MAY 2018
Dear Lawrence Township Faculty & Community Members: May has been a month of celebrations. I have had the privilege of attending numerous events over the past month and a half recognizing the many accomplishments of students across the district, namely our seniors. The ongoing support I have seen from parents and staff that has led our students to this point in their academic careers is incredible. Here are a few achievements of members of the Class of 2018: Follow Dr. Smith on Twitter
To date, Lawrence Central and Lawrence North students in the Class of 2018 have been awarded approximately $38,234,052 in scholarships Three National Merit Finalists/Scholars 397 National Certifications earned through McKenzie Center for Innovation & Technology 44 NCAA college commitments The state champion Lawrence Township Winter Percussion ensemble A football USA Army All-American Bowl team member The Lawrence Central Wind Ensemble brought home third place at the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) finals Under senior leadership, Lawrence Central and Lawrence North raised a combined $28,062.37 at their Riley Dance Marathons.
On April 16, 2018, our Top 30 seniors from Lawrence Central and Lawrence North High Class of 2018 were featured in a full-page ad in the main section of the Indianapolis Star. These students were also honored at two annual banquets, where they brought their family as well as their identified Honored Educator. Reflections shared by students to their teachers elicited both laughter and tears. Their words further affirmed the difference that teachers make in the lives of students. Follow this link to view the Top 30 students from Lawrence Central and Lawrence North. Their honored educators are also included. Please be sure to celebrate those students and educators honored this school year. Sincerely,
Dr. Shawn A. Smith Superintendent of Schools
The District of Destination MSD of Lawrence Township
Lawrence Education and Community Center Dr. Shawn A. Smith, Superintendent 6501 Sunnyside Road Indianapolis, IN 46236 317-423-8200 Visit us on the web at www.LTschools.org
MSDLT Music Education Program Receives National Recognition The MSD of Lawrence Township has been honored once again with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. Learn more.
Digital Learning for Elementary Students The Elementary digital learning environment is changing! In the upcoming school year our students will have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of new hardware and software. Click here to learn about the tools and devices that will be available to our students.
Lawrence Central and Lawrence North High Schools Graduation The Lawrence Central High School graduation will take place at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St on June 7 at 7:00 pm.
Click to watch the 2018 Lawrence Central Graduation Live Stream
The Lawrence North High School graduation will take place at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St on June 6 at 7:00 pm.
Click here to watch the 2018 Lawrence North Graduation Live Stream
English Learner and Dual Language Family Celebration and Showcase A district wide English Learner (EL) and Dual Language (DL) Family Celebration and Showcase was held to showcase all of the opportunities and program offerings that are available to EL and DL children Kindergarten through 12th grade in Lawrence Township schools. Some schools showcased the talent of their EL students through art, others chose dance, and others music. High school students shared the advantages of being involved in their school’s Latino Clubs; The Dream Team at LN or LC Latinos at LC, as well as the Latino STEM Club and the DACA Advocacy Club that has been developed through our partnership with La Plaza. The Indianapolis Public Library, The Immigrant Welcome Center, and La Plaza also had tables at the event to share with students and families about their summer programs and services. Food services provided the meal and our very own Lawrence Township graduate, Juan Pablo Hernandez, or DJ Chroma, provided our entertainment for the evening. It was a wonderful evening!
Susan Jordan Summer Reading Challenge What is the Susan Jordan Summer Reading Challenge? A reading competition between ALL elementary schools in Lawrence Township.
Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Graders have a goal of 240 minutes each month. (at least 20 minutes a day, three days a week) 3rd, 4thand 5th graders have a goal of 480 minutes each month. (at least 30 minutes a day, four times a week)
All students must respond to at least two books. (see response sheet linked below) Reading Response Sheet for Grades K, 1 & 2 English Reading Response Sheet for Grades K, 1 & 2 Spanish Reading Response Sheet for Grades 3 - 5 English Reading Response Sheet for Grades 3 - 5 Spanish All students must complete the June and July reading log (linked below) with a parent/guardian signature. Reading Log for Grades K, 1 & 2 English Reading Log for Grades K, 1 & 2 Spanish
Reading Log for Grades 3 - 5 English Reading Log for Grades 3 - 5 Spanish
How can I earn minutes?
