Hanby Elementary News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 10 at COSI welcomed more than 400 students, teachers and partners from around the state.  In Westerville, 45 students and four educators were recognized for their outstanding work this school year through the Westerville Energy Education Partnership.

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

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

Stories written by Hanby Elementary fifth grade students Caleb Piatt and Lydia Moore have been selected to be performed by The Columbus Children’s Theatre as part of 2016 The Child Writing Project.  This year’s theme is You Are What You Eat.  The children are students in Tara Norling’s English Language Arts class.  Piatt’s play is called Origin of the Potato; Moore’s is titled Slice Pizza.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Hanby Elementary School Spring Bazaar took place on Sunday, April 17, attracting hundreds of community members.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Hanby Elementary School Spring Bazaar will take place on Sunday, April 17 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.  Community members are invited to attend the event, which is said to have “something for everyone.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Combine happy little girls in princess costumes with young boys who are willing to dance, throw in a Disney score, fill the Westerville South High School auditorium with proud parents, and you have a show that can’t be beat.  Second grade Hanby Elementary students in the classrooms of Emily Kessler and Kelly Balaz have been collaborating with dancers from the Generations Performing Arts Center to learn an ambitious routine to a Beauty and the Beast medley.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Westerville City School District will be holding job fairs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 4; and from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 5.

The Westerville City School District has published its 2016 calendar, this year featuring student artwork.  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.

Westerville City School District (WCSD) Board of Education members, along with incoming member Gerrie Cotter, met on Monday, December 14, in a day-long retreat at the district Early Learning Center, during which time members of the district leadership team presented updates on various academic and operational initiatives.

Following preliminary auditions on November 7 and 8, twenty finalists have been chosen to perform at the Arnold SportsWorld EXPO for Kids & Teens on Saturday, March 5.  Seven of the acts moving forward (and eight performers) are Westerville City Schools students:

• Maria Dalanno (Genoa Middle School), singer;
• Sarah Parton (Westerville Central High School) and Morgan Davis (Heritage Middle School), dance duet;
• Leah Hall (Westerville South High School), acoustic guitar, cello, singer;
• Madeline McMahon (Westerville Central High School), guitar and singer;
• Trinity Madison (McVay Elementary School), jazz routine;
• Cory Conkel (Westerville Central), banjo player; and
• Emma Best (Westerville North High School), tap dance.  

The top 20 will perform from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Arnold SportsWorld EXPO for Kids & Teens in the Bricker Building at the Ohio Expo Center before an esteemed panel of judges, who will announce the best act at the festival.  Awards include a $2,500 scholarship, an iPad, lunch with Arnold Schwarzenegger and more.  Arnold himself will present the awards. 

The Columbus Children’s Theatre partnered with the Arnold Sports Festival to coordinate this contest and find the most talented performers.  

The Westerville Parks and Recreation Civic Theatre presents A Miracle on 34^th Street, classic radiocast, at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 11 and Saturday, December 12; and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 13.

Westerville City Schools is pleased to announce the launch of its redesigned website. The new website uses a Responsive Design framework that automatically adjusts to the device or operating system being used to view the site, thereby giving visitors the best possible user experience.

The Westerville Education Foundation has named three educators Teacher of the Month for November – Michelle Andears, Hanby Elementary; Victoria Cook, Blendon Middle School; and Rachel Schultz, McVay Elementary.

One of Westerville City Schools Superintendent John Kellogg’s goals is to strengthen partnerships with the various government entities the district serves.  Toward that end, he invited officials from Westerville and Genoa Township to tour parts of the school district, visiting classrooms, teachers and students, to see what is being done to improve the educational experience for families in the area.

Classes in the Westerville City School District will not be held during winter break from December 21, 2015 to January 4, 2016.  A Teacher Professional Day will take place on Tuesday, January 5.  School will resume at regular starting times on Wednesday, January 6, 2016. 

District offices will be closed on Thursday, December 24; Friday, December 25; and Friday, January 1.  

Third grade students from six Westerville elementary schools (Emerson, Hanby, Hawthorne, Huber Ridge, Pointview and Whittier) presented a rousing patriotic concert entitled “United We Stand” on Tuesday evening, November 17, at the Vineyard church in Columbus.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet in Executive Session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 23, 2015, for the purpose of conferring with an attorney concerning disputes involving the Board of Education that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.

