Class In Session: WCS Teachers, Administrators Focus on Student Attendance and Participate in Waiver Day Learning Activities

Although school was not in session for students on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, teachers and administrators of the Warren City School District still reported to class.

They participated in the district’s second waiver/ professional development day of the year.

Teachers from across the district, representing grade preschool to 12th, participated in learning opportunities ranging from lesson design, eliciting student responses, vocabulary routines  to robotics and technology. 

“Each session was planned and led by district personnel, and aligned to our district goals,” explained Chief Academic Officer Wendy Hartzell.

Teachers and administrators spent time learning how to reduce chronic absenteeism.

Participants explored what constitutes chronic absenteeism, analyzed data trends, learned about attendance intervention efforts currently practiced in WCS, and began to identify strategies and processes that can be used to intervene with their students and families who are demonstrating attendance concerns, explained Dante Capers, Associate Superintendent of Student Services, Student Wellness and Success.

Here are some highlights in pictures:

Stuff-A-Cruiser to benefit Warren City Schools: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Warren City Police Department

The Warren City Police Department, along with ORRIN Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, is hosting a Stuff-A-Cruiser event to benefit Warren City Schools.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at the Warren City Police Department, 141 South St. SE, Warren.

Requested Pantry Items include:

  • Oatmeal packets, Granola Bars
  • Crackers, Pasta & Pasta Sauce,
  • Ramen Noodles, Rice, Instant
  • Mashed Potatoes, Single Serving
  • Fruit Cups, Canned Fruit,
  • Canned Veggies, Canned Soups,
  • Fruit Drinks, Can Openers,
  • Sanitary Napkins (not tampons),
  • Shampoo, Conditioner,
  • Deodorant (male/female), Soap-
  • Bar or Body Wash, Disposable
  • Razors (male/female), Body
  • Sprays(male/female)

For more information, please contact Stacey Altiere at 330-718-8820.

‘Put Your Rocks in Order’, Guest Speaker R. Keeth Matheny advises WGH students

Internationally known speaker, author and educator R. Keeth Matheny made a recent visit to Warren City Schools to encourage students and staff and support the school district’s Project Lighthouse work.

The conversations were specific to “Academic Success Skills,” the first theme of the series.

Matheny and his wife, Cory, spent three days, Sept. 24, 25, and 26, in the school district, visiting classrooms, working with students, and providing professional development to support to staff.   

While working with freshman during their Raider Days on Tuesday, Sept. 24, Matheny illustrated the importance of prioritizing with the “Rocks in a Jar” analogy. The exercise shows how prioritizing takes planning. 

If you try to put everything in the jar at once, it doesn’t fit. However, if you put your “big rocks” (most important things) first, you can make it work.   

The lesson was part of the first 9-week focus on supporting student success by helping them learn strategies to build Academic Success Skills. 

Matheny also led Warren G. Harding High School teachers through this activity during morning meeting time.

Coaching & Communicating: Willard Teachers Learn A Few Lessons on the Football Field

Teachers from the Willard PK-8 School learned a few lessons themselves on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, as part of the Warren City Schools’ first waiver day of the 2024-2025 school year.

School was in session for district staff and for Willard teachers, the classroom was on the field at Mollenkopf Stadium on the Warren G. Harding High School campus.

Willard staff worked worked with the Canton Football Hall of Fame to put the program together. The purpose was for teachers to see, and/or remember, what it is like to be a student in class.

Teachers were given football positions and had to work with one of our Warren’s coaches. The coaches were instructed to teach the students just as if were their own players.

To a lot of the teachers, the football positions and plays were very foreign. It was all about communication and what it’s possibly like in the classroom when students don’t understand.

The teachers worked with the football coaches who taught them some football plays. The test to see how well they did involved going out on the football field and trying to put what they learned to use.

Some of the teachers struggled or had a difficult time because they did not understand the concept, which is what a student goes through every day in class, explained Willard Principal/Campus Leader Carly Polder.

The activity helped shed some light on how the teachers can change their instruction and try to meet the needs of all of their students, and how everyone learns in a different way. 

WGH Students, staff kick off 2024-25 Athletics with 1st Pep Rally of the Year

Students and staff gathered inside the large gym at Warren G. Harding High School to kick off the 2024-2025 school year, highlighting athletic teams and various student athletes on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, during the 1st pep rally of Raider Football Season.

The crowd clapped and joined the cheerleaders in rooting on the athletes as the band played in the background.

Here are some highlights in pictures:

WCS’ Student Recreation and Wellness Center edges toward completion: Soon to open to district students

Excitement continues to intensify throughout the Warren G. Harding High School campus as the new Warren City Schools Student Recreation and Wellness Center edges toward completion.

Workers have been putting the final touches on the center that will house a robotics area, health wing, lounge area and study stairs, among other features.

Plans are for the new facility to open to students this fall.

These photographs provide a sneak peak inside the center:

Berk donation benefits WCS students

Students of Warren City Schools are among those benefitting from Berk Enterprises Inc.’s good will.

On Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, Berk Enterprises in Warren donated school supplies to Warren City Schools. Girard City Schools also received some of the school supplies.

Berk employees collected the supplies that were distributed Thursday morning and school liaisons across the Warren City School District began picking up supplies within minutes of the donation. The supplies will be distributed to students at all schools within the WCSD.

BACK IN SESSION: WCSD Kicks into High Gear for 1st Day of the 2024-2025 School Year

The 2024-2025 school year started Monday, Aug. 19, in Warren City Schools.

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. Here are some highlights:

Back to School: WCS’ Staff Gathers for Districtwide Convocation

Against a backdrop of the new Warren City Schools Student Recreation and Wellness Center, Superintendent Steve Chiaro – along with school several other administrators and community leaders – welcomed staff back to school on Thursday, Aug. 15. 2024, during the 2024 Districtwide Convocation.

District staff gathered at Mollenkopf Stadium to hear updates about the school district. They were also encouraged to meet the challenges they face daily and to move students as far as possible along their educational careers.

Welcome Back! WCSD Kicks off 2024-2025 with Downtown Celebration at Courthouse Square

Warren City Schools on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, welcomed thousands of community members to the annual Welcome Back to School Celebration at Courthouse Square.

Students, parents, teachers, school administrators and community leaders gathered to celebrate the start of another successful school year in Warren City Schools.

The event included refreshments, games, raffles and entertainment.

Here are some highlights in pictures: