Milford Exempted Village School District
Eagle eNews
www.milfordschools.org
January 2015
In This Issue
Winter Weather Message
Kindergarten Registration
2015 Board News
Calamity Day Reminders
Parent Notifications
Game of Hope-1/17
HOOPSfest-1/17
Photo in National Exhibit
Regional Art Winners
MJHS Registration
Holiday Giving Recap
Winter Musical Coming Soon
Interior Designs for New Schools
High School Principal Search
Seipelt Property Goes to Miami Twp
WHACK the flu!

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Calendar

   
January
19
NO SCHOOL
Martin Luther King Day
20Kindergarten Registration Begin
22Board of Education Meeting
Pattison Elementary
7 p.m.

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Winter Weather Message from Dr. Farrell

It looks as if we are in store for another tough winter. Making the call to close or delay school is a decision we make based on many factors. Our district encompasses 31 square miles and multiple townships and the conditions of the roads can vary in each of these areas. We have staff on the roads assessing conditions as early as 3:30 a.m. and communicating with both city and county officials. Milford consults with other area school districts as part of the decision-making process. Radar and weather forecasts are taken into consideration. We also take into account the wind chill factor because we are aware that students wait at the bus stop or walk to school.  

 

With our staff and student safety at the forefront, we are committed to making the best possible decision with the information we have in the early morning hours. When possible we can make the call in the evening, but overnight weather conditions can vary from the forecast. My goal is to reach a decision about a potential delay or closing no later than 5:30 a.m.

 

Please make sure each child is dressed appropriately for this extreme weather. Dress children in several layers of clothing. If they get too warm, they can remove one layer at a time.

 

Thank your for your patience and understanding as we work together to ensure our students' safety and help them to have a successful school year.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Farrell

Kindergarten Registration Begins Jan. 20

Full-time kindergarten to be offered for first time

 

Kindergarten registration for Milford Exempted Village School District begins on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.  The district is beginning kindergarten registration early this year to facilitate the planning of our kindergarten classes for the 2015-16 school year which, for the first time, will include a full-time kindergarten tuition option.

 

To schedule your appointment to register your child for kindergarten, contact Jay Batterson at (513) 576-4178.  Registration will take place at the Milford EVSD Board of Education Office at 777 Garfield Avenue.

 

At the registration appointment, parents must bring a completed registration packet and several documents. The registration packet and a list of the documents needed can be found on the district website at www.milfordschools.org under the Central Registration department. Answers to frequently asked questions can also be found at this link on the website. In addition, registration packets can be picked up at any of the Milford elementary schools' main offices.

 

Beginning in 2015-16, the district plans to hold one full-day, tuition-based kindergarten class in each of the elementary buildings. Based on the anticipated demand and limited space, a lottery will be held if needed. Interested parents, who are residents of Milford, can register for the lottery beginning on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 and ending on Friday, February 27, 2015.  

 

Click here for the kindergarten registration flyer.

Board Names President and Vice President

Sets Meeting Dates for 2015

 

January is School Board Recognition Month and this year's theme is "School boards strengthen public education." Our board members work diligently to help us achieve success for all students. We will publicly thank and recognize each board member at the regular meeting to be held on January 22.


 
On January 8, the Milford Board of Education held it organizational meeting and named Mrs. Andrea Brady as President for 2015 and Mr. Gary Knepp as Vice President for the year. 


The following regular meeting dates and locations were also set for 2015. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and also televised via ICRC. The link to the recorded meetings can be found on our website at www.milfordschools.orgBoard member emails are also located on the website and the public is invited to share any comments, questions, or areas of concern via email or attend the meetings. Each meeting has two opportunities for public participation.


 

 2015 BOE Meeting Dates

January 22, 2015 
February 19, 2015 
March 19, 2015 
April 16, 2015 
May 21, 2015 
June 18, 2015 
July 16, 2015 
August 20, 2015 
September 17, 2015 
October 15, 2015 
November 19, 2015
December 17, 2015
Pattison Elementary
Meadowview Elementary
Seipelt Elementary
Mulberry Elementary
McCormick Elementary
Milford HS-Auditorium
Milford HS-Auditorium
Milford HS-Auditorium
Boyd E. Smith Elementary
Milford HS-Auditorium
Meadowview Elementary
Milford JHS - Cafeteria

Calamity Days Reminders By Building

Although the district will not be using the "Blizzard Bag" approach this year, unless we use an excessive amount of calamity days, we are concerned with students keeping up with their instructional objectives. On calamity days, we will be sending email messages home via School Messenger to remind students and parents to check Schoology, Progress Book and school email accounts for information from their classroom teachers. The share.milfordschools.org page has PreK-2 internet activities under the Education Links column for your child and you to access together.

