For our third print edition focused on the state of education in Northern Kentucky, we asked our readers where their kids went to school and whether they think their kids received a quality education.
So many of you submitted answers that we couldn’t fit them all in our print edition. Here are the responses that either didn’t fit or came in after our deadline.
Julie Rowekamp
Park Hills, KY
My kids were lucky enough to go to school K thru 12 within their neighborhood.
They went to grade school at St. Agnes School in Ft Wright.
My husband and I felt they received a very good education. The basics of reading, writing and math were first and foremost. Science, computer skills, art & music were also part of the study plan.
Of course, the Catholic religious education that accompanied and was woven into the curriculum was very important to us. Our children learned about the concepts of the Catholic faith as well as put them into practice making their Reconciliation, First Holy Communion & Confirmation while at St. Agnes.
Another aspect of Catholic education is that the coffers are always stretched to the limit. For that reason parents & grandparents step up to fill in the gap either by fundraising and/or volunteering on the playground, in the lunchroom, within the Parent Teacher Organization, and as field trip chaperones.
While some may see these needs as disadvantages, there is a silver lining. There is a collegial feeling among parents as in an ‘all hands on deck’ attitude & being a part of something bigger than yourself or your child.
For Catholic school parents, volunteering is a way of life.
For high school they attended Notre Dame Academy and Covington Catholic.
Once again, the foundation of basic elements of learning were stressed. But dollars are always in short supply. And while there is a place for parents to participate, the focus of service in this stage is the students themselves that step in to fill the void.
At Notre Dame, there were still a fair amount of nuns who were part and parcel of the girls’ daily schedules whether the nuns taught or were in administration they always presented a wonderful example of the Catholic faith. They showed the girls that they could have fun as well cheering along with the students at sporting events supporting their arts and music programs and pitching in wherever they could.
At Covington Catholic, the camaraderie among the boys is powerful. While the curriculum is strong, the interaction between students and faculty lends another dimension to their overall education. Serving as role models of mature men & women gives the students an anchor during the adolescent years. Of course, sports are a rallying point at CCH for the students but the programs of art, science, music are also supported by the student body.
Jenni and Bill Helmick
Parents of Joseph Helmick, Twenhofel Middle School
The marquee outside Twenhofel Middle School currently reads, “We love you and miss you.” How do I know this is true? The principal, Dr. Gross, greets his students outside the school every single morning upon arrival. In the snow, in the rain, in the freezing cold, Dr. Gross is usually the first face they see and he always welcomes them with a smile.
I was apprehensive about sending my son to middle school, not for any specific reason, just the general concerns that arise when you try to educate teenagers. Will they successfully bridge the jump from elementary school? Will they have friends? Will their teachers communicate with me? The Twenhofel staff quickly eased my fears. From the bus drivers, to the secretaries, to the custodians, the administration, cafeteria staff, and teachers we have had only positive experiences.
I wondered if my son would be challenged in middle school. Oftentimes if a student is academically advanced they are set to the side so the teacher may focus on students with more intense needs. At Twenhofel, it’s not enough that students merely master the content. A team meets weekly to look at individual student data and decide what sort of educational decisions need to be made. This could mean the student needs to revisit content and requires further reteaching, but in my son’s case it meant an accelerated curriculum that included skipping a grade for math. As a 7th grader, Joseph had the opportunity to take Algebra I, a high school class. At the rate he is going he will finish his high school math credits in a few years and be eligible to take dual credit courses for college. It’s not enough for him to be “smart enough,” these educators saw the potential in him and were able to draw it out by giving him opportunities I didn’t know were possible.
The pandemic brought out several negative aspects in education, but it also showed me positive changes in my son I didn’t expect. When we think of the skills we want our children to develop as they head out into the world, we owe so much to Twenhofel. Joseph came home from school every day knowing his contributions, thoughts, and feelings were valued and appreciated. He knows he is loved for not just what he brings to the table academically, but also who he is as a person. Through his years in middle school, Joe has learned to be a problem solver, a critical thinker, and, above all, he has learned to advocate for himself.
Public education is constantly changing with the world around us. As the world evolves and grows, so does education. We have asked a lot of our schools, and will continue to do so, but from where I am sitting, our future is looking bright. Thank you, Twenhofel Middle School, for showing up for our students every day.
