The Lima City Schools will kick off a campaign to collect toiletry items for middle school students Nov. 30. There will be boxes/bins at each of our school buildings until Dec. 10. People can drop items off during school hours.

Supplies needed include toothpaste. toothbrush, soap/body wash, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, lip balm and comb/brush/pick.

The items will be put together in care packages to distribute to fifth through eighth-grade students before winter break. These are items that school officials see as a real need for many of our students.

Large quantity items can be dropped off at Central Services/Bus Garage, 600 E. Wayne St. The garage is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days.

Monetary donations will also be accepted. For information, cal 419-996-3411 or bjokinen@spartan.limacityschools.org

The Ohio School Breakfast Challenge has named eight school buildings in the Lima City Schools 2019-20 Breakfast Challenge All-Stars.

Lima City Schools started its Breakfast in the Classroom program in 2003. All students in the district receive free breakfast and lunch every day.

The district is one of 307 schools to receive this notable award of being Breakfast Challenge All-Stars.

Freedom Elementary, Liberty Arts Magnet and Unity Elementary were awarded Platinum Stars, meaning that at least 80 percent of student’s had breakfast each day.

Heritage Elementary, Independence Elementary, North Middle School and West Middle School earned Gold Stars, meaning that 70 to 79 percent of students ate breakfast each day.

South Science and Technology Magnet was awarded a Silver Star, meaning that 60 to 69 percent of students had breakfast each day.

Each school will get a Breakfast All-Star poster to be put up and display throughout the school year.

Ohio School Breakfast Partners include the American Dairy Association, Action for Healthy Kids, Children’s Hunger Alliance, the School Nutrition Association of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Education.

Lima Senior High School recently unveiled its new Agricultural Education Program and Spartan Farm.

Supporters, school officials and FFA students attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the farm, located off of East Chapman Road.

The farm is on 30 acres of  land received from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Students currently spend three days a week on the farm. Already they have planted apple trees and cover crops and learned tractor, skid loader and other skills.

“The Spartan Farm Agronomy Lab will be for students to learn about operational grain production and management of land and natural resources,’ said Instructor Danial Maltsbarger. “Opportunities to learn about and drive agricultural equipment as well as modern Ag technology will help shape and develop our students for success in the local agricultural industry.”

The program is also utilizing classrooms at Lima Senior and garden space being developed at the former Emerson School site. The two-year program will cover agriculture food and natural resources, soil, crops, animal systems, animal and plant sciences, animal nutrition and genetics and much more.

A FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter has already started at the school. The group will be involved in the community and compete through the national organization. The chapter’s Fruit Sale — a FFA tradition — is happening now.

The Ag program is part of Lima Senior’s growing career tech offerings. It is available for juniors and seniors. It fits well into existing career tech programs like auto tech, welding and culinary.

“We had a lot of interest right away in the program from students already involved with 4-H and things like that,’ Superintendent Jill Ackerman said. “And now that we are up and running, we expect that interest to grow, including among students who may not have any farm experience. We are excited to introduce agriculture and all the opportunities it holds to all our students.”

The district already does a Farm Day event each spring to give elementary students the opportunity to experience life on a farm. It is currently held at one of the schools, but the farm will likely allow the district to expand the event.

Maltsbarger is a 2014 Upper Sandusky graduate who grew up on a farm and has experience with FFA and working with local farmers. He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Agricultural Business from the University of Northwestern Ohio.

Lima Senior High School’s DECA program will induct new members and install this year’s officers at its annual breakfast Friday, Sept. 11.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. at the Old Barn Out Back, 3175 W. Elm St.

Lima Senior’s DECA chapter offers students hands-on learning as well as helps students become better prepared for life after high school. Students in DECA learn skills in vocational understanding, social intelligence, leadership development and civic consciousness.

Students who are involved in DECA develop skills in advertising/promotion, communication/display, E-Commerce, economics, fundamentals of selling, marketing applications, buying and merchandising, social media marketing, logistics/distribution and public speaking.

Lima Senior has a strong DECA tradition, with students doing a number of projects and competing at the national/international level each year.

This year’s Senior Officers are

President: Dakota Miller

Vice President: Je’Niya Allen

Secretary/Treasurer: Nakiya Sigman

Spirit Shop CEO: Cecilia Suarez

Public Relations: Jourdyn Rawlins

Policy Advocate: Alex Engberg

Vice President of Finance: Ella Brayton

Vice President of Marketing: Ashley McGue

Vice President of Community Relations: Asani Browning

Vice President of Membership: Meghan Knuckles

Vice President of Leadership Development: Mike Snow

Teacher Chrissy Hood’s Junior Officers

Co-Presidents: Elsbeth Nelson & Marcus Brown

Vice President: Quintel Wilson

Secretary: Diante’ Griffin

Treasurer: Alexis Burns

Teacher Melissa Donald’s Junior Officers

President: Martrice Gaddy

Vice President: Isaiah Russell

Secretary: Honesty Brown

Treasurer: Evelyn Williams