Valley Board Hears About Student Assistance Plan
November 15, 2016 at 7:23 p.m.
By Carol Anders-
Tippecanoe Valley High School Principal Dr. Michael Bendicsen gave an overview of services available to students.
Bendicsen said, “Many of our “academic problems really are other problems.”
He said they have referred 33 students to the Bowen Center and 22 have already met with Bowen staff.
Bendicsen said, “Eight students expressed suicidal thoughts and/or ideation.”
As part of the corporation’s agreement with Bowen Center, two 50-minute sessions are made available free of charge. He indicated that any subsequent sessions would be paid for through parent’s insurance, Medicaid, reduced fees and school assistance.
At this point, three parents have declined the mental health services and some parents have opted to have services through other providers.
Bendicsen said, “This is a key part of our suicide prevention efforts. This is not a stand-alone program, but is coordinated by our guidance counselors and administrators, Peer Facilitators, PLC, teacher support, TVSC school-based therapist and MHT.” He went on to say that Bowen has provided significant additional training and consultations.
A Goshen-based organization, Ryan’s Place, also will provide support for grieving children, teens and their families at no cost. Services include group and individual programs for those grieving the death of a loved one, support groups in area schools, crisis program for therapy after crisis events and anticipatory therapy.
Superintendent Brett Boggs said the corporation will be holding two events on the suicide topic. The first will be at 4:15 p.m. today at the Mentone Elementary building. Teachers and the public in general may attend the training.
On Saturday, a seven-county region of the International Survivors of Suicide will be presenting. The presentation will be from 9:30 a.m. until noon. The public is welcome to attend.
The board approved accepting a donation from Bendicsen for $250. Bendicsen was given a stipend for his presentation at the Indiana School Safety Academy and he passed along the stipend to help fund the Bowen Center Student Assistance Program at TVHS.
Boggs requested an initial consideration from the board on the 2017-2018 master school calendar. Highlights included in the calendar show 180 student days and 185 teacher days; first student day of Aug. 7; last student date of May 17; and dates of breaks. There are 10 emergency make-up days prior to graduation. Boggs said if the make-up days are not exceeded, graduation will be June 3.
Final approval of the calendar is expected at the Dec. 12 board meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Blaine Conley reported on the progress of the Farm to Fork initiative at TVSC. The initiative is designed to put beef raised on school grounds into the school cafeterias. Conley said the construction of a cattle shelter was done by students of Dean Franklin’s Introduction to Construction class and Mike Jones’ Ag. Construction class, along with area resident Dan Peters.
According to Conley, Peters has built over 30 of the type of shelters constructed by the students. Conley said, “He (Peters) has a passion for agriculture. He spoke positively about working with TVHS students.”
The project includes the shelter, pole light, security camera, concrete slab/water tank, self-feeder and fencing. Conley said they will be pursuing grants for recurring costs.
Middle School Principal Scott Backus presented an overview of the school’s One To One Project that has given all 404 students personal technology to use for class work and homework. Backus credited those who made it possible for every student having a device within three days after the start of the school year.
He said, “Students are learning to be digital citizens.”
He told the board they will hold a “mock” ISTEP test trial as students take acuity tests. He indicated they can test to make sure the technical system can carry the number of devices that would be used at the same time.
Backus said they have only had 29 device damages with most of the damage being screen breakage. He said most of the repairs were made under the warranty from the company providing the devices.
Bendicsen, Backus and Akron Elementary Principal Chrissy Mills gave their school improvement plans to the board. They said the reports that must be submitted to the state for review are each over 75 pages long.
All four Valley schools received a letter grade from the state last year of “C.”
Students at TVHS passed at a rate of 71.8 percent on End of Course Assessments. The graduation rate increased from 76 percent in the 2012-2013 school year to 92 percent in 2014-2015. Bendicsen said they have a number of programs in place to raise the school grade.
Mills said they are following curriculum maps that they designed to follow state required standards. She said parents’ feedback from a survey they had in May show parents wanted an upgraded facility. The building project that has been in the works for several months is nearing completion.
Backus said parent survey results for the middle school showed the need for more technology. He said they are meeting that goal with the One To One program. He said students are coming into the middle school with better reading skills.
The board accepted a donation from the Kosciusko County Historical Society Genealogy Library. The donation was a copy of a book showing schools in the county from the years 1835-1975. Boggs said the book will be housed in the TVHS media center and will be available for students and the public to use.
The board publicly recognized the TVMS Spell Bowl Team for placing first in the Running Rivers Conference Spell Bowl competition and also capturing first place in the Junior Area Spell Bowl. The team was top-ranked in the state in Class 3. On Saturday, the team placed fourth in the state competition.
Team members include Abigail Bowers, Mallory Bowers, Cheney Canada, Devin Chandler, Thatcher Keesee, Kennedy Kohler, Emily McGriff, Mateo Salazar and Riley Bollinger. They are coached by Susanne Siebrase. Siebrase has been coaching teams for the past 10 years.
