Little Miami E-News

This week is Staff Appreciation Week at Little Miami and we want to say THANK YOU to all of our Panther staff members who make our mission to educate and grow all of our students possible!

From our Transportation Team to teaching staff, nurses, food services professionals, secretaries, maintenance staff, nurses, administrators, and everyone in between - the work that each of you do every day matters! THANK YOU!

The great news keeps coming! We are so thrilled to announce that Mrs. Marla Timmerman will become the next Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, pending Board approval this month. Marla is a true advocate for the needs of our students and is a phenomenal educator with years of leadership experience.

Mrs. Timmerman explains that her passion for her work comes from, “When I walk into classrooms, I so enjoy seeing engaged students having fun with the content! I look forward to getting into buildings and classrooms to positively impact instruction in my new role as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.”

We cannot wait to see all that Mrs. Timmerman and incoming Superintendent Regina Morgan will accomplish together! What an exciting time to be a Panther.

Click here to read the full announcement.

Great news as we start the week! Little Miami High School has been recognized by Project Lead the Way (PLTW) as a “Distinguished STEM School.” LMHS is one of 262 high schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW’s computer science, engineering, and biomedical pathways.

The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, LMHS had to meet the following criteria:

• 25 percent of students or more participate in PLTW courses, or of those who participated in PLTW, at least 33 percent took two or more PLTW courses;
• Offer and had students enrolled in at least three PLTW courses;
• Have strategies in place that support reasonably proportional representation with regard to race, ethnicity, poverty, and/or gender.

Congratulations Little Miami High School and Warren County Career Center, especially program instructor, Julianna Thomas!

Digital Media Arts 2 Episode 9 of The Panther Show.

In this episode students take a look at the Loveland Castle, meet the new track coaches, host a sandwich competition, and more!

The following is an important message from Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell’s Office regarding threats made by students. This message is intended for all families of Warren County school districts. While it is lengthy, its clear message is important for all to know and understand.

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The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office has prosecuted over 50 cases over the past four years involving school-related threats towards teachers, students, and school facilities themselves. These threats have come in various forms including verbal, notes, writings on restroom walls, social media postings, and actual possession of weapons on school grounds. Fortunately, law enforcement determined that most of these threats had not developed beyond the making of the threatening statements. However, in all of these incidents, a significant amount of law enforcement resources was expended to investigate the seriousness of each threat.

Neither the school districts nor law enforcement has a clear way of distinguishing between a credible threat, a troubled student simply acting out, or a “bad joke.” As the recent shooting at Richneck Elementary in Virginia (where a 6-year-old boy shot his teacher) demonstrates, these incidents can happen anywhere, at any time, with any age student. Therefore, the school districts and law enforcement must treat each threat as if the safety of all students is at risk. In doing so, the education of our students is put on hold, and law enforcement personnel are pulled away from their daily efforts to keep our community safe.

For these reasons, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office treats threats of school-related violence very seriously. Charges against the aforementioned juveniles have included inducing panic (school grounds), illegal conveyance of weapons (school grounds), making false alarms, which are misdemeanor and felony-level offenses. The protocol that our office has recommended to all Warren County law enforcement agencies is that a juvenile who is discovered engaging in this type of conduct will be charged with a felony-level offense. The juvenile will be immediately arrested and taken to Warren County Juvenile Detention Center, where the Court will hold the child until mental health professionals are able to conduct a risk assessment on the juvenile. Additionally, if found guilty of the offense(s), our office is recommending a sentence of at least 90 days in the Juvenile Detention Center, in addition to whatever discipline the school district issues. This policy will be enforced regardless of whether the threat is subsequently determined to be credible, or simply a bad joke.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation for our local school districts, their administration, teachers, and staff for their efforts to address situations involving threats against schools. In these cases, our school districts’ personnel really are the “first responders.”

As a parent myself of school-aged children, I understand each parent’s apprehension when these types of incidents occur, and their desire to quickly obtain information from the school district. With today’s technology, students are able to relay to their parents in real-time that “something” is happening, without knowing the complete facts. Parents are always going to receive these communications more quickly than they will receive communication from the school districts, and that information is typically relayed via social media instantaneously.

Please note that in the few minutes after a threat is received, the school districts’ first priorities are (1) ensuring the safety of all students; and (2) assisting law enforcement with our investigative efforts to ascertain the culprit and eliminate any ongoing safety issues. As soon thereafter as possible, the school districts will then notify parents with current, accurate information as to what is occurring. Quick communication with parents is a goal, but it cannot come at the expense of the first priority in those few moments after a threat is made, which is to protect the children who might be at risk.

-Prosecutor David P. Fornshell

Despite significant student enrollment growth over the last ten years, LM has strategically stretched out the funds generated by the passage of the 2011 Emergency Levy for more than ten years. This funding represents one-fifth of LM’s total operating budget and is a vital piece of the district’s financial health. These funds were renewed in November 2020.

However, with continued enrollment growth and increased demand for student supports, a request for new funds will need to be made of the community in the near future.

Ohioans are able to register to vote online, by mail, or in person. Click here for more information about voter registration. LM understands the importance of voting and has opportunities for LMHS students to register at school. LMHS hosts registration opportunities during lunch throughout the year to register and utilizes time during Government class to assist eligible & interested students. The front office at LMHS has Voter Registration Forms available for members of the public who are interested.

Voter Registration Deadlines

• July 10, 2023 for the August 8, 2023 Special Election
• October 10, 2023 for the November 7, 2023 General Election

DID YOU KNOW? By the age of three, a child’s brain is already 80% developed, and, by the time a child enters kindergarten, they must already know thousands of words in order to succeed in the classroom. Reading aloud to a child and giving them access to books is the best way to ensure they are prepared to enter kindergarten.

The Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library wants to start a new chapter in early childhood literacy throughout Ohio by providing families with books. With the goal of preparing students entering Kindergarten for success in the classroom, the Imagination Library program will send a customized book to your child each month from birth until age five. Sign up is easy and FREE! Give your Panther the gift of reading & enroll today.

Learn more about the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library and its partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

View a Book List

You are not alone. Do you need help now?

Text the keyword “4hope” to 741 741 to be connected to a trained Crisis Counselor within 5 minutes.

Any person may need help in coping with a stressful situation. Reach out by text to communicate with someone trained to listen and respond in a method that is private, secure and confidential.

The Crisis Text Line is a free, confidential service available 24/7 via text on mobile devices. Data usage while texting Crisis Text Line is free and the number will not appear on a phone bill with the mobile service carrier. People of all ages can use Crisis Text Line.

For more information about the Crisis Text Line and for supporting resources, please visit the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services website.

May 15th-17th: Senior Exams

May 18th: Senior Makeup Checkout Day

• Grades 6-8 Choir Concert - 7 PM

May 19th: Graduation Practice

May 21st: Class of 2023 Graduation @ Wright State Nutter Center 6 PM

May 22nd-25th: 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip

May 23rd-25th: LMHS Exams

May 23rd: Board of Education Meeting - 7 PM

May 25th: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Full District Calendar

Email: communications@lmsdoh.org
Website: littlemiamischools.com
Location: 95 E. U.S. 22 & 3
Phone: 513-899-2264
Facebook: facebook.com/littlemiamilocalschools
Twitter: @LM_Schools