Sycamore Community Schools

Congratulations to all of our 2025-2026 Sycamore High School Underclass Award Winners! 🏆

✈Freshmen:
Lilas Tarabishi, Aaska Sado, Samuel Kindberg, Megan Schulz, Emily Friend, Bradford Shaw, Grace Weinewuth, Matilda Lundin-Cramer, Virat Iyer, Oliver Sadler
✈Sophomores:
Evelyn Bender, Marlow Hagen, Serena Sayles, Bow (Chanjira) Kitja Beatty, Bam (Nipada), Kitja Beatty Shanaya Pal, Caroline Huelsman, Oliver Wagner, Phia Juayang, Layla Sawyers, Nathan Reed, Logan Demarco, Eric Kai, Sharon Mathew, Sophia Mount, Brett Robbins, George Stapleton, Oliver Wagner, Divya Viswalingam, Philip Straughn, Lehan Zhou
✈Juniors:
Ava Rupel, Kira Iovenko, Jadeyn Key, Maya Zilch, Cassie Tucker, Mark Lane, Elise Wegener, Jiffannie Jose Asker Fredy, Sam Broxterman, Molly Hatch, Alexis Mendelsohn, Dakota Mitchell, Daniel Quiroz Rangel, Katelyn Dunphy, Sithara Venkatraman, Fora Erdem, Kiran Makkad, Samuel De Falco, Andrew Zhong, Ephrata Teshager, Cuyler Cordes, Olavo Alves de Freitas, Rhea Sobczak, Violet Vanover, Branson Southern, Eric Mercurio, Carter Funk, Akhilan Muthiah

These outstanding students were recognized by our staff for their incredible hard work, passion, and dedication across a variety of categories:

🎨Art
📚English
🌍Global Language
✨ESOL
📐Math
🧪Science
🧠Social Studies
🍏Health
📑Synnovation Lab

Thank you to our staff for guiding these students, and congratulations to our underclassmen on a phenomenal school year! Keep shining, Aviators! 💚💛

It’s been another phenomenal year to be an Aviator! 🙌

Our student-athletes put in the work this year - breaking school records, securing GMC championships, and demonstrating true sportsmanship every step of the way.

While we enjoy summer break, we want to look back and celebrate our sports teams by sharing some fun action shots from the past year. Let's kick things off with a look at our baseball players! ⚾️

Thank you to the players, coaches, and parents who made this season so special!

Follow Goavesathletics and Jhavesathletics for athletic highlights all year long!

Last but not least, we're proud to share our final round of Awesome Aviators for the 2025-2026 school year! These hardworking staff members were nominated by students, colleagues, and parents/guardians in recognition of the positive impact they make at Sycamore each day.

Thank you for all you do! 👏

💛Ms. Julie Ferron: Nurse, Symmes Elementary
"Julie has been an integral part of my daughter's experience as a new Kindergartner at Symmes... I know she is in good hands when I drop her off, and I don't have to worry!"

💛Mrs. Naomi Allemann: Teacher, Sycamore Junior High
"Mrs. Allemann is the best ELA teacher ever! She is so kind and whenever I don’t understand something she helps me until I understand."

💛Ms. Joy Nichols: Preschool Teacher, Symmes Elementary
"Joy does an amazing job of collaborating with and respecting and appreciating other staff, parents, and students. She works very hard to successfully provide a classroom environment where every student has a voice."

💛Dr. Jay Fisch: Teacher, Sycamore High School
"A teacher that cares about their students' academic and personal wellbeing and success, that puts passion into their teaching and actively helps their students reach their goals, deserves this award. Dr. Fisch is that teacher."

💛Mrs. Abi Cydrus: Teacher, Sycamore Junior High
"In simplest form, Mrs. Cydrus is a funny, kind, and reliable teacher. If you are having a problem in any way, shape, or form, she recognizes it and does her best to solve it. She always tries to make art projects fun and interactive."

💛Ms. Stacey Moore: Intervention Specialist, Maple Dale Elementary
"Ms. Stacey has been such a blessing for my child. We have seen so much progress in the time he has been in her room. She keeps us informed and works with us to ensure my child's success in and out of the classroom."

💛Ms. Jill Brown: Educational Assistant, Montgomery Elementary
"She goes above and beyond to meet student needs, creating a supportive and encouraging learning environment where all students can thrive. Her reliability, kindness, and dedication makes such a difference each day, and she is truly a valued member of our school community."

During the final weeks of school, Sycamore Junior High welcomed parents and guardians for special lunch visits with their students! 🍽️💚

It was a wonderful opportunity for families to spend quality time together during the school day and make memories inside the walls of our school. The junior high was even spruced up with decorations and tables to help make the experience extra memorable!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for lunch and helped make these visits so special for our students! 👏

Facts & Finances Friday 📊

Today, we want to focus on spending and performance - specifically, our Return on Investment (ROI) for the Sycamore community.

When evaluating a school district's financial health, it’s vital to look at what it costs to deliver strong academic results:

⚫Sycamore Performance Index: 104.10 (State Average is 82.3)
⚫Sycamore Expenditure Per Pupil: $14,653 (State Average is $12,653)

This shows that as a district, we are delivering top-tier educational value without excessive costs. Sycamore aligns its resources intentionally, directing more than 73% of spending straight to classroom instruction.

