News Alerts
News Alerts are short news bits (listed newest to oldest) about successes and achievements
of South-Western students and staff.
If you have any newsworthy items, visit the Media Relations page to find out how and where to submit them.
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Ninth Annual SWCS Spelling Bee
On Thursday, February 11, 2010, fifty students from South-Western’s intermediate and middle schools participated in the district’s Ninth Annual Spelling Bee. Brookpark Middle School eighth grader Tyler McMaken earned the title of 2010 SWCS Spelling Bee Champion by correctly spelling the word “vinegar.” Galloway Ridge Intermediate School sixth grader Haylie Graves earned the runner-up title.
Tyler and Emily will compete in the Sheridan WorldWise Regional Spelling Bee on March 6, 2010 at Centennial High School along with the following students:
3rd place – Taylor Hensel, Brookpark Middle School, sixth grade
4th place – Said Ahmed, Norton Middle School, seventh grade
5th place - Sierra Seymour, Finland Middle School, eighth grade
6th place – Richard DeFoe, Franklin Woods Intermediate School, sixth grade
7th place – Calvin Clark, Jackson Middle School, seventh grade
8th place – Josh Matthews, Jackson Middle School, seventh grade
9th place – Shaela Davis, Franklin Woods Intermediate School, sixth grade
10th place – Kayla Schulze, Franklin Woods Intermediate School, sixth grade
CCHS Senior Signs a Letter of Intent to Run Cross Country at Tiffin College
CCHS senior Luke Boggs signs a letter of intent to run cross country at Tiffin College. Picured with Luke are CCHS Principal Hubert Watson, Doug and Christy Boggs, and CCHS Athletic Director Zoraba Ross.
Three Finland Middle School Students Participate in Ohio Regional Future City Competition at COSI
On January 16, 2010, three students at Finland Middle School participated in the Ohio Regional Future City Competition at COSI in downtown Columbus. This is the second year for FMS to compete. Prior to the competition at COSI, each 7th grade science class at FMS was challenged to create and build a model of a futuristic city. Applying concepts from the 7th grade science indicators, students designed cities that creatively and effectively solved many problems of today's cities, from traffic jams to pollution to toxic waste. The three students representing FMS at COSI were David Cherneta, Vanessa Fernandez, and Cristina Punzalan.
Campus Safety magazine has named South-Western City Schools Safety Director Gary Sigrist, Jr. as one of the Top 10 Campus Safety Directors of the Year. Congratulations to Mr. Sigrist! To read the full article, click here.
Two GCHS Students Participate in Honors Band
William England, a Grove City 10th grade alto saxophonist, and Morgan Baker, a 12th grade bassoonist, participated in the Honors Band at Ohio University recently. William will be attending the Ohio State University for Honors Band the weekend of January 16.
GCHS Students Qualify for National DECA Career Development Conference Stock Market Game Competition
Grove City students DJ Mulford, Tessa Wagner and Michael Wyatt qualified for the national DECA Career Development Conference in the Stock Market Game Competition. The students competed against other DECA members across the country and placed top in their region. They will be presenting their portfolio at the National DECA Career Development Conference in Louisville, Kentucky this spring.
GCHS Guidance Counselor Named December OEA Teacher of the Month
Grove City guidance counselor John Hampson has been selected as the December Ohio Education Association “Teacher of the Month.” On January 12, representatives from OEA, ClearChannel, Half Price Books and Wendy’s will present Mr. Hampson with a $100 gift card from Half Price Books and a burger party from Wendy’s. He will also be featured in commercials on WTVN, WLZT, WCOL, WHCI and WBWR radio and on their Web sites.
SWCA/WHS Student Receives “Choose Ohio First” STEM scholarship
Emalee Dickson received a “Choose Ohio First” STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) scholarship of $4,700 per year for two years to the University of Akron. Emalee is a second year Pre-Engineering student at SWCA. Emalee has achieved a GPA of 3.576 and is an honors student at the Career Academy. Her home high school is Westland.
FHHS NJROTC Air Rifle Team Places 10th in the Nation
The Franklin Heights High School NJROTC air rifle team placed 10th in the nation in the Secretary of the Navy’s Air Rifle Competition. They were the number one NJROTC team in the State of Ohio. Team members are Tyler Hill, Nick Pickering, Jackie Rich and Josh Stevens.
