TESTING SITE News

Classes for most Westerville City Schools students will begin on Thursday, August 13, 2015. Kindergarten and Special Needs Preschool starts Monday, August 17.

Westerville City Schools will continue to serve school meals that meet the federal nutrition standards, ensuring that meals are healthy, well-balanced, and provide students the nutrition they need to succeed at school.

Westerville student fees for consumable instructional materials for the 2015-2016 school year are as follows...

Students attending Westerville City Schools, in grades 1 - 5, will begin classes on Thursday, August 13.  Most elementary schools in the district will provide an opportunity for each family to learn of their child’s teacher/class placement for the 2015-2016 school year, return the emergency medical card, pay school fees, learn their child’s bus assignment and route schedule, as well as return free and reduced lunch forms (if applicable).

Westerville City School parents who would like information about the YWCA’s licensed and award-winning before/after school childcare should visit www.ywcacolumbus.org and click on the child care tab for information about programming and tuition rates, and to complete the convenient online registration.

Season tickets for 2015 varsity home football games will be made available in the athletic offices at each Westerville high school.  Regular varsity football home games begin at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets at the gate for varsity games cost $6 for adults and $4 for students.  Ultimate Passes at all three high schools, which will admit holders to any athletic event during the 2014-2015 school year, cost $45 for students and $75 for adults.  Questions about purchasing these passes and paying athletic fees should be directed to each school’s Athletic Department.

The free cards are available weekdays from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the receptionist’s desk at the Westerville City Schools Early Learning Center, which is located at 936 Eastwind Dr.  They can also be obtained at the senior citizen centers for Westerville, 310 W. Main St.; and for Blendon Township, 6340 Hempstead Rd.  The Gold Card, given to district residents over the age of 60 who hold a Golden Buckeye Card, provides free admission to sports events, concerts, musicals and plays (advanced reservation required).

Families whose children will receive transportation services for the 2015-16 school year may obtain transportation information and bus schedules online the week of August 3.  Postcards will only be mailed to students who receive transportation to a private school, whose bus transportation require the use of a shuttle (e.g., unit placements, overflow, or magnet students), or who receive other specialized transportation services.

As required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA 2004), the Westerville City School District is conducting the annual Child Find campaign to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities from birth through age 21, residing within the school district. This includes Westerville children with disabilities who are homeless, wards of the state, or attending nonpublic schools, regardless of the severity of the disability.

The mission of Westerville City Schools is to prepare students to contribute to the competitive and changing world in which we live.  To accomplish this, the district has scheduled four times during the 2015-2016 school year for the purpose of staff professional development, when focus will be placed on meeting the goals of the Continuous Improvement Plan.

On Wednesday, August 26, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Mobile Care Center will be in Westerville from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., parked in the lot at the Early Learning Center at 936 Eastwind Drive.  A doctor and a nurse from NCH will be on board to offer a full range of immunizations including DPT and MMR vaccines required for children entering Kindergarten, along with the latest Tdap immunization required for current and incoming Middle School students.  This is an opportunity to make an appointment time to get your child’s updated immunizations that may be required for the 2015-2016 school year.  

Families are encouraged to bring health insurance information and vaccine records if possible. No one is ever turned away due to financial hardship. 

Westerville’s Business instructors participated in a Logistics Industry Immersion Series on June 17 and 18.  The immersion experience, hosted by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Columbus Region Logistics Council (CRLC), provided instructors an in-depth look at the business logistics industry in Central Ohio.  Business Logistics is one of three career pathways Westerville students can engage in during their high school career.

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, August 1.  Whittier is located at 130 E. Walnut St in Westerville.

The start time for the Board of Education's regular meeting on July 27, 2015, has been changed to 8 a.m.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet for an Executive Session prior to its regularly-scheduled meeting on Monday, June 29, 2015.

Westerville City Schools was one of six programs nationally to receive the prestigious 2015 Apex Learning Award of Excellence in Spring 2015.The Apex Learning Award of Excellence recognizes innovative schools and districts across the country for excellence in implementing blended and virtual learning programs that result in higher student achievement.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education presented Frieda Bennett, who celebrated her 100^th birthday on May 30, with a Centenarian Proclamation during its regular meeting on June 8.

The 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 income guidelines for reduced-price meals by family size are listed below.)  Children who are part of households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly foods stamps) benefits, or benefits under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are automatically eligible to receive free meals.

The SPLASH Summer Enrichment Academy is in full swing at Westerville North High School, to provide academic and creative challenges to highly motivated students who will be entering grades 2-8 during the 2015-16 school year.

Robert Frost Elementary School will be bustling with activity for the next couple weeks as teachers, teen helpers, firemen and police officers educate 360 soon-to-be kindergarten students about staying safe.  Westerville Safety City is an annual event operated by a non-profit organization.

The Bette Marschall Memorial Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation has announced the recipients of nine grant awards totaling $3,221 to Westerville City Schools personnel for applications submitted this spring.

Intermittent spring showers did not stop families from gathering at the Westerville Education Foundation’s (WEF) seventh annual Mini-Golf Fundraiser, which took place on Saturday, May 16 at the Westerville Mini-Golf & Batting Cages on Schrock Rd.

The Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club hosted a breakfast at the Old Bag of Nails on Wednesday morning, May 20, where Service to Youth award winners were honored.  The program began three 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.  

Blendon Middle School hosted the final Westerville City Schools ESL (English as a Second Language) parent meeting on Monday, May 4.  Holocaust survivor Sofiya Karpovich shared her story of overcoming some of the darkest days in world history.  Although her childhood was marked by life in a Nazi-ruled Ukrainian ghetto, Karpovich always maintains a positive outlook and has created a happy, successful life for herself and her family.

The second part of the 9^th annual Elementary Leadership Summit occurred on Friday, May 8, at Westerville North High School.  More than 140 third, fourth and fifth grade students from all Westerville elementary schools were in attendance.

According to State Law and district policy, up-to-date immunizations are required for all school aged children.  It is the goal of the Westerville City School District to help families meet these requirements by partnering with Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) and its Mobile Care Center.

Students from Westerville North, South and Central graduated at the Celeste Center on May 23.  The Class of 2015 expressed gratitude for the support they received during their high school journey from parents, administrators, teachers and staff.

On Wednesday evening, May 6, the Westerville Education Association (WEA) hosted its Annual Reception at Villa Milano.  WEA President Rhonda Gilpin presided over the event, during which time a number of awards were presented.

Westerville City School District officials today announced that the first day of class for students in grades 1-12 has been changed for next school year from Wednesday, August 12, 2015, to Thursday, August 13, 2015.  Kindergarten and preschool students will still have a gentle start to the school year with their first day of class scheduled for August 17, 2015.

“Kind, compassionate, and caring” were just some of the words used to describe 66 retiring Westerville City Schools employees, who were honored at the Board of Education meeting on Monday evening, May 18.

Sometimes busy families get so caught up in hectic schedules that they don’t always find the time to say the things that are most important.  Earlier this school year, a new program began at Huber Ridge Elementary – the All Pro Dads group.  Once a month, before school starts, several fathers and other positive role models bring their children to the Huber Ridge library to focus on family topics and talk about things like why they are proud of their kids and the difference between wants and needs.

Seventeen Westerville City Schools bus drivers competed recently in the Central Ohio Region Road-e-o, held on April 18 at Reynoldsburg Summit High School.  More than 100 individuals showed up to take a written exam and test their driving skills.  At the end of the day, Westerville’s Gary Case earned top honors, scoring 700 out of 725 possible points.  He advances to the State event, which will be held at Licking Heights High School in Pataskala tomorrow.  Winners from the State move on to an international competition in July.

Large crowds of students, families and community members gathered on Sunday afternoon, April 26, to view and celebrate some of the best art created by Westerville City Schools pupils during this school year.  The Elementary Art Show was held at the Westerville Community Center, followed by the Secondary Art Show at the Westerville Public Library.  Phyllis Self, President of the Arts Council of Westerville, Inc., and Jan Fedorenko, Ph.D., Arts Curriculum Coordinator for Westerville Schools, welcomed attendees at both events.  Superintendent John Kellogg served as keynote speaker, sharing his belief about the importance of art in the curriculum.  The programs for both events included a quote from President John F. Kennedy:  “As the arts inspire creativity in each of us individually, they breathe life into our communities.”

The last day of classes for the 2014-2015 school year in the Westerville City School District is Thursday, May 21, 2015.  A Teacher Professional Day will take place on Friday, May 22.

Westerville Parent Council’s 2014-2015 National Reflections Program Chairperson Lisa Wood presented 13 student artists for recognition at the Westerville City Schools Board of Education meeting held Monday evening, April 27.  131 district pupils participated in this year’s contest which celebrates original works of art in six different categories – dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts.  This year’s theme was “The world would be a better place if…”

Laura Hance, Secondary District Math Curriculum Coach for Westerville City Schools, was surprised on April 22 when a group of Sunrise Rotarians showed up at Genoa Middle School to present her with the Diane J. Conley Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise Service to Youth award.  She received a plaque from the club, along with a cake and a gift card donated by the Walmart Supercenter on Schrock Road.  In addition, an American flag will be flown in her honor during Westerville’s Field of Heroes display.

Westerville City Schools has been notified that it will receive a 2015 Apex Learning Award of Excellence.  Dr. Scott Ebbrecht of the district’s Academic Enrichment Center (AEC) submitted the winning application and will receive a certificate recognizing the achievements of the program.

The Westerville Parent Council, Roush Honda, the Superintendent of Schools 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 20.  GEM awards are given to individuals who make a difference in the lives of the students in the Westerville School District.  All GEM winners promote the welfare of pupils in the home, school and community, and each goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Westerville City Schools will be working with the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM) once again to provide meals to students this summer.  The 2015 season of the Westerville Area Kids Lunch Club will run weekdays from May 26 through August 7, rain or shine, at 10 sites, all open to children ages 1-18.  Participants are invited to stay after lunch for about an hour of educational or recreational activities.   Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Holocaust survivor Sofiya Karpovich will speak about overcoming hardship and creating a happy life filled with love and success at an ESL Parent Meeting scheduled for Monday evening, May 4, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  The event will take place at Blendon Middle School.

