ENSC Family Notes
April 13, 2015
Moving Forward with East Noble Middle School
Obviously, the last project was not the public's vision for a middle school. While we may have lost the vote, that doesn't mean the Board has given up. During the May 13 Board meeting, a presentation will given to provide an overview of elements of the next proposed project. A building design will be included along with potential location.
As you know, Board meetings are a business meeting and the opportunity for the public to ask questions is not available. We know you will have questions and have planned a public question and answer meeting to be held on Thursday, May 21 beginning at 6:30 p.m. and held at the East Noble High School auditorium.
We hope families will attend this meeting and provider input on this project.
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All Star of the Week
This week’s All Star of the Week is Jim Swartzlander. Jim has taught band for East Noble Schools for a number of years, and for the last six he has taught sixth grade band at Wayne Center, North Side, and South Side in addition to his classes at the middle school. Jim has a tremendous passion for teaching and that shows in all that he does. He spends countless hours after school helping students prepare for solo and ensemble contest or tutoring those who just need a little extra boost learning how to play their instrument. He does a phenomenal job with the sixth graders who know little about their instruments at the beginning of the year and transforming them in to musicians who can play challenging pieces of music. Jim has high expectations for his students, and they work hard to meet them. He also injects humor into his classes which his students love. East Noble is very fortunate to have Jim on staff, and we honor him as one of East Noble’s All-Stars!
BUILDING NOTES
Wayne Center Elementary
Over spring break many of our visual art and music students were involved in the FAME Festival at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne. The Music Makers choir, led by Kim Mettert, performed on stage Sunday afternoon.
Nearly 100 of Mrs. Mossburg’s and Miss McClarnon’s visual art students had their artwork on display during the two day festival. Several students won special awards. Third grader Matthew McKinley and second grader Emily Schott received special Mayor’s Awards from Ft. Wayne’s Mayor Henry. They have been invited to meet with Mayor Henry at a special reception in their honor. Third grader Landon Krieger won the Teacher’s Choice Award. His artwork along with other Teacher’s Choice winners will be showcased in a special exhibit in the John Weatherhead Gallery at the University of St. Francis in May. Also, six Wayne Center Students were finalists in FAME’s Fusion poster contest. Kayla Desper was the overall Northeast Indiana Fusion winner for sixth grade and Samantha Kelly was first runner-up at the kindergarten level. The Fusion finalists and the overall winners had their work featured as a slide show during the philharmonic concert Sunday afternoon at the festival.
Alternative Learning Center
It was a little tough to get started this week after a nice long break. The students were back in the swing of things by mid week and some credits were earned. We are celebrating this coming week for breaking 50 credits this trimester thus far.
There are only a few weeks left for the school year, so students need to stay focused and finish up class work. We are continuing to push them to keep motivated and earn credits, but we understand it gets tough this time of year.
Being present is the way to earning credits. Attendance is monitored daily and we expect students to be present. Please remember there are limited spots at the ALC and if students aren't attending regularly they could lose their spot.
Avilla Elementary
OUR students returned from the two-week break ready and willing to work hard! Staff members put together some pretty awesome activities to get students back into the school routine! THANK YOU to everyone for a great week! We look forward to more of this as we begin the last leg of a GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.
Students sold cases and cases of cookie dough again this year for OUR annual fundraiser. Students and families took the cookie dough home this week and delivered them. Thank you all so much for participating in this event that benefits ALL OF OUR KIDS.
This Tuesday evening is OUR kindergarten round-up. The evening begins at 6:30 and we cannot wait to welcome all the families to OUR school. OUR new kindergartners get to ride the bus, hear a story in the library, and do some activities in the gym while adults fill out paperwork! A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to Mrs. Flowers and Mrs. Miller for doing all the behind the scenes work for this to take place.
OUR PTO Carnival will be held on Friday, April the 24th. PTO members are preparing for the big event and need your help! If you can help out in any way please contact the school at 897-2301. Thank you to the PTO for all the wonderful things you do for OUR school throughout the year!
Upcoming events in early May: Muffins with Mom on the 5th, Spring Music Program for grades 1, 3 and 5 on the 6th, and Book Buddy Dinner on the 12th.
East Noble High School
March was a big month for the Science Department. East Noble had 6 students qualify for the state science fair at IUPUI. (Rachel Smolinske, Kaelyn Bender, Kyra Warren, Sahil Patel, Zarna Patel and Danielle Replogle). Kaelyn Bender won 2 awards there and Kyra Warren and Zarna Patel earned 1 award each. Not only did we have state qualifiers in science fair, we also had 15 students who earned a spot in the state finals for Science Olympiad. Only 30 schools from the state participated. The top placing team from East Noble was 8th overall, Abbie Peterson and Caleb Henry, for their rubber band powered glider which flew for over 2 minutes!
Along with the student success, Mark Liepe was recently nominated and selected for the George Olmsted, Jr., Class of 1924 Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching. It comes with a $5,000.00 award to ENHS on his behalf, plus an all-expense paid trip to Williams College in Williamstown, MA in June. Mr. Liepe was nominated by Gabe Stephens, a 2011 graduate who excelled in science research competitions. He placed 3rd in environmental science with his research at the International Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose as a junior and was Mr. Science runner up for the state of Indiana as a senior. Gabe is graduating from Williams College in June and will be attending Baylor University to earn his PhD in Neurobiology.
