Worthingway MS "Back To School"

You've probably noticed all of the Back To School supplies and displays popping up in stores, seemingly earlier and earlier each year. In my house, my ten-year -old daughter starts fifth grade this year - so she is feeling like the top dog!

When I was in middle school, summers for me consisted of waking up to a list of chores and a note from my mom reminding me to be home for dinner. I would get the chores done as soon as I could and got on my prized possession - my Huffy bike. Some of you know what I'm talking about - this bike is one that you pedal with your own legs and learned real quick how to flip it upside down to put the chain back on when it fell off - leaving your hands a little dirty from the grease/oil. I spent the long days playing outside all across town. While my summer pace has slowed down a bit as an adult, a fun activity for me now is just kicking it back and fishing at a neighborhood pond.

We are truly excited to begin a new school year at Worthingway! The goal for this particular newsletter is to help you prepare and answer any immediate questions you may have. These newsletters will be sent every Friday afternoon.

Our district communications team has updated our "Back to School" page with very organized information you will need. And you may want to bookmark our Worthingway Middle School page.

We look forward to seeing you anytime between 3:00-7:00 on Tuesday, August 5th for our schedule pick up.

For our new families:

My name is Todd Keenan and I am the proud principal at Worthingway Middle School. I look forward to building a positive relationship with you and your child. It is our priority to ensure that each student has a safe, positive, and memorable learning experience while at Worthingway.

This past school year was my first at Worthingway MS and I loved it! I previously served as assistant principal at Thomas Worthington High School for five years. Prior to that, I was a teacher, coach, and administrator in the Gahanna-Jefferson School District and spent one year as Dean of Students at New Albany High School.

My wife and I have three children: Landon (22), Brooke (20), and Laura (10). We enjoy hiking and being outside, kayaking, fishing, playing card games and board games. Personally, I enjoy cooking up some protein on my Traeger smoker or Blackstone griddle.

Middle school is a unique time in a students' life. I very much remember my two older children’s middle school experience as I was their assistant principal at that time. My son would walk by me like he didn’t know me and my daughter would run up and give me hugs daily.

You will also get to know our amazing assistant principal, Mrs. Abby Jinks, if you haven't already. She is serving in her fourth year at Worthingway. Previously, she was a rock star math teacher at Gahanna Middle School West. She and her husband, Ian, have a one-year old son named Joe.

We believe that each student has a voice and a story. It is our mission to get to know as much as we can about your child’s voice and story and how it relates to our entire building culture. We want to work intentionally with you to develop a real, meaningful relationship and earn your trust so that, together, we can ensure your child thrives at our school.

We are excited to host Worthingway students and families on Tuesday, August 5 for student registration day from 3:00-7:00pm. This will be open house style event, so come and go as you please.

The first thing that families must do is complete the Emergency Data Review. This can be done online before you even come or we will have computer stations set up to assist you. Once this step is complete, students will be able to pick up their class schedule. Our building will be open for students to walk their schedule and get acquainted with their locker.

Students will also have their school photo taken during this time.

We are grateful for the local business partnership that Ron Overstreet of the Worthington Dairy Queen has with our Worthington schools. Ron will graciously provide a sweet treat for our Worthingway students.

• ALL families need to complete the Emergency Data Review

School pictures will be taken during Schedule Pick up on August 5. It is important that every student has their picture taken in order to receive a student ID. Students must bring their ID to attend athletic events at all Worthington schools.

• How do I know by bus route/bus number?
• Families will be able to see bus route information on August 4th. We will not have this information at the building before this date. Should you know in advance that your child will need an alternative bus stop on their assigned route due to child care or other reasons, please fill out the Alternative Transportation Request form as soon as possible.

• How do I access my student's grades?
• Use this helpful guide to create an account with Infinite Campus.

• How do I follow along with what my student is learning in classes?
• Parent Guide: Schoology
• What is Schoology?

• How do I download the Securly app to help keep my student safe while using their school issued chromebook at home?
• Securly Home (for parents)

• Are there classroom fees this year?
• No! The board of education voted to eliminate classroom fees - yay!

• Is there a fee to participate in athletics?
• Yes. All athletic and activity fees are posted to MyPayments Plus.

• Where can I find information about school lunch?
• Parent Guide: My Payments Plus
• Put money in the school lunch account through MyPayments Plus.
• School district lunch information can be found here.
• Apply for Free/Reduced if you think you might be eligible.

• How can I get involved with the awesome PTA that I hear so much about?
• Check out this introduction letter by our PTA President, Jennifer Johnson.

• Is there a classroom supply list for each grade?
• Yes. Supply Lists for each grade can be found here.

• If you ordered a kit, it will be at the school during schedule pick up (August 5).

• My student has a medical need. Who do I need to communicate with?
• Our school nurse, Mrs. Joyce Casey, will be at Worthingway during schedule pick up (August 5) for you to drop off medications for your student and submit any necessary paperwork.

• What is the bell schedule for middle school?
• Bell Schedule

And finally, click here for a comprehensive document that will help you with Schoology and Infinite Campus.

