MSD OF DECATUR TOWNSHIP
DISTRICT NEWSLETTER - BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION - JULY 2023
DISTRICT NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2024
A MESSAGE FROM DR. STEPHANIE HOFER
Dear Decatur Township Families,
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a nice and relaxing Spring Break. As we begin the last eight weeks of school, I encourage everyone to embrace all opportunities for excellence as we finish this outstanding year. I am Decatur Proud to share many recent celebrations and accomplishments from across the district:
Congratulations to Director of Athletics, Justin Dixson, who was named Athletic Director of the Year for the State of Indiana by IIAAA! (Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association)
Congratulations to Missy Harvey, who was named District 3 Middle School Athletic Director of the Year, also by IIAAA!
15, 3rd grade elementary students from across the district earned perfect scores on the IREAD-3.
The Decatur Township Educational Foundation supported our teachers by awarding 18 grants for classroom innovation across 8 of our schools this spring, totaling $15,796.01!
The Decatur Township Scholarship Association is ready to award 57 scholarships to current and former Decatur students at the annual banquet scheduled for May 5th.
Both the DC Varsity and JV Winter Guards qualified for the State Competition. JV Guard finished 4th, while Varsity finished 7th in their divisions. Congratulations on a great season!
Three members of the DCHS Speech & Debate Team qualified for the State Competition and competed with excellent results: Braedon Meadimber - Top 42 in state for U.S. Extemporaneous; Taiwo Ogunmilade - Top 30 in state for International Extemporaneous; and Desiree Rojas - Top 12 in state for Discussion. Congratulations!
The Goldenaires Show Choir qualified for the ISSMA State Show Choir Finals for the first time ever, placing 9th in their division. Congratulations!
The Expressions Show Choir qualified for the ISSMA State Show Choir Finals for the 2nd year in a row, placing 8th in their division. Congratulations!
We started the Tomorrow Ready Awards to recognize staff members who go above and beyond to positively impact our students and schools. Toni Leedy from Valley Mills and Renee Knoop from Decatur Central High School were the March award recipients, recognized by the School Board, and over 30 staff members were nominated!
Hawks Senior Wrestler Alejandra Hernandez qualified and competed at the State Wrestling Meet!
DC Hawks Swimmer Isaiah Winko qualified for the IHSAA State Finals in the 200 yd Individual Medley and 100 yd Butterfly.
Decatur Township School for Excellence has had 12 students graduate early this semester, celebrating with the traditional Bell-Ringing Ceremony.
Coach Bryan Surber was named as the Mid-State Conference Coach of the Year, for Boys Basketball. Congratulations!
Decatur High Ability Academy 6th grade students competed in the Indiana Future City Competition at the Purdue Ft. Wayne campus on January 20th. They came home with three awards: Most Technically Sound City, Best City Layout, and Most Innovative Use of Engineering. Congratulations!
The Decatur Middle School 8th Grade Band performed at the JME Contest on March 15th, earning a Gold Rating!
DCHS Teachers, Ms. Abigail Strahla and Ms. Elizabeth Carpenter are recipients of the National FFA Lilly Endowment Classroom Enhancement Grant for $10,000. These funds will go toward the expenses of building a greenhouse for the agriculture program.
The National Technical Honor Society, sponsored by Mr. Robert Bowling, was instituted at DCHS and inducted 27 students who are enrolled and are excelling in their career pathways.
Sophomores at Decatur Township School for Excellence meet with community and staff members from around the district in February to analyze their data and set goals for productivity and future success.
The Valley Mills Elementary construction project is progressing with several newly painted and carpeted rooms and remodeled restrooms. Thank you staff, students, and parents for your patience and flexibility during this time.
13 Staff Members will complete the Aspiring Leadership Academy this month, with enhanced leadership skills and knowledge of our school district.
It is a joy to share these accomplishments! I have enjoyed getting to know even more students across the district through eating lunch with them as part of the social media school of the week focus. Thank you to all students, families, staff, and community members for your dedication to learning and success each day.
We hope you will join us and spread the word about some important events in April. Our annual district-wide STEAM Fest is scheduled for April 11th, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Blue & Gold Academies. There will be many STEAM-based activities, as well as a showcase of student work. Each of our elementary schools will also host a high ability showcase, featuring grades 3-5 on the evening of April 18th. Kindergarten Round Up will be on April 25th, 5:00-7:00 pm at each elementary school as well.
April is also a time to celebrate several much-appreciated staff groups! April 1st-5th is National Assistant Principals Week. April 3rd is Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, and April 4th is National School Librarian Appreciation Day. April 24th is Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day. Please join us in saying THANK YOU to these dedicated staff members throughout the district. Don’t forget that April 8th is the solar eclipse and an eLearning day for students and staff.