Lexia (must be done in addition to reading books) Raz-Kids Books you have at home Books from the public library (INDYPL) Overdrive (INDYPL)
Reward: The reading log and response sheet must be signed by a parent and approved by a teacher. If those are turned in by August 4th, you will be invited to an ice cream party held at the school. The top three readers from each 2018-2019 grade group (1-2,3-4,5-6) will be chosen from each school to represent that school at a Readers Are Leaders luncheon with their principal. If possible, Dr. Smith will acknowledge these students as he visits their school. The top three readers from each 2018-2019 grade group (1-2, 3-4, 5-6) from across the district will be recognized by Dr. Smith at a School Board meeting and have their names added to the Readers Are Leaders trophy to be displayed at their school. When is it due? August 3 – Turn in your signed reading logs to your school teacher or principal.
The first day of school for the 2018—2019 school year is Thursday, August 2. Students new to Lawrence Township schools can enroll at the Welcome Center, 6501 Sunnyside Road, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Click here to visit our Enrollment webpage for details and a complete list of documents necessary to enroll. 2018 - 2019 School Year Calendar
LECC & Welcome Center Summer Hours LECC Summer Hours Summer hours for the Lawrence Education and Community Center are 7:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday. LECC will be closed to the public Fridays, June 8 through July 13. (June 8,15, 22, 29, July 6, 13) We will also be closed Wednesday, July 4. Welcome Center Summer Hours Welcome Center Summer hours are 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday. The Welcome Center will be closed to the public Fridays, June 8 through July 13. (June 8,15, 22, 29, July 6, 13). We will also be closed June 11, 12, and 13 and Wednesday, July 4. Extended hours for the Welcome Center are 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays starting July 10th. (July 10, 12, 7, 19, 24, 26, 31, and Aug 2)
There is a wide range of summer camps and opportunities for students this summer both in our schools and in the Lawrence Community. Click here to check out our Community Activities page, or follow us on your favorite social media platform all summer so you don’t miss a thing!
Crestview Principal and McKenzie Director to Retire Dr. Smith (center) congratulates Mrs. Kim Brown, principal of Crestview Elementary and Mr. Frank Svarczkopf, director of the McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology, on their upcoming retirement, effective July 1. Mrs. Brown has 30 years of service in the district and Mr. Svarczkopf has 34. All of our 2018 retirees were honored recently at our annual retirement celebration.
Our annual retirement dinner was held on May 17th at the Hillcrest Country Club. Click here for a list of all of our 2018 retirees as of May 17. Congratulations to all!
MSDLT Celebration Snapshot Celebration Snapshot for May 2018
Board of Education Recognitions—Celebrating Excellence Each month the Board of Education recognizes individuals and groups for outstanding achievement and for going “Above and Beyond.” May 14, 2018 Board of Education meeting recognitions April 30, 2018 Board of Education meeting recognitions.
Lawrence Live!
In this edition of Lawrence Live, Dr. Smith chats with Lawrence Central senior football player, Cameron McGrone, about his experiences and the work ethic necessary to succeed. We also meet Mr. Troy Knoderer, Director of Curriculum, Instructional Programs, and Professional Development. We invite you to listen in to learn more about spring ISTEP testing and upcoming initiatives in the classroom. Video Recording by Communication Studies Students at Crestview Elementary. Editing by Mr. Randy Tomes, Communication Studies Teacher, Crestview Elementary.
Teacher Leadership Academy (TLA) Congratulations to the 2017-2018 Teacher Leadership Academy (TLA) cohort!
Blue Ribbon Facilities Project Updates Our Blue Ribbon Facilities work continues, with the Board of Education approving the 2019 renovations of both Amy Beverland and Sunnyside Elementary Schools. Work continues at Indian Creek Elementary (IC), Skiles Test Elementary (ST), and Harrison Hill Elementary (HH), and will be completed by the start of the 2018 -2019 school year.
At both Lawrence Central (LC) and Lawrence North (LN) High Schools, complete renovations of both auditoriums are underway with anticipated completion this summer. Also approved by the Board of Education for completion in 2019 are new softball stadiums at both high schools. Renderings of both auditoriums can be viewed below: Lawrence Central High School
Lawrence North High School
The Blue Ribbon Plan came to fruition five years ago, as the district reviewed and analyzed both the current state of its facilities, as well as its growth. The MSD of Lawrence Township has grown by over 1,200 students in the past four years. This growth has led to an influx of dollars from the state that have been used to support our schools. Growth, along with responsible fiscal oversight, have resulted in four consecutive years of raises for our staff. Visit our website for more information about the Blue Ribbon Facilities Plan.
