Zionsville Community Schools - Newspaper July 2023

Zionsville Community Schools

Congratulations Class of 2023 Commencement shines light on years of hard work and preparation

On a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon, members of the Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) graduating class and scores of family and friends packed the Ascension St. Vincent Stadium for the 2023 commencement ceremony. Smiles and proud waves underscored an afternoon filled with memorable speeches, moving music and graduation pomp and circumstance.

The ceremonial turning of the tassels signaled the end of a milestone march that has led to new beginnings. Some of our graduates will head to college while others will pursue a trade or a gap year, begin a career, or enlist in the military. Wherever their paths lead, ZCHS youth are prepared and supported.

Nearly 70 percent of graduates earned a Core 40 diploma with academic honors. Eight graduates were foreign exchange students. Six members of the Class of 2023 enlisted in a branch of the military, an ROTC program, or a United

States Military Academy. Fifty-nine members of the class were enrolled in an industry certification program while in high school.

Seniors passed 1,285 Advanced Placement (AP) Exams and 763 dual credit courses valued at $2,716,224 in college tuition. This calculation is based on the national average of $1,344 for a public post-secondary three-hour course. AP cumulative results are released each July.  The credit course calculation reflects our most up-to-date data from 2022.

Members of the Class of 2023 completed nearly 35,000 hours of service, raised more than $65,000 for charities and participated in

close to 80 clubs and activities.

Ahead of graduation, seniors participated in the annual Senior Awards Ceremony. During this year’s program, senior award recipients were recognized for earning more than $500,000 worth of scholarship and award money from local and individual foundations, many of which are based in Boone County or neighboring communities. A hearty congratulations to the ZCHS Class of 2023.

Scan QR code for complete senior achievement and 2023 graduation highlights.

The first day of school is August 14

The first day of school for ZCS students for the 2023-2024 school year is August 14. Staff have been working all summer to ensure our doors are ready to open to students for the upcoming year.

The ZCS website has up-todate school information, dates, and times for the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

Scan QR code to access the ZCS School Start Guide.

The“Top20”intheZCHSClassof2023 werecelebratedatarecognitionluncheon.

TheRotaryClubofZionsvillehonored20ZCHSseniorsfordemonstratingthepersonal assetsoftheZCSStronginEveryWayidealsandembodyingtheRotaryFour-WayTestTenets.

BooneCountySeniorSalute2023 SeniorAwardsNight2023

New Eagle Ambassador Academy set to begin this school year

Vision for the future

Dr. Rebecca Coffman began her role as ZCS Superintendent of Schools on February 1, 2023. Meeting with staff and listening to families and community members during the first few months of her tenure has helped set priorities for the 2023-2024 school year and beyond.

It is a privilege to look ahead to the 2023-2024 school year, my first full year as the ZCS Superintendent of Schools. I am passionate about ensuring all children have the opportunity to grow academically - and to be seen, known, heard and loved in their school environments.

I stepped into this new role on February 1 and have spent the last few months meeting with staff across the district and engaging in dialogue with families and community members. Through a series of coffee talks, I was able to reflect with those interested in sharing their hopes for the future of ZCS.

These ongoing discussions have allowed me the dedicated time to listen to parents and residents who are the heart of our community. We are fortunate to

Student growth remains the core mission of Zionsville Community Schools.

have a caring community that is highly invested in our youth. I am honored to partner with you in building on past successes while shaping a new future for the school district.

Together, with the elected ZCS Board of Trustees, we will build on the vision for the school district and make decisions focused solely on the reason we open our

doors each day - for the children of our community. Our core mission remains focused on student growth. Our goal is to provide relevant and robust learning experiences in an environment that honors this commitment we have made to our community. We have exceptional capacity and talent in this community, and those traits are mirrored in each of our schools. Our community continues to grow in large part due to the quality of our schools and the experiences we have built for our children. After more than two decades in education and serving in many district roles including teacher, principal, central office administrator and now superintendent, I can say with a grateful heart that I love this community and am proud to lead Zionsville Commu-

Trailside teacher named District Teacher of the Year

nity Schools into the future.

