
East Central
eNewsletter February 2022
Notes from the Principal
Even with the newest wave of Covid here in Indiana and around the nation, our commitment to staying in-person has not wavered. Our numbers relating directly to spread-in-school remained just above 1% throughout this wave. And, the current trend shows a significant decrease in cases here and around the state. We remain thankful for the efforts of students, parents, and community members which have helped us continue in that commitment to in-person education through all of this.
Our spring accountability exams, SATs, are right around the corner. Math and ELA teachers have spent additional efforts designing and utilizing SAT bell-ringers on a regular basis all year to help acclimate juniors to the types of questions they will see on the test. It is our hope that these efforts along with our already rigorous curriculum will help our students and school continue to achieve with the best students/schools in Indiana.
In Athletics, winter sports claimed 4 EIAC titles, 2 sectional titles, 1 regional title, 1 diver at regional and 8 wrestlers at semi state, and we're still going! We are confident winter sports will continue their many success in the coming weeks and look forward to spring sports which are right around the corner. A big thank you to Don Stonefield, Athletic Director, and all of our winter and spring coaches. We are...EC!
In the arts, the "Legally Blonde" will be performed on March 11, 12, and 13. ISSMA circuits have begun with 5 qualifying for state in instrumental with 12 golds and 5 silvers. And, in choral 22 qualifying for state along with 6 ensembles scoring 35 golds and 11 silvers. In all, gold and silver Good luck to all! Additionally, EC Dance has started their competitive season most recently this past weekend hosting a tri-state competition involving nearly 500 dancers.
EC and our surrounding communities remain steadfast in our support of Cpl Kelsee Lainhart, a 2019 graduate and one of the service members severely injured in the blast at Kabul airport this fall. She continues her journey toward recovery. Please continue your support with positive thoughts and prayers. Again, thank you to Kelsee for her service and sacrifice.
WE ARE...EC!
“No leader is worth his salt who won’t set up the chairs.” Peter Drucker
Respectfully,
Tom Black
Students of the Month
Lara Moster
Lara Moster is truly deserving of being honored as a Student of the Month with a 4.25 GPA, PERFECT high school attendance, an AP Scholar, and a Dearborn County Lilly Finalist! Lara is a member of the ECHS Academic Team, National Honor Society, Senior Scholarship Committee, Business Professionals of America, FCCLA State Officer, Senior Class Treasurer as well as a Student Ambassador.
Lara spends much of her time volunteering through FCCLA at the Ronald McDonald House and within our community. She has led a cooking class for 6th graders and volunteers at her church where she assists the mission team making dry meal kits. She manages to find time to be an active 4-H member where she has completed a plethora of poster projects and shows pigs & goats at the 4-H fair. She enjoys baking, spending time with family and friends as well as reading.
Lara thanks her parents, Vince & Marcy Moster for who she is today. She stated, “they are always supporting me in everything I do and encourage me to try my best. They have taught me to be humble and kind, and to be thankful for everything that I have. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them!” Lara intends to continue her education and major in Accounting at an undecided university. Lara’s advice for underclassmen is “don’t be afraid to ask for help because your teachers want you to succeed!”
Ryan Bovard
Ryan Bovard is the individual you picture in your mind when selecting a student of the month for East Central High School. He is well deserving of this designation, maintaining a 3.9 GPA with numerous dual credit, AP and honors classes. He is the ECHS National Honor Society President and a Student Ambassador. Ryan excels in athletics as well, earning varsity letters in football, wrestling and baseball. As a senior football player he was named All Conference, Academic All-State and Most Valuable Defensive Lineman.
Outside of studying and playing sports Ryan enjoys fishing and playing with his dog. He is a member of All Saints Parish and the “Alter Boyz”. His volunteer work includes mowing and lining the youth football field for Sunman Dearborn Youth Athletic Association, coaching youth wrestling and helping out at North Dearborn Village and the North Dearborn Food Pantry doing yard work at the North Dearborn Food Pantry.
Clay and Ann Bovard are his parents who Ryan thanks for, “pushing me to excel in every aspect of my life. They encourage me to always want more.” College plans are to major in Biomedical Engineering at either the University of Cincinnati or Purdue University.
