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.

Students at Hanby Elementary School have been bringing in toiletry items for a project called Hanby Helps the Homeless.  The Hanby Elementary Student Council, which is comprised of pupils chosen for the Westerville City Schools Elementary Leadership Summit, has assembled these kits for donation. Approximately 80 kits were distributed to homeless individuals being served at Faith Mission.

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.

Solutions to today’s energy challenges are being developed in classrooms and homes around Westerville.  The Ohio Energy Project’s annual Youth Energy Celebration on May 14 at The Ohio State University’s Ohio Union welcomed more than 350 students, teachers and partners from around the state.  In Westerville, 70 students and six educators were recognized for their outstanding work this school year through the Westerville Energy Education Partnership.

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.”