Fort Wayne Community Schools will host its annual Showcase from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Northrop High School, 7001 Coldwater Road.
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 children to try out musical instruments at the Musical Instrument Petting Zoo, sponsored by Mynett Music, free haircuts and manicures from FWCS Career Academy at Anthis Cosmetology students, and a carnival room for kids.
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-Global Studies/World Languages at North Side; Project Lead the Way-Biomedical at Snider; International Baccalaureate at South Side; and New Tech Academy and Early College-Business at Wayne.
Parents wanting to request that their child attend a different school must have their school assignment application submitted by Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. The online application is now available at myfwcs.fortwayneschools.org. Paper 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. 19, 2018, to determine admittance.
There will be special appearances at Showcase by Star Wars characters, Johnny from the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Superman and Stryker from Crazy Pinz. There will also be musical performances by several schools and free books from United Way of Allen County.
Attendees can register for door prizes, including picnic tables made by construction trades students at the FWCS Career Academy or an iPad, sponsored by school PTAs.
Showcase is sponsored by Sodexo and ProFed Credit Union. More information on the schools, FWCS departments, entertainment and sponsors can be found at www.fortwayneschools.org.