We believe that fiscal responsibility and academic excellence aren't mutually exclusive. Thank you for partnering with us to keep Sycamore strong and efficient.

It may be summer, but the learning never stops for our Sycamore team! ☀️

Our district executive leadership team, school principals, assistant principals, and members of our Building Leadership Teams (BLTs) gathered for a full day of professional development today. We were thrilled to welcome Mike Rutherford, author of The Artisan Teacher, as our guest facilitator! 📚

At Sycamore, our BLTs are essential to creating a highly collaborative and engaging environment for both students and staff. They work to clarify our path to success, making sure our teacher teams receive the professional learning and support they need to respond to diverse learning needs. 🏫

Keeping our student-centered culture at the heart of everything they do, this passionate group of teachers, staff members, and administrators spent the day sharing innovative ideas, building connections, and mapping out the future.

We're immensely grateful for these hardworking teammates who spent this time working together. Thank you for your continued dedication and positive impact! 💛

✈️ Sycamore Spotlight: Aviator Alumni ✈️

What does it take to go from a high school student-athlete to the founder of a sports management agency? Just ask Brian "BK" Doneghy (Class of 2019).

During his time at Sycamore High School, BK was often on the football field, running track, or collaborating with peers in Young Scholars. Looking back, he credits his time at Sycamore with teaching him the discipline, leadership, and relentless work ethic needed to thrive in the competitive world of sports business!

That drive carried him through two collegiate chapters:

✨The University of Dayton, where he played football and earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration.
✨The University of Cincinnati, where he took the field once again while securing his Master’s in Marketing.

Today, BK is the Founder of BRND II BRND SPORTS GROUP. He currently represents 25 Division I athletes, navigating everything from contract negotiations to endorsement deals. We love seeing our alumni achieve great things! 👏

Are you a Sycamore grad? We want to hear your story! Submit your spotlight here: https://goav.es/AviatorAlumni

🎨 13 Sycamore High School seniors are pursuing careers in the arts! 🎭

During our Fine Arts Signing Day, these talented students made their future plans official. Whether they are pursuing musical theater, violin performance, architecture, or studio arts, these talented creators are ready to make their mark on the world.

We can't wait to see what these artists and performers accomplish next!

Please join us in celebrating:

✨Maeve Bachman – Ohio University (Musical Theater, Minor in Dance)
✨Anna Christos – Cleveland Institute of Music (Violin Performance & Psychology)
✨Alaz Erdem – Architectural Association School of Architecture in London (Architecture)
✨Haneen Farrag – University of Cincinnati DAAP (Interior Design)
✨Emma Gallo – University of Toronto (Engineering & Music Performance)
✨Chris Hartman – University of Cincinnati DAAP (Architecture)
✨Sangwook Kwon – The Ohio State University (Architecture & History)
✨Claire Lemmons – University of South Carolina (Studio Arts, Minor in Art History)
✨Rachel Randolph – University of Cincinnati DAAP (Architecture)
✨Alexander Ruff – Mount St. Joseph University (Minor in Music)
✨Leif Samelak – University of Cincinnati DAAP (Fine Arts)
✨Anna Stapleton – Belmont University (Commercial Music - Drumset Performance)
✨Thomas Suffield – Lehigh University (Minor in Music)

We are so proud of the paths they’ve chosen and can't wait to see them shine!

Now that we’ve officially wrapped up the 2025-2026 school year, we’re excited to recognize our final two rounds of Awesome Aviators!

Please join us in congratulating this first group of staff members for their hard work, dedication, and passion for Sycamore schools. We're fortunate to have each and every one of them as members of our team. ✨👏

💛Ms. Jodi Kinasewitz: Intervention Specialist, Blue Ash Elementary
"Jodi has been a staple champion for my BAE students since we first started there. She provides great support inside the classroom and supports the parents in helping their students outside of the classroom."

💛Ms. Rachel Namaky: Student Services Associate, District Office
"Rachel is hardworking, dependable, and always willing to step in wherever she is needed. Her dedication and continued support is appreciated, and this recognition is both deserved and long overdue!"

💛Mr. John Whapham: Theatre Teacher, Sycamore High School
"Mr. Whapham should be recognized because he puts so much work and effort into our musicals and plays, and he is also so kind and funny. He can make your day better the second you walk into his classroom."

💛Ms. Heather Voellmecke: Secretary, Maple Dale Elementary
"Heather has gone out of her way to teach, train, and coach me on a daily basis on the ins and outs of my new role. I am grateful for her patience and willingness to help me while staying encouraging and positive."

💛Mr. Jesse Callahan: Music Teacher, Sycamore Junior High
"He is able to make us learn in a way that almost makes you want to learn more. Mr. Callahan has been and will always and forever be an awesome part of the Sycamore Junior High."

💛Ms. Carolyn Fridman: Educational Assistant, Montgomery Elementary
"She is incredibly flexible and consistently steps in wherever support is needed, always bringing positivity and professionalism to every situation. Her commitment to going above and beyond shines through in the countless ways she supports both teachers and students across our building."

💛Ms. Angie Ryan: Sixth Grade Teacher, EH Greene
"She is genuinely one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. I developed so many skills and I matured so much as a person and a student under her mentorship. You will struggle to find a teacher so universally loved."