East Central

Despite the challenges we've faced as a school dating back to March of 2020, we continue to work diligently as a staff and as a student body to ensure that the opportunities we've been given this fall namely coming back to in-person school and being allowed numerous extra and co-curricular opportunities as well. Students and staff continue to address the protocols put in place in August from masks, to seating charts, to social distancing, and even with Dearborn County's red status the past few weeks, things IN school have remained fairly consistent and steady. Thank you to all parents and community for your help as well. We could not have been as successful to date with everyone sharing in the effort.

Teachers continue to reinvent the way they share curriculum. From S-DOA to students in quarantine to in-person, instruction continues for our students. COVID has certainly brought with it more than its share of challenges for students, staff, and parents. A huge thank you to all for the patience and hard work that's gone in to making this year work so far.

In athletics, Fall sports found great success namely in completing each of their respective seasons without quarantines. Winter sports started this past weekend with a big girls basketball win over perennial power Heritage Christian. Wrestling, boys basketball, and boys swimming all start their respective practice seasons this week. It's going to be an exciting winter even with the smaller crowds. Having in-person school has been a positive thing in so many ways as has been the opportunity to compete and support our athletes. In many ways, it's been the normal we were all been missing.

Speaking of normal, our Winter drama auditions for "Mama Mia" start the week of November 17th. We're looking forward to another great show!

Lastly, we will continue to do everything we can to keep children safe and IN SCHOOL this year. Thank you for all of your help and support in that effort.

WE ARE...EC!

“No leader is worth his salt who won’t set up the chairs.” Peter Drucker

Respectfully,

Tom Black

Students distance learning should complete these tasks daily:

1. Maintain communication with teachers via email.

2. Check Google Classroom multiple times a day for classroom assignments and instruction. Students are expected to complete all assignments during quarantine. If a student does not understand an assignment or needs additional instruction they are to email their teacher for assistance.

3. Attend virtual classroom session(s)when teachers make them available.

More specific information on elearning and hybrid learning which will begin 11/16 will be coming before the end of the week.

Sunman-Dearborn Community Schools is pleased to announce that the USDA has approved a
nationwide waiver due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic allowing ALL students regardless of
socioeconomic status, to receive FREE meals at school. We start this program effective
Monday September 14, 2020. According to the USDA, this program will continue until
the end of the 2020-21 school year or until funding runs out.

2020-21 Advanced Placement Exams

Students enrolled in year-long AP courses have been registered to take the AP exam. Exam dates can be found on The College Board’s website. Please see this letter explaining the registration process and deadline.

Dual Credit Information for Parents and Students

Did you know ECHS has 45 courses that students can earn college credit in. Last year East Central High School students earned over $900,000 in college credit from Ivy Tech and Indiana University. Students and families can save the cost of an entire year of college by completing this STGEC checklist right here at ECHS. For fast facts of the STGEC click here or contact your child’s guidance counselor.

Class of 2023 & Beyond Graduation Pathway Requirement

For the first time in years, the class of 2023 and beyond will not have to “pass a test” to earn their high school diploma! Freshmen & Sophomores must complete what is known as “Graduation Pathways” to graduate high school in the state of Indiana. We are very fortunate at ECHS to be able to offer over 20 pathways for students to choose from. For questions, please contact your child’s guidance counselor.

Interested in Ivy Tech – 2021 Seniors, apply NOW to Ivy Tech – Lawrenceburg for FREE. The online application will take between 10-15 minutes to complete and you do not need to complete any essay prompts or submit letters of recommendation. Apply Now: https://link.ivytech.edu/APPLYK

Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP) – Navigating the first year of college can be overwhelming. Ivy Tech in Lawrenceburg has a program in place to help students achieve their goal of a degree in 11 months. ASAP (Associate Accelerated Program) is a student focused program designed to support, encourage, and mentor students throughout their first year of college. This program is great for students who prefer smaller class sizes, who prefer to be on a first name basis with their professors, and who prefer to stay close to home. Ivy Tech is committed to student success by providing top-notch education at a competitive rate. ASAP allows students to gain confidence before transferring to a 4-year institution or entering the workforce. Contact BeWithIvy@ivytech.edu for more information.

