Hughes Alumni Foundation: Go Big Red!

A Message For Graduates (reposted with permission)

2011-05-31T12:55:00.000-07:00

Topic of the Week

Life Lessons

This week’s newsletter is one I run every year around this time. It’s for students who are graduating (and for us adults who need a reminder about what really matters in life). I hope it inspires you to stand tall, express your talents boldly, or to take a risk to live a more authentic life. Here are the seven lessons:
1. Spend more time on the who rather than the what. What you do will always be less important than who you become. Knowledge is great but it will never take you as far as your courage, your integrity, your reputation for someone who keeps his or her word, or your commitment to be of service to others in an important way. As you go through life, you will face challenges and obstacles. When you do, get in the habit of asking yourself the following three questions:

How can I grow from this experience?
What qualities of character am I being called to develop?
How can I use this event to make me a better person?

2. Follow your heart. Pay far more attention to what you think than what everyone else thinks. The most important relationship you’ll ever have is with you. When I think about the regrets I’ve heard from adults over the years, the biggest ones always have to do with listening to everyone else but themselves. Start now. Make your own rules and follow them. At the end of your life, the most important person you’ll have to answer to is you.
3. Develop a strong “maverick muscle.” Be willing to bend the rules, learn how to disappoint others gracefully, get comfortable with people not liking you, and always strive to be an original thinker. I have a little sign in my office that says: “No Guts, No Glory” and I use it to remind me to go against the grain whenever necessary. Allow yourself to be the unique spirit that you were meant to be. Trust me. Your willingness to rock the boat will set you apart from 95% of the people you meet throughout your life.
4. Build your courage muscles. Starting tomorrow, practice doing one small thing a day that frightens you. Learn to water ski, ask someone out on a date, go for that promotion you keep dreaming about, or learn to dance. Small acts of courage strengthen your ability to take even bigger leaps later on like deciding to write your own book or run for political office. If you really want to build your courage muscles, take a public speaking course. Twenty years ago I allowed someone to drag me to a Toastmaster’s Meeting – an international speech club – and it changed the course of my life forever. Courage builds confidence and confident people rarely settle for less.
5. Don’t go to the hardware store for milk. When you’re excited about doing something new, make sure you turn to those people who will encourage you to take a chance – the ones who believe in you rather than those who tell you why an idea won’t work. Surround yourself with positive people – the kind of people who challenge you to reach beyond your fear rather than play it safe. There will always be people telling you why an idea is risky, or why you can’t do something. That advice is usually based on the mistakes they’ve made or the chances they didn’t take because they were afraid. Always remember this: Someone’s past does not equal your future. When faced with a naysayer, smile, say thank you, and turn around. Stick with positive people who believe in you. Remember, if you needed milk, you wouldn’t go to the hardware store.
(By the way, you’re mom was right. You do become who you hang around with. Choose your friends wisely)
6. Live by this mantra: Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Don’t give up, especially when things get hard, and don’t ever let anyone or anything put limits on you.
7. Stay connected. Your use of technology – email or texting, for example – will never replace the value of a live connection with someone. Every now and then pick up the phone and call a friend or visit a loved one rather than send an email or text message. Too often I’ve seen technology draw a wedge between people. When we come to the end of our lives, it’s who we loved and who loved us that matters most. Make “in-person” time a priority.
Finally, at the time you were born you were given an amazing gift – a gift that most of us forget about as we grow older. It’s the power to design your own unique life. You are an artist. The canvas is your life. From this moment on, take ownership of this gift and use it wisely. If you do, your life will become an extraordinary work of art. Congratulations!

Take Action Challenge

Please share this week’s newsletter with a student in your life. It might just save him or her some of the heartache and stress we’ve experienced .
This week’s video is beautiful – a mother cat hugging her baby. Thanks to Glenda for posting it on my Facebook page. You’ll find it here.

Life Makeover for the Year 2011(sm) is written and produced by

Box 13, Newburyport, MA 01950, www.cherylrichardson.com. All

rights reserved. Used with permission.

100 Year Celebration Open House

2010-09-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Hughes Alums:

Here is information about the 100 Year Celebration Open House at Hughes on Sunday, October 10th.

There is no charge for this event, however, the Alumni Foundation will gladly accept your donation.

If you plan on attending the Open House, please reply to this e-mail.

Hughes Alumni Foundation

CODE RED, CODE RED TOMORROW NIGHT!!!!

2010-09-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

Alumni and friends...pass the word on and come on out in your RED!

Liz Hiles ('94)
Instructor's Assistant, Hughes High School
and
Volunteer, Hughes Alumni Foundation
2515 Clifton Avenue; Cincinnati, Ohio 45219-1003
Fax: 513-363-7520
Alternate email: hughesalumni@gmail.com
ALUMNI BLOG: http://hughesalumnifoundation.blogspot.com/
FOR ATHLETICS, visit: http://www.hughesbigred.com/

Check out our District website: www.cps-k12.org ( http://www.cps-k12.org/ )
Check out our Public Dashboard: https://dashboard.cps-k12.org/dashboard/public/
Check out our Social Media site: http://www.iamcps.org/

"The best education for the best, is the best education for ALL." ~Paideia Philosophy

"Oft in the stilly night,
Ere Slumber's chain has bound me,
Fond Memory brings the light
Of Old Hughes days around me."
~Unknown

"Thomas Hughes, in his day, mended men's soles. Truly the work started by Thomas Hughes is indeed today saving men's souls to higher ideals, to better performances, to splendid citizenship." ~ Hon. J. H. Bromwell at the laying of the Hughes Corner Stone on Friday, October 16, 1908

>>> Jolinda Miller 09/20/10 8:21 AM >>>

I'm calling out the CODE RED for tomorrow night's volleyball match at home vs. Withrow!! Jv is at 5:30 with varsity immediately following!!!

