Hello families, this is Kraig Hissong, Superintendent with information regarding the viewing and funeral arrangements for Matthew Roach and the school schedule for this Thursday. Visitation will be at Grace Chapel Church in West Liberty on Wednesday, January 5th, from 3-7pm. The Funeral is scheduled for 11 AM on Thursday, January 6th, at Grace Chapel and the burial will follow in DeGraff. We anticipate many high school students and staff will attend the funeral and less students and staff will attend from the middle school and the elementary. Due to this, there is no school for high school students on Thursday to allow students and staff to attend the funeral. However, school will still be in session, as normal, for Middle and Elementary students. Students in the elementary and middle school who plan to attend the funeral are excused to do so, however, school will remain open and in operation. Parents should still communicate with the office if your elementary or middle school children will be attending the funeral. Again, high school students will not have school this Thursday, but school will remain open and on our regular schedule for elementary and middle school students. Parents of elementary and middle school children should notify the office if your child will be attending the funeral.
Thank you,
Kraig Hissong
Hello families, this is Kraig Hissong Superintendent. It is with a very heavy heart and great sadness that we share the passing of senior Matthew Roach, who passed unexpectedly at his home on Saturday, January 1, 2022. We know this loss will have a profound impact on our students, faculty, families, and community and is sure to raise many emotions and questions for our entire community. WL-S will operate on a 2-hour delay start time tomorrow for a staff meeting to prepare staff and provide resources that will be available to the student body. Grief professionals will be on campus to support the needs of students, staff, school personnel and families. We encourage anyone to reach out for assistance.
This evening, grief counselors and school personnel will be available at Quest Church just outside of West Liberty from 4-6 PM to offer support to those who would like assistance during this difficult time.
Again, We will be on a 2-hour delay for tomorrow, Monday January 3rd. Hi-Point, Alternative School, and Mack-A Cheek will be open at their regular time for those that self-transport, however, students who ride the bus will also be on a 2-hour delay for that bus transportation.
Anyone interested in registering for youth baseball or softball may do so beginning 1/3/22 at www.westlibertyball.com.
From all of us at West Liberty-Salem
Middle School and high school classes decorated their respective halls for Christmas! It was like a Winter Wonderland and Whoville combined! The Junior Class was declared the winner for best overall decorations. Great job everyone!
Key Club sponsored a high school volleyball tournament this morning with 17 teams participating. The tournament went on for most of the morning and concluded with a staff vs. student game. The winning student team, The Avengers, included Ava Buck, Teagon Boyd, London Loveless, Rylie Schultz, Lexy Lee and Michelle Smith.
A talented and fun group of kids took the stage this morning at the Middle School Talent Show! We enjoyed piano solos, wrestling matches, singers and dancers! This year the talent show was judged by middle school teachers and the winners are:
Best Solo act- Eli Sertell and his rockin' guitar!
Best group act- Isla Leichty and Arianna Weaver
Best overall act- (DRUMROLL)- GUNNAR LEHMAN ROCKING HIS RUBICK'S CUBE
Second graders know how to party! They are playing a Christmas cup stacking game, decorating ornaments, playing candy cane games and enjoying some treats!
We are making Grinch dust, candy cane ornaments, decorating cookies and playing Christmas Bingo in first grade! They are having a great day!
High School choir students are caroling in the elementary this morning and made a special stop at kindergarten lunch for a sing a long!
Sixth and seventh graders participated in the school spelling bee and the winners have been announced! Congratulations to our winners and everyone who participated.
6th grade:
1st Place: Ashlyn Taylor
2nd Place: Brayden Hupp
3rd Place: Carter Henderson
Additional Participants in no particular order:
Ellis Koons
Josiah Thoman
Jordan Kinchen
David Roberts
Arianna Weaver
Alternates in no particular order:
Delaney Anane-Sefah
Drew Boyer
Brody Cooper
Jerome Cordrey
Bennett Sutherin
7th grade:
1st place: Jill Fullenkamp
2nd place: Savannah Gluckle
The rest o f the team includes:
Connor Leichty, Noah Sarver, Casey Boyer, Braden Hershberger, Garrett Hull, Zoe Carter, Mariska Smith, and Zachary Carter. Not pictured, but the alternates are: Natalie Fish, Avi Lehman, Miles Christison, Thaddeus Kitchen and Brennick Burchfield.
The Tiger Track and Field Half Court Shot Contest will take place again tonight at half time of the varsity boys basketball game. Tickets are $5 and the winning ticket drawn will have the opportunity to take a half court shot to win half of the pot that is currently $600. If the shot is missed, the pot will continue to grow until the next home game. Good luck and GO TIGERS!
Today’s high school spirit week winners for red and green day:
Freshman – Brody Deam
Sophomore – Austin Olejniczak
Junior – Devin Grime
Senior – Natalie Hacker
Check out the updated bracket of student votes for their favorite Christmas movies and songs! It’s been fun learning about their favorite Christmas traditions!
West Liberty-Salem senior, Megan Adams signed her national letter of intent to continue her cross country and track and field career at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.
"Megan has been an integral part of our cross country and track and field programs' success the past four years, stated WL-S Head Coach of Girls Cross Country and Track and Field, Ann Vogel. "She exhibits a tremendous work ethic and an infectious positive attitude." During her career at West Liberty-Salem, Adams earned All-Ohio honors in cross country all four years, and helped lead her team to four top five finishes including a DIII State Runner-up title in 2019 and a DIII State Championship title in 2020. In track and field, Adams was part of the 2019 and 2021 DIII State championship teams, earning All-Ohio honors in the 4x800 relay, 1600 and 3200 meter runs. Adams was also part of the state champion 4x800 relay team in 2019.
Adams will join her sister, Grace on the Lee University cross country and track and field teams. The Flames finished 8th in the 2021 DII National Championships in December.
Photo credit: John Coffman
Mr. Waibel hosted a Christmas pot luck in choir this week! Everyone had a great time eating and enjoying class time together, while celebrating the season. Special thanks to everyone who donated yummy food for the event!
Members of the varsity football team and coaches helped sort, pack and load boxes and crates full of donations for victims of the tornados in Kentucky. Thanks to the many generous donations from our community and students, we were able to provide many necessary items that will make their way to Kentucky this weekend.
Teachers and staff have been in the holiday spirit this week dressing up for theme days, caroling, parties and more! Enjoy this collage of some of our best ugly Christmas sweaters this week!
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” Our elementary students caroled around the entire school including middle school, high school, and central office. Our carolers walk outside of the building and classes open their windows to enjoy and sing along. What a great surprise!
It’s a wrap for another great year at Santa Shop! The PTO would like to extend a very big thank you to our families who support the shop! Your children are an absolute joy to watch shop for family, friends, loved ones and pets! Another big thank you to our specials teachers who rearrange their classes, classrooms, and schedules for us. A very big thanks to our volunteers who help shoppers, run check out, stock, set up, and tear it all down. Thanks to our teachers, and other staff that make time for shopping, and assist where needed. And finally, thank you to our donors William’s Hardware, Jones Country Store, Lowe’s in Bellefontaine, and The Sweet Life Kitchen! Merry Christmas from the PTO to everyone in our WL-S community!
It was ‘Donuts with Santa’ day, and it was so much fun! Santa paid a special visit to each class in pre-school through fifth grade. Students were excited to make sure they made the nice list, and Santa made sure to remind them that he’s watching! Special thanks to a very special Elf Jarzab for his grand introduction of the big guy in each class!
