P

romise

Fall 2022

A Brave Publication Indian Hill Exempted Village School District

Welcome Home, Braves In this issue:

Special Video Presentation: #BraveFirstDay Cover

Why Indian Hill: A message from
CEO/Superintendent Kirk Koennecke Page 2

Streamlining Communications, Our #IHPromise Page 3

Unparalleled Opportunities: Students & Staff Make Headlines Page 4

Brave Construction Update
Pages 6-7

JOY
SPECIAL VIDEO PRESENTATION: #BraveFirstDay

Brave Team
Use your
phone
Meet Our New	In this special video presentation, we take you to our celebration of

camera
Members	students as we welcome Braves
Page 8	back for the first day of school.	to access

the special
Why Indian Hill?	presentation. We put JOY in learning.

Indianhillschools.org

Why Indian Hill: A message from CEO/Superintendent Kirk Koennecke

Before the sun was up, our fleet of school buses rolled out August 18 and smiles rolled into campus as we celebrated our #BraveFirstDay of school! (My absolute favorite day of the ENTIRE year!) The excitement hasn’t stopped!

This 2022-2023 school year, we are asking an important, collective question as an organization: Why Indian Hill?

From our unparalleled academics, arts, and athletics, to our world-class and award-winning faculty and staff, we know the educational experience we deliver is unique. This school year, we will examine with you the “why” and share that story through our website, our social
media channels, our printed publications, and our videos.

We look back over the last school year with pride: Indian Hill is ranked No. 1 in the state according to Niche; ranked No. 7 in the state by U.S. News and World Report; is a “Best Communities for Music Education” and has been the past eight consecutive years; is a Project Lead The Way nationally recognized STEM program and has been three consecutive years; and we remain a Top Workplace eight years and counting!

Why Indian Hill? This is home, and there’s truly no place like it. Welcome back, Braves!

In service to our children,

Kirk Koennecke CEO/Superintendent Indian Hill School District Kirk.Koennecke@ihsd.us
@ihsuperbrave

Superintendent Koennecke.

Indian Hill students.

Authentic conversation.

Welcome to our new EduHERO Podcast.

A place to hear monthly conversations with our Indian Hill High School & Indian Hill Middle School students.

Why Indian Hill?

When our students talk, we listen.

Use your camera to access a whole new way to capture what makes us uniquely Indian Hill.

“My life is not my grades.”

- Sarika Singh on IHHS Senior Experience

“Cross Country is
like a family.”

- Jonah Waltz on IHHS Athletics

“If you are passionate about
something, you can do it here.”

- Sarika Singh on IHHS Clubs

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Communications
Celebrations
examined
experience
Create New
research
Clear. Consistent. Routine. Streamline Communications launched this August,

one of 10 key initiatives in our #IHPromise strategic plan.

beBRAVE Reimagined

Our weekly, digital newsletter got a makeover, giving you access to six complete newsletters in one!

Use your camera phone to access and subscribe to these new incredible digital newsletters!

Weekly Building-Level Digital Newsletters

With the click of a button within our Friday beBRAVE digital newsletter, each building will share: • Weekly Video Celebration
• Important Dates

• Bulletin Board of News

• Quick Links (Online Payments, Lunch Menus, etc.)

IH Sports Spotlight

Available as a separate digital newsletter you can sign up to receive, or as a link embedded in our weekly beBRAVE, we present IH Sports Spotlight! Under the direction of Athletic Director Brian Phelps, IH Sports Spotlight will provide Braves everything athletics they want and need to know.Fromstudentandstaff accolades, to weekly game summaries, to upcoming schedules … and, of course, Brian’s 60-Second Brave Spotlight!

Access IH Arts

Available as a separate digital newsletter you can sign up to receive, or as a link embedded in our weekly beBRAVE, we present Access IH Arts! Arts and Activities Director Amy Clark is ready to take you behind-the-scenes of our classrooms, auditoriums, and art galleries in this new feature that showcases our unparalleled arts program. Join her each week as she celebrates our student-artists and staff, promotes upcoming shows, and provides visual recaps of our big performances … always with her exciting Access IH Arts video feature!

Communications Hub

If you need to access a digital archive of past communications, brand guidelines and logos, App information, or, if you simply know of somegreatIndianHillSchoolDistrictnewsyouwanttoseeusfeature–welcometotheCommunicationsHub!TheCommunications HubcanbeaccessedeachweekatthebottomofbeBRAVE,oryoucanfinditonourDistrictwebsitewithinthe“About”section.

