09.22 Hornet Headlines

Are you currently looking for flexible employment that works with you and your family’s schedule? Do you have a recent high school or college graduate interested in education? Maybe you are hoping to make some additional income and work when you want with short-term employment. Licking Heights Local Schools has the perfect opportunity for you!

We are currently looking for substitute teachers across our six buildings at the K-12 level. Short-term substitutes are NOT required to have a college degree. A high school diploma or GED and one-year temporary substitute teaching license from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is sufficient. Applicants must be 18 or older. Substitutes are paid $150 per day of work.

Advantages of working as a substitute teacher include:

• Choose when and where you want to work–you select which days you want to substitute, what grade levels, what times, and what subject.

• Tailor your hours to fit your needs–if you have a student in the district, you can build your work schedule around their school schedule.

• Earn money for each day you work–Licking Heights pays substitutes $150 per day!

• Learn more about education–if you are curious about education as a career or considering a career change, subbing in a classroom gives you a real-life example of what a day in the life of a teacher includes.

• Ideal position for those just entering or reentering the workforce–whether you are new to employment or reentering the workforce after time away, substitute teaching gives you excellent experience and transferable skills like project management, public speaking, adaptability, and leadership.

Interested applicants can apply online or in person through the Education Service Center of Central Ohio (ESCCO) Substitute Consortium. Click the button below to learn more about applying through the ESCCO, what you will need to apply, and how to start your application for substitute employment. You can also learn more about getting a temporary substitute license with ODE by clicking the second button below.

If you have any questions about applying or need assistance with the application process, please contact our Human Resources office at 740-927-6926, ext. 10600. We look forward to welcoming you into the classroom soon!

Sincerely,

Dr. Kevin S. Miller, Superintendent

It's Homecoming Weekend for Licking Heights! Come watch the Hornets take on the Granville Blue Aces tonight at 7 p.m. at the athletic complex, 4000 Mink St. SW. Tickets are $7 and are available online—click the button below to purchase tickets.

The Homecoming Court for grades 9-12 will be presented at 6:30 p.m. The King and Queen will also be crowned at this time.

Join Licking County Aging Partners, Licking County Developmental Disability Board, and the West Licking Community Safety Expo on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 9 am to 11:30 am at 355 W. Broad St., Pataskala, OH 43062. The event is FREE and will include information about:

• Local law enforcement
• Weather safety
• Car seat safety
• Bike safety
• Fire safety
• Firearm safety
• Safety for seniors
• And more!

Click the flier for more details.

On Tues., Sept. 26, the freshman, JV and varsity teams will host their annual Volley for the Cure game. The Hornets will host the Granville High School Blue Aces at Licking Heights High School. Freshmen will play first at 4:45 pm. JV will play at 5:30 pm, with varsity following at 7 pm.

Tickets are $7 and available for advance purchase online via HomeTown Ticketing. Click the button below to purchase tickets. The event will also include raffles, games for spectators and prizes.

Join us for a Get School Ready event for the Bhutanese-Nepali community. The event will be on Tues., Sept. 26 in the Watkins Middle School auditorium, 8808 Watkins Road SW, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you have a baby, toddler, or a child starting preschool or elementary school, you won’t want to miss this important information. This is a free event. There will be childcare and snacks. Click the flier for more details.

Join Denison University on Sat., Sept. 30 from noon to 2 p.m. for a fun-filled, family-friendly event developed in partnership with COSI, Infirmary Mound, Denison Homestead, Granville Public Library Park, and Licking County Soil & Water. The event will feature the museum's current exhibition Shift: Adapting with Change and Resilience. We will engage all ages, focusing on nature, science, and storytelling. The event will offer demonstrations, storytime, tours, scavenger hunt, and hands-on workshops. Join us at 240 W Broadway #101, Granville, OH 43023!

The annual Battle for Board Street canned food drive is a competition between Licking Heights and Watkins Memorial to see who can collect the most canned food items to support our community. Drop offs can be made to your school's front office from Oct. 2 to Oct. 6. All grades K-12 can donate and there will be competitions between each grade for the most donations. Click the flier for more details.