CCHS Swim Team Member Named The Dispatch Athlete of the Week
Congratulations to CCHS Swim Team member Caroline Kruczynski on being named The Dispatch Athlete of the Week on Saturday, December 12, 2009. Caroline, a junior at CCHS, competes in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke and multiple relays. <More information>
CCHS NJROTC to compete in National Drill Team Championships
The Central Crossing High School NJROTC Drill Team has been accepted to compete in the National High School Drill Team Championships scheduled for May 1-3, 2010. Competition for acceptance was very keen with 119 schools from across the United States being accepted. This is an all-service event with JROTC units representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Marine Corps. Central Crossing is the only NJROTC program chosen from the state of Ohio and one of only two Area 3 representatives from seven states.
Grove City High School Senior Named National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalist
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Grove City High School Senior Matthew Warner has been named as a Semifinalist in the 55th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. More than 1.5 million juniors in 22,000 high schools entered the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2008 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, including the highest scoring entrants in each state. Matthew has a current cumulative weighted grade point average of 4.3134. He is the current Class of 2010 President at Grove City High School and has also served as class president his freshman, sophomore and junior years. Matthew is the Band President, National Honor Society President, a member of the Grove City High School Student Council and varsity member of the “In the Know” team. He has been a STAR (Success Through Academic Recognition) Award Recipient each of his previous years in high school. Matthew is the son of Melanie and Jeff Warner. |
| From left to right: Matthew Warner, Board Vice President Greg McCarty, Mindy Garverick, Amy Baker, Board President Cathy Johnson, Randy Reisling |
ESPN - Outside the Lines - November 22, 2009
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/index
Holt Crossing Intermediate gets 2009 SOAR Award
Holt Crossing Intermediate School was one of 12 Ohio schools presented with the 2009 SOAR Award for High Progress Schools from Battelle for Kids on Monday, November 9, 2009. 
These annual awards are designed to acknowledge Ohio Schools participating in the SOAR, Battelle for Kids' school improvement collaborative, for their acedemic progress in multiple grade levels and subjects over the last school year (2008-2009). Holt Crossing is among the top 1.5 percent of schools (out of 783 eligible SOAR schools) making exceptional growth with their students.
Each school was evaluated on five criteris during the most recent school year, including: a minimum of six indicators of effectiveness; above average growth; consistency in school effects across grades and subjects; above average school effects on common state-administered tests; and minimal negative school effects.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Deb Delisle attended the ceremony, offered congratulatory remarks and presented Holt Crossing with its award.
HBO Real Sports Segment on SWCS Issue 47
(YouTube Links) <part 1> <part 2>
South Western City School District Financial Aid Night
Attention all high school seniors and parents: On Wednesday, December 16, Greg Guzman, from Bowling Green State University Financial Aid Department, will be presenting information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All seniors planning to attend college in the fall of 2010 and their parents will need to fill out this application in January of 2010.
The presentation will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. and last until approximately 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Grove City United Methodist Church (2684 Columbus Street, Grove City, OH 43123) in the Worship Center.
Board Recognizes 36 Master Teachers
The South-Western City School District Board of Education recently recognized and congratulated the following 36 master teachers: Barry Alcock, Deborah Belcastro, Michael Brickell, Nancy Bryant, Vicki Burlingame, Ellen Crouthamel, Andrea Delaney, Deborah Delozier, George Edge, Gina Fill, Nancy Florence, Kathleen Gadomski, Barbara Gallaugher, Mary Beth Hageman, Christine Hall, Stefanie Hall, Sally Howlett, Melissa Kendralla, Victoria Kraner, Jean Lampe, Judy MacNamee, Camilla McComb, Patrick O’Brien, Nancy Palsgrove, Shannon Patterson, Christy Pearl, Kim Pfeiffer, Mary Beth Rauhaus, Melanie Retterer, Jennifer Rosendale, Heather Sayre, Cindy Sheahan, Jane Staek, Michelle Toothman, Margaret Towery and Kelly Williams.
