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Walnut Hills High School AssociationNEWSLETTER
Editor: Patti Newberry, [email protected], Design: Hillary Wood, [email protected] March 2013
2012-13 WHHS Association Board Executive CommitteePresident Susan Shelton [email protected] Past President Cassandra Clement [email protected] Recording Secretary B. Gordon [email protected] Jennifer Rodes [email protected]
DirectorsPR/Mktg Andrea Chase [email protected] CIC Maria Horn [email protected] ILT Gretchen Carroll [email protected] Carol Philpott [email protected] LSDMC Adrienne Brandicourt [email protected] LSDMC Tracy Mason [email protected] LSDMC Amy Kappers [email protected] Legacy of Excellence B. Gordon [email protected] of Excellence Abram Gordon [email protected] of Excellence Lisa Pennekamp [email protected] of Excellence Alex Stillpass [email protected] Legacy of Excellence John French [email protected] of Excellence Katherine French [email protected] Walnut Fest Co-Chair Janiene Baker [email protected] Fest Co-Chair Janet Huston [email protected] Walnut Fest Co-Chair Stephanie Thomson [email protected] Doug Newberry [email protected] Grade Co-chair Cathy Cook [email protected] Grade Co-chair Tracy Mason [email protected] Grade Liaison Rebeca Arobona [email protected] Grade Co-Chair Kim Frierson [email protected] Grade Co-Chair Ellen Boggess [email protected] Grade Co-Chair Leslie Young [email protected] 12th Grade Liaison Randi Chaiken [email protected] Renata Scanio [email protected] Hospitality Karla Bailey [email protected] Valencia Harris-Brown [email protected] Student Hospitality Judie List Sweeney [email protected] Appreciation Lucie Blanchard [email protected] Appreciation Meg Dietz [email protected] Patti Newberry [email protected] Coordinator Jenny French [email protected] Diane Van Bakel [email protected]
Ex-officio directorsJeffrey Brokamp, PrincipalDebbie Heldman, Alumni Foundation Executive DirectorChristine Szymaniak, WHIP Representative Molly Akin, Athletic Boosters
WHHS Association MeetingsThe Walnut Hills High School Association works to support and create opportunities for WHHS students, teachers, administrators and families. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. — watch Constant Contact messages for the location — and are open to all. The next meetings will be March 26, a business meeting, and April 23, a State of our School presentation by Principal Jeff Brokamp.
Letter From The PresidentDear Parents and Staff,
Thanks to all of you for your hard work and commitment to making Walnut Hills such an amazing place for our students. It is inspiring to see how everyone pitches in to keep improving our community, and WalnutFest was a great example of that. Boosters, WHIP, and the WHHS Association volunteers all worked together on this successful “funraiser” to help raise needed funds for Walnut Hills. You may not know that Walnut Hills has almost a $300,000 operational shortfall every year, so all that the Alumni Foundation, Boosters, WHIP, and the WHHS Association do to fundraise gives us the opportunity to close that big gap each year. It is great when we can raise the needed funds and have fun doing it, too! Thank you to everyone who came to WalnutFest, donated all the wonderful food and auction items, shared their musical talents, volunteered the weekend of the event and, especially, to those on the committee and the co-chairs.
If you haven’t had the chance to get involved, there are still many opportunities to choose from that you will enjoy and will make a difference. Staff appreciation will take place April 19 and we will need many volunteers who can help the day of or who can make some culinary delights for our hardworking, dedicated staff. Please contact Meg Dietz or Lucie Blanchard if you are interested. We are also going to begin the planning process for welcoming new students and their families to Walnut Hills. Please contact me if you would like to be part of this committee.
After Prom is a tradition that we are re-igniting after many years as part of a national movement to provide safe, substance-free entertainment on prom night, and our steering committee and student volunteers are hard at work. We will need the help of many more parents to make sure this is going to be an amazing event. The weekend of April 21st, we will transform the WHHS gym and the music lyceum into The World Cruise After Prom Party. This is available at the very low admission price of $10 each to WHHS juniors and seniors and their prom dates and any junior or senior, who does not attend prom. I encourage you to be part of this event, which ensures the safety of our students while they celebrate their special night. Please volunteer for set up, chaperoning and clean up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C4DA5A72AAB9-walnut.