Financial Communications

Finally, CFO/Treasurer Mick Davis will deliver multiple opportunities for you to learn about our District finances this school year through his five-year forecast in November and May, which will be shared with all stakeholders through a printed postcard. We will also continue sharing a comprehensive annual look at our finances through our Financial Prospectus report in January.

FOLLOW OUR STORY!

IHPS Principal Dr. Erin Owens Erin.Owens@ihsd.us Twitter: @IHPrimary

IHES Principal Whitney Buell Whitney.Buell@ihsd.us Twitter: @IHElementary

IHMS Principal Lauren Gentene Lauren.Gentene@ihsd.us Twitter: @IHMiddle

IHHS Principal Jeffrey Damadeo Jeff.Damadeo@ihsd.us Twitter: @IHHSPrincipal

See our
#IHPromise in action!

Twitter: @IHSchools

Facebook: @indianhillschools

Instagram: indianhillschools

YouTube:
IHSD Communication

Summer Professional Learning 96 hours = Leadership Development
192 hours = STEM

574 hours = Project Based Learning 264 hours = Diversity & Inclusion
90 hours = Positive Behavioral Intervention Services 650 hours = Book Studies
90 teachers led peer learning

56 educators developed tech skills for education

60+             #IHPromise           Student Agency, team members                Strategic Plan         Spaces, District
Fall 2022
opportunities for	STEM, Culminating how our #IHPromise                                                                                  Experiences,
Strategic Plan can	Practical Life Skills,
impact the K-12                                                                                   & Wellness teams student                     Learners as Doers, Learners                     engaged in

as Individuals, Learners as

the Whole Child	 Teams focused on Learners as the
Streamline
Whole Child reconciled existing with potential
programs to explore launched	how we can build

opportunities to

reach every student

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Indian Hill School
District
#7 in Ohio!
8 Years Running
2022 Best
Communities
for Music
ACADEMICS
Partner Website

Unparalleled Opportunities Braves Make Headlines

2022

Indian Hill Exempted Village	Project Lead The Way Distinguished School District is a                                                 School in STEM three years & running!
2022 Top Workplace!                                                  IHHS is one of only 191 high school programs nationally to receive this
Education	distinction for the 2021-2022 school year!
	
Indian Hill student presents passion for food equity to global audience
We are so proud of senior William Dalton for his selection as one of 32 Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leaders, representing 21 countries on five continents during the Three Dot Dash Just Peace Summit this summer.
Indian Hill Primary School & Indian Hill Elementary School EduHERO reveals!
Our IHPS & IHES EduHERO Celebrations are BACK! Don’t miss these each month in beBRAVE!
Congratulations to IHPS student second-grade student Cilla Johnson, our September EduHERO!
National Merit recognizes 19 Indian Hill High School students
Congratulations to the 19 students who were recognized as part of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their
outstanding performance last year on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Seven students from Indian Hill High School have qualified for the National Merit Semifinalist Competition: Connor Coffman, Elizabeth Consolino, Victoria Gonzalez, Vinya Ivaturi, Joseph Kayne, Niel Ok, and Pranav Rastogi. In addition, 12 Indian Hill High School students have been recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars: Natalia Byer, Kathryn Yanes Diehl, Gianni Espejel, John Higgins, Vinay Ivaturi, Brian Jia, Preston Marx, Joy On, Marko Petrovic, Hrishi Rawat, Lily Shepherd, and Kaia Woo. Indian Hill High School’s Kathryn Yanes Diehl was also recognized as a National Hispanic Scholar.

Preparing students for	Real-world their next steps in life.	learning
The Indian Hill School District is doing	We are partners that, right now, in partnership with the	in learning with Indian Hill Foundation – and we are	30 professional inviting you to be involved. Welcome	organizations serving to Indian Hill Experienceships, a place	19 students during where education and industry converge	the pilot program,
to provide unparalleled opportunities	with 40 students for our future global leaders to sharpen	registered this fall.
career skills and goals while enrolled at Indian Hill High School.
Help a student’s dream come true
Our partner website may help you or others in your organization understand different ways you can potentially partner with our program to offer career experiences to students.
Have you seen our most recent partner testimonial video?