The 10^th Annual Elementary Leadership Summit occurred on Friday, November 13 at Westerville Central High School.  More than 140 third, fourth and fifth grade students from all Westerville elementary schools were in attendance.  Participants were selected based on essays, projects or interviews they completed earlier in the school year.

The Bette Marschall Memorial Education Fund of The Columbus Foundation has announced the recipients of nine grant awards totaling $3,216 to Westerville City Schools personnel for applications submitted this fall.

The Westerville Education Foundation (WEF), an independent, volunteer, non-profit organization, founded in 1993 for the purpose of enhancing the education of Westerville students, has announced that 10 new grants will be funded.  

Students throughout the Westerville City School District commemorated Veteran’s Day in a variety of ways on Wednesday, November 11. At McVay Elementary, for example, an all-school assembly was held that packed the house, featuring the presentation of flags by a color guard; singing of patriotic songs; flag waving; student speeches of thanks; and a moving Taps rendition to close the program. Dozens of local veterans were introduced to the crowd, some of whom spoke to the children about their service.

The seventh annual Readers’ Choice awards were announced in the November 5 edition of ThisWeek Community News, where it was revealed that Westerville City Schools was top pick in the Favorite Public School category. 

Westerville Central, North and South High Schools are now accepting nominations for their Alumni Halls of Fame.  The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee at each building coordinates this program.  The Hall of Fame is open to candidates who graduated from one of these high schools at least 10 years ago.  This marks the first year graduates from Westerville Central will be eligible for induction.

The Rotary Club of Westerville, which sponsors a Student of the Month program, recognized recipients at a luncheon at Villa Milano held on Thursday, November 5.  November students are:  Jacquelyn Birchak, Westerville Central High School; Leah Gaus, Westerville North High School; Matt Hoffman, Westerville South High School; and Joe Braun, St. Francis DeSales High School.

Westerville Parent Council has released its report regarding volunteer efforts put forth during the 2014-2015 school year for the betterment of the Westerville City School District. This is a compilation of volunteer hours, donations and scholarships gathered from Westerville Parent Council members (PTAs, PTSAs, PTOs, Booster groups and Community groups), in support of students and families in the Westerville City School District .  

The Westerville Arts Council is seeking input regarding the possibility of creating a community choir.  They would like public feedback about interest in youth, adult, and/or multigenerational choirs.  To take the survey, please visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/westervillechoir. 

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, classes in the Westerville City School District will not be held on Wednesday, November 25; Thursday, November 26; or Friday, November 27.  Offices will be closed November 26 and November 27.  Classes will resume at regular starting times and offices will open on Monday, November 30.  

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet in Regular Session at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, November 23, in the Early Learning Center, located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville, Ohio.

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

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District on Tuesday, November 3 – Election Day and a Professional Development Day for employees.  Teachers and classified staff will participate in learning sessions, many of which will be led by Westerville educators who have demonstrated expertise in particular areas.

Board also casts unanimous vote to reduce Pay-to-Participate, other activity fees

Westerville City Schools hosted Health Heroes Flu Vaccination Clinics for pupils at all school buildings on October 21 and 22, with the goal of improving student achievement by reducing absenteeism.  The District was first to pilot the program in the State of Ohio last year.

Knights of Columbus representative Scott Muehlbauer visited the administrative offices of the Westerville City School District on October 15 to present a check in the amount of $3,789.18 to the Special Education Department.  This generous donation will enable the District to support the equine-assisted learning and therapy program, which is provided through PBJ Connections.

Jennifer Gebhart, a licensed Yoga 4 Classrooms^® trainer, offered a one-day Professional Development Workshop at Hanby Elementary on Friday, October 16, to empower elementary classroom teachers and other school staff to integrate simple yoga and mindfulness techniques into the class day, creating positive, peaceful, productive classrooms that support exceptional learning and a lifetime of health and wellness.

Friday, October 16, was Ohio Education Association/National Education Association Day. Teachers and staff members throughout the state attended professional development workshops and seminars. Thanks to the Westerville City School District’s Employee Wellness Committee staff in the Westerville City School District had the opportunity to participate in a number of special activities.

