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Blue Devil eNews

Reading Community City School District | April 2021

Blue DevileNewsReading Community City School District | April 2021

Graduation is Almost Here

It’s almost time for the Class of 2021 to collect their diplomas! We will be celebrating our student accomplishments over the next few weeks with events like the Top 10 Ceremony, National Honor Society Induction, and Honors Convocation.


Graduation will take place in person, at Veterans Memorial Stadium, thanks to a great partnership between the District and the City of Reading. The outdoor venue will allow our graduates to celebrate this special moment surrounded by more family members - something that would not have been possible at an indoor venue with COVID capacity restrictions. Graduation takes place Wednesday, May 26 at 7:00 pm, with a rain date of Thursday, May 27.


Thank you to Mayor Bemmes and the rest of the City of Reading administration for helping make this possible for our families!

Financial Learning Series

Our district financial learning series continued this month, with another Community Forum. Treasurer Colette Lewis discussed the district finances, budgeting, the five-year forecast, and the federal pandemic relief funds. You can review the presentation here.

Sign-up Now for Summer Jump Start

Now is the time to make your plans to participate in our Summer Jump Start program. Students in K-8 families across the district can spend some time on campus this summer and take advantage of a program of learning opportunities. This school year has been full of ups and downs - this is your student’s opportunity to make sure they start the next school year strong! The Summer Jump Start will take place July 19-August 5 and focus on English Language Arts and Math. Registration will remain open until April 23. Sign up here.

In-Person Board Meetings

Beginning with the meeting on Wednesday, April 21, the Reading Community City School District Board of Education will be holding meetings with spectators/participants in person. This means that community members will be able to attend meetings but capacity is limited because of state health orders. We will continue to stream and archive our meetings on YouTube to give all of our community members a chance to be informed and engaged with your Reading Schools.

Reading Fire Department Appreciation

During the Wednesday, April 21 Board Meeting, the District will show its thanks to the Reading Fire Department for assisting with the recent school staff vaccine clinic. By working with the department, staff members were vaccinated without disruption to the school day, students, and families. Fire Chief Todd Owens will be presented a plaque to show the District’s appreciation to the entire Reading Fire Department for their help. Thank you, Reading Fire Department!

Community Chats

This has been a school year full of changes, and whenever there are changes, there are questions. We are here to keep you informed! Superintendent Jason Enix and Treasurer Colette Lewis continue their series of Community Chats. Stop in for a few minutes to learn more about what makes your Reading Community City School District great, and get your questions answered. The Community Chats are scheduled at a variety of times to try to accommodate as many people as possible. The next chat is Monday, April 19 at Koenig Park at 9 am. Check out the full schedule under “Important Dates” below, and sign-up here.

Open Enrollment

Have friends or family members who want to become Blue Devils? Open enrollment is now underway for new students interested in joining Reading Community City Schools. Open enrollment continues through May 14 and additional information can be found here.

Kindergarten Registration

If your child will be five years old by September 30, 2021, it’s time to start thinking about Kindergarten! We look forward to welcoming them to campus in the fall. Kindergarten registration is now underway. Families interested in kindergarten for the 2021-2022 school year can begin the process here.

Bring Your Best for State Tests

State testing is underway and we want our students to do their very best. Help your students show what they know by making sure they are prepared. When our students are well-rested, on time, and have had a healthy breakfast they can do their best work. Please remember your Chromebooks!

Reading Middle School Update

AIR Testing:

AIR testing began this week at RMS. Our staff and students worked hard to prepare for this year's assessments. We had remote students join us in person this week so that they could participate in the testing. I am really proud of the effort put forth by our students. These tests tell us how well our students are growing in the knowledge and skills they are learning. AIR testing helps to guide and strengthen future teaching so we can be sure that we are preparing our students for long-term success in school, college, careers, and life.


Third Quarter Character Award Winners:

Congratulations to our Third Quarter Character Award winners. These Remote and In-person students were voted on by their peers because they represent the Blue Devil Way by demonstrating Kindness to others. Their names were announced during our Staff vs. Students event on March 26th right before spring break.

6th Grade

Tallie Mages

Blessing Kasipe

7th Grade

Layla Walz

Lorena Zander

8th Grade

Maddie Clay & Aubrey Giffin

Ivan Palmer


March Students of the Month:

Congratulations to these students who were nominated by their teachers as our March Students of the Month. These Remote and In-person students displayed excellent work, effort, and attitude inside and out of the classroom each day. We announced all student names throughout this week.

6th Grade

Tallie Mages

Nicholas Simpson

Truman Gentry

Diana Compres-Vallecillo

7th Grade

Cole Marksberry

Charlie Spatz

Jocelyn Hernandez

Jacob Cahill

8th Grade

Jason Ferguson

Shiloh Evans

Nathan Kite

Chelsie Drake

Finding Vaccine Appointments

Hamilton County Public Health has a few tips on how to get access to the COVID-19 vaccine. They recommend you download the “Armor Vax” app on your phone, which you can find through their website HCPH.org. This will help you find an open vaccine appointment. Hamilton County Public Health has also produced this video to walk you through the sign-up process.


Hamilton County Public Health is also working with the website HiDrB.com to help connect people with stand-by appointments via text message.


Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is approved for teens ages 16-17, and both ArmorVax and HiDrB.com will help you search for an appointment suitable for patients of any age.

Student Wellness Corner: Spring into a Growth Mindset

This simple idea was discovered by a world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck in decades of research on achievement and success.


In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. They’re wrong.


In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.


Teaching a growth mindset creates motivation and productivity in the worlds of business, education, and sports. Although instilling a growth mindset in students will take some time, it will pay off in the long run!


Learn more about growth mindset and explore ways to help expand both your student and your own mindset.

RHS Counselor Corner

  • Counselors are wrapping up scheduling selections for the 2021-2022 school year. If you have not met with your counselor in person or online, please contact us right away! Mrs. Eisenhard (reisenhard@readingschools.org) works with 9-12 grade students with last names A-K. Mrs. Bemmes (tbemmes@readingschools.org) works with 9-12 grade students with last names L-Z. If you are currently in grades 8-11 they will assist you with scheduling.

  • Interim reports for the 4th quarter will be sent home with students Friday, April 23. That means we only have 5 weeks left of the 2020-2021 school year. Let's finish strong Blue Devils!

  • PROM! The prom will be Friday, April 23 at Sharonville Convention Center. Tickets are now on sale for Juniors and Seniors. For more information check your email or contact Mrs. Kelly - kkelly@readingschools.org.

  • End of Course testing will begin Wednesday, April 28, and continue through Wednesday, May 12. All students testing will be required to test in person at school. Schedules will be sent out prior to test days.

  • The National Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be Thursday, April 29. Invitations will be sent out by Ms. Jacobs.

  • MANDATORY Senior Meeting will be Tuesday, May 4 at 7:30 AM at the high school. All Seniors (including those at Great Oaks) must attend! Caps and gowns will be distributed and information regarding Graduation will be covered.

  • Honors Convocation for Seniors will be Wednesday, May 5. Seniors will be recognized for scholarships and other awards. If you have been sent financial offers from colleges, even if you do not plan to attend there, please get a copy to Mrs. Bell or Mrs. Eisenhard in Guidance as soon as possible.

  • AP exams will begin Wednesday, May 5. If you are unsure about when you test, please see your AP course teacher.

  • Senior presentations will be on Friday, May 14. All other students will be on a two-hour delay schedule that day.