A recurring theme at North Putnam has been the addition of new opportunities for students and community members within our schools. At the elementary schools the addition of Reading Specialists provides new opportunities for students to gain assistance in the important skill of reading. A new Head Start program will bring additional opportunities for our communities' early learners. At the high school and middle school new opportunities abound in the form of courses and extra curricular programs.

In this edition we would like to highlight the new E-Sports Teams that have been created by Mr. Bucky Kramer and Mr. Vince Brooks. E-Sports is growing throughout the country, and this opportunity allows students to compete as a member of the North Putnam team in competitive video gaming. Teams in both the middle school and high school have already been using the new facility, and we are excited to learn more and watch this sport continue to grow at North Putnam.

E-Sports in schools foster teamwork, strategic thinking, and digital literacy, essential skills in today’s world. They offer an inclusive environment where students can excel, boosting self-esteem and engagement. By integrating E-Sports, our schools get to tap into students' passions, promoting a balance of education, competition, and collaboration. We look forward to seeing how this new program helps to enhance our overall educational plan and participation in school.

Over the next several months we will be highlighting many of our new faculty and staff members found within North Putnam Community Schools!

My name is Kara Hayes, and I am originally from Rockville, Indiana. I am a proud Purdue University graduate. During my time at Purdue, I earned a degree in social studies education and studied abroad. I help coach the middle school cheerleading team and teach 8th grade Current Events, Problems, and Issues. Outside the classroom, I enjoy reading, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. I am very excited to be a part of this community.

My name is Jessie Draper, and I chose Roachdale because of the great reputation North Putnam holds in the county. Also, I enjoy working in a smaller community because I grew up in a small town. For the last 6 years, I've been an Instructional Assistant in Greencastle. In May, I graduated with my Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Western Governors University. I'm excited to work with the great students and staff at Roachdale Elementary!

Hello! My name is Kayla Brown, and I am a Special Education teacher at Roachdale Elementary School! I attended Indiana University, and my husband, Carson, and I recently moved to the area. In our free time, my husband and I like to travel to National Parks! This summer we visited 14 National Parks out west! I also enjoy reading and baking in my free time. I am excited to start this journey! Go Cougars!!

Mrs. Kheiri is excited to start her tenth year as a teacher. She says she teaches because she wants to create meaningful experiences for her students. Mrs. Kheiri has an extensive background in teaching having taught in special education classrooms, Title 1 classrooms, and now as a grade level educator. She says she is fortunate to have gained perspective of how to support students in several different environments. She is excited to be at Bainbridge Elementary where she feels she has definitely expanded her level of creativity in the classroom. She is grateful to the administration and staff for their support. Her first grade classroom has a "green" theme this year. Alongside the variety of plants in the classroom environment, students will learn about plant growth and self growth while creating and sustaining the greenery in their surrounding environment. They are additionally working on building and developing a strong foundation as first time readers! Last but certainly not least, she hopes that her students will relate to how much numbers are used in their daily lives!

North Putnam Community Schools is proud to promote and support the Bainbridge Bicentennial Event on the weekend of September 13-15. The Bainbridge Improvement Society has developed an exciting weekend to showcase the history, present, and future of Bainbridge through a variety of activities for families. Below are just a few of the activities taking place, for a complete listing of all the different ways to celebrate the Bainbridge Bicentennial visit their website.

The next NPHS varsity football game at Cougar Stadium is Friday, September 13, and

you're in luck... when it comes to dinner! Stop by the Welcome Home Gathering at the

Bainbridge Community Building to and from the game for a ribeye sandwich. Dine in or

carry out from 5 to 10:30 p.m. and fuel up for another home-field victory!

What a great way to see different parts of the town in these free events. The 5K Run/Walk will begin the day on Saturday, September 14th at 8AM, or at 10AM, you can join Bainbridge native Kenny Lukenbill on a leisurely group ride around town. To learn more or to register, visit the Bicentennial website.

On Saturday, September 14, NPHS varsity basketball coaches Vince Brooks and Kelly

Windmiller are hosting a FREE Youth Basketball Clinic at Bainbridge Elementary

School. Bainbridge High School legends, Indiana All-Stars and Indiana Basketball Hall

of Famers Jeff Blue (drafted by the Boston Celtics), Pat Rady (5th all-time winningest

coach in Indiana high school basketball history), and Larry Steele (played for and won

an NBA championship with the Portland Trail Blazers) will assist. Register online by

September 5 to get a t-shirt!

