The Centerville Education Foundation honored a group of outstanding individuals for their commitment to Centerville City Schools, the community and improving education during their annual Hall of Fame banquet. During the 34th annual event, which took place at The Gallery at Yankee Trace in April, 18 educators, students and alumni were honored.

The 2018 Hall of Fame inductees included Matthew Green, Outstanding Teacher; Jackson Stoller, Outstanding Student; Dr. John David Ellinger, Distinguished Alumnus; Zachary Heck, Citizen Advocate; Elisabeth Rothschild, Special Service Award; and Bonnie Buddendeck, Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition, each school in the district selected a recipient for the Excellence in Education awards. This year’s honorees included Pat Newton, speech and language pathologist at Primary Village North; Sheryl Shroyer, first grade teacher at Primary Village South; Bill Burns, music teacher at Cline Elementary; Kelly Gartz, third

grade teacher at Driscoll Elementary; Becki Moore, gifted intervention specialist at John Hole Elementary; Pat Groves, paraprofessional at Normandy Elementary; Susan Jones, second grade teacher at Stingley Elementary; Lisa Holcombe, second grade teacher at Weller Elementary; Kate Mathay, health teacher at Magsig Middle School; Monica Benbow, secretary at Tower Heights Middle School; Gretchen Jansen, math teacher at Watts Middle School; and Robert Erwin, environmental science teacher at Centerville High School.

VOLUME 46, NUMBER 3 - SUMMER 2018

A C E N T E R V I L L E C I T Y S C H O O L S N E W S L E T T E R

Business Office ready for summer projects across districtPage 3

Centerville High School graduates nearly 700 studentsPage 4

Middle school students learn about career opportunitiesPage 6

Centerville Education Foundation honors school staff, supporters during banquet

Sonny Unger Award recipients recognizedThree Centerville High School football players — Alec Grandin, Jake Spiewak and Sam Vance — were recognized as the 2018 recipients of the Sonny Unger Award during a banquet in May. The Sonny Unger Foundation was established in 1996 to honor the memory of Lester E. “Sonny” Unger, who was a 1963 graduate of Centerville High School. Unger received a Bronze Star, the Air Medal and a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism during his service in the Vietnam War. The foundation keeps his memory alive following his death during the Vietnam War by awarding scholarships to seniors on the CHS football team, with recipients deemed most like the character and dedication of Sonny himself.

Read more: bit.ly/2Hv3ODR

The Centerville Education Foundation honored its 2018 Hall of Fame inductees and Excellence in Education award recipients at a banquet in April.

Message from Superintendent Dr. Tom Henderson

Today’s schools focus on skills beyond core subjectsBecause students come to school with diverse skills, interests, backgrounds and learning needs, an academic program that helps all students succeed will be one in which the content engages all learners and meets their individual needs. This means providing a curriculum that is inherently interesting and meaningful to students and teaching in a manner that respects and cares for students as individuals.

Schools that practice effective character education model persistence, responsibility and caring as they differentiate instruction, employ a variety of active teaching and learning strategies, and look for ways that character is potentially developed in and through everyday teaching and learning. When teachers highlight models of excellence and promote social-emotional skills such as self-awareness and self-management, students are able to access the curriculum with greater focus.

Here in Centerville, our school staffs work hard to emphasize these skills so our students are learning in the best environment possible.

As an example, each year Character.org, a national advocate and leader for character, selects schools and districts that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development programs and a positive impact on academic achievement, student behavior, school climate and their communities.

This spring, Stingley Elementary participated in an in-depth and rigorous evaluation process based on Character.org’s framework of “11 Principles of Effective Character Education.” This framework assesses how schools function in providing students with opportunities for shared leadership as well as engaging families and communities as partners in the character building effort. Stingley was first recognized by the state of Ohio for its character education

program, and just recently, Stingley was named a 2018 National School of Character by Character.org.

Because students spend so much time in school, our schools offer a critically important opportunity for all students to get the support they need to reach their full potential. Schools with quality programs are places where young people do their best work because they feel safe, appreciated, supported and challenged by their peers and the adults around them.

We are proud of the staff and students at Stingley, which joins Primary Village North as the two Centerville City Schools that have been recognized as National Schools of Character.