More than 1,100 people enjoyed the Nationwide Children’s Starry Night Family Learning Festival last Sunday.  Organized by the Westerville Partners for Education (WPE), this year’s event theme, “Movement,” brought together a variety of hands-on learning activities from protozoan motion to motors to sports medicine, dance, and more.  Local businesses and organizations generously offered exhibits and programs, including Westerville North Science students and the district’s Fab Lab.  Educators also enjoyed an “Educator Preview Hour,” connecting teachers with exhibitors to seed classroom collaboration.

Prior to the Regular Session of the Westerville City Schools Board of Education on Monday evening, April 27, the Board will vote to go into Executive Session at 3:30 p.m. for the purpose of discussing negotiations.  No action will be taken.  The Regular Session will begin at 6:00 p.m.  Both meetings will take place in the Early Learning Center, which is located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville, Ohio.  

Ohio law requires all school districts to adopt a local policy on career advising by the 2015-16 school year. Through career advising, students gain an understanding of how their interests and strengths connect to their academic and career goals.  They also begin to understand how their personal interests, strengths and values might predict satisfaction and success in school and related career fields.

The Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) will be holding its seventh annual Mini-Golf Fundraiser from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at the Westerville Mini-Golf & Batting Cages, 450 W. Schrock Rd. www.westervilleeducationfoundation.com. 

The Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) has announced that five Innovation Grants will be awarded at a program called “Celebration of Education, Innovation and Inspiration.”  The event will take place at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, April 17 at the Everal Barn & Homestead. 

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 Partners for Education will partner with the Columbus Astronomical Society to kick off spring break with a trip to space!  Join us for Stars in the Park star gazing night on Saturday, March 28, from 8:00-10:00 p.m. at the Westerville Sports Complex (across from the Community Center).  Astronomers will train their telescopes on the moon, Jupiter, the moons of Jupiter, Venus, the Orion Nebula, possibly comet Lovejoy, and other celestial bodies.  Bundle up – forecasters predict cold and clear on Saturday night, which is perfect for star gazing!  The event is free.  

Applications for monetary grants from The Bette Marschall Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation are being accepted for worthy 2015-2016 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 April 30, 2015. 

Beginning on April 20, parents of children who will be attending kindergarten this fall can register their youngsters for Westerville Safety City.  The program will be held Monday through Friday, June 1-12, at Robert Frost Elementary School, which is located at 270 North Spring Road.  Two sessions will take place each day – one in the morning from 9:30-11:30 a.m., and one in the afternoon from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Third grade Fouse Elementary School student Evelyn Clark was named Overall Grand Winner at the ninth annual Westerville City Schools Lego Competition held March 21 at Heritage Middle School.

At the Westerville City Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday, April 13, nine exemplary employees will receive A+ Awards.

On Sunday, April 12, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the Westerville Partners for Education (WPE) will host the 3rd annual “Nationwide Children’s Hospital Starry Night” family learning festival at Westerville North High School, 950 County Line Rd.  The festival will offer dynamic learning experiences with experts from Columbus’ premier educational and non-profit organizations. Geared toward students in preschool through 8th grade and their caregivers and families, the event highlights motion at all scales—from microscopic to cosmic—with the 2015 event theme, “Movement.”

Now in its twelfth year, the GEM Awards program (Great Educator Mentor) recognizes those who consistently go above and beyond for students in Westerville schools.

Each building solicits nominations and a building committee comprised of staff and parents selects an honoree.  In addition, a committee with district-wide representation selects one business/organization recipient as well as individuals for contributions that impact more than one building or the district as a whole.

To celebrate Read Across America, Wilder Elementary staff invited members of the Westerville community to come into the building and read to students on Friday morning, March 6. Each participant was encouraged to share their love of reading by bringing their favorite picture book.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District from March 30 through April 3, 2015 – Spring Break.  Classes will resume at normal starting times on Monday, April 6.

How will you spend your summer?  Consider participating in opportunities that will engage your interests, enrich your knowledge base, and extend the learning you have done this year.

The 2015 Summer Camp/Activities Expo will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening March 11, 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.

Applications are being accepted through Friday, March 13, for the Spring 2015 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.

Student work submitted by fifth grade Hanby Magnet Elementary teacher Tara Norling and Curriculum Coordinator Dr. Jan Fedorenko has been selected for inclusion in the 2015 Jerry Tollifson Art Criticism Open, sponsored by the Ohio Art Education Association (OAEA).

The Columbus Children’s Theatre is partnering with the Arnold Sports Festival to find the most talented performers in town.  After preliminary auditions, the Top 20 acts were invited to compete at the Arnold Kids Expo at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, for an esteemed panel of judges who will announce the best act in the city.  The event will be hosted by Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC.

At the Westerville City Schools Board of Education Meeting held on February 23, Jennifer Andon, representing The Ohio State University’s Entomology Department, presented the District with a plaque from OSU and Improving Kids Environment (IKE) “for leadership in providing a safe learning environment by reducing risks from pest and pesticides through the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in schools.” 

During the past two years, thanks to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant, Westerville Schools has shared its award-winning IPM implementation process with five different school districts in Ohio and Indiana.  As a result of this program, three school districts in Ohio are utilizing IPM strategies within their pilot schools – Columbus City Schools, Brookville Schools and the Western Reserve School District, which, like Westerville, received a national IPM Star Certification award from the EPA.

The Westerville City School District has been notified that four of its seniors have advanced to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship competition.  They are:  Kara Johnson, Westerville Central High School; Jacqueline Kloos, Westerville North High School; and Marissa Banks and Hartlee Johnston, Westerville South High School.

Community members filled the lanes at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace on Saturday, February 21, to raise money for the Westerville Chamber Foundation, the Westerville Education Foundation, and the Westerville Symphony.

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, March 10, at both Fouse and Hawthorne Elementary Schools.  The same presentation will be made concurrently at both sites.  Parents may choose the location that is most convenient for them.

Ohio State football legend and two-time Heisman trophy winner Archie Griffin will be the keynote speaker for a Friday Fare fundraiser hosted by the Westerville Christian Church (WCC). The program will be held on February 27 at the church, which is located at 471 East College Avenue.

Westerville City Schools will be closed, Friday, February 20th due to severe cold temperatures.

Westerville City Schools are preparing to begin the registration process for our next kindergarten class.  We look forward to meeting our new families and greeting our returning families.  Kindergarten is required for children before entering first grade.  If your child will be five years old on or before September 30, 2015, you may register him/her for kindergarten.

Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, families in the Westerville City School District will have, for the first time, the opportunity to enter their kindergartner’s name in a lottery which will determine placement in All-Day kindergarten.  Up to 260 students will fill All-Day seats in 10 classrooms, four of which will be held at Longfellow Elementary School, which has been closed since June 2012.  The remaining six classes will take place in elementary buildings throughout the district that have available space.

Parents or guardians wishing to have their children attend a school different from their school of attendance must complete and submit an Intra-district Open Enrollment Application.  Application forms are available at each school building; at the Westerville City Schools Enrollment Center (300 Polaris Parkway, Suite 3200); at the Early Learning Center (936 Eastwind Drive, Suite 200); or at www.wcsoh.org, where general guidelines can also be found.

Westerville City Schools will host a Magnet Program Fair from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 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.  There will be displays providing a visual for each program, as well as staff members available to answer questions.

For further updates, please visit www.wcsoh.org/magnet. 

Applications are being accepted for the 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.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet in regular session on Monday, February 9 and Monday, February 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Drive, Westerville, Ohio.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District and offices will close on Monday, February 16, 2015, in observance of Presidents’ Day.  Classes will begin at regular starting times and offices will open on Tuesday, February 17.

The Westerville community, including the city, schools, citizens, businesses, service clubs and others, will host its sixth annual concert, the Jukebox Revue, to benefit Honor Flight Columbus on Sunday, February 1 at 2:00 p.m. at Westerville North High School.  Proceeds from the event will benefit this year’s community-sponsored Honor Flight, a program honoring veterans with a guided tour of the National World War II monument in Washington, D.C.

Continue to check this news feed for further updates!

High School activities after 1 p.m. will continue as scheduled. All Middle and Elementary School activities are canceled. The School Board meeting will continue as scheduled.

UPDATE: Westerville City Schools are CLOSED today, Monday, January 26, due to weather conditions.

The “slamtastic” Harlem Wizards performed at Westerville Central High School on Tuesday evening, January 20, when they were pitted against teachers and community members making up a team called the Westerville Wonders.  Prior to the game, the Wizards announced that “Never in the history of sport will the losing team have so much fun.”

A student representing Westerville City Schools recently received a perfect score in the first of three meets for this year’s WordMasters Challenge™—a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 150,000 students annually.

Approximately 350 Westerville community members gathered at Villa Milano on Monday morning, January 19, to celebrate the life and message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  WBNS 10-TV news anchor Angela An emceed the 10^th annual breakfast, where Pastor Jim Zippay of Heritage Christian Church, delivered the keynote address.

Innovation Grants, which for more than 20 years have been available to Westerville City School District employees, are the longest-standing part of the Westerville Education Foundation’s GAP (Grants-Adoption-Projects) Initiative.  Due to the WEF’s launch of online program funding opportunities announced earlier, a number of changes to this program are taking place this year:

The Ohio School Boards Association is celebrating School Board Recognition Month in January 2015 to build awareness and understanding of the vital function an elected Board of Education plays in our society.

