Monday marked the return to school for all Westerville educators and staff and across the district, families and students took to the streets to show just how much their school teams mean to them.
All across the entrance of several school buildings, children’s artwork and positive messages were drawn in chalk: “You are.. amazing, appreciated, loved, strong, inspiration;” “Staff We love you! We appreciate you;” “You are our hero” and “Welcome Back!”
“Our families felt it was important for staff to know that we see the effort and care they're putting into teaching this year, no matter where or how they're doing it,” said Ryan Hilperts, president of Alcott Elementary’s PTA.
Gavin Farkasovsky, a seventh-grader at Genoa Middle School, and his brother, Henry, a third-grader at Alcott, contributed to the display Monday morning. Gavin said it was cool to be able to join the effort and support his former teachers.
“I want to let them know how their job helps a lot of people,” he said.
In addition to the messages on the pavement, parents at Annehurst Elementary brought goodie bags for teachers and staff. At Blendon Middle School, kids sketched drawings of teachers and bulldogs in honor of the school mascot on Post-it notes on the front door. Some shared personal messages: “I love you so much you will never understand the extent of my love.”
At Fouse Elementary, the PTO is adding to the messages already on the school’s entrance with a Card Your Yard sign to greet students and families during material pick up. Meanwhile, Westerville South High School Boosters surprised teachers and staff with a sign on the front lawn.
Families at Cherrington, Hanby, Whittier, Emerson and Mark Twain elementaries also decorated school entrances with positive messages and art.
At Alcott, Hilperts said with so much stress and anxiety around schooling right now, the PTA Board thought something light and fun and encouraging would be a great idea for families.
“As a PTA, we're trying to provide as much normal as we can for our families and find new ways for them to experience the Alcott community,” she said. “This felt like a small way to do a little of both of those things.”