WestChesterBuzz.com

Lakota West students launched the redesign of lakotawesthigh.com May 16, 2012.

After five months of work, Lakota West students showed off their new design for its official high school website Wednesday in front of classmates, teachers and Lakota administrators in the high school’s theatre.

The redesigned lakotawesthigh.com launched after the presentation made by students from Lakota West’s web design 2 class. Improvements to the website include social media integration, introduction of a mobile platform, a featured news slider and a banner that includes outlines of both the high school and freshman campuses.

“Being able to work together as a big team and actually pull this together was a really great experience for myself and I am sure for everybody else,“ Lakota West senior Daniel Lewandowski said.

“Going from being able to find a template and start putting things together to now and to be finally finished, it feels really good.”

During the presentation, Lewandowski and his classmates commented that they wanted the redesign to have the feel of a college website. Their teacher, Todd Hummer, believed his students accomplished that goal among others.

“I think this site is a lot more visually appealing than the old site, it has a really modern touch to it,” Hummer said. “The featured content slider, which you see on a lot of the college sites these days, seems to be many of the kids favorite part. My personal favorite part is the banner and how it incorporates the main campus and the freshman campus. That was also one of our main goals.”

Besides those features, Lewandowski and his classmates agreed that the “simplified” new design makes it easier for online visitors to navigate through the website.

“A lot of work and a lot of time went into it and I am really proud of the final product,” Lakota West junior Scott Johnson said.

“This new website is a lot less cluttered and more simpler than the old website, making it much easier to find information. On the old site, you used to be able to click through six sections and find the same thing in two spots. It just wasn’t that easy to get around compared to the new one.”

For those interested, below is a screen shot of the old design.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Daniel Lewandowski, Lakota website, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West High School web design, Lakota West web design, Lakota West website, Lakota West website redesign, lakotawesthigh.com, Scott Johnson, Todd Hummer

Sue Kiesewetter reports

A Lakota East High School teacher has been charged with a misdemeanor count of theft in connection with missing money from the school’s prom fund.

Heather Schoell-Schroeder. Photo provided

Heather Schoell-Schroeder, 45, of Liberty Township was charged after she and her attorney met with sheriff’s investigators Monday. The Lakota Board of Education is expected to accept her resignation at its meeting tonight, retroactive to May 7.

“Our investigation has concluded,’’ said Sgt. Monte Mayer, spokesman for the Butler County Sheriff’s office. “No other charges are pending.”

Administrators first learned money may have been missing when students arrived at the April 28 prom and had trouble getting in, according to district officials. When students complained to the teacher at least two were asked not to report her, according to a statement from the district.

School officials said the amount missing is about $800 and involved payment for 20 tickets, according to the statement. It is believed that Schoell-Schroeder encouraged students to pay her directly for prom admission instead of waiting in line to buy tickets in the lunchroom.

Even if the students had purchased tickets in the lunchroom, no paper ticket would have been issued because it was credited electronically. Schoell-Schroeder may have told the students to see her at the prom to gain entrance instead of going through the check-in process.

After conducting an internal investigation that began April 30, school officials turned over their information to the sheriff’s office.

Schoell-Schroeder has not been in the classroom since the prom. A substitute teacher has taken over her classroom duties.

Since then, a relative of the teacher has returned $160 to the district, officials said.

School officials are reviewing prom ticket sales to see if changes need to be made.

Posted in: Crime, Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Heather Schoell-Schroeder, Lakota East High School, Lakota East missing prom funds, Lakota East missing prom money, Lakota East prom, Lakota East stolen prom money

A Lakota East High School teacher is the focus of an investigation by police in connection with missing funds from the Butler County school’s prom fund.

The teacher, who resigned earlier this week, was not named by Lakota school officials in their released statement Friday.

According to Lakota officials, they “could not initially account for $800 in ticket sale proceeds from the Lakota East High School prom fund. The district has recovered $160 and officials “will continue to pursue the remainder.”

“We take all matters involving potential illegal activity very seriously,” said Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia. “We acted with urgency to handle this situation appropriately. We are cooperating fully with the (Butler County) Sheriff’s office.”

Posted in: Crime, Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East High School, Lakota East missing prom funds, Lakota East missing prom money, Lakota East prom, Lakota East stolen prom money

Various media outlets reported Thursday that the Butler County Sheriff’s Office has launched a criminal investigation this week after funds from the Lakota East High School prom went missing.

Middletown Journal staff member Denise Wilson reported Thursday evening that Lakota East Assistant Principal Stacy Millberg discovered that a teacher sold $760 worth of tickets in her classroom, but never placed the money into the prom account.

Wilson also reported that the Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect, but has not filed any charges.

Meanwhile, FOX 19 reported that its was told by a fellow Lakota staff member that a teacher in the school district has resigned in connection with the missing prom money.

Local 12 was the first to report the story Thursday afternoon.

The Lakota East High School prom was held at the Savannah Center in West Chester April 28.

Posted in: Crime, Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East High School, Lakota East missing prom funds, Lakota East missing prom money, Lakota East prom, Lakota East stolen prom money

Lakota East and Lakota West high school students will both participate in fundraisers this Saturday.

