Spring Mini Cheer Clinic forms are due next Wednesday! Please email kristi.adams@centerburgschools.org with any questions.
Many Centerburg Middle School students spent today exploring a variety of careers during National Take Your Child to Work Day!
Thank you to the families and local businesses who welcomed our students and gave them a glimpse into the real world.
We’ve loved seeing the photos that have been shared so far! If you captured your student in action, please send them to alex.mcintire@centerburgschools.org 📸
Skilled trades offer solid pay, unique opportunities
Tanner Ratliff (‘23) had a summer job before his senior year that put him on a trajectory for the full-time job he has now—and a solid career path.
Ratliff, who studied building trades at the Knox County Career Center, was accepted for Kokosing Construction’s internship program his junior year. He worked that summer in the Fredericktown carpenter shop and yard and earned his forklift certification.
Kokosing Workforce Coordinator Andy Fox said interns learn what materials, tools and supplies are needed for various types of construction sites; how to clean and repair concrete forms; safety protocols and more.
“If [interns] like us and we like them,” Fox said, “we will continue to offer employment part-time during the school year and then full-time afterward.”
That’s exactly what happened for Ratliff. He is now in a four-year apprenticeship, which entails learning how to run various types of equipment and earning certifications for them, working on job sites and taking classes.
“I enjoy it,” Ratliff said. “It’s pretty good money and pretty cool getting to run big equipment for Kokosing.”
The internship program is just one of a plethora of career opportunities in skilled trades available in Knox County.
Ariel Corporation also has an internship program, and the Workforce Development Alliance, led by Julia Suggs, Vice President of the Knox County Area Development Foundation (ADF), offers healthcare expos, job fairs and a manufacturing readiness program called Knox ASPECT. Seniors who attend ASPECT learn about manufacturing, blueprint reading and soft skills, and they interact with 13 area manufacturers.
“If they complete the whole program, they have a guaranteed interview with all the companies that participated,” Suggs said.
Many students receive one or more job offers as a result.
“One of the students who went through that program went to work for one of the companies that offered him a job, and within nine months he was the second shift supervisor,” she said. “The opportunities in manufacturing are crazy.“
Complementing ADF’s work is that of Sean McCutcheon, Career Navigator for the Knox County Educational Service Center. He meets individually with every student in the four Knox County high schools to make them aware of opportunities that match their interests and to help them plan their futures, including possibilities in skilled trades.
“Students should consider jobs in the trades because it is an absolutely booming market right now,” McCutcheon said. He said trades consistently have a high number of openings, especially now because many people are retiring from these jobs. Plus, employees receive high pay and learn on the job without incurring college debt.
Fox said most people in the trades at Kokosing start at $25/hour and can become journeymen in four years, at which time they earn $45/hour plus benefits.
“Then, if you’re good at what you do, Kokosing will start looking at you,” he said. “Do you want to become a foreman and oversee a crew? If you do well at that, they’ll take you up to a superintendent. Now you’re over a whole project. If you continue to excel and want to go up the
ladder, you can become a project manager. We have superintendents who are 30 years old, 12 years out of high school, no college education, making close to six-digit figures a year, with no debt.”
Suggs said such career paths are one reason students who have been thinking about college may want to consider trades.
She said that while college is right for some people, working in a trade first can help develop valuable skills—and many companies offer tuition reimbursement for employees who want to go to college later.
“If it’s related to the work you’re doing at that company, they may just pay for you to go,” she said. “We see that story happen over and over.”
Ratliff said he plans to stay with Kokosing.
“You can do just about anything and
everything here,” he said. He hopes to eventually work on highway jobs and bridges.
“Years later,” he said, “you can drive by something and say, ‘I helped build that.’”
Tanner Ratliff (‘23) had a summer job before his senior year that put him on a trajectory for the full-time job he has now—and a solid career path.
Ratliff, who studied building trades at the Knox County Career Center, was accepted for Kokosing Construction’s internship program his junior year. He worked that summer in the Fredericktown carpenter shop and yard and earned his forklift certification.
Kokosing Workforce Coordinator Andy Fox said interns learn what materials, tools and supplies are needed for various types of construction sites; how to clean and repair concrete forms; safety protocols and more.
