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

To support the social and emotional needs of students in the Westerville City School District, the Westerville Education Challenge (WEC) launched an online social-emotional resource center available to students, families and staff on Tuesday.

Last spring, school systems across the nation were challenged to quickly assess, address, and adapt to the worldwide pandemic. Whether implementing remote instruction models to keep students learning, modifying meal service to keep students fed, stockpiling personal protective equipment to keep students and employees safe, or shifting resources to maintain operations, these rapid adjustments left school leaders concerned about the overall impact the coronavirus could have on their respective districts.

Twenty Westerville City Schools employees were honored for their contributions to students, dedication to their schools and their commitment to district values as part of the A+ Award recognition at Monday’s school board meeting.

Westerville City Schools Treasurer Nicole Marshall and Superintendent Dr. John Kellogg presented testimony before the Ohio House Finance Committee on Nov. 17 in support of the Fair School Funding plan, a new school funding formula that would reduce the state’s overreliance on local taxpayers to pay for public education and provide a more equitable state model for funding schools.

The True North podcast started as a possible assignment for Westerville North High School’s African American history and literature courses. 

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

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

Members of Blendon Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society helped collect granola bars for the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM). 

Students at Alcott Elementary had a hoot waking up to find their front yards decorated with large, colorful owl cutouts as part of a fundraiser organized by the school’s PTA.

Matthew Wolfe, director of theatre at Westerville South High School and the district’s Summer Theatre Enrichment director, has been named the next director of the Ohio Chapter of the Educational Theatre Association. The four-year term will begin in August.

Jasmine Hearne, an occupational therapy student at Ohio State University, led a session for Hawthorne Elementary students in need of OT that included a mental health component.