Huber Ridge Elementary News

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a hybrid virtual organizational/regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, out of the district's Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville.

Across the Westerville City Schools, students, teachers, staff members have rallied around charitable projects to support local community groups and school families for the holidays.

The Neighbors of Westbury Woods (NOWW) community have organized several holiday giving projects for years. This year, they've helped a family in need, collected coats, hats, gloves and other winter apparel for those who are homeless and supported Westerville families and children.

Their latest effort will reach students across Westerville City Schools. Through their donation of $1,080, the neighborhood group has been able to resolve the school meal debt for all students in the district.

The Westerville Education Foundation’s Honor Roll program allows community members to recognize educators who have made an impact on their lives. More than 30 sponsors have provided financial support for the program as well as WEF grants for innovative programs in the Westerville City School District. 

As part of a seven-week professional development series for Westerville’s gifted educators, Marc Smolowitz met with teachers on Wednesday to discuss his documentary, “The G Word,” currently in post-production.

Westerville educators interested in bringing more diverse books in their classroom libraries can still apply to the Westerville Education Foundation’s Many Voices: Diverse Classroom Library project. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15.

The Westerville City School District (WCSD) is preparing to begin the registration process for its next kindergarten class. School officials look forward to meeting new families and greeting returning families. Kindergarten is required for children before entering first grade; families may register their children for kindergarten if they will be five years old on or before Sept. 30.

Westerville Central High School senior Ruthanne James was looking forward to her school’s annual assembly in December that features performances by the Jazz Central, orchestra, band and American Sign Language students.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a hybrid virtual regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 14.

Aliyah Giles, a senior member of Westerville North High School’s Notables and Symphonic Mixed Choir, will be among the performers featured in Bowling Green State University’s Falcon Choral Festival at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Beginning December 7 and continuing through December 18, WCSD will resume Blended Learning, which allows each cohort of students to receive five more days of in-person instruction prior to Winter Break. WVA students will continue to receive their instruction through that program. Click the headline to read the Superintendent's message to families.

The Rotary Club of Westerville recognized its November 2020 Students of the Month during a virtual meeting Nov. 5.

The Westerville City Schools transportation department needed to find a way to lock the buckle on a seat belt harness specifically used by special needs students after learning a student was able to unbuckle the belt and leave his seat on the bus.

Susie Lehman paused when she saw the black cloud billowing over a home along her early morning bus route through Huber Ridge neighborhood. At 6:45 a.m. on Oct. 29, it was pitch black with a mist of rain falling and she wasn’t sure if she saw low-hanging fog or smoke creeping above the ranch-style home.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a hybrid virtual regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23, out of the district's Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville. Proceedings will be streamed live over the district's YouTube Channel to comply with virtual meeting requirements and ensure compliance with the state's extension of its mass-gathering ban. Additional meeting details are available online.

Westerville City School District (WCSD) Superintendent Dr. John R. Kellogg today announced to staff and families that the district would extend a planned, temporary return to Remote Instruction through at least December 4, 2020, due to worsening health conditions in the region.

Several WCSD schools revamped their Veterans Day programs this year to align with health and social distancing guidelines, creating school-wide virtual events to honor those who served in the military.

Six teachers have been awarded grants totaling $2,121 from The Bette Marschall Memorial Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation. The fund was established in honor of former Westerville teacher and principal Bette Marschall, who died in 2001.

The Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County is conducting a community needs assessment to gauge needs surrounding mental health. 

Olivia Bechtel, a first-grade teacher at McVay Elementary; Lisa Huelskamp, gifted education coordinator for Blendon and Walnut Springs middle schools; and Natalie Martin, a second-grade teacher at Mark Twain Elementary have been named Westerville Education Foundation’s October Teachers of the Month.

Renovated learning spaces at Pointview Elementary and Westerville North High School have been recognized for their innovative design in the Fall 2020 Learning By Design Architectural and Interior Design Awards of Excellence.

Families can add Westerville South High School as part of their Beggar’s night festivities.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a hybrid virtual regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, out of the district's Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville.

The Rotary Club of Westerville recognized its October 2020 Students of the Month during a virtual meeting Oct. 1. Throughout the school year, from October through May, the Club honors four students from local high schools each month. Working with the school principals and counselors, one student each month is chosen from Westerville Central, Westerville North, Westerville South and St. Francis DeSales high schools. The students, their parents, and the school administrators are introduced and honored at the Rotary Club’s first weekly luncheon each month.

Westerville North Cheerleading is collecting pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes as part of a fundraising drive for training and equipment needs for their competition and sideline teams. The shoe drive runs through Nov. 30.

