The Experience Newsmagazine: Special State of the Schools Edition - Spring 2022

Spring 2022

SPECIAL STATE OF THE SCHOOLS EDITION

Scan the QR Code to watch the 2022 State of the Schools Address before reading this special edition newsletter.

Work Smart

Create Experience

Embrace Growth

A NOTE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT Greetings Mariemont City Schools community! I am very pleased to present you with this special State of the Schools edition of The Experience Newsmagazine.

Much like the past two school years, this year has come with challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but if there is one thing that has been clear through it all, it is that we are truly better together.

This year’s State of the Schools presentation is a deep dive into how the students, staff and community unite. It is a look at the people, practices and programs that make our school district successful, and in turn, shine a bright light on the community that supports us. It is a showcase of the collaboration and partnerships that enable the true Mariemont Experience.

We know that in a tight-knit community like ours, the schools are a point of pride to all of us in Columbia Township, Fairfax, Mariemont and Terrace Park. Together, we celebrate student successes. We rally for sporting events and art showcases and gather for parades. And from their first kindergarten steps into the buildings, to their final graduation steps down the track, and every step in between, this community is proudly supporting our students all the way.

In this •

Issue: The “Better Together” features highlight a few members of our community and shine a light on some of the ways individuals, organizations and our school district work together. We are grateful to these residents for sharing their experiences with us, but know that there are hundreds of others with similar stories. We are so appreciative of this community and all it has given to support our students and staff.

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Our district’s central focus: Work Smart. Create Experience. Embrace Growth. Every new program or initiative we implement comes with a main goal to help us either work smart and efficiently, create experiences for our students or embrace growth with new ways of doing things. When we accomplish these goals, we know we are on track as a school district.

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Updated information on our district’s performance and achievements, such as: district finances, academic successes, experiential learning, mental health programming and our excellent staff. We hope that you experience the same pride we feel after reading through this newsletter.

• Scan the QR Code on the front cover of this newsletter to first watch the brief State of the Schools video.

I hope you enjoy this State of the Schools presentation. With your support and encouragement, we hope to continue being better together for years to come!

Steven Estepp Superintendent

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Work Smart

STRONG FISCAL MANAGEMENT A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR COMMUNITY

Mariemont City Schools continues to stretch each resource available to offer an exceptional educational experience while also providing great value to its residents. Each and every dollar is managed with intentionality to achieve our mission and our objectives as a district.

Below are some of the ways we are responsibly utilizing our resources in order to achieve our goals and provide the educational opportunities our community expects.

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Five-year forecasts provide a detailed view into the district’s finances and are available on the district’s website. Taxpayers and residents can see how Mariemont City Schools is allocating resources and planning for the future. The forecasts are updated twice per year.

Extending the lowest operating request in history an additional year. The 2.5-mill operating levy, approved in 2018, was the lowest operating request in the district’s history and was expected to meet the day-to-day operating needs of the district for at least four years (through the fall of 2022). Thanks to responsible fiscal management, the levy will now extend at least another year – meaning the district stretched the lowest millage ask in history for at least five years.

We’re making our local dollars last longer with: Strategic budget reductions

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$.71 of every dollar is spent in the classroom where it can have an impact on student learning and experiences.

Federal COVID-19 relief funds

Grant dollars earned

1% 2% 4%

“A high-performing school district like Mariemont has a direct impact on our local real estate market. Buyers here see top notch facilities and statistics that show a district where students excel in the classrooms, on the athletic fields, and beyond. For buyers with children, a top performing school district can be one of the most important factors in deciding where to purchase their next home.”

Instruction

11%

Support Services

11%

Maintenance and Facilities Transportation

71%

Extracurricular

Where The Money Goes: FY 2021 •

Steve Early, Realtor

Other

Auditor of State Award - The Ohio Auditor’s office has recognized Mariemont City Schools’ clean and accurate record-keeping and responsible spending practices. The award is presented to entities who file financial reports in accordance with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles), as well as receive a “clean” audit report.

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NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED

Work Smart

In September, the United States Department of Education recognized Mariemont Junior High School as a National Blue Ribbon “Exemplary High Performing” School. Blue Ribbon Status is one of the most prestigious awards given by the U.S. Department of Education to recognize the best in education throughout the country. The program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve very high learning or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The coveted award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.

The junior high now joins Mariemont Elementary School, Terrace Park Elementary School and Mariemont High School with the prestigious title of National Blue Ribbon School. Mariemont City Schools is now only the fourth public school district in Ohio to have all of its schools recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools.

