On March 20 Ohio young adult author Mindy McGinnis will visit both Portsmouth West Middle School and Portsmouth West High School to speak to students about writing and publishing. McGinnis, an Otterbein graduate and Edgar-award winning author, uses rural Ohio as a common setting in her writing.
No stranger to awards and praise, McGinnis’ debut novel, Not a Drop to Drink, has been optioned for film by Fickle Fish Films, while A Madness So Discreet won the 2016 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult novel. Her most recently published novel, The Female of the Species, was given a Starred Review by School Library Journal in addition to the novel’s other honors such as The Kirkus Prize 2016 Nominee for Young Readers, SLJ’s Best Books of 2016 for Young Adults, and Goodreads Choice Awards 2016 for Young Adult Fiction.
Jade Ratliff, Miss West 2017
Positively Pink Packages for Patients
My platform is “Positively Pink.” My community service event is “Positively Pink Packages for Patients.” This event will involve the donations of items that will be assembled into packages for women who have breast cancer who are currently going through chemotherapy and radiation.
This is a list of items that you can donate and there is collection box at the High School front office. A good place to purchase these items are at The Dollar Tree. Other items are also greatly appreciated. All of the donations I receive will be donated to our local cancer center. Thank-you in advance.
Word search books
Bottled water
Hard candies
Gum
Chap stick
Lotion
Fingernail files
Pens
Hi-lighters
Cross word books
Any breast cancer items
Items that are pink
Granola bars
Color pencils
Mini Bibles
Notepads
The Grand Master's Student Achievement Award for the Seventh Masonic District was awarded to Senior T. J. Hoggard. T. J. is currently rated first in his graduating class with a 4.0 Grade Point Average. He belongs to the BETA Club and is a three-year member of the high school Quiz Bowl team. He is a member of the Singing Men of West (SMOW) and is the Ohio High School Athletic Association leadership representative for West High School this past year.
T. J. plays high school soccer, football and track, winning many honors in these sports. He has been recognized for Soccer first team as a senior; Football player of the week his Junior and Senior years and currently holds the school record in the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 meter relay teams. T. J. will complete his high school athletic career with 10 varsity letters. Described by his teachers as: having a strong work ethic; possesses great character; a leader in the classroom and on the field; does things the right way and does not look for shortcuts or make excuses.
T. J. attends church at Mabert Road Baptist Church, where he has gone his entire life.
T. J. comes highly recommended for the Grand Master's Excellence in Youth Award for 2017 from the Seventh Masonic District.
Article and photo courtesy of Eric Nichols.
Article by Jennifer Moorhead
The Portsmouth West High School Mock Trial team will advance to the Regional Mock Trial Competition after winning both its matches against River Valley High School at the district competition Jan. 20. The team is coached by Ms. Jennifer Moorhead with Mr. Jay Willis serving as legal advisor. Eli Cole and Noah Lovins won Outstanding Attorneys awards, while Alec Arnett and Jordan Willis won Outstanding Witnesses awards.
“This group of kids came together and was determined to do well,” said Ms. Moorhead. “They have done all their own work and with this type of preparation, even though they are inexperienced, they became strong. We look forward to advancing our methods and taking it to the next level at Regionals.”
Team members include the Plaintiffs: Noah Lovins and Emily Funston, attorneys; JP Igaz and Jordan Willis, witnesses; and the Defense: Eli Cole and Abby Riley, attorneys; and Kaitlyn Bell and Alec Arnett, witnesses. Candice Orris serves as bailiff/timekeeper. Photo by Sharee Price
The team would like [...]
Congratulations to Kindergarten Teacher Lisa Belcher in being chosen Real Estate Gallery & pulseFM 98.3 Teacher of the Month! Each month the Real Estate Gallery & pulseFM accept nominations submitted by individuals throughout the local communities. Ms. Belcher was chosen as a result of multiple nominations explaining why she should be chosen for the honor.
Kudos to Ms. Lisa Belcher, Teacher of the Month! Thank you for your continued dedication in providing an awesome learning environment and experience!
January is School Board Appreciation Month. The Washington-Nile Local School District would like to recognize our Board of Education. Our board members work very hard to meet the needs of our students. It takes time and dedication to ensure our district is meeting those needs. Our district would like to thank each board member for their time and service they provide to our school community. Our 2016-2017 board members are; Tom Berry, Julie Essman, Craig Hazelbaker, Ed Hileman, and Jane Kouns.
Thanks for all you do for the Washington-Nile Local School District!
