Apology

I have to apologize to the faithful Blog readers for not posting the delay and cancellation last Friday. I was struggling with my computer to get Internet and then I was struggling with a new form of technology that we were using for the first time. With click on weareclosedtoday.com all media outlets in the area, both radio and TV should be contacted. Once I got on the Internet, I spent the next 20 minutes trying to check radio on TV stations. To my dismay WSBT was the only media outlet contacted. This feature will work immediately and so will my memory. Once again, please accept my apologies.

School Board Meeting Notes - 11-20-08

The following is a summary of the Plymouth School Board of Trustees meeting’s Business Transactions held at Menominee School on Thursday, November 20, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.

1. Mr. Dunn presented the Menominee Elementary data results and growth plan.

2. Mr. Samuelson, Board President, presented certificates to school volunteers. In all 80 volunteers were honored.

3. The Board appointed Todd Samuelson to the Athletic Council.

4. An appointment to the Safety Committee was tabled until January.

5. The Board entertained the second reading of the Non-Resident Student Admissions Policy. A few changes were made. The Board will adopt this policy at their December 2nd meeting.

6. One student activity request for the high school choir was approved.

7. Donation reports were accepted for Menominee Elementary, Riverside Intermediate, and Webster Elementary.

8. Mr. Tyree updated the Board on the handicap ramp at Lincoln Junior High and several other projects in the corporation.

Blog Bits

Congratulations to Washington Elementary for being awarded a grant to provide all second grade students with a laptop computer. This $30,000 grant will benefit over 80 students at Washington Elementary this year and for years to come.

Congratulations to the Junior High Spelling Team. The team placed 6th in the State Junior High Spelling Bowl.

Thanks to the teachers and administrators at Lincoln Junior High for inducting their first group of students into the National Junior Honor Society last week. Nearly 30 students from Grade 8 were inducted. Students from Grade 7 are scheduled to be inducted in the spring.

Kudos to the Plymouth School Board of Trustees for being named an Outstanding Indiana School Board. A special congratulation also goes out to Board Member Frank Brubaker who has achieved Level 1 status as a Board Member

Condon Named Principal of the Year

Plymouth Schools is proud to announce that Jim Condon, Principal of Plymouth High School, has been named District Principal of the Year. Jim is in his second year at Plymouth after a long stint at Knox High School.

Jim’s strengths include both curriculum development and organizational management. However, what made Jim an outstanding choice for this award was the way he works with students, staff, and community members.

Jim will receive the award on November 23, 2008 in Indianapolis. He will also learn that evening if he is named Indiana Principal of the Year. Jim and eleven other principals from around the state are up for that award.

Blog Bits

Nearly 40 people attended Dr. Jerry McKibben's presentation on future demographics for Plymouth this past Monday night. From his numbers, it is obvious that the economy has put a small dent in our enrollment, but he believes our numbers will stay fairly stable. He also addressed the number of graduates who leave our community and never return and talked about the economic development role in our enrollment growth.

Our next meeting is December 1, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Plymouth High School cafeteria. Remember, all stakeholders in Plymouth Schools are invited to attend.

http://www.updatesoftware.com/plymouth/attachments/Plymouth%20presentation%2010-26-08.pdf

Superintendent's Advisory Committee Meeting

The third meeting of the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee will meet tonight at Lincoln Junior High’s Cafeteria. Tonight, demographer, Jerry McKibben will present his calculations on future enrollments in light of the recent economic problems that have taken hundreds of jobs from this area.

The meeting is from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and all are invited to attend, ask questions, and be involved.

Blog Bits

RE: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

On Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th school will not be in session due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Blog Bits

Re: In-Service ½ Day

Wednesday, November 5, 2008, is scheduled as a corporation in-service day.

All elementary, Riverside, and LJH students will be dismissed at 12:20 p.m.

PHS students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.




Re: PHS ½ Day


On Friday, November 7, 2008, Plymouth High School students ONLY will attend ½ day.

Plymouth High School students will be dismissed at 11:00 a.m.


Lincoln Junior High, Riverside Intermediate and all elementary schools will attend a full day on November 7th.

Strategic Plan Meeting #2: The Futurist

Over eighty educators and stakeholders met at Christo’s Banquet Center to hear a three hour presentation by Ed Barlow, Futurist, titled “Engaging the Future: It’s a Journey, Not a Destination.” Twenty-one of the audience members represented Plymouth Schools and the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.

Barlow organized his talk around eight areas of change we will all go through. They include:
1. Change Continuum
2. Economic Change
3. Global Change
4. Environmental Change
5. Science and Technology Change
6. Demographic Change
7. Organizational Change
8. Human Resources Change

If you would like to see notes from Ed Barlow’s presentation, they will be online starting October 28, 2008 at www.creatingthefuture.com and the password is MCEBS.

