October 2023 District Newsletter

We are thrilled to announce that all six Sycamore Schools have once again made it to the prestigious 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings for Elementary and Middle Schools! Montgomery Elementary earned the title of the 6th Best Elementary School in Ohio out of more than 3,000 schools analyzed in the report. Our other elementary schools also shone brightly in the rankings:

• Maple Dale Elementary #29
• Symmes Elementary #124
• Blue Ash Elementary #166

Sycamore Junior High School claimed the #33 position among the Best Middle Schools in Ohio out of 2,445 schools, showcasing our commitment to academic excellence. E.H. Greene Intermediate secured the #38 spot with distinction!

In the U.S. News Best High Schools list released earlier this year, Sycamore High School soared to #17 in Ohio, reaffirming our dedication to providing top-notch education at every level.

We are incredibly proud of our students, educators, and the entire Sycamore community for this remarkable achievement. Thank you for your continued support in making Sycamore Schools a beacon of educational excellence!

Thank you to all of our students, staff, and families who have donated to the OGB Holiday Store directly or through Sycamore Bridges! Your generosity will ensure that 1,100 students have a special holiday season. The Amazon registry is now closed so that OGB elves can begin shopping for families. But there is still an opportunity for kindness:

Love to bake?? OGB is seeking holiday cookies or and other treats to give to families when they pick up their items on Dec. 12. Click here to sign up to share a batch of goodies!

Sycamore Schools Assistant Superintendent Kelly Wegener is retiring, marking the end of nearly a decade of dedicated service to our schools and a career in education spanning over 30 years. Mrs. Wegener will officially retire at the close of the 2023-24 school year to spend more time with her 89-year-old father who resides in Florida. Learn more.

Longtime educator and administrator Leslie Combs, a fixture in the Sycamore school community, is set to retire at the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year, marking the end of a remarkable 35-year career in education. Learn more.

Construction continues on the Seger Family Natatorium at Sycamore High School. Crews are currently installing the structure for the roof. Once completed, work will begin to finish up the interior of the facility. We anticipate celebrating the opening of the natatorium in the late Spring/summer.

Many great events are happening at your student’s school this month! Just about every band, orchestra, and choir has performances this month. Be sure to check the online district calendar for the most up-to-date information. Want to sync calendars to your device? Click here for instructions!

• Sycamore Board of Education Meeting: Dec. 20, 7:00 p.m. at Sycamore High School
• NO SCHOOL Winter Break: Dec. 25-Jan. 5

The Sycamore High School Select Ensemble will be joining the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for a holiday concert! Tickets are still available for the performances Dec. 8-10 at Music Hall.

Sycamore Community Schools will be conducting our second annual Climate & Culture Survey for families, staff, and students in Grades 7-12. Please look for more information and a link to the surveys in mid-January.

We are also planning an upcoming School Finance Town Hall. Look for a Save the Date in the January newsletter!

Sycamore Community Schools will be testing our mass notification system on Wednesday, December 20 at 5:30 pm in preparation of the upcoming winter weather season. Now is the time to make sure the district has your correct contact information.

Sycamore Community Schools will use the primary phone number and email entered in Final Forms to contact you in case of a school cancellation or delay. Please log on to Final Forms to verify that your primary contact information is correct and make any changes if needed by no later than Monday, December 11 at 11:00 pm. We will send out an additional reminder with more information.

Snow day predictions, anyone? Take a guess on the first day that school might be canceled due to winter weather in Sycamore Schools for the 2023-24 year! Drop your date in the form below, and if you're spot on, you could be enjoying donuts delivered by Superintendent Chad Lewis on your day off! If there are multiple guesses for the same date, the winner will be drawn at random. Let the snow day guessing game begin!

As part of House Bill 123, Sycamore Community Schools has established risk assessment teams. These teams are integral components of the district's comprehensive safety initiatives.

These school-based teams consist of dedicated professionals, including school counselors, school psychologists, administrators, and teachers. In instances where the threat level warrants it, local law enforcement and district administrators may also become part of the assessment process.

Whenever a potential threat or safety concern is brought to our attention, a thorough risk assessment is immediately initiated. The primary objective is to evaluate the risk of engaging in violent or harmful behaviors, devise appropriate intervention strategies to mitigate risk and provide connections to care for those who may need it.

“It is important for our community to recognize that the instant we become aware of any perceived threat, we initiate a comprehensive process behind the scenes,” said Chad Lewis, superintendent. “This process involves identifying, assessing, and effectively managing threats, all with the primary aim of resolving conflicts or issues before they have the chance to escalate into violence."

Sycamore Community Schools has been awarded an Ohio K-12 School Safety Grant. The state is awarding the district over $606,000 for safety and security upgrades at our schools. Learn more.

Riwa Hamdan

Symmes Elementary, Educational Assistant

Help us celebrate and recognize our staff who have done something special!

Each month this school year, the district will select a nominee to be recognized as an Awesome Aviator. All you have to do is fill out this form to submit a nomination. You can fill out a form as often as you would like this year.

Who can be nominated? Any Sycamore staff member: a teacher, administrator, educational assistant, bus driver, custodian, administrative assistant, etc. We are looking for simply beautiful moments that remind us to be grateful that #WeAreAviators

1. Create a mental wellness gift for someone. Gift-giving triggers pleasure chemicals. It does not have to be extravagant, something small, like a note of encouragement, is enough.
2. Set boundaries. Boundaries are crucial between the sectors of your life. Without them, your world will become consumed with the biggest problem at the time. When you are at work, be focused on work. When you are at home, be 100% present with your family.
3. Do something. To boost mental wellness, do something that allows you to be creative, have fun, feel rewarded, and will teach you something. They can be done alone, but in a group is even more effective.
   

As we dive into cold and flu season, let's remember the power of staying home when you're feeling under the weather. Your health is a top priority, and by taking the day to rest and recover at home, you're not only helping yourself but also protecting classmates and staff.

Stay home, rest up, and let's keep our school community healthy and thriving.