Worthingway Weekly

Have you ever initiated a conversation with your young teenager that starts off innocently enough but quickly spirals and becomes unproductive? I know I certainly have.

How we approach our conversations with our students matters and greatly influences the outcome.

I shared this article with our staff this week. There is so much interesting and relatable information for educators - but also for parents.

At Worthingway, we have been focusing this year on establishing high expectations/standards for ALL students AND providing the right amount of support to help move them there.

Additionally, our goal is to ensure that 100% of our students have a positive sense of belonging in our building. There are some ideas in this article that will help us with that. To that end, we will soon be surveying our students (again) through the Portrait of a Learner survey. This will give us quality feedback from our students on many measures that are important to us in Worthington.

This Week

• This week we saw...
• ..students welcome new students to our building
• ..our 6th and 7th grade students submitted their schedule requests for next school year!
• ..students are getting excited about spring sports starting on Monday
• ..ELA teachers engage students in peer to peer review and feedback on writing
• ..our PTA met with our Student Council to plan our upcoming Canteen

Clothing Drive!

• Are you spring cleaning? Please consider donating to Worthington City School's Back-To-School Style Drop. We will have a bin at Worthingway from March 2-March 27.

8th Grade Students - DACC Opportunity

• We are excited to announce that we have a field trip opportunity to the Delaware Area Career Center on Wednesday, March 25th! This is a great opportunity for our 8th grade students who are interested in pursuing various career pathways within their high school career, thus preparing them for life after high school graduation. Students who are interested must submit this DACC Career Interest and Field Trip Survey as well as a permission slip that Mrs. Todd has in her office or students can find in the main office by March 20th. The permission slip will contain the full agenda of the day and additional details of the visit, but students can expect to depart from Worthingway around 11:20am and return to school by 2:10pm. Additionally, students will also need to pack their own lunch or indicate that they need a lunch prepared by our cafeteria staff (by March 18th). Spaces for this trip are limited so we ask that you please have your STUDENT fill out the Google interest form as soon as possible (please only submit the form once.)

• Feel free to explore the DACC's website and let Mrs. Todd know if you have any questions at ctodd@wscloud.org .

Functional Drill Information

• I want to make you aware that on Tuesday, March 18, at 9:50 a.m., our school, along with every school across the district and throughout the state of Ohio, will participate in the Statewide Tornado Drill.

• This is a scheduled statewide safety drill that gives us an opportunity to practice our procedures and ensure that students and staff are prepared in the event of severe weather. During the drill, students will follow our established tornado safety procedures and move to their designated safe locations within the building.

• In addition to the tornado drill, we will also be using this time to review and practice some of our internal communication systems. These routine checks are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and well-prepared school environment.

• Please know that this is only a drill, and there is no cause for concern. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

DACC Summer Camp

• Attention families of rising 7th-9th graders! The Delaware Area Career Center is hosting its annual Summer Camp on June 2-4. DACC will offer nine camps this year, covering a wide variety of subjects and career fields. Each camp will be hands-on, engaging and fast-paced — allowing local middle school students to "try on a career" and learn new skills over a three-day span. They will get to learn from and alongside industry professionals and current DACC students, all while making new friends who have similar interests. It is a great way to kick off your summer and begin to experience the magic of career-technical education in your own community!
• Registration will open Wednesday, March 4th at 6 a.m. Visit DACC's website for more information on this year's camp offerings and DACC Summer Camp in general!

Yearbook Ordering!

• Yearbook orders are now live! Please reserve your yearbook for $27 at book.hrimaging.com. The deadline to order is February 27, 2026. Your student will also be coming home with a paper ordering form as well if you would rather submit a check or cash.

Following our successful fall launch, Worthington City Schools is preparing for our second administration of the Portrait of a Learner Survey, March 16th-27th. This tool allows us to move beyond traditional academics to measure the "durable skills" our community values most, the mindsets and habits that will serve our students throughout their time in Worthington and beyond.

The fall results provided us with a baseline; this spring window is about reflection and growth. It allows us to see how the strategies we’ve used this year are supporting our students.

The Portrait of a Learner survey continues to focus on:

• Measuring Progress: Comparing spring results to fall data to see how students are growing in the skills our community prioritizes.

• Refining Our Approach: Using student feedback to adjust how we support "Durable Skills" and Executive Function (such as task initiation, emotional control, and organization).

