Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Tag: intervention specialist

  • Homemade Greeting Cards Create Important Opportunities for LHS Special Needs Students!

    Homemade Greeting Cards Create Important Opportunities for LHS Special Needs Students!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – “Making these cards makes me feel both fulfilled and safe. This Arts and Crafts show has been my home for 4 years and now I want to be an entrepreneur!”

    Loveland High School (LHS) Senior Annelise Dartnall expressed how excited she was on Tuesday about The Loveland Arts and Crafts Fair being back in action after not having it 2 years in a row due to COVID-19. Dartnall along with several other LHS special needs students have participated in creating handmade cards to sell at the Loveland Arts and Crafts Fair in order to raise funds for the LHS Special Needs Program and gain valuable work experience. Dartnall has also worked at the Loveland Farmers Market, several Loveland Arts and Crafts Fairs where she showcased the special needs students carefully crafted cards, and the Loveland High School News Network. 

    Retired Teacher Molly Swaine came up with the idea of LHS’s special needs students designing, creating, packaging, and selling these handmade cards to the community and staff members of Loveland right in her very own room just a few years ago.

    “The past couple of years the students were unable to attend our biggest sales event, The Loveland Arts and Crafts Fair, due to the pandemic so the fact that our students have the opportunity to once again practice social and life skills out in the community is great,” LHS Intervention Specialist Emily Hicks said.

    Caitlin Haury, LHS Intervention Specialist, and Payton Lafonda also aided Hicks with the handmade cards project in hopes that the special needs students at LHS would gain valuable work experience and raise enough sales to buy supplies for the classroom, activities, and celebrations.

    Over the past few weeks, the excitement for Loveland’s Arts and Crafts Fair has been building, as the event is set for November 6th at LHS from 9:30 AM to 3 PM. We decided to take a trip down Tiger Trail to LHS to talk to Annelise about the handmade cards project and why it’s so important that everyone gets involved.

    Buying the cards during the Craft Expo requires cash. The students can not accept credit cards, Apple Pay, Venmo, etc.

    Without further ado, we bring to you LHS Senior Annelise Dartnall as she explains to YOU the Loveland Magazine readers why you should support the LHS Special Needs Handmade Cards Project!

    Interview and video by David Miller

    If you are unable to attend Loveland’s Arts and Crafts Expo the Special Needs Program created a contactless google link in which you can select your cards and have them sent to you through the mail. Cards are $2 for a pack of 4. You will also need to send your form of payment through the mail to LHS’s Caitlin Haury. Click here to order your handmade cards today!

    If you missed our previous article on the LHS Special Needs Handmade Cards Project click below!

    You can buy handmade cards made by special needs students at LHS

    For more inspirational Loveland stories stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • You can buy handmade cards made by special needs students at LHS

    You can buy handmade cards made by special needs students at LHS

    by Emily Hicks

    For the past several years, students with special needs at Loveland High School have designed hand-made blank greeting cards to gain valuable work experience. We use the money made from the profit of the sales to  buy supplies for the room, activities, and often celebrations.

    Students design, create, package, and sell these handmade cards to the community and staff members of Loveland. This year we were unable to attend our biggest sales event, The Loveland Craft Fair, due to the pandemic. 

    The profits from this fair help fund our classrooms and give our students the opportunity to practice social and life skills during outings in our community.  

    We are looking for new ways to get our craft and our students’ experiences out there. 

    The community will be able to meet some of our talented students and purchase these amazing cards this Spring at the Loveland Farmers Market.  We will have cards available for cash purchase for $2.00 per pack of 4.  You can choose from a variety of cards including, happy birthday, thank you, thinking of you, get well soon, tiger paw, and many more.

    They are also available for cash purchase through this sign-up Order Form .

    We look forward to seeing you again in our community!

  • [VIDEO] LHS grad Hakim Oliver keynotes BLM March in Mason

    [VIDEO] LHS grad Hakim Oliver keynotes BLM March in Mason

    Mason, Ohio – Hakim Oliver graduated from Loveland High School in 1999. He then graduated from Bowling Green State University and is now an intervention specialist working with Seniors at Mason High School.

    Hakim Oliver is married to Alison Oliver

    On June 20 two Mason Alumni put on the BLM Mason March starting at Pine Hill Lakes Park in Mason going to the municipal building that drew thousands. The protest march with petition signing and speakers was to, “…stand in solidarity with our Black community members in their struggle for justice.” Their goals were to raise funds to support social justice, racial equality, protesters, and other facets of the Black Lives Matter movement.

    After the protest march, Oliver approached leaders at Mason City Hall with the idea of holding community conversations in Mason Community Exposure – Bridging Stories. They accepted and embraced the idea. Oliver said, “This is a collaboration with the City of Mason and I’m looking forward to building relationships.”

    Mason has announced the community conversations by saying:

    Sponsored by the City of Mason and in partnership with Mr. Hakim Oliver this program is intended to facilitate positive intergroup interaction and discussion recognizing individuals are different from others and how we together create a community.