For years, Westerville elementary students got a deep dive into soil and erosion through in-person interactive demonstrations with Linda Pettit, an environmental education specialist with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District.

Westerville City School District (WCSD) officials this week provided families with preliminary information about enrolling their students in the Westerville Virtual Academy (WVA) for the second semester, or in the case of those already enrolled in WVA, how to withdraw and change to the established instructional model that is based upon and determined by regional health data.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a hybrid virtual regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, out of the district's Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville. 

Due to parent-teacher conferences, classes will not be held at Westerville elementary schools or the Early Learning Center preschool on Thursday, Oct. 29 or Friday, Oct. 30. District middle schools will only be closed on Friday, Oct. 30. They will be in session on Thursday, Oct. 29. School will take place as usual at all three high schools – Westerville Central, North and South. Classes will resume on Monday, Nov. 2.

As part of the Westerville City School District’s Second Annual Parent Prep workshop series, parents can take sessions on various topics including technology, mental health, the college application process and adjusting to a changing school environment due to COVID-19.

Applications are being accepted through Friday, Oct. 23, for the fall 2020 Westerville City Schools A+ Employee Recognition Program, which celebrates extraordinary staff members. 

Jeff Bracken, a chemistry teacher at Westerville North High School, and Mary Taylor, a retired teacher from Emerson Elementary and the founder of The Friends of Faith Pruden Foundation, were named Kindness Heroes for their service to the Westerville community and beyond at Neighbor2Neighbor Westerville’s Kindness Rally.

Susannah Lee, an English teacher at WCHS, Catherine Stathulis, an English teacher at WNHS, and Lauren Sefton, a science teacher at WSHS have been named Westerville Education Foundation’s September Teachers of the Month.

Westerville City Schools is partnering with Health Heroes, Inc. to offer flu vaccination clinics this year for any student enrolled in the district.

WCSD faculty, staff and students with an innovative idea or project that needs financial support can apply for a Westerville Education Foundation Fall Grant. Applications are due Friday, Oct. 16 at 5 p.m.

Westerville South High School has received the Purple Star designation for its commitment to serving military-connected students and their families, officials with the Ohio Department of Education announced this week.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, October 5, 2020, in the Skybox of the Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive. Upon convening the meeting, the Board will vote to go into Executive Session to consider the employment of an employee. No action will be taken.

The Westerville North Warriors were up by two touchdowns with several minutes left in last Friday’s game against Canal Winchester. 

Ty O’Hearn and several other seniors on the football team approached Coach Bryan Johnson on the sidelines. 

“Coach, it’s Pash’s time,” O’Hearn said. “Let’s get him in there.”

The MLK Legacy Project is hosting a virtual Poetry Night Oct. 1 as part of its annual series of events to promote a better understanding of race and racism in the Westerville community.

The group — which started as a Leadership Westerville subcommittee that focused on the annual breakfast in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. — wanted to increase awareness of social justice through poetry with their upcoming event.

Given the success of last year’s inaugural Parent Prep workshop series, Westerville City School District (WCSD) officials are finalizing details for a multi-day, all-virtual Parent Prep event later this fall. 

“Although we’re not yet ready to release specific dates or sessions, we simply want families to know that another Parent Prep event is in the works,” said Tami Santa, WCSD's coordinator of student well-being and mental health. “Feedback following last year’s workshops was so positive and supportive that we’re committed to overcoming the challenges before us and providing the experience virtually this year.”

Applications for monetary grants from The Bette Marschall Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation are being accepted for worthy 2020-2021 school year projects not otherwise supported within the school budget. The grants are available to teachers, students, administrators, and non-teaching staff within the Westerville City School District. The submission deadline is midnight on Oct. 23.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a hybrid virtual regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, out of the district's Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville. Proceedings will be streamed live over the district's YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/wcsdohio to comply with virtual meeting requirements and ensure compliance with the state's extension of its mass-gathering ban. Additional meeting details are available online at the www.wcsoh.org/VirtualBOE web page.

The YWCA Kids Place School Year Program is offering Before and After School programs for students in Cohort A and Cohort B at several Westerville elementary schools. The YWCA will also offer an All-Day program for students when they are not in their classroom.

All WCSD students can receive free school meals through December 31 or until federal funding runs out — whichever comes first. The changes came from a decision by the United States Department of Agriculture to extend free meal benefits.

The Westerville City School District’s Board of Education is seeking applicants for two open positions on its audit committee, which serves as a professional link between the Board and external auditors.