Also, on Saturday, September 14, the Best of Bainbridge Parade will depart from

Bainbridge Elementary at 2 p.m. See the route or sign up for your team, club, business,

etc., to participate here.

On Saturday, the Bainbridge Community Building will be active with a variety of opportunities for families. Starting at 11am and running until the conclusion of the bands, there will be food and community vendors set up around the Bainbridge Community Building.

At 3pm, County Historian Larry Tippin will share highlights from the town's 200 years followed by a panel discussion with Jeff Blue, Pat Rady, and Larry Steele. Ben Chadd will also participate on behalf of his dad Archie Chadd.

From 3-8pm, all children are invited to participate in the free bounce houses located at the Bainbridge Community Center.

The scholarship organizations from each high school in Putnam County have joined together to host this unique experience. Cloverdale Dollars for Scholars, Greencastle Alumni Dollars for Scholars, North Putnam Alumni Association Dollars for Scholars and South Putnam Dollars for Scholars will all benefit from the Farm to Fork Drive-Thru Dinner. The menu will be an impressive feast provided by Myer’s Market using locally sourced meats and produce.

We are pleased to announce the Dollars for Scholars Chapters in Putnam County awarded over 85 scholarships this past spring! This achievement is directly related to the success of our Farm to Fork Dinners by raising awareness and additional funding.

Tickets for the Farm to Ford Dinner are $45 and can be purchased by printing and mailing a check and the form to the address shown on the registration form, or by ordering online at www.northputnam.dollarsforscholars.org.

If you can read, and can spare about 30 minutes/month, we want you to come be a guest reader at one of our elementary schools. Reading aloud to kids has clear cognitive benefits. While our teachers read to our students each week, having a guest creates additional excitement for our students. If you would like to join our volunteer reading crew, please complete this form. Our hope is to begin utilizing this group of eager volunteers in October.

Great News! Your child can get dental care at their school.

Best of all, in most cases there is no cost to you if your child is insured with Medicaid or CHIP! Private insurance and affordable self-pay options are also available.

Easy & Convenient

Having your child seen by the in-school dentist saves you valuable time. Top quality care is provided by local, licensed dentists right in the familiar surroundings of your child’s school. Dental care includes a complete exam, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride and sealants when needed. Restorative care, such as fillings, may also be provided.

Keep Your Child Healthy

By having your child see the in-school dentist, you can help reduce the risk of:

• Early Tooth Loss caused by dental decay
• Gum Disease
• Heart Disease
• Impaired speech development

Taking care of your child’s teeth is an important part of keeping them healthy!

The Smile Program will be bringing their clinic to Bainbridge Elementary, Roachdale Elementary, and North Putnam Middle School. Please click the link below for the corresponding school to enroll in the mobile dentist program or complete the paper forms located at each school.

• Trash bag sales: The Kickoff will be on Friday, September 6th and go until September 16th.
• School Picture Day will be on Tuesday, September 24th.
• Parent/Teacher Conference Day is on Monday September 30th.

• Trash bag orders due Sept 3
• Picture Day - 9/11
• Go College Week - 9/23-9/27
• Parent/Teacher Conferences - 9/30

• 6th Grade Annual Camp Tecumseh/outdoor learning experience trip - September 12 - 13th
• NPMS School Pictures - September 19th
• Parent Teacher Conferences - September 30th

• 9/4 School wide guest speaker- Paralympian Steve Emt
• 9/9 Freshman/Sophomore/Junior class workshops with Karen Heavin
• 9/10 Herff Jones Ring ordering

• Meet and Greet with new HS Baseball Coach Brian Henry on Wednesday, 09/04 at 6pm in the HS cafeteria.
• 09/13 - Football Game will be Youth Night
• 09/20 - Football Game will be Military appreciation with the Colts Salute to Service
• Limited Contact Period for out of season sports will begin next week.

Did you know that North Putnam has a public Disc Golf course on the high school/middle school property? This was the brainchild of Mr. Brooks and Mr. Lawrence. The Disc Golf course officially opened in the Fall of 2023. It took a considerable amount of work by Brooks and Lawrence and a team of volunteers to clear and make the course a reality.

If you want to learn more about the sport of Disc Golf, reach out to Mr. Brooks or Mr. Lawrence, they would love to see the course used more, and are eager to help grow the sport of Disc Golf at North Putnam.

The course is open every day, but closed during school hours.

Recently, North Putnam High School student, Josh Taylor hit an ace on hole 15, this is the first known ace by a student! Congratulations Josh!