West Liberty-Salem Local School District - Home of the Tigers

On Monday, May 15th, 5th graders will sell lemonade at their own lemonade stands during recesses as a culminating activity for a project in Math class. They are collecting donations off $.25 per cup of lemonade to donate to the Barely Used Pets Rescue in Urbana. Today, they are working on lemonade stand preparations!

Sixth graders in Mrs. Symmat's science class are studying Kinetic Energy. This week their lab exercise was to test kinetic energy, potential energy, and thermal energy as they move along on three wheeled balance car scooters. They measured their speed and noticed how adjusting the friction, gravity, and mass altered their results. We think they had a little fun, too!

The West Liberty-Salem girls track and field team won it's eleventh consecutive Ohio Heritage Conference title Thursday evening at Triad high school Thursday evening. North Division Team Scores: 1st WLS 180, 2nd Fairbanks 155, 3rd Triad 88, 4th Mechanicsburg 68, 5th Northeastern 29, 6th West Jefferson 1 WLS Placers: (DAY 2) First Place: Kenzie Bahan Shot Put (32'6.5") PR, Mallory Bostick 400 Meter Dash (1:01.98) PR, Ashley Yoder 3200 Meter Run (11:58.95), 4x200 Meter Relay-Tori Douthwaite, Gwen McCullough, Claire Longshore, Mallory Bostick (1:50.94), 4x100 Relay-Tori Douthwaite, Gwen McCullough, Lena Kauffman, Chloe Griffith (52.50) Second Place: Chloe Griffith 100 Meter Dash (13.02), Gwen McCullough 800 Meter Run (2:30.52) PR, Mallory Bostick 200 Meter Dash (27.39) PR, Gwen McCullough 800 Meter Run (2:30.52) PR Third Place: Claire Longshore 100 Meter Hurdles (16.54) PR, Tori Douthwaite 100 Meter Dash (13.42) PR, Breece Gullett 1600 Meter Run (5:28.94) PR, Ashley Yoder 400 Meter Dash (1:03.62) PR, Sophia Hardwick 300 Meter Hurdles (48.90) and Long Jump (14'4.5") PR, Taylor Kennedy 3200 Meter Run (13:10.81) 4x400 Relay-Ashley Yoder, Teagan Boyd, Breece Gullett, Mallory Bostick (4:19.38) Fourth Place: Sophia Hardwick 100 Meter Hurdles (16.94), Claire Longshore 300 Meter Hurdles (49.89) PR, Chloe Griffith 200 Meter Dash (28.42) Fifth Place: Breece Gullett 800 Meter Run (2:34.07) Sixth Place: Chloe Griffith Long Jump (13'7"), Malia Miller 1600 Meter Run (5:39.89) "I'm so proud of the effort our women gave throughout the meet," said WLS Head Coach Ann Vogel. "We had a big day on prelim night and never let off the pedal from there. Kenzie Bahan winning shot put on her last throw for a career PR was huge and set the tone for the rest of the meet. Fairbanks is such a strong team and gave us all we could handle, but in the end our depth put us on top. It goes to show you, track and field is a team sport, and that's been our focus all year. We're a young team and a lot of people counted us out, but this team is feisty and not afraid to chase their dreams." WLS will compete in the DIII Southwest District Meet at Graham High School with prelims on Tuesday and finals on Saturday. Photo Credit: John Coffman Gwen McCullough handing off to Claire Longshore in the 4x200 Meter Relay Ashley Yoder winner of the 3200 Meter Run

Happy International Nurse's Day to our Nurse Practitioner Mrs. Douthwaite and Nurse Mrs. Wing, who keep our students healthy and learning all year! We are so thankful for the services they provide as school nurses and in the School-Based Health Center!

West Liberty-Salem celebrated Senior Awards Night on May 9, 2023. They spent the evening honoring every senior and awarding more than $50,000 in local scholarships. Principal Greg Johnson introduced Brittany Neer, Valedictorian, and Christian Davis, Salutatorian. The Class of 2023 Top 10 was released and includes, in order: Brittany Neer Christian Davis Elyssa Cheetham Isabelle Wilson Trinity Floyd Allie Bolton Maggie Davis Arianna Chapman Logan Phillips Adam Stapleton Pictures include Wright State University Army ROTC Rep, Edward Wittig, and LTC Jason Douthwaite and COL Jen Douthwaite, present the ROTC Scholarship to Tina Douthwaite. Tina’s total scholarship winnings for both, the Army ROTC Scholarship and Wright State University was $110,580. Meghan Vogel presents the $2,500 Meghan Vogel Sponsorship sponsored by Wright Construction and given to Wylie Harbour. Photo of all scholarship recipients including: Allie Bolton Arianna Chapman Kayla Cole Christian Davis Maggie Davis Tina Douthwaite William Dowden Trinity Floyd Maddox Havens Wylie Harbour Owen Harrison Christian Herron Gabbi Hudson Aubrey Laing Lexy Lee Emma Kauffman Andrew Kimball Chandler McCafferty Phillip Marr Brittany Neer Logan Phillips James Powell Whitney Ridenbaugh Rylie Schultz Makenna Smith Micah Smith Adam Stapleton Jonny Stoner Shae Stoner Isabelle Wilson DJ Yoder Valedictorian Brittany Neer and Salutatorian Christian Davis Photo of Christian Herron who received the OHSAA Courageous Student Award Read the full story and list of scholarship recipients here https://www.wlstigers.org/article/1112229

