PHS Speech Results at NFL Nationals

The PHS speech team just returned from NFL Nationals and brought back a School of Excellence Award. It is an outstanding tribute to our kids and the work all of you have put into them over the years. Believe me, our coaching staff realizes that it does "take a community."

Andy Langdon led the way in main event finishes with a 4th place finish in Humor. Rebecca Moberly finished 13th in International Extemp. John Patrick and Cam Robertson advanced to the top 30 in Drama and Original Oratory respectively. Bryt Hiatt advanced to the top 60 in USA Extemp. Rick Elm and Andy Sanchez narrowly missed advancing to the top 60 in Duo (by one point). Chad Griewank - with only two days of practice - finished in the top 100 in Humor. (Chad was an alternate who moved into a qualifying spot right before the tournament when a Munster student had to drop.)

There were between 220 and 250 entries that qualified for the national tournament in each event.

2009 BPA Nationals

Congratulations to the 2009 BPA National Qualifiers for an outstanding performance at last week's National Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas. They did an outstanding job, representing their school and community with class and quality performances.

Members who were National Finalists (placing in the Top 10) in their respective events.

Payroll Accounting

Kasey Greer

Spreadsheet Analysis

Stefan Baird

Entrepreneurship

Ben Kraszyk

Extemporaneous Speech

Tim Gordon

Small Business Management Team
Doug Booth
Bailey Capper
Tim Gordon
Ben Kraszyk


Medalist Winner in Open Events:

Administrative Support Concepts
Kasey Greer

2009 Distinguished Alumni Award

The 28th Plymouth High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Award was presented at the Plymouth High School Alumni Banquet held on Friday, June 19th.

Recipient of the award is Raymond A. Roth, Class of 1963.

Raymond Albert Roth, a 1963 graduate of Plymouth High School, was born on Nov. 21, 1945 in Plymouth to Albert and Mary Ethel Roth. He completed his grade school education at St. Michael Catholic School in Plymouth. The son of a longtime portrait photographer, he graduated from the Ray Vogue School of Photography in Chicago in 1966.

Ray served in the Indiana National Guard from 1966-1972. During his service, he trained as a paratrooper with the 151st Infantry Battalion at Fort Benning, Ga. He had the honor of training with John Wayne, who was learning to parachute in preparation for the filming of the movie The Green Berets.

In 1967, Ray was hired as a photographer at WSBT-TV; the CBS affiliate station in South Bend. He worked as a staff photographer, chief photographer, assignment editor, and finally as an on-air reporter/photographer until his retirement on Nov. 30, 2005. During his career at WSBT, Ray reported news stories on U.S. presidents, senators, congressmen, governors, mayors, sports stars and other newsmakers. He filmed and interviewed presidential candidate Jimmy Carter, President Gerald Ford, President Bill Clinton, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy a month before his assassination. He also interviewed baseball legends Mickey Mantle and Ernie Banks. In addition, Ray interviewed General William Westmoreland, Vice-President Dan Quayle and comedian Jerry Lewis. He also met Ronald Reagan during his term as governor of California.

As a broadcast journalist, Ray earned acclaim for his investigative reporting of the Four County hazardous waste landfill in Fulton County. His breaking news coverage revealed the landfill was operating without a legal permit and was polluting ground water as well as the Tippecanoe River. As a result of his exposé, the landfill operators were tried in federal court and ordered to pay a substantial fine and close the facility.

In 1974, Ray joined reporter Dick Maginot on a trip to Recife, Brazil to film a documentary financed by Church World Services on the country’s widespread destitution and suffering. He also traveled several times to Washington, D.C. to report on congressional issues of local interest. In 1988, he earned the Indiana Best TV Documentary of the Year Award from the Associated Press for his production of the 25th anniversary of the 1963 closing of the Studebaker automotive plant in South Bend. He also earned a second-place news award from the Associated Press for his 1990 documentary on the 25th anniversary of the deadly Palm Sunday tornadoes in northern Indiana in April of 1965.