Notifications via School Messenger

As a reminder, our School Messenger system will deliver any delay or closing messages via phone, text and email each morning, no earlier than 5 a.m.  We also post this information on our website at milfordschools.org, on Facebook (Milford_Schools) and Twitter(@Milford_Schools) as soon as the decision is made. If you are not receiving these messages, please contact your child's school. 

 

In the near future, you will receive instructions on how to login to a parent portal that will enable you to make changes to which numbers and emails you would like your snow delay and closing information to be sent. 

Milford Hosts Game of Hope to Benefit Lauren Hill's Foundation

 

A girls' basketball game on Saturday, January 17, between Milford and Turpin - dubbed the "Game of Hope" - will benefit The Cure Starts Now and Lauren Hill, the Mount St. Joseph University basketball player who has raised more than $1 million in donations as she battles DIPG - a rare and terminal form of brain cancer.

 

The game will start at 2 p.m. at Milford High School. Activities also will include a #Layup4Lauren Challenge from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., pregame recognition for cancer survivors, a limited supply of "Game of Hope" T-shirts sold for $10, ribbons (to be displayed in the school lobby) sold for $1 to honor individuals, a raffle and split the pot.

 

Those who attend are asked to wear purple out of respect for the fight against cancer. All donations will benefit The Cure Starts Now.

Boys Basketball Holds Annual HOOPSfestThe Milford boys basketball program will host its HoopsFest fundraiser on Saturday, January 17, at Milford High School cafeteria beginning at 6:30 p.m.


There will be numerous door prizes, a free throw challenge and silent auction. Cost is $50 for a 1 in 500 chance at the $5,000 grand prize, a chance at door prizes and a meal for two.

 

See a high school or junior high basketball player or contact Linda Gaible in Athletic Department at 576-2208 to purchase a ticket.

Student Photo Selected for National Exhibit

Congratulations to Milford High School sophomore Mollie Baker, whose photograph above was selected as Top 100 in the Drexel University high school photography contest exhibition. She is one of only four students representing Ohio, and her work was chosen from more than 1,200 entries! Mollie's photograph, "Young Music" will go on to compete for top prizes and will hang in Drexel's Philadelphia photography gallery from February 7 through March 6, 2015.

Milford's 2015 Scholastic Art Winners...

Congratulations to our Milford High School students who earned recognition in the annual 2015 Regional Scholastic Art competition. Milford boasted six Gold Key winners, 10 Silver Keys and 17 Honorable Mentions! Gold key winners will move on to the National Scholastics competition in March. Locally, students will be honored on January 30, 2015 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.

 

The winning artwork from the region will be on exhibit at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson Street, in OTR, January 23-February 6.  Exhibition hours can be found at www.artmachineinc.org.


 
Click here to see the list of Milford Scholastic Art Winners.


Pictured: C
olored pencil drawing titled "Champion" by Miranda Kunes (Gold Key winner).

MJHS Registration for Next Year

 

It's not too early to think about next school year! Milford Junior High School begins the registration/transition process the week of January 19, 2015. Administrators and counselors will meet with current 6th and 7th graders during the school day over the next few weeks. The junior high will also be holding parent meetings at the times and locations listed below. Feel free to attend any session that is convenient. The presentation will include important dates, transition to a new grade level, course offerings, activities and more! 

6th to 7th Parent Meeting Dates:

McCormick- January 28 at 6 p.m.
Boyd E. Smith- January 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Meadowview- February 2 at 6 p.m.
Seipelt- February 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Pattison- February 5 at 6 p.m.
Mulberry- February 5 at 7:30 p.m.

7th to 8th Parent Meeting Date:

February 5- Milford Junior High School Gym at 6 and 7 p.m.

8th -9th Registration Process: Coming this spring.

Holiday Giving Recap...

The holidays are over and we are back to our routines, but it's not too late to recognize the wonderful giving by our staff and students this past holiday season. Thank you to the support of our Milford families and community in these efforts. 

 

Here's just a sampling of holiday giving in our schools...