The Westerville Education Foundation today announced two upcoming initiatives to support and recognize Westerville City School District educators for their hard work and dedication to students, families, and their profession.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education is seeking feedback from families regarding the proposed 2016-2017 calendar.  The calendar, as it was presented in a first reading to the Board on October 12, can be viewed by visiting www.wcsoh.org, and clicking on the box marked “2016-2017 Calendar Review & Feedback.”

While staying with a host family in Westerville, German elementary school Principal Matthias Wagener hoped to visit a school here and speak to students and teachers about the differences and similarities of education in the two countries.  His wish came true on October 12, when he and first grade teacher Susan Schumaker lectured in classrooms at Hanby Elementary.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet in Executive Session at 9:15 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2015, for the purpose of discussing personnel.  No action will be taken.  The meeting will take place at the Early Learning Center, which is located at 936 Eastwind Drive.

The Ohio Department of Education, over the past several weeks, has made frequent changes to assessments that will be administered this school year to students across the state. Westerville City School District officials have remained informed of these changes and recently finalized the local testing calendar for district students.

The Westerville City School District Board of Education yesterday authorized district officials to establish a new fee structure for students participating in athletics and other activities. Once approved, the measure would reduce extracurricular “Pay-to-Participate” fees, as well as phase in the suspension of fees for club activities and co-curricular activities in which students receive a grade.

The Westerville City School District is partnering with Health Heroes, Inc. to offer flu mist clinics again this year to elementary and middle school students on October 21; and to high school students on October 22.  The district piloted the Flu Mist program for the State of Ohio last school year, with the goal of reducing absenteeism.

All proceeds will benefit the Westerville South Basketball Team. 

At the Westerville City Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday, October 26, five exemplary employees will receive A+ Awards; Jim Cowman, Holly Hughes-Carroll, Vicki Jarrell, Rodney Johnson, and Diana Tisdale.

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.

Classes will not be held in the Westerville City School District on Friday, October 16, 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 19.  

Local citizens gathered on Sunday afternoon, September 27, for the Westerville Community Culture Celebration, designed to inspire open dialogue, educate, break down bias, and promote peace, acceptance, inclusion and one humanity.  Booths were set up displaying arts, crafts and wares of various cultures, and Lott of Tales storyteller Teri Lott shared stories from around the world.

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 22 or Friday, October 23, 2015.  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 26.  

Crowds turned out en masse for Fall Fest on September 25, Westerville’s last 4^th Friday of the season.  Students, staff and administrators gathered on the front lawn of Hanby Elementary to present programs ranging from pre-k to high school, as well as a district slide show and a table dedicated to the Student Connections Initiative and Head Start.  The Fab Lab was also on site to show visitors technology available to pupils participating in the Innovation Generation program.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education will meet in Regular Session at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 12 and Monday, October 26, 2015, at the Early Learning Center, which is located at 936 Eastwind Drive in Westerville, Ohio.

Another successful Honor Flight took place on Saturday, September 19, when 76 World War II and Korean Conflict veterans traveled, with their escorts, to Washington, D.C. to see monuments in honor of their service to our country.  A number of Westerville pupils and educators served as guardians.

Approximately 50 students from all three Westerville high schools met Friday, September 18 at the Summit Vision Teambuilding facility in Westerville for a full day of training to become Minority Scholar Student Leaders. The training prepared them for their roles as peer tutors and mentors for the Minority Scholars Program.

Westerville City School District employees Cynthia DeVese, Tami Santa and Jill Ponzi were awarded a grant to facilitate the M.O.D.E.L. program at Heritage Middle School this school year. In collaboration with Role Model Magazine, nine female adult volunteers from the community and WCSD staff, the project aims to increase girls’ sense of self-worth; improve perspective toward education; provide positive support and encouragement; and help them become self-sufficient young adult leaders and ultimately increase their school performance.

Dave Yost, Auditor of the State of Ohio, visited the Westerville City School District on Tuesday morning, September 22, to present the Treasurer’s Department with an Award with Distinction for excellence in financial reporting for their Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended 2014.  Inscribed on the plaque are the words, “Your exemplary reporting serves as the standard for clean, accountable government, representing the highest level of service to Ohioans.”