A friend whom I admire very much said that you make friends and make a difference by working shoulder to shoulder together. Thank you for pitching in! Please enjoy this newsletter and celebrate all that our community is doing.
Susan SheltonWHHS Association President
Boys’ Basketball make history, go to State! Details, pages 4-5
WHHS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2013 | 2
Under the direction of Chairs Janiene Baker, Stephanie Thompson and Janet Huston, WalnutFest ’13 filled the Masonic Temple Ballroom downtown on Feb. 23 with Walnut fans and friends.
WHHS AssociationWalnutFest 2013 = Good times, good $!WalnutFest 2013 was a big success — raising much-needed funds for Walnut Hills High School and providing a great night of fun for 400 parents, staff and friends of Walnut Hills.
Guests were serenaded as they arrived by a piano soloist and a string trio, all talented Walnut Hills student musicians. “Dinner by the Bite” was provided by several generous restaurants and caterers many of which are owned by Walnut Hills families.
Principal Jeff Brokamp picked the winning Grand Raffle numbers at 8 p.m., with parent Lynn O’Donnell selecting the Cincinnati Reds Behind the Scenes Experience as the first-place winner. Second-prize winner Kathleen Cail selected the iPad Mini for her prize, with third-prize winner Susan Leonardi taking home a Behind the Scenes Experience with the Cincinnati Pops and tickets to Mandy Patinkin.
Other highlights of the evening included a Silent Auction with 140 items donated by Walnut Hills families, businesses, and other community supporters; Buy a Box; Athletic Team Basket Raffle; and the WHIP Wine Toss.
The 25 team baskets drew special attention, since team members were competing to attract the most bids. Of some 1,000 tickets sold for the baskets, a movie-theme collection assembled by members of the Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club attracted the most at 113.
The rowers won a pizza dinner for their efforts!
The evening was made especially festive by the playing of the WHHS Jazz Ensemble under the leadership of Kerry Kruze.
HGC Construction was the lead corporate sponsor of the evening, and Turner Construction and SHP Design provided additional funding. The WalnutFest Committee would like to thank Event Enterprises, Schulhoff Equipement Rental, The Kroger Co., Jones the Florist, the Walnut Hills Alumni
Foundation, and Michel Keidel of admojo, who designed the WalnutFest 2013 invitation and graphics and donated the program for the evening. A special thanks also goes to Craig and Sondra Kurz from Honey Baked Ham Co. and Maria Horn from The Best Kept Secret catering, not only for their gifts of food, but also for the hours they spent helping with the logistics, serving, supplies, etc. The Committee would also like to extend their thanks to all the volunteers who took time out from the festivities to work at the check in and checkout tables, replenish food, sell raffle and drink tickets, monitor the silent auction and raffle tables, and work at the wine toss, as well as the many who helped set up for the event. Special thanks to basket wrappers Joe Ross and Carol Philpott. The evening would not have been possible without all of you.
Thank you again to the Walnut Hills High School Association, Boosters, and WHIP volunteers and to all our guests for a great event for an amazing school!
— Janiene Baker, Janet Huston, and Stephanie ThompsonWalnutFest 2013 co-chairs
WalnutFest vendorsNext time you go out for dinner, or need someone to cater an event, please think of the vendors who supported WalnutFest!
• AForkableFeast
• Allyn’sCafé
• Annie’sCookies
• ChinaGourmet
• EatWell
• HoneyBakedHamCo.
• LaPetitePierre
• LaRosa’s
• LemonGrass
• Madisono’sGelatoandSorbet
• NanCake
• SymphonyHotel
• TheBestKeptSecretCatering
• WashingtonPlatform
• WildGinger
More WalnutFest photos on the next page >>>
WHHS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2013 | 3
‘After Prom’ coming to WHHSAs part of a national movement to provide safe, substance-free entertainment on prom night, the WHHS Association invites you to
help us support the Walnut Hills 2013 After Prom Party. This safe alternative to other after-prom activities helps prevent our students from making bad choices on an evening meant for wonderful memories. The After Prom Party is for all Walnut Hills juniors and seniors and
their prom guests and any WHHS junior or senior who does not attend prom. It will run 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday, April 21.
