Recently, North Putnam High School and Middle School students had the opportunity to hear an inspirational story and the hard lessons learned from paralympian Steve Emt. Emt is currently the number 1 ranked United States paralympian and number 4 in the world in the sport of curling. During Emt's presentation he detailed how a one time college athlete turned into a paralympic athlete due to a series of poor choices that ended up with Emt being paralyzed due to a single vehicle crash following a night of drinking. Emt's presentation was sponsored by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and brought to North Putnam by the Putnam County P.I.E. Coalition. The Putnam County Prevention, Intervention, and Education (PIE) Coalition works to help young people understand the significance of their decisions. Representatives from all four county schools meet once per month at Area 30 in the morning, prior to school, to learn from area community members, and to develop programs within their schools to help spread the message about the dangers of drinking, smoking, and drug use. Any high school or middle school student is welcome to attend. For more information, you can contact the school administration.

A special thank you should be extended to Mrs. Linda Merkel, PIE Director, and South Putnam High School senior Danae Cline whose leadership was able to bring Emt to North Putnam.

To learn more about Steve Emt and his visit to Putnam County, check out Jared Jernagan's article in the Banner Graphic.

North Putnam is proud to honor alumnus Chet Clodfelter, who recently won gold at the 2024 World Masters Athletic Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. Competing in the men’s 60-65 age group, Chet overcame chilly weather and borrowed poles to clear 3.55 meters (11 feet, 7 inches), defeating pole vaulters from France and Italy. This achievement adds to his earlier success this year, where he set the U.S. pole vault record for his age group with a vault of 4.12 meters (13 feet, 6.24 inches).

Chet’s connection to pole vaulting runs deep. As a former Big Ten champion at Purdue University, he has been excelling in Masters athletics for years. Chet also continues to hold the pole vault record at North Putnam High School, where his athletic journey first began. Not only has Chet made his mark, but his daughter, Kayla, prior to her graduation, followed in his footsteps by setting the girls' pole vault record at North Putnam, continuing the Clodfelter family legacy of athletic excellence.

In addition to his athletic pursuits, Chet serves as a physical therapist and previously owned Greencastle Physical Therapy now Athletico, where he is committed to improving the health and wellness of his community. His achievements, both on and off the field, reflect his determination and passion for helping others.

Chet’s success is not only personal but also deeply rooted in his family. Alongside his wife, Leslie, and children, Lance (Class of 2013) and Kayla (Class of 2015), Chet continues to inspire those around him, showing what’s possible with hard work and perseverance.

Congratulations, Chet, on your incredible achievements and for representing North Putnam with such pride!

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 Sumer Ramsey and I am proud to join the North Putnam family this year as Bainbridge Elementary's Literacy Coach through the third cohort of the Indiana Literacy Cadre. I completed my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Purdue University and recently earned my master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction through WGU. I have a strong connection to the North Putnam community, having previously served as a Learning Loss Coordinator at Bainbridge. My husband Mark and I live at Heritage Lake with our six children, and we are thrilled to continue being a part of this wonderful community.

I am Jana Boggess and am so excited to be joining Cougar Nation this year. I have been teaching for about 10 years in high school. My husband and I have been married for 17 years and have three great kids and three awesome cats. I enjoy listening to audiobooks, being at the beach, and hanging out with my family. I’m looking forward to all this year has to bring.

I was born and raised in Northeast Ohio with my two sisters and one brother. I was graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Music degree. Miami is also where I met my husband. I taught in New Lebanon, Ohio for two years and when my husband found a job in Greencastle, I subbed for a year. I then got a job at Tri-West, moved to North Putnam for nine years teaching band and choir, and then the last twenty-six years at Greencastle where I retired. I have two children and two grandchildren, and I am extremely excited to start my forty-first year of teaching and tenth year at North Putnam filling in for choir!

North Putnam Community School Corporation is looking for dedicated and responsible individuals to join our team as school bus drivers. This role is crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students as they travel to and from school each day.

Being a school bus driver offers flexible hours, competitive pay, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our students and community. If you enjoy working with children and have a strong sense of responsibility, this could be the perfect fit for you!

Interested? Please contact Mr. Jason Chew, Director of Community Partnerships and Operations, at 765-522-6220. He will guide you through the application process and answer any questions you may have.

Join us in making a difference in our students' lives—apply today to become a valued part of the North Putnam family!

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. Check out the Bainbridge Bicentennial website to see all the different opportunities that exist to celebrate this special milestone.

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.

• Sept. 17 - RPTG Meeting
• Spet. 16 - 20 - Spirit Week for the Colts at the High School Game
• Sept. 23 - 27 - Fall Book Fair
• Sept. 23 - 27 - College Go Week

• NPMS students will be taking place in the inaugural round of benchmark testing this Fall. The Benchmark helps to assess student readiness and academic levels as the year progresses, giving staff and students time to remediate areas of weakness before the actual I-Learn takes place in the Spring semester.

• College Go Week will be upon us soon. NPMS College and Career Readiness Instructor, Mrs. Sara Greene, will be releasing more information concerning our NPMS Career activities for that week.

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.