District News

When asked to organize an observance of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the social studies department at Westerville North High School came to a few conclusions:

• Teaching the event has changed over time as more and more students in school today had not been born when it happened. 

• Teachers and students alike have experienced a lot in the last 18 months because of the pandemic and the department didn’t want to add one more traumatic, triggering event to their consciousness.

Genoa Middle School eighth-grader Addison Shoults has always been drawn to art, diving into different mediums such as painting and cross-stitching. 

When the state shut down schools at the start of the pandemic last year, she used her time at home to merge the two art forms — with satisfying results. 

With more than 50 pieces completed, Shoults is among the several local artists whose works are currently on display and for sale at the Ohio Art Market in Uptown Westerville. At 13, she was the youngest artist to participate in an outdoor event throughout Uptown last Friday where Ohio Art Market artists conducted live art demonstrations and shared how they create their works.

Westerville North High School junior Tahira Johnson has been selected to the College Board National African American Recognition Program, which recognizes African American students across the country based on their PSAT or AP scores.

Neighborhood bridges — in collaboration with the City of Westerville, Neighbor2Neighbor, Roush Honda and Re/Max Affiliates — is kicking off the annual “Fundies” drive to support Westerville City School District students in need.  

The Westerville Parent Council (WPC) is hosting a Fall Food Truck Festival to support scholarships for Westerville students and WPC programming.

The festival is 4-8 p.m. Oct. 16 at Westerville North High School’s parking lot. 

Learn more about the council here.

The Westerville Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7783 is accepting submissions for the national VFW youth programs as well as nominations for teachers who promote civic responsibility and patriotism.

Westerville North High School has been awarded a Purple Star designation for its commitment to serving military families, a renewal of an honor the school received from the Ohio Department of Education in 2018.

Westerville South was awarded the designation last year and Westerville Central received the designation in 2019.

The first-graders at Hanby Elementary walked into the gym Tuesday morning where Alisa Franklin prepared a lesson in a topic she has never before covered since becoming a physical education teacher more than a dozen years ago.

“We’re going to figure out how to tie some shoes,” she told students.

The first phase of Westerville South High School’s renovation/addition project has been recognized by American School & University magazine for its innovative design.

The McVay Elementary school community kicked off the school year with their annual PRIDE assemblies last week where they premiered their latest school parody music video, “Off To Show Our Pride.”

The theatre programs for all three Westerville high schools have been accepted into the CAPA Marquee High School Musical Theatre Awards and will vie for honors in 11 categories from participating high schools throughout Central Ohio. 

Three Westerville middle school students have been selected to join the Capital University Junior Winds, a youth ensemble hosted by Capital University that provides high-level instruction and repertoire for band students in grades 8 and 9. 

At 9:37 a.m. each morning, there is a collective pause to the school day at Walnut Springs Middle School. 

During the advisory period, students meet with teachers and staff members across the building — in classrooms, on the gym stage, throughout the cafeteria and in the courtyard. They gather in circles where Walnut Springs adults lead a guided forum for students to connect, express their feelings and hear from one another.

Chris Cuprys, a 2021 graduate from Westerville Central High School, has been named the Educational Options for Success (EOS) program’s 10th Outstanding Graduate.

Cuprys earned all his high school credits through EOS — the second student ever to do so in the program’s 20-year history. 

“It’s an honor,” he said. “It was the best four years of school I’ve had. I loved it here.”

A new initiative between Westerville City Schools’ orchestra program and the Westerville Symphony brings live concerts to younger audiences while giving students the opportunity to learn from and connect with professional musicians. 

Westerville South High School has been awarded a grant from the Aladdin Shriners Hospital Association for Children in Grove City to purchase medical equipment that assists students with physical disabilities when using the toilet.

Westerville North High School added four members to its Athletics Hall of Fame prior to the Aug. 20 football game.

Tickets are now on sale for Westerville Education Foundation’s StoryBall event on Oct. 23, which celebrates education in Westerville City Schools.

The Westerville Public Library is offering free delivery of library materials to Westerville City Schools students, teachers, and staff throughout the school year. 

Heritage Middle School has embraced a new approach to their sports teams this year that spelled out their expectations to students before they signed up: Scholar first, athlete second.

