LT Inside Out 10 2017

A Message from the Superintendent

OCTOBER 2017

Dear Lawrence Faculty & Community Members, We had a superior start to the school year this year! During my visit to each school in our district, I was filled with the positive energy and commitment from all faculty members. We have an opportunity to impact our community by developing the future. Children need committed adults who will guide and teach them. Students seek us as role models everyday. As I visited each building, we shared four key points: 1. Rigor Follow Dr. Smith on Twitter 2. Excellent Experiences 3. Love and Care for all students 4. Attitude – “We must BELIEVE in our Students” We are going to have an incredible year of success because of each and every faculty members’ focus on these key points. As Superintendent, I am so proud of our faculty members, working hard to make a difference in the lives of our children.

The Board of Education approved the Goals for the 2017-2018 school year. They are as follows: 1.

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The letter grade for the MSD of Lawrence Township as assigned by the Indiana Department of Education shall be a B or higher.

The letter grade for each school within the MSD of Lawrence Township as assigned by the Indiana Department of Education shall be a C or higher.

For elementary and middle schools, the letter grades will be based upon pass rates, growth, and attendance.

For high schools, the letter grades will be based upon pass rates, growth, and multiple measures including 4-year graduation rate, 5-year graduation rate improvement, AP pass rates, IB pass rates, number of dual-credits earned, and number of industry certifications earned.

The graduation rates for Lawrence Central High School and Lawrence North High School shall be no lower than 90%.

The achievement gap will decrease between all ESSA identified subgroups with a special emphasis regarding race and socioeconomic status.

Maintain a strong fiscal outlook for the district including a $10 million cash balance.

Sincerely,

Dr. Shawn A. Smith Superintendent of Schools

The District of Destination MSD of Lawrence Township

Lawrence Education and Community Center 6501 Sunnyside Road Indianapolis, IN 46236 317-423-8200 Visit us on the web at www.LTschools.org

The MSD of Lawrence Township Receives $1.5M Lilly Grant The MSD of Lawrence Township has received a grant for $1,527,400 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help implement strategies to strengthen school counseling programs for our students.

Schools in 30 of Indiana’s 92 counties will benefit from the grants, part of the Lilly Endowment’s Comprehensive Counseling Initiative for Indiana K-12 students. The grant money will be used to launch a variety of student services and counseling efforts.

“This grant dovetails beautifully with our Strategic Plan, emphasizing an enhanced system of care,” shares superintendent, Dr. Shawn A. Smith. “Providing students with access to a comprehensive network of advisors and mentors, in collaboration with community resources, helps to ensure the social and emotional wellness of all students.”

Click here to read the entire Press Release

Profiles of Excellence Patricia Gerber Director of Grants & Programs, Ms. Patricia Gerber, is an Indiana native and graduate of Zionsville High School. She attended Purdue University for her undergraduate degree and Butler University for her Masters. Her career began in Indianapolis Public Schools prior to moving to Lawrence Township in 1985, where she spent the next seventeen years at Brook Park Elementary. After her time at Brook Park, she moved to central office, servings as Coordinator of High Ability, Magnet Schools, and Director of Program Analysis. In her current role, Ms. Gerber has facilitated opportunities providing millions of dollars in grant money to the district, most recently a $1.5M grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. aimed at supporting school counseling programs. Grant dollars awarded have supported great programs for students at all levels and in all buildings. She has three adult children, Alexa (29), Zac (26), and Kenzie (22), is an avid reader, loves scary movies, and prioritizes family above all else.

Lori Kirkland Meet Lori Kirkland! A graduate of IUPUI, Lori had been a classroom teacher at Crestview and Harrison Hill elementaries as well as a Reading Recovery teacher, interventionist and academic coach. She currently teaches third grade at Harrison Hill. Ms. Kirkland LOVES reading and spending time with family and friends. When not at school, she can be found cheering on the LC Ladies Volleyball team (her daughter is on the JV squad) or Harrison Hill’s Up and Running club. When basketball season starts, she will be there cheering on the 6th grade boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. She feels very fortunate to have long-lasting friendships with many of her students and their families. The mutual respect has been an important factor in motivating her students to work hard and understand that they can overcome any obstacles. It is important that all her kids (her own children included) be considerate, confident, fun-loving members of society who aren’t afraid to take on any challenge. Ms. Kirkland tries to do that by creating a learning environment that she would want for her own children. Her wish for all her students is that they leave her class knowing that their super powers are: compassion, perseverance, hard work and...JOY!