West Liberty-Salem students Ivy Cline, Abbigayle Long, Makenna Smith and Carter Titus are among students from all over Logan County who are making an impact on their peers by improving the mental health of Logan County youth. At the initial Student United meeting, students set goals to not only address issues of substance misuse, hunger, and personal hygiene, but to also make a financial impact that provides solutions. When Carter Titus, a junior, was asked about the impact Student United had on him he shared, “United Way shows others the problems people face that you couldn’t even imagine. It helps create change and goodness in the world by encouraging people to help those in need.” After much self-determination and hard work, the Student United Way committee awarded $29,050 in Youth Allocations grants to 15 local applicants this week. West Liberty-Salem Schools received $1400 to invite Scott Frank, a speaker with the Digital Empowerment Project to talk with students and families about internet safety and the impact that social and digital media has on mental health. United Way shares the full story here: https://www.uwlogan.org/student-united-way-awards-15-grants-support-logan-county-youth?fbclid=IwAR1JQyafcVieqjEm5dG_WCFN4Ov6wosP4gyBfFQrKPJq0hsgKSG4tuKGE0o

The West Liberty-Salem Chapter of the National Honor Society names their 2023-2024 officer team after they were sworn in earlier this week. The following students will assume the roles of officers: President: Madeline Cole Vice - President – Lillian Weaver Secretary – Mallory Bostick Treasurer – Lily Smith Historian – Ashley Yoder Parliamentarian – Addison McAuley Senior Representative – Carter Titus Congratulations, new National Honor Society officers!

Mrs. Carrie Smith's Environmental Science, Biology, and Zoology students hosted animal tours for elementary students today. Elementary students were introduced to class pets including a bunny, rats, snakes, ferrets, and hissing cockroaches. They learned that the bunny really loves carrots, and the ferrets are both sleepy and playful. The Science wing is also home to several species of fish, turtles, and frogs. Students were eager to learn about their habitats and watch them swim, jump and "sun" themselves on their log. Thank you, Mrs. Smith and her students, for a fun and educational tour!

Mrs. Symmat's sixth grade science students took advantage of the beautiful weather and practiced graphing outside!

Please help us congratulation the final Seniors of the Month for the Class of 2023. Congratulations Phillip Marr and Aubrey Laing! NAME: Phillip Marr SCHOOL: West Liberty-Salem PARENTS: Peter and Lori Marr School Activities and Awards: My school activities from this year consist of Marching, Pep, Jazz, and Concert Band, along with Varsity Choir and Show Choir. I’ve received certificates, pins, and varsity letters for participating in Varsity Choir, Marching and Concert band for three years of high school. If I were principal for a day: If I were principal for a day, I would probably make Principal Johnson take my place in all of my classes simply because I think it would be funny. Favorite school memory: My favorite school memory may, in fact, have to be at band camp this year. For the night of our senior prank, seniors had all agreed to meet outside of the dorm building by a huge bell at 2:30 AM to get started. Knowing that I would struggle to wake up with out waking any of the other boys (to make this more interesting, I was the only senior guy) I would have to stay up. Now, in order to keep from being bored while I waited, I stayed up with other kids watching the movie Ted until it was time to sneak out. When that time came, I told the the only other person still up that I was going to hang up my pool towel (which had my shoes hidden within it) in the bathroom. Once I was in there, I snuck out of the dorm room through another door in the bathroom and never came back. Once I got out of the room, I had a staring contest with a racoon who stared into my soul when we made eye contact from opposite sides of the outer doors. Luckily, I was able to sneak around it and make my way outside to the bell. Once 2:30 hit, I had been sitting outside by my lonesome. No one else showed up. THE OTHER SENIORS DIDN’T GET UP IN TIME AND LEFT ME ALONE IN THE DARKNESS UNTIL 3:00 AM! So, what did I do? I recorded a video of a bat that I saw and started blogging on my phone about how I was going to do the whole prank by myself. Eventually, they finally woke up, and we all finished the prank together by around 5-6 AM, and getting up at 8:00 – 8:30, leaving me to march in the morning with about 2 hours of sleep. It’s funny how well one’s brain works on that little amount of sleep…BECAUSE IT DOESN’T. People who have been an inspiration to me include: People who have been an inspiration to my life would be my best friends; both from school, and not. Because: They are two people that have a different outlook on life than anyone else I know, and this allows them to always act comedic and goofy in ways that I enjoy, and it never gets old. I wish that, I too, could be like them. Lately, I have been reading: Lately, I have been reading Heart of Darkness; though not so much reading as listening to it, because I’m not a good reader. My advice to parents: My advice to parents would be: Don’t ever feel like you can’t tell your kids no for anything or any reason. I learned important lessons while growing up because my because my parents would tell me no. My biggest regret: My biggest regrets are usually not exploiting every possibility I see to achieve or obtain something that I really want, such as joining Show Choir during my underclassmen years. If only I had put more effort into my auditions, I may have made it in. Once I made it in my junior and senior years, I realized that I truly should have just tried a little harder. Next year I will be: Next year I will be hopefully growing more in God, working, and saving towards my first car. AND.... NAME: Aubrey Laing SCHOOL: West Liberty-Salem PARENTS: Harlan and Andrea Laing School Activities and Awards: I am the reporter in FFA, I am on iPad committee, and I also video for the high school girls basketball team. If I were principal for a day: If I were a principle for the day a I would let everyone probably have a free for all and all hangout and get to know each other better, and I would let the high schoolers go back and spend time with the elementary teachers. Favorite school memory: My favorite school memory is going to all of the football games with friends. People who have been an inspiration to me include: My family Because: They have always been there for me when I needed them the most, and they have taught me to be the person I am today. Lately, I have been reading: I have been reading A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. My advice to parents: To show your kids that you don’t always have to be perfect, and we learn from our mistakes. Always treat others with respect and open arms. My biggest regret: My biggest regret would have to be not getting involved in other school activities and getting to know the younger classmen. Next year I will be: Next year I will be attending Clark State for Occupational Therapy.

