The Family Connector

Dear CCS Community,

There are so many times when you walk into a school or classroom and you can feel the passion that the teachers and staff have for their students and community.

I’ve seen this energy throughout our Columbus City Schools and I want to give a shoutout to one example I saw recently at Georgian Heights Elementary School.

Leigh Ann Timlin has a passion not only for her school but also for her community. Timlin is a proud product of West Columbus. She is a CCS graduate of West High School and said when she graduated college, she knew she wanted to come back.

Now, she has been teaching for 24 years and ended up coming full circle, teaching third grade at the same school where she attended Kindergarten.

During Georgian Heights’ back-to-school celebrations to kick off the 2023-2024 school year, Timlin got a special surprise.

The Office Depot Corporation (Office Depot OfficeMax) teamed up with Georgian Heights administrators to welcome students back with new backpacks stuffed with school supplies. Teachers received a total of $20,000 to spend on their classrooms and will get the chance to begin purchasing supplies at Office Depot/OfficeMax stores and their online shops this weekend.

During this event, Timlin was awarded the All-Star Teacher Award and received an additional $2,000 to use for room supplies. Georgian Heights Principal Nakita Smoot described Timlin as the kind of teacher who makes students believe they can do anything. Her impact and her dedication to her students are evident in talking with her and seeing her interact with students.

I was so glad to be part of this event to see Timlin’s hard work and dedication honored and to also see the power of partnership in action in our District.

I always say that magic happens in the classroom and that magic is made possible through the many caring teachers and staff, just like Timlin, who work every day to empower students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Angela Chapman
Superintendent/CEO, Columbus City Schools

As we enter September, we are thrilled to highlight that it's Attendance Awareness Month. This month allows us to recognize the importance of consistent attendance and its impact on our student's learning journey. Let's join hands to ensure that our students start the month with enthusiasm and finish even stronger. Every day in school counts! Let's inspire them to stay engaged, keep learning, and truly #StayInTheGame.

Thank you for attending the 2023 CCS Back to School Resource Fair.

The Office of Engagement would like your feedback that would help create events that you want to see. Once again, thank you taking the time to give us your feedback and input.

Columbus City Schools proudly presents FACES, the online Family and Community Engagement Series program created to inform and connect families, the community, and schools. You can find FACES, the Family and Community Engagement series, exclusively on CCS's Facebook and YouTube channels.

The upcoming episode explores Mental Health in children, teens, and young adults with local experts, including Columbus City Schools’ Melissa Niemie-Nathan, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor of Social Work and Mental Health Partnerships who will take us on a journey inside what she is seeing and how the District is working to support young people. Kady Lacy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Jewel Woods, Male Behavioral Health, Inc. and Chelsea Elliott, Sōmōcom Lab will join the team for a deeper dive into the current mental of mental health among children, tweens and teens.

Tune in every second and fourth Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. for FACES, and let's build a stronger CCS community together!

Congratulations to our Lady Nubians basketball team! The team was presented with their state championship rings. We can't wait to see what these talented students do this year!

Columbus City Schools (CCS) ranks among the top high schools in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report, which released its list of the 2023 Best High Schools in Ohio.

“Columbus Alternative High School (CAHS) has been on the Best High School list for 12 years, "Principal Darryl Sanders said. “The recipe for our success is very simple. We have a dedicated high-performing staff, a supportive CAHS parent community, and our students maintain a relentless focus on the CAHS motto: The school where excellence is the standard and not the exception.”

CAHS ranked No. 9 in Central Ohio and 28 in the state with an overall score of 95.8 out of a possible maximum score of 100. A total of 1,011 high schools were evaluated in Ohio, and 25,000 high schools were considered across the country.

“It’s always a great day when we can recognize the hard work that our schools have put in and to see their successes celebrated, especially on this scale,” said Columbus City Schools Superintendent/CEO Dr. Angela Chapman. “I am excited to see our high schools honored with this distinction. It’s an honor for Columbus City Schools and a testament to our staff, students, families, and community!”

Several other Columbus City Schools are ranked in the top 500 in Ohio and the country’s best.

The national magazine evaluated schools nationwide using six factors:

• College Readiness (30%)

• State Assessment Proficiency (20%)

• State Assessment Performance (20%)

• Underserved Student Performance (10%)

• College Curriculum Breadth (10%)

• Graduation Rate (10%)

The 2023-2024 Best High School Rankings, released today, ranked 17,680 out of nearly 25,000 reviewed public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To view a complete list of rankings, click here.

The 2023-24 Student Guide to Success is now available. The publication contains important documents that must be filled out and returned to your student's school of attendance OR completed as part of the Parent Portal Annual Update (preferred method) in Infinite Campus. The Annual Update can be accessed in the Parent Portal by first clicking on “More” and then “Annual Update." If your scholar has a form on file and he or she is remaining at the same school this year, a new form will not have to be submitted. If your scholar has changed schools or matriculated to a new school, a new form must be submitted. Separate forms must be on file for each individual student.

We want to thank you for your patience and support during the first few weeks of school as we continue to work to fine-tune routes and schedules.

