Worthingway Weekly

Our school district starts each year with Convocation, a gathering of all of our staff. This year, Dr. Bowers referenced David Yeager's research and book he wrote titled 10-25: The Science of Motivating Young People.

One of the things I want to highlight from the book is the Mentor Mindset. Essentially this is a style in which the "mentor" combines high standards/expectations with appropriate levels of support. In other words - "this is going to be hard, you can do it, I will help you." It is a bit more complex than that but it is the gist.

It's different than the approach of "you will do this because I say so" (Enforcer Mindset) and "oh this is too hard for you let's make it easier" (Protector Mindset). Neither of those are effective.

At Worthingway, we strive towards the Mentor Mindset. Our staff is intentional about setting a high bar for ALL learners. And, just as important, we are intentional about holding our students to that expectation and supporting them to grow to it.

If you are curious to learn more, check out these two podcasts:

• Better with Age Podcast (this episode is geared a bit more toward parenting)
• Learning Leader podcast (this episode is geared a bit more toward coaches/educators)

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We have a busy next week that you can read a bit more about in our Updates section below. We will be on an altered bell schedule Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday due to MAP testing. Also, we will be hosting our Open House on Monday evening. And we will host a 6th grade camp informational meeting for all sixth grade families on Monday evening.

Open House

• We are excited to open our building to you on Monday, August 31.
• All of our teachers will be here and their classrooms will be open.
• We will operate on a true "Open House" format so you are welcome to visit anytime between 6:00-7:30pm. When you arrive, you may walk around our building and see all of our spaces as well as visit your child's classrooms to meet their teachers.
• Bring your child's schedule with you so you know who to see and what classroom they are in. However, we can print a schedule off for you as you walk in if that is needed.
• Your student is allowed to come. They can even show you how much they have improved on being able to open their locker since Schedule Pick Up a few weeks ago.
• If you are unable to attend, you can meet the teachers by watching their video message to you.

Sixth Grade Camp Meeting

• All 6th grade students and families are welcome to attend an informational meeting about Sixth Grade Camp on Monday, August 31 from 7:30-8:00 in our gym.
• Our sixth grade camp will be October 7-9 at Camp Nuhop. Students are not required to attend the camp. It is an overnight camp.

Bus Safety

• If your child is a bus rider, please reiterate the expectation that they should NOT run to their bus.
• This is one of the messages we have been reiterating over and over again to our students - especially after school when they get on their bus at the end of the day.
• Safety is our top priority and running near or even towards buses is not safe.

Quiet Lunch Space

• Our cafeteria can be a loud environment due to the amount of students in the space. We have opened up a classroom quiet space for students in our 6th and 7th grade to eat their lunch (and spend Community Time if they would like). If your student has expressed a desire to be in an alternative location during lunch, please let us know or encourage them to utilize our quiet classroom space for lunch.

MAP Testing

• We will facilitate Fall MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing next week.
• In Worthington, our middle school students take this assessment twice per year (August and December). We use this data to identify our progress as a school as well as examine individual student data to identify present levels and growth so we can provide the appropriate levels of support.
• Please help by ensuring your student comes to school Monday with a charged chromebook.
• Click here to view our altered bell schedule for August 31, September 1, and September 2.

• Mrs. Todd helped my son get comfortable with opening his locker. He had a very rough first day in middle school and Mrs. Todd worked with him to make his transition from elementary school to middle school easier. He came home from school on his second day feeling much better.
• It's only the start of the year and Miss Cressman has already gone above and beyond - first, she offered to meet with all interested parents before the school year started, just a quick Zoom call to touch base and talk about the upcoming year. On the call, she offered to help me with a technical issue I'd run into. And then, most importantly, she made the first week so much fun for the kids. My daughter has enjoyed it so much, it's been a great intro to Middle School.

Recognize a Staff Member with a Cardinal Compliment

• Has a teacher, counselor, or staff member made a positive impact? We want to hear about it! Take a moment to fill out our form to recognize a Worthingway staff member who has gone above and beyond. Your kind words mean a lot and help us celebrate the amazing work happening every day in our school community.

Free & Reduced School Meals for Students

• Worthington Schools offers Free & Reduced-Price Meals for students who qualify. A new application must be submitted each school year—eligibility does not carry over from the previous year. If you haven’t yet applied for the 2026–2027 school year, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible to avoid any interruption in benefits. For more information and to access the online application, click HERE. Paper applications are also available in the school office.

Student Lunch Accounts

• Families can add money to their student's lunch account through My Payments Plus by clicking HERE. You can also use MPP to track your student's account and see much money remains on it. My Payments Plus is also used to pay other fees, like high school parking permits and AP testing fees.

Bell Schedule

• Click here for our bell schedules

As we begin the new school year, we will be implementing our Portrait of a Learner Survey September 7th - September 18th. This tool helps us understand and measure the durable skills our community values most, skills students carry with them throughout their time in Worthington and beyond.

Why the Portrait of a Learner Survey?

Designed in-house to directly serve our district's goals, this survey provides the flexibility, control, and alignment to support our students effectively. Specifically, the survey is designed to:

• Align Directly to the Portrait of a Learner: Highlighting the specific skills and mindsets our community wants students to develop.

• Support Executive Function Skills: Connecting directly to key habits like response inhibition, flexibility, task initiation, emotional control, sustained attention, and organization.

• Provide Actionable Insights: Giving teachers, principals, and staff real-time data to support students’ growth in these critical areas.

What We’re Doing:

The survey is age-appropriate, tiered by grade level, and preceded by a short preparatory lesson to help support students and is administered via Google Forms, with results connected to the district’s Monitoring Score system. Our goal is to use the Portrait of a Learner Survey to build a clear picture of student growth, and identify areas where additional support is needed.