Items of highest need include:

• Canned fruits
• Soups (especially tomato and mushroom)
• Canned corn and tomatoes
• Canned beans
• Canned vegetables
• Canned meats like tuna, chicken, and SPAM

Support the Rotary Club of Pataskala Scholarship Fund and enjoy some delicious pasta on Mon., Oct. 2 from 5 pm to 7 pm! Join the cheerleaders of Licking Heights and Watkins Memorial at The Nutcracker Restaurant, 63 E Broad St, Pataskala, OH 43062. Meals include salad, a breadstick, spaghetti and meatballs, a drink and dessert. Cost is $15 per person or $50 for a family of four. Click the flier for more details.

Support Licking Heights High School sports on Fri., Oct. 6 by ordering via the McDonald's app from the New Albany McDonald's (5421 New Albany Rd W). 20% of all sales from the McDonald's app will be donated back to the Licking Heights High School Athletic Department. Mark your calendar and enjoy a delicious Big Mac on Oct. 6 to support your Hornets.

Join the City of Reynoldsburg for a Dashain-Diwali festival at Civic Park (6800 Daugherty Dr, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068) on Sat., Oct. 7 from 3 pm to 8 pm. Diwali is a Hindu holiday and means 'Festival of Lights.' It signifies the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. This festival will be a terrific medley of sound, light, and color for families to come together and celebrate. The festival will include music, food trucks, vendors, various community groups, and fireworks. Click the flier for more details.

We are thrilled to announce the start of a new choir through the Columbus Children's Choir for singers in grades 5-8 with unchanged voices. Our expert instructor, Dr. Meredith Smith, is eager to help you develop your vocal technique in a fun and supportive choral setting. You will have the chance to make lifelong friendships with fellow singers who share your passion through performances and collaborative experiences. Click the button below to register and learn more!

The Ohio Department of Transportation's Teen Advisory Council is seeking new recruits. The council will provide students with the ability to advocate on behalf of their communities on transportation, industrial, and technological policy issues. Click the button below to apply.

Licking Heights Middle School is partnering with the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fundraiser supporting the 8th grade DC trip. $10 of every Upper Bowl ticket and $20 of every Lower Bowl ticket sold will go back to support student costs for the trip. Tickets start at $43 and are available for the following dates:

• Tues., Oct. 24
• Thurs., Nov. 16
• Sun., Dec. 10
• Fri., Feb. 23

Click the button below to purchase tickets.

Get ready to game on! Join the West Licking County Parks and Recreation Department for an electrifying Esports League experience, coming this October in partnership with Techr 2 and the West Licking County YMCA. Mark your calendars because registration opens on September 23, and you won't want to miss out on this thrilling season of competitive gaming.

Here's what's in store for you:

• Rocket League: Speed, teamwork, and epic goals await you on the virtual soccer pitch.
• FIFA 2023: Take on opponents from around the county in the world's most popular soccer video game.
• NBA 2k: Shoot, dunk, and dribble your way to victory in the virtual NBA arena.
• League of Legends: Embark on an epic journey in the world's premier MOBA game, with strategic battles and mythical champions.
• Super Smash Brothers: Smash, brawl, and fight your way to the top in this iconic crossover fighting game.

Whether you prefer to compete from the comfort of your own home or immerse yourself in the action at our Esports Computer Lab located at 621 W Broad St, Pataskala, Ohio 43062, the choice is yours. Plus, our friends at the West Licking County YMCA will be adding Esports to their registration options throughout the year, making it even more convenient to get in on the action.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to showcase your gaming skills, connect with fellow gamers, and compete for glory. Gather your team or go solo, but be ready to level up your Esports journey with us. Click the button below for more information and to register.

With Fall Baseball, Softball, and Volleyball underway, we are prepping for our Winter Sports. With the amazing growth of our basketball program last year, we are looking to add a Rec Basketball Director this season. Anyone who is interested can email board@lhya-sports.org. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook to stay updated as well. Click the button below to view our Facebook page.

