January is Board of Education Appreciation Month - We use the first month of each year to thank each of our board members for their untiring efforts. Our members routinely make personal sacrifices to stand in the important role that they play in assuring local control over our schools, control that is in the hands of people we know...people who are our neighbors.
Our school board is accountable to the public and is empowered with establishing the policies that guide district operations, while overseeing that our funds are providing a good return on investment through assessment of our district.
Normally, during the January regularly scheduled meeting, we present each member with a unique gift produced by art students in each of our school buildings. Due to the meeting taking place on the morning of January 14, we will be presenting the gifts to our board members during the regularly scheduled meeting that will take place in February.
Please join me in thanking our board of education members for their efforts in continuing the excellence of Hamilton Local Schools.
Legislative Bills Signed into Law by Governor:
- House Bill 14 SCHOOL RECORDS-ABUSED-NEGLECTED-DEPENDENT CHILD - With respect to a school district's withholding or transfer to another district or school of the records of a child who is alleged or adjudicated an abused, neglected, or dependent child.
- Senate Bill 21 THIRD-GRADE READING GUARANTEE - To revise the requirements for reading teachers under the Third-Grade Reading Guarantee.
- Senate Bill 26 HEAD INJURIES-YOUTH SPORTS - To correct a cross reference with regard to concussions and head injuries in athletic activities organized by youth sports organizations and to declare an emergency.
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
Building Operations - I would like to personally thank the Hamilton family of custodians, maintenance staff, secretaries, teachers and administrators that assisted with the cleanup of the high school and intermediate school after Tuesday and Wednesday morning’s water line breaks. Our maintenance and custodial teams, from every district building, spent Tuesday, and parts of Wednesday, preparing our high school and intermediate school for students. When I toured the areas with a representative from our insurance company on Thursday, he remarked that the affected areas looked untouched by the event. The hard work, dedication and unselfishness of our Hamilton family makes me proud to be a Ranger!
OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
District Employees Support Local Families During Holiday Season - Hamilton Local School District is an active member of the Community Partners of Southern Franklin County. Over the holiday season, many Hamilton Local employees, and their families, utilized their time and resources to provide support to needy families during the season with donations of gifts and food items. Our district completed a canned food drive that was a great help in filling food baskets as well. The Community Partners holiday help program provided gifts, food, and other items to 53 families that were comprised of 156 children and 44 adults. Any food that was left over was given to two local food banks to support their programs and further feed local families.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL
Maintenance and Custodial Support – After a cold winter break, HLS Maintenance and Custodial Staff teamed up and prepared HTHS, including all other district buildings, for the successful return of all staff and students to the successfully functioning and well ran school building. A special thank you goes out to HLS maintenance and custodial staff for heading this effective and efficient effort, making HLS a safe place to teach and learn.
HTHS 2nd Semester – High School Students began their new semester courses this week. Some of these courses include Business, Personal Finance, Music, Arts, Healthy Living and Eating, Physical Education and Weight Training. Grades will be posted for 1st semester courses on Wednesday, January 15th. The Ohio Core Electives Graduation Requirements
Include:
| Health | 1/2 Unit |
| Physical Education | 1/2 Unit |
| Community & Career | 1/2 Unit |
| Service Project | |
| Electives | 5 Units |
HAMILTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Math Students “Shaping” Up with Creativity - The 7th grade math students used various geometric shapes and concepts to create winter scene drawings as an introduction to the Geometry lessons and to review vocabulary that they will be using over the next few weeks. The students were able to use their creativity and each drawing included over 50 geometric shapes or concepts.
HAMILTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
Tracey Beatty Teacher of the Month - I would like to nominate Tracey Beatty as the Hamilton Intermediate School Star Teacher. She works well with all of us and tailors to our teaching styles in class. She does a great job incorporating co-teaching skills as well. She is always willing to pull students in at recess and lunch to assist them with their learning. She is friendly and eager to help in any areas that she can. She has great parent communication skills and is very proactive in engaging with students, teachers, and parents. She takes pride in her work and stays connected with the lessons we are teaching in class. Tracey has been a wonderful asset to our team.- H.I.S. Staff Member
Carrinna Muncy Star Student of the Month - I would like to nominate Carrinna Muncy as the Star Student for January. Carrinna is extremely intelligent and hard working. She is never willing to settle for just good enough. She is always pushing harder and wanting to know more, to understand more deeply, to excel, and to become an expert. Carrinna is very inquisitive--the kind of student who keeps you on your toes--asking the questions that sometimes even the teacher doesn't have an answer to. Carrinna's entire class is enriched by her presence, her attitude, and her quest for knowledge. This mentality was evidenced on our last round of Short Cycle Assessments: Carrinna scored a perfect 18 out of 18 on all five of her tests. This is not an accomplishment that just happens by chance or luck. This is what happens when a student like Carrinna Muncy consistently dedicates herself to going above and beyond, being the best student she can be. Congratulations Carrinna, you have a lot to be proud of! - H.I.S. Staff Member
Sherry Roberts Support Staff Member of the Month - I am nominating Sherry Roberts for Support Staff Person of the Month. Sherry is the backbone of the fifth grade hallway and keeps our rooms looking great! She is always more than helpful with any cleaning problem or minor maintenance issue. Sherry keeps a positive attitude and always has a friendly word to say when she enters our rooms. Sherry's hardworking habits and pleasant demeanor make her a STAR at Hamilton Intermediate. - H.I.S. Staff Member
HAMILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Student of the Month – 1st Grade student, Jaxson Hampp was selected as the HES Student of the Month for December. Jaxson’s teacher, Mrs. Witt, had this to say: “Jaxson works very hard at everything he does. He is always ready to help other students and teachers. He is a very caring person and shows this through his daily actions and his happy personality”. Congratulations to Jaxson and his family.
Staff Members of the Month – 1st Grade teacher Jackie Breidenbach (left) was selected as the HES Teacher of the Month, and Head Cook Lisa Way (right) was selected as the Classified Staff Member of the Month for December. The anonymous staff members who nominated Ms. Breidenbach and Ms. Way had this to say: "Jackie is always kind to staff and students. She never speaks unkindly and is very considerate of others. She goes out of her way to do what is best for all of her students and her efforts and caring hand do not go unnoticed”. “Lisa is always helpful when I call down to the cafeteria and can get answers for me quickly. She does a wonderful job of keeping the kitchen staff organized and informed”. Congratulations to Ms. Breidenbach and Ms. Way.
HAMILTON PRESCHOOL
Happy New Year! - The preschool staff is very excited about the learning opportunities planned for the remainder of the school year. This time of the year provides us with many themes, topics, and units to explore. We have scheduled several family events: COSI, Valentine’s Day activities, VIP Day, Scholastic Book Fair, and Science Day with the High School. Please watch the website for upcoming dates and times. Academics, assessments, and attendance remain our focus for every student.
French Lessons - Students from Miss Weaver’s high school year three & four French classes will be working with our all day preschool students on French. Students will meet twice a week for an half hour in a small group setting. Students will learn the alphabet, color words, numbers, and basic sight words. This is a great collaboration with the high school students.
OFFICE OF ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS
December Student of the Month - The Hamilton Alternative Academy named Malerie Wood for Student of the Month of December. During the month of December, Malerie met all the attendance and work requirements as well as displayed a positive attitude towards her peers and teachers. Congratulations Malerie!
2nd 9 Weeks Perfect Attendance Awards - A special recognition goes out to the students with perfect attendance during the 2nd 9 weeks: Brittany Graham, Brooke Mullis, Malerie Wood, and Corey Thanthangavong. We appreciate their hard work and dedication towards being successful in school!
OFFICE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
Report Card Delay - Due to the weather delaying school opening after the holiday break, report cards will be released on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 rather than this Friday, January 10, 2014.
Start Talking Substance Abuse Initiative – Start Talking! is a new effort championed by Gov. Kasich and First Lady Karen W. Kasich aimed at preventing drug abuse among Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens – our children. The majority of substance-free adolescents credit parents for the decision not to use illegal substances. Likewise, teachers and other authority figures can have a similar influence on youth and their decision-making.
Parents, mentors and peers can make a difference just by talking to young people about drug abuse. The Start Talking! initiative was developed to:
Resources for parents, educators, and community members are available at: www.starttalking.ohio.gov
DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS
Wrestling Team Shows Improvement at Tri-Valley Big Dawg Duals - Over winter break, the Varsity Wrestling team traveled to Tri-Valley High School to participate in the Big Dawg Duals. The Rangers finished in the top half of the tournament. For the weekend, Robert Marquez, Alonzo Jewell, and Micky Crum went undefeated. Multiple match winners included Robby Daniels, Wyatt Koehl, Alex Perez, and Ethan Whitmer. This weekend the Rangers travel to Licking Heights on Friday and Saturday for the Licking Heights Invitational. Good luck to all participants.
Inclement Weather Updates - During this winter sports season, teams have been faced with rescheduling on multiple occasions. With the assistance of our Director of Public Relations Vince Payne, this information is communicated via the district website, Facebook page, and Twitter account. Updates are also made the district calendar. Please use these resources when dealing with weather situations for continuous updates.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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