News from Bowling Green City Schools
November 21, 2025
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Message from the Superintendent
Dear Members of the Bowling Green City Schools Community,
As we head into Thanksgiving week, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for our Bowling Green City Schools community. I am truly thankful for our dedicated staff, our hardworking and talented students, and our supportive families and community partners who make BGCS such a special place to learn and grow. With the annual holiday parade taking place tomorrow, I’m excited to see so many of our students and staff participating and representing our district with pride. It’s a wonderful tradition that brings our community together, and I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the celebration.
I also want to recognize and celebrate an important accomplishment within our district. Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green Middle School, and Conneaut, Crim, and Kenwood elementary schools have earned the Silver Award for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and care our staff put into creating positive, supportive environments for students each day. I’m proud of their efforts and the impact they have on our school community.
I am honored to serve the students, families, community, and staff of Bowling Green City Schools. I promise that our District will work hard to improve each day to provide a high-quality education for our students, a financially sound organization for our stakeholders, and be a point of pride for the entire community.
Go Bobcats,
Dr. Ted Haselman
Superintendent
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Bowling Green City Schools Earn Statewide Recognitions for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
Bowling Green City Schools is proud to announce that all five district school buildings—Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green Middle School, Conneaut Elementary, Crim Elementary, and Kenwood Elementary—have earned the Silver Award for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. This is the first year our schools have achieved Silver distinction, after earning Bronze recognition last year.
Because each of our buildings earned Silver, BGCS has also received the Ohio PBIS District Award, the highest and only level available for districtwide recognition.
PBIS is a research-based framework that supports positive, consistent, and proactive approaches to student behavior and school climate. Through PBIS, school teams implement evidence-based practices that reduce discipline incidents, increase instructional time, and help students develop the skills and attitudes needed for long-term success.
Earning Silver indicates that BGCS schools have established a strong Tier 1 PBIS foundation and have expanded their efforts with Tier 2 supports, such as mentoring programs, counseling groups, and Check-In/Check-Out programs to meet a wider range of student needs.
“The buildings have worked really hard to get that designation. This is recognition for our staff’s commitment and hard work,” said Student Wellness Coordinator Danya Claes. “Gold is the next level, and we are actively working toward that.”
The district extends its appreciation to all PBIS teams, educators, and administrators for their dedication to maintaining positive, supportive learning environments for every student.
| | Ohio Author Margaret Peterson Haddix Visits BGCS for 1BookBG | | Students in K-5 from Conneaut, Crim, Kenwood, BG Christian, St. Al's, and Montessori schools had the opportunity to meet celebrated Ohio author Margaret Peterson Haddix during her visit for this year’s 1BookBG program. Haddix, who lives in Columbus and has published 52 books, spoke about her path from an avid childhood reader and writer to a creative writing, history, and journalism major at Miami University—and later to a career in newspapers and eventually a full-time author. Some of the stories she covered as a reporter became the inspiration for her earliest novels. | | | |
Haddix shared that ideas can come from anywhere: watching her children play sports, building a puzzle, or noticing the small, everyday moments around her. She explained that the inspiration for Say What? came from a humorous mix-up she imagined while watching her children play in a pool when they were young. That moment sparked a story that has now been read by children around the world.
Students asked thoughtful questions about writing, choosing the right words, developing characters, and navigating the long, revision-filled process of publishing a book. Haddix emphasized curiosity, creativity, and persistence as key skills for writers, and noted how books help readers see different points of view. She complimented the 1BookBG vocabulary activities, saying how much she enjoys encouraging students to learn new words.
Haddix also gave a public talk and book signing at the Wood County District Public Library Thursday evening. We are thankful to Margaret Peterson Haddix for spending the day with us and to the Wood County District Public Library for sponsoring the author's visit!
| | BGMS 8th Graders Explore the Toledo Zoo After Hours | | |
Earlier this month, 84 adventurous 8th graders from Bowling Green Middle School joined some of their teachers and staff, Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Johns, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Krupp, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Nye, Mr. Roman, and Officer Short, for a unique overnight experience at The Toledo Zoo.