“If [interns] like us and we like them,” Fox said, “we will continue to offer employment part-time during the school year and then full-time afterward.”
That’s exactly what happened for Ratliff. He is now in a four-year apprenticeship, which entails learning how to run various types of equipment and earning certifications for them, working on job sites and taking classes.
“I enjoy it,” Ratliff said. “It’s pretty good money and pretty cool getting to run big equipment for Kokosing.”
The internship program is just one of a plethora of career opportunities in skilled trades available in Knox County.
Ariel Corporation also has an internship program, and the Workforce Development Alliance, led by Julia Suggs, Vice President of the Knox County Area Development Foundation (ADF), offers healthcare expos, job fairs and a manufacturing readiness program called Knox ASPECT. Seniors who attend ASPECT learn about manufacturing, blueprint reading and soft skills, and they interact with 13 area manufacturers.
“If they complete the whole program, they have a guaranteed interview with all the companies that participated,” Suggs said.
Many students receive one or more job offers as a result.
“One of the students who went through that program went to work for one of the companies that offered him a job, and within nine months he was the second shift supervisor,” she said. “The opportunities in manufacturing are crazy.“
Complementing ADF’s work is that of Sean McCutcheon, Career Navigator for the Knox County Educational Service Center. He meets individually with every student in the four Knox County high schools to make them aware of opportunities that match their interests and to help them plan their futures, including possibilities in skilled trades.
“Students should consider jobs in the trades because it is an absolutely booming market right now,” McCutcheon said. He said trades consistently have a high number of openings, especially now because many people are retiring from these jobs. Plus, employees receive high pay and learn on the job without incurring college debt.
Fox said most people in the trades at Kokosing start at $25/hour and can become journeymen in four years, at which time they earn $45/hour plus benefits.
“Then, if you’re good at what you do, Kokosing will start looking at you,” he said. “Do you want to become a foreman and oversee a crew? If you do well at that, they’ll take you up to a superintendent. Now you’re over a whole project. If you continue to excel and want to go up the
ladder, you can become a project manager. We have superintendents who are 30 years old, 12 years out of high school, no college education, making close to six-digit figures a year, with no debt.”
Suggs said such career paths are one reason students who have been thinking about college may want to consider trades.
She said that while college is right for some people, working in a trade first can help develop valuable skills—and many companies offer tuition reimbursement for employees who want to go to college later.
“If it’s related to the work you’re doing at that company, they may just pay for you to go,” she said. “We see that story happen over and over.”
Ratliff said he plans to stay with Kokosing.
“You can do just about anything and
everything here,” he said. He hopes to eventually work on highway jobs and bridges.
“Years later,” he said, “you can drive by something and say, ‘I helped build that.’”
Construction begins soon for new baseball field
Thanks to generous support from the community, construction of a new baseball field on the high school campus will begin this spring, ready for use in 2027.
A baseball field has always been in the plan for the high school campus; now that the track and softball field are completed, it’s time for the next step. Athletic Director Rich Porter said the major benefits of the new field will be having the facility on the campus where the students are and having better accessibility for fans.
“It will be ADA compliant, which the other field is not,” he said. “It’s very challenging over there from a fan perspective.” The current field is beside the elementary school, with parking either some distance away or at the base of a steep hill.
Head Coach Josh Moss said the new field will keep everything connected to the school day and provide a safe, consistent and accessible space for practices and games.
“While the previous field is only a short drive away,” he said, “having to commute off campus adds challenges with player arrival coinciding with elementary release, bussing, and pick up/drop off lines all using the same entrance/exit.”
Moss said the new field includes several upgrades that will benefit both players and spectators.
“Unlike the old field, the new facility will have access to water,” he said, “making it easier to properly maintain the playing surface throughout the season. Parking and access will be greatly improved, with more available parking and shorter walks to the bleachers.”
Porter said the new field will have a natural grass playing surface and an irrigation system. Some preparatory work was done as part of earlier construction projects.
“Some of the tiles have already been installed,” he said, “and some of the electric service has been run as well.”
The Centerburg Diamond Club organizes fund raising and community events for the high school baseball program to help provide everything from equipment and uniforms to spring trips, and it has been instrumental in raising funds for the new field. Vice President Matt Campbell said the club wrote a check to the district for $75,000 toward the project.
