​By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

Perry Township Schools is committed to nurturing the whole child. In addition to academic success we invest in our students’ emotional and physical well-being. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, obesity affects approximately 12.7 million children and adolescents. Kids who struggle with obesity also have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, joint problems and breathing issues such as asthma and sleep apnea. Experts also point out risks aren’t exclusively physical; there are psychological concerns including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. 

Physical fitness is an important part of our curriculum. We offer physical education courses to our students, and we ensure younger children are given time for recess. Healthy habits are more likely to stick when the family gets involved and encourages one another.

Our P.E. teachers gave parents and caretakers a glimpse into the district’s P.E. classes last week, when they invited the community to attend a fitness expo, which featured many of the activities that our students do in class each day. 

We were so thrilled with the crowd that came out to support the evening of interactive fun, which included juggling, cup stacking, hula hooping and other physical activities. Not every activity has to be intense to be beneficial. It was so much fun to see families come together to focus on wellness.

The fitness expo came just days before Every Kid Healthy Week, the nationwide annual observance created by Action for Healthy Kids to celebrate school health and wellness achievements. Observed the last week of April each year, this special program highlights the great efforts schools are doing to improve the health and wellness of students. The organization also emphasizes the link between nutrition, physical activity and learning. Proponents say healthy kids learn better.

We encourage everyone in our Perry community to make healthy choices this week and beyond. As adults, it’s our responsibility to lead by example. You don’t have to join a health club or invest in costly fitness equipment. Wellness exercises can be as simple as learning a few basic stretches that you can do at work, home or outside. 

You can explore sports leagues – for kids or adults – that compete on weekends. You can also set aside a few minutes a couple of days each week to walk around your block or neighborhood park. We make choices every day that either help or hinder our wellness. Let’s cheer on the Perry community for doing its part to help our kids live healthier lives.

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

Classroom success is important, but in Perry Township we also pride ourselves on equipping our students to achieve their dreams after high school, as well. When every student graduates we believe that they should be empowered to pursue college, a trade or even the armed services. We want them to leave high school feeling confident in their new journeys.

Our guidance department plays an important role to ensure that students gain the academic, social and emotional fortitude needed to live a productive life beyond the classroom. 

Southport High School recently hosted a career fair that exposed students to more than 100 businesses and the military. Exposure to a variety of industries and professionals is vital to teaching students that they have options. They may discover occupations that they had never considered or decide to pursue opportunities at companies they never knew existed. Exposure helps them to think outside their neighborhoods and beyond what is familiar. Exposure helps them to grow. 

The workforce is a diverse place, and the organizations represented at the career fair represented that diversity. Students talked to professionals from plumbing and collision repair companies.

Students who are curious about serving our country talked with military recruiters who described the immense responsibility required. 

Some students chatted with salon owners looking for stylists. 

The animal-loving crowd received guidance from representatives from the Indianapolis Zoo. 

Universities were also well represented and described programs in areas that students may not have knowledge about, such as philanthropy, which is crucial expertise for many companies and nonprofits. 

Students received a well-rounded snapshot of what opportunities await. It was joyous to watch our kids ask thoughtful questions.

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Perry Meridian High School hosted a unique concert April 12 to teach seniors about financial literacy. The performance, sponsored by the financial services firm Raymond James, featured the Gooding band, dubbed by “The Wall Street Journal” as the “Coolest Financial Adviser in America.”

The performance was followed by the band’s personal story of struggle to overcome poor money management as members followed their dreams to become recording artists. They emphasized ways students can take control of their money so that they will have control over their lives. It was an important discussion on avoiding the pitfalls of credit cards and thinking about long-term planning. The ability to manage finances effectively is a skill with lasting benefits.

Our schools will continue to look for unique strategies for preparing our students for life after high school. We strive to equip them with the knowledge and skills to be successful in the world, so they may return to our communities and make positive contributions.