A master teacher demonstrates excellence inside and outside of the classroom through consistent leadership and focused collaboration to maximize student learning. A master teacher strives for distinguished teaching and continued professional growth as specified by The Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession:
- Teachers understand student learning and development, and respect the diversity of the students they teach.
- Teachers know and understand the content area for which they have instructional responsibility.
- Teachers understand and use varied assessments to inform instruction, evaluate and ensure student learning.
- Teachers plan and deliver effective instruction that advances the learning of each individual student.
- Teachers create learning environments that promote high levels of learning and achievement for all students.
- Teachers collaborate and communicate with students, parents, other educators, administrators and the community to support student learning.
- Teachers assume responsibility for professional growth, performance, and involvement as an individual and as a member of a learning community.
Westland Chapter of Business Professionals of America Elects Secretary
The Westland Chapter of Business Professionals of America (BPA) is pleased to announce that Jonathan Bowen was elected as BPA Region 14 Secretary for the 2009-2010 school year. Jonathan participated in the Region 14 BPA Officer Screening and was selected to run for office on October 6 at the Region 14 Fall Leadership Conference. The competition included students from Eastland Career Center, Franklin Heights, and Gahanna Lincoln High Schools. Jonathan is the first student to be elected from Westland in the past 10 years. Congratulations Jonathan!
Coaching Buddies in South-Western
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in the South-Western City School District Lois Rapp is excited about what the federal stimulus package for education (ARRA) will bring to her school district. Math and literacy coaches will be expanded to sixth-grade this year, up from K-4, and the district has hired 17 additional coaches to mentor other teachers.
Grove City High School Senior Wins Writing Award
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Grove City High School senior Greg Shipley was recently cited as a winner in the 2009 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Achievement Awards in Writing. He is one of only 18 students in Ohio to receive a certificate for Superior Writing. Achievement Awards in Writing is a school-based writing program established in 1957 to encourage high school students in their writing and to recognize publicly some of the best student writers in the nation. |
Bobb Suzuki Donates Car to SWCA Automotive Program
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Bobb Suzuki, 4639 West Broad Street, donated a 2008 Suzuki Forenza to the South-Western Career Academy for use in the Automotive Program as an instructional vehicle. Bobb Suzuki Controller Tom O'Ryan is shown handing the keys to the car to SWCA Automotive Program instructor Rob Thompson. Also shown is senior automotive student German Verne. |
Twelve Westland students earn AP Scholar Awards
Twelve Westland High School students have earned Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on Advanced Placement Exams. Nine students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4.0 or higher on a five-point scale on all AP Exams taken, and a 4.0 or higher on eight or more of these exams. These students are: Matthew Demana, William Emmelhainz, Keri Hagans, Alexander Logue. Jared Myers, Jordan Penwell, Irina Posykalyuk, Courtney Skaggs, and Cyle Tiller.
Three students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3.0 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are: Elizabeth Altfillisch, Luis Bautista, and James Burns.
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the nearly 1.7 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award.
The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.
Congratulations to these students for their superior achievements and to all the students who took and completed their Advanced Placement courses.
The impact of an Ohio school district's decision to cut sports
By Andy Staples, Sports Illustrated
GROVE CITY, Ohio -- That first Friday at Grove City High was so quiet. Any other school year, the school's nationally acclaimed band would have ended the day by marching through the halls blasting the fight song. Any other school year, more than 11,000 would have gathered later that evening at the stadium behind the school to watch the Greyhounds -- better known as the Dawgs -- open their season. Any other school year, Friday would have meant something.
(Sports Illustrated News Article)
Gee scholarship helps achieve a dream
OSU president personally pays for freshman's college education
By Tom Knox, Columbus Dispatch
Gloria Schultz would have sold her house to send her grandson to college.
He'll be the first in the family to make it that far, and a lack of college money wasn't going to get in the way.
Her grandson, Todd Fessler, thought he'd have to work a lot of part-time hours, and pay back loans for years to achieve his dream of playing trumpet with the Ohio State University Marching Band.
Instead, he'll enjoy a free ride on tuition and fees. Fessler is the first recipient of a scholarship personally funded by Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee.
The scholarship, announced by his Grove City High School guidance counselor during a graduation rehearsal in the spring, was a surprise. He hadn't applied for it.
