District Newsletter: 08/28/2025

Reminders!

Monday, Sept. 1 Is Labor Day - No Classes; District Closed

Monday, Sept. 22 - No Classes for Students; Teacher/Staff Professional Development Day
Tuesday, Sept. 23 - No School for Students & Teachers 

High School Students Begin Year Working to Assess Water Quality & Health of Alum Creek

By Chad Hemmelgarn, Leader of Experiential Learning

Jennifer Messerly’s AP Environmental Science class took learning beyond the classroom this week when students ventured to Alum Creek for hands-on physical and chemical tests to assess the local water quality. The class performed the same assessments the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses to determine an area’s water quality.

This hands-on approach is not only more interactive, as 11th grader Khenan Richardson pointed out, but it also helps students better understand how factors like soil and other elements can affect the water.

Senior Eddie Merritt noted, “The nutrients in the water are definitely different from the water that comes out of the faucet in the school. And then just the class environment  ̶̶  it’s a lot different out here learning nature. Khenan added, “It can be a lot more interactive out here too  ̶  it helps you learn it more.”

The students are currently performing a variety of tests, including:

• Dissolved Oxygen (DO): This is a critical factor for aquatic life
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): This measures the amount of DO used by decomposing organisms to break down organic matter in the water
• Fecal Coliform: These bacteria are found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and humans
• pH: A measure of the water's acidity or alkalinity
• Temperature Change: A change in temperature can signal thermal pollution
• Total Phosphates & Nitrates: Excess phosphates and nitrates can contribute to cultural eutrophication
• Total Suspended Solids (Turbidity): This measures the cloudiness of the water
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): This is the total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts, or metals dissolved in a given volume of water

After analyzing their data, the class will determine if Alum Creek’s water quality is excellent, good, or poor.

Next week, The AP environmental students will return to the Alum Creek site to do a biological assessment by collecting macroinvertebrates. This will give them a full picture of the stream’s health.

This real-world application of classroom knowledge is the core of experiential learning, a highly effective teaching method that research proves leads to deeper comprehension and better knowledge retention.

By getting out there and actively engaging with their environment, students don’t just grasp complex scientific principles; they also sharpen essential skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. This hands-on approach changes abstract ideas into something they can actually touch and see, making learning far more meaningful and memorable.

After this trip, Mrs. Messerly’s students probably won’t look at their water taps the same way again.

Auditions, Crew Interviews for Middle School Musical Are Next Week

Auditions for the Middle School Fall musical, 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse: The Musical! are Wednesday Sept. 3 and Thursday Sept. 4 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. in the Cassingham Theater.  Please complete the audition form in advance.

Crew Interviews for the Middle School Fall musical are on Thursday, Sept. 5 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Schottenstein Theater.  Please complete the online crew form in advance.

See more information about the theatre program and auditions online.

Performances: 

Friday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1, 2 p.m. AND 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m.

Fan Attendance Guidelines & Student Expectations in Effect for Tomorrow’s First Home Football Game of the Season

We hope you will be in the stadium tomorrow evening when the Bexley Lions host Worthington Christian in the season’s first home football game. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with our athletic attendance guidelines and student expectations that will be in place throughout the school year. Additionally, fans are encouraged to allow extra time to enter the stadium prior to kickoff.

Please note that there is no student readmittance once they exit the stadium during varsity football games or other announced contests with large crowds. We will not accept Pride Passes to enter the stadium once halftime begins. 

Athletic Attendance Guidelines

• An adult must accompany elementary students or younger children to gain entrance into an athletic contest, and the adult must supervise the students they take to an athletic event.
• Backpacks or bags will only be permitted if the baga’s contents are required for a designated purpose (i.e., medical equipment bags, diaper bags, camera bags). In such instances bags will be searched before being allowed into the venue.
• Small purses no larger than 5”x8”x1” will be permitted. Purses larger than this size will not be allowed.
• Fans, including students, are NOT permitted to have footballs or basketballs (small or large) within venues; balls or other equipment will be confiscated and returned at the end of the event.
• Prohibited spectator items include bottled or canned beverages, tobacco, drones, vaping and alcohol products, noise makers, athletic equipment, or any item deemed dangerous or disruptive by the site managers.
• Facial coverings, such as ski masks, scarves, and bandanas covering the face, must be removed at admittance but are permitted within all athletic venues. Religious facial coverings such as the burqa and niqab are exempt from this rule.
• Protective facial coverings, such as masks designed to contain droplets and particles you breathe, cough, or sneeze, must be removed at admittance but are permitted within all athletic venues.

Student Expectations

• Middle School Students are expected to sit in the silver bleachers on the north end of the stadium or with their families.
• High School Students are expected to sit in the main stands in the designated student section.
• Elementary students are expected to be supervised by their parents.
• Students are not to linger in the "D-ring" past the end zone on the north end. This is only a walkway between the north gate and the home stands.
• All district playgrounds close at dark. This includes the Cassingham playground and softball field.
• Students should not interact with members of the visiting team. They are guests, students, and often in an emotionally charged state coming on and off the field.
• No objects should be thrown in or from the stands. Students who throw/drop an object (such as plastic bottles) will be ejected and will have a minimum 2-game ban from attending. Serious injury can occur from these actions.
• Fans may not enter the field of play if the opposing team is still on the field.