As we strive to improve our transportation services, please know that your child's safety is our top priority. If you ever feel that the bus stop your child has been assigned to is unsafe, please get in touch with our Transportation Call Center at (614) 365-5074 between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If the stop is safe, but you would like to find a new walking route to and from the stop, please contact us so that we can help you identify a different pathway.

As always, your feedback is important to us, and we are committed to addressing any concerns promptly.

Thank you for helping us to enhance our transportation services. Together, we can continue to provide a secure and efficient journey for your children.

Columbus Metropolitan Library’s School Help Centers are now open, offering the students in your family free after-school help, plus 24/7 virtual support; hours vary by location. Learn more at columbuslibrary.org/school-help.

Is Your Parent Portal Account Activated? Stay engaged in your child’s education by setting up and signing into the Columbus City Schools Parent Portal. Through the Parent Portal, you’ll be able to securely access valuable information on your student(s):

• Teacher Contact
• Transportation Information
• Grades and Course Schedules
• Daily Attendance
• Missed Assignments
• Update Contact Information
• Pay Fees

If you have not yet created your portal account, click the button below to activate your account.

First Time User Activation

In order to activate your account, you must have an Activation Key. If you do not have an Activation Key, please contact your child’s school. You will be asked to provide proper identification before receiving the key. NOTE: Each parent/guardian has their own Activation Key to create their account, which can be used to access all of their children enrolled in Columbus City Schools.

Existing users can log in here

Dust off those skates and pull out your best superhero cape! You won't want to miss Skate Zone 71 Saturday roller skating extravaganza.

Date: September 9

Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Choose Your Adventure:

• Skate & Play ($18): Your pass includes admission, a bonus of 20 game credits, and a thrilling game of Laser Tag.
• Skate Fun ($11): Simple and fun - pay for your admission and enjoy the ride.

Dress Code: Embrace your inner superhero! Don your favorite MARVEL costume and earn a FREE 5-credit game card on top of your chosen package.

Special Attractions: Get ready for a star-studded afternoon! Special guest appearances by some of your beloved Marvel characters are on the horizon.

Don't have skates? No worries! Skate rentals are available for an additional $5. And remember, those who come in their best Marvel attire receive an extra five-game credits – FREE!

So, mark your calendar and prepare to skate into an afternoon of fun!

(Note: All game credits are valid for the day of the event only).

September 10 is Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day. Please consider attending the Black Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Vigil on September 10 to raise awareness about the increase in suicide in the Black population, lift the lives lost to suicide in the Black community, and reduce the stigma of mental illness in the Black community. There will be a candle lighting, balloon, and lantern release at 8:00 p.m. Registration for the event is not required.

The Black Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Vigil will be held at Mayme Moore Park, 867 Mt. Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43230 , from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Create memories, connect with the community, and learn more about health and wellness. This FREE community event will offer health screenings, fitness classes, health and wellness workshops, pop-up clinics, community resource booths, fun games, giveaways and more!

LOCATION
Greater Columbus Convention Center – North Atrium 400 North High Street

ACTIVITIES
This FREE community event will offer health screenings, fitness classes, health and wellness workshops, pop-up clinics, community resource booths, giveaways, and more.

Greater Columbus Convention Center

Class/Activity Schedule:

• 12:45 p.m. – Opening Remarks
• 1:15 p.m. – Columbus Police Department (safety awareness)
• 2:00 p.m. – Candor Yoga Collective (yoga class)
• 2:45 p.m. – Healthy Habits by Kyme (light weightlifting class)
• 3:15 p.m. – BMI Federal Credit Union (financial wellness)
• 4:00 p.m. – McCray Fitness (workout session)
• 4:30 p.m. – Sincerely Seyauna (physical wellness class)

*Expo will be held 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Biometric screenings, blood drives, messages, and more will be held in the D-Pod meeting rooms.

Join us for the 2023 Columbus Walk for Education and help UNCF raise funds to support our HBCUs and students. Celebrate with your family, friends, and coworkers. Let’s build better futures one step at a time.

Event Details

2023 UNCF Walk for Education

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023, 9:00 a.m.

Wolfe Park

105 Park Drive
Columbus, OH 43209

EVENT CONTACT:

Steve Miller
614.545.8552‬
Steve.Miller@uncf.org

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Teen Eco Summit is a free, student-driven program where teams create Conservation Action Plans to help create sustainability and conservation-based change within their schools and communities.

The Teen Eco Summit (TES) is held in November at The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and will host over 200 students as they prepare Conservation Action Plans for their schools and communities. Global experts will talk about conservation, sustainability, and leadership, and students will work with peers from around Ohio to brainstorm potential solutions to real world conservation problems.

This program continues throughout the year, with participants connecting with community partners to learn vital skills that will help their projects, the ability to apply for grant funding, and touch points with the Teen Eco Summit team. The Summit concludes in the spring with a celebration event.

NEW THIS YEAR: To accommodate more schools, teams can choose to participate on either November 7 or 8. The application deadline is October 1. For more information, scan the QR code in the flyer or click the link below.