Curriculum

The communications room (TV Studio) features the WCKN studio, control room and a green wall for productions. Students from kindergarten to fifth grade rotate through, learning TV production skills such as using video cameras, teleprompters, audio equipment and editing software on iMacs. Grades 2-5 produce the biweekly WCKN newscast, airing on YouTube and in classrooms. Students also create radio shows, TV shows, commercials and multimedia presentations with their projects airing on LTV-54 and Verizon FIOS 24 on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. each month.

All K-5 students have Spanish class each week, where they get to speak, sing and write in Spanish. Croninger has a Spanish pathway that helps students build their skills over time, getting them ready for the future. Students can test out of Spanish 1 and earn a high school credit before even entering middle school.

All Croninger students get art instruction. Kindergarten through fifth grade students have 45-minute art classes each week, where they learn the basics of art and design through different projects. Art standards are part of every lesson. Students get hands-on experience with drawing, painting, ceramics, 3D projects and weaving. Guest artists visit from time to time and students’ artwork is displayed throughout the school year at the school, the local FAME festival and in various community buildings.

The Croninger music curriculum, based on national and state standards, helps students communicate through music. In class, they move to music, play instruments, sing and create their own rhythms and melodies. Students perform throughout the year and learn instruments like voice, piano, guitar and recorder. In their final year, 5th graders can join Croninger Choir, an extracurricular group to build and showcase their skills. Croninger's goal is for every student to leave with the ability to use music for expression and communication.

Croninger students enjoy a variety of Physical Education activities like soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, rope jumping and parachute play. They are tested on fitness, strength, agility and skills while learning sportsmanship and healthy habits. Kindergarteners showcase their skills in a gym show and students compete in FWCS cross country, basketball, Volleyball Camp, Mileage Club, Jump Rope Challenge and a spring track meet. Every May all grades celebrate with a fun field day!

All Croninger students visit the library for 30 minutes each week. They choose from over 13,000 books and K-2 students enjoy read-alouds while learning book care, library procedures and authors. Grades 3-5 develop library skills like using the Destiny catalog, the Dewey Decimal system and reference materials. Students also participate in two yearly reading incentives – Young Hoosier Books and Winter Break Reading.