Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Andrea Conner

  • Resignations and building re-alignment mean big adjustments for Loveland Schools

    Resignations and building re-alignment mean big adjustments for Loveland Schools

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Several administrative staff resignations, including the resignation of former Superindant Dr. Amy Crouse, the re-arrangement of 1st grade classrooms, and additional full-day kindergarten opportunities will bring significant change to the Loveland City School District this Fall.

    Photo of Julie Carter
    Julie Carter will be the next principal of Loveland Intermediate School

    Julie Carter, will be the principal of Loveland Intermediate School beginning this fall. She is currently serving as the Assistant Principal and will be taking over for Garth Carlier, as he becomes the new Director of Human Resources for Loveland City Schools.

    Carlier will fill the position vacant because of the resignation of the current Director of Human Resources, Charles Ogdan who has been hired by the Mt. Healthy School District for a similar position.

    Garth Carlier is the current Principal of the Loveland Intermediate School and will become the new Director of Human Resources

    Superintendent Finalists announced

    CF Educational Solutions has been assisting the district in the search process for the next Superintendent. The District says they received broad interest in the position from across the country. Bradley Neavin was hired in January to lead the District after the resignation of Dr. Amy Crouse until a person could be hired to lead the District this Fall and into 2022.

    Crouse resigned last December and was hired as the founding Principal of the new Citizens of the World Charter Schools in Madisonville.

    The Board and members of a Community Advisory Group (CAG) were given a list of anonymous profiles to consider in a new Superintendent. They narrowed the list down to seven candidates who were interviewed by the Board in executive sessions this week. The Board and the Community Advisory Group also worked together on the interview format and questions to present to the candidates. The Community Advisory Group is made up of members of the Loveland community, district staff, and parents.

    A release by the District said the Board and the CAG reached “very similar conclusions about which candidates to interview.”

    A final pool of three caucasian, male candidates was released Wednesday afternoon to lead the outer-suburban Cincinnati school District and its all-White central office, school administrative team, and Board of Education. This announcement comes three weeks after the Board adopted a statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion. (Loveland City Schools adopt Statement on Diversity)

    The finalists are:

    The community is invited to a Virtual Community Engagement Session on Tuesday, May 18 at 6 PM. Each of the candidates will speak individually. The Board would like community members to submit questions for the candidates in advance of the meeting. Submit questions here.

    Information about access to the Virtual Community Engagement Session will be posted on the Loveland City Schools Board of Education webpage prior to the Tuesday, May 18 meeting. 

    In-Person Learning For Fall 

    The District has announced that due to a lack of interest “from our families” there will be no Remote Academy for the 2021-2022 school year.

    “In the months ahead, we will be watching for the latest state guidance on health and safety protocols and adapting as necessary. We will continue to accommodate students with special health concerns, as we have in prior years. Families with specific concerns should reach out to their building principal.” 

    Masking for Fall 

    The District said in a communication to parents that they have received several questions from parents about masking and other restrictions for the fall. The release said:

    “It is simply too soon for us to predict what will be expected; however, based on the communication from parents, we are working on a strategy to engage decision-makers at the state level for more specific guidance to ensure that our parents’ voices are heard.” 

    “At this point, Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health have not issued any new orders or guidance for how schools should operate during the 2021-2022 school year. DeWine has stated that when COVID cases drop to fewer than 50 per 100,000 people for two weeks, all health orders will be lifted across Ohio.” 

    “With increasing vaccination rates and lower case numbers, many things can change between now and the new school year in mid-August. We have been committed to providing a safe learning environment while supporting our students’ academic growth. We are hopeful that when we welcome students back after the summer break, everyone will be able to see the smiles on our faces.”

    Changes for Early Learners

    Loveland Early Childhood Center

    At the Board of Education meeting on April 20 the district announced that they will be implementing an additional full-day kindergarten section for the 2021-2022 school year. 

    Immediately after students leave for summer break, work will begin at LPS and LES to accommodate the changes. Some classroom spaces will be remodeled and modular units will be used for classrooms and additional office space. The District plans to maximize every available space in LPS and LES to serve students of the same grade level all in one location. 

