Category: News

Hilliard City Schools puts a premium on innovative, individualized learning experiences. So when Amazon opened one of its signature Think Big Spaces at our Innovation Campus in 2019, we knew it would be a great fit.

Today, more than a dozen Think Big Spaces are active across the district, serving students from elementary through high school. These creative labs are embedded in our curriculum and designed to offer hands-on opportunities for students of all ages to explore technology, collaborate with peers, and engage in real-world problem solving.

As the name implies, these spaces are designed to grow ideas and knowledge. Even the furnishings are set up to encourage collaboration and creativity. The emphasis is on tech—cloud computing and other Amazon-supported tools—but the hands-on learning and open invitation to be curious make each Think Big Space an incubator for inspiration of all kinds. It’s the sort of synergy the best STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education strives for.

What students do in a Think Big Space varies from day to day. Some days feature workshops led by Amazon trainers on cloud computing fundamentals and emerging tech; other days, students dive into hands-on labs to tackle real-world or simulated challenges.

Competitions like hack-a-thons get students working in teams to solve problems creatively. Amazon also brings in guest speakers and panels featuring industry experts, and we occasionally open our doors to the community for tech nights and project showcases.

This is just one way the Hilliard City Schools is in action to support collaboration among government, education providers, and businesses to solve real-world problems, and it’s incredibly important to build these skills now that AI is a part of our day-to-day lives. We’re grateful Amazon is supporting students as they develop new solutions and ideas as Hilliard City Schools prepares students to be Ready for Tomorrow.

The skills students gain and the connections they forge through these Think Big Spaces can lead directly to careers in Central Ohio’s booming tech economy. But even if they follow a different path, the opportunity to explore, experiment, and think differently is priceless.

We’re thankful for Amazon’s continued partnership and the many ways it benefits our students. As a new school year begins, we’re especially excited to see our Think Big Spaces buzzing with big ideas, bold experiments, and bright futures.

Hilliard City Schools is proud to partner with the Stay in the Game and the Columbus Crew to raise awareness about the importance of school attendance.

Consistent attendance is the foundation for student success. Research shows that even missing just two days a month can have a lasting impact on a child’s learning and social development. Across Ohio, nearly 30% of students miss close to 20 days of school each year, leaving them at risk of falling behind.

Launched in 2019 by the Cleveland Browns Foundation, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and Harvard’s Proving Ground, the Stay in the Game works with districts across the state to improve attendance through community partnerships, campaigns, and resources.

By teaming up with Stay in the Game and the Columbus Crew, Hilliard City Schools is joining a statewide movement to ensure students stay engaged, connected, and in school every day.

For more information about the Stay in the Game, visit stayinthegame.org

Welcome to ParentSquare! We are excited to adopt this new form of school-to-home communication. ParentSquare is designed to keep parents informed and facilitate participation at school. It provides a safe way for the school principal, teachers, staff, and parents/guardians to:

• Send and receive school and class information
• Share pictures and files
• See calendar items
• Sign up to volunteer
• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Parents – Getting Started video

All school/grade level and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text or you can download the free App.

The Help & Support question mark in the top right corner can help answer most of your questions. So, join in!

Need More Help with Parent Square? If you need to update your contact information such as email, phone number or other information, login to homeaccess.hboe.org to make updates. Be sure to use the same contact information in HomeAccess that you use for ParentSquare so your students are automatically connected to your account.

Other types of support needs? Submit a request: https://www.hilliardschools.org/new-help-desk/ or contact your student’s school in early August.

Hilliard City Schools is upgrading the system we use in our school cafeterias. This change will help families better manage their child’s meal account.

Because of this upgrade, parents will need to **set up new automatic payment options** through the MyPaymentsPlus website. Any deposits made using the old setup will not go into your child’s meal account.

Click HERE for Step-by-step instructions!

Please note: MyPaymentsPlus.com is run by a company called Horizon Software. If you have trouble using the website, the Hilliard Food Service Office won’t be able to assist. Instead, please use the help and support tools found directly on the **MyPaymentsPlus** website.

Families with students who are first-time bus riders, please join us on Saturday, August 9th, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Davidson High School to learn about bus safety, explore and ride a bus, and more!  There will be interactive activities, hands-on learning, and plenty of fun for the whole family! It’s the perfect way to ease those first-day jitters and get excited for the new school year.  We can’t wait to see you there!