News from Bowling Green City Schools
December 19, 2025
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Message from the Superintendent
Dear Members of the Bowling Green City Schools Community,
As we wrap up the last day of school and head into winter break, I want to take a moment to wish our staff, students, families, and the entire community a joyful, safe, and peaceful holiday season. This time of year can be busy and sometimes overwhelming, but it also offers a wonderful opportunity to pause, reflect, and cherish time with loved ones.
This year has been filled with many accomplishments that make our schools such special places to learn and thrive and a district we can be proud of. Thank you for your support, hard work, and dedication—it truly makes a difference. As we look ahead to 2026, I am excited for the opportunities that await and the continued success we’ll share. Wishing you a safe and restful winter break, and I look forward to seeing everyone in January! Happy holidays!
Go Bobcats,
Dr. Ted Haselman
Superintendent
| | Steel Beam Signing Marks Major Milestone in New High School Construction | | |
A meaningful milestone in the construction of the new Bowling Green High School was celebrated this week as the first structural steel beam was signed by members of the Bowling Green City Schools Board of Education, the superintendent, treasurer, high school principal, as well as Bowling Green High School students and staff in anticipation of its installation on site next week. Students eagerly lined up for the opportunity, many expressing pride and excitement at knowing their names will live on as part of the new high school for generations to come.
The beam signing follows continued momentum on the construction site. Drone photos from last week showed concrete foundations approximately 70 percent complete, with masonry work officially underway across the site. Together, these milestones mark the transition from groundwork to vertical construction and bring the vision of the new Bowling Green High School closer to reality. At Tuesday's meeting, Dr. Haselman updated the Board of Education stating, “The project remains on budget and on time."
| | Bus Transportation Fully Staffed for Second Semester: Updated Bus Eligibility for Grades 6-12 | | |
Bowling Green City Schools will return from winter break with a full roster of bus drivers. Superintendent Dr. Ted Haselman shared the update during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. The Board voted to hire two additional drivers, bringing the district to 15 regular drivers and 11 substitutes.
“The administration has worked diligently to get us back to full strength,” Haselman said. With the staffing increase, the district will return to its previous transportation model when school resumes in January.
Transportation Director Toby Snow shared that current routes provide service for about 1,500 students, and the additional drivers are expected to open access for approximately 150 more students. Bowling Green’s transportation needs are significant, Snow noted, as the district covers a geographic area of 118 square miles, reaching south to Jerry City Road, Milton Center, and Custar.
Updated eligibility for grades 6–12
Elementary eligibility remains the same: students who live 1 mile or more from their school are eligible for transportation.
For secondary students in grades 6–12, the district is expanding eligibility: students who live 1 mile or more from their school will now be eligible (previously, it was 2 miles or more).
Families should note that eligibility distance is calculated using the district’s routing system based on GPS location, not Google Maps.
Check eligibility using MyRideK12
On Monday, December 22, the district’s routing system will be updated so families can check eligibility through the MyRideK12 app or website. Parents/guardians should download the app and enter their student’s information to see whether transportation is available.
If the app shows a student is not eligible and a family believes there is an error, they may email:
- Toby Snow, Director of Transportation: tsnow@bgcs.k12.oh.us
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Debi Bennett, Operations Secretary: dbennett@bgcs.k12.oh.us
Secondary students who are newly eligible for bus transportation may begin riding the bus on January 6, 2026.
| | Board Approves Four Delayed Starts for K-2 Students to Support Spring State Testing | | |
At Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Ted Haselman recommended—and the Board approved—a plan to implement limited delayed start days at elementary schools to support Ohio State Testing (OST) in spring 2026.
State testing requires significant time, staffing, and space. By introducing a two-hour delayed start for kindergarten through second grade students on select testing days, the district will be able to reduce the overall testing window from 13 days to just five. This adjustment allows students in grades 3–5 to test in calmer, more focused environments with access to additional staff and testing spaces, while minimizing disruption to instruction for younger learners.
Each spring, students in grades 3–5 take Ohio State Tests in English Language Arts and Mathematics, with fifth-grade students also completing a science assessment. By approving the change now, families will have approximately four months to plan ahead for the delayed start days.
April 2026 Testing Days: What Families Need to Know
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Grades 3–5: Students will follow a normal school day schedule on April 14, 16, 21, 23, and 28, beginning at the regular 9:00 a.m. start time. Bus transportation will operate on the usual schedule for grades 3-5.
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Kindergarten–Grade 2: K-2 students will have a two-hour delayed start on April 14, 16, 21, and 23, reporting to school at 11:00 a.m. Bus transportation for K–2 students will operate on a two-hour delay schedule on those four days.
