It's been a busy and fun week at Blackford County Schools! There have been concerts, programs, parties, cereal deliveries and even a visit from the Jolly Elf himself! Thank you to everyone who has done anything to make the holidays brighter for our students! We appreciate you! Merry Christmas!
BCS Superintendent Chad Yencer, was joined by daughters (l-r) Jadyn and Jessica to help spread holiday cheer. Mr. Yencer and his daughters have made it an annual tradition to visit every elementary classroom across the district and hand out candy canes to our students! 🎄
For the past several weeks, 11th-grade students in Mrs. Monica Myers' ELA class at BJSHS have been reading the bestselling book "Let Them" by Mel Robbins. The Let Them Theory, a mindset tool teaching you to stop wasting energy trying to control others' opinions or behavior, and instead focus on your own life, goals, and happiness by simply saying "Let Them" to release stress and regain personal power. It's about creating boundaries, accepting what you can't change, and redirecting energy to what you can control (you), fostering peace and better relationships. A lot of great discussions have taken place inside these classroom walls. Let Them be BRUNIS!
Photo: Junior, Maddy Cagle
Photo: Junior, Maddy Cagle
Blackford County, there are angels amongst us.
If you or your organization helped with the BCS cereal distribution project- thank you!
To our own BCS staffers, Candace Fox and Denise Rogers, thank you for all your work!
Nurse Fox shared some facts about the donations:
2600 boxes of cereal were donated for distribution to the students enrolled; every student will bring home 2 boxes for Christmas break.
3M donated 67 boxes.
Lighthouse Church donated 281 boxes
Hartford City Wesleyan Church donated 100 boxes
Glad Tidings Church donated an estimated 100 boxes
Community Food Bank (in memory of Mel Sicks and in combination with an anonymous donor) donated 1800 boxes
An anonymous donor donated milk for several of the upper grades that have identified a need.
Thank you ALL for your kindness! We ARE BruinProud!
If you or your organization helped with the BCS cereal distribution project- thank you!
To our own BCS staffers, Candace Fox and Denise Rogers, thank you for all your work!
Nurse Fox shared some facts about the donations:
2600 boxes of cereal were donated for distribution to the students enrolled; every student will bring home 2 boxes for Christmas break.
3M donated 67 boxes.
Lighthouse Church donated 281 boxes
Hartford City Wesleyan Church donated 100 boxes
Glad Tidings Church donated an estimated 100 boxes
Community Food Bank (in memory of Mel Sicks and in combination with an anonymous donor) donated 1800 boxes
An anonymous donor donated milk for several of the upper grades that have identified a need.
Thank you ALL for your kindness! We ARE BruinProud!
Attention, Attention! Don't miss our BJSHS art students outstanding work that will be featured during tonight's band and choir concerts at 5:15 in the gym. (The concert starts at 6 p.m.)
BCS will operate on a 2 hour delay Monday 12/15/25. Be Safe Bruins.
BCS will operate on a 2 hour delay Monday 12/15/25. Be Safe Bruins.
Santa and Mrs. Claus were spreading cheer with their very own BJSHS HOSA helpers during The Waters of Hartford City's Christmas Parade!
#BruinProud
#BruinProud
It's time to thaw your genius skills, melt away boredom, and SPARK your imagination with Camp Invention 2026. Superheroes, forensics, animal science, and space exploration will all be a part of the coolest summer yet. Mark your calendars for June 8-12, 2026. Registration information to come later!
Join us at the next School Board meeting- December 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Administrative Offices.
It's that time again!
A special message from Mrs. Rouch regarding the BJSHS Teddy Bear Toss 2025:
As you are shopping, or cleaning out your treasures, please keep the annual HOSA Teddy Bear toss in mind! Our toss will be Jan 9th during the boy's varsity half-time game. This is always a fun event, so don't miss out! If you have a donation, but are unable to attend the game, we always have students more than happy to toss your stuffed animal. Please drop them off at the front office, or in my room (244).
Thank you!
A special message from Mrs. Rouch regarding the BJSHS Teddy Bear Toss 2025:
As you are shopping, or cleaning out your treasures, please keep the annual HOSA Teddy Bear toss in mind! Our toss will be Jan 9th during the boy's varsity half-time game. This is always a fun event, so don't miss out! If you have a donation, but are unable to attend the game, we always have students more than happy to toss your stuffed animal. Please drop them off at the front office, or in my room (244).
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the BIS "Crazy Christmas" program held last night at BJSHS! We appreciate BIS Music Director Ms. Shelby Crouse and all the hard work that went into the presentation!