The Licking Heights Youth Sports League requires dedicated volunteers to ensure our programs continue to prosper and provide our community’s young people with the opportunity to play tackle football, cheer, wrestle, and play flag football. If you have a desire to be part of a great organization focusing on the development of athletic skills, sportsmanship, and community spirit, then the LHYSL is a perfect place to share your time. If you are interested in any of the following openings, please email the LHYSL at lhys.hornets@gmail.com.

Open positions include:

• Treasurer
  
• Wrestling Director
• Concessions Director
• Media Director
• Fundraising Director
• General Board Member

The Licking Heights Youth Sports League's wrestling season is almost here! Registration for the 2023-2024 season opens Oct. 1 for boys and girls who would like to join an amazing sport. Please visit our website by clicking the button below for more info. Go Hornets!

Meet our newest drivers! Kim Sturman has joined our team as a bus driver, and Judie Figueroa (pictured here) earned her CDL this week to drive a bus. Congratulations to you both and we are so glad to welcome you to the Licking Heights Transportation team.

Please allow 24 hours for funds to transfer to your student's account in MySchoolBucks. There are two features in the settings tab of MySchoolBucks that can help you stay on top of account balances.

There is a feature that allows you to set a low balance threshold whereby you will be notified that the account is running low. If you set that threshold at a level that covers 2 or 3 days' meals, you have adequate time to apply the funds and for the third party systems to clear the transfer. Alternately, that same threshold can be set to automatically withdraw a predetermined amount approved by you directly to the account when the limit is reached.

As a reminder, if you have marked that your child has a food allergy on their EMA form, we MUST have documentation on file so we can modify your student's school meals as needed. Once the form is completed and returned, we will reach out to go over any additional questions and to discuss the agreed upon modified menu. Click the button below to view the food allergy form.

During a math lesson in Ms. Courtney Weller’s first-grade classroom, a student accidentally swallowed a marker cap. Ms. Weller sprang into action and performed the Heimlich Maneuver, dislodging the cap and saving the student’s life. Ms. Weller was interviewed on ABC 6 On Your Side about her heroic act. We are sincerely grateful for her selflessness and dedication to her students. Click the button below to watch her full interview with reporter Stephanie Duprey.

Congratulations to 10th grade English teacher Mrs. Jessica Clark for being featured on The CW Columbus this month! The CW Columbus and the Ohio Education Association are teaming up to recognize outstanding teachers for helping to prepare students athletes for life inside the classroom and out, throughout the high school football season and beyond. Mrs. Clark was selected for her work to make literature like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Homer's Odyssey engaging and relatable for her high school students.

Teamwork in action! Mrs. Neufang's first-grade class at South practiced collaboration, working together to complete a puzzle as part of their Good Citizens unit. They say teamwork makes the dream work, and our first graders are living proof.

Miss Mathews' fourth grade class at West Elementary built towers from index cards. Each tower reflected common traits within the group. It was a great way for students to get to know each other.

Mrs. Tom's kindergarten class at North Elementary is off to a fantastic start. They have been sharpening their scissor skills, getting ready for an exciting year ahead. Keep up the great work, Hornets.

Mrs. Tonstad’s fifth-grade students at Central Intermediate had a Penny War to help raise money for the fifth- and sixth-grade camp. This spare change is paving the way for unforgettable adventures.

Students in Ms. Lisy’s and Mr. Lesmes’s physical education classes at the middle school completed the mile run. To add to the fun, they invited staff to participate and help model exercise across the lifespan.

State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) students with C-TEC of Licking County's health careers program at Licking Heights High School dove into the importance of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) last week. These future STNAs know that safety is a priority in healthcare.

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• Sept. 22 - Homecoming Football Game
• Sept. 23 - First Day of Fall
• Sept. 23 - High School Homecoming Dance
• Sept. 26 - Volley for the Cure
• Sept. 26 - Central Intermediate Family-Teacher Conferences
• Sept. 28 - HS Family-Teacher Conferences
• Oct. 2 to 6 - Battle for Broad Street Canned Food Drive
• Click here to buy spirit wear from our official Hornets shop
• Click here to see the latest fliers on Peachjar