A new broadband access pilot will provide refurbished computers and internet hotspots with a year’s worth of prepaid unlimited internet service, to low-income households with students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Westerville City School District launched a new dashboard in response to a state mandate requiring all Ohio school districts to report cases of COVID-19 among its school populations.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a hybrid virtual regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, out of the district's Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville. Proceedings will be streamed live over the district's YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/wcsdohio to comply with virtual meeting requirements and ensure compliance with the state's extension of its mass-gathering ban. Additional meeting details are available online at the www.wcsoh.org/VirtualBOE web page.

It wasn’t long into Principles of Biomedical Science at Westerville Central High School (WCHS) when Kendel Seabury knew she was all in on the district’s health pathway program. 

She was fascinated by lessons on how the body works and considered applying her interest in science to becoming a teacher. But the more classes she took — including Diana Arko’s Medical Interventions course — the more she realized that nursing better aligned with her interests in health care and working with people.

Westerville City Schools had previously announced Sep. 24, Nov. 12, Jan. 28, and March 11 as early release dates. Under traditional school year operations, students would be released from school one hour earlier than normal dismissal times to allow for staff professional development.

Westerville South High School Troupe 513 is kicking off its 2020-21 season opener with “Ranked,” a musical set in a dystopian world where class rank — determined by grades and test scores — defines each students’ worth.

Seven Westerville seniors are semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, according to a recent announcement by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

During performances for Walnut Springs Middle School’s orchestra, Alexandre Hedrick noticed students sharing instruments and sitting out for different songs for an opportunity to play. 

He learned there weren’t enough instruments for all students and the realization sat with him as he considered a leadership service project for his bid to become an Eagle Scout. 

On Saturday, Hedrick is leading a car wash to raise money for used instruments for Walnut Springs’ music program. While there, he is also taking donations of instruments to share with the school. 

When Westerville Central High School social studies teacher Matt Rees stumbled onto an article outlining how videos with copyrighted music are taken down, he immediately thought of his peers who are creating videos for their classes and students. 

He said teaching is considered “fair use” and an exception for copyright protection but the software that catches it and the companies that take it down don't check that. 

Rees, a singer/songwriter away from the classroom, is offering a resource he hopes can be useful to fellow educators: instrumental versions of his original music.

To help connect Westerville students and families to social-emotional support services this year, the district’s counseling team set up virtual offices that aim to engage students while maintaining a semblance of a school environment.

The Westerville City School District’s nurses are working with local agencies to help students get their required vaccinations.

Westerville City School District officials today announced details regarding how students will transition to a Blended Learning model of instruction beginning Monday, September 21, 2020, after approximately one month of fully remote instruction

The Westerville City School District Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Sept. 2, 2020, via videoconference. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. and will be streamed over the district’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/wcsdohio to comply with virtual meeting requirements, as well as to ensure compliance with the state’s recent extension of its mass-gathering ban. The purpose of the special meeting is to consider the district's transition to a Blended Learning model of instruction for the 2020-21 academic year.

This year, Westerville’s high schools launched new courses that approach topics such as Black history and culture and social justice in a way that has never been done before in the district. 

The Westerville City School District is reviewing its attendance policy to adapt to remote instruction for the 2020-21 school year. 

Due to recent state-ordered restrictions on event attendance and venue capacity, the Westerville City School District (WCSD) will not be issuing athletic passes to staff this fall and community members holding a Superintendent’s Gold Appreciation Card (Gold Card) cannot be guaranteed admission to events.

Westerville City School District (WCSD) officials today announced the release of the district’s 2020-2021 local testing calendar for students, along with an acknowledgment that the testing schedule remains subject to change.

This year, a dozen of the 47 new educators are returning to the site that inspired them to pursue a career in education. They were athletes, student council leaders, class representatives, choir, and band members. 

They left a Westerville graduate. Now, they are a Westerville teacher. 

Meet some of the Westerville alumni who’ve returned to the district as an educator this year.

Westerville City School District (WCSD) will be part of a virtual community discussion, “King's Dream Revisited: Where do we go from here - Chaos or Community?” at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a hybrid virtual regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, out of the district's Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville. Proceedings will be streamed live over the district's YouTube Channel to comply with virtual meeting requirements and ensure compliance with the state's extension of its mass-gathering ban. The opportunity to submit public comment will open at 12 p.m. on Friday, August 21, and be received electronically using the process detailed at the www.wcsoh.org/VirtualBOE web page.

As part of state budget cuts to offset the loss of tax revenue stemming from the coronavirus crisis, Westerville City Schools saw a total reduction of $5.6 million as of July 31 -- with more state budget cuts anticipated for the future. 

Treasurer Nicole Marshall outlined the financial impact of COVID-19 on the district’s budget at the Aug. 10 board meeting. 

Families will pay an adjusted fee for all-day kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year. The tuition will be based on the educational models outlined in the district’s Responsible Restart Plan: traditional, blended, and fully-remote.

