A large donation of school supplies from Wheatland Tube/Zekelman, United Steel Workers, Schad Refractory, and Atlas Environmental Management will ease the way for many WCS students and families this year.
The donation includes dozens of backpacks stuffed with various items, notebooks, pencils, crayons and more.
A team of business leaders – Jose Arroyo, Colin Morgan, Rachel Cyphert, Mackenzie Sullivan, Raymond Heckathorn and Donald Fowler – brought the supplies, in bags and boxes stuffed to the brim, to the Board of Education Office on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025 – just in time for the start of the 2025-2026 school year. The donation coincided with the first day of school for students.
The Warren City School District kicked off the 2025-2026 school year on Monday, Aug. 18, by welcoming students to class.
District staff – including teachers and administrators – and community leaders and volunteers met students at the school doors to encourage them, with some saying, “Have a great first day and a great year!”
Many students were greeted with handshakes and high fives. It has become a tradition for community members to join ranks with school leaders to gather on the first day of school as part of an ongoing effort to rally in support of the students.
Two PK-8 schools with the Warren City School District were recognized during the annual staff convocation on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2025, for their attendance numbers in 2024-2025.
Lincoln PK-8 School received the “Daily Attendance Making Gains” award for having the highest increase in daily attendance and the “Daily Attendance Building Champion” award for the highest daily attendance by students. Willard PK-8 received the “Daily Attendance Leader’ award and the “Showing Up For Kids” award.
The award presentations were part of the district’s kick off to its new 2025- 2026 attendance awareness campaign, “Attend Today, Succeed Tomorrow!”.
The are rotating awards, meaning they will move from school to school based on each building’s attendance numbers.
“This slogan was selected because we know that academic success starts with showing up,” said Dante Capers, Associate Superintendent of Student Services, Student Wellness & Success.
This school year, the district is partnering with the Stay In The Game! Network and the Cleveland Browns Foundation whose mission involves connecting members and stakeholders to work together to campaign, connect, and convene with experts to dramatically improve student attendance.
So, in addition to the district campaign slogan, students, families and community members will see branding, posters, and more from the Cleveland Browns and the Stay In The Game! Network around each school and throughout the community.
What will this partnership mean for Warren City Schools?
Improved strategy in our existing work to reduce absenteeism
Increased communication and engagement to raise attendance awareness and to recognize students who are meeting that expectation
Collaboration with other districts and experts to identify strategies to reduce absenteeism
Engaging community partners in our attendance awareness efforts
What’s next?
Awareness raising with families through communication channels and connecting this week at the Celebration on the Square.
“Perfect Start” attendance challenge to promote perfect attendance for the month of August.
Recognizing last year’s students with exceptional attendance at the “HERO”s Tailgate Party at the September 5th home football game. Mark your calendars and join us!
Monthly recognition of our schools that are leading the way with student, staff, and daily attendance.
What is an Attendance H.E.R.O.?
This is our district-wide standard for excellent attendance. A H.E.R.O. is a student who is Here Everyday Ready and On time. Students can earn a monthly H.E.R.O. designation by missing no more than one day and by having no more than one tardy in a month. Join us in setting an expectation and encouraging your students to be Attendance H.E.R.O.s!
Warren City Schools Superintendent/CEO Steve Chiaro on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, led district and community leaders in welcoming school employees to the 2025-2026 during the annual Convocation at Mollenkompf Stadium.
The event, a longstanding tradition in the Warren City School District, gives time for districtwide updates and direction.
Hundreds of community members gathered downtown at Courthouse Square on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, for the annual Warren City Schools Back to School Celebration.
The events serves as a yearly kick off to the new school year. Students, parents, teachers and school administrators join together to greet, celebrate and encourage each other while preparing for another successful school year in Warren City Schools.
The event featured raffles, refreshments, games, and various activities.
This year’s celebration gave the district the opportunity to introduce the community to its new 2025- 2026 attendance awareness campaign, “Attend Today, Succeed Tomorrow!”.
“This slogan was selected because we know that academic success starts with showing up,” said Dante Capers, Associate Superintendent of Student Services, Student Wellness & Success.
This school year, the district is partnering with the Stay In The Game! Network and the Cleveland Browns Foundation whose mission involves connecting members and stakeholders to work together to campaign, connect, and convene with experts to dramatically improve student attendance.