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There were more than 8,280 students from Centerville-Washington Township enrolled during the 2017-18 school year.

We have more than 550 certificated teaching staff, plus approximately 450 support staff.

21% of our students are in a minority ethnic group.

250 students are English Language Learners.

We operate 13 school buildings, as well as two preschools and a bus facility servicing more than 120 buses.

Our buses transported more than 7,200 students to 15 public and 15 non-public schools, traveling more than 1.6 million miles this year.

For the fourth year in a row, all eligible Centerville school buildings earned the Energy Star Rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Each issue, we’ll highlight some quick facts about Centerville Schools.

Read more: bit.ly/2IxqOmv

Stingley staff and students react to being named a National School of Character during a live broadcast on May 18.

When students walk out the doors on the last day of school, work continues for the district’s maintenance and custodial staff. A glance at the project board in the Business Office shows just how much we plan to accomplish over the next few weeks.

A major undertaking is the continuation of the carpet replacement project at Centerville High School. We are replacing over 80,000 square feet of carpet in the East and West Units. Phase III of the project (South Unit) will take place next summer. At the high school, we’ll also be painting lockers in the West Unit in partnership with the CHS PTO.

We are replacing 10,000 square feet of tile at Cline Elementary near the fourth grade classrooms and down the hall toward the IMC, as well as in the cafeteria. CHS and Cline are two of the larger flooring projects, but we also plan to replace carpet in several classrooms and tile in a number of hallways, restrooms and clinics.

We have been keeping an eye toward our energy savings by repairing and replacing some of our older rooftop HVAC units that are 20-25 years old. Primary Village North had three heating units replaced last summer, and we switched out an HVAC unit at the Board of Education Office this spring. We plan to replace three rooftop units at Weller Elementary for the gym and IMC, one rooftop unit for Driscoll’s IMC, and one rooftop unit for Stingley’s IMC.

Those who live around John Hole Elementary will notice improved school zone signals this fall. Solar powered signals with brighter LED lighting are being installed to help drivers and pedestrians stay safe during school drop off and pick up.

At Magsig Middle School, the large steel staircase near the gym entrance is being replaced. This staircase is used as an emergency exit. We are converting one of the locker room facilities into additional staff

restrooms at Stingley Elementary. This renovation will add two more restrooms for staff in that building.

Thanks to the support of our PTOs, we are adding nine filtered drinking fountains at John Hole, Weller, Magsig, Tower Heights and Watts. An additional PTO project includes the second phase of an upgrade to PVN’s IMC.

Additional projects include a security upgrade with our MARCS radios at Centerville High School and the School of Possibilities, an upgrade to our current security camera system, a new intercom system for Stingley Elementary, new HVAC controls at the School of Possibilities, and rooftop coating at Driscoll Elementary.

Nearly all of these summer projects are paid for using money from the district’s Permanent Improvement Fund. This fund is used for making improvements to property and fixed assets and cannot be used for the district’s current operating expenses, including salaries.

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Business Office update from Jon Wesney

Summer break means lots of projects for Business Office

Transportation Department welcomes new supervisor, assistant supervisor

Centerville Schools has named Andy Trick (pictured at right) as the district’s transportation supervisor and Andrew Grasty as the assistant supervisor beginning this summer.

Trick, who has been serving as the district’s assistant transportation supervisor for the past four years, has a bachelor’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University and has worked in public and school transportation for 13 years.

Grasty joins Centerville after serving as the supervisor of Greenville City School District’s Transportation Department for the past two years. He has worked in pupil transportation for five years and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lipscomb University in Nashville.

The moves will be effective Aug. 1 following George Sontag Jr.’s retirement after 57 years in public education, with the past 25 years as Centerville’s transportation supervisor.

The district’s transportation facility on Sheehan Road is being renamed the George Sontag Jr. Transportation Center in recognition of Sontag’s long-term service to public education.Did you know ... Centerville Schools is always in need of substitute

bus drivers and aides, custodians and kitchen workers. Contact the Board of Education Office at (937) 433-8841 for more information.

