Author: Tanner Atha

Bradley High School junior Reem Kadimi-Skalli was chosen to be on the National High School Ethics Bowl Student Advisory Council. Reem is a second-year Ethics Bowl participant and spends most of her time engaging in community organizing as the Columbus Lead for Ohio Youth for Climate Justice. She enjoys participating in ethical discourse of all kinds, and she is incredibly grateful for all the opportunities NHSEB gives her to engage in this hobby! Reem will be one of four students who sit on the council, bringing student experience to the very center of NHSEB’s programming and governance. Appointed students will advise NHSEB’s Leadership and Advisory Board on all things Ethics Bowl from the student perspective. They will also serve as a conduit for informal feedback from other students in their respective Competitive Divisions, ensuring that the voices of NHSEB’s diverse and dedicated student population are heard as much as possible.

 

About NHSEB

The National High School Ethics Bowl (NHSEB) promotes respectful, supportive, and rigorous discussion of ethics among thousands of high school students nationwide. An Ethics Bowl differs from a debate competition in that students are not assigned opposing views; rather, they defend whichever position they think is correct, provide each other with constructive criticism, and win by demonstrating that they have thought rigorously and systematically about the cases and engaged respectfully and supportively with all participants. Data from NHSEB surveys show that this event teaches and promotes ethical awareness, critical thinking, civil discourse, civic engagement, and an appreciation for multiple points of view. NHSEB’s goal is to do more than teach students how to think through ethical issues: It is to teach students how to think through ethical issues together as fellow citizens in a complex moral and political community

Students from across the district participated in events that were a part of celebrating and honoring veterans. The events on Veterans Day included performances from students, visits from current and post-serving veterans, and breakfast with family members that have and are serving. It was a great way to give back our gratitude for their service.

 

 

Running Hobby Teaches Attendance Secretary Important Life Lessons She Hopes to Impart With Students

Hollie Ketcham, Hilliard Darby High School’s attendance secretary, hopes her recent foray into running can teach the students she encounters — many of whom she’s known since they were toddlers thanks to her work in a daycare before joining the district — a few things about setting goals for yourself and perseverance. 

 

She’s never considered herself athletic, but in 2016, she began running, starting with a 5K. She built on her success in that race by finishing five more 5Ks, two full marathons, two 50-mile races and a 100K. Then, she set her sights on an “elusive 100-miler.”

 

Her training for the Oct. 8, 2022, race in Akron, Ohio, ramped up last spring when she started running every day and building up mileage. While she was unable to complete the race due to a knee injury, she ran 55 miles in 13 hours and is extremely proud of her accomplishment. 

 

“The lesson that I learned and want others to take away is that we can try hard things and be proud of each of our successes even if the end goal was not obtained,” she said. “The small wins along the way enable us to succeed. Also, the comfort zone is not where the magic happens; it happens outside of that sweet spot.”

Last night at the Board of Education meeting, these Hilliard City School students were recognized for receiving the National Merit Award. Congratulations on your outstanding achievement!

Bradley High School

National Merit Semi-finalists

Trisha Suresh
Anh Thi Hoang Thai

National African American Recognition Award

Abdullahi Abdi

National Rural and Small Town Award

Anthony Berman
Justin Planck
Neil Reddy
Samantha Hosni
Trisha Suresh

 

Darby High School

National Merit Semi-finalist

Amanda Cowen

Commended Scholars

Vamsee Cheruvu
Spoorthi Kandalai
Sohni Kothari
Landry Lee
Jacob Norris
Siddharth Perabathini
Jason Williams
Austin Yoder

ACT Perfect Score

Austin Yoder

National African American Recognition Award

Maazza Elzubier

 

Davidson High School

National Merit Semi-finalists

Joshua Bly
Saad Ijaz

Commended Scholars

Carter Davis
Brandon Geduldig
Elyse Kesterson
Jackson Wickham

ACT Perfect Score

Saad Ijaz

National African American Recognition Award

Brooke Evans-McMichael

National Indigenous Award

Brooke Evans-McMichael

National Hispanic Award

Genevieve Flores

Leading Neighborhood Fitness Classes Gives Language Arts Teacher Work-Life Balance, Improves Job Performance

“Taking time each day to care for myself gives me work-life balance and makes me better at my job. Moving my body and getting fresh air helps me handle the stressors of everyday life and that positive energy shows up in the classroom,” said Laura Santagata, a Language Arts teacher at Memorial Middle School. 

Santagata has taught for 27 years in total, 17 of which have been with Hilliard City Schools. Prompted by her own desire to get more fit, she began working out and eating healthier about 20 years ago. Others took notice, asking if they could work out with her. This led to her becoming certified in personal training and performance nutrition. She began working one-on-one with clients but sought to make a bigger impact. That’s when she started a weekly neighborhood fitness class. 

Her early classes were held in her basement, but today, knowing the added health benefits of being in nature, they rotate between local parks, green spaces and neighbor’s backyards. The workouts vary from yoga to resistance training to cardio. Never wanting anyone to miss out on the opportunity to be active, she always comes prepared with a plan B and C for those who may be limited by an injury or ache.

The best part about leading the classes? The added sense of community. 

“We hold each other accountable. Everyone who comes ends the workout saying how happy they are they decided to show up and make exercise a priority,” she said. “When people miss class, we reach out letting them know they were missed. Having such a loving and supportive community keeps people coming back.”

Santagata resides in Dublin. Regardless of where you live, she said new people are always welcome!

We want to thank our community for dealing with the morning delay due to the dense fog in our community.  Superintendent David Stewart has a quick video message for you.  Click here to watch.

Whenever there is a delay or we need to close schools we utilize School Messenger to email, text, and call the contacts we have in Home Access.  You can customize those preferences if you’d rather not be notified all three ways.  Click here for more information.  If you know someone not receiving these emails, or the weather announcements, please tell them to be sure their information is correct in Home Access.  If they have trouble with this, they can contact their student’s school.