1. education
2. school

May 2015
USTANG EXPRESS
Corporation Monthly Newsletter for the School Town of Munster
The Last Bell
In this issue:




It is that time of the year when school begins to wind down and students
become more anxious for the last bell to ring and summer recess to begin.
For our seniors, this will be the last time they hear the school bell, they walk
Dr. Jeff Hendrix
the halls, and see their friends and teachers. It may bring some tears and
Superintendent
some sadness. This will not last long. A new chapter is about to begin for
our seniors. Many will be entering college in the fall. Others will join the
military. Some will begin a new job or learn a new trade. At the School Town of Munster,
we (teachers and administrators) believe that we have prepared our graduates to begin
this new chapter in their lives to be successful. We also know that our work as educators
is not done.
NTZ
Information
Next school year, the School Town of Munster will begin to fully implement a five-year
strategic plan that will take our students to even higher levels of achievement.
Committees of students, parents, community members, teachers and administrators have
Registration
developed a plan that will emphasize strengthening our K-12 literacy program, improving
Dates
our parent, family and community relations and continuing to provide a safe, orderly and
caring learning environment for all students. We will continue to focus on hiring highly
School News qualified employees who will adhere to best practices within their areas of operation. We
will have a laser-like focus on being fiscally responsible and good stewards of taxpayer
Corporation
dollars while operating in an efficient manner.
Contact
information
As a school corporation, we have accomplished many great things for and with our
students. We will not rest on those accomplishments. As we continue to be one of the top
10 school corporations in the State of Indiana, we are driven by our desire to ensure that
every student in the School Town of Munster is provided with the opportunity and
encouragement to grow as a learner, but most importantly, be prepared when he or she
graduates from the School Town of Munster to begin his or her next chapter in life
successfully.
We hope that our students and families have a restful and enjoyable summer. Don’t forget
to take time to read. We look forward to having you back in the August. Have a great
summer!
Dr. Jeff Hendrix
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 2
Super Chat with Dr. Jeff Hendrix
Super Chat with Dr. Jeff Hendrix is a monthly podcast program for the School Town of Munster
hosted on the corporation website at http://www.munster.us. The program is designed to provide corporation and school information on events, issues and information that is pertinent to the School Town
of Munster community. Topics for this monthly program will range from finance/budgeting, academic
programs, curriculum, assessment, and instructional practices to student organizations, extracurricular
activities and sports. The program this month will feature Dr. Jeff Hendrix speaking about our Strategic
Plan. The show is hosted by Gary Puckett, a national talk show host and writer. To access the show
from the STM website, the listener must click onto the FlyPod logo, where the listener will be redirected to the podcast page and player. There is also a comment section on the FlyPod page for community feedback. We look forward to our community’s responses and ideas for future shows.
Registration Dates for the 2015—2016 School Year
Wednesday, July 29-
Elementary Registration
9:00 am—12:00 pm and 3:00 pm—5:00 pm
Monday, August 3 -
WW/MHS Registration
8:00 am—12:00 pm and 4:00 pm—6:00 pm
WW 6th grade orientation A-F 8:00 am—10:00 am G-K 10:00-12:00
Tuesday, August 4 -
WW/MHS Registration
8:00 am—12:00 pm and 4:00 pm—6:00 pm
WW 6th grade orientation L-P 8:00 am—10:00 am Q-Z 10:00-12:00
Wednesday, August 5 - WW/MHS Registration
8:00 am—3:00 pm Open
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 3
CURRICULUM
ISTEP+ (Grades 3-8)
All students are currently in the process of finishing ISTEP, Part II testing. The purpose of
the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress Plus (ISTEP+) program is to measure student achievement in the subject areas of English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science (Grades 4
and 6), and Social Studies (Grades 5 and 7). In particular, ISTEP+ reports student achievement
levels according to the Indiana Academic Standards that were adopted by the Indiana State Board
of Education. An Applied Skills Assessment and a Multiple-Choice Assessment, which are required
components of the ISTEP+ program, are used to measure these standards. This year, ISTEP+
was the focus of much publicity due to the length of the assessment. In order to shorten the test,
districts were given the option to forgo testing Social Studies for the 14-15 test administration.
