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Students showcase cross‑grade project and fundraising at Indian Hill board meeting
Summary
Seventh‑grade and second‑grade students presented a project‑based learning collaboration that produced co‑authored, illustrated books; a senior also described founding Teens Together, which raised over $10,000 for Dayton Children's Hospital.
Students, teachers and administrators used the board meeting to highlight classroom work and community service that district leaders said reflect the strategic plan’s goals.
Superintendent Dr. Melissa Stewart introduced a student video and invited a group of primary, middle‑ and high‑school students to the board dais. Several students described why they enjoy Indian Hill, noting teachers, athletics and the sense of community. "It truly feels like you're part of something bigger," one student said during the video.
The board then heard a detailed presentation on a cross‑grade project led by seventh‑grade English teacher Paula Farenamp and second‑grade teacher Mrs. Campa. Assistant Principal Alex Fes said the work grew from project‑based learning professional development and aligned with seventh‑grade standards; students co‑authored stories and worked with primary students who provided character illustrations.
Seventh‑grade representatives Adelie Donnelly and Emilyn Kim described how they received illustrated profiles from second graders, turned those profiles into stories, and then shared the finished books at literacy night. "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 accomplishments across the district — AP School Honor Roll platinum recognition, Scholastic Art & Writing awards and a stock‑market simulation team that finished with nearly $110,000 in simulated equity and will advance to a regional competition.
In a separate presentation, senior Aiden Concade explained founding Teens Together after a personal diagnosis of growth‑hormone deficiency and recounted the medical testing he underwent. Concade described running a pickleball fundraiser and other outreach that raised just over $10,000, which he said was donated to Dayton Children's Hospital. Superintendent Stewart and trustees publicly praised the work.
What’s next: Board members said the presentations illustrate the return on investments in professional development and teacher leadership; trustees asked staff to continue sharing student work publicly and to include such successes in community communications.
Speakers quoted: Dr. Melissa Stewart; Alex Fes; Paula Farenamp; Adelie Donnelly; Emilyn Kim; Aiden Concade.
