The Experience: Winter 2018

The Experience Official Newsmagazine of Mariemont City Schools

FACILITY UPDATE Page 3

STATE OF THE SCHOOLS RECAP - Page 4

THE MARIEMONT EXPERIENCE - Page 6

Tradition.

WINTER 2018 Community.

Innovation.

Educational Value Remains Strong

By Superintendent Steven Estepp

update

superintendent’s

Mariemont City Schools is an exceptional school district that provides an excellent value to the community. We continue to perform well and our students are rated near the top on both state and national standards every year. With our Destination 2026 strategic plan as our guide, we have been making impactful changes to the way we think, teach and learn. As part of our Warriors BEyond efforts, Mariemont High School is about to embark in its inaugural Intersession where students will spend a week either in an interest-based class, in a desired ‘experienceship’ or exploring collegiate opportunities. Additionally, teachers across the district have been adding new technology methods into their lessons, including virtual reality curriculum designed to give students a hands-on look to what they are learning.

I was able to highlight these, and many more accomplishments at January’s State of the Schools Address. As I mentioned, Mariemont is truly a unique district and it is because of your willingness to support our schools that we are able to garner so much success.

As we charge into 2018 we have reached a very pivotal time in the district. Important decisions must soon be made regarding the future of our students’ education. It will soon be four years since our last operating levy. These are dollars that fund our day-to-day operations and pay for things such as teachers, technology and supplies. We’ve stretched these funds an additional year despite losing significant state aid. However, soon the district will need additional dollars to maintain our excellent academic programs.

In addition, we are approaching an impasse at Mariemont High School where the current building infrastructure is failing our students and the current teaching and learning spaces are no longer meeting our needs. Neither the need for additional operating dollars nor the challenges at the high school can be ignored if we want to maintain the excellence we all have come to expect from Mariemont City Schools.

These are serious issues that we as a community and school district must continue to face together. We have already and will continue to have many opportunities for residents to share their input and opinions regarding these challenges.

We are committed to open and honest communication with our residents regarding all aspects of our educational and operational programs.

As always, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to discuss our schools with residents at any time.

Strong Financial Management Stretched Levy Promise

By Treasurer Tom Golinar

The Mariemont City School District is an excellent district providing residents with a great value by continuing to perform at tremendous academic levels while also being purposeful in spending and efficient in our day-to-day operations.

Currently, the only option for the district is to pull this money from the operating dollars, which have already been stretched to their limit. Operating dollars fund important day-to-day needs such as teachers, technology and supplies. This means that without additional funds, the district will be forced to cut teachers, programs and learning supplements all to cover the costs of the aging high school facility.

The Board of Education has recently decided that additional funding is needed in order to maintain the excellence that is expected of a Mariemont City Schools education. This includes funding to address the significant issues at the high school as well as operating dollars to keep the academic program on its current path of excellence.

treasurer’s

But as we begin 2018, we have reached a period of financial uncertainty in the district.

As you have heard us discuss many times within the past year, the Mariemont High School building is failing our students, both with the infrastructure and with the learning environment it provides. Because of the repairs necessary to simply keep the building functioning, the district will have to budget at least $1 million per year in repairs.

update

During our last operating levy in 2014, we predicted those funds to last for a period of three years. I am proud to say that because of our strong financial management, we will stretch that levy to four years while still being able to provide the best programs and support for our teachers and students. We did this despite losing more than $1 million in state aid during the last three years.

While our financial forecasts clearly identify the needs, as a school district we heavily rely on our community for input prior to any decisions being made. This is why Mariemont City Schools has engaged in an 18-month long community process in the development of the High School Master Facility Plan. This is also why a Community Finance Committee will be engaged to look at the financial options for both our facility and daily operational needs. Together we will review all the input, research, expertise and numbers to help shape what kind of additional funding will be needed in the future.