If you have any questions or would like to opt your student out of this spring window, please email me at tkeenan@wscloud.org.

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us grow alongside our students.

There has been an update to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. In order to access the Parent Portal, you will need to create your account and password recovery. If you have not done this yet and need help, please complete this complete this google form.

Dear Worthingway Families,

Welcome back!!

Some of us spent the summer traveling, some relaxing, and some of us, let's be honest, were VERY ready for that first day of school bell to ring. However you spent your summer, we are so glad you are back! The halls of Worthingway are full again, the backpacks are packed, and a brand new school year full of possibilities is officially underway. The Worthingway PTA is so excited to be a part of this school year with you and your student, and we’re ready to make this an incredible year!

A few things to share with you!

COME CHECK OUT OUR NEW INSTAGRAM PAGE!

Simply click HERE and follow to stay connected to all the PTA has in store this year!
And as a reminder - you can join the Worthingway PTA Facebook group by searching “Worthingway PTA” and clicking ‘join’!

SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS

If you ordered a school supply kit and did not pick it up on schedule pick-up night, they are located in the front office. You or your student can get them anytime during school hours.

FALL CANTEEN - DATE UPDATE

We have an update on Fall Canteen! The date has changed from September 11th to Friday, September 18th from 4:00–6:00 PM at Worthingway Middle School. Mark your calendars, this is always such a fun afternoon for our students and we cannot wait!

Stay tuned for more information and ticket sales coming soon!

LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR WORTHINGWAY TEAM?

We have attached a flyer with QR codes linking to everything listed below - just scan and go!

1. Enroll in Kroger Community Rewards - one of the easiest ways to give back, and it costs you absolutely nothing! A portion of your regular Kroger purchases goes directly to support PTA programs.

• Sign in to your Kroger digital account

• Go to your account and click on Community Rewards

• Enter the name (Worthingway Middle School PTA) or NPO number (RF924)

• Select the organization from the list and click "Save"

• That's it - every grocery run helps our school!

2. Donate or Become a PTA Member - every dollar goes directly to programs that support our teachers, students, and school community.
   Make a Donation HERE
   Join the PTA Today HERE
   As a PTA member, you are also welcome to attend our monthly meetings, vote on decisions the PTA makes, and share your ideas and opinions. Your voice matters and we would love to have you at the table!

3. Sign Up as a "Cards Helper" - from chaperoning events to donating items, our volunteers make everything possible! Click HERE to add your name to our list. There is absolutely no obligation just for signing up - we will simply reach out when opportunities arise and you can decide what works for you!

4. Shop Spirit Wear - show your Worthingway pride AND support the PTA. 10% of sales come back directly to our school community! Shop the Spirit Store HERE

5. Volunteer at the Concession Stand - this one is a hidden gem! Our concession stand serves up popcorn, packaged snacks, and drinks during sports seasons - no hot food, no complicated prep, just good fun. It is an easy and enjoyable way to support the school, and we love it when volunteers bring their students along to help. It is a great experience for kids and parents alike! Sign up HERE

As always, thank you for being part of the most wonderful school community. We could not do any of this without your support, your energy, and your willingness to show up for Worthingway!

Warmly,

Jennifer Johnson

• All student-athletes must be registered in Final Forms in order to receive athletic communications and participate in any athletic tryouts, open gyms/fields, and practices.
• Worthington students in grades 6-12 who provide their student ID will be admitted free into any home Worthington athletic contest.
• You may use this link to purchase tickets for athletic events through Hometown Ticketing.
• Check out our athletic website for more information
• Team schedules can be found here

Students that are dropped off or picked up by car will enter via our main office entrance (Rieber Street). Buses will drop off and and pick up at our 6th grade entrance (Guyer Street side). Important notes:

• Student Safety is our top priority. Please be mindful of our walkers and bike riders (we have bike racks on our bus drop off side). If you exit on the Guyer Street side, please yield to crossing students AND incoming buses.
• Doors open at 8:50 for student drop off. Students will be instructed to remain in the cafeteria or gym until 9:03. Classes begin at 9:10 and end at 3:50.
• We ask families to pull all the way forward to the end of our main lot at pick up time. Cars that stop at the front doors can create backups that extend onto Rieber St.
• No cars should be in our bus loop before or after school. Thank you

District Calendar for 2026-27

Monday, August 31

• Fall MAP Science testing
• Open House (6:00-7:30pm)

• 6th grade camp informational meeting (7:30-8:00pm)

Tuesday, September 1

• Fall MAP Reading testing

Wednesday, September 2

• Fall MAP Math testing

September 18

• Fall Canteen (4-6pm)

October 7-9

• 6th grade camp

Mr. Todd Keenan, principal (tkeenan@wscloud.org)

Mrs. Kami Novak, assistant principal (knovak@wscloud.org)

Mrs. Cerita Todd, counselor (ctodd@wscloud.org)

Ms. Lara Ruffing, mental health specialist (lruffing@wscloud.org)

Mr. Nick Wiedenhoft, athletic director (nwiedenhoft@wscloud.org)

Mrs. Paula Lee, administrative assistant (plee@wscloud.org)

Ms. Amanda DeBernardi, administrative assistant (adebernardi@wscloud.org)

Mrs. Shawna Barrett, attendance and testing (wayattend@wscloud.org or click here)

Mrs. Joyce Casey, school nurse (jcasey@wscloud.org)

Location: 6625 Guyer Street, Worthington, OH

Phone: 614-450-4300

School Website