The Steele Strikes Cancer 2026 campaign proved what’s possible when our community comes together. With a goal of $67,000, our students went above and beyond by raising an incredible $72,340.08 to support those battling blood cancer nationwide.

Thanks to the generosity of our top sponsors—Amherst VFW, American Legion Post 118, North Ridgeville VFW, Pederson Insulation Co., and Nordson Corporation—along with strong participation across our schools, the impact was felt far and wide. School contributions totaled $9,355, with an additional $1,078.86 raised through Dine to Donate events.

Our efforts also contributed to the $1.9 million raised across the Eastern Great Lakes Region, where our team placed 9th out of 39 teams.

Even more impressively, Steele Strikes Cancer earned a Mission Pillar Award for Patient Support which was one of only three awarded across the entire program highlighting the meaningful difference our students made for patients and families.

Thank you to everyone who supported this incredible cause. Together, we are making a lasting impact.

I had the opportunity to serve as a guest judge at the Walter G. Nord 4th and 5th Grade Spelling Bees, and it was truly a great experience. Congratulations to all of our fantastic spellers for their courage and confidence in standing up in front of their classmates. Your hard work was on full display!

Special recognition goes to our winners: 4th graders Mila Drake, Leo Greer, and Ember Hunter, and 5th graders Brayden King and Timothy Hui. These students will advance to the Lorain County Spelling Bee, held at Northwood Middle School (570 N. Abbe Rd., Elyria) on April 16, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for grades 3–4 and April 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for grades 5–6. Best of luck as you continue this exciting journey. We are so proud of you all!

4th Grade Spelling Bee Winners

5th Grade Spelling Bee Winners

Many of our talented orchestra, band, and choir students from Amherst Junior High were selected to participate in the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) District 4 Honors Festival held on March 14. This prestigious event brings together top student performers from across the region to form elite honors ensembles in orchestra, band, and choir.

In preparation, students learned and practiced challenging musical selections ahead of time. They then had the opportunity to work with a distinguished guest clinician and expert conductor during an intensive rehearsal process. This included a three-hour session prior to the event, followed by focused and detailed rehearsals on the day of the performance.

The festival culminated in an outstanding concert that showcased the students’ dedication, collaboration, and musical excellence. Being selected for the OMEA Honors Festival is a significant achievement, and we are incredibly proud of these students for their hard work and artistry.

Marion L. Steele senior Shyla Plezia made history as the FIRST student to attend the School Nutrition Association Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

Alongside Amherst Schools Nutrition Supervisor Deanne Kelbley, Shyla spent March 8–10 advocating for stronger federal support for school meal programs. Inspired by her own experience with free and reduced lunch, she spoke up not just for Amherst students, but for students across the country.

During the conference, Shyla:

• Met with congressional staffers on Capitol Hill to discuss expanding free school meal access

• Asked a question to a panel with the United States Department of Agriculture

• Shared the student perspective on how school meal programs impact students nationwide with the SNA National's Media/Marketing team in an in-person interview.

We’re so proud of Shyla for using her voice to make a difference!

Watch the video below to hear the question she asked and see photos from their time in Washington, D.C.

Shoutout to our Indoor Track & Field athletes who competed at the New Balance National Championships in Boston, held at the renowned New Balance Indoor Track.

The 4x200 meter relay team—Carter Boone, Julius Donald, Gaige Patton, and Ben Thompson—ran an outstanding race, winning their heat with a time of 1:29.75, just narrowly missing a spot in the finals.

The 4x400 meter relay team—Ethan Wilhelms, Ben Dotson, Julius Donald, and Ben Thompson—competed last Sunday, closing out an incredible indoor season with a third-place finish in their heat and posting the team’s second-fastest 4x400 time of the season at 3:26.72.

We are incredibly proud of these athletes for their hard work and impressive performances on a national stage!

Good luck to our Girls Flag Football team as they take the field for the very first time tonight in their inaugural season! We know how hard they’ve been working to prepare for this moment, and we’re excited to cheer them on all season long. 

Be sure to check out their schedule below and come out to support these amazing athletes!