The Warrior
Newsletter for Huber Heights City Schools
Rushmore, Wright Brothers Earn Governor's Science of Reading Champion School Designation
Rushmore and Wright Brothers Elementary Schools were both recently named Governor's Science of Reading Champion Schools by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
The award recognizes the schools' commitment to providing every student with high-quality literacy instruction aligned to the Science of Reading. Both HHCS schools will receive a banner to recognize this achievement.
There were 109 schools statewide that earned Science of Reading Champions designation in 2025-26. The other three elementary schools in the Huber Heights district earned this award in 2024-25.
"I am continually inspired by the hard work and dedication our staff brings to improving literacy in Huber Heights City Schools," said Shalen Back, primary curriculum supervisor in the HHCS Department of Curriculum and Instruction. "I truly love this district, and it is a privilege to work alongside individuals who care so deeply about our community and remain committed to supporting every student’s literacy journey."
Rushmore and Wright Brothers earned this award by meeting state standards that include teacher training, skills assessments and measurements to inform instruction and intervention, progress monitoring, building-level team meetings, and a local literacy plan.
As part of the application process, the schools had to submit an individual success story. Wright Brothers told the story of Harley, a kindergarten student under teacher Sheri Weaver in 2024-25 who made remarkable progress in her early literacy skills. Harley increased her mClass DIBELS Diagnostic score by 189 points and moved from well below benchmark to meeting grade-level expectations. When Harley entered kindergarten orientation, she could not identify any letters or sounds; however, by the fourth quarter Interim, she was confidently identifying all letters and sounds and reading and writing CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) and digraph words.
College Promise Program Luncheon
Secret Staff Dress-Up Days
- March 4, Favorite Band or Concert
- March 11, Dress Like the Students
- March 18, Characters (cowboys, superheroes, pirates, etc.)
- March 25, Beach/Vacation/Travel
(Photos by Kristen Amburgey)
Mic'd Up at Wayne Podcast
Mic'd Up at Wayne is the official podcast of Wayne High School. The video productions class produces this podcast. Visit the Mic'd Up at Wayne web page to hear the latest episode.
March Students of the Month
February's Students of the Month for Wayne High School are Lauren Clucas, Jazz Dyer, Michael Fleetwood, Jenna Hogan, Josh King, Yasemin Tashtanova, Lilyan Thurston, and Kyla Werner. Students of the Month are nominated by staff, then selected by vote to highlight those who demonstrate the Warrior Way in their daily actions.
March Staff Member of the Month: Kristen Amburgey
Social studies teacher Kristen Amburgey has been an educator at Wayne for 24 years. She attended Huber Heights City Schools from kindergarten through high school. "It is great to teach at the same school I attended," Amburgey said. "I have had the opportunity to work with some of my former teachers. It is special to be able to work alongside the educator and administrators who influenced my life.
"I also get to work with some of my former students. I learn new teaching strategies from them. I love learning from students and hearing their ideas. It is great getting to know them. Every day brings something new. I am at the point in my career where I have some of my former students' kids. It is a full circle moment, to be able to teach their kids!
"We have amazing students and staff at Wayne. We are doing great things here. I love that I get to be a small part of it."
March Madness at Weisenborn
March Madness is not only for basketball at Weisenborn—it is also the month of state testing preparation. Students have been participating in weekly competitions between first-period classes, answering state testing questions at lunch, and competing in challenges within their tested classes. The preparation will help students get ready for their tests and win weekly prizes. Parents, please be on the lookout for test preparation information materials in the coming weeks.
Third Quarter Hardwork Cafe
Learning Adventures Include Camp Kern, Carnival
Monticello has been full of adventure recently. Our fifth-graders braved the cold at Camp Kern—tackling egg-drop challenges, stepping back to 1810 Ohio, and even making ice cream by hand (freezers suddenly feel like a luxury!). Back at school, students showed off their Portrait of a Warrior traits by designing and running a full carnival for younger students complete with teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. Would your egg survive the drop? Could you handle a one-room schoolhouse? At Monticello, learning is hands-on, memorable, and always a little more fun!
Preparing for Testing Season With March Madness
Many of our students are preparing for the testing season,. Fifth-graders have been participating in the March Madness “Slam Dunk the Test” iReady Challenge. Students had the opportunity to join the fifth-grade cheer squad or basketball team and play in a game at the end of March.
Rushmore Classes Enjoy Hands-On Cooking
Some of our classes at Rushmore Elementary participate in hands-on cooking activities throughout the school year. These activities help students learn important skills by doing and experiencing tasks in a fun, meaningful way. Students work together to follow simple recipes and practice measuring, counting, reading directions, and teamwork. Some of the activities include making apple pies, pumpkin pie in a cup, homemade ice cream, and other seasonal treats. The hands-on experiences help students build independence, practice life skills, and enjoy learning in an engaging environment.
VIP Dance Means Fun Under the Stars
Rushmore's PTO hosted a night under the stars for the boys and girls. We had fun going to the moon and back, dancing with parents, grandparents, and special VIP guests.
A Wedding at Valley Forge!
In a delightful celebration of literacy, kindergarten students at Valley Forge recently gathered to witness the "wedding" of the letters Q and U.
The unique ceremony is a hands-on phonics lesson designed to help young learners remember a fundamental spelling rule: in the English language: the letter Q is almost always followed by the letter U. During the "nuptials," students acted as witnesses as the two letters "vow" to stay together forever to create the /kw/ sound found in words like queen, quiet, and quack.
The event featured many traditional wedding elements, including:
- The Vows: The letters promised to be inseparable through "quicksand and quarrels".
- The Outfits: The bride, “Miss Q," wore a soft white veil while the groom, “Mr. U," opted for a black vest and tie.
- The Reception: Following the ceremony, the students hosted a festive reception where they enjoyed punch and cookies while celebrating the new couple.
This imaginative tradition continues to be a favorite at Valley Forge, turning a complex spelling rule into a magical and memorable experience for the school’s youngest students.