Ryan encourages other students to have a positive attitude. His advice is to “get involved and take advantage of all the opportunities and resources that ECHS offers. ECHS is a great place to be and every day is a great day to be a Trojan!”
School Breakfast and Lunch Update from Sunman Dearborn School Corporation
socioeconomic status, to receive FREE meals at school. According to the USDA, this program will continue through the 2021-22 school year.
Notes from Mrs. Rosfeld; Curriculum
Grading Period 3
January 5 - March 11
Academic Honors Night
Underclassmen Academic Honors night will held on April 13 at 6:30pm. Students being honored will receive their invitation the first week of April.
Selective Service
U.S. federal law requires all men to register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of turning 18. To learn more about this requirement, click here.
FREE College Courses!
This summer, Hoosier high school students will once again have the opportunity to accelerate the completion of a high-demand credential or one year of college credit through a continued partnership between IDOE, the Commission for Higher Education, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, and institutions of higher education. Later this semester, eligible students will receive emails and mailings directly from the higher education institution with additional registration details. Those who register will receive free tuition, fees, and books. The program will also cover the cost of obtaining transcripts and any required College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Stay tuned for additional details in the coming weeks!
Khan Academy & Schoolhouse.world
The Indiana Department of Education announced a new partnership with Schoolhouse.world to support students in grades 8-12 with free tutoring for SAT preparation, math courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
In addition to resources through Schoolhouse.world, Khan Academy and College Board offer free SAT practice resources. This free resource comes as all Indiana high school juniors prepare to take the SAT this spring. Students can visit Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy – a personalized online program that helps students practice for the SAT with thousands of sample questions, instant feedback, video lessons and full-length practice tests. Nationwide, more than 10 million students have signed up for free SAT practice through Khan Academy. To learn more about these learning resources, and to sign up for a tutoring session, visit www.schoolhouse.world or www.khanacademy.org.
National Honor Society Peer Tutoring
Every Tuesday and Thursday after school until 4pm in Room #114 (Mrs. Ketcham’s Room).
Extended School Day Program - FREE Tutoring with a licensed teacher!
Students are invited to participate in a free, extended school day program at East Central High School. Tutoring is available with licensed Math & English teachers for one hour beyond the regular school day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you are interested in having your student attend, please contact Mrs. Rosfeld, Mrs. Donohue or Mrs.Ketcham.
SAT & ACT Information
ACT Local Test Dates
Don't forget to check out the Admissions webpage of any college you are interested in attending. You can find a "Freshman Profile" that will give you more information about the GPA, academic rigor, community service, and test scores required for admission.
You can click on the following links to learn more about taking the ACT/SAT:
ACT Information
Indiana CTE Career Guide Now Available Online
The Indiana Office of Career Technical Education (CTE) and the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet are excited to announce that the Indiana CTE Career Guide is now available online. The Career Guide provides valuable information about Indiana CTE including sections on the benefits of CTE, Work-Based Learning, Graduation Pathways, Next Level Programs of Study, and Career Clusters.
Trojan Food Pantry
Did you know that ECHS has a Food Pantry? It is available to all families that are in need of food as long as they have a student in Sunman Dearborn Schools. There are no additional requirements. Please contact Mrs. Osman, 812-576-4811 ext. 11302, for additional information.
Educationally,
Mrs. Rosfeld
Notes from Guidance
Scheduling process for the 2022-2023 school year will began in December.
The target date to release 2022-23 schedules to students is in April. Last day to change schedules for 2022-23 will be May 26th.
April 6th at 6:30 pm in the Performing Arts Center is the National Honor Society program for Senior recognition and Junior induction. Juniors who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher will be invited and inducted into the National Honor Society. Invitations will be sent to students that qualify.
Key items per grade:
Seniors:
Remember, the FAFSA is now open until the April 15th deadline for Indiana. Students should follow up with counselors with admission issues or concerns, and they will assist with contacting colleges with questions particular to the students’ needs.