He is a lifetime member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Plymouth and a 25-year member of the Knights of Columbus. He also was a member of the Indiana News Photographers Association for many years.

Ray was married to Dawn Ann Travis for 30 years until her death. Ray is the father of Amy Knapp and Daniel Roth, both of Plymouth. Ray has three grandchildren. Ray and Rebecca Rudd Tyree were married in 2005.

For thirty-eight years, Ray was well-known and respected for his accuracy in news reporting. He enjoyed covering feature stories and sporting events in northern Indiana, especially in his home town of Plymouth.

Previous winners of the award are: Major General Larry N. Tibbets, Class of 1952; James L. Parsons, Class of 1933; Dr. Foster and Louise Link Montgomery, Class of 1930; Commodore Schuyler F. Heim, Class of 1902; Mearl D. Strombeck, Class of 1918; Walter A. Glaub, Class of 1932 and Charles O. Glaub, Class of 1935; Noble E. Kizer, Class of 1919; Lt. Col. Lewis L. Hawkins, Class of 1948; Donald R. Minx, Class of 1940; Florence Hoham, Class of 1922; George F. Stevens, Class of 1920; Dr. Edith Boyer Schuman Tackitt, Class of 1923; Dr. Ruth Mangun Holland, Class of 1942;
C. Arthur Thomas, Class of 1926; Dr. M. Sue Pifer, Class of 1957; Marshall F. Kizer, Class of 1925; Dr. James Harley Kellar, Class of 1939; Frederick C. Morrow, Class of 1941; Robert L. Hileman, Class of 1940; Scott Skiles, Class of 1982; Lester D. Read, Class of 1943; Francis W. Johnson, Class of 1933; Clifford L. Linedecker, Class of 1950; Don Aker, Class of 1949; Max Frederick (Fred) Kehoe; Class of 1946, and Steve Yoder, Class of 1958.

Where are they now?

April DeLaPaz had a perfectly good job at the Marshall County Courthouse in Plymouth. She graduated from Plymouth High School in 1998 and had a child. She worked full time and was raising her son, Caleb. But there was something that drew her back to education. Thinking back, she said, “It was office work. It was so confining. I knew I had to go back to school.”

She started to take one class per semester in 2003 at Plymouth High School where IU South Bend classes are taught in the evenings.

It has been a long time in coming but she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Through her studies she has acquired a passion for the earth, ecology and research. She plans to attend graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in marine ecology and to teach at a university someday.

When she first came to IU South Bend, she was intending on pursuing an education degree. However, through three summer study trips abroad – two in Belize and one to Africa – she became excited about research. “I get a lot of satisfaction out of field work. I like to plug in the numbers,” she said. “I learned so much from the trips. I wish every student could do a study trip.”

April had a few second thoughts about pursing a degree in biology. “I didn’t think I could do it but (biology) Professor (Ann) Grens said I could to it and she was right.”

There were adjustments to becoming a student and a full-time parent. She is first generation in her family to go on to college. Her mother, Irma, is originally from Mexico. Both her mother and father, Chris, have supported her educational cause and have helped with Caleb.

Her son will turn 11 in August and he is so proud of his mother’s accomplishments that he also is thinking of becoming a biologist.

2009 PHS Academic Hall of Fame - 5-17-09

Row 1 (left – right) Doug Booth, Business Education, Mark Danielson, Mathematics, Chad Griewank, Performing Arts, Andrew Sanchez, English, Jeremy Renz, Health/Physical Education

Row 2 (left – right) Serena Constable, Vocal Music, Krista Krpan, Science, Bailey Capper, Instrumental Music, Sarah Griewank, Student Publications, Kasey Greer, Social Studies, Erin Galt, Broadcasting.

Sorry

I would like to apologize for being down the last 48 hours. Blogger had detected that we might be a spam blog site and shut us down. We wrote an appeal and now we are open for business again.

