By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

As you are aware, many Perry Township Schools have received state and national awards for their academic and extracurricular achievements during the past few years.

To name just a few: Burk-hart Elementary is a National Blue Ribbon School; Southport Elementary is a Title I Award-winning school; and Southport and Perry Meridian high schools are nationally recognized as exemplary Advanced Placement schools. The most recent achievement tests scores rank your schools as an A district. There is a great deal to be proud of in Perry Township.  

I recently had the pleasure to attend another program that recognized our award-winning teachers, principals and students. Your Perry Township School Board celebrates the success stories of your students and staff at the beginning of each meeting. 

Clinton Young Elementary was the only school in Indiana to be awarded $10,000 Dec. 15. The check was presented during an all-school assembly that I attended with Assistant Superintendent Vickie Carpenter, Principal Andrea Korreck and computer teacher Mary Arnold, who along with us administrators graciously accepted the donation on behalf of the school and district.

The science and technology-based program known as Code.org provides support to teach students how to write computer programming codes. This company sponsors only one $10,000 award in each state.
This is yet another shining example of the power of corporate partnerships with our schools. 

Mrs. Arnold took the initiative to complete the grant application and provided instruction on code writing to every child at Clinton Young. She was able to showcase the fact that all of our Clinton Young students participated in coding lessons through her computer class. The grant is meant to expand the computer science environment for our students. The money will be used to purchase computer equipment and accessories such as 3D printers and robotic equipment that students can program. 

In addition, IUPUI will also be joining in this partnership with Clinton Young to apply for grant opportunities through technology companies to secure even more experiences for our students.

As a condition of the grant, they will also host workshops to give parents an opportunity to learn of the great STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs that your children are involved in.

The holiday season is a great time to count your blessings and reflect on 2015. There were many success stories over the past year, and I am extremely fortunate to serve Perry Township as its school superintendent. 
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Happy New Year!  

​By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

The primary responsibility of Perry Township Schools is to prepare students academically to pursue their dreams and discover a career that is rewarding.
 
While our focus is on the educational development of our students, we are also proud of those who excel in extracurricular programs. The challenge for the student who decides to take on the rigors of a tough academic schedule and the demands after-hour programs is to be admired.
 
It’s no easy task for many of these students, especially high schoolers, to rise before dawn and attend practice before classes start. And after school there is another practice. Then its time for dinner, homework and sleep. During the season this schedule is followed five days week and some Saturdays.

Some of our high school football players were recently honored for their achievements.

Congratulations to Perry Meridian offensive lineman Kyle Ball and linebacker Brett Johnson for being named to the All-Marion County team. Honorable mention went to Christian Buchanan, Jordan Marion, Matt McCloskey, Dylan Roth and Alec Patch.

Southport’s All-County player are Andrew Maple, academic Most Valuable Player; Luke Johnston, quarterback, county Player of the Year; Evan Higgs, tight end; Kyle Williams, defensive line; Matt Garrett, Great Player Award; Justin Herring, defensive back; and Blake Evans, wide receiver.

Many of these players are involved in basketball and will continue to practice and play during the Christmas break. It takes commitment, physical determination and courage to represent your school on the field of play and in the classroom. We appreciate all those who make the high school experience at Perry and Southport more enjoyable for all of us. 

As parents and members of the community, your participation at events helps us to keep costs down for all of our programs and is a strong statement that you care and support our students who work so hard in developing these skills.
 
I attended the annual jazz cafe at Perry Meridian Middle School, where students in Grades 6-12 performed. The music was outstanding, and observing Mr. Slightum, who directs the middle school program, and Mr. Belt, who directs the high schoolers, was a treat. This is a cohesive program that begins with a strong foundation in the sixth grade, and it has a clear progression to excellence at the senior level of play. I commend these gentlemen for their efforts.

High school will always be about academic achievement, but those who can balance the demands of another activity beyond the four walls of a classroom traditionally can handle the demands of life that require organization and focus.
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We have a great story to tell about all of the success and accomplishments in Perry Township. 
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!  

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

There is a lingering question in Indiana that has yet to be sufficiently answered. In fact, if someone could answer this question, they could write a book and make a lot of money. The search is underway to find a method to objectively measure the progress that a school experiences from year to year.
 
