Revised Version

 October 30, 2009

Dear Friends of Cincinnati Public Schools,

For example, Oyler has expanded into a high school and created an online program to help former dropouts gain their diplomas, in response to a very low graduation rate among students in the school’s predominantly Appalachian neighborhood. Oyler also features a vibrant and supportive Community Learning Center with partners who focus on improving student achievement by providing enrichment and addressing barriers to learning, including health issues. Later that day, State Superintendent Delisle and Mr. Schloemer visited another wonderful CPS school, Dater Montessori.

CPS Student Musicians Invited to White House

It’s music to my ears: Twelve extraordinary CPS students who are classical musicians have been invited to the White House next week to perform and to participate in master classes with world-renowned virtuosos. The students — 11 from the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) and one from Walnut Hills High School — are among a select number of students nationwide chosen for this event, initiated by First Lady Michelle Obama to highlight arts education and various musical genres. Read the full news release.

Making “Green” History

Pleasant Ridge Montessori is in the record books as the first public elementary school in Ohio to be officially certified as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver building. Representatives of the U.S. Green Building Council and the architectural firm that designed the school building, SHP Leading Design, presented a glass award marking this achievement at the October 26 Board meeting. Congratulations to all involved in this wonderful partnership, especially to the committed Pleasant Ridge parents and community members who blazed the trail for what our Board of Education later decided would be the standard for all future new CPS schools. Ohio is quickly becoming home to many of the “greenest” public schools in the nation, and CPS is leading the way!

Hughes STEM Grant

H1N1 Vaccine

Our first two-plus weeks of school-based clinics to administer the H1N1 vaccines have gone smoothly, thanks to our partnership with the Cincinnati Health Department and great support from our school staffs and volunteers. Arranging the clinics has been a huge logistical challenge, so kudos to everyone contributing to make this important opportunity operate as well as possible. Read more information about H1N1.

Eat Right, Beat the Flu

It’s not a guarantee you won’t get sick, but healthy eating can help ward off the flu and colds that too often are an unfortunate part of life this time of year. Our partners in the “do right” campaign at the Center for Closing the Health Gap of Greater Cincinnati, which works with our schools to combat childhood obesity, have helped put together some tips on staying healthy during cold and flu season.

Election Day

Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day, and there are many important issues and races to be determined. Please exercise your right to vote!

I CAN Cincinnati

Don't miss another chance to vote — this time for Cincinnati's video entry in the national "Cash for Cans" contest sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Novelis Corporation and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. The winner will bring in $5,000 for local recycling efforts. Careful viewers may recognize Fairview-Clifton German Language School’s  Principal Karen Mulligan in the video. Voting is going on at Cans4Cash.net and will continue through Saturday, October 31. This link contains the YouTube video, but it may need to be accessed via a home computer to be viewed.

Thank you for all you do to support our students, schools and district.  We are getting better every day, and your partnership is a big part of our progress! 

Best regards,

Mary A. Ronan, Superintendent