Our five Kings Board of Education members were celebrated at this week's Board meeting for School Board Recognition Month.

Mr. Sears told the Board how much they are appreciated by the District for being student-centered. Being a school board member is an important role in a school district. Serving as a link between the community and the classroom, school board members are elected to establish the policies that provide the framework for public schools.

Thanks, again to our entire Kings Board of Education, Stacie Belfrom, Peggy Phillips, Deb Cowan, Janelle Groff, and John Skerl, for caring about our children and giving so much to our community. Your dedicated service is recognized and truly appreciated.

Watch the video below that features our Board members family members.

The Ohio Writing Project (OWP) is one of the longest-running and largest sites of the National Writing Project. As part of the Miami University English Department, OWP supports K-12 teachers across the region and celebrates the professionalism, expertise, and talent of educators. One of those teachers happens to be Kings Mills Elementary second-grade teacher Courtney Shuman.

Mrs. Shuman began her exposure to the OWP in 2015 when she took part in professional development. She said the program "helped us create a common understanding and expectations for the standards. They supported us in identifying resources to help us reach our students and create appropriate common assessments to move us forward in creating and utilizing our curriculum and resources."

Once her two children were enrolled in kindergarten, Shuman applied to OWP graduate school through Miami University. After two years of research, writing, and connection with teachers of all grade levels, she completed her Master’s degree in the summer of 2022. And most recently, she has been asked to join the OWP professional development team.

This school year, through the OWP, Courtney has had the opportunity to work with a school in Columbus, helping them to enhance their writing education for their students. She said it is an honor to be a part of the OWP, but the best part she says that "my students are reaping the benefits! I’m feeling completely reinvigorated as a teacher of writing!" She said that even this week, because of a fire drill, her students weren't able to write. When she asked her students if they wanted to work on their group projects or have free time to write, it was a unanimous cheer for writing! "My teacher's heart was overflowing. I'm proud of my writers!" she said.

Congratulations, Mrs. Shuman!

Pictured are students in Mrs. Shuman's class during writing time.

Five Kings Junior High School students have had their artwork selected for the "Tomorrow's Artist Today" exhibit at the Middletown Arts Center.

KJH Art teacher Katie Heagan submitted ten pieces for the exhibit and the artwork by Ammara Rahman, Elaina Setter, Abbie McKinney, Daly Spinner, and Lucy Kohls was chosen for the exhibit.

According to the Middletown Arts Center, Tomorrow's Artist Today is the premiere opportunity for local middle and high school students to showcase their work in a professionally juried exhibit. Local emerging artists ages 13-18 are encouraged to share their talents with the community in this one-of-a-kind annual exhibit.

The exhibit begins with an Opening Reception from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21. The exhibit runs through February 16. Awards will be placed next to the winning pieces at the Preview Event. Each entry could win up to $100, or Best of Show wins $200.

Congratulations to Ammara, Elaina, Abbie, Daly, and Lucy!

Mark your calendar for Kindergarten Registration! It begins on March 13 and runs through March 31, 2023.To enroll for kindergarten, your child must turn five by September 30, 2023. More information to follow.

There has been a lot of spirit shown for the Cincinnati Bengals around the District. Last Friday, we held WhoDey FriDey, a spirit day for the Bengals. Our schools were filled with orange and black and stripes!

We will continue every Friday until the Bengals win the Super Bowl! Check out the spirit in the video below. GO BENGALS!

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Emergency Departments are currently experiencing a very high volume of patients presenting with mental health concerns.

They are asking parents to utilize first their mental health provider whom they are already working with, if applicable, or, if going to Children's ED, make sure to contact the Psychiatric Intake Response Center BEFORE sending any patient or student to the Emergency Department and for guidance at (513) 636-4124.

For urgent mental health needs, families have two options. Mobile Response and Stabilization (MRSS) through Butler Behavioral Health. This service offers a new way that families with youth and young adults up to age 21 experiencing difficulties can get immediate (within 60 minutes) assistance with a crisis as well as up to 45 days of intensive in-home services and linkage to needed ongoing support.

