Washington Local Schools

TAFF SHOUT: "I wanted to take a moment to shout out Whitmer Athletic Director, Sean Flemmings. I am not sure that most people know the number of hours that Sean pours into WLS athletics, attending so many events. Though I'm sure he is tired a lot, he is always so kind. We are lucky to have him." He's at so many things, we swear there must be TWO of him! Thank you, Sean Flemmings!

STAFF SHOUT: "Paul Britter is a one-of-a-kind Shoreland staff member who goes above and beyond to connect with students. He shines on spirit days and always keeps students (and staff!) laughing. He is always willing to jump in anywhere he may be needed and takes the time to really talk to students to build those much-needed connections." If you have ever seen this guy in action, you already know how wonderful he is! WLS IS SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS AWESOME INDIVIDUAL'S WORK!

STAFF SHOUT: "Mrs. Joseph is often a substitute at Meadowvale Elementary. She is dependable, comes in at the last minute to help us, and takes initiative to work with teachers in order to get their absences covered. Not only is she an awesome substitute, but as an officer of our Parents Club, she rocks! Last week she helped to make the vision of a Holiday Hangout for students come to life. She worked with other parents club members to ensure we had hot chocolate, cookie decorating, wish list making, craft making, and so much more for students to enjoy time with their classmates. She is dependable, creative, and motivated to ensure the students and staff have wonderful experiences. We are so grateful she is ours!" Our substitutes (and supportive parents!) are the BEST and we could not walk this path without them!

Rory and Soniyah, (CTC Teaching Professions Program at WHS) , are organizing a community school supply drive for a leadership/service project! A donation box will be located in all of the front/main offices of WLS buildings. The drive will end January 30th. Can you help?

Scarlet and Grey fans: Please feel free to disregard this message... Will our school hallways bleed maize and blue Monday?

STAFF SHOUT: "Mrs. Perry always goes above and beyond for our students and staff at Hiawatha. She is always creating fun crafts, making sure kids have a great day; she is the picture of patience and grace in the face of a very difficult job. So kind and caring, Tami Perry keeps our class going and is always willing to help whoever needs it. We appreciate her hard work and dedication to our students!" Giving kids great memories while making them feel safe and supported - the perfect equation for an outstanding educator. Thank you Ms. Perry!

STAFF-TO-STAFF SHOUTOUT: "I absolutely HAVE to give a staff shoutout to Dianna Myers in Payroll. Dianna Myers has been so extremely helpful in navigating the world of benefits. As an early career educator, this is my first job having health insurance, which was easy when it was just me. In December, I got married, and in order to make sure all of my ducks were in a row, I began communicating with Dianna in September. I spoke to her probably a few times a month with various questions or concerns that came to mind, and really just trying to figure out what this all even means! She is such a KIND, caring, and compassionate human, and I am so thankful that we have someone like her working in such an important role for our district. Our communication got to the point that it didn't even feel like I was calling her for business sometimes; it just felt like I was calling a friend. Thank you SO much, Dianna! You are a ROCKSTAR!!!!!" Ms. Dianna Myers is kind and knowledgeable and we are ALL lucky for her expertise!

It's cold and flu season, so make sure to wash those hands and contact the Whitmer Health Center with all your sickness concerns. There is help! Please call 567-389-4796 to schedule a medical sick visit today!

1. https://drugfree.org/article/signs-of-drug-use-in-teens/ 2. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/substance-abuse/Pages/Drug-Abuse-Prevention-Starts-with-Parents.aspx 3. https://jedfoundation.org/nurturing-mental-health-in-2024-your-guide-to-connected-conversations/ 4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relievers/art-20047257

STAFF SHOUT: "Double shoutout to two of Jefferson's newest staff members. Cassi and Ally have jumped right into the dynamics at Jefferson with ease. They were quick to create lasting relationships with our students and the students enjoy them being a part of Jefferson. They fit right in with their hard work, bright ideas, and dedication to our students. We are so lucky to have them!" Ms. Waggoner and Ms. Evanoff are such wonderful additions to Jefferson AND our district as a whole!

