December 2, 2016
Contact: Jill Moberley, Director
Office of Strategic Information
jmoberle@dps.k12.oh.us
For Immediate Release

–    Ruskin PreK-6 hosting FIRST Lego League robotics challenge

     Ruskin PreK-6 School is hosting a regional qualifying event for the FIRST Lego League challenge. Ruskin’s team, the Ruskin Makers: Miracles in Legos, are among 12 teams statewide to compete, Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the Lego Group collaborated to create the league that inspires children to excel in math and science. Competitors in Saturday’s qualifier will be required to build and successfully program a robot, complete teamwork challenges and present a research project. Qualifiers move on to a district tournament in January 2017, with hopes of entering the national championship in February at the Wright State University Nutter Center. For more information, contact Ellen Mays at 542-5678.

–    Stivers Celebrates a holiday crowd pleaser
                
     Stivers Celebrates is one of the most anticipated programs of the year for Stivers School for the Arts. Billed as “one of the best holiday performances that the Miami Valley can offer,” student performances will include song, dance, theater and art works that come to life during the annual show at the Masonic Center, 525 W. Riverview Ave., Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $5 to $20 and can be purchased at the Stivers Arts Magnet Office, 1313 E. Fifth St., Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Stivers Celebrates is sponsored by the seedling Foundation. For more information, call 542-7448.

–    Visually impaired students get a special holiday invitation            

     The Lions Club is celebrating the holidays with a very special group of children. The service club is hosting the 47th annual Lions Club Christmas Party for nearly 50 visually impaired DPS students at the Presidential Banquet Center, 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Thursday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Santa will sit with each child individually and present them with a gift. This is sure to be a warm and inspiring holiday event. For more information, contact Harriet Barbarei at 203-258-9506.

–    DPS ringing in the holiday season
            
     Tis’ the season for holiday cheer. Several Dayton Public Schools are celebrating the season with special holiday programs. Students will be wearing their holiday best to perform for the community, so have the video cameras rolling at any of these events in the weeks ahead:

–    DPS students contribute to art institute installation                

     Several students from Cleveland PreK-6 and Valerie PreK-6 schools are contributing art pieces to be combined into one giant installation at the Dayton Art Institute. An opening celebration is set at the museum, 456 Belmonte Park North, Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Students used a variety of materials to create objects that fit this year’s theme, “Designs of Nature.” The opening reception is free and open to the public in the Expericenter. The installation will remain on view until April 2, 2017. For more information, contact Langston Watras at 542-4351.

–    Director of early childhood education named outstanding administrator

     The Dayton Association for Young Children named Karen Lombard, DPS director of early childhood education, the 2016 Outstanding Administrator of the Year. Lombard’s award is based on nominations from peers and colleagues who praised her leadership and commitment to the field of early child care and education. She was recently honored at the annual DAYC Spotlight on Excellence Awards Ceremony. Under Lombard’s leadership, the early childhood education programs at DPS received Ohio’s highest Five-Star Step Up to Quality Award distinction for providing the highest quality learning environment for young children. She is a 26-year veteran of Dayton Public Schools, serving as the early child education director for eight years. For more information, contact Karen Lombard at 542-3325.
        
–    DPS educators awarded prestigious MAC grants

     Five DPS teachers are among the winners of 2016 McDonald’s Make Activities Count grants. Each received up to $500 to supplement their teaching with hands-on activities for their students. Jennifer Patton (Kiser), Stephanie Leonhardt (River’s Edge), Cynthia Ambrose (Stivers), and Rachel Blanks (Edison), all won grants. It is the second award for Blanks, and this is the third year in a row that Lauren Gruber (Wright Brothers), has been awarded. She plans to use the grant money for clay art projects. Local McDonald’s restaurants awarded more than $40,000 in MAC grants to area teachers this year. For more information, contact Lauren Gruber at 542-5974.
  
–    Student artwork chosen for county-wide calendar

The 2017 Montgomery County Environmental Calendar will include the art work of five DPS students.  Destiny Casey and Orlando Rosales from Wright Brothers Middle School, and Sherman Moncrief, Dameon Darden and Rashaun Redmond, from Dayton Boys Preparatory Academy, all created winning entries for the annual contest sponsored by the Montgomery County Environmental Services Department. This year’s themes centered around water conservation and recycling, titled “Be Green Like a Pro, by Conserving H2O,” “Water: Conserve It, Preserve It,” “Recycle the Present, Save the Future,” and “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” For more information, contact Lauren Gruber at 542-5974.

–    Fairview students selected for state government program

     Six students from Fairview PreK-6 School were selected to participate in the annual Ohio YMCA Youth and Government program. Citywide Development and the Phoenix Project sponsored the students’ stay in Columbus in late November. The program is designed to teach the democratic process of government through hands-on activities. Kabatesi Nishimwe, Demi Cos, Julian Lee, Leilah Coleman, Philip Musangwa, and Ileyk Reyes learned about the democratic process, how to write and research bills, and the election process. For more information, contact Caitlin Smith at 542-4639.

–    Ponitz robotics teams in Xtreme Bots competition
 
     Two robotics teams from Ponitz Career Technology Center are on their way to a national competition after a strong showing at the 2016 Fall Xtreme Bots Competition held at the Wright State University Nutter Center in November. Team Rest in Pieces battled all the way to a first place finish and won the Best Engineered Robot Award. Members of Team RIP are: Cormari Pullings, Mariya Dixon, Jackson Paul, Brenden Beasley and Jason Cook. Their team is sponsored by Dayton Progress. Team Peanut Butter and Jelly battled to a 16th place finish among 36 teams that competed. The team members are: Thomas Muhlecke, Philip Negron, Ayshe Salamova and Brandon Dilworth. Their team is sponsored by Dysinger. Both teams will compete in a national competition in April. For more information contact David Andrews at (937) 512-7246.

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