January 5, 2010 School Delay

The Wawasee Community School Corporation will have a two-hour delay on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, due to drifting snow.

Notification Reminder for School Delays and Cancellations

This is a reminder that Wawasee Community School Corporation is using weareclosedtoday.com for reporting school closings and delays. This is a service designed by the Northern Indiana Educational Services Center that "provides a state of the art way to notify local news media and community members" when we need to close, delay, or dismiss early. In addition to local news media being notified, anyone may go to http://www.weareclosedtoday.com/, enter his or her zip code, choose a radius, and see all the delays or closings within that area.

Community members can also sign up to receive emails and/or text messages when WCSC closes, delays, or dismisses early. We have found that those emails and text messages are received within a very short time frame from when WCSC contacts the service. Click on Community Members and then Register Free to sign up.

Once you have created an account, you can click on Account Info and then Notification Methods from the navigation menu. Once this screen has been displayed, you will be allowed to enter up to three different email addresses to which you would like to receive notifications. Your SMS/text messaging email address, if you wish to receive a text message on your cell phone, is your cell phone number (without hyphens or spaces) and your cell phone provider's SMS/text messaging email address. The most common providers' addresses follow:

• US Cellular: Your cell phone number @email.uscc.net
• AT&T Wireless: Your cell phone number @txt.att.net
• Alltel: Your cell phone number@message.alltel.com
• Verizon Wireless: Your cell phone number@vtext.com
• Centennial Wireless: Your cell phone number@myblue.com

After you have selected your notification methods, you can click on Account Info and then Select Organizations from the navigation menu. Then click on School Districts. Once this screen has been displayed, you will be allowed to drag an organization from the left hand box to the right hand box. Any organization listed in this right hand box will be the only ones for which you will receive future notifications.

We will continue to post delays and cancellations here and on our website.

2-Hour Delay - Tuesday, November 24

Wawasee Community Schools is on a two-hour delay today, Tuesday, November 24. We have dense fog throughout the corporation.

Wawasee H1N1 Update

The Kosciusko County Health Department held an H1N1 information session on Friday, October 16, for county school nurses and superintendents.

Symptoms of the 2009 strain of H1N1A were reviewed:

• sore throat
• cough
• 103˚ - 104˚, even with Tylenol or similar product
• possible vomiting and diarrhea
• length of 7 to 10 days, with cough lasting longer

Fluids and monitoring are the most important treatments. Please do not return to work or school once a fever is no longer present with out the help of medication for 24-48 hours.

The 2009 H1N1A virus symptoms have been generally mild and treatable without doctor intervention. In certain cases, antiviral medications can lessen infection symptoms.

You get the flu from taking in fluids containing the virus which has been expelled in large droplets from the mouth or nasal area of someone with the virus. The virus generally lives until the fluid dries.

Covering your mouth when coughing, using tissues for runny noses, washing hands, using alcohol-based gels, and isolating infected individuals will slow the spread of the flu virus.

The 2009 H1N1A virus is not closely related to other recent flu strains, so the vaccine prepared for this year will not affect the 2009 H1N1A virus. This year’s ‘seasonal’ flu shot will protect against other flu strains expected this winter. Those individuals in priority groups for receiving the 2009 H1N1A vaccine should also get their regular ‘seasonal’ inoculation.

Two types of vaccinations have been prepared for the 2009 H1N1A virus. One is a mist administered through the nose. The other is a shot. The mist is generally more effective and is suitable for those 2-49 years of age. The shot is for 0-2 years of age, those 50 and older, those with asthma, and women who are pregnant.

Supplies of the H1N1A vaccine have been limited. The county expects shipments over the next month or two to inoculate priority groups. Those include:

• pregnant women
• caregivers
• health care workers
• children of 6 months to young adults of 24 years
• those 25-64 with chronic health concerns

Teachers are not considered in the high risk category unless they fall under another priority group designation. Those 65 and older are generally not at risk for contracting the 2009 H1N1A virus.

