The last day of the 2018-19 school year is Thursday, May 23. When classes end with the chime of the final bell, we want students to continue learning. We are thankful to community partners who encourage education outside of the classroom even when school is not in session.

The Indianapolis Public Library generously handed out free library cards to students in Perry Township and across Marion County. During a distribution ceremony at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Library representatives began passing out 14,697 cards for students in grades one through twelve. Of those recipients, 10,557 students were new cardholders.

Because reading opens new worlds filled with thrills and surprises, the ceremony was designed with fanfare to match. Cheerleaders from Perry Meridian High, adorned with spirit wear, joined the festivities and surprised students as they received their library cards. The cards include online access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming music and video, and more than 80 research databases for learning or leisure. Library staff even plans to train teachers to use the databases properly to ensure students maximize the features once school resumes.

The sooner that students can build confidence in reading, the sooner they can build confidence in their other courses. Little readers at Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten Academy (JGKA) are thriving thanks to a valuable partnership with the M.A. Rooney Foundation, which is a nonprofit committed to ensuring that students in K-2 are reading at grade level. The K-2 threshold is critical because many experts believe that a student’s reading level in third grade provides a strong indication of future success in the classroom and in society. According to a number of studies, students who read proficiently by the time they have finished third grade keep pace with peers or excel in later school years.

At JGKA, the M.A. Rooney Foundation provides school-wide training of all teachers and instructional aides at no cost. Twice each month, the Foundation provides ongoing support for free. They have even co-taught with teachers and provided feedback. The Foundation uses a method known as the Orton-Gillingham multisensory phonetic teaching approach. Their efforts have proven effective with 91 percent of JGKA students reaching proficiency or above in the Dibels Composite assessment, a measure of early literacy skills.

Even in summer months when children are home, literacy experts still recommend 15 to 20 minutes of reading each day for beginners. Other reading recommendations still stand, as well:

• Read every day – The more children are exposed to books, the more likely it is that reading will become more routine.
• Make suggestions – Recommend books that match your child’s interests.
• Give rewards – Consider buying your child a new book or making an extra trip to the library as an incentive.
• Surround children with books and magazines - Children who have access to grade-appropriate reading materials at home tend to perform better on standardized tests.

Literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning. Perry Township Schools is committed to teaching students the building blocks of success at every grade level.

Just as we encourage our students to grow academically, Perry Township Schools’ administrators are also expected to grow professionally.

Our educators are required to complete regular training to improve classroom effectiveness and to keep up with evolving techniques and trends in education. Our leaders, who work to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students, also depend on insight from our scholars and their families. Community feedback makes us better.

As part of this ongoing, open dialogue, our district leaders host face-to-face discussions with our students. Recently, Supt. Patrick Mapes and Assoc. Supt. for career preparation Robert Bohannon arranged two working lunches with students at Perry Meridian and Southport high schools.

During the lunch, students – representing all grade levels – were invited to speak freely about their experiences in elementary through high school. They were able to talk about their positive experience and provide constructive feedback to help us get better – suggestions that can benefit students for years to come. Students were encouraged to be honest about their hopes and dreams for the district, as well as their concerns. Our leaders listened without judgment.

Students shared their concerns about nicotine use among their peers and described their classmates’ attitude about drug use. They believe their friends may be unaware of the risks of electronic cigarettes.

As the conversation turned to academics, our scholars recommended an earlier introduction to foreign language options so young students have more time to become proficient.  They also described their experience with Naviance, a college and career readiness platform that connects what students are learning in school to what they want to do in life. Completing the introductory year of the program, students explained the features that worked well, in addition to the features that weren’t maximized to their potential – an observation that administrators are working to remedy in the next phase of the platform’s rollout. It’s imperative for students to feel fully supported while filling out college applications, scholarship forms, and preparing for the future.

Students also provided insightful comments about our ongoing security measures. They asked questions about the introduction of ID badges and lanyards, which will be required at both high schools starting July 2019. Students also described parking lot challenges and congestion, which immediately led to traffic control improvements at Southport High School.

It was inspiring to see such well-rounded students making thoughtful decisions about their futures and the future of our district. Conversations, such as these, help build a better district for our Perry Township community.

​Perry Township Schools is a tight-knit community. We are family. Some members are connected by DNA; others are united by love and respect. We are thankful to our church communities for being a crucial part of our Perry Township family.

During our recent pastor appreciation breakfast, we invited dozens of pastors of all faiths to our education center where we thanked them for all their contributions that serve our students, families, and staff. District leaders expressed how the churches’ continued commitment directly affects our district’s success. Specifically, when students and their families have fewer worries, the student is able to focus more intently on their coursework.

Our staff also used the gathering to present volunteer opportunities that are available. Perry Meridian and Southport High football head coaches Matt Henninger and Brandon Winters, respectively, described how our youth football program works and how volunteers are needed to help young students learn the sport and sportsmanship. After all, athletics encourage several positive traits, including physical fitness, character-building, and social skills – which have long-term benefits far beyond high school.

Each school year, our administrators welcome pastors of all faiths into our schools to encourage and mentor our students, as well as support our staff with events for our students and their families. For many people, churches – like schools – are the heart of the community. It’s where they seek information.

​It’s where they celebrate their wins and seek guidance for their losses. Some families ask church leadership and members for more tangible resources, such as food, clothing, or housing assistance. These are many of the same challenges that our school leaders work to address, as well. At times, we are able to join forces to solve these problems together by enlisting the help of other community partners and social services.

We are truly thankful for our clergy – and every community partner – who share their time, talent, and treasure. For more information on volunteer opportunities, call the Perry Township school that is near and dear to your heart.

Beside each of our incredible principals is an extraordinary assistant principal.
April 8-12 marked Assistant Principals Week across the country. Perry Township Schools sincerely values the hard-working administrators whose contributions – big and small – to our district make Perry Township Schools an amazing place to work and learn.

It’s impossible to find the words to truly describe the influence that each of our educators has on students, colleagues, and our community. But during Assistant Principals Week, we invited our assistant principals to the Perry Township Education Center for breakfast to express our gratitude. They work alongside our school principals to manage administrative tasks and carry out the principal’s decisions. Many assistant principals oversee disciplinary issues and encourage students to turn away from negative choice and inspire positive behaviors. They enforce boundaries to maintain a positive school culture.

Our assistant principals also plan events that enrich our students’ educational experience. Every year, our principals work diligently behind the scenes to plan many of our district’s marquee events, such as the District Art Show, District and State Spell Bowl, PE and music programs, and so much more. They spend hours, without complaint, planning every detail that goes into each of these programs that attract hundreds of people. They arrive early to make sure the equipment is in order. They stay late to pack up supplies.

Our assistant principals do it cheerfully, and they play a major role in the success of our district. They also build relationships with students, parents, and community members who are crucial to our district’s success. They support and mentor teachers and other staff, especially those who want to move in to a leadership role in the future.

We are thankful to our partnerships with organizations such as Marian University, which allows us to grow our teachers into leaders. Marian University‘s Fred S. Klipsch Educators College is offering a trailblazing program that allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in four years and a master’s degree in five years in special education, elementary education, or biology and secondary education.

As part of the curriculum, future teachers and administrators will gain real-life classroom experience by tutoring, as well as observing our teachers and their classroom strategies in action. For more information on the unique program, visit marian.edu/educators-college