ENGLEWOOD — Northmont Schools Sept. 25 board meeting, held at Englewood Hills Elementary School, featured a presentation on ‘Career Days’

“It was a huge success, with students engaged in hands-on activities as they explored careers in many different areas,” said Northmont Superintendent Tony Thomas.

Englewood Hills Elementary Interim Principal Tim Hopkins and Angie Clifford, executive director of the Northmont Area Chamber of Commerce and Community Engagement Coordinator with Northmont City Schools, presented a slide show to emphasize the importance of the program, which gives young students a head start on thinking about career choices.

“We hosted the first elementary Career Day program in the district,” Clifford said.

The program was held in response to a State of Ohio requirement that schools have career exposure for students, along with a look back on what they have learned and show that they understood, she explained.

“Our students went to the pavilion, where we had 10-to-12 representatives of businesses show up. It was a beautiful day,” Clifford said.

Students could spend time and be involved in a business representative for about an hour at a time.

“I thought the presentations were outstanding. I think they did a really good job of being prepared to speak,” Hopkins said. “And our students were interested in the program.”

“When we got back into the building, the teachers kept saying to me, ‘we didn’t know what to expect today and that was a treat,’ ” Hopkins said.

Participating presenters included Miami Valley Career Technology Center, the Sheet Metal Union, realtors, Kettering Health and Premier Health, the Air Force, Grace Brethren Village, Dayton Metro Library and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Jane Woodie, board vice president, asked if any of the students said they were definitely interested in this or that after Career Day.

“We had a few say they were interested. One said he had taken ‘firefighter’ off his list,” Clifford said.

Woodie also shared the positive news that Northmont City Schools has received great ratings on the state of Ohio Report Card.

“We received 4.5 out of five stars in the overall rating, three stars in early literacy, four stars in achievement, five stars in progress, value added or growth data, five stars in gap closing and five stars on graduation rates,” Woodie reported.

“We will continue to review the data and determine what exactly changes we need to make. The instruction team will meet this week. This team is made up of building administrators and the curriculum department,” Woodie said.

Student Board Representative Jacob Hobbs reported that for the next two weeks he will be working with members of student organizations at the high school, including JROTC as well as student government.

“I’ll be getting students registered to vote and just let them know about the general purpose of the democratic process,” Hobbs said.

In his report to the board, Thomas noted there are two weeks left in the grading period.

“We are preparing for P/T conferences where our goal is to enhance ‘Building Trusting Relationships,’ one of our Culture Playbook beliefs. The belief will be highlighted throughout the month of October,” Thomas said.

Another example of student voice at Northmont is on display as the MS Institute, a student group known as “Thunderwatch,” Thomas said. “They will give the student body a voice to promote student wellness and safety.“

Implementation of the new Ohio dyslexia law is taking place, Thomas said. Screening for all K-3 students will begin in December and all referred students in grades 4-6. The amount of communication that needs to occur with families is extraordinarily high, but the district is preparing for this new requirement.

“The high school will carry on the long tradition of having students participate in Unity Day. The intent is to ensure all students know they belong and that there is someone to turn to if they need help,” Thomas said.

The next regular Northmont School Board meeting will be a 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 9, at Northmont High School.