Fall 2018

Mrs. Terri Noe, Superintendent

Mr. David Olivero, Treasurer

Superintendent’s MessageWe have begun the school year on a high note. Students are working diligently in classes to prepare them for their next steps. Teachers have been busy preparing engaging lessons that develop the whole child; academically, socially, mentally, and physically. School staff works hard everyday ensuring that students and families are included, involved, and understand the importance of their roles in our school community.

Parents and families are an integral part of what we accomplish. Partnering with families to support our students is essential to their success. A successful learning environment is created through the cooperation and collaboration between school administration, teachers, parents, students, and the larger community. This allows all students to feel safe and develop lifelong learning.

Recently, the state report card was released to the public. Finneytown Local Schools received a D overall rating; however, we improved in several areas providing evidence that the intiatives we put in place are working. Consistency is everything, so we must continue providing opportunities and challenges to students. As with everything we do, we have areas to address; however, the progress is important to the staff and students because it shows the hope for what we are able to accomplish with determination and diligence. Our outstanding, professional staff strive to help students succeed. Our administrators continue to work with students and families to think outside the box to challenge students and meet their needs.

Community partnerships provide a vital component to our school community as they connect us to our stakeholders, who want to give something back to our students. Develop-ing and maintaining our partnerships remains a constant endeavor.

As we continue providing quality academic, social and emotional, and creative programs for our students, this encourages them to think creatively, grow intellectually, and live with integrity. Please continue to support Finneytown Local School students and staff! #WeareFinneytown #TGL

Respectfully,Terri NoeSuperintendent

Finneytown Local Schools

Wildcat Words

Welcome New Staff

Several new staff have come aboard to Finneytown Local Schools this year. We wish to give them a warm welcome. We are pleased to have at Finneytown Local Schools: Patty D’Arcy, Doug Lantz, Grant Anderson, Anton Walker, Amy Thomas, Catherine Allen, Hannah Curtis, Lynn Kohel, Daniel Lawson, Kevin McCrea, Mechelle More, Jessica Smith, Shannon Ford, Brittany Leppert, and Ashley Lewis.

Finneytown Local Schools Strategic PlanEveryone needs a compass or an arrow pointing in the right way; a school district needs direction to be effective in cultivating students’ potential growth. Last Fall, Finneytown Local School District began to develop a strategic plan for the district. This process included input from parents, staff, students, and board of education members. Over the last school year, staff members constructed a vision statement, belief statements, and a new mission statement for the district based on that feedback from the school community. These pieces of the strategic plan were voted on and passed unanimously by the Board of Education in May. The Board adopted a completed strategic plan in August, 2018. The plan can be viewed on the website under the tab on the front page labeled Strategic Plan. Parents, grandparents, guardians, students, community members, and business owners are strongly encouraged to review the plan.

Our Mission:To foster academic and social growth for each student in a safe, supportive school environment.

Our Vision:To be a learning community that inspires our students and staff to think critically, grow intellectually, and live with integrity.

Our Core Beliefs:Our priority is learning and growth for all students. A safe, supportive, and nurturing environment is essential for our success..Communication is crucial for an engaged, trusting community.We value diversity and equity.We are committed to fiscal responsibility and good stewardship. The Finneytown Local Schools motto:

THINK Critically, GROW Intellectually, LIVE with Integrity

THINK, GROW, LIVE #TGL

Community Outreach Day

Finneytown Local Schools celebrated the very first Community Outreach Day on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Many of the children came running out to hug their past teachers and greet their new ones. More than 60 staff members, band members, and administrators boarded buses that transported them to Galbraith Pointe apartments, Central Park, View Place, areas around

B r e n t Elementary, W h i t a k e r Elementary, Brentwood Shopping Center, and other parts of town. Members of the drumline played to encourage students and their families to come out and greet those walking the neighborhoods. Teachers, Counselors, Principals, and many others shared their excitement for the new school year with the children. For additional pictures and video of the occasion, please visit www.finneytown.org. #1town1mission1district #WeareFinneytown

Super Wednesday - Career Day

In order to assist our Finneytown Secondary students in becoming career and college ready, the Counseling Department is once again happy to offer SUPER WEDNESDAY! This special day will take place on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. On this day, all students will engage in activities that are age appropriate and support their readiness for post-secondary opportunities.

Middle school students will complete activities including digital citizenship, career exploration, and a visit to Diamond Oaks. Freshman will visit Central State University to experience a college campus. Sophomores and juniors have the chance to complete a college visit, shadow a person in a career in which they might be interested, or participate in college and career workshops. Seniors have the opportunity to complete a college visit, shadow a person in a career in which they might be interested, or complete college or financial aid applications at school.

Secondary Campus Happenings

Finneytown Marching Band Bites

Since June, Marching Band has been working hard learning the 2018 show entitled “Over the Falls,” which depicts the rushing water of Niagara Falls. The students left for band camp in the middle of July to travel to Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. They returned after a week in the sun ready to perform the show for their families and friends. Since the band camp performance, the band has been arriving to school at 7 am every day for XPeriod, staying late after school for rehearsals, and gearing up to perform for the home football games and contests. In their first contest appearance on Saturday, September 29th, they won

Grand Champion at Loveland High School for the OMEA Midstates Contest. This will send them to the state champion-ship later this fal l . Continue to watch for updates!

