1.
Where the Community Becomes the Classroom

Eagle Elementary School kindergarten students take their learning into their community.

On a beautiful morning in Zionsville, Eagle Elementary School kindergarten students stepped beyond their school and into their community for a walking field trip filled with discovery.

With iPads in hand, students used their five senses to notice the world around them, looking for beauty and capturing photos of the things that caught their eyes along the way. But the learning extended beyond observation as local business owners opened their doors and welcomed the young Eagles inside.

Students had the opportunity to see local businesses at work, meet the people behind them, and learn a little more about the community just beyond their school.

It was a morning of exploring and connecting, with an important reminder that some of the best learning happens when the classroom extends into the community.

2.
Growing Skills, One Mum at a Time

The annual ZCHS SOARS Fall Mum Sale brings together work experience, tradition, and community support.

Fall color arrived at ZCS this week as ZCHS SOARS students hosted their annual Fall Mum Sale in partnership with Jones Greenhouse.

And there was a lot of color to go around! This year’s sale included 1,103 mums, with 502 large 12-inch mums and 601 10-inch mums sold to families, staff, and community members.

But behind all those mums is something even more meaningful. The annual fundraiser supports the transition-to-work program while giving ZCHS students valuable opportunities to build independence and vocational skills. From preparing and organizing orders to working alongside community members, staff and parents during pickup, students gain hands-on experience in communication, responsibility, teamwork and customer service.

It is a favorite fall tradition with a purpose: community support creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn, contribute, and grow.

3.
Eagles in the Heart of the Community

ZCS students join a favorite Zionsville tradition at the Lions Club Fall Festival.

The Zionsville Lions Club Fall Festival brought another weekend of community tradition, and ZCS students were right in the middle of it.

From students proudly representing their schools and organizations in the parade to performances and activities throughout the weekend, Eagles of all ages were part of the celebration. Along the parade route, families, neighbors, and friends gathered to cheer them on, along with plenty of little ones who just might be future Eagles.

Even a few raindrops couldn’t dampen the energy or erase the smiles.

These are the moments that show the connection between schools and community in action. Our students are not only learning and growing inside our schools, they are part of the community around them, building connections, making memories, and carrying traditions forward.

Scroll through some of the smiles and scenes from a great Zionsville tradition!

4.
Always an Eagle: Through His Lens

For Zionsville alumnus Dr. Jim Haines, school, career, family, and community have always been closely connected.

For Dr. Jim Haines, Zionsville is more than the place where he grew up. It is where his story began, where relationships and experiences helped shape his path, and where he ultimately chose to build a career, raise a family and give back to the community that helped shape him.

Now a local eye doctor, Haines has watched Zionsville grow and change while remaining connected to the schools and community that have been part of his life across generations.

His story is the latest in our Always an Eagle alumni series, celebrating the lasting connections between ZCS graduates, their schools, and the community they continue to call home.

We hope you take time to read the full feature to see Zionsville through his lens and hear more about the people, experiences, and connections that have stayed with him along the way.

Understanding School Finance

ZCS expertise helps bring a complex topic to life for communities across Indiana

There’s a new resource available to help make the sometimes-complex world of school finance a little easier to understand.

ZCS Chief Financial Officer Regina May, SFO, contributed her expertise to a statewide school finance video created in partnership with the Central Indiana Education Services Center (CIESC), Indiana School Public Relations Association (INDSPRA) and Indiana Association of School Business Officials (IASBO).

Mrs. May joined school finance and communications professionals from across Indiana in helping develop a resource designed to explain how public schools are funded and why understanding school finance matters.

We are proud to see our CFO's knowledge and expertise contributing not only to ZCS, but to a resource that can help families and communities across the state better understand public education funding.

School finance can be complicated. Take a few minutes to watch the video and learn more.

Celebrating ZCS:
State of the Schools

ZCS Summer Newspaper