Renaissance Revival
Academics, Attitude, Action --- November 8, 2019
Renaissance Mission Statement
"Our mission is to help students identify and learn how to cope and overcome their academic and behavioral challenges in order to become productive and responsible members within Warren Township school population and community at large."
Inspiration
"I never lose. I either WIN or Learn." Nelson Mandela
School Calendar
Please find below link that will allow you access to the most up-to-date MSD Warren Township School Calendar.
http://msdwarrenin.apptegy.us/o/msd-of-warren-township/browse/44250
Renaissance Webpage
ISTEP Re-test 11th/12th graders
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019, 09:00 AM
Renaissance School, East 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN, USA
No School November 19, For All Warren Township Students!
Free Glasses For Students
If you are in need of glasses, there is a great program that provides glasses to students for FREE. Please let the school nurse or your counselor know so that they can refer you for an appointment -- these spots fill up quickly, so contact them soon!
Date: Saturday, November 9th, 10am-3pm. Sight To See Eyecare. Free Dr. Refractions and Free Eyeglasses.
Event Location: Sight To See Eyecare, Dr. Stacy Pruitt, 9948 E. Washington Street.
Contact: Bill Wittlief at 317-626-2246 or Nancy Wittlief at 317-403-2172 to register.
Career & College Fest
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2019, 06:00 PM
Warren Central High School, East 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN, USA
MSD Raptor Visitor Management System
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Warren Township Schools is pleased to announce that we are using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety for students and staff. Part of keeping students and faculty safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor System allows us to do that. The Raptor System allows us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff. Our goal is to keep a balance of being a welcoming school district as well as maintaining the safety of our students and staff.
Currently, every visitor who enters our building is asked to present a state of federal ID, such as a Driver’s License, and it is scanned into the Raptor System. Once the visitor has been approved, the office staff enters the reason, destination of the visit and the Raptor System will print a photo ID visitor badge. If for any reason a parent or guardian does not have a U.S. government-issued ID, the staff member can use any form of ID and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor System. Beginning November 11, 2019, this will apply to our PreK-4 campuses as well.
A photo ID visitor badge is not required for those who visit our schools to drop off an item or pick-up paperwork at the front desk. Further, they may drop off their items(s) or remain in the waiting area until their student is available. Please be aware that current practices established in each building remain in effect.
The safety of our students is our highest priority. The Raptor Visitor Management System provides us with a consistent process of knowing who is in our buildings at all times as well as a tool to identify those individuals who may present a danger to our students and staff.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support towards enhancing school safety protocols in our district. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us here at Renaissance at 317-532-2996.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Masimba Taylor
Principal
A Principal's Perspective
Greetings,
Next week, November 12th and 13th, we will begin testing our re-testers. 11th/12th graders that did not pass the graduation exam last year will have a chance to take both parts or just the part they did not pass. Once a student passes the test they will have met one of the many graduation requirements for the state of Indiana. It is extremely important that all 11th and 12th graders needing to re-test are present both days of testing.
We do not want this to be stressful time for students and we know that many are steady pushing forward and earning credits. As a school we are making sure that students have several means for meeting the graduation requirement. Passing the test is just one of them. There are also pathway classes that student have been assigned that if passed they also will have met one of their graduation requirements and it would also take the place of needing to pass the graduation exam.
Getting a good nights sleep and making sure students are at school on time and ready to test will assist them in being more successful.
Don't forget to ask your student the following questions:
1. How was your day or week?
2. How many credits do you still need to graduate?
3. What did you do today to help you get closer to your goal?
4. Anything I can do to help?
5. You know I love you right?
As always feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns!
Again, thank you for allowing us to serve your students!
Middle School Moment
We have recovered from Halloween and Election Day. The upcoming two weeks are normal five day weeks, but after that, it’s Thanksgiving followed quickly by winter break. We have several students who will be returning to their boundary schools just after winter break. The coming days will fly by. Please make sure your student is well fed, well rested, and on time to school. We have a lot to accomplish in a short period of time.
Our students will be reading and studying an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story, “A Christmas Carol” in a couple of weeks. After exploring the tale in written form, we will see clips of movie adaptations. This unit will culminate in a field trip to The Indiana Repertory Theater’s live stage production of the play. We are all looking forward to this unique experience.
Mrs. Nowling has designed individualized lessons for our students. Both Mrs. N and Ms. C are working with our students by targeting identified areas in need of improvement in math and English. Mrs. S works daily with our kids on developing coping skills, anger management, and other life strategies for success. Our hope is to help our students achieve academic as well as social success.
Our affirmation this week: I deserve to be accepted for my true self.
Your Input Is Needed & Wanted
This fall, MSD of Warren Township will be creating a comprehensive strategic plan based on community input that will ensure all students and staff have the conditions necessary to develop and apply Journey of a Graduate (JoG) skills and dispositions.
The Journey of a Graduate skills are a set of 6 skills and dispositions that have been identified by our community needed for success in and out of school. The JoG skills are Critical Thinking, Citizenship, Communication, Collaboration, Content Knowledge, and Resilience.
These JoG skills will serve as the foundation of the district strategic plan.
One way the district will capture community input is through an online survey. Linked below is a short survey that will ask questions around our strengths as a district and help us identify areas for improvement.
(Click on link below to begin survey)
Strategic Planning Survey (Spanish)
Town Hall Meetings will also be scheduled for our teachers, students, parents and community to collaborate in person. Elementary school Town Hall Meetings will be hosted by their feeder intermediate and middle school.
Those meeting dates are below:
Monday, November 18th, 6:00 - 7:30 at Warren Central High School (WCC)
Tuesday, November 19th, 6:00 - 7:30 at Raymond Park Intermediate and Middle School (LP, LO, HA)
Thank you in advance for your participation and thank you for your continued support of MSD Warren Township Schools.
