Blog Bits

Town Hall Meeting #2
Above is the latest proposal Dr. McKibben presented at Town Hall Meeting #2. If you have any questions or comments for Dr. McKibben, please forward them via email to jhill@plymouth.k12.in.us.


Christmas Break Hours
Our office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during winter break. The office will be closed on Friday December 23rd, Monday December 26th and Monday January 2, 2006, in observance of the holidays.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Town Hall Meetings #3, #4, #5

Three more Town Hall Meetings (Redistricting – A Work in Progress), have been scheduled. On January 16, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. town hall meeting #3 will be held in the Jefferson cafeteria. Later that evening, at 7:30 p.m., town hall meeting #4 will be held in the Menominee cafeteria. On January 17, 2006 at 7:00 p.m., town hall meeting #5 will be held in the Webster cafeteria. All community members are encouraged to attend one or all of the town hall meetings. These town hall meetings are co-sponsored by PASS.

Based upon the comments at each meeting, Dr. McKibben will update scenarios for future elementary redistricting.

If you have any questions you would like to submit to Dr. McKibben prior to the meetings, please send them to jhill@plymouth.k12.in.us.

Blog Bits

Redistricting Comments
Some have asked why is redistricting of the elementary schools necessary? We currently have elementary schools of four different sizes. One is over 500, one over 400, one in the mid 300s and one in the high 200s.

Next year, all elementaries will be approximately the same size. This alone will require redistricting in order to balance the size of buildings.

Since all students in grades 5-12 will be assigned to the same building, those buildings reflect the makeup of the school district. It is important the elementary buildings students attend reflect the school community. This requires that we redistrict in such a way that the buildings are balanced for socioeconomics and ethnicity.

Town Hall Meeting #2
Dr. McKibben presented his latest proposal for redistricting. Members of the community have made several suggestions. Dr. McKibben will use the input to design new scenarios.

Three future town hall meetings will be scheduled. Two will be held on January 16th and one on January 17th. The exact times and locations will be announced at a later date.

Some have emailed and thought that the maps being presented represented final decisions. This is a work in progress.

It is important, as a community member, that you attend those meetings and share your ideas.


Thank you to PASS and the staff at Washington Elementary for hosting last evening’s meeting.

Blog Bits

Two Hour Delay
Plymouth Community Schools were on a two hour delay this morning. The Marshall County Highway Department and Plymouth City Street Department were out early plowing roads and streets. Both north/south, east/west roads had experienced some drifting and time was needed to complete the plowing for the busses.

Board Highlights
The board met in regular session last evening. In addition to their regular business, the board approved an end of the year resolution to transfer funds and pre-write checks, increase the contribution for bus driver insurance from $2,000 to $3,000, and set the date for the organizational board meeting on January 5, 2006 at 7:00 o’clock p.m. in the board room.

Facility Update
In Plymouth High School multi-purpose room, the classroom, locker rooms, weight room, storage room, restrooms, and the hallway, the ceiling grid and the light fixtures have been installed. During the next two-week period, the same installation will take place in the new lobby. Quarry tile has been installed in the locker room and restrooms. The installation of the flooring surface in the multi-purpose room and weight room will begin during winter break. In the broadcast area, the cabinetry has been installed. During the next two weeks, the vinyl tile will be installed in the studio. In the ensemble and speech area, the cabinetry and the sub floor has been installed. The painting is completed in the ensemble room.

At Jefferson, the block fill is completed. The overhead plumbing and electrical runs are 90% complete. During the next two weeks, the fire alarm will be installed and the faculty restroom will be available for use.

At Riverside, the light poles will be installed as soon as weather permits.

At Webster, Lincoln, and Washington, punch list issues are still being addressed.

At the new Menominee, section A is enclosed. The floor pours will begin. The rebuilding of the exterior walls that were blown down in the windstorm will be completed in two work days, weather permitting. Plumbing and electrical rough-ins continue.

Town Hall Meeting #2 – Redistricting, a Work in Progress
The second town hall meeting will be held at Washington Elementary at 7:00 o’clock p.m. on Monday evening, December 12th. For those who are unable to attend, you can submit comment via the comment section on the blog or an email to jhill@plymouth.k12.in.us. Future town hall meetings will be scheduled after the first of the year.

ISTEP+ Scores
All parents will have received ISTEP scores by next Wednesday. If for some reason a parent has not received a score, please contact the building principal.

Boys Basketball Game
The game with Peru will be played at its scheduled time – GO PILGRIMS!!

Town Hall Meeting - 12-12-05

PASS and Plymouth Community School Corporation will be co-sponsoring Town Hall Meeting #2, Redistricting – A Work In Progress on December 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the Washington Elementary cafeteria.