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.

Greg Viebranz, executive director of communication and technology for the district, has been honored by the Ohio School Public Relations Association with their 2020 Innovator Award, which recognizes individuals who have introduced or utilized new methods of communication to impact school public relations locally, in the state or nationwide.

Westerville’s principals recorded a special message to students and families ahead of the 2020-21 school year. 

Patty Ryther, patrol advisor at Huber Ridge Elementary, has been named a 2019-2020 School Safety Patrol Advisor of the Year by the Ohio AAA Auto Club. “She approaches each student with a gentle kindness while empowering them to be responsible/independent student leaders,” Principal Tyson Hilkert said in his recommendation letter of Ryther. 

Due to recent decisions by the United States Department of Agriculture, Westerville families must opt-in for a school breakfast and/or lunch during virtual and/or blended instruction in the 2020-21 school year.

Westerville City School District led the region in raising the most money in The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Central Ohio Chapter’s Pennies for Patients campaign while three schools -- Wilder Elementary, Genoa Middle School and Mark Twain Elementary -- were among the top 10 Central Ohio schools that raised the most money for the campaign during the 2019-20 school year.

The Westerville City Schools website is getting a facelift.

Starting the evening of Aug. 14, wcsoh.org will feature new tools to allow visitors to customize their viewing experience, whether it’s on a computer, tablet or phone, based on their personal needs. The site will adapt and function well regardless of the type of device thanks to an enhanced responsive design.

Westerville City School District Superintendent Dr. John R. Kellogg announced Wednesday, July 29 that district officials have decided to open the 2020-21 school year in a 100% remote instructional model, rather than the blended learning model originally announced. 

As the Westerville City School District prepares to reopen schools for the 2020-21 academic year, members of the leadership team have taken a multifaceted approach to address concerns about COVID-19 and safeguard the health and well-being of students and staff.

At the Board of Education’s direction to develop a fully remote learning option for students, the Westerville City School District is pleased to offer the Westerville Virtual Academy to families interested in an alternative to in-person learning for the 2020-21 school year.

Superintendent John Kellogg today released to staff and families the Westerville City School District’s proposed plan to reopen schools for the 2020-21 school year.

The plan, which represents months of work by a variety of teams and reflects input gathered during surveys of families and staff, outlines educational delivery scenarios, including a fully-online option, as well as health and safety measures that will be put in place when students return for in-person learning. The plan includes the following:

WNHS Notables alumni create musical magic with virtual performance  

A recent Facebook post by Meredith Rea Casto shared a project that she and her friends from the 2004-2005 Westerville North Notables had been working on since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. Fifteen years later and “they still got it.” Casto provides additional background on the musical project in her post, which is viewable at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/170500053/posts/10100596102239836/

Westerville City Schools’ Treasurer/CFO Nicole Marshall today announced that a Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the district’s Fiscal Year 2018-19 is now available to the community.

REDIRECT to: www.wcsoh.org/covid19

The future opening of a new elementary and a new middle school in the Westerville City School District has created a need for the realignment of attendance boundaries at those instructional levels. Two committees, one to develop elementary boundaries and one to develop middle school boundaries, will begin their work in February 2020.

Westerville City School District Board of Education members approved the following 2020 meeting calendar during their January 13, 2020, organizational meeting:

Courtesy of Dennis Blair, Westerville Sunrise Rotary.

High-performing school districts throughout the state will meet fewer standards and receive lower letter grades on this year’s State Report Card due to ongoing changes to Ohio’s accountability system.

The document is intended to help residents understand how financial resources have been used since voters approved a five-year emergency levy in 2012.

Westerville City School District Superintendent Dr. John R. Kellogg today announced that he and members of the district’s leadership team will hold a series of “Community Coffee Chats” to discuss recent progress and future considerations for the district, as well as answer questions about the district’s levy renewal on the November 8, 2016, ballot.

Westerville City Schools are proud to partner with The Development Board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in support of the 5^th annual Great Columbus Duck Race and Run, presented by Meijer.  This family friendly activity benefits the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  Robert Frost Elementary students Megan Dickerson and Olan Ross, along with Whittier Elementary pupil Doug Spayde, are serving as Patient Champions for the event, to highlight the life-saving research and medical care that is provide by Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet in Regular Session at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 8, 2016; and on Monday, August 22, 2016.  The meetings will take place at the Early Learning Center in Westerville.

Students in the Westerville City School District who will be riding a school bus for the first time this fall are invited, along with their parents or guardians, to attend the annual First Time Riders open house, which will be held at Whittier Elementary School from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 30. Whittier is located at 130 E. Walnut St. in Westerville.