The WHHS Association invites you to help make this event a beneficial experience for the entire Walnut Hills community. Please consider volunteering for one of the After Prom Party planning teams. Team projects include room decorating, food preparation, prize and donor solicitation and clean-up.
To become part of this worthwhile event, please contact one of the After Prom steering team members: Sharon Smith, [email protected], 533-4062; Terri Knappenberger, [email protected], 631-9830; Chris Hawk, [email protected], 562-7264; or Cathy Fowler, [email protected], 321-8422.
Twilight Ball needs volunteersThe Annual Twilight Ball 7th- and 8th-grade spring dance will be April 26 from 7-10 p.m. in the main gym.
To attend, students must have a signed permission slip, and register for the dance. The permission slips will go home with students in mid-April and also be available in the 7th-8th-grade office. Students will register for the event during lunch on April 24, 25, and 26. Cost is $10 per ticket.
This is a semi-formal event but students MUST wear soft-soled shoes. Take this opportunity to guide your daughter/son in making an appropriate dress decision. Encourage your child in this process, for many of them it is their first dressy event.
For boys, semi-formal dress includes a shirt with collar, dress tie, turtleneck shirt/sweater, slacks (dress, Dockers-style, khaki, corduroy), dress sport jacket/coat, dress shoes. No jeans, shorts or flip-flops.
For girls, semi-formal includes blouses or tops with modest neckline, dress or skirts (mid-thigh/fingertip length or longer), slacks (dress, Dockers-style, khaki, corduroys), sweater, dress shoes. No jeans, shorts or flip-flops.
Volunteers are needed to help create a wonderful event for the students! There are many ways that you can help. Please email Kathy French for more details ([email protected]).
WalnutFest 2013
The After Prom committee invites volunteers to help.
WHHS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2013 | 4
Athletic DepartmentWhat a season!When the Eagles Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team heads to the state tournament in Columbus on Friday, they’ll be adding yet another spectacular statistic to an already stunning season. How good were the Blue and Gold this year? This good:• 27-1overallrecord.• Undefeatedleaguechampionsatsectional,districtand
regional levels.• No.1rankinginthecityandthestate.• No.16rankinginthecountry.• Firstdistricttitlein26years,with68-54winoverCenterville
on March 9.• First-everregionaltitle,witha52-46winoverSpringboroon
March 13 and 50-46 win over LaSalle on March 15.• First-evertriptothestatetourney,setfor8:30p.m.vs.
Toledo Rogers at the Ohio State University Jerome Schottenstein Center.
• League,District16,APSouthwestDistrictCoachoftheYearand AP Ohio Co-Coach of the Year honors to Head Coach Ricardo Hill.
• League,District16,APSouthwestDistrictPlayeroftheYearand AP All-Ohio First Team honors to senior Isaiah Johnson. The 6’9” center, who signed to play for the University of Akron, was the season high-scorer with an average of 17.6 points per game.
• APSouthwestDistrictSecondTeamhonorsforseniorDJ Wingfield. The 6’6” forward, with an average of 15.6 points per game, will be playing for Ohio University next year.
Roster of championsThe WHHS Association congratulates all the boys, their coaches and their families for a winning season.
• MontelAdkins:No.10,seniorforward• StephenAkanbi:No.30,juniorforward• MarquisAustin:No.15,juniorguard• JordanBanks:No.21,juniorforward• AdamBrown:No.2,seniorguard• KhariBurton:No.3,seniorguard• IshmaelCarter:No.25,juniorguard• SterlingGilmore:No.32,seniorguard• RichardoHill:No.14,seniorguard• StuartHolt:No.31,seniorguard• DavidIrby:No.13,seniorguard• KodeyJackson:No.24,seniorforward• IsaiahJohnson:No.23,seniorcenter• MikeJones:No.0,seniorguard• JordanTyson:No.53,seniorcenter• BradfordWilliams:No.22,sophomoreguard• D.J.Wingfield:No.5,seniorforward
And finally, a giant thanks to all the people on the sidelines who make it happen: Head coach Ricardo Hill and his assistants; Athletic Director Tom Donnelly; Associate Athletic Director Josh Hardin; Principal Jeff Brokamp; and all of their staffs.
