1.

College Go
Week

This week was College Go Week! Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) hosted sessions for seniors that included all-things college applications. Common App, reference letters, application processes... you name it and our high school counselors covered it. There were representatives from several Indiana colleges who conducted application workshops for students. Likewise, there was a parent workshop on how to navigate the college application process with your child.

College GO Week in ZCS is a week dedicated to helping ALL senior students with their individual next steps upon graduation.  Some students focused on military enlistment, trade school opportunities, and even gap year plans.  ZCHS seniors were encouraged to apply for college this week to take advantage of waived application fees for select Indiana colleges.  

3.

Sidewalk
Astronomy

The ZCHS Astronomy Club set up two new telescopes last weekend at the high school football game allowing anyone interested to use the telescopes to look at the moon and several planets. The telescopes were purchased through a Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF) grant. Thank you to the many who donate to the Zionsville Education Foundation. Your support helps to enrich educational experiences for all ZCS students.

4.

Fog
Delays

ZCS had the first two-hour delays of the school year this week. As you experienced, anytime there is a school delay or closure due to weather (or for any reason), you will receive a phone call, text message and email from the district office. The notifications will also be shared on social media: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as on the local televisions stations. The website home page will be updated, and you can find the most up-to-date procedural details on the ZCS website.

Mother Nature is testing us early this year as we head into the more tricky winter weather months. In ZCS, there are many factors which contribute to our determination to keep the normal school schedule or adjust to an alternative plan, such as a 2-hour delay.  Please know that safety is our number one priority, and parents will make the final determination at home if we are slated for a normal day and outside conditions are deteriorating near your home.

So, how does this work in ZCS? 

 We have a morning eyes team in ZCS who love to be early birds.  They drive the roads as a typical person, and also from time to time will drive as a 16- or 17-year-old might operate a vehicle.  There are 52 square miles in ZCS, and thus we have five drivers (including the superintendent) to divvy up the roads in our district and report back on conditions. 

While district leaders monitor the determinations made in surrounding districts, our concern is for the children, families, bus drivers, and staff in ZCS.  Seventy-two percent of our children ride the bus to and from school.  The first buses pick up students at 6:30 a.m. for travel to programs outside of ZCS, while other programming begins in our schools each day as early as 6:00 a.m. The decision must be made early for the safety of everyone. There are many layers of conversations happening in our sleepy town between 4:30-6:00 am. When we have a need to delay or cancel school, those calls generally are out by 6:00 a.m.

As we approach winter, we will also be in conversation with the street departments in Zionsville, Whitestown, and the Boone Co. Highway department. 

On days like today, conditions rapidly improved after having made the call—and it’s a huge inconvenience for everyone. We recognize the impact this plays on plans, work schedules, and instruction.  These days are the least favorite for nearly everyone—except students. 

We all hope these last couple of days aren't a precursor to what's in store for the winter, but the best we can all be is prepared, understanding that no weather decision is ever easy and every weather decision will always be made solely based on what is safest for our students and staff at the time the decision must be made.