April 2024 Newsletter

Champions for Children

Join us in congratulating our Greater Clark County School District Employees of the Year, Overall Winners. These educators have gone above and beyond for our students, ensuring their future success both in and out of the classroom. We are lucky to have them.

Congratulations to our Teacher of the Year, Whitney Leanhart, Administrator of the Year, Josh Emily, and GCCS Administration Classified Employee of the Year, Amanda Stumler. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our future leaders.

Teacher of the Year Whitney Leanhart

Administrator of the Year Josh Emily

Classified Employee of the Year Amanda Stumler

Meet Our 2024 GCCS Teacher of the Year

Meet the Greater Clark County School’s Teacher of the Year, Whitney Leanhart of Parkview Middle School.

With four years of experience in education, she is a dedicated educator with a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that shines through her work, making her a valuable asset to the education in the community and her classroom. From a young age, she knew she wanted to work with individuals with disabilities, driven by her passion for inclusion and ensuring that every student feels accepted.

She hails from LaGrange, Kentucky, and is a proud Oldham County High School graduate. She pursued higher education at Indiana University Southeast, earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a license in Mild Intervention. She continued her academic journey at Ball State University, where she obtained her Master’s and graduated with a license in Moderate to severe intervention.

K-12 Enrollment

Reminder: registration for the 2024-2025 School Year is now open. Families of current students from Prek-11th grades should have received a Snapcode letter with the Snapcode needed to enroll.

Families interested in transferring their student to another school must request a School Transfer Form from their current school to initiate the transfer process.

To Register or find more information about K-12 Registration, click the button below.

PreK Enrollment

Preschool enrollment is still open for the 2024-2025 School Year. We encourage families to complete the application as soon as possible. Acceptance is allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis with limited space; we encourage you to enroll without delay.

Families who have applied will be notified of their acceptance into the program towards the end of May.

On My Way PreK Enrollment Nights

Join us for one of our upcoming On My Way PreK Enrollment dates for families applying for financial assistance. Families can attend any night; it does not have to be at the school you are applying for. These events are only for families applying for On My Way PreK. Families who submitted applications online for the main PreK program will not need to attend these nights as all required documentation will have been submitted with your application.

We ask that families who are attending bring the following documents for enrollment:

Proof of ID for applicant/co-applicant: Government-issued ID, state-issued ID, school ID, employer ID
Proof of ID for ALL children in the home: Birth certificate, hospital-issued certificate, birth confirmation, valid Visa, valid Green Card
Proof of residency: Driver’s license, pay stub, lease, utility bill, or piece of mail postmarked within the past 30 days
Proof of service needed: Pay stub, school schedule, SSI/SSDI letter

For additional information regarding Preschool Applications, click the button below.

Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Day!

We want to give a big shout-out to all of our GCCS School Bus Drivers, Chauffeurs, and Monitors for their dedication to the safety of our students and getting them to and from school, events, and more! We are so lucky to have such incredible drivers who help our students start and end their day with friendly faces. Join us in celebrating your child’s School Bus Driver on National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day this April 23rd!

Happy National Kindergarten Day!

Did you know that April 21st is National Kindergarten Day? Kindergarten Day is celebrated to honor the birthday of Friedrich Wilhelm August Fröbel, who started kindergarten in Germany in 1837.

Here at Greater Clark County Schools, we love celebrating the whimsical and imaginative world of Kindergarten, where our students’ creativity soars, friendships blossom, and a love for learning launches. Thank you to our incredible Kindergarten educators who help make every day a little greater! Thank you for your passion for shaping young minds and your patience, creativity, and kindness to our students.

To celebrate National Kindergarten Day, we put together a fun video featuring some of our Kindergarten staff and students from Franklin Square Elementary.

Elementary Art Show Recap!

We want to extend a great, big thank you to the GCCS community for their incredible support at our Elementary Art Reception last Friday at The NoCo Art Center! Our young artists were all smiles as they showcased their hard work!

If you weren’t able to attend the gallery view times, their artwork will also be showcased on outdoor digital gallery screens throughout the month of May.

