West Liberty-Salem Local School District

We are excited to launch our first middle school fundraiser to support initiatives like Gold Cards, staff morale boosters, classroom activities, and other projects that Mr. McGill helps us fund! Students are encouraged to help fundraise and details are attached that describe how you can help! There is even a nice prize on the line for the homeroom that raises the most money! Contributions will be tracked by using the QR code on the flyer, which includes a field for donors to indicate which student referred them to the fundraiser. Be sure to indicate your students’ name (or a student you know that attends our middle school) if you wish to contribute! This fund plays a vital role in celebrating our staff and students, so if you feel so inclined to contribute, your efforts will be valued and much appreciated! Donations will be accepted by scanning the QR Code on the attached flyer, or by sending a check with your student. Checks should be made payable to West Liberty-Salem and note ‘Thanksgiving Fundraiser’ on the memo line. Thank you for your support!

This year’s High School Community Service Day was a resounding success, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and volunteers. “Every year, I am truly amazed by how our community comes together to make a difference, and this year was no exception,” share high school principal Greg Johnson. More than 330 students volunteered at various locations throughout Logan and Champaign Counties, demonstrating their commitment to service and community engagement, including: • Logan County Bike Path: Cleaning up trash to beautify our local trails. • Habitat for Humanity: Helping build homes for those in need. • Lutheran Social Services: Supporting families and individuals in our community. • Marmon Valley Farms: Assisting with farm activities and care for animals. • Camp Kirkmont: Helping prepare the camp for future visitors. • Hilliker YMCA: Engaging with community programs and activities. • Green Hills: Providing support to local residents. • Guntown Road and WL Village: Cleaning up areas to promote environmental responsibility. • WL Business Association: Supporting local businesses. • Lions Park, Urbana YMCA, Urbana Senior Center: Enhancing community spaces and services. • Caring Kitchen: Preparing meals for those in need. • Urbana Bike Path and Barely Used Pets: Assisting with various community initiatives. • Champaign County Fairgrounds: Helping with event preparations. In addition to the off-campus volunteers, students also stayed on campus to help in many areas, including picking up trash, washing pumpkins, scrubbing potatoes for the concession stand, and assisting in the athletic department and elementary classrooms. Their efforts showcased the spirit of service that define our school and community. A special thank you goes out to our dedicated teachers, para-pros, secretaries, and coaches who volunteered to chaperone and work alongside our students. It was wonderful to see how much fun everyone had, and their support made a significant impact. Also, a big thank you goes to Tyler Cordell and our bus drivers for ensuring our students made it safely to and from their destinations. Your efforts are greatly appreciated! Finally, a HUGE thank you to Molly Smith and Candace Watson for their extensive planning and coordination over the past several weeks. Your hard work and dedication made this day possible, and it did not go unnoticed. As we reflect on another successful Community Service Day, let’s carry this spirit of service forward into our daily lives and continue to make a difference in the lives of others. Please enjoy this short clip of our students at work! https://youtu.be/kqWiLmu4hts?si=9ORF0bs7BP0TEo3M

First graders and their fourth-grade book buddies had a great time yesterday cleaning out pumpkins and counting seeds. The winning pumpkin had 751 seeds! Afterward, the first graders drew faces on their pumpkins. Mrs. Stayrook, with a little help from Mrs. Warrick, surprised them by carving the pumpkins while they were at specials. When the students returned, the jack-o'-lanterns were all lit up, and they absolutely loved it!

Our teachers and staff members looked spooktacular today too!

Mrs. Patton's students were picking pumpkins in their classroom pumpkin patch while learning about the parts of a pumpkin and a pumpkins lifecycle! Those little pumpkins had a great time!

Marine biology concluded their study of invertebrates with a blue crab dissection. Students explored structures, functions, behaviors, adaptations, and life cycle of their specimens. Did you know crab cheliped (claws) have 2 different functions, one with sharp teeth for cutting, one with rounded teeth for crushing? Science is cool.

