We're cheating a little bit this month and serving up small helpings of news from all over the district, just like a Thanksgiving buffet! There is a little something for everyone, so gather 'round and scroll down to see what is happening at Eastland-Fairfield as we dig into the holiday season.
Eastland Fairfield Career & Technical Schools
A Cornucopia of News to Feast On
Remembering Dennis Barber
Eastland-Fairfield and the staff and students of Eastland Career Center mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, friend, and mentor, Mr. Dennis Barber.
Mr. Barber passed away on November 1, 2024, at his home in Blue Rock, Ohio. He was a dedicated and passionate teacher for 28 years, spending the last 26 years teaching math at Eastland Career Center.
Mr. Barber was a lifelong Ohio State University Football fan and enjoyed boating, water skiing, billiards, and spending time with his river family around a fire. He also took pride and enjoyment in his home improvement projects at his home on the Muskingum River.
Dennis will be missed by many colleagues, former students, family, and friends from far and wide. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Barber Family and all those who shared in Mr. Barber's life.
How Mr. Barber Will Be Remembered...
"I had Mr. Barber as my math teacher. I struggled a lot with math and could never seem to pass my tests, especially during COVID. When I went to the career center and met Mr. Barber, I had a good feeling that he would make my year a lot easier, and I was right...He was my favorite teacher and I was so happy to be in his class and get to know him! If it wasn't for him, I don't think I would’ve ever passed. Rest in peace, Mr. Barber. You helped so many young people!"
"Without Mr. Barber, I wouldn’t have completed high school. Math was never a good subject for me and without him, I would have failed. He never made me feel dumb for having trouble and always did his best to help me. He walked me at my high school graduation and I’ve never forgotten the help he gave me and how kind he was to me."
"Mr. Barber was by far one of the best math teachers I ever had. I had the pleasure of being able to sit in his classroom for 2 years at Eastland."
"Dennis Barber was a wonderful teacher and will be deeply missed. I had the pleasure to sit in his classroom supervising our students and observe the compassion he had for all his students. He always kept the curriculum interesting."
"I was fortunate to work with Dennis. He was a great teacher and a wonderful person."
"Mr. Barber was my favorite math teacher, he made (me) feel like going to math class. Math class was my most disliked subject was actually great when he taught it. Not only did he help with math but was such an awesome guy to talk to, you will be forever missed."
BPA Holds Holiday Food Drive
Throughout November, students in Business Professionals of America (BPA) held its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit our communities through the Byron Saunders Foundation. This year, students at Eastland Career Center collected 659 items that will support and feed local families during this Thanksgiving holiday.
We are so proud of our students and staff who participated in this food drive and thankful for the opportunity to improve our communities through the Byron Saunders Foundation. Great job, ECC!
Opening Our Doors to You for Open House
We are ready to help you explore the next step of your or your student's journey! Join us for our biggest exploration event of the year when we open our doors to students and families at our annual EFCTS Open House on Thursday, December 5 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
This event is open to all, but will be most impactful for high school students grades 9-11.
9th graders can get a head start on exploring either career center and the programs available to them.
10th graders are welcome to walk into classrooms, ask questions, engage with students, and even begin the application process for the 2025-26 school year!
11th graders, did you know that we have one-year, senior-only programs, too? If you're still interested in a one-year opportunity to set you up for what's next, there is something for you, too.
Parents, guardians, and families -- Eastland-Fairfield also has a selection of adult programs that are available to those 18 years and older with a high school diploma, and additional programming for those seeking their high school diploma or wanting to improve their English speaking and comprehension.
There truly is something for everyone. Click/tap the button above or visit www.EastlandFairfield.com/openhouse to see all the possibilities and additional details about Open House!
Election Season at Fairfield Career Center
Prior to the 2024 General Election, Mrs. Levacy's U.S. Government class at Fairfield Career Center was learning about the election process and all that goes into a polling location when conducting an election. It was a relevant lesson because of the timing while in the depths of election season, but also because (did you know?) Eastland Career Center serves as a polling location for residents of Groveport!
Not only did students learn how an election is conducted, in true career-tech education fashion, they got to conduct a mock election as part of the exercise. Fairfield Career Center turned into a mock polling station where students performed all of the responsibilities of a poll worker and invited students and staff to participate in the mock election. It was reported that more than half of the school participated, which gave Mrs. Levacy's students fantastic practice in their respective rolls. It also gave the students great appreciation for those that serve at the polls on Election Day.
Side Dishes, Tidbits, and Fix'ins
Different flavors of news in small portions for you to gobble up...
Brush Up on EF Calamity Day Policy
Winter weather is upon us! Before the snow REALLY starts falling, brush up on Eastland-Fairfield's calamity day policy and what it means for your family. Also learn about how you will be notified about a Calamity Day, should one be initiated. Visit EastlandFairfield.com/calamityday for more information, or
BPOT is Virtually Awesome!
The Eastland-Fairfield Basic Police Officer Training (BPOT) program is now using immersive technologies to enhance the training its cadets receive. Virtual reality headsets were provided to the Eastland Police Academy for temporary use to simulate real-life scenarios they may encounter as peace officers.
If you're interested in this Gold Star training, visit EastlandFairfield.com/bpot.
Schuler Served Up as Student of the Week
Congratulations to Jenna Schuler, a senior from New Albany High School who is enrolled in the EFCTS Sports Medicine program at New Albany, for being named the Dispatch Student of the Week on November 15th! She won 38% of the vote, and definitely deserves it. Click or tap the button below to learn more.
FFA Goes National!
Typically, CTSO season is in the spring. Not for our students in FFA! In late October our Animal Management students bussed out to the 97th FFA Convention in Indianapolis to take part in various leadership activities, skill showcases, and important industry conversations. They had a blast and learned so much!
Honoring our Veterans
The Renaissance Leadership class took a moment on Veterans Day to express their gratitude to our Eastland-Fairfield staff that also served in the U.S. military. Thank you to our staff who served, and to all of our veterans for your service.
IMPORTANT: Update your Contact Info!
To our EFCTS Families: please be sure to update your contact information and ensure it is accurate! This is how you will receive Calamity Day notifications and other important news from EFCTS.
You can view and update your contact information through the OneView Parent Portal. Click or tap the button below to log in to your account.
Welcome to New Members of our Pit Crew!
Eastland-Fairfield continues to grow and so we need new members to add to our team - and this year, we're calling our team The Pit Crew.
Welcome to all of our new staff members who are joining Eastland-Fairfield to serve our students and families!
District Office
Robert (Craig) Buechner, Courier
Fairfield Career Center
Chrissy Tilley, Guidance Secretary
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
Stay Connected with EFCTS
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Contact Us!
District Office
4300 Amalgamated Place
Groveport, Ohio 43125
614-836-4530
info@efcts.us
Join Our Team!
If you have a passion for student and organizational success, education, and want to be a part of our winning team, The Pit Crew, check out the job openings that are available at Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools!
Click on the link button below. Then, click on View our Open Positions on the following webpage to see all of our listings.