Warren City Schools Food Service employees kicked off the 2025-2026 school year discussing expectations and strategies for building a healthy and positive workplace culture.
The department, during two professional development sessions, discussed establishing a productive work environment and using five guiding principles to build a positive staff culture. These standards create a supportive and efficient workplace where every team member can thrive:
Show up ready to work.
Express yourself professionally.
Respond with respect.
Value teamwork.
Exceed expectations.
As Staff Culture Builders, we strive to connect with each person on a personal level. If that doesn’t come naturally, resources like The 4 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace can help foster stronger, more meaningful relationships:
Words of Affirmation – Using verbal praise, compliments, or written notes to express appreciation and encouragement.
Quality Time – Giving someone your full attention, such as one-on-one conversations or team activities, to show you value them.
Acts of Service – Helping lighten someone’s load by assisting with tasks or providing support when needed. 4. Tangible Gifts – Giving thoughtful items or tokens that show you know and appreciate the recipient’s preferences.
In the second session which served as the Food Service Department’s Back to School meeting, building a healthy and positive workplace culture was a key topic. Guest presenter Lucien Blackwell of RBC Financial Services emphasized that culture must be conducive to success and is something you can feel in the workplace. He reminded staff that effective communication is about understanding and alignment, with only 10% being the words spoken and 90% the way they are expressed.
The session closed with a powerful message: Rules without relationship always equal rebellion.
Warren City Schools welcomed several new teachers to the district during a new teacher orientation on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025.
Superintendent/CEO Steve Chiaro spent time with the new employees, giving them the opportunity to become more familiar with the Warren City Schools family, community and buildings, and to spend some time with their peers.
The orientation was held at the WCS Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
More than 40 new staff members heard from department directors within the district, learning about state and federal programming, business operations, Curriculum and Instruction, employee benefits, and much more.
Building Administrators shared insight related to their specific building operations and took part in a Q&A with new hires.
Following the orientation, staff toured the new Student Recreation & Wellness Center before an orientation with the Warren Education Association.
While visiting Warren City Schools on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, Amie Dean “Behavior Queen” met with the district’s educational assistants to discuss trauma sensitive classrooms, understanding what trauma could be and how children communicate, understanding behavior, de-escalation, the why and how, and strategies to meet the 3 C’s: helping children feel connected, capable and calm.
Patricia Dreher, Warren City Schools Executive Director, Special Education, above, discusses classroom strategies with Warren City Schools educational assistants. Amie Dean ‘Behavior Queen’ also spent time with district staff during the professional development day on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, that encompassed four separate sessions.
Warren City Schools welcomed “Behavior Queen” Amie Dean to the district on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. During four sessions with various district employees, Dean discussed, among other topics, creating a positive school community.
Dean, M.ED., B.A., a former special education teacher, has worked in education since 1993. She has experience teaching at all levels, and has taught both special and general education.
Much of her focus is her passion for the “problem” students of the world, according to her website. These include the “students who are disrespectful, defiant, broken, and shut down” and have been a part of her every day for 30 years.
Warren City Schools welcomed “Behavior Queen” Amie Dean to the district on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Dean discussed, among other topics, creating a positive school community.
The day’s four sessions encompassed staff from food service, maintenance, transportation, security liaisons, and educational assistants.
The first session with the Food Service and Maintenance Departments focused on building relationships and teamwork, creating a productive work environment, leadership roles in tough conversations and promoting peace, even during conflict.
The second session, with transportation and security liaisons, addressed responding verses reacting, and de-escalation tips for adults.
The final two sessions were with educational assistants with focus areas of trauma sensitive classrooms, understanding what trauma could be and how children communicate, understanding behavior, de-escalation, the why and how, and strategies to meet the 3 C’s: helping children feel connected, capable and calm.
Dean, M.ED., B.A., a former special education teacher, has worked in education since 1993. She has experience teaching at all levels, and has taught both special and general education.
Much of her focus is her passion for the “problem” students of the world, according to her website. These include the “students who are disrespectful, defiant, broken, and shut down” and have been a part of her every day for 30 years.
Families and community members are invited to join us on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, for the school district’s annual Back to School Celebration in Downtown Warren at Courthouse Square.
The fun runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Students, parents, teachers and school administrators will gather to celebrate the start of another successful school year in Warren City Schools. Refreshments will be provided and the event will feature games, raffles and entertainment.
