Columbia City High School

We Continue to Celebrate Career & Technical Education at Whitley County Consolidated Schools! This February, we highlight the incredible opportunities our Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways provide for students to transform their futures during National CTE Month! At Whitley County, our CTE programs prepare students for real-world success through hands-on learning and industry-recognized credentials. We offer diverse pathways including: Agri-Science Automotive Biomedical Business Administration Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Civil Construction Computer Science Cosmetology Criminal Justice Culinary Arts Design Technology Early Childhood Education Education Professions Emergency Medical Services Engineering Fire and Rescue Horticulture Human & Social Services Marketing & Sales Precision Agriculture Precision Machining Radio & TV Welding Technology Why CTE Matters: Earn industry certifications Gain practical job skills Explore career opportunities Earn college credits Hands-on learning experiences Our students aren't just learning—they're preparing for successful careers right here in our community. Each pathway connects classroom learning with real-world application, giving students a competitive edge. These opportunities are available to our students in partnership with our local community! View more of our CTE Guide on our website wccsonline.com/o/cchs/page/career-and-technical-education. Proud of our students and the dedicated educators who make these opportunities possible! #CTEMonth #CTE #ExperienceWCCS

Notice: Radio Road will close March 3-7 for NIPSCO to complete some work. Please make sure you plan alternative routes and give yourself extra time to safely get to and from school.

Intern Spotlights | Our Work Based Learning programs provide significant impact for our student learning and our community mentors. This semester 165 senior students are in our community continuing their hands-on education. #ExperienceWCCS

February is CTE Month, which celebrates the accomplishments of CTE programs and the importance of CTE for students of all ages. At Columbia City High School, students have access to four nationally recognized Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). FCCLA and FFA are hosted at Indian Springs Middle School, too! Career and Technical Education (CTE) at WCCS helps prepare students for employment, enrollment or enlistment. Access to CTSOs allows students to continue their education and apply their skills through regional, state, and national level competitions with like-minded students. Thank you, CTSO advisors and leaders! Learn more at wccsonline.com/o/cchs/page/career-and-technical-education

To help connect area businesses to Whitley County high school students, CCHS is hosting a College & Career Fair on Thursday, March 27 from 1 -2:45 p.m. at Columbia City High School. Students from Columbia City High School, Churubusco High School, and Whitko High School have the availability to attend. Area businesses are invited to reserve an 8ft table/space (tables provided) to promote their career and to share any available summer or job opportunities to current and graduating students. We look forward to partnering with our community for this important student experience! Please reserve your spot by March 1. You can scan the QR code to complete the Career Fair Registration Form to reserve your spot!

February is CTE Month, which celebrates the accomplishments of CTE programs and the importance of CTE for students of all ages. At WCCS, 96 percent of our students in grades 8 through 12 are enrolled in a CTE course. Career and Technical Education (CTE) at WCCS helps prepare students for employment, enrollment or enlistment. With more than 24 pathways, which one would you choose?? Learn more at wccsonline.com/o/cchs/page/career-and-technical-education

As a reminder, there is no school on Friday, February 14 and on Monday, February 17. These are included as snow make-up days in our calendar. View our school calendar at wccsonline.com. There is a quick link at the top of the page. Enjoy your long weekend, eagles!

Recently, Reelcraft donated air hose reels for the Automotive Program's technician bay. "Reelcraft is proud and happy to support the community and love to see the red reels in the community! These students could support jobs in the future and we are glad to make their learning experience a bit better," said James Maggard, Reelcraft Logistics Manager. Automotive program instructor, Chris Cuney, said he's grateful for the reels. "We have high expectations about safety and a clean and safe shop environment. It will be nice to get these hoses off the floor. Thank you, Reelcraft." The CCHS Automotive CTE Program is taught in partnership with City Automall and is in its first year! #CTE #ExperienceWCCS

This past weekend, both City Heat and City Lights won GRAND CHAMPION in their divisions at the Carrol Classic competition. City Lights received Best Band, Best Stage Crew, Best Visuals, and Best Vocals. City Heat received Best Visuals. Congratulations to the Director, Justin Fiechter, and all the student performers, stage crew, band, and all the volunteers who helped make this win possible! Next weekend both choirs will be competing at Dekalb. Good luck to both groups! #ExperienceWCCS

Happy National School Counseling Week! Our buildings have been celebrating this week to bring attention to the unique contribution of school counselors. Presented by the American School Counselor Association, National School Counseling Week is celebrated the first full week in February. WCCS extends appreciation to our school counselors and student support staff who help our students thrive in a variety of different ways. Consider how you can show appreciation for your school counselor this week. Maybe it's a quick note or a simple high-five, anything to let them know they're valued. #WCCSExperience #WCCSRelationshipBuilders #SchoolCounselingWeek