DESTINATION 2026 CONTINUES TO GUIDE OUR WORK You’ve likely heard about Destination 2026, the instructional blueprint for Mariemont City Schools. Back in 2013, a diverse group of administrators, teachers, staff and Board of Education members began the important work of laying out the shared goals and objectives of our district. Because of it, we have a common vision of success and we understand what it will take to make our vision a reality.

This strategic plan was created in response to the ever-changing needs and demands for today’s students. Its goal is to explore the

knowledge, skills and experiences students will need to compete globally and succeed consistently in tomorrow’s world.

The Destination 2026 strategic plan has guided all of the instructional programming decisions the district has made, and will continue to make, as it relates to our students’ education.

It was the impetus that led the district to the One-to-One technology initiative, the expansion of STEM and engineering course offerings, experiential learning opportunities, global competency experiences and much more.

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And while it has already transformed so much of the district’s pedagogy and programming, it will continue to serve as a tool to navigate our path towards the future.

TOP OF THE CLASS The National Merit Scholarship Corporation honored seven Mariemont High School seniors this fall with notable academic achievements.

Congratulations to these high-achieving Mariemont High School students!

Andrew Chen and Alexandra Purdy were named National Merit semifinalists; Zoe Copetas, Xander Stigall and Ellison Van Scoy received National Merit Commended honors; and Tyler Ching and Jayme Rodriguez were honored by the College Board as part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program.

Ry Naticchioni, PTO member

A STEP ABOVE

“Mariemont Schools have played such an important role in my life! As a student, I was able to experience firsthand the amazing opportunities that were provided by all of our support organizations. As a parent, I became involved in everything I could to be able to provide those same opportunities to the next generation. Volunteering in PTO, Mariemont Youth Football, Boosters, FAB Affair and Mariemont Arts Association I learned that our community is stronger and Better Together!”

Students of the Mariemont City School District have consistently scored much higher on the ACT than the state and national averages.

30 25 20

25.5

25.0 20.3

20.8

25.0

24.8 20.0

20.7

19.9

20.6

21.0

20.0

15 10 5 0

2018

2019 MCSD Average

2020 Ohio Average

2021 National Average

COLLEGE CREDIT Mariemont High School offers 20 different Advanced Placement courses, developed by the College Board to give high school students an introduction to college-level classes and also gain college credit before even graduating high school. In 2021, MHS had 96 AP Scholars and 88% of AP test takers scored a 3 or higher, qualifying to earn college credit. Of the 20 AP courses offered, eight had a passage rate of 100%.

THE CLASS OF 2021…

• Submitted 635 total college applications • Earned a combined $13 million in scholarships • Was accepted to 119 different institutions

ACCELERATED LEARNING

165

junior high students are taking high school credit courses

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31

kindergarten through 6th grade students are subject or whole-grade accelerated

92

5th and 6th grade students are participating in the accelerated math program

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING LEVELS UP

Create Experience

Warriors BEyond, the district’s award-winning K-12 initiative, allows the students of Mariemont City Schools the opportunity for experiential learning outside the confines of the conventional classroom setting. Warriors BEyond seeks to build passion exploration through a variety of hands-on, interest-based courses and opportunities beyond the traditional curriculum at all grade levels.

WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING? The school district is incredibly proud of Warriors BEyond and how it is transforming education for students each and every day. There are a lot of moving pieces to successfully run a program of this magnitude, pieces that would not be possible without dozens of community partners and supporters. The Mariemont School Foundation is the key financial arm for Warriors BEyond, while the Mariemont Kiwanis group provides crucial volunteers and support. And none of the student experiences would be possible without Peterman Transportation and the logistical planning it takes to shuttle students throughout the city.

“We are so thankful to the dozens of community partners we have forged through the Warriors BEyond program” said Brian Sugerman, coordinator of technology and experiential education. “Whether they are introducing the students to potential new career opportunities or teaching them valuable life lessons that can be carried with them after high school, we would not be able to provide the world-class education we strive for without their passion and support.”

The list of experiences and opportunities we are able to offer the students in all grade levels has increased exponentially since the inception of Warriors BEyond, thanks in large part to the growing number of community partners we are able to collaborate with. As we continue to transform the learning experience for our students, we look forward to continuing to expand our partnerships in and around the community.

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WELCOME BACK, INTERSESSION! Through the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to find new and innovative ways to teach and learn to accommodate for all of the health and safety protocols facing schools. And while some programs have slowly been integrated back into the regular curriculum, we are excited to finally be bringing back Intersession at Mariemont High School this spring. Intersession, a four-day opportunity for students to explore interests and careers and think about their future, consists of teacher-led experiences, college explorations and Experienceships (a brief internship in a chosen career field).

