Akron Parent Support Group sponsoring Schwan’s fundraiser

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The Akron Parent Support Group will be sponsoring a fundraiser with Schwan’s!

If you order from Schwan’s, please consider using the fundraiser code 31517 at www.schwans.com. During the first 90 days, our group will get 20% of sales or 40% on eGift certificates (1 time per person during the campaign).

After the 90 days, we still get 4% of sales. Every bit helps our group, which then helps the kids at Akron. Please forward this to your friends and family! Anyone who orders from Schwan’s can use our code. Remember, the orders have to be placed online. Akron staff: if you want to order and have it delivered to Akron, they will do this.

The campaign starts on February 22nd, 2017 and ends on April 8th, 2017.

$1,000 donated to TVHS for counseling services

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A generous donation was made on Feb. 23 to support counseling services at Tippecanoe Valley High School.

Rosy Jansma, a Mentone resident and parent of two Tippecanoe Valley students, serves on the K21 Health Foundation board of directors.

Because of Jansma’s involvement in the community and commitment to making a difference, the K21 Health Foundation made a donation of $1,000 in her honor.

Jansma chose to use the donation to support the counseling services provided to Tippecanoe Valley High School students through the school’s Student Assistance Program.

Picture: TVHS Assistant Principal Jon Hutton (left) receives a check from Rosy Jansma (right)

Kindergarten Roundup set for March 20

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Akron Elementary School and Mentone Elementary School will host kindergarten roundup events on Monday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. for parents or guardians wanting to enroll their child for the upcoming school year.

Attendees will learn about the expectations of kindergarten, meet teachers and school staff members, tour each school, and discuss the variety of programs offered and the subjects their child will be taught.

School nurses will be on hand to discuss the state-required vaccines and other medical-related documents a student needs to have on file at the start of school year. Parents planning to attend either kindergarten roundup event should bring their child’s birth certificate and immunization records.

Staff members at both schools will be helping parents with online registration in computer labs. Parents will need an email address or cell phone number to setup an account for online registration.

Free childcare will be provided at both events. An interpreter will also be available for parents and children who primarily speak Spanish.

Children that are five years of age on or before August 1, 2017 are eligible to attend kindergarten.

Parents who cannot attend either kindergarten roundup event should call Mentone Elementary School at (574) 598-2590 or Akron Elementary School at (574) 598-2367 for information on how to register their child.

Kindergarten Roundup set for March 20

This entry was posted in Mentone, News on by .

Akron Elementary School and Mentone Elementary School will host kindergarten roundup events on Monday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. for parents or guardians wanting to enroll their child for the upcoming school year.

Attendees will learn about the expectations of kindergarten, meet teachers and school staff members, tour each school, and discuss the variety of programs offered and the subjects their child will be taught.

School nurses will be on hand to discuss the state-required vaccines and other medical-related documents a student needs to have on file at the start of school year. Parents planning to attend either kindergarten roundup event should bring their child’s birth certificate and immunization records.

Staff members at both schools will be helping parents with online registration in computer labs. Parents will need an email address or cell phone number to setup an account for online registration.

Free childcare will be provided at both events. An interpreter will also be available for parents and children who primarily speak Spanish.

Children that are five years of age on or before August 1, 2017 are eligible to attend kindergarten.

Parents who cannot attend either kindergarten roundup event should call Mentone Elementary School at (574) 598-2590 or Akron Elementary School at (574) 598-2367 for information on how to register their child.

Mentone Kindergarten Readiness Center registration underway

This entry was posted in Mentone, News on by .

Parents seeking an alternative to traditional preschool can now register their kids for the Mentone Kindergarten Readiness Center for the 2017-2018 school year.

The program is taught by certified teachers using a research-based curriculum. It runs three to five days a week from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Mentone Elementary School located at 301 E. Jackson Street.

“As a parent, this program ensures kids are being taught with the skills that are essential to kindergarten.  Kids also are taught within the HighScope curriculum which lends itself through hands-on learning and discovery and is also interest based,” said instructor Ashley DuBois.

A hot lunch is also available. Parents who need to drop their children off earlier or later than the program’s scheduled hours can purchase additional childcare located inside the school through the Kosciusko Community YMCA Kid’s Club.

The costs of the program will remain the same as last year at $150 a month for five, full days a week or $135 a month for three to four days a week. Parents who meet certain financial guidelines can get a 25 percent discounted price per month.

A registration meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Mentone Elementary in the Large Group Instruction room for parents wanting more information or to fill out an application.

Demand for the program is high. Interested parents are advised to register their child as soon as possible. Anyone with additional questions can contact the school at (574) 598-2590.

Employers sought for upcoming community job fair

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Employers looking to fill open positions are invited to request free booth space at an upcoming job fair hosted by the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation.

TVSC, in cooperation with WorkOne of Northern Indiana, will host the Tippecanoe Valley Community Job Fair on Saturday, May 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Tippecanoe Valley Middle School commons.

A variety of employers will be present to share their employment opportunities with potential employees. There will be no cost for employers or job seekers to attend.

TVSC is also hosting the job fair as a means of recruiting potential employees for teaching opportunities as well as employment opportunities in the following areas – bus driver, instructional assistant, cafeteria staff, and custodial staff.

The school corporation is also hosting the job fair as a service to the community. This will provide an opportunity for current high school and college students seeking summer employment.

Area employers interested in participating in the Tippecanoe Valley Community Job Fair can contact WorkOne Business Consultant Lorna Shively at (574) 936-8919 or [email protected].

VALLEY INSIGHT: More Than Just a Number

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Written By Randy Dahms, principal at Mentone Elementary School

Walking into any workplace, it is satisfying to be a part of an organization that is moving forward.  At Mentone Elementary our staff has refined our practice and has recently made quite a few changes with one thought in mind, “Will these changes help the students we serve?”

