News from Bowling Green City Schools
October 10, 2025
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Message from the Superintendent
Dear Members of the Bowling Green City Schools Community,
I often share how truly amazing our students and staff are here at Bowling Green City Schools and this e-newsletter is a perfect reflection of that! Our schools are vibrant with activity, and this edition is chalk full of examples that showcase the energy, dedication, and spirit that make our district special.
From the student-led FFA distracted driver safety initiative to the excitement of Homecoming week, and even our Transportation Department’s participation in the regional Bus Road-e-o competition, there’s no shortage of accomplishments and involvement to celebrate.
While these highlights represent just a few of the many great things happening across our schools, they are truly only the tip of the iceberg. Every day, our students are engaged in meaningful learning experiences and opportunities that help them grow, lead, and succeed.
I hope you enjoy reading about the many ways our students and staff continue to shine.
Enjoy, and go Bobcats,
Dr. Ted Haselman
Superintendent
| | FFA Chapter Promotes Safe Driving During “Distracted Driving Awareness Week" | | |
This week, the Penta-BGHS FFA Chapter has been leading “Distracted Driving Awareness Week” at BGHS to educate Agricultural Education (Ag Ed) students and the BGHS student body about safe driving habits and the importance of staying alert behind the wheel—especially during harvest season. With many farm families represented in our FFA chapter, they wanted to bring awareness to how crucial it is to share the road safely with slow-moving farm equipment and to prevent distracted driving incidents that can impact our entire community. Each day had a different theme and activity:
Monday – “Eyes on the Road”
Ag Ed students kicked off the week by focusing on one of the most important rules of driving: paying attention. Students watched a video about the dangers of distractions such as phones, food, and conversations with passengers. The message was clear: “Distracted driving doesn’t only put you at risk—it puts everyone around you in danger, too.”
Tuesday – “Put the Phone Down”
Tuesday’s lesson centered on the importance of keeping phones out of sight and out of mind while driving. Ag Ed students learned how to use the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature on their phone and discussed the impact of even a few seconds of inattention. As one reminder stated: “No text is worth your life.”
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Wednesday – “Harvest Season Safety”
As harvest season ramps up, Wednesday’s activities focused on farm vehicle awareness. Students learned about staying safe by watching for Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) triangles and flashing lights, and to slow down and pass carefully when it is safe to do so. They also created their own SMV triangles with personalized PSAs such as “See this, move over” and “Safety first, avoid the worst.” Throughout the day, SMV triangles were hidden around the high school, and whoever found one received a box of candy from Mrs. Conway. This fun activity helped reinforce the importance of recognizing these symbols on the road and sharing space safely with farm equipment.
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Thursday – “Drive Smart”
On Thursday, Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn visited BGHS to speak to all Juniors and Seniors about responsible driving habits and the importance of following speed limits and traffic laws. His message resonated deeply with students. Sheriff Wasylyshyn explained that driving with two or more other teenagers in the car is 12 times more distracting than glancing at your phone, highlighting why Ohio has strict passenger rules for new drivers. He also shared emotional stories from his own experiences—explaining that one of the hardest but important parts of his job is notifying families when a loved one has passed away in a car crash. He reminded students that every choice behind the wheel matters and that life is too precious to risk.
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Friday – “Awareness Day”
To wrap up the week, students and staff were encouraged to wear blue for police, red for firefighters, or farm wear in honor of the farmers affected by distracted driving. As students arrived at school, FFA members stood in the parking lot and at the drop-off line to check for seatbelt use—rewarding “Smarties” to those who were buckled up and “Dum-Dums” to the very few who weren’t and reminded them to buckle up for safety.
The week closed with a powerful message: “Make the promise today to stay focused behind the wheel and encourage your friends to do the same. Together, we can save lives.”
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French & Spanish Students Attend Carmen at the Toledo Opera
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On Wednesday, October 8, ten middle school and high school French and Spanish students and their World Language teachers Mary Kern, Jo Ann Schempf, Hope Nevins, and Eva Zepeda, experienced a night of music, drama, and culture at the Toledo Opera’s Student Night performance of Carmen by French composer Georges Bizet.
