The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/888369
C-6 Wednesday, October 18, 2017 The Press-Dispatch EAST GIBSON NEWS Submit school news: Email: egnews@ pressdispatch.net Deadline: Noon on Friday Wood Memorial WOOD MEMORIAL INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY GRADE On Wednesday, October 4, 2017, the Indiana Depart- ment of Education released the 2017 A – F Account- ability Grades for Indiana Schools. Wood Memori- al High School received a score of "A", representing an improvement of two full let- ter grades. The high school was a "C" school in 2016. Earning the status as an "A" school is certainly a great accomplishment, the result of laser focus on our core mission and values by students, instructors, staff, and parents. In particular, I am pleased for our children and instructors to be recog- nized with such an honor. The improved high school score is a direct result of the modified accountabil- ity formula implemented in the state two years ago. The Growth Domain, which measures student assess- ment growth in year – over – year comparison, provided the high school with a posi- tive impact on its' scorecard. This was the first time that this domain was calculated for Indiana high schools. Another positive impact for Wood Memorial, as well as other high schools in the state, was the deci- sion to provide a grace peri- od around meeting the new federal mandate (Every Stu- dent Succeeds Act) remov- ing the inclusion of gener- al diploma students for a schools graduation rate cal- culation. For this year's ac- countability, the 2016 grad- uation rate data was utilized. Without question, this year's rating provides an in- dication of the impact of our growing focus on provid- ing a rigorous and relevant instructional environment, built on the establishment of positive and effective re- lationships. While taking great pride in our "A" high school it is important to rec- ognize that much work re- mains for all of us, as we con- tinue to work to eliminate mediocrity as a goal for the education of our students. For the educational growth and development of our chil- dren we must settle for noth- ing but greatness. Wood Memorial Junior High School received a "C" accountability score for 2017, a drop from the "B" rating attained in 2016. The drop was directly related to a lower score in the Growth Domain area for our 7th and 8th grade students. This re- sulted in a reduction of 9.3% of the junior high school point total, in year – over – year comparison. WMJHS was only four points away from earning a "B". There is no question we all would have preferred not to have had the drop in our score, however I do believe that we have an opportunity to recover in 2018. I would like to offer some detail on how the state of Indiana grades schools. Taking the junior high school first, the weighted scoring formula looks at performance rate (passing level) and growth rate from the annual ISTEP assess- ment administered during the winter and spring. Each of these areas is weighted at 50 % of the accountabili- ty score. The performance rate is calculated to understand the percentage of students earning a passing score on the ISTEP test, while the growth domain looks at in- dividual student results in a year – over – year manner. For each student earning an improved ISTEP score, their school is assigned growth points, based on an eight tier scoring grid. This grid provides an opportu- nity for a school to earn 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, or 175 points per student. The total growth points are tallied and then averaged against the to- tal number of students par- ticipating in the exam, pro- viding the final growth do- main score. The above calculations are performed for both the math and English testing areas. For 2017 Wood Memo- rial Junior High School re- ceived 58.8 points for their performance domain and 93.4 points for the growth domain. With the weight- ing applied this equaled 29.4 performance points and 46.7 growth points, or 76.1 total points, a C. When looking at the high school calculations there are more segments taken into account to determine the ac- countability grade. Indiana's high schools are scored on performance of the students on the annual assessment, individual student growth in year – over – year compari- son, and around a category titled multiple measures. The performance and growth domain's, for a high school, are calculated in a similar fashion as that dis- cussed previously. Howev- er, their respective weight- ing is different than that of the junior high school. For the 2017 calculations the performance and growth domains were both weight- ed at 20 % of the final score. The multiple measures category was weighted at 60 % of the high school score. This area looks at college and career readiness, grad- uation rate at the 4 year co- hort level, and the 5th year graduation rate improve- ment numbers for each high school. The college and ca- reer readiness portion of the score, where Wood Memori- al earned 100 points, focus- es on students earning dual credits or passing advanced placement exams. Wood Memorial High School's 2017 scoring broke down this way: Performance Domain 9.56 points Growth Domain 20.64 points Multiple Measures 60.90 points Total 91.10 points If anyone is interested in learning more about the Wood Memorial account- ability data for 2017 I would be more than happy to meet and offer additional detail. OPEN OFFICE SESSIONS Once again this year, I will be utilizing a collabo- rative opportunity for all members – students, staff, parents, guardians, and community members – of the Wood Memorial School Community. With this said, I believe to be most effec- tive with the development and growth of our students it is imperative that every stakeholder of Wood Me- morial have an opportuni- ty to collaborate and pro- vide input in any area/as- pect of interest involving our school(s) they may have. Thus, I will conduct monthly "Open Office" ses- sions, focused on providing time for such collaboration to occur. I encourage you to come meet anytime to review items of interest you may have. You may schedule a meeting by calling 812-749 - 4757 and requesting a time. In keeping with the theme of collaboration and com- munication, I want to invite Wood Memorial stakehold- ers to follow the happenings at the junior high and high school by joining us on twit- ter at WMTrojans1. SENIOR PRIDE DAY On Friday, November 3, 2017 our fall Senior Pride Day will be held. A program has been identified for the day that will have our se- nior students certified in CPR, while also receiving personal finance, and per- sonal safety training. More information will be provid- ed as we move closer to No- vember 3. STUDENT 4- YEAR PLANNING Student 4-Year Planning meetings are being held with seniors and juniors during the month. With se- nior meetings wrapping up, Ms. Hill is beginning the discussions with junior stu- dents and parents during the week of October 16, 2017. The reviews are aimed at ensuring a student's ac- ademic plans are aligned with expectations and fu- ture goals. If you have not scheduled a meeting, please feel free to call the high school for an appointment. For individuals visit- ing our high school and/ or our junior high school, you must report directly to the respective office in or- der to be authorized to en- ter the facility. Visitors are required to sign in and be given an authorization card for access to the high school and/or the junior high school. All individuals must be escorted through the fa- cility. Anyone entering our facility must do so through the main high school and main junior high school en- trance, the breezeway en- trance may not be used. IMPORTANT SCHOOL INFORMATION • Information on how to join your respective class Remind and Schoology ac- counts has been posted to the Wood Memorial High School website. The ac- counts have been estab- lished as a communication and collaboration tool by the student services orga- nization. By joining you will be able to receive pertinent information such as, schol- arship opportunities, col- lege admission dates, and much more. Please contact Ms. Hill or Ms. Carlton for assistance. • Look for your oppor- tunity to obtain a "Trojan" check card from German American Bank. Details can be reviewed at the high school website. CALENDAR Tuesday, Oct. 17 Trojan Allies Meeting, 11:31 a.m Athletic Council Organizational Meet- ing, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 Environmental Science Field Trip, 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 Student Advisory Council Meeting 11:31 a.m. Friday, Oct. 20 Football Sectional at Tecumseh, 7 p.m. Halloween Dance, Music Department, 8 p.m.–11 p.m. ADDITIONAL DATES OF NOTE Accuplacer – Part 1, Oct. 2 – Nov. 22 WMHS Athletic Council Meeting, JHS Conference Room, Varsity Coach- es, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. HS Spell Bowl Team Practice, Oct. 19 2017 – 2018 National Honor Society Induction, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. JHS Spell Bowl Team Practice, Oct. 24 Jostens Senior Graduation Order, Oct. 30 Senior Area Spell Bowl, Oct. 30 JHS Spell Bowl Team Practice, Oct. 31 JHS Area Spell Bowl, Nov. 1. Fall Senior Pride Day Nov. 3. Boys Basketball Inter-squad Games, Nov. 4, 2 p.m. Alumni Basketball Game Nov. 4, 6 p.m. Gibson County United Way bringing free libraries for children By Janice Barniak A new initiative will bring in-home, free libraries to children from birth to five years old through Gibson County's United Way this year. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program has been around for more than 20 years, originating out of Parton's hometown of Sevierville, Tenn. The program gives children one free book per month "I have been wanting to bring it to Gibson County for years now, but there just hasn't been that right time," United Way director Jamie Schafer said. She added that there's a need for increas- ing early childhood development in our county, and that children who can read well by the third grade have much better grad- uation rates than those who are not up to speed by that time. This year, the United Way applied for a matching grant to bring the program to go towards the library as part of early child- hood education, and it was approved. "Now we have to raise the money to get the match," Schafer said. "We only get as much as we raise." To do that, United Way's fall campaign will not only raise funds for their agencies, but al- so, any donation of $100 or more will go to- wards the matching grant total. She said that when a person pledges or donates a hundred dollars during the fall campaign, their hundred will still go to fund the agencies, but United Way will be able to consider that money part of the match, which means they'll get an additional hun- dred dollars. That double power matching only counts with donations of $100 or more though or increases from previous years. "Basically that person's gift will be dou- bled," she said. If new companies run employee cam- paigns, the entire campaign will be matched. Companies increasing