Last week, fifth graders at Chillicothe Intermediate School were one of three schools in the country chosen for an exclusive STEM opportunity with NASA.

NASA's Next Gen STEM (NGS) program hosted a live virtual event with a NASA expert on January 17 to honor the 20th anniversary of the loss of space shuttle Columbia. All fifth-grade students at CIS were able to interactively discuss how tragedies like the Columbia shaped and transformed programs at NASA. The Chillicothe Gazette shared more details from the event. Check out our video below of the exciting day! 

One of the many extracurricular activities available throughout the Chillicothe City School District is the Chillicothe Intermediate School Art Club. The group, made up of 25 sixth graders, meets after school once a month to participate in engaging creative projects and activities, furthering their education and contributing to the community. Read more on our blog. 

This month’s blog is a reminder of the risks of substance use in adolescence and an announcement of our Reduce the Risk group beginning Tuesday, January 24. District Social Worker Leslie Hamman, MSW, LSW is teaming up with Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health and their Chemical Dependency Counselor Angela Clark to provide substance use counseling groups every Tuesday during all four CMS and CHS lunch periods in room 108. Reduce the Risk helps support students who are utilizing unhealthy coping mechanisms, like vaping, while building self-confidence. Students will face no disciplinary action for attending. To become eligible for participation, students can self-refer by emailing Leslie.Hamman@ccsd.us. The first session on Tuesday, January 24 is an open house where any students can join to learn more about replacing substance use with healthy coping mechanisms.

As part of Chillicothe City School’s wellness program, Leslie offers parent support groups on the second Tuesday of each month from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Atwood District Office Conference Room. Each month’s meeting focuses on the topics outlined in the monthly blogs. Reach out to Leslie at Leslie.Hamman@ccsd.us or attend a support group to learn more tips for supporting your student.

This month, our middle and high school students are being rewarded for exemplary behavior in the first semester with fun activities and experiences. Students who qualify for PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), which is a state initiative to help students create successful, positive outcomes, are eligible to attend trips at the end of each semester.

To qualify, students must have their attendance under the state truancy threshold and zero disciplinary infractions for the past semester. There are currently 568 high school students and 158 middle school students eligible.

Last week, our PBIS-eligible 11^th and 12^th graders went to Top Golf to spend the day bonding and staying active. On Wednesday, January 25, our ninth and 10^th graders are going to Get Air, a trampoline park in Hilliard. Seventh and eighth graders will enjoy an ice-skating trip later this month.



According to PBIS Coordinator Nancy Arledge, students look forward to these trips throughout the semester and check their student data notebooks every Friday to ensure they are continuously eligible. The requirements reset in January, which makes now a great time for students to put their best foot forward and qualify for the end-of-year PBIS trip – a full day at Kings Island!

On January 29, our Chillicothe Primary School staff and students joined together to light up our gymnasium and enjoy a dance party – lights off, glow on! 

• February 2: Master Teacher Committee Meeting
• February 9: PK-12 Student Parent Teacher Conferences
• February 9: Junior Parents and CCP Meeting
• February 15: OMEA Orchestra Rehearsal
• February 16: OMEA Orchestra Preview Concert
• February 20: Presidents' Day - NO SCHOOL