Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Elementary School (LES) is doing its November Compassion Project “Read to Feed”. The students will be collecting monetary donations for the LIFE Food Pantry based on the amount that they read, “a win/win for the kids AND the pantry!”
The pantry leaders say that literacy and education are a huge factors in escaping poverty and these students are “amazing”.
The pantry also asks that if you have a student at LES, “Please support their efforts. If you don’t, please seek one out and let them know they make a huge difference in the lives of their community, especially other children! Thank you for your support – these children are our future.”
Loveland, Ohio – Now more than ever is the time to encourage our youth to both protect and benefit from our ever-changing environment! This is exactly what local non-profit, The Loveland Learning Garden, aims to achieve.
The Loveland Learning Garden, located at 600 Loveland-Madeira Road (Loveland Primary and Loveland Elementary school grounds), dedicates everything to giving kids the opportunity to form “lifelong connections to the wonders of the natural world.” The non-profit outdoor education program not only strives to build awareness and community support but also maintains vegetable and flower gardens, as well as a nature trail used for hands-on learning. The 1st-4th grade students involved are able to get an interactive experience, through a 20-week curriculum (taught by “Garden Educators” during the school day in the Spring and Fall), with nature while still adhering to the academics they are being taught in class. Seeing how food is grown, tasting fresh produce, and harvesting food that is eventually donated to local non-profit LIFE Food Pantry are just a few things students are able to get involved in at the Loveland Learning Garden.
Board President, Laurie Flanagan, believes that exposing the over 1,200 Loveland students that the outdoor education program serves to the environment at an early age will leave a lasting impact of positive impressions with nature.
“We’re instilling a love of nature, joy, and wonder in discovering the outdoors and influencing the growth of the next generation of people who care for our environment,” Flanagan said, “We have a diverse volunteer base of ages and backgrounds and welcome everyone! For example, we have students from the LHS National Honor Society, Tigers in Service, and the LHS Environmental Club who have helped us, University of Cincinnati students, workgroups, church groups, students from neighboring school districts, local parochial schools, and many individuals from across the Cincinnati area.“
The Loveland Learning Garden operates using dedicated volunteers so gaining new talent is vital to keeping the non-profit education program running. “In order to successfully sustain our program, we seek people who want to share their talent and ‘dig in’ to join us by taking on leadership roles on our board or owning pieces of work that make the organization run,” Flanagan explained, “Our committees include education, communications, garden and trail maintenance, volunteer recruitment, and grants/fundraising.”
During the months of March-October volunteers are heavily needed in order to maintain both the garden and nature trail. If you or your organization would like to volunteer email the Loveland Learning Garden.
Here at Loveland Magazine, we found the Loveland Learning Garden to be both interesting and inspirational so we decided to meet Laurie Flanagan, Melanie Simon, and Jen Banzinger at the garden for an on-camera tour. To see just what the Loveland Learning Garden is all about watch the video below!
The Loveland Learning Garden will be a part of the 2021 Great Outdoor Weekend sponsored by Green Umbrella. On September 25th from 9 AM-1 PM, the Loveland Learning Garden will be holding a scavenger hunt for kids ages 4-10. For more information click the above Great Outdoor Weekend link!
To stay informed on all the latest Loveland Learning Garden updates you can visit their Instagram and/or Facebook.
Loveland Learning Garden History The foundation for Loveland Learning Garden was planted in 2002 as a floral garden on grade school grounds thanks to the vision of a grandmother who wanted to share the joy of picking fresh flowers with children. With the addition of vegetable gardens and a nature trail in the woods behind the school, Granny’s Garden School grew to be one of the most comprehensive school garden programs in the country and was recognized as a model for nature-based education training. In 2016, the founder retired while a new group of leaders, believing in the value of the program to students and the community evolved the nonprofit to its next iteration. Today, with new energy and a refreshed identity, the Loveland Learning Garden operates with strong, collaborative school partnerships, diverse leadership, community involvement, and a continued passion to educate and inspire children to the lifelong benefits found through nature.
For more local inspirational stories stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
A true story by a Loveland resident presented by Loveland Magazine in collaboration with the Loveland Diversity Advisory Board. Contact them if you’ve a story to share.
The family in this story has chosen to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation against their children.
Part I of 2
We arrived at school bright and early, just as my sons had requested. It was their last day of 2nd and 4th grade and the anticipation they felt for the occasion was palpable. The dew collected on the toes of their sneakers as they ran to line up, the unmistakable scent of spring perfuming the air. It would be the kind of summer children dream about, with lazy mornings, afternoon trips to the park, and visits to the local Whippy Dip where the cones melted and dripped down their small arms onto the picnic tables. We never got enough napkins. It was going to be the kind of summer they’d look back on years from now with a hint of nostalgia, remembering the carefree innocence of childhood.
