United Way Corporate Dodgeball

-Written by Joy Swartzentruber, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

On Wednesday, August 31, at 6:30 p.m. at Harrison Elementary School in Warsaw, a corporate dodgeball tournament will be held as part of the United Way fundraising campaign. In the first round of the tournament, a group of employees from Wawasee Community Schools will compete against a group of employees from Warsaw Community Schools. Admission will be one dollar at the door, and all proceeds go to the Kosciusko County United Way. Competitors for Wawasee Community Schools will be

• Mr. Garner, Syracuse Elementary School principal
• Mr. Cassel, Wawasee Middle School principal
• Mr. Connor, Milford School assistant principal
• Mr. Mishler, varsity boys basketball coach and WHS physical education teacher
• Mr. Hedman, varsity baseball coach and Milford 5th grade teacher
• Mr. Schutz, varsity softball coach and WHS business teacher
• Mr. Campbell, varsity assistant football coach and WMS social studies teacher
• Mr. Edgar, junior varsity volleyball coach and WMS science and math teacher
• Ms. Wells, freshmen volleyball coach and Milford language arts teacher
• Mr. Gause, North Webster 5th grade teacher

This should be an exciting event and a great opportunity to support the United Way of Kosciusko County which helps fund agencies and programs that promote family and community wellness, self sufficiency, emergency services, and youth development.

Fall Sports in Full Swing

-Written by Joy Swartzentruber, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Wawasee High School fall sports are in full swing now. This week, you have an opportunity to watch several of our teams in action at home:

• Monday 8/22: Varsity and junior varsity volleyball against Lakeland at 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday 8/23: Varsity boys soccer against Garrett at 5 p.m.
• Wednesday 8/24: Varsity girls soccer against Culver at 5 p.m.
• Thursday 8/25: Varsity girls golf at Maxwelton Golf Course against Warsaw and Concord at 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday 8/25: Varsity and junior varsity volleyball against Bethany Christian at 5:30 p.m.

Friday, August 26th is the first home football game for Coach Rietveld and the Warriors against DeKalb. Parents of senior football players, band members, and cheerleaders will be honored prior to the game with recognition beginning around 6:40 p.m. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. The 1985 IHSAA State Runners-up Warrior football team will be recognized at half time of the game. Gates open at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Go Warriors!

Opening Week

-Written by Joy Swartzentruber, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Wawasee Community School Corporation has had a successful first three days of school. Our Wednesday's attendance was reported at 3,475, up 92 students from last year's first day. Our official enrollment will not be figured until Friday, September 16th.

I know we have a number of tired teachers, students and other staff members after our first few days back as they have adjusted to new schedules. One teacher commented that the start of school is never something that we get to "slide into" and adjust to - it is always "like an avalanche" but good to be back.

A big thank you to everyone who has helped make the start of this school year a smooth one. Hopefully, all can recuperate a bit over the weekend and prepare for our first full week of school!

Opening Day Feelings

Each school year marks a rite of passage in the American child's experience. Signifying this is the popular picture frame you see on the parent's living room wall that shows all 12 years of school pictures in perfect order. Notice the blank spot ready for this year's school picture.

I hope we never forget the feelings that students and parents have at this time.

So full of hope...so full of anxiety...smiling nervously as they step off the school bus steps and walk tentatively through the doors.

They are wondering..."Will my teacher be nice? Will she be patient with me? Will he make school fun? Will she help me when I am confused? Am I ready for this grade? Will the older students be friendly to me?

Teachers wonder the same things..."Will my students be nice? Will they be patient with me? Will this be a fun year? Will they help me when I am having a bad day? Am I ready for another year?

May this be your best year yet!

The Warriors

The Wawasee community has chosen the Warrior title to promote it's Native American heritage.

Most local historians and hopefully, Wawasee students, know that the Wawasee Warriors have chosen the Native American theme out of respect for Chief Wawasee, after whom Lake Wawasee is named.

Recent decisions by the NCAA banning Native American nicknames from tournament play has created a firestorm of controversy.

Here is today's editorial in the Indy Star.

Handwriting Matters

Cursive handwriting has largely become a lost art. The computer keyboard was supposedly going to replace the need for cursive handwriting altogether.

However, this article points out that the need for quality penmanship still exists.

Board Meeting Agenda and Highlights

Here is the link to the approved board meeting minutes from July and the August 2nd agenda.

