West Liberty-Salem Local School District

Congratulations to our November Seniors of the Month! Hayden Phillips and Maria Henderson were selected by their teachers for their academic excellence, good citizenship, and character both in the classroom, community and in extra curricula. SENIOR OF THE MONTH QUESTIONNAIRE NAME: Hayden Phillips SCHOOL: West Liberty-Salem PARENTS: Susan Yu and John Phillips School Activities: Baseball, NHS, Key Club, Calc Club, Mock trial, Quick Recall. Awards: National Commendation for Merit, 4 year Honor Roll, Scholar Athlete Award If I were principal for a day: I would put slip’n slides at every enterance so that they are the only way in and out of the school. Favorite school memory: All the great people that I’ve met and friends that I have made, that I never would have without this school. People who have been an inspiration to me include: My grandmother. Because: She has shown me the importance of treating other people kindly. Lately, I have been reading: A lot of emails. Mostly about college, a few about limited time-special offers, etc. My advice to parents: Make sure your kids know right from wrong, and that who they chose as their friends shapes who they are. My biggest regret: Letting fear hold me back. Next year I will be: Hopefully in college studying something that I love. Advisor: Greg Johnson, MS/HS Principal SENIOR OF THE MONTH QUESTIONNAIRE NAME: Maria Henderson SCHOOL: West Liberty-Salem PARENTS: Ty and Stephanie Henderson School Activities and Awards: Cross Country, Track, Musical, Quick Recall Captain, National Honor Society, Link Crew, Student Council, Pages, Book Club, Calc Club,Marching Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, Choir Librarian, Key Club President, iPad Committee. If I were principal for a day: I would have recess and a designated nap time because we need it. Favorite school memory: Going on the band trip to Disney last Christmas. People who have been an inspiration to me include: My parents and my coach, Ann Vogel. Because: My parents always support me no matter what and push me to be my best. Ann has helped me grow so much as a runner and has helped build my confidence in myself over the last 4 years. Lately, I have been reading: The Mysterious Benedict Society My advice to parents: Be understanding when your kids mess up because no one is perfect. My biggest regret: Not coming out of my shell sooner in high school. Next year I will be: Attending a 4 year university for an undecided major. Advisor: Greg Johnson, MS/HS Principal

Thank you to everyone who volunteered and supported the elementary Santa Shop! We had several generous donors make it possible for all students to shop if they wish! The PTO appreciates the support and our students LOVED Christmas shopping for their loved ones! The highlight was seeing how excited they were to choose that perfect gift!

National Honor Society inducted 23 new members this week. For the full story click here! https://www.wlstigers.org/article/368474?org=wls Standing (back row): Audrey McGill, Gabrielle Williams, Naomi McGill, Alison Gault, Aubrey Williams Sitting (middle row): Macie Campbell, Emily Hollar, Jocelynn Kennaw, Madison Bahan, Madison Casto, Brandon LaRoche, Bella Kauffman Sitting (front row): Jamie Gluckle, Amanda Domachowski, Megan Adams, Mandilyn Weaver, Brady Forsythe, Dylan Lauck, Hallie Smith, Micah Stoner Not pictured: Owen Johnson, Isaac Reames, Logan Saylor

We had a great day at Santa Shop! Our shoppers were so eager to find gifts for moms, dads, siblings, and many others on their lists! Your shoppers were so polite and helpful! They put things back where they left them and always said please and thank you. We are especially thankful for our special elves (volunteers) who helped make it a really smooth day! Thanks to Audrey Jones, Corlea Collins, Hannah Perdue, Teresa Stokes, Yvonne Woodruff, and Susan Millice for helping our shoppers. And thank you Mrs. Cotrell, Mrs. Frederick, Mrs. Blair, Mrs. Hollar, and Mrs. Smucker who reorganized specials times and helped make it happen this year! Tuesday/Thursday students will shop tomorrow, and we can’t wait!

