Olentangy's Top News

On September 28, the Olentangy Board of Education honored student Eshita G. for extraordinary sportsmanship.  Eshita is a member of the Olentangy Hyatts Middle School cross country team.  Coach Jonathan Juravich explained that during a recent meet, Eshita was heartbroken to see a runner from the opposing team struggling.  When the other student indicated she was ready to give up, Eshita offered her encouragement and stayed by her side until she finished the race.  Mr. Juravich received an email from the other student’s mother, who wished to express her gratitude and her daughter’s appreciation of Eshita’s actions.

OHMS student Eshita G. stands by cross country coach Jonathan Juravich as the Board of Education honors her for excellent sportsmanship.

Olentangy Treasurer Rebecca Jenkins has accepted the Auditor of State Award with Distinction in honor of the district’s excellent record keeping.

A representative from the office of State Auditor Dave Yost presented Jenkins with the award during the September 28 board of education meeting.

The Auditor of State Award with Distinction is presented to local governments and school districts upon completion of a financial audit.  Entities that receive the award must meet several criteria including incurring no findings for recovery, material citations nor material weaknesses.

Auditor of State Liaison Kevin Servick presents Olentangy Treasurer Rebecca Jenkins with the Auditor of State Award with Distinction.

One of the things that makes Olentangy such a great district is the fact that our residents are more than willing to donate their time and expertise. We have dozens of community committees, parent-teacher organizations and booster groups that do everything from giving us a business perspective on our financial data to creating special learning experiences for students.

I recently received a nice summary from the Diversity Committee on its activities and achievements, and I thought I’d share that document with you. This group of dedicated, hard-working individuals is a perfect example of the amazing of support our district receives from the community.

I’ll close by expressing my gratitude to all of you who have donated, are donating or plan to donate some of your time to our students. I know we all have trouble finding the time to fit everything in these days, and your generosity is greatly appreciated!

–Superintendent Wade Lucas, Ed.D.

Diversity Committee Progress Report

Ten Olentangy students have qualified as Semifinalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program, giving them a chance to compete for approximately 8,300 scholarships worth more than $34 million.

“This honor is a reflection of years of dedication and hard work,” said Superintendent Wade Lucas, Ed.D. “Congratulations to these students and the families and teachers who have helped them reach this milestone in their academic careers.”

The Olentangy students are among approximately 1.5 million high school students across the country that entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Of those entrants, approximately 16,000 high scorers qualify as Semifinalists.

Semifinalists represent the highest scores on the PSAT/NMSQT. Olentangy students named 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists are:
* Ryan G., Olentangy Orange High School (OOHS)
* Amanda G., Olentangy Liberty High School (OLHS)
* Mariah H., OOHS
* Rachel H., OLHS
* Kevin I., OLHS
* Savannah M., Olentangy High School (OHS)
* Kevin P., OLHS
* Sachin R., OLHS
* Ruth W., OHS
* Patrick Z., OHS

In a few weeks, the National Merit Scholarship Program will release its list of approximately 34,000 Commended Students. These students placed among the top 50,000 high scores on the 2010 PSAT/NMSQT but did not achieve Semifinalist status. They will receive letters of commendation in recognition of outstanding academic promise.

In February, the National Merit Scholarship program expects to notify approximately 90% of the 16,000 Semifinalists that they advanced to Finalist status after fulfilling several requirements, including having a record of a high academic achievement in grades nine through 12 and earning a high score on the SAT. Students from this group will compete for $2,500 scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Program, corporate-sponsored scholarships and college-sponsored scholarships. Announcement of scholarship winners will begin in March 2012.

Olentangy’s Commended Students and Semifinalists will be recognized during the Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26 at the district’s Administrative Offices, 814 Shanahan Road in Lewis Center.

For more information on the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit www.nationalmerit.org.

Two Olentangy Liberty High School (OLHS) students have been chosen to be part of the prestigious National High School Honors Orchestra, which will perform during the American String Teachers Association national conference in Atlanta during the week of March 20 – 24, 2012. This highly selective group is comprised of 120 students from across the country. OLHS senior Sean D. will play violin; senior Alec F. will play bass. A third OLHS student, senior David V., made it all the way to the finalist stage of the competition.

Sean D. and Alec F. with their instruments outside of OLHS.

Cheshire Elementary School (CES) observed Patriot Day on Friday, September 9.  Students and staff members gathered around the outside flag pole and recited the Pledge of Allegiance, listened to a performance of “Taps,” and heard poetry about the events of September 11, 2001.  

Olentangy Liberty High School (OLHS) student Amy S. recently donated two sets of instructional stairs to Olentangy Local Schools.  These stairs are designed to help younger students in need of additional help acquiring stair-climbing skills.  Amy planned this project and provided leadership for the building of the stairs, a community service which will serve as a step in her journey to attaining the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts. 

OLHS student Amy S. and Karen Richeson-Dull, an Olentangy physical therapist, stand behind one of the sets of donated stairs.

Forty-four Olentangy students earned perfect scores on a section of the spring 2011 Ohio Achievement Assessment (OAA) or Ohio Graduation Test (OGT).

The tests are state-standards based assessments. The OGT is for high school students, while the OAA is for students in grades three through eight. Students in each of those grades are tested in reading and mathematics. Students in grades five and eight are also tested in science. OAA and OGT results account for 24 of the 26 indicators included in the Ohio Department of Education’s annual local report card. Olentangy met all 26 indicators on the 2010-11 report card.

The students who earned perfect scores, and their 2010-11 buildings of attendance, are as follows:

Third-Grade Reading
Allison, Alum Creek Elementary School (ACES)
Tyler, Scioto Ridge Elementary School (SRES)
Joshua, Wyandot Run Elementary School (WRES)
Gabriel, Olentangy Meadows Elementary School (OMES)
Anna, Tyler Run Elementary School (TRES)
Ariana, Freedom Trail Elementary School (FTES)
Emma, OMES
Miranda, Liberty Tree Elementary School (LTES)
Elinor, Walnut Creek Elementary School (WCES)

Fourth-Grade Reading
Kevin, LTES

Fifth-Grade Reading
Claire, Johnnycake Corners Elementary School (JCES)
Kelly, WCES

Eighth-Grade Reading
Tyler, Olentangy Shanahan Middle School (OSMS)

Third-Grade Math
Corey, WCES
Timothy, OMES
Jack, LTES
John, WRES
Jack, TRES
Joshua, SRES
Ethan, TRES
Joshua, WRES
Edion, SRES
Beckett, TRES
Jacob, SRES
William, Arrowhead Elementary School (AES)
Mitchell, WRES

Fourth-Grade Math
Ainsley, SRES
Manav, LTES
Karen, LTES
Benjamin, JCES
Baron, Oak Creek Elementary School (OCES)
John, WRES
Mitchell, TRES
Jay, TRES
Rithvik, LTES
Reema, ACES
Joshua, SRES
Abigail, WRES
Nicholas, SRES

Fifth-Grade Math
Jack, JCES

Sixth-Grade Math
Cassidy, Olentangy Liberty Middle School (OLMS)

OGT Math
Morgan D., Olentangy Liberty High School (OLHS)
Neil G., OLHS
Deborah S., Olentangy High School (OHS)
Corey S., OHS