STAFF-TO-STAFF SHOUTOUT: "Brooke is always SO positive, has the cutest, creative ideas and is truly here for what's best for kids. She did an amazing job with our after-school boxing club last year & the students just absolutely loved having that time with her! She inspires us all in and out of the classroom and we are her biggest fans at Shoreland!" Snagging this alumni back as an employee was a HUGE Panther FLEX for WLS! Ms. Jacob is the GREATEST!

PARENT-TO-STAFF SHOUT: "I wanted to send a parent-to-staff shout out for Suzi Leone. She coordinated everything for my daughter who has special needs to stay and participate at Girls Rock at Washington. This is truly touching and heartwarming. Because of Suzi’s hard work and caring spirit, Emily was able to attend her first-ever after school activity, doing crafting that she absolutely loves! Suzi also did a remarkable job with my son (who has very unique needs) and has supported me as a parent. She is a true gem and I appreciate her so much." Ms. Leone continuously goes above and beyond to include all students and we couldn't be more grateful to her.

FROM SHORELAND ADMIN : A very BIG shout to our Shoreland Car Loop Teams for their dedication and hard work in keeping our students safe every day! Their commitment to ensuring a smooth and secure drop-off and pick-up experience does not go unnoticed. Their friendly smiles help our students start and end their day positively. Neither Rain, Wind, nor Shine keep these staff members from their daily posts! THANK YOU TO: Katlyn Fritch, Tammy Conlan, John Rybarczyk, Hope Pawlaczyk, Chris Becker, Judy Morse, Rachel Miller, Taylor Wietrzykowski, Brooke Jacob, Heather Rotunno, Jeremie Forche, Sue Krecioch, Jaime LaPoint, Tiffany Algarin, Erika Jackson, Kelsey Arps, Cindy Perlowitz, Rachel Henke, and Emilie Ponke!"

PARENT SHOUT OUT: "I would like to thank Whitmer Hockey Head Coach, Kevin Brown, for checking on my son about his injury, and then checking in on him while he was home recuperating from shoulder surgery. Although Cole's injury didn't happen on the ice and has sidelined him for the entire season, he took time out of a Saturday afternoon, (on a game day) to stop by and drop off a care package of goodies to Cole and check on him. We're looking forward to being back at the rink with the team, as soon as possible!"

STAFF SHOUT: "Chelsey creates the best activities- themed days for students to have one-of-a-kind experiences - like a Disney visit day, with virtual rides! How lucky are we to have a creative brain AND heart at Shoreland!" Ms. Emahiser makes memories kids will NEVER forget!

TOMORROW IS THE FINAL DAY! https://toledocitypaper.com/best-of-toledo/

PARENT-TO-STAFF SHOUTOUT: "We'd like to Recognize Madame Angela Hetrick-Goff. She has been checking in with us after our son's shoulder surgery to see how he was doing. She even took time on a Saturday afternoon to stop by and bring Cole a care package from her French Class - Period 2, to let him know that they were thinking about him. It is the little things like this that make us proud to have our kids in Washington Local. The kindness and compassion we are experiencing is second to none." Going the extra mile to make a student feel cared about and special is just another reason we are SO LUCKY to have Ms. Hetrick-Goff in WLS!

STAFF SHOUT: "McGregor is so lucky to have Alexis Green! She always comes to school with a smile on her face and goes above and beyond for our students. She has a big heart and always puts the kids first. Our students are grateful for Mrs. Green ♥️" Thank you for ALL you do!

STAFF-TO-STAFF SHOUTOUT: "Paige Bacon at Shoreland is a secret superhero. This grade level of students has a lot of needs, and Paige creates a welcoming classroom for each and every one of them- even students that are not "hers". She is patient, fun, and kind, and she gives everyone space to feel their feelings and be themselves. She makes learning FUN. On top of being an amazing educator, she's an even better mom, friend, and coworker. Plus, she's always down for some matching teacher t-shirts! ;) Someone you can always rely on, Miss Bacon makes coming to work everyday truly enjoyable, even when life outside of school is hard. " It is always a GREAT day when we can get our AWESOME Alumni to come back and impact future generations and Ms. Bacon is among the BEST!

Bus #60, driven by Cari Lawecki, had enough donated toys for the Shoreland toy drive that EVERY student had a toy to donate. The students were inspired to be Santa's Little Helpers due to the enthusiasm of Wyatt, a second grader at Shoreland! This driver has kids on the road to success and what an awesome gesture from these families!