Gratitude 2021

A season of thanksgiving.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie

"The road through life begins here."

The road through life begins here, a tagline used in Zionsville Community Schools for many years, is just that. A tagline that stuck after parents kept saying it during a meeting in 2015. The words sprang from parents' gratitude for youth opportunities and the family feel of this community - positive feelings about our schools and the community where they had chosen to make a home and raise their kids.

Students. Staff. Families. Community.

This special issue of eNexus will bring you up-to-date on some of the great things that have been happening around the district while focusing on gratitude during this season of Thanksgiving.

The students.

ZCHS student filmmaker makes it big.

Students in Zionsville Community Schools are creative, passionate, driven and unafraid to take risks and dream big. This Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) student shows us what can happen when you are not only destined to do great things but willing to put in the hard work to get there.

Learn more about ZCHS Junior Sophie Winters' journey into filmmaking and her first big stop in New York's Times Square for her film's debut as part of the All American High School Film Festival.

We may just see Sophie receiving an Oscar before we know it!

ZCHS Junior and student filmmaker Sophie Winters talks about her experience at the All American High School Film Festival.

Elementary school runners take off.

Elementary students across the district participated in this year's Jog-A-Thon. Jog-A-Thon is sponsored by each school's PTO and is the only fundraiser for the elementary schools.

This year did not disappoint.

The weather was gorgeous. The PTOs organized extraordinary events. Volunteers and parents came out in droves to support the students and their schools. Parents contributions will enhance the overall learning experiences and create additional opportunities at the elementary school level.

This event would not be possible without the work of many staff and parent volunteers, not to mention well-behaved and energetic kids who (collectively) put in lots of miles on a beautiful day for exercise and fresh air.

Outdoor enthusiasts in the making.

Students in Alysssa Jackson's wellness class at Eagle Elementary School learned about camping, hiking and campfire cooking during a K-4 wellness unit.

Students, many of whom became outdoor enthusiasts, explored nature and found different ways to enjoy being outdoors while learning about camping.

Students worked collaboratively in small groups practicing problem-solving skills while setting up a campsite, hiking and learning about campfire safety.

Thank you to the many Eagle families who donated items to help create this outdoor experience for the students.

Eagle Elementary School Camping Unit

A district salute: Honoring All Veterans.

ZCS students in all grade levels participated in Veterans Day programs across the district. These annual celebrations offer important recognition and citizenship lessons. It is important that our students take time to acknowledge and reflect upon the sacrifices of those who have served or are currently serving our country.

Individual school program videos are located on the school websites, and this district overview provides a glimpse of the the district-wide music programs and ceremonies.

Honoring Veterans in Zionsville Community Schools

A gratitude must-mention.

It's always exciting to welcome our newest Eagles, both students new to the district and our "new to school" students at age five! Kindergarten students bring an energy and enthusiasm for school worthy of capture like lightning bugs in a bottle! The school bus rides, lunch at school, crayons, scissors, books and friends - everything you could ever need. It's all so exciting when you are five or six years old. Our kindergarten students teach us a hearty lesson about zest for life as we collaborate to teach them about living!

Thank you for sending first-day photos of your kindergarten students this year. We are grateful for these newest members to "Team Eagle."

First Day Kindergarten Smiles

That book. That message.

We welcomed our new Kindergarten Eagles by reading a little book with a great big message on the night before their first day of school. (But the message works well for Eagles at any age!)

Life's a big adventure waiting for you.
Never stop exploring.
Be clever and curious.
Look at life from different points of view.

Reaching their potential.

The ultimate reward for educators is seeing students succeed - reach potential. We are proud of our students and share below our gratitude for some of the hundreds of dedicated professionals who create in-school and out-of-school learning experiences.

Customized Learning

Cafe 31

The 2021 Mum Sale

ZCS Teachers and Staff.

Deepest gratitude to all of our teachers and staff who work tirelessly day after day to ensure that ZCS students have a positive learning experience.

Teachers have had to adjust and adapt, create and re-create, and they have done it all with an abundance of grace. Patience and flexibility have been the name of the game. Never has there been a time to show more gratitude for the teachers who have been resilient and dedicated while ensuring that learning never stops...even in a pandemic that has lasted way longer than any of us ever expected.

We welcomed teachers into the 2021-2022 school year not fully understanding that this year would be as taxing, if not more, than last year. Teachers hit the ground running on opening day sporting huge smiles as part of the wardrobes. Thank you to all ZCS teachers and staff.

Team Eagle!

The moments that matter.

Zionsville Middle School Teacher Amy Ertel talked to us just prior to the start of school. She shared about moments that stand out to her during experiences at ZMS.

ZMS teacher Amy Ertel talks about the moments that matter most.

Eagles who come home.