Dr. Tim Hanson
Superintendent of Schools
Dean's Corner -- Discussion With The Dean
Greetings Renaissance Family,
Over the next week I will be sending out letters and meeting with those students who have a large number of absences and or tardies to school. If you receive a letter, please emphasize the importance of attending school and getting to school on time. Those students that do have an excessive number of absences put themselves in jeopardy of losing credits and falling behind for graduation. Also, if a student reaches six tardies, that can be counted as an absence that will further put that student behind.
It is important that we all work together for the success of your student.
Below is the Habitual Absence Code:
Habitual Absence Under IC 20-33-2-25, the “Superintendent or an attendance officer having jurisdiction shall report a child who is habitually absent from school in violation of this chapter to an intake officer of the juvenile court or the department of child services. The intake officer or the department of child services shall proceed in accord with IC 31-30- through IC 31-40.”
Recently IC 20-20-8-8 was amended to define habitual truancy to include students absent ten (10) days or more from school within a school year without being excused or without being absent under a parental request filed with the school. Chronic absenteeism includes students absent from school for ten percent (10 percent) or more of a school year for any reason.
Regards,
Tarek Zawahri
Dean of Students
“It’s not what happens to you,
but how you react to it that matters”.
Dalia Lama
Student Success Handbook for Warren Township:
Counselor Corner -- Conversation With the Counselor
FAFSA night 11/18 at 6pm
Parents and students are invited to a FAFSA information/completion night. Representatives will be there to answer questions and assist parents in getting started on their FAFSA forms. The FAFSA checklist is attached so you know what to bring with you.
This week Mrs. Taylor and I have been meeting with Juniors and Seniors and working with them on understanding what it takes to graduate on time. Students who are half day should earn at least 3 credits per quarter. Students who are full day should earn at least 7. The expectation is that Juniors have at least 30 - 32 credits in May 2020. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.
For more information on credit requirements, please see the Warren Central Course Guide.
Upcoming Dates:
Financial Aid Information Night - Class of 2020 only
Any senior planning to attend college/university should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This no-cost application could qualify students for grants or loans. Representatives from InvestED will explain the FAFSA process and help families who are ready to begin the application.
Date/Time:
Nov. 18th 6:00pm
Visit the FAFSA page to find out more about federal financial aid and the application process.
Important Dates
Next Date December 7th.
Upcoming ACT Registration Deadline:
Reminder: All of our 21st Century Scholars must take the SAT or ACT to claim their scholarship. Please see information below
Social Worker Corner-- Social Work Insight
From the Desk of the Social Worker………
HAPPY NOVEMBER!!! We are 2.5 weeks away from Thanksgiving Break and 6 weeks away from Christmas Break. YAY J This is truly a month to celebrate those that serve, donate while giving selflessly of their time. It also looks great on your resume. Let’s give a big shout out for VOLUNTEERS.
How many Americans are volunteering?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts a study on volunteerism in the U.S. every year. The latest statistics from 2015 showed that:
· 62.6 million Americans volunteered
· 24.9% of Americans over 16 volunteered
· The median number of volunteer hours is 52 per year
· 33% volunteered with religious organizations, followed by 25% in educational or youth service organizations
· We might think people who do not work or are retired have the most time, but the BLS found that employed people ages 35 to 44 were most likely to volunteer.
Liz got the travel bug as a teenager when she volunteered in Mexico. After extensive travel, interning and studying abroad, she is excited to help others fulfill their dreams of experiencing another culture through InterExchange’s Career Training USA program.
Monday April 13, 2015
This could be one of our students and/or child traveling abroad helping others. If your student or child is asking why them, your answer should be why not you? This experience could change their lives forever and yours.
Community Resources:
Renaissance supportive services offered for 2019-2020;
Ø Gallahue Community Hospital - Counseling School-Based service programs to assist with social and emotional challenges
Ø Future Promises Program - Teen parenting and casework services-Marion County Health Department
Ø The Indianapolis Urban League - College Readiness Program and other extracurricular activities offered
o Students and staff have returned from the IU Bloomington today's campus tour and it was a SUCCESS!
Ø Inner Beauty is now housed in our building every Thursday evening 7-9p
Renaissance will be seeking to add more community resources and programs to promote, improve and increase social and emotional skills within our community.
Lori B. Dodson, MSW
School Social Worker
Phone: (317) 532.2996 ext. 2962
Senior Student Success
Graduation
There has been a change in the Cap and Gowns. Students will be wearing one color(Black)with the cap(black)and tassel(black and gold).The price has changed to $34.00 dollars. All else will stay the same. Students may go to the website (herffjones.com) to access the picture of the Cap and Gown.
College and Career Planning
Led by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, Learn More Indiana is a partnership of state and local organizations working to help Hoosiers of all ages complete education and training beyond high school. Go to this website and take personality quizzes, research potential careers and educational opportunities, build a resume and more!
Financial Aid Information
https://scholars.in.gov/parents/keep-your-scholar-on-track/
Financial Aid for Seniors
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications are available on October 1, 2019. Stay tuned for information about a FAFSA Completion night at Renaissance when we will go through the application process.
Also, be sure to follow the College and Career Readiness page on twitter for regular updates!
@CCR_WarrenTwp
CORE CORNER --Respect
noun
1.
a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.
"the director had a lot of respect for Douglas as an actor"
2.
due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others.
"young people's lack of respect for their parents"
“Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.”
Bruce Lee
“Men are respectable only as they respect.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Students Showing CORE!
11/1 CORE Buck winners
Amya Corbin- Order
Keyerra Harris- Order
Jaylen Smith- Excellence
Aiyanna King- Order
Caterra Davis- Exellence