The Knox Redskin Brigade performed in the semi-state round at Decatur Central High School this past weekend. Twenty schools competed for the top ten spots to advance to state on Nov. 8th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Their gold rating received at the Indiana State School Music Association regional competition earned the band a slot to compete at the semi-state round. Continue reading
Public Balanced Calendar Presentation Scheduled Tonight at Culver
Several area school corporations are considering the adoption of a balanced school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. The Rochester Community School Corporation already has one in place. Officials from that corporation will present information during a community meeting this evening at 6 p.m. EDT at Culver Community High School. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the proposed schedule would still provide the state-mandated 180 instructional days with more breaks during the school year. Summer vacation would be eight weeks instead of 10 due to the proposed earlier start of school. Continue reading
Redskin Brigade Heads to Semi-State Competition
The Knox Redskin Brigade will compete this afternoon for a shot at a state championship. Their gold rating last Saturday at the Indiana State School Music Association regional competition earned the band a slot in today’s competition at Decatur Central High School. They must place in the top 10 among the 20 schools performing in order to advance. “It’s a pretty tall order for any band, really,” band director Craige Phipps said. “These guys have done an amazing job over the last two weeks. I’m pretty confident they can do it. They’ve just got to have ‘that show’ – that one show.”
Phipps added the Redskin Brigade is more than capable of advancing to state.
“They’ve had some amazing performances this year, and the best thing about this group is everyone keeps considering them an underdog. We don’t consider ourselves an underdog. We keep rising to the challenge every week. I tell these guys when they come off the field after a performances, ‘you guys just had a great performance, but it’s not good enough any more. Now we need to take that next step.’ They’ve really risen to that challenge all season long,” he said.
The Redskin Brigade will take the field at 4:20 p.m. CDT today at Decatur Central High School. The state finals will take place Saturday, Nov. 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Redskin Brigade Schedules Community Performance
Members of the public are invited to see the Knox Redskin Brigade perform in advance of Saturday’s semi-state marching band competition at Decatur Central High School. The band’s final dress rehearsal will take place tonight at 8:30 p.m. on the high school football field. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Board Questions Balanced Calendar Alignment
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
North Judson-San Pierre School Board members raised a question about the balanced calendar during their meeting last night. The proposed calendar moves the start of school to the first of August, adds longer breaks in the fall and spring that can be used for remediation if necessary and ends the school year the first of June. The first semester would still end in December before the two week Christmas break as it presently does.
Board members wondered what the earlier start to the school year would do to high school students who work for Pioneer detassling corn during their summer vacations. Continue reading
Knox Redskin Brigade Advances to Semi-State Competition
Members of the Knox Redskin Brigade have marched their way into the next round leading to the state competition.
The band participated in the Indiana State School Music Association Regional marching competition at Lafayette Jefferson High School on Saturday and received a gold rating. With that, they were selected as one of the top 10 bands to continue to the Semi-State level on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Decatur Central High School.
The band will perform at 4:20 p.m. CT that day for a chance to compete at the state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Knox Schools Participating in “Celebrate My Drive” Safety Awareness Contest
The Knox Community School Corporation is in the running to win cash prizes and a concert by The Band Perry. The school is taking part in the Celebrate My Drive safety campaign. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) sponsor Carrie Stone encourages community members to visit http://www.celebratemydrive.com/home and make a commitment to staying safe behind the wheel. Continue reading
Knox Superintendent Discusses Proposed Elementary Project
A final public hearing on the renovation and addition project for the Knox Elementary School is scheduled for Monday, November 3rd. Superintendent A. J. Gappa explains the proposed 5,500 square foot addition.
“When the referendum failed a year ago, plan B was as things go along and failed,” explained Gappa. “We had to fix them but that can become expensive in the long run. One of our major perceived needs was our kitchen situation where we have a 60-year-old cafeteria doing all the cooking and then carting the food down for the half of the building at the west end serving and warming the food at that point in time.”
Knox School Board Considering Elementary School Renovation, Expansion
A public hearing was held by the Knox School Board Monday evening for the renovation and addition being planned for Knox Elementary School. The project is designed to expand the kitchen and cafeteria areas by about 5,500 square feet. A final hearing is scheduled for November 3rd.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa presented a detailed summary the 2015 budget, expressing a concern about the effect of reduced revenues on operations. The board will hold the final hearing on that budget on October 20th.
The purchase of a 78 passenger bus was approved, as was the hire of four substitute teachers and substitute personnel for food service and custodial work.
Raelyn Binkley was approved for the position of Middle School Treasurer, effective October 20th, subject to the customary criminal history report.