Choral Senior Chosen for Ohio All State Choir

LaValle Coleman has been chosen to represent Finneytown Local Schools in the Ohio All State Choir. He will perform in February with approx-imately 200 other students at the Ohio Music Educators Association Conference. This is a prestigious honor for all students chosen. Only the best musicians in the state are chosen. “He had to demonstrate tremendous talent and incredible work ethic to be selected for this ensemble. This is truly an honor for LaValle, and we are so incredibly proud of him,” stated Laura Carroll, Finneytown High School Director of Choirs.

House Student LeadershipNew at the high school this year is the student leadership group. Over the last month they have discussed leadership questions such as “What leadership

means to me” and “What I look for in a leader”. They have held small group committees that discussed and planned Finneygate, mentor group activities, community service ideas, ways to beautify the school, and ways to welcome new students to the district.Also new this year are these House Captains: Nick Ogletree, Davon Keith, Maggie Traubert, Noemi Yisra’el.

We are adding two events this year - Donuts with Dads and Muffins with Mom. Dates are still being finalized. Stay tuned!

Mindful MusicMM is a program of City Silence (https://www.citysilence.org/mindful-music/become-a-mindful-music-moments-school-partner)

At Whitaker, we take a few minutes over morning announcement every day to pause, calm our bodies, and listen to a piece of music while practicing a mindfulness prompt. We start by saying, “Let’s get ready to listen. Put your feet on the floor, hands in your lap or on your desk, close or focus your eyes, and find your breath.” We then introduce the piece of music and a mindfulness prompt, such as “If this music were a color, what would it be? Would it be the same color throughout the entire piece of music?”

Dinos Live

Dinosaurs stomped into Brent Elementary earlier in September. An educational exhib-it featuring life-size dinosaurs visited the school for students and families to learn about the prehistoric creatures. Families also played dinosaur games, slid down an enor-mous slide, and had their faces painted with dino designs.

Brent Bites

Whitaker Moments

Kindergarten Reading Night

Brent staff welcomed Kindergarten families on September 9 to school for Kindergarten Reading Night. There were lots of reading and engaging activities such as students and families reading in the dark about animals who are active in dark spaces. There was reading in the garden, a search for items in rice, word designs, and artist creations. What a great time had by all students and families!

PBIS StoreStudents earn Whitaker Bucks for demonstrating the Whitaker Way, which includes our specific expectations about being Respect-ful, Responsible, and Positive in all areas of the building. Students have an opportunity to use Whitaker Bucks to buy from our school store every other week. Prizes include tangibles like fidget spinners and emoji bracelets, raffle tickets to gift cards, and coupons for privileges like a homework pass or wearing PJs to school. This is just ONE of the many ways we reinforce positive behavior at school.

We are always looking for parent volunteers to donate items, organize stock, and work the school store. The store is open on Thursdays and Fridays between 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Interested volunteers may contact Mrs. Britany Utley, Butley@finneytown.org, for more informa-tion.

Makerspace ActivitiesWe are excited to announce the beginning of a Makerspace in our Library Media Center. Makerspac-es promote critical thinking skills by encouraging students to use design and engineering principles to solve real-world problems. Each Friday, students will have the opportunity to visit various Makerspace stations during their media/music time. Friday, September 28th will be our first Makerspace Day! If you have any craft supplies, tools, or recyclable items (cardboard, plastic, etc) that you would like to donate, we would gladly accept them at any time throughout the school year.

Upcoming EventsOct 4 Homecoming parade 6 p.m.Oct 5 Homecoming Community Celebration 5 p.m.Oct 5 Homecoming game 7 p.m. v Deer ParkOct 8 NO SCHOOL - Staff Inservice Oct 10 Parent-teacher Conferences 4 p.m.-SCOct 11 Orchestra/Choir Concert 7 p.m.Oct 12 Picture Day -WhitakerOct 15 Board of Education meeting 7:30 p.m.Oct 19 4th/5th Social 7 p.m.-WhitakerOct 25 Parent/Teacher Conferences 4 p.m.-SCOct 23-24 Grade 3 ELA testingOct 29 Report Cards sent homeNov 2 2nd/3rd Movie Night 7 p.m.-WhitakerNov 3 Celebrating Veterans 1 p.m.-WhitakerNov 8 Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30 p.m. BrentNov 10 Finneytown Holiday Market 10 a.m.Nov 14 6th grade Career Day-SCNov 16 Grandparent’s Day 7:30 am-BrentNov 16-17 Lion King Jr. performanceNov 19-21 NO SCHOOL - Teacher InserviceNov 22-23 NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving BreakNov 26-30 Book Fair - BrentNov 26 Second Quarter InterimsDec 1 Springfield Township WinterFestDec 1 P.E.M. Memorial Vigil and Alumni Con-cert 6 p.m.Dec 3-7 Book Fair and Art Show - SCDec 4 Orchestra Concert PACDec 6 Choir Concert PACDec 11 Band Concert PACDec 17 Board of Education meetingDec 18-21 middle and high school exams - SCDec 24-Jan 4 NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

Delaney Murphy, of girls’ soccer, currently sits in second place in the Cincinnati Hills League.

Boy’s soccer team has an excellent record of six wins and three losses. Boys’ soccer standout, Jesus Martin, holds the fourth best spot for goals scored.

The football team won their first game of the season after 34 losses. The team is currently two wins and three losses.

In volleyball, Erin Ruth and Hailey Rozier are tied for first in the CHL for kills.

Athletic Snipets