“We are proud, gracious and humbled that our efforts have already yielded great results thanks to the generosity of many businesses and individuals,” he said.
Moss said another exciting aspect of the project is that the school will now have two baseball fields instead of one.
“This will allow greater access for our middle school club team, local league
teams and summer programs to practice and play games,” he said.
Sophomore Gabe Campos said having an overall better playing field will help the team succeed.
“I’m looking forward to just having a better atmosphere when we play the game,” he said.
Thanks to generous support from the community, construction of a new baseball field on the high school campus will begin this spring, ready for use in 2027.
A baseball field has always been in the plan for the high school campus; now that the track and softball field are completed, it’s time for the next step. Athletic Director Rich Porter said the major benefits of the new field will be having the facility on the campus where the students are and having better accessibility for fans.
“It will be ADA compliant, which the other field is not,” he said. “It’s very challenging over there from a fan perspective.” The current field is beside the elementary school, with parking either some distance away or at the base of a steep hill.
Head Coach Josh Moss said the new field will keep everything connected to the school day and provide a safe, consistent and accessible space for practices and games.
“While the previous field is only a short drive away,” he said, “having to commute off campus adds challenges with player arrival coinciding with elementary release, bussing, and pick up/drop off lines all using the same entrance/exit.”
Moss said the new field includes several upgrades that will benefit both players and spectators.
“Unlike the old field, the new facility will have access to water,” he said, “making it easier to properly maintain the playing surface throughout the season. Parking and access will be greatly improved, with more available parking and shorter walks to the bleachers.”
Porter said the new field will have a natural grass playing surface and an irrigation system. Some preparatory work was done as part of earlier construction projects.
“Some of the tiles have already been installed,” he said, “and some of the electric service has been run as well.”
The Centerburg Diamond Club organizes fund raising and community events for the high school baseball program to help provide everything from equipment and uniforms to spring trips, and it has been instrumental in raising funds for the new field. Vice President Matt Campbell said the club wrote a check to the district for $75,000 toward the project.
“We are proud, gracious and humbled that our efforts have already yielded great results thanks to the generosity of many businesses and individuals,” he said.
Moss said another exciting aspect of the project is that the school will now have two baseball fields instead of one.
“This will allow greater access for our middle school club team, local league
teams and summer programs to practice and play games,” he said.
Sophomore Gabe Campos said having an overall better playing field will help the team succeed.
“I’m looking forward to just having a better atmosphere when we play the game,” he said.
Grant provides funds for bus safety upgrades
All buses in the district fleet are safer now because of recent equipment additions, including front-facing cameras and flashing lights on signs.
Funds for the upgrades came through a grant from
the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
Transportation/Maintenance Director David McDowell said the improvements are all about student safety.
“The safety devices help make the buses more visible to nearby motorists,” he said.
The cameras capture events that occur in front of buses.
“Some situations we would review could include student pickups and drop offs, accidents or near misses or even malicious intent,” McDowell said. “We also have rear-facing cameras to capture license plate information for red light violators. Day or night, if it's in the line of sight of the camera, it doesn't miss anything!”
The district also recently purchased a new bus, and thanks to the grant, it came with all of the new safety features.
“We greatly appreciate the State of Ohio making funds available to increase safety for students, bus drivers, pedestrians and motorists,” McDowell said.
All buses in the district fleet are safer now because of recent equipment additions, including front-facing cameras and flashing lights on signs.
Funds for the upgrades came through a grant from
the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
Transportation/Maintenance Director David McDowell said the improvements are all about student safety.
“The safety devices help make the buses more visible to nearby motorists,” he said.
The cameras capture events that occur in front of buses.
“Some situations we would review could include student pickups and drop offs, accidents or near misses or even malicious intent,” McDowell said. “We also have rear-facing cameras to capture license plate information for red light violators. Day or night, if it's in the line of sight of the camera, it doesn't miss anything!”
The district also recently purchased a new bus, and thanks to the grant, it came with all of the new safety features.
“We greatly appreciate the State of Ohio making funds available to increase safety for students, bus drivers, pedestrians and motorists,” McDowell said.
