2008-2009 New Staff

Ben Snyder is our new Physical Education/Health teacher at Plymouth High School. He is a graduate of Grace College and is married to Lauren.

Ben enjoys working with high school students and believes Plymouth has the desire for excellence in the school and in the community.

2008-2009 New Staff

Rebecca Ippel is our new ENL (English as a New Language) at Plymouth High School. She is a graduate of Covenant College and Ball State University and is married to Dirk.

Rebecca is pleased to be teaching in Plymouth because she loves working with high school students, and she is excited to be in a close-knit school community.

2008-2009 New Staff

Ruthie McCollough is our new Family and Consumer Science teacher at Plymouth High School. She is a graduate of Ball State University. She and her husband, Larry, have two ganddaughters, two grandsons, horses, and one great dog.

Ruthie is pleased to be teaching in Plymouth because of the vision Plymouth has for students, from the administration down through the teachers ... and all for the students.

Board Meeting

The Plymouth Community School Corporation Board of Trustees met last night at the Board Room of the Administration Building at 611 Berkley.

The following business items were discussed and/or approved.

Transfer Tuition Rates were set through December 31, 2008.
1. PHS, LJHS, and Riverside $3,010.00
2. K-4 $2,330.00
The Board received copies of each school's extracurricular financial report.

Mr. Roy Benge gave a year-end report on the high school athletic department.

Mr. Dan Tyree gave a report on the opening of school. Enrollment as of Thursday, Aug. 21 was as follows:
K-4 1362
5-6 555
7-8 549
9-12 1047
At this date the student count is up 21 students.

The Board approved credit cards for Dr. Rodger Smith and Lori VanDerWeele.

The Board approved affidavits for payment as follows:
PCSC Phase I $483,408.03
Vision 2020 Phase I $69,380.30
Vision 2020 Phase II $117,600.00

Mr. Tyree reported that the service center's parking lot paving is now finished.
He also reported that the soccer team has played on the soccer field and that it is in excellent shape. Finally, he reported that because of a donation a soccer field ticket booth is being erected.

Mr. Tyree congratulated Webster School for being a finalist in the Indiana Title I School Improvement Award. He also recognized Judy Harness, Vickie Cook, and Monty Peden for participating in the Teacher Creativity Extended Learning Workshop this summer.

In other business the Board regretfully accepted the retirement of Director of Maintenance and Grounds Bruce Hite. They also hired three new teachers, Kari Kennedy, Bev Woods, and Phil Scott.

2008-2009 New Staff

Dianne Jeffirs Himes is our new media specialist for all the elementary buildings. She and her husband, Todd, have two children, Audrey and Andrew.

Dianne is pleased to be teaching in Plymouth because the Plymouth schools value their students. She feels the Plymouth Schools realize the importance of the library media centers in helping to teach lifelong learning skills and also provides teachers a variety of professional development opportunities.

Blog Bits

Webster School Recognized

Webster Elementary School has been selected as one of the top 3 Title I schools to be considered for the National Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program. One school will represent the state’s Title I schools that have exhibited exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years and one school will represent the state’s Title I schools that have made the most progress in significantly closing the achievement gap between student subgroups.

As part of the selection process, a team of Title I specialists will visit Webster Elementary School to tour the school, observe instruction, and talk with teachers on August 27, 2008. .

The two schools that are ultimately selected will be recognized at the National Title I Conference held in San Antonio, Texas from February 19-22, 2009.

2008-2009 New Staff

Aimee Rooney is our new 3rd grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary. She is a graduate of Indiana University South Bend.

Aimee is pleased to be teaching in Plymouth because she feels the Plymouth Community School Corporation family is a team-oriented environment that looks at the whole child to meet each child's educational needs and ensures that the staff is provided with the resources to do so.

2008-2009 New Staff

Lauren Cooper is our new 2nd grade teacher at Washington Elementary. She is a graduate of St. Joseph's College. She is married to Zane.