Over the next few months, many questions will be raised and community input will be used to develop a final plan to answer these important issues. However, what I can tell you is that Mariemont City Schools’ dedication to effective and efficient financial management practices will continue. The district is recognized for its strong financial management practices and all of this will continue as we strive to maintain our excellent value to the community.

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www.mariemontschools.org

Facility Update Community Input Continues in Facility Planning The facility planning for Mariemont High School continues as well as the opportunity for community input. After an 18-month community process that explored the significant facility and educational limitation issues at the school as well as possible ways to address these concerns, the Mariemont City Schools Board of Education has narrowed the scope of the project but is still asking for input from the community.

“This is a school and community issue and addressing it requires a school and community approach,” stated Board President Nan Dill. “We have listened to and involved the community throughout this entire process. We are using experts in the fields of architecture and construction, but we have always included the opinions and thoughts of our residents and that will continue throughout this entire process.”

The Community Steering Committee provided a report to the Board in December that summarized the different goals and priorities of the various facility teams and evaluated the effectiveness of meeting those objectives compared to the three possible options of meeting basic repairs, renovations and a complete replacement of the school. No option was perfect in meeting all criteria presented. However, one option met a majority of the academic, safety and efficiency goals.

“Based upon this extensive process and the report from our Community Steering Committee, the board decided that the best solution is to bring further discussion to the second option of completing renovations rather than band-aid fixes or a complete re-construction of the high school,” said Dill. “We will now re-engage with our community to define what this plan looks like and what is a reasonable funding mechanism to address these problems.”

Some of the facility needs at the high school include: • The need to update the high school with new science labs that can provide exposure to advanced coursework needed to prepare students for college; • Offer areas for project-based learning so that students can learn other skills needed for life after high school and the workforce; • Address serious mechanical and structural issues in order to maximize the investment in the school and maintain the excellent quality of education that students receive; • Upgraded safety features that also provide better access for students and staff; and, • Update labs and learning spaces so that students can compete with their peers in other top school districts in Ohio and across the nation.

To view the community committee reports as well as community input remarks, other data points and a video tour of the current high school, please visit the district’s website at www.mariemontschools.org.

Join us for a School Chat to hear more facility updates and ask questions Feb. 21 | Terrace Park Community Center | 7 p.m.

March 8 | Online Chat | 7 p.m.

March 13 | Fairfax Community Center | 7 p.m.

Winter 2018

March 20 | Village Church of 3 Mariemont | 7 p.m.

State of the Schools Address

Excellent Mariemont Experience Shared at State of the Schools Mariemont City Schools recently hosted its annual State of the Schools event, providing all residents with the opportunity to hear about accomplishments, goals and challenges in the school district directly from top leaders.

“We feel strongly that our community is part of the tremendous success at Mariemont City Schools,” explained Superintendent Steven Estepp. “We view the State of the Schools as one more way for us to directly share our story with community members and directly hear their feedback.”

The evening highlighted the definition of a “Mariemont Schools Experience” through six themes of: •

Excellent Results;

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Excellent Value;

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Amplified Learning;

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Strong Community;

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Continuous Growth; and,

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Personalized Opportunity.

Each theme is important and on its own provides a critical component in preparing today’s students to be college and career ready in the modern world. However the combination of these is what keeps the district’s outstanding reputation moving forward to new heights of excellence for students.

“Julius Ceasar said ‘Experience is the teacher of all things,” noted Estepp.

“At Mariemont City Schools, we want the experience our students have at every stage of their elementary through high school experience to teach them to be good citizens who are ready to compete and contribute to our global society. This all begins with the foundation they receive with the Mariemont Experience.”

The presentation also included an update on the High School Facilities community process. “This is about addressing serious issues alongside our community to maintain the excellence that is the Mariemont Experience,” explained Estepp. “This isn’t about lots of frills or an extended wish list. This is about protecting the opportunities and academic programs that our community expects and working with them to find a good solution for everyone.”

You can view the State of the Schools address as well as find other key information pieces on the district’s website at www.mariemontschools.org.

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www.mariemontschools.org

Did You Know?

