Category: News

As we begin the process to prepare for the 2021/22 school year, we know our families have many questions.  This information is for all parents/guardians, whether your student is attending in person or in the Online Academy.

Below are the steps you and your student will go through for each grade level.  Here are a few important things to remember for all ages:

1. 2021/22 School Year Commitments are for the entire school year. You will not have the option of choosing a half year or switching between programs.
2. The 2021/22 School Year Commitment forms will be sent out on April 5. The only parents/guardians that need to fill out the Commitment Form are those enrolling their students in the Online Academy.  The deadline to enroll in the Online Academy is April 9.
3. Teachers at the secondary level will be providing students with course recommendations in Home Access. You can email your teacher if you have questions about their recommendation.
4. Before making the commitment to the Online Academy year be sure to review the available course offerings. NOT ALL SECONDARY CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN THE ONLINE ACADEMY.

Please remember as we go through the next several weeks our principals, teachers, and counselors are all available to help your family every step of the way.

All Incoming 9th-12th Grade Students

• An information video will be posted on the High School web pages beginning March 1.
• Students entering grade 9 will select courses March 1-9 in HomeAccess.
• Students entering grades 10, 11, and 12 will select courses March 10-26.
• You will be selecting both the course type and location, whether in the building or in the Online Academy. REMEMBER, NOT ALL CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN THE ONLINE ACADEMY.
• If you want to pursue college classes as an alternative to a world language, AP, or Honors course, you need to email Tom_Woodford@hboe.org to explore the options. A College Credit Plus Intent Form will also need to be filled out.
• The week of April 5-9 all parents/guardians will need to fill out the 2021/22 School Year Commitment form with your decision for the entire school year.

All Incoming 6^th-8^th Grade Students

• Each Sixth Grade and Middle School will host Parent/Guardian information nights, those dates will be sent out next week.
• Students entering grade 8 will make course selections in HomeAccess March 9-16
• Students entering grade 7 will make course selections in HomeAccess March 17-26
• Students entering grade 6 will make course selections in HomeAccess March 15-26
• Full-time Online Academy students will be allowed to take Band, Choir, and Orchestra classes only in their home school. Transportation to school for these individual classes is the responsibility of the parents/guardians.
• The week of April 5-9 all parents/guardians will need to fill out the 2021/22 School Year Commitment form with your decision for the entire 2021/22 school year.

All Incoming Kindergarten through 5th Grade Students

There are no course selections for our elementary students so the only thing parents/guardians need to do is fill out the 2021/22 School Year Commitment Form the week of April 5-9.  You will indicate whether your student/s will attend In-Person classes or the Online Academy for the entire 2021/22 school year.

There will be no Preschool Online Academy option.

Please join us in celebrating diversity and inclusion in the Hilliard City Schools. For the week of January 18-22, we will celebrate the diversity of Hilliard City Schools students, staff, and community with a focus on what it means to seek equity, celebrate diversity, and be inclusive. Each day has a different focus.

• Monday – MLK Jr Day “Celebrate Diversity, Inclusion, Equity”
• Tuesday – “My Story Matters” Celebrate what makes you unique. Celebrate ethnicities, abilities, backgrounds, cultures, orientations, etc.
• Wednesday – “Your Story Matters” We want you to share how you support others in fostering inclusive environments; how you make everyone feel welcome.
• Thursday – “I Am Always Learning” This is the day to recognize and shout out to people you have learned something from or share a resource you recommend.
• Friday – “I’m Ready for What’s Next” Share how you will pledge to continue moving forward.

We encourage you to join and post your own inclusion messages. #InclusionHCSD

We will also be hosting an evening webinar on January 21st at 5:00 pm with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad. She is a professor at Georgia State and author of the book Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy. This event is open to the entire community.  Here is a link to join the webinar.

The Ohio Department of Health has released new guidelines regarding quarantine rules for both students and staff regarding exposures in a school setting. It’s important to note these new guidelines only apply to in-person learning and on buses, not after school activities.

If there is a positive case in the classroom, we begin contact tracing as we currently do. If a student or staff member is exposed to COVID-19 in the classroom, and wearing face masks that cover the face and nose at all times, those exposed will not be quarantined.  Only the positive student or staff member would need to stay home.  Everyone exposed will still be considered “in close contact” and will be required to follow quarantine procedures outside of school. However, they are basically being deemed “essential workers” and allowed to attend school or work. They would not be able to participate in extracurricular activities during the quarantine period.

We will still require students and staff to follow all mask and six feet of social distance protocols at this time.

The above guidelines only apply to classroom and bus settings. Students and Staff should not attend in-person school/work if they are exposed to COVID-19 outside the school setting, including during sports and other extracurricular activities, regardless of masking.

Please discuss any questions you have with your school nurse.

We want to congratulate our Online Academy students who participated in the AstroArt Contest through The Ohio State University. This was a unique opportunity to extend gifted students’ thinking and creativity.

The AstroArt Contest was an international competition receiving entries from five countries and three continents. People of all ages participated. Three Hilliard students received placements in their age bracket.

Third-grader Doniyor won first place in his age bracket.  His artwork, “The Great Conjunction,” is featured on this page.  The piece was described as when the ‘Great conjunction’ of Jupiter and Saturn formed a ‘Christmas Star’ on the winter solstice. Jupiter and Saturn had their closest encounter in almost 400 years on the solstice, December 21. On the last solstice of 2020, December 21, Jupiter and Saturn appeared the closest together in the night sky in 4 centuries.

Fifth graders Xohana and Kawin received Honorable Mentions.

These Online Academy students are engaged learners that participate in class as well as gifted extension work.