“The World Would Be a Better Place if…” was the theme of the 2014-15 PTA Reflections competition this year.  At an awards ceremony and reception held at the Westerville Public Library on Thursday evening, January 8, the Westerville Parent Council (WPC) recognized students for their efforts in the areas of literature, music, dance, photography, film/video and visual arts.  Parent Council President Lisa Aucoin and Reflections Chair Lisa Wood co-hosted the event.

The deadline for GEM Award nominations is Monday, February 9, 2015.  Sponsored by Roush Honda and Westerville Parent Council, the annual GEM Awards, which stands for “Great Educator Mentors” in Westerville Schools, honors community members, volunteers, teachers and staff who consistently go above and beyond for students in Westerville schools.

The Columbus Children’s Theatre is partnering with the Arnold Sports Festival to find the most talented performers in town.  The group is on the hunt for singers, dancers, jugglers, ventriloquists, magicians and talented children of all types between the ages of 8-18.  Auditions will take place on Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25 at Westerville North High School, which is located at 950 County Line Road.  Participants should come prepared to present 90 seconds of material.

Classes in the Westerville City School District will not be held and offices will close on Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

UPDATE: All District-Sponsored High School evening activities scheduled for January 8 will continue as scheduled. 

All District-Sponsored Middle School evening activities scheduled for January 8 are CANCELED. 

Please check the status of any non-district events in WCSD facilities with your sponsoring organization.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet at 6:00 p.m. for its Organizational and Regular meeting on Monday, January 12, 2015 in the Board Training Room at the Early Learning Center, which is located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville.  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.

SPS EZPay is a secure and convenient website application that allows parents to add to their child’s meal account or pay school, class, activity fees, and/or Pre-School Tuition over the Internet using any Visa or MasterCard (including Debit Visa and MasterCard).  Though the EZPay online payment system has been around for some time, there is now an option to pay all or a portion of the athletic fees.

Since the Ohio Department of Education announced plans to administer online assessments, Westerville Schools has been a leader in providing professional development opportunities and disseminating information on the most current material released and available to both Westerville teachers and other Ohio educators throughout our State

It’s time to make plans to participate in the 15^th annual Westerville Community Bowl-a-Thon! The event is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2015, at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace, 5705 Forest Hills Blvd.  Funds raised from this event benefit the Westerville Chamber Foundation, the Westerville Education Foundation, and the Westerville Symphony at Otterbein.

On Wednesday, December 3, ESL parents met at Westerville Central High School to learn about local resources.  The meeting’s theme was “Community Connections,” and representatives from the Delaware Area Career Center, Otterbein University, the Westerville Public Library, and WARM attended to share information about their programs.  Lisa-Marie Reinhart, enrollment coordinator of the Delaware Area Career Center, showed parents available courses of study for high school students, as well as free adult ESL and GED classes.

Westerville Rotarians and members of Rotaract & Interact will be collecting non-perishable food on Saturday, December 13.  Donations will go to the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM), a non-profit organization that helps Westerville School District families in need throughout the year.   This year, Kroger grocery bags will be delivered to many area homes with instructions for pick-up.  Or, individuals wishing to donate can drop off their items from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on December 13 at the Kroger stores on Schrock Road or Maxtown Road in Westerville.  Look for collection trucks in the parking lots. 

The 9th annual Elementary Leadership Summit took place on Friday, November 21, at Westerville South High School.  More than 140 third, fourth and fifth grade students from all Westerville elementary schools were in attendance.  Attendees were selected based on essays they submitted earlier in the school year.

The deadline for GEM Award nominations is Monday, February 9, 2015.  Sponsored by Roush Honda and Westerville Parent Council, the annual GEM Awards, which stands for “Great Educator Mentors” in Westerville Schools, honors community members, volunteers, teachers and staff who consistently go above and beyond for students in Westerville schools.

On Thursday, November 20, Professor Dee Knoblauch of Otterbein University provided an interactive workshop for Westerville City Schools community members.  Sponsored by Parent Council and the Westerville ESL Department, the evening was designed to help families build positive relationships between our diverse cultures.  As part of the school district’s strategic plan with regard to stakeholder engagement, the ESL Department is working to “build strong partnerships among schools, families, students, businesses, organizations and agencies.”

Classes in the Westerville City School District will not be held during winter break from December 22, 2014 to January 2, 2015.

At the Westerville City Schools Board of Education meeting held November 24, seven exemplary employees received A+ Awards for actions demonstrating support of the district’s Mission Statement; willingness to go above and beyond normal expectations in support of students; and behavior consistent with one or more of the district’s values.

Westerville North and Westerville South High Schools are now accepting nominations for their Alumni Halls of Fame.  The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee at each school coordinates this program.  The Hall of Fame is open to candidates who graduated from either high school at least 10 years ago.  Nominations are particularly sought of men and women who have achieved success in their career and made significant contributions in their field, as well as to society in general.

On Wednesday, December 3, Westerville Schools will host a free Invention Convention Community Assembly from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Early Learning Center.  The dynamic duo of “Captain Gadget” and “Dr. Claire” will inspire students to invent as a part of the Invention Convention program presented by Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds. All K-8 students (and their parents and siblings) are invited to attend.

On Saturday evening, November 8, students, parents, educators and community members gathered in the barn of Skip and Linda Weiler for Boots, BBQ and the Buckeyes, a yearly event presented by Westerville Education Challenge.  Attendees enjoyed delicious food, great company and live music as they watched the Buckeyes defeat Michigan State on a big-screen TV.

Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Sebastian Mauricio and Deputy Grand Knight P. Michael Brunetti visited the administrative offices of the Westerville City School District on Friday, November 7, to present a check in the amount of $4,900.27 to the Special Education Department.

Dr. John Kellogg, Superintendent of Schools, issued the following statement to his staff:  “Please let us never forget that freedom comes with a price.  To those of you who have served our country to protect our freedom, thank you.  Many of you have lost loved ones to war or have loved one(s) that have served or continue to serve our country, thank you for that sacrifice.  A successful society takes individuals who are willing to serve.  That service often translates into serving our community in positions such as teachers, business owners, and so much more.  Thank you for being a conscience to our nation and serving as a heroic example of who we are and what we can dream to be.”

ThisWeek Community News recently announced the results of its 2014 Readers Choice Awards contest and the Westerville City School District is pleased to have earned Third Place in the “Public School” category.

All English as a Second Language (ESL) parents and families are invited to attend a meeting on December 3 called “Community Connections,” which will focus on resources in the Westerville Schools community.  The event will take place in the Westerville Central High School library from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, December 3.

Otterbein University Professor Dee Knoblauch will present a program called “Cultural Connections for Westerville Parents” on Thursday evening, November 20.  Professor Knoblauch will lead a discussion on ways positive relationships can be built within the community’s diverse cultural groups.  The event will take place from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the Board Room on the second floor of the Early Learning Center.

A+ Awards honor outstanding school employees whose actions demonstrate support of the district’s Mission Statement, which is “To prepare students to contribute to the competitive and changing world in which we live;” willingness to go above and beyond normal expectations in support of students; and behavior consistent with one or more of the district’s values, including respect, inclusiveness, community, communication, collaboration, innovation, nurturing, trust and accountability.

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, classes in the Westerville City School District will not be held on Wednesday, November 26; Thursday, November 27; or Friday, November 28.  Offices will be closed November 27 and November 28.

The Bette Marschall Memorial Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation has announced the recipients of 12 grant awards totaling $3,344 to Westerville City Schools personnel for applications submitted this fall.

Westerville City School District Treasurer/CFO Bart Griffith on Monday presented Board of Education members with a revised financial forecast indicating the district will end Fiscal Year 2019 with a cash balance of $38.4 million.  Several factors, including belt-tightening measures by district officials and increased state revenue, have contributed to the district’s ability to maintain a cash balance through FY19, which is four years longer than originally projected when voters approved an emergency operating levy in March of 2012

Westerville City School District personnel and students continue to prepare for Ohio’s new state tests, known as Next Generation Assessments.  These assessments will be given in the areas of English Language Arts (Reading), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.  Parents and community members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the following key points about these new state assessments:

A seminar called “College Bound Students with an IEP” will take place for parents, students and staff from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, November 6, in the second floor media center at Hilliard Davidson High School.  Hilliard Davidson is located at 5100 Davidson Road in Hilliard.  It is co-sponsored by the following high school transition programs:  Dublin, Hilliard, Westerville, Worthington, Upper Arlington, and Grandview Heights.

Learning didn’t stop in the Westerville City School District on Central OEA/NEA Day, when a variety of classes and workshops were offered including a special one at Blendon Middle School. Tony Zilincik, Associate Professor of Music at Capital University, conducted a Tuba/Baritone Workshop from 9:00-11:00 a.m.  Students and teachers from all Westerville middle and high schools were invited to attend for no cost, and they were asked to bring their instruments, music and questions.

In partnership with the Westerville Division of Fire, the Westerville City Schools Health & Safety Services department offered staff the opportunity to become certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Friday, October 17 – Central OEA/NEA Day.

Approximately 80 families attended Tuesday evening’s ESL Parent meeting held at Hawthorne Elementary School. This gathering was the second of five planned informational meetings for the 2014-15 school year.  Building on the theme of the first meeting, “Tools for Success in School,” this meeting focused on “Setting and Measuring Goals for Success.”

Transitioning from middle to high school creates apprehension for most students, but that uneasiness has been diminished thanks to the Westerville City School District’s Junior Mentoring Program.  Juniors from each Westerville high school visit with eighth grade students at all four middle schools to build relationships and answer questions.  The eleventh graders become role models for the eighth graders, who often grow up to become Junior Mentors themselves.

Westerville City Schools gain the equivalent of nearly 67 full-time employees and hundreds of thousands of dollars toward student enrichment from parent and community support groups in the school district, according to a report released this week from Westerville Parent Council.