On the final day of preschool last year, the staff, PTA and parents surprised army veteran Craig Eberhard, their custodian, with the trip of a lifetime – the opportunity to escort a senior veteran to Washington, D.C. as part of the Honor Flight program.  They also purchased a flag in his name at the Field of Heroes.  Honor Flight 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.  Guardians donate $300 each to offset costs for the privilege of escorting the senior military personnel.   To date, thousands of dollars have been raised in Westerville for this program.  Eberhard just learned he will be escorting 82-year-old Hershel Green, who served in Korea.  “I can’t wait to meet him,” he said.

The 2015 Mount Carmel St. Ann’s 4^th Friday season will wrap up with Fall Fest (formerly known as School Daze) on September 25 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in Historic Uptown Westerville.

Applications are being accepted through Friday, September 25, for the fall 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.  Awards are presented twice during each school year – once in the fall, and once in the spring – to employees who distinguish themselves through a single or ongoing demonstration of exemplary performance.

The Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) is now accepting applications from faculty and staff of the Westerville City School District for Innovation Grants.  Grant proposals (with principal/supervisor endorsement) are due by October 2.

The Columbus Children’s Theatre is thrilled to partner with the Arnold Sports Festival in an effort to find the most talented performers.  They are on the hunt for singers, dancers, jugglers, ventriloquists, magicians and talents of all kind from youth ages 8-18.

The Westerville Community Culture Celebration will take place from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday September 27, at the Westerville Community Center, located at 350 North Cleveland Avenue.  Dynamic speakers with unique backgrounds and experiences will share stories sure to unite and inspire our community.

Twenty-five members of the Westerville City Schools Emergency Management Planning Committee met on September 3 to analyze a district-wide safety drill, which took place the day before in partnership with five police jurisdictions, two fire jurisdictions, all school personnel and every student.

The successor contract begins retroactive to September 1, 2015, and remains in effect through the 2017-18 school year.

Singing, dancing, acting, driving a school bus, teaching lessons in safety – Westerville City Schools Transportation employees do it all it seems, as evidenced by their latest performances of School Bus the Musical, the yearly kindergarten through third grade training activity.  Over the course of several days at the beginning of each school year, drivers transport some 4,000 elementary students to Westerville South High to see a fun-filled musical which teaches the district’s youngest pupils valuable lessons about riding the school bus.  The program was developed and is performed by Westerville City Schools bus drivers.  

Westerville Education Challenge proudly presents Boots ‘N BBQ at the Barn, benefiting Challenge Day in Westerville City Schools.  The event will take place on Saturday evening, October 3, from 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. Dinner will be provided by the Old Bag of Nails Pub and Rusty Bucket. “Moonshine” tasting will take place, along with a silent auction and raffle. A DJ will be on hand to keep the crowd hopping with great music.

Each year the Westerville City Schools Transportation Department bestows “Ferdie Awards,” which honor bus drivers for going above and beyond the call of duty, providing gold standard levels of service, completing routes in a timely on a timely manner, performing unconditional acts of kindness and displaying genuine care and concern for children.  Last month, six drivers were recognized for perfect attendance during the FY14-15 school year.

For three hours on Wednesday afternoon, August 26, the Westerville City School District partnered with Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) and its Mobile Care Center to offer a full range of immunizations required for children entering kindergarten, along with the latest Tdap shots needed for current and incoming middle school students.  Families were also welcomed to schedule well-checks and the doctor and nurse in the unit addressed illness concerns as time allowed.

When word got out that some students in the Westerville City School District might not be able to afford needed supplies to begin the new school year, employees at the Early Learning Center started bringing in donations.  By the week’s end, the “pile” had grown to an impressive proportion.  The supplies will be distributed among pupils at several elementary schools.

In observation of Labor Day, school will not be held and offices will be closed in the Westerville City School District on Monday, September 7, 2015.  Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, September 8.

Board members unanimously passed a resolution formally opposing what has become known as the “Youngstown School Plan,” calling it a measure that was “secretly concocted” without input from the Youngstown Board of Education, the State Board of Education, the Youngstown Mayor and City Council, and every other elected public official in the city.

The first day of Kindergarten in the Westerville City School District was Monday, August 17.  New this year, parents had the opportunity to enter their child’s name in a lottery which determined placement in tuition-based All-Day kindergarten.  369 families applied for 260 All-Day kindergarten seats in 10 classrooms.  Four of those are located at Longfellow Elementary School, which has been closed since June 2012.  The remaining six classes are being held in elementary buildings throughout the district that had available space – Alcott, Annehurst, Cherrington, Hawthorne, Robert Frost and Whittier.