(Dispatch News Article)
Westland High School Student Chosen to Attend Accounting Careers Awareness Program
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Westland High School student Ridwan Mohamed was one of 45 students selected from across the State of Ohio to attend the 14th Annual Accounting Careers Awareness Program (ACAP), a week -long summer enrichment opportunity with two simple goals:
Students who participate in ACAP-Ohio program gain real-world experiences during informative workshops, interactive discussions, facility tours and one-on-one mentoring sessions with minority accounting and business professionals. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to compete for college scholarships. |
Gilbert "Jay" Johnson, Executive Director of ACAP-Ohio with Ridwan Mohamed |
At some schools, budget cuts put the kibosh on sports
By Marlen Garcia, USA TODAY
Instead of gearing up to run cross country for Grove City High School in Ohio, Andy Bennett is training for a marathon.
It will give the 16-year-old some consolation because sports programs and clubs at his school have been shut down. An hour after the last bell each afternoon, it's lights out at the school.
Bennett and his classmates won't have homecoming, prom or a student government — activities that, like sports, are fixtures in American high schools but no longer exist at Grove City because of a financial crisis.
That's the plight of all students who attend South-Western City Schools, which serves part of Columbus and nearby towns and is Ohio's sixth-largest school district. The district has been in dire financial straits for years and is being squeezed further by the economic downturn. By canceling activities, the district cut $2.5 million in expenses, district spokeswoman Sandy Nekoloff says.
"I thought it was the worst thing in the world," Bennett says of the school board's decision to cancel activities after a proposed property tax hike was rejected by voters in August, the third time it failed.
In this district, no one has been spared, not even Grove City High's marching band. "There's no football games. There's nowhere for the marching band to march," Nekoloff says.
(USA Today News Article)
Wal-Mart Presents West Franklin PTA with Grant
On August 25th, Wal-Mart General Transportation Manager Jon Hollinger presented the West Franklin Elementary School PTA with a $1,000 grant. Tom Winslow, president of the West Franklin PTA, said that they plan to use the money to “…get the community more involved with the PTA.” He went on to say that future projects include funding for translation programs for parents of ESL students and translation of school newsletters. “There are a great group of teachers at West Franklin,” said Mr. Winslow “and I wanted to help them out.”
Finland Middle School receives technology grant
COLUMBUS – South-Western City Schools’ Finland Middle School has been awarded one of 48 American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Title II D 21st Century Competitive Technology Grants in the State of Ohio. The $246,793.47 grant must be used to produce academic gains through a technology-rich classroom through professional development, job-embedded training provided by coaches and administrative support. Finland Middle School serves approximately 750 students in grades 7 and 8.
The goal of Finland’s grant is to increase teachers’ expertise in the daily use of technology in support of student learning to build a 21st century classroom where subjects are taught as interdisciplinary partners as students comprehend problem-solving and communicate solutions through web-based media, interactive technologies, blogging and podcasting. The use of appropriate technology in the classroom will help teachers support the needs of all students and address all learning styles to increase student achievement.
Principal Paul Smathers said, “The students at Finland Middle School are highly motivated to learn and achieve excellence. This grant will give them the advantage they need to take ownership of their learning by making critical connections between the world around them and academic content standards to ultimately improve their academic performance.”
The Grant will be administered in two phases. In the first phase a team of four teachers, a technology integration coach and a building administrator will participate in intensive state-sponsored professional development, learning about 21st century teaching techniques and tools which will prepare them to determine criteria for Phase Two. Phase Two will involve additional professional development and the implementation of the new technology-enabled strategies with guidance from the technology integration coach and the building administrator. This phase will progress through the 2010-2011 school year.
South-Western
Board Places Issue on Ballot
Directs administration to find more cost containment solutions
The South-Western City School District Board of Education has placed a 7.4 mill operating issue on the November 3, 2009 ballot.
As a result of the reduction in the millage for the November levy, the board directed the administration to work with staff members, the Community Advisory Group, and recommendations from the Performance Audit to make up for the reduced revenue. In addition, the board communicated a willingness to institute some form of participation fee with the successful outcome of a November ballot issue.
