Superintendent’s Weekly Wrap-up: Dec. 5-12, 2014
State Board Passes Operating Standards, Five of Eight Rule Not Included - The State Board of Education passed a resolution to adopt new operating standards for schools Tuesday, including the controversial rewrite of the "five of eight" rule. The proposal drew significant feedback at the board's public participation session Monday, as it did at the November meeting, and Operating Standards Committee Chairman Ron Rudduck introduced an amended version Tuesday meant to address concerns. Rudduck and Board Member Michael Collins said they held several meetings and met with interested parties and stakeholders to flesh out a compromise.
The five of eight rule was dealt with in the following way. Rule 3301-35-05 (A)(3) states: The local board of education shall be responsible for the scope and type of educational services in the district. The district shall employ educational service personnel to enhance the learning opportunities of all students. The language in this section also addressed the following licensure issue. Educational service personnel assigned to elementary fine arts, music and physical education shall hold the special teaching certificate or multi-age license in the subject to which they are assigned.
Key elements in the amendment include the following:
- Further defines educational service personnel, requiring certificates and licensure.
- Determines educational service personnel are to support educational, instructional, college and career readiness, learning needs of special needs students, and the health and mental health of students.
- Specifies local control, stating, "The local board of education shall be responsible for the scope and type of educational services provided in the district."
- Directs the board's Accountability Committee to develop a method to report educational service personnel on the school report card.
After much discussion surrounding the resolution and amendment submitted by Rudduck and the Operating Standards Committee, the resolution as amended passed.
The resolution to rescind the previous Operational Standards and adopt new standards for elementary, middle and high schools in Ohio passed 14-5. Members voting against the resolution to adopt were Dodd, Oakar, Wagner, Deborah Cain and Ann Jacobs. Source: Hannah News Service
Ohio receives waiver to eliminate double testing in elementary and middle schools - The U.S. Department of Education has approved the Ohio Department of Education’s request for a waiver from “double testing” students below ninth grade who are taking high school-level courses for credits. The waiver, which only applies to the 2014-2015 school year, requires these students in elementary and middle school to test above their grade levels – in the high school-level courses they took for credit – and prohibits them from taking the assessments for the courses at their current grade levels. These students must take the performance-based assessments and the end-of-year exams that match the high school-level courses. For example, an eighth-grader who is taking Algebra I for high school credit must take only the Algebra I assessment. That student will not take the eighth-grade math test. Unlike the previous policy on accelerated testing, students do NOT need to be on formal acceleration plans in order to take the higher-grade state tests. The waiver allows all students to take the tests that best match their courses of study, regardless of whether acceleration plans are in place.
The department must submit a request for an extension to continue this policy beyond the 2014-2015 school year. The state is seeking further clarification about the waiver extension and will provide additional guidance to districts as information becomes available. For the current school year, districts and schools should test their elementary and middle school students with higher-level math, English language arts or science end-of-course exams in cases where the students are taking the course for high school credit. Source: Ohio Department of Education
Senate to Pursue Bicameral Task Force on Educational Testing in Ohio - Explaining that the Senate will not be taking up HB228 (Brenner-Gonzales) which, among other reforms would limit the amount of testing time per school year, Senate Education Chair Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) Thursday called the issue "complicated/controversial." She said there is "concern in every quarter about how much [testing], why and what tests."
She described the House bill as a "Band-Aid," saying that what is needed is a major overhaul. To that end, she said the Senate president intends to form a task force including educators and reaching out to members from the House to conduct an extensive review of testing in Ohio.
The task force will begin its work by receiving the MBR-mandated review by Ohio Superintendent of Education Richard Ross that is due in mid-January. Lehner said it is her understanding that he is doing an "extensive review" and will be offering "significant recommendations."
She said the task force will conduct a "comprehensive, thoughtful review, identifying steps and recommendations for the General Assembly.
"So we are not ignoring" this critical issue, Lehner said. "Rather we are taking it very seriously." Source: Hannah News service
OFFICE OF TEACHING & LEARNING
End of Semester – Friday, December 19 will be the end of the 2nd quarter and end of the first semester. Report cards will be issued January 9.
