VWCS Kicks Off the 2025-2026 School Year!
VWCS Kicks Off the 2025-2026 School Year!
VAN WERT — Van Wert students filled classrooms Wednesday morning as the district kicked off the first day of the 2025-26 school year.
Superintendent Mark Bagley was at Van Wert Elementary School to welcome students and staff, saying the district is starting the year with positive momentum.
“We’re really excited about the first day,” Bagley said. “We’ve got music playing at the elementary. We’re all about culture, and Cougar Pride is a real thing. You can see the energy here, and I just got back from the Goedde Building where there’s a lot of positive energy as well. It’s a nice first day for us.”
Bagley said the district is continuing to emphasize relationships as the foundation for student success.
“We’re always focusing on culture, because you have to form relationships with kids before you can get into the heavy educational part,” he said. “Focus 3 and the E+R=O (Event+Response=Outcome) is a huge focus for our district. There’s training and other opportunities for staff, students and families to grow in that area. That’s our big focus to start the year — culture, Cougar Pride and getting off to a great start.”
While the first day always brings questions about timing, Bagley said the district is glad to be back.
“You always wonder when is the right time to start,” he said. “You’ve got to start sometime, and today’s that first step. We’re pleased to be back.”