Board Vice President William G. “Greg” McCarty stated, “We are all experiencing difficult financial times, which is why we feel it is necessary to reduce the millage in November and find additional ways to offset future expenditures.”
The board also asked the administration to fully research what other districts have done with pay-to-participate programs and extra-curricular fees. “The board of education philosophically disagrees that pay-to-participate is the answer,” said Board President Cathy Johnson. “We believe that a participation fee will ultimately further reduce opportunities and quality experiences for our students, but based on the August election and the feedback from so many community members this appears to be what the community wants.”
Superintendent Dr. Bill Wise explained that preliminary information from other districts has shown that extracurricular programs are not self-supporting or self-sustaining. “The quality of programs and the opportunities offered to students is ultimately a shared responsibility of the entire community,” stated Wise.
South-Western City School District Community Advisory Group
The South-Western City School District covers 119 square miles of urban, suburban and rural territory in southwestern quadrant of Franklin County. It is Ohio’s sixth largest school district serving 21,000 students. It has been recommended by a resident that a “Community Advisory Group” be formed to assist the District’s administrators and board of education provide assistance in the following areas:
- Increase community awareness, understanding and education of the District’s goals and objectives;
- Identify short-term and long-term solutions, on a recommendation basis, to improve the overall educational quality and efficiency of the District;
- Recommend programs directed at recruiting and retaining excellent educators; and
- Identify fiscal and funding alternative options, making recommendations to the District for long-term efficiency and financial stability.
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South-Western City School District Voluntarily Requests Performance Audit
GROVE CITY – The South-Western City School District is voluntarily requesting a performance audit be initiated by the Ohio Auditor of State’s office to provide independent analysis, evaluations and recommendations regarding the performance of the district compared to other districts. The independent audit will help the district identify and define additional strategies for reaching organizational goals, priorities for resource allocation, effective use of staff, best practices, and opportunities to improve services.
School Board President Cathy Johnson says, “The Board of Education and the community want an education that prepares students for the work place and college, while being financially accountable and responsible with the decisions we make. This audit should provide an independent review of our operations so that we can continue to meet student needs while ensuring the best use of community resources.”
<more>
South-Western receives Certificate of Achievement
for Excellence in Financial Reporting
The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the South-Western City School District by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
An Award of Financial Reporting Achievement has been presented to Hugh W. Garside, Jr., Treasurer, as primarily having the responsibility for preparing the award-winning CAFR. The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.
The South-Western City School District 2007-2008 CAFR is available in pdf format on the district Web site in the financial information area at www.swcs.us.
The GFOA is a non-profit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals in Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.
South-Western Board of Education Addresses Senate Plan
The South-Western City School District stands at a crossroad. With the lack of educational or school funding reform in the newly introduced Senate version of House Bill 1, the plight of the district won’t improve. The Senate version fails to make school funding adequate or constitutional.
South-Western has a four-year 8.3 mill operating levy on the August 4 ballot. The district isn’t asking for more money to add services, just to continue its forward momentum academically and offer a similar level of service to its students.
The district has cut more than $22 million from its operating budget over the past three years. The schools will no longer be able to provide many vital opportunities to the communities’ children without additional operating funds. Many academic opportunities in addition to opportunities such as extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, clubs and athletics will be lost as the buildings are closed during non-school hours.
South-Western ranks 14th out of the 16 school districts in Franklin County in per pupil expenditures. Teacher salaries are in the lower 1/3 of the county and tax rates rank 14th in the county.
Board President Cathy Johnson has been actively engaged in the Governor’s Education and School Funding Reform process. Johnson says, “The Senate version of the bill doesn’t address the flaws in the current system, which currently force districts to go back to voters every three years. It doesn’t address phantom revenue or any of the other inequities in the current system that the Governor’s Plan seeks to remedy.”
The South-Western Board of Education urges its residents to contact their legislators and let them know that they are not willing to accept a continuation of the old broken system. Now is the time to put Ohio on the road to a constitutional school funding plan. The House version of the bill was a step in the right direction.
Board Vice President William G. McCarty stated, “The Senate version of the budget won’t help us keep up with inflation nor will it help keep us off the ballot any less frequently. Our students shouldn’t have to be denied opportunities because of levy failures and levy fatigue when the Governor’s Plan would ease that burden on local districts."