A brief summary of classes in the science department: the Anatomy/Physiology classes are working their way through the Body systems using cats as a model. Students just finished muscle identification and will move on to the cardiovascular system in a couple of weeks. All the Biology classes are working towards their ECA at the end of May. Currently the students are studying genetics and molecular genetics. Form their students will wrap up with evolution topics and ecology. Ecology is studying populations and ecological pyramids by analyzing and creating graphs of data sets. AP Chemistry has their test the first week of May and is currently studying equilibrium reaction kinetics. Other chemistry classes are studying stoichiometry and the concept of the mole. Finally, medical terminology classes are using their knowledge to create videos relating to the digestive system.
East Noble Middle School
The threat of storms or soggy conditions cancelled track, soccer, and golf practices but not the fun, educational activities here at The Middle School last week. In eighth grade, students began their unit on genetics by taking an inventory more than 20 Mendelian traits. Students were surprised to learn that not everyone clasps their hands together the same way, and that it feels odd to it the opposite way. Not everyone was thrilled to find out they could taste PTC paper while some of their classmates could not. In language arts, as part of their Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry projects, most eighth graders choose to be silent for the entire school day on Thursday. Following this sometimes frustrating and difficult day, students who participate wrote about the experience.
Tuesday, Jon Everingham talked to all 8th graders about the opportunities available through the IMPACT Institute. Students saw a short video and then had a chance to ask their questions. Finally, the annual fund raiser “Pennies for Patients” started on Friday. All money raised goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Students donating the most money, will receive a pizza party given by student council.
North Side Elementary
Spring Break gave way to a week of warmer weather and some much sought after outside recess for the North Side Wildcats. Students and staff hit the ground running this week with the final Acuity assessment of the year as the Wildcats head down the final stretch to the last ISTEP test of the year.
Staff focused on helping students get back into daily routines as students lumbered in the door Monday with sleepy eyes but bright smiles. The long break was nice but getting back in the routine was a welcome event for many from the North Side family. Kindergarten students did a particularly nice job getting back in the swing of things.
Rome City Elementary
Rome City Students have a lot of heart! This week in Mrs. Krebs’ PE classes all students celebrated the annual Jump/Hoops for Heart event. Students had fun while elevating their heart rates and developing their cardiovascular fitness by participating in several stations that included: single jump-rope, trick jumps, double Dutch, hoppy-ball races, and knock-out. For the fourth consecutive year Carter and Joey Sorrell collected $1,002 for The American Heart Association. Way to be heart heroes!
First graders planted marigolds for Mother’s Day as a part of their plant unit. Throughout this unit various math, reading, and writing activities will be integrated into the curriculum. Students began documenting the steps in the planting process for their “How To” writings. Students used their rulers to measure 2 inches of dirt. During Tier time, they will learn a new vocabulary word each week related to plants. This week’s word is germination. Each day students check the soil’s moisture and water their plants as needed. They will also track each plant’s growth. This is a fun time in first grade and a great way to demonstrate responsibility.
Congratulations to our favorite “Tech Nerd”, Lance Yoder, for being named Rome City’s Teacher of the Year! Lance is a wonderful asset to our school. He patiently helps students and staff and goes the extra mile to keep technology run smoothly. We are so very lucky to have Lance as our Tech coach!!!
South Side Elementary
At South Side, we have hit the ground running since spring break. Several of our students and staff have been recognized for special honors, and we have a new online newspaper to share with you. Ethan Pelfrey, Jenna Trout, and Maddyson Smith were all honored at the FAME Art Festival at The Grand Wayne Center last week. Their artwork will be displayed at a special upcoming exhibit. Mrs. Tracy Wilhelm was recognized as South Side’s nominee for Teacher of the Year this week. Tracy has taught Kindergarten for 13 years at South Side; she is our Wing Department Chair and leads her colleagues in grades Pre-K through 2 providing support and guidance. Tracy has created a structured, flexible, and fun Kindergarten environment, meeting every student where they are and focusing on giving each child what they need to grow. Our students thrive under Tracy’s clear direction and support. Congratulations, Mrs. Wilhelm!
The South Side Scoop has gone online and is now South Side Elementary’s first ever student-written on-line newspaper! Check it out: http://southsidescoop.weebly.com/
Our grade level update this week is from 3rd grade: In science, third grade students are learning the parts of the plant and how each one supports the plant’s growth. The first week we looked at the layers of the soil and created some edible dirt. The second week, students diagramed and labeled all parts of the plant. Thirdly, we dissected a lima bean and located its coat, cotyledon, embryo, and leaves inside the seed. Our students also started their latest narrative study by creating fairy tale adaptations following the Lucy Caulkins units of study. Students were introduced to this genre by reading various fairy tales on Big Universe, watching YouTube videos, and read-alouds.
East Noble School Corporation
Email: alinson@eastnoble.net
Website: www.eastnoble.net
Location: 126 West Rush, Kendallville, IN 46755
Phone: 260-347-2502
Facebook: facebook.com/eastnoble
Twitter: @ENobleSchCorp