Summer Food Program

Anyone under 18 years of age eats free! Adults may eat - Breakfast $1.00 and Lunch $2.00

Plymouth High School
June 1-July 31, 2009

LUNCH ONLY
12:00-1:00

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Lincoln Junior High
July 20-31, 2009

BREAKFAST
7:30-8:30

LUNCH
11:30-12:30

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Riverside Intermediate
July 20-31, 2009

BREAKFAST
7:30-8:30

LUNCH
11:00-12:00

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Washington Elementary
July 20-31, 2009

BREAKFAST
7:30-8:30

LUNCH
11:00-12:00

Bus Information for 2009-2010 School Year

There will be NO new buses for next school year.

THEREFORE all students will be riding THE SAME BUS and time as this year.

Reminder slips will be sent with the drivers for handouts later this month.

IF they move over the summer - we need to be contacted with this new information.

Thanks for your help!!

School Lunch Program - Update

2009-2010

Elementary and Riverside School Lunch Program

As an incentive for students to participate in the school lunch program, we will be offering a 3rd option.

Presently, we offer the lunch tray with an entrée, vegetable, fruit, milk & grain item.
Also, a chef salad is the 2nd option for students.

We are introducing a 3rd option:
PBJ Uncrustable & string cheese.

Students may take this option in place of the entrée item & can still take all of the items listed on the menu for that day.

We encourage all students to eat breakfast and lunch everyday to keep them healthy.

Washington Parent Academy

A Washington Elementary committee completed the Indiana Academy for Parent Leadership this year in Fort Wayne. The committee included Michele Riise, Brenda Lewis, Barb Peden, Shannon Whitley, Carol Anders, and Brandy Babcock (not pictured). Superintendent Dan Tyree joined the committee for the Graduation in Indianapolis.

2009 Jefferson Fun Fair

The 2009 Fun Fair at Jefferson School was a big success. Mr. Remenih got involved!

Blog Bits

Plymouth Community School Corporation is proud to announce a new partnership with Purdue University. At this stage, the partnership is involved in a grant writing proposal to the federal government that will focus on science lessons in grades three through six. These lessons would include the use of mathematics, technology, and engineering. If this partnership’s grant proposal is accepted, Plymouth Community Schools will provide students with a great advantage over other schools our size. We look forward to working with Purdue University.

PHS Speech Team Garage Sale

The Annual PHS Speech Team Garage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 9th only, 7 a.m. -2 p.m., on the Plymouth High School Stage. Please enter through loading dock doors on the north side of the building.

All proceeds go to the PHS Speech, Theatre, and Broadcasting Departments.

Furniture, clothes, shoes, toys, house wares, tools, holiday decorations, nick-knacks, and more!

4th Diamond Key Coach Recognition

The National Forensic League is proud to announce that Charlotte Tyree from Plymouth High School, has earned a fourth diamond. Ms. Tyree attained a total of 10,038 points on March 31, 2009, (more than one hundred thousand points in debate and contest speaking). Coaches receive 1/10th of their student’s points. Under Ms. Tyree’s instructions, her students earned over 100,380 credit points. Coaches qualify for membership and advanced degrees according to the same schedule provided for students and must apply and pay a membership fee. Coaches who obtained membership as a student can request their points be added to their coaching record. One-tenth of the points earned as a student will be transferred without application or fee.

On attaining a total of 1,500 points, coaches are entitled to wear a diamond-set NFL key or pin; additional diamonds accrue at 3,000, 6,000, 10,000 and each 3,000 points thereafter. Minimum time for each diamond is five years as an NFL member coach. Also the degrees for three coaches within each chapter count towards district standings and tournament apportionment.

In June, Charlotte Tyree will receive special recognition at the Lincoln Financial Group/NFL National Tournament for her devotional dedication in training effective leadership skills. This year’s Stars Fell on Alabama National Tournament will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, June 14-19, 2009 and will draw 2,700 students and 1,500 coaches, school administrators and parents. The National Speech Tournament has been held continuously since 1931 (except for the W.W. II years) and has appeared on the approved list of the National Association of Secondary School Principals National Advisory List of Contests and Activities since origination of the list.