Last year, our central office administration and the Tippecanoe Valley school board made the decision to expand our Kindergarten Readiness Program to two sections serving 40 of our 3 and 4 year old students.  When you factor in our Head Start Program and our Little Vikings program, Tippecanoe Valley has made efforts to provide high quality care to our future Vikings at a time when high quality care is hard to find.  Those program help to ensure that our incoming kindergarten students are ready to meet the demands of their future school experience.  Walking in our readiness classrooms and seeing the excitement of our students and what they are learning is amusing and sometimes entertaining.  I’ve enjoyed getting to know these students and their families.  In a small community like Tippecanoe Valley, you are more than just a number.

In today’s school climate, it is important to be aware of how society is changing and to think carefully about what changes need to be made to ensure our students will be ready to meet the demands of an ever changing society.  This year, the elementary schools at Tippecanoe Valley have undertaken Project Lead the Way. This program has offered an increased exposure to curriculum that challenges children to think at higher levels and to question and create.  At Mentone Elementary, our staff is working on creating a robotics program that can serve a number of students. Our Chess Club is gaining momentum as Mr. Gene Hawkins volunteers his time to come and teach chess strategy to our students.  Our students are now not only asked to give “the right answer” but are increasingly being asked to think critically.  As kids work in small groups and with partners throughout the school day, it is great to see both the growth in student relationships and increased collaboration skills that our students have learned.  At Mentone Elementary, our students are more than just a number.

Analyzing and quantifying data has become significant for all different types of organizations in a variety of work environments.  Organizations that are thriving are able to quickly allocate resources to enhance their organization and to move forward.  At Tippecanoe Valley, through our PLC (Professional Learning Communities) work and data analysis (using iReady data), we are refining our practice in how to diagnose a student’s strengths and weaknesses and are adjusting classroom instruction to meet the needs of our students.  In some cases, students receive small group instruction or even individualized instruction to meet their individual need.  In all of our classrooms at Mentone, our students are more than just a number.

The phrase “It takes a village to raise a child.” has been used quite a bit lately. I believe all good schools are successful because of a number of different factors.  Effective schools have caring teachers and staff who build positive relationships with their students.  At Mentone Elementary you feel community support and pride as our local police officers, the Akron/Mentone Kiwanis Club, and several local businesses proudly support our schools.  One feels blessed to be part of a strong community whose care and concern for others is embodied in the culture of all of our schools.  At Tippecanoe Valley, you are always more than just a number.

Valley Insight is a recurring monthly article written by administrators on a variety of topics related to education and the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation. Articles will be posted to the district’s website and also shared with the local media.

Tippecanoe Valley celebrates high graduation rate, accountability grades

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The entire Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation staff was recently recognized and honored for the district having the high graduation rate in Kosciusko County for two consecutive years.

The graduation rate for the 2015-2016 school year was 95.3 percent, which was slightly higher than the 92.3 percent graduation rate for the 2014-2015 school year. The graduation rate for the 2013-2014 school year was 79.7 percent.

“It takes everybody doing their best to make sure students graduate,” said Superintendent Brett Boggs.

Every staff member throughout the corporation received a long-sleeve green and gold shirt along with a PayDay candy bar. Each school in the district had its own celebration to recognize its staff.

“We’re right there at the top and you guys should be proud of that,” Boggs said at one of the celebrations.

Staff members were also recognized for the 2015-2016 school accountability grades recently released by the Indiana Department of Education. The overall corporation letter grade for 2016 was a B.

TVMS saw its individual school accountability grade rise from a D in 2015 to a C in 2016. TVHS saw its letter grade rise from a C in 2015 to a B in 2016.

See Each Other week brings TVMS students out of their comfort zone

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Tippecanoe Valley Middle School recently held a weeklong series of activities aimed at supporting student leadership, anti-bullying, and a positive school climate.

During the week of Feb. 6 – 10, students participated in “See Each Other” week, a time dedicated to getting students to start noticing and respecting their peers.

At the beginning of the week, Principal Scott Backus met with each homeroom to discuss with students the importance of treating people with respect and how to earn it in return.

“We wanted to bring to light the idea that we can be compassionate, inclusive, and care about one another.  If we can do these things, so many of the negative issues that kids face today would be reduced,” said Backus.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, students watched videos about how to “See Each Other” by showing compassion and empathy. A short writing piece and discussion followed.

“Watching the students step out of their comfort zone and interact with others that they normally wouldn’t was a nice experience,” said Candace Shepard, TVMS librarian.

Students were also challenged to become more interactive at lunch. On Thursday, students were randomly assigned to tables. At each table were peer facilitators from the high school to initiate conversation. Peer facilitators are high school students who mentor, work to resolve conflicts, and tutor other students.

“I found it interesting to hear new things about people I don’t usually talk to. I even found out new things that I didn’t know about my friends,” said Jada Hicks, an eighth grade student at TVMS.

Teachers and para-professionals also sat at the tables and interacted with the students. The cooks modified the lunch procedure to get the food out quicker, while the office staff and custodians jumped in to help by cleaning tables and picking up trays.

“It was truly an amazing thing to see the entire staff come together and support this activity,” said Backus.

While some students were in the lunchroom, others watched messages from the Kid President, a teenager from Tennessee who stars in his own YouTube videos that promote positivity, inspiration, and unity. The students also viewed three short videos about caring for others.

“They held discussions about the videos and hopefully took away some important ideas about how they, too, can care for others,” said Backus.

TVMS finished the week with a school-wide presentation by author and youth motivational speaker Tom Thelen. His presentation focused on student leadership and bullying prevention.