The Kosciusko County Health Department will work with various entities to inoculate the priority grips. These entities are:

• health care workers
• first responders/key government individuals
• private medical offices
• health department walk-ins
• pharmacies
• school-based clinics
  

If the 2009 H1N1A outbreak should seriously worsen, other measures like voluntary quarantine, school closings, and other means to reduce social contacts will be considered. Schools are making plans for educational activities to continue at home and on-line in the event of closing due to flu related absences.

More 2009 H1N1A, along with general flu, information is available at http://www.flu.gov/ or The Center of Disease Control.

The Wawasee Community School Corporation is tracking, and will continue to monitor, student and staff absentee rates. We’ll report significant changes to our community and to the Kosciusko County Health Department.

A Wawasee High School-based 2009 H1N1A inoculation session will be set for a Saturday in late October or early November, with the date depending upon vaccine availability. Volunteers will be needed that day.

Thanks to the Wawasee school nurses and the Kosciusko County Health Department for their planning and communication regarding the 2009 H1N1A flu virus, our students and our community.

Wawasee Swim Program and Swimming Pools

I'm writing to answer questions and address concerns about the youth swim program and the corporation swimming pools.

The Wawasee pools are located at the high school (41 years old, six lane, no diving board, no visitor seating) and middle school (20 years old, eight lane, diving well with two boards, visitor seating). Renovation took place during the summer to replace the high school pool heater and controls at approximately $50,000. Middle school pool renovations were more extensive. They began in August and lasted into October. The heater was replaced, as was the air heating/cooling/dehumidifying unit for the pool area. Re grouting of the tiles covering the pool occurred, along with some plumbing repairs. New duct work was installed, with accompanying ceiling work. The middle school cost was about $300,000.

Other infrastructure work occurred in both buildings. Each received new lighting in the hallways and classrooms, along with power ventilation units on their roofs to remove CO2 and moisture laden air from the buildings. The middle school received a new roof. The high school A classrooms have new unit ventilators to distribute heat and air. New heating/air piping, and new domestic water piping, was installed in the high school. Both buildings received new generators for use in emergencies. New boilers replaced the 41 year old ones at the high school. You, as taxpayers, spent about 2 million dollars at each location, with savings to return for years to come in the form of lower utility bills and fewer repairs to old equipment.

Heating pool water and supplying appropriate pool chemicals for both pools totals about $100,000 per year. We are presently studying pool covers to decrease our pool utility costs.

The swim club uses the pool without rental fees while building custodians are on duty.

Someone asked about specifics of each youth swim program. I am uncertain of that information, but e-mails/blog postings would lead one to conclude that the basics of each program are similar.

The school district built the pools first and foremost for drown proofing / learn to swim activities for children and adults in our lake area. Instruction is held for school age children during the school year in both pools, along with summer swim lessons. Some of those children are ones who live here only during the summer months, but their parents/grandparents help pay for the pools and our schools. Lifeguards are trained in our pools to staff the many camps in our area during the summer months. Community and recreational use of our pools is good. Those who would question use and cost of our pools based upon competitive swimming may consider the bigger picture of their purpose and use.

If someone has swim club or swim team related questions or concerns, the person to receive those contacts is WHS athletic director Mary Hurley.

Wawasee is a fortunate school community to have swimming pools available for our children.

Central Time Coalition

The following letter/information was sent to Indiana Superintendents and School Board Members from Sue Dillon, chairperson of the Central Time Coalition (timezonematters@gmail.com):

"School has started for 1.35 million children in Indiana. The Central Time Coalition (CTC) is concerned about safety hazards to school children due to Indiana's abnormal amount of morning darkness and is calling for Indiana to be returned to its correct time zone, Central Time. Indiana is the only state in the USA that is totally in its wrong geographic time zone. For the first 78 years (1883-1961) all of Indiana was in the Central Time Zone - then Eastern Time began creeping in. The results are that school children have been run over, raped and robbed because they have no choice but to leave home in total darkness to wait for their school bus or walk along dark streets. While in August most Indiana children go to school in sunlight, come mid-October they will already be seated in their classrooms before the sun rises.