Return to Neighborhood School If you wish to transfer your elementary student from his/her current elementary school to his/her neighborhood elementary school, please complete the application below by June 8 th. Once the application has been verified and confirmed, you will receive an email regarding the transfer. Return to neighborhood school
Preschool and Kindergarten Enrollment Preschool and kindergarten enrollment for the 2018-2019 school year is now underway. Please call the Office of Early Childhood Education at 317-423-8363 for information. Or, click here to provide some brief information and we will contact you within 3 business days of your inquiry.
New Families-Click here to visit Skyward to create an account and begin the enrollment process. Families that already have a Lawrence Township Skyward Username and need to enroll a new student for the 2017-2018 school year can enroll by clicking here to go to the skyward website and completing the enrollment online.
Before and After School Childcare for the 2018-2019 School Year Enrollment is now underway for before and after school childcare for the 2018 - 2019 school year. Childcare is available for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Our program is a state licensed child care facility, and a CCDF provider. Rates are subject to change: AM Only ($25*/week) 6:30 - 7:30 am PM Only ($65*/week) 2:30 - 6:00 pm Both AM and PM ($70*/week) 6:30 - 7:30 am , 2:30 - 6:00 pm Click here to enroll online. Scenes From the Early Learning Center @ Amy Beverland Sixth Annual Color Run
Belzer Band Recipient of Indiana State School Music Association All-Music Award The Belzer band has been named a recipient of the Indiana State School Music Association All-Music Award for the 2017-2018 school year. Congratulations to the talented young musicians and the Belzer music staff for the outstanding musical accomplishments. The ISSMA is presenting the band with a special banner to display in recognition of this outstanding achievement. Click here to learn more.
Jack Keefer Day in Lawrence City-County Councilman Mike McQuillen was on hand at Lawrence North High School to proclaim May second Coach Jack Keefer Day in Lawrence Township! Coach Keefer, the only basketball coach in the school history celebrated his 700th win this season!
Pictured left to right below: Mike Penrose, LN Athletic Director; Coach Keefer; Mike McQuillen, City-County Councilman; Dr. Shawn A. Smith, Superintendent; Brett Crousore, LN Principal
Bears and Wildcats Faceoff at Victory Field The Lawrence Central and Lawrence North baseball teams had the opportunity to play at Victory Field, where they faced off against each other in the LT Victory Field Classic on Friday, April 27. The Lawrence North Wildcats came out on top, with a 4-0 win over the Bears.
Crown Mentoring at Brook Park Elementary Pastor Reynolds from Crown Mentoring addresses student participants at Brook Park Elementary and thanks them for a fantastic year of programming! Click here to see the RTV-6 feature.
Forest Glen Elementary Recognized by Conexus Indiana Forest Glen Elementary was recognized by Conexus Indiana for their strong attendance at the Indiana Pacers 2018 STEM fest. The school was presented with a $2,000 in support of STEM programming.
Meet Lawrence North Softball Phenom Taylor Erschen Taylor Erschen is rewriting the softball record books at Lawrence North. She is hitting .529 with 13 home runs and 32 RBIs, she has struck out only one time this season in 88 plate appearances, and as a sophomore, is already being recruited by some of the top college teams in the Midwest.
Click here to learn about how Erschen’s arrival has sparked a revival in Lawrence North’s softball program.
Amy Beverland Takes First Place In Math Pentathlon Competition Amy Beverland has won the 2018 First Place Gold National Math Pentathlon Team Trophy for the IndianaOhio Math Pentathlon National Center. The 2018 National Mathematics Pentathlon Tournament Center in Indiana/Ohio had over 70 participating schools with over 1600 participating students.
Sixth Grade District Science Fair Winners Congratulations to the sixth grades winners of out district Science Fair! Pictured with Dr. Smith are students from Amy Beverland, Crestview, Forest Glen, Mary Castle, and Skiles Test Elementary Schools
LC Wind Ensemble Places Third Lawrence Central students Devin McDuffy and David O’Neill show off the hardware the LC Wind Ensemble brought home from the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) finals on Saturday, May 5th.
Harrison Hills Reaps Benefits from Jump IN for Healthy Kids Thanks to a grant from the United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI), Harrison Hill students and their families are able to participate in Jump IN for Healthy Kids, a UWCI program that focuses on reducing and preventing childhood obesity in Central Indiana. The driver of this engagement is Neal Gore, the school’s Community Liaison. Neal, whose wife is a teacher at Harrison Hill, joined the staff four years ago, when the school was applying for a UWCI Student Success grant to model the school as a “community school.” When the school got the grant, Neal joined the staff to implement it. It’s now one year past the end of the grant, and Neal has worked hard to make the concept self-sustaining. Click here to learn more about Harrison Hill and Jump IN for Healthy Kids.