I am a mom to three children in the ZCS school district. My husband and I made Zionsville our home many years ago and raising our children here has provided them with many opportunities. I have watched my children grow in a school community that I now have the privilege to lead. I look forward to seeing you in the community, on the ball fields, in classrooms and at school programs. I have experienced with my own children the magic that exists in our schools. Thank you for being a part of the magic! Here's to a great year ahead,

Dr. Rebecca Coffman Superintendent of Schools

The inaugural class of the newly formed ZCS Eagle Ambassador Academy will be selected in early September, and the program is scheduled to begin shortly thereafter. Applications for the academy are now available online.

This program is designed to take you inside Zionsville Community Schools to gain in-depth knowledge of how the school system operates. Through this new series of interactive sessions, you will gain a better understanding of what makes Zionsville Community Schools one of the top performing public school districts in the state of Indiana.

By participating in the academy, you will have an opportunity to connect with district and building level ZCS team members as you work alongside other community leaders for the children in Eagle and Union Townships. Seminar sessions will be held one evening a month for 90 minutes, 6:30 - 8 p.m. A tentative schedule has been established. Eagle Ambassador Academy participants should plan to attend all program sessions. More information, including the application, can be found on the ZCS website at www.zcs.k12.in.us.

Trailside Elementary School Teacher of the Year Courtney Stein was named Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS) District Teacher of the Year at the May Board Meeting. Ms. Stein will represent ZCS at the state level.

Construction complete

Since the community passed the referendum in November 2019, ZCS has successfully completed a wide range of building projects to enhance district learning spaces while continuing to maintain the Board’s decade-long pledge to maintain tax rate stability.

In addition to opening Trailside Elementary School, Boone Meadow Elementary School underwent a major remodel project to create additional classrooms and other spaces that support student learning. As a result of these new classrooms and the redistricting process, ZCS has been able to preserve small class sizes at the elementary level to optimally serve our 3,000 youngest learners.

The addition/remodel project that is near completion at Zionsville Community High School was designed with student and staff input and has created new areas for art, science, business, and special education programming. Aside from the new spaces, the district has also tackled dozens of other publicly bid projects to maintain welcoming learning environments for all ZCS

students. These construction projects have allowed spaces, such as restrooms that were built as far back as 1954, to be updated. Original carpeting and other flooring has also been replaced in several of our schools. Many of these upgrades have included replacements of aging HVAC equipment which has allowed for more comfortable temperatures, energy efficiency, and improved air quality for all individuals.

There has been a large expansion to the Transportation Center (first built in 1999), as well as carpeting, lighting, and sound updates in the Performing Arts Center. Repairs to middle school outdoor classrooms have also been completed.

With support from our community partners, we have updated several fire alarm systems, finished roofing replacements, updated student furniture, and replaced track and turf playing surfaces just to name a few.

Thank you for your ongoing support so that we may best serve everyone in ZCS.

Pleasant View Elementary School Literacy Award

Third

Referendum dollars significantly impact overall school operations

In 2019, the community showed overwhelming support for the school district by passing a twoquestion referendum with one of the highest margins ever in the state of Indiana.

Because of community support of the capital referendum, Trailside Elementary School was built (and opened in August 2022). A high school addition was completed, and district leaders targeted much-needed building renovations as identified through a comprehensive facilities study.

In addition to the capital referendum, the operating referendum was renewed and pays for teachers, counselors and other school district professionals.

As a direct result of these successful ballot questions, ZCS leaders have been able to adequately staff so that class sizes can remain small and top-notch school programming can be implemented.

