News and Information

• Bryan Sweasy, or Chief Information Officer has been sending out weekly links to stories highlighting schools and events in the Erlanger-Elsmere School District. Please take a moment to read over the stories to find out what's happening around the district.



• January 3-February 11 is the state assessment window for all ACCESS testing for students who are English Language Learners. These assessments are a part of state and federal accountability and should be taken very seriously by all teachers. Please schedule around the set ACCESS testing schedule at your school. All principals were given a copy of each school's schedule on December 8th.



• The district MAP testing window will be January 10-28. Please work with all students at all grade levels on personal goal setting. Those schools seeing the most increases are those who are setting individual goals with their students and differentiating instruction to meet individual student needs.



• We are still accepting entries for the district logo contest. The winner will receive a $100 savings bond. The contest is open to all students enrolled in the Erlanger-Elsmere School District.



• The Family Resource Centers and the Youth Service Centers assisted record numbers of families for the holidays this year. Thank you to the coordinators and the school personnel who assisted them in all that was provided.


• All schools in the district participated in giving during the holiday season. Many held canned food drives and some schools partnered allowing older students to work with younger students.



• The Erlanger-Elsmere School District was listed in the state Commissioner of Education's presentation to all Kentucky Superintendents as a best practice district moving forward with our work with the content standards.The entire PPT presentation may be found at http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/Administrative+Resources/Commissioner+of+Education/Commissioner+Hollidays+Presentations/20101206+Leadership+that+Kentucky+Children+Deserve.htm

Accolades and Information

• The state assessment data has been released. The district saw increases in students scoring proficient and distinguished in reading at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. In math there were increases in the percentage of students scoring proficient and distinguished at the elementary and middle school levels. The high school also had increases in ACT scores. We will continue to disaggregate and drill down data to pinpoint specific student needs and adjust our instruction to meet those needs. While there is much to celebrate, we must maintain our focus on continuous improvement and use the momentum we have established to increase student learning for all students at all levels.
• The Lloyd High School Band won their division at the band competition at Conner this past Saturday.
• The first round of MAP testing is complete and all teachers have the real-time data for individualized instruction for students.
• On Demand Writing (12th grade), Plan Testing (10th grade), and Explore Testing (8th grade) windows are now completed. All of these assessments are a part of state testing and accountability.
• Lloyd High School is forming a soccer club. 18 girls have expressed interest. Ms. Wesling will be the club leader.
• Lloyd High School is forming a dance team. Presently, 15 students have expressed an interest.
• Tichenor Middle School 7th grade students will be visiting Northern Kentucky University on September 28th and September 29th.
• The Tichenor Trojans Middle School Football Team are Division Champs. They are doing well in their very first season.
• All of the elementary schools are collaborating to providea cross country program to 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade students. The first two meets were at Arnett and Howell. Many parents showed up in support of their children. This has been a wonderful, exciting program for the students involved.
• The 2010-11 school year is off to a great start. Thanks to everyone for helping to provide wonderful experiences for our students.

The First Day of School

Tomorrow will be an important day for our students. Things will be hectic as everyone learns new procedures and new faces. It is important that all parents and students entering our schools start that first day positively. I know each and every employee will be patient, welcoming, and helpful to all who enter our doors. Remember that students and parents are often nervous that first day-especially if the students are transitioning to a new school. The welcoming attitude, respect, and kindness displayed on that first day will help to set the tone for the school year. "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
-Mother Teresa

Upcoming Events

• Tichenor Middle School's first Football Team will play their opening game on Thursday, August 19th at 7:30 PM.
• Lloyd High School's Open House August 26th, 5:30-7:30
• September 3rd-Paraeducator Training will take place for all schools.
• September 6th- Holiday- Labor Day- No School
• September 7-24 Fall District MAP Window at ALL SCHOOLS
• September 13-24 State Testing Window for Lloyd and Tichenor for PLAN (Grade 10) and EXPLORE (Grade 8)

ACCOLADES

The first day of school for students will start tomorrow, but many district teachers and staff members have already been hard at work!

• Open Houses at Arnett, Howell, Lindeman, Miles, and Tichenor were well attended. Lloyd will host their Open House on August 26th from 5:30-7:30.
• Summer feeding took place most of the summer at various locations. Cafeteria personnel were here to provid lunch and breakfast to our students this summer.
• Maintenance worked diligently all summer to prepare for the first day of school.
• Transportation training took place for bus drivers and bus monitors.
• Summer programs took place at all schools.
• Home visits were conducted by teachers at various schools.
• Band members, football players, and staff members involved in those activities were practicing in the summer heat.
• Mentoring programs and student mentors hosted training and events at Tichenor and Lloyd.
• Lloyd's 2009-10 Junior Class showed significant increases on the ACT which was taken by all 11th graders in the state of Kentucky as a part of the state assessment requirements.
• Tichenor saw great results from their Rewards Reading Program and plans to continue implementation for the 2010-11 school year.
• Miles was featured in the August issue of Kentucky Teacher.
• Teacher representatives and administrators were involved with the first work and training of the new content standards.
• Lindeman students' pumpkin patch is growing and being weeded.
• Many Howell students and staff members took a trip to Kings Island!
• Arnett students were involved in activities with the school library and also the YMCA.
• Teachers were involved in MAP training and other activities over the summer to assist us with increasing student learning. All administrators were involved in training throughout the summer.