Fall Creek Valley Gearcats Robotics Team Competes at World Competition Fall Creek Valley Middle School Gearcats Robotics Team competed at the World Competition in Louisville, Kentucky. They were 24,000 teams worldwide with 394 in the middle school division at Worlds. FCV performed in the top 60 in their division.
Lawrence North Students Perform in Chicago Lawrence North students Caleb Vaughn and Simone Bryant, under the direction of Social Studies teacher Rachel Couch, created an original rap which they were invited to perform prior to the performance of the play Hamilton in Chicago. The students got to meet Lin Manual Miranda, the creator, writer and star of the original cast. In addition they got to stay for a discussion and Q and A with Lin Manual, the producer of Hamilton and Lin Manual's father who heads up the Hamilton education program. Lin Manual then thanked the students and gave them a signed copy of the Hamilton play bill. The background track is original and they recorded it at a studio and then wrote a song envisioning Ben Franklin and Alexander Hamilton at the Constitutional Convention. Click here to watch.
LN student, Caleb Vaughn; Lin Manual Miranda; LN student, Simone Bryant
McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology Highlights 2017—2018 Achievements McKenzie Center for Innovation & Technology is proud to celebrate the following non program-specific accomplishments during the 2017-2018 school year: Passed all Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) CORE Indicators Completed of the first year of the Vincennes Early College Project Recognized by SME as a PRIME Partner Honored by Project Lead the Way (PLTW) as an Innovation Zone Recognized by IDOE as an Indiana STEM Certified School Identified as a CompTIA Authorized Academy Celebrated the grand opening of the new Studio 75 & Bernie's Place Restaurant 397 National Certifications Earned Over 4,000 dual credits awarded with partner schools, Ivy Tech & Vincennes University Pictured below, McKenzie teachers, administrators and invited guests celebrate at their end-of-year Advisory Banquet
Fore the Kids Golf Outing Registration is now open for The Fore the Kids Golf Outing which will take place on June 4, 2018 at Old Oakland Golf Club. Entry fee includes green fees, cart rental, continental breakfast, driving range practice, and lunch. The 18-hole round will be played as a Florida Scramble with a shotgun start. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 teams, closest-to-thepin, and longest-drive winners. Register Online Paper Registration Sponsorship Opportunities
Operation: Celebration! A record breaking $112,000 was raised during the Light Their Future Celebration this year. Thank you to everyone who participated and made the MISSION POSSIBLE!
Board of Education News Go to BoardDocs to access board meeting agendas and minutes. The Board of Education will meet on June 11 at 5:30 pm at the Lawrence Education and Community Center, 6501 Sunnyside Road. Click here for a complete listing of Board of Education Meetings and Work Sessions. Information from current and past School Board meetings can be found at our MSDLT public BoardDocs site below.
Audio Recordings from regular Board of Education meetings are available in BoardDocs, however, for easy access, they can also be found on their own webpage. From the School Board section of the website, just click on the link to Board Meeting Audio on the left side of the page. Click here to access the Board Meeting Audio Recording webpage.
Food Service Students at skiles Test and Brook Park Elementaries are both fortunate to have teaching gardens on their grounds. Produce grown is served right in their own cafeterias!
Skiles Test at Camp Belzer Skiles Test students had the opportunity to take part in an outdoor learning experience at Camp Belzer. Pictured in the back row with the students are assistant principal, Natalie Schneider and Principal Dr. Justin Hunter.
For more MSDLT News: Be a Fan on Facebook, Follow Dr. Smith on Twitter Follow MSDLT on Twitter Follow MSDLT Human Resources on Twitter Stay in touch with LT School Foundation MSDLT Social Media Directory Check out our Blog! Follow us on Instagram! Watch Lawrence Live! On YouTube!
Check out the Community Opportunities and Information page on our website for a list of local cultural and civic events, scouting opportunities, academic opportunities, youth sports teams and camps, and music and performing arts classes. The Lawrence Township Schools post this information as a community service. We do not necessarily endorse any of the programs, services, events listed. Bookmark this site and visit it often to get the latest news! Visit our Community Opportunities and Information webpage to learn more.
LT Inside Out is our electronic newsletter designed to share information about our school district with parents, community members, and stakeholders. Parents who have registered their email in Skyward will be included in our electronic mailing. We are working to build an email list of community members and friends of MSDLT. Interested parties can sign up by going to our homepage, https://www.LTschools.org. Click on List Serves on the right side of the screen and select LT Inside Out. Or click here to go directly to the listserve webpage. Before printing this newsletter, please think green and conserve paper.