    Changes include the implementation of an additional full-day kindergarten section at LECC. This change will allow the district to eliminate the current lottery system that is now used for assigning access to full-day or half-day kindergarten offerings. For the 2021-2022 school year, LECC will be offering 7 sections of full-day kindergarten and 6 sections of half-day kindergarten. 

    Tuition for full-day kindergarten for the 2021-2022 school year will be $385 per month.

    There will be a realignment of grades involving LECC and LPS. All of Loveland’s first-grade classrooms will be on the LPS campus beginning in the fall. Currently, there are first-graders at both LECC and LPS. After the realignment, the Head Start Program, our preschool, and our kindergarten students will all be together on the LECC campus, while our first and second-grade students will be together on the LPS campus. 

    Andrea Conner, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning said, “By bringing all of our first-grade students together on one campus, our first-grade staff will have more opportunities for a more collaborative approach in addressing the needs of our youngest learners while sharing valuable resources.” 

    Director of Student Services will leave

    Eric Dool

    Eric Dool, the Director of Student Services has announced that he will be taking another job. Dools job responsibilities included, Student Health and Wellness, Student Safety, Special Education and Related Services, Section 504 Accommodation PlansTitle I, Reading Intervention, English as a Second Language (ESL) – Title III,  Homelessness, and  Student Attendance. 

    New High School Principal

    Loveland High School
    Adam Reed

    Peggy Johnson announced her retirement at the end of January after 39 years in education and 6 years as Principal of Loveland High School (LHS).

    Thirty-nine-year-old Wyoming High School Principal, Adam Reed, who is entering his 17th year in education was recently announced as Johnson’s successor for the 2021-2022 school year. (Meet Adam Reed the next leader for Loveland High School)

    New common entrance branding proposed for Loveland Intermediate and Middle School Campus

  • New college and career readiness initiatives at Loveland Schools

    New college and career readiness initiatives at Loveland Schools

    Loveland Schools College and Career Counselor Drews Mitchell presented about Tiger Steps Ahead at the Board of Education business meeting on October 15

    Loveland, Ohio – Over the past year, students have been placed in internships with several local companies and organizations, including First Star Logistics, the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance, NEST Learning Center, Whistle Stop Clay Works, and Loveland Magazine. Career shadowing opportunities have been created at Real Link, Bond Furniture, Festo and Lifeboat Digital Media.

    To prepare students for higher education and career choices, the Loveland City School District has launched Tiger Steps Ahead   ̶  a program allowing students a systematic approach to career advising. Starting with activities as early as sixth grade, Tiger Steps Ahead offers students career exploration, internship opportunities, career shadow experiences, and lunch and learn sessions with local professionals to help them hone in on their strengths, interests, and passions.

    “We are excited to see the increased engagement and use of career planning tools by our students in sixth through twelfth grade,” said Loveland Schools College and Career Counselor Drews Mitchell. “Using advisory time for career assessments at school helps students better understand their personal strengths and gives them research opportunities to assist them in planning for high school and beyond. The follow-up to the career assessments also creates more awareness of potential academic pathways available right here at Loveland.”

    Ricky Mulvey recently won the Region 4 Mark of Excellence Award for collegiate journalism. Mulvey was Loveland Magazine’s 1st paid student intern. Stipends for our paid student interns have been provided through the generous support of Jarvis Global Investments since 2008 when Mulvey was in 8th grade. This photo was from 2012 when Mulvey reported for Loveland Magazine at a campaign rally in Eden Park when Barak Obama was running for President.

    Academic pathways have been accessible to students at Loveland Schools for several years and serve as guiding maps for students as they explore personal career interests and make connections to their course sequencing. The district has clearly defined pathways for a list of careers, and partnerships with local colleges and universities that can expedite a student’s chosen path. Academic pathways define core requirements and provide resources for extended learning opportunities, including internships and job shadowing experiences.

    While Tiger Steps Ahead is an intentional progression of traditional academic counseling services, it also allows student input data to impact the planning of future programs and courses at Loveland Schools:

    “When planning for program expansion and course offerings in the district, it’s critical that we align them with potential career pathways for our students,” said the district’s Director of Teaching and Learning Andrea Conner. “The knowledge of trends in student choices gives us valuable information to make purposeful decisions, while also making us better equipped to support our students in their post-secondary planning.”