The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, not for profit educational honor society founded in 1925 by Bruno E. Jacob at Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin. Its purpose is to encourage and motivate high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking, and interpretation.

Since its founding, NFL has enrolled over 1,307,458 members in all fifty states, U.S. possessions and several foreign countries. Currently over 93,000 high school students and over 6,500 high school teachers are active members.

Where Are They Now?

Morgan Mead graduated in 2000 from Plymouth High School and went to Ball State University. Before graduating, he left to go to a film school at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, California. In his short career, he has already produced or directed several documentaries including Say Goodbye to Granddad's Retirement, The Bible Wheel, and The Alpha and the Mega.

Morgan's most recent project is the premiere of his first feature film, My Name is Jerry, on Thursday, May 7th at 8pm at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie, Indiana. For the premier, Morgan has partnered with M Magazine for the event to coincide with their anniversary issue. We are expecting a huge turn out!

Morgan will be at the premier along with a few other cast/crew, and will use this as an opportunity to get his first feedback from viewers about the film. And, as in all good business plans, Morgan is also trying to use this event as part of his plan to raise money for the marketing of the film (film festivals, etc.) by charging $10 for admission.

For more information see, www.mynameisjerry.com.

Blog Bits

Plymouth High School was represented well in the Northern Indiana District Speech Contest at Chesterton on Saturday. Rotarian Dan Tyree dusted off his speech coaching responsibilities and took three students to compete in the contest. Rebecca Moberly won $400 in the Four-Way Oratory Contest by placing first. Bryt Hiatt won $200 in the Impromptu contest by placing second. Cam Robertson won $100 by placing fourth in the oratory contest. Mr. Tyree was impressed with the preparation of the students and gives much of the praise to the PHS Speech Coaches. "The students are well prepared to speak in any situation. This is the skill that gives them the edge when they leave Plymouth High School." Speech Coach Carol Anders and former team member Greg Anders served as Plymouth Rotary judges for the contest.

Top 5% Banquet

Last night Plymouth High School held its 23rd Annual Academic Excellence Banquet honoring the top 5% of the graduating class and each student's most inspirational teacher. Students and teachers were given plaques and certificates.

The following students and teachers were honored:

Mr. Doug Booth / Miss Judy Newberg
Miss Bailey Capper / Mr. Bryan Ames
Miss Mae Christiansen / Mrs. Allison Hargrove
Mr. Timothy Gordon / Mr. Mike Mercer
Miss Kasey Greer / Mrs. Beth Webster
Miss Krista Krpan / Mrs. Judy Edison
Mr. Andrew Kurtz / Mr. Ryan Rust
Miss Amber Large / Mr. Larry McCollough
Mr. Jeremy Renz / Mr. Jack Edison
Mr. Andrew Sanchez / Mr. David McKenzie
Mr. Thomas Young / Mr. Chad Miley

Where are They Now?

Justin Clevenger graduated from Plymouth High School in 1992. Justin played varsity football, swimming, and soccer all four years. As a stellar athlete, Justin was awarded all-conference nearly every year and qualified for the State Tournament in swimming his junior and senior years.

After high school, Justin attended Butler University on a swimming scholarship and majored in Public Relations and Marketing. Justin graduated from Butler in 1996 and went on to work for The Indianapolis Star, IBM, Hewlett Packard, Powerway, DaimlerChrysler and now works for CDW. Justin has also earned his MBA from Butler University.
Justin is married, and as of last week, they have 4 children Connor, 12, the two-year old twins, Ada and Owen, and the newest arrival, Elliott, born on April 2, 2009. Justin and his family live in Carmel.