School Town of Munster chose to participate in the opt-out, so students will receive scores for English/Language Arts, Mathematics and Science (Grades 4 and 6). Cut scores for this year’s test will
be set in the late summer with scores being returned to districts in the fall.
End of Course Assessments
The purpose of the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP+) program is
to measure student achievement in the subject areas of English/Language Arts, Science, and Mathematics. In particular, ISTEP+ reports student achievement levels according to the Indiana Academic Standards that were adopted by the Indiana State Board of Education. The ISTEP+ End of
Course Assessments (ECAs) are criterion-referenced assessments developed specifically for students completing their instruction in Algebra I, Biology I, or English 10. Due to changes in the state
assessment program beginning next year, 8th grade students currently enrolled in Algebra will not
be taking the End of Course Assessment. Students at Munster High School will be taking End of
Course Assessments from May 6-26.
Advanced Placement Exams
Advanced Placement (AP) is a research-backed method to facilitate student participation and success through delivery of college-level courses and corresponding exams in the high school setting
to qualified high school students. In 2009 the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) set a goal
for 25 percent of all high school students to receive a passing score on an AP or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam or successfully complete dual credit coursework. The percentage of high
school graduates passing an AP exam increased from 12.4 percent in 2010 to 14 percent in 2011.
In 2009, the pass rate was 10.4 percent. This increase gave Indiana the second highest two-year
growth in the nation. Students at Munster High School will begin taking AP exams on May 4 th
through May 15th. A score of 3, 4, or 5 could earn college credit and advanced placement in college.
Professional Development
On April 14, 15 and 16, ninety teachers and administrators participated in professional development
entitled ‘Classroom Assessment for Student Learning’. Dr. Natalie Bolton, Assistant Professor of
Research, Evaluation and Measurement at the University of Missouri, St. Louis facilitated the training which was held at Munster High School. Special thanks to the PTOs of James B. Eads Elementary School, Ernest R. Elliott Elementary School, Frank H. Hammond Elementary School, Wilbur Wright Middle School and Munster High School for paying for lunches for staff during the professional development days. Funding for this professional development opportunity came from the
Title II, Professional Development Grant.
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 4
CURRICULUM….cont. from page 3
On April 21 and 22, kindergarten teachers, grades 1-5 high ability cluster teachers and grades 6-8
advanced and honors teachers attended professional development relative to characteristics and
curriculum shifts necessary in high ability classrooms. Presenters were Dr. Virginia Burney and Dr.
Kristie Spiers-Neumeister, high ability experts from Ball State University and consultants for the Indiana Department of Education. Funding for this professional development opportunity came from
the High Ability Grant.
Munster Education Foundation
Special thanks to the Munster Education Foundation for providing a grant in the amount of
$10,502.00 to support the ‘Educational Impact for Teacher Evaluation’ program. This program will
be used by every teacher in the district as we move to implement Charlotte Danielson’s Framework
for Teaching during the 2015-16 school year.
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 5
Transportation News
A decline in funding is causing the School Town of Munster to enforce a one-mile “No Transportation Zone” (NTZ) policy.
Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, students living one mile or less from their school will not
be transported to school by a School Town of Munster bus.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Property tax caps (also known as the Circuit Breaker) were passed by Indiana legislators in 2008.
When they were being considered, many districts across the state informed elected officials that
they would result in reduced services. This has now come to fruition. Since 2009, the Circuit
Breaker has prohibited the School Town of Munster from collecting millions of dollars for Transportation.
Public schools are limited in the funds that can be raised to pay for transportation and all other expenses. On top of those limits, the Circuit Breaker reduced funds available even further.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Please stay calm. We don’t want to burden our children with the fear of change.

Work with the PTO’s and other parents to explore walking groups and/or car pools.

