throughout our schools. Recently, in Reading Middle School's Science of Sound class, the students made their own instruments. Students had to measure, cut, and assemble the pan pipes. Pictured is Lander Shafer with the panpipe he made in class.
Drone Footage of New School
December RHS Guidance Corner
- SENIORS! Make sure you order your cap and gown by no later than Saturday, December 14! The current price for cap, gown, and tassel is $42.75 after December 14 it goes to $69.55! Jostens will be at RHS before school Tuesday, December 3 and Tuesday, December 10 to take orders. You may order online at Jostens.com.
- End of Course make-up tests will take place the first three weeks of December. Your student's Guidance Counselor will contact them with the scheduling of these tests.
- There will be a current 9th and 10th-grade parent meeting on Wednesday, December 11 at 6:30 PM in the cafetorium. We will be sharing information on scheduling, test scores, vocational schools, end of course exams, and graduation requirements.
- Scarlet Oaks will be visiting our sophomores on Friday, December 13. Students will meet with them in their history class that day.
- Miami Regionals will be here on Monday, December 16 to meet with any Juniors or Seniors that are interested. Sign up information will be emailed to students.
- RHS Choir Concert will be Monday, December 16 at 7 PM.
- RHS Band Concert will be Wednesday, December 18 at 7 PM.
- We wish you all a very happy and safe holiday break! Students and staff will be out from Saturday, December 21, 2020 - Sunday, January 5, 2020. Let's start off the new decade Blue Devils!
Reading Community City Schools
Email: kblair@readingschools.org
Website: www.readingschools.org
Location: 810 East Columbia Avenue, Reading, OH, USA
Phone: 513-842-5109
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReadingCommunityCitySchools
Twitter: @ReadingCSD