"The Indiana State School Bus Drivers Association supports the return to Central Time because it would shift a much needed hour of sunlight to the morning rush hour during the fall, winter and spring. Ron Chey, president of ISSBDA says, 'Safety for children is our primary concern and it is often difficult to see the children along dark streets and roads. One more hour of sunlight would greatly improve visibility as well as morning driving conditions for everyone.' Darkness in the morning is much more dangerous for students because they have to wait in the dark for their bus to arrive while in the evening, they can immediately walk home. Even though the sun would rise earlier on Central Time, most children would have been delivered before sunset.

"Many claim that being in Eastern Time benefits Indiana commerce and transportation. That may have been true in 1961, but not today. When asked, 'Does it make a difference to commerce and transportation whether Indiana is on Eastern or Central Time?' a former Indiana Director of Commerce and a president of a major trucking firm both said, "No, but it does make a difference and is important for Indiana to observe Daylight Saving Time.' CTC agrees that we all benefit from a healthy economy so we support observance of DST, but it should be Central Time with Central Daylight Saving Time.

"The difference between Eastern Time and Central Time for our Hoosier kids is the difference between night and day. The Coalition asks for your careful consideration of our unsafe time zone situation in Indiana and that you support the return of Indiana to Central Time."

Some Additional Information from the Central Time Zone Coalition

• Every square inch of Indiana falls within the true boundaries of the Central Time Zone.
• Nearly 1/5 of Hoosiers live in the 12 Indiana counties that are still on Central Time.
• A shift from Eastern to Central Time would mean that sunrise and sunset would occur one (1) hour earlier on Indiana clocks.
• 1-hour earlier sunrise would greatly assist visibility for drivers in seeing students.
• Darkness reduces visibility for all drivers.
• Black ice is primarily a morning darkness problem. Sunlight helps melt black ice thus one hour earlier sunrise would help reduce black ice danger for commuters.
• Sunlight assists snow and ice melting chemicals in their effectiveness thus one hour earlier sunrise would make road conditions safer for commuters.
• Morning fog often burns off in the first hour after sunrise.
• Each hour of school delay due to unsafe travel conditions is an hour of classroom instruction that is lost.
• One (1) additional hour of sunlight in the morning could reduce 2-hour delays due to fog/snow/ice to 1-hour delays.

Press Release from the Kosciucsko County Health Department

Press Release: 2009 Novel H1N1 Status Update for Kosciusko County

• A significant rise in influenza-like-illness has occurred in Kosciusko County.
• Many of theses illness have tested as positive for Influenza A. Most influenza A that is occurring is due to the 2009 Novel H1N1 influenza strain. This is also occurring throughout the state and country.
• As of this time most 2009 H1N1 infected individuals are experiencing mild illness and do not require medical care or testing.
• Individuals with mild illness should remain home and treat the illness as any other “flu.”
• The ill individuals should remain home at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.
• Individuals with severe illness or special health consideration should consult with their healthcare providers.
• The current recommendations do not recommend exclusion of contacts or family of those with probable or confirmed H1N1 illness from work or school.

The Kosciusko County Health Department continues to work with local healthcare providers, schools, pharmacies and business to be prepared for distribution of the 2009 H1N1 Novel Influenza Vaccine.

• Release of the inactivated vaccine is anticipated in mid to late October, but no date has been provided to anticipate delivery.
• Release of attenuated flu vaccine, flu mist, is anticipated to be released slightly sooner but no date has been provided to anticipate delivery.
• An initial shipment will be received and distributed, and then ongoing shipments and continuing efforts to provide vaccination are planned.
• The vaccine will be distributed to priority groups. Once priority groups are vaccinated the vaccine will be available to those individuals that are not part of a high priority group.
• Vaccine is anticipated to be received on an ongoing basis until the population has been provided the opportunity for vaccination.

Vaccination efforts initially focus on 5 target groups:

• vaccination for pregnant women
• people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years
• people ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

Once the demand for vaccine for the prioritized groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should also begin vaccinating everyone from the ages of 25 through 64 years. Current studies indicate that the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. However, once vaccine demand among younger age groups has been met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people 65 or older.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/statelocal/qa.htm


General CDC information on H1N1 illness:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm

Spring 2009 ISTEP+ Results Released

On Wednesday, September 16, 2009, Dr. Tony Bennett, superintendent of public instruction, released the spring ISTEP+ results. You can read the press release here.

