District Update - February 28
Midview Family,
With the 100-day mark behind us, it’s safe to say we’re well into the school year—the days are still short, the mornings are brisk, and we’re all hoping for a little more sunshine. Inside our buildings, there’s no shortage of energy, learning, and the usual mix of excitement and organized chaos that makes a school district feel alive.
This time of year is a balancing act—planning for the future while still being fully in the moment. We're already laying the groundwork for next year with student scheduling, staffing, professional development planning, and enrollment for our newest Middies, all while gearing up for state testing, graduation, and making sure our students finish this year strong. It’s a whirlwind, but one with purpose.
We’re also looking ahead in a big way—evaluating curriculum, facility needs, and district-wide goals through our strategic planning initiative to ensure Midview continues to thrive for years to come.
And, of course, in the midst of all this planning, our kids are just being kids. They’re learning, competing, performing, problem-solving, and making us all proud in the process. Every day, I see incredible moments happening in classrooms, hallways, and on our fields and stages.
So while we juggle a million moving parts behind the scenes, know this—our focus remains on moving Midview forward and ensuring every student has the best possible experience.
Thank you for your support, your trust, and for being part of the Midview community. As always—Go Middies!
Warm regards,
Dr. Frank Major, Superintendent
Midview Local Schools
Students Flex Their Mathematical Muscles in Tournament
For a second consecutive year, Midview Local Schools was proud to host and participate in the Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of Mathematics Tournament! This fun annual competition, open to 4th and 5th graders as well as 6th through 8th graders, encourages enthusiasm for mathematics while recognizing students’ problem-solving abilities, perseverance, and talent.
This year, 27 teams of four—including eight from Elyria—competed in the 4th and 5th grade tournament on February 22. On March 8, more than 35 teams of three from grades 6–8 will take on the challenge.That’s over 200 Middie mathematicians! Read the full article here.
East Intermediate Students Visit Lorain County Sustainability Learning Center
Students from Midview East Intermediate recently explored the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District’s new Sustainability Learning Center (SLC), marking the first school visit since its opening in October!
The SLC offers interactive tours to educate families on the importance of recycling, reusing, and composting waste. The facility features engaging games, informative stations, and vivid visuals, all designed to foster environmental consciousness among young learners and the community.
The trip also served as the kick-off for Midview East’s annual Middie Makers Upcycled Design Challenge. Students will leverage their experience at the SLC, along with their critical thinking skills, creativity, and STEM knowledge, to design innovative arcade games out of repurposed cardboard and other recyclable materials. Read the full article here.
Now Accepting Hall of Honor Nominations
The mission of The Midview Schools "Make a Difference Hall of Honor Award” is to recognize Midview's distinguished alumni, former staff/volunteers, and community members for their contributions as excellent role models to our school community and society. We are excited to revamp this initiative for the 2025-26 school year and have plans to create a fun weekend of events to bring the community together and honor our inductees – stay tuned!
We invite you to nominate individuals who you believe are deserving of one of the following Hall of Honor awards:
- Distinguished Alumni Award: This is the highest honor awarded to a Midview graduate. Recipients must have demonstrated leadership in their career, community, OR philanthropic endeavors.
- Distinguished Staff Award: Recognizes a Midview staff member who has had a significant positive impact on students, the school district, and the community.
- Friend of Midview Award: This award is bestowed upon individuals in our community who have shown exceptional service and loyalty to Midview.
To learn more about the Hall of Honor, award criteria, and the nomination process, please visit midviewk12.org/alumni.
February Athletics Recap
Check out the following February Athletics Recap, highlighting:
- Game, match, meet, and tournament summaries
- Student-athlete success:
- Luke Jokel (Boys Basketball) set a new single-season three-point field goals made record with 76.
- Hunter Crum (Girls Basketball) set a new single-season three-point field goals made record with 41.
- Reagan Henley (Girls Swimming) earned a pair of SWC runner-up finishes, a first place and third place finish at the OHSAA Sectional Tournament and a pair of third place finishes at the OHSAA District Tournament.
- Nathanial Shenberger (215 pounds) and junior Carrson Morris (120 pounds) won SWC wrestling titles this season.