Justin has two passions in my life: child philanthropy and flying. In college, Justin's fraternal philanthropy was Riley’s Children’s Hospital and so every year they raised money to donate to this cause. Justin made a commitment to continue helping these kids. In 1998, Justin, along with another pilot friend, formed a NFP flying company with two very old Piper Arrows. Today they have 5 planes and over $1.3M in assets and a zero dollar debt sheet. They are part of Riley Aviation providing free flights to children who require frequent testing or medical attention and who live too far to commute via car. They are also part of Angel Flights and Wings of Mercy who use aviation as a means of travel for those individuals who require medical attention who have an annual income below $40k.

As a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force Auxiliary Indiana Wing, Justin serves as a mission pilot responsible for a multitude of supporting roles within the DoD, DEA, State Police and Homeland Security. He sees this as a fantastic experience and a way to give back to his community, state, and country.

We can all be proud of Justin and his accomplishments since leaving Plymouth. He may be 100 miles south, but we never know when one of our children might need one of Justin's airplanes.
Good job, Justin. Plymouth is proud of you!

Blog Bits

Riverside Intermediate School will hold a meeting for parents of current Plymouth fourth graders on Monday, April 13, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. in the Riverside cafeteria.

At this meeting, the principals will share information about the school program for fifth graders. Parents and students will also have a chance to tour the school that evening. The school will also be hosting a book fair that evening in the school library.

Mary Beth Hunter Honored

The Marian Archer Award is an award established by the Archer Family in 1979 to honor Marian Archer for her outstanding work in promoting girls’ athletics. Marian Archer was the owner of Sports Togs in Carmel – a sporting goods business that dealt exclusively with uniforms for female athletes, and was one of our earliest exhibitors at our ICGSA Spring Conference. The recipient of this award should have been or is actively and positively involved in the promotion of girls’ athletics, and they may be in any field where he or she may promote girls’ athletics in Indiana. A complete list of past Marian Archer winners can be found on the ICGSA website (www.icgsa.org) by looking at Conference Awards.

An accomplished tennis player herself, Mary Beth Hunter joined the Plymouth High School coaching staff as the head girls’ tennis coach in 1980 and in 1982 she also began coaching the boy’s tennis team. During her 19 year coaching career of girls’ tennis her teams won 8 Northern Lakes Championships, 16 Sectional Championships in a row, and 3 Regional titles closing out a career record of 275-64. Her 12 year boys’ tennis coaching career saw her teams win 4 NLC Championships, 4 Sectionals, 1 Regional, 1 Semi-state, and a Final Four appearance with a career record of 173-54. She was honored as the Northern Lakes Conference Coach of the Year 9 times and was the District One Coach of the Year 4 times. In 1995, Mary Beth was inducted into the Indiana Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame. As an outstanding tournament director, she has served as the Plymouth City Tennis Director for over 30 years and has conducted the Northern Lakes Conference tennis tournaments for both boys and girls for over 25 years. In 1987, our recipient became the secretary for the Plymouth High School Athletic Department, and in 2000 her title changed to read Assistant Athletic Director/Secretary. Under her guidance the Plymouth High School girl’s athletic programs in all 10 IHSAA sports are first class in performance and sportsmanship in northern Indiana. Mary Beth serves as an excellent role model for other female athletic administrators with her dedication and commitment to the athletic programs at Plymouth High School and in the Northern Lakes Conference.

The Executive Secretary of the NLC, Mary Hurley, who is a past ICGSA president, says this about our winner – “this is such a deserving award for Mary Beth Hunter. I join all the Northern Lakes Conference Athletic Directors in congratulating her – what an honor to work along side Mary Beth. Her love of athletics and the passion she carries for the values of sport in a student’s life transcends in all she does. We are all proud to call her a colleague and a friend.”

The ICGSA Executive Board also recognized her contributions, dedication, and commitment to girls’ athletics in the State of Indiana, and that is why they chose to honor Mary Beth Hunter of Plymouth High School as the 2009 Marian Archer Award recipient.