By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools 

Perry Township students have an abundance of gifts in academics, athletics and fine arts. We consider ourselves fortunate to have a community that values and supports each of these areas.

On April 13 and 14 we are excited to host arts enthusiasts at Perry Meridian High School during our 56th annual Art Show. The event will feature art from all of our schools and every grade level. Every year we’re blown away by the quality of our students’ masterpieces. I’ve even purchased a few pieces myself. Each year there’s such a variety, including paintings, ceramics, jewelry, drawings, textiles and so much more.

On Thursday, April 13, festivities will feature the “Chair”ity” Art Auction with bidding beginning at 6 p.m. As the name suggests, several chairs will be placed on the auction block. All proceeds will benefit our Kirsten Richardson Memorial Scholarship. Kirsten was a 2004 graduate who died in an accident shortly after graduation. A talented artist, she was dedicated to community service. The recipient of this scholarship must exemplify these characteristics.

There are plenty of activities for our youngest, budding artists well. On Friday, April 14, Perry Meridian’s Advanced Placement art students will host free art lessons for interested children. Sessions will include the following topics:  

• Ink exploration and watercolor silhouettes at 6:30 p.m. 
• Expressive color theory and foreshortened animals at 7:30 p.m.
• Clay vessels and expressive color with pen at 8 p.m.

At Perry Township Schools we believe in the importance of art. In fact, numerous studies present evidence that connects student learning in the arts to a variety of benefits, academically and socially. For example, researchers believe exposure to art education promotes self-directed learning, improves school attendance and sharpens critical and creative skills. Studies show that access to arts education in school offers benefits to students who come from low-income families and those who are at risk of dropping out.
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It is such a privilege to bear witness to the creative expression of our young artists year after year. We also appreciate all of the volunteers who devote hours of their time to coordinate this event. We are confident that this year’s artwork will inspire and enlighten audiences, just as it has in years past.
We look forward to seeing you there.

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools 

As educators, we are firm believers in the positive effects of preschool. Pre-K classes equip children with the tools they need to grow and learn emotionally, socially and academically. It introduces students to structure and launches them on a path to success as they gain confidence in accepting new challenges.  

According to many researchers, these benefits are even greater in children who come from low-income homes because early education helps to level the academic playing field for young students. 

Our early childhood education program, which has been instructing children for six years, is accepting applications for our 2017-18 school year at the Perry Township Education Center, 6548 Orinoco Drive.

The early childhood instruction will focus on each child’s individual needs and will follow these guiding principles:
• Creating a caring community of learners.
• Teaching to enhance development and learning.
• Planning curriculum to achieve important goals.
• Assessing children’s development and learning.
• Establishing reciprocal relationships with families.
This program will help students develop literacy and math skills to ensure that they are ready to learn in kindergarten. In fact, kindergarten teachers routinely tell us they can typically distinguish which students were educated in our Early Childhood Academy because of their level of readiness.

We believe that preschool should go beyond “babysitting.” We believe in enrichment. We are ranked as a Level 3 provider by Paths to Quality, Indiana’s statewide rating system for early care and education programs. Paths to Quality is a free resource to help families make informed decisions. It also helps early care and education providers improve the quality of their programs. The Level 3 designation recognizes our curriculum planning to guide child development, kindergarten preparation and health and safety.

We take incredible pride in the education our preschool staff provides. Our teachers are licensed and held to the same standards as the elementary and secondary teachers across the district. They receive professional development training and regular teacher evaluations. Growing the gifts of our staff ultimately helps our students advance, as well.

Our rates are competitive. Tuition costs $150 per week. As a benefit to employees of Perry Township Schools, we offer a discounted rate of $125 per week. Before- and after-school care are included at no additional fee. Before care begins at 6:30 a.m., while after care ends at 5:30 p.m.