- Ice Hockey Update (new interest form for a potential return in 2026-27 and more information about the upcoming alumni game on March 1)
- Youth sports updates (Youth Softball Camp)
- More information on athletic photographs and Senior Night photos
- Midview's online spirit wear shop
- Booster updates, with information on joining the Midview Athletic Booster Club and participating in the Pull Tab Fundraising Program
- Important dates for March
A Message from Dr. Frank Major about the Upcoming Safety Drill on our Next Professional Development Day
On Friday, March 21, 2025, our staff will participate in a district-wide safety training drill in collaboration with local law enforcement and emergency personnel. While students will be off that day for scheduled professional development, we want to ensure that our school community is fully informed about what will take place on campus. Read more the full article here.
Midview Local Schools Welcomes New North Elementary Principal and Director of Career Technical Education and Work-Based Learning
The Midview Local School District is proud to welcome Bethany DiFranco as the newest North Elementary Principal and Deanna Hersko as the Director of Career Technical Education and Work-Based Learning. Their appointments were confirmed at the February Board of Education meeting.
• As a proud Midview alumna and dedicated educator in our district for over a decade, Bethany DiFranco brings a deep understanding of our schools and community. Her passion for early childhood education, strong leadership skills, and commitment to building meaningful relationships with students, staff, and families uniquely positions her to guide North Elementary into the future.
• With more than 20 years of experience in career-technical education and workforce development, Deanna Hersko brings a wealth of expertise. Her work will expand our career pathways, strengthen industry partnerships, bring back CBI to our high school and ensure students are equipped with the skills they need for success in college, career, or beyond.
Please join us in welcoming Mrs. DiFranco and Mrs. Hersko to these critical roles. Their leadership will be instrumental as we continue to provide the best possible education for our students. Read the full release here.
Midview Middle School Course Information Night
All rising 7th and 8th-grade students and their families are encouraged to join us on March 6 from 6-7 p.m. for an interactive course information night at the Middle School. Meet our dedicated and talented Middle School team, walk the building, and learn more about the courses and extracurricular opportunities that are available to students during the 25-26 school year.
Kindergarten Welcome Night
Incoming kindergarten families are invited to join us for Kindergarten Welcome Night on March 13 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at North Elementary. During this event, families will learn about registration procedures and school year basics, tour the building, meet teachers, participate in fun activities, and more. This can’t-miss event is the perfect opportunity to get your child excited for kindergarten!
For more detailed information on kindergarten enrollment requirements and the registration process, please visit midviewk12.org/enrollment-registration. We look forward to welcoming our youngest learners to the Midview family!
Third and fourth grade students recently explored digital and graphic design in their technology classes! Third graders crafted digital snowmen, while the fourth graders designed custom snow globes. Each student paired their design with an imaginative short story, showcasing their creativity in visual and written form!
In early February, Mrs. Szoradi’s first grade class worked on identifying the number of tens and ones in two-digit numbers. Students created "Tens and Ones Monsters" to show how many tens and ones were in the their numbers!
Middle School students in Mrs. Manning's Flight & Space class have been working on a paper airplane design to troubleshoot a problem scenario from a toy company. This company aims to improve the predictability of their gliders' flight paths. Students were tasked with researching paper airplane designs that focus on precision rather than distance for this activity. Using their research, they designed paper airplanes and launched them in an attempt to land on a target that was two meters away!
Every day, MHS students in Mrs. Petroskey’s Broadcasting class bring the school community together by preparing and delivering the morning announcements. From filming and recording to running audio tables and newscasting, students gain hands-on experience in media production. Broadcasting is just one of the exciting courses in our Broadcasting Arts and Communications Career-Tech Education pathway, equipping students with real-world skills for college and career success.
Fourth grade students in Ms. Carnahan and Mrs. McMillen’s classes recently wrote informational essays on leadership. They first read about community leaders in Delivering Justice and Judy’s Appalachia, then had the opportunity to interview a leader from the Midview community. In their essays, they reflected on the qualities that contribute to effective and impactful leadership. Thank you to Dr. Major, Mrs. Wolf, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Breha, Mr. Onderko, Mrs. Winslow, Mrs. Heredos, Mrs. Buckosh, and Mr. Lucas for generously sharing their time with the students!
The exhaust from automobiles contains various air pollutants, including carbon dioxide (CO₂). To investigate emissions, students in Mrs. Fisher's AP Environmental Science class collected exhaust samples from their own cars using a setup made from plastic bottles, funnels, and coffee filters. Back in the lab, they analyzed the samples using an indicator solution that changes color based on CO₂ concentration, allowing them to determine which vehicle emitted the highest levels of CO₂.
Middle School students in our Medical Detectives class investigated how antibiotics combat bacteria. After covering an agar plate with bacteria, they placed different types of antibiotics on it to test their effectiveness. Following the weekend, they analyzed the results.