The school day went by without a hitch; games were played, awards were dispersed, maybe there was a hint of sorrow from the teachers as they retreated back to their now-empty classrooms. But on the faces of my sons and their friends after the final bell had rung, I saw nothing but pure elation. As they played on the front lawn of the school, one last farewell before loading them up, a car slowed to a cruise on Loveland-Madeira. It was all decked out, congratulatory chalk paint on the windows; apparently the driver and his passengers were recently graduated seniors.
The passenger leaned out of his open window as the car passed my sons and me.
“Have a good summer,” he shouted. My sons smiled back, visibly excited a ‘cool’ older kid was acknowledging them.
But his sentence didn’t end there.
I wish his sentence had ended there.
“Have a good summer, you N——s!”
My heart dropped. I felt as though I’d been punched in the stomach. And then instinct kicked in.
“Get in the car, boys,” I frantically stammered.
“But mom–what did he say?”
“I said GET IN THE CAR. NOW.”
“What did he call us mom? Why did he say that?”
I met the puzzled gaze of my younger son who had no idea what had just transpired.
My older son looked equally befuddled. This wasn’t the first time he’d encountered that vile term. He knew what it meant. The confusion on his face told me he just hadn’t heard the slur over all the commotion.
And here I was, flushed, sweating, and doing everything I could to keep from melting into a puddle of tears in front of them.
There weren’t enough napkins to clean up the mess.
With a single word, our perfect day was shattered.
I tried to see the car’s plate number, but they’d sped away too quickly. I called the school to report the transgression, but, being the last day of school, I never heard back. I met with a police officer, but unfortunately his hands were tied; with what little information we had there was no feasible way to determine the identity of the culprits. As a last ditch effort, I tried doing my own reconnaissance work on a local moms’ group page on social media where my post was promptly removed after group members began chastising me. This isn’t the place for this, I was scolded.Well, where was the place? In the midst of a travesty, I’d turned to my community and in turn I was brushed off and chided.
That night, instead of eating ice cream that dribbled down their chins and staying up past bedtime, my sons, my husband, and I had to have “the talk.” This is the talk that all parents of Black children, boys in particular, dread. We’d had conversations before but this time they’d been called out. This time it was personal.
We had to explain what they were called. What it meant. Where it originated. We had to explain that not everyone saw them as an equal. That prejudice exists.That stereotypes, to some people, are the stuff of truth. We had to sit down, the first night of summer, at the end of what began as a day full of promise, to explain racism to our elementary school-aged children. We had to explain that there are people who hate them for no reason other than the color of their skin. We had to explain that sometimes, inexplicably, people will respond differently to things they do, even if those things are exactly the same as those their Caucasian friends are doing. We had to explain injustice, an intrinsically unfriendly concept, in the most child-friendly way possible.
We were determined not to let racism win. This would not ruin our summer; it would not ruin our family. And ultimately, we have triumphed. This event and others like them, as upsetting, maddening and sorrowful as they are, have only served as teachable moments and life lessons. We turn the negativity into chances to fortify our familial bond and bolster our pride.
But make no mistake, there have been tears. There have been lots of tears.
And there are never enough tissues.
With this horrifying experience behind them, this family hoped the worst was over.
In Part II of this Diversity Story, we see that the trouble was only beginning.
Stay tuned for Part 2
Read our first installment of a true story by a Loveland resident presented by Loveland Magazine in collaboration with the Loveland Diversity Advisory Board
For engaging story times on diversity (including race) for young learners, join the Loveland Diversity Advisory Board and the Cincinnati Hamilton County Library the 2nd Monday of every month for Bedtime Book Talks.
Support for those feeling fearful, vulnerable, or uncomfortable upon reading these accounts:
Loveland, Ohio – The money raised will be used for buying garden supplies, equipment, and hiring teachers for lessons at Granny’s Garden School. The school operates a garden at Loveland Elementary School with classes for the students and donates hundreds of pounds of produce to local food banks.
Use your smart phone to show this story to the Loveland Chipotle on Loveland Madeira Road and the Garden School will receive 33% of the proceeds.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District today reported 14 new positive cases of COVID-19.