Ivy Tech EdOpp Scholarship – Ivy Tech Community College – Lawrenceburg Campus is offering an EdOpp Scholarship to 2021 seniors in our service area, who attend Ivy Tech Lawrenceburg for the 2021 academic year. We are awarding students on a first-come, first-served basis, up to $5,000 per student, per year. We are extremely grateful for the generous funding provided by the City of Lawrenceburg. Scholarship funding will be distributed once a student registers for an academic semester. Contact R11Express@ivytech.edu for more 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. East Central offers 20 CTE pathways that students can choose from in Business, Engineering, Family and Consumer Science and Agriculture.

Final Exams

Final Exams will be administered on the following dates:

December 16 - Periods 3 & 6

December 17 - Periods 2 & 5

December 18 - Periods 1, 4, & 7

*Final exams are not administered early for any reason. Please make every effort possible to be in attendance for your semester exams.

The following counselors are assigned the following students:

A-G Mr. Wynn

H-O Mrs. Tupper

P-Z Mrs. Murdock

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. The pantry is available by appointment only: 812-576-4811 ext. 11302, Ask for Brenda Osman or email bosman@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

Educationally,

Mrs. Rosfeld

jrosfeld@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

Rhonda Murdock - rmurdock@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

ECHS is proud to announce the selection of Dylan Schutte as a Lilly Finalist for Ripley Community Foundation and Heath Doll and Julia Williamson as Lilly Finalist for Dearborn Community Foundation. Lilly winners will be announced at a later date.

Scheduling process for the 2021-2022 school year will begin in December.

• Class meetings with current 8th-11th graders were held virtually in December to review the registration process for next year’s classes.

• Class registrations for current 9th-11th grade will be open December 7th for students to register at home until the winter break on Dec. 18th.

• A Virtual Parent meeting for 8th grade students will be made available in December to review the transition to high school and class registration process.

• During January and February guidance counselors will begin meeting with students individually to discuss registration, diploma types and pathway requirements.

• April: Approximate timeline for students to receive schedules for 2021-2022.

• May 12th: Last day of school and last day to change schedules for 2021-2022.

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.

Seniors are allowed two college visit days to explore or finalize colleges of choice. Deadlines are quickly approaching for college applications and guidance counselors are always available to assist as needed.

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:

SAT and ACT testing dates are available with most updated options in the attachments below. Juniors need to make sure that SAT and/or ACT testing is completed this year so they can apply to colleges upon the start of their senior year. Certain schools (UC, IU, Purdue, Miami Oxford, NCAA) require that test scores be sent directly from the testing center to be official. With covid colleges have been moving to test optional for admission but this could change the following year so testing is still recommended.

SAT: College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools

ACT: https://www.act.org/

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.

Thank you,

Rhonda Murdock, MSW, L.S.W

812-576-4811 ext. 11912

**National Honor Society Tutoring in the Library

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).

TRADITIONAL 4-YEAR COLLEGE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE!
Over 2 million Hoosier adults need additional skills to compete in the 21st Century Workforce. To help more Hoosiers gain these skills, Indiana has created a new financial aid opportunity for working-age adults: the Workforce Ready Grant.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Workforce Ready Grant pays the tuition and mandatory fees for eligible high-value certificate programs at Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes University or other approved providers. The grant is available for two (2) years and covers up to the number of credits required by the qualifying program. The grant does not cover courses that do not directly apply to the student’s certificate program. Program-specific fees and equipment are not covered.

