Westerville Central High School staff members were advised prior to their first all-staff meeting of the year: Wear comfortable shoes.
To bolster staff connection and camaraderie, WCSH administrators organized challenge stations in the style of The Amazing Race as part of its school-wide meeting. Teachers and staff gathered in teams to review topics and procedures typically covered at the first of the year and complete challenges at each station.
For example, one station about the school's Fly Time period included resources teachers can use to support students during that time. Their challenge: create and fly paper airplanes, measuring distances of their best flight. Once completed, they had to send photos and videos to administrators.
Administrators tracked teams’ progress with winners receiving prizes at the end.
“These hours are about us as adults,” Principal Dawn Sayre said. “Think about you and your role and our culture and how you can contribute. This is about us.”
The day was focused on rising together as a WCHS community. The high school’s marching band performed during breakfast. Administrators recognized staff birthdays over the summer, welcomed new staff and gave Warhawk onesies to staff members with new babies. Administrators scheduled a food truck at school for lunch and invited Alcott staff to join them.