By GARY HUFFENBERGER

ghuffenberger@wnewsj.com

At East Clinton High School’s commencement on Saturday evening, May 26, the new graduates will be comprised of 47 young men and 43 young women.

High School Principal Betsy Wyatt reported Tuesday to the school board that summer tutoring for the OGT (Ohio Graduation Tests) has been set up.

To take the summer OGT test, a student has to participate in summer OGT tutoring sessions, said Wyatt. The tutoring will occur in early June.

The board on Tuesday approved summer OGT tutors: Matt Hodge, Tony Alloy, Kathryn Bundy, Jacalyn Walker and Kristi Grover.

During the upcoming school year, East Clinton High School will be the home school for 30 juniors attending Laurel Oaks and 31 seniors attending there.

Sabina Elementary School Principal Terri Barton said Sandy Jenkins has been providing guitar lessons to a small group of children after school on Thursdays. The children bring their own guitars and are learning the basic chords and finger positions.

Sabina fifth-grade students traveled to the East Clinton Middle School on May 3 for a band concert. This was an effort to help fifth-grade students learn a little bit about being in junior high band. A student/parent meeting was scheduled to provide more detailed information to those students wishing to participate in band.

Second-grade Sabina Elementary students will meet their New Vienna Elementary pen pals next Thursday, May 17 at the J.W. Denver Williams Jr. Memorial Park in Wilmington. The second-grade students also will walk to the Sabina Public Library this week to obtain information about summer reading programs and getting library cards.

The Kids Care Club at Sabina Elementary has planted a garden. Young adults connected with Grow Food Grow Hope based out of Wilmington College worked with the elementary students to help them learn about growing conditions and how to care for a garden.

The garden is located behind the school building near the land lab, said Barton.

The final event of the school year at Sabina Elementary is the PTO-sponsored Fun Day on Tuesday, May 22. All students at the school will take part in the day involving large blow-up toys and organized activities.

New Vienna Elementary School Principal Jason Jones reported to the board that OAA-testing students took a “victory lap” each morning through the building as non-testing students and staff “cheered for them and offered encouragement.”

Teachers and other staff have been encouraged, said Jones, to keep May days as typical as possible “so we can get the most educationally out of our last few weeks of school.”

The East Clinton Middle School’s annual awards program is set for Thursday, May 17 beginning at 9 a.m. at the middle school gym. Everyone is welcome, said Principal Robbin Luck.

Student awards will be given for a VFW essay contest, academics, attendance, band, the Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award, and the Wills Family Award.

The Wills Family Award is presented annually to an eighth-grade student “who exemplifies top performance, academics, athletics, and who most nearly fulfills our goal of giving the world good and decent citizens,” according to a copy of the program.

The price for breakfast will go up 25 cents next school year. Lunch prices will not change.