“We teamed up with Mrs. Prather and Mrs. Steele’s math class to work on the project,” explained Kari King, LES third grade math teacher. “In the morning, we collect the cans and put them into rows of 10. After we sort the types of foods into categories, we put the cans in bags of 10; once we have 10 bags of 10, we create a bag of 100.”

The numbers are adding up – into the thousands. While their methods differed, for all Loveland students, the mission was singular – to help. Across the Loveland school district, students brought in the food donations as part of a continued collaboration with L.I.F.E. Food Pantry. The Loveland students are assisting in the collection and distribution of donated food to feed 185 families this Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is the 12^th year students at Loveland have participated in the Pass-It-On food drive.

“This is a life lesson Loveland students have embraced for more than a decade, and I’m tremendously proud of what our students have accomplished in the partnership with L.I.F.E. Food Pantry’s Pass-It-On program,” said Dr. John Marschhausen, Loveland superintendent. “This is just one more example of the overwhelming good that can happen when the school and the community partner.”

LIS and LMS students began collecting food for the drive Monday, Nov. 5; the parade down Lebanon was a trip to walk the donated food to the L.I.F.E Food Pantry, which is located in Prince of Peace Church. Volunteers collected the items donated by the younger students. Organizers with L.I.F.E. manage the distribution to the families.

PTSA needs your help in collecting can goods for Pass it on this Friday.

“Our children are blessed to live in a community that provides exceptional learning opportunities,” said Marschhausen. “The true partnership between parents, teachers, extended families, our faith community, and youth organizations all demonstrate the investment and commitment to developing the whole child.”

Marschhausen unveiled a plan for advancing education in the district by incorporating blended learning and cutting-edge assessment testing.

“We will bring blended learning – the marriage of technology and instructional talent – to Loveland’s secondary students,” said Marschhausen. “Computers don’t replace our rock star teachers; computers provide these instructional leaders a larger platform on which to perform efficiently, effectively and with personalized instruction. This is a student-centered approach to learning that allows the district to utilize each teacher’s skills, talents and assets to the fullest.”

For those interested, a video of the complete presentation is available for viewing (see link below).

In a continued effort to understand the education needs of the community, the district currently has two surveys available for parents and students to utilize. These surveys will be available on the district website through December 14 (links included below).

Dr. Marschhausen also plans to host a series of “School House” meetings to offer the public an opportunity to get questions answered (dates and locations are listed below). In addition, Marschhausen will participate in a “Java Week” prior to Thanksgiving – setting up at Starbucks to chat with Loveland residents about the state of the district.

2012 State of Schools:

Click the link below to access a video of the 2012 State of the Schools presentation.

https://vimeo.com/53099324

Click here to view Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results provided by Fallon Research.

Click the following link to access the Loveland Parent Survey:

https://docs.google.com/a/lovelandschools.org/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFhObDl0YlpNR052MWVab183QUwtMUE6MQ#gid=0

Click the following link to access the Loveland Student Survey:

https://docs.google.com/a/lovelandschools.org/spreadsheet/viewform?pli=1&formkey=dHJ6TV9yaVpCWjFUaHF0aW1Hd0FROGc6MQ#gid=0

School House Meetings:

6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15 – Loveland High School Media Center

4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18 – Loveland Intermediate School Media Center

Java Week (Loveland Starbucks):

7 a.m. – 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 19

8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20

10 a.m. – Noon Wednesday, Nov. 21

Teachers will be posting this information on Progress Book or other online sites, but we wanted to be sure to reach as many families as possible without using paper flyers this year.

If your child attends LIS (5th/6th Gr.), please use his/her Homeroom teacher’s name to determine the food item.

If your child attends LMS (7th/8th Gr.), please use his/her First Bell teacher’s name to determine the food item.

Please keep in mind that while MOST food drives accept ANY types of donations, for the Pass-it-On drive, we are asked to supply items you may not normally keep at home.  We certainly would graciously accept other food donations, but, in order to complete the baskets for these families, we would like families to at least supply the food items listed by their children’s classroom teacher.  IF your family is able to help out, please be sure to pick up one or more of those items. 

Most classrooms are asked to get at least 1.5 items/student IF POSSIBLE, and some as many as 3/student, if it’s a less-expensive item like canned vegetables.  Some of our Loveland students’ families will receive baskets from L.I.F.E., so not all families can donate items.

Please direct any questions regarding this food drive to Lauren Aiello at laiello@cinci.rr.com.

Thank you SO much for your participation and generosity in this food drive.  It is so rewarding to see the Loveland community support other Loveland families every year for the holidays.

Lauren Aiello

Karen Burke

Pass-it-On Co-Chairs

In his work as a Loveland Middle School (LMS) seventh grade social studies teacher, Jeff Sharpless is known for placing kids on the theater platform as they perform skits they’ve written about historical events. But, Thursday, Nov. 1, it was Sharpless who took center stage as WLWT and Warm 98 teamed up to shock the teacher with the news he was nominated as a Teacher of the Week.

“He is very deserving,” said Chris Burke, LMS principal, “Mr. Sharpless is very much a student-centered teacher who loves to have an active classroom. His students conduct debates, mock trials and dress up and sing songs to bring ancient history alive.”

At this event, the students also found themselves in front of the camera to record a promotion for WLWT; the television station plans to broadcast the surprise announcement on the morning news show at 5:15 a.m. and again at 6:15 a.m. Warm 98 will also congratulate Sharpless on their morning talk show.

Modern Office Methods sponsors the Teacher of the Week program; selected teachers receive a plaque and gift certificate, while the class enjoys a pizza party courtesy Westshore Pizza.

“Mr. Sharpless has spent a career with Loveland – around 20 years – dedicating his life to educating students,” said Burke. “We are all excited he was selected to receive this honor.”