VERY , VERY IMPORTANT LEAGUE MATCH!!!!! A win tomorrow night all but guarantees a share of the league title! We haven't won a volleyball title since 2007!

Come out and help us create a home court advantage!

I'm even pulling out all the bleachers for the first time in Firehouse history!!!

Come one, come all!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please think of some creative ways to get your students to attend!

I can help you keep track of who comes and who doesn't!!!!

We can always do a student sign in sheet!!!

Thanks again!!!

GO BIG RED!!!!!!!!!!!!

A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done,... they will say: "We did it ourselves.” -Lao Tzu
GO BIG RED!
www.HughesBigRed.com
Jolinda Miller, AD
Hughes High School
Cincinnati, OH
513.363.7533 o
513.207.1087 c

Life as Valedictorian

2010-06-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Katie Piket, 2010 Valedictorian

Life as Valedictorian

      Ever since I have seen my sister’s high school graduation, I have always looked up to the Valedictorian as a role model, a goddess, a famous and successful person. I felt that being Valedictorian, you would feel a sense of pride and joy that no one else could feel. For some people this kind of “pride and joy” could be at something you love to do. I knew that before they went up and said their speech they practiced but that was quite all. I always thought about talking to the Valedictorians that I saw and asking them “How is it to be Valedictorian of your class?” but unfortunately, I never did. I put them on such a great pedestal, that I was too scared to ask. I feel like the pedestal I put on them was actually too high, now because then; I thought that they didn’t live a “normal life”, it’s like I saw them as not human. However, as my days came closer to my own graduation, I started to realize this. I always looked up to the Valedictorians I knew of, but I never truly believed I would be one until one day in my chemistry class my junior year, my teacher, Ms. Guthrie, asked, “You know you could actually be Valedictorian.” At that moment, I stared at her with disbelief and in my head, I was thinking to myself, “Yeah, right. Like I have a real good chance at becoming Valedictorian.” But the more and more I thought about it, the more it became an possibility for me to see it, to actually become it. The more I thought about it, the more I just kept on making up speech ideas for it. This is when I actually started chasing to be Valedictorian.
      By the time they announced that I was Valedictorian of my class; I already sort of guessed it. But the weird thing was is when it was announced, I felt like I was numb or in disbelief. I definitely wasn’t in denial about it because I knew about it and I didn’t try to ignore it. However, I simply just didn’t feel the spark that I thought I was going to feel about it, but I was happy about it. After it was announced that I was Valedictorian, I started to write my speech. During this time, I started to feel like I had mood swings every five seconds about becoming Valedictorian. One minute I felt happy to disbelief, shock, overwhelmed, sad, and sometimes I asked myself “What did I get myself into?” I started being asked about if I wrote my speech and what my speech was about. In addition, I was asked to be on WCPO’s “Best of the Class” which was a great honor, but it seemed that it made my mood swings even worse for a moment. This new responsibility became an extra burden on me that I had to take on besides trying to do my homework and get ready for college. Somehow I knew that I could take on this responsibility.
When I wrote my first draft of my speech, I gave it to Mrs. Ray to edit. I remember walking of that classroom and saying, “What did I do?” I felt that she was ripping my speech apart. I know that she was only trying to help me, but she was ripping my baby apart and breaking my heart. But the more I looked at my speech, the more that I thought that she didn’t change that much. Then I started to have other people look at my speech, and they started to make corrections. I wanted them to make corrections because I wanted my speech to be perfect, but at the same time, I knew I had to adjust to the corrections, so I stopped people from editing it. By writing this speech, I learned that this speech is a lot harder then I thought it would be. However, as being Valedictorian, I noticed my reward of being Valedictorian was to write a speech and I kept thinking is this fair? Here I am the smartest person in my class and I have to write another speech. But I was okay because I hope that on graduation day the feeling of speaking my speech would pay off by all the work that I put into my speech.
      When graduation day came, I was a little nervous about the crowd. I knew that I was well prepared, but I felt that if people were on the top stands of the Cintas Center, that I would some how choke. Since I was nervous, my throat kept on becoming dry every time I would get a drink of water. This made me think about; what if my throat gets to dry that I won’t be able to speak? However, as I went on the stage on graduation night, there were less people in the crowd then I thought and I told myself that since my throat kept on getting dry, just take your time speaking which is exactly what I did. When I walked out on to the floor, I was just so overwhelmed by the crowd. Everyone cheering and supporting all the graduates. Then, when I got to my seat all I could think about is my family and once I got on stage all I did was smile at my family and look at them and just to see the smiles on their faces to see me. At the time that I got on stage, it truly sunk in that it was a real on to be on the stage and to see all of my classmates and their family and friends. When I did my speech that night I felt so confident about myself and my speech, that I was just so happy to say my speech.
      While writing my speech, I kept on telling myself that I wanted my speech to be remembered by all the people that was in the auditorium that night. I wanted my speech to be perfect and I wanted to have the underclassmen’s to remember the speech. I wanted the speech to be one of the best speeches in Hughes history. Right now, the comments that I have been hearing about my speech, it has been a very successful speech. In addition, I felt that my speech didin’t exactly belong to me, but it belonged to the Class of 2010. That’s why I talked about what our class has been through and how we had over come theses changes as a class. Personally, as a Valedictorian of your class you should speak from your classes point of view because you represent your class and you should know how they feel. In addition, the speech is to your class.
      If I could go back to my graduation or high school period, I would do it in a heart beat. There are no words to describe walking out on to the floor, where your family and friends are cheering for you. In addition, there are no words to describe speaking to your classmates, friends, and family. No words. Just pure happiness, joy, and excitement. If I could go back in time for graduation, I would try to enjoy it more and soak everything in more.
      Some things that I have learned as being Valedictorian, is that your speech is your speech, you can say what ever you like to your class and don’t let others persuade you otherwise. In addition to being Valedictorian, don’t let your speech control you, enjoy being Valedictorian as long as you can possibly can. Being Valedictorian is a great tremendous honor but there also comes a lot of pressure and responsibility. As being top of your class you can and are expected to deal with the pressure or otherwise how did you even get on top any ways because you were obviously able to handle the responsibility of homework and school life. In the end, Valedictorians should feel proud of themselves and honored to have achieved this honor and to say their speech. When I have children I would tell my kids that I would want them to be top of their class but not necessarily be Valedictorian because of all the pressure and responsibility. I have now learned why the smartest person in the class needs to give the speech and it is because of the pressure that comes with it. To me no other person in the class could handle this pressure as good as the Valedictorian.