At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 13, 2014, the Westerville City Schools Board of Education will vote to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel.  This will take place in the office of Treasurer Bart Griffith, which is located in the Early Learning Center at 936 Eastwind Avenue in Westerville.  No action will be taken during the Executive Session.  A Regular Session will follow in the Board Training Room at 6:00 p.m.

“Setting and Measuring Goals for Success” is the theme of the next English as a Second Language (ESL) parent meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, October 21.  The event will take place in the Hawthorne Elementary School cafeteria from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. and is open to all ESL families.

The Child Development Council of Franklin County Inc. is now enrolling Head-Start preschool students for the 2014-15 school year at its new Westerville Central College location.  Head-Start is an early learning program for preschool aged children of families in poverty, designed to promote school readiness and meet each child’s emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs.

“We’re offering local businesses a limited opportunity to become involved in this initiative by sponsoring our three new modules on the WEF website,” explained Fawaz Hamoui, chair of the WEF Development Committee.  “There are two sponsorship levels: Varsity and Junior Varsity. Only six Varsity sponsorships are available, while nine Junior Varsity sponsorships are available.”

Boots, BBQ and the Buckeyes!  Join Westerville Education Challenge on Saturday, November 8 at 6:00 p.m. for the party of the year and help bring the successful Challenge Day anti-bullying program to all Westerville City School freshmen.

The Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) on September 30, 2014, launched its latest endeavor to support quality education in Westerville City Schools.  Officially known as the “GAP Initiative,” the WEF’s latest project puts the power of online fundraising and crowdsourcing directly into the hands of classroom teachers and other licensed educators.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District on Friday, October 17, due to Ohio Education Association/National Education Association (OEA/NEA) Day.  Teachers and staff members will attend professional development workshops and seminars.  School will resume at regular starting times on Monday, October 20.

Because of Parent-Teacher Conferences, classes will not be held in Westerville City elementary schools, middle schools or the Early Learning Center/preschool on Thursday, October 23 or Friday, October 24, 2014.  School will take place as usual at all three high schools – Westerville Central, North and South.  Classes will resume for all students at regular starting times on Monday, October 27.

Crowds turned out en masse for School Daze on September 26, Westerville’s last 4^th Friday of the season. Students, staff and administrators gathered on the front lawn of Hanby Elementary to present activities and achievements in subject areas including math, science, technology, language arts, performing and visual arts, social studies, health and wellness and extracurriculars. The District also had its new FabLab on display, a mobile facility that will introduce students to advanced manufacturing skills and tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers and robotics.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education is seeking feedback from families regarding the proposed 2015-2016 calendar.  The calendar, as it was presented in a first reading to the Board on September 22, can be viewed by visiting www.wcsoh.org, and clicking on the box marked “2015-2016 Calendar Review & Feedback.”

At its meeting on Monday evening, September 22, the Westerville City Schools Board of Education and Superintendent recognized all 35 parent support organizations, including each booster group, each Parent Teacher Association, each Parent Teacher Organization, each Parent Teacher Student Association, the Westerville African American Parent Association, Westerville Partners for Education and the Westerville Parent Council for selflessly volunteering their time and talents for the betterment of students and staff in the Westerville City School District.

The Best of Both Worlds (BOBW) program at Otterbein University this week received new bicycles, helmets and sports equipment, thanks to the generosity of State Farm and Share-Bac-A-Pac.  How this came to happen is a story of kindness, giving back, and perhaps, a bit of good karma.

Beginning this fall, Westerville City Schools will reactivate its A+ recognition program for exceptional employees.  Honorees will be invited to attend a Board of Education meeting, where the superintendent and board members will recognize their achievements.  Awards will be 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.

Scott Gray, a Psychology and Advanced Placement World History teacher at Westerville North High School, has been named Educator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America.  He was recognized at the Westerville City Schools Board of Education Meeting on Monday evening, September 22.

The Westerville City School District’s latest state report card indicates that students once again attained high levels of academic achievement during the 2013-2014 school year, but also revealed areas that need evaluation and improvement.

From pre-schools to Otterbein University, Westerville is teaming with opportunities for growth and learning.  Join the Westerville Visitors & Convention Bureau for the last OhioHealth 4^th Friday of the season as the hungry mind is celebrated!  A variety of educational opportunities will be on display during OhioHealth 4^th Friday: School Daze, September 26, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in historic Uptown Westerville.

Westerville City Schools Board President Dr. Nancy Nestor-Baker, a champion of public education, spoke to classified employees on Friday, September 12, a Professional Development Day in the district.  She said Westerville Schools has seen a lot of changes in the past few decades, including a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged children and radical growth in the English as a Second Language population.  She said she is proud of the way the district has responded with compassion and adapted to the changing needs of its student body.

Applications for monetary grants from The Bette Marschall Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation are being accepted for worthy 2014-2015 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 October 15, 2014.

Movoto Real Estate, a national online real estate brokerage, recently released its findings, after collecting data for 109 different suburbs using sources including the U.S. Census American Community Survey and GreatSchools.org.  They considered student/teacher ratio; money spent per year per student; high school graduation rate; and the GreatSchools.org rating (based on test scores for the area).

Cindy Crowe, a member of the Westerville City Schools Board of Education for 14 years, has been named Central Region Ohio School Boards Association Outstanding Board Member.  Mrs. Crowe passed away in July, after a long and valiant battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Her husband, Alan, has been invited to accept her plaque at the group’s Fall Conference on September 24. 

The Westerville City School District is piloting a Health Heroes Flu Vaccination Clinic for the State of Ohio.  The event will take place on September 10 and 11 at 23 sites throughout the district – all school buildings, plus the Early Learning Center and the Transportation Complex.  The goal is to reduce absenteeism for students and staff. 

The Ohio Department of Education has approved two days in the Westerville City School District for professional development – September 12, 2014 and February 6, 2015. Classes will not be held on these dates.

Parent groups have a new online resource to connect with Westerville Parent Council (WPC) – www.westervilleparentcouncil.com.  The website details special events hosted by the WPC; lists resources to support parent groups with financial and other legal requirements; and offers links to sign-ups for GFS Marketplace Fun Funds, which raises scholarship money for deserving Westerville students each year.

At 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening, September 10, Westerville Central High School will host an hour-long seminar called, “Internet and Social Media Safety.”  Parents are invited to attend the meeting, which will be presented by Westerville Police Officer Thomas “Corey” Baker and Genoa Police Officer Joe Graham.

The Westerville City School District is pleased to announce its 2014-2015 student assessment calendar.  The release of this information had been slightly delayed until the Ohio Department of Education finalized its test dates for Next Generation Assessments in the areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

In observation of Labor Day, school will not be held and offices will be closed in the Westerville City School District on Monday, September 1, 2014.  Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, September 2.

Westerville’s sixth community-sponsored Honor Flight of veterans to Washington D.C. will take place on Saturday, September 27.  The Honor Flight program flies senior veterans from WWII and the Korean conflict to the nation’s capitol to see their monuments, free of charge, as a way of thanking them for their service to our country.

Westerville City Schools has been informed by TRECA, our service provider for PowerSchool/PowerTeacher, that they will temporarily be shutting down these services for maintenance and upgrades beginning Friday, August 15 at 4:00 p.m. with anticipated completion on Sunday, August 17 by 11:00 p.m.

New mathematics standards will be implemented in grade 6, grade 7, and Algebra 2 for the 2014-2015 academic year, which will complete the full transition for the Westerville City School District.  To help parents better understand the resulting instructional shifts that will be occurring in classrooms, Westerville Schools will host informational sessions on Monday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 19.  Participants can attend either one.

As a result of House Bill 487, Ohio’s graduation requirements will change beginning with the class of 2018 (who are ninth grade students this fall).  The intent is to ensure that all students will be prepared for success in college and work.  When that happens, Westerville City Schools will be ready.

The Westerville City School District Board of Education gave high marks to the performance and professionalism of Superintendent Dr. John Kellogg and Treasurer Bart Griffith, according to evaluation summaries shared by Board of Education President Dr. Nancy Nestor-Baker during the Board’s regular meeting on August 11, 2014. Kellogg and Griffith are the only district employees who directly report to and are evaluated by the Board of Education.

Teacher Professional Days in the Westerville City School District will take place on Monday, August 11 and Tuesday, August 12, 2014.  Classes begin for students in grades 1-12 on Wednesday, August 13.  Kindergarten and Preschool starts Monday, August 18.

The Ohio Department of Education has approved two days in the Westerville City School District for professional development – September 12, 2014 and February 6, 2015.  Classes will not be held on these dates.  At its Regular Session on July 28, the Westerville City Schools Board of Education amended the district’s Academic Calendar for the 2014-15 school year to accommodate this schedule. 

The Westerville City School District’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Department will host a meeting for all ESL parents and families new to the district on Monday evening, August 11, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  It will take place in the Media Center at Westerville North High School, which is located at 950 County Line Road.

The Straight A Fund was created in the most recent state biennial budget.  More than 150 entities received $100 million last year, with $150 million earmarked for new grants this year. Westerville has been involved in successful applications each of the first two competitive grant cycles.

Mark Twain Elementary School was a hub of activity on Wednesday and Thursday evening, July 23 and 24, as Westerville Caring & Sharing volunteers gathered to fill dozens of book bags with donated school supplies and personal hygiene products.  The organization’s annual Back to School project helps hundreds of Westerville students each year.

On Wednesday, August 6, during the week of back-to-school registration and schedule pick-up, Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) will be providing a convenient opportunity for Westerville City Schools students to get required immunizations and other medical services through its Care Mobile.

As required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA 2004), the Westerville City School District is conducting the annual Child Find campaign to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities from birth through age 21, residing within the school district. This includes Westerville children with disabilities who are homeless, wards of the state, or attending nonpublic schools, regardless of the severity of the disability.

Families whose children will receive transportation services for the 2014-15 school year may obtain transportation information and bus schedules online the week of August 4, 2014. 