Michelle GarrisonClass of 2018 Valedictorian Michelle Garrison, daughter of Brian and Joann Garrison, will attend Emory University in the fall and will major in biology. She earned valedictorian honors with a GPA of 4.97. At Centerville High School, she was involved in varsity soccer, lunch buddies, STAND (Stop Tobacco And Nicotine Dependence), BOLD (Building Our Lives Drug-free) and National Honor Society. She also serves as a Sunday school teacher at Incarnation Parish.

Centerville High School graduates 128th class

Separately we will pursue our dreams, forever our memories will remain.“ ”Facts about the Class of 2018

Class officers: Jackson Stoller (president), Megan Knauer (vice president), Samuel Haught (business manager), Jakob Snead (secretary)

Senior cabinet members: Jordan Davis, Evan Franzman, Grace Huff, Julian Martin

Class advisors: Brooke Doll, Brianne Kerns

Eight students achieved a perfect score on the ACT — Colin Beach, Deborah Lee, Nailah Ghouse, Alex Matson, Megan Knauer, Jerrod Shackelford, Trisha Kulkarni and Kyle Westhaus.

211 students received the President’s Award for Educational Excellence or Achievement for maintaining a 3.5 grade point average and scoring in the 85th percentile or higher in math or reading on standardized achievement tests, or demonstrating outstanding educational growth, improvement and commitment to their academic subject.

282 seniors attained Academic Distinction by maintaining a 3.5 grade point average through seven semesters.

More than 385 seniors received scholarships from colleges, universities and community groups.

133 seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society, 137 were Scholar Athletes, and 226 graduated with an honors diploma.

Seven students were named National Merit Semifinalists, 14 were named National Merit Commended Scholars, and two were named National Merit Hispanic Scholars.

23 graduating seniors have made commitments to serve our country in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Career Tech students earned 217 Tech Prep Scholarships.

44 students will continue their athletic careers after high school.

Deborah LeeClass of 2018 Salutatorian

Deborah Lee will attend The Ohio State University in the fall and will major in biology. At Centerville High School, she was founder and president of the Korean Club, president of the German Club, a team captain for Centerville Science Olympiad, a member of the Band, Wind Symphony and Clarinet Quartet, vice president of National Honor Society and Key Club, and a member of Interact Club, Biology Club, Math Club and Study Buddies.

Driscoll welcomes new principalCenterville City Schools has named Erin Bucher as the principal of Driscoll Elementary for the 2018-19 school year.

Bucher previously taught at Watts Middle School in Centerville as an intervention specialist for nine years, and she oversaw Centerville’s

summer school program for grades 2-7 for two years. She is currently an assistant principal at the Mason Early Childhood Center and the Special Services Supervisor for Mason City Schools.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve the Centerville community once again,” Bucher said. “I look forward to working with and learning from the staff, students and families of Driscoll Elementary. I am beyond thrilled to return to the herd!”

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Afghan, a type of blanket many people have around the house, turned out to be the word that earned Madeline Thomas a trip to the nation’s capital.

Thomas, an eighth grader at Tower Heights Middle School, spelled afghan correctly to win the Dayton Area Spelling Bee, which was held at Sinclair Community College. Her victory over 14 other students qualified her for an all-expense-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., at the end of May.

To prepare for the spelling bees, Thomas said she studied the school spelling list and then practiced spelling words from Merriam-Webster’s Spell It! website, which has more than 700 words organized by language of origin.

“Learning the words obviously helps me write essays and do well in my ELA class, especially when we study word stems,” she said. “It has also helped me be more consistent in studying for other things.”

Thomas, who wants to be a professor someday, stays involved in her school and community. She is a member of the Tower Heights Science Olympiad team, band and jazz band and volunteers at her church.

Tower Heights student competes in National Spelling Bee

Students at all three Centerville middle schools learned about career opportunities this spring. (from left to right)

Magsig and Watts invited professionals from the community to speak with students about their experiences. Tower

Heights held a College, Career and Character Week to help students think about their future.

Cline students invest in communityFourth graders at Cline Elementary learned about concepts of economics while making the world a better place. They became entrepreneurs, investing their own money, to try and make a difference through the sale of student-made products, with each class making a different product and selling it during the Cline Creativity Showcase in May. They were able to present $2,668.58 in profits from the sales to CARE House, a child advocacy center in Dayton that became a wonderful resource during the project.

