Bexley schools: New year kicks off with flurry of activities
To kick off the new academic year, schools in Bexley and Capital University welcomed students with a host of activities.
Leading up to the first day of class on Aug. 18, Bexley City Schools hosted a welcome session for all incoming students, New Family Night gatherings for elementary and middle school students, orientation sessions for sixth-graders and high school freshmen, and a breakfast on Bexley High School’s front lawn to celebrate the class of 2023’s “Last First Day of School.”
Developments that are scheduled to take place this year include drafting a new district strategic plan, Superintendent Jason Fine said.
“At the start of this year, I encouraged our staff to prioritize connecting with students, first and foremost,” Fine said in a welcome message to students. “This does not mean teaching and learning are secondary objectives. On the contrary, when students are engaged and connected to their teachers, their connection to the content is enhanced.”
Future Bexley City Schools events include:
∙ A high school curriculum night and open house from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 6.
∙ A curriculum night and open house at Cassingham, Maryland and Montrose elementary schools from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 8.
∙ A Fall Fun Fest on Sept. 18 at Maryland Elementary, 2754 Maryland Ave.
Capital University held Student Move-in Day and welcomed the class of 2026 with a day of activities Aug. 20, including an afternoon opening ceremony at the Capital Center in which university President Dave Kaufman, faculty and returning students welcomed students to campus.
“We will continue to innovate the student experience and pursue an aggressive diversity, equity and inclusion agenda,” Kaufman told students during the ceremony. “It takes a personal commitment from each of us to build a trusting culture and a welcoming learning environment. This involves celebrating our differences and valuing our unique characteristics.”
Aubri Jones, president of Capital’s student government, encouraged her classmates to prioritize well-being.
“Take care of yourself – mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually,” she said. “Talk to one another, because caring’s cool.”
The ceremony kicked off with students participating in the annual tradition of ringing Capital’s Victory Bell and included performances by the university choir.
The ceremony concluded with students and their families participating in the traditional walk through the campus Memorial Gateway, signifying the beginning of their college careers at Capital.
Before the ceremony, the Capital Center hosted an all-student check-in session in which staff and student volunteers briefed new students about campus resources, local businesses and restaurants. Students later gathered on the university’s Renner Lawn for the 2022 official group photo.
Columbus School for Girls, 65 S. Drexel Ave., started the first day of class Aug. 24 with the new head of school, Camille Seals, welcoming students. Seals succeeds Jennifer Ciccarelli, who left CSG at the end of 2021-22 academic year to become the head of school at Marlborough School, an all-girls academy in Los Angeles.
St. Charles Preparatory School, 2010 E. Broad St., began the school year Aug. 12 with “Bash on Broad,” an outdoor back-to-school event that included food trucks, live entertainment and games.
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Bexley schools: New year kicks off with flurry of activities