Tippecanoe Valley High School Principal Dr. Michael Bendicsen gave an overview of services available to students.
Bendicsen said, “Many of our “academic problems really are other problems.”
He said they have referred 33 students to the Bowen Center and 22 have already met with Bowen staff.
Bendicsen said, “Eight students expressed suicidal thoughts and/or ideation.”
As part of the corporation’s agreement with Bowen Center, two 50-minute sessions are made available free of charge. He indicated that any subsequent sessions would be paid for through parent’s insurance, Medicaid, reduced fees and school assistance.
At this point, three parents have declined the mental health services and some parents have opted to have services through other providers.
Bendicsen said, “This is a key part of our suicide prevention efforts. This is not a stand-alone program, but is coordinated by our guidance counselors and administrators, Peer Facilitators, PLC, teacher support, TVSC school-based therapist and MHT.” He went on to say that Bowen has provided significant additional training and consultations.
A Goshen-based organization, Ryan’s Place, also will provide support for grieving children, teens and their families at no cost. Services include group and individual programs for those grieving the death of a loved one, support groups in area schools, crisis program for therapy after crisis events and anticipatory therapy.
Superintendent Brett Boggs said the corporation will be holding two events on the suicide topic. The first will be at 4:15 p.m. today at the Mentone Elementary building. Teachers and the public in general may attend the training.
On Saturday, a seven-county region of the International Survivors of Suicide will be presenting. The presentation will be from 9:30 a.m. until noon. The public is welcome to attend.
The board approved accepting a donation from Bendicsen for $250. Bendicsen was given a stipend for his presentation at the Indiana School Safety Academy and he passed along the stipend to help fund the Bowen Center Student Assistance Program at TVHS.
Boggs requested an initial consideration from the board on the 2017-2018 master school calendar. Highlights included in the calendar show 180 student days and 185 teacher days; first student day of Aug. 7; last student date of May 17; and dates of breaks. There are 10 emergency make-up days prior to graduation. Boggs said if the make-up days are not exceeded, graduation will be June 3.
Final approval of the calendar is expected at the Dec. 12 board meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Blaine Conley reported on the progress of the Farm to Fork initiative at TVSC. The initiative is designed to put beef raised on school grounds into the school cafeterias. Conley said the construction of a cattle shelter was done by students of Dean Franklin’s Introduction to Construction class and Mike Jones’ Ag. Construction class, along with area resident Dan Peters.
According to Conley, Peters has built over 30 of the type of shelters constructed by the students. Conley said, “He (Peters) has a passion for agriculture. He spoke positively about working with TVHS students.”
The project includes the shelter, pole light, security camera, concrete slab/water tank, self-feeder and fencing. Conley said they will be pursuing grants for recurring costs.
Middle School Principal Scott Backus presented an overview of the school’s One To One Project that has given all 404 students personal technology to use for class work and homework. Backus credited those who made it possible for every student having a device within three days after the start of the school year.
He said, “Students are learning to be digital citizens.”
He told the board they will hold a “mock” ISTEP test trial as students take acuity tests. He indicated they can test to make sure the technical system can carry the number of devices that would be used at the same time.
Backus said they have only had 29 device damages with most of the damage being screen breakage. He said most of the repairs were made under the warranty from the company providing the devices.
Bendicsen, Backus and Akron Elementary Principal Chrissy Mills gave their school improvement plans to the board. They said the reports that must be submitted to the state for review are each over 75 pages long.
All four Valley schools received a letter grade from the state last year of “C.”
Students at TVHS passed at a rate of 71.8 percent on End of Course Assessments. The graduation rate increased from 76 percent in the 2012-2013 school year to 92 percent in 2014-2015. Bendicsen said they have a number of programs in place to raise the school grade.
Mills said they are following curriculum maps that they designed to follow state required standards. She said parents’ feedback from a survey they had in May show parents wanted an upgraded facility. The building project that has been in the works for several months is nearing completion.
Backus said parent survey results for the middle school showed the need for more technology. He said they are meeting that goal with the One To One program. He said students are coming into the middle school with better reading skills.
The board accepted a donation from the Kosciusko County Historical Society Genealogy Library. The donation was a copy of a book showing schools in the county from the years 1835-1975. Boggs said the book will be housed in the TVHS media center and will be available for students and the public to use.
The board publicly recognized the TVMS Spell Bowl Team for placing first in the Running Rivers Conference Spell Bowl competition and also capturing first place in the Junior Area Spell Bowl. The team was top-ranked in the state in Class 3. On Saturday, the team placed fourth in the state competition.
Team members include Abigail Bowers, Mallory Bowers, Cheney Canada, Devin Chandler, Thatcher Keesee, Kennedy Kohler, Emily McGriff, Mateo Salazar and Riley Bollinger. They are coached by Susanne Siebrase. Siebrase has been coaching teams for the past 10 years.
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