Excellent Results Continuous Growth

ACT scores five points above the national average

Excellent Value

Over 8,000 combined hours of professional learning for our staff every year

World language learning starting in kindergarten

Personalized Opportunity

Amplified Learning

Comprehensive mental health programming for students and their families

89% of Mariemont Junior High and High School students participate in extracurricular activities

Strong Community 79% of parents volunteer at their child’s school

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The Mariemont World Languages Provide Excellent Opportunities One of the greatest advantages of being a part of the Mariemont City School District is the incredible value of a student’s excellent education. Every single student in the district is provided the opportunity to participate in programs that are important to our local community and go beyond the state minimum educational requirements. “From the Warriors BEyond program in all four of our schools to the College and Career Planning Center at the high school, Mariemont strives to prepare each student for success in and out of the classroom,” explained Superintendent Steven Estepp.

Perhaps no program demonstrates this more than the district’s robust elementary World Language program which exposes even the youngest Mariemont students to both Spanish and Mandarin Chinese on a regular basis.

In the world language curriculum, the kindergarten, first and second grade students focus on language enrichment through the use of songs and games to build a basic vocabulary.

They learn things like numbers and colors and how to say basic questions and phrases in each language. As they get older, the students will begin to dig a little deeper into basic conversation skills and build upon their vocabulary with animals, food, clothing, etc. The sixth grade students then transition into a quarter-long culture class that focuses on the different traditions and ways of life for native Spanish and Mandarin speakers.

In many school districts, world language studies don’t begin until students have reached junior high ages. The fact that Mariemont has its youngest students study any language is cutting-edge, but to immerse all of its elementary school students so heavily in both Spanish and Mandarin is truly blazing a trail for world language education.

The district has two elementary world language teachers, Nate Wolf who teaches Spanish and Alex Calnon who instructs Mandarin. Both recognize the uniqueness of their teaching situation and note the importance of early world language instruction.

“Learning more than one language is important to promote tolerance and interest in different cultures” said Señor Wolf. “Not only does it break down language barriers, it improves critical and abstract thinking skills and builds communication skills.”

The research is there – learning languages at a young age is critical in cognitive development and academic achievement (http://frontiersacademy.org/top-5-reasonschild-will-benefit-learning-foreign-language/). Students who begin studying languages at a young age have been known to have more creativity, better critical thinking skills and a more enhanced memory. “It sets students up for success in any setting where communication is necessary” said Wolf. “It also builds the same part of the brain associated with critical and abstract thinking. There have even been links made between calculus and language in the brain.”

But Mariemont City Schools knows the benefits of its world language program are not just in the classroom. And with the focus on the Destination 2026 strategic plan, the district is determined to prepare its student to compete globally and succeed consistently in tomorrow’s world.

“Outside of the classroom students will be ready to communicate across cultures and have a broader perspective on the world” said Wolf. “Our culture classes will give students a lot of experiences to draw from in their futures. My hope is that students will also be excited when hearing from our travel experiences and be inspired to get out and see the world for themselves.”

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www.mariemontschools.org

Experience Community Support Sets Whiz Kids Ahead In 2015, the Village Church of Mariemont partnered with Whiz Kids and Mariemont Elementary to bring this literacy-based training and mentoring program to our district. Whiz Kids is a national program with a goal of improving the lives of students through academic tutoring and positive mentoring relationships. Students involved in the program are placed in one-to-one relationships with volunteers who are trained to provide literacy and homework help.

A dozen Mariemont Elementary students spend about an hour after school one day a week to work with community volunteers. The student/community member teams spend their time working on homework, reading together and getting to know each other throughout the school year.

Pete McBride is in his third year working with the Whiz Kids program and enjoys the friendships he forms with the students. He has worked with two different students during his three years at Mariemont Elementary and several others as part of the Whiz Kids program at another school. “What I have learned is that all of the students seem to have something in common. They enjoy and typically respond favorably to any positive attention they get from an adult whom they perceive cares about them. I am most valuably reminded that every student is a unique individual, each with his own strengths, challenges, needs, and - yes - quirks. Just like every adult” Whiz Kids has been recognized as a “Best Practice Program” by the Ohio Governor’s office and provides tutoring and mentoring for 1,400 children at 70 locations in Greater Cincinnati with over 1,700 volunteers.