On 12/4/20, a teaching staff member at Loveland High School, last at school on 12/2/20;
On 12/5/20, a non-teaching staff member at the Loveland Early Childhood Center, last at school on 12/4/20;
On 12/5/20, a student at Loveland Elementary School, last at school on 12/2/20;
On 12/5/20, a student at Loveland Middle School, last at school on 12/2/20;
On 12/5/20, a student at Loveland Middle School, last at school on 12/2/20;
On 12/6/20, a student at Loveland High School, last at school on 11/30/20;
On 12/7/20, a teaching staff member at the Loveland Early Childhood Center, last at school on 12/1/20;
On 12/7/20, a student at Loveland Elementary School, last at school on 12/4/20;
On 12/7/20, a student at Loveland Intermediate School, last at school on 12/4/20;
On 12/7/20, an non-teaching staff member at Loveland Middle School, last at school on 12/4/20;
On 12/7/20, a teaching staff member at Loveland Middle School, last at school on 12/4/20;
On 12/7/20, a student at Loveland Middle School, last at school on 12/2/20;
On 12/7/20, a teaching staff member at Loveland High School, last at school on 12/1/20; and
On 12/7/20, a student at Loveland High School, last at school on 12/1/20.
The report does not say how many students or staff are in quarantine. The District has refused to list quarantines on a daily basis and only release the number on Fridays. Today, Loveland Magazine repeated our request for these numbers.
Here is that data from Last Friday:
Last Friday the District announced that during the next few weeks, some school buildings may have to temporarily switch to remote learning because of staff absences.
District Office 757 South Lebanon Road Loveland, OH 45140 (513) 683-5600 Phone (513) 683-5697 Fax
PUBLISHER’S NOTE:
This Guide was published from information gathered from the District Web Site on August 17. We understand that staff changes, bus routes, etc., are rapidly changing. Parents should contact building principals for information about their child. Those contacts are provided as part of this guide.
The following individuals comprise the school board. You can email them individually at the email addresses listed above, or you can email the group at board@lovelandschools.org
The following information is designed to answer many of the common questions asked in regards to the Tiger One-to-World program at Loveland High School and Loveland Middle School.
The Board of Education designates the following individuals to serve as the District’s “Compliance Officers” (also known as “Civil Rights Coordinators”)
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.
Nonprofit started by two Loveland students receives Library of Congress State Literacy Award
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland nonprofit Adopt A Bookhas been announced a winner of the 2020 State Literacy Award by the Library of Congress. The award is bestowed upon 10 organizations across the country that, “tirelessly work to mitigate illiteracy throughout communities and the world.” Organizations are awarded grant money for, “Exemplary, innovative and easily replicable longstanding initiatives toward this goal.”
Started by current Loveland High School Juniors Hannah and Alexander Laman, Adopt A Book regularly provides books for preschool programs, Cincinnati Public Schools, home-based programming, health clinics, and even schools abroad to encourage children to read. To date, Adopt A Book has donated over 165,000 books to more than 100 organizations, schools and programs that serve children in need.
“I am very honored and it means a lot to me to be recognized by the largest library in the world for my efforts in making sure as many kids as possible have access to books,” said Alex Laman upon receiving notification about the award.
His sister Hannah agrees: “This award means a lot to me because we were one of 10 recipients from all across the country, so to see that we stood out among many applicants is very meaningful. It is great to not only be recognized for our efforts, but to also be recognized by the Library of Congress, and to think that we have made a large enough impact on the community to be chosen is great.”
Alex and Hannah Laman with their parents Brent and Angela at “Fall Feast” on Thanksgiving Day 2019. Fall Feast is a Give Back Cincinnati program which makes a difference in the lives of neighbors throughout the community, especially the less fortunate, by offering the opportunity for people to unite and share a Thanksgiving meal, receive health checks, haircuts, coats – and books. More than 2,000 books by Adopt A Book found new homes at the event last November.
This photo was taken when ten-year-old twins Alex and Hannah Laman’s “Little Library” was first planted right on the Loveland Bike Trail at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Harrison Avenue. (Loveland Magazine File Photo)
Impacting the community is exactly what Adopt A Book has encouraged many others to do. It all started in 2011, when Hannah and Alex as third-graders at Loveland Elementary School decided to “start a business” that would donate reading material after hearing about an elementary school in the Cincinnati area that didn’t have library books or even textbooks for their students. To share their own love of reading, they turned the idea into an incorporated nonprofit with the help of their parents. For Hannah and Alex, the model is quite simple: they involve other students, teachers, churches and charities, and have reached out to numerous businesses in the area for donations over the years. They run book drives and have expanded their efforts to include fundraising for things like bookshelves, furniture for personal reading spaces, and to create “reading buddies” programs for young children.