STATE BUDGET INFORMATION

The language under which we have been operating, that required two six-hour days above the number in your 2005-06 calendar, is set to expire with the current budget on June 30, 2010. Since there is no budget for 2010-11 at the moment, we must plan for the statutory requirement for the minimum school term for 2010-11; that is, a 185-day school term and the equivalent of 175 six-hour instructional days (see KRS 158.070). This, of course, could change if the General Assembly meets prior to June 30 and adopts a budget with a different requirement. However, all versions of the budget that we saw during the 2010 session required only 185 days.

ACCOLADES

• Regional Special Olympics Track and Field Events were held right here in the Erlanger-Elsmere School District on Saturday, April24,2010. Thanks to Robyn Burke, Candace Campbell and many other staff members who made the day possible and wonderful for the athletes involved. School Resource Officer, Todd Brendel was recognized and awarded at the event for his many years of service to Special Olympics.
• The Reptile Convention was held at Lloyd High School this past Saturday. Kudos to Mr. Gels and the students who organized and planned the event. Student presentations lined the hallway and reptiles filled the gymnasium.
• Lloyd student, Jibril-Inman McCaster was recognized for his community service and presented with the prestigious Commonwealth Ambassado Award for from Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson.
• Lloyd High School Teachers Lisa Heck, Mac Coolley, Richard Dube, and Jami Sastre were recognized at the April Board meeting for their dedication and leadership.
• Tichenor Middle School Teachers Jeremy Dodd, Darryl Camack, Tony Montague, and Karen Luehrman were recognized at the April Board meeting for their dedication and leadership.
• Howel Elementary partnered with Wendy's to rasie money for their school through a "burger bash".
• Arnett Elementary Teacher Stephanie Ruttle was recognized at the April Board Meeting bya parent for her dedication to students.
• Students from Miles and Howell Elementary received awards in the Governor's Cup Competition. Teacher sponsors Julia Dubowy, Jami Wheeler, and Krista Wainscott and school principals Bryant Gillis and Eric Sayler made the competition possible.
• The Erlanger-Elsmere Family Resource Center held the Summer Fair Event on Thursday, April 15th at Scheben Gym and Dietz Auditorium. It was a great event. Thanks to Missy Sorg and Karen Costello for their organization of the event.
• Girls on the Run has been an excellent program for a team of Erlanger-Elsmere Students. Tracey Molley, Angie Bielecki, Jennifer Weber, and Karen Hughes have all been working with the team that will run in a big event next month. Girls on the Run is a national program that promotes a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and self-esteem.
• Miles Elementary will be featured in an upcoming article in Kentucky Teacher!
• On May 15, Lindeman Elementary will be looking for volunteers to assist them with landscaping the front of the school. On Saturday, May 15th a crew from the 7 Hills Church and volunteers from the A.J. Lindeman community will converge to create a new face for their school. They are looking to get as many families, parents, students and volunteers to help transform Lindeman Elementary. To quote Mr. Shires, Principal, "I want to give a huge THANK YOU to our neighbors Viox & Viox for providing us with an outstanding landscape plan and 7 Hills Church for providing volunteers and the purchase of all of the materials. We are grateful for all the help and support these community members have shown our school."

Upcoming News and Events

• Legislative Caucus-February 20, 2010- Just a reminder that this Saturday, February 20th the NKY Legislative Caucus will hold a public forum at Boone County High School starting at 10:00 AM. It is recommended that you plan to arrive by 9:30 if you wish to sign up to speak. It is crucial that we have a large turnout like last year; an even larger turnout than last year would be outstanding!! Our legislators need to hear from us again about the importance of maintaining funding for P-12 and postsecondary education in Northern Kentucky. Please wear red and plan on being there to give your personal input on the needs of education for our children.
• NKEAT (The Northern Kentucky Education Action Team) includes many stakeholders. Northern Kentucky Superintendents attend these meetings which are held in support of education and collaboration with the community. To learn about NKEAT's legislative priorities and to contact your legislators in support of our students and their education, click on this link: http://www.erlanger.k12.ky.us/news/2010-02-NKEAT.pdf .