 

McCormick Elementary 6th graders decorated 500 chocolate covered pretzels, bagged them and attached personalized holiday messages. The treats were handed out to the 250 families being served by Milford Miami Ministry.
  • MHS Student Council collected 30 bags of supplies for the Blitz for Brayden campaign to be sent on his church's annual mission trip to Uganda.
  • Milford Junior High School's "Giving Tree" helped eight families and 21 children.
  • Pattison students in the club Children for Change collected hats, gloves and mittens.
  • Raffle tickets at Pattison's Pancake Breakfast and all proceeds went to Kevin Morrison.
  • Preschool staff participated in the DECA Giving Tree and volunteered at the annual Miami Township Shop with a Cop Program.
  • Seipelt students made holiday cards for local businesses and organizations, district offices, departments, and officials that show support to our school community throughout the year.  Some grade level buddies wrote holiday wishes to troops overseas this week as their monthly character focus is kindness.  
  • Seipelt staff sponsored four families for our Giving Tree.
  • Mulberry staff and students collected 30 full boxes of food items to help fill Milford Miami Ministry Christmas pantries. 
  • Through Mulberry's annual Giving Tree, staff and community partners (Texas Roadhouse, Eastside Church and Petermann-Milford Transportation) provided Christmas presents and other needed items for 30 of our students and their family members. 
  • Mulberry second grade students participated in a drive for Christmas Child.  They were able to send 46 boxes of toys and hygiene items to children who live in impoverished areas around the world. 
  • For the sixth consecutive year, Milford High School Spanish Club adopted four Hispanic families through Su Casa. 
  • Milford High School's Key Club has been working with other area Key Clubs to collect book bags to send to Haiti. 
  • Through their holiday "Giving Tree," Meadowview Elementary gave toys, clothes, shoes, coats, etc. to 80 Meadowview students in need.
  • Boyd E. Smith students raised more than $1,800 and donated 151 pies for holiday meals to families served by St. Vincent DePaul and Milford Miami Ministries.
Milford Drama to Present Winter Musical

Interior Designs Proposed for New Schools

SHP Leading Design gave a presentation to the December Board meeting with the latest design updates for the new elementary schools. SHP shared that the floor plan and outside will be identical for both buildings, but once you are inside each building they will have their own identity. Based on community engagement, the design team has come up with individual interior design recommendations.

 

The theme of the new Boyd E. Smith will follow the school's slogan, "The BESt place to grow" and will have a theme of "earth-trees-growth." The students voted on their favorite woodland creatures, which will be featured throughout the buildings with warm and earthy colors. The design for Seipelt, based on their theme "Soar at Seipelt," will be inspired by "Air-Sky-Soaring" with colors based on the sky and sunsets.

Inspirational quotations selected by teachers will be featured throughout the school.

 

Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation of the interior designs.

Milford High School Principal Search

At the end of the 2014-15 school year, Milford High School Principal Mark Lutz has chosen to return to the classroom and coaching. The district has actively begun a search for a new high school principal. The position has been posted and will remain open until January 30, 2015. A committee process will be used to screen, interview and select potential candidates by early April.  

Seipelt Property transferred to 

Miami Townshp


In a few years, the site of the Seipelt Elementary will become greenspace. At the December Board of Education meeting, the Board approved a resolution authorizing the transfer of the Seipelt property on Cromley Drive to Miami Township for $1. According to Milford Superintendent, Dr. Robert Farrell, the Board had attempted to sell Seipelt via public auction, then private sale and no successful bids or offers were received. The building will be demolished with funds from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.

 

"We feel this is the best use for the property and a great addition to the township to benefit the residents of Miami Township. This land belongs to the taxpayers and is returning to them," he said.

 

Miami Township Trustee, Karl Schultz and Administrator, Larry Fronk were present to accept the transfer. Mr. Schultz shared that the Seipelt property will be used for recreational purposes only. The property will officially change hands in January 2017.

 

Miami Township will be discussing plans for the property and approving the transfer at its next meeting held on January 20, at 7:00 pm at the Civic Center on Meijer Drive.  The public is welcome to attend this public meeting.

WHACK the Flu!

We are still seeing cases of Influenza across our district. If your student is diagnosed with Influenza (type A or type B), please inform your school nurse and keep your child home from school for at least 24 hours after their fever (above 100�F) is gone. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.