April 17, 2025 – The final stop of the 2024-25 Pathway Express was nothing short of spectacular, as families flocked to the sprawling greens of Champions Golf Course for a day packed with energy, laughter, and learning. With the sun beaming overhead and excitement buzzing in the air, it was a celebration of wellness, community, and adaptability, one of Columbus City Schools’ key Portrait of a Graduate attributes.
From peaceful nature walks to energetic rounds of tennis, and from the calm focus of yoga to the lighthearted fun of cornhole and pickleball, every corner of the golf course was alive with motion. Students and their families didn’t just play—they explored, discovered, and connected with community partners sharing hands-on advice about leading healthy, active lives.
“We want Pathway Express to be a sneak peek of what happens at Summer Experience,” said Chenzira Sneed, Learning Expansion TOSA with the Division of Extended Learning. “We want families learning in fun, engaging, and immersive environments. We wanted to focus on the mind-body connection.”
That mind-body connection was further explored with a visit from New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds, known for books including “Long Way Down,” “Ghost” and “Look Both Ways”. A former middle school language arts teacher himself, Reynolds reflected on how writing helped him express himself as a young person.
“Writing was a way that I could articulate my feelings in a way that felt safe,” Reynolds said. “Once I learned that language had the ability to affect someone else's life, it felt like I had a certain kind of power. Once I felt power, I wanted to keep feeling that power.”
Reynolds’ words lit a spark in students from Sherwood and Buckeye Middle Schools, who arrived buzzing with excitement after reading Ghost before the event. Arriving by bus, students participated in a question and answer session with the author, asking about his characters and upbringing.
For Sherwood seventh grader Lilly Primmer, Reynolds’ visit was a standout moment.
“I got to meet someone who is special and [learn] how to be a better writer and become an author when I grow up,” Primmer said.
For Stewart Harger, a Columbus Spanish Immersion School parent, the event provided an opportunity to connect with his son and explore community resources.
“We wanted to come out because my son was really interested in playing some of the games,” Harger said. “Of course I wanted to be out here to have a nice day and see what kind of wellness information they have.”
With high engagement, sunny skies, and smiling faces, Sneed called the event a great success.
“It was a beautiful day with beautiful outcomes,” she said.Registration is now open for Summer Experience for all CCS students. For more information or to enroll, please click here.