In the morning, Lakota East will host the Cool Jazz n’ Hotcakes breakfast. The event, which will feature performances from Lakota East High School jazz bands, will take place from 8 a.m. to noon.

Lakota East jazz band. Photo provided.

There will be raffle prizes during the breakfast that include an autographed guitar from Bootsy Collins, an autographed CD and picture from Wynton Marsalis and a Smoky Mountain Getaway.

Rosie Red (Cincinnati Reds mascot) will be there for pictures and Married with Microphones’ Chris and Janeen from 103.5 WGRR will be the masters of ceremonies.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Lakota East band programs.

Meanwhile, in the Lakota East parking lot, there will be a community garage sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In West Chester, Lakota West students are sponsoring a car wash in support of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Walgreen’s on Union Centre Boulevard and 747. Refreshments will also be on sale during the event.

All proceeds will go towards the American Cancer Society.

Next weekend, Lakota West will host its second annual Relay for Life event from 4 p.m. Friday, May 18, until 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19. The event will be held for 18 hours on the track in the Lakota West football stadium.

For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org/lakotawest.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East jazz band, Lakota East jazz bands, Lakota East music program, Lakota Eastside Jazz Ensemble

During a focus group at the Lakota Central Office May 3, 2012, it was the students teaching Lakota administrators on how to better run the state’s seventh-largest school system. In picture, Lakota student Jennifer Shafer shares her opinion. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.

Lakota students share opinions on how to run district – During a focus group session at the Lakota Central Office last Thursday, it was the students teaching Lakota administrators on how to better run the state’s seventh-largest school system.

Lightning strike levels Liberty Township home – Gary Keller’s 4,000-square-foot, $900,000 home caught fire after being struck by lightning during last Wednesday’s storm.

Former Lakota West football players get chance with Bengals – Lakota West graduates Grant Hunter and Josh Chichester will both have the opportunity to prove to the Cincinnati Bengals that they are worth a roster spot. Hunter, who played linebacker at Butler, was among one of the 14 college free agents that the Bengals signed Wednesday. While Chichester, was one of the three players with local ties who were invited to try out at next weekend’s, May 11-13, rookie minicamp.

Ex-assistant prosecutor indicted in Butler County – Sheila McLaughlin reported last week that a former Butler County assistant prosecutor was himself indicted for allegedly forging an indictment against an alleged robber. Jason Phillabaum, who has been working in private practice, is charged with two counts each of forgery and tampering with records and misdemeanor charges of derelection of duty, interference with civil rights and using a sham legal process.

Schedule released for 2012 West Chester concert series – The schedule for the 2012 Fifth Third West Chester summer concert series at Keehner Park has been released. The free Saturday concerts will take place at the Keehner Park amphitheatre from 7 to 9 p.m.

After-Hours on The Square at Union Centre 2012 schedule – DV8 will kick off the 2012 season of the First Financial Bank After-Hours on The Square concert series in West Chester May 24. The band will perform from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Square at Union Centre. The concert series will take place every Thursday

Mojo Running moves to new location – Mojo Running, the West Chester running specialty store, is itself on the move. The shop relocated from 9318 Union Center Blvd in the U.S. Bank Plaza to a more visible space two miles away, at 8777 Cincinnati Dayton Road in Olde West Chester, near the Post Office, owner Paul Heintz said.

Lakota West sweeps rival – For the second time in four days, a Lakota West pitcher shutout the defending Division I baseball state champions. Behind sophomore pitcher Grant Schuermann, Lakota West blanked the Lakota East Thunderhawks by the score of 3-0 on April 27. Then, last Monday, it was senior Zak Farmer who shutout Lakota East in a 7-0 victory at the Hawks Nest.

Posted in: Board of Education, Events, Levy news, News, School events, Schools, Student achievements, Weather |

Tags: Tags: Butler County weather, Gary Keller, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota East baseball, Lakota East Ray Hamilton, Lakota East Sports, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota student focus group, Liberty Township weather, National Weather Service, West Chester weather

During a focus group session at the Lakota Central Office Thursday, it was the students teaching Lakota administrators on how to better run the state’s seventh-largest school system.

The student-led focus group was the first of four sessions with Lakota officials, as the school district looks for more effective ways to educate its students.

“Students will tell you the truth and that is what we are looking for,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said. “We want to make sure we are responsive school system in meeting their needs. In order to do that, we need to ask them.

“This is just the tip of the ice berg.”

After the discussions with students, Mantia said that he hopes to extend an invitation for future focus groups with teachers and eventually with the community.

Among the topics covered, during the two-hour student focus group, included what ways students learn the best, how technology plays a role in their learning, what skills do they think they need to know for their future and what changes need to be made to the school system.

Lakota West senior Melody Stewart shares her opinion during a student focus group at the Lakota Central Office May 3, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

“Anything that could help us with our studies should be allowed,” Lakota West senior Melody Stewart said. “If that means going on Facebook to get something, then we should be allowed to do that. If you abuse that privilege than it should be taken away, but for educational purposes we should be able to go online and search for what we need.”