Fifth graders learn about engineering
Using a coffee pot and filter, engineer Bruce Bassett recently showed fifth graders how water filtration processes make water safe for people to drink.
Their teacher, Sydney Hartsel, invited Bassett, who works with water treatment and infrastructure at Brown and Caldwell, to her classroom to increase students’ awareness of engineering as a career.
“He showed the kids what people within his field do and how it impacts us,” Hartsel said, “because without them we wouldn’t have drinking water.”
She said Bassett did the coffee experiment to show how water filters through soil. He also did a couple of quizzes at the beginning and end of his visit to see how much students already knew and what they learned about water during his visit, which they enjoyed.
“They asked clarification questions regarding things they had learned in science,” she said, making connections with school and work. The visit also piqued career interest.
“Since then,” she said, “a couple of kids have said that they want to go into engineering.”
Using a coffee pot and filter, engineer Bruce Bassett recently showed fifth graders how water filtration processes make water safe for people to drink.
Their teacher, Sydney Hartsel, invited Bassett, who works with water treatment and infrastructure at Brown and Caldwell, to her classroom to increase students’ awareness of engineering as a career.
“He showed the kids what people within his field do and how it impacts us,” Hartsel said, “because without them we wouldn’t have drinking water.”
She said Bassett did the coffee experiment to show how water filters through soil. He also did a couple of quizzes at the beginning and end of his visit to see how much students already knew and what they learned about water during his visit, which they enjoyed.
“They asked clarification questions regarding things they had learned in science,” she said, making connections with school and work. The visit also piqued career interest.
“Since then,” she said, “a couple of kids have said that they want to go into engineering.”
Parents of seniors,
Just a friendly reminder that senior ad forms for the Trojan Crier are due by next Wednesday! Please email christina.barnard@centerburgschools.org with any questions.
Just a friendly reminder that senior ad forms for the Trojan Crier are due by next Wednesday! Please email christina.barnard@centerburgschools.org with any questions.
JV/V baseball and V softball games vs. East Knox are cancelled for today. Make-up dates TBD.
Today's home varsity softball game vs East Knox has been postponed and rescheduled for Thursday 4/23 at 5:15pm. There is also no practice today after school.
Parents of MS students - please make sure to send an email if our child will be absent on Thursday. They will also need to complete the reflection form and turn it in to the office on Friday for the day to be excused by Mrs. McIntire. Thank you!
The start time of tomorrow's varsity baseball and softball games at East Knox have been pushed back to 5:30pm.
Congratulations to the CMS/CHS Robotics Team. Over the weekend they competed at the National Robotics Challenge where the HS team brought home a bronze award and the MS teams brought home silver and bronze! The competition featured teams from 40 states as well as Puerto Rico.
Attached are the MS/HS athletic schedules for this week:
https://www.centerburgtrojansathletics.org/
Monday 4/20:
Varsity softball at Bishop Hartley - 5:15pm
Tuesday 4/21:
HS track at Northridge - 4:30pm
Varsity baseball at East Knox - 5:15pm
Varsity softball at East Knox - 5:15pm
Wednesday 4/22:
JV baseball at East Knox - 5:15pm
Varsity baseball vs East Knox - 5:15pm
Varsity softball vs East Knox - 5:15pm
Thursday 4/23:
MS track at Northmor - 4:30pm
JV baseball vs East Knox - 5:15pm
Friday 4/24:
HS track at Crestview - 4pm
Saturday 4/25:
MS track at Reynoldsburg - 9am
Varsity softball vs Canal Winchester - 12pm (At Bishop Watterson - Address - 1880 Northam Rd, Columbus, OH 43221)
Varsity softball vs Bishop Watterson - 2pm (At Bishop Watterson - Address - 1880 Northam Rd, Columbus, OH 43221)
https://www.centerburgtrojansathletics.org/
Monday 4/20:
Varsity softball at Bishop Hartley - 5:15pm
Tuesday 4/21:
HS track at Northridge - 4:30pm
Varsity baseball at East Knox - 5:15pm
Varsity softball at East Knox - 5:15pm
Wednesday 4/22:
JV baseball at East Knox - 5:15pm
Varsity baseball vs East Knox - 5:15pm
Varsity softball vs East Knox - 5:15pm
Thursday 4/23:
MS track at Northmor - 4:30pm
JV baseball vs East Knox - 5:15pm
Friday 4/24:
HS track at Crestview - 4pm
Saturday 4/25:
MS track at Reynoldsburg - 9am
Varsity softball vs Canal Winchester - 12pm (At Bishop Watterson - Address - 1880 Northam Rd, Columbus, OH 43221)
Varsity softball vs Bishop Watterson - 2pm (At Bishop Watterson - Address - 1880 Northam Rd, Columbus, OH 43221)
Our Centerburg Robotics teams showed up and showed out at the National Robotics Challenge this past Thursday! 🤖👏
All three teams advanced to compete again today—an incredible accomplishment in itself!