Hello, this is Kraig Hissong, Superintendent, of West Liberty-Salem Schools, calling to inform families that on January 4th, WL-S will return to regular, 5 days/week instruction for all students attending school in-person in grades K-12 unless cases increase and the risk for COVID spread becomes greater for our area. This decision was made based on information we have received from both the Logan and Champaign County Health Departments. COVID cases are still high in both counties, but there are signs that cases/day are starting to level off. That said, both health departments strongly urge that families avoid gatherings with extended family and friends if we want to have a successful return to a normal school schedule. The health departments have also stated that a COVID vaccine has been approved and another may be approved this week for children, age 16 and over, and adults. Vaccines will likely be available to medical staff and first responders by the end of this month with vaccines available to the general public sometime after January to early spring depending on the number of vaccines provided. Again, WL-S will resume regular school schedules for all students attending in-person instruction beginning January 4th, unless cases increase and COVID spread becomes higher. I want to thank families again for your support and efforts to make hybrid instruction successful for your children and hope that you all have a successful last week of hybrid before winter break, which begins next week. Thank you and have a good evening! Kraig Hissong

Don’t forget! Elementary students will have the chance to do some Christmas shopping tomorrow and Tuesday at the annual Santa Shop! There are some great gifts to chose from this yea! See the flyer for more details!

West Liberty-Salem held it’s annual blood drive last Friday and a big thanks is in order for all who participated! Community Blood Center had this to say, “Fridays’ blood drive was excellent!! You had 14 first time donors that is soo incredible (AWESOME)! We are so grateful that you continued to hold the blood drive even with moving to hybrid learning! It turned out to be amazing! 40 people registered to give blood, 34 were successful. 18 units were projected! 188% percent of goal!” The CBC blood bank levels are critically low and being able to be a part of helping replenish just a bit of that felt really good! Thank you to everyone who took the time to donate!

Calc Club had their monthly meeting and carried on this year’s theme of giving back to the community. This month they are wrapping Christmas gifts for local families in need! WL-S is working with several organizations to provide Christmas gifts, or providing skilled wrappers to get those gifts ready for Santa’s big arrival! Thanks, Calc Club, for your desire to make a difference in an otherwise tough year!

Do you want to join our mailing list for Tiger eNews? Maybe you no longer have a student in school, are an alumni who likes to keep up on the latest happenings on campus, or just love seeing what your local district is up to! Here is your chance! Go to https://www.wlstigers.org and select ‘Join Tiger News’ at the top of the homepage. If you are already in our system, and receiving our e-mails, you do not need to do this to continue receiving correspondence. We hope you will join us to receive district updates and our Tiger Newsletters! Go TIgers!

Big matchup in the @OHCathletics tonight when @WJGirlsHoops (2-0) hosts @WLS_Sports (3-0). Both JV & Varsity games are available by going to https://t.co/qENKMSFqyd. Live video begins at 5:50! https://t.co/DSaRfWASKZ tree

Hello WL-S Families, this is Kraig Hissong, Superintendent with some information related to COVID-19. It has been a good two weeks here at WL-S since Thanksgiving. In that time we have had no students and only 2 staff members test positive for COVID. Currently both Champaign and Logan Counties are seeing around 30 to 40 new cases of COVID each day. I want to inform families to a change in the length of quarantine for students and staff who are identified as a close contact of a person who is positive for COVID. The length of quarantine for close contacts has been reduced from 14 days to 10 days if the individual who is being quarantined does not have any symptoms. Also, a person who is a close contact and is under quarantine has the option to further reduce the quarantine period to 7 days if they take a COVID test and the results of that test are negative. The earliest a person could take the COVID test is on Day 5 of their quarantine and they could not return to school until Day 7, regardless if they received results on day 5 or 6. WL-S will now use this new protocol for quarantines. It is also important to note that there has been no change to the length of Isolation for an individual who has tested positive. It is still 10 days from the date of the first symptom. Last, we have received news from both health departments that vaccines will likely be available to 1st priority individuals by the end of the month. Two major drug manufactures are applying for approval with the FDA this week and next. Thank you, Kraig Hissong