Stewart, who played volleyball in the Lakota school system and will continue her athletic career at Northern Kentucky University, also thought that the school system should focus on having more extracurricular activities.

“If I didn’t play volleyball, I don’t think that would be as involved in the school today,” Stewart said. “I think these activities help students feel connected to the school district. I believe we should get students more involved and have more extracurricular activities so they can have that connection and feel what I felt.”

Another Lakota athlete, who still has two more years of high school before he graduates, worries about the change in the academic schedule when the high schools move to six-period days in the fall.

“Next year is going to be a lot harder because we only have six periods,” said Lakota West sophomore Malik Grove, who has played varsity football, basketball and bowling. “You still need to earn enough credits. I will still need another foreign language and a fine arts class. I only have two years left to get those in order to get into to a good college.”

Meanwhile, Stewart hopes Grove and other future graduates will receive the same education she received while at Lakota.

“When I leave, I don’t want to see the school district go down the drain. I want them to keep improving,” Stewart said. “My experience at Lakota was great. I feel that I am very prepared for the future and I want other students who come up to feel the same way.

“I really hope that this meeting will give the school district a lot of information to keep improving our studies … because I believe there are many things that we can to do, to better prepare students for college and the workforce.”

Posted in: Board of Education, Events, Levy news, News, School events, Schools, Sports, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East Sports, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota student focus group, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mel Stewart, reductions, Rich Hoffman, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

Michael D. Clark reports

After a day of parading in a glittering prom gown and an evening of dancing and dining, junior Staci Burkel readies herself to climb on to a bucking bull.

Adding to the oddity of the spectacle are excited classmates who encircle her in Lakota East High School’s gym and the time – 1:17 a.m. Sunday.

Staci gamely hangs on as the bull spins and dips. Finally it bucks her off, safely on to thick-cushioned mats.

“It was kind of scary when I fell off. That was a new experience,” Staci says with a giggle.

Welcome to the world of after prom.

It’s a place rarely seen by adults, a colorful midnight-to-dawn festival where high schools morph into equal parts amusement park, raffles, video arcade, dance hall, casino and all-you-can-eat buffets.

A place where teenagers shed their flowing prom gowns and high-fashion tuxedos, step away from rented limousines and enter a locked-down world designed to assure both their entertainment and safety.

The trend of after proms at local high schools started in the 1990s as a safe alternative to unsupervised, post-prom parties that can include excessive drinking, drug use and potentially deadly driving.

The costs are borne by school parent organizations and booster groups. In Lakota East’s case, private donations of $25,000 helped fund last weekend’s event. The Butler County school’s giant, three-story main hallway was transformed with festive lighting, hundreds of balloons, ribbons and lit from above by a giant star-shaped light fixture.

“I didn’t expect the school to come alive like this,” says the 17-year-old Staci as she surveys the boisterous crowd.

“I thought more people would just be sleeping on the (gym) bleachers. But there are tons of sugar to keep everyone awake and they have enough music and activities to keep everyone going,” she says. (more…)

Posted in: Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Alex Mundy, Christine Elson, Lakota East, Lakota East after prom, Lakota East High School, Lakota East High School after prom, Lakota East High School prom, Lakota East prom, Staci Burkel

Students, staff and parents at Independence Elementary and Wyandot Early Childhood participated in last Thursday’s annual Blow Bubbles for Autism event.

Students at Independence Elementary participate in the Blow Bubbles for Autism event on April 26, 2012. Photo provided.

Combined between the two schools, more than 1,350 people participated.

Every year, participants attempt to break a Guinness World Record for “People Blowing Bubbles Simultaneously” for one minute, which is set at 37,000 people.

• Video: Bubbles for Autism

Participants from the local schools and at the other 240 locations in the United States and Canada do not know yet whether they broke the world record with last week’s effort.

To help the local effort, the Wal-Mart in West Chester donated hundreds of vials of bubbles for the Lakota participants.

For more information about the event, visit the Blow Bubbles 4 Autism Facebook page.

Posted in: Events, News, School events |

Tags: Tags: Blow Bubbles 4 Autism, Blow Bubbles for Autism, Independence Elementary, Wyandot Early Childhood School

The Lakota Trombone Ensemble is seeking trombone players with high school experience for its performance at the West Chester Church of the Nazarene at 7 p.m. May 10.

According to Lakota Ridge Junior band director Brian Botdorf, the performance will promote various styles of music, such as, Latin, jazz, funk and classical.

The performance will consist of Lakota West and Lakota East high school trombone players as well as a special guest appearance by the Bones of Cincinnatus, a greater Cincinnati trombone ensemble of adult musicians.

Both ensembles will combine for a trombone finale, along with any person who played trombone in high school that would like to participate. All participants must provide their own trombone.

The concert is free to attend.

West Chester Church of the Nazarene is located at 7951 Tylersville Road.

For more information or to participate, email Botdorf at brian.botdorf@lakotaonline.com.

Posted in: Events, School events |

Tags: Tags: Brian Botdorg, Lakota East Band, Lakota Ridge Junior, Lakota Trombone Ensemble, Lakota West band, West Chester Church of the Nazarene