Senior citizens who live in the Westerville City School District are invited to pick up their 2014-2015 Superintendent’s Gold Appreciation Card.

Westerville City School parents who would like information about the YWCA’s licensed and award-winning before/after school childcare should visit www.ywcacolumbus.org and click on the child care tab for information about programming and tuition rates, and to complete the convenient online registration.

Students attending Westerville City Schools, in grades 1 - 5, will begin classes on Wednesday, August 13, 2014.  Most elementary schools in the district will provide an opportunity for each family to learn of their child's teacher/class placement for the 2014-2015 school year, return the emergency medical card, pay school fees, learn their child’s bus assignment and route schedule, as well as return free and reduced lunch forms (if applicable).  

Westerville City Schools announced its 2014-2015 program year policy for free and reduced price meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.  Each school office and the Food Service office has a copy of the policy which may be reviewed by any interested party.

Classes for Westerville City Schools students in grades 1-12 will begin on Wednesday, August 13, 2014.  Elementary students will begin school at 9:05 a.m. and dismiss at 3:30 p.m.  The Middle School day will start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.  High school classes will commence at 7:25 a.m. and finish at 2:05 p.m.

The Enrollment & Family Resource Center is open during the summer and ready to help families enroll their children in Westerville City Schools

On Wednesday, August 6, during the week of back-to-school registration and schedule pick-up, Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) will be providing a convenient opportunity for Westerville City Schools students to get required immunizations and other medical services through its Care Mobile.

Westerville City School District Board of Education President Nancy Nestor-Baker today announced that the board will vote on a resolution to select Richard W. Bird to complete the unexpired term of Cindy Crowe, who last month announced her resignation from the Board effective May 19, 2014.

Westerville City School District Board of Education President Dr. Nancy Nestor-Baker today announced that Board members have narrowed their applicant pool and will interview three district residents to complete the unexpired term of Cindy Crowe, who last month announced her resignation from the Board effective May 19, 2014.

Westerville City School District (WCSD) Treasurer/CFO Bart Griffith on Monday presented Board of Education members with a revised financial forecast indicating the district will end Fiscal Year 2018 with a cash balance $10.2 million higher than projected in the October 2013 forecast.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold three Executive Sessions for the purpose of discussing personnel. Meeting dates and times are Thursday, May 29, 2014, 6:00 p.m.; Wednesday, June 4, 2014, 2:00 p.m.; and Thursday, June 5, 2014, 6:00 p.m.

The Westerville City School District (WCSD) Board of Education took action during its regular meeting on May 19 to employ several individuals who will fill existing leadership vacancies at the school level.

The annual program is designed to educate students who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall.  The program will be held Monday through Friday, June 2-13, at Robert Frost Elementary School, which is located at 270 North Spring Road.

Westerville City Schools will be working with the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM) to provide meals to students this summer.  The 2014 season of the Westerville Area Kids Summer Lunch Club will run weekdays from May 27 through August 8 at eight sites. All sites are open sites to all children ages 1-18.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed Fitzgerald held a May 14, 2014, press conference outside the Westerville City School District’s Early Learning Center to address the importance of investing in Early Childhood Education, thereby adding his name to the growing list of local, state and national political candidates visiting the district while on the campaign trail.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education is seeking a community member to replace Cindy Crowe, who submitted her resignation effective May 19.  The appointed person will remain on the Board through the completion of Mrs. Crowe’s term, December 31, 2015.

A reception will be held on Thursday, May 15, in honor of Cindy Crowe, who announced her resignation from the Westerville City Schools Board of Education.  The event will take place from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Westerville Central High School Commons, located at 7118 Mt. Royal Avenue. 

Mrs. Crowe, a 14-year veteran of the Board, was diagnosed last year with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease).  

In observance of Memorial Day, offices in the Westerville City School District will be closed on Monday, May 26.  Offices will open at regular times on Tuesday, May 27.

The Bette Marschall Memorial Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation has announced the recipients of nine grant awards totaling $2,946 to Westerville City Schools personnel for applications submitted this spring.

Westerville City Schools will host a Magnet Program Open House at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, at Hanby Elementary School, which is located at 56 S. State Street.  Following a 45-minute general presentation about the three program options available, families will be able to visit both Hanby and Emerson elementary schools to tour these facilities. 

Westerville City Schools has announced changes in its building level leadership team.  Beginning with the next school year, Vicki Jarrell will transition from being part-time Emerson principal/part-time gifted coordinator to serving as the district’s full-time Coordinator of Gifted & Talented Services. Current Hanby Principal Jan Fedorenko will be assigned to both Hanby and Emerson elementaries next school year to work with the teaching staff on curriculum and professional development for the three magnet programs.

The Magnet School Principal job will be posted today by the District’s Human Resources Department to ensure the position is filled prior to the start of next school year.

The Westerville Wild Warbots will host a Robotics Showcase at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, at Westerville Central High School, which is located at 7118 Mt. Royal Avenue.  Community members are invited to attend and celebrate the ingenuity, dedication, and creative spirit of students who are anxious to showcase the fruits of their labor. 

The last day of classes for the 2013-2014 school year in the Westerville City School District is Friday, May 23, 2014.  A Teacher Professional Day will take place on Tuesday, May 27.

Westerville North High School ceremonies will be held at 10:00 a.m., followed by Westerville Central High School at 2:00 p.m. and Westerville South High School at 6:00 p.m.  Graduates should report one hour before the scheduled events.  Parking cost for graduates, families and friends is $5 per car and tickets are not required to attend.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 3, because that’s when “Cindy de Mayo” will be held from 6:00-11:00 p.m. at the Medallion Country Club. Tickets to the Cindy Crowe benefit cost $40 per person before April 30, and $50 per person at the door.

Live music will be performed by Hat Trick, and heavy appetizers will be served.  In addition, a live and silent auction will take place, featuring items like golf outings at Medallion, New Albany, and Jefferson; a vacation for a week to anywhere in the world; a behind-the-scenes tour of OSU facilities; diamond jewelry; and much more.

On Monday, April 21, Westerville City Schools Superintendent Dr. John Kellogg will compete in the Boston Marathon.  Dr. Kellogg, who has been running since 1974, qualified for Boston when he participated in the Toledo Marathon.  He improved his qualifying standing when he ran in the Columbus Marathon in October.

The sixth annual Westerville Education Foundation Mini-Golf Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 2014.  Join the Foundation that day at the Westerville Mini-Golf and Batting Cages, 450 W. Schrock Road, any time between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Registration is just $8 for players 13 years old and under, and only $12 for players 14 years old and above.  Each participant receives two rounds of mini-golf, one on each of the venue’s two courses.  Every participant gets a “goody bag” with contents worth more than the cost to register.  Walk-up registrations are welcome.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District and offices will be closed on Friday, April 18. School will resume at regular starting times on Monday, April 21.

Parents of children who will be attending kindergarten this fall are eligible to register their youngsters online for Safety City beginning on April 21.  The program will be held Monday through Friday, June 2-13, at Robert Frost Elementary School, which is located at 270 North Spring Road.  Two sessions will take place each day – one from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., and one from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

On Sunday, April 6, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., the Westerville Partners for Education (WPE) will host the second annual “Nationwide Children’s Hospital Starry Night” family learning festival at Westerville South High School, 303 S. Otterbein Avenue.  The festival will offer the community interactive learning opportunities with experts from Columbus’ premier educational and non-profit organizations.

The Westerville Parent Council and Roush Honda are pleased to announce the 11^th annual Great Educator Mentor (GEM) Award winners.  GEM awards are given to individuals who make a difference in the lives of the students in the Westerville School District.  All GEM winners promote the welfare of students in the home, school and community, and each goes above and beyond the call of duty. 

April is Arts Month and in Westerville, artwork created by students at the elementary and secondary level will be on public display Sunday afternoon, April 27. 

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a Regular Session at 6:00 p.m. on Monday evening, March 10, 2014, at the Early Learning Center, which is 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.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District from March 24-28, 2014 – Spring Break.  Classes will resume at normal starting times on Monday, March 31.  

The Westerville Parent Council PTA will be hosting the 2014 Summer Camp/Activities Expo from 5:30-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 at Westerville North High School, which is located at 950 County Line Road.

Captain Gadget ‘Q’ Think-a-ma-jig and Dr. Claire Out-of-Hair invite all to attend an Invention Convention Community Assembly which will take place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, February 20, at Fouse Elementary School.  Fouse is located at 5800 Old 3C Highway in Westerville.  The program is open to all interested students and families in our community.  The program was originally scheduled for February 5, but schools were closed that day due to inclement weather. 

Have you uncovered an interesting problem?  Do you have a great idea?  Are you an inventor?  Would you like to be? 

Captain Gadget ‘Q’ Think-a-ma-jig and Dr. Claire Out-of-Hair invite all to attend an Invention Convention Community Assembly which will take place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, February 5, at Fouse Elementary School.  The program is open to all interested students and families in our community.

Westerville Lacrosse is hosting a free Beginning Lacrosse Clinic for girls on Saturday, February 8, in the Westerville North High School Auxiliary Gymnasium. Registration will take place from 12:30-1:00 p.m., and the actual clinic will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District and offices will close on Monday, February 17, 2014, in observance of Presidents’ Day.

The “Great Teaching; Great Tools” gift card giveaway is still going strong, thanks to an anonymous donor who has given the Westerville City School District two $50 gift cards per month to use in a random drawing for teachers submitting ways they are integrating technology into their classrooms.  The winners of this drawing were Julia Stout, a music teacher from Fouse Elementary School, and Jill Shaffer, a speech therapist at Walnut Springs MS.

Westerville City Schools will receive $72,179.98 from the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) as part of its School Security Grant Program, for having installed new security locks throughout the district.  The grant will cover the cost of the new locks.

Westerville City Schools are preparing to begin the registration process for our next kindergarten class.  We look forward to meeting our new families and greeting our returning families.  Kindergarten is required for children before entering first grade.  If your child will be five years old on or before September 30, 2014, you may register him/her for kindergarten.