  • Charlie Mirus and “Legendary Loveland” recognized as an outstanding new program by the OSBA

    Charlie Mirus and “Legendary Loveland” recognized as an outstanding new program by the OSBA

    Charlie Mirus received the “Outstanding New Program” award at the OSBA Southwest Region Fall Meeting on October 10, 2019. Pictured (left to right): OSBA Southwest Region President Linda Jordan, Charlie Mirus, Loveland City School District Director of Teaching and Learning Andrea Conner, and OSBA President John Halkias

    Loveland, Ohio – “I am humbled and honored to have the efforts of my past and current students honored in this way. The Legendary Loveland gamified approach is just one example of the amazing things happening in each and every classroom across the Loveland School District,” said 8th grade English Language Arts teacher Charlie Mirus

    The Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Southwest Region has recognized “Legendary Loveland” – a gamified classroom concept implemented by Loveland Middle School Teacher Charlie Mirus – as an “Outstanding New Program.” The program was officially recognized as one of the top three new outstanding programs in the region with an award at the OSBA annual fall meeting on October 10.

    “It was a surprise to be chosen, but it’s an honor to be recognized for this approach to teaching and learning,” said Mirus. “Gamification has been the center of my classroom at Loveland since I joined the district at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year. While working with the same curriculum as all other eighth grade English Language Arts classrooms, this approach emphasizes opportunities for collaboration, exploration, and creativity.”

    “The greatest benefit has been seeing students take ownership of their own growth and learning,” said Mirus. “I’m excited to see the next great things that students will do because they are so excited to demonstrate innovation and mastery.”

    The gamification strategy has gained increased popularity among teachers and students throughout the United States over the past several years. It transforms the delivery of education by turning traditional academic content into games, with the added benefit of increasing both motivation and collaboration among the students.

    Teacher Charlie Mirus was asked to explain what happens in his classroom

    For those unfamiliar with gamification, it’s the approach of using various ideas inspired by all types of games and applying those ideas to educational or training situations.

    Within education, gamified learning experiences have been used by other educators in kindergarten through university/college courses in all subject areas.

    I have read about a great number of Fortune 500 companies who utilize aspects of gamification for training as well as to increase motivation and productivity. Types of games that can be used for inspiration include board games, tabletop RPGs – such as Dungeons and Dragons, collectible card games, video games, TV reality shows, and more). The ideas utilized are known as game mechanics, and they are put into place to enhance the experience, increase motivation, and immerse learners into a “world” where their learning is contextualized and given greater meaning.

    While I teach 8th grade ELA, and I address the same Ohio Learning Standards and curricular materials, my classroom environment and approach look different than my colleagues.

    For example, in my gamified classroom, Legendary Loveland, students are one of three avatar/character types: a mage, a healer, or a warrior. Students (which are referred to as citizens), are placed into teams (known as factions) within their period/class (known as their society). Citizens are given health points (HP) and Action Points (AP). They can also earn experience points (XP) and gold pieces (GP). Each of these currencies has their own benefits, and these are examples of the previously-mentioned game mechanics that are taken from various types of games. At least one citizen from each of the three characters classes makes up each faction. This is important because their roles are interdependent, as citizens have “powers” that are collaborative in nature. These powers allow citizens to positively affect the currencies of members of their factions.

    This teamwork aspect goes beyond just “sitting” with one another at connected desks, as it teaches empathy, collaboration, and strategic thinking.

    Student’s main drive in my classroom game is to earn XP. Doing so allows students to eventually level up (every 1,500 XP). Leveling up comes with opportunities to earn new powers and use different items (these come in the form of collectible-card game style cards, and they are rewards that are also awarded or earned in various ways).

    Examples of items and powers would be being able to turn in an assignment a day late without penalty, listening to music during structured work time, or doubling the reward from a Side Quest.

    That idea, of course, brings up the question about what Side Quests are. In short, Side Quests are additional enrichment opportunities that are tied to the Ohio Learning Standards for 8th grade ELA. Side Quests are never required assignments; rather, they are chances to do work, in addition to the typical content. Students can be rewarded with various in-game rewards, such as XP, GP, or items. While Side Quests do not have affect grades in any way, students who do them benefit academically as they work with the standards and the content of the class in new and creative ways.