Did you know that many ZCS teachers and professional staff are funded through referendum dollars? Those positions include:

Kindergarten Teachers

School Counselors

School Psychologists

Speech Language Pathologists

ENL Teachers

Elementary STEM Coaches

Elementary Literacy Coaches

Pleasant View Elementary (PVE) School received the first ever Indiana Excellence in Early Literacy Award at the inaugural Educational Excellence Awards Gala, sponsored by the Indiana Department of Education. This award was presented to PVE as the largest school in the state (out of over 1600 schools) to achieve the highest schoolwide IREAD-3 pass rate percentage, along with the highest pass rate across all student populations in the 2022-2023 school year.

The IREAD-3 test is the state’s reading proficiency assessment which is administered each spring to grade three students. It serves as the state’s measure on students’ ability to read and comprehend third grade level texts.

This award recognized and honored the dedicated, focused, purposeful work of the entire PVE Staff including teachers, instructional assistants, coaches, special education staff and administration. It also highlighted the incredible work of our students who worked alongside staff and each other to grow their literacy skills over the years.

Kindergarten students participate in Safety Town

Each summer, families of incoming kindergarten students have an opportunity to enroll their child in a safety camp at one of the six elementary schools. As part of the Safety Town program, students learn a variety of skills including: crossing streets safely, playground safety, stranger awareness, basic first aid, and fire escape. They also have a chance to ride on a school bus and learn all about school bus safety as they prepare for kindergarten.

Elementary Art Teachers

Elementary Music Teachers

Elementary Wellness Teachers

Middle School Art Teachers

Middle School Music Teachers

Middle School PE Teachers

Middle School PLTW Teachers

Middle School World Languages Teachers

Middle School Instructional Coaches

Technology Integration Specialists

Customized Content Teachers

Media Center Specialists

Your support of the school district and the students in our community is greatly appreciated.

Major construction completed this summer as we look ahead to the 2023-2024 school year

grade students receive state reading recognition

Zionsville Community Schools supports the growth of young artists by offering high-level, arts-focused courses that feed the creative soul. With access to a premier arts education taught by the state’s finest professional educators, ZCHS students have learned how to make their mark, excel at the highest levels and pursue careers as accomplished musicians, performers and artists.

The artistic talent in ZCS ran deep this year. The show choir groups, Royalaires and Choralaires, were the Heart of America Grand Champions.

The high school bands and orchestra had success this year as well. The Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) gold rated bands and orchestra won the ISSMA All Music Award, and the Marching Eagles were state runners-up.

Members of winter guard qualified for the state finals and indoor percussion finished fourth at the Winter Guard Indoor (WGI) World Championships.

Making a mark through creative expression

Students have access to a premier arts education program in Zionsville

Community Schools

After winning the Indiana State Finals, Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) Indoor Percussion finished fourth at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio with the highest score ever for ZCHS in finals at

Worlds. Photo credit: Dharati Dave

ZCHS student wins State Youth Art Month award and is recognized at the Indiana Statehouse for her excellence in fine art production.

Royalaires and Choralaries Finale Rehearsal

Finding purpose in athletic play

ZCHS athletes show character in sports

The athletic teams at Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) are among the state’s most accomplished. ZCHS student athletes are not only dedicated to sport but also embrace the character of a champion. Our sports programs are designed to teach students to embrace good sportsmanship, show compassion, display camaraderie and nurture friendships both on and off the field. ZCHS coaches are trained to work with student athletes to build character, determination and pride in self and team.

Student athletes are role models throughout the district and community. ZCHS student athletes consistently show that character always wins.

During the 2022-2023 school year, ZCHS athletes won seven sectional championships, three regional championships, and one semi-state championship. Accolades also included two team state runners-up and three individual/relay state champions.

ZCHS won two Hoosier Crossroads Conference (HCC) championships and one HCC sportsmanship award.

Girls Basketball standout Laila Hull was the program’s first girls

Zionsville Education Foundation creates opportunity

The Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF) supports learning initiatives that benefit ZCS students. Since its founding in 1995, ZEF has awarded more than 1,140 creative and innovative projects across the district with a total of $1.7 million in grant funding.

In 2022, ZEF awarded more than $146,000. Behind every dollar amount and every project funded by ZEF is a story of the educators and students who benefited.

