Western Local School District

All practices have been canceled for the upcoming week. No practices next week.

Right now we have very limited information beyond the fact that school will be canceled for the next three weeks. Our first day back will be April 6 as of now. We have a meeting tomorrow with all the superintendents in Ross and Pike Counties. After that I will have much more information, hopefully. I don’t have an answer for questions about athletics or musicals or anything else in reality, unfortunately! As soon as I get information I will relay it to you. I know this is all crazy and new and concerning so I will do my best to keep you updated not only about school issues but also about precautions and advice from health officials. You can follow the Pike County General Health District Facebook page for updated information.

I should’ve added this to the earlier call but I forgot. Students will also be out on Tuesday for the primary election. We were going to have a professional development day on March 20 anyway. It has been scheduled for the entire school year but due to the primary election using our school as a polling place we changed the date and will be closed on Tuesday in order to allow the public to use our school as a polling place with no interference in the educational process. There will be no school on Friday or Tuesday but students will be going to school on March 20.

Due to a sharp increase in the number of flu cases in the past week we will be closing on Friday in order to give our custodians a chance to thoroughly clean both buildings. We’ve had at least 21 confirmed flu cases in just the elementary building since Friday morning. We had 100 students out today with 71 being in the elementary building. This has nothing to do with the coronavirus but it has everything to do with the flu which has definitely had a major impact on us throughout the winter. We hope that giving the kids an extra day away from each other will reduce the spread. If you have kids who are showing any signs please don’t send them to school. We have kids coming to school every single day with a fever over 100 when they walk in the building. That is just causing this to go on and on. Believe me if your kid is sick we will work with you on the attendance side so please keep them home so they can get better and not make anyone else sick.

Hat Day Tomorrow! Bring $1 and wear your hat all day! All proceeds go to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters!

PreK-6th Grade Dr. Seuss Literacy Night this evening from 6:00-7:00.0

SOMC Western Family Practice will be closed today from 11:15-1:15 due to a staff meeting. Sorry for any inconvenience.

We apologize for the inconvenience but due to an unexpected bus situation we’re going to have to do a short double route for Marvin Mustard‘s bus number 10. Students who ride his bus will be arriving home around 20 to 30 minutes later than normal. Penny May will be taking Marvin‘s kids after she runs her route. We are getting her out of here at a soon as possible to minimize the change in drop off time.

Jr High Sports recognition day

Seniors, Herff Jones will be at the High School Friday morning (and then go to the CTC) to pass out graduation items. If you have paid your balance you will be able to take home your items. If you still owe a balance, it will remain at the high school until it is paid. Please see Mrs. Schuler is you have any questions.

News for primary/elementary: Week of March 2nd-6th BOOK FAIR Homerooms will go to the book fair on their scheduled library day. Monday-Durham, Hamilton, Mosteller, Crace Tuesday-Riggs, Triplett, Taylor, S.Morgensen, Richardson, Henderson, Masters, Rhoades Wednesday-Savely, Wayland, Wells,Williams, Walls, Pernell, Setty Thursday-Edler, McClay, Davis, Leeth, Durham, Greene, Crace Dr. Seuss Week Pre K-3rd Monday-Wear your favorite hat and black and white Tuesday-Wear a shirt you can read and or crazy glasses Wednesday-Wacky Wednesday-Dress silly-backwards, inside out, etc. Thursday-Wear silly or mismatched socks Friday-Wear the color green 4th-6th-Focus on Oh the Places You'll Go Monday-Favorite Dr. Seuss Characters Tuesday-Mexican attire Wednesday-Hawaiian attire Thursday-Chinese attire Friday-Afarian safari attire Monday Musical Practice 3-4:30 Full Cast Tuesday LEAD 5th Musical Practice 3-4:30 Full Cast Wednesday Credit Union LEAD 4th Musical Practice 3-4:30 Full cast Thursday LEAD 3rd/6th Musical Practice 3-4:30 Full Cast Literacy Night 6-7:00 Grades Pre K-6th Friday Spring Pictures Musical Practice 3-4:00 Full Cast Looking ahead Tuesday, March 17th-No School, Professional development day for staff. Aladdin the Musical, Friday March 27th at 6:00 and Saturday, March 28th 2:00 & 6:00

High School Schedule for Monday, March 2- March 6

Spring Picture Day, March 6th

Do to the to the potential for black ice we will be having a two hour delay for February 27, 2020. Most of what I’m seeing on the road is standing water and hasn’t frozen but there is a potential for those places to freeze as it gets more toward daylight. There are some definite slick spots out there but I’m afraid they will get worse as it drops a few degrees before daylight so in the name of safety we’re going to have a two hour delay

We are having a practice lockdown drill this morning at 9:30. All of your students have been informed and we have explained the process in detail to the younger students. This is just a notification to parents so if you hear anything about a lockdown you will know it is a drill. The sheriffs office has been notified, also.

7th grade student, Piper Martin will be representing Western High School at the Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication Region 1 Spelling Bee on March 21. Congratulations and good luck!

There will be a Lady Indian Softball Parent/player meeting tomorrow evening after practice at 5:30 in the middle school gym.

Western Local Board of Education meeting 2/18 @ 6pm.

All biddy basketball kids (boys & girls) will be recognized tonight at the high school game, between the JV and varsity games. They will get in free and they need to wear their t-shirt. Please arrive by 6:30. Championship game tomorrow 10:00 in the JH gym Lakers vs Warriors. FINAL summer baseball and softball sign up tomorrow from 9-11:00 in the JH bubble.

I didn't do a very good job of explaining our situation on the phone last night. I was making the call from a ballgame and trying to get it out quickly in order to make it better for parents and kids. Please let me clarify our situation Our primary reason for cancelling is because of the combination of school staff, bus driver, and student illnesses. This is the worst that combination has been. The elementary absences are actually down a little but the high school absences were up yesterday, as were the number of high school students leaving due to illness. If it weren't for the number of bus drivers out sick we would not have cancelled. We were definitely on the borderline but that was the deciding factor. I have bus drivers that would drive on their deathbeds if I asked them to but it's not fair to them or the kids to have them driving when they're sick. There are 7 high school staff members who are sick in addition to the 5 bus drivers. I also want to clarify the CTC open house situation. The open house is at the CTC. It has nothing to do with us. I was letting our kids and parents know that the CTC still wants our kids to come to the open house tonight. They didn't want our kids to think they couldn't come because we're closed. The open house is for any student interested in going to the CTC next year. I'm sorry I didn't clearly explain. I knew the sophomores would understand what I was meaning. I didn't think about people thinking we were having an open house here. I apologize for the confusion. I also understand there will always be different opinions about continuing athletic activities when school is closed. Of the 65 students out yesterday at the high school, none were high school basketball players or cheerleaders. If you would like to call me and chew on me about the decision to continue athletic events when we're closed please feel free to do so. My number is 740 493 3113. Believe me, I see both sides. I will do my best to explain all sides of the situation. If you want an answer then a personal call or message is the only way to do that. I do want to reiterate that this closure is as much about busing and sick staff members as the total number of students sick. We are hoping that this long weekend combined with some colder weather will help.