Superintendent's Message

Dear Members of the Mississinawa Valley Schools Community,

I would like to offer my appreciation to everyone in our school and community for making the 2020-2021 school year a successful one.  Though in some respects it was not the school year we wanted; we as a school and a community made the best of it.  We were able to provide our kids with a full school year of uninterrupted, in person instruction for five days a week.  This would not have been possible without our students, their parents, our staff, and our community being supportive of what we do here.  We did it.  Thank you.

The purpose of this report is to present you, the community we serve with an annual review of your school district.  This report contains information about student accomplishments, building and district goals, school programs, district finances, student enrollment, and school improvements.

The 2020-2021 school year at Mississinawa Valley was a successful year.  We were able to keep the doors open and welcome our students each and every day to the classrooms of our district.  Our students and staff completed the last 11 weeks of last school year (2019-2020) engaged in online/remote learning.  This school year we completed the last 11 weeks without a single positive case of COVID-19 among our students and staff.

Though our students and staff had to endure facial coverings, social distancing and quarantines for “close contacts” (in some cases more than once), our staff, students, and community once again proved its resilience.  There are better days ahead.

Though I truly believe that every day is a great day to be a Mississinawa Valley Blackhawk, undoubtedly for me each year the best day is always the Friday of Memorial Day weekend when we gather as a school and community to celebrate the achievement of another class concluding their journey through The Valley.  This year we held graduation in The Nest Gymnasium for the first time since May 24, 2002 before a full house of smiling faces to celebrate the Mississinawa Valley High School Class of 2022.

As always, our Athletic, Band, FFA, and Taiko programs are a point of pride for this district and our community.  The successes these programs enjoy would not be possible without the continuing support of our community.

We are justifiably proud of our teams and programs.  The accomplishments that our teams and programs enjoy would not be possible without the great things that take place each and every day in the classrooms of our district.  Those everyday things truly build the foundation for the current and future success of our students and graduates.

The 2021-2022 school year promises to be a normal one in The Valley.  No more facial coverings (optional for both students and staff), social distancing, or capacity limits on our athletic events.  Nor will the district require any type of COVID vaccination for students or staff.

Since March 13, 2020 it has become even more apparent that what we do best is to educate the children of this community in the classrooms of our district.  Beginning in 2021-2022 the district will no longer utilize three eDays (Blizzard Bags) following the traditional five calamity days.  Instead the district will use six calamity days if necessary and any days missed beyond six will be made up with days indicated on the district calendar (Friday, February 18, 2022 and Thursday, April 14, 2022) or added at the end of the school year.

We at Mississinawa Valley Schools are here to serve you.  As I frequently say, Mississinawa Valley Schools exists to educate the children of our community.  If at any time you feel the educational needs of your child or children are not being met please email me at jeff_winchester@mississinawa.org or call me at 937-968-5656.

Proud to be a Mississinawa Valley Blackhawk!  A small school with BIG dreams.

Respectfully,

Jeffrey A. Winchester
Mississinawa Valley Schools
Superintendent