Intersession takes place in the spring for freshmen, sophomores and juniors, but has not been run in its entirety since the spring of 2019.

This means that this year’s revitalization of Intersession, May 17-20, will be a brand-new experience for every student that participates.

We can’t wait to see all that Intersession has to offer our students this year!

2022 INTERSESSION QUICK FACTS

286

Students will participate in a teacher-led course

52

Students will explore college campuses during Intersession

14

Students will investigate a potential career field with an Experienceship

Steve Spooner, Community Member and Volunteer “I see the partnership between the schools and our community in many ways and with much pride. My five kids all graduated from Mariemont and were well prepared by their educations. I love watching the community and former students continue to support our schools by attending the Spring Musical or a sporting event, serving as references and providing career advice to the next generation of Mariemont community members.”

THANK YOU TO THE WARRIORS BEYOND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM THIS SCHOOL YEAR: Cincy MVMNT Skool Aid Cincinnati Academy of the Performing Arts STRIVE Academy Rachel Bystry (Piano) Dance EDU Enriching Kidz Guitar w/ Johnny A

Brazee Studios Neusole Glassworks Ohio Writing Project Indian Hill Winter Club Cincinnati Sports Club USA Ninja Gym Berscheit Family 50 West Cincinnati Zoo

Newport Aquarium Cool Critter Outreach School of Rock Lunkin Airport CVG Airport Flight Outfitters The Children’s Theatre Mercy Health Star Glazers 7

Playhouse in the Park Professional Reps Breakout Games, Hyde Park Perfect North Queen City Clay University of Cincinnati FC Cincinnati DNA Culture Global

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS Warriors BEwell was launched in the spring of 2020 as a way to streamline our communication efforts surrounding the district’s mental health programming. And at the time, nobody could have predicted just how impactful it would quickly become.

But as we face the third year of a global pandemic that has affected just about every aspect of our students’ lives, we are so appreciative to have had this program in place when we needed it the most.

Create Experience

The Warriors BEwell program came into existence from the simple idea of making the mental health of our students an even greater point of emphasis throughout Mariemont City Schools. After careful consideration and exploration, this comprehensive initiative began as a way to ensure well-researched and robust programming and services for our students and families.

Through its programming, Warriors BEwell has positively impacted hundreds of students throughout the Mariemont City School District.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work Mariemont City Schools has done to address the complexities of our current mental health challenges” said director of student services Tricia Buchert. “By having these services in place we are more prepared to help students through the ongoing pandemic and the difficulty it has placed on students, staff and families. By making a point to talk about mental health regularly and making these services available, we are able to touch so many students who may not have been helped otherwise.”

And while the Warriors BEwell program has been an invaluable tool for us, we know that none of it could have been possible without the help of our incredible community partners. Because to positively frame mental health discussions and to stop the stigma, it truly takes a village.

Below you will see a list of our programs, education and resources and on the next page you will find an in-depth list of our top community partners in this work. We are beyond thankful to these partners and the entire community who helps us provide such meaningful programming to our students. We look forward to broadening these partnerships and continuing to work with you for the years to come for the betterment of our students and staff.

Signs of Suicide, mental health screener and instructional program

Peer-to-peer suicide prevention group Sources of Strength JH/HS

MindPeace Rooms

QPR Suicide Gatekeeper training for all staff

Staff training on LGBTQ+ issues

Mindfulness practices incorporated into all buildings

Speakers

Warriors BEyond Programming experiential learning

Therapy Dogs Pet Partners

Kindness, Courage, and Respect retreats through Youth Frontiers sponsored by PTOs

Professional development for staff on cultural intelligence

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24/7 Online anonymous reporting

Providing sensory rooms or calming spaces in the buildings

Added Elementary counselors

Internet search filter alerts from school devices to monitor searches

WARRIORS BEWELL COMMUNITY PARTNERS MindPeace: Works with Mariemont City Schools to help manage our mental health partner, provide end-of-year mental health data and connect us to experts in the field.

MindPeace runs the Brain Health Network, which is an opportunity for local leaders to connect and share best practice. New to MCSD this school year are the MindPeace rooms at the high school and junior high which allow students a safe place to visit throughout the day to de-stress and practice coping skills.

1N5: Mariemont City Schools’ longest mental health relationship, run by community member Nancy Eigel Miller.

1N5 runs the annual Warrior Run and helps fund our mental health supports. They also work to keep us updated on the best evidenced-based practices, including the Sources of Strength program.

Child Focus: Provides all of the mental health therapists for our schools and provides services for students in our school buildings. Additionally, Child Focus provided needed pandemic counseling, continually supports our staff and runs the annual Signs of Suicide program in our schools.