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STARS Morning Care: Please note that STARS will be closed in the morning on the two-hour delayed start days.
In early March, families of K–2 students who currently ride the bus will receive a letter asking them to indicate whether their child will ride the bus or be dropped off on the delayed start days. This information will help the transportation department efficiently plan routes.
This thoughtful adjustment supports strong testing conditions for students while allowing enrichment and intervention programming to continue through March and April for all learners.
| | Learning Beyond the Classroom: Spanish Students Attend Regional Assembly | | |
On December 11, 17 Bowling Green High School Spanish 4 and 5 students, along with two Spanish Club officers and chaperones Profesora Laura Reyes and Señora Eva Zepeda, joined more than 170 Spanish students from Holgate, Elmwood, and Patrick Henry for a regional Spanish assembly at Holgate High School.
Leading up to the event, students completed classroom units centered on McFarland, USA, exploring Mexican-American culture and the realities of migrant farmworkers in the United States. Students created and presented visual projects entirely in Spanish, strengthening both their language skills and cultural understanding.
“Our unit illustrated the integration of Mexican and American cultures and helped us realize the difficulties Hispanic immigrants experience when coming to the United States,” said junior Tess Challú in a reflection essay. “The film shows not only the hardships, but also how those challenges are overcome through the power of a strong community. Ultimately, it reminds us that we are all stronger together.”
During the assembly, students celebrated Spanish language and culture through music, singing popular Spanish holiday songs and upbeat favorites. Friendly inter-school competitions added to the excitement, including a Spanish pronunciation challenge and a spirited “Waka Waka” dance-off that encouraged collaboration and connection among students from different schools.
A highlight of the day was hearing from Thomas Valles, whose life story inspired the film McFarland, USA. Thomas shared his experiences growing up as the child of migrant farmworkers, his struggles with poverty and mental health, and the lasting impact of his mentor and cross-country coach, Jim White. His message encouraged students to “find your Jim White” or “be someone’s Jim White,” leaving a meaningful impression on everyone in attendance.
“It was eye-opening to hear about how Thomas overcame personal and familial conflicts to become a stronger person today,” said senior Alex Nelson. “It shows how we can take advantage of hidden opportunities to create a better life for ourselves.”
Junior Maralissa Waterfield added, “I thought it was a wonderful experience getting to hear from and meet Thomas Valles.”
“For myself, it was a true joy to see students interacting in their second language with one another and with students from different schools,” said Spanish teacher Laura Reyes. “This experience brought a feeling of togetherness and connection, which is our goal in teaching languages and cultures. Mr. Valles helped us see that small, everyday acts are what truly build unity and community.”
Spanish teacher Eva Zepeda echoed that sentiment. “The McFarland field trip was such a memorable experience. After watching the movie in class, students were excited to meet Thomas Valles in person. His presentation was motivating and highlighted perseverance, resilience, and the importance of supporting one another. I loved seeing students actively engaged, having fun, and using Spanish in authentic ways.”
The day concluded with a shared meal at a Mexican restaurant, where students practiced conversational Spanish, connected with one another, and even celebrated a classmate’s birthday. Overall, the experience was a meaningful celebration of language, culture, community, and the power of mentorship.
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Imaginarium K–12 Art Show
Open through January 14
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The 2nd Annual Imaginarium K–12 Art Show opens today and will be on display through January 14, showcasing the creativity and talent of our student artists.
The community is invited to explore the exhibit, hosted in the Bowling Green Arts Council gallery space, located in the back of Coyote Beads at 178 S. Main Street in downtown Bowling Green. A reception will be held on January 14 from 5:00–6:30 p.m.
We invite families, staff, and community members to stop in during the exhibition to view the artwork and celebrate and support our young artists!
| | iSee Vision Clinic Brings Clearer Vision to BGCS Students | | |
More than one in four school-age children has a vision problem, yet according to the Ohio Department of Health, 80% of children in Ohio who fail a vision screening do not receive follow-up eye care. The iSee Ohio Vision Clinic is working to change that.
By bringing free eye care directly into schools, iSee Ohio removes common barriers such as transportation challenges, parents needing to miss work, and limited access to eye care providers. Volunteer optometrists conduct comprehensive eye exams on site, and students who need vision correction receive prescription eyeglasses at no cost.
During our recent iSee Vision Clinic, volunteer optometrists served 39 students over two days. As a result, 36 students were prescribed glasses, which will be provided to them in the coming weeks—completely free of charge.
Programs like iSee Ohio help ensure students can see clearly, stay engaged in the classroom, and have the tools they need to succeed in school.
