Out-of-the-Blue
February 2, 2024 Issue 13 Vol. 4
National School Counseling Week begins on Monday, and we are grateful for the impactful role, service, and support provided by our school guidance counselors, guidance support staff, social worker, and school psychologist to students and staff at every level at TCSC. They help our students prepare for life in diverse ways, including educational or academic planning, social and emotional skills development, and building relationships with parents and teachers. In addition, they are always looking to help students achieve success and meet their goals through partnerships, initiatives, and innovative programs including one at the high school and one at the elementary school we are highlighting in this newsletter.
Our elementary school has just rolled out something cool – a new mentoring program for students in grades K-5. Through collaboration, TES Social worker, Rachele Carter, brought this idea to a reality. Carter said they are always looking for new ways to keep students engaged and supported inside and outside of the classroom. “We think this program is one whose time has come and will definitely be a benefit to our students,” she said. “Mentoring brings another layer of support providing a structured, consistent time, and space to build a relationship,” Carter continued. “Through these caring adult relationships, our goal is to help improve student’s self-esteem and develop positive attitudes about school which will ultimately impact their overall achievement and success.”
Mentoring is proven to be a powerful practice that facilitates learning and growth in students and adults alike. “This is an ideal way to pair members of our community who want to be involved and make a positive impact on our students,” noted Carter, who would love to see every student enjoy the benefits of an adult mentor. “We are really excited about what our mentors can bring to the table in terms of one-on-one support in helping our students maneuver through situations and day-to-day challenges.”
To learn more about how you can make a difference in a child’s life at Tipton Elementary School as part of this new mentoring program, email Carter at rcarter@tcsc.k12.in.us.
Also new in the counseling realm is the Career Exploration Internship Program at Tipton High School. This program connects senior high school students with local businesses for an immersive experience in the workplace.
“The program, under the direction of the high school counselors, was created to 1) help students gain insight about a profession they hope to enter, and 2) stay connected to our community as owners/operators of local business,” explained Christine Nichols, THS Career Counselor. “It is a class where students earn credit by blending assignments with the opportunity to get firsthand experience in the workplace during the school day.”
These types of internships are a win-win for local businesses and students. For students, they gain insight, experience, learn new skills, begin building their professional network, and get a jump start on their career. For businesses, they get exposure to talent early in their career journey and help support the wellbeing of the local community.”
“We decided to participate in the program because we like to give opportunities to kids in our community in any way we can,” said Carly Tilley, Re/MAX Anew Realty Office Manager. “Having a student come into our office teaches them what an office environment looks like, what is involved, and then they can learn some things about real estate as well! Real estate can be confusing and misunderstood by the general population, but being around our agents our intern can pick up some bits and pieces and ask questions along the way. Maybe this will spark their interest toward being a real estate agent themselves!”
THS senior Kaiya Money, who is considering a career in criminal justice, has an internship at the Tipton County Prosecutor’s Office. "At the Prosecutor's Office, I get the opportunity to go watch criminal court proceedings on some days and on others I get to file case reports,” she said. “I love getting the opportunity to work in the office and feel like it is a very valuable experience. I get the opportunity to see how files are reported and all the procedures that go into cases that need to have evidence. It is really cool to see how pre-trial hearings go and the procedures that occur in a courtroom as well. This opportunity gives me some more insight into what I might want to do in the career field of criminal justice."
Local businesses currently sponsoring THS senior interns include: Re/MAX Anew Realty, Hulen Family Dentistry, Hughes Veterinary Clinic, Tipton County Prosecutor's Office, National Guard, DOZ Accounting, and Tipton IU Health Hospital.
Interested? Contact the high school at 756-675-7431 and press #1 for the guidance department if you would like to host a student intern at your business/organization for the next school year.
TES student Elliott Ungersma is pictured with mentor Brian Howell engaging in a game of Connect 4. The fast-paced nature of the game helps improve focus, concentration, problem-solving skills, and build friendships, while having a little fun. Courtesy photo.
Tipton High School senior Kaiya Money is among the first seniors to participate in the new Career Exploration Internship Program that was launched at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. She is pictured with Sara Pearce, an investigator for the Tipton County Prosecutor's Office. Courtesy photo.
Check-out Our Video-Produced by our own Mr. Robertson and THS Publications Class
Click the image to see the video.
TCSC Invites Community to Invest in the Inferno
“The Inferno,” Tipton High School’s landmark gym, is undergoing a long-awaited renovation in
summer of 2024. The Friends of the Inferno group is leading the charge to raise funds through
sponsorships and donations to give the gymnasium a modern look and feel with new paint,
flooring, digital scoreboards, curtain, gym floor planks, and Blue Devil Hall of Fame section to
name a few.
The Inferno, home to Indiana’s only Blue Devils mascot, built in 1961, seats 3,500. It has served
as a symbol of local identity, the focus of hometown pride, and the backdrop for generations of
memories. The upgrades, expected to cost an estimated $450,000, will update the look and feel of the multi-use space with modern amenities and features to best serve players, students, spectators, and the community well into the future.
The Inferno doubles as an educational space by day and an event destination by night. It is a multi-purpose facility that is used as a large classroom, for sports practices, home games and
tournaments, graduation, school-sanctioned events, community gatherings, and as an
emergency shelter. It draws in an estimated 22,000 spectators each year. Beginning in 2024,
The Inferno will host all home boys’ and girls’ basketball games, home volleyball matches, and
IHSAA tournament contests.
All are invited to consider joining this exciting initiative through a number of available
sponsorships or donating toward this effort. Your investment is an investment in students,
faculty, and the community by providing students with a safe and healthy environment to learn
and grow while also serving as a valuable resource for the community.
“Having a modernized gymnasium instills a stronger sense of pride as our student athletes
continue to learn valuable life lessons through competition and sportsmanship,” said Kory
Fernung, THS Athletic Director. “One of our local business partners, Encompass Credit Union,
has taken the lead on this effort by sponsoring the main gym flooring which will be the new
Encompass Court at the Inferno!”
For more information on sponsorship and donor opportunities, contact us at
THSinferno@tcsc.k12.in.us or call Andrea Campbell at (317)385-0872 or Rob Cochrane at
(317)432-6429.
CAMPUS MAP
Calendar of Events
February 5, 2024-Professional Development Day-Students Do Not Attend
February 13, 2024-Monthly School Board Meeting
February 19, 2024-President's Day (School is In Session)
February 22, 2024-IREAD-3 Parent Meeting
March 12, 2024-Monthly Board Meeting