• You can find the district attendance policy here.
• Please call the school office at 614-450-4300 or email wayattend@wscloud.org any time during the morning, day or night to report all absences and/or late arrivals. Please leave a detailed voicemail or send a detailed email with student name and grade, as well as reason for absence/late arrival. A parent/guardian may also access a Google Absence Form on the Worthingway website > Administration > Attendance to complete for student absences.
• If the office does not hear from you and your student is absent, you will receive a call/email/text from the school to check on your student and to receive further information about their absence.
• If your student will be absent for an extended period of time (5 days or more), please have the student visit the office for an Extended Absence Form.

Check-In

A student should enter the main office on their own to sign-in on the SchoolSafe kiosks if they are late for school or are returning from being checked-out. They must receive an office pass to enter the building/their class. We will gladly accept a doctor’s excuse from them if they have been at an appointment.

Check-Out

A documented parent/guardian must always enter the building with their driver’s

license/proof of identity to check their student(s) out using our SchoolSafe kiosks. If the individual who wants to check a student out is not documented on the student's record, a permission call must be received from a documented parent/guardian for the check-out to occur. You may call or email or send a note to the office in advance to inform us that you will be checking your student out and we can give them a pass to provide to their teacher to come to the office at a specific time to meet up with you for check-out. A student will not be allowed to leave a class for check-out without a pass or without a call from the office to the teacher in the classroom. Please note, student check-out during lunch/ community time may take a bit of extra time, so please plan accordingly.

Back to School Student Health Fair

Columbus Public Health, in partnership with Columbus City Schools and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, is hosting a Back to School Student Health Fair offering key services for students as they prepare for the year ahead. This event is open to all local school districts, and we encourage families to attend if their child needs any of the services listed below:

• Vaccines (including those required for school entry)

• TB testing

• Vision and hearing screenings

• Annual physicals

Event Details:

Dates: Saturday, August 2 and Saturday, August 9

Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Location: East High School, 1500 E. Broad St. – Free parking available

This free event is open to the public. Registration is recommended by scanning the QR code on the attached flyer or visiting https://bit.ly/cbus-82925

Limited walk-ins will also be accepted. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at vaccinehelp@columbus.gov or call 614-645-6881

• 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.
• Click here for our Worthingway Athletic Department page.
• Click here for our Fall Athletic Schedule.

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.

Welcome to a New Year with Worthingway PTA!

Hey Worthingway families and staff,

We’re so excited to kick off another school year at Worthingway Middle School! Whether you're a returning family or brand new to the Cardinal community (like me) - Welcome! The Worthingway PTA is here to support our students, staff, and school community with heart, energy, and a few new surprises up our sleeves this year… So stay connected and don’t miss a thing!

What does the Worthingway PTA do?

We show up in big and small ways all year long to support our school. Here are just a few of the awesome things we make happen with your help:

Canteens – Fun social events for students to connect and unwind.
Teacher Grants – Funding for classroom ideas and projects that help teachers go beyond the basics.
Teacher Appreciation Week – Making our staff feel celebrated and cared for.
Honors Nights – Uplifting and recognizing the hard work and leadership of our amazing students.

And that’s just the beginning!

How can you get involved?

There’s truly something for everyone - Whether you’ve got a few minutes, a few hours, or just want to show support from the sidelines.

• Attend a Meeting – We meet at 7 PM on the first Tuesday of the month in September, October, January, March, and May. Join us in the Worthingway Library or on Zoom - Whatever fits your schedule. Everyone is welcome!

• Stay in the Know – Follow us on Facebook: [Search “Worthingway PTA”]
  Check out our website: https://worthingwaypta.my.canva.site/
  Catch us in Mr. Keenan’s weekly newsletter too!

• Join the PTA or Donate – Every dollar goes directly back into our school community.

• You can donate any amount at https://bit.ly/WwayDonation.

• Want to join? It’s just $7, and part of that goes to the Ohio PTA. Members can vote at PTA meetings and help shape our impact. Join here: https://bit.ly/WwaySchool

• Support Fundraisers & Restaurant Nights – From Chipotle to Butter Braids, our restaurant nights and seasonal fundraisers help us raise the funds that make all this possible. Keep an eye on Mr. Keenan’s emails and our Facebook page for dates!

• Volunteer at the Concession Stand – Grab a shift during a home game and help serve up snacks while supporting Worthingway. All proceeds benefit the PTA. Sign up here!

• Link Your Kroger Rewards – An easy (and free!) way to support Worthingway - Just visit bit.ly/WwayKroger and search for organization RF924.

We know life is busy. Whether you’re able to donate, volunteer, or simply show up - We’re grateful. Thank you for being part of what makes Worthingway such a special place to learn and grow.

Let’s make it a memorable year - Together!

Warmly,
Jennifer Johnson
President, Worthingway PTA
WorthingwayPTA@gmail.com

District Calendar for 2025-26

Tuesday, August 5

• Student Registration/Schedule Pick-Up (3:00-7:00pm)

Wednesday, August 13

• First day of school

Tuesday, August 19

• School Photo Make-Ups

Monday, August 25

• Open House / Meet The Teacher (6:00-7:30pm)

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

October 27-29

• 6th grade camp

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