The yellow rose ceremony typically kicks off a new school year at Westerville North High School, setting the tone for seniors embarking on their last year of high school and giving freshmen a chance to see what awaits them in the future.

Last year’s celebration was canceled after the district started the year virtually because of the pandemic. However, school leaders surprised the Class of 2021 with yellow roses before commencement last spring.

Westerville High School Class of 1972 is holding its reunion on Sept. 10, 2022 at Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbus, 2700 Corporate Exchange Dr.

Blendon Middle School eighth-grader Ava Bennett can relate to this year’s newest members of the Bulldog school family.

Three days before all of Westerville City Schools opened its doors to students, the district’s administrators, educators and support staff got some class time together. 

Three Westerville students competed in the AAU Junior Olympic Nationals Track Meet in Houston on Aug. 2-7.

Those interested in helping to shape the future of Westerville Public Library can apply to become a member of the Board of Trustees. The seven-year term begins Jan. 1, 2022, and the deadline to apply is Sept. 17.

The inaugural group of Hope Squad student leaders across Westerville’s high schools took their first steps learning how they can help support peers struggling with mental health.

This year’s lunch menu for Westerville City Schools’ elementary, middle and high schools features several new options that may not be so new to students.

Westerville middle and high school students are eligible for free COTA Plus rides from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays.

A crowd of Cherrington Elementary students and their parents gathered at their Blendon Woods neighborhood last week, awaiting the arrival of Principal Andy Heck and their teachers.

Blendon Middle School Principal Kendall Harris is part of a state task force charged with identifying best practices that improve educational outcomes for Ohio’s Black children.

Westerville high school band students participated in the Ohio State University Marching Band Summer High School Clinic earlier this month, where they developed their marching and performance skills.

Alcott Elementary is one of 10 schools in the nation to receive a President’s Award for Exceptional Performance from the Scholastic Book Fairs Elementary National Contest.

Six Columbus cultural institutions are offering free or discounted tickets to families who qualify for Special Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) benefits. 

The Westerville City School District (WCSD) Board of Education approved another organizational move during its June 28 regular board meeting as part of the district’s continuing succession planning initiative.

Anne Baldwin became the district’s Executive Director of Secondary Academic Affairs effective July 1, 2021, filling the vacancy created by Scott Reeves’ transition to Executive Director of Human Resources.

Brooks Hibbitt and Grant Buzard, two rising seventh-graders at Blendon Middle School, will compete in the National B.A.S.S. Junior Fishing Tournament on October 8 and 9 in Tennessee.

The Westerville City Schools Board of Education approved another organizational move during its June 14  regular board meeting as part of the district’s succession planning initiative.

When a group of juniors at Westerville South High School (WSHS) surveyed their peers about a change they’d want to see in their school, many of them talked about a need for practical skills such as cooking, car maintenance and financial literacy. 

Another group of juniors at Westerville North High School (WNHS) focused their survey to peers about staff diversity and whether they’ve been able to connect with teachers whose racial and ethnic background is different from their own. 

Next school year, all Westerville City School District families will report student absences through a secure system called SafeArrival.  In addition to reducing the time it takes to verify student attendance, this system gives families more options to report a child’s absence and allows our staff to immediately investigate discrepancies. This is especially important when a child is reported absent during attendance and the office has not notified that the student would be missing school that day. 

Expansion of voucher program the latest legislative maneuver to fund private education at the expense of Ohio’s local taxpayers, public schools

Families of incoming sixth-graders can visit a new Westerville City Schools’ webpage that provides resources on the transition to middle school. The online site provides information on key dates, virtual middle school music meetings and the Moving Up Night virtual event on April 28.

Westerville City Schools Superintendent Dr. John Kellogg on Monday announced the district’s comprehensive approach to addressing the academic and social-emotional needs of students and staff because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Westerville North High School’s band director Sara Loney will join up to 300 band directors from across the country to march in the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Rose Parade on Jan. 1.

When Westerville South High School freshman Sam Gurgiolo started thinking about what classes to take this fall, he decided to create a schedule for the remainder of his high school career, outlining course requirements and electives that would set him on a path towards his engineering studies. 

The exercise served as a primer to developing his own graduation plan — a new initiative Westerville school counselors rolled out with ninth- and 10th-graders this week.

Westerville City School District Board of Education members approved the following 2021 meeting calendar during their Jan. 11 organizational meeting.