Children were throwing things off the staircase landing and the catwalk at the Elementary School today, and Principal Mr. Thobe was okay with it! It was the annual Egg Drop for students in Mrs. Barter's class. Students created devices that would hold an egg and allow it to be dropped from the staircase landing without breaking. There were parachutes made from shopping bags, a bag of popcorn, and other padded devices made by the students. The survivors of the landing challenge moved on to the catwalk for a second drop. Results were tallied, and those with an egg that didn't break or crack celebrated! No. Egg salad will not be on the menu tomorrow.

Preschool students made new friends this morning when students from the Elementary School visited the ECC. The older students helped with some coloring projects, then it was off to the playground to enjoy some fun time together.

The rain kept coming down today, but Elementary students didn't mind. They had Gym Jam and participated in various stations set up throughout the gym. Scooters, hoop throws, golf, and basketball throws were all part of the fun!

Monuments, Memorials, Museums, and More! That's what our Middle School students experienced on a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC. They may not have seen everything, but they saw a lot and learned even more.

Look who is turning 2! Happy birthday to Tabby the Therapy Dog. She has learned a lot during her 2 years, and we are paws-itively thrilled that she is a team member in our schools!

Congratulations to Laylah J.! She placed first in the Middle School Track and Field Miami Valley League Championship in the shot put, throwing 39', 6 1/2". She outhrew her closest competitor by 5', .25". Winning the Shot Put qualified her to go to the state meet that was held this past weekend. Before the state meet, she sustained a shoulder injury and was unable to practice for a week. "I didn't use my arm the whole week." She said the week off from throwing threw off her timing, and she didn't perform as well as she had hoped, but she still placed 13th at the state competition, and we are PIRATE Proud of her!

Meet Bryceson. He said he will miss the teachers most about High School, including Mrs. Carlisle, Ms. Morris, and Mr. Cornett. One teacher he recognized was Mr. Bottelier, who gave him valuable life lessons and made him realize he needed to be more responsible. “He was the real definition of a teacher. He was there for me when I was going through a hard time.” Math became his favorite subject after his algebra teacher told him he was good at it. “I guess I like the patterns of it. I started realizing that math is just a big pattern.” He admitted not always taking school too seriously and said that if he could relive the last four years, “I would have tried as hard as I possibly could.” Bryceson was considering Sinclair or a trade school, but then he got an offer. Following graduation, he has a job lined up as an apprentice electrician, and the company he will work for will put him through 2 years of training. “I’m excited. I couldn’t pass up the offer.” His 10-year goal is to have enough experience as an electrician to become a journeyman, and he would like to have a family. Congratulations, Bryceson! No matter where you go, you will always be a Pirate! #wcclassof2026

Who wants to play in a pit of foam blocks, swing from a bar, and just bounce? The answer is Mrs. Clements' Intermediate School students! They got to do all of those things when they spent this morning at Twigs.

Instead of asking questions, these staff members answered questions when they got together for Trivia Night. Speech Pathologist Rachel Monnin hosted the event for staff to spend an evening relaxing and celebrating the end (almost!) of the school year. The rumor is that some of the staff get really competitive when trivia points are involved! Now it's back to asking questions in the final days of school!

Thank you to the West Carrollton Fire Department for stopping by the elementary school yesterday to serve lunch. The kids are always surprised when they visit, and there were many smiles from both the kids and the firefighters. Fun Fact: Chief Barnett is a West Carrollton graduate!

Reminder: The High School will host a Saying Goodbye Open House this Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The community is invited.

Let's get ready for kindergarten! The Early Childhood Center will be having Kindergarten Readiness Camp from June 1 through June 26. Students must already be enrolled in the ECC kindergarten program for the 2026-27 school year. If your child is not yet enrolled, visit https://www.westcarrolltonschools.com/o/wccsd/page/enrollment for information. The camp is designed to help prepare students for kindergarten. If your child is already enrolled for the 2026-27 school year, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_u7b-cTRYn2WoLIaWylKzfyLHLyKWiQMIPsnqRCMArkzigQ/viewform to register for Kindergarten Readiness Camp.