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John Hole students create Ohio History MuseumThis spring, fourth grade students at John Hole Elementary took visitors on a tour back in time. The students’ Ohio History Museum — a collaborative project between all the fourth grade classrooms plus the integrated arts classes at John Hole — covered the changes in our state from the Ice Age through the Revolutionary War and beyond.

Students described the process behind their work and showed their visitors some of the interactive features, such as push buttons to hear music played and sung by the students and doors and

windows that opened in their artwork to reveal additional information. Teachers said students certainly studied the history of Ohio but also learned lessons in problem solving and teamwork.

First graders tinker with circuits at PVNMrs. Maloney’s first grade class at Primary Village North finished their investigation of circuits and shared what they learned with other PVN students this spring. Classes visited for a lesson and hands-on tinkering, led by first grade students who showed off their class village and explained how they created it and made it light up. They also read the class book they wrote about what they had learned and let other preschool, kindergarten and first graders explore with the squishy circuits, lights and batteries.

The supplies for the investigation were purchased using funds from a Centerville Education Foundation grant.

Destination Imagination teams compete at Globals

Six Destination Imagination (DI) teams from Centerville recently competed in the DI Global Finals in Knoxville, Tenn. Three placed in the top 10 among 70 teams from around the world. The Weller Elementary team placed fourth, a Centerville middle school service learning team finished fifth, and the scientific team from Centerville High School placed first!

Destination Imagination is a non-profit, community-based and school friendly program for students from kindergarten through college that builds participant’s creativity, problem solving and teamwork skills.

PVS March TEAM Madness

During March TEAM Madness, a fun event created by School Psychologist Chad Folck and PE Teacher Jeff Suter, Primary Village South students learned problem-solving, decision-making, and team cooperation. Through tough challenges, students worked together in groups to make decisions while competing against other first grade classrooms.

Learn more: centervilledi.com

Third grade students at Normandy

Elementary got to watch an ice sculpture demonstration by Titus Arensberg of Rock on Ice.

Arensberg talked with the students

about how he always wanted to do

something artistic for a career but

also has been surprised how much he

uses his knowledge of engineering,

math and science when carving. The

visit was funded by a grant from the

South Metro Regional Chamber of

Commerce to teach students about

careers.

Centerville City Schools111 Virginia Ave.Centerville, OH 45458(937) 433-8841www.centerville.k12.oh.usDr. Thomas Henderson, Superintendent

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDDayton, No. 268

A school newsletter for residents of Centerville-Washington Township

ECR WSSPOSTAL CUSTOMER

Mark your calendarJune 25 Board of Education meeting - 7 p.m.

July 23 Board of Education meeting - 7 p.m.

Aug. 15 First day of school for K-12 students

Aug. 22 First day of preschool

Aug. 27 Board of Education meeting - 7 p.m.

Sept. 3 No school - Labor Day

Sept. 14 No school - Professional in-service

Sept. 24 Board of Education meeting - 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 No school - Columbus Day

Oct. 12 End of first quarter

Oct. 22 Board of Education meeting - 7 p.m.

Did you know ... Centerville Schools has a Student Enrollment Center, allowing families to register all school-age children at the district’s Board of Education office at 111 Virginia Ave. If you still need to register your children for the 2018-19 school year, please call (937) 433-8841 to make an appointment.

The Lighthouse Guild has awarded Centerville High School math teacher Sherry Shuman with its 2018 Teacher Recognition Award. Shuman was nominated by one of her students, senior Trisha Kulkarni, who received one of the Lighthouse Guild’s $10,000 scholarships.

In her nomination essay, Kulkarni wrote about Shuman’s efforts to make her class accessible and valuable to Kulkarni, who had lost her vision prior to her freshman year of high school.

“Especially when starting high school, I worried how I would be able to integrate myself into my classes and connect with my peers with this additional barrier,” Kulkarni wrote. “Mrs. Shuman not only understood my concerns but took it upon herself to help resolve them.”

Teacher recognized by Lighthouse Guild

Read more: bit.ly/2kCE5zT