Over the last 14 weeks, Mr. Stoner’s English 12 class and HS counselor Molly Smith, worked on employability skills outlined by the Ohio Means Job Career Readiness Graduation Seal. Throughout this process they used student’s real life working, academic, or future plans as discussion points. Classmate Samantha Schwaderer was able to share about her experiences of working towards obtaining her pilot’s license. The class decided to take a field trip to the Urbana Airport to learn more about local opportunities within aviation, mostly planned out by Samantha herself. They enjoyed breakfast at the Airport Café, met with Samantha’s flight instructor and airplane mechanic at the Mad River Air Hangar, toured the Aviation Museum, and got an up-close experience to see and learn more about the Grimes Fyling Lab airplane.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CAREER SEEKING SENIORS: Seniors entering the workforce after graduation and looking for local employment or internship opportunities may sign up to participate in 'Senior Interviews' open to all graduating Seniors from Champaign County schools. This event will be May 17th, from 8a-4p at the Champaign County Library. Student must sign up at the link below to reserve a time slot. The following businesses will be hosting interviews: • Champaign County YMCA • London Correctional Institute • Active Day • CRSI • Downsize Farm • Green Hills Community • Vancrest of Urbana • Bundy Baking/American Pan • Orbis • Sutphen • Weidmann • Rittal • Madison-Champaign ESC (paraprofessionals & a Videography intern) Link to sign up for interview time slots: https://s.surveyplanet.com/xwvkv6b8 View more information here: file:///C:/Users/Allison/Pictures/Internship%20and%20Senior%20Interviews[2][16642].pdf

Seventh grade Science classes enjoyed the beautiful spring weather yesterday by learning in the beautiful landscape in front of our school!

West Liberty-Salem administrators Kraig Hissong, Greg Johnson, Andy McGill, and educator Crystal Johnson, alongside graduates Addalyn Cole and Logan Cole continue to impact the national school safety initiative at the School Safety Symposium in California. Click to read the full story: https://www.wlstigers.org/article/1109951

For students, parents and family members who were not able to attend Senior Awards Night, the video of the evening is available on the school website. Please visit wlstigers.org, choose “Live Events” and then click on VOD Library in the bottom right corner. Senior Night is the top option. Congratulations to the Class of 2023! http://www.mldistrict.com/districts/oh/libertysalem/vod/

The West Liberty-Salem girls track and field team took an early lead at the Ohio Heritage Conference Championships at Triad Tuesday evening. In the North Division the Tigers lead with 42 points followed by Triad with 32 points and Fairbanks with 28. The Tigers took home two first place finishes on day one with Elise Longshore winning pole vault (9’0”) and the 4x800 relay team of Ashley Yoder, Gwen McCullough, Teagan Boyd and Breece Gullett winning in 10:06.96. Isabella Hardwick placed second in discus (96’04”). Sophia Hardwick place third in discus (92’04”). Lena Kauffman placed third in pole vault (8’0”), and Claire Longshore placed fifth in high jump (4’04”). Finals will take place Thursday at Triad.

West Liberty-Salem softball is on to round 2 of the OHSAA tournament! They play Wednesday, May 10th at Arcanum HS. Tickets for the game MUST be purchased online prior to the event. Get your tickets at the link below. https://www.ohsaa.org/tickets Photo credit: John Coffman

Congratulations to this week's Educator of the Week, Mrs. June Seymour!

The '22-23 high school yearbook is on sale now through May 19th! The yearbook is 128 pages of wonderful memories for $45, and you can add your name to the cover for an additional $5. Delivery will be in September. Please complete and return the attached order form. Printed copies of the order form are available in the office. Also, a few remaining 21-22 HS yearbooks are available in the office for a discounted price of only $20.

Seniors are invited to bring their family to lunch on Tuesday, May 16th! Mark your calendars and join us from noon-1 PM!