WARSAW — Jefferson Elementary School students got a boost last week as winter weather arrived.

Judy Ness, the owner of Carpet Depot in Warsaw, was one of the winners in an essay contest hosted by Amazon. 

Ness chose to write about the school and the need for winter wear at Jefferson Elementary, and she was one of 135 essay winners.

That resulted in the delivery of new winter wear — 60 coats, 60 hats, and 60 pairs of socks to the school last week.

For Ness, it was something a bit different.

"I just felt it was an opportunity to give to our local schools and part of our local community," Ness said.

She said she was told Amazon plans to host a local luncheon to celebrate the donation.

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WARSAW — Jefferson Elementary School has been selected to receive a $979 grant from Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services (KEYS), a youth philanthropy program that's part of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.

This grant, written and submitted by Jefferson educator Kara Nieter, will provide 3D printing filament to support hands-on engineering projects in the STEM lab.

The funding will empower students at Jefferson to explore engineering, creativity, and design thinking through real-world 3D printing applications. The filament will be used for a variety of student-centered projects across grade levels, further enriching STEM education through hands-on learning.

“We are grateful to KEYS and the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for their continued investment in our students,” said Joshua Wall, Principal of Jefferson Elementary.

“This grant will have a direct impact on our learners, allowing them to prototype, create, and engineer in ways that would not be possible otherwise. We’d also like to extend a special thanks to Mrs. Nieter for her leadership in securing this funding that will greatly benefit our STEM programming.”

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WINONA LAKE — A plan first envisioned at the end of the COVID pandemic five years ago has led to the opening this past week of a spacious coffee shop and indoor playground in Winona Lake.

What makes it unique is that it’s owned and operated by Winona Lake Grace Church and intended to serve the community with public hours six days a week.

Combined, it's a massive outreach to the community and big improvement to the church.

[caption id="attachment_119335" align="alignright" width="440"] A view of the new cafe on its opening day. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The WL Cafe and the Play Space at WL are in a revamped western part of the church building facing the parking lot.

While much of the $5 million for the project came from parishioners, it also got a key boost from Grace College and its Catalyst Corridor grant money, as well as grant funding from K21 Health Foundation.

[caption id="attachment_119342" align="alignright" width="440"] The children's playspace has several areas to serve various ages, plus a specialized sensory area. News Now Warsaw photo Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The children’s Playspace at WL is an indoor area that features age-appropriate play areas, a climbing wall, and a dedicated sensory room for kids who benefit from a more specialized play environment.

The cafe has a large gathering area as well as numerous nooks and smaller meet-up areas for more personal meet-ups.

Executive Pastor Tim Wright said the plan began to surface at the tail end of the pandemic when people started to realize the separation and loneliness began to have an impact that has, for some, lingered.

He agrees that such a robust outreach effort by a church with financial support from outside the church is a bit different.

“It might be unique, but I think there are a lot of churches that are starting things like this, trying to think like this and thinking about their community,” Wright said. 

The church's location on Kings Highway is in the middle of a densely populated area with Jefferson Elementary, the Grace College campus a block away, and hundreds of homes and the Village at Winona within a few blocks.

Wright thinks the new options provide a lot of potential for interactions, and that was the case during the first week when the cafe and playspace opened on Monday.

Traffic was surprisingly good on Monday at the Playspace and Wright said it continued to improve each day.

"We saw some of the same families before school and after school, so we were very excited about that," Wright said.

He said he believes people are desperate to connect with others and that this opens the door for such opportunities.

“We love being in this community, in this neighborhood ... and we love opening these up when there’s so many good things going on in our community,” Wright said.

Jennifer Owens, who oversees the church's nursery as well as the new playspace, is especially excited about seeing the church expand its reach.

She said she thinks there is significant appeal for parents whose children have sensory issues.

“We hope to achieve a lot, really. We hope to achieve a relationship with our community and build relationships with people who specifically need those spaces.”

WL Café will be open Monday–Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. The café will serve Madcap coffee along with blended drinks and a selection of food items.

The Playspace will be open Monday–Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4–7 p.m., and Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon.