    I have seen an increase in student engagement with Side Quests this year, compared to last year, which was the first year of Legendary Loveland. Students have created Hollywood-style book trailers, magazine covers, character resumes, and more!

    Four societies had a Royal Seminar (Socratic Seminar) during class today. Gamemaster (

    @ATeachersTeach

    ) used

    @EquityMaps

    to track interaction, trends, participation, and quality of responses. Interesting data. Mostly proud of citizens for embracing a new challenge. #LMSinnovation

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  • Loveland District Teaching and Learning team unveil the Portrait of a Tiger

    Loveland District Teaching and Learning team unveil the Portrait of a Tiger

    The community’s collective vision for the student experience at Loveland

    by Andrea Conner (Director of Teaching and Learning), Eric Dool (Director of Student Services) and David Knapp (Director of Technology and Innovation).

    What skills do children and young people need in today’s rapidly changing, interconnected and diverse world? Over the past school year, the Teaching and Learning team at Loveland City Schools has met with more than 800 students, staff and community members to pose the question of what skills and experiences we want our children to possess as they graduate from Loveland High School. From these meetings, the Portrait of a Tiger has evolved, identifying the collective vision that expresses the community’s aspirations for all our students.

    Andrea Conner

    We have systematically collected the feedback we received and diligently taken notes as we’ve shadowed our youngest students through their days at school. We’ve spoken to hundreds of elementary, intermediate, middle and high school students about what matters to them and how school can become more relevant in their lives.

    The Portrait of a Tiger encourages us to strive beyond the focus on high-stakes testing and grades, and comprehensively look at the skills students need to develop early to be successful in society and the workforce later. It is based on the “Portrait of a Graduate” – a concept developed by 21st century leader in education, Battelle for Kids – and is a first step toward transforming our school system so that it creates an all-embracing experience for students that allows them to develop the competencies that will make them thrive as effective, life-long learners.

    David Knapp

    The Portrait of a Tiger is a commitment to our students and will serve as a compass for the Loveland City School District, providing strategic direction for everyone involved in the education of our Tigers. It will continue to steer us in the right direction through professional learning for staff, our guaranteed and viable curriculum, and through Innovative Instructional Grants that will be awarded to trailblazing educators who embrace the challenge of change.

    Eric Dool

    To learn more about the Portrait of a Tiger, feel free to contact the Loveland City School District Teaching and Learning team. Email or phone (513) 683-5600 Phone.

    Andrea Conner, Director of Teaching and Learning
    Eric Dool, Director of Student Services
    David Knapp, Director of Technology and Innovation

     

  • Portrait of a Tiger

    Portrait of a Tiger

    What does it have to do with Building Tiger Nation?

    Loveland, Ohio – On Wednesday, September 26, a group of parents, teachers, district staff and administrators met to start outlining Loveland’s “Portrait of a Tiger.” This initial Student Experience meeting was dedicated to sharing information and beginning the process of identifying the qualities and skills our community wishes for students to have as they leave Loveland High School.

    The Loveland community is invited to attend the next Student Experience meetingS on Thursday, October 11 and 16.

    “This is important work that we have been doing and will continue to do, but right now we have a unique opportunity to explore how our mission for Tiger learning and growth ties into the larger scheme of planning the future of our school facilities,” says Andrea Conner, Loveland City School District Director of Teaching and Learning. “The ideas generated in this meeting, and those that will be brought up in meetings over the next couple of months, allow us to hone in on what skills and opportunities we believe all students should have for the future.”

    The presentation centered around thinking differently about education, and how to prepare students for life after high school and the rapidly changing workforce that awaits them. Through various interactive elements, the ideas and priorities of the audience were captured throughout the meeting.

    “With the help of technology, we were able to ask questions and get direct feedback on what is important to our stakeholders as it relates to the experience they want their student to have,” said David Knapp, Loveland Schools’ Director of Technology and Innovation. “This, along with the feedback we’ll receive in our upcoming meetings with community members, staff in all our buildings, and from the students themselves, will be collected systematically so that we can identify common themes and priorities.”