Any family in Preble, Butler, Warren, and Clinton Counties can access this service at no cost, regardless of income or situation. The family defines the situation for which they need help. 

Common situations to which MRSS responds include emotional or escalated behaviors, mental health issues, substance use concerns, grief and loss, trauma, transitions, truancy, running away from home, and parent/child conflict. They can be reached at (877) 695-6333.

Additionally, parents can visit Best Point Behavioral Health Pediatric Mental Health Urgent Care Monday through Friday from 3:00-10:00 p.m. for children and adults up to age 21.

Do you know a Kings teacher who demonstrates a dedication to educational equity and a personal commitment to their community? And one who also holds themselves and others accountable to the ideals of compassion, integrity, honor and respect?

Nominate them for the TORCH award, Teachers of Ohio Representing Character and Heart. This recognition program honors five extraordinary teachers annually by celebrating their efforts to model a strong character and heart for students, colleagues, and the community.

Nominations are due by February 4, 2023.

Kings Junior High School Theatre students will entertain audiences in their production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," on January 26, 27, & 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the Kings High School Auditorium. They will also offer a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, January 28.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students, staff, and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased online at www.kingstheatre.net.

Join us for the first Annual Elementary STEAM Showcase on Thursday, February 23, 2023, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Kings Mills Elementary School.

The Showcase is an opportunity for your child to be involved in the STEAM process. Through a STEAM experiment or a STEAM challenge, students will engage in the Scientific Process by asking a question or will engage in the Engineering Design Process as they try to find a solution to a problem. 

Individuals or small groups are invited to register a project for the Showcase. Each person who participates in the STEAM Showcase will be responsible for creating a board showcasing their project and results.

Click here for the application and more information.

If you are interested in providing any donation for the Kings Education Association (KEA) end of year Celebration and Silent Auction in May, please contact Sheridan Pagan at South Lebanon Elementary School by email spagan@kingslocal.net or phone 513-398-8050 x 1554.

The money raised at this silent auction will provide a $1000 scholarship for a Kings High School graduating senior who is entering the field of Education.

Board Members

Kings Board of Education (L-R): John Skerl, Board Member; Janelle Groff, Board Member; Peggy Phillips, Board Member; Deb Cowan, Vice-President; and Stacie Belfrom, President.

The Board of Education meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month for a Work Session at 5:30 p.m. and the 3rd Tuesday of every month for a Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Visit the Board of Education page on our website for meeting dates, meeting recordings, and agendas.

All meetings are live-streamed on the Kings Youtube channel.

In an effort to be "green," the District does not send paper flyers home. We use a platform called Peachjar that houses flyers of community programs and resources. 

Parents receive approved flyers via email, and they are posted on our digital flyerboard for easy retrieval. Any organization can distribute information to our community by creating an account!

Congratulations to the Kings Firecrackers for being named Best Act of 2022 by Gameops.com.

The award goes to the touring act or halftime show that excels in providing quality entertainment for your fans. Touring acts, halftime acts, and non-mascot performers are considered. Consider drawing power, entertainment quality, cooperation of the act, ability of the act to promote appearances, added media exposure for the team, act innovation, and value.

The Firecrackers received this award in 2009, as well. If you're looking to catch a performance, take a look at this year's schedule. Keep up the great work, jumpers!

Please join the Kings Athletic Booster Club for their annual gala fundraiser, Knight To Remember, to support our KINGS student-athletes! The evening will begin with a cocktail hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by dinner, live & silent auctions, a reverse raffle, and dancing!

This year's theme is KNIGHTS IN THE JUNGLE and we encourage you to dress in your favorite JUNGLE attire! 

Not able to attend? You can still participate in our online silent auction by registering for a GiveSmart account. Auction items will begin to appear on the site as we get closer to the event. 

Purchase tickets and register now for KABC's biggest night of the year!

Please email Sara Ritter at saritter@cinci.rr.com if you have any questions or if your business is interested in being a sponsor or donating to our live or silent auction!