Noblesville Schools announced on Monday that it has partnered with multiple community organizations, including anniversary presenting sponsor Church Church Hittle + Antrim (CCHA), to launch a yearlong celebration throughout Noblesville during the 2019-2020 school year in commemoration of the district’s sesquicentennial.
Planning is currently in the works for 150th festivities to honor the district’s history and impact. These are expected to include themed events across the community, anniversary dedications, the honoring of select individuals as “Noble Millers” for their exceptional commitment to Noblesville Schools, historical exhibits, an anniversary song, throwback spirit wear, a commemorative coffee table book, product tie-ins at local businesses and more.
The district has partnered with multiple community organizations to plan and execute the effort, including forming an executive committee with representatives from the City of Noblesville, Noblesville Chamber of Commerce, Conner Prairie, Hamilton East Public Library, Nickel Plate Arts, Noblesville Main Street, NHS Alumni Association, Noblesville Education Foundation, and the Hamilton County Historical Society.
“A lot has changed about Noblesville Schools over the last 150 years, but our pursuit of academic excellence and our love for our students have been constants,” said Marnie Cooke, director of marketing and communications for Noblesville Schools. “We hope Noblesville residents of all ages will find this once-in-a-generation milestone an opportunity to reminisce about school days gone by and to make new memories with us. We’re excited and appreciative to have the support of so many community organizations to make this celebration as widespread, fun, and meaningful as possible.”
“The lawyers and staff of Church Church Hittle + Antrim are proud and excited to support the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Noblesville Schools,” said Doug Church, senior partner for CCHA. “Many of us are graduates and proud Millers, along with our children and grandchildren! The educational excellence of Noblesville Schools is something we all cherish. For more than 60 years, CCHA has been honored to serve as general counsel. We look forward to the events celebrating this major milestone and marking the impact of Noblesville Schools.”
While individual school houses have existed in Noblesville as far back as 1820, the district of Noblesville Schools was born in 1869 with the formation of a school board and the hiring of the first superintendent. The community’s goal at the time was building the first high school and “inaugurating a system of graded schools” in Noblesville.
Noblesville Schools’ board archives date back to 1870, the same year that construction began on Seminary School (later known as Second Ward.) The first Noblesville High School class, comprised of only three students, graduated in 1876.
The anniversary year will officially kick off at the annual Back to School BASH, a Noblesville Schools/Noblesville Parks collaboration held at Federal Hill Commons on July 26, 2019.
For more information regarding the anniversary celebration, residents are encouraged to visit noblesvilleschools.org/150, where content will be updated throughout the year.