Galion students connect with alumni during Connections Weekend

Press release

While the Galion City School District Connections Weekend is a time for alumni to visit their hometown and reconnect with old friends, it is also an opportunity for current Galion students to network with Galion alums and showcase their talents and lessons they’ve been learning.

The weekend’s activities kicked off with the annual Homecoming pep rally and bonfire Oct. 13. Every fall sports team’s athletes at both the Middle and High School were introduced, and a combined Alumni/High School marching band performed throughout the event. The Middle School and Youth Cheerleaders and Football teams were also a part of the festivities.

“The annual Homecoming pep rally is a great way to celebrate all of our outstanding student-athletes, cheerleaders and band members,” said Kyle Baughn, Galion Athletic Director. “This was a fantastic celebration of students at all levels.”

The following day, Friday, Oct. 14, brought two more big events for students and alumni. The first was the annual Career Day. This year’s event featured seven speakers sharing their insights with eighth grade students at Galion Middle School.

“I hope that any success in my career, and my love for psychology, inspires at least one student to value the quality of a public education, and consider psychology as a career,” said Dr. Kevin Arnold, Class of 1975 and Career Day speaker. “I would not be successful without the values and stick-to-it-iveness I learned from my teachers and coaches in the Galion City Schools.”

The evening’s events concluded with the annual Homecoming football game. Megan Zier was crowned the 2016 Homecoming Queen.

“Career Day has become an event our students look forward to every year,” said Joe Morabito, Middle School Principal. “While this is only my first year with the district, I immediately saw the impact our alumni made on the students and am excited to see what future events do for Galion students.”

The final day of Connections Weekend, Saturday, Oct. 15, started with the annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. Students from the Intermediate and Primary Schools worked as servers during the event and performed musical selections from The Leader in Me program. The Galion High School Showtunes show choir also performed during the event.

The student involvement carried over to the Galion City School District Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony. High School students in Mr. John Denoon’s Information Technology 3 and 4 classes manufactured centerpieces displayed on tables during the event. Primary and Intermediate students served as greeters for the evening, and seventeen Middle School students worked as servers. The High School Showtunes group performed the Galion High School Alma Mater during the event as well.

“I am very impressed by the way our building principals worked with the Connections Weekend committee to integrate students into so many different facets of this year’s events,” said Jim Grubbs, Galion Superintendent. “This year’s activities were some of the largest attended to date, and I’m humbled by the overwhelming support for these events by the Galion community.”