Warhawk Welcome

Warhawk Culture

2025-2025 School Calendar and Times

Important Dates and Events

Student Schedule Information

Student Handbook

Back to School Forms

School Fees & Central Pay Information

Off Campus forms for Junior and Seniors

Parking Permits

Locker Request Form

Lunch Application

Warhawk Athletics

Attendance Information
School Clinic Updates

School Transportation

Warhawk Academic Boosters

School and Community Events

Welcome to Westerville Central High School – Home of the Warhawks!

As I begin my fourth year as principal of Westerville Central, I am filled with gratitude and pride. I’m proud of the strong relationships we’ve built, the positive culture we’re growing together, and the exceptional experiences we’re providing our students.

At Westerville Central, one of our top priorities is culture. A thriving culture doesn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of intentional, focused leadership and consistent actions. We believe that you don’t get the culture you want—you get the culture you lead. What we practice, permit, and promote shapes our environment. That’s why every action, every word, and every person matters in building the culture of WCHS.

Since August 2022, we’ve been on a culture journey—one that started with listening. We engaged staff, students, families, and community members in deep conversations to uncover what truly matters to us. From that collaboration, we defined the three core values of the Warhawk Blueprint:

• Pursue Excellence - Relentless Pursuit of Growth

• Better Together – Think We, Not Me

• Own It – Make a Difference, Act with Purpose

These values serve as our compass. They inform every decision, guide every interaction, and keep us aligned as a community. They are the foundation of our Warhawk Culture Playbook, a shared framework that defines who we are and who we strive to be.

The Culture Playbook is just the beginning. Our core values set the expectations for how we treat one another, support our students, and partner with families. To truly live out these values, we must all move in the same direction, use common language, and hold one another accountable to the standards we’ve embraced as a Warhawk community.

Go Hawks!

Mrs. Sayre

Principal

Westerville Central High School

Follow me on X: @dsayre32

Stay Connected to WCHS

Follow us on X: @Warhawks_WCHS

Follow us on Instagram: @warhawkswchs

• 🗓️ Westerville City Schools 2025-26 School Year Calendar
  • Scheduled Staff Development Days Set for 2025–26 School Year
• 🕒 Start and Stop Times Announced for 2025-26

We are so excited to welcome you back to Westerville Central for the 2025–2026 school year! A special welcome to our incoming Freshmen and new students—welcome to the Warhawk Family! This newsletter includes all the key dates and information you'll need to kick off the year.

Important Dates:

August 6
🎓 Student Schedules Released in PowerSchool

August 7 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🏫 WCHS Open Hours
Walk your schedule, pay fees in person, and receive help completing forms in PowerSchool.

August 11 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM
🎉 Warhawk Welcome Night
All students and families are invited to walk schedules, meet teachers, and explore our Activity Fair.
➡️ 6:00–6:30 PM: Class of 2028 & New Student Welcome Meeting in the Auditorium

August 13 | 7:25 AM – 2:05 PM
🦅 Freshman First Flight
First day of school for all 9th grade students only

August 14 | 7:25 AM – 2:05 PM
📚 First Full Day for All Students

August 19
📸 Fall Picture Day

PowerSchool Parent Portal Access & Key Dates

July 21
📝 Forms Available in PowerSchool

August 6
📅 Student Schedules and Bus Information Released
Students should access their schedule by logging into PowerSchool using a web browser, not the mobile app.

August 7 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🏫 WCHS Open Building Hours
Come walk your schedule, pay fees in person, and get support with completing forms in PowerSchool.

August 11 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM
🎉 Warhawk Welcome Night
Students and families are invited to walk schedules, meet teachers, and attend the Activity Fair.
➡️ 6:00–6:30 PM: Class of 2029 & New Student Welcome Meeting in the Auditorium

WCHS School Counseling Team (2025–2026)
Your assigned counselor is based on your last name:

• A–Ef: Mrs. Monica Johnson

• Eh–Ke: Mrs. Mackenzie Strubel

• Ki–Rh: Ms. Erica Guice

• Ri–Z: Mrs. Carrie Ackermann

📧 Students may use their school email to schedule an appointment with their counselor
(Appointments are only for students with fewer than 5 classes, College Credit Plus students, or those missing a core class.)

