Bishop Leibold: At School and At Home

Bishop Leibold: At School and At Home Families can choose the learning environment that works best for them.

Spring of 2020 brought many uncertainties to families when it comes to education. At Bishop Leibold School, we have been working tirelessly to re-open our buildings and bring our community back together. We know that one of the things that sets us apart is our focus on educating the whole student by using our faith as our guide. That means that we are looking at not only bringing students back together physically but building a community around our e-learning option for families we have named Leibold at Home. Students will have the opportunity to choose the learning environment that is best for their family, but they can do so knowing that one thing they can always expect from us is a focus on faith, inspiring growth, and providing a true family experience.

For example, when spring brought to us the unexpected requirement to close our daily school environment, not only did we move quickly to online instruction, we also became creative to still have our various family events. We hosted virtual events like donuts with mom, weekend Masses from our parishes, and an online cooking class for families to sustain our community. For as long as the pandemic keeps any of our students at home during the 2020-21 school year, we are committed to providing our true family experience at home and at school. Leibold at Home students will be able to join their teacher and classmates via live streaming the classes. They will participate in our weekly Mass and Virtue Campaign which is used during the year to recognize students that exemplify the characteristics of the virtue for which we are focused monthly. Our multi-tiered Student Support Team (MTSS) will provide defined interventions and accommodations. Families will be connected through Google Classroom training and our various Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) activities such as Open House, Grandparents’ Day, etc.

We are looking forward to welcoming our students back, both online and in person. It is going to be a great year at Bishop Leibold!

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FALL FUN AROUND TOWN

Family-friendly adventures to get into the autumn season.

WORDS BY SARAH MCCOSHAM

T h e le a v e s a re c h a n g in g , t h e a ir is c o o lin g : It ’s fa ll! F a ll is a b u s y t im e o f y e a r in s o u t h w e s t O h io , a n d it c a n b e e a s y t o fe e l o v e rw h e lm e d . A n d a s w e n a v ig a t e t h e s e a s o n p o s t -p a n d e m ic , y o u m a y b e w o n d e r in g w h a t o p t io n s a re a v a ila b le fo r fa m ily fu n .

We’ll give you the lowdown on all the socially distant, family-friendly and fun fall activities happening in the area, so you can make the most of this wonderful season.

Pick apples

There’s just something special about picking your own produce, and fall brings plenty of U-Pick opportunities at local apple orchards. Iron’s Fruit Farm in Lebanon is one of the finest in the area; their UPick season runs into October and features Paula Red, McIntosh and Gala varieties. Meanwhile, if you’re up for a bit of a trip, A&M Farm Orchard in Midland is well worth the drive.

Go for a hike

Take advantage of fall’s cooler temps by going on a family hike. The Great Parks of Hamilton County, Cincinnati Parks and Cincinnati Nature Center are wonderful options in Cincinnati, while John Bryan State Park is quite possibly the most scenic spot in the Dayton area. Need extra motivation? September 19-27 is Green Umbrella’s Great Outdoor Week, which features more than 100 FREE outdoor activities in Southwest Ohio.

Visit a pumpkin patch

Watching your kids trudge across an orange-speckled field of pumpkins is a parental rite of passage. Shaw Farms, Burwinkel Farms and Brown’s Family Farm all boast a beautiful selection of fall’s unofficial mascot. And of course, Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs has one of the most picturesque pumpkin patches in Ohio!

Do a fall festival

It just isn’t fall without festivals. Local favorites include Fall Fest at Neltner’s Farm, Gorman Farm’s acclaimed Sunflower Festival and Learning Tree Farm's Autumn Family Adventure Series. Sit down with your family calendar and plot out your fall festival fun! Be sure to check your favorites for their COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Conquer a corn maze

While you’re planning your fall festival circuit, be sure to include a couple of corn mazes. Loveland’s Blooms & Berries has two: a 7-acre labyrinth that takes about an hour to conquer and a smaller, more kidfriendly, 15-minute maze. And if you’re up for a drive, Shaw Farms in Milford boasts a 12-acre maze that’s not for the faint of heart.

Enjoy the local colors

Ohio is at its most beautiful in the fall. Red, orange, yellow and gold — you’ll see all the colors of the autumn rainbow! Pyramid Hill in Butler County is an outdoor museum comprised of over 60 monumental pieces of sculpture in an outdoor environment of meadows, forests and rolling hills, and is breathtaking in the fall. Meanwhile, Hueston Woods is a Southwest Ohio favorite that’s well worth the drive each autumn.

Take a hayride

Hayrides are a necessary part of fall, and the covered wagon rides at Bonnybrook Farms are about as charming as it gets. And if your kids prefer horseback rides to hayrides, Nation Road Horse Rental in Oxford takes guests on a picture-perfect trek through the beautiful backwoods of Butler County.

Decorate for fall

Pick up some autumn mums, find the most bizarrely shaped gourds or get a little fancy by making your own scarecrow. Station Road Farm in West Chester and Montgomery’s Pipkins Market each boast a bounty of fresh fall produce, blooms and décor. Meanwhile, Brown’s Family Farm Market in Hamilton is known for its impressive selection of fall produce and notions: corn stalks, gourds, mums, pumpkins — they have it all!

Carve a pumpkin

Embrace the mess and get your kids involved in digging out pumpkin guts and designing next-level ‘lanterns. Whether you prepare your masterpieces days before Halloween or the night of, be sure you “carve” out time for this fun fall tradition.

Go trick-or-treating before Halloween

Ohio kids have it pretty great — there are tons of opportunities to trick-or-treat before the big night. HallZOOween at the Cincinnati Zoo and Jack O’Lantern Junction at EnterTRAINment Junction are two fan favorites; meanwhile, history buffs definitely need to check out Heritage Village’s Haunted Village, which features trick-or-treating in a festive, justspooky-enough setting.

W e ’re e n t e rin g t h e b e s t t im e o f t h e y e a r, S o u t h w e s t O h io p a re n t s ! G ra b y o u r fa m ily, frie n d s a n d a P u m p k in S p ic e L a t t e a n d fa ll fo r fa ll.