![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/blossom-16.91399613.jpg)
April 2024 District Newsletter
![April 2024 District Newsletter](https://cdn.smore.com/u/0f22/56ed9c1f63324b648ca79d460e3bdb1c.jpg)
APRIL 2024 DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
Remembering Mark Harden
We continue to grieve the loss of Mr. Harden as a community. He dedicated his career to providing students with opportunities to succeed in the classroom and athletic competition. We are forever grateful for his mentorship of our athletes and coaches and the impact he has left behind.
The family is requesting donations to the Sycamore Athletic Boosters with the intent of supporting high school athletic programs or providing scholarships to athletes who may pursue higher education. You can find a link to the #AlwaysAnAviator donation page here or contact the Boosters at aviatorcommunication@gmail.com.
Juniper Robotics Heading To World Championship Ranked #20
Sycamore DECA Heads To International Competition
Sycamore Wrestler Defends State Title
Congratulations to SHS senior Eugene Harney for defending his state title! Eugene is the first-ever back-to-back state champion in Sycamore Wrestling History.
Latin Club Wins Top Awards At State Competition
Sycamore Welcomes New Blue Ash Principal
The Sycamore Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Natalie Jimenez as the next principal of Blue Ash Elementary School.
“We are excited to welcome Mrs. Jimenez to the Sycamore family,” said Superintendent Chad Lewis. “Her extensive experience, innovative approach, and commitment to student achievement make her an outstanding choice to lead our school forward. We look forward to her working collaboratively with the dedicated staff, students, and families."
Currently serving as the Principal of Heritage Early Childhood in Lakota Local Schools, and previously as Assistant Principal, Jimenez has demonstrated her commitment to student success and school community engagement. Learn more about Mrs. Jimenez.
Our Aviators: Inspiring Sycamore Student Stories
Introducing "Our Aviators: Inspiring Student Stories from Sycamore Schools"! This exciting video series unveils the remarkable journeys of exceptional students from across our district. Handpicked from a pool of standout nominations by teachers and administrators, these students embody the essence of what Sycamore represents. Each week, we'll release a captivating video on social media, allowing our community to witness these outstanding individuals representing our district at the highest level. Stay tuned for uplifting tales of success, resilience, and inspiration! Check out our latest episodes, featuring Anna Schlangen Mendez and Maddy Scott:
Save The Date: Ask Us Anything!
Strategic Plan Update
We have completed the data-gathering phases of our strategic planning, from meeting with multiple stakeholder groups throughout the district and community to gathering over 1000 data points in survey and focus group results. The process now moves into the analysis phase and the creation of possible goals and objectives for the plan. Those will be presented for a first read to the district leadership team at the end of the month. The process is right on track and should be completed by mid-June. Stay tuned!
Remind For Communications
Please ensure your Remind account is set up to your preferences. As you may recall, the district adopted Remind, an effective classroom communication tool, at the start of the school year. Since then, we've received overwhelmingly positive feedback, prompting us to integrate it more extensively in our communication efforts.
Log in to www.remind.com with the email you provided in Final Forms to update your delivery method (text, app, or email). You can even modify your preferred language so that messages are automatically translated. Thank you for staying connected with us!
Mark Your Calendars
April Calendar
Many great events are happening at your student’s school 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: April 3, 7:00 pm, District Office
- NO SCHOOL Professional Learning Day: April 8
- Sycamore Board of Education Meeting: April 17, 7:00 pm, District Office
- NO SCHOOL Professional Learning Day: April 22
Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Join us on April 13 at the Original Montgomery Inn as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Sycamore Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024! Congratulations to this year's inductees:
- Greg Higginson ('79) (Posthumously)
- Shaun Fitzgibbons ('03)
- Mike Kimmey ('05)
- Taylor Willams ('07)
- Samantha Siler ('13)
- Gary Traub ('16)
- Coach Mike Teets
The 2014, 2015, and 2016 boys tennis teams, which include multiple singles and doubles state champs and the 2015 State Champs, will be honored as the 2024 High Flying Aviator Team of Distinction. Officer Paul Payne will receive the Spirit of Sycamore Award for his outstanding work as Sycamore’s Resource Officer. Learn more about the inductees.
Awesome Aviators
Emily Conn
Sycamore High School, Band Teacher
Amye Leifling
E.H. Greene Intermediate Teacher
Rosa Calamita
Blue Ash Elementary, School Psychologist
Connie Jackson
District Office, Administrative 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
Help Us With Our Wellness Policy
The Sycamore Wellness Committee is seeking individuals interested in contributing to this process, whether they are community members or district employees. The assessment will begin this month and continue until updates to our existing wellness policy are finalized. All meetings will be conducted virtually. For those interested in participating or seeking further details, please reach out to Liz Wellman at wellmanl@sycamoreschools.org.
Our district’s current wellness policy can be found HERE.
From Our School-Based Therapy Team
April is Stress Awareness Month
Here are some tips to help with stress management:
- Recognize and counter signs of stress. Your body has ways to tell you it’s stressed, including difficulty concentrating, headaches, tight muscles, a nervous stomach, clenched teeth, fidgety, irritable or withdrawn. Knowing how your body communicates can help you deal with stressful moments. Learn to not only recognize those feelings but also take action to counter their effects. For example, deep breathing, stretching, going for a walk, and taking quiet time to focus can help induce relaxation and reduce tension.
- Take time for yourself. Make taking care of yourself a daily routine. It’s not selfish! Start small. Work in time to exercise, eat healthy foods, participate in relaxing activities and sleep.
- Try new routines. From scheduling bath and bedtimes to blocking off time to plan and prioritize tasks, additional structure can provide a daily framework that allows you to attune to your body’s signals.
- Stay connected and make new friends. Stay in touch with family and friends!
- See problems through a different lens. Experts call changing the way we think about and respond to stress “reframing.” View sitting in traffic as an opportunity to enjoy music, podcasts or pleasant views. Reduce anger in response to rude or aggressive behavior by imagining what might be happening in that person’s life. Keeping situations in perspective is an important way to boost stress resilience. Other steps include positive thinking and creating plans before you begin to resolve problems. You can practice reframing and get better at it over time.
- Seek help with problems. Many people experience the same day-to-day strains related to caregiving, relationships, health, work and money. Look to friends and family, as appropriate, or other trusted individuals or resources for tips and information.
- Talk to a health professional if stress is affecting your well-being or you feel you cannot manage the stress you’re experiencing. Seek appropriate care if stress is harming your relationships or ability to work. If you have suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. You can call or text the Suicide and Crisis lifeline at 988.