Showcase is held each year to give families an opportunity to learn more about the variety of educational options available within FWC, including how technology is integrated with instruction at all grade levels and in every building. Students are able to demonstrate that technology isn’t just using high-tech toys; technology enhances instruction from teachers.

New this year to Showcase are opportunities for parents to learn how they can support their students. Parents of young children, ages pre-K to grade 3, are invited to attend Pathway to IREAD-3, a session designed to share ways with parents that they can help their child at home to be prepared for the state’s reading test. Sessions will be offered at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Parents of middle and high school students are invited to a session on College and Career Readiness, which will focus on what students need to do in school to be prepared for life after high school, as well as highlighting strategies for successfully choosing a college or career. These sessions will also be offered at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Showcase is a free event featuring the district’s elementary, middle and high schools, including FWCS’ seven magnet schools, high quality neighborhood schools and Programs of Study at the high schools. At the event, parents can receive information and ask questions about how to choose and apply for the program that best suits their children’s needs. While all students are assigned a school based on where they live, for decades, FWCS parents have been able to apply to have their child attend one of the magnet schools or request an intra-district transfer to attend a different school within the district.

FWCS offers the Montessori curriculum at Bunche Early Childhood Center (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten) and Towles Montessori Elementary School (first through sixth grades); New Tech is offered at Towles Middle School for seventh- and eighth-graders. The arts magnet program is offered at Whitney Young Early Childhood Center (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten), Weisser Park Elementary School (first through fifth grades) and Memorial Park Middle School (sixth through eighth grades). Croninger Elementary School offers a magnet program focusing on communications, and math and science are a special focus at Irwin Elementary School. Magnet schools have no boundaries and draw students from throughout the district.

Each high school will have information on their Programs of Study: Project Lead the Way-Engineering at Northrop; Early College at North Side; Project Lead the Way-Biomedical at Snider; International Baccalaureate at South Side; and New Tech Academy and Early College at Wayne.

Parents wanting to request that their child attend a different school must have their school assignment application submitted by Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016. Applications will be available at Showcase, at schools and online at www.fortwayneschool.org. If there are more applicants than spaces available at any of the schools, lotteries will be held on Jan. 25, 2017, to determine admittance.

There will be special appearances at Showcase by Star Wars characters, Icy from the Fort Wayne Komets, Johnny from the Fort Wayne TinCaps and the Mad Ant from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. There will be free childcare, the United Way of Allen County will give away free books; cosmetology students from the FWCS Career Academy will do face painting; Lucktech Photobooth will offer free photos with props and more!

Attendees can register for an array of door prizes, including picnic tables made by construction trades students at the FWCS Career Academy or an iPad, sponsored by school PTAs.