Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 133, Number 17, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 24 April 2014 — Page 3

Wa-Nee’s most-improved students

By Dam Molnar Eorrok NAPPANEE Nappanee Noon Kiwanis had some very special visitors on Tuesday, April 15. Wa-Nee Schools most-improved fourth graders had lunch with the Kiwanians, heard for Cury Nisly, who is running for State Representative and received awards from their principals for their hard work throughout the school year. Alan Thompson, principal at Wood view Elementary School, read letters from fourth grade teachers Brooks Blosser, Shannon Nowak and Gary Miller. At Wood view, winners of the award were Catherine Mathews of Miller's class; Adrian Vaughn or Nowak's class; and Janelle Yoder of Blosser's class. John Payne, principal at Wakarusa Elementary School, read letters from fourth grade teachers Brenda Beehler, Justine Crilow, Jim Mattem and Phil Ummel. At Wakarusa, winners of the award were Eleny Guillen of Crilow's class; Paige Blosser of Beehler's class; Jayson Harper of Mattem's class; and Wesley Steiner of Ummel's class. Randy Cripe, principal at Nappanee Elementary School, read letters from fourth grade teachers Jamie Will, Wendy Grady and Ronda Hamer. At Nappanee, winners of the award were Caiden Newman of Grady's class; Emma Martz of Hamer's class; and Devin Harmon of Will’s class. After the awards presentation, students were entertained with a story read by Cheryl Myers, children's services library of the Nappanee Public Library, all about changing their attitude and making a good day out of a gloomy one.

Wa-Nee Schools won’t increase school lunch costs

By Amy Wenger Advance Correspondent Parents of students in the Wa-Nee district will be relieved to know that their schools will be among the few in Elkhart County that won't need to increase lunch prices for the 2014-15 school year, as was revealed in information distributed among members 6f the Wa-Nee Community Board of School Trustees during their Monday evening session. Since July 1, 2011, schools have been required to charge students for paid meals at a price that is, on average, equal to the difference between free meal reimbursement and paid meal reimbursement. Districts that charge below that amount have since been required to increase the price of school meals at a minimum of 10 cents per year until that margin is eliminated. The school lunch program operates on a system that is entirely self-sufficient, with no tax revenue being offered other than a small state grant. Salaries, benefits, and other expenses must be offset strictly through the sales of school meals. Business Manager Roger Zentz presented members of the board with a schedule of meal prices from the current school year, and made the recommendation that there be no increase for the

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The photo shows most-improved fourth graders of Wa-Nee Schools in front from left Devin Harmon, Janelle Yoder, Catherine Mathews and Enely Guillen. Second row from left Emma Martz, Caiden Newman, Adrian Vaughn, Wesley Steiner, Jayson Harper and Paige Blosser. (Photo by Dani Molnar)

2014-15 school year, as Wa-Nee has already met the conditions outlined in the reimbursement of meals. This means that the school meal prices will remain as: elementary school lunch middle school lunch 'Sch00l lunch reduced pric£ lunch dent breakfast price breakfast milk POSITIVE l-READ RESULTS In other developments, Director of Curriculum Jim Bennett announced that the preliminary results have just come in for the Wa-Nee third-grade students who took the I-READ assessment examinations earlier in this school year. Although the numbers are, as Bennett said, "tentative," all of the indicators point to strong achievement, with scores that are "very good, very similar to what .we've seen over the past two years." For students that did not pass the testing, summer school sessions will once again be offered to help those who require further assistance. Each of the three elementary schools, Wakarusa, Woodview and Nappanee, will have one assistant for every one teacher, with approximately 15 students per class. The courses will run from June 9 through June 27,

Community

and upon completion, the students will be given an. opportunity to retake the exam. Bennett said that as it stands currently, each school will likely have "a handful" of students who will need to participate in summer classes. NORTHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL EARNS FOUR STAR STATUS Superintendent Joe Sabo announced that North Wood High School has once again been designated a Four Star School by the Indiana Department of Education. This is not the first time that the school has received this honor, having been selected as such for each of the past four years. To be named a Four Star School, an educational institution must be within the top 25 percent in critical areas of scholastics, such as lanSe arts and math. North Wood School was one of only two schools in Elkhart County to be selected for this distinction, with Northridge High School being the other. OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS Sabo also noted the retirement of two longtime educators from North Wood High School and North Wood Middle School, Gene Zercher from the high school science department and Ed Minnick 1 departing from middle school

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Advance News • Thursday, April 24, 2014 •

math. Together, the two men represent a legacy of nearly 70 years of teaching for the Wa-Nee district. Zercher spent all 41 of his career years at Wa-Nee, teaching and coaching various sports at the high school level. Minnick leaves Wa-Nee after 28 years in the corporation. "Mr. Zercher has been a great teacher and a great mentor a very dynamic leader," Sabo said. "We wish both gentlemen well in their retirement." NEW HIRES Beth Beer, Summer School Remediation Teacher for Woodview Elementary, from June 9 through June 27. Shari Walter, Summer School Remediation Assistant for Woodview Elementary, from June 9 through June 27. Angie Swain, Summer School Remediation Teacher for Nappanee Elementary, from June 9 through June 27. Shelly Sanders, Summer School Remediation Assistant for Nappanee Elementary, from June 9 through June 27. Cheryl Bontreger, Summer School Remediation Teacher for Wakarusa Elementary, from June 9 through June 27. Jeanne Balogh, Summer School Remediation Assistant for Wakarusa Elementary, from June 9 through June 27.

Paul Mullet, part-time summer groundskeeper, from April 14 through October 31. Josh Ailes, part-time summer groundskeeper, from April 14 through August 17. Austin Hamsher, assistant girls' track coach , High School, effective April 14. Gayle Sellers, part-time cafeteria at North Wood High School, elective April 14. Kayli Savage, temporary band teacher at North Wood Middle School, effective April 18 through June 4. RETIREMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS Gene Zercher, science teacher at North Wood High School, effective June 4. Ed Minnick, math teacher at North Wood Middle School, effective June 4. Nick Davis, spring sports supervisor for North Wood High School, effective at the conclusion of the 2013-14 seasons. Tabitha Gearin, special education assistant at North Wood High School, effective April 22. The next meeting of the Wa-Nee Community Board of School Trustees will be held on Monday, April 28, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Administration Office in Nappanee.

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