Happy Beautiful Friday, Eagle Nation! Here’s the Friday Five for 5-14-2021
The ZCS Board of Trustees met on Monday night, and in addition to typical business items for this time of year, the following important celebrations, recognitions, and remembrances occurred.
Retirements were celebrated
Lauren Heath (ZWMS, Art), Cathy Sutton (ZWMS, Media Specialist), Sean Conner (ZMS, Principal)
Lauren Heath talks about her retirement after ZWMS Principal Matt Doublestein's introduction of her at the board meeting.
Lauren Heath talks about her retirement after ZWMS Principal Matt Doublestein's introduction of her at the board meeting.
ZMS Principal Sean Conner reflects on many happy years serving Zionsville Community Schools as he prepares to retire at the end of this school year.
ZMS Principal Sean Conner reflects on many happy years serving Zionsville Community Schools as he prepares to retire at the end of this school year.
Service awards for 20 years and 30 years were recognized, including two 30 year awards for ZCS teachers Chris Kern (ZMS) and Kayleah Maddock (ZWMS).
ZCS 20 years of service
ZCS 20 years of service
20-year employees recognized at the May Board Meeting
20-year employees recognized at the May Board Meeting
ZCS 30 years of service
ZCS 30 years of service
30-year employees recognized at the May Board Meeting
30-year employees recognized at the May Board Meeting
There was a brief remembrance for the late Mike Shafer, CPA, our community’s amazing fiscal champion and financial architect of possibilities for ZCS since 1998.
Mike Shafer remembered
Mike Shafer remembered
The Board of Trustees affirmed a return to the adopted school calendar for next year with five-days of instruction in-person each week* and middle school e-days, elementary parent conferences, and secondary start times in line with pre-pandemic schooling (8:30@ ZCHS and 8:45@ both middle schools).
*We will, of course, monitor public health guidance throughout the summer for indications of CoVID-19 protocols still required of us as August rolls around.
OUTSTANDING, POSITIVE THINGS DID OCCUR
“Remarkable” is a wonderfully flexible term. Though used most often in reference to positive things, remarkable has laudable semantic span to also cover comment worthy extraordinary phenomena that are less fun to have experienced. And so, it has been a remarkable year in ZCS!
In tribute to human ingenuity and our local can-do spirit, truly wonderful events, activities, opportunities, and growth have been occurring throughout this weird and wonderful school year. I can only list a few here, but this remarkable year did include academic and personal growth for the majority of our students—in spite of being covered by masks and not being able to always do the best version of our school services—in person, live, with a caring and knowledgeable teacher. The Innovation and Ingenuity Award goes to classroom teachers, hands down. But examples abound of clever work-arounds in the performing arts, clubs, sports, and other special events—like a prom that is produced at an inside facility converted to maximize its outside capabilities (airplane hangar!).
I believe it is basic human optimism that we found some silver linings in the midst of the past 14 months. While sustaining our sincere empathy for those experiencing the most extreme hardship across the pandemic months, it is okay that we found new things, ways, and attitudes that are keepers for whatever happens next!
Please pause to view these examples of remarkable events of the past two weeks. Unified champions (K-8) and (Preschool).
Preschool Game Day
K-8 Game Day
DATES AND OTHER DRIED FRUIT!
No, seriously, we have upgraded the calendar for next school year with the e-days, conferences, and such as a result of last Monday’s Board action. Please check out the updated version HERE or https://4.files.edl.io/33b5/05/13/21/171644-5d2c6811-8350-405e-bcd7-a2afc3db0aad.pdf
MATTERS OF CoVID-19 RIGHT NOW
Though a lighter burden for most in recent weeks, some chronic uncertainty about the pandemic persists. To wit:
- Our C-19 Task Force leads participated in state public health update sessions, and I spoke with our Boone County Health Department doctor again today.
- Masks are still required in our schools in accordance with county and state guidance (and Governor’s Executive Order)—yes, in spite of the CDC “mask off if fully vaccinated” news release of yesterday. REPEAT: our schools remain MASK ZONES for the balance of the school year.
- A CoVID-19 outbreak among students in Lebanon has shut out all of their eighth graders for the balance of the school year. We need to remain vigilant.
- All of our year-end celebrations are still bounded by protocols approved by the Boone County Health Department.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR IS NOW OPEN.
See the generic version of what was sent to ZCS parents/guardians this week.
Online registration for the 2021-2022 school year is now available! Simply login to the PowerSchool Parent Portal, select the student and complete registration. Registration information is vital to our ability to maintain records for safety purposes and in accordance with state and local agencies. Please complete this registration by Tuesday, June 1, 2021. If your child will not be returning to Zionsville Community Schools for the coming school year, please contact the administrative assistant at his/her current school.
For other Registration Questions: Contact Zionsville Community Schools at 317-873-2858.
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Scott Robison, Superintendent Zionsville Community Schools
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