Union Elementary School Teacher Allyson Knue graduated from Zionsville Community High School. She tells about returning to teach in her hometown. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.

ZCHS graduate and Union teacher Allyson Knue talks about teaching in the school she attended as a child.

When teachers make a lasting impression.

Teachers have the unique opportunity to impact many young lives. A foremost gift to teachers is when students and former students share their gratitude for the differences teachers have made. Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) Teacher Lindsey Alessandrini reflects on a recent award she received from the University of Chicago as a result of a nomination made by a ZCHS alumnus.

ZCHS teacher Lindsay Alessandrini recognized by the University of Chicago

The first hello and the last goodbye each day.

We must not underestimate the power of the first hello and the last goodbye of each school day (not to mention safe passage in between). Bus drivers have the responsibility of providing safe transportation and get to be the first greeters and last to say farewell to students each day. Bus Driver Lisa Roberts is an exemplar for this essential role.

ZCS Superintendent Scott Robison rides Bus 88.

Helpers who don't go unnoticed.

All hands on deck! Instructional assistants assist teachers when there are students who require additional one-on-one attention. Sometimes, in some situations, classrooms function best when another adult helps with activities and offer extra assistance for students and the teachers serving them. Instructional assistants give the little extra that is critical to ensuring the best possible learning environment for all students. Zionsville Community High School Instructional Assistant Dana Mihok talks about the job that ultimately led her to her calling - helping students.

Staff who care deeply for one another.

Those who ensure a comfortable, clean, well maintained space for staff and students always fly under the radar, but they serve a role that deserves the spotlight.

Staff at Zionsville West Middle School wanted to show their appreciation. Albert Lawrence, who serves ZWest, loves the NFL. He is a huge fan but had never been to a live game...until this year. His staff pulled off the ultimate surprise. Watch his reaction here.

Caring outside our school walls.

We get a front row seat to building leaders' good work inside our school walls. Occasionally we get the opportunity to see their service outside of school too.

Boone Meadow Elementary School Principal Tom Hundley has a heart for kids, the ones inside his school and others you can learn more about in this video!

Talent is back in the house at the STAR Performing Arts Center

The show goes on!

When the stage lights dimmed due to the CoVID-19 pandemic, the pause in live performances created a lot of disappointment. But our student performers were patient and they persevered. This year we hit the lights for a season of live performances. In the fall musical, Into the Woods, ZCS students returned to the live stage in true ZCS fashion. The high school production rivaled some of the best professional productions in the country.

ZCS Superintendent of Schools Scott Robison was so moved by the overwhelming talent in our school that he wrote a personal note of gratitude to all involved with this year's live fall musical.

If you have not attended a performance in the Star Performing Arts Center, pick one that looks interesting and entertaining. You will not be disappointed.

The ZCS Community

A community committed to understanding one another.

Our Food for Thought commUNITY discussions did not take hiatus during CoVID. They just went to ZOOM. This year's first Food for Thought dinner discussion among community members was held in mid-November. Those who joined had an opportunity to sit down, break bread, and have conversation with others who may have different views and/or live in different neighborhoods. Conversation broadens perspectives and creates connections. One attendee summed it up best: “Human events, like this, are what bring communities together.”

More sessions will be held this year.

Thank you, Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF)!

Grants make a difference.

Zionsville Community Schools receives the lowest per pupil funding of any public school in the state. Funds raised by ZEF are used to help bridge the gap between the basic curricular necessities provided by our budget and the innovative ideas our educators create to encourage our students to develop into lifelong thinkers.

By raising and awarding funds for innovative educational initiatives, we’re helping to further the development of students throughout the Zionsville Community Schools.
Zionsville Education Foundation

Learn about ways to become involved or make a contribution to ZEF here.

Thank you to the Zionsville Education Foundation

State of the Schools Overview

Gratitude for corporate partnerships.

Thank you to Ascension St. Vincent and STAR Bank for their ongoing commitment to the youth and staff in our school community. We are appreciative of their dedication and support!

Students. Staff. Families. Community. Together.

Wrapping up this gratitude edition of eNexus.

On the surface, the onset of the pandemic seemingly changed our school story and interrupted our narrative. But down in the depths of ZCS, our story remains one built on a solid foundation of parents as first teachers and cemented on student and staff in fostering growth of academics and other success traits.

Our hope is that in this season of gratitude you remember why you have chosen to call this community home and the many reasons for which you have chosen the Zionsville Community Schools. Thank you for being an essential part of our story.

ZCS people who work with and for the youth of this community are grateful and confident in the often proven fact that we are stronger together.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Scott Robison, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Collecting moments.

We hope you follow student accomplishments and school campus successes on your school's social media channels as well as the district's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

This is just a recent online sampling of the great things happening. Tag your moments to #zcsstrong so we can follow (and share!) your school experiences too!