She looks forward to working with a great group of students and teachers. She loves teaching and is very anxious to start.

2008-2009 New Staff

Lisa Rizek is our new autism teacher at Jefferson Elementary. She is a graduate of Indiana University and Indiana Wesleyan University. She is the proud mother of a delightful 14 year old son.

Lisa is pleased to be teaching in Plymouth because of the opportunity to teach children and work with a community of professionals within our schools.

Board Meeting

On August 7, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the administrative board room, the Board of Trustees, Todd Samuelson, Frank Brubaker, Ron Gifford, and Larry Pinkerton met for their bi-monthly meeting. Melissa Christiansen was chaperoning the cross country camp.

Business transactions

• School lunches will remain the same in the 2008-2009 school year, although prices may have to be increased for the 2009-2010 school year.



• The Board agreed to move $708,521.79 from the construction fund to the capital projects fund. This was done to reimburse the Capital Projects Fund for money used before the building project started in order to inform the community about the scope of the project.

• Mr. Tyree gave a short report on the teacher induction program. This was the third annual induction program. There were 13 new teachers and one assistant principal at the program. Presentations included the evaluation process, goal setting, technology, differentiated instruction, IEP’s and ILP’s, and poverty training. Teachers were taken to four different restaurants for lunch during the four-day induction.

• The Board authorized the central office to publish the annual financial report in the Pilot News.

• The Board established the date of September 17, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the administration office board room to meet with a facilitator in executive session and administrators to set corporation goals.

• The Board approved a motion for a resolution for the 403(b). The plan document will be presented to the Board at a later date.

• The Board approved the M.A.S.E. Trust agreement.

• Mr. Tyree updated the Board on projects including the high school soccer field, auditorium, the science room, and the cafeteria serving lines. He also gave a brief report on the damage that was done to the Washington Elementary air conditioning units. More information concerning that will follow.

• Mr. Tyree gave a report on enrollment as of Friday:

K-4: 1,362 (up 23 students)
Riverside: 555 (up 13 students)
Junior High: 549 (up 24 students)
High School: 1,055 (down 32 students)

This is an increase of 28 students at this time.

The Board will meet again on August 21, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the administration office board room. The budget workshop will follow approximately ten minutes after the meeting.

Alumni Blog

Class of 1973 alumnus Ann Kleinke Sherrick has created a new Plymouth High School alumni Blog. Her aim is to help alumni keep in touch with each other. Alumni should take a look at this Blog and hopefully it will give you a tool to rekindle old friendships. Thanks for your work Ann!

www.plymouthhighalumni.com.

Board Meeting

The Plymouth Community School Board of Trustees met Thursday, July 10, at 5:15 at the Administration Building. Below is a summary of several personnel actions along with 10 business items.

Personnel
The Board approved the recommendations to employ the following teachers for the upcoming school year. Dianne Jeffirs-Himes (elementary media specialist), Chelsea Bennett (junior high social studies), Rebecca Ippel (high school ENL), Ben Snyder (high school PE), Chris Kirkum (high school Industrial Tech), and Melissa DeFord (high school English). A photo and a short biography for each new teacher will be on the Blog after school starts.

Business Transactions
1. The Board heard a report on the Marshall County Alternative School.
2. The Board selected The Pilot News for legal advertising.
3. The Board received a report on the high school spring athletic season from Mr. Benge.
4. The Board adopted an Acceptable Use Policy for staff members.
5. The Board eliminated the Tier System for administrative contracts and equalized the pay and benefits for Director of Guidance and the Athletic Director.
6. The Board approved payments for two building project affidavits.
7. The Board passed a resolution to allow payments for interest bearing bills since there will not be another meeting for a month.
8. The Board took under advisement several options for the use of the remaining construction funds.
9. The Board received three fuel bids and rejected each of them.
10. The Board approved a transfer-tuition student for the high school.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for the Administration Building on August 7, 2008, at 7:00 PM. The budget workshop is scheduled for August 21 and the budget hearing is scheduled for September 4.