Wawasee Community Schools had the following percents of students passing:

• Grade 3 English/Language Arts: WCSC-75% (State of Indiana-74%)
• Grade 3 Mathematics: WCSC-77% (State of Indiana-72%)
• Grade 4 English/Language Arts: WCSC-76% (State of Indiana-73%)
• Grade 4 Mathematics: WCSC-81% (State of Indiana-70%)
• Grade 4 Science: WCSC-77% (State of Indiana-71%)
• Grade 5 English/Language Arts: WCSC-72% (State of Indiana-70%)
• Grade 5 Mathematics: WCSC-83% (State of Indiana-76%)
• Grade 5 Social Studies: WCSC-54% (State of Indiana-60%)
• Grade 6 English/Language Arts: WCSC-70% (State of Indiana-69%)
• Grade 6 Mathematics: WCSC-78% (State of Indiana-73%)
• Grade 6 Science: WCSC-58% (State of Indiana-54%)
• Grade 7 English/Language Arts: WCSC-67% (State of Indiana-67%)
• Grade 7 Mathematics: WCSC-77% (State of Indiana-68%)
• Grade 7 Social Studies: WCSC-58% (State of Indiana-58%)
• Grade 8 English/Language Arts: WCSC-66% (State of Indiana-65%)
• Grade 8 Mathematics: WCSC-65% (State of Indiana-67%)

From the Indiana Department of Education's Press Release: "Last year, the Department of Education established the ISTEP+ Parent Network, an online resource offering parents secure access to their students’ ISTEP+ scores. Accessible on demand throughout the year at www.doe.in.gov/istepparentnetwork, families can use the ISTEP+ Parent Network to review students’ latest assessment results quickly and easily and connect to useful educational resources. Parents who do not receive a letter containing secure ISTEP+ Parent Network login information should contact the student’s school directly."

Railroad Crossing Repairs

Bus routes will be jumbled over the next week or two, depending upon weather, to repair railroad crossings. CSX crossings from the line at Noble County to Front Street in Syracuse will affected.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, the 25th 1000 E
Wednesday, the 26th E Wawasee/ 900E
Bishop Road/775E
Thursday, the 27th Shore Dr. Syracuse
7th Street/ Front Street

Each crossing is scheduled to be closed for 4 days.

Public Education: The Cornerstone of Our Democracy

The following was written by Brett Boggs, superintendent of Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation and was published in the Warsaw Times Union:

Public education in Indiana is under attack, directed from the office of Governor Mitch Daniels. During a July news conference, after the General Assembly finalized the 2010 budget, Governor Daniels expressed his negativity toward public education in stating, “If this is an end to public education as we know it, I say thank goodness.”

Governor Daniels recently criticized Indiana’s public schools by stating, “We do not have one good school system in the state.” The truth is, Indiana’s public schools nationally rank in the top half of the states in almost all measured areas and continue to show improvement statewide. Indiana’s graduation rate from the class of 2007 to the class of 2008 went up from 76.4 percent to 77.8 percent while dropout rates went down from 11.9 percent to 10.3 percent. The average daily attendance rate in Indiana’s public schools has never been higher. Indiana’s SAT scores continue to approach the national average, despite the fact 62 percent of Indiana’s students take the SAT compared to 45 percent nationwide. The number of students graduating with Academic Honors or a Core 40 diploma is the highest in state history. During the past 10 years, the percentage of Indiana high school graduates pursuing a college education has risen by over 12 percent while the number of students on free and reduced assistance has grown from 28 percent to 42 percent. The number of Limited English Proficient students in Indiana’s public schools has increased from 10,616 students in 1997 to 45,885 students in 2007. The number of students receiving special education services has also increased from 14.7 percent to 16.7 percent during the same 10-year period.

