Worthingway Weekly

As a staff, we are focusing on two big things at Worthingway this year - culture and learning. I'd like to share with you how we define each and explain some of the work we are doing for each.

First is our school culture. Our culture is HOW we do things. Our goal is to create the safest, most welcoming, predictable and inviting learning environment for all. It starts with us greeting students as they enter our building. We have one staff member positioned at the front doors, one at the back doors, and two (sometimes three) staff members for bus drop off. Our staff does a great job at continuing to greet students throughout the day as they are often standing in their doorway during class change. We want to create as many positive interactions with students as we possibly can and we want to model the interactions that we want to see them have with each other. Additionally, we are intentional about identifying and teaching our building-wide behavior expectations. We spent much of the first three days doing this and will engage our students in "re-boot" lessons throughout the year. Our top priority to establish a safe and welcoming learning environment for all of our students and staff.

After we creating a healthy learning environment built on trust and positive relationships, we can then engage ALL of our learners in high levels of rigor that will lead us to academic growth. Our teachers are engaging in a collaborative teaming process in which they are focusing on four main questions: 1) what do we expects ALL students to learn, 2) how do we know if they learn it, 3) how will we respond if they have learned it, and 4) how will we respond if they haven't learned it. Our teachers meet twice a month in their collaborative teams in which they focus on these questions. We have established building goals for our collaborative team work. Our collaborative teams will meet at least twice a month and each meeting aligns with at least one of those four questions (as measured by 80% of conversation aligned). For at least two instructional units each semester, our collaborative teams should identify the essential learning outcomes/targets, create common formative assessment question(s), review the data from that question(s), and identify and implement next steps for learning based on that data.

I am really, really proud of our staff for committing to this work. It is intentional - we plan ahead and consider the big picture. We adjust instruction based on how our students are responding.

This Week

• This week, I saw the following:
• Students supporting our student-athletes at the athletic events
• A student dropped his folder and papers spread out over the hallway, there were five students that all stopped and helped to pick up
• Students interview each other in Social Studies class learning about the Paleolithic and Neolithic Eras
• A group of students playing a game of catch at recess. The football bounced off the building (it was a really bad throw) and hit a student square in the head (he wasn't injured). The student who was bonked on the head laughed along with his friends as it was pretty funny.
• A teacher opened her classroom during lunch to offer homework help to her students
• A teacher used her lunch period to connect with a student who was struggling during class to complete any work.
• Students engage with the Engineering Design Process by designing and creating their own rubber-band powered cars.

Family Conferences

• We have our Family Conferences scheduled for October 9 and 15. More information on how to sign up will be in next week's newsletter.

What year did you start teaching?

• 2000

What do you teach?

• Social Studies (grades 7 and 8)

What is your favorite part about Worthingway?

• The community. The staff helps each other out and the students continually amaze me with how caring they can be.

What is your favorite part about teaching?

• Every day, every period brings something new. Building relationships and seeing teens grow into young adults is a really cool thing to witness and help be a part of.

What are you most proud of?

• Teaching 25 years….all at Worthingway. And finishing a marathon (I’m not a runner).

What are your hobbies?

• Hiking, camping, reading, watching sports

What is your favorite movie?

• Tombstone

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

• Went caving in an abandoned mine in Colorado

What is something unique or interesting about you that most people might not know?

• I’m on the cover of the DVD (and in the documentary) “The Rivalry: Ohio State and Michigan” produced by HBO

What is your favorite corny joke?

• Why can’t a tyrannosaurs clap? They are extinct.

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.

6th Grade Camp Information

• Camp Information Meeting Slides
• Click here for the camp link
• Click here for the packet that was distributed at the meeting
• Click here for the packing video
• Questions about camp should be directed to your students' assist (period 7) teacher.

Title I Information

• Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA), provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. Our school receives Title IA funding.
• Parents/families of students in our building have a right to know about teacher qualifications and state-mandated assessments. All teachers providing Title I interventions are properly licensed for their positions and anyone can search licensure information on any educator at https://core.ode.state.oh.us/Core4/ODE.CORE.Lic.Profile.Public.UI/ . In addition to being linked here, these documents are available on the Title IA page of our school website.

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.

SAVE ACT

State Law requires school districts to deliver annual lessons for Ohio’s 6-12 students on Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Safety Training and Violence, and Social Inclusion. The law is referred to as the Safety and Violence Education Students Act or the SAVE Act.

In order to meet the requirements of the law, we will deliver three separate lessons during Wellness class. While the legislation requires Ohio schools to teach these topics, given the sensitive nature of the topic, families do have the right to opt their student out of receiving the instruction. Should you prefer your child to be excused, please contact your student’s school principal or counselor. Students not participating in the lesson will be provided an alternate location in the school for supervised school activities.

The SAVE Act requires schools to use state-approved curriculum. Worthington Schools will utilize materials from the Sandy Hook Promise Program which includes the Start With Hello and Say Something: Suicide Prevention Program. If you have additional questions regarding the requirements of the law or instructional materials, please contact Todd Keenan, school principal.

Our St. Vincent de Paul conference 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.

Dear Worthingway Families,

As a mom navigating middle school for the first time, I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure who was more nervous on the first day: My son or me! That jump from 5th to 6th grade felt huge. But watching how seamlessly this school year began, it’s clear we have an incredible team behind the scenes. From our front-office staff to the hallways full of teachers working tirelessly (and seemingly around the clock, based on those Infinite Campus alerts at all hours!), Worthingway is in good hands.

These educators are showing up every single day (and night) to pour into our students, including evenings and weekends. And in the coming weeks, they’ll be heading into parent-teacher conferences… which means very long days on top of everything else. That’s where we come in.

The PTA exists to support those who support our kids. Let’s show our teachers and staff some love! 💙

🍎 Ways to Support Our Worthingway Team

1. Enroll in Kroger Community Rewards
This is one of the easiest ways to give back… And it costs you nothing! A portion of your regular Kroger purchases will go directly to support our PTA efforts.
✅ Here’s how to sign up: Just search for Worthingway PTA when linking your account.
Sign in to your digital account.

• Go to your account and then click on Community Rewards.

• Enter the name (Worthingway Middle school PTA) or NPO number (RF924) of the organization that you wish to support.

• Select the appropriate organization from the list and click “Save.”

2. Donate or Become a PTA Member
Every dollar goes directly to programs that support our teachers, students, and school community.
🎁 Make a Donation HERE
👥 Join the PTA Today HERE

3. Sign Up as a “Cards Helper”
From chaperoning events to donating items, our volunteers make everything possible.
📝 Click HERE to sign up as a Cards Helper — we’ll reach out when opportunities arise!

👕 Spirit-Wear Sale Extended!

Good news! Our Worthingway spirit-wear sale has been extended through September 30! Fall is just around the corner, so take advantage of that extra 25% off and stock up on that Worthingway gear!
Even better? 10% of sales come back to Worthingway PTA, helping us fund even more fun and impactful programs.
🛍️ Shop the Spirit Store Here

Thank you for being part of a school community that shows up, leans in, and gives back. Let’s make this year one to remember!

Warmly,
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

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

October 9

• P/T Conferences

October 15

• P/T Conferences

October 17

• No School

October 24

• School Photo Re-takes

October 27-29

• 6th grade camp

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

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

Mrs. Lyn Whitmer, counselor (lwhitmer@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