the white river valley
PRIDE
October 2011
A Publication of White River Valley School Corporation
ISTEP Scores, Grades for Schools
Indicate Academic Success
White River Valley
In terms of student growth
Schools made signifipercentages, Lyons and
cant progress in spring
Worthington were the top
2011 ISTEP+ scores, with
two elementary schools in
numbers up for all schools.
the county for increases in
Lyons and Worthington
Mathematics scores on ISTEP
Elementary Schools were the
and among the top three eletop two elementary schools
mentary schools in the county
in Greene County in terms of
for increases in Language Arts
the percentage of students
scores. On average, students
who passed both Language
at both schools demonstrated
Arts and Mathematics on
they had absorbed more than
the ISTEP test, according
a year’s worth of academic
to Dr. Michael Langevin,
growth in just a year.
Mr. McCammon’s class discusses
WRV’s Director of Student
Both elementary schools
words and books.
Achievement.
were rated an A (exemplary
Likewise, White River
progress) on the PL 221 school
Valley Jr/Sr High School demonstrated the
ranking. White River Valley Jr/Sr High School
highest growth in scores on Mathematics in
received a rating of Academic progress on
the county. Overall, students at the Jr/Sr High
this year’s PL 221 school ranking. This was an
School demonstrated significant increases
increase over last year’s ranking of academic
in proficiency on standardized testing with
probation. 75.3 percent of all students meeting state
“The rating of academic progress was the
standards. This is an increase of 6.4 percent
highest the high school could receive since
over the previous year’s scores. On average,
it just barely missed meeting AYP (Average
students at the Jr/Sr High demonstrated more
Yearly Progress) for one of its subgroups,”
than one year’s academic growth in a year.
Language Arts for free/reduced lunch stu “White River Valley teachers and adminisdents, Langevin said. Even so, this ranking is
tration are diligently pursuing every measure
tied for the highest ranking in the county.
possible to continue this upward trend with
White River Valley Jr/Sr High School has
regards to our student achievement data,”
implemented a homeroom period dedicated
Langevin said.
to providing literacy development for stu “Staff at both elementary schools is
dents demonstrating academic needs while
implementing a new reading and math
also providing enrichment activities aimed at
instructional program that advocates the high
developing skills for success in the college or
expectations of common core philosophies,”
workplace environment.
he continued. “The staff at the Jr/Sr High
is working on developing RTI tier two
Substitute Teachers Needed
interventions to serve the needs of our at-risk
White River Valley Schools is in need
students. All staff throughout the district is
of substitute teachers. For additional
committed to providing the best educational
information and application materials, please contact Kim Downey at
opportunities tailored to meet the individual
812-659-1424.
needs of our students.”
inside
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Superintendent’s
Message
New Video
Surveillance
Equipment Part of
Continued Student
Safety Efforts
New Program Puts
Students on
“Journeys” to Great
Reading Skills
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Contact Us!
Calendar
Above: For Lyons second
graders, “Journeys” to
better reading include
writing out spelling words
in salt tubs. See story,
page 3.
• Performance—Percentage of all students who pass the English/Language
Arts and Math portions of the ISTEP+
(averaged across subjects and grade
levels)
• Improvement—Improvement in the
passing percentage of students passing
English/Language Arts and Math portions of the ISTEP+ from one year to the
next, averaged over a three-year period.
Superintendent’s
Message
This is an exciting time at White
River Valley Schools because we’re seeing the results of our students putting
their brains to hard work.
As a story in this issue of White River
Valley Pride explains in greater detail, all
our schools made great strides in increasing ISTEP+ scores this spring.
The Indiana State Board of Education
hands out the grades based on three
factors:
• Adequate Yearly Progress status—
Schools that do not make AYP under the
federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
for two consecutive years can place no
higher than the “Academic Progress”
category.
Given our grades, we are doing well
in all three categories. These successes
are possible because our students are
taking their education seriously—and
so are our administrators, teachers and
staff.
Committees meet throughout the
year to ensure all district faculty and
staff are addressing the academic and
social/emotional needs of our students in
a proactive manner. We are also working together as a district to develop and
refine effective response to intervention
­techniques—that is, ways to help struggling students gain a firm footing on the
“Brains first
and then
Hard Work.”
