8th Grade Team-Building
Understanding our students' challenges as they enter high school is two-fold. Not only do we want the students to enjoy a great time in middle school, but we also want them to learn to identify and utilize their strengths. Middle school students are at an awkward stage of discovering where they fit into society. Some socialize with ease at a young age, some become social butterflies during their middle school years, and some take longer to figure out where they belong. This stage of life is a perfect time for these students to learn team-building skills to help them grow and develop independently.
Team-building allows students to work together in social situations as they would in classrooms, in daily life, and even in a career. This process helps students become motivated to work together, develop strengths, and address any weaknesses they may have. Team-building activities challenge students to solve problems and execute working cooperatively with others. These activities can also help middle school students to be more accountable, to understand responsibility, and to think more concretely.
Thus, through a combination of different challenge courses, our 8th grade students were taken outside of their comfort zone, allowing them to develop stronger relationships and to trust each other. The course l challenges students and provides them opportunities to develop leadership skills and learn how to effectively communicate with others.
I want to thank the Sullivan County Community Foundation for their grant assistance in funding this unique educational opportunity for the 8th grade students at North Central Jr/Sr High School. Our students learned skills they will use in their future.
Fuel Up to Play 60
The following NCHS faculty members were guest speakers for "Fuel Up to Play 60":
Joe Kutch: The Importance of Hydration
Kristen All: General Fitness; Weights, Cardio, & Yoga
Daniel Burkette: Nutrition & Fitness
Amber Young: Healthy Life Skills
Teresa Asche: State Park Fitness Opportunities
6th Grade Farewell
Sixth grade farewell was held to honor the class as they move onto junior high next year. The class honored their former classmate, Zach Hughes, during the ceremony. Zach was a part of this class as a first grader. “He will not be forgotten,” stated Raelei Houser.
“This class has endured the loss of a classmate and, of course, Covid. They have been a group that is there for each other at all times,” said Mrs Mckillop. “We hope that this spirit of caring and supporting one another continues throughout their high school career and beyond!”
Students received special awards that were voted upon by their classmates. Sweet awards are a special part of the farewell each year. Future plans and dreams, as well as, favorite memories from elementary school were also shared via the student created slideshow.
Kindergarten Water Party
The Kindergarten Water Party, a cherished end-of-year culminating event tradition, has been delighting students for over 20 years. What began with water balloons and wet sponges has evolved into an exhilarating celebration.
Thirteen years ago, the addition of a donated water slide by Cindy and Rob Weir took the party to new heights. That same slide, standing tall today, has witnessed countless kindergarten bodies glide down its wet surface. Over time, the water party has adapted. Initially, reserving a date caused weather conflicts, even leading to a memorable year when the party took place indoors in the gym. The donated slide braved the cold outdoors, offering students a quick Polar plunge experience.
Nowadays, we designate any warm day in May as our special day. Students eagerly bring their water party essentials—clothes, towels, and sunscreen—and eagerly await the festivities. They engage in a wide array of water-themed activities, including launching water rockets donated by Cynthia Lyndsay a decade ago, exploring Orbeez, jumping into multiple pools, filling containers with sponges, playing with a bubble making machine, using an oversized beach ball, and enjoying a waterfall exploration toy.
The highlight of the event is a second water slide, allowing the students to slide into pure joy. Undoubtedly, celebrating the end of Kindergarten with a water party epitomizes the perfect way to conclude the school year.
Reading Buddy End-of-Year Program
The end-of-the-year celebration for the Reading Buddy program was a memorable event that highlighted the achievements and bonds formed between fifth grade students and their kindergarten partners. The Reading Buddy program pairs fifth grade students with kindergarten buddies, with the older students reading to their younger counterparts. Following the reading session, the fifth grade buddies assist their kindergarten buddies through a comprehension reading program to ensure understanding.
Throughout the year, both grade levels work towards specific expectations and goals. Kindergarten students aim to earn 10 points in the Accelerated Reading program, which measures comprehension of the books they read during Reading Buddies. Successfully reaching their goal grants the kindergarteners the opportunity to attend a quarterly AR party.
The Reading Buddy program benefits both the kindergarteners and the fifth graders. For the kindergarteners, it provides support in the Accelerated Reader program, helping them improve their comprehension skills. Meanwhile, the fifth graders gain valuable experience in fluent reading, leadership, and expanding their knowledge through the books they read.
To commemorate the end of the year and the accomplishments of the Reading Buddy program, a special celebration was organized. The highlight of the celebration was a partner writing activity, where each pair of students collaborated on creating a book. The book captured their favorite activities and foods enjoyed together throughout the program.
The students' partner books were professionally printed and presented to them on the last day of the program. During the celebration, the students shared their books, enjoyed slushes, and collected autographs on the autograph page. Additionally, two special Reading Buddies, Peyton and Mason, who had experienced the departure of their buddies, took on special responsibilities during the celebration and received unique gifts to acknowledge their efforts.
The end-of-the-year celebration served as a joyous culmination of the Reading Buddy program, showcasing the growth, connection, and positive experiences that students had gained through their participation in the program.
6th Grade Field Trip
The 6th grade classes from Northeast East and Northeast North took their end of the year field trip together. They visited the Indiana University campus then had some fun at Urban Air. Climbing, jumping, and moving were great ways to burn some energy after finishing ILEARN testing.
Cookies & Canvas AR Party
The final grading period's AR party was a cookies and canvas party. Mrs. Amy Campbell spent two days with us to ensure all students were able to create a tropical masterpiece. 3rd-6th grade students painted fish and were able to add details to make each fish unique. K-2nd grade students painted crabs on the sand. It was a learning process for all, but the finished products were all adorable! Students also enjoyed cookies and juice as a mid-masterpiece break.