The Westerville City School District Board of Education is scheduled to meet on July 7, 2016, and July 25, 2016.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education is seeking feedback from families regarding the proposed 2017-2018 calendar.  The calendar, as it was presented in a first reading to the Board on May 23, 2016, can be viewed by visiting the district website at www.wcsoh.org or individual school websites, and clicking on the button marked “2017-2018 Calendar Review.”

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean the work stops in Westerville City Schools.  While some may anticipate a slower pace once the school year ends, employees at the district’s Enrollment & Family Resource Center actually hope for a significant increase to their workload and the number of enrollment applications they process over the summer months.

Westerville City Schools are proud to partner with The Development Board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in support of the 5^th annual Great Columbus Duck Race and Run, presented by Meijer.  This family friendly activity benefits the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  Robert Frost Elementary students Megan Dickerson and Olan Ross, along with Whittier Elementary pupil Doug Spayde, are serving as Patient Champions for the event, to highlight the life-saving research and medical care that is provide by Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet in Regular Session at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 13, 2016; and Monday, June 27, 2016.

The Westerville Education Foundation has named three educators Teacher of the Month for May – David Walker, McVay and Mark Twain elementary schools; Jillian Faulhaber, Walnut Springs Middle School; and Shannon Clegg, Westerville South High School.

The Westerville City Schools EdTech Department will host its annual EdTech Camp on June 1 and 2 at Blendon Middle School.  More than 40 teachers will lead sessions for some 150 attendees.

Intermittent spring showers did not stop families from gathering at the Westerville Education Foundation’s (WEF) eighth annual Mini-Golf Fundraiser, which took place on Saturday, May 21 at the Westerville Mini-Golf & Batting Cages on Schrock Road.

Westerville City School District (WCSD) Treasurer/CFO Bart Griffith presented Board of Education members with a revised financial forecast indicating the district will end Fiscal Year 2020 with a cash balance of $37.14 million.  The balance reflects expenses the district has incurred while rebuilding academic programs and services impacted by significant budget cuts approximately four years ago.  Even during this rebuilding phase, district officials have stretched the March 2012 emergency operating levy five years longer than originally projected.

Retiring Westerville City Schools personnel were honored at a reception prior to the Regular Session of the Board of Education on May 21, and at an official ceremony during the meeting.  This year 30 individuals are retiring from the district with a combined 667 years of service.

Westerville City Schools is participating in the Summer Food Service Program.  Meals will be provided to all eligible children free of charge.  (To be eligible to receive free meals at a residential or nonresidential camp, children must meet the income guidelines for reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program.)

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet in Executive Session, for the purpose of discussing personnel, at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 23, 2016.

The 10^th annual Elementary Leadership Summit occurred on Friday, May 13, at Westerville North High School.  More than 140 third, fourth and fifth grade students from all Westerville elementary schools were in attendance.  Participants completed leadership and team building exercises, and shared the outcomes of their building community service projects.

The Bette Marschall Memorial Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation has announced the recipients of 10 grant awards totaling $3,082 to Westerville City Schools personnel for applications submitted this spring.

The Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club hosted a breakfast at the Old Bag of Nails on Wednesday morning, May 18, where Service to Youth award winners were honored.  The program began four years ago to recognize exceptional Westerville City Schools employees who have made a special contribution to youth; have served as a positive role model for young people; and have demonstrated service above and beyond the call of duty in performing their job responsibilities.

The last day of classes for the 2015-2016 school year in the Westerville City School District is Tuesday, May 24, 2016.  A Teacher Professional Day will take place on Wednesday, May 25.

A Franklin County Immunization Clinic for children and adults is being offered at the Westerville Division of Fire (400 West Main Street) on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.  This clinic is by appointment only. 

School Transportation Professionals from across the Central Ohio region gathered at Reynoldsburg Elementary on Saturday, April 23, to sharpen their knowledge and behind-the-wheel driving/maneuvering skills at the Central Region School Bus Safety Road-E-O.  At the conclusion of the competition, Westerville City Schools bus drivers walked away with top honors.

Families gathered at the Westerville Community Center and Westerville Public Library on Sunday afternoon, April 24, to see student artwork on display.  They were welcomed by Phyllis Self from the Arts Council of Westerville (pictured) and Dr. Jan Fedorenko, retired principal of Hanby Arts Magnet School.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet on Monday, May 9, and Monday, May 23, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. (Retirement Recognition) at the Early Learning Center.

A+ Awards honor outstanding school employees whose actions demonstrate support of the district’s Mission Statement; willingness to go above and beyond normal expectations; and behavior consistent with one or more of the district’s values. 