Quality education for all is the key to success for 21st century America. Public schools are the only schools legally required to accept and serve all children, no matter their race, religion, educational attainment, social class, family income, or special needs. Public schools enroll all students and provide services designed to meet the special needs of a wide variety of abilities. Public schools must provide services for children with disabilities, children who do not speak English or whose proficiency in English is limited, and children who are educationally disadvantaged. Support services offered by Indiana’s public schools include school meals, after-school programs, counseling, and free transportation to and from school.

Indiana’s public schools are where children learn to live in an increasingly diverse society. Children learn to tolerate, interact with, and hopefully enjoy people who are different than themselves. Attitudes children form during their school experiences constructively serve them in the world they will shape as adults.

The United States has led the world for more than 100 years because of the character of its people and what they know. During that time, the vast majority of its citizenry has been educated in our nation’s public schools. Indiana’s public schools provide a successful place for all children to learn. Public education provides the foundation of our economy and the very foundation of our society.

Indiana’s public schools operate under high standards and public accountability. Statewide standards for academic subjects, teacher qualifications, and other requirements provide students with a safe and effective learning environment.

The status quo is never good enough. The Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation continues to maintain a strong focus on improvement by implementing a wide range of initiatives, from technology integration to innovative teaching practices, to ensure every student receives the best education possible. Today’s public schools are better than ever and will continue to be responsive to individual student needs while adapting to a rapidly changing society in which students use technology and information as workers, consumers, and citizens.

Universal education for all citizens, better known as public education, is the cornerstone of our democracy. Today’s public schools, the product of more than a century of reform and revision, are one of America’s oldest and most dynamic institutions. Public education must continue to play a key role in achieving and reflecting our American ideals.


Sources:
School - The Story of American Education, www.pbs.org
An American Imperative: Public Education, www.centerforpubliceducation.org
Progress in Indiana’s Schools by Franzy Fleck, Indianagram, June 2009

Wawasee Community School Corporation Board Policies

Board policies for the Wawasee Community Schools are now on-line on our web site. After hitting the 'board policies' button on the main corporation page, you can keyword search for the policy you are seeking.
The project to update board policies and make them accessible on our web page began in the spring of 2008. It's great to have the policies readily available to our parents, community, students, and staff.

WHS Freshman Orientation

On Thursday, August 13, 2009, from 7-8:30 p.m., there will be a program to welcome freshman and new students to Wawasee High School. Orientation activities will help new students learn how to be successful in high school, find their classes, learn about clubs and activities and become familiar with the building. New students will be given their schedules and locker assignments as part of the orientation program. Students will have the opportunity to tour the building with their parents after a presentation by WHS administration and guidance. There will be current Wawasee High School students in grades 10-12 stationed throughout the building to provide direction and answer questions as students and parents tour the building. Part of the tour will include a free snack and an opportunity to go through the lunch line to see how it works.

Parents and students should arrive no later than 7 p.m. to the high school, as the presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Schedules and locker assignments will not be available until after the presentation by administration and guidance. Once the student and parent(s) receive the schedule and locker assignment, they will tour the building with the help of a map and the student mentors.

Students who will be new to Wawasee Community School Corporation who will be in grades 9-12 are also invited to attend. These students should call the Wawasee High School guidance office to make an appointment to enroll. This is necessary in order to be part of the orientation program.

To make an appointment to enroll a new students or for questions, please call 574-457-3147, ext. 220.

Middle School Shot and Discus Areas

The shot put and discus areas at both Milford School and Wawasee Middle School will be relocated next year to provide greater safety for participants and observers. A net will be erected to partially enclose the discus ring. Our track coaches, athletic directors, and maintenance personnel are working together to make this necessary change.

Wawasee Full Day Kindergarten

The Wawasee Community Schools are continuing a full day kindergarten program initiated last school year. Approximately 40% of our kindergarten children are placed into the all day program after assessments by teachers and para-professionals. Generally, those children most in need of additional school assistance will attend the all day program.
The state funds a portion of the program, while the parents pay an amount based upon their household income level.
The all day kindergarten program showed impressive gains during the 2008-09 school year.
Milford has one section of all day students, while Syracuse and North Webster each have two sections.
Please fell free to contact the school principal with questions.