August 2nd minutes will be released after they are approved at the August 9th board meeting.

Main points of interest were the hiring of our new WMS Principal, Mr. Tony Cassel and the hiring of our new Milford Assistant Principal Mr. Ryan Conner.

I hope you get a chance to stop by and meet these gentleman. We have been very impressed with them already and we look forward to their contributions to the Wawasee Warrior community.

Syracuse BMV Hearing: What Joel Silverman SHOULD have said...

After attending the Syracuse BMV Hearing and then reading the ridiculous comments made by Governor Daniels' appointee, Joel Silverman, in the local paper, it caused me think a little about what I think he SHOULD have said - if he could have been honest and upfront about it.

Here is what I think Mr. Silverman should have said at the beginning of the meeting.

I want to thank everyone for coming tonight to express your interest in the Syracuse License Branch. Before we begin I would like to be open with everyone about why we are here. Last year the Democrats tried to close 44 license branches to save money. To stop it, the Republicans created a law which says the BMV must hold a hearing in every county where they are considering closing a branch. Now we have a Republican Governor who has appointed me to make the BMV more efficient. To do this, I have to close some branches just like the Democrats wanted to do. Now we wish we had never passed this law, but we are now stuck with it. After examining the issue we have found that due to the lease arrangements of various branches, we must close a few branches that on the surface might seem like illogical decisions. Syracuse is one of these. The law requires that we have the hearings, so we are. However, we feel it only fair in the interest of openness and honesty, to tell you that the Syracuse branch is likely to close no matter what is said at this hearing, and while that might seem like a closed case to you, we don't feel that we have any choice. The lease arrangements of each branch are dictating many of these decisions and we feel we should let you know about that right up front. As a part of this hearing I am willing to listen to your opinions for as long as you wish, but as a way of influencing the decisions, the lease arrangements are likely to trump all other arguments. I will stay and discuss it with you as long as you like. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but I see no other way around it at this time.

Then Mr. Silverman should have sat down and listened politely to all comments and stayed until the last person left. He should have refrained from insulting the Syracuse residents by inferring that he "couldn't have an intelligent conversation" with us or by indicating that he thought "we should behave in a certain way."

Unfortunately for Governor Daniels, Mr. Silverman is representing the Governor in 24 public hearings around the state. The way these hearings are going, he isn't doing Governor Daniels any favors. The Indy Star has given the governor rave reviews for his openness, but even party insiders are having trouble seeing it these days. It is clear that many of the governors appointees are not accustomed to public service.

Just my .02.

New Blog Site at Wawasee High School!!!

Mrs. Ellen Stevens, principal of Wawasee High School has started her own blog site. Not only can you catch up on information straight from the superintendent here at The Wawascene, but you can click on Mrs. Stevens' link and get information about Wawasee High School straight from the principal.

Her latest post details corrections/changes in the high school registration dates for Wawasee High School.

Please remember to bookmark the site in your favorite files to keep up on high school reminders and commentary from Mrs. Stevens.

I also have included a web link on the side of this page.

School Board Meeting Highlights

Here are a few highlights from last night's school board meeting.

Last night the board honored retirees:

Ruthann Angle 27 years
Lynne Beer 28 years
Richard Bender 37 years
Miriam Eberly 27 years
Susie Heath 42 years
Beth Hursh 24 years
Karl Keiper 40 years
Marge Kryder 28 years
Paula Markley 33 years
Phyllis Matz 28 years
Sue Rathke 33 years

TOTALS 347 years
AVG. 31.5 years

They also recognized Milford student, Holly Kolberg for being a state and regional DAR essay winner. Holly moves on to national competition now. The board also recognized WHS student Zac Conley for saving a man's life by utilizing the CPR skills learned in WHS classes.

The board also gave approval to advertise for bus bids and after much discussion, voted 3 to 2 to appoint Pat Hurd has the appointee for the Milford Library Board.

Warrior Open

Thanks to all the Warrior supporters that showed up at the South Shore Golf Course today to raise money for the Warrior Athletes.

We had a full slate of teams and plenty of door prizes. I will report on the scramble winners later.

The morning group had a 15 under card turned in.

Special thanks goes to Athletic Director Mary Hurley who really knows how to put together an event and take care of all the little details. She did have lots of help though!