The group departed from BGMS at 5:30 p.m., ready for an extension of their school day. Upon arrival, they settled into their overnight areas, with the ladies exploring the Aquarium and the gentlemen heading to the Arctic. After a pizza dinner at the Carnivore Cafe, students broke into groups to create enrichment activities for the bears, decorating boxes and filling them with snacks like popcorn to encourage natural foraging behaviors.
The night continued with a chilly yet exciting hike led by an overnight zookeeper, where students saw elephants feeding and visited tigers, wolves, and leopards. The evening wrapped up with card games, conversations, and other activities before lights out.
The next morning, students enjoyed breakfast and interactive demonstrations with snakes, a chinchilla, and a tortoise. They also got a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium, including a unique vantage point above the shark tank. The adventure concluded with visits to the Museum of Natural History and other exhibits of choice before returning to BGMS, energized from an unforgettable experience blending learning, teamwork, and adventure.
| | Congratulations to Aidan Thomas and Calista Motisher for earning Superior ratings at the Ohio Thespian Expo—qualifying them for the International Thespian Festival this summer! Both were also cast in the All-Ohio Show, Ragtime. Congratulations to Adelina Villarreal for earning an Excellent rating for her one-act play, Point of View! | | Congratulations to our FFA District Food Science champions! The team placed 1st and are headed to the state contest in January! Grace earned 1st place individual and Olivia 6th. | Congratulations to our FFA District qualifying Job Interview participants on a successful competition. Kate Conway (D1) placed 2nd and missed qualifying for the state contest by 1 point. Emma Nester (D2) placed 7th and Gavin Roessner (D4) placed 9th. | | Our DECA students are in Washington D.C. for the 2025 DECA Ultimate Power Trip this weekend! Good luck and safe travels home! | |
The Bobcat Hockey team had a great team dinner as they prepare for their games this weekend:
- Moeller: Saturday, 11/22 @ 7:30 PM
- St. Xavier: Sunday 11/23, JV @ 11:30 AM, Varsity @ 1PM
- Bullis Prep, Monday 11/24 @ 6:30PM
| | Preschool Agriculture Day: Senior Agriculture Education students from BGHS spent the day at BG Preschool leading fun, hands-on activities. Our preschool students learned about turkeys and did a turkey dance, made pumpkin pie, explored field corn, and discovered how potatoes grow through games and a Mr. Potato Head craft. Both the preschoolers and FFA students had a wonderful time learning and playing together! | | Forty of our 8th grade advanced art students in Ms. Morris’ and Mrs. Sonnenberg’s classes had a blast at the Toledo Museum of Art! They spent the day exploring, creating, and getting inspired by amazing works of art. | | The BGHS Art Club was busy finishing up their Peanuts Characters for the Holiday Parade tomorrow! | | Here are a few of the 1BookBG prize winners from Kenwood, Crim, and Conneaut! | | BGSU Juvenile Justice students came to the elementaries to present their activities centered on healthy friendships. The BGSU students created the activities as a part of their class. | | Upcoming Dates to Remember | |
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November 21 Madrigals at the Tree Lighting and Library Concert
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November 22 BG Holiday Parade
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November 26-28 No classes. Thanksgiving Break
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December 1, Madrigals at the Jingle Bell Jam
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December 2, 7 p.m. BGHS Orchestra Concert
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December 4, 7 p.m. BGMS Orchestra Concert
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December 2-12 BGMS Art Show
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December 6, 4 p.m. Madrigals Toledo Zoo Caroling
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December 9, 7 p.m. Band Holiday Concert A
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December 11, 7 p.m. Band Holiday Concert B
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December 16: 6 p.m. Board of Education Meeting
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December 19: Last day of classes: second quarter ends
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December 19- January 14: Imaginarium K-12 Art Show
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December 22- January 5: Winter Break - No school
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January 5: Staff professional day - no students.
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January 6: Classes reconvene.
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January 30: Staff professional day - no students.
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