District Newsletter: 10/09/2025

Lions Learn to Lead with Kindness

Lesson of the day: True leadership isn’t about authority, but about kindness. Far from being a soft skill, some Bexley High School students recently learned from guest speakers and faculty members that leading with empathy and compassion can help them not only manage groups, but build cohesive, resilient connections where every voice is heard and valued.

That was the premise of “Lions Lead,” a day-long seminar focusing on kindness for nearly 40 high school students that was generously supported by Bexley resident Richard Stoff and the Carol Zelizer Stoff Memorial Fund for Human Kindness.

The Lions Lead event was developed by High School Principal Jason Caudill and Nancy Mallory, high school social studies teacher. Invited students were all leaders of school organizations and athletic teams.

In prefacing the purpose of last week’s event, students were reminded of the district’s nearly three-year-old mission statement to Learn with Curiosity, Demonstrate Kindness, and Embrace Equity. Mr. Caudill and Ms. Mallory opened the seminar by explaining that student leaders are being called upon to support the tenets of the mission and to “learn, lead, and leave a legacy.”

“The idea of training student leaders means the event will impact a greater portion of the student body,” said Ms. Mallory, who credited Mr. Caudill for this idea. “The student leaders greatly influence their teams, clubs, committees, and policy-influencing bodies, which means that it can help the school as a whole, as well as younger students.”

The event’s morning sessions included a keynote talk by Dr. Amy Acton who spoke about resilience and decency. “I want to talk with you today about the compass you are developing inside of you,” she said. “I’m imploring you, to listen to that heart, listen to that compass, and notice and not look the other way.”

Students also heard from Bexley residents, business owners and the city’s state representative, all who value the message of leading with kindness. 

Those included Bexley’s 2025 Citizen of the Year Ashley Pitts and Tim Pitts who cofounded the Hops & Gather Foundation to raise funds to fight Alzheimer’s Disease; Bexley City Councilwoman Jen Robinson who founded HarmonyKIDS and owns Sweet Jenny Bakes; Kenny Sipes, whose business The Roosevelt Coffeehouse partners with organizations to support people in need, both locally and internationally; and Rep. Dontavius Jarrells, whose work has championed health equity initiatives. In a panel presentation, they spoke of their personal journeys and how kindness inspired their lives and careers.

During the afternoon focus sessions, students learned from faculty members Carleton McGrady and Sarah Flower in a session titled, “Everyone Matters: Leading a Strong Team.” They learned not only of four abilities essential to leadership – the ability to be vulnerable, living into one’s values, building trust, and learning to rise after falling – but also of the importance of practicing gratitude.

The second focus session, led by faculty members Dianne Day and Jamie Hayes, was about goal setting, and helped the student leaders examine their own strengths and challenges. The session also encouraged students to consider how they can hold themselves and each other accountable to reach their goals.

Before the day concluded, the students discussed how what they learned could be applied to the high school and their roles as student leaders.

“Honestly, the students were fully engaged the whole day, and they took it quite seriously” Ms. Mallory said. “Students indicated they valued the experience.” Two additional training sessions are planned for this school year with different students, and the initiative will be evaluated afterward.

Celebrating Bexley Principals!

It’s National Principals Month and we are eager to celebrate the hard-working leaders of our schools! Follow along this month as we spotlight one Bexley principal each Thursday, in a fun Q&A.

Nyesha Clayton

Montrose Elementary 

What Is Your Hometown or Where Did You Spend Most of Your Childhood?

I was born and raised in Columbus.

Number of Years You Have Worked in Education: 

23

Number of Years You Have Been a Bexley Principal

This is my 5th year at Montrose.

What Is Your Favorite Part of Your Job?

Interacting with students

What Did You Want to Be When You Were a Child?

Entertainment lawyer and a teacher

Who Was Your Favorite Teacher? Explain Why and How This Teacher Impacted You.

Mrs. Williams, my second grade teacher at St. Thomas the Apostle School. She was the first teacher that I had who looked like me. She cared for all of us deeply and ignited my desire to be a teacher.

What Was Your Favorite or Easiest Subject in School?