I am truly Decatur Proud!
Dr. Stephanie Hofer
Interim Superintendent
MSD of Decatur Township
We are happy to announce a new way to recognize our amazing staff here in Decatur Township. The Vision of the MSD of Decatur Township is “Preparing Students to be Tomorrow Ready.” The “Tomorrow Ready” Award will 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.
Nominations for the “Tomorrow Ready” awards can be submitted through this Google Form: Tomorrow Ready Staff Awards
District Administration will select 1-2 nominations per month to be recognized at the MSD Decatur School Board of Education monthly meetings.
Congratulations to Mrs. Renee Knoop, Social Studies Teacher at Decatur Central High School, who was recognized tonight at the School Board Meeting as a "Tomorrow Ready" Award Winner for her excellent preparation of students for post-secondary education opportunities, high expectations, and teamwork!
Congratulations to Mrs. Toni Leedy, Clerical Assistant at Valley Mills Elementary, who was recognized tonight at the School Board Meeting as a "Tomorrow Ready" Award Winner for her excellent customer service and kindness to all!
In January we started a "School of the Week" feature. Make sure to check it out on our social media accounts.
(Links to all official district social media accounts are at the bottom of the newsletter)
Here are some of the highlights:
Valley Mills Elementary
Construction continues at Valley Mills Elementary.
Blue Academy Elementary
Decatur Township is proud to partner with Communities in Schools to provide Site Coordinators in all of our schools. At the Blue Academy, the CIS Site Coordinator is Mrs. Jalaina King, who is an integral part of the Blue Family. In her words, Communities in Schools is, “connecting students, and many times families, to services within the city. Anything from food to signing up for medical care, to academic assistance, to housing support, the goal is success for each student.” Click the photo below to read more about what that looks like at Blue Academy.
CIS Site Coordinator Jalaina King with students at Blue Academy Elementary.
Liberty Preschool
Mrs. Bryant, Liberty Preschool Director, and students
March School Board Meeting Highlights
Thank you to our Tigers from West Newton Elementary, who led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Tiger Pride pledge for the School Board Meeting tonight! Excellent work!
#DecaturProud to celebrate Ms. Kylie Buck and her 6th grade students from Decatur High Ability Academy, who competed in the Indiana Future City Competition at Purdue Ft. Wayne. Their hard work paid off and they came home with three awards: Most Technically Sound City, Best City Layout, and Most Innovatice Use of Engineering! Outstanding work! #TomorrowReady
Community Virtual Care
With cold and flu season upon us, don't forget that Decatur Township students in grades K-12 can receive FREE Virtual Care services through Community Virtual Care! Appointments are held at the clinic (5106 S. High School Rd, Suite B, Door #4 in the Technology Center, beside the entrance to DMS) and the students will see a provider virtually. Schedule an appointment by calling your school nurse or emailing decaturvirtualcare@ecommunity.com.
SCHOOL NEWSLETTERS
INFORMATION CENTER:
MEAL BENEFIT APPLICATION
Apply for Free & Reduced price meals HERE!
Eligibility results will be emailed or mailed. You will also have the option to print the meal eligibility letter to keep for your records. Only one application per household is needed.
Important: A new application must be filled out each year for meal benefits to continue. Meal benefits begin when the application is approved. Applications in other languages will be provided upon request to the Child Nutrition Department.
MENUS
Check out this school year's menu! Don't forget that breakfast is free for all students! Join us for some delicious, nutritious meals!
E-FUNDS
Need to load funds to your student’s lunch account? Click here to load funds through eFunds!
PURCHASES & ACCOUNT INFO
Check out our new lunch portal! You can monitor purchases, complete a meal benefit application, and much more!
Register here: https://linqconnect.com/WPME5A
MSD of Decatur Township Child Nutrition Department
5275 Kentucky Ave., Indianapolis IN 46221
317-856-5265
STAY CONNECTED
Visit https://www.parentsquare.com or download the ParentSquare app:
Connect to Skyward here or download the Skyward App:
STUDENT FEE CHANGES
K-12 Curriculum Fee Changes for 2023-2024
The state legislature has determined that schools can no longer charge fees for educational materials. As a result, MSD of Decatur Township families will not be charged textbook fees for the 2023-2024 school year. Parents and students will continue to be responsible for any lost or damaged educational material, including but not limited to, lost textbooks, lost or damaged iPad and related components, library books, cafeteria fees, extracurricular activities, fundraising, and NSF check fees.