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BGMS to Host Math Kangaroo Competition on March 19
Bowling Green Middle School is excited to once again host the Math Kangaroo Competition on Thursday, March 19, 2026. This internationally recognized math contest is open to students in grades 1–12 and focuses on creative reasoning and logical problem-solving through engaging, age-appropriate questions.
Early bird registration is open through December 31, 2025. Families can find full event details, testing information, and registration instructions in the letter linked here.
| | | | Our Middle School Art Show featured a wide range of artwork, including paintings, sculptures, digital art, and mixed media pieces. Congratulations to all students who displayed their work and to the Best of Show winners. Thank you to art teachers Mrs. Sonnenberg and Ms. Morr for inspiring our students and curating such a wonderful display. | | Good luck to our Bobcat Swimmers as they compete at home tomorrow in the NW Classic! Photos by Pasley's Pictures. | | Our elementary and middle school students enjoyed attending a BGSU women's basketball game! The Bobcat Beats Elementary Choir performed the national anthem before the game. Our elementary and middle school media specialists, Heather Janes and Amy Kreilick, were recognized. | | |
Our Bobcat girls indoor track athletes had a great showing at the Defiance HS Kick-Off Classic! Several athletes left with new personal bests and few school records!
- Julia set a PB in the LJ at 15’6.5” and placed 2nd overall.
- Avery set a PB in the 60m at 8.89.
- Emma placed 5th in both the shot put and weight. In the shot she threw 24’7” and the weight was 25’2” for a new indoor school record.
- Kate earned a 1st place finish in both the 1600m and 800m.
- Lizzie set a new record in the 200m in 30.13.
| | Good luck to our Bobcat Bowlers as they compete in a tournament tomorrow at Bryan Lanes! Here are a few photos from a recent Bowling meet. Photos by Pasley's Pictures. | Congratulations to BGHS Cheerleading as the competition team brought home second place with a non-mount gameday routine at AWHS. | Congratulations to Matthew Stalets for being selected as Honorable Mention All-Ohio Selection at linebacker! | | BGHS Boys Cross Country Coach Pat Carney, has been named the Ohio Association of Track & Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC) District 15 Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year! Coach Carney will be formally recognized at this year’s OATCCC Track Clinic in Columbus. | Alayna Mahan was honored at the All-State banquet for girls soccer! | Our elementary All-State Choir students are pictured at a recent rehearsal. | | |
Bobcat Wrestling placers at the Coldwater Tournament:
106 | Dajon Fields - Runner-Up
120 | Isaac Ramirez - 4th
120 | Collin Failor - 7th
126 | Owen Laporte - 8th
132 | Royce Bobo-Ashford - 4th
144 | Ben Betts - 7th
150 | Brandt Beaverson - 6th
Also winning matches for the Bobcats: Cohen Lewis, Nick Yarger, Dane Bonaguro, Tyler Jenkins, & Carson Boehler.
| The BGHS Boys Basketball team hosted a Bobcat Youth Basketball Night where they opened the gym up for the youth teams to attend and watch the high school practice. | |
Congrats to the girls basketball team on another Division win 67-18 at Springfield! Maddie Gillispie led all scorers with 20, Kate Scarletto-Scholl accounted for 15, and Molly Shafer with 12.
Bobcat girls basketball alumni are invited to participate in the alumni game on Saturday January 3rd at 9 a.m. at BGHS.
| | BGCS is grateful to Mr. Charles Harper and the Wood County Senior Center for donating dozens of handcrafted 3D puzzles for our classrooms. Teachers selected puzzles tied to their curriculum, and they’ll be used as visual learning tools that spark curiosity, support wellness, and create engaging spaces for students. | | The JV hockey team will play the Blue Devils tonight at 6 p.m. at the Slater Ice Arena. There is a JV/Varsity doubleheader on Sunday at Slater when the Bobcats host St. Francis at 11:30 a.m. and 1p.m. On 12/26 the Bobcats take on New Albany at 1:30 with the alumni game following at 5:30 p.m. and a social immediately after. To participate in the alumni game, email Coach Rogowski: crogowski@bgcs.k12.oh.us | | The Freshman Class got to enjoy some Biggby Hot Chocolate before break as a reward for having the most spirit/participation points. | | Upcoming Dates to Remember | |
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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
- December 22- January 5: Winter Break - No school
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January 5: Staff professional day - no students.
- January 6: Classes reconvene.
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January 13: Fifth Grade Orchestra Demo Concert
- January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Schools closed
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January 20: BOE Meeting
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January 21: Superintendent Coffee Chat, 9-10 a.m. Novel Blends
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January 21: CCP Information Night, 7 p.m. in the PAC
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January 29-31: Winter One Acts
- January 30: Staff professional day - no students.
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February 2: 5th Grade Open House
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February 3: 8th Grade Parent Night
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