Although many more students were interested in attending, the event coincided with other school activities. Those who were able to go were treated to a special experience! Student Night allows the Toledo Opera to perform a full dress rehearsal before a live audience — giving students access to world-class opera for just $10 a ticket.
Sung entirely in French and set in 1830s Seville, Spain, Carmen tells the passionate and tragic story of Don José, a soldier whose love for the fiery Carmen leads to jealousy, betrayal, and heartbreak. Prior to the performance, the students were able to review the Toledo Opera's audience preview guide which explained the opera's setting, characters, plot, and insights into Bizet’s life. It also explained how they brought the production to life, highlighted musical elements to listen for, provided historical background, and included pre- and post-opera activities to deepen student engagement and understanding. Students were captivated by the performances, the music, and the chance to see one of the world’s most famous operas performed live.
For Sophomore Amelia Bryant, attending Carmen was an inspiring first opera experience. As an actress in musicals and plays, she found it interesting to see a performance in a different style of theatre. "It's really amazing to watch how much effort is put into the show...The actors put so much emotion and heart into telling the story with their singing and acting, the crew worked really hard on making the set and costumes look flawless, and the pit worked vigorously throughout the whole three hours to make the opera come alive with music. It was also performed in the Valentine Theater, which added to the experience as well." She enjoyed learning about Spanish culture and listening to the French language during the performance, trying to see what words she would understand, but noted that the subtitles on screens above and on the side of the stage made it easy to follow along and understand the story.
Sophomore Kaylee Bonaguro agreed that even as a Spanish student, "I could still understand the French through the talented acting, the impressive set, and beautiful costumes."
Freshman Jack Byers thought it was a great opportunity to learn about culture and language through the opera. He mentioned that it was also his first time at the opera and he was impressed with the performance stating he had he had "a wonderful experience" and he hopes "they will be able to do it again."
Nora Vanneman, an eighth grade French 2 student said, “I think it’s important for people to come to operas like Carmen because they can teach you a lot. When it’s performed in another language, you might learn new words, and you also get to see the traditions and customs of different cultures. In Carmen, we got to see some Flamenco dancing, which is a traditional Spanish dance. My favorite part was the costumes — they were so detailed and colorful."
All of the students agreed that they would recommend the opera experience to other students.
Field trips like this help students connect classroom learning to real-world experiences and show how language, music, theatre, and culture come together on the stage.
| | October Staff Member of the Month: Rob Knell | | |
Bowling Green City Schools is proud to recognize Rob Knell, head custodian at Kenwood Elementary, as our October Staff Member of the Month!
Rob has been part of BGCS since 2006, dedicating nearly two decades to keeping our schools safe, clean, and welcoming. A U.S. Navy veteran, Rob lives by his motto: “If you’re going to do something, do it to the best of your ability.” He credits teamwork—especially with Jacob Ramirez and Jaden Quinlan—for Kenwood’s continued success.
Rob’s commitment, positivity, and pride in his work make him an invaluable member of the BGCS family. He’s also featured in the October issue of Bowling Green Living magazine, which each month will spotlight a BGCS Staff Member of the Month to celebrate those who make a difference in our schools.
Thank you, Rob, for your outstanding service and for setting such a high standard for excellence!
| | October 2 was School Custodian Appreciation Day, and we want to extend our gratitude all of our dedicated custodians, maintenance, and grounds staff. Together, they maintain five educational and two support buildings—over 580,000 square feet of facilities and 94 acres of green space! Their work often happens behind the scenes, but its impact is seen and felt every single day. | | Next week is National School Lunch Week: Where Students Can “Taste the World!” | | |
For National School Lunch Week, our Middle School and Elementary students will have the chance to sample cuisines from different parts of the world. Students can try a bite and share how they feel about the flavors of diverse cultures, making lunchtime a fun and delicious adventure!
Did you know?
- Last school year our food service department served over 271,000 meals!
- All five school cafeterias each received the Wood County Health Department Clean Plate Award!
Thank you to our food service staff for being dedicated to excellent sanitation and food safety knowledge, and working hard to provide delicious and nutritious meals that keep our students fueled for success!