    The Loveland community is invited to attend the next Student Experience meeting on Thursday, October 11 (6:00-7:30 p.m.) in the Loveland Intermediate/Middle School Media Center. (This meeting will also be held on October 16, 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the same location.)

    For more information regarding Loveland’s master planning process, visit www.buildingtigernation.org.

    Welcome to All About Kids We invite you to come visit one of our convenient locations, talk to our staff and teachers and learn why.

  • Award-winning: Loveland High School Teaching Professions Academy

    Award-winning: Loveland High School Teaching Professions Academy

    Award-winning LHS Teaching Professions Academy students with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria at the Educators Rising Conference.

    Andrea Conner is Director of Secondary Programs Loveland City School District

    By Andrea Conner

    Take 40 Loveland High School (LHS) students with a passion for education and a teacher with a vision to not only provide rich course offerings for students but also help develop future educators, and you have Loveland’s new Teaching Professions Academy (TPA). That’s right – in Loveland, we are teaching Tiger students how to become Tiger teachers for their future careers.

    This program, designed and instructed by Bre Sambuchino, gives our high school students the unique opportunity to make real-world connections between the curriculum and instructional strategies they study in this new class when they apply them to field-placement experiences within our district. From Loveland Elementary School to Loveland Intermediate School, TPA students get hands-on experience learning the different skills teachers must possess to be successful at the various levels of student development. TPA students work together to prepare real, vibrant lessons for our young Tigers – taking care and pride in representing their program with professionalism.

    A table-top sized tree quickly grew with various versions of what might be the best technique to use to create a tree that both captured the passion of the group while still making certain it was versatile enough to be transported.

    The pinnacle of the program’s successful first year was evident on March 15 when the TPA students and Ms. Sambuchino traveled to the EdRising Ohio conference at Ohio Dominican. TPA students participated in various speaking and lesson-planning competitions and worked as a group to create their chapter display with the theme “Where do we grow from here?” A table-top sized tree quickly grew with various versions of what might be the best technique to use to create a tree that both captured the passion of the group while still making certain it was versatile enough to be transported. “Their ideas continued to grow with the tree!” commented Sambuchino.

    The conference and the tree certainly delivered in true LHS TPA fashion! The tree won first place (chapter display), and LHS Senior Maddy Butts won second place in the STEM lesson planning and delivery competition teaching a robust “states of matter” lesson to her field placement class. She is now a National Qualifier, and she will be competing in Orlando, Fla., in June. In addition to these accolades, Loveland High School’s program was awarded as an Honors Chapter, one of 12 out of 64 total state chapters. The students, along with their award-winning tree, even made State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria’s Twitter feed!

    Success like this isn’t based on luck. It is the result of focused, strategic effort; the LHS TPA is the first of a series of Academic Pathways the Loveland City School District is developing to prepare our students for tomorrow, today. It is our mission, in action – and – it is award-winning.

    RP Diamond Printing & Embroidery

      RP Diamond is the exclusive retailer of LOVELAND HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR Welcome to  RP Diamond Printing & Embroidery located at 370 Loveland Madeira Road
  • Loveland High School seniors experience Speed Mentoring

    Loveland High School seniors experience Speed Mentoring

    Clermont County Chamber of Commerce Foundation Work Readiness Initiative equips some 300 students with mentoring by more than 30 professionals 

    Miami Township, Ohio – Three-hundred students, 35 professionals and seven minutes to listen and ask questions.

    LHS Senior Zach Richards was dressed for success, wearing a suit and tie to meet the volunteer professionals during the Speed Mentoring event

    It’s called Speed Mentoring and it’s one of the unique opportunities offered through the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Work Readiness Initiative. The volunteer professionals recruited by the Chamber set up at Loveland’s Oasis Center to mentor Loveland High School’s entire senior class; small groups of students sat with each professional for Q&A sessions that lasted seven minutes each, before rotating. At the end of the event, students had the opportunity to work with all of the professionals.

    LHS Senior Hayley Combs asked questions during a session rotation at the Speed Mentoring event

    “I think it’s a really unique opportunity to learn about businesses that are in our area that I had no idea were here,” said LHS Senior Hayley Combs. “This is enabling me to begin to form a network of professionals in the community which will keep me from going into college without knowing anyone to connect with for opportunities during college and after graduation.”