ZEF awards different kinds of grants offering various levels of

basketball player in school history to be named Indiana Miss Basketball. She was also recognized as the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year. The leading all-time scorer for Zionsville Community High School has committed to play basketball for North Carolina.

Boys swimmer Will Modglin made history in the 100 backstroke this season. Not only did he set a school record and a state record, but he set a new national record previously held by Olympian Ryan Murphy (2012).

Modglin was also named the 2023 Herman F. Keller Mental Attitude Winner at the state swim meet and was the Boys Athlete of the Year at the Indiana High School Sports Awards program. He will continue his swim career at the University of Texas in the fall.

ZCHS has highly competitive athletes spread across many sports teams. Athletic drive combined with superior academic achievement and commitment to strong character building is what makes ZCHS one of the top athletic programs in the state of Indiana.

EagleFest set for August 18

The annual EagleFest community celebration, organized by the Zionsville Athletic Booster Club, is set for August 18, 2023. Enjoy an outdoor festival at Jennings Field before heading over to the first home football game of the season. This is always one of the most highly attended community events for the school district. Hope to see you there! Watch for ticket information in the coming weeks.

support. Classroom Grants enrich STEM, Technology, Arts, Literacy, Interdisciplinary, Cognitive/ Motor Skills and Social Sciences curriculums. Imagine Professional Development Grants are awarded to experienced educators in the school community, promoting professional growth and renewal opportunities.

ZEF also supports students involved in extracurricular activities through Student Enrichment Grants, which award funds to school-sanctioned academic, philanthropic or student government teams and clubs.

Finally, a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Boone County lets ZEF contribute matching funds for Donors Choose projects.

To learn more about the work being done and how you can contribute to the Zionsville Education Foundation, visit their website at www.zionsvilleeducationfoundation.org.

Free “VIP” event passes for senior citizens

If you’re (technically speaking!) a senior citizen north of 65 years young and a resident of Eagle or Union Township, we’d like to give you free admission to hundreds of school events including plays, concerts and sporting events. There are also speeches, carnivals and other fun opportunities for you to engage, enjoy, and/or learn. This year, our Senior “VIPs” joined us for a day to learn more about what is happening in our schools and to tour the new high school construction. To participate, call Lynn Kissel-Brown at 317 873-2858, ext. 11230.

Giving back to our community

Students, staff and families participate in school district Do Days

Students, staff and families from all of the ZCS schools worked together in the spring to complete hundreds of service activities throughout the community. The collaborative effort was part of the district’s fifth annual ZCS Do Days.

Cleaning up county parks and school campuses, making bandanas for the local Humane Society, working alongside the Rotary Club at a meal-packing event, writing letters of appreciation to members of the military and to those who protect and serve...these are just a few of the hundreds of activities that students engaged in as part of an annual districtwide learning initiative focused on the importance of giving back to your community.

It is fun to see the joy and energy that is directed at working together in service. We have the pleasure of watching families design creative service projects, teachers and staff who organize classroom events that encourage students to focus on others and students who are eager to work together for something bigger than themselves.

Thank you to all who participated in this annual event. If you would like to participate next year, or have an organization

that could use help during this time of giving, reach out to Kelly Antcliff, the Do Days project creator and leader, at kantcliff@ zcs.k12.in.us.

This QR code takes you to a video highlight of a sampling of service projects completed as part of the school district’s March Do Days.

Mark your calendar for ZEF Bash

Consider contributing to the ZEF Fund during back-to-school or anytime during the year.

-Mahatma Gandhi

You are supporting Zionsville Community Schools by donating to the ZEF Fund today. Your gift enables future grants for teachers, students and schools. Your contribution supports innovative projects and unique learning experiences for students across the district.

Join us at ZEF Bash on Saturday, November 4, 2023 as we raise funds in support of our schools! Enjoy dinner, dancing to the sounds of Dave & Rae, a silent auction, and our famous Cap off the Night. Your Eagle spirit wear or that of your favorite team is perfect for this casual event. Tickets go on sale September 1st and sponsorship opportunities are still available.

