Bexley City School District

Maryland Elementary students and staff honored the sacrifices of those lost in service to our country today in a poignant assembly honoring Memorial Day. Under the direction of music teacher Diane Paul, 4th graders performed beautiful songs accompanied by student narratives, ending with Let There Be Peace on Earth. Many thanks to the family members who joined us for this annual event!

📅 Reminder: There will be NO SCHOOL for students and staff on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. The district will be closed.

👏💙 Congratulations to six Bexley students recently recognized as Champions for Demonstrating Kindness!

🌟 Kai B., a Maryland Elementary fifth grader, was honored for regularly helping younger students and supporting his school community.

🌟 Bexley High School track athletes Larkin Armstrong, Athena Baith, Lily Schabo, Natalie Tann, and Maria Wood were recognized for their quick action and compassion in helping an elementary student safely get home after a fall.

We’re proud of these students for going above and beyond to care for others. Way to BE! 👏

🎉🏫 Thanks to the Bexley Education Foundation, Cassingham fourth grader River N. stepped into the role of Superintendent for the Day, joining Dr. Jason Fine for a full morning of leadership and fun!

River helped make announcements, visited classrooms, met with principals, read to students, and even declared an extra recess for a “ginormous” kickball game. ⚽

He also recognized several staff members as Champions and added his own touch to the day with music in the hallways and a special lunch with friends.

What a memorable experience and a great example of student leadership in action!

🎭🏆 Congratulations to Bexley High School sophomore Zeke Moses on winning the CAPA Marquee Award for Best Lead Actor for his performance in "Urinetown!"

Zeke will now represent Central Ohio at the national level as a Jimmy Awards® nominee, earning a trip to New York City for “Jimmys Week.”

👏 Additional recognition goes to:
✨ Payton Theile (junior), selected as a national finalist for the Jimmy Awards Student Reporter program
✨ Ani Olsheski (junior), nominated for Best Supporting Actress

An incredible showcase of talent. Way to represent Bexley! 💙

🍎🏆 Congratulations to Brooke Smith, an intervention specialist at Bexley Middle School, on being named Bexley Schools’ 2026 Educator of the Year!

Mrs. Smith was surprised by the announcement, surrounded by family, colleagues, and community members. She was recognized for her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to supporting students, ensuring they feel valued, understood, and empowered to succeed.

This marks the first time an intervention specialist has received this honor. The award is sponsored by the Bexley Education Foundation and funded by the Glick Family Endowment at the Columbus Jewish Foundation. 👏

🍲 A fun idea turned into a tasty experience at Montrose!

Second grader Avery Mixture asked Head Cook Ms. Jess Bartimus about making Peas Porridge for students. Known for her playful banter, Ms. Bartimus challenged students to find a way to make Peace Porridge happen, and they did!

Pease Porridge (a thick split-pea soup) was made and offered to students for sampling at lunch. A creative idea brought to life! 💙

💻🚀 Innovation and creativity were on full display as 14 Bexley High School students participated in the Upper Arlington Hackathon, led by teacher Patrick Cummins!

Students joined more than 80 participants to tackle hands-on challenges ranging from coding and AI to problem-solving and tech-based competitions. The event gave students the opportunity to collaborate, think critically, and step outside their comfort zones while building real-world skills.

Experiences like this highlight Bexley’s commitment to learning with curiosity and preparing students for future opportunities. Great work to all involved! 👏

👏 Congratulations to Janae Gibbs and Rachael Holland, recently recognized as Bexley Schools Champions!

💙 Ms. Gibbs, a middle school paraprofessional, was honored for Demonstrating Kindness, with her nomination highlighting the positive impact she has on both students and staff each day.

🌍 Mrs. Holland, the district’s parent mentor, was recognized for Embracing Equity, including her work creating communication boards on elementary playgrounds to better support students and the community.

Way to BE, Ms. Gibbs and Mrs. Holland!

📰🏆 Congratulations to members of the Bexley High School Torch staff for earning top honors in The Martys, a Central Ohio journalism competition!

Torch students took home three first-place awards and two runner-up finishes across writing and photography categories:

👏 Ruthie Gravelle – Best Opinion Writing
👏 Emma Schiff – Best Sports Writing
👏 Bella Delisio – Best Photography
👏 Lily Howes & Bella Delisio – Feature Writing (Runner-Up)
👏 Lily Howes – News Writing (Runner-Up)

An incredible accomplishment that highlights the talent and dedication of Bexley’s student journalists!

🎨🎭 Congratulations to eight Bexley High School seniors recognized during the annual Arts Signing Day!

These students are continuing their passion for the arts at the next level:

🎓 Vivienne Frank – Capital University (Music Education – Voice)
🎓 Emmalie Freeman – Savannah College of Art and Design (Sequential Art)
🎓 Duncan Messmer – University of Dayton (Jazz & Music Education)
🎓 Sylvie Nowlin – Concordia University (Studio Art)
🎓 Ashton Pliskin – University of Delaware (Music Composition)
🎓 Lucy Robinson – Elon University (Drama & Theatre Studies)
🎓 Shadow Salmon – Columbia College Chicago (Stage Management)
🎓 Scarlett Waggoner – DePaul University (Film & Television Production)

We’re proud of your dedication and can’t wait to see where your creativity takes you! 👏