The Experience: November 2019

The Experience November 2019

Official Newsmagazine of Mariemont City Schools

Superintendent’s Update It’s hard to believe that we are already three months into the 2019-2020 school year. While it feels like we just welcomed everyone back from summer break, we wrapped up the first quarter on October 18 and have already accomplished so much this year.

In September, Mariemont City Schools received news that it was one of just 31 districts statewide (and one of five locally) to receive an overall grade of ‘A’ on the 2019 Ohio Department of Education state report card. This overall rating places the district in the top five percent of all schools statewide. Additionally, our performance index score of 107.4 on the state tests is within the top two percent in the state.

Once again, the students and staff of Mariemont City Schools are proving themselves as the best of the best across the state of Ohio. And while we are all proud of these scores, the state report card is only part of our story. There is so much more that defines the #MariemontExperience and the accomplishments of our wonderful school district.

In this edition of The Experience Newsmagazine you’ll see many examples of the #MariemontExperience in action and how our students and staff are continuously working smart,

Construction Progresses on Mariemont High School Facility Project Progress is happening on the campus of Mariemont High School. A large crane is on hand to do the heavy lifting, the foundation of the building has been prepped and steel beams are being installed as the shape of the building begins to “go vertical.”

“We have gotten to really see the MHS Facility Project come to life over the last few months” said Mariemont City Schools superintendent Steven Estepp. “We can now start to see the envelope of the building and the layout of what will be the new academic wing at Mariemont High School. The anticipation builds each day as the site continues to grow.”

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ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MHS FACILITY PROJECT UPDATE

THE MARIEMONT EXPERIENCE

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Pages 4-5

Pages 6-7

Work Smart.

Create Experience.

Embrace Growth.

Superintendent’s Update

(continued from front page)

creating experience and embracing growth.

You’ll see some highlights from the athletic fields and courts where our Mariemont High School fall sports athletes have had record-breaking seasons. You’ll find a recap of our Digital Awareness Month programming that taught students in each grade level different tips and strategies to stay safe and protect themselves online. And you’ll also see an update on the district’s Global and Cultural Perspectives Committee and read about the new three-year cultural intelligence program we launched this year.

Of course, this newsletter also includes an update on the Mariemont High School facility project which has made great strides since the beginning of the school year. Anyone who has driven through the MHS campus recently can see the progress as the new academic wing takes shape with steel beams and even the new Mariemont tower which will be the focal point of the main entrance.

For anyone interested in staying up to date on the MHS facility project news, I encourage you to check out the district’s website, www.mariemontschools.org, where you can find the latest Hard Hat Update information. You also can follow along with the district on our social media platforms to catch the latest news and behind-the-scenes action from all of our schools.

It has certainly been a busy, but very exciting three months of the year. I am looking forward to what the rest of 2019-20 will bring us and seeing our students and staff work smart, create experience and embrace growth through the school year and beyond!

Steven Estepp Superindendent

Treasurer’s Update This school year is my seventh as the treasurer for Mariemont City Schools, and each year I am reminded again of the excellent value that our schools provide to our community. Our students and staff continually prove to be among the best of the best in Ohio and the nation. Additionally, our strong community support provides us the opportunity to keep getting stronger.

Because the value of our district is so high, we go to great lengths to protect it day in and day out.

We focus on prioritizing our spending to what will have the greatest impact in our classrooms. We also believe in accountability, which is why we have created the ongoing Warrior Finance Focus group.

We also believe in fiscal transparency. Twice each school year the district releases an updated FiveYear Forecast. This document serves as projection for the financial future of our district based on the current landscape. While it is true that the numbers in a financial forecast only tell a small part of the story, it is still a key management tool used to plan for the future.

The Fiscal Year 2020 November Forecast is available on the district website, www.mariemontschools.org, on the District Finance page. Revenues are expected to grow only slightly due to minimal state funding increases and the fact that the school district does not get inflationary growth on tax levies.

Expenditures are budgeted to maintain a highquality educational experience for our children. In the previous five years, the average expenditure increase was a modest 2.5%.

I am proud of the story our Five-Year Forecast tells and I am proud to work for a district that places such a high importance on financial planning and projecting. Mariemont City Schools is in terrific shape for the future, and will continue to protect the value of our schools for years to come.

Tom Golinar Treasurer, CFO

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www.mariemontschools.org

Athletic Accomplishments

Mariemont High School student athletes excelled in and out of the classroom during the first quarter of the 2019-20 school year. Take a look at some of the accomplishments from the fall sports teams.

