Sandra Lee’s Studio of Dance has put on nearly four decades of recitals. This year’s 37th annual show includes a variety of dances performed by students of all ages. Continue reading
Summer Food Service Programs Soon to be Available at Local Schools
Students are typically thrilled when summer break finally begins but individuals who rely on school meals for breakfast and lunch could be feeling bitter sweet about the end of the school year. Luckily, the Summer Food Service Program has a mission to make sure no Hoosier goes hungry.
Starke County Youth Club Honors IU Health Starke Hospital
IU Health Starke Hospital’s investment in the youth of the community has earned them recognition from the Starke County Youth Club. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi presented IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty the Aim High Award in recognition of the hospital’s top pledge of $5,000 during the recent radiothon. The daylong fundraiser on WKVI raised $41,000 for the club. It provides after school and summer enrichment programs for students from Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis schools at sites throughout the county. Continue reading
Knox Schools Realize Savings Through Bond Refinancing
Good news! The decision, last night, to refinance the Knox school system’s pension bond will save an estimated $185,000 for taxpayers over the life of the bond, according to Superintendent A.J. Gappa. Continue reading
Knox High School Special Needs Students Help Prepare Computers for Sale to the Community
Finding a working computer in good condition can be quite a daunting task. Knox High School wants to make that process easier on you. During the first week of June, students, parents and community members have the chance to come down to the high school and purchase a MacBook Laptop for $120. The laptops have been returned to factory settings and have undergone thorough checks by a helpful group of students. Continue reading
SCILL Center to Honor Graduating Students
The Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning is hosting an award ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of their 2015 class. The program takes place tonight at 1300 Kloeckner Drive in the Knox Industrial Park and will commence at 6 pm (CST) .
Knox School Board Prepares for Graduation
Knox High School’s 112 senior candidates for graduation will complete their high school careers in services at the Weinberg Gymnasium, Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m. Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff also reported to the Knox School Board Monday that seniors will receive their earned honors in a Friday morning program, the 22nd, at the High School gymnasium. The public is invited to the 8:15 a.m. activity. Continue reading
Students to Continue Serenity Garden Work Today
Knox High School students will continue work on the Serenity Garden project today. The downtown Knox beautification project is on the north side of the intersection of Main Street and Lake Street.
Benches were installed last Saturday, and the concrete was poured to serve as the base of a gazebo. The gazebo will be constructed using split block, concrete, and wood rafters. It nearly mimics the structure at the Eagle Creek Community Church. A red metal roof will top the gazebo. The labor was donated for the concrete work. Additional labor is donated for other aspects of this specific project.
Starke County Youth Club Programs Help Bridge Achievement Gap
The Starke County Youth Club’s after-school programs help bridge the achievement gap for students. Executive director Irene Szakonyi says that’s disparity in performance levels among groups of youngsters. Research indicates children who come from low-income homes don’t perform as well on standardized tests as their more affluent classmates, nor do they get as good of grades. Szakonyi says 60 percent of children served come from low-income homes and start kindergarten behind their peers as a result. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Programs Benefit Children and Parents
The Starke County Youth Club’s after-school programs offered at sites around the county benefit more than just the students who take part in them. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says they serve as a bridge between school and home for youngsters, for whom the most critical hours of the day are between 3 and 6 p.m. School is out, but parents aren’t home from work yet. Szakonyi says that’s the most common time for a child to be the victim of or the perpetrator of a violent crime. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Executive Director Elaborates on After-School Offerings
The Starke County Youth Club provides a strong mix of academic and enrichment activities to youngsters who take part in after-school programs at sites across the county. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the day begins with a little bit of decompression time and a healthy snack.
From there she says the focus shifts to homework. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Radiothon Set for Friday
Mark your calendars, and get your checkbooks ready. The 8th Annual Starke County Youth Club Radiothon on WKVI will take place this Friday. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the organization has been serving youngsters with after-school, summer and recreational programs since 2001.
“It really is a wide variety of activities and projects to meet kids where they are, keep them learning, support working families and build community,” Szakonyi said. Continue reading
Knox High School Drama Department Presents Oklahoma!
Enjoy the Rogers and Hammerstein classic Musical Oklahoma! this weekend at Knox High School. Director Terrill Hahn says staging such a production presents quite a few challenges.
“You have to make sure you have kids that can act, and sing and do a little dancing,” Hahn said. A 35 member cast and crew is putting on the musical. Performances are tomorrow night at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 4 at the Knox High School auditorium. Tickets are $6 each at the door.
Suspect Arrested After Threats Prompt School Lockdown
A Knox man is jailed after reportedly making threats on a social media website that prompted a school lockdown. 20-year-old Paul J. Esparza entered Knox High School twice yesterday and was escorted from the building both times, according to police. A post on Esparza’s Facebook page led officials to believe he was in possession of a handgun. Continue reading
Harlem Wizards Set to Work Basketball Magic at Weinberg Gym
Head to Weinberg Gym in Knox tonight for “trick-hoops and alley-oops” courtesy of the Harlem Wizards. The legendary exhibition basketball team will take on “The Tribe” – a team comprised of local celebrities in a fundraiser for the Knox High School Band Boosters. Director Craige Phipps says general admission, reserve seat and meet-and-greet tickets are available. Continue reading
Knox School Board Announces Elementary School Construction Timeline
Construction of the addition to the Knox Elementary School is expected to begin within 30 days, Dana J. Wannemacher, vice president Barton Coe Vilamaa, architects and engineers, reported to the Knox School Board last night. Weather and scheduling were cited as contributing to about a month’s delay in breaking ground. The board approved details of the kitchen and cafeteria area and equipment. Continue reading
Knox School Board Extends One-To-One Computer Contract
The Knox School Board took action Monday evening to approve a new 4-year contract for the “one-to-one” computer program for students. The computers will become the property of the corporation at the end of the contract. The lease can be shortened with early payment to the supplier. The details of the lease were extensively reviewed by the board at its last meeting. Continue reading
Knox School Board Adds Days to School Year
The last day of school for students for the spring semester of 2015 at Knox Schools has been moved forward by two days to June 1st. Superintendent A.J. Gappa told the school board last night that originally four days had been set aside for weather-related “make-up” days, but so far there have been six days of weather delay. The scheduled contingency days have already been used. Continue reading
Knox Indoor Percussion Ensemble Places at State
The Knox High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble performed well at the state level over the weekend.
The state preliminary competition was held Saturday morning at Avon High School where they placed second. Their evening performance in the final round of competition found them in third place.
Knox Band Director Craige Phipps commented that the Indoor Percussion Ensemble somewhat resembles a marching band.
Students Report to Knox School Board about Unique Experience
A new experience for 8th grade Language Arts students was reported on the Spotlight on Success agenda item at the recent Knox School Board meeting.
Mrs. Cotto arranged for her students to speak by live video with a survivor of the Nazi holocaust. The elderly survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp told of hiding in the countryside with other teenagers only to be arrested and confined. He told them he knew Ann Frank, whose similar WWII experiences have been documented in a book, on stage and in a movie.