West Liberty-Salem Middle School has announced their November Students of the Month! Teachers nominate students for their leadership, good citizenship, and academic excellence. Students receive a t-shirt and goodies from Marie’s Candies. Keep up the great work, Tigers! Left to Right 8th Grade: Kennedy Wallace & Lincoln Henderson 7th Grade: Lyndee Harrison & Cameron Pope 6th Grade: Kiersten Stoll & Patrick Brooks

FFA/Ag students helped wrap Christmas gifts this week for local families in need. Mrs. Perdue and her church, Kennard Church of the Nazarene, gather gifts for local charities each year. The students were thrilled to be a part of making the holidays special for families who deserve a little help after a particularly trying year. Way to go, kiddos!

Tonight’s basketball game can be viewed live at the following link. Go Tigers! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZYDb5vl3gj6xZUE0hbdD0w

The WLS Athletic Association would like to invite you to their monthly meeting this week, Wednesday, 6pm, in the elementary cafeteria. Please wear a mask. 😷 There is a zoom option available as well. Join Zoom Meeting https://udayton.zoom.us/j/4138279642 Meeting ID: 413 827 9642 If you haven't been watching facebook and twitter, you may have missed the opportunity to purchase a fan face to be added to the jungle for HS home games!! It's been a fun way to get some community involvement, and the teams are enjoying seeing who shows up each game! You can buy yours here, but we are nearing the limit, as the stands are filling fast: http://bidpal.net/jungle Our 1st ever WLSAA Online Auction is happening now, and ending this Friday!! There's an empty space where we hope to build a fieldhouse, and we need that fund to grow immensely. We would love to make double profit on the donated items from the 2020 Reverse Raffle, because we are unable to plan for a 2021 Reverse Raffle due to the uncertainty of the coming months! There are many unique items that could double as your tax deductible gift to WLSAA while also making someone in your life very happy with the best Christmas gift ever!!! Please consider taking a look, place some bids, "buy it now", or just make a donation. http://bidpal.net/wlsaa

Hello, We want to remind all WLS Families that if you would like to receive FREE Breakfast and Lunch for your children for the 3 days they are completing remote instruction, please call or email Kathy Smith, Food Service Supervisor. Phone: 937-465-1075 x 136 or Email: KSmith@wlstigers.org. Our next delivery is Friday, December 11th, between 11 AM and 12:30 PM. Orders need to be received no later than Thursday, December 10th. Thank you, Kraig Hissong

This is Aaron Hollar with a message about Elementary picture retakes. Elem picture retakes are Tuesday, Dec. 8th starting at 8:00 am. If your student was absent for the original picture day, or if there were issues with the first set of pictures, please plan on having retakes. For those of you that are not scheduled for school that day, please bring your child in between 8:00-9:00 Tuesday morning. You must bring the original picture packet with you if you are having your picture retaken.

Watch the Tigers as they take on Fairlawn live! https://youtu.be/svJtofWEA9M

Congratulations to your Shrek: The Musical cast!! We are looking forward to the spring production of this musical that is sure to entertain!!

This week our staff spotlight goes to our Middle School and High School secretary, Julie Nieman! She works hard in the office each day to make sure things are running smoothly for staff and that our students know what’s going on. Julie moved here 15 years ago with her family and worked as a Braillist with a visually impaired student for 12 years before moving into the secretarial position several years ago. She has a college degree in Wildlife and Natural Resources and worked as a National Park Service Ranger for several years along with her husband. She has been married to her husband for 33 years and has two adult daughters: 1 is a teacher for children with disabilities and the other is a graphic designer/artist. Along with their two adult daughters, they plan to visit every National Park in the U.S. and have visited almost 20 so far! She loves spending time with her family and creating new adventures! Thanks, Mrs. Nieman, for all you do at WL-S!