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

In Perry Township we are a team. Our teachers and staff band together in so many unique ways to educate and empower our students. 

I have seen our educators dress up during fun-spirited fashion shows to teach our students important lessons. I have watched our experienced teachers mentor new teachers because they understand that when our teachers grow, our kids grow. I have observed staff members rally around colleagues going through tough times. We are united!

On Saturday, April 22, our Perry Township team will come together for a special fundraiser to support our schools. At 7 p.m. our staff will report to Southport Fieldhouse to play the world-famous Harlem Wizards, who are known for their high-flying, interactive antics on the basketball court. The game is sure to be a fun-filled event that delights kids and adults. It is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Tickets are $6 in advance at www.ptef.org/events, $8 at the door. The game is organized by the Perry Township Education Foundation and will benefit classroom innovation grants for our schools. The PTEF is committed to our schools by serving as a “catalyst to create excitement in order to improve education experiences and student achievement with the goal of developing contributing members of the community.” 

Since its inception, the PTEF has funded more than $1.2 million in creative and innovative learning grants, and it is such a thrill to see these grants in action in our classrooms. 

Craig Hendrick, a teacher at Perry Meridian Sixth Grade Academy, was awarded a grant to establish a program called Guys Read. As the name suggests, the goal was to encourage our male students to read. ISTEP data indicated that our boys tend to lag behind girls in passing the language arts section of the test. 

Students in the program arrive early to school once a week to read novels. Mr. Hendrick noticed the boys encouraged one another while reading and formed bonds that carried over outside of the classroom. The original students, who have advanced to the next grade and moved on to a new building, still return once a week to participate and to serve as mentors. It is truly inspiring to watch their confidence and proficiency grow.
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There are so many other examples of how grant dollars make a difference in our classrooms, and we hope you will attend the game to support the cause. For more information regarding grant recipients or to purchase tickets, visit www.ptef.org/events.

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools 

It is with great pride that we’ve watched Perry Township Schools grow for many years. As the second-fastest-growing district in Indiana, our enrollment has blossomed to nearly 16,000 students.

Growing enrollment has driven our need for more schools, teachers and support staff. When the 2017-18 school year kicks off in July, we will celebrate the opening of four new kindergarten academies – thanks to our community, which voted yes to support the referendum.

 Perry Township Schools is nearly 2,000 employees strong, and we are looking to add more teachers and support staff to meet our students’ needs. Starting in April our committed Human Resources Department is planning to participate in multiple job fairs in search of the best talent to help our students grow.

As a diverse district – with students representing 67 countries and 73 languages – we aspire to hire staff members who represent our student body. On Thursday, April 13, our HR team will attend the Multicultural Teacher Recruitment Fair at The Grand Hall at Westlake Gardens. The event is designed to attract educators of various backgrounds. 

On Wednesday, April 19, at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds, our HR department will interview scores of soon-to-be college graduates from 14 Indiana colleges and universities. More than 350 candidates are expected to attend the event.

In late April we will partner with Butler to interview its best and brightest candidates who are interested in joining Perry Township. We welcome college graduates to begin their careers in our district because we invest in our teachers and provide them with the tools they need to succeed.

Qualified teaching candidates will be college graduates who have a teaching license, or students who will graduate in May with intentions of applying for a teaching license in May.

We are also seeking applicants to join our support staff, including clerical employees, food service workers, custodial crew members – to name a few – at many of our elementary schools and four kindergarten academies.

Our HR Department is committed to doing everything it can to set up new employees for success. New teachers will attend an orientation before school starts. Likewise, support staff will have orientation a few days before students return to class. 

Professional development is a priority, and we offer multiple opportunities throughout the year to help our teachers continue to grow for our students. We believe in investing in our team with ongoing training, competitive salary, and comprehensive benefits. We’re proud of the environment we’ve created for staff and students.
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Our online job postings are updated multiple times every week. For more information on the current openings, visit perryschools.org.