The Development Board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital is proud to partner with Westerville City Schools in an effort to raise awareness and funds for pediatric research.  The 5^th Annual Great Columbus Duck Race and Run is a fundraising event put on by the Development Board at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  The money raised from the event supports The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

District employees, community members, business leaders, service organization representatives, government officials and special guests joined members of the Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) Board of Trustees on April 22 for the WEF’s second annual Celebration of Education, Innovation and Inspiration.

10TV Anchor Kristyn Hartman recently spent the morning at Westerville North High School to learn how teachers and students have benefited from the WEF's Adopt-a-Classroom and Fund-a-Project initiatives.

Thirty-four pallets (2,040 boxes) of reading material and textbooks, along with 12 computer systems, are on their way to the Liberian Girls Guides headquarters in Paynesville, Liberia, thanks to the ongoing efforts of Westerville City Schools technology technician Zuulu Cooper.  The material will benefit about 3,500 students in six urban and two rural schools.

On Sunday, April 10, families packed Westerville North High School for the 4^th annual Starry Night learning festival, sponsored by Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Westerville Partners for Education.  The festival offered dynamic learning experiences with experts from Columbus’ premier educational, business, and community organizations.  Geared toward students in preschool through grade 8, along with their caregivers and families, the event highlighted the connection between arts and science.  The theme this year was, Art and Science – Fueling Imagination.

The 8^th annual Westerville Education Foundation Minigolf Fundraiser will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at Westerville Mini-Golf & Batting Cages, 450 West Schrock Road.  Mark your calendars now and don’t miss this fun, family-friendly community event!

Locally, Westerville Parent Council hosted the contest which celebrates student achievement in literature, music, dance, film/video production, photography and visual arts.  This year’s theme was “Let Your Imagination Fly.”  Volunteer Lisa Wood organized the event, along with co-chairs Jill French and Sarah Strauss.  This year, 355 students from 15 Westerville schools participated, with 57 district winners advancing to the State finals. 

Westerville Parent Council, Roush Honda, the Deputy Superintendent of Schools, the Treasurer and the Westerville City Schools Board of Education recognized Great Educator and Mentor (GEM) award winners at a reception and special ceremony held at Westerville North High School on Monday evening, April 18.  GEM awards are given to individuals who make a difference in the lives of the students in the Westerville School District.

Debbie Imhoff, Custodial Services secretary for Westerville City Schools, was surprised on April 6 when a group of Sunrise Rotarians showed up to present her with the Diane J. Conley Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise Service to Youth award.

Fourth grade Fouse Elementary School student Finn Mitchell was named Overall Grand Winner at the 10^th annual Westerville City Schools Lego Competition held April 9 at Heritage Middle School.  Dr. Scott Ebbrecht, facilitator of the annual event, proclaimed to the nearly 125 student participants and their family members that “Perseverance has paid off!”

The Ohio Association of Teacher Educators (OATE) has announced that this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Service Award is Lisa Huelskamp, PhD.  Dr. Huelskamp has taught at Westerville City Schools for 18 years as a science teacher, administrator, and is currently a middle school gifted facilitator.  This award is designed to formally recognize members of OATE for outstanding service to the organization and to teacher education.

Westerville City Schools has posted its 2014-2015 annual report, titled Where You Belong, on its website.  It features a building directory plus highlights and photos of the 2014-2015 school year, along with school calendars and information about human resources, district departments, and school finances.

Applications for monetary grants from The Bette Marschall Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation are being accepted for worthy 2016-2017 school year projects not otherwise supported within the school budget.  The grants are available to teachers, students, administrators, and non-teaching staff within the Westerville City School District.

The Westerville Education Foundation has named three educators Teacher of the Month for March – Tonia Tombaugh, Longfellow Elementary; Jennifer Hesseltine, Blendon Middle School; and Jessica Waites, Westerville North High School. The Mission of the Westerville Education Foundation is to enrich the learning experience and broaden the minds of our students through the funding and support of innovative educational programs. 

Each year the Westerville City Schools Transportation Department bestows a “Ferdie Award” to honor the Bus Driver of the Year.  Please consider nominating your favorite driver.

Fifteen Westerville City Schools students earned honors at the Ohio PTA State Reflections Competition, and five who received Awards of Excellence will advance to the national contest.  Results were announced by Westerville Parent Council, which hosted the 2015-2016 challenge in the Westerville district.  Students submit original work in literature, music, dance, film/video production, photography and visual arts.  This year’s theme was “Let Your Imagination Fly.”

Dave O’Bryan, a mechanic in the Westerville City Schools Transportation Department, was surprised on March 16 when a group of Sunrise Rotarians showed up to present him with the Diane J. Conley Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise Service to Youth award.

