Rooted in Community
Stories and information that connect our schools and the community we serve
Thank you for reading our new community publication, ZCS Digest
ZCS Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rebecca Coffman
ZCS Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rebecca Coffman
Welcome. This is an invitation into our story.
Every day tells a story.
Our school story is written in the quiet moments of learning, the celebrations of achievement, the relationships built inside our classrooms, and the dedication of the Zionsville Community Schools staff who support the children in our community every single day.
ZCS Digest, a new community digital publication, was created to help share these moments with you and invite you into the story of Zionsville Community Schools.
This publication brings together highlights, voices, and updates from across our district to provide families and community members with a strong sense of what is happening in our schools, and a deeper understanding of why it matters. Behind every program, every initiative, and every success is a group of people working together with shared purpose: supporting students and strengthening our community.
We believe transparency, connection, and communication build trust. When the entire community understands the work happening inside our schools, we create stronger partnerships and a deeper sense of pride in the school district we share.
Thank you for being part of Zionsville Community Schools.
We invite you to stay connected as our story continues to unfold.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rebecca Coffman
Superintendent
Zionsville Community Schools
Kindergarten Registration is Now Open
Register for kindergarten in ZCS
Zionsville Community Schools is excited to welcome our newest Eagles as kindergarten registration opens for the 2026-2027 school year.
Kindergarten in Zionsville Community Schools is the start of a learning journey filled with curiosity, creativity, and connection. We look forward to partnering with families as we welcome the Class of 2039 and begin this exciting chapter together.
ZCS Do-Days: Serving Together, Strengthening Community
March 5-7 initiative highlighted student service learning and the power of community connection
From March 5–7, Zionsville Community Schools came together for ZCS Do-Days, an annual tradition that invites students, staff, families, and community partners to step beyond the classroom and into service. Across the district, our school community participated in projects designed to give back, build connections, and help students understand the role they play in our community.
ZCS Do-Days is rooted in student service learning. Projects are often led by students, with guidance from teachers and support from school staff and community members. Whether organizing donation drives, creating items for local organizations, supporting neighborhood initiatives, or partnering with local businesses and nonprofits, students experience firsthand how their time, talents, and teamwork can make a difference.
The impact of Do-Days extends far beyond the service projects themselves. This time is a dedicated opportunity for school communities to work side by side in service, strengthening relationships and the shared values that connect Zionsville Community Schools with the broader community. Staff members, families, and local partners join students in the work, creating a sense of togetherness and purpose that reflects the district’s commitment to learning, leadership, and service.
Service learning experiences like Do-Days help students see the impact of empathy, collaboration, and civic responsibility. They learn that giving back is not a single event but a mindset, and one that grows stronger when a community works together.
Zionsville Community Schools is grateful for the many hands and hearts that make Do-Days possible each year. Through service, connection, and shared purpose, our school community continues to model what it means to learn and lead together.
ZCS Do Days highlights
A Concert for Every Learner
Fourth annual sensory-friendly concert at Zionsville Middle School brings music, movement, and connection for all students
Music filled Zionsville Middle School during this year’s fourth annual sensory-friendly concert, an event thoughtfully designed for all students to experience the joy of music in a welcoming, flexible environment.
The concert created a space for students to enjoy live student performances, dancing with friends, and an opportunity to explore instruments. Students clapped and danced along to familiar tunes and even tried instruments alongside band members and staff.
More than a concert, this event reflects Zionsville Community Schools’ commitment to inclusion and belonging. By creating opportunities where all learners can participate together, students build confidence, friendships, and a shared love of the arts.
The sensory-friendly concert continues to grow each year, offering a reminder that when we design experiences with every student in mind, music truly becomes a place where everyone belongs.
ZCS Sensory Friendly Concert Highlights
Voices of ZCS
The people behind the work
ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman sits down with Pleasant View Elementary School Art Educator Scott Miller to talk about his journey in education
ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman sits down with Pleasant View Elementary School Art Educator Scott Miller to talk about his journey in education
Every great story begins with people.
Voices of ZCS is our district storytelling series created to spotlight the educators and staff who shape learning experiences every day across our schools. These features invite you behind the scenes to see the passion, creativity, and dedication that often happen quietly inside classrooms and school buildings.
Through each story, you will meet the individuals who bring our mission to life, build relationships with students, and make a lasting impact far beyond the school day.
We invite you to explore this Voices of ZCS issue featuring Pleasant View Elementary School Art Educator Scott Miller.
“My family and I moved to Zionsville in 2013 specifically because we wanted our children to experience the teaching I saw around me every day,” he said. “This building is special too. It just has a feeling all its own, with spaces like the Adventure Center, LGI, two gyms and even two cafeterias.”
Video Conversation with Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman and PVE Art Educator Scott Miller
Brick Street Tour - check out the video highlights! We’re grateful to our community members and business owners who opened their doors to students and shared their experiences as local entrepreneurs. Your willingness to share made this day one to remember for our youngest learners.
Inside the Classroom
Students step into the community to put learning into motion
Inside the Classroom is our storytelling series designed to highlight the innovative teaching and hands-on moments happening across our school district. These features offer a closer look at how students use ideas and collaboration to grow through authentic learning experiences.
Through each story, you will see how educators create learning environments that encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and connection. We invite you to explore the latest Inside the Classroom feature below and step inside the learning that happens districtwide.