At 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 9, the community of Westerville will present the fifth annual Jukebox Revue, a variety show featuring local and regional talent performing music from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.  Tickets cost $10 with all proceeds benefiting Honor Flight Columbus, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the celebration of our nation’s WWII and Korean veterans, who will be admitted for free.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold an Organizational Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday evening, January 13, 2014.  School Board meetings have been moved to the Board/Training Room in the Early Learning Center, which is located at 936 Eastwind Drive.  Attendees are asked to follow the signs and enter the building on the north side. 

Classes in the Westerville City School District will not be held and offices will close on Monday, January 20, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

“Believe, Dream, Inspire,” was the theme of the 2013-14 PTA Reflections competition this year.  In an awards ceremony held at the Westerville Public Library on Wednesday evening, January 8, the Westerville Parent Council recognized students for their efforts in the areas of literature, music, dance, photography, film/video and visual arts.

It's time to make plans to participate in the 14^th annual Westerville Community Bowl-a-thon scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 2014, at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace, which is located at 5705 Forest Hills Blvd.  Funds raised benefit the Westerville Chamber Foundation, the Westerville Education Foundation, and the Westerville Symphony.

The January 6, 2014, meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Westerville City Schools Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Drive. Please click story for important details.

Students will not be in school on January 10, 2014, so that our staff can participate in professional development sessions, many of which will be led by Westerville teachers and staff who have demonstrated expertise in particular areas. This full day of professional development is a valuable way for our staff to continue to grow professionally in order to best serve students, families, and the community.

Current Westerville City School District (WCSD) Board of Education members and future members winning seats in last November’s election met the morning of December 16, 2013, for the Board’s annual end-of-year retreat.  Board members first participated in a professional development session dedicated to Board governance and leadership, which was followed by Leadership Team updates on several high-priority initiatives of the district.

Westerville City Schools has earned a clean audit report from the State of Ohio for the fiscal year ended on June 30, 2013.  This means that the district’s financial audit did not contain findings for recovery, material citations, material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, Single Audit findings or any questioned costs.

Volunteers in the Westerville City School District play an important and much appreciated role in the educational process for both students and staff.  While their true value and impact cannot be measured, Westerville Parent Council (WPC) representatives shared some thought-provoking numbers with the Board of Education at the Regular Session held on Monday, December 9. 

The Westerville City School District has published its 2014 calendar, this year featuring student artwork and photographs.  The award-winning publication was underwritten by OhioHealth.  For quick reference, it contains important dates with color screens marking the days when school is not in session.  It also includes a General Fund Financial Summary from the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year, and a directory of buildings.

The “Great Teaching; Great Tools” gift card giveaway is off to a robust beginning.

Several activities are being planned for a 20^th reunion celebration of the 1994 Westerville North High School boys’ basketball championship team. 

The Westerville City School District’s Board of Education is seeking applicants to serve on the district’s FY14 Audit Committee as a professional link between the Board and independent auditors. Applications must be completed by December 20, 2013. Click here to apply.

Approximately 180 stakeholders have been collaborating in recent weeks to formulate the framework for a new, five-year Strategic Plan for the Westerville City School District.  Soon, from December 9-12, residents, employees and students will be able to provide feedback on a draft of that framework, which is themed Creating the 21^st Century Student.

The Board of Education of the Westerville City School District will be holding two separate public auctions for two properties owned by the Board and located at (1) 135 E. Walnut Street (tax parcel number 080-000668) and (2) 145 E. Walnut Street (tax parcel number 080-000640), in the City of Westerville, Franklin County, Ohio.  Each parcel of real estate to be auctioned includes the permanent improvements located on the Board-owned land.

Faculty and staff at Westerville City Schools have consistently paved the energy conservation pathway for other organizations while achieving significant cost avoidance with energy-efficient behavior — and now those good habits are earning the organization national recognition.

Westerville City Schools has achieved a 32 percent energy cost avoidance totaling $10,405,637 since forming a strategic alliance with Cenergistic approximately six and a half years ago.

In honor of Westerville City Schools Board of Education member Cindy Crowe, a team of walkers is being formed to participate in the two-mile Walk to Defeat ALS event, which will take place on Sunday, September 29 at Fred Beekman Park on the campus of The Ohio State University.  Westerville City Schools employee Kim Cody is serving as captain, and the team’s motto is, “Westerville Crowes for Cindy!”  Money raised from the walk will help lead global research, assist people with ALS, fund multidisciplinary certified clinical care centers, and foster government partnerships.

The Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) is accepting grant applications through September 28 for the fall 2013 grant cycle.  Proposals for innovative practices must be written by Westerville City Schools’ faculty or staff, and given to their supervisors or principals for endorsement and submission. 

At 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24, Westerville City Schools will host a free parent workshop entitled, “Navigating your ParentPortal Account in PowerSchool.”  This one-hour seminar, for parents and guardians of Westerville City Schools students in grades 6-12, will be offered at the Academic Enrichment Center.

The Westerville City School District’s Fiscal Services Office, headed by Treasurer/CFO Bart Griffith and Assistant Treasurer Laura Hendricks, has received an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. 

Artists from across the country exhibited their work at the 40th Annual Westerville Area Chamber Music & Arts Festival, held on July 13 and 14 at the Heritage Park and Everal Barn. Throughout the course of the festival, close to 100 volunteers donated their time in order to make the event a success.  The festival showcased work from both youth and adult artists, many of whom were awarded for their talent. 

The Ohio Department of Education has approved two days in the Westerville City School District for professional development – September 27, 2013 and January 10, 2014.  Classes will not be held on these dates.

August 30 is Football Friday Night in Westerville.  For the first time in many years, varsity teams at all three high schools will host their inaugural home games that evening, with Central playing DeSales; North pitted against Franklin Heights; and South going up against Groveport-Madison.  All games begin at 7:30 p.m.  The community is encouraged to join in the fun by showing up to support their favorite team.  Pre-game activities are planned at all locations. 

Dr. Machelle Kline, director of assessment and alternative education, recently announced her retirement from the Westerville City Schools effective September 1, 2013, so that she may pursue other professional opportunities.

“Dr. Kline is a tremendous administrator,” said Superintendent John R. Kellogg, Ed.D. “Her skills and experience truly will be missed by our district.  We wish her all the best in retirement and this next chapter in her professional career.”

Faculty and staff at Westerville City Schools gathered in the gymnasium at Westerville Central High School on August 12 for two Convocation sessions, in celebration of past accomplishments and to frame an appreciation of what the district’s Mission, Vision and Values mean in day-to-day work with students.

In November 2012, Westerville Schools decided it was time to try something different.  Instead of organizing a physical auction, they started placing surplus items on www.govdeals.com, and the result has been phenomenal.

The Westerville City School District continues to build upon its history of strong academic performance and remains financially stable, according to two of the several reports shared with the Westerville City School District Board of Education during its mid-year retreat on August 7, 2013.

Approximately 75 teachers who are new to the Westerville City School District gathered in the Media Center at Westerville Central High School on August 8 for an orientation session hosted by the Office of Human Resources.

Mark Twain Elementary School was a hub of activity on Thursday evening, August 1, as Westerville Caring & Sharing volunteers gathered to fill hundreds of book bags with donated school supplies and personal hygiene products.  The organization’s annual Back to School project helps more than 300 Westerville students each year. 

In observation of Labor Day, school will not be held and offices will be closed in the Westerville City School District on Monday, September 2, 2013.  Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, September 3. 

Thanks to a grant from the Westerville Education Foundation, English Language Learning (ELL) students and parents are better prepared to face the start of school in Westerville.  Dr. Jan Fedorenko, principal at Hanby Magnet School, along with Hanby teacher Lori Searfoss, obtained the funding to host a series of summer enrichment workshops called “Teaching the English Language through the Arts.” 

More than 200 students in the Westerville City School District who will be riding a school bus for the first time this fall got a “sneak peek” at how things work during the annual First Time Riders open house, which was held at Whittier Elementary School on August 2. 

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 our annual First Time Riders open house, which will be held at Whittier Elementary School from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 1. At the event, sponsored by the districts Transportation Department, pupils will have the opportunity to explore a school bus up close, learn about bus safety, ride a real school bus with their parents, learn about school bus mechanics through hands-on activities, and meet Buster the Bus. Those who are not first time riders, but are apprehensive about the school bus experience, are also welcome to attend. Please feel free to pass this information to anyone you may think would like to attend this special event.

Please join the Westerville City Schools' Board of Education for a welcome reception for John R. Kellogg, Ed. D., Superintendent/CEO. The reception will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2013, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Drive.

Please RSVP your attendance to Jill Beck at beckj@wcsoh.org by Monday, July 15th, 2013.

Even though school is out for summer, students can still be extending, enriching and enhancing what they know, as well as working on learning new skills.  The concept of WoWWithOutWalls is learning that can happen anytime and anywhere.

The Westerville Education Foundation held its fifth annual Mini-Golf Fundraiser on May 18 at the Westerville Mini-Golf and Batting Cages, 450 W. Schrock Road.  In addition to family fun on the venue's two miniature golf courses, the event featured food, music, entertainment, and prizes such as Columbus Clippers tickets, family passes to Zoombezi Bay and the Columbus Zoo, and an overnight accommodation at the Hampton Inn & Suites.

Westerville City School District (WCSD) Treasurer/CFO Bart Griffith on Wednesday presented Board of Education members with a revised five-year financial forecast, confirming that several factors, including continued belt-tightening measures by district officials, will allow the district to remain cash-positive through Fiscal Year 2017.  Maintaining a cash balance through FY17 is two years longer than originally projected when voters approved an emergency operating levy in March of 2012.