Profiles of Excellence

Luis Oliva Forest Glen Latino Dance and Drama teacher Luis Oliva is regarded as one of Latin America's greatest pantomimes. Oliva is an accomplished actor who has worked in television comedies and theatrical shows in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Europe. He studied pantomime with Etienne Decroux, teacher of the recognized mime Marcel Marceau and had the opportunity to act together with Marceau. Perhaps his most notable role was that of Juan Bobo, a beloved Puerto Rican folkloric character. Oliva’s passion for his craft is evident at Forest Glen. He was recognized as the Forest Glen 2017 Classified Staff Person of the Year and Principal Omar Lahlou had this to say: “Luis Oliva lives what he teaches.

Drama, acting and art are parts of his life. He puts everything into each of his students and strives to make his class fun, interactive, meaningful and engaging. Where else can students learn to be a mime, walk on stilts, or dress up as a dragon? “ Oliva majored in Drama at the Universidad de Puerto Rico. Oliva is also involved in the Arts For Lawrence and is directing and producing The Old Man and the Sea, Based on the novel written by Ernest Hemingway. Through music, mime and puppetry, the audience will be taken through the trials, tribulations and triumph the "old man" faced. Several Forest Glen students are involved in the production, which will be performed at the Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Avenue, November 18, 19, 24, 25.

Mary Buckalew Mary Buckalew has served the MSD of Lawrence Township as a music teacher at Amy Beverland Elementary since August of 2005. She is a native of Kokomo, Indiana and a graduate of Ball State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental and General Music. While at Ball State, she was the recipient of the “Outstanding Future Music Educator Award.” Most recently, she became the first recipient of the Susan Jordan Excellence in Education Scholarship through the Lawrence Township School Foundation. She plans to use this scholarship to support her enrollment in a Dalcroze Eurhythmics class at Anderson University in the summer of 2018.

Mary (center) poses below with Cori Korn, Executive Director of the LT School Foundation and Lisa Jordan Jankowski, daughter of Susan Jordan.

National Merit Semifinalists Announced It is with great pleasure that we announce that the MSD of Lawrence Township has three National Merit Semifinalists this year who have been selected to move on in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Brianna McMonagle

Peter Chung

Cameron Rostron

Lawrence Central

Lawrence Central

Lawrence North

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition for recognition and scholarships that is open to all U.S. high school students who meet the published entry requirements. The program is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a not-for-profit organization established in 1955 that operates without government assistance. Semifinalists named in each year’s Merit Scholarship competition show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Those who meet the requirements to advance to the Finalist level compete for National Merit Scholarships supported by independent sponsor organizations and by NMSC’s own funds. Currently, about half of the Finalists are chosen as award recipients and honored as Merit Scholar designees.

Two LT Educators Named to Bands of America Hall of Fame Music for All is pleased to announce that two LT educators are among the 2018 inductees into its Bands of America Hall of Fame: Matt James, Lawrence Central Director of Performing Arts and Randy Greenwell, recently retired from Lawrence Central.

Music for All’s Bands of America Hall of Fame members have made a significant impact on Bands of America, music education, and America’s band activity, represent impeccable character, ethics and professionalism; and are role models for music education professionals.

Click here to read the entire press release.

Matt James

Randy Greenwell

Congratulations to the Marching Pride of Lawrence Township and good luck as the advance to the ISSMA semi-state competition at 3:00 pm on October 28 at Ben Davis High School!

MPLT finished 11th out of 68 bands at the Bands of America Super Regional on Saturday, October 21st.