Contact your legislators! They listen to parents. Urge them to find a sustainable solution.

Check our website at www.munster.us . Between now and the start of the next school year, we
will be posting helpful information.
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 6
Munster Poilce Department News
MUNSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SERVE AS D.A.R.E. ROLE MODELS TO FIFTH GRADERS
Each semester, several Munster High School students are selected by the Munster Police Department to
serve as Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Role Models. These students are chosen due to their
participation in positive activities and positive decision-making skills, and accompany D.A.R.E. Officer James
Ghrist to the five elementary schools to answer questions from his fifth grade D.A.R.E. students about responding to peer pressure, handling bullying issues, and the importance of making good choices. The high
school students that are chosen for each group are usually asked to visit the elementary school that they
themselves attended. Pictured above are the students who served as D.A.R.E. Role Models at Eads Elementary School on April 21st as they answered questions from the fifth graders. Pictured below from left
to right are: Margaret Vaitkus, Timothy DeRolf, Rachel Jones, Alex Samuels, Austin Andello, Alex
Mis, Tatiana Shinkan, and Camille Jancosek.
MUNSTER FIFTH GRADER WINS PRIZE IN D.A.R.E. POSTER CONTEST Lindsey Guy, left, a fifth grader at Frank Hammond Elementary School, was recently awarded one of only five honorable mention awards
in a state-wide poster contest sponsored by Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) Indiana. Guy's
poster was chosen for this honor out of hundreds of posters that were submitted by D.A.R.E. Officers from all
over the State of Indiana, and she received an iPod shuffle from D.A.R.E. Indiana as her prize. Guy is pictured with her D.A.R.E. Officer, James Ghrist of the Munster Police Department. Guy will graduate later this
month from the D.A.R.E. Program along with almost 300 other students from Eads, Frank Hammond, and
Elliott Elementary Schools. Please check with your school for the dates and times of these graduation ceremonies.
"TAKE
25" DAY - THURSDAY, MAY 21ST The Munster Police Department and Munster schools will
once again be participating this year in "Take 25" Day, which is held in conjunction with National Missing &
Exploited Children Day (which is being held that week). For the past few years on this date, homeroom
teachers are encouraged to "take 25" minutes to speak with their students about stranger-danger, internet
safety, and other related topics in an effort to raise safety awareness among our community's young people. In addition, parents are also encouraged to "take 25" minutes with their children that evening to discuss
the same types of topics. Parents are encouraged to make plans to participate again as we work together as
a community to try and protect our community's children and teenagers. For more information about "Take
25" and National Missing & Exploited Children Day, please go to http://www.take25.org or contact Officer
James Ghrist at 219-836-6639.
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 7
Eads Elementary School
CELEBRATING FAMILIES AT EADS
Eads Elementary hosted Grandparent’s Day on Saturday, April 18th. Grandparents and special guests
from all over came to enjoy breakfast, have their pictures taken, make crafts, browse the book fair and
spend time with their grandchildren exploring our beautiful school. There were lots of smiles from ear
to ear! It was an enjoyable day for everyone. Thanks “Grandparents” for spending the day with us!
ROCKIN’ THE ISTEP
Students in grades K-5 enjoyed an afternoon
sock hop to shake off the stress and get
ready to take the ISTEP test. Students learned
how to do the chicken dance and other fun
group dances led by Mrs. Bevil and the specials
teachers.
Mrs. Bevil
Principal
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 7
Elliott Elementary School
Elliott Happenings……..
The Elliott students had the opportunity to participate in a hands-on STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics) assembly. This touring program turned our gymnasium into a
state-of-the-art hands-on children's museum. This experience exposed our students to high-tech
fields of study they have not had access to. The students watched a demonstration of a state-ofthe-art 3D printer in action. They had the opportunity to see a truly cutting-edge humanoid robot
in action. Students were able to turn their energy into a dazzling light show. As students pedaled a bike, they converted their kinetic energy into electricity, first illuminating low power LEDs
until finally creating enough power to light halogen lamps. These were just a few of the experiences the Elliott Students had.