Celebrating Our ‘No Place for Hate’ Schools

Montrose Elementary Kicks Off School Year with Special Gathering

Being respectful and kind are promises among the students and staff of Montrose and during their first Moose Gathering of the year last Friday, everyone was reminded of how important it is to carry out those values to help everyone feel safe and welcome in the school.

Physical education teacher Adam Strait opened the assembly and school counselor Michelle Hispley talked with the children about the importance of being responsible and listening well during school events.

A short Sesame Street video featuring actor Samuel L. Jackson had the students’ attention with a message of belonging – helping the young students understand what actions they can take to help their classmates feel a sense of love and belonging.

Pointing to the faculty and staff members’ common black and yellow t-shirts, Principal Nyesha Clayton asked the students why everyone was dressed alike. “It’s a celebration!” she said. “Because of all of the work done by many of you last year, we are officially a No Place for Hate school!”

Together the students recited the Montrose No Place for Hate Pledge:

At Montrose we are respectful, responsible, safe and kind.

At Montrose we include everyone and make them feel like they belong.

At Montrose we are “No Place for Hate.”

Maryland Students Watch, Listen & Learn How to Promote Belonging

With the help of Principal Rachel Niswander, Maryland physical education teacher Josh Price led last Friday’s Mallard Gathering with a student skit about belonging and a shout-out to two of the school’s newest students.

He said, “What is belonging and how can we make sure everyone feels they belong?”

Calling several older students to the floor, Mr. Price handed them a basketball and, with school counselor Megan Reeve sitting somberly on a nearby chair, the students tossed and bounced the basketball among them as if they were on the playground. But why was Mrs. Reeve so sad? It turns out no one had asked her to play.

With Mr. Price’s encouragement, he asked the students what they should do, so they asked her to play with the group too. And Mrs. Reeve’s smile brightened as she joined the other students to toss the ball. “That’s one way we can help our friends feel like they belong,” he said.

The assembly went on with older students stepping to the microphone to share why it’s important to be kind and welcoming to everyone and why it’s important to defend someone when a person says unkind words.

Becoming a No Place for Hate school was celebrated and all of the students together recited their Promise to Each Other, which is their No Place for Hate Pledge.

Because we care about each other and our Maryland Community…

We share what we have, Listen carefully, Help each other learn, Use kind words, Work hard and have fun together

We understand that…

Everyone makes mistakes, We stand up for ourselves and others, When someone asks us to stop, we stop,

This is who we are, even when no one is watching…Because Maryland is No Place for Hate!

To end the assembly, Mr. Price called up two kindergarten students, Shai R. and Luca G., and praised them for showing leadership skills on the playground and helping their classmates. “Everyone can be a leader,” Mr. Price said. “You don’t have to be a 4th or 5th grader to step up and help someone!”

Volunteers Are an Important Part of Our School Community

Volunteers in our schools help enrich the educational experience for our students and support the efforts of our dedicated staff.

If you would like to become a classroom or school volunteer, or would like to become involved in some of the district's programs, you must complete the Volunteer application. 

Bexley Schools utilizes two types of volunteers: Support Volunteer and Independent Volunteer.

A Support Volunteer (Level 1) is someone who:

• DOES NOT have direct supervisory responsibilities for students and will be in visual proximity to a supervising staff member at all times (i.e., on a class field trip, the support volunteer remains in eyesight of the teacher; or if you are helping with a classroom party, you will assist the teacher).
• DOES NOT have sustained access to students for an extended period of time (i.e., a volunteer who makes copies or volunteers for a class period at recess/lunch).

An Independent Volunteer (Level 2) is someone who:

• Has direct student supervisory responsibilities outside of the direct observation of a staff member (i.e., during overnight field trips; or any trips/activities with independent oversight of students, separate from a teacher).
• AND has sustained access to students for an extended amount of time (i.e., during overnight field trips out of state/country along with a supervising teacher/staff member).

All volunteers must fill out the district’s Volunteer application every year.

Independent volunteers must be fingerprinted to be approved to work with students without a teacher. If you were an independent volunteer in the past and have been fingerprinted, then you

need to complete the Volunteer application and mark that you were a Level 2 volunteer last year.

Support volunteers can be approved immediately after completing the Volunteer application.

Volunteer Application

Volunteer Handbook

Volunteer Webpage

Important Dates

Tonight! Aug. 28 (Thurs.) – Elementary Curriculum Night at Each Elementary School; See Each School’s Calendar or Communications for Times & Details

Sept. 1 (Mon.) – Labor Day; District Closed

Sept. 3 (Wed.) – Middle School Play Auditions, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Cassingham Theatre; Audition Form

Sept. 4 (Thurs.) – Maryland Breakfast Buddies, 7:30-8:10 a.m., Back playground

Sept. 4 (Thurs.) – Cassingham Picture Day

Sept. 4 (Thurs.) – Middle School Curriculum Night, 6-8 p.m.

Sept. 5 (Fri.) – Middle School Crew Interviews, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Schottenstein Theatre; Crew Form

Sept. 9 (Tues.) – Montrose PTO Meeting, 7 p.m., School library

Sept. 10 (Wed.) – Middle School PTO Meeting, 7 p.m., School library

Sept. 15 (Mon.) – Maryland Picture Day 

Sept. 15 (Mon.) – Montrose Picture Day

Sept. 16 (Tues.) – Maryland PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m., School library

Sept. 18 (Thurs.) – 8th Grade DC Trip Family Information Meeting, 6-7 p.m., Cassingham Theatre