State Superintendent sees ‘great things happening’ in WCS

For the second time in two months, Interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. J. Christopher Woolard was on site at Warren City Schools on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, getting a closer look at the work taking place inside the district.

Dr. Woolard lauded the strides the district has made in focusing on early learning, advancing student literacy and improving overall attendance.

“There are some great things going on here in Warren City Schools. We’re seeing some great things happening in this district,” Dr. Woolard said.

Steve Chiaro, Warren City Schools Superintendent/CEO, led Dr. Woolard, Dr. Melissa Weber-Mayer, Ohio Department of Education Literacy Chief, and Melissa Kmetz, Ohio Teacher of the Year, through a series of professional learning sessions attended by district staff. Warren City Schools Chief Academic Officer Wendy Hartzell accompanied the group on the tour.

Highlighted topics included social and emotional learning (SEL), fundamentals of preschool and the Science of Reading. The staff also spent time reviewing state testing results and soon-to-be-released State Report Card data.   

Woolard said he is impressed by the district’s commitment to providing professional development to staff, establishing a “great” school culture, and recognizing and addressing the barriers some students face.

“It was a pleasure spending a couple of hours with Ohio’s interim state superintendent, visiting sessions of dedicated educators committed to their individual professional development and growth, supporting the academic success of children in the City of Warren,” said Warren City Schools Superintendent/CEO Steve Chiaro.

In August, Woolard accompanied Gov. Mike and First Lady Fran DeWine during a visit to Warren City Schools when they discussed the newly announced statewide ReadOhio literacy initiative.

During the earlier visit, state leaders received input from Warren teachers about their work to improve literacy.

“Hosting Dr. Woolard on Wednesday during our waiver day was a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate some of the work taking place within the district,” Hartzell said. “When you have such an extraordinary staff that works so hard on a daily basis to serve our students, and then to have that work recognized by our state education leaders, it reaffirms once more our commitment to our work and to the future of our students.” 

Tailgating at Jefferson: Students, staff celebrate successful start to year

Jefferson PK-8 students and teachers celebrated their successful start to the new school year with a tailgate party.

Students have successfully been working on their PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) skills building wide throughout the school day and the tailgate party served as an opportunity to recognize them for their accomplishments so far this year!

PBIS is a set of ideas and tools that schools use to improve students’ behavior.

On Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, students enjoyed nachos and juice, visiting with their classmates, a dance party, and games.

Tailgating pictures highlight Sept. 1 activities at Jefferson PK-8.

WGH HS has two new National African American Recognition Program Scholars!

Warren G. Harding High School seniors Mia Jones and Sarah Bell each have been named a National African American Recognition Program Scholar by the College Board.

Sarah is considering a visual communications career while Mia is looking at a possible career in radiology. Both are hoping to attend The Ohio State University.

The College Board’s National African American Recognition Program is an academic honor for academically exceptional African American students who have scored in the top 10 percent of the state on the PSAT or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP exams by their junior year. To qualify, they must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Students can include the academic honor in college and scholarship applications. The program also helps students connect with universities and scholarship programs across the country by sharing their achievements in the College Board Student Search Service. 

As a result, students will receive outreach from colleges that may include special recognition or scholarship information. About 1,500 four-year colleges use the College Board Student Search Service.

Are you a good friend? Willard PK-8 students talk basics about treating their classmates & others with kindness & respect.

It’s all about “How to be a Good Friend” for the first few months of school at Willard PK-8.

For the first nine weeks of the 2023-2024 school year, Willard PK-8 school is focusing on the SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) theme: Connections with the focus on Friendship. 

Teachers are doing weekly SEL lessons that coincide with the theme and each pod has an assembly for each grade level so students understand the meaning behind it. 

“We want students to understand what it means to be a good friend and also discuss when someone is not being a good friend,” explained PK-2 Pod Principal and Campus Leader Carly Polder.

Student work focused on Friendship is on display throughout the school building.

Students watch videos featuring staff depicting good and bad behavior. They are also given scenarios and, after discussing them among their classmates and teacher, share whether they think it was good behavior or bad behavior.

One highlight includes introducing students to the “Buddy Bench.” Students are encouraged to talk to or play with any classmate sitting on the Buddy Bench alone.

The Boys Are Back! WCS preschool boys’ spend 1st day exploring their surroundings

Warren City Schools preschool teachers on Thursday, Aug. 24, welcomed their preschool boys to class. The girls came to school for the first time on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

On Monday, Aug. 28, boys and girls will join each other and everyone will be in class together!

We will be sharing more about our youngest learners as the year progresses. So, please stay tuned.

Read, Write, Play … Everyday! WCS Preschool is underway.

Warren City Schools preschool teachers on Wednesday, Aug. 23, welcomed their preschool girls to class. It will be the boys’ turn on Thursday, Aug. 24. Then, on Monday, Aug. 28, boys and girls will join each other and everyone will be in class together!

Please stay tuned and we will keep you posted on some activities and exciting events throughout the school year among some of our youngest learners!

Berk donation benefits WCS students

Once again, Warren City Schools is among those districts benefitting from Berk Enterprises Inc.’s good will.

Berk recently donated school supplies to Warren City Schools. Locally, Girard City Schools also received some of the school supplies.

The school supplies were collected over the past two weeks at Berk Enterprises in Warren and Past Times Arcade in Girard.

This was the second year for the collection, and the two companies collected 17,256 items – nearly six times the 3,000 items they collected last year.

WCS, Community Welcome Students to the 1st Day of 2023-2024

Warren City Schools Superintendent Steve Chiaro, along with district principals, teachers and other staff members joined community members in greeting students at the doors Monday, Aug. 21, 2023 – the opening day of the 2023-2024 school year.

Welcoming students as they arrive at school on the first day has become a tradition for Warren City Schools and the community. The initiative is part of the 100 Men of Warren effort to start students off on a positive note with a greeting and words of encouragement, such as “Have a great year,” and “You’re going to do great.”

Volunteers from Second Baptist Church of Warren and the United Way of Trumbull County joined school staff and community leaders at each of the district’s five school buildings to welcome the students to school.