2010 Valedictoria Speech

2010-05-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

It is with great honor the Hughes Alumni Foundation is publishing the Valedictorian Speech that Katherine Piket gave at commencement on Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at the CINTAS Center at Xavier University. The Hughes Alumni Foundation is immensely proud of all our 2010 graduates and we look forward to hearing all of their great successes to come.

As submitted by Katherine Piket:

Good evening to friends, family, faculty and Board of Education member, Mrs. Bolton, who have supported us every step of the way at Hughes Center. We never could have been able to get this far without you.

There is a quote by Alphonse Karr that says, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." I think this quote explains all of our years at Hughes Center. When we first came to Hughes Center, it was a huge environment where we had to make new friends and meet new teachers. We have been through a lot together, new teachers year after year, two buildings because of the renovation of Hughes, then our programs being mixed together by teams, and two principals who have had two different ways of running our school. We have been through so much together. These are changes over which we had no control.

Now we are transitioning from high school to the adult world. Some of us are going to college where we will be challenged academically in order to further our education and to reach our goals. Others may be going to the armed forces, where they may travel to different parts of the world while serving our country. While still others are going to work where they will experience personal successes. However, with this transition comes changes. All of us are going to have to adjust to our new surroundings, our new schedule, new people, and our new lives. We have control over most of these changes; however, some changes in life, we won't have any control over. Unfortunately, some of these changes may occur as a result of health, the economy, or other various challenges. Even though these changes may be challenging at times, we must try to embrace them. We must think of these changes as unexpected adventures. We must take them one day at a time and never give up hope. Because if we give up hope, we are giving up on ourselves. I can truly say that none of our graduates here today has ever given up on themselves because we are here today. Our future might be scary at times, but just remember you are not alone; your friends or your family will always be there for you if you need support.

A wise man once said, "All things are subject to change, and we change with them." This quote means that it's okay that we change or that there is transition in life because it's a part of life. Hughes has made us adapt to these changes, and by experiencing them, Hughes has prepared us for life not only in education but in the adult world. I feel like we have been through so many changes that we have grown accustomed to them. That's why I believe as a class we will be able to thrive, because we have adapted to change before. This new adventure is going to be bigger, better, and we are the ones that have control over our decisions. We should embrace the challenge and be happy. It's okay to be a bit fearful but we must look to the future with joy and anticipation. We should enjoy our new found independence and freedom. Our time is now and we must let it shine. Congratulations to the Class of 2010; we finally did it!

Good Luck Today to the Big Red Track Team!

2010-04-13T04:39:00.000-07:00

Today our young men and women show their speed and endurance at Colerain for their second track meet of the Season. GO BIG RED! If you can't make it out, be sure to send lots of positive, winning Big Red vibes their way!

"New Hughes"

2010-04-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

As we just had an all staff meeting this afternoon about "the big move" back into the Classical building this summer, it makes me think back and WONDER how the staff and students felt back in 1910 when they moved from our Cathedral-type building down on old 5th & Mound Sts. downtown as they prepared for the even bigger move way up the hill to our present day location in (and on) Clifton.

The proceedings were quite a bit more extravagant than what we'll have for the re-opening...they included a huge Hughes parade from 5th & Mound all the way up to the "New Hughes" complete with every student and faculty member following the elite Hughes band all the way. A grand ribbon cutting ceremony with speeches and performances. The program included alumni, student clubs, then Mayor of Cincinnati, Louis Schwab and other dignitaries of the area. The entire ceremony took place in the front, before anyone even entered the building. Can you even imagine what that must have looked like!

The following poem was written by Mrs. Helen Goodman Logan, Class of 1909 about the "New Hughes," which is also the title of the poem. It really is awe-inspiring at how much EDUCATION was valued, even treasured at the time that our building was built.:

A noble structure here will rise,
A mighty seat of learning;
Oh, may its praises reach the skies,
Its virtues all discerning.
Behold this now assembled throng
To help it on its way along,
To join us landing it in song,
All hearts with joy are burning.

At length 'twill stand in all its might,
Dominion far extending,
With all its glories full in sight,
Its fame enchantment lending.
So long as it may be a school,
It ne'er for wrong will be a tool,
With justice ever will it rule,
Its glories never ending.

Oh, may it make itself a name,
For this end ever trying,
A name without reproach or shame,
To all things edifying.
And when at last old grow its walls,
Its lofty towers, its stately halls,
Oh, may it be a voice that calls
To higher things ne'er dying.

A Brief History of Hughes

2010-04-10T09:55:00.001-07:00

Historical Sketch of Hughes High School

Thomas Hughes, after whom Hughes High School was named, died December 26, 1824, leaving a will dated 22 days before his death, by which he left his property to the City of Cincinnati for the education of poor children. This is the oldest of all the bequests for education now available in this city. This property, consisting of land within the present limits of the city, was left in the hands of a board of 5 trustees named in the will, who were to administer the trust and who were also given power to fill all vacancies that might occur in the board.

