New school year, new building for Indian Creek Middle School

WATERMAN – Wednesday, Aug. 16, was not only the start of a new school year at Indian Creek Middle School, it also was the start of a new school.

The 207 fifth- through eighth-grade students of Indian Creek Middle School began the 2017-18 school year in their new middle school building, 335 E. Garfield St. in Waterman.

The middle school moved from its previous location at the former Waterman High School, 425 S. Elm St., to the renovated and expanded Waterman Elementary School. The elementary school combined with Shabbona Elementary School to become the only pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade building in the district.

The old middle school was rebuilt in part in 1929 after a fire destroyed part of the building and expanded in 1961. The new middle school building was built in 1953, with renovation and expansion beginning in 2015.

Cindy Ahlmann of Waterman, whose daughter Joselynn is starting eighth grade this year, said the change in middle school buildings is bittersweet.

"My children all went to this building when it was the elementary school, and now it is their middle school," Ahlmann said. "The change is definitely bittersweet, and I think everyone will miss the old historic building a little."

Renovation to convert the building into the new middle school included painting, adding new carpet, tile, LED lights and lockers. An expansion added two science classrooms, an art room, a gymnasium with a stage, a weight room and a band and choir room.

Inside the rooms, the school district focused on creating what Superintendent Chad Willis calls a “21st century classroom.” Each room has four 55-inch smart TVs, dry-erase tables for desks and swivel chairs. Each student has been issued a Chromebook and a backpack with a padded compartment to safely transport their new laptop.

“Through the remodeling process, we have the opportunity to make classrooms into more than what they were previously,” said Principal Steve Simpson. “A new school year always comes with a sense of adventure and exploration. This year, we have a new facility, a new type of learning environment and modern technology. We are all excited about the new building; I’ve seen a large number of kids, parents and teachers smiling. We have a great deal of optimism as we look to the future of our new school and the school district.”

Eighth-grade science teacher Kathy Watson said that even after teaching for 33 years, she gets just as excited as her students for the start of the new school year.

"I am thrilled and excited for the new school year," Watson said. "The new science lab is state-of-the-art and top of the line. The students now have maximum space, mobility and access to technology. It doesn't get any better than this."