Ivy Tech Lawrenceburg Campus will host a FAFSA Completion Night on Feb. 8th from 6-7pm for current seniors and parents who may want individual assistance with completing and filing the FAFSA.
College Goal Sunday Feb. 27th from 2-4pm will be another FAFSA completion assistance date that will be held at the Ivy Tech campus. This is open to anyone that may need assistance.
Seniors who are undecided about what to study after high school are encouraged to connect with Ivy Tech Community College’s Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP). This program helps high school graduates earn an Associate’s Degree in just 11 months and prepares them to transfer to a four-year college to earn their Bachelor's Degree.
Juniors:
The ASVAB test will be offered for students who may need it on April 6th. Students who need a pathway will be selected to test by their guidance counselor. If a student would like to test and they were not selected, have them contact their counselor and they will be added if there is room on the list.
SAT School Day: New required test for all juniors in the state of Indiana beginning with the class of 2023 is the SAT that will be given during the school day on March 2, 2022. This test is free and used by the state for school accountability. The benefit of the test is that students will be able to use this score report for college applications. More information will be provided as the March date approaches.
Sophomores:
Students interested in the Southeastern Career Center need to complete the enrollment form found HERE. This form has been posted in the English Google Classroom as well as emailed to students. View this Presentation to see what SCC has to offer especially for those who need an alternative option for Graduation Pathways. This Info Sheet has valuable information on SCC as well.
Sophomores and Freshman:
Scheduling will be completed by the end of January for the following year with changes accepted until the end of the year. Students should be focusing on grades and career/college exploration. Once sophomore PSAT scores are received, results will be reviewed in the classroom along with additional supports for SAT/ACT test prep.
As always we are available to meet with students individually to support academic and emotional needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Rhonda Murdock
Director of Guidance
rmurdock@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us
IVY TECH NEWS
IVY TECH NEWS
Ivy Tech College Connection Coach
For students working on achieving the Indiana College Core and needing to pick up courses, Ivy Tech has three eight-week sessions left throughout the year. These are online, virtual, in-person, or blended classes; students choose whatever works best. As an East Central High School student, there is a full scholarship for these courses, and books are free through the spring sessions.
Here are the upcoming sessions:
January 19-March 15
March 23-May 17
June 6-July 30 (Yes, you can still earn your ICC with summer courses)!
Contact Wendi Karle for more information. wkarle@sunmandearborn.k12.in.is.
Save Time, Save Money, Get a Degree
The Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP) is an 11-month program, which is student focused and designed to support, encourage, and mentor students throughout their first year of college. This program is great for students who prefer smaller class sizes and who prefer to be on a first name basis with their professors. ASAP works with students to build confidence before transferring to a 4-year university to get their bachelor’s degree or going into the workforce. Applications are now being accepted for the next cohort. If you are interested in applying to ASAP, joining one of our information sessions, or would like a tour of Ivy Tech’s campus, email Heather Gard at hgard3@ivytech.edu.
NEED HOMEWORK HELP?
**National Honor Society Tutoring in Room#114
Every Tuesday and Thursday 3pm-4pm.
**Do you have a study hall? Talk to your counselor about peer-to-peer tutoring during study hall.
**Talk to your teachers. Teachers arrive daily at 7:30am and could possibly help you before or after school.
**KhanAcademy.org Completely free online educational videos in all core classes.
**AskRose.org / (877) ASK-ROSE 24/7 homework help (Ran by the students of Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN).
AG
East Central FFA Competes in District FFA Basketball Tournament
The District 12 FFA Basketball Tournament was held on Tuesday January 25 in the East Central High School Fieldhouse. Eight Schools participated. East Central beat Batesville 31-16 in the quarterfinal round, and lost to Switzerland County in the semifinals 28-13. Switzerland County defeated Greensburg to take home the 2022 championship. Since East Central was the host school it took several members to register teams, run the scoreboards and keep statistics.
Agricultural Power Students Fabricate Sheet Metal Projects
Students in Roy Johnson’s Agricultural Power, Structure and Technology 1 course are gaining experience in fabricating projects out of sheet metal. Each student is currently making a feed scoop and a dustpan. Students are responsible for reading a planning, laying out the design accurately on the sheet metal, cutting it out and using a metal bender to form the metal for each project. At the end, each student has a usable project to take home.
