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Indian Hill students showcase cross-grade storytelling project; student-led nonprofit donates $10,000 to Dayton Children's Hospital
Summary
Students from Indian Hill primary, middle and high schools presented a cross-grade project-based learning unit and publicized student leadership achievements; one student, Aiden, described founding Teens Together and donating just over $10,000 to Dayton Children's Hospital to support families facing growth-hormone treatment costs.
Dr. Melissa Stewart, superintendent of Indian Hill Exempted Village Schools, opened the recognition portion of the board meeting by saying: "And when we think about the state of schools, who's better to tell us than the students themselves?" Students from the primary through high school demonstrated short videos and live remarks describing what they value about the district, including community, teacher support and extracurricular opportunities.
Seventh-grade teachers and primary-school staff described a project-based learning (PBL) unit that paired seventh-graders with second graders. Assistant Principal Alex Fes introduced the work, and seventh-grade English teacher Paula Farenamp said the project connected to standards and high-yield instructional strategies such as plot diagramming, figurative language and co-authorship. "We start every quarter with a question: how can sharing our stories help us connect," Farenamp said, and she described how students co-authored stories that second graders then illustrated.
Two seventh-grade students, Adelaide Donnelly and Emilyn Kim, summarized the classroom goals and benefits: older students said the collaboration helped apply writing skills and gave second graders a chance to talk with older peers. "This project brought all of us together, both younger and older students, and pushed us to be creative in new and exciting ways," Donnelly said.
The board also recognized student achievements across the district: AP School Honor Roll platinum recognition, a global culture fair that involved more than 40 nationalities, semi-finalists for Cincinnati Arts Association awards, 37 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and a middle-school stock-market simulation team that finished the 10-week project with nearly $110,000 in simulated equity.
The meeting highlighted one student’s civic initiative. Aiden (first name used in remarks) told the board he founded Teens Together after his own experience being diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. He described a multi-stage medical evaluation and a four-hour diagnostic test, and said his group’s August pickleball fundraiser raised "a little over $10,000," which he donated to Dayton Children's Hospital. Aiden told the board that treatment can be costly: "It can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 a month," he said, explaining part of the motivation for creating the fund.
Board members repeatedly praised the students and teachers for the work and the district’s investments in professional development. The recognition segment closed with congratulations to the participating students and an invitation for the public to view student work at district events.
The board adjourned the recognition segment and proceeded to routine business and a finance presentation.