Our staff at the academy regularly gets to watch programs and parties designed for our preschool students, and it is such a privilege to see how much the kids grow and learn from week to week. It is an honor to be a part of their early education journey.
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Call 317-789-3900 for more information.

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

Perry Township Schools is proud to be a school district that serves a diverse population. We have 4,763 English learning students who represent 67 different countries and 73 different languages.

While 49.7 percent of our students identify as white, the remaining 50.3 percent identify as Asian, Hispanic, black, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, or multiracial. We are honored to count these students and their families among our neighbors and friends.

The district has hosted a variety of recent programs to celebrate the diversity and gifts of our community. Southport High welcomed approximately 300 visitors to its Cultures of Southport event, which featured several students who graciously shared their immigration stories. This project was a collaboration between the English Learner Department and the Instructional Media Center, in which teachers and the media specialist worked together to incorporate cross-curricular activities in Advanced Placement human geography, regular geography, Spanish, biology, English 9 and statistics.

While standing on massive maps measuring 35 feet by 26 feet, students literally walked guests through their journeys, starting at their homeland and concluding in Perry Township – with stops in other countries, as needed. Visitors also enjoyed cultural displays, international crafts and native snacks. It’s heartening to know that so many people took time out of their day to meet and support our students. 

Representing 19 different countries, each student had a unique perspective to share. Our administrators eagerly accepted the invitation to interact with students one-on-one and learn their stories. 

The experience was truly enlightening and taught us so much about the resilience and character of our scholars. For a moment, students and administrators switched roles. The students became teachers – expertly sharing their stories. The administrators listened intently and asked thoughtful follow-up questions. Afterward, some of the students taught the staff a skill from their culture, including dancing, transporting firewood and speaking their native tongue. The event was a joyful celebration of humanity and provided some insight into the spirit and fortitude of our kids.

Members of our English Learning Department do so much more than teach English to students who come from distant lands. They also help to educate our staff. They host lunch and events to teach our employees how to be welcoming, inviting and respectful to all. 
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They help us to understand the nuances and sensitivities of other cultures, including Spanish, Chin/Burmese, Syrian and African. These groups represent our district in large numbers, and their experiences often differ from our customs and expectations. Accommodating these differences is a critical component of our inclusion efforts.

We want every student to be heard and included. We can learn so much from each other, but the learning process must be continuous and we look forward to future opportunities to celebrate our community.

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

Perry Township is fortunate to have a roster of smart, experienced substitute teachers on standby. They are a crucial part of our district’s success. Life happens – teachers get sick, their kids get sick, and they experience emergencies – and we are routinely looking for dependable subs ready to answer our call to help in instructing our students.  Because of this need, we would like to invite prospective substitute teachers to our upcoming substitute teacher recruitment fair.

The event, in partnership with Kelly Educational Staffing, will be held from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at the Perry Township Education Center, 6548 Orinoco Ave. Candidates, who ideally will have 60 hours of college credit, are encouraged to bring their resumes. They must also pass a background check and complete the free online training. We welcome teachers who are confident in the substitute role, as well as those who are willing to sub until they find a full-time position.

We’re seeking instructors for all subjects and all grade levels. We value our substitutes and we pay them competitively. Our Board of Education recently voted to begin compensation at $85 per day. However, certified teachers will receive $90 per day, while teachers who are retired from Perry Township will earn $100 per day. Flexibility is another important perk. In many cases, teachers have the option to work full or half days.
Substitute teachers also have a significant impact on the education of students. When parents send their children to us each day, they want to know that their children are getting the best instruction possible even if their regular teacher is not present.  Gone are the days where substitutes pop in a movie and kick up their feet. They are expected to provide the same thoughtful learning experience that students receive under the instruction of their full-time teacher. Helping students learn is paramount.

Since subs spend a limited amount of time in classrooms, they may not always see the long-term fruits of their labor. Still, their role is important. After all, every time our children interact with an adult, it has the potential to shape their character.

Call 317-917-0159 for more information on the upcoming job fair.