Worthingway Weekly

Middle school aged students are...something. They can experience the whole gamut of emotions - sometimes a whole bunch at the same time. They are also so full of life and energy. When your most common phrase throughout the day is "walk please" you know you are a middle school educator. Yet, they bring so much joy to me and our whole staff each day.

As a parent and educator, there is a constant balance of trying to know when to step in and support and when to step back and allow them to figure it out. In the education world, we call this "productive struggle." We want them to engage some challenges but not to the point of quitting or stopping. We know their path to growth is not linear - so ups and downs are expected.

My wife and I have three children - ages 23, 21, and 12. One of the things we did to stretch our youngest this past summer was to have her start to mow the grass. She definitely experienced some productive struggle.

The first few times there were plenty of "mohawks" in the yard so we had her go back over them and added some direct instruction to help her understand how to put the mower deck just over the previously cut line. She took many breaks. Over the course of the summer, she got much better at it and actually started to enjoy it (some) while needing less and less breaks.

So, as parents, we were feeling pretty good about ourselves! Yeah, we've got our 12 year old daughter mowing the grass, doing her own laundry, and (sometimes) cleaning off her own dishes. We are doing a pretty good job! Let's go!

Then it happened. I walked into her bedroom. And I realized what a colossal failure of a parent I actually am! It was an absolute mess - hahaha!

I joke but there is truth to this story. When you think you've got it all together with this little person - reality smacks you right in the face. This is life with a middle school student. Whether you are a parent, guardian, or educator - working with young adults this age is certainly a roller coaster.

The one thing that we can do, though, is just to continue to love them the same through the ups and downs and all arounds.

Thank you for partnering with us!

Family Conferences

• We have our Family Conferences scheduled for Monday, October 12 and Wednesday, October 14.
• We use an online program for parent-teacher conference sign-ups. You may choose between the two dates. Conferences are set up to meet with your student's teachers if you have questions, or concerns. Times are limited to 10 minutes, between the hours of 4:45 and 7:45. Please come prepared with specific questions and concerns, as we make every effort to stay on schedule.
• For our sixth grade families: Conferences at the middle school level are different than elementary. It is not expected that you sign up. We do not have enough time slots to accommodate everyone so please consider only requesting a time slot if you have specific concerns or questions that we can help with.
• For many of our sixth grade families, we schedule group conferences. This allows the parent to meet and hear from most (if not all) of their child's teachers during our short time together.

• To sign up for a conference, please click here.

Staff Shoutouts from our Families

• Mrs. Wendt is an amazing teacher and advocate. She is always flexible and open to ideas and suggestions to help push students toward further growth. She's not afraid to have hard conversations and she is always cheering on the students. We're so thankful for the support she's offered over the last 3 years.
• Has a 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.

What year did you start teaching?

• 2000

What university did you graduate from?

• Bowling Green State University - undergraduate degree
• Walden University - graduate degree

What is your favorite part of Worthingway?

• The Boom Boom sauce in the cafeteria!

What is your favorite part about your job?

• Every day is different! Change is good and every day at Worthingway brings new challenges, experiences, celebrations, and chances for change.

What are your hobbies?

• Hiking, camping, fly fishing, following the Dodgers & Buckeyes, reading

State law requires school districts to provide annual lessons for students in grades 6–12 on Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Safety Training and Violence, and Social Inclusion. This law is known as the Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) Students Act. To meet these requirements, schools must use a state-approved curriculum. Worthington Schools will utilize materials from the Sandy Hook Promise program. Below is Worthington School’s implementation dates:

• Suicide Prevention Week (10/5-10/9): Say Something: Prevent Suicide

• Start with Hello Week (10/12-10/15): Start with Hello

• National Anti-Bullying Week (11/16-11/20): Say Something

Although Ohio law requires these lessons, we recognize the sensitive nature of the topics. Families may choose to opt their student out of participation. If you prefer for your child not to receive this instruction, please contact your student’s principal or school counselor. Students who do not participate will be provided with an alternative activity.

If you have any questions about the SAVE Act requirements or the instructional materials, please contact Mr. Keenan at tkeenan@wscloud.org.

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

Parent Resources

• 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
• Infinite Campus:
• Infinite Campus is how you can access your students' grades, attendance, etc
• Parent Guide
• 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.
• Click here for a comprehensive document that will help you with Schoology and Infinite Campus and Securly Home.

Infinite Campus Parent Portal

• If you have questions or are unable to complete the steps and need technical support, please complete this google form.

Happy October, Worthingway Families!

Can you believe we are already into October?! Fall sports are in full swing, the school year is hitting its stride, and that can only mean one thing - it's everyone's favorite time of year... the Butterbraids Fundraiser is HERE!

This fundraiser is one of our biggest of the year and every order makes a real difference for our students and teachers. We have a goal of raising $5000 this year!!! Last year your support helped us fund things like our Teacher Conference Dinners, Staff Appreciation Week, Honor Student recognition events, our brand new Teacher Grant Program - which put resources directly into our classrooms - and our very first Healthy Minds Family Night, a mental health awareness event. Every Butterbraid sold helps us keep doing all of this and more for Worthingway!