Hughes, an immigrant from England, adopted Cincinnati as his home sometime near the beginning of the nineteenth century. He earned his living as a cobbler, repairing shoes and other leather products, in his shop which was located in his small, log cabin home on Liberty Street. (On the north side of Liberty between Main and Sycamore Streets is a short street named Hughes and this is where his shop-residence was located.) Hughes lived alone, except for his dog, pony and some chickens.

The income from this property for the first 10 years was used to pay for the education of indigent pupils in the Woodward College, a private institution that was in existence before the organization of Woodward high School. Of the money collected from rents during the next 5 years, over $6000 was lost through the misappropriation of funds by one of the trustees.

In 1845 a lot for a high school was purchased on Ninth Street, between Race and Vine at a cost of $9000. No building, however, was erected on this lot, and in 1851 it was sold for $15,700, and the lot where the old school building stands on Fifth Street, opposite Mound, was purchased for $18,000. Meanwhile, in 1847, the Central School was opened in the basement of the Lutheran Church on Walnut Street, with Mr. H. H. Barney as principal. The next year the school was moved to Longworth Street, between Race and Elm, where it remained until after the organization of Hughes and Woodward High Schools.

In pursuance of an act passed by the legislature in 1845, a tripartite contract was entered into in May, 1851, between the Trustees of the Hughes Fund, the Trustees of the Woodward Fund, and the Trustees and Visitors of Common Schools of Cincinnati, whereby the Hughes and Woodward Funds were to be consolidated with the common school fund of the city, and a Union Board of High Schools was provided for, to have charge of the two high schools to be organized.

The consolidation of these funds, and the organization of free public high schools, had been under discussion ever since the passage of the law in 1845, and had awakened some bitter opposition. Mr. Barney, Principal of the Central School, had taken a prominent part in this discussion in favor of the law, and the views which he represented finally prevailed. The Union Board of High Schools composed of 7 members representing the Hughes and Woodward Funds, and 6 members each year from the Trustees and Visitors of Common Schools, was organized July 22, 1851, and entered upon its duties. In May 1895, this contract was modified so as to give the organization of the board it was decided that Race Street should be the dividing line between the 2 schools, all pupils west of that line to remain at the Central School, which was henceforth to be known as the Hughes High School, and all pupils east of that line go to the building that already stood on the Woodward lot, and to constitute the Woodward High School. This took place on the 16th of September, 1851, and on that date the Hughes and Woodward free public high schools entered upon their career.

In July, 1852, there was graduated at Greenwood Hall the first class of Hughes pupils.

During the following year the new building was erected on the lot on Fifth Street, opposite Mound. This building was imposing in its architecture and was considered at the time as affording exceptionally fine accommodations for the school. It was formally accepted from the contractors on January 5th, was dedicated with public exercise on Monday, January 17th, and the school immediately moved into these new quarters with Mr. Barney and his corps of assistants in charge.

But the reputation of Mr. Barney had extended over the state and in a few weeks after the opening of the school he was elected State School Commissioner of Ohio. He continued in his place a principal of the school until February, 1854, when he resigned to enter upon the duties of his new office.

Mr. Barney was succeeded in the principal ship by Mr. Cyrus Knowlton, a graduate of Brown University, who had for several years served as an assistant in the school. Mr. Knowlton continued in the office of principal until the year 1860, when he resigned, with the intention of entering upon the practice of the law.

The Hughes High School was especially fortunate in having two such men as principals in its early years. Mr. Barney had shown his ability not only as an administrator of the affairs of the school, but also as an advocate both by tongue and pen of the cause of free public education and of the high school as a legitimate part of that system. It was a time when these were burning questions, and when the discussion of them was the order of the day, and when the cause of public education needed bold and aggressive champions. Mr. Barney bore an honorable part in this conflict. Mr. Thornton M. Hinkle, in his address on Founder’s Day, 1898, in speaking on this subject says: “Mr. Barney and his associates, the victors in the struggle of 1845 to 1853, are entitled to as much honor as any of the heroes in our recent war. They settled the question, and it is no longer open for debate in Ohio. They insured the perpetuity of our school system.”

Mr. Knowlton was a man of marked qualities of character that eminently fitted him for the position to which he had succeeded. Not only as an administrator, but as an instructor, he exerted a potent and lasting influence upon the students of the school: and many who have now grown to manhood and womanhood acknowledge their great indebtedness to him and cherish his memory with gratitude and affection. These two men gave a tone and direction to the school that have characterized it to the present day.

Upon retirement of Mr. Knowlton, Dr. Joseph L. Thornton, who had been a teacher in the Woodward High School, was chosen principal. The school continued under his leadership for 13 years, until the close of the school year 1872-1873, when he resigned. Upon his resignation the Union Board passed unanimously the following resolution: “Resolved, that in accepting the declination of Dr. Joseph L. Thornton to reappointment as principal of Hughes High School, after 13 years’ faithful service, this board hereby expresses its confidence and appreciation of him as a man of high and unblemished moral character, diligent and faithful as a teacher and an ardent friend of the public schools.”

The school opened in September 1873 with Mr. John M. Edwards who had been a teacher in the Central High School, and had been in the Hughes from the beginning, acting as principal.

In December of the same year, one whose name is known far and wide, Mr. E. W. Coy, who had been appointed principal, entered upon the duties of his office.

When Hughes High School outgrew its facilities at the old location, the Board of Education and the Trustees of the Hughes Fund purchased a large lot in Clifton, across from the University of Cincinnati, on the corner of Clifton and McMillan Streets in 1906. The lot, 420 feet by 427 feet, cost $102,000 and the building cost was $727,000. The equipment to furnish the new school came to $73,500.