The 2012-13 school year has concluded in the Westerville City School District, and many students and staff are planning to begin their summer break by visiting The Eyes of Freedom Memorial, paintings depicting the 23 fallen Marines from Lima 3/25.  The exhibit is on display from noon to 5:00 p.m. on May 25, 26 and 27 at Westerville City Hall, which is located at 21 S. State Street.  The Memorial tells the story of love and sacrifice, as a reminder of the great price men and women are willing to pay for their country.  It has become a remembrance of spirit and choice for all who have answered the call of service.

Two-hundred-seventy student representatives in grades 3-5 attended the Spring 2013 Elementary Leadership Summit on Friday, May 10, for the purpose of further developing their leadership skills, as well as sharing community service endeavors conducted in their schools.

Westerville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Dan Good was surprised on May 15 when Sunrise Rotarians named him as the monthly recipient of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Diane J. Conley Service to Youth award.  He was attending the breakfast meeting, held at the Old Bag of Nails, to support all Service to Youth winners during the 2012-13 school year.  Under his leadership, the district was rated as Excellent with Distinction for three years in a row by the Ohio Department of Education.

The Westerville Education Challenge (WEC), established in 2009 to raise private support for public education in Westerville City Schools, will be awarding $10,000 in grant funds this year. Applicants may apply for up to $5,000, or request a portion of the available award dollars. The grant funds are intended to reward teachers and the school district by funding creative and innovative projects that enrich curricular and extra-curricular activities and directly enhance educational opportunities for a significant number of students in Westerville City Schools.

This past weekend Westerville City Schools once again made a strong showing at the Central Region Road-E-O and brought home some hardware to prove it.  Overall 7th place winner was Gary Case, an alternate for the State contest on May 18.  Taking overall 9th place was Cindy Russell, who will also serve as a State competition alternate.  The First Place Team members (collective score) were Westerville drivers Gary Case, Debbie Diller, Cindy Russell and Steve Smith.  The third place team also hailed from Westerville City Schools -- Rafael Guigni, John Holmes, Shelly Smith and Shirley Timberlake.

Westerville City Schools will be working with the Westerville Area Resource Ministry to provide meals to students this summer.  The 2013 season of the Westerville Area Kids Summer Lunch Club will run weekdays from May 28 through August 9 at six sites. This year there will be five open sites: Alum Creek South Park, Huber Village Park, La Vista Townhomes, Ridgewood Park and Strawberry Farms Park and one enrolled site: Church of the Nazarene.

Westerville City Schools announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program for Children.  Free meals will be made available to eligible children 18 years of age and under or persons over 18 who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled.  Children who are members of food stamp households or OWF assistance units are automatically eligible for free meals. To be eligible, children participating in residential camps must meet the income guidelines for reduced meals in the National School Lunch Program.

On May 1, the Westerville Education Association (WEA) hosted its Annual Reception at Villa Milano.  WEA President Rhonda Gilpin presided over the event, during which time a number of awards were presented. Retiring Superintendent Dr. Dan Good said Westerville City Schools has delivered, in each of the past six years, more added value, higher performance indices, and ultimately, the State’s top rating three times in a row.  “I attribute that success to each of you, and I humbly state that it has been a true honor for me to work here.”

The Community Service Project Team from the Westerville Leadership Class of 2013 is taking on a project to honor Hospice nurses and staff.  June is Hospice Awareness Month and donations are being sought to...

The Westerville City School District (WCSD) Board of Education on May 6, 2013, voted 5-0 to approve revisions to administrative employment guidelines that will cap Board obligations to administrators’ retirement contributions, modify vacation benefits and reduce severance payouts to future retirees.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, in the Conference Room at the Early Learning Center, which is located at 936 Eastwind Drive. The Five Year Forecast will be discussed and action may be taken.

The Westerville Elementary Boosters hosted the first annual Starry Night astronomy festival at Westerville South High School on Sunday, April 28.  More than 1,000 were in attendance for this free event featuring approximately 50 different exhibits on the intersection between science and art.  Perkins Observatory Director Tom Burns gave a special presentation, and families were treated to sky shows within the inflatable planetarium.

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has notified Westerville City Schools that it will partially fund its Third Grade Guarantee Early Literacy and Reading Readiness grant proposal. The ODE considered the strength of each proposal and its use of funding.  “Congratulations to your team for developing a quality proposal that demonstrates an innovative and replicable initiative to improve the early literacy and reading readiness in students,” wrote Sasheen Phillips, Senior Executive Director at the ODE’s Center for Curriculum and Assessment.

The Westerville Parent Council, Roush Honda, the Superintendent of Schools and the Westerville City Schools Board of Education recognized Great Educator and Mentor (GEM) award winners at a reception and special ceremony held Monday evening, April 29.  GEM awards are given to individuals who make a difference in the lives of the students in the Westerville School District.

The Bette Marschall Memorial Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation has announced the recipients of nine grant awards totaling $2,599 to Westerville City Schools personnel for applications submitted this spring.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will honor GEM Award recipients during a Special Session on Monday evening, April 29, 2013, in the Westerville South High School Auditorium, 303 S. Otterbein Ave.  Following the meeting, the Board will vote to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel.  This will take place in the Westerville South High School guidance conference room.  No action will be taken.

On Saturday, April 20, members of the Columbus Astronomical Society (CAS) shared their telescopes with approximately 250 people – mostly Westerville elementary students and their family members – at CAS and the Westerville Elementary Boosters’ Stars in the Park stargazing night. Throughout the course of the night, the amateur astronomers helped participants view Jupiter with its distinctive stripes and its many moons, Saturn and its stunning rings, our moon’s cratered surface, the Orion nebula where stars are born, several star clusters, twin stars, and even, briefly, a comet!

In observance of Memorial Day, offices in the Westerville City School District will be closed on Monday, May 27.  Offices will open at regular times on Tuesday, May 28.

The last day of classes for the 2012-2013 school year in the Westerville City School District is Thursday, May 23, 2013.  A Teacher Professional Day will take place on Friday, May 24.

Starting and stopping times have been determined for the 2013-2014 school year in the Westerville City School District.  Elementary students will begin classes at 9:05 a.m. and dismiss at 3:30 p.m.  The Middle School day will start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.  High school classes will commence at 7:25 a.m. and finish at 2:05 p.m. 

The City of Westerville, along with Westerville City Schools, Otterbein University, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce, Your Management Team, and TECHCOLUMBUS, is launching the first Young Entrepreneur Program (YEP) in Westerville. YEP is a two week long camp, inspired by the television show Shark Tank and is designed to teach middle-school aged children the fundamentals of what it takes to start a business.

The Somali Moms Group hosted a special luncheon on Wednesday afternoon, April 17, to thank departing Westerville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Dan Good for his service to the District and to their families.  They said Dr. Good has “an amazing potential for bringing people together from all corners of the earth, even across barriers of culture and language.”

The Westerville City School District’s art teachers and students are celebrating the Westerville Year of the Arts and April Arts Month through a series of activities.

Leadership Westerville, in cooperation with local businesses, service organizations, and volunteers, will provide helpful household services to senior citizens and residents in need throughout the Westerville City School District on Service Day, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

On April 3, more than 200 teachers, students, administrators, and community members attended the first Westerville City Schools Innovation Summit.  The Summit program was made up of speakers from different backgrounds and interests who shared their views and experiences and provided participants with inspiration, affirmation, and vision around innovation and educational transformation.

The fifth annual Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) Mini-Golf Fundraiser will be held on May 18, at the Westerville Mini-Golf and Batting Cages, 450 W. Schrock Road. Registration is just $6 for players 13 years old and under, and only $10 for players 14 years old and above. Each participant receives two rounds of golf, one on each of the venue's two courses. Participants can check in and play their rounds any time between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. that day.

A 5k run called “Fighting Hunger” will take place on the cross country course at Westerville North High School at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, April 13.  North is located at 950 County Line Road, and participants will meet at the practice fields between Westerville North and Heritage Middle School. The link to register or donate is http://tinyurl.com/5kfightinghungerWNHS.

This year's event will be held on May 18, 2013, at the Westerville Mini-Golf and Batting Cages, 450 W. Schrock Road. Registration is just $6 for players 13 years old and under, and only $10 for players 14 years old and above. Each participant receives two rounds of golf, one on each of the venue's two courses. Check in and play your rounds any time between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

GEM awards are given to individuals who make a difference in the lives of the students in the Westerville School District. All GEM winners promote the welfare of students in the home, school and community, and each goes above and beyond the call of duty. This year 26 deserving individuals and one business will be recognized as GEM award winners.

Westerville City School District Board of Education President Denise Pope tonight announced that the Board is stopping the elementary attendance boundary realignment process.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a Special Session at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 18, 2013, in the Westerville South High School Commons.  South is located at 303 S. Otterbein Ave.

The Westerville City School District’s Fiscal Services Office, headed by Treasurer/CFO Bart Griffith and Assistant Treasurer Laura Hendricks, has received the Auditor of State Award with Distinction.  This recognition is presented only to those local governments and school districts meeting the highest standards of a financial audit.  Just over 100 out of 5,700 entities earned this designation.   “Clean and accurate record-keeping are the foundation for good government, and the taxpayers can take pride in your commitment to accountability,” wrote Dave Yost, Auditor of State.

Applications for monetary grants from The Bette Marschall Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation are being accepted for worthy 2013-2014 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 April 24, 2013.

Lawrence Funderburke is a famous basketball player.  His success at The Ohio State University and in the NBA, where he played primarily for the Sacramento Kings, is undisputed.  What many people don’t know is that Funderburke graduated magna cum laude from OSU, where he earned a degree in Business Finance, and that he is even more passionate about education than basketball.  And he’s doing something about it.  He has started “Mr. Fundy’s Math Basketball Challenge,” a free, online math study tool to help children in grades 3-6 prepare for the math portion of the Ohio Achievement Assessment or similar standardized tests.