QUALIFYING PROGRAMS

The qualifying high-value certificate programs were selected based on employer demand, wages, job placements and program completion rate. These programs are aligned with Indiana’s highest demand sectors:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Building & Construction
• Health Sciences
• IT & Business Services
• Transportation & Logistics

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for the grant, students must:

• Be age 18 years or older
• Be an Indiana resident and U.S. citizen or (eligible non-citizen)
• Have a high school diploma (or equivalent) but less then a college degree
• Enroll in a qualifying program at an eligible training provider
• File the FAFSA**
• Enroll full-time (typically four courses) if you are a Dependent Student**
• Enroll at least half-time (typically two courses) if you are an Independent Student**
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress**
• Meet any other minimum criteria established by the Commission

**Credit-Bearing programs only

HOW TO APPLY

• Visit the Next LevelJobs.org to connect with an eligible training provider
• Submit a complete and corrected FAFSA (please allow 5-7 business days for processing).
  • Applicants do no need to meet the April 15th deadline for state financial aid
  • The Workforce Ready Grant is not limited by family income

Roy Johnson - rjohnson@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

EC FFA Competes in State Horticulture CDE

The East Central FFA Chapter had 23 members compete in the Indiana 4-H/FFA State Horticulture Career Development Event on Wednesday October 21. Normally the event is held at Purdue University, but this year due to the pandemic the students competed virtually from East Central High School. There were a total of 43 teams and 238 competitors from around the state that participated in the event.

Contestants had to use their knowledge to identify ornamental plants (trees/shrubs), indoor and flowering plants (houseplants/annuals/perennials), fruits, and vegetables. They also had to complete a general knowledge exam.

East Central’s top team placed 9th out of 43 teams. The team consisted of Heath Doll (23rd overall, top EC individual), Adrien King, Megan Sierra, and Brooklyn Gill.

16th place team

Lydia Kidd, Madison Shumate, David Massingale, and Bradley Kolb

28th place team

Abby Vendler, Josie Hartman, Nick Steele, and Jasmyn Callaway

32nd place team

Caleb Harper, Jacob Kuhn, Emma Gutfreund, and Emma Bowling

High school individuals not on a team

Brady Hornberger and Evan Kuhn

East Central also had competitors in the junior division which consists of students in grade 8 and below.

The team of Lloyd Darringer, Jasmin Keith, Isaac Hartman and Ashtyn Galey placed 6th out of 8 total teams.

Junior individuals not on a team

Gabe Auwbrey

Congratulations to all who competed!!

Krista Hutzel - khutzel@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

Real-Life Learning in Business

Mr. Miller’s Admin and Office Management Class and his Principles of Business Management Class continue to learn in a “real-life” environment as they operate our school spirit wear store known as The Trojan Exchange. The students in the Admin and Office Management Class are in their second year of work in the store and are the officers and managers of the various departments such as marketing, operations, technology and finance. The students in the Principles of Business Management Class are in their first year working with us. Each of these students has a job within one of our departments. We have a group of officers who set policy and oversee all operations. We have a group of managers who are in charge of the day-to-day activities of the business. Our first year students do a great job of making sure the daily tasks from our leaders are done at a high enough level for us to accomplish our mission and vision. We want to provide quality spirit wear to all of our parents, students and community at a reasonable price. Our vision is to be the best school spirit shop in southeastern Indiana. Our vision is also to be profitable enough to provide money for scholarships for outstanding students in our Business Department and our Business Academy. We will be beginning our annual holiday sale in early November. This is a great opportunity to purchase the perfect gift for your favorite ECHS fans.

Mr. Miller’s Introduction to Business Class is also working with real-life situations. The students in this class have each started their own simulated business that they will be operating throughout the school year. Students are involved in planning, marketing, operating and evaluating their business every day. Their goals are to serve their customers as well as possible and to maintain a profitable business. One of the goals of the class is to have students experience the same things a business operator would experience daily in running the business. Students have done everything from interviewing and hiring workers to creating a business plan.

tboyd@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

In Engineering and Technology classes students just completed the Winch Project where they use knowledge from previous lessons on gears, circuitry, and maximizing power output.

Susan Ketcham - sketcham@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

Crisp mornings, falling leaves, and the smell of baking make November my favorite month. I recently read a quote from Tecumsah that helps me start my day off with a positive mindset: “When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.” In these trying times, giving thanks for what we have is more important now than ever before. I am truly thankful for all the wonderful people in my life from my family to my students. I am very blessed. I reached out to the members of the English Department and asked them what they were thankful for. Their answers didn’t surprise me at all.

