LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Loveland City School District

  • What’s in Loveland’s DNA Featuring Darnell Parker!

    What’s in Loveland’s DNA Featuring Darnell Parker!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – “This community needs a win, and I have to deliver it to them,” Loveland High School’s Women’s Basketball Coach Darnell Parker said with his legendary smile. Parker has certainly become a big part of the Loveland community spreading positivity among his student-athletes and the cancer community. There’s no question that Coach Parker is a part of “What’s in Loveland’s DNA!”

    Parker, who was born and raised in Findlay, Ohio, grew up knowing that he “would have to work twice as hard as everyone else” to accomplish what he wanted to accomplish in life.

    “My dad always told me that growing up and that always stuck with me. Seeing my mom and dad work so hard so that I would never go without ingrained in me a work ethic like no other,” Parker said when speaking about what he had gained from his parents growing up.

    Parker, a born and bred athlete, started participating in sports at a very young age and almost instantly fell in love with the game of basketball.

    “My dad was a fantastic athlete even getting an opportunity to be drafted by the Atlanta Falcons,” Parker said when asked about where his love for sports came from. Parker’s dad competed in football and baseball at Purcell Marian and then eventually moved on to play football at Defiance College, unfortunately succumbing to a leg injury that stopped him from moving forward in the professional sports world.

    Parker pursued his collegiate basketball career at Bluffton College where he also obtained his degree in Business Management Administration. Post-college Parker took his coaching talents to West Clermont where he coached 6th-grade boys basketball for 9 years before making his move to Loveland.

    Once Parker made the move to Loveland he eventually landed the LHS Women’s Basketball Head Coach position, and that’s when he began making history!

    “I really couldn’t have chosen a better community to live in and coach in,” Parker said after reminiscing on his successful coaching career at LHS. Parker is definitely going down in history as one of the most successful LHS Women’s Basketball coaches of all time, grabbing the Eastern Cincinnati Conference Coach of the Year twice, leading the Tigers to 2 of the best seasons in school history, and coaching some very successful women collegiate athletes who have all broken school records at one point or another!

    Unfortunately in October of 2020 shortly after Parker lost his father to COVID-19 complications, Parker received the news that he was diagnosed with both Liver and Colin Cancer.

    “Telling my kids and my players that I had cancer was the hardest thing I ever had to do,” Parker said, “We cried it out and hugged it out and my girls really dedicated that season to me. They rallied around me.”

    Fast forward now to 2022, Parker is now in chemotherapy and says he’s feeling good and that through all of this he has made the choice to make his journey one where he can encourage and help others going through cancer. “I thought to myself well I can either go into a shell and take it on myself or stay positive and share the experience with everyone and give those that need it support.”

    Parker who has 2 daughters and just got married last year, says his future is looking bright and that he can’t wait to get back out on the LHS basketball court, which he says he will be transitioning into next week but will only be coaching home games.

    After knowing Coach Parker myself for nearly 3 years I thought the start of 2022 would be the perfect opportunity to feature Coach in our “What’s in Loveland’s DNA” segment because no one can really deny the effect he has had on the Loveland and LHS community. I am pleased to present to you Coach Darnell Parker in a Loveland Magazine TV production of “What’s in Loveland’s DNA!” Click below to watch the full-length interview!

    Here are some still photos from my interview with Coach Parker by David Miller:

    Want to read more about Coach Darnell Parker? Check out Loveland Magazine’s past stories!

    Loveland High School Basketball Programs Look to Change School History!
    LHS’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach Reaches 100 Wins!
    L.H.S’s Coach Parker Gives Sneak Preview of 2020-2021 Season!
    A Tribute to Coach Darnell Parker and his Loving Tigers
    LHS’s Coach Parker is Stronger Than Ever…and so are his Tigers!
    “Eat Out to Help Out” Loveland’s Coach Darnell Parker!
    Community Rally’s Around LHS’s Coach Parker at Opening Night of “Rolling Mondays!”
    “Rolling Mondays” Part 2 was a Success too!
    Hug Coach Parker before his cancer surgery
    [Video] Hugs for Coach Parker Night at Loveland High School

    For more heartfelt stories stay tuned to “What’s in Loveland’s DNA” With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • Loveland Schools Covid-19 Dashboard for January 16, 2022

    Loveland Schools Covid-19 Dashboard for January 16, 2022

    Loveland, Ohio – At the beginning of each week, the Loveland City School District releases their latest Covid 19 Dashboard.