Westerville City School District staff, students and community members are invited to gather in the Westerville Central High School auditorium on April 3 for an evening of conversation and dialogue around future and transformative trends in education.  The free event will take place from 4:00-6:30 p.m.

The Elementary Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee has scheduled a meeting at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, that will be held in the second floor Board Conference Room at the Westerville City Schools Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Drive.  Elementary Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee meetings are open to the public for those wishing to attend and observe proceedings.

The Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) is accepting grant applications through April 3 for the spring 2013 grant cycle.  Proposals for innovative practices must be written by Westerville City Schools’ faculty or staff, and given to their supervisors or principals for endorsement and submission.

Westerville City Schools District Math Specialist Kimi Dodds was surprised on February 28 when Sunrise Rotarians walked in on a meeting to name her as the monthly recipient of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Diane J. Conley Service to Youth award.

The Westerville City School District earned an Excellent with Distinction ranking on the 2011-2012 School Year Report Card, released yesterday by the Ohio Department of Education.  The district met all state standards and attained its highest ever Performance Index of 102.9 out of 120.  Students’ performance on the 14 Ohio Achievement Assessment measures surpassed the state minimum 75 percent passing rate by an average of 12.2 percent.  Student performance on the 10 Ohio Graduation Test measures also far surpassed the state minimums.

Parents or guardians wishing to have their children attend an elementary school different from their school of attendance must complete and submit an Intra-district Open Enrollment Application by June 1, 2013.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District from March 25-29, 2013 – Spring Break.  Offices will be closed only on Friday, March 29.  Classes will resume at normal starting times on Monday, April 1.

The Elementary Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee has scheduled a meeting at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2013, that will be held in the second floor Board Conference Room at the Westerville City Schools Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Drive.  Elementary Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee meetings are open to the public for those wishing to attend and observe proceedings. 

Westerville City School District Board of Education members during their February 25, 2013, regular meeting heard a status report on the work that has been completed by the Elementary Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee (EABRC).

On Tuesday, February 19, the Westerville City Schools Academic Enrichment Center hosted a free parent workshop entitled “Age is Just a Number: Living Better, Longer in the 21st Century.” Dr. Roger Garcia, Medical Director of BodyLogicMD of Columbus and author of the book, Aged to Perfection, discussed the secrets to living a longer life, all the while looking and feeling your very best well beyond the golden years.

Westerville City School District officials, at the February 25 Board of Education meeting, presented possible uses for Central College and Longfellow elementary schools, which served as magnet program sites until they closed following the 2011-12 school year. 

Community members filled the lanes at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace on Saturday, February 23, to raise money for the Westerville Chamber Foundation, the Westerville Education Foundation, and the Westerville Symphony.

The Elementary Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee has scheduled a meeting at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2013, that will be held in the second floor Board Conference Room at the Westerville City Schools Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Drive. Elementary Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee meetings are open to the public for those wishing to attend and observe proceedings.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet at the following times in March: Thursday, March 7, 2013, Work Session, 6:00 p.m. in the Early Learning Center Sunshine Room; Monday, March 11, 2013, Regular Session, 6:00 p.m. in the Westerville South High School Commons.

At the recommendation of the Elementary Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee, the Westerville City School District Board of Education will not hold a first reading on proposed elementary attendance boundary changes during its regular meeting on February 25, 2013. Instead, Board members will hear a status report on the committee’s work to date.

Based upon feedback received to date, two additional elementary attendance boundary options have been developed and are now available online for review and feedback. The original options also remain available for review and feedback. These options and additional support materials can be accessed at:

www.wcsoh.org/administrativeDepartment.aspx?aid=131

According to a report from the Elementary Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee, the Westerville City School District should revise elementary attendance boundaries so as many students as possible, living in the same neighborhood, can attend school together. 

Dr. Kellogg will assume the Superintendency on July 1, 2013, subsequent to the retirement of Dr. Dan Good.

Westerville Parent Council will host the 2013 Summer Camp/Activities Expo on March 13 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Westerville North High School, which is located at 950 County Line Road.  The event is free to the public and families are encouraged to walk through at their leisure.  The Expo will feature camps and activities for elementary through high school ages, as well as camps for special needs students.

The Westerville City Schools Academic Enrichment Center will host a free parent workshop entitled, “Modeling Good Digital Citizenship:  How to Communicate your Expectations to your Child.”  This one-hour seminar for community members and parents/guardians of students in the Westerville community will be offered at the Academic Enrichment Center on Wednesday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m.

Since the spring of 2004, Roush Honda has sponsored the Great Mentor Educator (GEM) Awards in the Westerville City School District. The GEM Award is given to recognize individuals who go over and above what is expected to make a difference in the lives of students at each school in the Westerville School District and/or in the school district as a whole. Building and district nominations are due February 7, and can be turned into any school building office.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 2, 2013, in the Westerville Central High School Guidance Classroom, located at 7118 Mt. Royal Avenue. The Board will vote to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel. No action will be taken.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District and offices will close on Monday, February 18, 2013, in observance of Presidents’ Day.  Classes will begin at regular starting times and offices will open on Tuesday, February 19.

The first meeting of the Attendance Boundary Realignment Committee is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 5, in the Westerville City School District (WCSD) Early Learning Center, 936 Eastwind Dr., Westerville, Ohio. The meeting will be held in the second floor Board Conference Room.

The Ohio School Boards Association celebrated School Board Recognition Month during January 2013 by build awareness and understanding of the vital function an elected board of education plays in our society.

Learning opportunities for gifted students in the Westerville City School District just got a boost, thanks to a $3,000 grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.  One hundred and sixty sets of classic paperback books will be purchased for gifted third and fourth grade students at all 14 elementary schools.  In depth discussions about this literature will take place on line in the newly created Virtual Gifted Reading Classroom.

Westerville Community Culture Day will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 23.  The event will take place at Heritage Middle School, which is located at 390 North Spring Road. 

The Westerville City Schools Department of Academic Affairs convened the first meeting of the District Leadership Team (DLT) on January 24.  Twenty-three individuals representing many facets of the educational process met at the Early Learning Center to get acquainted and begin the process of using their unique skills and talents to strengthen the district’s Continuous Improvement Plan and establish collaborative structures for its facilitation.

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 12, at both Cherrington and Mark Twain Elementary Schools.  The same presentation will be made concurrently at both sites.  Parents may choose the location that is most convenient for them.  The event is being sponsored by Westerville City Schools with the support of Westerville Parent Council.

The Westerville City Schools Academic Enrichment Center will host a parent workshop entitled Age is Just a Number: Living Better, Longer in the 21st Century. This one-hour workshop for community members and parents/guardians of students in the Westerville Community will be offered at the Academic Enrichment Center, 336 South Otterbein Avenue, Westerville, on Tuesday, February 19, at 7:00 p.m. You can register at www.wcsoh.org and click on the Parent/Guardian Portal Tab, then Workshop Offerings. Please call 614/797-7750 if you have questions or would prefer to register by phone. This seminar is free.

The Ohio Chinese Culture Link (CCL), together with the Ohio Contemporary Chinese Schools (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Athens), Central Ohio Families with Children from China (COFCC), and other community organizations, will celebrate Chinese New Year on Saturday, February 16.  This free, all-day event will be held at Westerville Central High School, which is located at 7118 Mount Royal Ave.

On Valentine’s Day, some parents dream of a special night out without the kids.  That dream could become a reality, thanks to the efforts of Westerville South High School orchestra students, who are hosting “Parents Night Out” on February 14.

It’s not every day that a National Football League player shows up at one’s school to lead students in exercise drills.  But that’s exactly what is happening this month at Huber Ridge Elementary School, where Andy Katzenmoyer, a former New England Patriot, is volunteering his time and expertise with fourth grade students.  Katzenmoyer, and his certified training team from Katzenmoyer Performance, recognize that it is essential that children get plenty of physical activity each day.  He is visiting the school eight days this month to help students increase motor development skills, fitness levels, and improve their overall health during recess. Each youth training session has included a carefully structured plan designed to provide a balanced workout with maximized results through the incorporation of footwork, balance, coordination, body control, flexibility, and bodyweight strength exercises.  Due to the generosity of employees at Katzenmoyer Performance, there is no cost for participating students.

Due to growing interest and an anticipated large crowd, the Westerville City School District’s Middle School 101 workshop has been moved from Heritage Middle School to Westerville North High School, which is located at 950 County Line Road.  Middle School 101 - A Basic Introduction to Middle School in Westerville, will take place at the same time and on the same date as previously announced – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 7.

WCSD ALERT: PM Kindergarten has been cancelled for Friday, 1-25-2013

WCSD will be operating on a 2-hour delay due to weather conditions. Morning Kindergarten and Preschool cancelled. (Tuesday, 1-22-2013)

Board members identified the finalists following a process in which the six remaining candidates were interviewed for the second time by Board members and for the first time by members of the district’s executive team.

This program is designed for parents of fifth grade students. A panel of middle school educators will give information about all aspects of middle school life, including academics, athletics, arts, social and emotional. A current middle school parent will give parents tips for a successful transition into middle school. A question/answer session will follow the presentation.

The 2012-13 PTA Reflections recognition ceremony, presented by the Westerville Parent Council, took place on Friday evening, January 4, at the Westerville Public Library. This year’s theme was, “The Magic of a Moment,” and students were recognized in the areas of Visual Arts, Literature, Film/Video Production, Photography, Musical Composition and Dance. The event was coordinated by Parent Council volunteers Lisa Wood, Kristen Buckley and Christine Dilley.

The 13th annual event will be held at Columbus Square Bowling Palace, 5705 Forest Hills Blvd.

<font size="2"><a href="http://www.wcsoh.org/superMsg.aspx">Superintendent Message Regarding Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy</a></font>

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet at the following times in August:

August 13, 2012, Regular Session, 6:00 p.m.
Westerville South High School Commons

August 27, 2012, Regular Session, 6:00 p.m.
Westerville South High School Commons