On behalf of the Middletown City Schools District Administration and School Board, I'd like to welcome you and your students back to the second semester. We accomplished a lot during the first half of the 2011-2012 school year and I look forward an interesting and productive second semester. Middletown has a great deal to be proud of and one of those things is our outstanding students! Our students continue to excel in the classroom, on the athletic field and in extracurricular activities. While other districts are cutting back on student programs, Middletown is fortunate to be able to continue offering a large variety of opportunities for our students!

I want to thank our students, parents, staff, and community members for their dedication and commitment to making our many successes possible. Middie PRIDE is strong and growing as we focus our efforts on getting better each day. Just a few of our many accomplishments:

• Based on the most recent Ohio Achievement Tests MCSD:
  - was rated in the top 2% of All Ohio Districts in Academic Growth. This placed Middletown in 12th place out of 608 school districts!
  - achieved more indicators than ever before when we doubled from 5 indicators to 10.
  - has six schools rated as Effective or Better by the Ohio Department of Education with Miller Ridge being rated Excellent.
  
• MCSD Student Art Show at The Pendleton Art Center during the First Friday of December.
  
  
• Our football team made it to the playoffs for the second year in a row while compiling a 10-2 record.
  
  
• Our boy's basketball team is currently 1st in the league with a 5-0 GMAC record.
  
  
• The number of students participating in string Orchestra has increased significantly and we are honored to host the critically acclaimed Sectional Quartet for a clinic in February.
  
  
• Highview 6th Grade Center teachers Mrs. Molly Bender and Mrs. Sharon Thread facilitated a poster designing clinic for students interested in entering the 2012 Tiger Safety Calendar Art Contest sponsored by Dyer, Garofalo, Mann and Schultz law firm. Two MCSD students were among the winners of over 1,200 submissions from over 75 schools. They will receive monetary gifts and Highview will also receive $1,000 to enhance their art program.
  
  
• MCSD received $38,775 grant from the Ohio EPA to install 25 Diesel oxidation catalysts on 25 buses.
  
  
• Duke Energy presented MCSD with a $20,000 Duke Energy Foundation Grant. This grant was awarded for iPads to be used in our elementary buildings. The iPad project promotes effective education goals by offering students a unique vehicle for expanded learning.
  
  
• Middletown Middle School 7th and 8th grade band students were selected from an elite group of students in their grade level to represent their school next month in the District XII Junior Honor Band held at Franklin High School.
  
  
• Our MHS Marching Band received the following awards:
  - 5 overall superior ratings at 5 regular season contests.
  - Overall superior rating at OMEA State Finals Contest Grand Champion at the Harrison Band Competition.
  - Reserve Grand Champions at Forest Hills Band Expo.
  - 1st Place Class AA at Harrison competition Best Overall Music at Harrison Band Comp.
  - Best Overall Percussion at Harrison Band Best Overall Color Guard at Harrison Band Comp.
  - State Superior Rating for Color Guard.
  - State Superior Rating for Percussion.
  
  
• Suspensions and serious student behavior issues have been significantly reduced as we renewed our focus on Positive Behavior with the roll out of Middie PRIDE across the district.

Our entire school community should be proud of our accomplishments. As we continue our work to become an excellent district, we will face many challenges, but my experience with this district tells me that, with everyone working together, we can meet all of them. Our students are our number one priority and we will continue to make sure we equip them with the skills they need to be successful.

Again, welcome back and best wishes for a happy and healthy new year. I look forward to working alongside you to achieve excellence in the Middletown City Schools District in 2012.

Greg Rasmussen,
Superintendent

Secretary to the Superintendent E-mail Gracie Gregory