More information on the Senate Plan's impact on South-Western City Schools is available at DispatchPolitics.com.
Congratulations to the Jackson Middle School Band, Choir, and Orchestra for their performances at Ohio Music Educators Association Contest on Saturday, May 16. Each group earned the top rating of superior. Jackson was the only school in central Ohio to receive a superior rating with all 3 music ensembles.
The WHS AFJROTC Drill Team placed fifth overall in the Air Force Association Regional Drill Competition at Tecumseh High School in New Carlisle, Ohio. The Advanced Color Guard, commanded by Stephanie Hennen, took third place while the First Year Unarmed IDR Team, led by Ashley Miller, earned second place. The Advanced Unarmed IDR Team, commanded by Adam Eckenrode, won its competition. In Advanced Individual Knockout, Alex van Gulijk took fifth place and Brandon Rausch earned second place among nearly 300 cadets competing in the event. Tim Park won the Individual Armed Exhibition competition with an outstanding demonstration of skill in handling a demilitarized M-1 Garand rifle.
The WHS AFJROTC Drill Team recently hosted the 25th “Silver Anniversary” Westland JROTC Invitational Drill Team Championships. The Cougar Corps took second place overall among fifteen teams competing. The Advanced Unarmed IDR Team, commanded by Adam Eckenrode, won its competition, while the Armed Exhibition Team, led by Michael Sargent, took second place. Also runner-up was the First Year Armed IDR Team commanded by Haley Maynard, who also took top honors in the First Year Individual Knockout competition; Ashley Miller placed second among more than 100 cadets in the field. Okairy Castillo placed third in the Advanced Individual Knockout competition among more than 200 cadets. And Tim Park took second in the Individual Armed Exhibition category.
Students from Park Street Intermediate School recently competed in Project Citizen at the Ohio Statehouse. The students received a superior rating from Ohio for Law Related Education, giving them TOP STATE HONORS. Their project was designated exemplary by the State Legislature, staff, and other adult volunteers across the State of Ohio. Their project will now move on to the annual Project Citizen National Showcase in Washington DC. State Legislatures and other adult volunteers from across the nation will serve as evaluators, determining the level of achievement attained by each project.
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Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner recognized seven Westland High School students for serving as poll workers in recent elections, a primary goal of Grads Vote 2009. This initiative that puts voter registration and poll-worker information into the hands of high school graduates statewide. |
Westland High School Student receives Silver Key Art Award
Westland High School Senior, Alex Hebert, has been recognized at the national level of The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of 2009. Hebert received a national Silver Key Art Award. His work placed in the top 1% of the more than 140,000 entries. Alex Hebert and Westland Art Instructor, Kevin Russell, will be recognized at an awards ceremony held in Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY on June 5, 2009. His art piece “Anemone” was selected for this honor.
State DECA Competitions
Fourteen Marketing Technology students from Franklin Heights High School competed at the State level of DECA competitions on March 13th and 14th. The competitions were held at the Hyatt Regency and the Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus. Arika Kesterson, a FHHS senior marketing student, placed 9th at the DECA International competitions in Anaheim, California. She competed in the Entrepreneurship category where she had to develop a business plan for a new business of her choice and present it to the judges. Arika competed against over 150 students from across the nation. Catie Crouse, a senior, was recognized as a State finalist in the Marketing test event. DECA is an integral part of the SWCS Marketing Technology program and gives students a chance to develop leadership and business skills beyond what the classroom can provide. |
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CCHS teen Named National Merit Finalist
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Ori King, a senior at Central Crossing High School, was recently named a National Merit Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Ori is one of 16,000 finalists out of 1.3 million students who took the PSAT/NMSQT test last October. Ori has been accepted to The Ohio State University where he intends to major in Biology. |
GROVE CITY HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA EARNS TOP RATING AT STATE CONTEST
Congratulations to the Grove City High School Orchestra for earning a superior rating at Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) State Contest on Friday, February 27.
The orchestra performed in Class A, the highest class with the most difficult literature, and received the top rating from every adjudicator. This is the first time in more than a decade that a Grove City High School Orchestra accomplished this degree of achievement.