Business
Computer Science 2… Professionalism in Coding through the lens of Gaming!
Mrs. Hutzel’s Computer Science 2 students have worked hard this year to get to an exciting unit in their learning… Professionalism in Coding through the lens of Gaming. Currently, students are learning about the SDLC(Software Development Life Cycle) and what professionals in industry go through to create and deliver the apps and games that they interact with every day. To practice their skills all Computer Science 2 students are researching, designing, developing, testing, and deploying their own versions of ‘The World’s Hardest Game’ and having so much fun while doing it!
English
Outside the snow might be falling and the windchill dropping, but inside English class, things are heating up. Here are some of the things that are happening in Quarter 3. English 9 classes are finishing up the holiday research projects, having learned how to properly imbed quotes, summarize and paraphrase information, and then blend it all into a well-written essay with an MLA works cited. These are skills they will continue to use throughout their high school careers. In Mrs. Ketcham’s Honors English 10, students created shelters and wrote procedural essays during their study of Lord of the Flies. In other English 10 classes, students are studying the Holocaust while reading Elie Wiesel’s Night. In addition to preparing for the SAT with weekly vocabulary practice, English 11 is learning about the disillusionment of the American Dream during their study of The Great Gatsby. Finally, English 12 is in the midst of the Victorian era and studying the methods of deduction and inference while enjoying some stories about Sherlock Holmes. Soon, they will be solving mysteries of their own.
22!
FACS
Brenda Osman bosman@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us
Introduction to Fashion and Textiles
The Introduction to Fashion and Textiles Students have been applying the new skills learned about basic mending by sewing on buttons, and mending rips and tears for staff. Our students really enjoyed putting their new skills into practice. The next unit the students have been learning about how fibers are made into fabric. Through this process students have learned the three basic types of weaving including plain, twill and satin weaves which they have demonstrated by weaving paper.
Advanced Child Development
In the Advanced Child Development Classes, students just learned the importance of safe sleep in infants to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. We are beginning to study intellectual development and how the brain works. Students will create a brain from playdough while focusing on which part of the brain controls what part of the body. We will continue to focus on Piaget’s stages of development emphasizing the sensorimotor stage. Students will have a better understanding why providing children with a stimulating environment is important to their development.
Intro to Culinary Arts & Hospitality
In January and into February , students studied quick breads and yeast breads. We began by exploring quick breads. Students learned that quick breads bake and rise quickly with the use of chemical leaveners such as baking soda or baking powder. Students also learned about the two different mixing methods used when making quick breads: the muffin method and the biscuit method. In the culinary lab, students used their skills to make Loaf Bread using the muffin mixing method and Blueberry or Strawberry Scones using the biscuit mixing method.
We started our next unit over yeast breads this week. Students will learn all about yeast and how yeast works in baked goods. They will also learn that there are 2 different mixing methods when it comes to making yeast breads: The conventional method and quick mix method. In the culinary lab students will use their knowledge of the conventional method and make soft pretzels. Next they will use the quick mix method and make pizza dough and create their own pizzas in their lab groups.
ProStart
In the month of January and into February the advanced ProStart culinary students continued the ServSafe Certification process. This is a food safety certification from the National Restaurant Association. Students who pass this certification will be among other chefs, culinarians, restaurant owners, kitchen managers, etc. who hold this certification. Students are also using what they have learned about food safety and putting their skills into action in the culinary lab. These students also catered both the girls & boys Swim Team Sectional dinner in February. January & February were great months for lessons that tasted good, while putting our skills into action!
FCCLA
East Central FCCLA State Officers Paige Lyness, Lara Moster and Olivia Stenger participated in CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) Day at the Statehouse on February 9, 2022. The FCCLA State Officers were able to meet with Senator Raatz and Representatives Lyness and share the value of CTE and FCCLA with these state leaders.
