A new year brings new possibilities, and we are excited to continue building bright futures for our students. Thank you for being part of our supportive and caring community.
Cheers to 2026! 🎆
Happy Holidays! We hope you are enjoying a restful and fun-filled winter break.
Just a quick look ahead:
Schools are closed: We remain closed through Friday, January 2nd.
Students return: All students return to school on Monday, January 5th.
Enjoy the New Year's celebrations! We can't wait to welcome everyone back, ready for the second semester!
Thank you, Lori, for your hard work, care, and commitment to our students and staff. You will be greatly missed, and we wish you nothing but happiness, good health, and many enjoyable moments in this next chapter. 💚🍽️
Episode 3 of Inside East Porter is now live! This week, we travel across the district to highlight creativity and academic excellence.
❤️💛💚
🎧 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Bi1ycGsvEYAHYrkpdI8Bo?si=CIcSKlN3RhifpFZxu8gBww
Thank you for supporting our students and staff!
Wishing all of our students, staff, families, and community members a truly joyful and peaceful Christmas Day.
May your holiday be filled with warmth, laughter, and wonderful memories spent with those you cherish most.
Thank you for being the heart of the East Porter School Corporation. We hope you enjoy this special time!
Happy Holidays!
Please take a few minutes to complete our community survey. Your input is essential as the School Board continues discussions about programs, services, and long-term priorities in response to changing financial conditions and student needs.
Your feedback will help:
• Gather insight on comfort with funding considerations
• Identify priorities for programs, services, and facility needs
All responses are confidential, and the survey closes January 2, 2026.
👉 Take the Survey: https://forms.gle/ZAj1k3LBTAb6TXtr9
Thank you for supporting East Porter Schools!
East Porter County is built on some fascinating history and geography! Since our district serves the areas around Kouts, Morgan, and Washington Townships, here are a few things that make our local area unique:
Ancient Ice: The very ground we walk on was shaped by massive glaciers! The land here is part of the Valparaiso Moraine, an ancient ridge of rock and sediment left behind by a melting ice sheet over 20,000 years ago.
The Kankakee: Early settlements were vital because of the nearby Kankakee River, which was once a vast marsh region—valuable for its fish, furs, and the prairie hay that was pressed and shipped out by rail.
The Namesake: The town of Kouts was originally established around 1865 as a station at the junction of two major railroads (the Erie and Pennsylvania) by the Kouts family.
Our history is a great reminder that learning is all around us!
🎙️ EPISODE 2 of "Inside East Porter" is officially LIVE! 🎙️
In this week's broadcast, we’re highlighting the incredible people who make our school community feel like home.
What’s inside this episode:
❤️ A Community Connection: We chat with Chris Birky, who has been a pillar of the East Porter community for decades. Discover the many ways he has impacted our East Porter family!
🏫 Campus Visit: We headed to Morgan Township Elementary to talk with Principal Niebel and two talented students, Bryce Birky and Lucia Wappel.
⭐ Veteran’s Day Tribute: Bryce and Lucia shared some beautiful original poems during our November celebration, and we wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at their hard work and creativity!
Don't miss these stories of service, community, and student success.
Click the link below to listen and subscribe! 👇
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0weKu3WMWRzMwVvXu3vImL?si=iT14CYI1QqqQXBbFzz3Yxw
As the winter weather continues and our holiday break approaches, remember to stay safe!
- Driving/Bus Safety: Please slow down near school zones and bus stops, especially in icy or snowy conditions.
- Layer Up: Encourage students to dress warmly in layers—hats and gloves are a must!
- Emergency Plans: Ensure your family has a plan for power outages or severe weather.
We appreciate our bus drivers and all our families for prioritizing safety this season!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new podcast, Inside East Porter!
This insightful podcast is designed to bring you closer to the heart of what is happening across East Porter County Schools. We know that while you see the exciting events and accomplishments from the outside, it can be difficult to see the work that goes on behind the scenes.
What you can expect from "Inside East Porter":
-Campus Highlights: Hear about the exciting events and major accomplishments taking place across all three of our East Porter Campuses.
-A Deeper Look: Get an insider's view of the inner workings of our school system—how decisions are made, the strategies behind our successes, and how we address challenges.
-The Full Picture: We'll be sharing the stories of our students, staff, and programs to provide a comprehensive look at the vibrant life of East Porter Schools.
Listen to the first episode today!
➡️ Click here to listen and subscribe: https://open.spotify.com/show/4B5ofta6XDWBsmfv41gAd7?si=dbba193c6a3143db
We encourage you to subscribe so you never miss an episode. We believe this podcast will be an invaluable resource for every member of our school family.