Elliott had an Earth Day Night on April 21st. Parents and students were able to go room to room
and complete activities to help our environment. Families made cards with recycled paper and
flower seeds. They planted a vegetable seed and learned about farming. Students also made a
bird feeder to take home for the yards. Lastly, the students learned how to paint with music. It
was an engaging and enjoyable time had by our Elliott families.
The 4th graders took their annual Indianapolis Trip. Their first stop was in Lafayette at the Tippecanoe Battleground. The second stop was the Indiana State Museum. The students learned
about the Hall of Famous Hoosiers and Fred the Mastodon. The third stop was the State House.
The students went on a 90 minute guided tour of the State House. Lastly the students went to
Connor Prairie.
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 9
Frank Hammond Elementary Notes
FHH Happenings
April was filled with Spring Activities at FHH. Our Spring Book Fair and Special Persons’ Day
were a huge success. Grandparents and special guests of our Kindergarten, First, and Fourth
grade students met in the Cafeteria to hear our students sing songs and participate in family oriented activities. Afterwards, students and guests visited together and browsed the Book Fair.
In the classrooms, our first graders were thrilled with all they learned during their science unit on
the Painted Lady Butterfly. In kindergarten they get their first look at the life cycle of the butterfly.
We build on that in first grade by giving each child their very own Painted Lady larva in a cup.
They watch it daily as it eats and grows. When the larva goes into a chrysalis they get moved
into a large observation box to watch them finally emerge as butterflies. The whole process
takes approximately three weeks. The students keep a journal to record the changes they observe. Finally, students have to release them in either our outdoor science lab or playground. In
addition, the students enjoy reading both nonfiction and fiction books on butterflies. The children
had some excellent reflections in their journals:
“I loved watching mine eat! I can’t believe how much he ate!”
“It was fun to come to school and see how much they changed!”
“It sure isn’t easy to become a butterfly! I am glad that we could help them out!”
Students thought that it was so cool that they all started as a larva and each larva went through
the stages at their own pace!
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 10
Frank Hammond Elementary Notes
FHH Happenings….cont. from page 9
Our fifth grade classes have been studying the musculoskeletal system in
Science. They learned about bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons,
and actually investigated these parts using cooked brisket and chicken
wings. We learned how biomedical engineers have designed prosthetics
to replace a part of the musculoskeletal system by watching several
videos.
Then students were challenged to be part of their own biomedical engineering team and had the opportunity to use their creativity, problemsolving, and science knowledge to design a prosthetic leg using materials
gathered at a construction site, materials brought from home, or materials
created by students. Each group worked on their design, and groups demonstrated their design
to their class. Some of the variables they had to consider included balance, strength, durability,
comfort, size/fit, and cost. After the project groups reflected on how they could improve their
prosthetic by a different design, or using different materials just as real biomedical engineers
would do.
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 11
Wilbur Wright Middle School
8th Grade Students Commemorate Years at WWMS with 8th Grade Sweatshirt
The 8th grade students at Wilbur Wright Middle School continued a tradition that was started last year of
designing and ordering an 8th grade sweatshirt. The color of the sweatshirts this year was red, with the
slogan on the shirt being “We’ll Make H15tory.” Unlike last year, the students also decided to have each
8th grade student’s name listed on the back of the sweatshirt, making it a “wearable yearbook,” of sorts.
Thank you to Mrs. Adams for organizing the process of ordering and delivering the sweatshirts to our 8 th
grade students in time to wear for those chilly April days.
8th Grade Recognition Ceremony Moved to May 28
Due to the four snow days that were added to the end of the school year, the 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony has been moved from May 21 to May 28 at 6:30pm. As the students prepare for the end of the
school year, they will be able to attend the walk-through for the ceremony during the school day, attend
and celebrate their time at WWMS with their friends and families that evening, then attend the last day of
school where they will continue to meet with their classmates at an ice cream social during the afternoon of
Friday, May 29. Recognition Day and the annual ice cream social are great opportunities for the students
to reflect on their accomplishments and memories they made with their classmates. As they get ready to
go next door to MHS, we would like to congratulate them for all of their accomplishments at Wilbur Wright
Middle School and wish them the best in high school and beyond.