The question is: How do you measure academic gains from year to year when the variables change annually?
Not only does the student population change dramatically, but our children arrive on our door steps with various life challenges. We don’t produce a product; our goal is to provide an academic foundation that every child can realize their dreams. Measuring success during a student’s senior year is a huge challenge.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that there were several issues with this year’s ISTEP+ testing procedures and that numbers were expected to be low across the board. Preliminary results indicate that to be true. We are thankful that the governor’s office and the state superintendent of public instruction have acknowledged that the testing process was flawed to the point that it created false results about our children’s ability to recall what they have learned.

The method that is used to measure academic progress compares test scores from each child each year to measure growth. We adopted a new test this year, and many people report that the results simply cannot be accurately compared. 

If you cannot compare growth data, then you certainly cannot compare final test results. There is a movement from our legislators to not penalize districts based on the preliminary data from the test. The individuals who represent Perry Township understand our challenges and are extremely supportive of our schools. 

We are waiting for the results from tests that were administered last spring. Regardless of what is reported, I continue to stand on my belief that the person who truly knows about the progress being made is the child’s teacher. The preliminary test results, which just arrived, are embargoed for an unknown period of time.
  
As I mentioned in a letter to the parents about the controversial testing practices, in the final analysis the success of a child in life will not be determined by a series of tests. If you truly want to know the level of achievement of a particular child, simply ask his or her teacher. Our teachers know their children and are dedicated to meeting their needs.  

We are hopeful that Superintendent Glenda Ritz, Gov. Mike Pence and our legislators will find a solution to this problem, which provides ratings to schools and districts that are simply not true. 
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Perry Township Schools continues to provide quality educational experiences for every student that enters the school doors. I trust those individuals who are in power will treat our schools throughout the state with fairness and equity. 

By Dr. Thomas Little
Superintendent of Perry Township Schools

The holiday season provides an avenue for us to showcase the amazing talent and outstanding work that is so prevalent throughout Perry Township Schools.
 
You would be amazed at the number of holiday activities held almost every evening in December throughout the district. Behind each orchestra, every choir, all the musicals and every play, there are hours upon hours of hard work by many dedicated people to simply provide an opportunity for our students to express their talents. We are so grateful to the teachers, volunteers and parents for their tireless energy behind the scenes to prepare for these events. 

We know one of the keys to an enriched, highly successful, academically strong student is how and with whom they spend their time outside the traditional school day. Programs like these provide an opportunity for students to develop friendships with other students of similar interests. My grandmother always told me that you are a true reflection of the individuals that you call your friends. Programs that capitalize on the arts provide a way to strengthen quality friendships that are positive and mutually beneficial.   

We would like to invite you to attend a program whether or not you have a child in school. You will not be disappointed. 

While there were several concerts last week to kick off the season, there are many yet to be come.  
Beginning tonight, here is a list of our Christmas events.

• 8 p.m. – Southport High School orchestra, band and choir concert
Thursday
• 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. – Mary Bryan Elementary program.
• 7 p.m. – Perry Meridian Middle school band and orchestra concert.
• 8 p.m. – Southport High symphony, advanced orchestra, jazz band, wind ensemble and show choirs concert.
Friday
• 2 p.m. – Douglas MacArthur all-school sing-along.
• 7 p.m. – Jazz café at Perry Meridian Academy.
Saturday 
• 8-11 a.m. – Lincoln Elementary breakfast with Santa.
• 8-10 a.m. – MacArthur Elementary breakfast with Santa. 
• 9-11:30 a.m. – Jeremiah Gray-Edison Elementary breakfast with Santa.
Monday, Dec. 14
• 6:30 p.m. – Lincoln program.
• 7 p.m. – Burkhart Elementary.
Tuesday Dec. 15
• 6 p.m. – Glenns Valley Elementary program at Perry Meridian Sixth Grade Academy.
• 6:30 p.m. – Homecroft Elementary. 
• 6:30 p.m. – Southport Elementary.
• 6:30 p.m. – Winchester Village Elementary.
• 7 p.m. – Henry Burkhart Elementary.
• 7 p.m. – Jeremiah Gray-Edison.
• 7 p.m. – MacArthur.
Wednesday Dec. 16
• 10:30 a.m. – Burkhart Elementary choir at the Perry Township Education Center
• 6:30 p.m. – Clinton Young Elementary program at Southport High. 
Thursday Dec. 17
• 9 a.m. – Burkhart Elementary all-school sing-along.
Saturday Dec. 19
• 2:30 p.m. – Tea with a Princess at Southport High.

There you have it, an open invitation. Come and see the creativity and talent that our children display every day they enter the doors of Perry Township Schools.