In the “Spotlight on Success” portion of the agenda, Middle School Principal Josh Pugh and three students made presentations on the successful Manufacturer’s Day event, attended by 7th grade students from Knox, North Judson and Oregon-Davis schools last week.
Three Starke County Schools to Take Part in Manufacturer’s Day
The Knox Middle School is hosting Manufacturer’s Day tomorrow. A total of 15 local companies will have booths set up for 7th graders from Knox, Oregon-Davis and North Judson-San Pierre to visit and learn about what they do. Students will also learn what qualifications are necessary to work there. Knox Middle School Principal Joshua Pugh says hands-on learning like this really helps students think about their futures.
JAG Students Helping Promote Literacy to Homeless
Several students in the Job’s for America’s Graduates (JAG) program are helping to promote literacy among the homeless.
Students were given approximately 40 books, ranging from elementary level to adult reading. Students were then tasked to select a homeless shelter or community location where services are available for the homeless and deliver those books.
Knox High School is one of the schools that participates in the JAG program. The educational program is dedicated to helping at-risk students overcome barriers to high school graduation.
Another Vocational Program in the Works
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation (SCEDF) is looking to bring life back into the vocational building on the Oregon-Davis school campus to begin an automation robotics and equipment maintenance program as an extension of vocational programs through the SCILL Center.
According to Ron Gifford, the SCEDF will assist in seeking a way to fund the program full-time and to acquire equipment. A pilot program started this year with several students in the eighth grade through the tenth grade enrolled in the program.
New Science Club Excites Entire Knox Elementary
Knox Elementary School has a new science club program. Members meet once every seven school days with science teacher Marge Wood. Students get to visit the outdoor lab and see different forms of wildlife in the area. A pond with minnows and frogs is also part of the lab. Approximately 120 kids have signed up to be in the club. Principal Glenn Barnes says the students are really getting into the program.
Knox School Board Approves Budget, Discusses Balanced Calendar
Superintendent A.J. Gappa reported that balanced calendar discussions for the 2015-16 school year continue with other area schools, many of whom have expressed interest in a coordinated calendar. That schedule would feature four nine week sessions and
two-week breaks at Christmas and in the Spring, with the school year ending around Memorial Day. Continue reading
Knox School Board to Hold Budget Hearing Tonight
The Knox Community School Board will meet in special session tonight to discuss regular business and to hold a public hearing regarding the all funds budget.
If anyone has any comments on the published budget, the board will take them under consideration during the hearing. A budget adoption will occur in October.
The board will also consider an authorization for a project hearing and approve a teacher document of agreement.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Hosting Manufacturers Day Event
Students from Starke County’s three school corporations will get a firsthand look at local job opportunities during the upcoming Manufacturers Day at Knox Middle School. The Starke County Economic Development Foundation is bringing together 7th grade students and representatives from local industries and SCILL on Thursday, Oct. 2. They will have displays of what their company manufacturers, the skills and training required for each job at the company and the kinds of jobs they have and will also be available to answer questions. Continue reading
Knox Schools Awarded Field Trip Grant
Knox third grade students will get to go to Potato Creek State Park thanks to the Discovering the Outdoors Field Trip grant.
The grant program is administered through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation and allows students to participate in field trips to parks and reservoirs to engage them in learning about Indiana’s fish, forest, wildlife, natural habitats and conservation. The grant money helps with transportation costs, program fees and classroom supplies for the field trips to local state parks. Indiana has 24 state parks and eight reservoirs eligible for field trip funding.
Knox Homework ICU Curing School Blues
A newly developed “intensive care unit,” for helping Knox Middle School students complete unfinished homework, received unanimous accolades from Knox School Board members when they met Monday evening.
Principal Josh Pugh reported that some 583 pieces of once incomplete homework have been fully completed by students so far this year.
Enrollment Down at Knox Schools
The first tally of the fall 2014 student enrollment at the Knox schools shows a drop of some 50 students from the previous year at the same time. Superintendent A.J. Gappa reported to last night’s meeting of the school board the loss of student attendance was across all grade levels. An officiall tally is scheduled later this month which will determine the state’s financial reimbursement to the schools.
Students Thriving at The Crossing
The 29 students enrolled at Starke County’s newest school are thriving in the non-traditional learning environment. The Crossing alternative school opened recently and offers a second chance to students who have been expelled from or dropped out of public schools. Principal Quentin Bishop says the school is an extension of the students’ sending schools.
“This is like a classroom just down the road from their sending school. We have that type of relationship, that type of partnership to say we’re not only just The Crossing Education Center working as an independent school. We’re actually in partnership with our public schools,” Bishop said. Continue reading