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 12
Wilbur Wright Middle School
Mr. Backs Recognized for ITEEA Teacher Excellence Award
Mr. Backs was recently the proud recipient of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association’s Teacher Excellence Award. Mr. Backs “Project Lead the Way” Gateway to Technology class,
introducing students to engineering, design, and robotics. Congratulations on a well-deserved award, Mr.
Backs!
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 13
Munster High School News
It is hard to fathom that the end of the school year is just around the corner. May is by far the busiest
month of the year at the high school with end of year testing, AP testing, award ceremonies and the national recognition of our students through various venues. We are extremely proud of all our students’
accomplishments and achievements this school year.
This year was a record year for the amount of AP tests being administered as well as the amount of
students taking AP tests. We have 500 students taking AP tests, and 1007 tests being administered!
Our previous high was last year’s 473 students taking AP tests and 1006 tests administered. We also
are seeing students continue to take more concurrent enrollment classes for college credit. The choice
to do this is saving our MHS families thousands of dollars in college costs.
On a more student-specific note, we continue to excel in competitions and receive national recognition
for student and staff members accomplishments.
Recently, the Paragon (2014 yearbook) won a Pacemaker from the National Scholastic Press Association. The award is the NSPA's top honor and was only awarded to 36 other high school yearbooks in
the nation. The awards are not ranked and are bestowed upon the best. Generally, the winners are
considered the top 1% in the country. The last time MHS received this award was 2006.
We also learned that three newspaper staffers earned national awards for their writing. Erin Gallagher,
senior, won in sports writing. Meena Kandallu, junior, won in feature writing. Mariah Villaroman, sophomore, won in Infographic design.
These national awards, called Gold Keys, are awarded by the journalistic honor society Quill
& Scroll. We also won two Gold Keys for yearbook (one for photography, one for the yearbook overall)
in the winter.
Erin Gallagher
Meena Kandallu
Mariah Villaroman
We the People and DECA recently competed at the national level in Washington D.C. and Orlando. We
the People finished 10th in the nation and were able to testify on Capitol Hill in the government oversight
hearing room. As I write this, we are waiting to hear how DECA performed in Orlando. Also, Science
Olympiad will be competing in Lincoln, Nebraska in the middle of May, and we look forward to a good
showing form our State Champion team!
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 14
Munster High School News cont. from page 13….
We the People in the government oversight hearing room on Capitol Hill.
DECA at the International competition in Orlando, FL.
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 15
Munster High School News cont. from page 14….
Recently, some of our students from S.T.A.N.D attended a diversity dinner at
Rich South High School.
Good luck to all of our spring athletes as they ready for their respective state tournaments!
Finally, as we come closer to the end of the school year, I hope that everyone has a restful
and enjoyable summer break. This was another amazing year of accomplishments from our
students.
Sincerely,
Mike Wells
Principal, MHS
TEACHING TODAY for TOMORROW
Page 16
Student Nutrition & Food Services
“Feeding the Future
One Bite At A Time”
Spring Into Taste Tests
The elementary cafeterias are enjoying some spring taste tests. In April the students will have
tried Edamame and Rhubarb and in May they will taste test Brussel Sprouts. These are fun
times to give a new food a try. The students after tasting the new foods are given a sticker to
put on a “Thumbs-Up” poster or a “Thumbs-Down” Poster.
The majority of students at Elliott
Elementary school voted “Thumbs-Down” for
Edamame.
Reminders for the Fall
2015-2016 School Registration:
The Student Nutrition & Food Service Department will once again be available at all school registrations
for your convenience. You may make pre-payment deposits onto your student(s) meal account and turn
in meal assistance applications at registration. Menus, meal assistance applications and other important
information will be available as well. Payments in the form of personal checks will ONLY be taken at registration. We look forward to seeing you there!