Applications are being accepted through Friday, September 25, for the fall 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.

The Food Service Department at Westerville City Schools is in the process of implementing state-of-the-art identification equipment that will provide security for student meal accounts, eliminate clerical errors, give children more time to eat their lunch, and offer students an easy way to identify themselves when entering the building and using the cafeteria Point-of-Sale system.

Leah Gaines (Genoa Middle School), Brittany Barnhart (Westerville Central High School), Kassie Sliney (Westerville South High School) and Melissa Paletta (Westerville South High School) went to the CPM Academy of Best Practices in Seattle, Washington from August 3 - 7. All four teachers applied for the workshop, along with almost 100 teachers around the country, and were among the lucky 32 sponsored and chosen by CPM to attend.

More than 100 Westerville teachers participated in EdTech Camp from August 3 - 6.  These professional learning sessions, held in classroom at Blendon Middle School, related to integrating technology effectively into the classroom.  Presenters consisted of Westerville teachers who are leaders in utilizing technology for student learning and engagement.

The Westerville City School District’s Board of Education is seeking applicants to serve on the district’s audit committee as a professional link between the Board and independent auditors. Interested persons may apply through the district website, www.wcsoh.org.  All applications must be received by noon on August 21.  Those members appointed will serve a one year term.

Central Ohio whether couldn’t have been nicer for the thousands of Westerville City Schools pupils in grades 1-12, who reported for classes on Thursday morning, August 13.

Each trip to Washington features a “mail call,” where veterans receive messages of gratitude from children and adults.  Students who cannot yet write are encouraged to draw pictures. 

Westerville City Schools today announced its 2015-2016 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.

Hundreds of 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 Saturday morning, August 1.

More than 100 teachers who are new to the Westerville City School District gathered in the Media Center at Westerville Central High School on August 6 and 7 for an orientation session hosted by the Office of Human Resources.  The district received some 3,500 applications for positions that are now filled.

Westerville City Schools will host a meeting from 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, for English as a Second Language parents who are new to the district.  It will take place in the Board Training Room of the Early Learning Center, which is located at 936 Eastwind Avenue in Westerville.

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.

Second grade students from Kelly Balaz’s class at Hanby Magnet School got to meet their “Leaping Letters” pen pals on Tuesday afternoon, May 12.  This marks the third year letters have been exchanged between Westerville students and senior citizens.  Balaz says, “This is a great way to connect two parts of the community who may otherwise not get a chance to know each other.” 

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.

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 7 at The Ohio State University’s Fawcett Center welcomed more than 200 students, teachers and partners from around the state. In Westerville, 60 students and five educators were recognized for their outstanding work this school year through the Westerville Energy Education Partnership.

April 30 was a big day for students at Hanby Elementary School.  Not only did ABC6/FOX28 Meteorologist Marschall McPeek stop in to talk about weather, some of them got to appear that evening on the local broadcast. 

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.

On May 4 and May 7, each third grade student at all 14 elementaries in the Westerville City School District, along with St. Paul, received a personal copy of A Student’s Dictionary, thanks to the Rotary Club of Westerville.  They were assisted by volunteers from the Harris-Askins House, who placed a Rotary sticker on the first page of each book.

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.

Second grade Hanby Elementary students in the classrooms of Emily Kessler and Kelly Balaz recently staged a Cinderella Fairytale Dance in the auditorium at Westerville South High School.  The pupils collaborated with Generations Performing Arts Center to put on the performance.  The youngsters worked very hard to learn their dances.  They experienced the arts, through music and dance, and math, by counting steps and finding patterns. 

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.

Students from Frank Hatcher’s science education class at Otterbein University hosted their annual Pizza Box Science labs for the 2^nd and 5^th grade Math and Science Magnet classes of Hanby.  This is a partnership that allows both pupils of Hanby’s Math/Science Magnet and the education students of Otterbein to learn and collaborate about science together.

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 Center of Science and Industry (COSI) brought its traveling program, “Current Conditions” to Hanby Magnet School on Wednesday, January 21.  The day began with an interactive assembly introducing the students to air pressure, cloud formation, warm and cold fronts, and extreme weather.

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.

