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.