AR Lock-In
We held our annual AR Lock-In on Friday, May 19th. Students who met their AR goal each of the 4 grading periods were invited to attend. 1st-6th grade students were invited to spend the night while Kindergarten students went home at 10:00 Friday night. Students were treated to pizza and chips for dinner and consumed lots and lots of yummy snacks all night long! The weather was not so kind to us this year as we were not able to play outside on the playground for very long. Instead, we ran relay races, played musical carpet squares, played corn hole, drew pictures, and everyone's favorite--broke the school rules! Students stood on desks, broke pencils, ran in the hallway and screamed as loud as they could. The most popular activity of the night was the balloon popping relay. At 10:00, it was lights out and time to watch the new Mario movie. Students slept on the gym floor and we're picked up at 8:00 Saturday morning. We're not sure if the kids got any sleep, but we know Mrs. Redman and Mrs. Kamman did not!
2nd Grade Tie-Dye Art
Second grade students had their final art lesson with Mrs. Amy Campbell in May. This month's lesson took place in two parts. On the first day, Mrs. Campbell helped students tie dye white t-shirts. Students were able to use rubber bands to tie off their design and chose three colors to use. Mrs. Campbell was kind enough to take all the t-shirts home and prepare them for the second day. When she came back a week later, students were introduced to screen printing. She created a special design for 2nd grade students to screen print on their tie dye shirts! The students were so excited to have a keepsake from second grade. Students took turns signing the backs of the shirts and we even wore our shirts on our field trip!
Our class would like to thank Mrs. Campbell for coming each month to provide an art lesson. It was such a neat experience and was looked forward to each month!
K-2 Zoo Trip
Kindergarten, first and second grade students enjoyed an extended day field trip to the Indianapolis Zoo in May. The weather was beautiful and students were able to experience many different aspects of the zoo. Students were able to see so many animals, ride the train and roller coaster, get their faces painted, eat ice cream, and visit the gift shop. The kids loved meeting back up at the end of the day to share their experiences with each other. Thanks to three very generous donations from the community, students had an extra $10 each to spend while at the zoo. It was a wonderful day and we had outstanding parent chaperones who made our trip a success!
NEEE Field Day
This year's field day was packed full of events that students of ALL abilities could have some success participating in. We pride ourselves in recognizing that all students are made different and that all students need to learn the valuable lesson of being good winners and good losers. While not all students are going to be athletes, these events are designed so that at any given station, any student could have some success or just a little fun.
Parent volunteers enthusiastically ran all of the events, and we were grateful for their dedicated support throughout the fields, yards, and rooms of the school. Principal Sarah Hannon, with her exceptional organizational skills, played a pivotal role in coordinating and overseeing the events, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all participants. Tug of War has long been the culminating event of this traditional day.
The last challenge of the day is the teachers versus the 6th grade class in Tug of War. The first battle proved to be that the teachers came out on top. The second battle between the teachers and the 6th grade students proved to be a bit of a funny as the teachers counted, "1, 2, 3..." and then let go of the rope, dropping the 6th graders to their bottoms. It was all in good fun as 6th grade ended their time at Northeast East, Hymera Elementary School laughing and enjoying their last Field Day.
Throughout the field day, students participated in various activities, including the Over/Under Sponge Water Race, Washer Toss, Plunger challenge, Obstacle course, 50-yard dash, baseball throw, ring toss, and tug of war. The entire school rotated through stations designed to be silly, fun, and sometimes challenging. Students received ribbons for placing first, second, or third, while younger students were also awarded a "Good Sport" ribbon, emphasizing the importance of both being a good winner and a good loser. The event provided a memorable and inclusive experience for all students, celebrating their diverse abilities and fostering a sense of camaraderie.
NEEE Student Council & Teacher Appreciation Week
The Northeast East Elementary Student Council organized a special project to honor their teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week in May. Principal Sarah Hannon had secured a grant that provided the council with a "My Intent" kit, which allowed them to create personalized bracelets using metal-based jewelry. The council members saw this as an excellent opportunity to express their gratitude to the teachers.
To begin the project, the Student Council held a vote to select words that best described the teachers of Northeast East Elementary. These words were carefully chosen based on the positive qualities and characteristics exhibited by the teachers. Each word was then tapped into the jewelry using the tools provided in the kit, creating unique and meaningful bracelets for each teacher.
During Teacher Appreciation Week, the Student Council presented the bracelets to the teachers as a heartfelt gesture of appreciation. Along with the bracelets, the teachers also received a ballet that showcased the other words that were considered to describe their character. This allowed the teachers to see the range of qualities and traits that their students admired and valued.
The teachers were deeply touched by this thoughtful gesture from their Student Council Leader. Each teacher appreciated the specific word that was chosen to describe them, recognizing the time and effort the students put into selecting it. This project served as a meaningful way for the Student Council and the entire school community to express their gratitude and admiration for the teachers of Northeast East Elementary.
Barb Johnson
On Friday, May 19, friends, family, and faculty members came together to celebrate Barb Johnson's retirement. She has worked for the NESC, SWSC, and the GSSEC for 39 years as the ED Behavioral Specialist. “Retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway!” Barb said.
Dwight Boyll
Dwight Boyll put out his bus stop arm for one last time on May 25. In his 48 years of driving a school bus for the Northeast School Corporation, Dwight cared for student safety in all types of weather and conditions. We celebrated Dwight with dinner, gifts, and lots of memories and laughter and friends on May 15 at Tyler Nichols Catering. Mr. Boyll plans to travel with his family this summer and take life easy. We wish him much happiness!