Tune into WPKO's Chalk Talk tonight at 7 and 7:20 and hear from our girls and boys cross country teams! You can listen after OnDemand as well! https://peakofohiotv.com/events/details/chalk-talk-oct-30-2024/60

SHARE! SHARE! SHARE! We need volunteers in our concession stand on Friday night! It's a fun gig with lots of fun help! There are experienced workers with you, so even if you've never worked in our concession stand, you will have a lot of great people alongside you to help! Sign up at the link below! https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/60B0A49AEAC2FA6FC1-52112920-its

High school students gathered for a spirited afternoon of pumpkin painting! They transformed ordinary pumpkins into imaginative works of art, showcasing their unique styles and festive spirit. Among the creations were a Taco Bell-inspired pumpkin, a rendition of "Starry Night," and both scary and cute ghosts and monsters. This fun-filled event not only brought students together in a creative way but also evoked memories of their elementary harvest celebrations!

This week, Middle School Counselor Kim Leichty began teaching students in grades six through eight Joe Hoedel's Character and Leadership Curriculum. The course emphasizes the significance of character—integrity, respect, empathy, and responsibility and is tailored to the complexity of the middle school years. Through engaging lessons and activities, students learn how these traits impact their relationships and decision-making. The curriculum encourages them to reflect on their values and recognize the importance of being role models within their communities. By cultivating character and leadership early on, Hoedel’s program prepares students to face challenges with resilience and to make decisions that reflect their values.

The West Liberty-Salem Tigers will host Arcanum in the first round of the OHSAA playoffs on Friday night at 7 PM. Get your tickets at this link! https://ohsaa.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/30863 GO TIGERS! Tickets purchased online or at the gate are all same prices and sales goes to OHSAA. Adults. $11 Students. $5 Kids 0-5 are Free No discount for Seniors No passes accepted At the gate is cash or card. Parking is $5 per vehicle. No parking passes. Gates open at 5:30. Go Tigers!

Dear Middle School and High School Families, You may have noticed a delay in receiving the school pictures taken earlier this fall. As a result, we will be rescheduling our picture retake day, originally set for November 6th, until after the pictures have been delivered. We will announce the new date once the pictures arrive. If you did not place an order previously, you will receive a code that will allow you to order online once the pictures are delivered. Thank you for your patience!

The Tiger Marching Band Concert this evening begins at 6:30 PM. The WLS Tigers app had 6:00 PM as the start time and that is incorrect. It is 6:30 PM and is outside at the stadium.

Last week, members of our Jungle Council had the incredible opportunity to attend the OHSAA Southwest Student Leadership Conference at Princeton High School. This event brought together young leaders from across the region, providing a platform for personal growth, skill development, and the chance to connect with like-minded peers. The conference featured a range of inspiring speakers and interactive workshops designed to enhance leadership skills both on and off the field. Our athletes engaged in discussions about teamwork, resilience, and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, all crucial qualities for success in sports and life. One of the highlights was the chance to hear from collegiate, professional, and world champion athletes, authors, who have turned their sports experiences into powerful leadership journeys. Their stories motivated our students to reflect on their own paths and consider how they can make a positive impact within their teams and communities. The Jungle Council is made up of high school athletes in 9th-12th grade who have proven themselves as leaders on their respective teams, in their community, and in the classroom. The Jungle Council is led by Athletic Director Morgan Sullivan. The council meets weekly during homeroom and are currently 3 weeks into a curriculum on Team Chemistry and how student-athletes are critically important in that concept. In December they will start a curriculum on Character and Leadership provided by Dr. Joseph Hoedel. Tiger Council members include Taryn Bradley, Asher Cole, Owen Hardwick, Ava Johnson, Brevin Louden, Isaiah Reames, Tucker Searles, Beckett Sullivan, Addison Wallen, Arianna Weaver, and Ellery Wygal.

Fourth graders stepped back in time to visit the Advance One Room School House in New Carlisle, where they experienced life as schoolchildren from the late 1800s to early 1900s. The setting is a true journey into the past, complete with a 38-star flag hanging at the front of the classroom, oil lamps, large windows, and a dunce cap perched on a stool in the corner—every detail evokes a sense of history. Students are encouraged to dress in period attire and bring a lunch featuring foods from that era. They enjoyed recess games popular in the early 1900s and participated in lessons taught by retired schoolteachers who volunteer their time. Visiting the school has become a cherished tradition for both students and teachers. Be sure to ask your child about everything they learned—they're excited to share their experiences!