Photos by Scott Tengen. To order copies of these — or any of the hundreds from the season — visit Tengen’s WHHS basketball galleries at tengenphoto.com
WHHS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2013 | 5
A shared journeyThemen’sbasketballteamhasjourneyedfarandlongintheirpursuitofexcellence.Theyhave come from every corner of our community (College Hill to Madisonville to Hyde Park) and beyond (Columbus and Compton). Many started here as seventh-grade boys, some came later, some returned. They have sweated, they have toiled, they have run, they have practiced. They have struggled — and succeeded.
Theyhavebeenonajourneyofdiscoveringwhatittakestobeexcellent,whatittakes to become a man, a scholar, a champion.
AndtheyhavebeenpartofanexperiencethathastakenWalnutHillsonajourneyfar and long. We are closer. We share a goal. We feel a humble pride. We have come from every corner of our community (parents, students, alumni) and beyond (the Fairview basketball team and the second-grade cheerleader). We cheer, we smile, we high-five, we celebrate. We worry. We succeed.
Weenjoyourjourneybecausejourneysarebestsharedtogether—farandwide.Tom Donnelly
Walnut Hills Athletic Director
WHHS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2013 | 6
EnglishDepartmentCommunity Reading Night continuesStarted several years ago by Dawn Wolfe in her AP Language and Composition course, students and an adult of their choosing discuss a book they have read with other students and adults. The conversations were so lively and engaging that this year many English teachers are participating in this exciting night of community reading and discourse again this year. Information will be coming home from your student’s English teacher soon if they are participating in this event. The discussions are set for April 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Three English teachers now ‘mentors’Walnut Hills English teachers Francesa Bownas-Rayburn, Samantha Gerwe-Perkins and Dawn Wolfe have been certified by the Ohio Board of Education as Resident Educator Mentors. These English teachers, along with the Walnut Hills High School social studies and math teachers who were certified this winter, will be supporting and mentoring new teachers as they work toward a professional educator license.
Junior high spelling bee attracts buzzWalnut’s English Department this year introduced an annual spelling bee for seventh and eighth graders. The bee, which has
been broken up into two rounds within and without each English class, became a several-week-long process aimed to educate students about new words.
“The spelling bee is designed to increase awareness about grade-level and above-grade-level words for students in the junior high grades,” said seventh-grade English teacher Marjorie Platt, who was in charge of organizing the event. “Not only [for] students
[to] study spelling, but also [to] learn about various meanings, origins of words, and homonyms.”
The words used in the bee were taken from study guides made available by the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Students were given these study guides to practice from before the bee. “Some [words] were easy, some were hard,” said David Flagg, ’18.
There were two rounds in this year’s spelling bee; the preliminary round was overseen by each seventh and eighth grade English teacher during class time. Students who missed two or fewer words were invited to the final round, which took place during second lunch in front of an audience. This year’s winner, Grace Gilbreath, ’18, qualified for the 2013 WCPO-TV Spelling Bee, which was Feb. 23 at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
“I feel very excited and pleased that I won,” Gilbreath said. As for others, junior high students seemed to understand the
bee’s good intentions. “I do enjoy the spelling bee, because it tests your skills and gives you a challenge,” said Henry Sofge, ’18. “Also, it is a great reward to win.”
“It really improves your vocabulary,” said Camille Williams, ’18. “Besides, competition is fun!”
Because this is the first year for the bee, some aspects, such as organizing rounds, still need adjusting. “We welcome any suggestions from students and/or staff about how we can work on establishing the spelling bee as a Walnut tradition,” said Platt, who plans on organizing the preliminary rounds earlier next year in order to set up a “word club” that will meet during lunch to prepare for the final round of the bee.
As for her opinion of the process? “These are skills that students can take with them into the upper grades, which will hopefully help prepare them for higher-level essay writing and testing situations.” Through this event, the English Department continues to aid student growth and progress, ensuring success for Walnut’s youngest Eagles further down the road.
— Zoe Cheng ‘15Chatterbox
Walnut expands journalism offeringsStarting this fall, Walnut students can enroll in three different journalism courses.
