District Newsletter: 03/19/2026

Independent Reading Accomplishment Earns Some 8th Graders a Special Field Trip

Middle School English/Language Arts Teacher Chevy Sidel and eight students took a short field trip last week to the William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library at The Ohio State University, in recognition of the students’ reading accomplishment.

The trip served as a celebration for students who have read more than one million words so far this school year during their independent reading.

“Students have been tracking their reading on their reading logs, and I challenged all students to read 850 pages a quarter, and that roughly adds up to about a quarter of a million words,” Mr. Sidel said. “Instead of taking four quarters, 12 students have reached this milestone in less than three quarters.”

During its field trip, the group met with OSU staff member Rose McCandless who introduced the students to the university’s Rare Book and Manuscripts Collection.

Mr. Sidel said that among the rare text selections they saw were a copy of Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor from the 1600s. They also viewed a medieval Scroll of Trees depicting the Lurianic system of Kabbalah that the library’s Judaica collection obtained a couple of years ago.

Congratulations to 8th graders Nora Batchler, June Dodge, Marius Dorr, Alexander Gay, Corwin Hickman-Filipow, Shira Mor, Ella Rogers, and Mia Shankle who attended in honor of their independent reading achievement!

Cassingham 4th Graders Master Survival Skills at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park

By Chad Hemmelgarn, Leader of Experiential Learning

Fourth-grade students from Cassingham Elementary recently traded their desks for the great outdoors, embarking on an immersive “Operation: Survival!” field trip to Chestnut Ridge Metro Park. Under the guidance of the 4th-grade teaching team ‒ Julie Lombardi, Michelle Guitolise, Ross Tague, and Jamie Carmack ‒ students tested their grit and creativity against the elements. The day was packed with hands-on learning, including:

Shelter Building: Students worked in pairs to construct mini-shelters using KEVA blocks, “tarps,” and natural materials found on the forest floor.

Natural Resource Lessons: Ohio State University Natural Resource Management student Drew Halloran led a spirited game of "Oh, Deer!" to illustrate the delicate balance of resources in an ecosystem.

Expert Guidance: Senior Izzy Skoog, nearly finished with Eagle Scout training, joined the group as a guide, offering expert survival perspective to the young explorers.

Connecting Literature to Life: The activities were designed to mirror the challenges faced by Brian, the protagonist of the novel Hatchet. Students had to ensure their structures could withstand simulated “wind and water” tests.

“In the book, he used a lean-over sort of thing with rocks and stuff,” explained student Michaela. “We had to build a shelter just like him... his shelter had to survive a tornado and rain, and we had to survive it too.”

Reflections from the Field: For many students, the trip was a chance to appreciate nature’s complexity and peace. “I love learning out in nature because you get to explore more of the world,” said Michaela. Her classmate Kara added, “I am proud that our structures stood through the tornado wind because it’s helpful to have that.”

The sense of accomplishment was palpable as students reflected on their hard work. “I like learning outside because you get fresh air and it’s a lot more fun,” noted Lily. Ruby agreed, describing the day as “a good experience and a good way of playing with nature.”

Whether it was through hiking the Ridge Trail or solving puzzles for supplies, the 4th graders left Chestnut Ridge with a newfound “perspective” on survival and a deeper connection to the natural world.

BE A CHAMPION

High School Teacher Recognized as ‘Champion’

Bexley High School faculty member Sarah Flower is the district’s newest Champion!

Congratulations to Ms. Flower, who was recognized for Demonstrating Kindness, the second pillar of the district’s mission. Her nomination said the phys ed and health teacher brings kindness to students every day, with a sincere eagerness to get to know students well. Specifically, it stated, “She is always very interested. She’s a very caring person. She always likes to communicate with everyone whether you know her or not.” Way to BE Ms. Flower!

Pictured from left: Superintendent Dr. Jason Fine; High School Phys Ed/Health Teacher Sarah Flower; Senior Josh Gelaw; and High School Principal Jason Caudill

Save the Date for April 15 as Neurodiversity Experts Lead District’s Next Champion Chat

Members of the Bexley community are invited to the district’s next Champion Chat on Wednesday, April 15.  “Neurodiversity – Building Understanding” begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Bexley Public Library and will include a panel of six local neurodiversity experts and child psychologists.

The group will discuss understanding neurodiverse student behavior, including signs of neurodivergence, and also address challenges and strategies; self-regulation; executive functioning; and neurocognitive skills. The panel includes:

Dr. Cheryl Chase - a licensed clinical psychologist based in the Cleveland area, where she specializes in diagnostic and neuropsychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. Her expertise includes ADHD, learning disorders, and emotional concerns. Dr. Chase is an international speaker, leading workshops on ADHD, executive functioning, dyslexia, anxiety, and innovative support strategies for students.

Dr. Maria Goldman - a pediatric neuropsychologist in private practice in Columbus, where she works with preschoolers, school-age children, and adolescents with a wide range of neurodevelopmental concerns. She has held positions as assistant clinical professor at University of Miami School of Medicine and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. 

Dr. Steven C. Guy - a pediatric neuropsychologist in private practice in Columbus. He has served as a clinical instructor at both The Ohio State University and the University of Maryland Medical Center and is a coauthor of Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Second Edition. His current research includes developing methods to assist in the assessment and treatment of executive function.    

Rachael Holland - Bexley Schools’ Parent Mentor working to support local parents’ understanding of special education processes and empowering them to become effective advocates for their children’s educational journeys. She draws upon her lived experience as a Bexley parent of a child with an IEP and her ongoing training from OSU’s Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center.  

Barri Woodfork - a nationally certified and independently licensed school psychologist with more than 20 years of experience supporting neurodiverse learners. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of School Neuropsychology and completed executive function coaching training under the direct supervision of Peg Dawson, Ed.D., author of Smart but Scattered. 

Dr. Aimee White, Bexley Schools’ Director of Student Services & Accessibility, will serve as the emcee for the event. Dr. White began her career in education as a paraprofessional and intervention specialist in Gahanna-Jefferson Local Schools and went on to serve as the Student Services Coordinator in Upper Arlington Schools. She later served as principal of Jones Middle School in Upper Arlington Schools.

Bexley Schools’ Champion Chats series connects the local community with experts to dive into important topics facing students, schools, and families today. These aren’t just lectures – Champion Chats are intended to be engaging and designed to support the partnership between home and school, all while embodying the core values we live by every day.

Click to Enlarge

Have a Topic You Would Like Panelists to Address?

Let us know and we will inform our panelists.

Topics should be general in nature and not specific to a particular person or child. Submit your topic request online at bex.fyi/championchat or scan the QR code.

Spring & Summer Community Activities Are Posted on the ‘Flier Connection’ 

Local events and activities for the Spring and Summer are already on the district’s online Flier Connection.  

We maintain the Flier Connection on the district website as a resource for community and other events or notices. This “virtual backpack” allows us to share information from outside organizations on events, recreation sports leagues, and more.

Don’t forget to check the resource on a regular basis. It can be found under the Community tab on the website, and a button is always here, at the bottom of the weekly district newsletters.

Important Dates

March 23 (Mon.) – No Classes for Students; Teacher Workday

March 24 (Tues.) – Students Return to Classes

March 27 (Fri.) – Cassingham PTO Meeting, 8:35 a.m.; check in at office

April 1 (Wed.) – Middle School PTO Meeting, 7 p.m., School Library

April 3 (Fri.) – No Classes; District Closed

April 8 (Wed.) – Board of Education Regular Meeting, 6 p.m., Bexley City Hall