    This newest report, issued yesterday, covers the 3 days schools were open last week; January 10, 11, and 12.

     
     
     
     

    Note the correction to the 10/3/ report and that community cases increased from 51 to 62.

     
     

     

     
  • Loveland students in prestigious OMEA “Honor Band Festival”

    Loveland students in prestigious OMEA “Honor Band Festival”

    Galop (Arthur Bird arr. James Syler

    San Antonio Dances (Frank Ticheli)

    Dusk (Steven Bryant)

    Metroplex (Robert Sheldon)

    by David Miller

    Princeton High School hosted the annual Ohio Music Education Association District XIV Honor Bands Festival on January 9. After auditioning, students from area schools were selected to perform in the prestigious OMEA concert. There was a High School Honor Band performance, a High School Honor Symphony Band concert, as well as performances by 7th and 8th-grade Honor Bands.

    Students from Cincinnati’s most prestigious schools were represented:

    Anderson, Goshen, Indian Hill, Loveland, Mariemont, Milford, Moeller, Mount Notre Dame, Oak Hills, Princeton, Reading Community School, Reading, SCPA, St. Xavier, Sycamore, Turpin, Walnut Hills, West Clermont, Wyoming, Colerain, and Summit Country Day.

    The audio above is the concert given by the High School Symphony Honor Band. Several Loveland High School students were selected to be in this band:

    Alton French – Bassoon

    Kirsten Arill – Clarinet

    Lizzy Lip – Trumpet

    Aaron Spjut – Trumpet

    Olivia Smith – Trombone

    Jake Simon – Tuba

    Allison Oh – Percussion

    Jonathan Kaseff – Percussion

    Dr. Brandon Jones was the guest conductor. Jones is a Professor of Music, Coordinator of Instrumental Music, and Music Department Chairperson at Wittenberg University, where he conducts their Symphonic Band.

    Several other Loveland School District students performed during the full afternoon of concerts.

    High School Concert Honor Band

    Shay Thomson, Zack Peebles, Amelia Macura, Sydney Whitlock, and Ellie Brinkman.

    7th Grade Honor Band

    Katie Oaks, Eleanor Dennedy, James Young, John Paul Galles, and Victoria Elliot.

    8th Grade Honor Band

    Caitlyn Ferrer, Payton Brown, and Luke Slater.

  • OHSAA Adds Women’s Wrestling and Men’s Volleyball to Ohio’s High School’s Sports!

    OHSAA Adds Women’s Wrestling and Men’s Volleyball to Ohio’s High School’s Sports!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Times are a-changing in the sports world! History was made in Columbus last Thursday when the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Board of Directors voted to add Women’s Wrestling and Men’s Volleyball officially as “emerging sports” in the 2022-2023 school year. 

    “The OHSAA recognizing men’s volleyball is a huge win for the sport and for everyone that has worked so hard to get the boys game recognized on the big stage in Ohio,” former Loveland High School JV “A” Team Head Coach Matthew Ellis said, “There are a lot of people who have coached boys club and boys high school that deserve a ton of praise for getting the ball rolling on this. Volleyball is a game for everyone and this is a big step in showing that.”

    Loveland Athletic Director Brian Conatser told Loveland Magazine on Friday, “That’s great. Obviously, we’ve had a very successful men’s volleyball program here at Loveland. We’re excited. What a great opportunity. I know that Head Coach Terri Swensen is super excited.”

    Men’s volleyball is not currently an Eastern Cincinnati Conference sport according to Conatser. He said that the Conference will have to vote on it. “I’ll be the first one to bring it up,” added Conatser laughing.