At Town Hall Meeting #1, Dr. McKibben explained the process for developing redistricting maps; offered a base line proposal, and took comments and questions.

Based upon the input from Town Hall Meeting #1, Dr. McKibben will be presenting a revised scenario.

All members of the community are encouraged to attend the meeting. If you have a question that you would like to submit to Dr. McKibben prior to the meeting for his response, you can email the question to jhill@plymouth.k12.in.us, subject: redistricting question.

On November 23rd, members of Business Professionals of America provided the 9th annual Thanksgiving Feast to the Plymouth High School Faculty and Staff. Thank you to the members who brought in dishes to make the traditional feast the best. Special thanks to Nona Hollenbaugh for her leadership. If there are parents out there who helped, thank you! This is a great way for our high school faculty and staff to share food and fellowship. And, even though staff members were "stuffed", they look forward to the feast again next year!

Thanksgiving

We found the following to share with you:

“It’s only right, at this special time of the year, that we pause for a moment and ask ourselves what it is that we have to be thankful for. If there is a special day for giving thanks, let us know at least what it is for which we give that thanks.

The answer is not always at our fingertips. It is not always clear. We read the headlines of newspapers, we listen to the voice from the radio, and we watch the TV screen and what do we see? We see crimes so horrible that it sickens every decent man and woman. We see the results of war and natural disasters mirrored in the horror-stricken faces of its victims. We see tragedy, upon tragedy, hunger, poverty, and degradation. We see several workers losing their job. This is what we see, and certainly the doubt must come that we have little to be thankful for in this far from perfect world. We can understand how this feeling could arise, for certainly, there is much in this life which causes us pain and frustration.

There is much which we regret and condemn, and make no mistake about it; there is much that is good and worthwhile in this world, if we look for it. Especially in our community we can find individuals who give of themselves in every way. We find people who risk their own lives to save others or the victims of unexpected tragedy. We find people who, when tragedy strikes, are there to provide relief and comfort to those who suffer. We find people who time and time again have been there when they were needed and have asked nothing in return except the chance to serve again.

This we can find if we choose to look for it. We can find love conquering hate every day. We can find homeless children in our community, it is true. But we also find men and women with hearts full of love. A love so large it incorporates those children so that they are adopted and raised in families that are thankful for a chance to share that love with a child. For every negative act, we can find an act of kindness, an act of giving, and act of love. It is there that we look for it.

What can we be thankful for? We can be thankful for each other. We can be thankful that in this world filled with tragedy we have people whose lives are a triumph. We can be thankful that for every individual who takes from society in terms of crime and terror, we have 10, 20, 100, and 1,000 who give each and every day of their lives, in terms of love, care, selflessness, and concern for others. Let us all rejoice for these wonderful things and be thankful during this time of the year and throughout the entire year. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.”

Principal for a Day

Plymouth Schools hosted its Fifth Annual Principal-for-a-Day today. Each principal and assistant principal hosted a visitor from 8 am – 12 noon at the individual schools and then met at the corporation office for a light lunch and discussion. Each visitor experienced various aspects of a principal’s daily life. Pictured are the visitors who participated in Principal-for-a-Day.

From left to right, back row: Gary Cook, Charles Ripley, Tony Ross, Mark Senter, Dennis Emmons. Front row: Carol Anders, Mishelle Bergeron, Dwight Laidig, Laurie Sutter.

Board Highlights and Facility Update

Board Highlights

The board met in regular session last evening. In addition to conducting its regular business, the board recognized Harold Schmidt, Jim and Bonnie Yeazel, Amy Gerard, Stephanie Drudge, as outstanding volunteers at the elementary schools. The board also recognized the Webster elementary staff for being cited as a model elementary school by the Center for Evaluation and Educational Policy.

Special recognition was given to Marcia Holloway, Sandy Rowe, Marcia Pownall, Sandy Geist, and Melody Kruger, who will retire at the end of the current school year.

Mrs. Portteus, Mrs. Scheetz, and Mrs. Rowe provided the board with a follow-up report on the class of 2005 and a report on SAT scores.

The second reading of revised policies was completed. The board’s next meeting will be on December 8, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the Administration office board room.


New Facility Update

At the New Menominee School the northeast end of the building will be enclosed by the end of November. Meeting this benchmark is progressing. The southwest addition received damage during last Sunday’s wind storm. A 90’ wall and a 40’ wall have fallen. Cleanup has begun. The masons report they can have the walls rebuilt in two weeks and stay on schedule.

At Jefferson, the new addition is enclosed. Work is moving forward on the installation of mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems.

