MORROW, OHIO – News-a-Palooza from Little Miami

Panther Palooza, Alumni Banquet, Fine Arts Festival (LMHS to present "the crucible"), Groundbreaking Ceremony Rescheduled – Coming soon... – Coming soon...

PANTHER PALOOZA
The Morrow Elementary School PTO Carnival, "Panther Palooza," will be held Saturday, April 5 from 1-4 p.m.  Come enjoy games for all ages, food and entertainment at his circus-themed carnival.

ALUMNI BANQUET
The Little Miami Alumni Association will hold their annual banquet at Belwood Country Club on Saturday, May 24, 2008.  The dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m.  The price is $35 per person.  For more information, please contact Mary Lou Phillips at 513-494-0395.

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL
Little Miami's 2008 Fine Arts Celebration, "Rhythms & Renderings," is a district-wide celebration of the visual, vocal and instrumental artists in our schools.  The festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Little Miami High School.

The Fine Arts Festival Committee is looking for talented artists and performers for the upcoming festival.

A contest is being held to select the official advertising poster. We know there are quite a few wonderful artists in our midst that would love to showcase their creativity for this event.  We would ask that all entries be completed for judging by Friday, April 18, 2008. Poster Entry Guidelines: Submit black and white or color entries on 8 1/2 x 11 white paper or card stock; Incorporate the "Rhythms & Renderings" theme; Write your name, grade, and school on the BACK of the entry ; Turn into your Art Teacher by Friday, April 18, 2008.

The committee is looking for school groups and/or individuals to perform during the celebration.  We would like to have the main stage in the auditorium active throughout the day. If you would be interested in performing at this year's event, please contact John Sparser at 513-899-3781 ext. 20100, or you may also e-mail him at jspieser@littlemiamischools.com  for a performance time.  To manage this efficiently, times will be filled on a "first come first served" basis.  We also ask that all requests be submitted by Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

LMHS TO PRESENT "THE CRUCIBLE"
Little Miami High School will present Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" April 3-5.

"Recognized as one of the most passionate and articulate plays ever written, 'The Crucible' was Mr. Miller's 1953 response to McCarthyism and blacklisting and remains relevant today," said Damon Hatten, one of two directors of the LMHS production.

Director Erin Haas-Hatten added, "He has created a powerful and timeless depiction of how intolerance and mass hysteria can intersect and tear a community apart."

"The Crucible" is a story about love, hypocrisy, and vengeance.  The audience is torn as they watch a young girl, Abigail Williams (played by LMHS Senior Emily Williams), along with several of the other young girls in the town, tear apart families and ultimately destroy the community of Salem by accusing people of 'dealings with the Devil.'

When John Proctor (played by Ryan Harrison) attempts to save his wife Elizabeth (played by Kate Suekoff) from such accusations, the audience witnesses hypocrisy and hysteria at its worst.  As the entire community is drawn into a stew of lies, fearful accusations and finger pointing, judges from outside of Salem arrive to try those accused of witchcraft.  This moving, enlightening, and though-provoking piece will have the audience on the edge of their seats.

The talented cast of 30 includes LMHS students: Ryan Harrison, Kate Suekoff, Emily Williams, Dylan McCracken, Chelsey Gehring, Nick Salisbury, Stacey Taylor, Carrie Hendricks, Katie Kostich, Andrew Boyd, Erin Hawley, Nat McVay, Megan Beerse, Kiki Avalos, Angela Sizemore, Aaron F. Davis, Christi Taylor, Jessica Mullins, Holly Gale, Rachel Gallagher, Emily Capella, Melody Granniss, Katie Mitchell, Alicia Ackermann, Angie Duncan, Sara Schuff, Kassie Landacre, and Carly Dufresne.  Also included in the cast are two guest performers.

Performance times are April 3, 4, & 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Miami High School auditorium. General admission tickets are $7; $5 for senior citizens; and $5 for students.

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY RESCHEDULED
Little Miami Local School District staff, students and community members are invited to a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Little Miami intermediate school on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 7 p.m. at the site of the school, 7247 Zoar Road, Maineville, OH 45039, which is located at the corner of Zoar Road and Stephens Road in Hamilton Township.

The community will celebrate the launch of the project with a groundbreaking ceremony that will include brief speeches, musical performances and ceremonial turning of the dirt.

The high school addition is scheduled for completion by August 2008, and the new junior high and the new intermediate schools are both scheduled for completion by August 2009. The overall plan, "Excellence with Value," will create additional space to house 5,200 students district-wide with the ability to easily increase capacity to 6,000 students; it provides flexibility for the future by using phased planning.   

If you plan to attend the ceremony, please RSVP by calling the district's administration office at (513) 899-2264 or email to Laura Short at lshort@littlemiamischools.com .