Principal's Message

 

Welcome Back, Buckeye Central!

 

Welcome to a brand-new school year at Buckeye Central High School — a place where we continue to believe that rural doesn’t mean limited, and every student deserves a launchpad for success.

 

This year, our message is simple but powerful:

Start with what you love. Learn it. Love it. Live it.

To help us understand what that means, I want to introduce you to someone outside of Buckeye Central — someone whose story will shape the way we approach learning this year.

Meet Oliver Widger — “Sailing with Phoenix”

Oliver Widger grew up in Oregon and struggled in school. Diagnosed with a rare spinal condition (Klippel-Feil Syndrome), he faced physical and academic challenges as a teen. As an adult, he worked at a tire shop, unsure of where his life was headed. No college degree. No clear path. No sense of purpose.

 

And then he made a bold decision:
He quit his job, cashed out his 401(k), bought a small sailboat, and — with his rescue cat Phoenix — set out to sail across the Pacific Ocean.

He had never sailed before, but he didn’t let that stop him. He taught himself through reading, studying, asking questions, problem-solving, and sheer perseverance. He learned how to navigate, repair, monitor weather systems, and survive alone at sea. After 24 days in the Pacific, he arrived in Hawaii — greeted by the governor and hundreds of cheering strangers who had followed his journey online.

Oliver didn’t sail because he had credentials. He sailed because he had a dream.
He didn’t know everything. But he was willing to learn anything.

What This Means for You

You don’t have to sail 2,000 miles to discover your passion - we prefer you don't :)  But you do have to start. And there’s no better place to start than right here — at Buckeye Central.

We offer more than a diploma. We offer direction.

Here, you can:

• Take hands-on electives like Ag, Art, Business, FCS, Music, Spanish, Robotics, etc...
• Engage in college-level CCP courses in a supportive setting
• Compete in athletics while honoring a championship legacy
• Lead through clubs, theatre, leadership teams, and community projects
• Get daily time for growth, mentorship, and support in Bucks Block
• Explore career paths with the help of a dedicated career coach
• Discover and accelerate your learning in a rapidly advancing world — one that includes artificial intelligence. Here, you’ll learn how to leverage AI as a tool for your growth, not a replacement for your effort, curiosity, or critical thinking.
   

And through it all, we’ll challenge you to:

• Try something new
• Pursue something you love
• Push through something hard
• And springboard into your future
   

You might not know what that passion is yet. That’s okay. But don’t wait for someone to hand you a permission slip to explore it. You’re surrounded by opportunity — take advantage of it all.

The Challenge This Year

Every teacher, coach, and staff member at Buckeye Central is here to help you find your sailboat.
To help you learn it. Love it. Live it.

Let this be the year you:

• Try the club you’ve always been curious about
• Take the class that scares you a little
• Ask the question others won’t ask
• Take the risk that might change your direction
   

Oliver didn’t have it all figured out.
But he started with what he loved.

So can you.

Let’s go.
Let’s have a phenomenal year!

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Michael Martin
Principal
Buckeye Central High School