The massive high school containing approximately 5 acres of floor space in its 4 floors and tower was completed in 1910. The building contained approximately 200 rooms, 80 of which were classrooms and had a capacity for 2000 students. The original old Hughes building had but 17 classrooms and little else. The increase in the number of classrooms plus the auditorium, 2 gymnasiums and 2 lunchrooms to accommodate all of these students in these varied fields of study demonstrated how the concept of secondary education had expanded. At that time, 90% of the young people went directly into commerce or industry after completing their education.

Friday, December 2, 1910 was specifically chosen as the date to have the dedication of the new Hughes structure because it was the approximate date of the month that Thomas Hughes signed his will which created this first public education trust.

The “new” Hughes graduated its first class of 107 seniors on June 9, 1911. The first faculty had 54 teachers including 7 Latin teachers, 4 German and 1 Greek teacher. Hughes’ motto contained on the school seal is PRO DEO PATRIAQUE, or “for God and country.” Since 1881, the school’s colors have been red and white.

Hughes High School has undergone significant changes since 1910, both physically and academically. In 1971-72, the large recreation/gym, the Kreuck Center was built. This facility was shared with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission until 2005. The Kreuck Center was named for Edward “Red” Krueck, a well-known teacher and football coach at Hughes in the 1920s and 1930s.

In 1976, an expanded education curriculum was established in a strikingly beautiful building known as the Professional Building, utilizing the most advanced equipment and technology. This 6-story building opened in 1976 to meet the expanded vocational curriculum that was needed to replace what had been offered at the now closed vocational high school,

The entire complex is currently known as Hughes Center and houses 6 college preparatory programs: The Paideia High School for Critical Thinking, the High School for Teaching and Technology, the Cincinnati Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMAS), the Zoo Academy, the High School for the Health Professions and the High School for the Communications Professions.

For 2 years in a row, Hughes Center won the Cincinnati Board of Education’s School Achievement Award. This award is bestowed upon those CPS schools with outstanding student academic achievement. During the 2000-2001 school year, Hughes met 88.8% of its academic targets and qualified for the district’s distinguished School Incentive Award. Only the highest performing CPS schools earn this special status.

These awards symbolize the remarkable educational renaissance that has been taking place in your alma mater’s hallowed halls. Since 1989, when Hughes High School was closed as a neighborhood school and reopened as a district-wide magnet with its unique programs, student academic performance has been steadily improving and since 1999…improving dramatically.

The work that the Hughes School has done has established for it a reputation that cannot without strenuous effort be sustained in the new building.

Let this thought be an inspiration to all and not only awaken ambition, but also increase the loyalty to the very name, Hughes.

The current Hughes High School, also known as Hughes Center, is comprised of two buildings. The Classical Building is a splendid example of Tudor architecture which is a modified English Gothic. The cornerstone of the school, which was designed by J. Walter Stevens of Minneapolis, was laid on October 16, 1908. The square tower over the front entrance rises 145 feet above the ground and is 45 feet square. There are four lanterns at its corners. The entire structure is in the form of a hollow square, in the middle of which is the large, beautiful auditorium and gallery. Underneath this area are two gymnasia.

The 5-story, “L” shaped annex, also part of the Classical building, was built in the early 1920s and contained 27 rooms, which housed Art, Drafting, and Industrial classes.

Spring at Hughes 2010

2010-04-08T05:09:00.000-07:00

Spring at Hughes is always an interesting time of year...everyone has a bit of cabin fever after being cooped up inside for the winter months and it seems like life is just bursting forth into the atmosphere. This spring is no exception, though there is a lot more going on than normal.

The Seniors are bursting at the seams, overly ready for Prom and Graduation to get here and be over with...all together too eager to enter the real world....Little do they know that one day they most probably will wish they had not rushed it so much!

Really all the students are ready to move up the ladder...and everyone is getting more and more anxious for summer break. Don't we all remember those days!

This school year started off with a lot of change and energy with our new Principal, Dr. Virginia Rhodes, rejoining us. (Dr. Rhodes served as the Vice Principal once upon a time!) We also initiated a new program: STEM ("STEM" stands for Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) with this year's incoming Freshman class, and begun the "phase out" of "Hughes Center" and her various programs that have graced our classrooms for just over twenty years.

We are continuing our complete renovation of the Classical building and plans are still on schedule to move back into it for the beginning of school on August 17, 2010....complete with air conditioning and green, technology-filled classrooms as we celebrate an astounding 100 years in the same location, here at 2515 Clifton Avenue. A milestone not to be taken lightly!

The Hughes Alumni Foundation is planning several events to mark the momentus occasion, the largest of which is an ALL HUGHES REUNION WEEKEND on October 8 & 9, 2010. We are inviting all Hughes, West Night & Hughes Adult alumni and faculty to come back and tour the newly renovated Hughes during the school day on Friday, October 8, 2010. There will be a few smaller tours on Saturday morning for alumni and friends who are unable to take off of work on Friday. Saturday evening we will be having a dinner/dance at the Kingsgate Marriott. More information will be available soon!

Also, 2011 marks our 160th Anniversary as a school. We all should be proud to be a part of such an extensive legacy of education to have a school that has endured for so long, especially in this day and age of fleeting experiences. Sometimes I wonder (and marvel) at how many generations that Hughes must have and are serving. It is truly an honor to be a part of such a rich, historical school. We have been able to go with the flow and make the necessary changes to keep up with the educational trends and still have successful educational programs, with college-bound students.

Stay tuned for more to come...

Happy New Year!!

2008-12-31T12:40:00.000-08:00

We hope it has been a blessed and joyful 2008!

As the last hours and minutes of the year wind down, will you take just a moment to support the Hughes Alumni Foundation?

YOU can be the difference!

Hughes Alumni Foundation NEEDS the support of its members - YOU! - to be able to do its important work...