New to the existing two courses will be News Writing 1: An Introduction to Journalism. This is a semester-long class for students in 8th-12th grade who want to join and write/publish for Chatterbox or Remembrancer (REM) without making the full-year commitment.
When asked about the class, teacher Samantha Gerwe-Perkins stated: “The skills the students will be taught in this class are the same skills the Chatterbox and REM classes use.”
The main difference between News Writing 1 and Chatterbox and REM is the amount of content produced and the pace of the class. In News Writing 1, students are only required to publish two pieces of content a semester whereas in Chatterbox, students publish quadruple the amount, at eight pieces a semester.
Throughout the semester, students will be learning methods for writing articles, strategies for conducting interviews, skills for taking publishable photos, the legal history of high school journalism, why style guides matter, the WHHS journalism code of ethics, and how to use InDesign, which is the publishing software that both Chatterbox and REM use to produce their publications.
In general, it’s a fun yet productive class for students who are willing to publish pieces either with Chatterbox or REM. Students wishing to take the yearlong Newspaper Production (Chatterbox) or Journalism Production (REM) are encouraged to take this prerequisite early in their academic career.
If interested, students can visit Mrs. G-P in room 2306 and Mrs. Platt in room 2307 for more information on the class.
— Kibret Alex ’14Chatterbox staff
Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Co. hosts a national annual spelling competition.
WHHS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2013 | 7
the company. “The Royal Ballet is one of the top ballet companies in the world and a dream come true for David at the age of 17,” Mrs. Donnelly said.
Blake Taylor plays the blues Despite what students might think, not all Walnut teachers spend every evening and weekend grading homework and creating new assignments.
English teacher Blake Taylor, for example, works a little blues into his off hours.
As half of the duo called 46 Long, Taylor provides vocals, harmonica, percussion, guitar and keyboard, while partner Jonathan Reynolds handles mostly vocals and guitar.
46 Long’s most recent CD — “Tennessee,” released last August – has attracted good vibes from local music writers.
“If you’ve given up on the blues because you think you’ve heard it all before, pick up ‘Tennessee’ and let 46 Long show you
otherwise,” Mike Breen wrote in CityBeat. “Taylor once again proves he’s one of the best blues harmonica players in the region, playing the mouth harp like a
saxophone, a vocal part, a rhythm guitar or pretty much any other instrument you can think of.”
The Cincinnati Enquirer hailed “Tennessee” as “edgy acoustic blues,” with Metromix calling it “sexy, with blues and jazzy overtones.”
The album also ended up on WNKU’s Top 89 of 2012 list, at No. 77.
Since creating the band in the spring of 2001, Taylor and Reynolds have put out five CDs and developed a local following at such Cincinnati venues as Arnold’s Bar and Grill (where they play the first Friday of each month), Southgate House, Ft. Thomas Pub, Mahogany’s, East End Café, Coco’s and more.
Named for their coat size – Taylor, at 6’3” and 220 pounds calls himself the little one – 46 Long says it is a “little band with a big groove” and “a genre-defying, high-energy and soulful” sound.
“No pork pie hats, shades, or any of that ‘Sho-nuff, I got de blues’ nonsense,” the musicians say on their Web site. “If you’ve given up on the blues because you think you’ve heard it all before, let 46 Long show you otherwise.”
Still, Taylor promises that music is his SECOND love.“Really, the music thing is a lark, and we’re enjoying some
success, but I have neither the desire nor the expectation to pack in my dry-erase markers and Norton Critical Editions for a second-hand van and life on the road in late-night dives and cheap motels,” he said. “I have friends who do that. It sounds like it might be fun for about a month. Tops. Truth is, I adore my day job. Really. If it weren’t for grading essays, I’d pay THEM.”
Outside the ClassroomSeniors bleed for a cause
Seniors Maya Daly and Merrill Bolan contributed blood at the Hoxworth Blood Van after donating to support Churches Active In Northside — CAIN’s Food Pantry. Bleed for a Cause is a competition among charitable nonprofits to recruit blood donors for Hoxworth Blood Center for a chance to earn prize money for the top three organizations who score the most points. It
was sponsored by Montgomery Inn and Toyota for the month of February.
