READY FOR YEAR — Indian Creek Local School District is looking forward to the new school year with a focus on learning to leadership and Indian Creek Middle School students took part in a Lighthouse Team meeting as part of the Leader In Me program earlier this month. They included, from left, Kiersten Felekey, Stella McFarland, Bryn Hammack, Harper Kurner, Anacelia Parissi, Jolene Barcalow, Chloe Moore, Ty Banfield, Lane Speece, Dean Dicicco, Parker Lamp, Chase Corrigan, Bryson Brettell, Ty Montgomery, Colts Sines, Kaden Haddox, Tiegan Chaffee and Nina Nixon. -- Contributed

WINTERSVILLE — Indian Creek Local School District officials are looking ahead to an exciting new year with programs and projects on the horizon.

As students headed back to class, leaders said they were optimistic about instilling learning and leadership skills at the Wintersville and Mingo Junction campuses.

Indian Creek High School Principal Louie Retton heralded career-tech education programs, which includes multimedia, information technology, performing arts, business, natural resources, robotics and engineering. Retton said drone training will be added this year with instructor Dave Moffat and the school will continue its hellbender pilot project in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Wilds Safari Park, Ohio University, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Columbus Zoo, Toledo Zoo, Purdue University, Penta Career Center and other key conservation stakeholders

“We’re going to have more students finish with certificates in career-tech classes and get more assistance from WebXam (online testing),” Retton commented. “We’ve been in our new building for a few years now and we’re getting more comfortable with the school.”

He was also optimistic about the school’s results on the state report card, saying students and teachers have worked hard to improve scores and he expects that dedication to pay off. Furthermore, Retton was excited about the sports, band, theater program and other activities and said further plans were to introduce AI into education.

Indian Creek Middle School Principal Holly Minch-Hick said her pupils prepped with some fun activities including a pool party at Aracoma Park and an open house, while students and staff participated in a Leader in Me Lighthouse Team session on Aug. 13. Nineteen students attended with 14 faculty and staff members to address plans as part of the Utah-based program with the goal of creating a high-trust environment in schools, building student achievement, improving learning. All four buildings have implemented LIM and its practices are based on educator Stephen Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” which range from being proactive and setting goals to embracing teamwork and taking care of one’s physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Meanwhile, the open house on Aug. 18 allowed fifth-graders and their parents to review the child’s schedule while teachers shared their expectations and rules and a principal’s presentation was held. Minch-Hick explained that her school will highlight the students’ goals during an event in the spring.

“One of the big things we talked about is holding a student-led conference. The parent-teacher conference will be different in November and March,” she said. “The students will have portfolios and set two goals for themselves. We want family members to come so their child can go through the portfolio and discuss academic and personal goals they want to meet.”

Hills Elementary Principal Erin Alloggia was excited about steering her students on a positive course to a successful future.

“We’re in the process of getting a new reading and phonics curriculum and we’re implementing it based on the science of reading to hit the targets for the state,” she said. “This is also the third year of our Leader in Me program and we’ll create binders with the Wildly Important Goals academic and personal goals and the students will take ownership of them.”

She continued that an open house event was being eyed in the spring where parents could attend and their child would share goals. Meanwhile, Alloggia said the youth are focusing on leadership roles through LIM and will again act as helpers throughout the year, from delivering breakfasts to classrooms and getting preschoolers ready for naps to acting as greeters. Fourth-graders have undertaken those tasks but there are ideas to expand it to the second -and third-grade classes. An LIM Lighthouse Team session is set for September to discuss jobs and potentially start them at the end of the month. Foreseeable plans on the schedule include regular Lunch Bunch gatherings with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and possible later times with Mingo Junction police officers, as well as a gym day in March with the JCSO as a Positive Behavior Interventions and Support reward.

At Cross Creek Elementary, Principal Dan Hartman noted that curriculum, social-emotional learning and leadership topped his list and plans were on the horizon to benefit his students.

“We are working on a students’ leadership night and open house on from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 24,” he said. “The students are going to run the event,” he added, saying Cross Creek pupils will develop folders with goals to work toward self-improvement. “Our focus is to make sure kids get all of the support they need for academic, social-emotional learning and cultural goals, and we have a framework that will tie it all together.”

He continued that educators will also analyze test scores and develop goals for the building and will collaborate on data to best support each student. The latter plan is based on what he calls the “cycle of teaching,” where educators teach, assess, gain feedback, reteach and reassess, plus they will focus on mastering the standards.

As district CTE director, Hartman outlined plans to get students involved with work-based learning and utilizing the Creek Squad, or ICHS students who help provide tech support in the buildings.

“We are providing many opportunities beyond math, science and reading with career-tech and secondary education,” Hartman said.

District Superintendent T.C. Chappelear echoed those comments, saying he was excited to get the school year started.

“I am looking forward to continuing to build on all the great programs our school district has to offer for students,” Chappelear concluded.