MSD OF DECATUR TOWNSHIP

Dear MSD of Decatur Township Families,

As we enter the month of November, there are some yearly events that we can count on as we approach the changing of the seasons. Don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 3rd. Be sure to turn your clocks back by one hour. It is also a good time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with the change in time. Another yearly event in the fall is the state football tournament. Our Decatur Central Hawks begin their quest to return to Lucas Oil Stadium as we host Whiteland on November 1st, so let’s fill our stadium with blue and gold fans!

Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 5th, 2024. Not only is this election day, but also an eLearning Day for all students in the MSD of Decatur Township. Students will complete assignments from home and do not report to school. This will be an "asynchronous" eLearning day, meaning that students can complete assignments at their own pace and will not be required to attend "live" virtual classes. Attendance will be based on assignment completion. Please check ParentSquare & Canvas for more information as the date approaches.

We have much to be thankful for here in Decatur Township, including our partnership with the Decatur Township Education Foundation. Over the last month, they have awarded 23 grants, totaling $22,124.95 to teachers and staff in our schools! These special projects create unique learning experiences for our students, and I am excited to see them implemented in the months to come.

Next, I would like to highlight two of our programs in Decatur Township. I was invited to our Culture Club at DCHS this month. This afterschool club is sponsored by DCHS teacher Kameron Packard. This group of students represent many different cultures and nationalities and it is a fun opportunity where students learn about various countries, their traditions, economy, music, dance, and famous people. Students present this information and they also have other fun activities and social times. I was so impressed with this group of students and I look forward to visiting more of their meetings in the future.

Another group that is hosted at the Blue and Gold Academies is our Young Men of Purpose Club, sponsored by Evan Sullivan, who is a site coordinator for Communities in Schools. I, along with several other leaders in our district, spoke with these young men this week. This is an organization that provides mentorship to young men in schools to help them grow academically and socially to be the best that they can be. While these are just two of the dozens of clubs and groups that are sponsored by our staff in Decatur Township, it is so important to provide all of our students opportunities to grow and be connected in our schools. I appreciate the dedication and investment into our students by our staff!

As we prepare for Veterans Day 2024, I want to thank our schools for their support of and recognition provided to our Veterans in the Decatur Township Family. I hope that all of our Veterans and their families are able to attend our programs this year (listed below)! It is so important that we, as a school district, teach our students about the importance of our Veterans and the sacrifices they have made. I would also like to share a reminder about our upcoming DCHS Theatre production of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” on November 22-24, 2024 in the DCHS Auditorium. Tickets may be purchased at the following link: https://shorturl.at/IEm2g

In closing, I want to thank you for your support of our schools. I am proud to serve as superintendent of schools in a district where we Prepare Students to be Tomorrow Ready!

Respectfully,

Dr. Scott Collins

Superintendent

At the October 22, 2024 Meeting of the Decatur Township Board of Education, Mr. Chris Gearlds, Assistant Superintendent, presented the staff “Tomorrow Ready” award winners to be recognized by the School Board. “Tomorrow Ready” awards recognize staff members (nominated by peers, supervisors, parents, or community members) who exemplify our beliefs of equity, teamwork, and excellence, going above and beyond to positively impact our schools and students.Tomorrow Ready Award nominations can be submitted at decaturproud.org.

Liberty Preschool Teacher Wendy Ison, was recognized by parents and peers for going above and beyond each day with dedicated instruction for our youngest Hawks. Congratulations to Mrs. Ison!