WCSD’s 2024 Summer Set to Start on Monday, June 3

Warren City Schools will kick off the district’s Summer Meal Program on Monday, June 3, 2024.

The program – offered by the school district under the Ohio Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) – will continue through Aug. 9, 2024. The free meals will be provided Mondays through Fridays at these locations:

WARREN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDINGS

Jefferson PK-8 School, 1543 Tod Ave SW, Warren

  • Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Lincoln PK-8 School, 2253 Atlantic St, Warren

  • Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
  • Lunch: Lunch 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

McGuffey PK-8 School, 3465 Tod Ave NW, Warren

  • Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Willard PK-8 School, 2020 Willard Ave, Warren

  • Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Warren G. Harding High School, 860 Elm Road, Warren

  • Breakfast:  7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. 
  • Lunch:  10:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

COMMUNITY LOCATIONS

Highland Terrace Community Center, 377 Lane SW, Warren  

  • Lunch:  11:30 a.m. – Noon

Laird Community Garden, 565 Laird SE, Warren

  • Lunch:  11:30 a.m. – Noon

Packard Park, 1703 Mahoning Ave, Warren   

  • Lunch:  Noon – 12:30 p.m.

TriYou Cares, 239 Main Ave. SW, Warren   

  • Breakfast: 9 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
  • Lunch:  Noon – 12:30 p.m.

Warren Heights Apts., 504 Douglas NW, Warren  

  • Lunch:  Noon – 12:30 p.m.

Warren Trumbull County Public Library, 444 Mahoning Ave., Warren

  • Lunch: 12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m.

YWCA, 375 North Park, Warren

  • Breakfast:  8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.   
  • Lunch: Noon – 12:30 p.m.

WCS’ Steve Chiaro named 2024 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation’s Superintendent of the Year

Warren City Schools Superintendent/CEO Steve Chiaro has been named the recipient of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation’s 2024 Ohio Superintendent of the Year Award.

Dr. Renee T. Willis, Ph. D., Executive Director of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, explained in a letter to Mr. Chiaro that honoring educators and elevating the teaching profession is a core mission of the foundation. 

The letter reads, “We are deeply honored by your Board President’s high regard for you, leading to your nomination for this esteemed award. As you know, I am personally aware of your great work through the Ohio Mid-Sized Collaborative.”

The prestigious honor is the highest accolade the foundation bestows upon an educator. The recognition also brings a $10,000 grant from the foundation to the school district in Mr. Chiaro’s name. 

Mr. Chiaro will be celebrated at a banquet during the annual Jennings Educators Summit on Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Warrensville, Ohio. At that time, he will be presented with his Superintendent of the Year Award. 

Additionally, the foundation plans to visit the Warren City School District during the 2024-2025 school year and feature Mr. Chiaro on its website.

Warren City Schools Board of Education President Patricia Limperos nominated Mr. Chiaro for the award. In her nomination letter, she wrote that Mr Chiaro “embraces and exemplifies your organization’s core values of Deep Learning and Excellent Teaching.”

She wrote further that Mr. Chiaro believes that the district’s youngest learners deserve a strong start to their academic journey; that every student deserves a chance to excel; that each student should be “met where they are” that all students are worthy of the best educational opportunities and facilities; and most importantly, “that every student graduates from Warren City Schools prepared for their own individual successful future.”

Moreover, the district’s work within the Whole Child Framework is grounded in Mr. Chiaro’s long standing commitment to collaborating with a breadth of community partners to ensure that the needs of students are met.

His strong leadership, vision, deep community partnerships and long standing partnership with CASEL (Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning) – a national network of researchers, educators, and advocates purposed to make SEL part of a high quality education for all, to meet students’ social emotional needs all supported Warren City School District’s recent removal from any negative state or federal designations. Ms. Limperos lauded Mr. Chiaro’s unwavering support of the continued academic improvement of the school system. 

Mr. Chiaro is in his 27th year of working for the Warren City School District. He has served as a teacher, principal, supervisor of school improvement, associate superintendent, and for the past 10 years, superintendent/CEO. 

WGH’s Nate James signs college letter of intent

Warren G. Harding High School graduating honors student Nathan James signed his college letter of intent on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

The student-athlete announced he plans to attend Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio.