Online Payment System – Available For Your Convenience
The Food Service and Nutrition Department offers an online
payment system for your convenience. With this convenient service parents
can make online payments directly to your students account, view www.myschoolbucks.com your student’s purchases, check balances, set up recurring payments,
create low
balance alerts and much more from the convenience of your home. There is a small fee for this service.
To Enroll or Access:
Go to www.myschoolbucks.com and register for an account.
1. Activate your account and add students. You will need your student’s name and school ID number.
2. Provide your credit or debit card information.
A small fee is charged per transaction.
Meal Assistance Applications
New applications for free or reduced priced meals and textbook assistance will be available on the school
website or at all school offices after July 1, 2015. Households MUST complete a NEW application each
year. Last year’s application will carry over for lunch assistance the first 30 days of school OR until a new
application has been processed. Only 1 application per household is required. All households will be notified by mail.
Thank You!The School Town of Munster Food Service Department thanks all of its dedicated customers and supporters. We have enjoyed serving the students and staff of the School Town of Munster
throughout the school year! Enjoy your summer!
TEACHING TODAY for
TOMORROW
before school lets out!
Munster Education Foundation can make your gift giving easier!
Give that special educator an apple!
Make a contribution to the Munster Education Foundation, and an individual
of your choice, affiliated with the Munster schools, will be honored.
He/she will receive a specially designed card, with your name,
special greetings, and a gold apple pin.
Complete the form below and send your check payable to:
Munster Education Foundation, P.O. Box 3046, Munster, IN 46321
All donors will receive an acknowledgement with receipt for a tax-deductible gift.
Forms and donations must be in the Foundation box by Friday, May 22
in order for honoree to receive gift before Summer Vacation.
________________________________________________________
Please submit one form per honoree
NAME of Person Being Honored _____________________________________________
School/Building/Bus # ____________________________________________________
Donor Name ______________________________________ Phone ___________________
(Name, as you want it to appear on gift card)
Address _______________________________________________________________________
Email Address ____________________________ Donation Amount Enclosed _______________
Include your special message on a separate piece of paper! It will be enclosed with the gift card &
apple pin.
Suggested donation: $15.00 or more
Vision
All School Town of Munster students have the skills necessary to participate successfully in a global society.
Mission
The School Town of Munster, in partnership with all stakeholders, implements equitable and challenging learning experiences that provide the foundation for independent and innovative thinking.
Beliefs
The success of our school system depends on the collaboration and commitment of all students,
parents, and staff to high quality standards, expectations and performances.
Addressing unique learning styles and needs enables all students to learn.
A safe and supportive learning environment enables continuous learning opportunities for all students and staff.
Students will solve real world problems through the development of creativity, critical thinking, and
communication skills.
The curriculum is aligned both horizontally and vertically with national, state and local standards
and includes a variety of assessment strategies that provide feedback about learning to students,
parents and staff.
Data is used to drive instructional practices and monitor program effectiveness.
Professional development is an integral part of our ongoing plan for continuous improvement in the
use of research based instructional practices.
Diversity enriches our school system through the recognition of various ideas, values and cultures.
Access to and utilization of current technology is necessary for success in an ever-changing world.
All stakeholders have a voice and the opportunity to participate in the educational process.
School Contact Information
Administration Offices:
219.836.9111
8616 Columbia Avenue, Munster, IN 46321
Munster High School Office:
219.836.3200
8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321
Wilbur Wright Middle School Office:
219.836.6260
8650 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321
James B. Eads Elementary School Office:
219.836.8635
8000 Jackson St., Munster, IN 46321
Ernest R. Elliott Elementary School Office:
219.838.5250
8718 White Oak Ave, Munster, IN 46321
Frank H. Hammond Elementary School Office:
1301 Fran Lin Pky, Munster, IN 46321
219.838.2060