PERSON TO PERSON B1 Your Community Press newspaper serving Evendale, Glendale, Sharonville,Springdale, Wyoming E-mail: tricounty@communitypress.com We d n e s d a y, A u g u s t
Jackie Orent and Molly Cramer
Volume 25 Number 51 © 2009 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
5, 2009
Safety first
Mike the Bike was on a roll at Tri-County during the month of July, pedaling information about riding safely during Tri County Mall’s Safety Town. Each day of the weeklong program, offered throughout July by the mall and Great Rivers Girl Scouts, featured a different subject. SEE STORY, A2
B E C A U S E C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S
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State rating raises expectations at PHS kreddy@communitypress.com
Grit, spunk, fortitude, pluck, tenacity, mettle – choose any description, but you will never get the full effect of her character until you actually meet the indomitable Mrs. Fannie Whiteside. She celebrated her 104th birthday July 17 at Glendale Place Care Center where family members, residents and staff ate delicious cake and viewed a CD of her life, produced when she was 100. SEE LIFE, B1
Web site: communitypress.com
The goal: Better than excellent By Kelly McBride Reddy
Full of life
PRESS
Princeton High School has earned a ranking not seen before at the school since the No Child Left Behind initiative took effect in 2002. The school, with 1,600 enrolled, has achieved an excellent rating. “This is a culmination of many years of work,” said Tim Dugan, the district’s director of school improvement. “This is icing on the cake.” In 2007-2008 the school received a score of 97.8, reflecting a trend of improving scores. In 2008-2009 Princeton surpassed 100, earning it the ranking of excellent. No Child Left Behind is based on the belief that setting high standards and measurable goals can improve individual outcomes. It requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to all students in certain grades Principal William Sprankles said that though Princeton has been making improvements, the school has offered a quality education for years. “But to a lot of people in the community, a rating collectively defines you,” he said. “And a banner of excellent has a huge effect on morale,” Sprankles said. Sprankles said the school achieved an excellent rating because of several factors. Dugan’s position of school improvement director was added last school year, to help improve scores. Sprankles pointed to a new
class, implemented in the past school year, to support special needs students in grade 10, when they are tested for the purposes of ranking. New Century Learning gives those students an extra 25 minutes of reading and math each day. Each student has access to a computer, and classes are limited to 15 students. The high school also gave teachers access to data trends, so they can keep track of student progress in all areas. “By having data, that tells you who needs what and where they need help,” Sprankles said. As the Ohio Graduation Test approached, Princeton took steps to prepare the 10th-graders for that experience. “We did a full simulated week of practice testing,” Sprankles said. “They took the full length test, to be prepared for it.” When it was time for the real test, the high school staff jumpstarted the kids. “Each day before the test, we had a prep rally,” Sprankles said. That included breakfast, music, motivational speeches and a Powerpoint preparation. To add incentive, students were told that if the high school had 100 percent participation in the test, they’d get a pizza party. They got their pizza party. “One of the great things about the high school is the strong relationship the staff has with the kids,” Superintendent Gary Pack said. “You see them out there, building positive relationships.” Now what? “This year, there will be more changes,” Sprankles said. Among them is a redesigned
KELLY MCBRIDE REDDY/STAFF
William Sprankles completed his first year as principal of Princeton High School with a rating of excellent. structure for principals and guidance counselors, making the system parallel. Previously, each grade level had a principal, but counselors were assigned students according to the first letter of the last name. Now, counselors will be assigned by grade level. Some curriculum changes also will continue.
What will remain is Sprankles’ three-part covenant. The first part is the building of relationships with the students. Second is providing multiple opportunities for kids to be successful. Finally, Sprankles said he’ll set high expectations for kids to achieve in all content areas. His plan for excellence.
Pool attendance decreases with temperature By Amanda Hopkins ahopkins@communitypress.com
Et tu, Sherwin?
Latin instructor Sherwin Little takes culture beyond the classroom. For many years, Little, who teaches at Indian Hill High School, has accompanied students in the Latin Club to various exotic locations. SEE STORY, A5
AMANDA HOPKINS/STAFF
Evendale Recreational Center Pool has seen a decline in attendance in recent weeks because of the cooler temperatures.
Evendale pool hours
Saturdays, Aug. 8, 15, 22, 29, Sept. 5 Noon-8 p.m. Sundays, Aug, 9, 16, 23, 30, Sept. 6 Noon-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, through Aug 17 Noon-9 p.m.
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With unseasonably cool temperatures in the area the past few weeks, local swimming pools have been feeling the effect in attendance. Evendale Recreational Center Pool has been hit with falling attendance and concession stand profits as the temperatures have only reached the upper 70s to low 80s in recent weeks. “We’ve seen a 50 percent decrease in the last week and a half,” recreation center special events coordinator Kim Pielage said last week. The teen group Phi Lambda Pi
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runs the concession stand at the pool as part of a fundraiser for their organization. Pielage said that the concession stand has closed early a few times for the chilly weather and some rain in the last couple of weeks. The pool has remained opened at regular hours. Phi Lambda Pi also sells entertainment books and other items for group fundraisers. Pielage said that the rest of the summer has been busy at the pool and in the recreational center and many other events are still planned through the end of the season. “Hopefully it will balance out,” Pielage said.
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