Connecting graduates, taking care of our historic home, providing resources for students at Hughes today and awarding college scholarships to deserving Hughes seniors.

Please, help us continue the tradition. We need your support.

Have a safe NYE and a beautiful 2009!

Please Mail Contributions to:
Hughes Alumni Foundation
2515 Clifton Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45219

The Alumni Foundation Needs Your Support!

2008-12-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

Hughes Alumni Foundation needs your support to be able to continue the great work it does.

And there is POWER in NUMBERS!

If many, many people give only a small amount, say $10 or $20... that adds up to a lot of very needed help!

The Alumni Foundation...
--Connects graduates

--Takes care of our historic home

--Provides resources for students at Hughes today and

--Awards college scholarships to deserving Hughes seniors.

Please, help us continue the tradition. We need your support!

THERE ARE ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO GIVE IN 2008!

Thank you for your showing your pride. Please Mail Contributions to:

Hughes Alumni Foundation

2515 Clifton Ave.

Cincinnati, OH 45219

Santa was good to Hughes Center!

2008-12-30T07:14:00.001-08:00

We hope you had the most Merry Christmas, filled with family, magic and friends!

Hughes Center, for one, faired well.

We recently found out that the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati is awarding a grant that will allow for a fully functioning Health Clinic to be set up inside Hughes!

That's right, our students, starting Fall 2009, will have access to doctors and nurses right inside their school, everyday.

Health care for everyone is something our great country is trying to figure out... at Hughes, we've got it covered.

Happy Hanukkah!

2008-12-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

The 8 days of Hanukkah are underway, we hope all our Alumni who are celebrating have a peaceful, happy, healthy Hanukkah with their families.

Chabad.org gives a great overview...

"Chanukah in a Nutshell:

Chanukah -- the eight-day festival of light that begins on the eve of Kislev 25 -- celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality... Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G-d.

When they sought to light the Temple's menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks; miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.

To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled..."

Big Red WINNERS!

2008-12-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

The boys and girls varsity basketball teams both won last night!

The girls won in a blowout fashion at Woodward 70 - 29!!! Several Big Red girls were in double figures in this lopsided win!

The boys won by 1 point - yes 1 point - at Winton Woods. Jack Smith ended up with 32 points, including making both ends of a one and one with 10 seconds left in the game to put Hughes up by 1. The defense held and your Big Red came out on top 58-57!

Congrats to the Big Red Varsity teams who are both now 1-1 on the year.

Next up, boys at Taft Friday night, girls at Taft on Saturday.
Log onto www.hughesbigred.com for any/all updates.

GO BIG RED!!
Jolinda Miller
AD, Hughes High School

Holiday Magic

2008-12-09T06:24:00.001-08:00

With Black Friday and the first snow behind us, we are in the midst of all things Hectic and Holiday! It can be a beautiful time of year, but you know, it can start to feel a bit much too. All the traffic, all the appearances to make, the reminders that even when a lot of people are going through very difficult financial times, 'tis still the season to buy! buy! buy!

But it's not supposed to be that way. Holidays are supposed to be about families, friendship, the spirit of one mankind and of hope. It's supposed to be a time to put down our differences, to see the world, even the strangest corners of it, as full of brothers and sisters. It's supposed to be a time when we are reminded to be kind and generous.

One way I help myself get back to this sense of Holiday is to remember how it was when I was young. In high school, December was tinselled-out and glittered-up and there was a great excitement and anticipation for almost 2 weeks off before the new year. There were always big games at the end of the year, and just walking into a gym from the icy outside and hearing the squeak of shoes and the pound of basketballs felt somehow like the Holiday Season too. Even taking exams for the end of the quarter was a little bit exciting, knowing this was the last hurdle before school is out and Christmas comes.

It's hard too, though. There are people in those memories who aren't here anymore, people who had their last Holiday Season long before this one, people I miss very much. That will always be difficult, but I try to remember to cherish their memories, and let them remind me that the spirit of this season must be embraced and shared, and not made into something it is not.

Please, if you have special memories of the holiday season at Hughes, share them with us. It helps us all remember the magic in this time of the year.

Happy Holidays and God Bless!

Hughes Students Helping the Community

2008-12-06T07:03:00.000-08:00

Hughes Community Service Club collected a total of 32 toys for their Toy Drive. They took them down to St. Vince DePaul on December 2nd after school. They will also be volunteering hours this Saturday, the 6th, to help with their Annual Toy Program. Needy families bring their children down and they participate in activities, see Santa, and leave with a couple of toys. They are expecting at least 100+ families = 300-400 children to show up. Thanks for helping us be a blessing to others.

Some members will return to St. Vincent DePaul on Dec. 23, 2008 to assist with passing out Christmas Dinner Boxes to needy families.

The Community Service Club also collected donations of money and household items to adopt a needy family for the holidays. Their efforts succeeded in getting all the items on the Family's Wish List and then some!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T10:14:00.000-08:00

Today, tomorrow and always, we are so thankful for your support and your continued pride for Hughes. Safe travels, good food and great health to everyone... and of course, GO BIG RED!

Do you know all the great things the Hughes Alumni Foundation does?

2008-11-25T08:49:00.000-08:00

The Hughes Alumni Foundation is proud to provide the following for graduates, current students and the facility we have all called home:

Assistance and guidance in planning reunions
College scholarships for outstanding graduates
Funding of yearbook creation and sales
A school historian for Hughes
Financial assistance to needy students for field trips andacademic necessities
Restoration of Hughes' architecture and artwork
Sponsorship of the student leadership group, Hughes Ambassadors
Extracurricular activity support (social, academic andathletic)
Teacher appreciation breakfasts
And much, MUCH more!

None of this is possible without the constant support and participation of our proud grads... that means you, and we THANK YOU!