At Plymouth High School, the multipurpose room painting has been completed. Ceiling panels and the overhead ducts have been installed. In the new shower rooms, the ceramic tile and shower controls are installed. Carpeting and casework has been installed. In the broadcast studio, during the next two weeks, the lights will be installed in the multipurpose room; other equipment will be hung from the ceiling. The painting will be completed in the lobby. The installation of the ceiling grid will begin in the multipurpose hallway and extend into the new lobby area. The casework will be set in the ensemble room and installation of the quarry tile will be completed in the multipurpose wing restrooms and locker rooms.

The Process Begins- Proposal #1

Dr. Jerry McKibben, demographer, has been employed by the district to assist in the re-districting process. He has been charged with developing attendance area that will result in schools of similar size, diverse population, and socio economic make-up. This will allow Plymouth Schools to make available the same quality programs to students in each building. In addition, the staff can be used more efficiently. Above is proposal #1, the beginning. Based on input received from the Town Hall meeting, Dr. McKibben will develop a new proposal which will be shared at a future public meeting. Thank you to PASS for co-sponsoring this and future town hall meetings. We encourage all community members to attend the meetings and participate in this important process.

Current Attendance Areas

The current attendance areas for elementary students are illustrated above. The enrollments in the four buildings are unequal. The make-up of the buildings vary.

Blog Bits

The New Menominee Elementary

During the high winds this weekend, two walls on the southwest corner of the building were blown down. The building corporation maintains builder’s risk insurance to cover these misfortunes. Those areas will be cleaned up and rebuilt immediately.


Celebrations

The district received the following from Senator Richard Lugar:
“Congratulations on the Plymouth Community School Corporation being recognized for significantly narrowing achievement gaps by Standard & Poors during the 2003-2004 school year. This is a single honor in which you should take a great deal of pride. The school district can not thrive without the active participation of the administration staff and volunteers of area schools on behalf of the students in the community they serve. This recognition is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the community to ensure that each young person, no matter race or social economic class, has access to an excellent education. Congratulations on this extraordinary honor and I wish the Plymouth Community School staff and students every continuing success.”


The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has also recognized Plymouth High School as an honorable Best Buy School in its 2005 7th edition. Congratulations to the staff and students of PHS!


The Center for Evaluation and Educational Policy in its Special Report, “Is the achievement gap in Indiana narrowing?," cited Webster Elementary as a “model elementary school.” Webster was selected as a model elementary school in closing the achievement gap when considering its significant number of students (48%) who qualify for free or reduced lunch price meals compared to the state average (34%), and the high performance of this student population in ISTEP+. Congratulations to the Webster staff and students!

Blog Bits

Board Highlights

The Board met in regular session last evening. In addition to conducting its regular business, the Board recognized Lane Wiley, a Webster student, for his community service.

Suzi Clevenger presented her report on the Alternative School. She reported current enrollment figures, the number of students successfully completing ISTEP, future enrollment projections, and program changes that will be required by the State of Indiana.

Donna Burroughs updated the Board on the planning for the 5/6 building. The Board named the building Riverside Intermediate School. The mascot is the “Rockets”; the motto is “Launching into the Future”; the school newspaper is the “Rocket Rumblings”; and the yearbook is the “Rocket Review”.

The Board heard the first reading of revised and new policies. A majority of those policies were the result of new laws enacted by the last legislature.

Interesting Reading
The South Bend Tribune published an article featuring the study tables offer at Plymouth High School. Thank you to Mrs. Portteus, Mr. Masson, Mr. Fishback and the many student volunteers from the Key Club and National Honor Society for devoting their time for the betterment of our students.

An Exciting Adventure Begins

Seven Plymouth teachers started their first Interdisciplinary Collaborative Program (ICP) class in the Plymouth Board Room on Thursday, November 3. The ICP classes are funded by a five-year federal grant entitled Training for All Teachers. The focus of this grant is to train Indiana teachers to work with English as a New Language (ENL) children. Grant money was appropriate for Indiana since it has the 4th largest ENL population in the United States.

The ICP grant coupled with the TACIT grant provides a free certification in ENL through Indiana University, Bloomington. The seven teachers from Plymouth embark on course work through various forms of instruction including in-person instructors, Internet instruction, and distance learning instruction. A large component of this training is Internet collaboration with the other 43 Indiana teachers across Indiana.

Mary Gifford, another Plymouth teacher, and an alumnus of the ICP grant program and will assist with the instruction and collaboration. Plymouth teachers in the program include Dwight Beguin, Dena McLochlin, Tricia Deisch, Jeanne Tanner, Maria Garcia, Carla Lange, and Kelly Arce.