Attend Tonight's Hearing

Attend tonight's hearing at the high school at 7:00 pm if you have any interest in the decision to close the local license branch.

Here is a report on the North Judson branch hearing from the South Bend Tribune.

I have two points to make:

One:

The governor has directed his department heads to become "more efficient." While this may be a worthy goal - efficiency is not a societal end goal. Efficiency is a "means to an end" not an end in itself. In other words - what will the government actually do with their savings? Will it be returned to taxpayers? Of course not - it will be in actuality be another transfer of money and services from Kosciusko county to Marion county and elsewhere. What pet projects will be funded instead of your local license branch?

Two:

The direction is to be more efficient, but more efficient for WHO?

My .02

Syracuse BMV Hearing will be held at Wawasee High School

Local officials have been successful in moving the public BMV hearing from the Syracuse license branch to the Wawasee High School auditorium to accommodate a larger crowd.

The doors will open at 6:00 pm Friday, July 1, 2005. The hearing starts at 7:00 pm.

Public BMV Hearing in Syracuse

As most of you know, the current flap over closing license branches in Indiana has drawn Syracuse into the debate.

On Friday, July 1, 2005 the BMV will hold a public hearing at 7:00 pm at the Wawasee High School Auditorium.

If there are Wawasee patrons who would like to voice their opinion on the proposed closure of the Syracuse license branch, this is the opportunity to exercise a uniquely American privilege - the right to freely express their opinions to their government officials.

The high school will open the doors at 6:00 pm.

Administrative Changes at Wawasee

The Wawasee School Board last night approved a number of administrative changes for 2005-2006.

These changes are a response to Mr. Mikel taking the superintendency in Bremen and Mrs. Rathke announcing her retirement.

The board approved the following moves:

The transfer of Jim Garner to Syracuse Elementary due to the retirement of Sue Rathke.

The transfer of Kris Woodard to North Webster Elementary to replace Jim Garner.

The transfer of Joy Swartzentruber to Central Office to replace Russ Mikel.

There will be openings for an assistant principal at Milford and a principal opening at Wawasee Middle School.

We wish to thank Mrs Rathke for her 9 years of dedication to Wawasee Schools and our students. She has done a tremendous job and we wish her luck in her retirement.

Should a grade reflect effort or achievement?

Here is an age-old debate for you.

How much should a student's grade reflect their knowledge and skills in the subject area. All of it? Almost all of it?

Or should a teacher give extra credit for trying, for working hard etc?

Or should good behavior be part of the grade?

Or should the grade be strictly an academic issue with behavior and work ethic recorded on a grade card somewhere else?

What SHOULD a grade represent?

Here is an interesting Washington Post article on the issue.

Way to go Rachel!

Wawasee's own Rachel Stichter caps off her outstanding career at Wawasee High School with nothing less than the best - a state championship!

Rachel finished the 3200 meter run this weekend at the Indiana state track finals with a sizzling 10:41 in the championship.

Rachel will continue her track and cross country career with a scholarship at Ohio State University. Go Buckeyes!

Commencement

Commencement ceremonies will be Friday, June 3, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at Wawasee High School.

Congratulations to all graduating seniors!!!!

Reminder on Student Schedule Changes at High School

This is a reminder to parents of high school students.

All high school schedule changes must be completed by June 3. No student initiated schedule changes will be made in August.

Parents with freshmen need to contact guidance to make a study hall change by June 3.

We have promoted this as much as possible. The high school has sent announcements to all newspapers, the radio stations, the sign out front, the blog site, counselors, Planet K-12, in the middle schools, and in announcements at the high school.

Fairfield and Wawasee to Consolidate?

As some of you may be aware, the 2005 Indiana state legislature formed a study commission to examine consolidation of smaller school districts. The purpose is presumably, to save money across the state.

Rumors have it that Fairfield and Wawasee are going to consolidate. The newly formed school district will be called....."The Fairasees." It saddens me to say this, so maybe we'll just call ourselves..."The Saddusees."

So there you have it...when Fairfield and Wawasee consolidate we can be called the Fairasees or the Saddusees.

If this makes no sense to you, find a bible scholar near you and ask what's up.

It's not really April 1, but I'm still fooling.!!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!!! :-)

PS : If you think this is funny then give me credit, if you think this is lame then Jim Evans came up with it!!