The orchestra performed as a full orchestra including the strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. Each year, there are approximately twenty full orchestras in the state performing in Class A, with only a handful earning straight superior ratings,.
The group’s contest repertoire included historically significant compositions by Berlioz, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Franck. Following the performance on stage, the final portion of the contest was “sight-reading.” The ensemble was given a new piece of music to read through one time prior to performing it. As the Class A music was also the most difficult in the contest, earning the top rating was another significant achievement for Grove City's Orchestra.
Of the students, adjudicator Raymond Walczuk noted, “What an outstanding performance from everyone on stage! You should be very proud of yourselves… You are a top-rate orchestra!”
Each year the PTA units of the South-Western Council of PTAs select one individual per school who has provided outstanding volunteer service to the students and staff of the South-Western City Schools. The Council also selects one person overall who has provided exemplary volunteer service to all students and schools in the district. Congratulations to the following 2009 PTA Helping Hands Award Recipients: |
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Elementary Schools Intermediate Schools Middle Schools High Schools South-Western Council of PTAs........... Cathy Johnson |
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Five students will be representing the South-Western City Schools at the March 7 Regional Spelling Bee at Centennial High School in Columbus. SWCS Winner Kelsey Allmon, Runner Up Nicholas Shew, and finalists Trace Maddox, Richie DeFoe and Hannah Crabtree competed in the SWCS Spelling Bee on February 11 to qualify for the regional tournament. Allmon, Shew and Maddox are students at Jackson Middle School; DeFoe attends Franklin Woods Intermediate School; and Crabtree attends Norton Middle School.
Nearly 100 students in Laura Garber's College Prep English III and Advanced Placement English IV classes at Franklin Heights High School submitted poetry to Creative Communication in October 2008. Seven of the poetry pieces were chosen for publication in the anthology, A Celebration of Young Poets. The students whose poetry was selected for publication are: 12th graders-Brianna Allison, Samantha Brady, Matthew Claffey, Adel Hasan and Melissa McConnell, and 11th graders-Peter Kpan and Victoria Parks.
CCHS Marching Band Field Commander Charlie Cash was chosen by the elite Bands of America organization to march in Tournament of Roses Parade. Charlie serves as a field commander during marching band season and as an alto sax musician during concert season.
The Finland Middle School 7th Grade Choir was named Sunny 95’s 2008 Christmas Idol Winners in the Junior High division. The choir received a George Steck 47" studio piano with matching bench, delivery and 10-year factory warranty courtesy of Henderson Music Company. In addition, the choir was invited to perform on Sunny’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Show, Christmas Eve morning at the Fawcett Center.
CCHS senior Bryce Barnes signed a full scholarship with West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia, probably majoring in Education. Bryce's Dad is Coach Chris Barnes, Physical Science teacher and Head Boys Basketball Coach at CCHS. His Mom, Peggy, teaches US Government and American History at Central Crossing.
Kristi Taylor, second grade teacher at East Franklin Elementary, was recognized for her devotion to students and the school by OfficeMax’s “A Day Made Better” program. Kristi was visited by staff from the Polaris OfficeMax and received school supplies and merchandise, including a digital camera and a desk chair, valued at $1,108.98. Kristi was nominated for this award by East Franklin Secretary Donna Ciborek.
The Grove City High School Marching Band took first place in the Parade Competition and second place in National Band Competition at the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona. The band won best music, best marching band, best general effect and Grand Champion of the Fiesta Bowl Parade.
Erika Helminiak, a GCHS senior in Accounting and Finance, was selected as a finalist in the Business Professionals of American Region 14 officer screening. The screening included a written essay, speech, interview, and written test. Her selection as a finalist allowed her to continue the process to become a Business Professionals of America state officer candidate.
Six GCHS senior marketing students participated in the DECA Fall Contest that was held on October 2, 2008 at CCHS. The contest is the first level of competition for the State DECA Offices of Parliamentarian, Female Public Relations Officer, and Male Public Relations Officer. The public relations candidates were Elliott Holmes, David Coulter, Paij Marshall, and Kasey Higginbotham. These students wrote a press release, took a test on DECA facts, and interviewed with a businessperson. The parliamentarian candidates were Chelsie Damron and Deanna Rucker. These students took a test on DECA facts and parliamentary procedure, plus interviewed with a local businessperson. The students did an excellent job in preparing for this challenging event. Chelsie Damron placed 5th and Deanna Rucker placed 4th in their respective events.