—Eeyore in A.A. Milne’s
The House at Pooh Corner
academic path—as well as school discipline plans.
In this issue you will find an article
describing our teachers and students’
happiness with a new reading program
in action at the two elementary schools.
You’ll also learn about some of the security measures, including new video surveillance equipment at White River Valley
Jr/Sr High School, that we use to keep our
schools safe havens so true learning can
take place. Our improved ISTEP+ scores
indicate that’s happening.
Let me congratulate students, teachers, parents and staff for our increased
academic success. Let’s keep putting our
brains to hard work!
—Dr. Layton E. Wall,
Superintendent of Schools
New Video Surveillance Equipment Part of
Continued Student Safety Efforts
Lee Ann Engelhardt, Principal, White River Valley Jr/Sr High School
After receiving a grant for
school safety and security, all
White River Valley Schools added video
surveillance equipment this summer to
cover all main doors to each building. In
addition, visitors must be buzzed in to
each main entrance of the schools. These
doors are locked during student education hours. Please understand these
measures are strictly for the safety
of our students and staff.
The Jr./Sr. High School added additional
cameras for their parking lots and interior
areas previously out of range of the first
surveillance system which was installed during the 2007–2008 school year. At this point
the Jr/Sr High School has video surveillance
equipment also covering student locker
areas, the gym, athletic locker rooms and
high-traffic areas in the school.
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Assistant Principal Jimmy Fuller demonstrates
how one of the security cameras monitor school
entrances.
With the equipment we’re able to make
sure students, staff and visitors are safe
during school hours and extra-curricular
activities and programs.
We are most excited about the cameras
covering the parking areas because previously those areas were difficult to monitor. By keeping an eye on these locations,
we can prevent trouble from happening
and step in quickly when something
does occur.
The presence of highly visible surveillance cameras in prominent locations
serve as a deterrent to thieves, vandals
and others wanting to participate in
illegal activities. Cameras can help inform
school officials and police of threatening
activities in real time, and also allow us to
(continued on page 4)
White River Valley Pride
New Program Puts Students on
“Journeys” to Great Reading Skills
Kurt Lentz, Principal, Lyons Elementary School, and Jill Staggs, Principal, Worthington Elementary School
Beginning this school year,
students at Lyons and Worthington
Elementary Schools are using a new core
reading program, Journeys, to boost
comprehension and fluency, understand
phonics and increase vocabulary.
The program uses a “Focus Wall,”
a blueprint for weekly instruction;
“Reading Tool Kits,” for targeted skillbased intervention by teachers; and
“Write-In Readers,” for readers who
struggle. The vocabulary instruction
helps students through key steps in
acquiring, practicing and applying a rich
vocabulary.
Third- through sixth-graders use as a
final unit the Journeys Adventure Unit,
which serves as an end-of-the-year review
for both the major comprehension skills
and strategies and vocabulary essential
for growth in the coming year.
Every student receives The Adventure
Unit, a student magazine proving wholegroup support for whole-group intervention in a student-friendly manner.
Teachers and students at both schools
praise the new reading program.
“The vocabulary cards include not only
the word but have an example and color
pictures—I like having several reader
options other than the basic text,” said
Worthington second-grade teacher Deb
Nolting. “We have leveled readers, decodable readers and vocabulary readers. I
also love having the stories on CDs so the
students can listen to them in the listening centers.”
Journeys reminds Lyons third-grade
teacher Linda Floyd of the style she used
when beginning teaching 30 years ago—
students grouped by level of ability, with
learning centers to help them get extra
practice on desired skills.
“Now the program is standard based
with fluency and accuracy being the main
goals,” she said. “The leveled supplemental stories with this series come with
fluency reading passages that I use daily.
The students work hard trying to improve
their scores, and are so excited when they
are successful.”
Teachers at both schools described the
leveled readers as interesting and informative for all reading groups. They also
like the plans included for daily whole
group as well as small group instruction,
the numerous ideas for advanced readers,
and the spelling, grammar, phonics and
daily writing prompts included in daily
lessons.