English Language Arts

What Was Your Least Favorite or Hardest Subject in School?

Science, until my high school biology teacher helped my mindset. I later taught middle school science!

What Activities Were You Involved in During High School? (i.e., Sports, Music, Clubs, Class/Club Officer.)

I was a member of Student Council in high school

What Is Your Personal Motto?

Lead with Vision, Serve with Heart

What Else Do You Want Your Students to Know about You?

I love being a Montrose Moose. Sometimes I sing Onward Montrose while working around my house. I come to school every day because YOU are here! Keep being YOU!

District Begins Active Safety Monitoring of Student Chromebooks

Bexley Schools has begun activating an activity-management feature on student Chromebooks that focuses on student safety. This tool, called Gaggle, actively monitors and notifies school and district leadership of activity it believes is unsafe, harmful to self, or harmful to others.

Once Gaggle is alerted of a possible concern, a trained Gaggle employee reviews details of the activity to confirm the concern. If a concern is confirmed, then principals and other key support staff in the schools are notified and will promptly begin investigating what was reported by Gaggle.

Gaggle’s 24/7 monitoring service will notify local police if serious cases of harm are indicated or possible, which may lead to parents/guardians or emergency contacts to be called.

You can learn more about Gaggle features online. The district’s activation of Gaggle monitoring is being rolled out by grade levels throughout this month. All student Chromebooks in grades 1-12 will be enabled with Gaggle monitoring by the week of October 27th.

Measles: What Families of Students Attending Kindergarten through 12th Grade in Ohio Should Know

From Cindy Tyson, Bexley Schools Nurse Supervisor

All families are encouraged to read the following information about measles, which comes from the Ohio Department of Health.

Measles is not just a little rash. It can spread very quickly person-to-person through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Even brief contact or being in a shared space with someone who has measles can put you at high risk for getting the disease if you are not protected.

One person with measles can spread it to nine (9) out of 10 unprotected people around them.

Symptoms Include:

High Fever; Cough; Runny nose; Red, watery eyes; and Rash—usually starts on the head and spreads down to the rest of the body.

Measles is contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears.

Measles can result in a medical complication for approximately three (3) out of 10 people who are infected.

Complications can include:

Ear infections; Pneumonia (infection of the lungs); Encephalitis (swelling of the brain, which can lead to seizures); Diarrhea (which can lead to dehydration); and Death.

DID YOU KNOW?

Measles virus can remain in the air for up to two (2) hours after an infected person leaves an area.

What is the treatment for measles?

There is no specific antiviral therapy for measles.

Medical care is supportive and helps to relieve symptoms or complications, such as bacterial infections.

Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best way to protect your child against measles.

First dose at 12 to 15 months.

Second dose at 4 to 6 years.

It’s not too late to vaccinate.

If your child is over 6 years old and hasn’t received all their recommended vaccines, don’t worry—there’s still time. Talk to your healthcare provider or local health department to find out what your child needs to stay protected, especially against measles.

Two doses are about 97% effective at preventing measles. One dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles.

A healthy school year starts with protection!

Measles vaccines are available at:

Many doctor’s offices; Local Health Departments; and Pharmacies (check with location based on your child’s age).

K-12 school vaccine requirements in Ohio:

Ohio Revised Code 3313.671 requires students to be fully protected against 10 vaccine preventable diseases, including measles.

During an outbreak at school, children without proof of two (2) MMR vaccine doses or previous measles disease will be excluded from school until documentation is provided. In an outbreak

situation, a written statement of previous measles disease is acceptable in lieu of vaccination only if it is signed by a physician and gives the month and year of infection. Children with written waivers or exemptions shall be excluded for 21 days after the onset of the last known case in the affected school. (Director’s Journal-School Requirements).

Seek care with your child’s doctor, urgent care, or emergency room if you think your child has measles. Make sure to call the healthcare facility before you arrive (if possible) to inform them that you believe your child has measles so they can provide care to your child while protecting others.