Girls Tennis 18-2 record; Finished the year with DII Top-10 Ohio Honorable Mention honors; Kate Taylor advanced to district championship

Boys Golf Won Cincinnati Hills League for the first time since 1997; district qualifier; Jack Neville finished 6th at the state championship and was named Southwest Ohio Golf Coaches Association Player of the Year

Boys Cross Country Cincinnati Hills League runner Up; District Champion; Regional Qualifier; Sam Beeler finished district runner up

Girls Cross Country Cincinnati Hills League Runner Up; District Champion; Regional Qualifier; Lily Bauer won district championship and finished 24th in the state meet

Girls Soccer District Champion; regional runner-up

Boys Soccer District Champion; Advanced to regional competition

November 2019

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Safety and Security Enhancements Promise Fulfilled

The safety of our students is the top priority for the Mariemont City School District. As promised with the passage of the operating levy in the fall of 2018, the district is moving forward with safety improvements and upgrades in all buildings.

Included in these improvements is increased surveillance monitoring in all four schools as well as upgraded safety measures to make entrances into the buildings more secure. Additionally, all district staff will be participating in a supplementary, hands-on safety training course.

You will see these upgrade and enhancements begin to be implemented as early as December 2019. We appreciate your patience as protocols for entering school buildings may change to accommodate the new safety measures. Should you have any questions regarding the safety and security enhancements for Mariemont City Schools, email: questions@mariemontschools.org.

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Frequently Q: What is the timeline for construction at Mariemont High School?

A: The Mariemont High

School facility project began Construction Phase 2A in the summer of 2019. This includes the demolition of the old building and the construction of the new academic wing. This phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2020 when Phase 2B (arts/ athletics wing renovations, system replacements) will commence.

The MHS Facility Project is currently projected to be on time and within budget.

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Q: What will the new

academic wing of Mariemont High School look like upon completion?

A: Updated interior

and exterior renderings of Mariemont High School are available to view on the district’s website, www.mariemontschools.org, in the MHS Facility Project page.

Q: How long will classes be held

in the modular units and temporary classroom spaces in the auxiliary gym?

A: Upon completion of

Construction Phase 2A in the summer of 2020, most classrooms will transition into the new academic wing of Mariemont High School and modular units will be removed from the MHS campus. In order to accommodate for the classrooms that will be affected by Construction Phase 2B, the temporary classrooms in the auxiliary gym will remain through the 2020-21 school year.

www.mariemontschools.org

Construction Progresses on Mariemont High School Facility Project (continued from front page) It is important to note that the MHS Facility Project remains on time and within budget as the 2019-20 school year progresses towards winter break.

The work on Construction Phase 2A, which includes all of the site work, steel assembly, exterior and interior finishes will continue through the school year, wrapping up in the early summer of 2020. With students and staff in the new academic wing of the high school during the 2020-2021 school year, Construction Phase 2B will commence on the arts and athletics wing renovation and building system replacements.

community members, staff members and parents who have volunteered their time and expertise to this project” said Estepp.

Months of planning and collaborating with members of Turner Construction, MSA Architects, J.S. Held Owner’s Reps and district administrators have resulted in the most recent interior and exterior renderings of Mariemont High School, both of which can be found in full on the Building on Excellence Page of the district website, www.mariemontschools.org.

Mariemont City Schools periodically rolls out a new Hard Hat Update to share up-to-date news and notes regarding the Mariemont High School facility project.

Hard Hat Updates include FAQs, news releases, video interviews, renderings and more and will be disseminated whenever there is new information to share. Hard Hat Update information can be found on the district’s website and social media accounts.

“This work has been a long time in the making and would not be possible without the help of hundreds of

Asked Questions Q: Will the athletics

facilities and auditorium be open during construction?

A: The main

gymnasium, auditorium and natatorium will remain open and available for use during the 20192020 school year. The auditorium will be closed for renovation during most of the 2020-2021 school year pending final scope and construction timelines.

November 2019

Q: When will

students be able to use the new secondary drive?

A: The secondary drive will serve as a construction-only entrance during construction but will be open to all high school traffic upon completion of the project.

Q: Where will

graduation be held while the building is under construction?

A: Kusel stadium

and the main gymnasium will be functional, allowing for the traditional oncampus graduation ceremonies in 2019 and beyond.

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#Mariemon Global and Cultural Perspectives Committee Update At Mariemont City Schools, we pride ourselves on being a district that supports the whole child. You see this in our diverse and rigorous curriculum, our dedication to arts, athletics and extra-curricular offerings and our award-winning Warriors BEyond program. Supporting the whole child also means building understanding and creating an environment in which global and cultural intelligence is paramount. Thus, the significance of our district’s Global and Cultural Perspectives committee.

Global and Cultural Perspectives Committee Vision: to build an equitable, inclusive and responsive learning community that values the dignity and uniqueness of all students, staff and members of the community.