“I am thankful for my family, friends, good health, and to be in school with my students this year.”

--Mrs. Stanley (English 11 & Yearbook)

“I am thankful for my GOOD HEALTH! And, of course, Charlie and Grant-O.”

--Mrs. Tucker (English 9 & Honors English 9)

“I am thankful for each day that I get to spend with my students. With all of the uncertainty right now, I am thankful for each opportunity to be with them.”

--Mr. Meiners (English 9 & 10)

“I am thankful for my family, my students, and my community!”

--Mrs. Cecil (English 9 & 10)

“I am thankful for all those in my life that model generosity, compassion, and understanding. The world needs more of your giving spirit!”

--Mrs. (Rose) Ronnebaum (English 11 & Honors English 11)

“I am thankful for all of the nice students and staff here at East Central who have welcomed me.”

--Mrs. Jackson (Honors English 10 & AP Lang)

Finally, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the news of Mrs. (Rose) Ronnebaum’s wedding celebration on October 10, 2020. In lieu of presents, the Ronnebaums requested donations to charity in honor of their previous spouses they had lost to cancer (Carol & Jason) as well as all those they have collectively lost to cancer...including Jessica Wiedeman one of Mrs. Ronnebaum’s former students and teaching partners who will be laid to rest on November 11th. Through much generosity, the happy couple was able to donate coloring books, crayons, blankets and nearly $4,000 to the children at St. Jude Research Hospital. Their generous spirit is truly something to be thankful for.

Brenda Osman bosman@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

Nutrition and Wellness

Students in Nutrition and Wellness have been exploring the USDA MyPlate guidelines and the importance of breakfast. Although many students admit that they don't eat breakfast regularly, we discussed the impact that skipping breakfast versus eating a healthy breakfast has on their productivity, mood, and more! Students created a healthy balanced breakfast in their labs, by making breakfast burritos with their choice of veggies and serving them with a nice glass of orange juice. Most students raved about the Breakfast Burrito lab and said it was their favorite one so far.

Preparing for College and Careers

Students in Preparing for College and Careers are learning about the world of work. Students are differentiating between jobs and careers, researching possible career fields based on skills and personalities, and creating personal resumes and cover letters. Students were able to reflect on the importance of participating in extracurricular activities and how to use those activities to build up a professional resume. We are now preparing for interviews by exploring proper interview attire, watching sample interviews, and practicing answering tricky interview questions.

Introduction to Fashion and Textiles

Students in Introduction to Fashion and Textiles are finishing their Elements and Principles of Design Unit where they learned a lot about each element and principle of design. There was a strong emphasis on the color wheel. Each student also conducted a color analysis to determine which season of colors looked good on them depending on their undertones. We will also be filming our Virtual PJ Pants Fashion Show so please be watching for the link to see their first fashion projects on the runway!

Child Development

Child Development students are sewing their quilts where they learned the basics of embroidery and sewing. We will be having a virtual quilt show in the near future. Please stay tuned to see the students outstanding work!

Education Professions

The cadet teachers at North Dearborn Elementary just assisted with the annual Halloween Parties and enjoyed every minute of it! All of the cadet teachers just finished sharing their Educational Diversity Projects where they each research the educational opportunities in a country of their choice and the culture of that specific country. It is very interesting to see how each country organizes and carries out their educational programming for the children.

The East Central FCCLA Chapter just completed a service project for the North Dearborn Village. FCCLA members carved over 35 pumpkins and made trick or treat bags for the residents of the North Dearborn Village. The members thoroughly enjoyed carving the pumpkins at school and then they were delivered to the Village. The pumpkins and treats were left in the foyer at the North Dearborn Village for all to enjoy!

Melissa Gulasy - mgulasy@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

Students had the opportunity to experiment with the medium of watercolor painting. Creating texture with household items such as saran wrap,epsom salts,Himalayan salts, and rice. Laying ordinary cling film onto a wash of color and peeling it off after it is dry creates a pattern that the students really enjoyed doing.