Nate has earned a position on the college’s track and cross country team. He plans to pursue a career in physical therapy as a sports physical therapist working alongside athletes.

He served two years as varsity captain on the soccer team, and has earned 11 athletic letters and four academic letters at Warren G. Harding. His name is in the school record book, as he has the school record in the men’s 5k, 3200m, and 1600m.

WGH SMASH Students: Maneuvering for Safer Highways

Run. Jump. Toss. Make the shot.

Normally, none of those tasks would be an issue for the students participating in the obstacle course inside the gymnasium at Warren G. Harding High School on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

However, several of them found it more difficult once they donned a pair of goggles that cause the wearer to display behaviors typical of individuals impaired by alcohol at various BAC levels.

The simulation was presented by four of their classmates who have been participating in the Trumbull County SMASH (Students Making A Safer Highway) program. The program is a collaborative effort among the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio State University Extension Trumbull County, and nearly 60 students various school districts within Trumbull County. The group meets throughout the school year at the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.

The simulation served as an end-of-year demonstration to share with their peers their efforts to encourage safer highways.

The obstacles course involved jumping hurdles, tossing a ball into a bucket/tub, “riding” through a set of cones and attempting to shoot a basket into a basketball hoop.

Jefferson Student Council takes a closer look at City Government

Student Council members from the Jefferson PK-8 School spent their evening on Wednesday, May 9, 2024, inside Warren City Council Chambers.

Warren City’s Sixth Ward Councilwoman Honeya Price, after visiting the students at school, invited them to attend a City Council meeting.

“I just wanted them to see a Council meeting in person and a bit of what we do,” Price said.

Money Matters: WCS’ 8th Graders learn life lessons during ‘real world” simulation

Students in each of Warren City Schools four PK-8 buildings experienced a taste of what it means to balance a budget and work “to make ends meet” each month during “Real Money, Real World” simulations May 7 and 8.

The project was made available to the students through a partnership with the Ohio State University extension. 

Lessons in their math classes the week prior to the stimulations prepared the students for the real life situations and money management activities.

Marie Economos of the OSU extension said the goal is to prepare the students for life challenges as they transition into becoming adults.

Each students was assigned a career, a monthly salary and a specific number of children. They visited various stations, making spending choices along the way that were based on their family situation. The goal was to have enough money “to make ends meet” at the end of the month.

The four classroom lessons were designed to prepare students to assume the role of a 27-year-old adult who is the primary income provider for a family. Students learned to subtract savings, taxes, and other deductions
from their monthly income. The amount of money left over is what they spent during the simulation activity.

Students spent their money at the various stations on items typically found in a monthly budget, including housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, child care, and transportation. Throughout the activity, students kept track of their finances and attempted to complete the simulation with a positive
balance.

WGH Seniors Recognized at Trumbull County Scholarship Event

Warren G. Harding High School seniors Mia Jones and Nathan James were among the Trumbull County high school graduating students honored Friday, May 3, 2024, at the 2024 Scholarship and Recognition Breakfast.

Nathan was awarded a District-Level Franklin B. Walter Award ($500 Textbook Award). Mia was awarded a $1,000 First Place Community Fund Scholarship.

The annual event is hosted by the Trumbull County Educational Service Center Governing Board and this year students in attendance were award, collectively, nearly $40,000 in scholarships.

First Place Community Fund Scholarship
District-Level Franklin B. Walter Award

WCS Students Exhibit Strong Showing at the School District’s Annual Art Show

Creativity and skill were on full display Friday, April 26, 2024, for Warren City Schools’ Annual Art Show.

The event, held inside the large gym at Warren G. Harding High School, featured art works created by students in each of the Warren City Schools five school buildings.

These awards went to the following students:

  • Superintendent’s Award–Precious Harden–8th Grade, Willard PK-8 School
  • Mayor’s Award–Karina McDonald–11th Grade, WGH High School
  • SMARTS Award–Kassie Sacco–12th Grade, WGH High School
  • Best in Show–Kassie Sacco–12th Grade, WGH High School
Superintendent’s Award
Mayor’s Award
Best in Show