Remember, there is no school on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. Feb. 4 is a Professional Development Day for our staff. View our school year calendar at wccsonline.com/documents/school-year-calendars/332185

Students recently competed at the JAG Career Development Conference at Marion Ivy Tech with other JAG programs in the region. Alasha P., Mackenzie M., and Charlie W. presented their Project-Based Learning Project. McKenna K. presented a speech that she prepared to a panel of judges. Brecken L. presented a budget he created based on the first 12 months after graduation. Jadyn S. presented her Career Preparation project. Jadyn also got SECOND PLACE for her project!!! All of these students worked so hard last semester on their projects and represented Columbia City High School JAG so well at competition! Congratulations!

Students from kindergarten through 12th grade learned about the power of legumes in our first “Try-It Tuesday” of the year. Pictured are samples of the refried beans all students were offered and encouraged to try. Did you know beans are packed with protein to keep you strong, give you energy for class and sports, and help your brain stay focused? Our students do now!

We’re excited to announce Officer Lewis Fuller as the new Student Resource Officer (SRO) at Columbia City High School! Officer Fuller brings 15+ years of experience to our communty and joined to Columbia City Police Department this past November. “This is my home. I was born and raised here, I coach here, and my kids attend school here. It was an opportunity for me to be back in this community,” shared Officer Fuller, who has a senior and an eighth grader in the district. As SRO, Officer Fuller’s primary duties will include ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and building, addressing crimes on campus, and serving as a mentor and positive role model. He will also act as a liaison between the school and local law enforcement. Fuller recently served the past five years as Sergeant of the SROs and as an SRO himself at Warsaw Community Schools. We are thrilled to welcome Officer Fuller to Columbia City and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our students and school community! #WCCSRelationshipBuilders #SRO #Welcome #ExperienceWCCS

Today nearly 300 students had the opportunity to rotate through Army's Medical Adventure Semi. The Medical Adventure Semi features research and medical career opportunities within the Army. The semi also has a chance for students to interact as a trauma triage medic, practice intubating, and CPR with leading technology to assist with their proficiency. "It was cool to see the computer advancements and feel the simulators outside of the ones we use in class," said Nevaeh, CCHS senior and CCMA student. "The Medical Adventure Semi travels to schools, festivals, conventions, air shows and other community events to promote the medical professions within the Army," said Michael Wright, Army representative. #HHS #WCCSRelationshipBuilders #Army

Our CCHS staff gathered for a short time during our work day to say farewell to Mrs. Gail Sheckler and Mr. Brian Anspach as they begin their retirement. Together, with their families, the CCHS administrative team and co-workers shared a brief overview of their time at CCHS and the impact they've made in our building. Mr. Mullett said it best when he said, "how you love and care for students will be truly missed!" Thank you, Gail and Brian, for your years of dedication to our eagles!

Mr. Ambrose's Preparing for College and Careers class had mock interviews this week. We had 25 community volunteers provide this experience for 88 students. This is a great experience to practice professional introductions, handshakes, eye contact, and professional conversation. THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers!

WCCS Families, With winter break here, I want to remind you that the safety and well-being of our school community continue to be a top priority. The holidays are a time when some students may need additional support. During the break, the reporting feature for STOPit, our anonymous reporting system will be shut off. Students will continue to have access to the app for local resources and the Crisis Text Line services during the break. The reporting feature will come back into service on January 5. -Lyle Kuhmichel Director of District Safety and Student Services

This week our Career and Technical Education (CTE) leaders hosted career pathway advisory board meetings to connect existing and potential industry leaders with our school community. Introducing our partners to the new CCHS academy structure and tabletop discussions collaborating on student and industry outcomes were the highlights. We extend our appreciation to our partners! Our work-based learning and career-focused classes wouldn't be the same without you! If you're interested in partnering with CCHS, contact Jennifer Reiff or Lori Heuer. You can learn more on our website at https://www.wccsonline.com/o/cchs/page/academies #ExperienceWCCS #WCCSRelationshipBuilders

CTE Criminal Justice | Our Criminal Justice class has learned proper handcuffing techniques under the guidance of Instructor Stacy Sexton! Here they’re practicing proper technique and defense. Career and Technical Education is all about hands-on training, and these future law enforcement professionals are gaining critical skills for safe and professional interactions. Mr. Sexton is a retired law enforcement officer and supervised all classroom and curriculum content to ensure student safety during the practicum. #CTE #PublicSafety #ExperienceWCCS