The FHHS NJROTC Program is on track to earn its 10th consecutive Distinguished Unit Award. They had a terrific annual inspection, earning the highest grades in every category with the inspecting officer stating in her official report, “The professionalism of the cadets and staff is the best I have seen to date.” NJROTC has performed approximately 550 hours of community service helping restore Methodist Hill and Greenlawn Cemeteries. 27% of NFROTC students achieved honor roll during the first grading period. The NJROTC Academic Team, under the leadership of Nathan Lieberum, placed first and the Air Rifle Team captained by Tyler Hill placed first at the Central Crossing Drill meet with Tyler scoring as the #1 shooter overall. The Armed Exhibition Drill Squad under command of Robert Choate placed 3rd.
Josh Daft submitted a pin design for Franklin Heights High School DECA I. DECA is the student organization for Marketing Students. Students submitted many pin designs all across Ohio. Students that attended the fall Leadership Conference to elect the Ohio DECA State Officers voted on their favorite designs. Josh’s design was voted one of the top five designs, winning him a State Finalist Plaque. The State Officers will then choose the final pin that will be used as Ohio’s Trading Pin at the International Career Development Conference in Anaheim California in April.
The Central Crossing H.S. NJROTC Drill Team has been accepted to compete in the National H.S. Drill Team Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida during the period of May 1-4, 2009. This competition will host more than 145 schools, more than 4,000 cadets from 35 states (including Hawaii and Alaska). Less than 5% of the thousands of JROTC units are accepted to compete at this event. This will be the 6th consecutive year that this unit has been invited and accepted to participate in this event. We have finished as high as 3rd in the country and have been fortunate enough to have never finished out of the top 10.
The Central Crossing NJROTC Drill team competed in the Mid-Ohio Regional Drill meet at Grove City High School on Saturday, January 31, 2009. Competition was among 13 units from the States of Ohio and Michigan. The team was led by Cadet Amberlyn Muncy to 1st place finishes in Unarmed Exhibition and Unarmed Regulation drill as well as a 2nd place in Armed Regulation drill. Cadet Kenny Vinson led the team to a 1st place finish in the Armed Exhibition drill category while Cadet Jamarkus Collins led the Color Guard to a 2nd place finish. The rifle team captured 2nd place, led by event high shooter Cadet Amanda Quinn. Cadet Quinn and Cadet Jessica Allen were the high shooters for the meet. The academic team consisting of Cadets Colton Smith, Sarah Fitz, Caleb Long, Jessica Allen, and Marcum Storts placed second. Congratulations to the CCHS NJROTC unit for a job well done. The next meet finds the unit traveling to Pike H.S. in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 13, 2009.
CCHS senior Jenny Fowler recently signed with Bowling Green State University for a partial girls soccer/partial academic scholarship. Jenny is a four-year varsity letter winner in girls soccer having played center midfielder, forward and defensive marking back. Jenny has 23 career goals and 17 career assists. She intends to major in pre-med studies.
CCHS senior Joshua Diemer signed with Urbana University for a partial golf scholarship/partial academic scholarship. Joshua is a three time letterman in swimming, football and golf. He is a district qualifier and captain of the CCHS golf team.
FHHS Marketing students Josh Daft, Keith West, and Greg Hardiman worked on a School Based Enterprise Project for DECA over the last few months. They wrote a large manual about the school store. The final project was approximately 65 pages long. We had to submit it to the International DECA committee for review in January. The students Manual received a Gold Certification, which is the highest award that can be received. They have been invited to the International Career Development Conference April 29-May 2 in Anaheim, California. The students will be recognized on stage and participate in the School Based Enterprise Academy - elite to those who have received a Gold Certification. FHHS is only the fifth school in the State of Ohio to receive this award.
Franklin Woods fifth grader Ally Hammer won the Storyworks magazine “Cinderella Story” Contest. Ally’s story idea will be printed in the Storyworks magazine. She won a copy of “The Prince of the Pond” by Donna Jo Napoli.