Cargill Animal Nutrition in Mentone, IN recently donated Cargill Cares grant funds totaling $4,500 to the Tippecanoe Valley High School (TVHS) Boomerang Backpacks program and $6,000 to the Tippecanoe Valley Middle School (TVMS) Project Lead the Way program.

The first picture shows the check presentation to TVMS Project Lead the Way.  Pictured, left to right, are Neil Kaiser of Cargill, Bob Scherer of Cargill, TVMS Assistant Principal Cory Cooper, TVMS Project Lead the Way Teacher Allen Utter, and John Klonowski of Cargill

The second picture shows the check presentation to TVHS Boomerang Backpacks.  Pictured, left to right, are Miles Fowler, Floyd Bradley, TVHS Life Skills Teacher Emma Coppes, Kim Backus of Cargill, Zachary Wagoner, Robert Williams, Charles Sparks, TVHS Instructional Assistant Brenda Alderfer, Kyle Perry, Bob Scherer of Cargill, Sarah Shumacher, Gloria Tiaxcalteca, John Klonowski of Cargill, DaNae Norris of The Bowen Center, Ashlynn Kolesiak, and TVHS Instructional Assistant Kendra Kimes.

Teacher Appreciation Week – Nominate Educators

During this year’s upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week – May 2-6^th – the U.S. Department of Education wants to say thank you to some great teachers. Help us reach our goal by recommending a friend, a colleague, your child’s teacher or any teacher who inspired you! There are no other criteria beyond it being someone who YOU think deserves some thanks. Tell us about a teacher you want to highlight along with a few details about why and how we can reach them. We hope to directly contact each nominee, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to be in touch during that week, thus we may also use this information for additional teacher highlighting purposes throughout the year. We look forward to your recommendations and thank you for your help in this endeavor!!

Melissa Moritz

Deputy Director Office of STEM
U.S. Dept of Education

http://www.ed.gov/stem

During the March meeting of the Board of School Trustees of the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation, three staff members were honored.  Akron Elementary School Instructional Coach Inga Omondi was the recipient of the World Class Teacher Award.  When asked to offer a few words about Mrs. Omondi, Akron Elementary School Principal Chrissy Mills stated, “Inga Omondi is a very dedicated instructional coach for students and staff at Akron Elementary. She works hard in making sure teachers get the professional development and materials they need to be successful in their classroom programs such as Readers, Writers, and Math Workshop. I greatly appreciate the dedication Mrs. Omondi has for Akron Elementary.”

Mentone Elementary School Instructional Assistant Aggie Prater was the recipient of the Pillar Award for Outstanding Support Staff.  When asked about Mrs. Prater, Mentone Elementary School Principal Randy Dahms offered, “Aggie Prater works at Mentone Elementary school as an instructional assistant (paraprofessional) in a first grade classroom.  In working at Mentone these last few months, I have been surprised at the commitment level of this particular staff member.  On her own time, Mrs. Prater takes the time to organize Mentone’s entire PBIS System.   Friday Morning Live is a monthly program where students are rewarded for exhibiting characteristics of being respectful, responsible, and safe.  The students are awarded Bulldog Bucks and are honored on a monthly basis.  Mrs. Prater has organized and run this entire program….Keeping track of data, making sure the students certificates are ready, contacting outside individuals, organizing and running the Bulldog Bizarre where students get to spend their Bulldog Bucks, and doing a wonderful job in the classroom with the students and teacher she works with on a daily basis.”

“Every successful organization has a collection of committed individuals who go the extra mile.  Mrs. Prater is a very important staff member at Mentone Elementary School who is deserving of this recognition.”

Matt Cavender, head custodian of the Burket Educational Center and a member of the T.V.S.C. maintenance staff was also honored with the Pillar Award for Outstanding Support Staff.  When asked to make a few comments about Mr. Cavender, Burket Administrator and T.V.S.C. Director of Special Services Meagan Wilks stated, “Mr. Cavender takes great pride in the care and appearance of the Burket Educational Center.  He also has strong people skills and is welcoming and friendly with the Burket staff and visitors.  He strives to build positive relationships with the Burket students.  Mr. Cavender goes above and beyond to show the public the Burket Educational Center is a great place to be.”

According to T.V. S.C. Director of Maintenance Todd Glenn, “Mr. Cavender consistently displays a ‘can-do’ attitude.  He works well with everyone – teachers, administrators, and co-workers.  Mr. Cavender represents himself and Tippecanoe Valley very well.  He has taken a lead role in implementing several energy saving projects which will save the school corporation thousands of dollars for years to come.”

Each was presented with a framed certificate of appreciation and a gift card.

 Pictured left to right are Matt Cavender, Aggie Prater, Inga Omondi, and TVSC School Board President Dave O’Brien.

SCHOOL NEWS RELEASE

Friday, February 19, 2016

Tippecanoe Valley Boomerang Backpacks was presented with a check by Rosy Jansma, Mentone resident and parent of two Tippecanoe Valley students, who serves on the K21 Health Foundation Board of Directors. Because of Mrs. Jansma’s involvement in the community and commitment to making a difference, the K21 Foundation made a donation of $1,000 in her honor. Mrs. Jansma chose to use the donation to support Tippecanoe Valley Boomerang Backpacks.

Tippecanoe Valley Boomerang Backpacks is a program in which the weekend nutritional needs of approximately 160 children/families from Akron Elementary School and Mentone Elementary School are met by the provision of food and snacks sent home in a backpack each Friday afternoon. Students receive enough food for the entire weekend. Boomerang Backpacks helps eliminate hunger and allows students to concentrate better on learning throughout the week.

Shown accepting the check are members of the Tippecanoe Valley High School Life Skills Class. These students have the responsibility of packing the backpacks each week before they are delivered to the elementary schools.

Pictured in the front row (left to right) are Rosy Jansma, Gage Williams, Floyd Bradley, Miles Fowler, and Sarah Schumacher.

Pictured in the back row (left to right) are Kyle Perry, Eric Hume, River Thomas, Dr. Michael Bendicsen (TVHS Principal), Emma Coppes (Life Skills Class Teacher), Jenna Schultz (Life Skills Class Student Intern), and Kendra Kimes (Life Skills Class Instructional Assistant).

Anyone interested in donating to Tippecanoe Valley Boomerang Backpacks may do so by contacting Tippecanoe Valley High School Principal Dr. Michael Bendicsen at 574-598-2100 or [email protected].