Cultural Intelligence

“Our Destination 2026 Focus Areas: strategic plan states Cultural Awareness that our students will be global learners and deeply Cultural Knowledge committed members Cultural Strategies of the community and world” said Cultural Action superintendent Steven Estepp. “The work of our Global and Cultural Perspectives Committee is crucial to accomplishing this instructional vision. Our hope is that by practicing the core values of inclusion and diversity in our classrooms today, they become lifelong beliefs for our students.”

The Global and Cultural Perspectives Committee was launched in 2016 and is now comprised of 14 staff members, administrators and Board of Education representation. Over the past four years, the committee has researched strategies, discussed our district’s progress and challenges and planned annual staff professional development sessions to educate on these important topics. It also has recently expanded to include building-level committees at each school.

This school year, the work of the Global and Cultural Perspectives Committee moves to another level of focus and intentionality with the start of a three-year Cultural Intelligence training program. The training will focus on the areas of cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural strategies and cultural action. The end goal of this training is two-fold. First, we want to increase our cultural intelligence as a district -- to ensure we have a learning environment that goes beyond tolerance and understanding and truly embraces inclusion. Second, we want to develop actionable steps to put our learning and growth into action to make the Mariemont City School District an even better place to teach and learn.

“I am proud of the Mariemont City School District for embracing for the Global and Cultural Perspectives Committee” said Estepp. “The work of the committee is invaluable for our students, staff and community as a whole and I cannot wait to see the growth we accomplish together this school year and beyond.”

The work regarding cultural intelligence is important and ongoing. We seek an environment where inclusion is the expectation and diversity in all its forms is valued.

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www.mariemontschools.org

tExperience Mariemont City Schools Digital Awareness Month Mariemont City Schools celebrated Digital Awareness Month throughout October to highlight the importance of staying safe and secure online.

Each week, students were presented a lesson in class, focusing on one of four Digital Awareness Month themes: Digital Balance, Digital Safety, Digital Identity and Digital Literacy.

In addition to in-class lessons, the district encouraged each family to discuss these themes and reinforce the lessons at home. Each week, corresponding family activities and helpful tip sheets were available in order to create open and honest dialogue with students.

Mariemont City Schools also hosted a pair of guest speakers during Digital Awareness Month. Educational author Carl Hooker shared a parent presentation titled “Parenting in the Digital Age� that centered around digital wellness, balance, screen time, social media and more. Additionally, Dr. Scott Grant presented to students in grades 7-12 on the power of social media and their personal brand.

Thanks to all who participated in the inaugural Digital Awareness Month programming.

For more information and Digital Awareness Month resources, visit the district website, www.mareimontschools.org.

November 2019

Quality Profile The Quality Profile highlights the many ways that our district produces exceptional results and the many experiences that make this community and school district such a special place to be.

We continue our focus on the Destination 2026 Strategic Plan and how that instructional vision guides what we call the Mariemont Experience. In the 2019 Quality Profile, you will see Destination 2026 in action as we strive to work smart, create experience and embrace growth.

We want our students to learn and grow in both traditional and innovative ways. We want them to become global learners, responsible risk-takers and deeply committed members of our community and world. This profile shares the exciting things happening in our district and illustrates the true value of the Mariemont Experience.

If you would like to learn more about the Quality Profile, visit our website, www.mariemontschools.org.

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Dec. 22 – Jan. 3 – Winter Break, No School

17 – MJHS Winter Concert – 7:00 p.m.

16 – Elementary Strings & Band Winter Concert – 6:30 p.m.

12 – ME 3-4 Winter Concert – 6:00 p.m.

11 – Elementary Chorus Winter Concert (Gr. 5-6) – 7:00 p.m.

11 – ME 2nd Quarter Community Collaboration & Conversations with the Principal – 8:45 a.m.

10 – ME K-2 Winter Concert – 6:00 p.m.

9 – Board of Education Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

5 – MHS Winter Concert – 7:00 p.m.

3 – TPE K-4 Winter Concert – 6:00 p.m.

DECEMBER

29 – Thanksgiving Break, No School

28 – Thanksgiving Break, No School

27 – Thanksgiving Break, No School

26 – District Early Dismissal

26 – Elementary Special Person’s Day

26 – Elementary Book Fairs

25 – Elementary Book Fairs

23 – MHS Fall Play – 7:30 p.m.

22 – MHS Fall Play – 7:30 p.m.

21 – MHS Fall Play – 7:30 p.m.

20 – Special Board of Education Meeting – 6:00 p.m.

20 – Board of Education Meeting – 5:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER

UPCOMING DATES

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

www.mariemontschools.org

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