    The OHSAA Wrestling Coaches Association has held a Women’s wrestling tournament since 2020 and the OHSAA Men’s Volleyball Association has held its tournament since 1998 according to the OHSAA press release that was sent out on Thursday.

    Terri Swensen current Men’s Volleyball Head Coach (Loveland Magazine 2018 File Photo)

    “The OHSAA has been talking with the boy’s volleyball and girls wrestling leaders for several years and we are now in the position to bring these two sports into the OHSAA,” said OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute, “This move will help those sports continue to grow and allow those student-athletes to compete for an OHSAA state championship. It gives more kids opportunities and that is the mission of the OHSAA. We will look to keep a very similar format for the girls wrestling and boys volleyball tournaments as what the coaches associations have been doing,” Ute added, “The girls wrestling state tournament is held in mid-February and the boy’s volleyball state tournament is held in the spring. We have not yet developed tournament regulations, but we’ll start working on that so that those two sports hit the ground running next fall for the start of the 2022-23 school year.”

    Conatser said that Loveland has not had any female wrestlers in the past and that the sport is currently configured where females compete in whatever weight classification, Varsity or JV, they fit into with the current traditional high school’s program. Conatser said, “It’s actually co-ed now in Ohio. At Loveland, we’ve had some interested females in the past but none competed. I’m sure now that it is an OHSAA sport we will probably, and hopefully, we will see some females that will want to come out and participate.”

    Conatser said it will take some time to figure out how Loveland will handle coaching positions, etc. He said he assumed that females competing against males will continue until a transition to female-specific teams is organized. Currently, OHSAA has separate State tournaments for Women’s and Men’s wrestling competitions.

    OHSAA sports, with the new additions, officially has grown to 28, distributed evenly between men and women.

    OHSAA also announced on Thursday that they have plans to discuss providing an Esports tournament because gaming has grown exponentially in schools across the country over the last few years. OHSAA is actively looking to partner with a group that specializes in Esports.

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we are overjoyed to hear the news about the addition of Women’s Wrestling and Men’s Volleyball to the OHSAA organization! Congratulations to all those who officially get to now compete within their high schools in these 2 new emerging OHSAA sports! We can’t wait to see our Loveland Tiger Women’s Wrestling and Men’s Volleyball teams compete in 2022-2023!

    For the latest updates on local sports news stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • [Video] Loveland High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductees

    [Video] Loveland High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductees

    David Miller is the Publisher and Editor of Loveland Magazine

    David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – The gym we were in Friday evening is named after one of the more beloved, former Loveland High School teachers, Charles (Chuck) R. Schmidt who was inducted into the Loveland High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2008. This Friday I went there to record the introduction of the two newest members. As they were introduced at halftime of the Varsity Men’s game vs. Turpin, the announcer, Stu Shestina, read an impressive list of the pair’s athletic accomplishments and told the fans where they are now in their life after their glory days as former Tigers.

    The Loveland High School Hall of Fame inductees were Jeffrey Roades (1971) and Steve Walker (1989).

    Watch many more LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV videos HERE

  • Winter Weather Advisory

    Winter Weather Advisory

    Loveland, Ohio – The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued this Winter Weather Advisory in effect from January 16, 12:00 PM EST until January 17, 07:00 AM EST.

    URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
959 AM EST Sun Jan 16 2022

KYZ096-OHZ072-078-162300-
/O.CON.KILN.WW.Y.0003.220116T1700Z-220117T1200Z/
Pendleton-Clinton-Clermont-
Including the cities of Falmouth, Butler, Wilmington,
Blanchester, and Milford
959 AM EST Sun Jan 16 2022

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST
MONDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2
  inches. Some brief mixing with sleet or rain is also possible.

* WHERE...In Ohio, Clinton and Clermont Counties. In Kentucky,
  Pendleton County.

* WHEN...From noon today to 7 AM EST Monday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous
  conditions could impact the morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

Additional information can be found at www.weather.gov/iln as
well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
  • Great Oaks offers virtual Q&A session

    Great Oaks offers virtual Q&A session

    Parents and current sophomores who want to know more about the 31 career programs at Great Oaks Career Campuses can tune in to a live Q&A session on January 18.