SunBucks Summer Program

If your student qualifies for free or reduced meals in school, they can receive $120 (per child) on a Summer EBT card. To receive this benefit, families must have a free or reduced lunch application for the current 2023-2024 School Year. Families can complete the application here.

If your child is already receiving free or reduced meals, you do not need to reapply.

Free or Reduced Meal Applications for 2024-2025 School Year

Please note that applications for free/reduced lunch benefits for the 2024-2025 School Year will be open on July 1st. If you’ve previously submitted an application for the upcoming school year during student registration, you must reapply once the application opens in July.

However, applications for benefits for the current school year (2023-2024) are still being accepted until the last day of classes. If you require assistance, please don’t hesitate to apply!

We appreciate your patience and understanding regarding this matter.

Natatorium Groundbreaking

Last week marked a significant milestone as we officially broke ground for the new and improved Jeffersonville High School Natatorium on April 17th.

The upcoming facility will replace Jeff High’s aging 50-year-old pool, introducing a host of enhancements for our students and community. Among the key features is a state-of-the-art 50-meter stretch pool with 10 lanes, a substantial upgrade from the previous six lanes. Additionally, the natatorium will boast seating for up to 1,000 fans, creating an electrifying atmosphere for competitions and events.

One of the project’s highlights is the addition of a cutting-edge physical therapy zero-entry pool designed to cater to the diverse needs of athletes and students alike. This initiative underscores our commitment to providing comprehensive support for our students’ well-being.

Furthermore, the project will enhance our overall sports facilities, including constructing a brand-new locker room that accommodates multiple teams, such as football, track, and swim teams.

Reflecting on this momentous occasion, Jeffersonville High School Junior and Academic of Greater Clark Ambassador Heaven Williams expressed her gratitude, saying, “It’s an honor to see how much our leaders are putting into improving our experience. I would like to thank everyone who has had a hand in this and played their part.”

As we embark on this exciting journey, let us look forward to this new facility’s positive impact on our school community. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for Jeffersonville High School and its students.

Parkwood Elementary Groundbreaking

On Friday, April 19th, we celebrated a significant milestone in our community’s educational journey as we ceremoniously broke ground for the new Parkwood Elementary. This event marks the beginning of a new era in education, symbolizing our commitment to providing high-quality learning environments for our students.

With unwavering support from the Clarksville community and approval from the Greater Clark County School District’s School Board, this project represents a crucial step forward in replacing the aging 55-year-old building. Our students deserve access to modern facilities that support their academic growth and success.

The groundbreaking ceremony signifies the start of an exciting journey toward the completion of Parkwood Elementary. Once finished, the school will boast state-of-the-art classrooms, innovative learning spaces, and cutting-edge facilities. These enhancements are designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and academic excellence among our students.

Principal Jeremy Shireman eloquently captured the significance of this momentous occasion, stating, “Today, as we embark on this journey of renewal and transformation, we honor our past while embracing the promise of a bright future. As we lay the foundation of the next chapter of our school’s history, let us remember that we are not simply Pirates setting sail on a new adventure; we are the Phoenix rising from the ashes of the old, soaring to greater heights of excellence and achievement. Together as a community united in purpose and passion, we will forge a path towards a brighter tomorrow, may today mark a new era filled with boundless opportunity and endless possibilities for Parkwood Elementary.”

The Academies Section

In collaboration with One Vision Credit Union, several juniors and seniors across the district participated in a rotational job shadow at their Clarksville branch. To commence and bring this experience to life, students followed the journey of a written check through the stages of the depositing and cashing process. From there, they moved through four separate departmental shadowing experiences—Front Line, Lending, Accounting, and Management. The shadows’ hosts took an active interest in getting to know the passion, skills, and strengths of each shadow they hosted. From there, students were able to translate how those elements would be valued and utilized in a career within that department. At the conclusion of the event, students were surveyed about their experience. Every student either agreed or strongly agreed that the experience was beneficial; the experience was something they could not have gained in the classroom; the experience was helpful in determining whether or not they will pursue this career in the future; and they would recommend job shadowing to their friends.