Friends and family members packed Hanby Elementary School on Wednesday evening, December 17, to watch fifth grade students star in a progressive performance entitled, “Stories through Time.”  Three plays took place concurrently in different locations in the building – Alice in Wonderland; Living Time Line; and Time Capsule.

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. 

Girls from Cherrington, Hanby and Wilder elementary schools make up the official Cherrington team that participated in the Girls on the Run 5K Walk & Run, held on November 15 at the Columbus Commons.  After committing to 10 weeks of training every Monday and Wednesday, the girls braved the cold weather to celebrate their great accomplishment.  Throughout the process, the Girls on the Run program encouraged self-reflection and builds self-confidence meant to empower young females in grades 3-5.

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.

Linda Pettit from the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District spent the day in Sara Thiegs’ fourth grade science classes at Hanby Elementary School on November 13 to demonstrate erosion using a simulator.

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.”

Westerville Partners for Education hosted a special STEAMHub session at Hanby Elementary on November 5 and has plans for a Hub at Emerson on December 4.  These Hubs are opportunities for businesses and organizations to meet and collaborate with teachers about upcoming projects for the year, field trip opportunities, resource sharing, and are a chance for organization leaders to learn more about Westerville Schools.

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.

VSA Ohio, the state organization on arts and disability, has revealed the names of 21 schools selected for the Adaptation, Integration and the Arts (AIA) residency program during the 2014-2015 school year.  Included on the list are Hanby Magnet Elementary and McVay Elementary in Westerville

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.

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 13 at The Ohio State University’s Fawcett Center welcomed more than 250 students, teachers and partners from around the state.  In Westerville, 20 students and four educators were recognized for their outstanding work this school year through the Westerville Energy Education Partnership.

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.

Hanby Elementary School’s annual Art Auction will take place at the school this Saturday, April 12, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.  Hanby is located at 56 South State Street.  The event is free and open to the public.  There will be a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy including silent auctions of outstanding bountiful baskets, original art, kids stations, buy it now and bidding auctions, and, of course, food.  This year a new booth will be featured called “Cheerful Cards,” where children will have the opportunity to create greeting cards for youngsters at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  This event, lead by Mandi Yeager, is being sponsored by Columbus Children’s Charity. 

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. 

Recent action by the Ohio Department of Education has expanded the window in which school districts can administer Ohio Achievement Assessments (OAA) to students in grades 3-8.

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 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 11, 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.

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. 

Last school year, the fifth grade Crochet Club at Hanby Elementary set out on a lofty mission – to crochet 24 four-inch x four-inch squares as part of a blanket to donate to a hospitalized baby.  With the help of volunteer Sara Mercer-Sells, they recently met their goal. 

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.

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.”

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.

Third grade students from Hanby Elementary classrooms of Kristina Roggenkamp and Rachel Lacy took a walking field trip to “California” via video conferencing to learn about the Journey of Milk: From Cow to Carton.  With the help of Dr. Scott Ebbrecht (Liaison for K-12 Partnerships, Otterbein University) and Willie Franklin (Senior Technology Specialist, Otterbein University), the children walked to Otterbein and used the technology resources available on campus in Roush Hall.  They met Dr. Kathy Krendl, President of Otterbein University, and Kristi Robbins, Chief of Staff at Otterbein and Vice-President of the Westerville City Schools Board of Education.

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.

Students who earned recognition at the Ohio PTA Reflections 2012-2013 State Competition were recognized by the Westerville City Schools Board of Education at its Regular Session held on Monday, April 22.

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!

Emma Fury, a fifth grade student from Hanby Elementary School, was selected as the First Grand Prize winner from entries submitted for Westerville’s annual Shade Tree Arbor Day Poster Contest.  The Second Grand Prize award was earned by Emily Hodges and Brandon Waebker and the Third Grand Prize award went to Mackenzie Madden, all from Hanby.

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.

The community is cordially invited to attend the annual Hanby Arts Auction, which will be held from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, April 21.  Admission is free.

The Westerville Elementary Boosters will hold its inaugural “Starry Night” astronomy festival from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, at Westerville South High School, which is located at 303 South Otterbein Avenue.

Parents of children who reside within the Westerville School district or the Westerville City limits may register their children for Safety City on Tuesday evening, April 30.  Eligibility for this registration depends on the district in which the child resides – not where the child will attend Kindergarten.