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others.

Focusing on safety

ZCS uses online STOPit reporting tool

School safety is everyone’s responsibility and a top priority in Zionsville Community Schools. Strong partnerships with the Zionsville Police Department (ZPD) and Boone County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) have provided ZCS with a police presence in each of the nine school buildings. Those relationships, along with the support of the Zionsville Fire Department (ZFD) and other agencies, have allowed us to implement a comprehensive safety program designed to protect staff and students.

Safety is an area of work for schools that has no finish line. District leaders are constantly planning, reviewing, implementing, revising, enhancing and training staff members to prevent and respond to a variety of emergency situations.

Select staff members have completed Indiana’s School Safety Academy and the Advanced Safety Academy and are prepared to assist in crisis.

Safety is a shared responsibility. We rely on families and community members to play an active

role in keeping staff and students safe. One way students, families and community members can assist in this effort is to always remember the importance of “see something, say something.” By reporting safety concerns to the schools, you play an integral part of keeping others as safe as possible.

Recently, we implemented STOPit, a new safety reporting tool. This mobile app is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While STOPit may be accessed through a browser, the app is recommended for ease of use, increased functionality and confidential communication. Students and staff can anonymously report school safety issues and reach out for help if in personal crisis. STOPit can also be accessed through the Safety Tip Line on the ZCS and school websites.

STOPit has two important features. The “Report” tool can be used to report incidents to school administrators anonymously. Students are encouraged to report with as much detail as needed, including photos, screen shots and

videos. The report is received in real-time, allowing school personnel to quickly respond and begin taking the appropriate action. Because this line is monitored 24/7, in an emergency, the report will be sent to the school and, in some circumstances, law enforcement.

The “Get Help” feature can be used to access local resources such as law enforcement, mental health centers, crisis hotlines, and additional resources.

No student information is needed to use STOPit. The only personally identifiable information collected through STOPit is information that the individual provides voluntarily. We know that when individuals actively follow the “see something, say something,” mantra, we have a greater chance of keeping everyone as safe as possible. We are encouraging students, staff and community members to be familiar with the STOPit reporting tool.

Five Zionsville Community High School students completed an internship with STAR Bank this year. Thank you to STAR Bank for creating this authentic learning opportunity for ZCS students.

The Boone County Health Department will be providing required immunizations to students at no cost to families or Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS) on August 2 from 11 a.m. -4 p.m. in the ZCS Board Room at the Educational Services Center. Students and parents should enter through Door 30.

Detailed information about student vaccination requirements for the 2023-2024 school year can be found through the QR code.

Check out the artwork for a new student activities trailer that will be ready for the 20232024 school year!

Showcase highlights learning process

Students at Eagle Elementary School displayed and presented learning for families and community members

Students across all grade levels at Eagle Elementary School displayed and presented their learning and the process of learning in an interactive showcase this spring. Families explored a variety of open house style exhibits combined with time specific presentations and interactive stations.

This event was designed to empower students in preschool through grade four to share their work with families and community members. Learning is a multifaceted experience that stretches beyond getting an answer right, memorizing information, or simply presenting a final product. Much work takes place when students examine complex and broad ideas, make decisions based on the information they have gathered, and share reflectively how they have changed in the process.

Unified Champions

event brings together

athletes and peer mentors in a day of competition

The annual Preschool Unified Champions game day and kindergarten through 8th grade Unified Champions track meet were highlights of the 2022-2023 school year. Our student champions at all grade levels brought everything they had to the competition.

Thank you to Director of Unified Student Services Casey Allen and her team, along with all families, teachers, and support staff, who made this possible for our students. The success is a result of the work of many.

ZCS Board of School Trustees

Mr. Mike Berg Board President

Mrs. Katie Aeschliman Board Vice President

Dr. Jeff Papa, Ph.D. Board Secretary

Mrs. Jennifer Valentine Board Member Dr. Christy Wessel-Powell, Ph.D. Board Member