Serving the district for twenty plus years, the Forest Glen Elementary Immersion program is a national leader in bilingual education. Its popularity has “STEMmed� the expansion of the program to Skiles Test Elementary. While keeping their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focus, Skiles Test will be adding Immersion in Kindergarten and Grade One. The early application process for the 2018-2019 school year for these programs will run from November 15 th through December 1st, 2017. If there are more applicants than seats, the computerized admittance process (CAP) will be run.

Unique to the Skiles Test expansion is the blending of the immersion program with the current stateaccredited STEM program. Not only will students receive core instruction in Spanish, but they will continue existing STEM programming, including the engineering design process, robotics, coding, and environmental science.

Informational meetings for the new program at Skiles Test will be held on October 23 rd and November 13th between 6:30-7:30 PM. Families are encouraged to apply early for this popular program the 2018-2019 school year.

Call 317-423-8327 or visit LTschools.org/Immersion for additional information and to complete the Early Enrollment application for Kindergarten and First Grade at both Skiles Test and Forest Glen.

Forest Glen fourth, fifth and sixth grade students were honored to have the Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel visit today. He is a native Hoosier and spent the morning talking to students and staff. He brought a message of believing in yourself, choosing positive role models and friends, and most of all working hard!

On September 28th and 29th over 1250 students from Belzer and Fall Creek Valley Middle Schools took park in the Junior Achievement Job Spark initiative at the Indiana State Fair Grounds. The Job Spark event brings together educators, students and industry leaders throughout the Indianapolis area, filling the Fairgrounds with hands-on learning experiences designed to align with what industry will need from its employees in the future. When a student has a real idea of what they want to do after high school, they are much more likely to stay in school and graduate.

Click to learn more.

Blue Ribbon Facilities Plan Our Blue Ribbon Facilities Plan continues! Work has wrapped up at the McKenzie Center for Innovation & Technology, marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 5th.

The renovations included: 

Renovate classrooms, carpet and paint

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HVAC/boiler upgrades

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Expansion of the cosmetology room, additional storage, patron restroom and secure entrance to Bernie’s Place

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Site upgrades

Also beginning in summer of 2017 is extensive work at Indian Creek, Skiles Test and Harrison Hill Elementary Schools, exterior athletic upgrades to Belzer Middle School, and a full renovation the Lawrence Central auditorium.

Click here for the update to the Board at the September 25 BOE meeting Construction on Indian Creek, Skiles Test and Harrison Hill continues as noted here:

Indian Creek Elementary

Skiles Test Elementary

Harrison Hill Elementary

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MSDLT Celebration Snapshot Click here for the Celebration Snapshot for September 2017

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.”

September 25, 2017 Board of Education meeting recognitions

Lawrence Live!

In this edition of Lawrence Live, Dr. Smith introduces listeners to our 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Margaret Manuzzi and our Administrator of the Year, Mr. Brett Crousore, and also two student leaders from the LC Bears and LN Wildcats football teams. We invite you to listen in.

Video Recording by Communication Studies Students at Crestview Elementary. Editing by Mr. Randy Tomes, Communication Studies Teacher, Crestview Elementary.

Parent Engagement Series #1: Evening With The Superintendent Dr. Shawn Smith, shown seated on the right above, talks with Tom Britt moderator for the evening and publisher of the Towne Post Network, Inc. The event was also available to patrons and community members via Facebook Live.

Mark your calendar for these upcoming Parent Engagement presentations: 

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About High School - November 1 at 6:30 pm at Lawrence Central High School. Please join us for a panel discussion with our high school principals and leaders as we explore everything our high schools have to offer. Childcare, Spanish and ASL translation available.

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Getting the Most out of Middle School - February 21 at 6:30 pm at Fall Creek Valley Middle School

High School Open Houses

Thank you to everyone in the community who came out on Friday, September 29th to support our efforts to aid those in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey. We collected 17 palettes of packaged food items, hygiene and baby needs. LT Schools partnered with Spot Inc. who provided a truck and driver to see that the items were safely delivered to the Southeast Texas Food Bank, serving Orange, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Texas and the surrounding area.

In conjunction with this drive, funds were also collected for United Way to assist all hurricane victims. Karen McGaha, Southeast Texas Food Bank Bookkeeper/Temp. Coordinator expressed thanks, “You guys are the bright spot in the world today. There’s still phenomenal goodness all around!”