Alumni Hall of Fame

The 26th Plymouth High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Award was presented at the Plymouth High School Alumni Banquet held on Friday, June 20th.

Recipient of the award is Steve Yoder, Class of 1958.

Mr. Yoder’s accomplishments are: Steve Yoder was born on November 1, 1939, in Plymouth, Indiana to Newell and Patricia Yoder, the oldest of six children. He was a natural athlete who learned to love sports on the playground at Webster Elementary School. At Plymouth High School, he was a true student-athlete, demonstrating his leadership and work ethic by achieving academically as well as athletically. Active in student government, he was elected class president two years in a row. During his senior year in 1958, he represented the Plymouth community at Boys State, where he was elected Secretary of State. However, sports was (and still is) Steve’s passion. One classmate recalled a basketball game against Bremen High School in which Steve alone scored as much as the entire Bremen team. Despite all of his successes, his classmates remember him as a friendly, considerate, and humble person.

Steve earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at Illinois Wesleyan University in 1962 and went on to earn a Masters Degree in Secondary Education at St. Francis College. This led to his first teaching and coaching position at Glen Ellyn Junior High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, from 1962-1965. In 1965, Steve returned to his roots and became the Plymouth High School head coach for basketball and baseball and an assistant coach for football. During his eight years at Plymouth, the basketball team went to several regional championships, beginning a tradition of excellence that continues today. Along with coaching, Steve opened Yoder’s Sports Center in 1970, a full-service retail sporting goods store that is still family-owned and located in downtown Plymouth.

Success as a high school coach led to opportunities in college coaching. Steve was assistant basketball coach at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina from 1973-1975. After a year as head basketball coach at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, Steve became the assistant basketball coach at Ball State University and then the head coach, serving in that capacity from 1977-1982. His years at Ball State saw the team claim a NCAA berth in 1981, several Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships, five straight first-division MAC finishes, and the first 20-win season in school history. Steve was twice honored as MAC Coach of the Year and recognized as the Ball State coach with the most wins since 1938. Ball State University recognized his accomplishments in 2001 by inducting him into the Ball State Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1982, Steve began a decade as head basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin, where he coached the team to its most wins in 48 years. Again he was recognized not just as a great coach, but as a person of integrity and leadership. He was named Basketball Times Midwest Coach of the Year in 1981, and in 1989 he was Big Ten Coach of the Year runner-up. As head coach of the Badgers, Steve guided his team to two NIT tournaments. During his stint at Wisconsin, he stepped into the role of broadcaster, hosting weekly statewide radio and television shows. He continued to influence younger athletes; his Steve Yoder Basketball Camps drew over 700 participants every year, and he traveled worldwide, coaching players from Syria to Japan to Hungary.

After coaching, from 1993-2000, Steve embarked on a career as a color analyst, working jointly for ESPN and the Big Ten for regionally broadcasted Big Ten Games. His expertise was also sought by the LA Lakers in 1996, and he was their Advance Game Scout until 2000. The Indiana Pacers hired Steve in 2000 as a full-time Player Scout. He worked in that position evaluating college talent leading up to the annual draft pick until 2003. After three years with the Pacers, Steve was offered a Player Scout position with the New York Knicks. He is currently in his fifth year with the Knicks.
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Summary of June 5 Board Meeting

Several new teachers and administrators were hired at last night's board meeting. They include the following:

• Ruth McCollough, PHS FACS Teacher
• Lauren Cooper, Washington 2nd Grade Teacher
• Kim Burns, Riverside 5th Grade Teacher
• Erik Knebel, Riverside 6th Grade Teacher
• Carly Everingham, GED Adult Education Teacher
• Andrew Hartley, PHS Assistant Principal
• Dr. Rodger Smith, Assistant Superintendent

The following students were recognized as their school's winners of the Wellness Writing Contest.

