• August 5, 2024

    Dear Parents/Guardians,

    I am very excited to welcome everyone to the 2024-2025 school year. We are going to have an amazing school year as we “Dream Big & Achieve More”.  Over the past couple of years, since we returned from the pandemic, we have made tremendous strides in student growth and achievement as indicated on our state report card by continuously increasing our performance index score. As a result, we were recognized by the Ohio Department of Education by receiving the Momentum Award for 2024. Woodward Park was one of 11 Columbus City Schools to be recognized and the only middle school. I want to thank our tremendous teachers for their hard work to prepare our students and I want to thank all of our families for your support of our efforts to Educate, Elevate and Motivate each child every day.

    Please be sure to visit our website https://www.ccsoh.us/WoodwardPark MS to view the school supply list, our back to school night dates (6th & 7th grade), 8th grade mandatory parent meeting and various other information. We continuously keep our website up to date. For those 7th & 8th grade students playing volleyball and soccer this year, please visit our website https://www.ccsoh.us/domain/4218 . On the “Athletics” page there is information regarding requirements such as obtaining a physical and locations you can bring your student to have a physical completed. The physical form is also located on the web page that you can download to have a doctor complete. Also posted are locations you can take your child to have the physical completed. Open gym/tryouts for soccer & volleyball will begin the week of August 26, 2024.

    Our 6th & 7th grade Back to School Night will be held on Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 6-7:30. This is a great opportunity to tour the building, meet the teachers and receive information regarding our expectations, routines and procedures.

    The 8th grade mandatory parents' meeting will be held on Monday, August 19, 2024, from 6-7. During this time we will introduce our 8th grade teams and provide parents with information regarding student expectations, which classes are counted for high school credit, preparation for 9th grade Algebra I, information on how students can begin earning service hours for graduation as an 8th grader and how parents can support their student both here at school and at home. 8th grade truly is a preparatory year for high school, and we will have a laser light focus on this preparation. 

    Parents, please also be advised that we follow the district dress code policy as outlined in the student code of conduct. As you begin to prepare to purchase clothing items, please be advised that shorts/skirts should be at mid-thigh. Shorts that are shorter than that will not be acceptable, and we will ask students to call home to have a change of clothes. Also, no clothing that depicts gangs, gang violence, alcohol/tobacco, fowl language, or RIP of family members. One final highlight: we do not permit students to wear slides/flip-flops. Students should come to school dressed for success.

    While we have made tremendous gains in student growth and achievement, we are always striving to do better than the year before. Our teachers will be very focused on content and therefore will not tolerate those who disrupt the classroom or take educational opportunities away from those students who come to school each day to learn and be productive in the classroom. Every student has the right to come to school and be part of a positive environment for learning. Therefore, we have established our core values of Prompt, Prepared, Productive and Polite. If EACH student at Woodward Park can demonstrate these 4 core values, they WILL experience success as a student at Woodward Park.

    As we continue to prepare for our students' return on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, please be on the lookout for additional information sent via email and the auto-dialer system. Also, I send out a weekly auto-dialer message/email on Sunday evenings so that you know what is happening at school for the week and other important information.

    My team and I are looking forward to working with each student and their family this coming school year so that we can achieve our vision of EACH student performing at or above grade level by June 2025. We will also continue to live out our mission by providing educational opportunities both inside and outside the classroom where students will have opportunities to be successful. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to serve our students and families so that everyone can reach their full potential.

    Yours in Education,

    Mr. Bailey