Delon Pettiford, Lawrence Central graduate, loads the truck and prepares for the trip to Texas!

In addition, students at Sunnyside Elementary collected 6 skids of food and supplies for the Sunnyside neighborhood in Houston and proceeds from their Fall Fiesta on October 20th went to support relief efforts in both Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The LT Schools community continues to serve by launching their annual United Way campaign to benefit the United Way of Central Indiana.

The campaign runs October 23rd through November 17th.

Fall Creek Valley Middle School Teachers To Present at National Conference Jason Williams and Josh Quinn, Project Lead the Way teachers at Fall Creek Valley Middle School, have been selected to present at the national Project Lead The Way (PLTW) conference , PLTW Summit 2017, in Orlando this month.

PLTW Summit 2017 is the premier gathering for a group dedicated to preparing students with the indemand and transportable skills they need to succeed in college and careers.

Mr. Williams and Mr. Quinn will be presenting on Engineering Character, Leadership, & Creativity in the PLTW Classroom. They have built a nationally recognized STEM program at Fall Creek Valley. At the core of their program is a symbiotic blend of both Engineering and Character development. Specifically, three character traits are targeted when designing their project based curriculum; integrity, empathy and persistence/grit.

Click here to learn more and read the entire press release.

Josh Quinn

Jason Williams

Congratulations to Lawrence North Sectional Champions

Boys Tennis

Girls Soccer In addition, Caroline Salvas, qualified for regionals in Girls Golf and Grace Dean, Maddie Loughery, Nick Petroy, and Matt Reid advanced to semi-state in cross country.

Volleyball Congratulations to the following Lawrence Central students on being awarded scholarships – this is just the beginning of more scholarships to come for our students: Branson Deen, Purdue Univeristy and Cameron McGrone, University of Michigan Branson Deen

Cameron McGrone

The Lawrence Township School Foundation had a total of 550 Up & Running Club students who participated in the October 7th race! Thank you goes out to all the mentors, Beyond Monumental & Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben for your support of MSD of Lawrence Township students!

LT School Foundation News Lawrence Township School Foundation Executive Director, Cori Korn, lead a Foundation Forum, How Education Foundations are Stepping Up to Support Their School Districts, at the fall Indiana School Board Association conference. Education foundations play an important role in helping with teacher grants, scholarships, and field trips as well as creating success stories that have a larger impact within the school district.

Save the Date! “Light Their Future” Celebration—Friday, March 9, 2018 Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers who participated in Indy Do Day 2017!

Board of Education News Go to BoardDocs to access board meeting agendas and minutes.

The Board of Education will meet on October 30 2017 at 7:00 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.

Fall Plays Lawrence Central High School, 7300 East 56th Street Up The Down Staircase—November 9, 10, 11 Lawrence North High School, 7802 Hague Road Footloose—November 10, 11 Arts for Lawrence—Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Avenue The Old Man and the Sea—November 18, 19, 24, 25 Visit our website for details and a complete list of fall band, orchestra, and choir concerts.

Bus Drivers Needed Are you interested in a part-time opportunity that would give you holidays off, paid training and variety to your day? The MSD of Lawrence Township is hiring bus drivers! We offer fully paid training, a flexible schedule and competitive pay.

Contracted drivers earn over $100 per day!

If you love children, enjoy a flexible schedule & want to join a student-focused, safety-oriented team, click here to apply today!

Food Service New this year on our schools’ breakfast menu are homemade smoothies and parfaits, both student favorites! Students who eat breakfast are less likely to overeat, exhibit fewer behavior problems and more likely to perform well in school.

Sixth Grade Wrestling and Swimming Call-Out Sixth graders may participate in wrestling and swimming/diving at the middle school they will attend.

After-school transportation is provided. Watch the website for details.

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.

Visit the Market at Hague every Saturday through October 9:00 am—1:00 in October Lawrence North High School, 7802 Hague Road Dress up and bring the whole family to a haunted hunt at the Market at Hague on Saturday, October 28th from 9am-1pm. This event includes booth trick or treating, free pumpkin decorating, great food and so much more!