• Josh Downen, Washington
• Jarrod Ellis, Riverside
• Gabby Garver, Menominee
• Heather Griewank, Lincoln
• Steven Helm, Webster
• Aaron Houin, Riverside
• Zoe Keilman, Jefferson
• Luke Schumacher, Riverside

The following Plymouth High School students in the class of 2008 received their diplomas. Last Friday night they competed in the IHSAA State Track Meet.

• Morgan Hite
• Holly Nifong

The Board reviewed student handbooks for Plymouth High School and Lincoln Junior High School.

The Board gave permission for Rick Scott, Transportation Director, to advertise for bids for fuel.

The Board was given School Improvement Plan updates from all schools for review.

The Board reappointed Eleanor Kacmar-Danielson to a four-year term on the Library Board.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for June 19, at 7:00 PM in the Board Room.

Summary of the May 15, 2008 Board Meeting

Personnel recommendations included, but were not limited to, the retirement of Sara Lopez, Jan Shockney, Jan Reid, and Paula Arvesen. All have long tenure in Plymouth Community Schools and are sorry to see them leave us.

Appointments included, but were not limited to: Katy Stewart - 4th grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary, Jessica Huntley - 4th grade teacher at Washington Elementary, Jesse Evans - Lincoln Jr. High Band Director, Jennifer Faulstich - Lincoln Jr. High math, and Kevin Stuckmeyer - PHS Head Varsity Basketball Coach.

Mrs. Carrie McGuire and several teachers were present to give an executive summary of the Webster School academic growth plan.

Textbook fees for 2008-2009 for grades K-6 were established.

Melissa Christiansen was appointed as a member of the Redevelopment Commission.

During Superintendent remarks, Mr. Tyree gave an update on the soccer field and thanked Dr. Ratliff and Mr. Harrison for their exemplary work on the bomb threat and the visit of Former President Clinton. Mr. Tyree also congratulated the BPA on an outstanding performance at their National Convention and gave a public thank-you to Mr. Don Harrison for doing a great job as the interim assistant principal at the high school. Mr. Harrison’s last day was May 16th.

The next meeting will be June 5, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room.

Blog Bits

PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
BOMB THREAT CASE RESOLVED

The administration of Plymouth High School reports that the investigation of last week's bomb threat has been completed with a receipt of an admission of guilt from a high school student. The PHS administration wishes to thank all those involved in the investigation including the Plymouth Police Force, students, parents, and other school and community stakeholders who provided valuable information in the process. At this time, the school will work in conjunction with the Plymouth Police Department to ensure that due process is followed.

Press Release 05-08-08

On Tuesday, May 6, 2008, a bomb threat for this Friday, May 9, 2008, was found in a stall of the Plymouth High School bathroom. High school administration involved Plymouth Police Officer Mark Owens immediately to develop the following plan:

· Our Administration has investigated tapes from security cameras in an attempt to identify the potential suspect(s).
· There was a faculty meeting held on Wednesday evening immediately after school to communicate strategies with the faculty.
· There was a floor to ceiling search of the entire high school on Wednesday after school.
· Since nothing was detected, a communication will be sent home with students on Thursday, May 8, 2008. Mr. Condon read this letter to the students at 10:30 a.m. this morning on the PA.
· If nothing is found through all of these efforts, there will be some changes at the high school on Friday. These changes are addressed in the letter attached from Mr. Condon.



Parents,


We are dealing with an issue that must be taken seriously that I want to make you aware of. On May 6, a bomb threat was reported to the administration. This threat was made in the form of a note placed on a bathroom wall here at school. The note stated that a bomb would go off on Friday at noon. Regardless of whether I feel this threat is credible or not, we must give it our full attention as we always place the safety of everyone attending Plymouth High School as our top priority.

As a faculty, we have worked diligently to search our building to make sure everything is okay. We have also worked in cooperation with the local police department to conduct a complete search of our building and additional searches will continue to take place.