• Supporting the Whole Child: Ensuring our daily classroom focus remains aligned with the mindset and habits students need for success in Worthington and beyond.

The survey remains age-appropriate, tiered by grade level, and includes a preparatory lesson:

• Grades 3–5: 15 questions

• Grades 6–8: 20 questions

• Grades 9–12: 25 questions

By checking in a second time, we can celebrate their progress and fine-tune our efforts where they are needed most.

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

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

What subject/grade do you teach?

• ELA, Structured Literacy (Grades 6-8)

When did you start teaching?

• 2018

What is your favorite part about Worthingway?

• Every staff member deeply cares about the students we work with

What is your favorite part about teaching?

• Building connections with students and helping them unlock new skills

What are your hobbies?

• I sing in a choir, occasionally act in plays, and enjoy lake surfing over the summer

What are you most proud of?

• My students

What is the most adventurous thing you've ever done?

• Willingly going into underground caverns right after being stung by a scorpion

What is your favorite food/drink?

• ice cream

What is your pet peeve?

• people on their phones during a movie or play

What is your favorite corny joke?

• Knock knock. Who's there? Deja. Deja-who?.....Knock knock.

TWHS student council has opened a "Just a Kid From Worthington" team shop to raise funds for Cardinal Day. If your future Cardinal is in need of some new Worthington gear, please check out this link! Items will be delivered to our school--No shipping costs!

Recognize a Staff Member with a Cardinal Compliment

• Has a teacher, counselor, or staff member made a positive impact on your child? 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.

Bell Schedule

• Click here for our bell schedule

Schoology

• Schoology is our LMS (Learning Management System). Basically that means it is the "website" that our teachers use to house and communicate learning goals, assignments, and even some assessments.
• Parent Guide: Schoology
• What is Schoology?

Infinite Campus

• Infinite Campus is where you can access your students' grades, attendance, etc.
• Parent Guide: Infinite Campus

Securly Home

• You can download the Securly app to keep your student safe while using their school issued chromebook at home. Click here to learn more.

Best Resource!!!

• Click here for a comprehensive document that will help you with Schoology and Infinite Campus and Securly Home.

Worthingway PTA: 2025–2026 Officer & Chair Interest Form

We’re looking ahead to the 2025–2026 school year and inviting you to share your interest in joining the Worthingway PTA leadership team!

There are so many ways for you to get involved to meet your level of commitment! No prior PTA experience is needed - Just a willingness to collaborate and support our school community.

Please fill out the form below to indicate:

• Your interest in a specific role

• If you'd like to nominate someone else

• Or if you'd like to learn more before deciding

Here are the positions available:

• Co-Vice President

• Co-Secretary

• Co-Treasurer

• Worthingway CLC Representative

• Staff Appreciation Chair or Co-Chair

• Concessions Chair or Co-Chair

• Fundraising Chair or Co-Chair (2)
  
  

You’re welcome to express interest in more than one role or to request a co-chair position if you’d prefer to share responsibilities.

If you would like to hear more about these positions or have questions, please feel free to reach out to Jenn Johnson at worthingwaypta@gmail.com.

Thank you for being part of our amazing Worthingway community!

Officer & Chair Interest Form: https://forms.gle/4kcZSxmPH3s6efnx9

Donate or Join the PTA
Every dollar and every member matters.

• Donate to the PTA

• Join the PTA

Stay Connected

• Read this section of the principal’s newsletter each week

• Visit our website: worthingwaypta.my.canva.site

• Join the conversation: Search “Worthingway PTA” on Facebook

Jennifer Johnson
PTA President
Worthingway Middle School

• 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
• WORTHINGWAY FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES

The TWHS boys volleyball team is selling blankets.

Blankets are 60" X 70" and are $35.00. Payment can be cash, check (TWHS Boys Spikers), Square (@concessions stand during home games), or Venmo @TWHSboysvolleyball.

Here is the google form to order.

Thank you for supporting the TWHS Men's Volleyball Program. Go Cards!

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.
• You may notice one or two cars in the bus loop at the beginning and end of the day. These vehicles have special permission to be here for their students' transportation needs.

• District Calendar for 2025-26

Friday, March 13

• No School

March 30-April 3

• Spring Break

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

Mrs. Abby Jinks, assistant principal (ajinks@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. Jodi Hill, 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