Whitley County Consolidated Schools

Have a grateful Thanksgiving break. The Central Office and WCCS school buildings are closed Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29.

Mark Your Calendars | The current eighth grade class is invited to attend a Class of 2029 meeting at CCHS on December 5 from 6-8 p.m. to learn more about the academies at CCHS. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. #ExperienceWCCS #Classof2029

The work of Whitley County Consolidated Schools creates a continuum of experiences for our students K-12 which reinforce our dedication to strong academics, as well work ethic and employability standards. As eagles, we applaud the growth and development of persistence, respectfulness, initiative, dependability and efficiency in our school and community for Eagle P.R.I.D.E. You will see our students awarded each quarter for these characteristics and the common language used throughout our district. #ExperienceWCCS #EaglePRIDE #WCCSRelationshipBuilders

We're Hiring at CCHS! Columbia City High School is seeking a part-time para-professional to join our EAGLE room team. This 5-hour per day position will provide instructional and behavioral support to students in our specialized EAGLE program. Responsibilities include: - Monitoring student behavior and implementing behavior intervention strategies - Facilitating small group and 1-on-1 learning activities - Collaborating with the special education team Qualified candidates should have: - High school diploma or equivalent - Strong communication and interpersonal skills This is a great opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our students. If you're interested in joining our team, please apply by December 27, at https://www.applitrack.com/r8esc/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=37410&category=Support+Staff #SpecialEducation #ExperienceWCCS #CCHS #WCCSRelationshipBuilders

Notice: The Main Street railroad crossing ( Big G's) will remain closed until mid morning on November 6. Please avoid the area and plan appropriate routes for school drop-off. The railroad crossings at Line Street and Ohio Street are currently open.

Little Turtle Elementary will have our first annual Veterans Day Car Parade to honor Veterans and all of our Armed Forces. This Parade is to honor Veterans and all members of our Armed Forces. It will be a backward parade of sorts, all Veterans and any service men and women will drive their cars around our marked "parade route" No Veterans are getting out of their cars, just driving though, as we cheer you on and celebrate you! The parade is on Monday, November 11 at 9:00-10:00 am. We want students to try to invite someone in the military. That’s where we need your help! We need to know who those special people are. If you know or can invite someone in the United States Armed Forces, past or present, please ask them to come! We want to honor as many as we can. Please contact Brandi Duncan at Little Turtle Elementary with any questions. Brandi Duncan Music Teacher

Parent Teacher Conferences are on Wednesday, October 23. Connect with your child(ren)'s teacher to schedule a time to meet. All students and families are welcome to participate in parent teacher conferences.

It's the last day of National School Lunch Week and our food service staff have been having fun getting creative with their fruit displays! These were bananas served at Northern Heights and blueberries at Little Turtle . What a great way to encourage the students to eat more fresh produce! Our hardworking food service staff work hard all year to make sure students have access to healthy, delicious meals. Thanks for all you do to nourish our school community!

It's National School Lunch Week! 🍔🍎 This week, our cafeterias are serving up some delicious and nutritious meals that students love: Today was a student favorite- breakfast for lunch! Pictured is a pan of warm cinnamon rolls served at Mary Raber. Tomorrow we will be trying a new recipe at the middle and high schools- a cajun chicken pasta! And Friday will be another student favorite- it's pizza day! We're committed to providing balanced, tasty lunches that fuel our students for learning. Celebrate #NationalSchoolLunchWeek with us this week!

All WCCS Skyward SMS 2.0 systems will be down beginning Friday, October 11th at 6:00 p.m. and continuing until 7:00 p.m. Saturday, October 12th, while our host is installing the latest updates. Please refrain from making eFunds payments during this time, as well, because they may not be properly recorded.

WCCS Families. This afternoon local law enforcement was involved in a pursuit that ended in close proximity to our campus. There is no danger and the pursuit ended before they got to the south campus (Little Turtle, ISMS and CCHS); however, you will see increased police presence in the area during dismissal while they finish their work. The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities. While this incident occurred in the vicinity of our campus, our campus remains safe and secure. We have been in close communication with local authorities, who have assured us that the situation has been contained and there is no need for any lockdown or other emergency measures. Thank you for your understanding.

Today, on National School Custodian Day, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible custodians who keep Whitley County Consolidated Schools running smoothly every single day. Our custodians do so much more than maintain clean, safe, and functional buildings. They are true partners in the education of our students, going above and beyond to build meaningful connections and positively impact young lives. Whether it's high-fiving students in the hallway, helping with lunches, or engaging in our school fun, our custodians demonstrate care and investment in the well-being of our school community. Behind the scenes, our custodians work tirelessly to ensure our classrooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums, and playgrounds are meticulously maintained. Their hard work and diligence allow our teachers to focus on delivering top-notch instruction and our students to learn, grow, and thrive. To our amazing WCCS custodians - thank you for all that you do! We are incredibly grateful for your service. Your contributions are invaluable, and we couldn't do it without you. Please join us in honoring and celebrating our custodial staff on this special day. #WCCSRealtionshipBuilders #ExperienceWCCS