A dry erase board helps elementary students learn
to spell and write.
Below: Lyons offers learning stations to
enhance students reading skills.
Above: Worthington students in Mrs. File’s
class enjoy books on audio—or just read
them the old-fashioned way.
School District to
Offer CPR Training
White River Valley School District
will offer basic CPR training on Oct. 13
and/or Oct. 17. Class sizes are restricted
to six individuals per class.
White River Valley School Corporation
“The stories are interesting and about
ideas that the children can relate to,”
said Lyons second-grade teacher Kathy
Morrison. “That helps keep them motivated to read.”
The stories have “a message of hope
and encouragement,” said Worthington
sixth-grade teacher Nicole Walters.
“The students seem to enjoy the stories
because they are more modern. One story
even included texting jargon, which the
students liked.”
Worthington fourth-grader Claire
Hostetter said the stories keep her attention more because she likes them. Several
other Worthington students, such as
fifth-grader Gracie Sturgis, like the listening centers, while second-grader Garrett
Sloan enjoys the learning stations.
“The students enjoy the learning
­stations that engage with meaningful
activities,” said Mrs. Floyd of Lyons.
“The bottom line is literacy. What a
­powerful gift.”
For more information, please contact
Jim Fuller, WRV Jr/Sr High School
Assistant Principal and Safe School
Director, at 812-659-2274. 3
Our Phone Numbers
Administration Center....(812) 659-1424
Fax ....................................(812) 659-2278
Jr/Sr High School............(812) 659-2274
Fax.....................................(812) 659-2283
PRIDE
white river valley
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Indianapolis, IN
Permit #6783
White River Valley School Corporation
PO Box 1470
Switz City, IN 47465
Worthington
Elementary School .........(812) 875-3839
Fax.....................................(812) 875-2199
Lyons
Elementary School .........(812) 659-3915
Fax.....................................(812) 659-2599
*****ECRWSS
Postal Customer
Our Web Address
www.wrv.k12.in.us
Board of
School Trustees
Jason Davidson...................... President
Calendar, 2011–2012
Andrew Graves.............. Vice President
Oct. 14
End of First Grading Period
Charlie Records......................Secretary
Oct. 20–21
Fall Break (No School)*
Glen Cundiff.............................. Member
Nov. 24-25
Thanksgiving Vacation (No School)*
Mark Downey........................... Member
Dec. 21
End of Second Grading Period
Roger Shake.............................. Member
Dec. 22–Jan. 1
Christmas Vacation (No School)
Roger Weaver........................... Member
Jan. 2
School Resumes
Feb. 17
Winter Break (No School)*
Feb. 20
Presidents Day (No School)*
Mar. 9
End of Third Grading Period
Mar. 26–30
Spring Break (No School)
Apr. 6
Good Friday (No School)*
May 11
Snow Day ( No School)*
May 18
Snow Day (No School)*
May 23
Last Student Day/End of Fourth Grading Period
B
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847-8681
Lyons Branch
659-9966 or
1-800-319-6110
bloombank.com
*Make-Up Day
New Video Surveillance Equipment
(continued from page 2)
take quick action in evacuating students,
faculty and staff in case of a fire or other
emergencies.
More than cameras keep our students,
faculty and staff safe.
Parents and community members
visiting any of our schools will notice the
enhanced security of the entrances. Locked
doors prevent anyone who should not be at
one of our schools from barging in. Visitors
press a button to signal their arrival, and
thanks to the cameras we can see who they
are before we remotely open the door.
Under Indiana law, parents and community members who want to volunteer,
chaperone or work as substitute teachers undergo a limited criminal history
and background check. (Only those who
are finalists for a full-time position and
likely to have direct, ongoing contact
with children within the scope of their
employment undergo an extensive
criminal history check.) Again, this is part
of the process aimed at protecting our
students.
We want parents and community
members to understand the new security
systems are designed to ensure the safety
of our students and help us provide the
best atmosphere possible for learning.
We want to make sure everyone inside
our schools is there to do a job—and that
includes our students.
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