As far as students or parents are concerned, we are asking for your cooperation in this issue in a couple different ways:

If you have any information that may lead us to a potential suspect please bring that forth to a building administrator. You will be rewarded for any information that may help us in our efforts.

On Friday, we ask that students not enter school with any backpacks or large carrying bags. Instead, students are being asked to leave those items at home or in their car. If a need exists to carry a bag or backpack to school it must be related to a physical or medical condition and receive preapproval from a principal.

Beginning on Friday, student access to the building will not be allowed prior to 7:15 A.M.

Student entry into the building will be limited to doors 1 and 5 between 7:15 and the time that busses drop off at PHS. Students riding busses will enter the building as they always have.

Attendance at school on Friday will be optional and will not be held against you if you bring a note from your parent to student services upon your return Monday. We will conduct school as usual Friday and hope that you will join us.

Upon arriving at school Friday, students should expect to see some police officers on campus Friday working in conjunction with the administration to ensure that everything is okay.

Before students leave school today, each of you will receive a letter describing the threat and everything we have done to investigate this issue. Please give this letter to your parents as soon as you get home from school. These letters will be passed out to you today during your 6th period class. If you leave school before the end of the school day, please stop in to the main office and ask for a copy of this letter from Mrs. VanMeter.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please be aware that the safety of your child is our top priority. Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

James Condon, Principal
Plymouth High School

Spanish Version:
8 de Mayo del 2008

El martes, 6 de Mayo del 2008, una amenaza de una bomba para este viernes, 9 de Mayo del 2008, fue encontrada en un baño de la Escuela la High School. LA administración de la High school involucraron a el Oficial de Policía, Mark Owens inmediatamente para desarrollar el siguiente plan: · Nuestra administración ha investigado cintas de las cámaras de seguridad en busca de identificar a el/los posible sospechoso(s). · Hubo una junta con el personal que se llevo acabo el miércoles en la tarde inmediatamente después e la escuela para comunicar las estrategias con el personal. · Hubo una búsqueda del piso al techo de toda la high school el miércoles después de la escuela. · Como nada fue detectado, una comunicación será enviada a casa con los estudiantes el jueves, 8 de Mayo del 2008. El Señor Condon leyó esta carta a los estudiantes a las 10:30 a.m. esta mañana en el PA (un sistema que se escucha dentro de toda la escuela). · Si nada es encontrado entre todos estos esfuerzos, habrán algunos cambios en la high school el viernes. Estos cambios son dirigidos en la carta adjunto departe del Señor Condon.


Estimados Padres,

Estamos tratando con un tema/asunto que debemos de tomar muy enserio y que quiero mantenerlos enterados. El 6 de Mayo, una amenaza de una bomba fue reportada a la administración. Esta amenaza fue hecha en la forma de una nota y fue colocada en la pared de un baño aquí en la escuela. Esta nota declaraba que una bomba estallaría el viernes a medio día. A pesar de que yo sienta que la amenaza sea creíble o no, debemos darle nuestra completa atención como siempre ponemos la seguridad de todos que asisten a la Escuela la Plymouth High School como nuestra alta prioridad.Juntos como personal, hemos trabajado diligentemente para buscar en nuestro edificio para asegurarnos que todo este bien. También hemos trabajado en cooperación con el departamento de la policía local para conducir una búsqueda completa del edificio entero y se continuara en hacer búsquedas adicionales. Por lo tanto en acuerdo a los estudiantes o padres, les estamos pidiendo por su cooperación sobre este asunto en unas cuantas maneras diferentes: 1. Si usted tiene alguna información que nos puede dirigir hacia el potencial sospechoso por favor traiga esa información a la administración del edificio. Será recompensado por la información que nos ayudara en nuestros esfuerzos. 2. El vieres, le pedimos que los estudiantes no entren a la escuela con cualquier mochila o bolsas grandes. Se les pide a los estudiantes que mejor dejen estos artículos en casa o en sus coches. Se existe la necesidad de llevar una mochila o una bolsa a la escuela debe ser relacionada a una condición médica o física y recibir el permiso anterior del principal. 3. Al comenzar el viernes, el acceso a los estudiantes al edificio no será permitido antes de las 7:15 A.M. 4. La entrada al edificio para los estudiantes será limitada a las puertas 1 y 5 entre las 7:15 y la hora en la cual los autobuses dejan en la PHS. Los estudiantes que usan los autobuses entraran el edificio como siempre lo han hecho. 5. La asistencia a la escuela el viernes será opcional y no contara contra los estudiantes si traen una nota de sus padres al regresar el lunes. Conduciremos la escuela el viernes como normalmente y esperamos que nos acompañe.6. Al regresar a la escuela el viernes, los estudiantes deben esperar ver a oficiales de policía en el edificio trabajando en ayudarnos asegura que todo este bien.Gracias por su cooperación. Este enterado que la seguridad de su hijo/a es nuestra prioridad más alta. Siéntase libre en llamarme si usted tiene alguna preocupación o preguntas adicionales.

