The Visionary

Welcome to Fort Wayne Community Schools' community newsletter. Each month we share news from our schools and important District information. Have an idea for a story? Please share it with us!

In 2017, 8-year-old Sammie Vance went to her mom and told her that she had learned about this thing called a Buddy Bench. It's a place lonely kids can go to find a friend. Sammie wanted one for her school. Sammie and her mom put together a plan to collect bottle caps and have a bench made out of recycled materials. The first Buddy Bench was built and placed on the playground at Haley Elementary. Since then, Sammie has collected thousands of pounds of bottle caps, donated more than 200 benches and has been honored with many awards. Most recently, the Snider 9th grader was highlighted by Nickelodeon on their Nick News Holiday Special. Besides being Slimed in her own backyard, she was presented the Slime it Forward Blimp award for her tireless effort to spread kindness.

Brrr... winter hit with arctic temperatures and snow caused FWCS to close school and provide learning online through eLearning. Since the District has used all three allowable eLearning days, FWCS will now transition to Remote Learning for all closures. With Remote Learning, students will engage in live, virtual instruction with their teacher(s). The document below further describes what a student will experience look like on a day when FWCS implements a Remote Learning day.

Amp Lab at Electric Works continues to redefine education and is now expanding to allow 80 non-FWCS students to take advantage of the program. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, incoming 11th and 12th graders from throughout Allen County will be able to enroll in Amp Lab for the first time.

Interested families are invited to attend an information session at Amp Lab at Electric Works, 1030 Swinney Ave., to learn more. Families are asked to register in advance. Applications to attend Amp Lab are being accepted until Friday, Feb. 23; interested students can apply through their high school counselors.

“We have been blessed at how this community has embraced Amp Lab, and we know this is the right step to continue to build experiences for teenagers to fall in love with their own community,” Amp Lab Director Riley Johnson said. “It is about building a brighter future for Fort Wayne today.”

Since opening in August 2022, Amp Lab has redefined education. Students work to develop an entrepreneurial spirit and gain workplace skills by working with businesses, organizations and agencies to solve real problems. Students then take what they have learned to launch ventures for businesses and non-profits in the Fort Wayne community. Students who want to build a portfolio in a highly collaborative environment on the Electric Works campus should apply. Amp Lab students earn dual credit through an exclusive partnership with Indiana Tech and participate in internships and other work-based learning opportunities.

“The Amp Lab experience is truly one-of-a-kind,” FWCS Superintendent Dr. Mark Daniel said. “We are proud of what our students have accomplished, and are committed to ensuring that every student in our community has the opportunity to reshape their path and prepare for the day after graduation.”

The accomplishments of Amp Lab students are extraordinary. Last year, students Emilie Henry, Seth Cavinder and Adrianna Senteney were recognized as state finalists in the Innovate WithIN entrepreneurship competition for their tech-enabled communication device, Communi. This year, student Kamiah Fomby was the only black female teenage finalist in Parkview Health and Matter's Health Kids Healthy Future competition for her mental health app, One Day at a Time.

At Fort Wayne Community Schools, we are committed to transforming education to ensure students are ready for life after graduation, whether they enroll in higher education, enlist in the military or enter the workforce as an employee or entrepreneur. Through our Schools of Success, students will have experiences connecting their core academic studies with real world relevancy.

Looking for a flexible schedule and an opportunity to make a positive difference? Join our team as a Substitute Teacher or Substitute School Assistant! Our dedicated subs are critical to our work and help keep our schools functioning smoothly each and every day. We’d love for you to share your time and talent with our students, even for only one day each week (or whatever your schedule allows). Visit www.fwcsjobs.org to learn more and apply!

Email: publicaffairs@fwcs.k12.in.us
Website: fortwayneschools.org
Location: 1200 South Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN, 46802, USA
Phone: (260) 467-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/FWCommSchools
Twitter: @FWCommSchools