participation by five percent or more, will have their donation matched up to $15,000. The library funding can be up to $52,000 total. In January, they'll turn in the claim with a hope to launch in the spring. At that point, they'll start signing up chil- dren. Any child, birth through their fifth birth- day, can sign up to receive books, regard- less of income, at an age appropriate level, which means a child could receive up to 60 books in their home. "I've seen the book lists for the past few years and they're awesome books," Schaf- er said. GIBSON COUNTY HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS Owensville's big boo bash set Owensville Merchants Association will host their annual Halloween festival with food served at 5 p.m. Oct. 31, games and prizes continuing until 5:45 p.m. and cos- tume judging set for 6 p.m. at the REH Center. Volunteers are encouraged to call 812- 724-3334 or email Dan Parrish at dan- iel@parrishconsulting.org. Alternately, they can contact or visit Kristy York at town hall with questions and offers of as- sistance. Trunk or Treat Cruise-In, Concert adds walk/run The Southern Indiana Car Club and Downtown Princeton, Inc. present Trunk or Treat Cruise-In and Concert on Sunday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the Square in Downtown Princeton. Kids in costume are invited to visit the cruise-in cars for Trunk or Treating and Uncle Dave will be spin- ning some hauntingly good classic music. The Trunk or Treat Cruise-In will also feature a Color Blast 5K walk/run to ben- efit a variety of charities. Registration for the Color Blast can be made the day of the event or in advance by calling 812-385 - 9121. Groups are welcome to participate. Alex Boxell, organizer of the cruise-in, said, "Prizes will be awarded at 3 p.m. for different car categories and a special $500 club participation prize will also be award- ed. This is Southern Indiana Car Club's last cruise-in event of the year and always brings a lot of people to the square." Food will be available to purchase from the Southern Indiana Car Club grill. Fort Branch adds carving contest to downtown event The Fort Branch Community Pride Hal- loween Festival will be held Oct. 28, from noon to 4 p.m., in downtown Fort Branch. (Rain location will be the Old Gym). There will be a costume contest for all ages, a pet costume contest sponsored by Pet Food Center; a spook house, spon- sored by Hands On Instruction and Gib- son County Ambulance Service; pro- fessional photos sponsored by Natalie Winters Photography; pumpkin canvas painting sponsored by Ruby's Florals and Gifts; hayrides sponsored by Bladerun- ners Mowing; games sponsored by Kap- pa Omegas; cakewalk sponsored by Lee- Andrea's. Food booths will be available and the first 100 kids to the event receive a free goody bag. Bring your specially carved pumpkin to the Pumpkin Carving Contest sponsored by Bush Farms! For more information, call LeeAndrea's at 812-615 -5130. Trick or treat with Waters' residents The Waters of Princeton will host a trick or treat event from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19. Punkin' Trunks event hits Princeton First General Baptist Church will fea- ture Punkin' Trunks from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 20 at First General Baptist Church, 2101 E. Broadway St., Princeton. Spooktacular Saturday at New Lake From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 21, Oak- land City's New Lake will offer their sev- enth-annual Halloween Spooktackular. Bring a flash light and lawn chair! Shepherds open trunks for treats Gentle Shepherd Church of God plans a Trunk or Treat from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 21. No losers or weepers at Finders Keepers Finders Keepers will host their trick or treat at their Princeton location from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 28. Treat trail takes over All Hallows Eve An All Hallows Eve Treat Trail will de- light from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 29, thanks to the Knights of Columbus at their 313 W. Broadway location in Princeton. Candy-filled carnival at car wash From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 29, a Kids' Halloween Carnival will kick off at the Oakland City Car Wash, 532 W. Morton St., Oakland City. Salvation Army plans trick-or-treating From 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31, the Salvation Army in Princeton will host trick-or-treat- ing. GGH offers event A Gibson General Halloween event will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at Gibson General Hospital in Princeton. Corn Maze open in Princeton The Bee-lievers Corn Maze is open every weekend in October on Friday, Sat- urday and Sunday. The last two weekends are haunted. This is the fourth year and organizers say it gets better each year. Hayride to follow after the maze. The event benefits Relay for Life and is at 1000 W. Broadway, next to the CVS. Haubstadt Halloween party planned The annual Haubstadt Halloween Par- ty for kids, hosted by Haubstadt Som- merfest, is Oct. 27. Trick-or-treat is from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the corner of Gibson and Main, in front of the town hall. The costume contest will begin at ap- proximately 6:45 p.m. Categories include prettiest, scariest, funniest, most original and best cartoon character. Treats will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Folks are needed to step up and help with the event, including set up. If anyone would like to volunteer, they can email jer- emy2overton@gmail.com.