Brenna Penrose
My children attend Hilliard Collins elementary school and RA Jones middle school. I believe both schools are great and have an outstanding administrative team. I think highly of both schools and am an active parent with both. I realize that both schools get criticism, but I believe that if those criticizing the school were active in the school they may have a different opinion.
Tammy Dorgan
Twenhofel is outstanding! As a parent I knew I could trust the administration and staff with my child. While attending Twenhofel my son actually enjoyed school and wanted to be there-a change from a previous school. When your child comes home and says, “You know Mom, Dr. Gross loves us and so do our teachers,” you know they are at an amazing and rare school. There are not enough words to describe how awesome the administration, teachers, and staff are at Twenhofel. They are humble, they are great with their communication, they work hard every day to educate their students, and they truly love and support all students. Thank you Dr. Gross, Mr. Teke, Mrs. Capal, Mr. Sorrel, Mr. Frazier, Mrs. Schaefer, and all the teachers and staff for loving, supporting, and educating ALL students!
Ashley Prince
Fort Wright, KY
Fort Wright Elementary is a gem of a school. As a teacher become parent at FWE, it’s a rare and special find to be a part of this family. You hear people say that places are their home away from home and that’s just what Ft. Wright Elementary is to our family. It’s a place where everyone knows your name, and every teacher here has love for your child like they are their own.
I can attest that every single administrator, teacher, and staff have your child’s best interest at heart. They will do anything for every student to feel loved, and cared for all while pushing them to their max potential and beyond academically! My son comes home from school and WANTS to share all of the wealth of knowledge our teachers have instilled in him. As a teacher myself, there’s nothing better than hearing your own child excited for learning at the very school you both attend.
Donna Merkle
I hope I’m not too late to tell you what an amazing school Piner Elementary is!
The staff is incredibly caring, knowledgeable and hard-working for every student. Each morning as they enter the building, they’re met with supportive adults cheering them to have a good day.
Our grandson needs extra supports and his regular teacher and special education teacher both helped him grow and learn so much this past year. They also keep in contact with us and respond quickly to any concerns we have. He loves school and looks forward to going!
Piner Elemenrary is truly one of the best schools I know of and I’m a retired school secretary so I know about many schools. I’m so thankful our grandson is getting this foundation which gives him a love of learning.
Erin E. Weaver
In the fall of 2012, the same year my youngest daughter was born, I was fortunate enough to join the staff at Ft. Wright Elementary School. It was immediately evident that Ft. Wright was not only a top-notch academic institution, but included a culture that was unparalleled. In my 23 years in education, I have worked in and visited many schools across the state; some as a teacher, librarian, and as a consultant at the Kentucky Department of Education. Ft. Wright is, hands down, the best of the schools I’ve seen.
When it was time for my youngest to start school, without question Ft. Wright was the school I wanted her to attend. We do reside in Kenton County, but not in the Ft. Wright area, so she was open enrolled. There are 11 fantastic elementary schools in Kenton County and she would have done well at any of them, but Ft. Wright Elementary could offer her varying perspectives on the world that would mean so much more than basic academics.
My child has had amazing teachers every year. Ft. Wright teachers truly know each student, each family, and care more than can be explained with the written word. As a second grade student, my child was struggling academically, even before the pandemic. Her teacher spent time with her before and after school to ensure that she could understand the content. When COVID hit, the teacher met each day with the class. I heard her ask each student specifically about themselves, their day, and how they felt. At the end of each online class session she made sure to individually tell each student that she loved them. Most people would think this was a change she’d implemented because of COVID. It wasn’t. This is something that she does daily in her class. Building relationships is not only key for this teacher, but for all teachers at Ft. Wright Elementary.
A teacher’s job is to ensure the academic success of their students. However, before doing that, it is most important to ensure the culture of their building is one that is safe, secure, and welcoming in order to foster an environment where students can learn. Ft. Wright students never wonder how the teachers feel about them. For my own child, the relationships offered her in both the classroom and extra-curricular activities at Ft. Wright have been critical to her success. Each student, family, and staff member is a vital part of a TEAM at Ft. Wright. This culture is definitely what is right with the state of education.