Whitley County Consolidated Schools is pleased to award Shelley Eberly, fifth-grade teacher at Little Turtle Elementary and Katie Kellam, office assistant at Coesse Elementary, as Teacher of the Month and Staff of the Month for September 2024! #WCCSRelationshipBuilders

Columbia City High School Fine Arts presents Beauty and the Beast! Tickets are on sale now. Friday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 9 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Purchase Tickets here: https://cur8.com/18800/project/125271?fbclid=IwY2xjawFfj71leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRA8Vp6eWFon14dczXek4GJvNMEVxA-ScR4D_vAheyFuisQtZdTOPbx35Q_aem_1gLvr9Yb0eFEqAaL2tMnZw Tickets are $10 each and a show you won't want to miss. Bring your princess and beasts to a Tea Party with Mrs. Potts following the 2 p.m. show on Saturday! #ExperienceWCCS #BeautyandtheBeast

This month’s Whitley County Consolidated Schools’ (WCCS) transportation employee spotlight is Janell Wood who serves as a special needs’ bus aide. Janell has been a bus aide for 8 years.  Janell grew up in Columbia Township and graduated from Columbia City High School. Prior to becoming a full-time bus aide for WCCS, Janell had her own home daycare for 28 years. Janell has been married for 39 years, has three sons and, and six grandkids.   We asked Janell the following questions: What is the favorite thing you enjoy about being an aide and a special needs bus? Interacting with the kids.   What kind of hobbies do you have? Enjoys going to the Wagon Wheel and watching plays and musicals. What is your favorite restaurant? Wherever the kids and grandkids want to go. What do you do in your free time?  Spend time with family. Thank you, Janell! #WCCSRealtionshipBuilders #ExperienceWCCS

School Smiles will be at WCCS the week of October 14. Parents/Guardians must register their child(ren) before the event. Exams, X-rays. dental supplies, and more. Click the link to view when School Smiles will be at your school and to register today! https://www.wccsonline.com/article/1786358

Yesterday Northern Heights was celebrated at the Indiana State House! Northern Heights Elementary School, part of Whitley County Consolidated Schools (WCCS), was celebrated at the Indiana Statehouse for their reading proficiency scores. Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner recognized schools where at least 95% of students demonstrated reading proficiency. Northern Heights Elementary School fourth grade class was celebrated with a reading literacy achievement of 97.5% on their IREAD assessment as third-grade students during the 2023-2024 school year. Northern Heights Elementary Principal, Mrs. Michelle Burch, and teachers, Mrs. Mindy Gawthrop and Mrs. Lisa Kissinger, accepted the award on behalf of the school. Read more: https://www.wccsonline.com/article/1787256

At Whitley County Consolidated Schools, we believe that empowering our teachers is the key to empowering our students. That's why we are committed to providing our educators with robust professional development opportunities to continuously improve their knowledge and skills. Today was a success, allowing us to closely follow our strategic plan and deliver impactful training tailored to the unique needs of our teachers and staff. Through interactive workshops, collaborative discussions, and exposure to the latest best practices, our educators left feeling energized and inspired to take their teaching to new heights. By investing in the growth and development of all of our staff, we are ensuring that every student at WCCS receives the highest quality education possible. Our teachers are the backbone of our schools, and when they thrive, our students thrive too. We're so proud of the dedication and adaptability our teachers and staff have shown, and we can't wait to see the incredible impact they will have in our buildings. "Adults are continuous learners too," said Mrs. Courtney Straub, an elementary teacher at Mary Raber Montessori. These professional development days are full of intention so we can bring more to our students. We look forward to seeing our students tomorrow! #ExperienceWCCS #WCCSRelationshipBuilders

As a reminder, Whitley County Consolidated Schools will participate in our first teacher professional development day of the school year on Wednesday, Sept. 25. There is no school for students on Sept. 25. There are four more planned through the year, you can find them on our calendars at https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2777/WCCS/4357776/Approved_24-25_-incorporating_5_PD_days_-_24-25.pdf

At Whitley County Consolidated Schools, we are deeply committed to the well-being and safety of every student in our care. Several years ago, we embarked on a strategic planning process to enhance our comprehensive student experience. This involved implementing Eagle P.R.I.D.E. a culture of belonging, and having staff and students knowledgeable about purpose, processes and procedures for providing mental health support and resources. Through these intentional efforts, we have seen a positive impact on student well-being. Our students know that they are seen, heard and valued. They have access to caring adults, peer support, and professional counseling services whenever they are struggling. While we pause to acknowledge this achievement, we also recognize that the journey to safeguard student mental health is an ongoing one. We remain steadfast in our commitment to continually evaluate and enhance our programs to ensure that Whitley County students receive the support they deserve. To the students, families, educators and community members who have contributed to this milestone, we extend our deepest gratitude. Together, we are building a future where all students can thrive. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, help is available. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for free, confidential support. WCCS also encourages the use of STOPit, an online anonymous reporting system to make reports and alert school administrators to issues. https://www.wccsonline.com/page/stopit #WCCSRelationshipBuilders #ExperienceWCCS