Sinceramente,


James Condon, PrincipalPlymouth High School

Board Meeting of May 1, 2008

The meeting started at 7:00 p.m. Under organization of the meeting, a Pledge of Allegiance was given. Opening and setting the agenda of the meeting continued by looking at the various agenda adjustments as noted. Audience participation was offered, and the minutes of the April 17 regular meeting were approved unanimously. Monthly claims were approved as presented.

Under business transactions, textbook adoption recommendations were presented by
Mr. Tyree. For language arts, he reviewed the composition of committee members, and the Board approved as presented.

Mr. Dunn presented a report on the High Ability/Gifted and Talented Program, extensively discussing the changes that have been made in the past year, making a number of indications of the Plymouth program and where that is going. He answered questions from the Board until all the questions had been answered.

Under report from the maintenance department, in the absence of Mr. Bruce Hite,
Mr. Tyree reviewed the items offered concerning the maintenance program for the summer and indicated those projects which have been completed, those which estimates are currently being sought, and he gave an indication of where we were on those particular projects.

The donation report indicates that from Lincoln Junior High School, a $300 donation was made by Martin Supermarkets, and the board graciously accepted those and requested that thanks be sent to Martin Supermarkets.

Mr. Tyree gave an update concerning the soccer field status, indicating the preparations are in continued process of being met for initiation of that program in the fall.

Affidavits for payment were considered. Affidavit number 54 was approved for the amount of $4,191.40 for a fencing project from the contingency fund. Affidavit number 64 was approved, also from contingency items and technology, in the amount of $123,290.15.

Under superintendent’s remarks, Mr. Tyree offered a review of the fact that Riverside Drama Club is currently conducting a number of drama activities with their students. The high school is making a presentation of Grease this weekend, and it is noted that Plymouth High School is being acknowledged for 100 years of accreditation with the North Central Association this year.

These past months, we have had Principal for a Day, where we have had members of the community into each of our schools spending time with principals, and their participation is very much appreciated.

The next meeting is scheduled for May 15th. Due to a number of school activities, the Board is requesting that that time be changed from 7:00 to 5:00. The meeting will be held at Webster Elementary. There were no other questions at that point, and the meeting was adjourned.

Former President Bill Clinton

PHS will host Former President Bill Clinton for a visit on Saturday, May 3, 2008, from 4:00-5:00, in the Varsity Gym. Students and community members are welcome to attend. PHS is working with his staff to finalize plans for his visit. An update will be sent as more information becomes available.

Academic Superbowl

The Academic Super Bowl team had a great night last night. They finished 1st in Science, English, Fine Arts, and Interdisciplinary categories. They finished second in Social Studies and Math. Give a pat on the back to the following people:
Nikki Chalk
Kailin Dodson
Nathan Dubinin
Tim Gordon
Kasey Greer
Sarah Griewank
Shani Horvath
Madelyn Horvath
Robert McClellan
Nicole Menser
Scott See