Wawasee High School Weight Room Repairs

Prior to the beginning of the school year, repairs will be made in the WHS wrestling/weight room area. Metal supports will be welded and fastened to better secure the floor to the surrounding walls. These repairs are cautionary in nature to address slight shifting which has taken place over time. We want to make certain that the shifting stops. We are able to use the weight, wrestling, and locker areas in the meantime.
Please feel free to address any questions to me. My office phone is 457-3188, Ext. 371.

Wawasee Middle School Pool Renovation

The Wawasee Middle School swimming pool will be closed for renovations during August and September. A portion of the ceiling will be removed and relocated to allow placement of new duct work for heating/cooling the air. A new dehumidifier will be installed, along with a new room heating/cooling unit and a new pool heater. Other modifications will be made to allow for greater energy savings.
If the renovations are accomplished prior to the end of September, patrons will be notified.
The Wawasee High School pool will be in operation during the August/September time period.
Please call the Wawasee Middle School office at 457-8839 or the Wawasee High School office at 457-3147 after August 3 with any questions.

Back to School Spending

The average American family spent $443.77 on back-to-school spending in 2005. That amount rose to $563.49 in 2007, the last year for which figures are available.
Also, 93% of teachers spend their own money on school supplies annually, averaging $552.
Everything adds up, especially in today's economy.

Tobacco Free Wawasee in 2009-2010

The Wawasee Community School Corporation campuses, buildings, vehicles, and events will become tobacco free on August 1 of this year. Previously, our smoke free policy covered only buildings and buses. Thanks to everyone for their cooperation as we strive to comply with all applicable laws and regulations and make Wawasee as safe and healthy as possible.

Letter to the Editor: Thank Goodness?

John Ellis, executive director of Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, sent the following letter as a letter to the editor/guest column of seven papers state wide. The letter is in response to the governor's recent comments regarding the new state budget and public education.

Educators who work daily to teach and develop 94% of Indiana’s school age population are concerned about the future of providing school services in tight economic times. Many who care about the delivery of quality educational programming were disappointed to see the Indiana General Assembly give tuition tax credits, sending public funds to private entities.

At least one person saw both of these concerns as positive. The Post-Tribune, a northwest Indiana newspaper, quoted Governor Daniels one day after the end of the special session: "If this is an end to public education as we know it, I say thank goodness.”

As the Governor writes off 94% of our children and 52% of our state’s expenditures, it is worth a look into his major educational initiatives as Governor. He really liked but was not able to deliver on the promise of expanding and fully supporting full-day kindergarten. Let’s find his second initiative to improve education for Indiana’s youth. No, really, let’s try and find even one.

We should all voice concern over Indiana’s graduation and dropout rates. We all should settle for nothing less than our best attempts to serve all students. Let’s all work toward improved achievement for all students. How do we get there in the Governor’s plan? Eliminate all funding for teacher training. Take from them opportunities to learn and share the best practices nationally and internationally to improve in all three of these areas and then criticize and berate all public school educators by stating in The Madison Courier newspaper, “We do not have a good school system in the state.”

“Thank goodness” for the end of public education? Opinion has been ruling over research and facts for too long. Public schools, the only state and national institution charged with developing good citizenship, are under attack and public schools have been responding. A good read for anyone who wants to track the opinions of those wanting to destroy public schools regardless of the facts has recently been published by the Educational Research Service—Dr. Gerald Bracey’s Educational Hell: Rhetoric vs. Reality.

Dr. Bracey states “…the humble public school is one of the greatest democratic inventions in the world.” He calls on educators to “mount a vigorous campaign to defend a great American institution” against “blatant propaganda pushed by the economic elite to discredit public investment that helps ordinary citizens.” Thank goodness.

John Ellis, Executive Director,
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents

Elementary Textbook Rental & Fees for 2009-2010

The elementary textbook rental & fees total costs for 2009-2010 are as follows:

Kindergarten: $ 88.75
Grade One: $116.25
Grade Two: $121.35
Grade Three: $128.15
Grade Four: $107.75
Grade Five: $104.05

*Grades 6-12 textbook rental and fees will be based upon each student's class schedule.