While academic in nature, the Whiz Kids program provides so much more than just academic tutoring. Pete described how in addition to the reading lessons, he hopes to model other skills for his students, like courteous behavior, listening skills, showing kindness to others and making an attentive effort to learn.

But he also knows that the benefits of the mentorship will continue long after his students leave Mariemont Elementary. “I think and hope that the Whiz Kids experience provides opportunities for students to grow and mature – academically, emotionally, socially and so on, in an informal, caring, supportive and hopefully even fun environment.”

If you are interested in volunteering with Whiz Kids, please contact Jamie Keyes at jkeyes@ mariemontschools.org or by calling 513-272-7400 for more information.

Preparing Every Student to Succeed Within the District and Beyond One of the markers of the Mariemont Experience is the personalized opportunity presented to each student in the district. “In alignment with Destination 2026, Mariemont City Schools is committed to turning schooling into an event in which students are deeply engaged, find passion, and experience practice in their learning,” explained Superintendent Steven Estepp. “Every child has different interests and different needs in their education and it is incumbent upon us as educators to meet each student where they are with opportunities tailored to those interests and needs.”

Mariemont City Schools is a big proponent of student choice and the idea that students will be actively engaged in what they are learning if the subject interests them. To cater to this philosophy, the district offers each student many opportunities to select their courses, activities and even their curriculum. Both the junior high and high school allow students to select which elective classes they take each school year. Mariemont Junior High offers 25 different elective classes for the seventh and eighth grade students while Mariemont High School offers 40. Additionally, high school students can choose between 20 different Advanced Placement courses to cater to their particular interests while still preparing them for college.

The Warriors BEyond program, which is implemented at all four school buildings, is designed to amplify the traditional curriculum with new enrichment experiences, travel opportunities, career exploration and service learning. “Students at the elementary schools and the junior high participate in Explorations and Expeditions, respectively, which allow them to choose fun, hands-on, ungraded courses to participate in once a week” said Warriors BEyond Coordinator Zach Schnug. “At the high school, 2018 will see the inaugural Intersession, an immersive week-long course this spring. High school students also can participate in Master Class which allows them to create the curriculum and self-teach a class which interests them but is not offered as part of the traditional coursework.”

In addition to the in-school offerings, Mariemont City Schools host many after school extra-curricular activities that any student may participate in, including theatrical and musical performances, athletics teams, service learning clubs, language clubs, etc.

Winter 2018

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School Chat (7 p.m. at Terrace Park Community Center)

School Chat (7 p.m. at Fairfax Community Center)

School Chat (7 p.m. at Village Church of Mariemont)

26-30 Spring Break – No School

23 End of Third Quarter – Early Dismissal

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20 Kindergarten Registration Night (6:30 p.m. at ME and TPE)

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12 Mariemont BOE Meeting (7:00 p.m. at Mariemont Elementary)

Online Chat (7 p.m.)

6th Grade ME/TPE Bowling Party (12:00 p.m. at Madison Bowl)

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8

Life & Leadership Speaker Series (Time TBA)

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March

28 Band Bash – Grades 7-12 (7:00 p.m. at MHS Gym)

27 Strings Extravaganza – Grades 5-12 (7:00 p.m. at MHS Gym)

22 Night of Singing Choir Concert – Grades 5-12 (7:00 p.m. at MHS Gym)

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19 President’s Day – No School

16 Mariemont Academy – No School for Students

12 Mariemont BOE meeting (7:00 p.m. at Mariemont Elementary)

February

2 Warrior Way | Cincinnati, Ohio 45227 www.mariemontschools.org

www.mariemontschools.org

UPCOMING DATES

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