School notes

Want to see your student or teacher featured on the Schools page? Email news and photos to reporter Jolena Gioiello at jgioiello@tandemnetwork.com. DIRECTIONS CREDIT UNION • Local teachers were awarded through the Directions Cares for Classrooms Fall 2025 grant program. Each received $500. — Kelly Clark, of Sandusky Middle School, will use the funds for a calm-down corner. — Erich Fahr, of Meadowlawn Intermediate School, will purchase a GoPro camera for science projects. — Cynthia Raifsnider, of Bellevue High School, plans to explore robotics and engineering games for STEM. VERMILION • Vermilion Schools hired five new certified bus drivers to restore its busing. The new drivers are Sarah Wolfgang, Kristy Kenska, Brad Huntley, Ashley Kiefer and Doug Lemons. The district is still in need of substitute drivers, but the additional drivers restored the high school routes and balanced the load for elementary routes. NORWALK • Norwalk School announced the Norwalk Kiwanis Students of the Month for November. — Andrew Hammer: plays trumpet, is president of the robotics team and has been named to the Principal's List — Casey Kromer: Runs cross country, plays soccer and track and field, participates in Teen Leadership Corps, athletic leadership council, Impact Leadership mentor and is the 4-H president. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the honor roll and a recipient of the principal's list. He is a regional qualifier in cross country and track and field and is captain of both teams. He plans to study mechanical engineering. - Isabel Ott: participated in cross country and track teams and was the manager her junior year, was a member of the athletic student leadership and Money Matters Club and attended the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Seminar. She also loves to bake, sew and crochet and works at Wild and Free Coffee Co. as a barista. Ott served as secretary of the National Honor Society and is on the honor roll. She was a recipient of the coach's award for track and cross country and the heart and soul award for cross country. After high school, she plans to study business/marketing with a minor in entrepreneurship to eventually open a bakery. SANDUSKY • Sandusky's business management students visited the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Students toured offices, met and learned from both organizations' staff about the careers and learned what it is like to work in sports. They also participated in a marketing exercise before a behind-the-scenes look at Rocket Arena. DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION • The Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship portal is open and will stay open until Jan. 31, 2026. Scholarships are available on the revolution's website, dar.academicworks.com. This year, the organization is celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary with 10 one-time awards of $25,000 each. This scholarship is open to those studying American history at an accredited educational institution. More details on the award are available on the organization's website. SANDUSKY CENTRAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL • The Greater Sandusky Partnership CEO Eric Wobser gave students from Sandusky Central Catholic High School a tour of downtown Sandusky • Third-grade students celebrated All Saints' Day by dressing up as their favorite saints for Mass. PORT CLINTON • Eighth-grade students at Port Clinton Middle School learned about local myths and legends. Students read "Ghosts and Legends of Lake Erie's North Coast" by alumna Victoria King Heinsen. The classes participated in a walking tour of downtown Port Clinton to visit several locations that were featured in the book they read. They also heard from a guest speaker, Diane Roziak-Thompson, who shared her expertise on the topic and presented at the Surf Motel and Johnson's Island, giving students a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the stories. • Bergman Orchards donated pumpkins for Bataan Intermediate Schools' annual pumpkin activity. Third-grade students carved pumpkins and saved the seeds for teachers to roast with different seasonings for the students to sample. NORWALK CATHOLIC SCHOOL • Norwalk Catholic School announced the winners of the Norwalk Fire Department's Fire Escape Plan Contest. — First place: Leah Schild, second grade, won a new bike provided by the Norwalk fire and Walmart. — Second place: Nevaeh Blanton, third grade, received a ride in the fire truck and had a pizza lunch at the fire station. — Third place: Briella Riley, first grade, received a ride in the fire truck. • Local students, including those from Norwalk Catholic School, participated in Firelands Electric Cooperative's Youth Day at the Ohio Statehouse. Senior Chloe Hazelwood and sophomore Tristan Schlachter represented St. Paul High School.