Schedule Change Requests

✅ Valid Reasons for a Schedule Change:

• Missing a core class (English, Math, Science, or Social Studies)

• Missing a graduation requirement (Seniors only)

• Needing to add a class for athletic eligibility (5 classes per semester)

• Adjustments needed due to College Credit Plus (CCP) enrollment

❌ We Do Not Make Schedule Changes for:

• Changing lunch or study hall periods

• Rearranging classes for early release or late arrival

• Requesting specific teachers

• Changing courses that were requested and verified in the spring

If you need assistance, our team is here to help. We can’t wait to see you soon!

Please take a moment to review the WCS High School Student Handbook. Once you have reviewed please have your student sign into PowerSchool through the web browser and sign off under Forms, that they have received and read the Code of Conduct. Thank you!

*This is a required Form that all students must sign.

• High School Handbook - Somali

• High School Handbook - Spanish

PowerSchoool - Login and User Guide

Required: 4 forms for parents, 1 form for students

**The District site is the preferred method of accessing PowerSchool. The app does not support the processing of forms. Note: on your last form about contact info you may get a “Pending” status. That is okay, just needs to be reviewed by WCS.

You will be directed to the District PowerSchool log in page. Click on the first blue entry labeled “Login and User Guide”. Next you will click on “Parent Portal”. If you have issues with logging in please contact Carrie Shaffer at 614-797-6830 or email at shafferc@westerville.k12.oh.us. Your student will also need to log in to their student account to complete the one form they are required to sign.

✅ WCSD Families Must Complete Student Technology Access Form

• Student Fees: What Families Need to Know for 2025–26
• Westerville Schools Launches New Online Payment System
• NEW PaySchools Central - Lunch accounts, student fees and athletic fee payments

Fees can also be paid via check or money order Payable to: WBOE

Mail to:

Westerville Central HS

7118 Mt. Royal Ave

Westerville, OH 43082

All fees, including parking permit fees will be paid on-line via PaySchools Central. If you have any questions about fees please contact Dawn Hatten at 614-797-6803 or hattend@westerville.k12.oh.us

Off-Campus Permission Forms – Now Available in PowerSchool
Parents/Guardians must log into PowerSchool using a web browser to complete and submit the following Off-Campus Forms:

• Late Arrival

• Early Release

• Senior Off-Campus Lunch

Important Guidelines:

These forms are available to Juniors and Seniors only:

• Juniors may request Late Arrival or Early Release if they do not have an academic class during 1st, 2nd, 9th, or 10th periods.

• Seniors are eligible for Off-Campus Lunch in addition to Late Arrival or Early Release.

• All students must be enrolled in at least 5 academic classes.

• If you have a 1st period Late Arrival, you are still required to attend Fly Time (our daily attendance period between 1st and 2nd).

🚫 Students who ride a bus are not eligible for Late Arrival or Early Release.

Be sure to complete these forms before the first day of school if you plan to take advantage of off-campus privileges.

The Parking Permit Form is linked here, this form must be completed by a parent or guardian.

Locker Request Form

** All Freshman and Sophomores will be assigned a locker.

Juniors and Seniors may request a locker by completing the Google form linked above.

School Lunch Info

• 🍎 Westerville City Schools School Meal Prices & Nutrition Updates for 2025–26
  • Apply for Free & Reduced-Price Meals for the 2025–26 School Year

Fall Sports Season is Almost Here – Get Ready, Warhawks!

If your student plans to participate in athletics, all required forms must be completed through Final Forms. This only needs to be done once at the beginning of the school year or before the start of each sports season.

👉 Final Forms Sign-Up

2025–2026 Ultimate Warhawk Season Passes for students, adults, and families are now available! These passes provide access to all Westerville Central home athletic events throughout the year

🎟️ Click here to purchase your pass now!

Fall Sports Practices officially begin at the end of July, but many teams are already holding workouts and conditioning sessions. Reach out to the coach of your sport for more details.
📬 View the Coaches Directory

Mark Your Calendar – 2025 Fall Home Opener Events
🗓 Friday, August 15

📍 In the Stadium

• Boys Soccer vs. Columbus Academy | 5:00 p.m.

• Girls Soccer vs. Delaware Hayes | 7:00 p.m.

📍 In the Main Gym

• Girls Volleyball vs. Westerville North | 6:30 p.m.

🏈 The first football game of the season is Friday, August 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Westerville North.
🏟️ We’re back home for our first home football game on Friday, August 29 against Westerville South at 7:00 p.m.

🎉 Homecoming Game
Join us Friday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. as the Warhawks take on Grove City under the lights!

📅 Click here for the complete Warhawk Athletic Schedule

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Westerville Central Athletic Department at 614-797-6827 or visit our website.