East Central FCCLA Members Sophie Merk, Elly Weiler and Grace Weiler presented their FCCLA STAR Event project on the basics of Dental Care to the first graders at Sunman Elementary on February 10th. They explained why you should brush your teeth, how often to brush your teeth, how much toothpaste to use and many other important facts. Each child received a new toothbrush, a toothfairy pillow and a coloring page.
On February 11, 2022, the East Central FCCLA held their annual FCCLA Special Needs Snowflake Dance. It was an amazing evening shared by all! Kya Miller and Joey Miller were named King and Queen of the Snowflake Dance. There were so many smiles from all attendees.
The week of February 14-18 is FCCLA Week. FCCLA Officers will be highlighted throughout the week on social media telling how “FCCLA Members will Make it Count”. FCCLA/FACS students who wear red this week will also be spotlighted on social media for the National FCCLA motto to “Make It Count”. Other fun activities will be held in class to help FACS/FCCLA Students learn more about FCCLA this week.
Fine Arts
Melissa Gulasy - mgulasy@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has grown to be the nation’s longest, most prestigious recognition initiative for the visual arts and writing. This competition has inspired bold ideas in creative teens throughout the country. All entries are considered for Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, American Visions Nominee, and American Voices Nominee Awards. These are presented to students along with celebration ceremonies and exhibitions in each region.
In December 2021, high schools within Southeastern Indiana, Northern Kentucky, and Southern Ohio submitted more than 3,400 entries of photography, drawing, and painting. East Central High School art students Megan Bauer and Isabelle Lowry received a Gold Key and Abby Bowling received a silver key. Out of the 3,400 entries, only 200 were selected to receive the gold key award. Megan and Isabelle’s drawings will join hundreds of students and their educators with a star-studded ceremony in New York City next month. Recent special guests include Oprah Winfrey, Tim Gunn, and Alec Baldwin. Gold Key entries are automatically considered for national awards and scholarship awards. In addition, their artwork will be published in an annual publication of award-winning student artwork. All three students are previous AP Drawing students and have dedicated countless hours on their artwork.
The art department is really excited to announce that we received some new photography equipment! This year we have switched from darkroom photography to all digital photography. The darkroom is going to be converted to a photography studio. Last week we received a new Nikon camera for the students to use during class projects, a new Epson printer to print off their photography, and lighting equipment for the photography studio.
Foreign Language
Matt Lyon - mslyon@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us
Students in Mrs. Martin’s Spanish I and Spanish II Classes are about learning unique and common Sports in various Spanish speaking countries. Have you ever heard of the sports: Jai-Alai, Tejo, Rana and Pato? All of these sports originated in a Spanish speaking country. Two of these sports are named after animals. Can you guess which two they are? Rana means frog and Pato means duck. Each unit that Mrs. Martin teaches is centered around a common theme for example; El calendario- calendar, La escuela-school, La comida-food, Los Deportes-Sports. These themes help the students remember vocabulary, culture, speaking activities and skills learned.
Math
This month, we would like to highlight a few of our math classes, Math 10, Geometry and Precalculus.
Math 10 is taught by Pam Donohue. Mrs. Donohue has been teaching at EC for 15 years. With her energetic and positive attitude, many students thrive in her classroom. Her students are currently working on creating scatter plots and finding a linear model that best represents their data. They will move forward working on systems, setting up real life applications and finding the best way to solve them.
Our Geometry courses are taught by Brad McDaniel, known as McD to many of the students, Juanita Reinshagen, and Andrea Brown. These teachers all aid in the success of their students by building relationships with them. Addy Cleary and Elizabeth Kirchgassner say, “Mr. McD always makes teaching fun and is even there to offer support on our bad days.” When asked what her first impression of Mrs. Reinshagen was, Makenzie Vignale says “how welcoming she was to all of her students coming in as freshman”. Lara Moster says that Mrs. Brown has “prepared us for more rigorous courses and has really pushed us to set higher goals for ourselves and our education”. As you can see, these teachers truly care about their students and want to provide every resource possible to help them succeed. SAT prep is a big part of starting every day, getting our juniors ready for the test they will take in March. They are currently working on parallelograms and the honors class is working on proportions of right triangles. While working on these specific chapters, our teachers enhance the importance of mastering these topics to ensure that students are well prepared for SAT-like questions.