Inside this Inside the Classroom feature, kindergarten students at Eagle Elementary School stepped out of the classroom and onto the Village Brick Street for a study trip that blended literacy, community, and authentic learning. Inspired by the book Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, the experience connected reading and comprehension with hands-on exploration of Zionsville’s local businesses and the people who make their town special.
A conversation with ZCHS Senior and National Video Finalist Elliot Huibregtse-Traenkle and Athletic Director Josh Larsh
On the Rise
High school student media team finds place on the field
On the Rise is our storytelling series designed to highlight the growth, achievements, and pathways of students across the district. These features showcase students who are discovering their passions, rising to challenges, and building skills that prepare them for the future.
Through each story, you will see how learning extends beyond the classroom and into leadership, service, creativity, and career exploration.
We invite you to explore the latest On the Rise student features below and celebrate the stories unfolding across our schools.
In this issue, Senior Elliot Huibregtse-Traenkle and the growing student media class are proving that you don’t need to be an athlete to be essential to Eagle sports. Their creativity, leadership, and storytelling are elevating visibility, building community, and transforming how ZCHS athletics is experienced.
Always an Alumni
Alumni stories about Eagles who continue to soar
Always an Eagle is our storytelling series designed to highlight Zionsville Community Schools alumni and the paths they are forging after leaving our classrooms. These features celebrate former students who are making an impact in their careers, communities, and personal pursuits while carrying the foundation built during their time in ZCS.
Through each story, you will see how the experiences, relationships, and learning that begin in our schools continue to shape lives long after students walk across the graduation stage.
We invite you to explore the latest Always an Eagle alumni features below and reconnect with the stories that started here.
From classrooms in the 1940s to today, four generations of one family have called Zionsville home. The sisters now reflect on the traditions, teachers, and community that shaped their family.
From past classrooms to today's opportunities, sisters Allison Wharry and Martha Farley carry forward a four-generation ZCS story
Groundbreaking Marks Next Step in Meeting Community Growth
New Early Learning Center designed to support families, expand childcare access, and plan responsibly for the district’s future
Zionsville Community Schools celebrated the groundbreaking of a new Early Learning Center, a project designed to meet the needs of a growing community while remaining fiscally responsible for taxpayers. The center will provide expanded early childhood and childcare opportunities for families across the area and help the district responsibly plan for continued enrollment growth.
As our community continues to attract new families, the need for high-quality childcare and early learning options has steadily increased. The Early Learning Center will help address that need by creating additional spaces for young learners and offering families greater access to reliable care. By supporting children and families in the years before kindergarten, the center will strengthen the foundation for future learning and success.
The project also reflects careful financial planning. By building a dedicated Early Learning Center and moving the administrative offices to this new facility, the district can accommodate community growth and early childhood programming without needing to open a new elementary or middle school at this time, and it frees up additional space at the high school. This proactive approach allows Zionsville Community Schools to use existing resources efficiently, manage enrollment strategically, and plan for long-term growth in a responsible way.
The new center represents an investment not only in facilities, but in families, workforce support, and the overall strength of our community.
District leaders, staff, and community partners gathered to mark the beginning of construction and to celebrate the collaborative effort that made the project possible. The Early Learning Center stands as an example of how planning and community connection can support growth while maintaining a commitment to fiscal stewardship.
As construction moves forward, the district looks forward to welcoming future learners and supporting families through expanded early learning opportunities that will benefit the entire community.
Inside the Boardroom
Business of the board
Every decision helps to shape the future of our schools.
Inside the Boardroom is our monthly board highlight feature that shares key discussions, actions, and priorities from Zionsville Community Schools Board of Trustees meetings. This section provides our community with a clear and accessible look at the work happening behind the scenes to support students, staff, and district operations.
Through each update, you will gain insight into the topics guiding district leadership and the thoughtful decision-making. We invite you to explore this month’s board highlights below and stay connected to the governance of our district.
The board's regular meeting in March focused on facilities planning, enrollment projections, legislative monitoring, and several items supporting long-term district operations.
Friday Five
Moments across ZCS
Friday Five is our weekly district publication that highlights stories, events, and updates happening across Zionsville Community Schools. This monthly digest brings those moments together in one place, offering a snapshot of the learning, achievements, and connections that shaped the past few weeks.
Through each edition, you will see the energy of our classrooms, the accomplishments of our students and staff, and the experiences that bring our community together. We invite you to explore this month’s Friday Five highlights below and catch up on the moments that made this month memorable.
Other Communications
ZCS: Winter Newspaper
The ZCS Winter Newspaper has arrived! This edition features highlights from across the district, including student stories, winter updates, and a highlights from the school year so far. Enjoy this snapshot of ZCS in action.
ZCS: Strategic Plan
ZCS is proud to launch a new district strategic plan that reflects a year of community input, collaboration, and shared vision. This plan outlines priorities for growth, student success, and continued excellence. Explore how we’re planning for the future together.
ZCS: About School Finance
In response to evolving legislation and funding complexities, the district recently launched a refreshed finance section on the ZCS website. The updated resource explains Indiana school funding sources, enrollment-based revenue, the role of local referenda, and long-term financial planning in a more accessible and interactive format. The site includes visual tools and will continue to be updated as legislative changes occur.
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