The “Little Library” that Hannah and Alex Laman planted is located along the Loveland Bike Trail in Historic Downtown Loveland. (Loveland Magazine File Photo)
Adopt A Book was nominated for the State Literacy Award by the Ohio Center for the Book as the one Ohio nonprofit that best exemplifies outstanding and innovative contributions to promoting literacy and reading in the local communities. The Library of Congress is expected to announce all winners of the Literacy Awards later in the year and Hannah and Alex will be presented the award of $2,225 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the promotion of literacy and reading at a formal ceremony.
As such successful ambassadors of reading, what are Alex and Hannah’s own favorite reads?
For Hannah, it’s IT by Stephen King, mystery novels, and any books by John Green.
Alex’s favorites include Science Magazine and he reads anything from reference books, Science Fiction and Classics to books on history.
“I always have something on my nightstand, floor or desk,” he said.
Loveland Magazine is one of the 400 news outlets worldwide, with a combined audience of over 2 billion people “Covering Climate Now”, a global journalism…
State Board of Education and Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria (Image ODE)
Columbus, Ohio – The State Board of Education and Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria announced this week the recognition of schools across the state for achieving high performance, outstanding progress and momentum for students – and among them are Loveland High School (LHS), Loveland Elementary School (LES) and the Loveland Early Childhood Center (LECC).
Loveland High School earned the “Momentum Award” for the third consecutive year in recognition of exceeding expectations in student growth. In order to be recognized, schools must earn straight A’s on all value-added measures on the report card and must have at least two value-added subgroups of students, which include gifted, lowest 20% in achievement, and students with disabilities. Value-added measures use student achievement over time in English Language Arts and Math to measure the gain in learning from year to year.
Loveland Elementary School earned the “Overall A Award” for receiving an “A” as a school on the report card. The overall letter grade is calculated by using results in the six components that make up the state report card: Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Improving At-Risk K-3 Readers, Graduation Rate and Prepared for Success.
Loveland Early Childhood Center earned the “All A Award” for receiving A grades on the applicable Ohio School Report Card measures. Only 50 schools and four school districts across the state were recognized for this achievement in 2019.
“I’m incredibly proud of our educational leaders and staff across the district who embrace the mindset of continuous improvement,” said Loveland City School District Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse. “They have done a remarkable job putting goals into action for the benefit of student achievement and academic momentum at Loveland Schools.”
State Board of Education President Laura Kohler issued a statement in a press release issued by the Ohio Department of Education:
“The students, teachers, administrators and staff honored today are shining examples to peers and colleagues around Ohio. We are so proud of these award recipients and the effort they put into learning, leading and growing every day. We are both encouraged and challenged by the example of excellence they are setting.”
Melissa Prenger, third grade teacher at Loveland Elementary School (LES), was honored at the 2019 Celebrate Excellence educator recognition breakfast on May 3. The event, a prestigious annual scholarship fundraising event and ceremony by the Hamilton County Education Foundation, is an opportunity to honor public school educators of excellence throughout the county.
Anthony Munoz, Master of Ceremonies, presented the 2019 Celebrate Excellence Award to Melissa Prenger, teacher at Loveland Elementary School.
“Mrs. Prenger is not only an outstanding math teacher, but also passionate about spreading kindness in our school and community,” said LES Principal Jen Forren. “She has run a long list of ‘compassion projects’ and established the LES Kindness Council, which not only have helped develop empathy and compassion among the students, but also have provided leadership opportunities for our third and fourth graders.”
Over the past four years, Prenger has led the LES Kindness Council through a number of compassion projects to benefit others, including collecting backpacks for children in Haiti, collecting more than 10,000 pairs of socks for homeless shelters during “Socktober,” and sending more than 400 holiday “caring cards” to troops overseas.
“It is such a privilege to honor a teacher that empowers our Tigers to be kind and serve others,” said Loveland City School District Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse. “Mrs. Prenger inspires all of us and has had significant impact on adults as well as children over her years at Loveland. She has a heart of gold and we are so lucky to have her.”
Michele Pettit, Board Vice President
Eileen Washburn, Board Member
Kevin Dougherty, Board Member
Dr. Eric Schwetschenau, Board Member
Dr. Amy Crouse
Julie Dunn 
Andrea Conner, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
Eric Dool, Director of Student Services
Denise Davis Bradley
Becky Clark
Kevin Hawley
Debbie Reardon
John Ames
Michele Anton
Greg Osie
Lorie Stulz
Chuck Ogdan 
Judi McDaniel
Kate Dooley
Eric Dool
Kris Tracy 
Peggy Johnson
Eric Fry 
Brian Conatser
David Knapp – Principal
Sara Gehring
Jayson Bruce
Jennifer Forren
Kevin Fancher
Jesse Kohls