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WARSAW — LifeWise Academy in Warsaw will offer Bible-based classes this fall to Jefferson Elementary students in grade 4.

Students will be escorted from Jefferson Elementary across the street to Winona Lake Grace Church, where the LifeWise teacher and volunteers will provide Bible-based character education, according to a news release from LifeWise Academy.

“Thanks to our supportive community, we can offer LifeWise classes to Jefferson Elementary students in grade 4,” said Nikki Bowers, LifeWise Academy Warsaw director.

“We look forward to seeing how this program will positively impact students and bring our community together. Our first class is just the beginning — we are excited to expand to more grades and schools in the future,” she said.

One day a week, LifeWise lessons will be part of the students’ lunch/recess time. Families can enroll their students at lifewise.org/warsawin.

The program helps strengthen students’ character development and mental health and supports educators’ efforts in building strong students, the release states. Students learn the Bible chronologically, with each lesson relating a Bible passage to a relevant character trait that students are encouraged to practice in their families and communities.

LifeWise Academy, based in Hilliard, Ohio, is a released-time religious instruction program providing Bible-based character education to public school students. With parent permission, students are released from school for one hour per week to attend off-campus classes.

For more information about LifeWise Academy, visit lifewise.org.

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WARSAW — Jefferson Elementary has announced its 2025–26 STEM Ambassador program, where 5th- and 6th-grade student leaders are stepping up as environmental stewards and mentors for younger students.

Last week, Jefferson’s STEM Ambassadors participated in a special training at Cherry Creek with Indiana Master Naturalist Chuck Harvuot. Students learned about water quality testing, stream health, and pollution factors while exploring the creek and identifying wildlife. During the session, Ambassadors discovered crayfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish and dragonflies.

The ambassadors were either nominated by their teachers or selected by Harvuot based on their participation and excitement during previous creek activities. Harvuot shared, “We’re using STEM Ambassadors to not only increase their knowledge about water quality, but also to enable them to help teach younger students about water quality.”

Starting this week, Jefferson’s STEM ambassadors will guide 2nd- and 4th-grade classes through hands-on creek activities, which will occur at least two more times this year.  They will help with stations, assisting with waders, conduct chemical testing and modeling leadership skills.

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News Release

WINONA LAKE — Grace College’s elementary education students are facilitating their fourth year of Girls in STEM, an after-school program for nearly 150 first- through third-grade girls at Madison, Washington and Jefferson Elementary Schools.

The club, which meets once a week from 4-5 p.m., exposes local girls to robotics, electric circuits, coding and problem-solving with the goal of teaching and inspiring the next generation of women in STEM.

“At Girls in STEM, Grace students work with small groups of girls to foster a love of science,” said Dr. Rachael Hoffert, chair of elementary education at Grace.

“Our goal in these partnerships with the local schools is to not just teach education, but to build relationships and serve our community. We believe the best way to do that is through collaborations like this that benefit teacher candidates, STEM-certified elementary schools and the students they serve.”

Jodi Hanson, a part-time professor at Grace of six years, was instrumental in launching the Girls in STEM club four years ago and securing funds for the clubs’ robotics. She brings seven years of experience integrating STEM into reading, math and writing as an elementary teacher and has served on several STEM committees for Warsaw Community Schools.

“The School of Education is so thankful to have quality part-time instructors like Jodi, who has taken a hands-on approach to the critical thinking involved in STEM,” said Hoffert.

“She facilitates powerful science lessons in the classroom, trains our students on STEM equipment and creates impactful ways for our candidates to apply their knowledge while serving our community.”

According to Hanson, throughout her Methods of Science class, the Grace students’ feelings towards science “completely flip.”

“They are so much more positive at the end of a lesson than when we start,” said Hanson. “The goal is that our students complete the course with an understanding that science is all around them.”

Avery Samms, a third-year senior at Grace studying elementary education, has valued the hands-on experience she has gained through volunteering with Girls in STEM.

