The Tower News

Dear Fellow Alumnae: A unique opportunity has surfaced to provide funding for the renovation and renewal of Withrow High School. The window of opportunity is very narrow and funds would be needed before the end of the year. The Department of Education of the State of Ohio will match 9-1 the donations from a sponsoring alumni group. Consequently, if the Alumni raise an additional one million dollars to go with the existing $500,000, the School Board can generate the 15 million dollars needed to bring the beautiful campus and buildings up to code and continue to provide an exceptional learning environment as well as begin the construction of a new Student Activity Center. Paul Ramstetter, current Withrow Principal, and his staff have worked diligently to restore the former culture and reputation of Withrow. The Alumni Board is impressed with the school's progress that is exemplified by increasing graduation rates (up 30% from three years ago) and college entrance rates (up 25%). Your contribution (can send you and envelope) will make further progress achievable and show our strength as good citizens. Thanks for remembering and caring about Withrow.

This is portion of the letter sent to the Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools to the State of Ohio Department of Education. We welcome discussion on this or any other topic..

Dear Dr. Adamowski: Congratulations! Your application to the Qualified Zone Academy Bond program has been approved. The amount of the bonds you are authorized to issue is $5,000,000 for use in the renovation of the Withrow High School. The Withrow High School has been certified by the Child Nutrition Services Office of the Ohio Department of Education as having 37.46% free and reduced lunch student population and is therefore qualified to receive QZAB funds. The $500,000 cash contribution provided the Withrow Alumni, Inc. more than meets the intent of the law and is a very worthy gesture on behalf of the Cincinnati community.

All CLASS REUNION MOVES TO CONEY ISLAND

For the first four years at Ault Park this event was held on the hottest, most humid evening of summer. This year we picked a really cold, cold evening. We are going to keep doing it and eventually get it right! Sgt. John Miller '81 as he drew raffle prizes with the Alumni Coordinator Bob McKeever '50 and Alumni President Jack Cover '59. Sgt Miller drove in from Louisville and said that he never intends to miss another one. Representatives from classes as early as the 30's and as late as the 80's enjoyed the music of the Big Band Sound and the delicious buffet supper. The Raffle was successful and generated over $2,000 thanks to the generosity of donors of prizes. We particularly thank AAA Cincinnati and Worldspan for donating Airline tickets for Two. Mark the date of 2001 - September 15 - and plan to attend with your fellow Tigers.

MEMORIALS

We do not always receive obituaries on teachers or alumni so we are unable to make accurate reporting in our news letter. We have made it a policy not to include any news on deaths for fear of missing one or offending in some way. We do have a memorial book in our Alumni Museum where all memorial contributions are celebrated and acknowledged. We welcome further additions to this book. This issue will be the exception that makes the rule.

We regret to report the loss of two wonderful Withrow teachers: Dorothy Atkins and John Temple.

Miss Atkins not only taught here from 1926 until 1961 she was also a graduate of the class of 1920. Her classes were renowned for their difficulty yet she was one of the teachers most requested by students year after year. An appropriate memorial could be created for those who wish to honor memory of Miss Dorothy Atkins.

Mr. Temple was on the staff from 1962 until his retirement in 1992. Even after retirement he could be seen at Withrow as a volunteer helping on various projects. His friends and associated have decided to honor him by planting a memorial tree at Withrow with an appropriate plaque so all will be aware of his many contributions to the school. We can send you an envelope in memory of John Temple.

Junior League College/Career Center

This is the final year we will have full participation from the Junior League but it certainly has not slowed them down. In October they sponsored and arranged a Career Fair for junior and senior students at Withrow. This is the third year they have done this and again it was most successful. Their committee is hard at work planning additional programs. Students are invited to come to the center to hear speakers on various careers and/or colleges (like from people like Anita Clayton, an architect with DNK Architects, Inc. In Cincinnati who presented a positive, interesting talk on her experience in this field. We are seeking volunteers to continue the work begun by the Junior League so that these excellent programs will become a permanent part of the culture at Withrow. Please let us know you will be willing to help.

Here's a letter from Jack Cover, Alumni Association President, dated November, 16th, 2000
I am seeking your help in addressing a major void we are about to face in one of our most successful endeavors. The Junior League of Cincinnati has informed us they will be ending their involvement in the Withrow College and Career Center at the end of the current school year (June, 2001). While we are saddened by the drawing to an end of this tremendous joint effort, we celebrate that this relationship has spanned four years. As a reminder, when we applied and were awarded one of the Junior League's grants, it was with the understanding that it would be for no more than two years. The importance and successes of the program to Withrow students led to an additional two years of financial and personal support. It is now time for the Withrow Alumni to fully pick-up the load and carry on the programs and volunteer support in the Center. Specifically, there are two programs, the Career Fair and Career and Conversation meetings, which we want to continue. Both programs have had positive impacts on providing direction for up to 500 students a year. We need volunteers who will commit to executing these "Winning" program. Thorough guidelines have already been developed, so timely execution and a desire to have an impact on the lives of Withrow students are the only criteria required of volunteers. Please give this need your careful consideration and get back to me with individuals you believe will commit to stepping up to the plate and making a hit for the Withrow Students.

ARE YOU ONE WHO WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE? LET THE ALUMNI OFFICE KNOW ASAP!!!

RETURN MAIL

Would you believe we spend almost $600.00 for return mail costs each and every time we do a mailing? This could easily be reduced if everyone would remember to notify us when their address changes. Often by the time we get returns the forwarding notice has expired and so we don’t know where you are. This is just another way we can all make a contribution to Withrow by saving money on return mail.

AUTHOR AUTHOR

Surely there are more than two Withrow Alumni who have published books? There are were only two responses to the article in the last issue requesting donations of books published by Withrow grads. Their books are displayed prominently in the library and are looking or companionship. We thank Ellen Thompson Panowski '37 and Nancy Stine Boyles '64 for their contributions and encourage others to follow their lead.