Photos provided by Michelle Gross
A message from our BCS Corporation Nurse:
If we have not yet had a chance to meet, my name is Candace Fox, and I am the Corporation Nurse for BCS. I wanted to reach out and make everyone aware of a Norovirus outbreak in our area that is impacting students and staff.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States. The virus can live on surfaces for several days, but is easily killed by antibacterial soaps, wipes, and cleaners. The current strain affecting Blackford County is not killed by hand sanitizer alone, and requires handwashing to rid the virus from the skin. For this reason, it is strongly encouraged that staff and students wash their hands frequently, but most importantly after using the restroom and before eating any snacks or meals.
Norovirus causes sudden onset of abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that begins 12-48 hours after exposure and can last up to 1-3 days on average. It is not uncommon to have headache, low grade fever (100.4-102*) and body aches as well. The virus is most contagious when the person is symptomatic, but you can still spread germs for up to two weeks after symptoms begin. There is no specific treatment for Norovirus beyond staying hydrated and preventing dehydration with popsicles, ice chips, broth, or frequent sips of water and rehydration packets such as Liquid IV.
Please keep yourself and others safe these last two weeks by not sharing food or drinks, and frequently washing your hands. BCS will keep work areas and desks cleaned and wiped down or sprayed with disinfectant. Here's to a healthy end of the semester!
Yours in Health,
Candace Fox, BSN RN
Blackford County Corporation Nurse
If we have not yet had a chance to meet, my name is Candace Fox, and I am the Corporation Nurse for BCS. I wanted to reach out and make everyone aware of a Norovirus outbreak in our area that is impacting students and staff.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States. The virus can live on surfaces for several days, but is easily killed by antibacterial soaps, wipes, and cleaners. The current strain affecting Blackford County is not killed by hand sanitizer alone, and requires handwashing to rid the virus from the skin. For this reason, it is strongly encouraged that staff and students wash their hands frequently, but most importantly after using the restroom and before eating any snacks or meals.
Norovirus causes sudden onset of abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that begins 12-48 hours after exposure and can last up to 1-3 days on average. It is not uncommon to have headache, low grade fever (100.4-102*) and body aches as well. The virus is most contagious when the person is symptomatic, but you can still spread germs for up to two weeks after symptoms begin. There is no specific treatment for Norovirus beyond staying hydrated and preventing dehydration with popsicles, ice chips, broth, or frequent sips of water and rehydration packets such as Liquid IV.
Please keep yourself and others safe these last two weeks by not sharing food or drinks, and frequently washing your hands. BCS will keep work areas and desks cleaned and wiped down or sprayed with disinfectant. Here's to a healthy end of the semester!
Yours in Health,
Candace Fox, BSN RN
Blackford County Corporation Nurse
There are Christmas Angels among us! BCS would like to thank the Montpelier Church of the Nazarene for providing warm scarves and gloves for all the first grade students at Blackford Primary School. Thank you so much for your kindness! ❤️
Just a reminder that with devices going home so early with students, there might be some parents rethinking their student's device protection. If this is you, please take a moment to review the available insurance coverage.
A big thank you goes out to the Blackford County Sheriff's Department and the Grant County Sheriff's Department for taking it to the mat last night for a good cause. Each department's teams took on the other on to help raise money for the holiday Shop With A Cop program. Thank you to these men and women for giving it their all, putting on a great show, and raising money for kids.
Also, we appreciate the crowd that stayed after the BJSHS wrestling matches to cheer on their favorite police team member! A good time was had by all, and according to organizers is now destined to become an annual event!
(For those who might not be aware, the Grant County SD squad was co-coached by BJSHS teacher and coach Mike Jones and his son, Curtis.)
We are BCS, BCSD and GCSD PROUD!
(Photos provided by Amber Jones)
Also, we appreciate the crowd that stayed after the BJSHS wrestling matches to cheer on their favorite police team member! A good time was had by all, and according to organizers is now destined to become an annual event!
(For those who might not be aware, the Grant County SD squad was co-coached by BJSHS teacher and coach Mike Jones and his son, Curtis.)
We are BCS, BCSD and GCSD PROUD!
(Photos provided by Amber Jones)
Mrs. Dee was a long-time elementary teacher at Northside Elementary School.
Mark your calendars. You aren't going to want to miss holiday performances by our talented BJSHS Band and Choirs!
BCS will close Tuesday, December 2nd 2025. This day will be made up April 3rd 2026. Be Safe Bruins!
BCS will operate on a 2 hour delay, Tuesday December 2nd 2025. Be Safe Bruins!