“This program creates a safe space for elementary girls to build social skills and ignites interest in primarily male-driven work, ultimately building up our girls' confidence and self-esteem,” she said. “I have personally benefited from the exploration of different technologies and STEM-related material as we have learned how to weave each of the components together to build lessons that are more engaging and practical for the real world.”

To learn more about the Girls in STEM club, watch this video. For more information about the School of Education at Grace, visit www.grace.edu/academics/academic-schools-departments/school-of-education/.

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WINONA LAKE — Grace College’s new Center for Literacy and Learning (CLL) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new tutoring center on the third floor of Mount Memorial Hall on Monday.

[caption id="attachment_98212" align="alignright" width="320"] Megan Smith, director of programs and partnerships at the CLL, talks during the opening ceremonies Monday for the Center for Literacy & Learning. Also pictured is Dr. Rachael Hoffert, director of the center and chair of the Department of Elementary Education at Grace. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The CLL, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. through its initiative, Advancing the Science of Reading in Indiana, is dedicated to enhancing teacher candidate knowledge and application of Science of Reading evidence-based practices while collaborating with local school districts to build capacity for dynamic clinical placements.

“The Center for Literacy and Learning is our collective response to the need for literacy,” said Dr. Rachael Hoffert, director of the center and chair of the Department of Elementary Education at Grace.

“We believe every child has the right and ability to read, which is why, at the most basic level, our mission is to empower readers and empower leaders,” she said.

Programming at the CLL will focus on three core pillars: teacher and leader preparation, classroom application and community engagement.

The first pillar, teacher and leader preparation, will strengthen the pipeline of teacher candidates entering the classroom and equip them with the ability to implement evidence-based practices in the science of reading. The center will ensure Grace’s teacher candidates engage in carefully sequenced literacy coursework while providing professional development opportunities for the School of Education’s faculty and staff.

The second pillar, classroom application, will begin with a partnership with Jefferson Elementary School, located next to the college. A lab school has been established at Jefferson, offering teacher candidates opportunities to collaborate with students and teachers at various grade levels. The lab school will serve as a training ground for teacher candidates to apply strategies aligned with Science of Reading frameworks.

“The partnership between Grace College and Jefferson Elementary will create invaluable learning opportunities for our students, staff and community,” said Joshua Wall, principal of Jefferson Elementary School. “We value the opportunity to bring teachers and teacher candidates together in the classroom to grow our capacity around the Science of Reading. This program is a win-win for Jefferson and Grace.”

The final pillar, community engagement, will include tutoring services for community K-5 students. Tutoring will take place at the CLL tutoring center, where Grace’s teacher candidates will gain experience teaching students in a small group setting.

Additionally, the CLL will establish strong partnerships with local school districts to provide training support for partnering teachers.

Kyle Carter, chief accountability officer at Warsaw Community Schools and former principal of Jefferson Elementary School, sees tremendous value in implementing the Science of Reading in the local schools.

“The Science of Reading provides decades of research-based understanding of how children learn to read,” said Carter. “This research guides educators to use the most effective strategies to help all students become proficient and confident readers, close literacy gaps and open doors to a lifetime of learning success. Warsaw Community Schools is thankful to strengthen its relationship with Grace College to grow the Science of Reading practices for current and future educators and create additional learning opportunities for students.”

The CLL’s tutoring center is now training its teacher candidates through an IDOE-approved literacy program. The center will begin its first week of student assessments on Monday, Sept. 16.

“There are many ways for community members to support the center, get involved and empower readers,” said Megan Smith, director of programs and partnerships at the CLL. “Today's readers are the leaders who will shape our future. We invite you to join us in this crucial mission.”

To learn more about the Center for Literacy & Learning or to inquire about how to get involved, email literacyandlearning@grace.edu.

To learn more about the Lilly Endowment Inc. Advancing the Science of Reading in Indiana initiative, visit lillyendowment.org/reading/.

[caption id="attachment_98213" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Joshua Wall, principal of Jefferson Elementary School, spoke at Monday's opening of the Center for Literacy and Learning on the campus of Grace College. Pictured at the far left are Megan Smith, director of programs and partnerships at the CLL, and Dr. Rachael Hoffert (center), director of the center and chair of the Department of Elementary Education at Grace. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) is relocating Jefferson Elementary students due to a water outage.

