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Coffee & Conversation is back this Friday!

Join us for an open discussion about school safety with OHPD Chief Reuther, Dr. Fineske, Mr. Siloy, and our building principals. We'll share our safety plans, talk through our response to the March 4 incident, and answer your questions. All are welcome.

Ottawa Hills High School Named a National Blue Ribbon School

**Ottawa Hills Jr./Sr. High School has been named a National Blue Ribbon School, one of the most prestigious honors a school can receive in the United States.**

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized public and private schools for overall academic excellence for more than 40 years. Ottawa Hills High School was recognized in the Exemplary High Performing category, which identifies schools that rank among the highest performers in their state as measured by state assessments or national standardized testing.

The honor is highly competitive. Schools must submit a rigorous application detailing their culture, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, and family and community involvement. From all applications received nationally, no more than 420 schools are nominated before the final list is selected. Schools must also have been in existence for at least five years and are ineligible if they have received the award within the prior five years.

"This recognition is a direct reflection of the dedication and excellence our teachers and staff bring to Ottawa Hills every single day. They set a high bar for themselves and for our students, and this award is a testament to that commitment," said Ottawa Hills Jr./Sr. High School Principal Ben McMurray.

In his congratulatory letter to the school, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine wrote, "This is an incredible honor and reflects the dedication of your entire school," adding, "Teachers and school leaders have the power to change lives."

Ottawa Hills Jr./Sr. High School is consistently among Ohio's top-ranked schools, earning 5-star ratings on the Ohio School Report Card and recognition as a Cognia School of Distinction. U.S. News and World Report ranked the school No. 1 in the Toledo metro area, No. 3 in the state and No. 169 in the nation in 2025. The school offers 18 AP courses, more than 99% of graduates enroll in higher education, and the average ACT composite score of 27 far exceeds state and national averages. For more than a decade, the school has earned the Governor's Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education.

Ottawa Hills High School received notice of earning the award from the U.S. Department of Education last fall. While the program has historically been administered by the U.S. Department of Education, the award was officially presented by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in March 2026 following restructuring within the federal government.

STATE CHAMPIONS!

Attention Parents of Incoming Kindergarteners!

The image features the text %22Incoming Kindergartner%22 in large green letters, along with a colorful background with various school supplies and a smiling child. — **If you have a child starting kindergarten in fall 2026, please complete our Google Form registration to receive your incoming kindergartener packet in the mail.**

Kindergarten Registration Packet Request

**Important dates:**

**Incoming kindergarten students must be 5 years old by the first day of instruction, August 19, 2026**

**Parent Meeting/Tour - April 15, 6 p.m. in The Wondry at the elementary school (note the room change)**

**Safety Village - July 20-24 & July 27-31 visit Village Life to register**

Recording and Presentation now available

The annual 2025-2026 State of the District presentation and recording are now available at the links below. Thank you to Miss Hayley Hoss and the Ottawa Hills Choraliers for opening the evening with a beautiful performance of the National Anthem, and a special thanks to our Student Council guest speakers, Sami and Abraham Sediqe from the elementary school and Nina Clark from the jr./sr. high school, for sharing the student perspective.

**Watch the recording**

**View the presentation**

Hats Off to the "Newsies Jr." Cast, Crew, and Creative Team!

Extra, extra, read all about it! Acting Out!'s February 2026 production of Disney's "Newsies Jr." brought together nearly 150 students from the elementary and jr./sr. high schools for a powerful story with equally powerful vocals and choreography. Congratulations to the entire cast, crew, and creative team for bringing this fantastic performance to the Ottawa Hills Theatre stage.

Ottawa Hills Girls Cross Country Wins Division IV State Championship!

The Ottawa Hills Girls Cross Country team made school history, capturing the Division IV State Championship in a remarkable performance among 214 runners from across Ohio.

Leading the way was Natalie Nixon, who placed an outstanding 5th overall, followed by strong performances from Mercy Alamina, Emily Chen, Molly Mullan, Freya Klaas, Piper Padgett, and Evelyn Sandretto. Together, these runners showcased incredible teamwork, grit, and determination to bring home the top honor.

In a dramatic finish, the Green Bears edged out 17-time state champions Minster High School, marking a truly special victory for Ottawa Hills.

The team was guided by dedicated coaches Jeremy Nixon, Mark Sandretto, and Emily Nixon, whose leadership and commitment have inspired excellence all season long.

District earns 5-Stars rating on 2024-25 State Report Card