Teacher / Staff Blogs and Websites

AWESOME! Teacher / Staff websites and blogs!!

Technology is on the move for the Plymouth School Corporation! Below are links to teacher and staff websites and blog pages.

Please take a moment to view each site and notice how helpful they can be for parents and students for homework and information during off time and after hours. ENJOY !


The Plymouth Truth
Corporation Blog
http://plymouthin.blogspot.com/


Judy Harness
Mrs. H's PRIDE and Art
Art Teacher - Elementary
http://www.mrshsprideandart.blogspot.com/


Jane Johnson
Johnson Journal
Second Grade Teacher at Menominee
http://www.johnsonews.blogspot.com/


Tom Johnson
The Paint Spot
Art Teacher - LJH
http://www.thepaintspot.blogspot.com/


Linda Espich
Mrs. E's Blog
Third Grade Teacher at Menominee
http://www.espichclass.blogspot.com/


Mary Kaufman
Brad Fackler
Guidance Counselors at Lincoln Junior High
http://www.plymouth.k12.in.us/~mkaufman/COUNSE~1.HTM


Tina Morales
Guidance Secretary
Guidance Office Blog
http://www.phsguidanceoffice@blogspot.com.com/


John Barron
Health Teacher Plymouth High School
Rockie Head Football Coach
R-R-R-R-ROCKIE Football Blog
http://www.plymouthrockiefootball.blogspot.com/


Grand Masson
Geography Class Blog
http://www.grantmasson.blogspot.com/
Grant Masson
U. S. History Class Blog
http://www.mrgrantmasson.blogspot.com/



Dave McKenzie
Speech & Debate Team Blog
Speech/Debate Coach
Speech/Drama/Lanaugae Arts
PlymouthHigh School
http://plymouthspeech.blogspot.com/


Nona Hollenbaugh
Business Professionals of America Website
Plymouth High School Business
http://www.bpa.org/
http://www.bpa.org/


Nikki Rumpler
Teacher Website
Webster Elementary School
User Name: rumpler
Password: science
www.scholastic.com/classpages


Cindy Wagoner
Pride of Plymouth Music Program Website
Plymouth High School Music
http://www.plymouthbigred.com/


Tara Sharp
Teacher Blog
Lincoln Junior High School Math
http://ljhmathclasssharp6.blogspot.com//


Jeff Hunter & Teresa Dennie
Teacher Blog
Menominee Elementary School
http://www.dandhinfo.blogspot.com/


Ben Waymouth
Media Specialist Blog
Waymouth's Window
http://www.wwindow.blogspot.com/
Media Center Website
www.plymouth.k12.in.us/~bwaymouth


Laura Kruyer
Plymouth High School Social Studies Website
www.plymouth.k12.in.us/~lkruyer


Paul Patrick
Plymouth High School Science Website
www.plymouth.k12.in.us/~ppatrick


Bob Garrity
Lincoln Junior High Science Website
www.plymouth.k12.in.us/~bgarrity

Blog Bits

United Way
With the PHS student total not included, Plymouth Community School United Way donations and pledges are at $17,727.03 up from $14,679.43 last year. Congratulations and thank you on behalf of all the community agencies and the Marshall County United Way..

Facility Updates
At Plymouth High School lunch will be served in the renovated cafeteria on Tuesday. The canteen will not be available for the first few weeks. The new multipurpose room is being painted. Cabinetry is being installed in the new broadcasting area during the next week. Ceiling grids have been installed in the training room and new locker rooms. The final coat of blacktop is being installed today.

At Menominee, there is some plumbing that remains to be completed. The new parking lot lining and light installation will occur during the next two weeks.

At Jefferson, the steel and metal decking has been erected. Roofers will be installing the new roof and the masons will complete the interior walls during the next two week period.

At the new Menominee, the footers and foundation walls have been completed. The ramp areas are being constructed. Masons continue to build walls in both the A and B wings. As an area is made available, steel is erected and metal decking is installed. Roofers are on-site closing in areas as they are made available.

Contractors are following up on punch lists in all the other buildings.

Town Hall Meeting
PASS and Plymouth Community Schools will be co-sponsoring a town hall meeting on November 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Joseph Hospital Education Room. This will be the first meeting addressing redistricting. Jerry McKibbin, the demographer, will present Re-districting, a Work in Progress. He will review preliminary numbers and explain the process that he goes through as a demographer in developing scenarios. He will share a base scenario and request public input at the meeting. All are encouraged to attend.

