Tippy Valley Recognizes Achievement
February 14, 2017 at 6:11 p.m.
By Carol Anders-
Principal Scott Backus said, “I would like to simply touch briefly on many of the student successes and highlight some of the unique activities that have happened to date at TVMS during the school year.”
He went on to give an overview of the TVMS Spell Bowl Team, sock drive, Grad-Way, football Running Rivers Conference champions, volleyball Lakeview Tournament champions, Helping Hands food drive, Manchester University college visit, solo and ensemble winners and many other success stories.
He said they have had a “really powerful week” of celebrating successes at the school.
Backus also explained how the school received a letter grade from the state of a “C” for the 2014-2015 school year. He said the state averages scores in eight categories to obtain a “growth” score that adds points to their raw scores on the test.
He said, “They at least give us credit for growing.”
According to Backus, 90 percent of their 440 student showed growth. “That’s not bad, but we want to do better,”?he said.
Instructional coach Staci Revere said they are focusing on data. Revere said they want 100 percent of students to know the state standards before they leave the grade level. She indicated that, among other things, they have created pre-tests and post-tests to show needed areas of remediation and that teachers collaborate to find ways to teach state standards.
Backus is in his third year as principal. He started teaching at the school in 1998, and also served as the assistant principal before moving to the principal position.
Board members unanimously approved the addition of a new course offering at the high school for the 2017-2018 school year. The course will be part of the Project Lead the Way offerings in bio-medical science.
Speaking on the proposed course was TVHS Principal Dr. Michael Bendicsen. He said, “The PLTW bio-medical science pushes students to take on real-world challenges that they are likely to face in both a biomedical science profession as well as in their daily lives.”
He said TVHS would look to offer the foundation courses on-site, starting with principles of biomedical science in year one, and then plan to collaborate with Warsaw Area Career Center in offering two higher-level courses.
Start-up costs are expected to be approximately $17,000, of which WACC would cover $11,000. Bendicsen said they are looking at grants to fund the remaining $6,000. He said the course can be accomplished with the current staff.
A portion of the written school policy was deleted after unanimous board approval. Previously, any school activities held between the hours of 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, with the exception of commencement, school concerts, dramatic productions and organized recreation, needed the approval of the superintendent. The board deleted the language referring to any other school activity held between those hours.
Superintendent and school board approval will still be required for activities held on Sundays and any non-school activity.
The policy also states “that every effort will be made to avoid scheduling activities on Wednesday evenings, especially after 6 p.m.”
The board approved the following grants from the Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services: Andrea Michel, TVSC media specialist, visit by author Paige Rawls, $1,250; Staci Revere, TVMS and TVHS instructional coach, books for leveled library, $2,575; Julie Baxter, Akron Elementary, bass xylophone bars, $419; Deb Miller, Akron Elementary, materials for character education, $203; Kayla Rossi, Akron Elementary, supplies and materials for choice play, $275; Alisha Beachy, Mentone Elementary, flexible classroom seating, $109; Kim Eisner, Mentone Elementary bird observation area for first grade, $200; Jenny Shear, Mentone Elementary, books for leveled library, $750; Erin Eastgate, TVHS, graphing calculators for math instruction, $1,000; and Shelley Engle, TVHS, nonfiction and fiction books for independent reading, $407.
Latest News
E-Editions
Principal Scott Backus said, “I would like to simply touch briefly on many of the student successes and highlight some of the unique activities that have happened to date at TVMS during the school year.”
He went on to give an overview of the TVMS Spell Bowl Team, sock drive, Grad-Way, football Running Rivers Conference champions, volleyball Lakeview Tournament champions, Helping Hands food drive, Manchester University college visit, solo and ensemble winners and many other success stories.
He said they have had a “really powerful week” of celebrating successes at the school.
Backus also explained how the school received a letter grade from the state of a “C” for the 2014-2015 school year. He said the state averages scores in eight categories to obtain a “growth” score that adds points to their raw scores on the test.
He said, “They at least give us credit for growing.”
According to Backus, 90 percent of their 440 student showed growth. “That’s not bad, but we want to do better,”?he said.
Instructional coach Staci Revere said they are focusing on data. Revere said they want 100 percent of students to know the state standards before they leave the grade level. She indicated that, among other things, they have created pre-tests and post-tests to show needed areas of remediation and that teachers collaborate to find ways to teach state standards.
Backus is in his third year as principal. He started teaching at the school in 1998, and also served as the assistant principal before moving to the principal position.
Board members unanimously approved the addition of a new course offering at the high school for the 2017-2018 school year. The course will be part of the Project Lead the Way offerings in bio-medical science.
Speaking on the proposed course was TVHS Principal Dr. Michael Bendicsen. He said, “The PLTW bio-medical science pushes students to take on real-world challenges that they are likely to face in both a biomedical science profession as well as in their daily lives.”
He said TVHS would look to offer the foundation courses on-site, starting with principles of biomedical science in year one, and then plan to collaborate with Warsaw Area Career Center in offering two higher-level courses.
Start-up costs are expected to be approximately $17,000, of which WACC would cover $11,000. Bendicsen said they are looking at grants to fund the remaining $6,000. He said the course can be accomplished with the current staff.
A portion of the written school policy was deleted after unanimous board approval. Previously, any school activities held between the hours of 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, with the exception of commencement, school concerts, dramatic productions and organized recreation, needed the approval of the superintendent. The board deleted the language referring to any other school activity held between those hours.
Superintendent and school board approval will still be required for activities held on Sundays and any non-school activity.
The policy also states “that every effort will be made to avoid scheduling activities on Wednesday evenings, especially after 6 p.m.”
The board approved the following grants from the Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services: Andrea Michel, TVSC media specialist, visit by author Paige Rawls, $1,250; Staci Revere, TVMS and TVHS instructional coach, books for leveled library, $2,575; Julie Baxter, Akron Elementary, bass xylophone bars, $419; Deb Miller, Akron Elementary, materials for character education, $203; Kayla Rossi, Akron Elementary, supplies and materials for choice play, $275; Alisha Beachy, Mentone Elementary, flexible classroom seating, $109; Kim Eisner, Mentone Elementary bird observation area for first grade, $200; Jenny Shear, Mentone Elementary, books for leveled library, $750; Erin Eastgate, TVHS, graphing calculators for math instruction, $1,000; and Shelley Engle, TVHS, nonfiction and fiction books for independent reading, $407.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092