Thank you for your continued support!
East Porter Community Members— we want to hear from you!
As the School Board continues discussions about our programs, services, and long-term priorities in response to changing financial conditions and growing student needs, your input is essential.
Please take 5–7 minutes to complete our community survey. Your feedback will help:
• Gather insight on comfort with various funding considerations
• Identify priorities for programs, services, and facility needs
Your responses are confidential and will directly help guide future planning. The survey will close on January 2, 2026.
👉 Take the Survey: https://forms.gle/ZAj1k3LBTAb6TXtr9
Thank you for supporting East Porter Schools!
Our December Core Value is Caring—showing interest, concern, and compassion for others. This week, we encourage students to apply this value to their school work!
How can you show "Caring" through your effort?
- Care about your work: Put in your best effort on projects and final assignments.
- Care about your classmates: Be supportive and encouraging as everyone works toward the quarter finish line.
- Care about your future: Use the last two weeks to set yourself up for a successful second semester!
A little extra focus now pays off big later!
The end of the second quarter is right around the corner! (December 18th is the last day!)
This is a critical time for middle and high school students to:
1) Check Grades: Log into your Skyward portals and see where you stand.
2) Talk to Teachers: Reach out to your teacher before break if you need to turn in late work or schedule extra help.
3) Plan Ahead: Use this week to make sure you head into the break stress-free!
We are cheering you on! Let's wrap up 2025 with success!
🎬 Framing Our Future | Part 4: Looking Ahead Together
We’ve reached the final video in our four-part series with Superintendent Dr. Aaron Case, where we’ve explored our district’s current challenges, classroom priorities, and the factors shaping our future.
In Part 4, Dr. Case turns the focus to you — our families, staff, and community members. He invites everyone to share their thoughts, opinions, and collaborate as we begin charting a path forward for East Porter.
🎥 In this conclusion, Dr. Case discusses the importance of community input and partnership as we plan for the years ahead.
➡️ Watch the final video here: https://youtu.be/C9NuzJ-6R0s
Thank you for following along with the Framing Our Future series. Together, we can build a strong and sustainable future for East Porter.
This December, we're celebrating CARING—the quality of showing interest, concern, and compassion for others.
Caring means recognizing when others need help, offering a kind word, and treating everyone with empathy and respect. It's about looking beyond ourselves and acting with kindness to build a supportive community.
Whether it’s volunteering time, sharing resources, or simply listening, every act of caring brightens someone's day. Let’s make this month a demonstration of compassion and warmth for everyone in the East Porter family! 💖💛💚
It’s the Saturday of the Thanksgiving break, and we hope you’re all having a restful long weekend!
At East Porter, we believe learning never stops—it just changes location. Curiosity is the engine behind key skills we teach every day, like problem-solving and creativity, which are essential for success in all grade levels.
Whether you're building a LEGO set, learning a new card trick, researching a historical fact, or figuring out how to fix a broken toy, your brain is working!
❓ Community Question: What is one new thing (big or small!) you have learned or discovered while on break this week? Share your discovery in the comments!
We look forward to hearing your insights and seeing you all back in class on Monday!
Wishing all our amazing students, families, and staff a day filled with great food, good company, and plenty of rest!
We are genuinely thankful for the energy, dedication, and community spirit you bring to East Porter every day.
Enjoy the holiday and gobble 'til you wobble! See you back on December 1st!
Screens down, game on! We encourage all East Porter students to spend time practicing math skills with everyday activities this break.
Try these simple activities:
1) Card Games: Games like UNO, Skip-Bo, or even simple War help practice sequencing and number comparison.
2) Board Games: Monopoly, Yahtzee, and even strategy games like Chess use critical thinking and calculation.
3) Shopping Math: If your student is helping shop for gifts, have them calculate the discount (e.g., $25\%$ off) or figure out the change due back.
Keep those math minds sharp!
East Porter Schools will be closed November 26–28 for Thanksgiving Break.
We wish all of our students, staff, and families a restful and enjoyable holiday with loved ones.
We’ll see everyone back on Monday, December 1!
We know the holidays are busy, but finding just 15 minutes a day to read with your child can make a HUGE difference in their learning and bonding.
Here are quick ideas to keep the reading flowing:
1) Read the Recipe: Have your student read the steps for a dish you are making for Thanksgiving.
2) Audiobook Road Trip: Listen to a chapter book together in the car if you're traveling.
3) Cozy Corner: Designate a comfy reading nook and turn off the screens for a specific time each day.
A simple, consistent habit makes the best reader!
