The Black History Month programs at all three Westerville high schools this year share a common inspiration: the widespread protests over the death of George Floyd and the racial unrest that followed.

The students behind the programs at Westerville Central, Westerville North and Westerville South high schools have taken different approaches to respond to the conversations from the summer. 

Westerville students in grades K-8 are invited to participate in the Westerville City Schools’ 15th annual LEGO competition, which is virtual this year. The competition is open to elementary and middle school students from Westerville City Schools and St. Paul School. Competitors can build anything they want, as long as they design it themselves; No pre-packaged LEGO sets are permitted to be built.

Westerville students currently in grades 4-11 can join an international education experience during the Summer of 2022. One option for those in grades 4-7 is a marine conservation service-learning opportunity in the Dominican Republic while another for grades 7-11 features an exploration into the history, cultures, geology and ecology of South Africa. The experience also includes a safari. 

Whittier Elementary’s media center has more diverse options for students to choose from thanks to a $2,500 donation from the PTA.

The school’s PTA recently donated scholastic dollars devoted to bringing books that highlight diverse characters, authors and experiences.

“Reading is about connections and the more students see themselves and their friends in books the better these connections will be,” said Judy Gawelek, Whittier’s media specialist.

Westerville City Schools has received the Children’s Hunger Alliance Child Nutrition Award for the Food Services department’s work in feeding students during the pandemic. 

As part of the Westerville City School District’s Parent Prep workshop series, parents and caregivers can take sessions on various topics including mindful parenting, pandemic parenting, equity, substance education and LGBTQ+ education.