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BGMS Students Make a Splash: Stream Quality Monitoring at William Henry Harrison Park
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On October 6 and 7 all BGMS seventh grade students travelled to William Henry Harrison Park to participate in a day of Stream Quality Monitoring. This trip has been a tradition for seventh graders for more than 25 years. At the park the students participated in a hike with Mrs. Cinda Stutzman of Bowling Green City Parks, a wildlife talk about animals in Wood County, both past and present, by the Wood County Parks Naturalist, and then students assessed the biological, chemical, and physical components of the stream ecosystem.
The students caught many intolerant macroinvertebrates such as damselfly larvae, caddisfly larvae, mayfly larvae, dragonfly nymphs, and the all time favorite crayfish. The students measured the clarity of the water with an all time high of 120 cm. They also measured the dissolved oxygen, hardness, and tested for phosphates and nitrates in the freshwater. After testing and observation, the seventh graders proudly reported that the Portage River ecosystem at William Henry Harrison Park is healthy and of excellent quality.
| | DECA Hosting 5K Fun Run/Walk | | |
Bowling Green High School DECA is lacing up for a good cause! The student organization will host a 5K Fun Run Fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m. at Carter Park in Bowling Green. All proceeds will benefit Giving Birthdays, a local nonprofit that ensures children in foster and kinship care get to celebrate their special day with joy and love.
Through this event, DECA students are turning their classroom skills in marketing and project management into meaningful community impact. This year’s event is led by senior project managers Avery Jicha and Nia Warman, who, along with their DECA peers, are creating a family-friendly morning of fitness, fun, and giving back. Participants can run, walk, or jog the 5K route, and all ages are welcome to join or cheer from the sidelines.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 26
- Registration: 9 a.m., Fun Run Start Time: 10 a.m.
- Location: Carter Park, near the water tower entrance
| | Pictured: DECA students with the many awards they received at the DECA Fall Frenzy event hosted by Owens Community College. | | Upcoming Dates to Remember | |
- October 14: BGMS Band Concert
- October 15: Board of Education Meeting
- October 16: First Quarter Ends; BGHS Marching Band Concert
- October 17: No Students: Staff 1/2 PD & 1/2 Work Day
- October 20: Second Quarter Begins
- October 23: Preschool, Elementary, MS, & HS Morning Evening Conferences, 4-7:30 p.m.
- October 24: Preschool, Elementary, MS, & HS Morning Conferences, 8:15-12 p.m.
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- October 30: Preschool & Elementary Evening Conferences, 4-7:30 p.m.
- October 31: Preschool & Elementary Morning Conferences, 8:15-12 p.m. No classes for PK-5 students.
- November 4: Mandatory BGHS Winter Sports Meeting, 7 p.m. in the PAC.
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Congratulations to Alex Nelson and Grace O’Connell, the 2025 BGHS Homecoming King and Queen and the members of the homecoming court!
Seniors: Carson Black, Molly Boblitt, Avery Jicha, and Ethan Smith
Penta: Andrew Mott and Maliyah Coleman
Juniors: Bolan Xu and Calista Motisher
Sophomores: James Duncan and Libby Decker
Freshmen: Colton Mantel and Abby Naus
Congratulations to our Rose Court Representatives:
Helan Archer, Julia Barnett, Molly Boblitt, Zoe Brujic, Shawn Carney, Mac Fogarty,
Maggie Griggs, Avery Jicha, Eli McIntosh, Alex Nelson, Julia Strum, Makenna Venis,
Nia Warman, Cash Wisniewski
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BGCS Bus Drivers Liz Jones, Megan Charron, Janice Yowler, and Gordon Ricketts represented BGCS at the Northwest Ohio Regional Bus Road-E-O last Saturday, and their team brought home 3rd place! Congratulations!
It was a competition that tested drivers’ safety knowledge and driving skills — from student pick-up and drop-off to railroad crossings, precision turns, maneuverability challenges, a written test, vehicle safety inspections, and more! The goal of the Road-E-O is to sharpen skills, promote safety, and celebrate the professionalism of Ohio’s school bus drivers.
| | Dr. JoBeth Gonzalez took her 7th and 8th grade Communication Skills students on a field trip to BGSU’s Kuhlin Center on October 1, where they got a hands-on look at media in action. Highlights included touring the building and exploring the TV, sound, and radio studios, experimenting with green screen and Foley sound effects, and chatting with BGSU professors and media professionals! | | | Follow us on Social Media | | | | |