During the Westerville City School District’s real-time technology analysis on February 26, district officials learned a great deal to prepare for upcoming online assessments.  By restricting guest Internet access, as well as reducing districtwide access to certain Internet-based services such as streaming music and video sites, the district realized an approximate 45 percent reduction to the bandwidth being used.  Technology officials also evaluated the backup internet firewall and determined it to be fully operational within established parameters.

Westerville City Schools invites incoming sixth grade students and their parents to attend Moving Up Night, an evening of orientation focused on the transition from elementary to middle school. 

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education, at its meeting on Monday, March 7, approved two District Professional Development Days for the next school year – Monday, August 15, 2016 and Tuesday, November 8, 2016.  Classes will not be held on these days. As a result, school will begin for students in grades 1-12 on Thursday, August 18.  Kindergarten will begin on Tuesday, August 23, following three days of “gentle start.” 

Sponsors Westerville Parent Council and Roush Honda are pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s GEM Awards.  Now in its thirteenth year, the GEM Awards program, which stands for “Great Educator Mentor,” recognizes volunteers and district staff who go above and beyond for students in Westerville schools.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District from March 25 through April 1, 2016 – Spring Break.  Classes will resume at normal starting times on Monday, April 4.  

What’s it really like to work in a school district the size of Westerville, where more than 15,000 students are educated each and every day?  Sixteen Leadership Westerville participants got the chance to experience some of the inner-workings of the school district on Wednesday, March 2, when they spent the morning shadowing principals at Central, North, the Early Learning Center Preschool, Fouse, Cherrington, Huber Ridge, Mark Twain and Whittier.

Families gathered at Huber Ridge Elementary School on Wednesday evening, March 2, to experience a “Journey through the Genres” celebration of literacy.  Stations were set up to explore throughout the building with names like Mystery, Science Fiction, Realistic, Poetry, Biography, Fairy Tales, and Historical.  Free books were earned by youngsters for visiting each station and getting a stamp on their passport.

Westerville City Schools was recently accepted to the Lead Higher Initiative, a national effort spearheaded by the non-profit Equal Opportunity Schools, with support from the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, the U.S. Department of Education, International Baccalaureate and the College Board.  Lead Higher is also backed by generous contributions from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Tableau, and Google.

Applications are being accepted through Friday, March 18, for the spring 2016 Westerville City Schools A+ Employee Recognition Program, which celebrates extraordinary staff members. Awards are presented twice during each school year – once in the fall, and once in the spring – to employees who distinguish themselves through a single or ongoing demonstration of exemplary performance.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet at 6:00 p.m. in Regular Session on Monday, March 7, and Monday, March 21, 2016, at the Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive.  The District shall make reasonable accommodation for disabled persons to be able to participate in this activity.  Please call 797-5713 or e-mail BeckJ@westerville.k12.oh.us. 

The 2016 Summer Camp/Activities Expo will take place from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, March 9, at Westerville North High School, which is located at 950 County Line Road.  The event is sponsored by the Westerville Parent Council PTA.  Admission is free and open to the public, and everyone in attendance will have a chance to win raffle prizes.

The Westerville Parent Council is sponsoring a parent workshop entitled, Assessment Literacy Night for Parents.  The session will be presented by Dr. Scott Ebbrecht, director of assessment and alternative education for Westerville City Schools.  The free event will take place from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, in the Westerville Central High School auditorium.

Approximately 540 community members filled the lanes at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace on Saturday, February 13, to raise more than $40,000 for the Westerville Chamber Foundation, the Westerville Education Foundation, and the Westerville Symphony. Event proceeds fund scholarships, provide grants and bring musical performances and programs to the classroom for students.

It is Energy Fair season for 5th graders in Westerville and every elementary school will be participating in a science day of discovery and learning.  Pupils learn about light, sound, sources of energy, heat, electricity, and more.  More than 375 students from all the high schools and middle schools in Westerville have trained to be part of an Energy Leadership Team. 

At the Regular Session on Monday evening, February 8, the Westerville City Schools Board of Education approved 38 student candidates for winter graduation who completed all local and state requirements.

On Tuesday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m., Westerville Parent Council will host a unique workshop   titled, Homework Challenges, Executive Function Skills and Supporting Students of ALL Ages. It will be presented by Christine Kotik, a local advocate for individuals with ADHD. The event will take place at the Westerville Public Library, which is located at 126 South State Street.

Three Westerville City School (WCS) District employees – Charlie Runyan, Anne Baldwin, and Cynthia DeVese – recently presented at the Ohio ACT State Organization Conference.  The Creating Opportunities for Changing Times conference seeks to inform, educate and inspire those who spend time and energy working with individuals to prepare them for college and career success.  

