Celebrating the Class of 2025: Watch the Graduation Highlights

We’re proud to celebrate the Class of 2025 from Hilliard Bradley, Hilliard Darby, and Hilliard Davidson High Schools. Each graduation ceremony marked the end of an incredible journey and the beginning of exciting new chapters for our students.

Now, you can relive the highlights of each commencement ceremony with our official videos. Whether you’re a graduate, a proud family member, or a member of the community, we invite you to watch and celebrate once more.

Hilliard Bradley Graduation Highlights
Watch on Vimeo

Hilliard Darby Graduation Highlights
Watch on Vimeo

Hilliard Davidson Graduation Highlights
Watch on Vimeo

Congratulations to the Class of 2025—your Hilliard family is so proud of you!



Recipients of the Embrace Empower and Inspire Award

Congratulations to this month’s Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winners, Kevin Feeney (Intervention Specialist at Memorial), and Stephanie Hafner (Innovation & Discovery Specialist at Horizon).

“Kevin Feeney is the embodiment of patience. A dedicated educator in the SBP unit since 2018, Kevin works with students facing behavioral challenges stemming from autism, trauma, or difficult life circumstances. His calm, consistent approach helps students feel safe and supported, often turning his classroom into a sanctuary.

He doesn’t just support those on his caseload—Kevin frequently steps in to help students across the building during difficult moments, always with compassion and composure. Whether calmly de-escalating a crisis or mentoring colleagues on behavior strategies, Kevin’s steady presence empowers students and staff alike. His ability to patiently guide students toward growth and emotional regulation makes him a pillar of Memorial Middle School and a truly deserving recipient of this award.”

“Stephanie Hafner, Horizon Elementary’s Innovation and Discovery Specialist, brings intelligence, dedication, and heart to everything she does. Whether supporting students and staff with technical needs or designing engaging zone activities, she goes above and beyond.

Stephanie’s strong teaching skills and classroom management allow her to lead large groups while staying attuned to every part of the IDC space. Her passion for books and reading shines as she helps students discover their next favorite read. Horizon is incredibly lucky to have such a talented, kind, and inspiring educator on staff.”

These staff members go above and beyond the expectations of the Hilliard Way and truly make a difference in our district.



You Be the Chemist Challenge

This school year, ten Weaver Middle School students participated in the national “You Be the Chemist Challenge” sponsored by the Chemical Education Foundation. “You Be the Chemist” is an interactive academic contest that encourages students in grades 5 – 8 to explore chemistry concepts and their real-world applications.

In preparation for this contest, the Weaver students were organized into small teams.  All teams spent several lunch periods learning high school-level chemistry concepts. Then in January, they attended the regional competition in Dublin, Ohio where they answered extremely difficult chemistry questions in a game show-style format. In this competition, the 7th-grade team of Colton Granchi, Asher and Beckett Bollinger, and Tyler Melchiorre took 1st place. The 7th grade team of Ishan and Aryan Pavuluri and Shehzad Fahmi took 2nd place.  The 8th grade team including Adler Granson, Charley O’Brien, and Gabe Pacheco took 3rd place.  In actuality, only one correct answer determined the winner; it was very close!

Additionally, 2 of the 3 groups spent the months of February and March creating a video addressing the theme of this year’s competition: Develop a sustainable solution to a local natural disaster. The results of the January competition and an evaluation of their submitted videos by the CEF staff were combined to determine each team’s score and percentile rank.  For this year’s “You Be the Chemist Challenge”, Weaver’s 7th-grade team of Ishan, Aryan, and Shehzad scored in the top 22 percentile in the State and the 8th-grade team scored in the top 35 percentile!

The amount of time these students spent to extend their knowledge, engage in scientific learning, and make their videos was truly impressive! Congratulations to all of them for their successes!



Celebrate the Class of 2025 – Watch Graduation Live!

Celebrate the Class of 2025 – Watch Graduation Live!

Join us in celebrating the incredible accomplishments of the Class of 2025 from all three Hilliard high schools! Each graduation ceremony will be streamed live, so friends and family near and far can tune in and cheer them on.

Hilliard Bradley Logo

Bradley High School
May 21 at 7:00 PM
Watch Live Stream

Hilliard Davidson Logo

Davidson High School
May 22 at 7:00 PM
Watch Live Stream

Hilliard Darby Logo

Darby High School
May 23 at 7:00 PM
Watch Live Stream



Coming This Summer: ParentSquare Communication Platform

This summer, we will be transitioning away from School Messenger and moving to ParentSquare as our new district-wide communication platform.

ParentSquare will streamline communication for staff, principals, coaches, fine arts advisors, and families. It offers an all-in-one solution for messages, alerts, forms, calendar events, and more. Some key features include:

  • Mass notifications and urgent alerts
  • Mobile app for staff and families (iOS and Android)
  • Classroom and teacher communication
  • Two-way direct messaging with translation
  • Attendance notifications
  • Forms, permission slips, sign-ups, and RSVPs
  • Social media and website integration

We’re excited for this upgrade, which will help us connect more effectively and efficiently with our school community. More information and training opportunities will be shared in the coming weeks.

Click here for a short video to explain more.



Prioritizing Student Well-Being: Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at Hilliard City Schools, we’re committed to supporting the emotional and mental well-being of every student—not just this month, but all year long. Mental health is a vital part of a child’s overall development and academic success, and families play a critical role in helping students feel supported, connected, and understood.

Signs to Look Out For

While every student experiences ups and downs, some signs may indicate your child could benefit from extra support:

  • Sudden changes in mood, behavior, or energy levels

  • Difficulty concentrating or a noticeable drop in grades

  • Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they usually enjoy

  • Increased feelings of worry, sadness, or frustration

  • Changes in sleep, eating habits, or personal hygiene

  • Expressions of hopelessness or feeling overwhelmed

Early support can make a big difference. If you notice these signs, consider starting a calm, supportive conversation with your child and reaching out to a school counselor or mental health professional.

Ways to Support Your Child’s Mental Health

Families can take simple but powerful steps to promote emotional wellness at home:

  • Encourage open conversations about emotions and mental health

  • Create a routine that includes time for rest, play, and connection

  • Model healthy coping strategies like taking breaks, journaling, or talking through challenges

  • Stay involved in your child’s school life and social experiences

  • Remind them it’s okay to ask for help—and that you’re always there to listen

Together, we can help ensure every student in Hilliard feels seen, heard, and supported.

For more tips, resources, and ways to take action, explore the Mental Health Awareness Toolkit from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
 https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/mental-health-awareness-month/toolkit



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