Last Friday, you received an email with your child's personal online ordering link. We want to give you a quick heads up - you may notice a discrepancy on the order form. One side says 15 items to earn a Graeter's Gift Card and the other says 20. The correct number is 15 items - we promise the ice cream is worth it!

Here are all the details you need:

Orders close: Monday, October 19
Product pick-up: Thursday, November 12 from 4:00–6:00 PM in the school cafeteria

• A Note on Order Pick-Up - We know life gets busy, so if you are unable to make it that day please make arrangements for someone to pick up your order on your behalf. Any orders that have not been picked up within 5 days of the pick-up date will be donated to the Worthington Resource Pantry so that nothing goes to waste and our community continues to benefit! We will not be able to hold orders beyond that window, so please plan accordingly. Thank you so much for your understanding!

Online ordering only - visit Bit.ly/worthingway26
NEW this year — Ship-to-Home add-on available!
Sell 15 items → earn a Graeter's Gift Card
Sell 25 items → earn a Chipotle Gift Card
Our goal is to raise over $5,000 for Worthingway PTA programs

Questions? Reach out to us at worthingwaypta@gmail.com - we are happy to help!

HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR PTA MEMBERSHIP?

Quick reminder - PTA membership renews every year! If you were a member last year, thank you so much - but you will need to sign up again for the 2026–2027 school year to keep your membership active.

Not sure if it's worth it? Here is what PTA membership gets you:

A vote on how PTA funds are used - including our budget, events, and programs

A seat at the table at our monthly meetings where decisions are made

The ability to share your ideas and opinions on what happens at Worthingway

The knowledge that your $7.00 goes directly toward supporting our students and teachers

Membership is just $7.00 for the entire school year and it makes a real difference. Every member counts - and every voice matters!

Join or renew HERE!

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!

We have a brand new Instagram page and we would love for you to follow along! Click HERE to find us and stay connected to everything the PTA has in store this year!

And don't forget - you can also join our Facebook group by searching "Worthingway PTA" and clicking join!

LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR WORTHINGWAY TEAM?

Enroll in Kroger Community Rewards - costs you nothing! Enter name (Worthingway Middle School PTA) or NPO number (RF924) under Community Rewards in your Kroger account.

Make a donation to the PTA - Make a Donation HERE

Your donation directly funds the programs, events, and initiatives that make Worthingway such a special place to learn and grow. From student recognition to teacher appreciation to community events - it all happens because of YOU!

ATTENTION CARDS HELPERS!
First of all - THANK YOU to everyone who has volunteered their time as a Cards Helper. We are so grateful for you!

We do have one small but important update this year - Cards Helper sign ups reset annually! That means if you signed up last year and would like to continue volunteering, you will need to sign up again for the 2026–2027 school year.

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! Every little bit of help makes a huge difference for our students, teachers, and the Worthingway community. Sign up HERE!

We would love to have you back - or welcome you for the first time!

Shop Spirit Wear - 10% of sales come back to us! Shop HERE

Volunteer at the Concession Stand - easy, fun, and a great experience for you and your student! 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
Worthingway PTA President
worthingwaypta@gmail.com

• 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

October 12

• Family Conferences (4:45-7:45)

October 14

• Family Conferences (4:45-7:45)

October 15

• Last Day of Quarter 1

October 16

• No School

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

This October we will be introducing a new series for our Middle school students who are interested in trying and/or joining the amazing sport of Colorguard. During these clinics students will join a fun environment led by Colorguard coaches Mack Reay and Michaela Bateman. Here they will learn how to spin, learn dance basics, meet new or old friends, and gain a new skill!

These will be held in the Thomas Worthington High School Band Room on Monday's in October from 6pm-8pm. Students will receive a short break during this time to have snack that can be brought from home.

Equipment will be provided all they need is a water and snack, comfy shoes (sneakers, running shoe that laces), and themselves.

Students who make it to our last clinic 10/26 can look forward to a special prize at the end of the series!

For any questions we can be reached at mreay@wscloud.org (Mack), mbateman@wscloud.org, or through Director Scoles dscoles@wscloud.org

We look forward to seeing you there!

Adventure awaits: Worthingway is going abroad in 2028!

To learn more about the travel opportunities available to Worthington students in 2028. Fill out the form below to RSVP to our parent informational meeting taking place on 10/20 in the Worthington Kilbourne HS commons at 6PM. If you are interested but can't make it, click "no but send more info" and we will follow up. We are excited to see you there!

https://forms.gle/h7epubUMtk34aCgJ9

St. Vincent de Paul offers a free clothing room at St. Michael Church, 5750 North High Street, Worthington, 43085. As shoppers enter the church driveway it is on the right-hand side prior to the parking lot. Shoppers will need to go down the outside stairs to gain entrance to the room. There will be a sign out on days the room is open. The room is stocked with gently used seasonal clothing for all ages. In addition, we provide a new set of underwear and socks for each family member. All we need would be identification for each family member that is being shopped for and which school is referring them. The Clothing room is open the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 9:00 – 10:00 (last shopper signed in). And again, on the first and third Saturday of each month from 10:00 – 11:00 (last shopper signed in). Families may visit the clothing room every three months.