David Donnelly dances to LondonSenior David Donnelly started his post-Walnut life a little early, moving to London early last fall to pursue a career in dance.
Donnelly began dancing in the first grade. “It hasn’t been an easy road — especially during the junior high and high school
years — but it has been David’s dream road,” his mother, Patty Donnelly reported.
Last April he competed in the largest international ballet competition in the world (called the
Youth America Grand Prix) and made it to the finals in New York City. More than 5,000 dancers worldwide participate in YAGP but only a few hundred make it to the NYC finals. Donnelly placed in the top 12 of the senior men category and won the Most Outstanding Contemporary Dancer Award. He was then offered a full scholarship to attend the Royal Ballet School in London where he was placed in the top level of their school. He moved to London in September and is finishing his last three credits through CPS and Walnut Hills online.
On Jan. 2 of this year, Kevin O’Hare, the artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London, offered Donnelly a contract to dance with
Maya Daly and Merrill Bolan donate blood and food.
David Donnelly is dancing in London.
Blake Taylor teaches English by day and performs with 46 Long by night.
WHHS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2013 | 8
cultures. Choral scholars participate in all the duties of the cathedral choir. For their efforts, they are compensated with a monthly stipend throughout the academic year.
The Choral Scholars are just one part of an almost 200-year-old tradition that spiritually nourishes and artistically enriches. Cathedral concerts, recitals and other special performances provide rich and diverse musical selections that enhance the cultural life of the city. Go to www.christchurchcincinnati.org/music to learn more. All programs are provided without charge unless otherwise noted.
Tyler Poirier goes for goldWalnut Hills senior Tyler Poirier was one of 13 local Girl Scouts to collect a Gold Award this year.
After seeing a Little Free Library in Hyde Park, where she lives, Poirier decided to replicate the idea in a Kentucky neighborhood without its own library.
With help from a neighbor she built the Bellevue Book Nook outside of United Church of Christ in Bellevue, Ky., since the closest library to Bellevue is in Newport, Ky.
The concept is one championed by the national Little Free Library project.
“The idea is that you come and you take a book and you put a book back in it, so it’s a library out on a street for people who maybe don’t have access to a library very easily or just like to read,” she said in a story that appeared in The Cincinnati Enquirer. “I love reading and I thought it would be a great way to expand that to other people.”
The Bellevue Book Nook is the first Little Free Library outlet in Northern Kentucky.
Poirier received her Gold Medal at a March 10 ceremony, joining 12 other local Girl Scouts being recognized for their Gold Medal projects. Nationally, just 6 percent of all Girl Scouts complete the Gold Award.
Not that he doesn’t appreciate the attention his musical extracurriculars generate.
He was happy, for instance, to get a chance to perform with the well-known local group called Ricky Nye at this spring’s Cincinnati Music Awards, where he and Reynolds had been nominated for an award in the blues category.
He’d be OK if 46 Long wins for “Best Original Music” or he gets the nod as “Best Local Musician” in the 2013 Best of Cincinnati competition in CityBeat. Results will be out March 27.
(Want to sample 46 Long yourself? Visit the “audio” or “video” tabs at the group’s electronic press kit, found at
http://www.sonicbids.com/2/EPK/?epk_id=205565#bio)
Six WHHS students compete in OverturesSix Walnut Hills’ students won recognition in the annual Overture Awards of the Cincinnati Arts Association, with four making to the final round of competition.
Among the 83 semi-finalists who competed on Jan. 18-19 were Isabella Geis on violin, Lucy Hattemer on piano, Vivian Tong on oboe, Jo Ellen Pellman in theater and Sophie Leung-Wolf and Gabriel Montefiore, both in vocal music.
Four of the students — Isabella Geis, Vivian Tong, Jo Ellen Pellman and Gabriel Montefiore — continued to the finalist round on March 2.
The Overture Awards is a program of the Cincinnati Arts Association that recognizes, encourages and rewards excellence in the arts among Tri-State students in grades 9-12. The Overture Awards Scholarship Competition is the area’s largest solo arts competition and offers scholarships in six artistic disciplines: creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theater, visual art, and vocal music. Judges at all levels of the competition are drawn from the professional arts community.