Awards
Lane Wiley, a student at Webster Elementary has been selected for the October 2005 Future Leaders Award. Indiana State Treasurer, Tim Berry will present the award and a check for $1,000 to Lane on Wednesday, November 16th.

The State of Indiana has awarded Webster Elementary a Reading is Fundamental Grant. This will provide books for distribution to the students at Webster.

WalMart presented Washington with a computer and printer last week.

Miscellaneous
Angie Becktel has identified an interesting writing website. It contains six trait writing activities http://www.writingfix.com/.

Blog Bits

Cold Weather

The cold weather has set in and we have received several phone calls about the temperature in the school. As we work with new boilers and old boilers, both present a challenge to heat the school evenly and immediately. As you know natural gas prices will be up substantially this winter so the thermostats will be set at 69 degrees to conserve energy. Our recommendation is for staff and students to bring a sweater or sweat shirt with them.

High School Physical Education Blues

Several parents called yesterday with concerns about fumes in physical education class at the high school. The construction manager informed us that the paint fumes from the multi-purpose room were not dangerous; however, he has closed several vents leading from the old school to the new school and that has eliminated the fumes.

Play and Football Game Parking

Friday night should bring lots of students and parents to Plymouth High School to see the drama department's Beauty and the Beast and then see the Rockies beat East Noble. The play starts at 6:30 and patrons should park in the south parking lot. The sectional football game starts at 7:30 and patrons should park in the north and east parking lot.

Changes and Challenges

Fall break for us was a time of reflection. As we have reviewed the school year thus far we see changes and challenges before us.

Primary teachers have been involved in implementing new reading strategies. Members of the elementary and middle school staff have spent time sequencing curriculum for the development of benchmark exams. Several of our staff members have spent time planning the new 5/6 grade building. Other staff members have had to work around construction projects.

As we have observed our staff members working extremely hard; we acknowledge that change can be difficult and frustrating. Thank you to the many staff members working extremely hard for the improvement for our students.

We have also been faced with external changes which have presented challenges. The spiraling cost of fuel for our vehicles and utilities for our buildings create new challenges. Staff members have made difficult choices in selecting field trips. Community members have stepped up to help fund those same trips. We are extremely fortunate to be members of a district and a community where the internal and external forces have come together to provide our students out of school experiences.

The devastating hurricanes and the needs of our community organizations that continue to rise create challenges for charitable organizations. Again, students and staff of Plymouth Community Schools have stepped up to the challenge by contributing to the victims of Katrina and to the Marshall County United Way. Staff members have pledged or given $11,395 to the United Way campaign this year. Thus far, student campaigns have netted $5,456 in donations with two buildings yet to report.

We express our deep appreciation to staff, students, and community members for stepping up to the changes and challenges of this school year.

Blog Bits 10-14-05

Board Highlights
The board met in regular session on October 6, 2005. In addition to conducting its regular business, the board recognized Nate Pearson and Erin Dunning, Plymouth High School Business Professionals of America students who have compete successfully at the state and national levels.

The board approved an agreement with Cyberlink. Cyberlink will provide Plymouth Community Schools with high-speed Internet access in return for the use of the corporation’s towers.

Literacy Conference
Last week 23 teachers and six administrators attended the Literacy Conference sponsored by the Indiana Department of Education. They heard leading experts in the area of reading from throughout the country.

Help
We are in need of substitute bus drivers. Individuals who become a substitute bus driver make themselves eligible for future routes. If interested contact Rick Scott in the transportation department at 936-3115.

Congratulations
The students at Webster Elementary have contributed $1,017.54 to the Marshall County United Way Campaign. In addition, 100% of the Webster staff participated in the drive this year. Campaign chair Jim Wagner and educational campaign chair Larry Pinkerton met with the Webster staff this morning to express their appreciation for the staff’s efforts.

Board Meeting
The October 20, 2005 meeting of the Board of Trustees has been canceled due to conflicts with fall break. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board will be November 3, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the board room.

United Way, it's what matters locally

Most of our lives and certainly during recent years all over the world we have witnessed great crisis. We have a great crisis right here in the United States. We think it’s wonderful to look around the Marshall County community and see the outpouring of generosity in helping the victims of Katrina, Rita, and other storms that have ravaged the southern coast of the United States. There are many organizations that are working to help the victims of these disasters, but we think that it is important to remember that we will be confronted with problems here locally especially with the rise in heating costs and other local problems. There are going to be more people in our community that may need help. We are asking everyone to be generous with United Way, which is the center for all the help going to so many people through our local member agencies. We hope as our fall campaign continues, you will remember that the local needs will not go away, they may even deepen. It is important to support the annual community campaign, the United Way – it’s what matters locally.