Collaboration is often the key to discovering the best practices to use in schools. To share these approaches and ideas, a group of superintendents met in Elkhart for to hear what other schools corporations are doing.

There is an innovative after school program at Jackson Middle School in South Bend. Students learn kitchen skills, safety and the art of cooking and are able to take ingredients home to prepare meals for their families. Junior Chefs are paired with senior chef mentors and learn how to follow recipes, make nutrition meals and gain confidence in the kitchen as well as the social skills of eating dinner together.

There are plenty of chances for athletes to compete at higher level competitions, but what about students with more interest in the sciences? The Science Olympiad offers students in Middle and High School a place to test their skills and knowledge in an academic competition that ranges from building and designing machines to identifying birds and fossils.

The manufacturing field is continuing to grow and expand as technology advances. With that expansion, the manufacturing workers of tomorrow are going to need to get a jumpstart on learning about them. Students at Goshen High School are getting that chance to learn about those advancements and get hands on training for future careers through the school's very own manufacturing academy.

The Coastline Children's Film Festival is a 10 day event showcasing full-length features, shorts, silent films and documentaries made for children. The film festival spans across six communities in Michigan and Indiana. The event contributes to the growing momentum of the arts scene in Benton Harbor, Michigan. This even gives children a chance to showcase their creativity and experience films that they'd otherwise never see.

Socio-emotional learning isn't something that you'd expect to be taught middle schools to be learning. However it is something, that in today's world, is vital. The five star program (five star fridays) is set on teaching middle school students, the importance of mental and emotional awareness in order to achieve their goals both academically, and outside of the classroom.

The August Wilson Project is a 10 year educational partnership with the South Bend Civic Theatre in which each of Wilson's plays will be performed in chronological order highlighting the African-American experience throughout the 20th century. The South Bend Civic Theatre is creating opportunities for students and adults to interact with the material on and off stage as well as in the classroom.

The video arcade is making a comeback, but immersive gaming is the new hot ticket. Some people though may find it difficult due to the amount of sensory overload happening. Places like The Waypoint VRcade are making sure everyone can enjoy gaming in virtual reality.

Learning the musical arts can provide an important opportunity, but not everyone has the chance to take part in music classes. The School of American Music provides members of the community the chance to learn how to play various musical instruments and even get to perform in front of an audience.

Just by venturing around the Midwest area, we are aware of the lush lands and various different wildlife that inhabit our home. However rarely do we get to unplug and experience it all first hand. The Junior Indiana Master Naturalist Course opens its' doors, to home schooled students, giving them an enriching experience with nature and all it has to offer.