Using grant funding, students from each of the four Westerville middle schools’ advanced 6th grade Social Studies classes spent a day on Capitol Square, a complex that includes the Ohio Statehouse, Senate Building, and Atrium, providing the opportunity to bring lesson plans to life on such subjects as history, civics, architecture, and art.  In addition to viewing and interacting with the museum’s treasures, students participated in active discussions and simulations regarding Ohio government.  Some trips included personal visits from Representative Anne Gonzales, who was able to take students onto the House Floor.

This past weekend Westerville City Schools once again made a strong showing at the Central Region Road-E-O and brought home some hardware to prove it.  Overall 7th place winner was Gary Case, an alternate for the State contest on May 18.  Taking overall 9th place was Cindy Russell, who will also serve as a State competition alternate.  The First Place Team members (collective score) were Westerville drivers Gary Case, Debbie Diller, Cindy Russell and Steve Smith.  The third place team also hailed from Westerville City Schools -- Rafael Guigni, John Holmes, Shelly Smith and Shirley Timberlake.

The Westerville Parent Council and GFS Marketplace recently awarded five $500 scholarships to students at Westerville Central, North and South high schools.  This year’s recipients are...

Westerville City Schools will be working with the Westerville Area Resource Ministry to provide meals to students this summer.  The 2013 season of the Westerville Area Kids Summer Lunch Club will run weekdays from May 28 through August 9 at six sites. This year there will be five open sites: Alum Creek South Park, Huber Village Park, La Vista Townhomes, Ridgewood Park and Strawberry Farms Park and one enrolled site: Church of the Nazarene.

First and fifth grade students at Wilder and McVay elementary schools recently were able to explore and get an up-close and personal look at streams that flow into Big Walnut Creek below Hoover Dam.  Students scooped up water insects and other invertebrates for study.  Through such investigation, they were able to evaluate the composition of the aquatic community as an indication of the relative health of the stream.

Westerville City Schools announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program for Children.  Free meals will be made available to eligible children 18 years of age and under or persons over 18 who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled.  Children who are members of food stamp households or OWF assistance units are automatically eligible for free meals. To be eligible, children participating in residential camps must meet the income guidelines for reduced meals in the National School Lunch Program.

Cherrington Elementary School hosted its annual Multi-Cultural Night on Thursday, May 2, featuring food, art and activities representing a number of regions, including the United States, Central America, France, Asia, Africa, and South America.  Students received passports to guide them through various stations and guest readers from the Westerville area shared stories.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced this year’s National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners.  Included on the list is Melanie A. Raphael, a senior at Westerville South High School, whose probable career field is Medicine.  The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program.

On Monday morning, May 6, the rain held off just long enough for students and staff at Heritage Middle School to dedicate their new memorial garden and park bench, created to honor the shooting victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.  The tragedy touched the hearts of students in Andy Habing’s North Pointe class, who decided they wanted to create a special place of remembrance.

Each of the Westerville City School District’s four middle schools is unique and special.  In the case of Walnut Springs, the courtyard is a feature that sets the building apart.  Walnut Springs, the first middle school in the district, was built in 1964 and designed by architects Joseph Baker and Associates with the outside space in mind.  Over the years, many have played a role in its upkeep.  The space has a long history as an example of people coming together for a common good.