Worthingway Weekly

It is/was TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK this week!

Thank you to our awesome PTA and all of our families who volunteered to help either financially or with their time to recognize and honor our hard-working teachers this week.

Even before I came to Worthingway MS, I heard how awesome the staff was. Now, I get to experience that every day and work alongside this wonderful and caring staff. Truly, they are a collection of really strong, caring, loving, hard-working, and smart staff who set high expectations for all learners and ensures high levels of learning for all. Our staff desires that our students leave our school better people than when they arrived. I am proud of our staff. I am grateful for the connections they make with students, the opportunities they create for students, and the high levels of learning they facilitate daily.

The love language of most educators is "words of affirmation." I encourage you and/or your student to take a moment to write a positive note to at least one staff member. Please click here to access our directory. These are the things that keep us going and provide us with reminders on why we do what we do.

Chromebook Abuse Concerns

• We want to make you aware of a concerning new TikTok trend that is encouraging students to insert foreign objects—such as pencils, springs, and other items—into their Chromebook ports. This can lead to significant damage and, in extreme cases, has even resulted in fire, as reported by a Connecticut school (Connecticut School Chromebook). Recently, we've seen a rise in intentional Chromebook damage in our own district, and we believe it's important to bring this to your attention.
• We have had a school-wide message regarding this and we have already spoken with a few individual students about this. Starting a fire in a school is a very serious code of conduct violation that would likely result in very severe discipline consequences. The safety of our school is of utmost importance. Please help us by speaking with your student about the importance of taking care of school-issued technology.

Honors Nights

• We are excited to host our Honors Nights this year. For those new to the school, Honor Nights do not include all students. If your student is to be included, you will receive an invitation in the mail. Those invitations have already been sent out and should have already been received at home. We will also be sending an email next week to the families of the students who are invited.
• If you have any questions or are unsure if your student has met the criteria to be recognized, you may call our front office.
• 8th grade Honor Night will be on Wednesday, May 14 at 6:00pm.

8th Grade Clap Out (Last Day of School)

• Families of 8th grade students are invited to join us for our "Clap Out" of 8th graders on the last day of school - Thursday, May 22.
• If you are able to join us, you should arrive between 3:20-3:30 and stand along the sidewalk beside the track behind our building.
• Please do NOT park in our bus loop. Parking will be very limited so you will likely end up having to park on the street.

Mr. Andy Cly

What grade and subjects do you teach?

• Reading and Social Studies (all grade levels)

When did you start teaching?

• 2006

What is your favorite part about Worthingway?

• The culture for students and staff.

What is your favorite part about teaching?

• Seeing the light come on for students.

What are your hobbies?

• Sports, reading, spending time with my family

What is a pet peeve of yours?

• Being late

What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?

• white water rafting in West Virginia

What your favorite food/drink?

• Steak

What is your favorite music?

• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
  

Culture Day

Check out some of our videos from the day:

• Culture Day (with Worthingway choir)

• Parade of Nations

School Funding

• Dr. Bowers was a recent guest columnist in the Columbus Dispatch. If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to read his column.
• And here is a short clip of TJ Cusik, our treasurer, explaining the importance of revenue and the need for a cash balance in school districts.
• Here are some additional resources on State Funding:
• Advocacy Website: Help Worthington Schools Protect Local Control
• Website Pop-up: https://www.worthington.k12.oh.us/
• Blog Series
• Where Things Stand with the State Budget and Worthington Schools
• Why Worthington (and Schools Across Ohio) Need a Cash Balance
• How Would a 30% Limit Impact Worthington?
• How Can We Advocate for Worthington Schools?
• Podcast:
• Worthington Schools Budget and Cash Balance Issues

Worthington Connects

Worthington Connects is a community-driven organization dedicated to supporting local families in need year-round. We partner closely with schools to identify families who could benefit from assistance and rely on generous donations from the community to make our efforts possible. Every contribution helps us provide meaningful support to those in need.

If you would like to donate or get involved, please visit https://www.worthingtonconnects.org Families seeking assistance are encouraged to reach out to their school counselors, who work with us to connect resources to those who need them most. Together, we can make a lasting impact in our Worthington community!

Direct donation: https://www.worthingtonconnects.org/giving-page-3

Spring Concessions Volunteer Sign-Up

• Please sign up to volunteer in the Worthingway concession stand this spring. It's fun, easy, and supports our Worthingway PTA, teachers, staff, and students.
• Please click here to sign up to help facilitate concessions!

SIGN UP for Multiple Ways to Volunteer for the PTA

• https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EAFAC2FA1FCC43-54712135-ptavolunteer

Worthingway PTA Committees

• We are forming Concession Stand and Hospitality committees beginning next school year. Please provide your information using the link below if you are interested
• Worthingway PTA Volunteer Interest Sign Up
  

More ways to support the WWay PTA:

• Make a donation or become a PTA member

• https://worthingway.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

• Purchase Worthington Spirit Wear

• https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/OH/Worthington/Worthingway%20Middle%20School

• Sign up to volunteer when needed

• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1THmJusxdLDYsb_ATq-cA2RRfz_u3YoNvN67oAigUfIM/edit?usp=sharing

• Support Restaurant Nights and our Annual Butter Braids Fundraising

• Designate your Kroger rewards

• Visit bit.ly/WwayKroger , log in to your Kroger account, and select the organization “RF924“ (which is Worthingway Middle School PTA)

Please look for more information at our website (https://worthingwaypta.my.canva.site/) or the "Worthingway PTA" Facebook page!

• 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

8th Grade Meeting

• There will be a meeting with the high school Athletic Director at 1:50pm on May 13 in our gym for 8th grade students who plan on participating in a fall sport or competing in marching band at TWHS in the fall. Students should bring their school IDs to this meeting. There will be an announcement dismissing the students from class to attend this meeting. There will be a recording for students to watch if they are unable to attend on this date.
• After this meeting, the TWHS football coach will meet briefly with the student-athletes who plan on playing football next year.

Worthingway Cross Country Fundraiser

• We are looking for parents who can help staff the concession stand on Saturday, May 10th during the Worthington Invitational. This is Worthington's home Track Invitational that will take place at TWHS. 100% of the proceeds from the day will go towards benefitting our cross country program. Sign Up Here for a time slot or two if you are able (Student athletes may sign up to help as runners). If you are unable to dedicate your time, please consider donating items listed for our sale. All donations need to be turned into KMS by Thursday, May 8, 2025. Thank you for your support!
  

TWHS Girls Golf Summer Camp

• https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuiqwp5PoOa2BN-BtLIUm218mrB7LjCeO_zKt2BORcxFMq7w/viewform

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 9:02. 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.
• There should be no cars in the bus drop off lanes during both drop off and pick up.

District Calendar for the 2024-25 school year

May 22

• Last day of school

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

Mrs. Abby Jinks, assistant principal (ajinks@wscloud.org)

Mrs. Cerita Todd, counselor (ctodd@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