BHS Students ‘Build Their Future’ through Experiential Learning

By Chad Hemmelgarn, Leader of Experiential Learning

Bexley High School students recently took part in the Build My Future Central Ohio event, trading their desks for hard hats to engage in hands-on learning within the construction and skilled trades industries. This field experience offered students a vital opportunity for experiential learning, allowing them to try activities like welding and operating tools, ultimately broadening their career perspectives.

Build My Future was a free event offering high school students an opportunity to discover and explore the diverse world of construction careers. Interactive learning labs gave students firsthand experience in skilled trades like roofing, tiling, excavating, landscaping, welding, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, design, window installation, flooring, masonry, architecture, and exterior and interior finishing.

The interactive nature of the event was a major highlight for students. 

Dominic Nanberg enjoyed “all the different varieties of the booths of the learning experiences,” while Charlotte Keller appreciated “all the hands-on learning.” For Ryder Swartzel, the highlight was “the welding part of it.” 

Beyond the technical skills, the event was a valuable lesson in professional and social development, with Isabella Mendez noting that talking to people “really helps with your social skills,” and Talbot Kyle finding value in “making a lot of connections” for potential shadowing opportunities.

A significant theme in the students’ reflections was the revelation that a career in construction is far broader than they initially thought. Wyatt Swendal learned there is “a lot more to construction than meets the eye.” This new perspective was echoed by his peers, as Zephyr Reynolds-Wing confirmed that they “learned there’s a lot more broadness to the construction field” than he thought.

This immersive field trip proved to be a powerful example of how experiential learning can open students’ eyes to diverse and rewarding career pathways.

BE A CHAMPION

Middle School Staff Member Recognized as ‘Champion’

This week we celebrate the recognition of Middle School paraprofessional Donna Brown, the district’s latest Champion!

Ms. Brown’s nomination, which recognized her for our core value of Inclusion, stated, “She has gone out of her way to help multiple students learn to participate in band who may not have gotten a chance. She has exhibited patience, knowledge, and expertise in teaching multiple students with different abilities at the same time, as well as working to make all students feel welcome.” Way to BE Ms. Brown!

Pictured: Logan Pelphrey, Middle and High School band teacher, Donna Brown, and Director of Bands Andy Johnson.

Vocal Ensemble Venmo ID: @BexleyHS_VE

Important Dates

Oct. 11 (Sat.) – Montrose Cardboard Challenge, 9 - 11 a.m., Montrose Playground

Oct. 11 (Sat.) – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, High School Play & Dinner Theatre, 12 p.m. & 6 p.m., Cassingham Gymnasium

Oct. 12 (Sun.) – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, High School Play & Dinner Theatre, 2 p.m., Cassingham Gymnasium

Oct. 13-14 (Mon.-Tues.) – High School Musical Auditions, 3:30 p.m., Dargusch Theatre

Oct. 14 (Tues.) – Montrose PTO Meeting, 7 p.m., School Library

Oct. 15 (Wed.) – High School PSAT Test, Grades 9-11

Oct. 16 (Thurs.) – High School Musical Crew Interviews, 3:30 p.m., Cassingham Theatre

Oct. 16 (Thurs.) – Diverse Learning PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m., High School Library

Oct. 16 (Thurs.) – Middle School/High School Fall Orchestra Concert, 7 p.m., Schottenstein Theatre

Oct. 23 (Thurs.) – Middle School/High School Fall Band Concert, 7 p.m., Schottenstein Theatre

School Year Calendar

Athletic Events Calendar

School Meals/Menus

Flier
Connection

From the City of Bexley: This Isn’t an Idle Threat

Bexley, let’s keep our kids and neighbors healthy! We’re not letting October idle away. Instead, we’re asking you to join us in being idle free!

Children are affected more than adults by air pollution, and asthma can be worsened by harmful chemicals found in exhaust fumes. The pollutants in car exhaust can cause respiratory, cardiac, and reproductive issues, as well as cancer and birth defects, and globally, 6.5 million deaths are attributed to all forms of air pollution; this number has risen over the last 20 years.

Stopping and restarting your engine produces fewer emissions than idling for 10 seconds, so please, turn off your vehicle instead of idling for 10 seconds or more.
Learn more about the Idle Free Bexley campaign at bexley.org/idlefree.