It's hard to believe, but November has arrived! We hope you'll take a few minutes to catch up on news from around the District. In this newsletter you'll find:

• Board meeting summary from 10/23
• New Career-Tech Program at WMS
• Levy Information
• Event Calendar
• WHS Theatre Presents...
• Stop-Arms and School Bus Safety
• Prevention/Intervention Program
• Community Events and Info

Check out our recent Board Corner Report (doc) for a quick summary of our recent BOE Regular Meeting that includes:

• WMS Student Recognition
• K-12 Building Reports
• Guest Speaker from Great Oaks
• Check & Connect Update
• Business Items

The next regular meeting of the Board is November 27, 2023 at 6:00 PM and will be held at Denver Elementary.

For a number of years, WHS has partnered with Great Oaks to provide a satellite career-technical program for 9th-12th grade called Project Lead the Way (PLTW). This year marks the start of having a new satellite program at the middle school level as well. At the middle school level students use individuality to design and create their own projects, using guidelines provided by the instructor.

WMS/Great Oaks instructor, Chris Huelsman, invited some of his WMS students from the new Design and Modeling class to share their projects with the Board at the October Board meeting. A number of students from this new satellite program were recognized at the meeting. Braxton Pierce, Gracie Goodwin, Bailey Huff, Andrea Manzo, and Brendan Norris were recognized for being Design and Modeling Top Academic Performers. Emily Blakey received the Design and Modeling Engineer Award. Bailey Oetzel was recognized as Design and Modeling Most Improved.

We're excited to be able to offer this career-technical program at Wilmington Middle School.

Please check our Levy Information Newsletter if you have questions about the upcoming WCS Levy on the November 7th ballot. If you have questions that aren’t answered in the newsletter or on our website at wilmingtoncityschools.com/levy, please contact the Treasurer’s office at 937-382-1641

Check our November 2023 Events (doc) and grab your calendar! Please remember to double check the building calendars on the website before heading out in case there are updates.

November 2023 Events (doc)

... "The Diary of Anne Frank". It's going to another great performance by our WHS Theatre program! Tickets are on sale now. Show dates are:

- Friday (11/10) and Saturday (11/11) at 7:00pm

- Sunday (11/12) at 2:00pm.

All seats are $10.00 and tickets can be purchased at the door or online at https://wilmingtonhs.booktix.net/

1194, 52, 2, 500: Did you know that getting on and off the bus is the riskiest time for our students. We are increasingly concerned with the number of times cars put kids' lives at risk by running the bus stop-arm/flashing lights.

• 1194 students getting on and off our buses each school day
• 52 estimated stop-arm violations so far this school year.
• 2 points on your driver's license when cited for a stop-arm violation
• $500 maximum fine for stop-arm citation
• We have stop-arm cameras and report violators to the police.

Please do your part to help us ensure the safety of our students at the bus stop.

Would you recognize a vape if you saw one? Is your teen aware of the risks associated with vaping? If you are looking for resources on how to start a conversation with your kids about vaping, we encourage you to start with the American Lung Association's website lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit/talk-about-vaping.

Vaping by youth and adolescents is a major public health crisis. Talbert House Prevention Services

understands that vaping is more than a behavior problem or a violation of school policies and rules. Vaping can lead to serious health issues including chronic respiratory problems and addiction.

Alternatives is an innovative approach that addresses vaping in the context of the school district’s

discipline process. The goals are to reduce out of school suspension/expulsions, keep students in school, engaged with learning and positive activities, and current with academic assignments. Using a 3-tiered approach based on the type of offense and level of use, the Alternatives Vaping Intervention Program combines targeted education about the health risks of vaping with skill building and resources to support efforts to quit.

Services are available to students in elementary, middle, and high school and are provided at school during the school day. Since September 2022, nearly 100 students at WCS have utilized the Alternatives program. This pilot program continues to evolve. Alternatives Tier 4, a 10-session cessation program, is available now for students needing additional support and resources to quit.

Alternatives is offered at no cost to students, families, or school districts thanks to funding from the Mental Heath Recovery Board serving Warren and Clinton Counties and the local mental health levy. For more information, contact Kristi King (Talbert House Intervention Provider) at Kristi.king@talberthouse.org .

The following articles from other sources are provided for our WCS families and community. Links and content from external sources are not under the control of the District.

Don't forget to Fall Back this weekend! Daylight Savings Time ends on Nov 5th at 2:00am.

Election Day is just around the corner. Here are a few reminders for our community:

-November 5, 2023 - Last day to vote early. Visit boe.ohio.gov/clinton/election-info/early-voting-hours/ for the dates/times.

-November 7, 2023 - 6:30am-7:30pm, General Election Day. Vote at your assigned precint. Visit lookup.boe.ohio.gov/vtrapp/clinton/pollfinder to find your precinct for election day voting.

-Valid Photo ID is now a mandated requirement for voting in Ohio. Visit ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/id-requirements for identification requirements.