Our final three meetings are scheduled on the following dates:

November 3, 2008 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. LJHS Café Demographer
December 1, 2008 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. PHS Café Focus Group
December 8, 2008 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. PHS Café Focus Group

Please plan to attend and bring a friend with you. We need to snowball our small group into a large group.

Strategic Plan Meeting #1

Approximately 30 citizens attended the first meeting for the development of Plymouth School’s Strategic Plan last night in the Plymouth High School cafeteria. Those assembled listened to Plymouth Administrators paint a snapshot view of the Plymouth Community School Corporation.

Meeting #2 will feature futurist Ed Barlow who will address the eight stages of change for the future in education. The second meeting is scheduled for October 20, 2008 from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. at Christo’s Banquet Center. There are still a few seats available for that presentation. If you would like to attend, please call Rosalie Babcock at 936-3115.

Blog Bits

Lady Pilgrim Golf Team “3-peats”

The Lady Pilgrims Golf Team will compete at their third consecutive state finals today at the Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Indiana. Members of the team include Rebecca Moberly, Alex Starr, Allison Bayley, Ashley Lenne, and Erin Kinney. Coaches are Julie Stauffer and Jack Kinney.

Good luck girls! You too, Jack!

Blog Bits

This is a reminder Plymouth Schools is embarking on a major effort to create a new strategic plan. This educational think-tank will start Monday, October 6, 2008 in the high school cafeteria. While some received a written invitation, please understand everyone is welcome to attend. All meetings are open to the public except for the October 20, 2008 meeting at Christo’s Banquet Center due to the limited seating. Please print this schedule and plan to attend as many meetings as you can.

• Monday, October 6, 2008, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Plymouth High School Cafeteria, Orientation

• Monday, October 20, 2008, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Christo's Banquet Center, Ed Barlow, Futurist

• Monday, November 3, 2008, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Lincoln Jr. High School Cafeteria, Jerry McKibben, Demographer

• Monday, December 1, 2008, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Plymouth High School Cafeteria, Characteristics of a Plymouth High School graduate

• Monday, December 8, 2008, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Plymouth High School Cafeteria, Programming needs

We understand that schedule conflicts may keep you from attending all meetings. Please do not let that stop you from attending some of the meetings. All input is valued and appreciated.

Webster Wins Title 1 Award

Congratulations to the staff and students at Webster Elementary School for winning the State of Indiana Title I Distinguished School Achievement Award for 2008! Specifically, Webster was lauded for their flight plans, parent involvement and the many ways Webster has built partnerships with the community. The honor also extends to their ability to create a climate conducive to learning and growing.

Webster will be honored on Friday, September 26 when the Indiana Title I Department comes to Webster Elementary. They will also be honored at the State of Indiana Title I Administrative Conference at the South Bend Century Center on October 27th and the National Title I Conference in San Antonio in February, 2009.

2008-2009 New Staff

Eric Knebel is our new 6th grade math teacher at Riverside Intermediate School. He is a graduate of IUPUI.

Eric is pleased to be teaching in Plymouth because he thinks Plymouth is a great community. He has felt very welcomed by the school family and the people of Plymouth. He feels that Plymouth Community School Corporation sets up all teachers to be the best they can, and together we will make our students great.

2008-2009 New Staff

Kimberly Burns is our new 5th grade teacher at Riverside Intermediate School. She is a graduate of Purdue North Central University. She is married to Neal, and they have a dog and three cats.

Kimberly is pleased to be teaching in Plymouth because it is a very close-knit community with wonderful residents. She feels she can learn a lot from her fellow teachers and future students.

2008-2009 New Staff

Chelsea Bennett is our new 8th grade social studies teacher at Lincoln Junior High School. She is a graduate of Ohio Northern University.

Chelsea looks forward to working with an eager corporation focused on student education and well being. She feels the support the community, teachers, and families provide will create a great first year teaching.

2008-2009 New Staff

Jesse Evans is our new Instrumental Music teacher at Riverside Intermediate School and Lincoln Junior High School. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University. He is married to Jennifer, who is a nurse.

Jesse is pleased to be teaching in Plymouth because every step of the way he has been met by caring and helpful people who seem to want the best for the community.

2008-2009 New Staff

Stephanie Wezeman is our new Language Arts teacher at Plymouth High School. She is a graduate of Indiana University.

Stephanie likes the sense of community here at Plymouth, and she looks forward to further developing her professional relationships with other teachers, as well as students and their families. Stephanie says it's good to be back at Plymouth.

2008-2009 New Staff

Chris Kirkum is our new Industrial Technology teacher at Plymouth High School. He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University.

He is pleased to be teaching in Plymouth because it is a nice, closely-knit community of students and teachers who are dedicated to student excellence.

2008-2009 New Staff

Andy Hartley is our new assistant principal at Plymouth High School. He is a graduate of Manchester College and Butler University. He and his wife, Erin, have a daughter, Mia, who is one.

Andy is pleased to be a part of the Plymouth Community School Corporation because of its commitment to excellence and its dedication to meeting the needs of all students.