Join the community to celebrate the opening of the West Carrollton Middle/High School on August 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. Following the ceremony, there will be a brief tour of the building.
Meet Victoria. The thing she will miss the most about High School is the friends she has made. She served as President of the Junior class last year, and as President of the Senior class, and counts student council members as some of her closest friends. Following an eye surgery, she said, “The girls I met through the student council came to my house and visited me after my surgery.” She will also miss her teachers and principal, Mr. White. “Some people don’t like him, but I think he’s funny. He just wants us to do our best, so I like him.” She listed Mr. Newman, Mr. Hauk, and Mrs. Carlise as some of her favorite teachers. “They’re just super nice, and they actually want us to learn.” Other activities she participated in during High School include attending Buckeye Girls’ State, being on the swim team for three years, serving on the spirit committee, helping plan prom and homecoming, and attending football games. Her advice to freshmen is, “Put yourself out there and make connections. Make sure you get all your work done.” Victoria has been a lifeguard for four years. During her time at the pool, she realized she was good at situations that required her to use first-aid skills. “I didn’t freak out, and I remembered what I was supposed to do.” Originally, she planned to attend law school, but after those experiences, she changed her mind and decided to pursue a career in healthcare. Victoria graduated with an Honors Diploma and will have a head start in college thanks to the CCP classes she took. Her plan is to live at home and commute to Wright State University to pursue a nursing degree. Congratulations, Victoria! No matter where you go, you will always be a Pirate! #wcclassof2026
Meet Koen. He is the Valedictorian for the Class of 2026. He will graduate with a 4.948 GPA (grade point average). Honors and CCP (College Credit Plus) classes he has taken have earned him extra credit towards his GPA. His favorite CCP courses were Spanish and Math. Chemistry was the most challenging CCP course he took, but he feels the experience will help prepare him for difficult college classes. He has enjoyed cultural assemblies, the Spanish talent show, football games, and honor assemblies during his time in High School. He appreciates the diversity in the school population. “It teaches you how to be around other people, how to lead, and how to see other people’s perspectives.” Koen participated in robotics, where he did programming and developed leadership, technical, and social skills. He competed in BPA (Business Professionals of America) in programming at the regional, state, and national levels during his sophomore and junior years, and believes those skills will help him in his career. He also believes his teachers have been instrumental in his success. “The teachers here are amazing. I always felt like they were here to help me. They wanted me to succeed.” He will continue his education at the University of Cincinnati to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. His goal is to do a job he loves, develop life-saving technologies to help people, and improve the quality of life through technology. Congratulations, Koen! No matter where you go, you will always be a Pirate! #wcclassof2026
All schools and school offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026, for Memorial Day.
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
Books, books, and more books! The High School Library at the new school will be stocked with new books when students return in August. In the meantime, shelves are being cleared at the current library, and students were excited to take home some of their favorite books.
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.
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 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
Moms, grandmas, aunts, and all of the other women who are positive role models, thank you for supporting the Pirates! Enjoy your day.
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.
Meet Jailyn. She has been a Pirate since kindergarten. She doesn’t have a particular favorite subject because she loves to learn about everything. One staff member she feels has supported her is Dan Polston. “Mr. Dan makes me laugh. He is kind, and he helps me with my work.” Jailyn says what she will miss the most about school after graduation is her teachers and friends. Jailyn enjoys dancing to any kind of music and would like to visit Disney World one day. Her advice to her classmates is, “Smile, and always do your best. Jailyn wants a job where she can continue to bring smiles to people’s faces and make people happy. Her 10-year goal is to be working, be happy, spend time with family, and still live in West Carrollton. Congratulations, Jailyn! No matter where you go, you will always be a Pirate! #wcclassof2026
We have been celebrating all of our teachers and support staff this week. Pictured are just a few of the people who are committed to giving every Pirate an opportunity to succeed. We appreciate all that they do!
High School Counselors (left to right): Brittany Brown, Kelli Sanders, and Teresa Allen help students navigate High School and provide them with the tools they need to take the next step after graduation. They have a combined 35 years of experience. But who is the glue that holds them together? That would be their Administrative Assistant, Kim Maggard (far right). She has been with the district for six years, five of them in the Guidance Office. One thing that surprised her about her job was the close relationships she has with the kids. "I feel like I'm the face of the counseling office." Mrs. Maggard said West Carrollton is special because of the diversity and inclusion, especially with the Super WOW kids. All of their classmates include them in activities and know their names. She said, "They really care." Thank you to all of our Counselors and Mrs. Maggard for supporting the Pirates!
Today is Teacher Appreciation Day. We appreciate all of our educators, and wanted to highlight a future educator! Meet Eidan. He has been a Pirate since kindergarten. While in High School, he participated in the Mural Club and played soccer. One of his favorite memories is his Senior Night soccer game when he celebrated a big win with his team. Another favorite memory was being part of the Culture Assembly. He has a passion for history and said, “I’ve always really liked history, but Mr. Austin raised a fire in me. He made it more interesting than just boring slide shows.” He has appreciated the strong support from the staff, including Ms. Pasala, who helped him with recommendation letters and mentored him through projects. “She always had the best intentions for me.” Ethan says what he will miss the most about High School is seeing his friends. His advice to incoming freshmen is, “Come to school, stay on top of your work, and don’t procrastinate. Ethan plans to take his love of history to Wright State University, where he will major in education with the goal of becoming a high school history teacher. Congratulations, Ethan! No matter where you go, you will always be a Pirate! #wcclassof2026
Today is Teacher Appreciation Day. Thank you to all of our educators throughout the school district who are empowering Pirates to learn, lead, and succeed!
Tuesday is Teacher Appreciation Day. We are celebrating all of our educators and support staff this week, including those who work behind the scenes. That would include our High School/Library Media Specialist, Sarah Reynolds. She is a Pirate graduate and remembers how supportive her teachers were when she was in High School. When she had the opportunity to return to work in the library in 2016, she didn't hesitate, and she still gets to see how teachers support students. Outside of the library, she has been involved in Art Fest, Robotics, and the Book Club, which currently has about 30 members. She said that no matter what is going on in the school district, "We make it happen." Fun Fact: Her husband, Matt Reynolds, is a Visual Arts teacher at the High School. They met in the library (of course!) when they were both students at Olivet Nazarene University. When the pair isn't at school, Sarah says they spend a lot of time chauffeuring their kids to various activities and occasionally doing some hiking and camping. Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds (and Mr. Reynolds, too), for all that you do for the Pirates!
Meet Eidan. He became a Pirate in the 5th grade when he went to C. F. Holliday. One of his favorite activities has been playing soccer. He has played for the Pirates and the Ohio Galaxy. He liked being with his friends and being part of the larger Pirate community at Friday night football games. “I didn’t really know about it until I got to high school, but when I found out about it, I was just really excited.” One thing he has noted about the school and the community is the friendly culture. “You can just go somewhere and see someone from West Carrollton, and they’ll say hi.” Throughout his time in West Carrollton, he remembers Ms. Jankowski, Mr. Day, Ms. Oda, Ms. Ziegler, Ms. Lohn, and Ms. Darrah as key figures who helped him navigate challenges, not only in academics but in life. Eidan is planning to attend college but is also exploring the possibility of joining the Air Force. Whatever he chooses, his long-term goal is to be surrounded by family and friends. “Being happy, my parents still being around, my brother, friends, that’s what I’m all about.” Congratulations, Eidan! No matter where you go, you will always be a Pirate! #wcclassof2026
Who has talent? Pirates have talent! This is a sampling of all the artwork from across the district. See it all at Art Fest, happening tonight in the High School gym from 5 to 8 p.m.