Intervention specialists, teachers, ESL staff, reading specialists, instructional coaches and paraprofessionals from across the Westerville City School District are learning about multi-sensory reading instruction as they participate in a 30-hour professional development workshop sponsored by the Pupil Services Department.

Applications are being accepted through Friday, March 18, for the fall 2016 Westerville City Schools A+ Employee Recognition Program, which celebrates extraordinary staff members.  Honorees will be invited to attend a Board of Education meeting where the superintendent and board members will recognize their contributions.

It certainly won’t be your typical design competition, but the creations that will emerge from the upcoming Trash to Fashion contest will likely generate lots of buzz around the water cooler.  Westerville City Schools librarians have partnered with the Arts Council of Westerville and Westerville Partners for Education to challenge students to come up with clothing made from trash.

The Westerville City School District is hosting the 10^th annual Elementary LEGO Competition on Saturday morning, April 9, at Heritage Middle School. The event is open to all Westerville City School and St. Paul School students in grades K-5. Proceeds from the event benefit Westerville’s annual Elementary Leadership Summit and the Children Supporting Children Foundation.

Westerville Parent Council is sponsoring an adults-only, community awareness event called Operation: Street Smart on Tuesday evening February 16, from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. in the Westerville South High School Media Center. The goal of the program, which will be presented by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, is to provide current and up-to-date narcotics information to individuals who deal with youth on a daily basis.

The Westerville Education Foundation has named three educators Teacher of the Month for January – Derek Geist, Fouse Elementary: Ashlee Wagner, McVay Elementary; and Kate Mantenieks, Emerson Elementary.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District and offices will close on Monday, February 15, 2016, in observance of Presidents’ Day.  Classes will begin at regular starting times and offices will open on Tuesday, February 16.

At the January 25 meeting of the Westerville City Schools Board of Education, Westerville Parent Council (WPC), along with 34 member groups it represents, including PTAs, PTOs, booster and community organizations, was recognized for its outstanding service to the Westerville City School District.

Westerville City Schools invites parents to attend Kindergarten 101 - A Basic Introduction to Kindergarten in Westerville.  This will take place from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9 or Thursday, February 11, at each elementary school.  The same presentation will be given during each building’s designated Kindergarten 101 night.

The Westerville Parent Council hosted the 2015-2016 PTA Reflections ceremony on Tuesday evening, January 12, recognizing student achievement in literature, music, dance, film/video production, photography and visual arts.  This year’s theme was “Let Your Imagination Fly.” 

Westerville City Schools will host a Magnet Program Fair from, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, at Heritage Middle School, which is located at 390 North Spring Road.  During the Magnet Fair, families will have the opportunity to learn about the three program options available.

Intra-District Open Enrollment applications are being accepted for the 2016-17 school year. The deadline for applications for middle and high schools is March 15, 2016.  For elementary schools, the cutoff date is May 1, 2016.

The Westerville Community Bowl-a-Thon is fast approaching!  Your support helps raise money to fund scholarships, provide grants and bring musical performances and programs to the classroom for our students.  This year’s event will be held on February 13 at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace, 5707 Forest Hills Blvd. This event fills fast, so register early to ensure you get your preferred time!

Debbie Miller, and ESL Paraprofessional at Huber Ridge Elementary School, was surprised on January 13 when a group of Sunrise Rotarians showed up to present her with the Diane J. Conley Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise Service to Youth award.

The Westerville City School District (WCSD) is preparing to begin the registration process for its next kindergarten class.  School officials look forward to meeting new families and greeting returning families.  Kindergarten is required for children before entering first grade; families may register their children for kindergarten if they will be five years old on or before September 30, 2016.

The Ohio School Boards Association is celebrating School Board Recognition Month in January 2016 to build awareness and understanding of the vital function an elected board of education plays in our society.  School Board Recognition Month honors the members of Ohio’s more than 700 city, exempted village, local and joint vocational boards of education and educational service centers governing boards for their commitment to providing quality public education to Ohio’s school children.

The Westerville Education Foundation has named three educators Teacher of the Month for December – Keith Alasti, Westerville Central High School; Karol Hanley, Fouse Elementary School; and Nell Liston, Blendon Middle School.

Classes in the Westerville City School District will not be held and offices will close on Monday, January 18, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 

Offices will open and classes will resume at regular starting times on Tuesday, January 19.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold its organizational meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 11, at the Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive.  A Regular Session is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the same place on Monday, January 25.

The deadline for GEM nominations is Friday, February 5, 2016.  Sponsored by Roush Honda and Westerville Parent Council, the annual GEM Awards, which stands for “Great Educator Mentors,” honors community members, volunteers, teachers and staff who consistently go above and beyond for students in Westerville schools.