Meet Our Students

Gulirano Almuratova –	Maggie Schoeny Law Experienceship with	with Loth VP of
Mike Allen & Associates             Organizational Design & Attorneys at Law                        Strategy Kelly Schoembs
“While at the courthouse I was	“Interning at Loft really introduced to how the legal system	helped me understand what I was introduced to in Mock Trial	the ofice “day to day” was functions in real life. I got to sit	like. I learned what it was
in on a murder trial and learned	like to go into the ofice, as about chain of custody, tendering	well as a lot of tools such as an expert witness and cross	marketing databases that examinations. It was really cool and	will help me in my future. I’m made me even more sure of my	super grateful to everyone at decision to pursue law in the future!”     Loft for giving this to me.”

Questions? Contact Indian Hill Experienceships Coordinator Wendy Silvius (wendy.silvius@ihsd.us).
	
Superstar educators!

MELISSA BURGESS (IHHS Latin teacher) received the Summa Cum Laude Sponsor Award from the National Junior Classical League this July during the 69th annual National Junior Classical League Convention at the University of Louisiana.
SANDY GEMMEL (IHMS intervention specialist) was named a 2022 Master Teacher Finalist by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, and was one of eight educators in Ohio to earn a peer-voted Award of Excellence in Teaching through the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.
SARAH KELLETT (IHES counselor) was published nationally in Edutopia celebrating our Wellness Wednesdays at Indian Hill Elementary School!
LAUREN RICHARDSON & ASHLEY MORRISON (IHHS & IHMS innovation coaches) were featured nationally as masters of educational technology integration by Kahoot!
ANDY GRUBER was named a “Rising Leader” among his peers! The Indian Hill Primary School Assistant Principal was featured in “K-12 DIVE” as one of an elite number of building leaders selected nationally.
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ARTS
Indian Hill Theatre Productions

2022 UPCOMING SHOW DATES

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: October 13, 14, &15

Autumn Choral Concert: October 18

Orchestra Concert for a Cause: October 25

Fall Band Concert: November 8

Cabaret: December 3

IH Orchestra Performs at the Cincinnati Cyclones Game: December

Alice in Wonderland: November 4 & 5

COMING TO INDIAN HILL HIGH SCHOOL DECEMBER 2023: DISNEY’S FROZEN

The Indian Hill School District is thrilled to announce Indian Hill High School’s selection as the only school in Ohio and one of only 51 schools selected from some 300 nationally to debut Disney’s Frozen on the school theatre stage. Disney made the announcement Friday,
September 9, and Indian Hill High School Principal Jeff Damadeo made a surprise announcement to the student body at the end of the day.

Indian Hill High School students earn OMEA
All-State music accolades

The Indian Hill School District congratulates 11 of our talented Indian Hill High School student-artists who were selected to perform with the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) All-State Orchestra and Choir ensembles for 2023. Students selected for the All-State ensembles will perform at the 2023 OMEA State Conference, which takes place in early February in Columbus.

We are immensely proud of our Singing Braves,”
said Indian Hill High School Director of Vocal Music Jeff Clark. “Hundreds of student vocalists
audition for a spot in this prestigious ensemble each year through a blind audition process, and we are so lucky to showcase our student talent once again with a record-breaking TEN students accepted into All-State Choir!

The complete list of Indian Hill
High School students performing includes:

Orchestra: Aaron Scott

Choir: Franny Bell, Connor Coffman, Emery Cunningham, Sydney Frost, Joseph Kayne, Hayden Longbottom, Hrishi Rawat, Sarika Singh, Emma Stacey, Luis Vega-Torres

Braves Marching Band ‘First Place Music Performance’
at Taylor Invitational

Congratulations to the Braves Marching Band for earning first place in music performance and second place in
class A during the Taylor Invitational!

Indian Hill student named
Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy

IHHS senior Joseph Kayne was awarded the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy
Award for the 2022 National Philanthropy Day celebration sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cincinnati Chapter for founding his nonprofit The Power of Music.

Sports Media Students in action

Introducing Indian Hill Sports Media! Our Indian Hill High School students are creating a whole new athletic

experience. From pre-game to post-game, our talented team of students is working with the IHTN Network to bring you interviews and highlights for varsity sports. Give them a follow and watch our students in action!

IG @ihsportsmedia

Twitter @IH_sportsmedia

Team members include: Jenna Arnold, Jamia Bolden, Mia Bolden, Daniel Chen, Dan DeBow, Molly Guinan, Nick Guinan, Andrew Heinichen, Tyler Huang, Chloe Hutton, Brian Jia, Meran Phelps, Zachary Rosenbaum, Mia Sulfsted, Reese Tuttle, and Rose Vigran!

