New Minerva France Elementary staff prepares to build relationships, inspire students
Students at Westerville’s new Minerva France Elementary School, 4990 Farview Road in Columbus, can’t wait to write on their desks.
Dry-erase marker top desks that is.
Principal Tyson D. Hilkert said students have shared their excitement about that opportunity.
“Students have expressed lots of interest in just being in a brand new school,” he said. “We are working hard to ensure students and families have the opportunity to build strong relationships within our walls.”
Students attending Westerville City Schools, in Grades one through five, are scheduled to go back to class Aug. 11.
“I feel incredibly blessed for the opportunity to open a new school,” Hilkert said. “As a school administrator, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I could not pass up. I am most excited to establish strong relationships with our students and families.”
He said more than 45 teachers will work at Minerva France in one capacity or another in the K-5 building.
“There are four sections in most of our grade levels with other teachers to support special education, English language acquisition, special area teachers, amongst others,” Hilkert said. “The vast majority of our teachers taught in Westerville City Schools last year and applied to help open this new building.”
Amanda Ostendorf, a fourth- and fifth-grade special education teacher, taught at Fouse Elementary School for nine years.
“This will be my 10th year teaching in Westerville City Schools,” she said. “When I first heard about the possibility of Westerville opening a new elementary school a couple of years ago, I was instantly interested in the opportunity. I wanted to teach at the new school due to the diverse group of students the school would be serving, as well as having the opportunity to be apart of creating the culture of a school, which for me is all about building relationships and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.”
Ostendorf said teaching at a new school is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she’s very excited and humbled to be a part of the journey.
“My students and families have the unique opportunity of being the charter group of students starting at a new school and also have the opportunity of establishing the culture of Minerva France,” she said. “I look forward to working with them and helping them find their place here.”
Ostendorf said she’s also very excited about the small group space that her students will have to work in.
“It is a great space for them to have their needs met,” she said. “The interactive smart boards are another feature I am excited to have in my classroom. This technology will help me meet the diverse needs of my students and create engaging and interactive lessons.”
Going to a new school is a big change, especially for the older students who may have been at their previous school for many years, according to Ostendorf.
“My wish for my students this school year is that they find a community that is welcoming and accepting,” she said. “The 2022-23 school year is going to be an exciting one for the staff and students at Minerva France and I am so excited to be on this journey with all of the Falcons.”
Fifth-grade teacher Haley Diehl said she’s incredibly excited to be starting this year in a brand-new building.
“I've known for a while I wanted to be a part of this opportunity; opening a new school is a hard thing to pass up,” she said. “I attended our ribbon cutting and the excitement is certainly radiating not only from our staff, but from our students, families and community as well.”
Diehl previously taught at Wilder Elementary School for five years.
“That is where I landed right out of college in 2017, and it will always be my first home,” she said. “It was very hard to leave. The staff and the community at Wilder are amazing, but I knew this was the right move for me to try something new and grow in my career.”
Diehl said her class includes about 25 fifth graders and starts a new adventure of keeping the same group of children all day.
“I definitely took that into consideration when decorating,” she said. “My classroom is a second home to my students and myself, so I try to keep things neutral and inviting. I want it to feel more like a blank canvas than completely decorated in order to save room to highlight and showcase the amazing work I am sure my students will produce this year.”
Heather M. Fout joins Minerva and the district, after previously teaching art at Northridge Elementary School in Northridge Local Schools for five years.
“When I walked through the building for the first time, I was speechless,” she said. “The modern design and beautiful bright colors are everything I’ve ever imagined that an elementary school should be.”
Fout said she can’t wait for the students to enjoy creating and learning in the wonderful spaces.
She said the building’s references to important people and landmarks of Westerville history gives it so much meaning and significance.
The building is named to honor a former Westerville student named Minerva France, a Black woman who set a precedent in librarianship and higher education in the 1920s and 1930s.
“I am so thrilled and excited to get to know the Minerva France families and to help foster a collaborative, creative environment for all,” Fout said.
“My vision for the upcoming year is to get students acclimated and comfortable in their new environment and to get to know them and their interests so that I can inspire and develop their talents.”
mkuhlman@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekMarla
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: New Minerva France Elementary staff prepares to build relationships