This schedule change will result in increased traffic in Winona Lake between 11 and 12:30pm.  We understand that this situation may cause some inconvenience, and we appreciate the community's understanding and cooperation as we prioritize student safety, the school said in a news release.

Jefferson families have received direct communication from Warsaw Schools with further instructions for the remainder of the day. Families with additional questions can contact Jefferson Elementary or Warsaw Community Schools’ Central Office.

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WINONA LAKE — A weeklong fundraiser hit the jackpot Friday to benefit a 12-year-old boy who needs a new wheelchair.

Sales with the Happy Beans coffee shop at Jefferson Elementary wrapped up Friday morning with a daily total collection topping $2,800.

Winona Lake Police Searant Joe Bumbaugh, one of the organizers of the effort to collect money to benefit Israel Gagnon, said that on top coffee sales revenues, two other accounts — one through Lake City Bank and another through a gofundme website — ended up combining for a grand total of $13,657.

Bumbaugh said the money will also be used to buy a specialized bike for Israel, who suffers from Spina Bifida. Any remaining money will go to help offset medical costs.

Israel is scheduled to have major organ surgery next month.

Jefferson Elementary Principal Josh Wall talked about the turnout and the effort by special education teacher Rachel Jensen who spearheaded the effort.

"It's through amazing teachers like her that have such a caring heart for these kids that make Jefferson a special place and make our community such a special place," Wall said.

Jensen said each grade level participated on specific days to support the endeavor. Fourth-graders alone raised nearly $500.

"It just shows how awesome Jefferson students can really care for their people," Jensen said.

"I hope they remember this for a long time into their adult lives so that they know it takes hard work, but we can do it all because we care about people," she said.

Among those who visited the school were Matt Deeds, principal at Harrison Elementary, along with Erin Kelly, a teacher at Harrison, and Ashley Starkweather, an administrative assistant at Harrison. They picked up a dozen or so coffees before heading back to Harrison.

"We saw that there was an awesome cause so Harrison Elementary wanted to come together and wanted to be able to help out," Deeds said.

[caption id="attachment_89602" align="aligncenter" width="859"] Israel Gagnon is seen behind the coffee counter at Jefferson Elementary. He chose to wear his beloved police uniform Friday on the final day of sales for a fundraiser that will help pay for a new wheelchair that he needs. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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WINONA LAKE — A strong turnout of residents and law enforcement helped kick off a fundraiser for a Jefferson Elementary student who needs a new wheelchair.

Israel, 12, was born with Spina Bifida in Bulgaria and placed in an orphanage where he had very limited contact and or development.

He was adopted five years ago by a Winona Lake couple, Darren and Stacey Gagnon.

Rachel Jensen, a special education teacher at Jefferson, has worked with Israel over the years, and organized the benefit through the school's Happy Beans money maker program run by students.

The school saw a large turnout Friday morning that attracted people from the community, school staff, a large contingent of police officers and TV crews from Fort Wayne and South Bend.

Jensen said Friday morning she's confident the week-long fundraiser (and other efforts) can meet and exceed the $6,000 needed to buy a new wheelchair.

"I'm pretty optimistic that we'll be able to raise the $6,000 because of our supportive community and just so many people that are willing and really want to truly bless Israel," she said.

"If we raise more than the $6,000, we'll work toward buying him a bike that he can utilize and roam around the community with," she said.

Jenson is one of many who are enamored with his resilience and endless smiles.

"He means the world to me," she said.

Numerous staff, including teachers have worked closely with him since he was a second-grader, she said.

"He has a relationship with all of them and they've all poured into him in significant ways to allow for him to be where he is today," she said.

His outlook is contagious.

"He exudes joy. For a boy who has gone through the amount of things he's gone through in his lifetime, for him to be so joyful — just truly —  is a miracle in my mind," she said.

Lake City Bank has opened up an account and Jensen said a gofundme account will be established in the next day or so.

[gallery size="full" columns="1" ids="89354,89356,89357"]

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