Director of Business and Technology Mrs. Christy Fielding and Xenia High School Graduate Megan O’Rourke (WDTN Channel 2) discuss the safety features in the New Elementary Buildings in the Xenia Schools. Safety and Security of our students and staff is our number one priority. Thank you Meagan, we are very proud of you.
In the Xenia Community Schools, we remain constant and vigilant in our efforts to protect our students and staff. Safety and security is our highest priority. Policies and procedures were strictly followed and implemented today at Xenia High School and responsible planning led to the decision to call for a two-hour delay on May 23, 2013 (tomorrow).
Today, information was reported to the Xenia High School administration regarding a bomb threat. The contents of the threat were specific to Thursday, May 23, 2013. The XHS Administration and the School Resource Officer immediately began to address the issue. The investigation was led by Principal, Mr. Ted Holop.
The threat was reported to a teacher by a student around 10:30 a.m. The threat (specific to XHS on 5-23-13) was written on the back of a girls’ bathroom stall door. The teacher informed the high school administration immediately. Administration confirmed the threat, took pictures, and started the investigation. The Xenia police department was notified through the school resource officer. Mr. Holop informed the Superintendent of Schools
The investigation continued through the end of the day and is on-going. At this time, no person can be definitely connected to the threat. The Xenia Police will have extra patrols at Xenia High School throughout the night. The XHS faculty played a role in the investigation and was given an update at the end of the day.
The building will have a complete sweep prior to any students entering the building tomorrow morning. A plan has been established to have extra security in the morning and throughout the day.
Teachers and administration will have a strong presence in the hallways during the day to assure the safety of the students and staff. The building has already undergone additional safety measures that will support tomorrow’s effort. All doors remain locked throughout each school day. The building may be accessed by visitors through the main door only. Security cameras in all areas of the building are monitored continuously. Hall passes will only be used by students on an emergency basis.
Again, on Thursday morning, police and the administration will sweep the building to ensure the safety of all of the students and staff.
Transportation schedules and routes do not allow for a two-hour delay for secondary schools with elementary schools remaining on a regular school day. Therefore, all Xenia School Buildings are on a two-hour delay schedule for Thursday, May 23, 2013.
If we have further details that will be a benefit to parents and to the community, we will release those details immediately.
Adrienne Lewis’ 4th graders at Arrowood Elementary made banners in support of XAYP (Xenia Area Youth Professionals) fundraiser for Xenia Schools PBiS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) m program. XAYP raised money from a recent corn hole tournament in support of these programs in our schools.
Pictured with a group of Arrowood 4th graders are XAYP members Blair Montgomery, Chrissy Roundtree and Adrienne Lewis
Pictured are fourth grade students at Tecumseh participating in the field testing of (MAP), Measures of Academic Progress, an online assessment published by the Northwest Evaluation Association. These students answered multiple choice and extended response items in the area of reading. They will also be field testing in the areas of writing and math. Fifth grade students completed their testing last week.
The Xenia Community Schools will be adopting the NWEA/MAP assessment program during the 2013-2014 school year.The assessments will be used to monitor the academic progress of each student. MAP will also serve as an instructional tool, allowing each teacher to provide specially designed instruction based upon the needs and learning levels of their students.
fter extensive consideration of this topic, the district leadership team/RttT transformation team (DLT/TT) has voted to adopt the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measure of Academic Progress (MAP). A non-profit agency with 30 years in developing the assessment, NWEA has hand-aligned each of their questions to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). MAP also received the highest marks on ODE’s vendor approved list and is one of the few vendors that can provide a true, reliable value-added score. Studies have found a correlation of MAP and OAA scores of over 92%. In fact, we are not alone in this decision in Ohio; over 250 Ohio local education agencies are coming on with MAP for next year as well.
The MAP assessment is adaptive, adjusting to the level of the student with each question answered, computer-based, interactive, and aligned to CCSS. MAP boasts a robust data reporting system that will yield multiple data on each student for each test. MAP will be given three times during the school year: fall, winter, and spring. The assessment will cover the areas of language arts (K-12), mathematics (K-12), and science (6-10). MAP can replace the need for other assessments such as screening measures related to the 3rd grade guarantee, DIBELS, and Terra-Nova tests related to reading, math and science. Due to its ability to function as a replacement for many tests, MAP will allow us to be intentional, definitive, and protective of instructional time regarding our assessment practices. Xenia will have a team of 40 administrators and teachers throughout the district, representing each school, trained in proctoring the test and interpreting MAP data.
First grade students at Shawnee learn about research using Ohio’s New Learning standards. Students learned how to use reources from books and the Internet to locate information. Students then used their research to write an informational report about their topic. This great educational effort is taking place in Mrs. Moffitt’s First Grade classroom.
First grade students at Shawnee in Mrs. Pelfrey’s class learn how to write informational text while including illustrations and charts to clarify meaning for readers! Working with informational text in depth (at a grade level appropriate pace) is an essential component of Ohio’s New Learning Standards.
Board of Education member Lee Rose and Superintendent Dr. Deb Piotrowski recognize Xenia Resident, Phyllis Nickoson for her efforts in securing new flags for every classroom in the new elementary buildings. Mrs. Nickoson made it possible for a new American Flag to be placed in every new classroom in the Xenia Community Schools. She organized a effort to fund the project and personally followed through to see that there would be new classroom flags and large pole flags on display at each new building.
For her efforts, the Xenia Board of Education awarded her a pride certificate for making the partnership between school and community and reality. Mrs. Nickoson shared her recognition with Lt. Jeff Bruggeman of the Xenia Firefighter’s Union who was also in attendance at the Board meeting. The firefighter’s union made a gift of $1,000 to push the porject over the top.
Mrs. Nickoson is a 1946 graduate of Xenia High School. She is currently the President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 95. Mrs. Nickoson was inducted into the Xenia Community Schools Hall of Honor on Feb.21, 2009. She is a longtime member of BPW and Rebekah Lodge. She received the Sertoma Club’s Service to Mankind Award in 1979.
Thank you, Phyllis for your dedication to the Xenia Community and the Xenia Schools across many, many years.
Last week, 120 Warner M.S. 8th graders traveled to the nations capital and had the opportunity to tour and learn about things like the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the National Archives. This trip was an extension of the curriculum taught in their 8th grade American History classes. Pictured in front of the Capitol building from Left to Right are Ally Landis, Jodi Collier, Hannah Propes, and Kaylee Mossbarger
Preparing for the OAA tests is more than academics. Because they know that student motivation is directly related to student success, 5th grade teachers, Mr. McKinley and Mrs. Latimer, ask for letters of encouragement from parents and caregivers. A note explaining the reason and some tips of things they might include went home with parents before the tests. As the letters poured in, they were posted in the hallway, for the students to see during testing week. Mrs. Latimer explained that sometimes a little bit of extra encouragement goes a long way toward easing the students’ test taking anxiety.
The Xenia High School/Greene County FFA Chapter was recognized by the Xenia Community School’s Board of Education at the May 13, 2013 Board of Education meeting. The FFA Chapter was recognized for having a great year including the following accomplishments:
Pictured above: Superintendent Dr. Deb Piotrowski, Teacher/Advisor Ms. Shalie Terrill, Rebekah Jones, Senior, Kaylee Thornhill, Senior, Sarah Young, Junior, and Board of Education member Mrs. Lee Rose.