🥉 High School team: Bronze
We had 2 middle school teams compete and they finished :
🥈🥉 Silver and Bronze!
We couldn’t be more proud of the dedication, teamwork, and innovation these students have shown. Congratulations on an amazing performance and all your hard work paying off!
Attached is information regarding the awards ceremonies for the MS/HS. Both will be hosted during the school day to have more involvement from the student body. Letters will be mailed home in the coming weeks if your student will be receiving an award.
Seniors / Parents of Seniors - another email will be sent next week with more detailed information regarding the awards ceremony and upcoming senior events.
Seniors / Parents of Seniors - another email will be sent next week with more detailed information regarding the awards ceremony and upcoming senior events.
Congratulations to the MS/HS March Students of the Month:
Eli Robison, Abby Fisher, Rylie Shaw, Khloe Luana, Xander Laughrey, Stella Herouvis, Blane Ball and staff member Mr. Colella.
Eli Robison, Abby Fisher, Rylie Shaw, Khloe Luana, Xander Laughrey, Stella Herouvis, Blane Ball and staff member Mr. Colella.
Attached is information regarding the youth football camp! Any questions can be sent to andrew.colella@centerburgschools.org.
The MS PTO brought the Columbus Zoo to our students on Monday! 🦥
Attached are the MS/HS Athletic Events for this week:
Please check the athletic website for changes to any games.
https://www.centerburgtrojansathletics.org/
Monday 4/13:
Varsity baseball at Clear Fork - 5pm
Tuesday 4/14:
HS boys/girls track at Highland - 4:30pm
JV baseball at Cardington - 5:30pm
Varsity baseball vs Cardington - 5:30pm
Varsity softball vs Cardington - 5:30pm
Wednesday 4/15:
JV baseball vs Cardington - 5:15pm
Varsity baseball at Cardington - 5:15pm
Varsity softball at Cardington - 5:15pm
Thursday 4/16:
MS track at East Knox - 4:30pm
Friday 4/17:
MS track at Ontario - 4:30pm
Varsity softball at Dublin Scioto - 5:15pm
Saturday 4/18:
HS boys/girls track at Loudonville - 9am
JV baseball at Madison Comp - 10am
Varsity softball at Olentangy Liberty - 10am
Varsity baseball at Madison Comp - 12:30pm
Varsity softball vs Kings Mill at Olentangy Liberty - 1:15pm
Please check the athletic website for changes to any games.
https://www.centerburgtrojansathletics.org/
Monday 4/13:
Varsity baseball at Clear Fork - 5pm
Tuesday 4/14:
HS boys/girls track at Highland - 4:30pm
JV baseball at Cardington - 5:30pm
Varsity baseball vs Cardington - 5:30pm
Varsity softball vs Cardington - 5:30pm
Wednesday 4/15:
JV baseball vs Cardington - 5:15pm
Varsity baseball at Cardington - 5:15pm
Varsity softball at Cardington - 5:15pm
Thursday 4/16:
MS track at East Knox - 4:30pm
Friday 4/17:
MS track at Ontario - 4:30pm
Varsity softball at Dublin Scioto - 5:15pm
Saturday 4/18:
HS boys/girls track at Loudonville - 9am
JV baseball at Madison Comp - 10am
Varsity softball at Olentangy Liberty - 10am
Varsity baseball at Madison Comp - 12:30pm
Varsity softball vs Kings Mill at Olentangy Liberty - 1:15pm