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2 | Y E L LOW S P R I N G S N EWS 2 O 2 1 – 2 2 S C HOO L G U I D E I am honored to lead Yellow Springs Schools into the 2021–22 school year. As we enter our second year of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, we will leverage our experiences and our learning over the past year to provide an amazing educa- tional experience for our children. Our goal is to have a safe, healthy and successful school year! We have quite a few new Fearless Teachers who bring amazing and deep experiences to the district. All of the Yellow Springs staff and faculty are excited to welcome our Fearless Thinkers back on Monday, Aug. 23, for an invigorating year of learning. We are committed in our resolve to provide our students with an engaging and challenging education in a DR. TERRI L. HOLDEN, SUPERINTENDENT safe and healthy school environment. Our district-wide commitment to a different type of teaching and learning, of which project-based learning is the foundation, is the core of everything we do. District staff will collaborate this year to strengthen and refine our core instruction to support student achievement. Through our PBL approach, every student, from kindergarten to 12th grade, will participate in hands-on, deeper learning that encour- ages creativity, collaboration and explora- tion. Wrapped around our standards-based academic instruction, PBL provides our students the opportunity to tackle the real- world issues that our community faces and enables them to make an impact locally and globally. Our innovative approach to learning here at Yellow Springs Schools has made our district a leader in Ohio and part of the movement to prepare our young people to change the world. This is possible not only because of the dedication of our teach- ers and staff, but also the commitment of our students and their families, the leadership of our Board of Education and administration, and the support of com- munity members who believe in providing innovative, quality educational experiences for children. Yellow Springs Schools continues the tradition of growing fearless thinkers and leaders. As we have clearly seen, the hope for a brighter future for all of us lies with our children. The 2021–22 school year is approach- ing quickly! I hope that our Mills Lawn families have taken the summer months to rest, relax, have fun and explore. After the challenges and unknowns we experienced throughout last school year, we are ready to overcome adversity and restore the excitement for teaching and learning! Our dedicated teachers have been participating in professional development opportunities, collaborating with colleagues and planning innovative and rigorous instructional strat- egies in an effort to support project-based learning. I would like to welcome eight new teach- ers who will be joining Mills Lawn and our dedicated veteran teachers. Julie Anspach comes to us from New Lebanon Local Schools and will teach sixth grade. Ashley Folketh has years of experience in Urbana City Schools and will teach fifth grade. Alexa Goodridge has been a familiar face at Mills Lawn as a substitute teacher, but will now join the staff as the fourth grade math teacher. Terri Harrington comes to us from Dayton SMART Elementary and will serve as an intervention specialist. Alexis Hobbs is a new graduate from Wright State University and will teach science and social studies to our fourth grade students. Kathleen Miller is joining Mills Lawn from Dayton Public Schools and will serve as the interven- tion specialist. Ashlee Mischler has years of experience in Tecumseh Local Schools and will serve as an intervention specialist. Kineta Sanford is a familiar face in Yellow Springs and will join us from Yellow Springs Home, Inc. and Dayton Early College Acad- emy. She will teach sixth grade English/ language arts and social studies. Students will return to Mills Lawn on Aug. 23, but we are excited to welcome our new kindergarten students using a staggered start approach. Kindergarten families will have the opportunity to select an a.m. or p.m. slot on Aug. 23 or Aug. 24 for a first Mills Lawn Elementary school day experience. Kindergarten families will receive an email to select a slot using Sign- Up Genius. Our goal for all students is to provide an in-person learning experience that is as close to normal as possible and keep the students, staff and community safe. Communication and involvement are important to maintain our collaborative culture. We encourage our families to check our website and social media fre- quently for updates, maintain up-to-date contact information for mailings and One Call Now messages and consider joining the PTO or attending PTO events. I am looking forward to welcoming the students back to Mills Lawn and connecting with the families and community throughout the 2021–22 school year. My goal is to provide our staff, students and families with the support, resources and procedures necessary to ensure students are engaged in learning and to challenge students to become critical thinkers. Enjoy the last days of summer break! MEGAN WINSTON, PRINCIPAL MILLS LAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | YELLOW SPRINGS SCHOOLS The Mills Lawn PTO provides enrichment and social activities for the entire Mills Lawn community. A volunteer organization, the PTO sponsors fundraisers including Street Fair parking and the Bulldog Jog 5K Run/ Walk in order to support the purchase of supplies, fund field trips and supplement PBL projects not covered by the school budget. The PTO relies solely on volunteers, and welcomes and encourages any parent/ guardian to become involved. Attend regular meetings to hear about upcom- ing events and what is happening in and around the school or volunteer time or services for events. The PTO strives to keep the community informed about events. Visit the group’s Facebook page, “Mills Lawn PTO,” sign up to receive monthly emails or check your student’s backpack for fliers that are sent home throughout the school year. For Mills Lawn PTO questions, please contact Kelli Lewis at kellicoffman@gmail.com . MILLS LAWN PTO To make a donation & for grant applications: www.YSCF.org WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS THE BEST YEAR YET! TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE! JOIN US! 4 Youth Action Board, grades 7–12 4 Charlotte Drake Student Grants 4 YS Endowment for Education Grants 4 Scholarship Portal 4 YS Schools fund-raising support