KES Community
About Klondike
Take a Peek
A Quick Peek into Klondike Elementary School
In the spring of 2025, the latest construction of Klondike Elementary was completed. Students began class in the new edition following Spring Break in March 2025. The new Klondike changed from a one level building spanning an eighth of a mile to a new space with two levels of learning common spaces for our staff and students. The cafeteria, gym, and office areas all all that is left of the old Klondike Elementary, but all received renovations in the process.
Klondike Legacy
When you first enter the building you will notice the legacy wall across from the office. In this space you will see images of Klondike history, from students of the old high school, former staff members, and photos of the old Klondike buildings. This is a great way to show our families the rich history of our school.
Stained Glass Project
In the 1990s, Klondike had an artist in residence that worked with students to created a stained glass mural. This was part of the entrance to our formal building. The glass was saved before demolition and is now part of our library entryway.
The Big K
Klondike Elementary was once Klondike High School before Harrison High School was built. Next to our school gym, you will see the "Big K" from the floor of the old High School gym. This wall is another part of our former building that was kept for our new space.
Art Showcases
Klondike has always valued showing off our student art talents. Next to the office you will see our featured Artists of the Month. There are many displays of student artwork throughout the halls thanks to Mrs. Schwecke.
Klondike History
History of Klondike Elementary School
Klondike Elementary School had its beginnings in 1832 as a one-room log cabin with Stanford Cox, a pioneer poet, writer, and historian, as the first teacher. In 1899, the log cabin was replaced with a two-room brick building called Hebron School, where four grades were taught in each room. Students were brought to school in carriage and pony cart. This area of Wabash Township used to to be called Burton, but was renamed Klondike after the excitement in the community of the Alaskan Gold Rush.
In the early 1920s, consolidation was sweeping the country, but Wabash Township was reluctant to join the movement. After many petitions, remonstrances, and public meetings, the trustee of the township was authorized to begin construction of a township consolidated school. A ten-acre plot of land was purchased, a store and church were moved, and excavation began. The new, brick building consisted of twelve classrooms, a gymnasium, and auditorium. It cost $85,000 and was completed in the summer of 1926. That year the new school welcomed 300 students and 16 teachers working in grades 1-12. Nine buses were used to transport the students from the six districts in the area, and in just a few years, Klondike became the largest school in the county.
In 1953, it became apparent that the 1926 facility was no longer adequate for Klondike's growing population. A new building, what is now Klondike Elementary, was dedicated in September 1956 with 37 rooms and a gymnasium. By 1958 more space was needed. An eight-room addition was completed in 1961.
The community still continued to grow. In 1970, the High Schools of Klondike, Battle Ground, and East Tippecanoe consolidated to make Harrison High School. Grades seven, eight and nine held classes in the old Klondike High School building. A year later another wing was added to the elementary building and they began to see Kindergarten students arrive. The lower gym was also added at this time. More changes for the Klondike area were in store. Klondike Middle School was built in 1979, and it was decided that the old Klondike High School was to be demolished. Part of the old high school gym floor can be found in our current building and is known as "The Big K". This was across from the former office and was a meeting place for families and groups before and after school.
In 1985, ninth graders were moved to Harrison High School, and the Klondike Elementary sixth graders left to go to the middle school. Klondike added the Library and 700 hallway, which made up the hallway along the old KES playground. In 1991 our current front office, gymnasium, and cafeteria were created. In 2010, one final wing was added to the south end of the building, making the distance from the front office to this wing a whopping one-eighth of a mile.
During the 2024-2025 school year, construction on the new two-story Klondike addition was completed. The fourth and fifth grade students went to the newly constructed Klondike Middle School while construction was being completed. The old office, gymnasium, and cafeteria were renovated to be part of the new elementary building. The rest of the building was torn down to make room for the parking lot. The new KES has eight learning commons, or pods, for grade levels to work in. Our Media Center now features our United Nations of Klondike, displaying flags from all of the countries Klondike students come from.
In the fall of 2026, Klondike third, fourth, fifth, and high-ability classes start classes in the newly renovated Klondike Intermediate School located in the former Klondike Middle School built in 1979.
Klondike began as a two room school house over one hundred years ago and has grown into a three building campus. We are looking forward to making history for the next hundred years.
-Information compiled from "History of Klondike Schools in Wabash Township" by Angela M. Jones from 1987. Angela was a former student teacher at KES.
United Nations
The United Nations of Klondike
Our school benefits from an ever-changing, incredibly diverse population that we like to call the "United Nations of Klondike." Flags are on display in our new Media Center for each country our students represent.
Our last record check shows our KES population includes children from the following countries:
Afghanistan - Argentina - Brazil - Canada - China - Colombia - Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) - Ecuador - France - Germany - Guatemala - Haiti - Honduras - India - Japan - Kazakhstan - Mexico - Pakistan - Philippines - South Korea - Sudan - Taiwan - Ukraine - United States
Special thanks to Krista Strimel for her assistance with keeping our list up to date!
School Song
Klondike Elementary School Song
Let's hear it for the Klondike Nuggets,
Let's hear it for the gold and the blue.
If we're cheering loud
That's because we're proud
Of everything we do.
Let's hear it for the Klondike Nuggets,
And the spirit for which they stand.
'Til the sun's no longer gold
And the sky's no longer blue,
Klondike, we're all for you!
Words and Tune by Kelly and Nancy Clapper - 1983
Retired Staff
Below are the names of many of our retired staff members of Klondike Elementary School.