Athletic Director: Andy Ey Eya@westerville.k12.oh.us

Support Staff: Teressa Snedegar snedegat@westerville.k12.oh.us

All WCSD families report student absences through SchoolMessenger. Families are able to report and/or PRE-report absences through any of the following options, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Report Absences with SchoolMessenger (formerly SafeArrival)
  • Additional resources:
    • Absence Reporting
    • SchoolMessenger

• Child Find: Identifying Children with Disabilities

A toll-free telephone number (1-844-431-0874) or the WCHS number (614-797-6820)

If a parent/guardian forgets to report their student's absence, they will begin to receive automated notifications once the child is marked absent at school. The notification process ends when the parent/guardian confirms the absence through SchoolMessenger.

Future absences, such as known health appointments, college visits, etc. can be reported ahead of time.

School excuses/doctor notes/college visit verification should be obtained for absences and delivered to the Attendance Office.

Attendance Secretary-Mrs. Miller, millereliz@westerville.k12.oh.us External Number: 614-797-6821, Internal Extension: 23110

Hello Warhawk Families!

I hope you all have had an enjoyable summer so far. Just a few reminders and information in regards to clinic processes as we approach the beginning of the school year. Please familiarize yourself with our district Health Services page, where all the following information and additional resources can be found.

• Please remember to complete your student’s health forms and also register for SchoolCare via the parent forms in Powerschool.

• Parents of incoming 2025-2026 SENIORS: Students are required to have proof of the Meningitis vaccination within two weeks of school starting, or the student may be excluded from school until it is received.

• If you have a student missing any other required immunizations, the same guidelines apply.

Medication Policies/ Information:

• If your student will require medication during the 2025-2026 school year, please complete and return the appropriate forms to your student’s school. No

medications will be stored or administered without the appropriate form completed by

the medical prescriber and parent/guardian (form links below).

• ALL CONTROLLED medications will need to be brought directly to the clinic by a parent or designated adult.

• Please remember ALL medication must be stored and provided in the original pharmacy labeled bottle/container or original over-the-counter bottle.

Links to Medication Forms:

• Medication to be stored and administered at school: Prescription or Over the counter medication that is kept in the clinic requires both parent/guardian and medical prescriber signature.

• Over the counter medication for the student to self carry and administer ONLY a Parent/guardian signature is required. Medication will not be stored in the clinic or administered by school staff.

• Allergy Forms

• Asthma Forms

• Seizure Forms

• Diabetes Forms

I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces, as well as meeting some new ones very soon!

Amanda Ward, RN, BSN. LSN

wardaman@westerville.k12k.oh.us

614.797.6812

• 🚌 School transportation schedules available Aug. 6
• Additional transportation information available HERE

Be sure to check out the Warhawk Academic Booster Club which promotes, encourages, and rewards academic growth for all of WCHS students. The club will be hosting their annual Arts & Crafts Market on 10/25/25, raises funds for scholarships, provides grants to educators, shows staff appreciation, and MUCH more! Become a member TODAY so you don’t miss a beat!

Westerville Education Challenge - Night of Hope 5k

Westerville Education Challenge’s 4th annual Night of Hope 5K, 1-mile, and Family Fun Run is set to take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Westerville North’s Jim McCann Stadium. Register: Night of Hope 5k

WCHS Marching Band Preview - Marching Band community preview, is Friday 8/1/25 at 7:00 pm at Warhawk Stadium. There will be food trucks there if you'd like to come early and eat dinner before the show.

Warhawk Meet the Team (Football, Cheer, Band) August 10, 2025 - 6:00-7:00pm Warhawk Stadium

WCHS Chipotle Fundraiser - Save the date! Join us August 27, 2025 from 4pm-8pm at the Maxtown Rd. location (63 Maxtown Rd. Westerville, Ohio 43082-7128).

PLEASE USE THIS CODE WHEN ORDERING: V484AEE

Funds raised will go directly to support student activities at WCHS! All funds raised will go directly to support student clubs and activities at

Principal: Dawn Sayre

Assistant Principal: Maxwell Gunn A-G

Assistant Principal: Eric Nickel H-N

Assistant Principal: Stacy Smith O-Z

Athletic Director: Andy Ey

Important Numbers:

Main Office 614-797-6800

Attendance 614-797-6820

Fax 614-797-6801

Instructional Time: 7:25 AM - 2:05 PM

Office Hours: 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Website: https://wchs.westerville.k12.oh.us/

Location: 7118 Mount Royal Avenue, Westerville, OH, USA
Phone: 614-797-6800