    The session will feature Great Oaks staff and others who will answer questions about the programs, applying for fall 2022, certifications and college credit available, and more.

    The livestreamed Q&A session can be seen at www.greatoaks.com/pa from 7-8 PM on Tuesday, January 18.  A recording of the video will be available on the website afterward.

  • Are you a Student With a Passion for Journalism? Apply to our Internship Program!

    Are you a Student With a Passion for Journalism? Apply to our Internship Program!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Are you a student that has a passion for the world of Journalism? Do you often ask yourself how will I get the experience I need to get into a great college Journalism program? Well, look no further! Loveland Magazine is looking for both motivated and creative students that have the work ethic it takes to thrive in Journalism!

    It is tough as a student to get career-based experience before filling out college applications so here at Loveland Magazine, we want to give students the necessary tools to stand out to the colleges their applying for! In our internship program, students will be able to get hands-on experience in all things Journalism including editing, developing a story, videography, conducting on-camera interviews, photography, advertising/marketing, social media content, media law, and much much more. The intern will also get the opportunity to shadow special events, assignments, and on-camera interviews! We want the next generation to thrive and succeed in their career paths and we feel this is the best way for us to impact the future of Journalism!

    We have reached out to many of the local high schools to spread the word about our internship program, but if you know of a student, an organization, or school that would benefit from this internship please feel free to reach out and we can supply you with our internship flyers!

    Although we may not fill all of the intern positions we would of course like to gain at least 2 new interns for 2022! Here are the following internships available:

    • Social Media Specialist
    • Sports News Intern
    • School News Intern
    • Editorial Intern

    If you’re a student, a parent of a student, or simply just know of someone who would be a great candidate for one of our internships, click here to email us! If you are an organization or a school that is interested in hanging up our internship flyers in your building click the email link above!

    Get real Journalism experience taught by professionally trained Journalists through Loveland Magazine’s internship program today! Let’s help our youth thrive!

  • Loveland schools going remote Thursday and Friday

    Loveland schools going remote Thursday and Friday

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Because of COVID 19, Loveland City Schools will be in asynchronous learning on Thursday, January 13, and Friday, January 14.

    Teachers will be sending work home with their children at the end of their class day on Wednesday.

    Asynchronous learning means Thursday and Friday are still learning days for students, but they will be learning from home.

    Asynchronous learning is a term used to describe forms of education, instruction, and learning that do not occur in the same place or at the same time. 

    Superintendent Mike Broadwater said in a video message today that “Staff will be reporting to the buildings and be available to support students remotely.” He said that absences and illnesses have not only affected students, but also the teaching staff, bus drivers, food services, and custodial staff. He added that according to CDC guidelines that if a staff member tests positive for COVID 19 it means they must quarantine from the buildings or their workplace for 5-days.

    Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and the Martin Luther King Holiday will mean students will not be in the buildings for 5 straight days before returning on Tuesday, January 18.

    Broadwater announced that the District will not change its current mask policy when students return on January 18. The current mask policy is that masks are optional for grades 7 through 12. Masking is required in grades PreK through 6th.

    Despite this setback, the Superintendent added “I’m very proud of the fact that we have done such a good job at keeping our kids in school this year.

    At the beginning of each week, the Loveland City School District releases its latest Covid 19 Dashboard. Below is the first COVID 19 report issued by the District since students returned to classes after their Winter Break. This story lets you review all of the Dashboard reports for the school year.

    Loveland Schools Covid-19 Dashboard for January 9, 2022

    David Miller –  Jan 10, 2022

  • Loveland Schools Covid-19 Dashboard for January 9, 2022

    Loveland Schools Covid-19 Dashboard for January 9, 2022

    Loveland, Ohio – At the beginning of each week, the Loveland City School District releases their latest Covid 19 Dashboard. This is the first COVID 19 report issued by the District since students returned to classes after their Winter Break.

     
     
     
     

    Note the correction to the 10/3/ report and that community cases increased from 51 to 62.