ATHLETICS

A Celebration of Coach Larry Ely!

	

IHHS Junior
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Indian Hill School District
Fall 2022 Construction Update

The Indian Hill School District Board of Education received a substantial summer update on progress made towards the completion of the District’s master facilities plan during the August 16, 2022 regular meeting. District partners MSA Design and Skanska presented a robust outline of construction work that has been completed, detailing a comprehensive logistics plan for remaining work.

“Substantial progress was made across our campus, and that is a true celebration,” said Indian Hill School District CEO/ Superintendent Kirk Koennecke. “We are extremely pleased our partners feel confident that we remain on schedule to complete both Indian Hill Primary School and Indian Hill Elementary School during the original timeframe.”

Both buildings are scheduled to be finished and opened for students in August of 2023. Skanska adjusted the opening for the new Indian Hill Middle School building, as work isn’t projected to be finished until November of 2023, with furniture setup in December of 2023, and a plan to move students and staff into the new facility in January of 2024.

“Given the current climate of supply chain issues plaguing construction sites across the country, we continue to feel optimistic despite having a slight delay in the opening of the new Indian Hill Middle School,” said Koennecke. “This is a building that will serve generations of Braves to come; the important thing is that we do it right.”

	
See Construction LIVE!

		

Additionally, during the September 2022 meeting, the Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a resolution that provides the Board a supplemental borrowing option of $10.0 million to mitigate budget adjustments the master project is enduring due to inflation. This allows the Board to take quick action to lock in current interest rates on longer-term financing to cover additional costs.

“Our Board members want to get in front of rising costs and rising interest rates, to be excellent stewards of the investment our stakeholders have made in this multi-building construction project, while working to stay true to the original project scope,” said Indian Hill School District CFO/Treasurer Mick Davis. “This was a savvy move by our Board of Education to lock in a low rate, long term, during a time when rates are on the rise daily. We were able to achieve such a low rate due to the Indian Hill School District’s Aaa credit rating; Indian Hill is one of an elite number of school districts – only two others in Ohio – with the Aaa rating.”

“The reality we face as a school district is the reality all consumers are currently navigating,” said Koennecke. “We want our stakeholders to rest assured that we are moving forward conservatively without compromising the excellence our community both expects and deserves.”

Building a Brave Future: Indian Hill Facilities Transition Resource

“Our Board members want to get in front of
rising costs and rising interest rates, to be excellent stewards of the investment our stakeholders have made”

- Indian Hill School District CFO/Treasurer Mick Davis

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IHES Unified Arts Addition	IHPS Auditorium

	

Current Progress

IHMS/IHHS Campus Connector

Project timeline for all buildings:

TAKE A GOLF CART TOUR OF CONSTRUCTION!

Join Brave Monique Sewell and Superintendent Kirk Koennecke for a tour of the construction across campus!

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Indian Hill Board of Education (L to R): Bear Tullis, Board President; Craig Sumerel, Board Member; Niki Singh, Board Member; Nancy Aichholz, Board Vice President; Nolan Marx, Board Member

Meet our new team members!

Lauren Gentene, Principal Indian Hill Middle School

Lauren.Gentene@ihsd.us Twitter: @IHMiddle

My #IHPromise – to learn from and serve our Brave community while keeping our students at the center of everything we do.

Julius King, Athletic Coordinator
Indian Hill School District

Julius.King@ihsd.us Twitter: @Jking_IHBraves
My #IHPromise – to spread love and joy in all things athletics and to help our young people pursue their goals and dreams.

Danielle Lintz, Dean of Students
Indian Hill School District

Danielle.Lintz@ihsd.us Twitter: @danielle_lintz
My #IHPromise – to recognize and value the uniqueness of every child, every day. It is my desire to create an atmosphere where students can meet their full potential. I promise to provide a safe environment where
students are motivated to share their ideas and take risks.

Indian Hill Exempted Village School District 6855 Drake Road, Cincinnati, OH 45243
(513) 272-4500

facebook.com/indianhillschools @ihschools
Indianhillschools

indianhillschools.org The Indian Hill Exempted Village School District serves students
in the Village of Indian Hill, Kenwood, parts of Sycamore and Symmes Township, Camp Dennison and a small portion of Loveland.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Cincinnati, OH Permit No. 197