Join the high school swim team! Do you have high school student who loves to swim? Click the link for season information including practices and meets! Sign-ups conclude on November 8th! https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1083/WLS/4968361/TEAM_CHAMP_2024-2025_Program_Information__10-9-24__14_.pdf

For more than thirty years, Lions clubs worldwide have been hosting a unique art competition for schools and youth organizations. By designing peace posters, children from all corners of the globe have the opportunity to share their interpretations of peace and motivate the world through their artistic talents. Iris Meister, a sixth grader, was chosen by the West Liberty Lions Club as this year's winner. Iris is pictured with Middle School Principal Andy McGill and her Art Teacher Chris Smucker. Great job, Iris!

Here is the official football playoff bracket. The Tigers will play at home on Friday, November 1st, against Arcanum at 7:00 PM. Tickets will likely be on sale on the OHSAA website late Wednesday or Thursday. Tickets will also be available via cash at the gate. https://officials.myohsaa.org/Admin/Bracket/PublicBracket?TournamentId=3952 We need your help in the concession stand! If you are interested in helping, please sing up at https://tinyurl.com/WLSAAtourney . Please share!

The West Liberty-Salem Girls Big Orange Cross Country Team qualified for the OHSAA Division 3 State Meet Saturday at Troy. This is their 8th straight year qualifying for the state meet. The girls were 3rd out of 11 teams securing the final qualifying team spot. Top 5 scoring: 1. Cincinnati Madeira 72 2. Summit Country Day 73 3. West Liberty-Salem 77 4. Fort Loramie 90 5. Cedarville 125 Individual Results (out of 87 runners) The top 12 qualify individually for the state meet. Malia Miller 6th 19:20.77 Addi Wallen 7th 19:21.55 personal record Gwen McCullough 12th 19:38.13 personal record Isla Leichty 34th 20:56.48 Mariska Smith 43rd 21:21.38 Ivy Matthews 59th 22:13.03 Bella Hughes 77th 23:56.24 The girls will run Saturday at 10:45am at Fortress Obetz. Coach Comments: I am so proud of these girls! We were ready for a battle knowing a top-seven OATCCC state-ranked team would not make it out of our region. Based on the district performances, we were the outside team looking in. Our team embraced the challenge, handled the pressure, and came away with a state berth. To be so close to first place was amazing. It is also noteworthy that Malia, Addi, and Gwen all qualified individually. We are encouraged going into state. These girls are battle-tested and ready to compete!

West Liberty-Salem, #3 in this weeks OATCCC D2 State Poll won their 2nd consecutive Regional Championship! This is the first back to back Regional Titles since 1976-1979!!!! Last year D3 and this year D2!!! 🏆 💪! This also marks the 7th straight trip to State dating back to 2018 and the programs 23rd state appearance overall. Sr. Asher Knox 5th 15:59.74 (PR)🏅 Jr. Caleb Larson 6th 16:01.32 🏅 Jr. Dylan King 12th 16:32.21 🏅 Fr. Asher Cole 17th 16:47.53 Fr. Brayan Gullett 19th 16:49.22 Sr. Troy Bradley 28th 17:06.04 (SB) Jr. Garrett Wallen 53rd 17:46.87 ***Top 16 Podium*** Top Four Teams Qualify to the D2 OHSAA State Championship next week at Fortress Obetz #3 West Liberty-Salem 57 # 8 Versailles 82 # 6 Cincinnati CHCA 99 # 10 Oakwood 103 Dayton Carroll 157 Indian Hill 168 Bellefontaine 173 Wyoming 230 Batavia 245 Milton Union 278 Maderia 280 Brookville 291 McNicholas 315 Bethel 352 Meet Record: 13-0 Season Record: 148-1 Runners: 104 1-5 Split: :49.49 "Winning is never easy, especially at the Division II level, so to take home the Regional Championship is an amazing accomplishment. I'm just so proud of the way these young men show up week after week and perform at a high level. Individually, I thought Asher Knox ran his best race of the year, meticulously moving up the entire race. Caleb Larson also had a special performance. Dylan King has put back to back solid races together, while Asher Cole and Brayan Gullett, our two freshman handled themselves well, considering this was their first Regional contest. Troy Bradley and Garrett Wallen also ran solid races, with Troy setting a Season best. We're very excited to be heading to the state meet next week!"