- Lisa Ariano - Art (1985-2015) lariano@comcast.net
- Peggy Benton - 5th grade (1985 - 2015) peg1561@gmail.com
- Mary Bunte - Art (1990-2005) mcbunte@gmail.com
- Donna Cahill - 1st grade and Reading Recovery (15 years) dennydonna71@gmail.com
- Kathy Clifton - 1st, 3rd, and 2nd grade (1998 - 2021) kathyclifton2520@gmail.com
- Kathy Coder - Counselor (1978-2010, 2012-2018) kcoder136@gmail.com
- Nancy Crum - 2nd, 3rd, Primary Multiage (1986 - 2010) ncrum1@comcast.net
- Janet Day - 2nd Grade (2000 - 2018) jday@the-days.com
- Elizabeth Dunlap - 4/5 Multiage, 4th grade, 5th grade, 2nd grade (2007-2018)- ecdunlap@yahoo.com. Cell: 765-337-5745
- Ruth Ann Ferris - Speech, Language Pathologist (1970 - 1995) ruthannferris70@gmail.com
- Carol (Trost) Fillmore - Music (1982 - 1991) cfillmore64@gmail.com
- Jane (Rehm) Fischer - 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd grades (1978 - 1998) jfischer29@tampabay.rr.com
- Judi Forsyth - Attendance, Lunch Buddy program (1988 - 2017) judiforsyth@yahoo.com
- Carol Goodrich - 4/5 High Ability (1989 - 2015)
- Diane Gray - Reading Recovery/Title I (2003 - 2014) d.e.gray@frontier.com
- Pam Grenard - 4th grade (1987 - 2006) pgrenard@comcast.net
- Elaine Hale - 5th and 3rd grade (1974 - 2011) ekhale@comcast.net
- Connie Heier - Kindergarten (1989 - 2019)
- Maureen Hoffinger - Interventionist (1988 - 2024)
- Mary Hood - 1st grade (1969 - 2009) eldonhood1738@gmail.com
- Linda Ivy - 4th grade and Library (1991 - 2009) linda.long.ivy@gmail.com
- Lou Ann Johnston - Nurse (1995 - 2010) ljohnston@tipmont.net
- Shirley Kesler - 1st grade (1962 - 1991) phone (765) 563-3099
- Nancy Klinger - 2nd grade (1986 - 1999) ncklinger@aol.com
- Ruthi Krynak - 4th, 5th, 3rd grades, resource room, Spell Bowl coach, KNN News ( 1991 - 2017) rjkrynak@gmail.com
- Peggy Ksander - Title I - I Can Program (1990 - 2009) peggy@ksander.us
- Jean McCoy - Kindergarten (1994 - 2009) jamccoy17@msn.com
- Alisa Marvin - 4th, 1st, Reading Recovery, Title I (1986 - 2018) Marvteach1@aol.com
- Graceann Merkel - 1st - 3rd grade (1970 - 2010) merkelgr@aol.com
- Marilyn Neie - Library (1980 - 2000) mjneie40@gmail.com
- Lisa O'Brien - Resource Room (2004 - 2024)
- Elaine Patterson - Secretary, Title I (1990 - 2017)
- Diana Pennell - Library (1998 - 2010) dspennell@hotmail.com
- Ray Polstra - Reading Recovery and 1st grade (1972 - 2014) raypolstra40@gmail.com
- Cathy Qualkinbush - 2nd, 3rd, Primary Multiage (1977 - 2002) qualkin@comcast.net
- Diane Rolfes - Instructional Assistant (1983 - 2019)
- Connie Schmidt - Kindergarten (1971 - 1979, 1987 - 2013) clbschmidt@yahoo.com
- Angie Shondell - Intermediate Multiage and Title I (2003 - 2017)
- Joan Smith - 4th grade (1966 - 2012) phone (219) 872-8400
- Linda Smith - Title I - I CAN (30 years) LAS6211@comcast.net
- Dona Thomas - PACE, Accelerated Math, 4th grade (1998 - 2018)
- Dave Wehrspann - Physical Education (1982 - 2018) djwehrspann@gmail.com
- Kristin Weidenaar - 1st Grade, Reading Recovery (1986 - 2000) kristin7076@gmail.com
- Marie Wellman - 2nd grade, 1-3 multiage, 2/3 multiage, 2/3 high ability (1986-2020) mrs_wellman@hotmail.com
- Yvonne Whelan - 3rd grade (2010-2020) ysw517emilie@yahoo.com
- Sharon White - 1st, 2nd, Primary Multiage (1972 - 1997) skwhite1961@gmail.com
- Tammy Younts - 1st, 4th, 4/5 high ability, Instructional Coach (2006 - 2021) tyret2162@gmail.com
Thank you to Nancy Crum for helping to organize this.
Volunteer
Klondike is fortunate to have many parents and community members who help in our school. On any given day you may find lunch buddies, Read to Succeed volunteers, parent helpers, field trip chaperones, and more working with our students in a variety of ways.
In 2012, the TSC School Board passed policy 8120 requiring all adults who volunteer in our buildings, including field trip chaperones, to have a limited background check completed prior to working with students. For field trips, these checks must be approved prior to the date of the trip in order for an adult to attend with their student. It is best to complete the form and return it early if you are considering attending any field trips, as the processing can be delayed. For more details and to download the background check form, please go to the TSC Volunteer Information page.