Graduate Lynetta Pitts Plays Basketball for University of Toledo

2008-11-24T10:24:00.001-08:00

Former Hughes Volleyball and Basketball standout Lynetta Pitts has earned a walk-on spot on the University of Toledo's Women's Basketball Team.

Toledo played at the University of Cincinnati this past Sunday.

Lynetta's Bio...
http://www.utrockets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89714&SPID=10722&DB_OEM_ID=18000&ATCLID=1613911&Q_SEASON=2008

Hughes Needs a Softball Coach!

2008-11-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hughes Center is looking for a head varsity softball coach!

If you are interested in applying, please let us know ASAP.
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

We are also in need of 2 track assistant coaches............ Thanks!

Please contact:

Jolinda Miller
AD, Hughes High School
Cincinnati, OH
office: 513.363.7533

Never hurts to remind ourselves from time to time...

2008-11-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

"Trust your passion, identify your dreams, and find the courage to share them with others, no matter how many times they call you a fool. If your vision has merit, no matter how impossible it may seem, someone will recognize it and help you make it come true. That's the practical power of a well-founded dream."

And

"...experience has taught me that when one dream comes true, others soon follow."

These quotes are from the book Make the Impossible Possible, by Bill Strickland, the MacArthur foundation Genius Award winner and CEO of Pittsburgh's Manchester Bidwell Training Center, a job training center and community arts program.

Hughes in the Enquirer...

2008-11-12T16:02:00.001-08:00

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081112/NEWS0102/811120362/1055/NEWS

The following is taken from the above link:

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS - Hughes Center is being converted into Cincinnati's first STEM high school - a school devoted to science, technology, engineering and math - but the transition is not without controversy.

Next school year, a new Hughes Center will be open to freshmen, one of five new STEM high schools in Ohio.

Unlike traditional schools, STEM schools emphasize math and science courses while directing students toward career-oriented internships, mentoring and co-op opportunities in math, science or technology.

The new school will feature state-of-the-art labs and computers and employ problem-solving education, said Jamie Beirne, one of the teachers on the development team.

"The essence of what makes Hughes a great school will still be there," he said, "but we're trying to make it a 21st century learning environment."

Yet some Cincinnati school board members were resistant recently to a plan to eliminate a current Hughes program - its communications program - from the newly reorganized school.

Several board members said that the district can't afford to lose any effective high school programs.

"I've said explicitly that we have to keep effective programs," said Susan Cranley, a school board member. "Why are we going to dismantle what's working ... when we've got things in place that aren't working?"

Other board members also cautioned against imposing entrance requirements on future STEM students, making it like Walnut Hills High School.

"We did not want another exclusive school; the board is committed to that," said Eve Bolton, president of the board. "It's not that we're saying no to STEM; we're having issues with dismantling or disassociating ourselves (from) Hughes."

The old Hughes is being phased out. This year's is the last freshman class, and its current students will be the last graduates of its current programs. The first STEM freshmen will start class in fall 2009. Eighth-graders can begin enrolling Jan. 26.

Much about the STEM high school is undecided, but there are no plans for admissions restrictions, said Mary Ronan, interim superintendent. It will be like CPS' other "high schools of choice," she said, with open enrollment, on a first-come, first-served basis.

She hopes for 300 ninth-graders.

But Hughes' communications professions program doesn't fit into the new STEM school, she said. The communications program was more journalism-oriented than technology-oriented, said Tim Kraus, president of the teachers union and a member of the STEM steering committee.

"We're trying to make this (school) as flexible as possible to meet the demands of 21st-century careers," he said. "We're trying to prepare kids for jobs that don't even exist right now."

Eileen Cooper Reed, a board member, said communications is worth saving.
"We still love STEM; it's the logistics we don't like," she said. "We want to protect good programs and make sure we don't displace programs."

Ronan said there may be a way to re-create the communications program at another high school some year soon. She mentioned the School for Creative and Performing Arts, which requires auditions for admission, but that hasn't been discussed with its local leaders, she said.

Hughes' 98-year-old building has been gutted for its two-year renovation. Hughes' existing classes are being held in a vocational building attached to it.

The new STEM classes will be held in the old Fairview German School building until the renovation is finished in 2010.

At the STEM school, freshmen and sophomores will take traditional high-school classes, but with field trips to university research labs, STEM-oriented businesses and area agencies. Juniors and seniors will concentrate courses in career "pathways" and participate in internships, job shadowing, summer jobs and mentoring in science and industry.

Some Hughes programs will be updated and folded into STEM programs, Ronan said. For instance, the teaching courses will focus on math and science education; the Zoo Academy may end up in engineering or science tracks.

Last year, Hughes was rated Effective, the third-highest rank on Ohio's school report cards. Its graduation rate was 90.5 percent in 2006-07, with 57 percent headed to college.

Beirne said the new school will serve the kinds of students Hughes now serves.

Last year, Hughes' student body was 89.7 percent black and 7.2 percent white. Nearly two-thirds qualified for free or reduced-price meals, and nearly a quarter had a disability.

CPS this year converted Taft Elementary into a STEM school. Its partners include the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Community and Technical College, the Strive coalition and several major corporations.

What are your thoughts on the transition?

Dreams That Money Can Buy

2008-11-11T11:21:00.000-08:00

By Liz Hiles, ‘94
Director, Hughes Alumni Foundation

It is truly amazing what I learn about our dear alma mater on a regular basis. Occasionally I search the web to find out what is out there about Hughes. On one such occasion, I found about 1920 alum Libby Holman.

Her life was so interesting that I became very curious about her. “Get the yearbook!” I thought…

So out comes the 1920 yearbook…I turn to the seniors…all the young ladies look so similar, the neat wavy hairstyles and the pearls. “H’s….where are the H’s…ahh! There she is!”