    “It’s a priceless connection our students were able to make during this debut Speed Mentoring session,” said Loveland Director of Secondary Programs Andrea Conner. “This was a rare opportunity to learn about professions our students may be planning to enter into directly from the people who are players in those fields. We are grateful to the Clermont Chamber for hosting such an enriching event.”

    Loveland Director of Secondary Programs Andrea Conner

    Loveland has put strategic focus in building up an Academic Pathway Program for students beginning as early as middle school. Recently, Loveland signed a partnership with the University of Cincinnati to create an Information Technology Pathway – one of the first for high schools students in Ohio. And, the district is working to expand its internship program for LHS students.

    “It’s all about helping our students think outside of the traditional classroom to enhance their learning experience, and really begin to craft the story they want for their future once they leave Loveland High School,” said Conner. “It is no small decision for our students; we will continue to push ourselves as educators to help them on this journey.”

    Jarvis Global Investments, LLC

    Jarvis Global is an investment advisory firm in Symmes Township, Ohio which offers private portfolio management and retirement services to high net worth individuals.

  • Tiger learning outside the classroom

    Tiger learning outside the classroom

    By Andrea Conner, Loveland Director of Secondary Programs

    What do I want to do with my life?

    At the Loveland City School District, we know this question is one of the most difficult for our high school students to answer. When it comes to making post high school investment decisions – with the overwhelming amount of student-loan debt – finding an answer can quickly cause extreme stress for our students and their families, as they want to make the right decision the first time.

    Perhaps you can help?

    One way to assist high school students and their families with these difficult decisions is to expose students to their areas of interest through internship opportunities.

    One way to assist high school students and their families with these difficult decisions is to expose students to their areas of interest through internship opportunities. These experiential learning connections give students the opportunity to weigh in on the requirements of the position before they enter college and accumulate insurmountable debt. While these experiences may solidify students’ decisions, it’s even more powerful when students decide the career field is not for them.

    The Loveland City School District is embracing this initiative to not only provide these rich opportunities for our high school students, but to also increase partnerships with area businesses to bridge the gap between the education and the workforce needs of our community. Business partners experience several benefits such as creating positive mentoring relationships with high school students, increasing the opportunity for a more positive community workforce and potentially training future employees.

    Once a partnership has been created between the district and the school, the designated representative from the business will help design the internship experience for the students. Upon the completion of at least twenty hours of work, students should have comprehensive exposure to the various skills needed to be successful in the chosen internship rotations.

    Currently, Loveland City School District has formal agreements with The Little Miami River Chamber Alliance, NEST Learning Center and The Clermont County Extension Office. The district also works with First Star Logistics through a paid internship initiated by the business. As the district’s goal is to grow the internship program for our Tigers, we are still looking for business partners to help enrich the newly established academic pathways.

    Our ultimate goal is to provide the most inclusive educational experience for our young people that will not only secure futures for them, but will also enrich our Loveland community.

    If you would like to learn more about Loveland City School District’s internship programs or would like to discuss an internship placement for a high school student, please reach out to me at 513-683-5600 or conneran@lovelandschools.org.

  • Loveland schools, University of Cincinnati partnership announced with formal signing ceremony

    Loveland schools, University of Cincinnati partnership announced with formal signing ceremony

    (First row, L to R:) Loveland High School (LHS) Teacher Phil Marchal, Loveland Interim Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse, University of Cincinnati (UC) Director of School of Information Technology (IT) Dr. Hazem Said, LHS Principal Peggy Johnson; (Second row, L to R:) Patrick Keyser, Sogeti USA, Loveland Board of Education President Art Jarvis, Loveland Board of Education Vice President Dr. Kathryn Lorenz, Loveland Board of Education Member Eileen Washburn, Loveland Director of Secondary Programs Andrea Conner, UC Graduate Coordinator and Project Manager School of IT Lauren Kirgis

    Pathway program will be ready for fall 2018

    Loveland, Ohio – With cameras rolling to capture the significant moment, Loveland Interim Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse and University of Cincinnati (UC) Director of School of Information Technology Dr. Hazem Said made formal the new partnership between the educational institutions that will equip the Loveland City School District to offer college-level Information Technology (IT) course work to high school students. The formal signing ceremony took place just before the State of Schools Open House Thursday, Feb. 22, at Loveland High School.