Mariemont Preschool Parent Group: The group of parents funded a grant that the district uses to pay for counseling services for students.

Warriors BEwell Advisory Board: This group of community members, staff members and district parents meet regularly with Director of Student Services, Tricia Buchert, to review data, programs and ideas and to assist with the production of the annual Mental Health Message.

Jeremy Martin, Mariemont School Foundation President “I’m so proud of the partnership the Mariemont School Foundation shares with the district we serve.

The tremendous support the foundation receives from the community provides amazing opportunities for our children to learn and grow beyond the bounds of the traditional classroom curriculum. It is what makes the Mariemont Experience truly unique and is just another example of how we are Better Together.”

WANT TO HOST A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION? Community conversations about mental health topics are currently underway. If you are interested in starting these conversations and finding solutions with your family and friends, contact Tricia Buchert, director of students services (272-7519, tbuchert@mariemontschools.org) to set up a small gathering and help us begin to make the shift. Conversations can be tailored to topics you find most useful to you.

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EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE:

MARIEMONT CITY SCHOOLS STAFF HIGHLIGHTS We have truly amazing staff members at Mariemont City Schools!

Embrace Growth

Teachers, aides, administrators, therapists, intervention specialists, librarians, coaches, custodians, counselors, maintenance technicians, bus drivers, food services staff and administrative assistants. Every single person plays an integral part in creating the Mariemont Experience for our students day in and day out.

We hope these stats share just how exceptional our staff really is, because we could not be better together without them.

76%

have a master’s degree or are currently working towards a master’s degree

47%

coordinate or help with an extra-curricular activity

100%

have participated in some form of professional development this year

Emily Colpi, Jackie Heinzelmann, Steve Phelps and Brian Sugerman are Certified Apple Learning Coaches after completing a 60+ hour training program with Apple Professional Staff.

EMBRACING GROWTH & ALWAYS LEARNING The Mariemont City Schools teachers and staff are encouraged to join professional organizations to continue learning and growing throughout their careers. Currently, our staff are members of nearly 50 different professional groups including: • American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese • American Chemical Society • American Speech-Language Hearing Association • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development • Classical Association of the Midwest and South • Educational Office Professionals of Ohio • International Dyslexia Association • International Society for Technology in Education • National Arts Education Association • National Association for eSports Coaches and Directors • National Association for Music Education • National Association of School Psychologists • National Biology Teacher Association • National Council of Teachers of English • National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association • Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators • Ohio Association of Gifted Children • Ohio Council for Social Studies • Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics • Ohio Music Education Association • Ohio Writing Project • Science Education Council of Ohio • Plus many more!

DOUBLE DUTY

School psychologists Cathy Riley and Steve Vonderhaar have Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credentials for meeting a rigorous national standard and continuing professional development.

Several Mariemont City Schools teachers are simultaneously teaching higher education courses at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati State

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Emily Hunt (MJHS Science Teacher) is the co-founder of STRIVE Academy, a program to engage learners of all levels using STEAM principles.

Jennifer Broo writes curriculum with University of Florida scientists and has presented at the National Association of Biology Teachers Conference.

Elizabeth Reilly recently received a second master’s degree through the Ohio Writing Project (Master’s in the Art of Teaching) and taught a course for the OWP on grammar in the classroom.

MARIE HUENEFELD FRIEND OF THE SCHOOL AWARD Throughout this newsletter you have seen how our amazing partnerships and supporters are helping to change the trajectory of education for our Mariemont City Schools students. From experiential learning to mental health programming to success in and out of the classroom, our excellence would just not be the same without our community.

Each spring the school district says ‘thank you’ to a deserving community member through the Marie Huenefeld Friend of the School Award. This honor, first awarded to its namesake in 2015, is designed to recognize individuals in our community who make significant contributions to our school district with their time, service and/or expertise to create a better experience for our students and make us a better school district.

If you know of an individual who you believe should be considered for this award, please head to the district website (www.mariemontschools.org/mariehuenefeldfriendoftheschoolaward) and submit a nomination by March 31, 2022.

Previous award winners include Marie Huenefeld (2015), Rusty Wilson (2016), Don Gurney (2017), Chandra Buswell (2018), Jack Smith (2019) and Nancy Eigel-Miller (2021).

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Bridgett Karlson, Community Business Owner “We’ve enjoyed working with Mariemont Elementary School and Terrace Park Elementary School in our Groovy Gumball Birthday Club program over the last 5 years. It’s a great way to reward our local kids with a treat and create a sense of unity within our schools and business district.”

Find us on

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

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