Rick Moorman and Ann Bovard teach Precalculus, which helps the students receive college credit through Ivy Tech. This semester the students are taught trigonometry, constructing the unit circle, and learning how to use the values on the unit circle. This month, they will graph trigonometric functions and inverse trig functions. Being proficient in these standards will help students build their skills for higher level secondary and postsecondary math classes. Many of these students will go to even take these higher math classes while still in high school, offered as AP Calculus AB and BC, and show distinction in their performance based on their great basis of Trigonometry and Precalculus skills. Our Precalculus teachers have demonstrated sustained excellence in preparing these students for success in these classes.
Music
Choir News
Congrats to our choir students on their outstanding performances at ISSMA District Solo and Ensemble Contest. The students presented 46 events and received 35 gold medals and 11 silver. The choir has 22 students that will be moving on the state level for their solos.
Alison Grifin, Amaya Williamson, Caitlyn Bortlein, Caleb Griffin, Chloe Stewart, Dominick Smith, Emily Hagan, Emma Walters, Ethan Cappel, Gracen Wagner, Hannah Sundbye, Jazlin Herbert, Jillian Eppinghoff, Jordan Carr, Lori Masteraon, Lucy Chenault, Madi Adams, Olivia Ott, Reagan Bumgardner, Soraya Leurck, Tyler Ketcham and Wyatt Metcalf.
Congrats to the show and concert choir for taking 6 ensembles to the state level on Feb. 19th,
PE/Health
This month in the Physical Education Department we want to highlight our Strength and Condition class. This course is offered to all students who have passed Freshman PE. Athletes are strongly encouraged to enroll in this course. The focus of this class is to teach correct lifting techniques to improve overall strength, as well as athletic development. The class's weekly format is four days in the weight room: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The students follow a nine week training cycle while recording their progress on a weight card. Wednesdays are spent in the field house working on speed, agility and quickness. This class is a great opportunity for students looking to excel in athletics, pursue a career in the military or simply improve their overall fitness.
Science
Tim Maluvac - tmaluvac@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us
The science department has several exciting activities taking place.
Mr. Medlock’s students in biology were able to track genetic traits by creating a pedigree.
Students in principles of biomedical science were able to create a blueprint of an app that a person could monitor their mental health with. Students in the human body system were able to evaluate how a person's body reacts to a mile long race and how the energy systems within the body allow for an individual to finish a race. Students in chemistry were able to calculate pressure, volume and temperature changes by using the combined gas law within a balloon lab
In Mrs. Hoffman’s Chemistry courses students are using equalities and conversion factors to calculate unknown values using dimensional analysis. Students also used this technique to predict the amount of product made in the lab and compared this to the amount of product that should be made.
Mr. Maluvac’s Biology I course are discussing and investigating the effects of natural selection on population genetics. In his Biology II course the students are discussing cells and their organelles. In his Anatomy I course students are being introduced to the central nervous system and the functions of the brain.
Social Studies
Steve Lewis - slewis@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us
In Mr. Owen´s classes, all students will be completing Block Exams within the next week. Students will be required to examine and analyze a series of primary source documents relating to the specified time period and subjects, and utilize deductive reasoning skills to answer questions based on the documents. American History classes will soon begin their study of United States foreign policy including the Spanish American War and American Expansionism. European History classes will begin their block on the First World War.
In Mr. Lewis' Intro to American Politics classes, students complete their Unit 1 Test. The students have done an excellent job in grasping college-level material.
Athletics
For all sports related news, schedules, updates, etc. click on the following link or contact EC Athletics at 812-576-4811 ext 11932
https://ectrojansathletics.com/
For student athletes interested in eligibility-forms, physicals, transfers, etc. click on the following link or contact EC Athletics at 812-576-4811 ext 11932
ECHS Communication
Tom Black
Email: tblack@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us
Website: https://echs.sunmandearborn.k12.in.us/
Location: 1 Trojan Place, Suite A St. Leon, IN 47012
Phone: 8125764811
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunmandearborn.k12.in.us/
Twitter: @EastCentralHS