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Indian Hill students showcase cross-grade project-based learning; board honors student fundraising
Summary
Seventh-grade and primary students presented a project-based learning collaboration and literacy night; the board recognized academic honors and a student-led nonprofit that raised over $10,000 for Dayton Children’s Hospital.
Seventh-grade English language arts students partnered with second graders in a cross-grade project-based learning (PBL) initiative, presenting co-authored and illustrated stories at the board meeting and literacy night. Assistant principal Alex Fes introduced the effort as aligned with the district strategic plan and highlighted project-based learning and leadership as district priorities.
Seventh-grade teacher Paula Farenamp described the instructional sequence: students read 96 Miles, used plot diagrams and co-authored stories based on characters created by primary students, then revised and illustrated the books during collaborative academic-advisory time. Paula Farenamp said the project emphasized sensory detail, dialogue and figurative language, and culminated in a public literacy night where families and primary students saw the finished books.
Seventh graders Adelaide Donnelly and Emilyn Kim told the board the collaboration helped them apply writing standards, practice co-authorship and better understand how younger students interpret story elements. Primary student Lucy Strike and other younger students read or described their characters for the board.
The board also recognized a student, Aiden Concade, who founded the nonprofit Teens Together. Aiden recounted a personal medical diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency following a multi-hour diagnostic test and described the high cost of treatment he cited—“it can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 a month”—as part of his motivation to found the group. Aiden said Teens Together raised just over $10,000 and donated the funds to Dayton Children’s Hospital’s growth hormone fund.
Superintendent Dr. Melissa Stewart and middle-school principal Dr. Jen Teen praised teacher leadership and the return on investment from district professional learning. The board and administrators highlighted related student awards and recognitions, including AP School Honor Roll platinum recognition and regional arts and academic honors.
The board’s discussion stressed that PBL is not merely “extra” activity but core instruction aligned with standards, and members urged continued support for teacher professional development and family engagement.