There in the annual is Libby’s picture. I would really love to know who wrote the description of Libby in that book and why…it is really prophetic! Who really knows that a classmate will be famous before they even graduate?! Then my eyes zero in to some handwriting just above Libby’s entry at the top of the page…

…There it is…scrawled in the obviously old-fashioned ink is her signature! We have an authentically signed yearbook! WOW!

From there, I search Amazon.com since I know from the internet entries I found that Libby was deceased. I find a biography about her life by Jon Bradshaw. Libby was really many things: actress, torch singer, civil rights activist, wife, mother, friend. And yet, it is obvious from all accounts that I’ve come across…she was your average, every day eccentric, who-even in her death-was controversial.

I don’t want to give it all away, but I encourage you all to pick up a book or do an online search and learn a little about Libby and the life she lived. She had a fabulously interesting life and to think that it all started here fascinates me…and it gives me great hope for our current students because I just know that they too will be able to achieve their dreams.

Do YOU know of any alums who have done great, fascinating things? Please write to us about them! Share what you know and what you recall of their time at Hughes.

Hughes is in the News!

2008-11-06T08:47:00.000-08:00

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081106/NEWS0106/811060325

And Unyielding Hope!

2008-11-05T13:15:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to our new President, Barack Obama!

my favorite part....

"…the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."

Memories from the Class of 1965... drama and dancing!

2008-11-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Robert M. Walls, Class of 1965

One of my favorite memories is the plays that we presented in 1963-65. From "Time Out For Ginger" to the musical "Annie Get Your Gun." They were great fun and played, I believe, to packed houses every show. The 1964 and 1965 Proms were also very memorable for their decorations and music.

The Class of 1965 was a great class where friendships were close - Roger Smallwood, Roger Horsley, Jack Totten, Dwight Slaven, Tom Schnell, James Battle, Bill Hoover, Larry Miller, George Wilder and Tony Hodge being some of my friends at Hughes. I remember our times at the soda shop accrooss the street after school.

Looking forward to visiting Hughes in 2009.

Dr. Robert M. Walls is the Principal at Campbell Elementary School in Campbell, Ohio, and an Associate Professor at Kent State University

Another Hughes First, from the Class of 2003

2008-10-29T11:29:00.001-07:00

My first memory was Freshman orientation as well. I remember sitting in the "Professional Lunchroom" (the small one in the new building) with my brother who was also going to be attending. He was going into Zoology and I was going into Health Professions. All the teachers were introducing themselves and telling us a bit about their classes. I sat, listening in fascination as my brother and his best friend commented on the looks of all of the parading teachers. Then, a science teacher, Ms. Pfeiffer, got up and said something that stopped us all in our tracks.

She told us that people swallow approximately six spiders a year. It was then that I knew, I was going to love this school....

Tiffany Wanamaker

Health Professions, class of 2003

What's your first Hughes memory?

2008-10-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

By Liz Hiles, ’94
Director, Hughes Alumni Foundation

I can remember back to the Summer of 1990 when my father, mother and I pulled up to the curb in front of 2515 Clifton Avenue for Freshman Orientation. My dad was just dropping Mom and me off. So out of the car we went.

I took a few steps before I actually looked up. As my eyes went further up, my jaw went further down. My elementary and junior high schools were both really small. Hughes was, well, HUGE! (Do you think they noticed the similarity in the two words when they built the building?)

“Mom, if I don’t come home the first day of school, call a search party ‘cause I’m LOST!”

Some weeks later, school began for the year and I was there with all the typical freshman-first-day-butterflies in my stomach. Glad to see my friends from previous schools, anxious to make new friends…and terrified of becoming endlessly lost in the vast halls of our alma mater.

Luckily, I only got turned around a time or two…nothing serious enough to actually use the word “lost.” I made it through that year…and the three to follow and I LOVED every moment of it.

So, take some time to share your first Hughes memory!

If you can’t remember the first, how about the most exciting…or the most memorable? Take a few moments, dig deep into the recesses of your mind and bring forth those things that you haven’t thought about in YEARS! Write them down and send them to hughesalumni@yahoo.com. (All submissions have the opportunity to be posted. The Hughes Alumni Foundation reserves the rights to edit submissions.)

Welcome to the Hughes Alumni Blog!

2008-10-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

By Liz Hiles, ’94
Director, Hughes Alumni Foundation

I want you to go a on a little trip with me in your mind…

Think back to Cincinnati in the early 1800s. A time when buildings were not just built for function and purpose, but when they were built for beauty and symbolism. A time when education was not a right, but a privilege that few could afford…

This is the time that Thomas Hughes lived. Hughes, a cobbler and business man, immigrated to Cincinnati in the beginning of the nineteenth century. He had a vision, a dream, a desire for young people to be educated regardless of their social situation. Revolutionary at the time. Hughes had no children and is said to have lived on Liberty Street downtown between Main and Sycamore with his wife, a horse, a dog and a hen, he relentlessly gave his own money in the form of scholarships so that the youth of Cincinnati could attend school.

When he passed away in 1824, he left his entire estate to the soul purpose of public education in Cincinnati. Twenty-seven years later, Hughes High School was established, starting a legacy that is still continuing today: the legacy of quality public education for the youth of Cincinnati.

As a school that is nearly 160 years old, we have an absolutely amazing history, including that in those 160 years our school has had 3 unique locations (Clifton Avenue has been occupied the longest. We will celebrate our Centennial in 2010.), a mere 17 principals, and droves of alumni nearing a total of almost 40,000.

Yes, we have been through changes… I walked across the stage at Music Hall a mere 15 years ago and even in that time, so much has changed. Change is constant, however, and despite all that has and will change, one critical thing remains: Hughes still represents an outstanding legacy of excellence in education.