The students painted their pet or animal of choice. Below is Julia Driggers, Colton Smith, and Sophie Browndyke.

Bottom right from left to right: Colton Smith, Julia Driggers, and Sophie Browndyke

In other art classes, Mr. Shun’s Digital Design class worked on creating simple doodles into beautiful digital artwork! They scanned and modified their drawings in Photoshop by coloring and transforming their drawings. Their drawings became more than just doodling by applying their knowledge of the elements and principles of art. Below are examples of digital artwork by Heath Doll, Annabelle Bridgewaters, and Hailey Mullins.

Matt Lyon - mslyon@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

The Virgin of Guadalupe

In the month of November, Mrs. Martin’s Spanish I and II students will learn about the Patron Saint of Mexico. Students in Foreign Language Classes not only learn the language but also the culture. They will make tissue paper flowers to remember the importance of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the miracles that have occurred because of the telma.

Juanita Reinshagen - jreinshagen@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the ECHS Math Department wishes everyone a safe and healthy Thanksgiving!

Mrs. Donohue, our AOK (Acts of Kindness)/math teacher, has some exciting things going on in her AOK Club. Beginning next week (Nov. 16th), the AOK club will be hosting a Hat & Scarf drive for the homeless. Our students do a great job getting involved in community projects, so anything you can do to facilitate their involvement is greatly appreciated. Our community also does a great job of coming together and helping each other and especially during this time of year!

Donna Tanner - dtanner@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

Congratulations to the choir department on their outstanding performances at the annual Fall Concert. The students performed their music with the same excellence and professionalism they always show. The choir concert was split into two separate shows this year to accommodate social distancing. The soloists for this concert included: Miriam Weber, Ana Eckstein, Michela Smith, Amber Sillis, Savannah Feaster, Brooklyn Gill, Andrew Watkins, Dominick Smith, Tara Hall, Jordyn Maurer, Taylor Laughlin, Erin McKinney, Kourtney Clark, Kyndel Clark, Jazlin Herbert and Allie Andres.

Theater News

The drama department will host auditions for the spring musical Mamma Mia On Tuesday, Nov. 17th-19th in the chorus room from 3:10-4:30p. Sign-up sheets will be outside the chorus room.

Mark Foster mfoster@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

As cooler weather settles in, Physical Education classes have been forced to move inside. PE-9 classes have enjoyed some competitive flag football, volleyball, 8 base kickball, and line soccer. They have also designed individual workouts to demonstrate flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance. Weight training classes have been working on speed and agility along with daily strength training as they prepare for the end of semester max outs.

Students in health classes are being educated on the dangers of tobacco, vaping and alcohol. They are looking forward to a visit from Athletic Trainer, Sammy Cliffe, later this month.

Tim Maluvac - tmaluvac@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

Students tested ionic and molecular compound properties to identify unknown compounds. Students are testing the melting point and the conductivity of different substances in the images above.

Students also built models of molecules to determine their shapes and resulting property of polar and nonpolar substances.

Some students completed enrichment activities that allow them to identify different organic functional groups.

Students are currently working on percentage composition and will be introduced to unit conversions, empirical formula and molecular formula calculations as they finish Unit 2.

Steve Lewis - slewis@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

In Mr. Owen's European History class, students are examining the impact of the Industrial Revolution with an emphasis on the competing ideas that contributed to the economic, political and cultural developments that occurred throughout the 18th and 19th centuries

In American History, the classes have begun their examination of the American Civil War. Students will receive instruction in the rudiments of military history and theory in this unit.

All classes are currently working on semester projects, which will be due in December, and are anticipated to be impressive!

In Mr. Stonefield's class, we are completing a Macroeconomics Project this week in economics....Diagnosing a Nation's Economic Health.

In Mr. Lewis' Intro to Politics class, we have been breaking down the 2020 Election and looking into the data for voting patterns and behaviors.

Don Stonefield - dstonefield@sunmandearborn.k12.in.us

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

https://sunmandearborn-in.finalforms.com/

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