ISTEP+ Results for Spring 2010

On Wednesday, June 16, 2010, the Indiana Department of Education released the Spring 2010 ISTEP+ results. Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett said that "81 percent percent of public schools increased the percentage of students passing both the English/language arts and Mathematics portions of the ISTEP+." Wawasee Community School Corporation and its schools are a part of that 81 percent.

As a corporation, we are generally pleased with the results, yet we understand we need to continue to improve in all areas. Our teachers, students, and administrators have worked hard, and the instructional coaches have been an asset to our teachers to improve instruction.

WCSC students in grades 3-8 went from 70.88% of its students passing English/Language Arts in spring 2009 to 75.76% of its students passing in spring 2010. In math, the corporation students increased from 76.82% passing to 81.63% passing. The percent of students passing both English/Language Arts and math improved from 65.2% passing to 70.9% passing.

To look at results by grade level and by school, you can go to the ISTEP+ results on the Indiana Department of Education website.

A little over 2 percent of the WCSC student pupulation in grades 3-8 took the new Indiana Modified Achievement Standards Test (IMAST), but we will not receive the results of that assessment until late August or early September.

Interesting Article

Charter schools are being pushed as a salvation for regular public schools, yet they do not perform well. Please read the attached article from Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/13/understanding-charter-schools.html

Retirements

Wawasee Community School Corporation honored the corporation's retirees at the June 8, 2010, school board meeting. The retirees are:

Carolyn Baker, Milford School PE Teacher, 32 1/2 yrs WCSC experience, 34 1/2 yrs total experience
J. Francis Denton, WMS Science Teacher, 21 yrs WCSC experience, 44 yrs total experience
Tamara Hess, WMS Language Arts Teacher, 19 yrs WCSC experience, 22 yrs total experience
Karen Hoffert, 2nd grade NWES Teacher, 22 yrs WCSC experience, 22 yrs total experience
Mary Elizabeth Hoffman, NWES PE Teacher, 31 yrs WCSC experience, 33 yrs total experience
Stephen Hunsberger, WHS Guidance Counselor, 22 yrs WCSC experience, 43 yrs total experience
Cheryll Martin, WHS Math Teacher, 18 yrs WCSC experience, 22 yrs total experience
Patricia Mikel, Corporation High Ability, 21 1/2 yrs WCSC experience, 26 1/2 yrs total experience
Elaine Miller, SES Guidance Counselor, 19 yrs WCSC experience, 33 yrs total experience
Edward Parks, WMS Assistant Principal, 9 yrs WCSC experience, 36 yrs total experience
Cynthia Pierce, NWES Guidance Counselor, 15 yrs WCSC experience, 29 yrs total experience
Judy Setlak*, WMS PE Teacher, 18 1/2 yrs WCSC experience, 22 1/12 yrs total experience
*Also worked as a paraprofessional for 1 1/2 years.
Ellen Steven, WHS Principal, 6 yrs WCSC experience, 31 yrs total experience
M. Kristine Ummel, NWES 4th Grade Teacher, 33 yrs WCSC experience, 37 yrs total experience

Wawasee Community Schools wish to thank each of the retirees for their many years of dedicated service and wish them the best with their future endeavors.

Wawasee High School Welcomes New Principal

Wawasee Community School Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Donald E. Harman as principal of Wawasee High School. He has been the principal of Delta Middle School for the past eight years as well as having held other administrative positions at the middle school, junior/senior high school, and the high school level.

Mr. Harman has bachelor's and master's degrees in science from Purdue University. He qualified for his secondary administration license through Ball State University.

Wawasee Community School Corporation is very excited about the prospects of working with someone of Mr. Harman's caliber. His extensive background and training will be an outstanding complement to our current administrative staff.

A native of the Warsaw area, Mr. Harman hails from a background of educators. Wawasee Community Schools is pleased to welcome the Harman family back to this area.