Meet Olivia. Graduation will be here soon, but Olivia won’t be there. She is leaving on August 18th to join the Air Force! Her first stop will be in Texas for school, followed by training elsewhere. Olivia was involved in the yearbook during High School and enjoyed taking pictures. She performed in the Culture Club assembly and participated in the after-school robotics club. She completed one College Credit Plus course in Spanish. When asked what she will miss the most about High School, she said, “All of my friends, even though we can still keep in touch.” She said she would miss her teachers, too, and that she liked all of them. Her advice to incoming freshmen, “Don’t slack off. Really push and don’t give up.” Her 10-year goal is to have a stable job and maybe a family. She would also like to finally get the dog that she wants, specifically a dachshund. Congratulations, Olivia! No matter where you go (or where you fly!), you will always be a Pirate! #wcclassof2026

Meet Gabby. She came to West Carrollton Schools in the middle of 6th grade. One reason she likes West Carrollton better than her previous school district is that “Teachers make a connection with you.” One of her favorite teachers is Mr. Vest. “He is theatrical about teaching. I learn a lot.” Her favorite subject is social studies because, “You know what happened versus not knowing what’s happening now.” She enjoys working independently as well as the open discussions in the classroom. Gabby thinks WC is special because of the difference in people and cultures, because “It gives me a view into other people’s lives.” While in Middle School, she has been a member of the National Honor Society and participated in ROX. She is looking forward to trying out for the softball team when she gets to High School. Gabby is considering a career in cosmetology because she enjoys working with hair and nails. “It’s fun to do things for other people.” She likes experimenting with different haircuts and colors and has already tried red, blue, blonde, green, purple, pink, and brown on her own hair. #wcpiratepride #wcclassof2030

Meet Richard. He has been a Pirate since 8th grade and has been making friends ever since. “My friends from school are some of the closest people I have in my life, and the fact that I met them all in just the first or second year I was in West Carrollton was really nice.” Some of the friends he has made were from his involvement in music. He has been in the marching band, jazz band, and concert winds. He played the tuba and played the bass in jazz. He credits his Middle School and High School teachers for his love of history and social studies. Richard had Mr. Austin as his freshman history teacher and discovered they shared an interest in World War II. He is taking his love of history to either the University of Dayton or the University of Cincinnati. Although he hasn’t made a final decision about which school to attend, he knows that he would like to become a social studies teacher for High School students. His goal is to one day even be teaching in West Carrollton! Congratulations, Richard! No matter where you go, you will always be a Pirate! #wcclassof2026

We are ending Employee Appreciation Week with another Teacher Feature. Some of you may know her as Ms. Strader, but she is now Mrs. Reese. Whatever name you know her by, she is the same dedicated educator she has been for 28 years. She has taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades in West Carrollton and is now an Intervention Specialist at WC Elementary School. She is also a Pirate graduate. "I grew up here. I graduated from here. I've always been a Pirate." Educating Pirates is an ongoing journey. "I have taught kids that are now parents, and I now have their kids!" The best part of her day is having conversations with students. "I like to talk with them about their day. They always make me laugh." She also enjoys the camaraderie she has with her co-workers. "They are fun people, good friends, and easy to work with." Thank you, Mrs. Reese, for all that you do for the Pirates!

It's supposed to rain early Saturday morning, but it should be dry in time for the Car Wash at the High School on May 9 from 10 to 4. Donations will be accepted to support the WCHS Band. Vintage band uniforms and silks will be available for purchase.

Officer Flaute is the SRO (School Resource Officer) at the High School. She has been a police officer for 33 years, and has spent the last four years at the High School. She has become a normal part of every students' day, so much so that if another officer stops by, the students will ask her, "Why are the police here?" She just smiles and reminds them that she's there every day! She says, "West Carrollton is special because of the community feel and acceptance that I see every day." Thank you, Officer Flaute, for taking care of the Pirates.