    “This partnership places Loveland students in a unique position for advanced learning opportunities that will qualify for college credit – a win for our families both academically and financially with the ever increasing student-loan debt that UC is sensitive to,” said Dr. Crouse. “We are simply thrilled to sit at the table with a school as premier as UC.”

    “The UC Information Technology Early College program is a unique and innovative program that will enable Loveland students to complete the first year of the UC BSIT program in high school,” said Dr. Said. “Those who receive a C or above will receive automatic admission to the BSIT program to study Software Development, Cybersecurity, Networking/Systems and Game Development & Simulation. We are excited to work with the leaders at Loveland City Schools to make this program available to Loveland parents and students.”  

    The partnership with UC creates an Information Technology (IT) Academic Pathway for Loveland High School (LHS) students, and is part of the district’s strategic plan to bring Academic Pathways to Loveland students beginning in middle school. LHS students will have access to post-secondary IT coursework starting in ninth grade. LHS students will have the ability to earn college credit through the College Credit Plus (CCP) program, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

    “Ultimately this partnership enables LHS students taking these courses to earn a masters degree through UC with only four years of college; it includes the courses they take through their senior year of high school plus four years of college,” explained Loveland Director of Secondary Programs Andrea Conner. “It also provides our Tiger students with the opportunity to apply for paid co-ops related to their course work the summer following their senior year.”

    Along with having the IT Pathway ready for fall of 2018, the district has clearly defined Academic Pathways for careers in: Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communication; Business Management and Administration; Health Science; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – with the phase-in of additional pathways in the 2018-2019 school year.

    Start the New Year Right

    Welcome to All About Kids We invite you to come visit one of our convenient locations, talk to our staff and teachers and learn why.

  • Creating a pathway to success at Loveland schools

    Creating a pathway to success at Loveland schools

    By Andrea Conner, Loveland Director of Secondary Programs

    If only educating our young people were as simple as plugging in coordinates on a GPS, then every graduate would know exactly what he/she wants to do after high school and have a defined plan detailing how to get there.

    Well, Tiger Family… meet your new GPS: Academic Pathways.

    Think of Academic Pathways as guiding maps for our students as they explore personal career interests and make connections to their course sequencing beginning in middle school. The district has clearly defined Academic Pathways for careers in: Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communication; Business Management and Administration; Health Science; Information Technology (in partnership with University of Cincinnati); and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – with the phase-in of additional pathways in the 2018-2019 school year. 

    The Academic Pathways contain information about which courses are available at the middle school and high school that, in addition to meeting the core requirements, will be helpful in pursuing the chosen pathway. They also provide suggestions about opportunities for extended learning, such as job shadowing/mentoring and internship placements, as well as links to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ updated information about the various professions within the Academic Pathway. For instance, the Academic Pathway for business will tell you what courses you could take in middle school through graduation, and then define the career with sample job choices complete with expected pay.

    So, how do Tigers access this rich data?

    With the expansion of Naviance, a college/career readiness tool, into grades six-eight, students will begin their college/career planning. This spring, sixth-grade students will explore various careers in the system and begin to create goals for themselves that will be refined throughout their educational experience in grades seven-12, as students will be revisiting their electronic portfolio in Naviance every year. By beginning Naviance work at the middle school, our students will have a greater opportunity in high school for more in-depth explorations and planning as they continue to make more detailed post-secondary plans.

    Our buildings will equip parents with information to set up a special parent account in Naviance to share in this cutting-edge student journey.

    Educating our Tigers is not as simple as plugging in set coordinates to find their set direction – we know this, but with parents and the school working together through assisting our students in making the connection between their academics and their passions, we can better support their post-secondary planning, and grow college and career-ready Tigers.

    Andrea Conner is Director of Secondary Programs
    for the Loveland City School District
    conneran@lovelandschools.org

     

    Paxton’s Grill

      Relaxed atmosphere and friendly service welcomes you back time and time again! Located in the heart of the Historic Loveland District Just outside Cincinnati.