Ohio Arts Assessment Project – Three district art teachers have been selected to participate in a statewide field test of assessments designed to measure student learning and growth in visual art. The field test is part of a project funded by an Ohio Department of Education Straight A Fund grant. Mrs. Nunn, elementary art, Mrs. Enright, intermediate art, and Mrs. Lutz will be working with some of their classes to provide feedback on the quality and usefulness of the assessments. Both Mrs. Nunn and Mrs. Enright participated in the development of the assessments as well.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL
HTHS Hosts 5th Annual College Fair - As part of our HS Postsecondary Action Planning to: Help more students pursue postsecondary education through local college access programs, financial aid advising, scholarship and grant availability advising, career guidance, and other services, on Thursday evening, Hamilton Township High School held their 5th Annual College Fair. This outstanding event brought more numerous colleges, universities, military representatives, and post secondary career opportunity representatives to the school to discuss all opportunities that are available to our students and their parents post high school. Mr. Miller sends a special “Thank You” to Mr. Sweet, HTHS Dean of Students & AP/ACT/SAT coordinator, along with the HS guidance team, Mrs. Steele, Ms. White, & Ms. Stevens for their efforts coordinating this special event, which positively impacts and prepares our students their parents.
2014 Ohio Model United Nations Update - 52 students from Hamilton Township High School, along with their advisor, Tiffany Murgatroyd, and chaperones, Holly Heaton and Lance Fulton attended Ohio Model United Nations Education Program December 7-9, 2014, held at The Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Columbus. OMUN is a 3-day global education simulation experience where students learn about complete operations of the United Nations and its role as the world’s largest international peacekeeping and humanitarian organization. OMUN is the largest program of its kind in the entire United States. The students work in cooperative groups representing a given country as a team to write, present and debate issues affecting the nations and peoples of the world. The work completed by the students allow them to build leadership skills, work together in cooperative groups, present and debate in front of over 1,700 people, participate in global trivia and essay writing contests, serve as elected leadership officers, create and perform original talents, design native country dress, raise funds for the international outreach program for education in Nigeria, network with other students from around the state of Ohio, and establish a foundation for building a lifetime awareness of global issues.
Hamilton Township High School students worked in teams to write, debate and present resolutions for five countries. The country of Venezuela was represented by students Alisa Askew, Kristen Bishop, Brandon Blevins, Colleen Fitzsimmons, Michael Maupin, Micaela Powell, Celina Saksith, and Ben Sipe. They presented their resolution on The Bit Coin Revolution, focusing on original ideas of using the bit coin to help ease economic problems plaguing their country. This was followed by a spirited performance furthering the cause of the Bit Coin Revolution during the talent showcase. The country of Kenya was represented by the students Khari Berger, Joe Carter, Aisha Cheema, Cody Converse, Akil Fletcher, Quahhar Fletcher, Jajuan Hopkins, Hannah Seidle, Austin Smith and Joey Streets. They presented their resolution on building safe and private bathroom facilities for Kenyans. This country also entertained audiences with their game show, “Kenya, or Kenya Not.” The students representing Costa Rica include Brandon Bennett, Rebekah Carter, Gage Churchill, Corey Harmon, Marcus McKinley, Lydia Moss, Olivia Raines, Julia Scholl, Hailey Sewell, Dakota Stevens, Tyler Stewart, Brett Strait, and Joe Virgin. They proposed implementing ideas on how to stop Human Trafficking and Exploitation. The following students represented the country of Haiti: Kendra Dalton, Destiny Grandstaff, Curtis Groce, Chris Horne, Matt Horne, Cameron Isaac, Kaisey Novotni, Joelle Smith, Jeremy Streets, and Kyle Whitt. These students presented their original ideas on how to educate and prevent the serious problem of combating Cholera outbreaks in Haiti. Students presented a talent skit over the origin of zombies and voodoo in the Haitian culture. The country of Zambia was represented by an entire team of freshmen students including Ashalee Chaples, Jessica Frey, Katie Hines, Briana Hunt, Maddie Rollins, Katelyn Sang, Jazlyn Simon and Katie Speak. These young ladies presented themselves with grace and poise during their author’s speech and debate over instituting anti-poaching legislation and resources for the country of Zambia. As their talent, the students presented a skit about saving the animals of Zambia against poachers.
During OMUN, the students from all schools work before the program and during the program to raise funds for i-OPEN, which stands for International Outreach Program for Education in Nigeria. HTHS students collected $50 before their program and donated much more while attending the evening celebration. As a whole program, schools and students donated almost $2,000 to be used for educational support in Nigeria. Last year the $2,000 raised built an entire shower house for the students at this school.
Hamilton Township High School students received recognition, awards and elected leadership positions. The countries of Venezuela, Kenya, Costa Rica and Zambia received favorable votes from the delegates in their council session for their resolutions, author speeches, and debates. This year, Michael Anderson served as a Council President, which required him to attend and participate in leadership and training sessions for the past year. For the 2015 OMUN leadership council, three of our HTHS students campaigned for leadership positions and all were elected. Quahhar Fletcher and Jajuan Hopkins were both elected to serve as 2015 OMUN Council Presidents and Joey Streets was elected to serve as a Council Vice-President. The talented group of Kenya made it to round 2 of the talent showcases with their interactive crowd pleasing game show, “Kenya or Kenya Not,” hosted by Quahhar Fletcher, and included 100% participation of all group members. Quahhar Fletcher was awarded an Outstanding Delegate award for his leadership, participation, and dedication to the OMUN process. Ben Sipe competed in The World Citizenship Contest and was awarded a runners-up trophy.
HAMILTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Choir Performs for a Packed House - The Hamilton Middle School Choir, led by Ms. Heather Chute, performed to a capacity crowd on Tuesday, December 9. In their annual winter concert, the students sang a variety of tunes ranging from traditional carols, to newer, more fun-loving selections. Several students bravely stepped up for solo numbers that wowed the crowd. Congratulations on a stellar performance!
Workshop Learning Shared - On Tuesday, December 7, several Middle School teachers attended a workshop on the new PAARC Assessments. Upon returning to school, the teachers, Mrs. Wills, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Beeker, and Mrs. Mayhew, were very excited to share what they had learned with the entire staff. During the Late Arrival on December 10, these educators shared the highlights of the workshop and provided wonderful insight into the new assessments, the new standards, and helping our students to be as successful as possible. A big thank you goes out to these teachers for sharing their learning and enthusiasm!
HAMILTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
December Is For The Dogs - It’s time to help out our furry friends at the Capital Area Humane Society with this month’s service project: “December for Dogs.” Please bring in any items that could help animals in need such as: dog food, cat food, peanut butter, treats, toys, and more! You can also donate a dollar and hang a paw with your name on it outside of your classroom door. All donations will help by providing shelter pets with the care they need this holiday season!
Hamilton Students Participate In Techie Competition - Hamilton Students, Heidi Kondrath and Dionnie Harris recently competed in the Wie Techie competition hosted by Bricks and Bots. During this competition, Heidi’s team worked to build and program robots that challenged one another. Teams receive points for achieving specific programming techniques. Heidi and Dionnie's team won the Gracious Professionalism Award during the competition.
HAMILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Teacher of the Month – 1st grade teacher Shelly Witt was selected as the HES Teacher of the Month for November. The anonymous staff member who nominated Mrs. Witt had this to say: “She is not only an excellent teacher, but also an amazing team leader. She works tirelessly with her students and is always searching for new ways to help the struggling students. As a team leader, she does not hesitate to go above and beyond what is expected of her. She keeps us on track and never complains when we ask her for the 3rd copy of something! :) Shelley is one of those teachers who quietly does her job. She never asks for recognition, but defiantly deserves it! It is a pleasure to be part of her team!” Congratulations to Mrs. Witt.
HAMILTON PRESCHOOL
Holiday Sight Word Practice Mrs. King’s students have been working hard on identifying and spelling their color and number words. This week the students are learning about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. They learned that candles are a symbol for both of these holidays. Mrs. King developed a center where the students used candles to practice spelling their color and number words. The students were excited about the center and worked hard to recognize and spell their sight words. This type of center encourages the students to do a higher-level activity that they can enjoy and be engaged in. Practicing sight words is preparing Mrs. King’s class for Kindergarten and beginning reading.
DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS
Varsity Boys’ Basketball Opens Season with Win - The Rangers Boys’ Basketball squad started the season with a win against Horizon Science in the season opener for both teams last Friday evening. The Rangers were tied 13-13 after the first quarter but separated from the Hawks in each of the following quarters finishing with a 72-49 victory.
The Rangers were led in scoring by Austin Jewell who had 16 pts on 6/7 shooting for a FG% of 85.7%. Aaron Godsey started the season with a double/double with 15 pts and 16 rebounds. Shea Mercer also had 16 rebounds as the Rangers dominated the boards 53-24.
The Rangers will travel to Circleville on Sat., Dec. 13th for their next contest and MSL opener.
Middle School Wrestling Wins Washington Courthouse Dual Tournament - The Hamilton Township Middle School Wrestling Team traveled to the Washington Courthouse Dual Tournament last Saturday. The Rangers wrestled well and finished the tournament in first place. The team defeated Teays Valley East, Northeastern, and McClain before defeating Clinton-Massie in the finals. Congratulations for their successful start to the season!
8th Grade Boys’ Basketball Opens Season with Victory - The 8th Grade Boys’ Basketball team opened their season on Monday evening with a 39-25 victory over MSL opponent Bloom-Carroll. The Rangers started off fast taking a commanding 24 to 13 lead at halftime. Never trailing at any point during the game, the Rangers finished strong on their way to victory.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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