    This four part series includes a panel discussion, public input, engagement and interaction helping increase participants perspective by listening and mentally walking in someone else’s shoes. The program aligns with Mason’s mission for building a culture of wellness in the community by helping elevate morale, respect differences, and give a voice to the community.

    Community Exposure – Bridging Stories! participants meet each Wednesday July 15 through August 5 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the Mason Municipal Center located at 6000 Mason Montgomery Road.

    Space is limited. Register Here!

     

    Oliver has since approached Loveland City Hall for their support of similar community forums.

    This video is Oliver’s keynote address:

    Here is a video of the BLM Mason protest posted on YouTube by K Jackson.

     

    BLM Mason Demands for Change

    Today we stand in solidarity with our Black community members in their struggle for justice. On May 25th, 2020 George Floyd was yet another victim of police brutality against the Black community in America. His death following those of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, and Tony McDade sparked a nationwide demand for racial equality. However, our community has largely stayed silent on such issues despite the international outrage that followed. Times like these are when a community must show its character, and for that reason we have organized a peaceful demonstration to achieve the following:

    Goals for protest:

    Raise funds to support social justice, racial equality, protestors, and other facets of the Black Lives Matter Movement

    Sign petitions to further racial equality and protest safety in America

    Demands:

    1. Demand the establishment of two anonymous tip lines, one for the public to utilize, and another for police officers to release statements of other police officer’s misuse of power to both the police department and a third party group.
    2. Demand the redistribution of Mason Police Department funding towards Police Officer Body Worn Cameras and cultural competency training to make Mason PD a progressive role model
    3. Demand that the City of Mason hold an open meeting designated for People of Color to voice their concerns about safety and racism in our community.

     

  • Autism Society recognizes Loveland Schools’ Mary Frees as “Unsung Hero”

    Autism Society recognizes Loveland Schools’ Mary Frees as “Unsung Hero”

    Mary Frees (front center) was recognized for her work serving individuals with autism and their families at “Faces of Autism” on March 5. Left to right: Heidi Terselic, Donna Ernst, Jane Miller, Lara Ferrer, Joe Frees, Taylor Reid, Mary Frees, Dr. Kathryn Lorenz, Dr. Amy Crouse, Helen Jones, Michelle Grafflin and Jennifer Forren.

    Loveland, Ohio – The Regional Autism Advisory Council (RAAC) of Southwest Ohio celebrated its 20th anniversary in March with “Faces of Autism”- an event presented in collaboration with Autism Society Greater Cincinnati to recognize autism “ambassadors and unsung heroes” in the region. Mary Frees, an intervention specialist at Loveland Elementary School (LES), was among those honored for their work serving individuals with autism and their families.

    “When I learned about this special recognition, I was shocked, but felt so valued for doing what I love,” said Frees. “This just motivates and energizes me to continue to accomplish more for my students with autism and other special needs. My students make my job enjoyable each day and push me further to continue to learn more about this ever-changing field of special education.”

    The Faces of Autism Unsung Hero nominees were selected for going above and beyond the expectations of their jobs in advocating for acceptance, community inclusion, relationship building, and community impact. 12 educators were recognized, two of whom represent public school districts – Loveland and Sycamore Schools.

    “Mary is an outstanding educator who works tirelessly for her students, going above and beyond on a daily basis,” said LES Principal Jen Forren. “She works to ensure that her students and their families have an excellent experience at LES, both academically and socially.  She established an ambassador program that matches her students with other students in the building to help them work on their social skills and it has been very impactful for everyone involved.”

    Faces of Autism was presented by RAAC and the Autism Society Greater Cincinnati in partnership with several other organizations, including Cincinnati Children’s, Linden Grove School, and the Heidt Center of Excellence by The Children’s Home, among others.

    About the Autism Society Greater Cincinnati and the Regional Autism Advisory Council (RAAC)

    The Autism Society Greater Cincinnati is a leading resource and advocate for the local autism community, working to improve the lives of all who are affected by autism through education, support, and services. RAAC leads community partnerships to plan, develop, and implement a vibrant continuum of services that meets the lifelong needs of individuals with autism, their families, and those who serve them. The Advisory Council facilitates task forces on a range of subjects, such as early intervention, educational identification, and adult services.

  • New Loveland Middle School (LMS) assistant principal to join team

    New Loveland Middle School (LMS) assistant principal to join team

    Sara Gehring is the new LMS assistant principal

    Loveland, Ohio – The Board of Education approved administrator and educator Sara Gehring as the new LMS assistant principal. Gehring comes to the district from the Mount Healthy City School District where she has served as the executive director of student services since 2015.

    Gehring began serving students at Mount Healthy in 2006, and during that time has worked as an intervention specialist and student services coordinator.

    She earned her bachelor’s degree in history from University of Ohio, Miami University in 2005, and her master’s degree in special education from Xavier University in 2010. Gehring has her licensure in education administration from Xavier University (2010) and her superintendent licensure from University of Ohio, Miami University (2017).

    The addition of Gehring to the LMS team is part of a cost-neutral restructure according to a release from the District; LMS Assistant Principal Jayson Bruce will continue in his current role and assume additional athletic responsibilities for the middle school.