Whitko JR/SR High School

🌟 NOW HIRING: Spanish Teacher 🌟

Join our team at Whitko JR/SR High School! Apply today: https://www.applitrack.com/Whitko/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=High+School+Teaching&fbclid=IwY2xjawSnrRZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFuZkdMdzBETkZwWXR3Y2pDc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgCojgra_RnEUQL-Zp-Uh2dTP2uLMYL-cpBb1o_fXCNAltFfsd3oyCTD5BkM_aem_yVuy5pKtmxFjDHn8nr362Q

What a great way to wrap up the school year—our junior high students enjoyed a cookout and fun on the football field. A special thank you to Mr. Jimmie for spending the day smoking delicious food and making lasting memories with our students!

A heartfelt thank you to United Way of Whitley & Kosciusko Counties for your generous donation of supplies that will empower our students' creativity and support their endeavors both in the classroom and throughout our community!

A new Cricut Venture System for Whitko High School means students get to design and create banners, signs, spirit materials, and more. This is stuff that actually shows up in their school and community. It will provide real teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.

Today we got to hand over a check to pay for the Cricut! We were really excited to deliver this one!!!

⭐️ Whitko Junior High Recognition Awards ⭐️

Eighth grade students were honored for demonstrating excellence in academics, leadership, citizenship, service, and other areas throughout the school year. Awards were presented in 13 categories, with recipients selected by teachers and approved by the principal.

Congratulations to the following award recipients:

👏 Distinguished Academic Excellence Award – Isaiah Platt
👏 Elite Athletic Achievement Award – Abbigail Shepherd
👏 Exemplary Positive Influence Award – Mya Sordelet
👏 Distinguished Character & Integrity Award – Delenn Antanovich
👏 Academic Initiative and Perseverance Award – Chaise Thomas
👏 Leadership Excellence and Influence Award – Jay Brown
👏 Community Service and Philanthropic Excellence Award – Reese Klepinger
👏 Outstanding Growth and Achievement Award – Victoria Romine
👏 Distinguished School Spirit and Pride Award – Lexee Staley
👏 Exemplary Citizenship and Responsibility Award – Alayna Culp
👏 Outstanding Student-Athlete Award – Sydney Napier
👏 Friendliness and Community Award – Ceara Richmond
👏 Determination and Resilience Award – Tessa Hamm

We are proud of our students and grateful for the positive impact they make within our school community each day.

Whitko Junior High would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the United Way of Whitley & Kosciusko Counties for its generous grant support. The funding will be used to support school curriculum initiatives, with a specific focus on acquiring computer hardware and software for instructional labs and other Junior High courses that will be offered next year.

Several of these courses will provide 8th-grade students the opportunity to earn high school credit toward their diploma while still attending Junior High. This investment will help expand learning opportunities and better prepare students for future academic and career success.

We are grateful for United Way's continued partnership and commitment to supporting education and student achievement in our community.

Have a great summer Wildcats!

🎉 It's been an amazing school year! 🎉

As we close the doors on the 2025-26 school year, we want to thank our students, families, staff, and community for making it a year filled with learning, growth, and success.

To all of our students—congratulations on your hard work and accomplishments! We hope you enjoy a safe, fun, and relaxing summer filled with great memories.

School calendars are available online: whitko.org/calendars/

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the first student day on August 12, 2026. Until then, have a wonderful summer break! ☀️📚😎

➡️ Junior High Chromebook Reminder! 💻

Dear Junior High Students and Parents:

We want to provide a final clarification regarding Chromebooks for the summer, as there has been some confusion about what students should do with their devices. We apologize for any misunderstanding.

Although this information has been shared previously, we want to make sure everyone has the same information moving forward.

➡️ Chromebook Information:
All Junior High students will keep their Chromebooks over the summer.

Current 8th Grade Students:
✅ After June 2, 2026, your Chromebook becomes yours to keep.
✅ You may choose to keep it and use it however you wish.
✅ You will receive a new Chromebook when you begin the 2026-2027 school year, as 9th graders.
✅ If you do not want to keep your Chromebook, you may turn it into the Technology Department, the Main Office, or directly to the Principal by June 2nd, before the end of the day.

Current 6th and 7th Grade Students:
✅ You will keep your Chromebook over the summer and return with the same device next school year. Please take care of your device over the summer months.

➡️ Change to Previous Information:
Some students were previously told that Chromebooks would be collected by the Technology Department for repurposing or "power washing" over the summer.

This is no longer taking place.

Due to time constraints and limited staffing at the end of the school year, devices will not be collected for this process. Current restrictions, software, and other internal components remain "as is".

➡️ Loaner Chromebook Reminder:
Any student currently using a loaner Chromebook must return that device to the Technology Department no later than the end of the school day on June 2, 2026.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work through the final days of the school year.

Have a great summer!
Mr. Maurer, Junior High Principal

Dear 8th Grade Parents and Guardians,

As we approach the end of another successful school year, I wanted to take a moment to share a new tradition we are beginning for our 8th grade students.

Next week, we will hold a small 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony during morning assembly or advisory to recognize students who have demonstrated excellence in a variety of areas throughout the school year. Students were selected in a total of 13 award categories. Selections were made by teachers, with final recognition approved by the principal.

Some of the award categories include but are not limited to the following:
⭐️ Distinguished Academic Excellence Award
⭐️ Elite Athletic Achievement Award
⭐️ Exemplary Positive Influence Award
⭐️ Distinguished Character & Integrity Award
⭐️ Academic Initiative and Perseverance Award
⭐️ Leadership Excellence and Influence Award
⭐️ Community Service and Philanthropic Excellence Award
⭐️ Outstanding Growth and Achievement Award
⭐️ Distinguished School Spirit and Pride Award
⭐️ Exemplary Citizenship and Responsibility Award
⭐️ Outstanding Student Athlete

This year’s ceremony will be intentionally small and simple. With the busy end-of-year schedule, limited time, and limited resources available for planning and implementation, we were unable to organize a larger formal event that would include families and guests. However, I did not want the year to conclude without taking the opportunity to recognize several students who have served as outstanding examples of young men and young women in public education.

Additionally, I want to clarify that Whitko Junior High will not be holding a formal 8th Grade Graduation ceremony. A junior high graduation ceremony has not been a longstanding tradition in this building and was discontinued many years ago at the former middle school. With the recent renovation of the Junior High this past year on the South Whitley campus, the transition of bringing 6th grade students into the building, and the continued restructuring of our school culture and programming, we are still in the process of establishing new norms and traditions while thoughtfully bridging them with past practices.

Students who receive an award and are absent may pick up the award in the office at a later date.

Our goal is to continue building these traditions in the years ahead — expanding opportunities for recognition and celebration as we continue strengthening the culture and identity of Whitko Junior High School.

Thank you for your continued support throughout the school year. We are proud of our students and grateful for the positive impact they make within our school community each day.

Sincerely,
JD Maurer
Principal

🎓 Whitko High School Graduation 🎓
Friday, May 29, 2026
6 p.m.
Whitko High School Gymnasium

🚪 Doors will open to the public at 5 p.m.
📸 The senior slideshow will be played prior to the start of the graduation ceremony from 5–5:45 p.m.
🎓 Seniors are required to be at Whitko High School by 5:30 p.m.

We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 with our students, families, staff, and community. Congratulations, Wildcats! ❤️💙🐾