Two vocalists participate in choral programEliza Rehard (‘13) and Desmond Daly (‘15) were selected to participate in the 2012-13 Choral Scholar Program at Christ Church Cathedral, the central church of the Episcopal Diocese of
Southern Ohio.
The choral scholar program provides Cincinnati area high school students an opportunity to join the Cathedral Choir as apprentices. They receive
intensive training in the art of fine choral singing so that they may begin the process of learning to perform at a professional level. They learn a wide range of repertoires, such as works by Tallis, Brahms and Howells, as well as spirituals and music of other
Desmond Daly, left, and Eliza Rehard are Christ Church Cathedral Choral Scholars. (Photo courtesy of www.consanphotos.com.)
Tyler Poirier created the Bellevue Book Nook to earn her Gold Award.
WHHS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2013 | 9
Emma Brooks embraces GermanAttending Fairview German Language Elementary School from kindergarten to Grade 6, Walnut Hills junior Emma Brooks didn’t
like German very much. Then she traveled to Germany on an exchange program in 2009 and decided she loved the country and the language.
After a mandatory diversion to Latin — “While she did well in Latin the first two years at Walnut, she didn’t like it, and couldn’t wait to get back to German,” mother Peggy Weyant reports — it’s been all German, all the time.
Her dedication to the language paid off big earlier this year, when Brooks learned she scored first in the state in the National German Exam for High
School Students. Not bad for a test that some 22,000 students complete each year.
Brooks keeps her German sharp by writing to a pen pal in the language. She’s looking to study German in college, along with her first love, art. (She’s eyeing the University of Cincinnati’s Design Architecture and Art Program.) She plans to go abroad during college to strengthen her ability to speak the languages and hopes to work abroad someday, too.
Jake Kolesar expands music reachWalnut Hills sophomore Jake Kolesar continues to build his musical resume with performances and contests:• Hisoriginalsong“WhereDidtheTimeGo”wasasemi-finalist
in the International Songwriting Contest, which attracted more than 20,000 entries from 199 countries. The song can be heard at his Soundcloud channel:https://soundcloud.com/jake-kolesar
• OnFeb.27,heopenedat20th Century in Oakley for Tom Keifer’s national tour. He closed out his set with this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMm6CKAY_UI&list=UUQdLTnAX1G3QJkK6PL8xJJA&index=2 .
• Hegotareturninvitationtothesecond annual Bunbury Music Festival this summer. He will again be youngest performer there and will be performing on the Cincinnatus stage, Sunday, July 15 at 3:30 p.m. Details are at http://www.bunburyfestival.com/lineup-2013
Junior high girls attend Mitts camp
Members of Walnut Hills’ girls junior high soccer team attended the Heather Mitts Soccer Camp in Cincinnati during the winter break. From left are Mary Page Mason, Kamala Nelson, Ella Whiteside, Ellie Seliga, Heather Mitts, Hannah Beitzinger and Zoey Beitzinger.
Will Jackson earns Eagle ScoutNinth-grader Will Jackson, a 10-year veteran of Boy Scouting, earned the Eagle Scout Award in late 2012 for creating, designing
and building a “Take A Break” rest and relaxation area at the Amberley Gardens. He celebrated the award with about 100 guests at his Court of Honor event Nov. 24 at the Amberley Village Municipal Building.
Jackson’s project was facilitated by funding that was part of the “We Thrive” initiative, a federal, state and local grant program, the purpose of which is to foster healthier lifestyles through exercise and healthy eating habits.
Amberley asked him to develop a respite next to where residents maintain gardens to grow produce. Many others — joggers, dog walkers, gardeners, or those just strolling and talking — now use the space he created with more than 210 hours of labor.
To achieve the rank of Eagle in Boy Scouts — attained by just 2 percent of all Boy Scouts — a scout must have 21 merit badges, 11 of them required, the others elective and an Eagle Scout service project. Jackson currently has 61 merit badges and serves as the Senior Patrol Leader, the highest leadership position, for Troop 6.
He is one of just four current Eagle Scouts at Walnut, although several others are working toward that goal.
Will Jackson completed a park project for his Eagle Scout award.
Emma Brooks collected the top score in Ohio on the National German test.
Jake Kolesar continues racking up musical successes.