Dr. Jack Parker 5.30.24
As we approach the end of another remarkable school year, I am thrilled to reflect on the outstanding accomplishments and unwavering dedication of our entire school community. It has been a year filled with growth, collaboration, and success, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together.
Our teachers and staff have once again demonstrated their exceptional commitment to our students' academic and personal development. Their tireless efforts, creativity, and passion have truly made a difference in the lives of our students, fostering a supportive and enriching learning environment.
Exciting developments continue to unfold within our district, including the inauguration of our new transportation center. Bringing together our entire transportation team under one roof will streamline operations and further enhance the efficiency and safety of our transportation services. Progress on the construction of our new elementary school is also well underway, marking a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities that support student learning and growth.
Looking ahead to the summer months, our focus will remain on enhancing our infrastructure and services to better serve our community. Projects such as the completion of parking and new drives around the middle school, the establishment of a new parent drop-off zone at the high school, and the development of a new website will further improve our facilities and communication channels.
As we prepare to bid farewell to another school year, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each member of our school community for their unwavering dedication and support. I wish you all a restful and rejuvenating summer break, filled with cherished moments with family and friends.
Finally, I want to congratulate the graduating class of 2024. Your hard work, resilience, and achievements are a testament to your exceptional talents and the bright future that lies ahead. May you continue to pursue your dreams with passion and determination, knowing that you have the unwavering support of your Mt. Vernon family behind you.
Special Congratulations to our MVCSC Board of Trustees!
The leaders of our school district received an "Exemplary Governance Award" from the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) at the "Commendable" level.
ISBA school board awards are based on the collective status of individual board members, as well as the completion of certain additional criteria as a unit. The "Commendable" recognition represents an ongoing commitment to continued learning and excellence in school board service.
Congratulations also to Kellie Freeman and Shannon Walls who received individual Level 3 Distinguished Awards and Phil Edwards, who received an individual Level 1 Commendable Award. Individual status is obtained by earning points accumulated through attendance at ISBA events and activities.
MVCSC Board of Trustees, thank you for your support, service and dedication to our students and staff!
Become a MV Ambassador!
Join the next special group of community members who learn behind-the-scenes information about school operations, finance, school programs and more! Ambassadors experience many student-led tours and interactions with school leaders who showcase educational opportunities for students at every level.
The eight Tuesday morning meetings throughout the 2024-2025 school year are full of engaging activities that provide Ambassadors with opportunities to get to know MV leadership in every department and visit nearly every school! www.mvcsc.k12.in.us/Ambassadors
The "Cutest Spectacle in Racing" Kindy 500
Many Mt. Vernon kindergarten students raced to the finish this month with their homemade "cars" during Fortville and McCordsville Elementary schools' annual Kindy 500 events.
As students learn about the state of Indiana and the significance of iconic events like the Indy 500 Race, this Kindy 500 race provides students with the opportunity to design and theme their cars in any way they choose, allowing their personalities shine through.
Indy 500 princesses handed out medals and trophies as students finished their races. Students enjoyed race festivities with medals, milk, and many smiles!
Staff End-of-Year Celebration
As the 2023-2024 school year came to a close, MVCSC hosted an End-of-the-Year Celebration for all staff. Many outstanding staff members were recognized for their achievements, years of service, hard work and dedication. MVCSC Administration and the Board of Trustees expressed appreciation to all staff, including the 2024 retirees and Teacher/Staff of the Year, for all their efforts to engage, educate and empower ALL students.
Congratulations and thank you to all our retirees this year. Stay in touch and enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
- Laurie Gwaltney - 28 Years - Teacher at Mt. Vernon Middle School
- Phil Deardorf - 27 Years - Teacher at Mt. Vernon High School
- Jenny Stoner - 23.5 Years - Food Service at Fortville Elementary
- Dwayne Jones - 18 Years - Transportation
- Jill Schuyler - 17 Years - Teacher at Mt. Vernon Middle School
Unified Champion Athletes Exhibit Unity in Victory
The Mt. Vernon school district celebrated three Unified Champions field days in May with preschool, elementary, middle and high school students participating in the fun.
Unified Champions is a Special Olympics program that engages schools in creating climates of inclusion, acceptance, respect and human dignity for ALL students.
Students with and without disabilities competed on the same teams to provide an inclusive environment where every student participated regardless of athletic, intellectual, ambulatory or functional abilities. MVCSC is proud to be a Unified Champion school district!
MVHS Ranked "Best High School"
Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation is proud to announce that Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) has been ranked one of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools” for 2024. MVHS was named to the top 40% of the nation’s high schools and is now ranked 47th within Indiana and 15th in the Indianapolis metro area. The 2024 edition of Best High Schools includes a numerical ranking of nearly all public high schools nationwide – almost 18,000 of them.
MVHS Principal, Mrs. Brooke Tharp, comments, “I am pleased to see Mt. Vernon High School receive such a high ranking by U.S. News & World Report within our county, the metro area, the state, and nationally. I believe it is a strong reflection of our school's high-performing students and our teachers' hard work to provide academic excellence. As our school continues to grow, our focus is to make our students’ education the top priority and provide an immersive, positive learning environment to help prepare them for their futures.”
Congratulations MVHS Class of 2024!
Senior Work Day
Before graduation, Mt. Vernon High School seniors spent a morning giving back to the community and dedicating time to work on various service projects.
Seniors completed service projects throughout our school buildings, as well as off-campus in our community.
Senior Honor Night
Many students from the senior class of 2024 were recognized for their outstanding achievements at Senior Honors Night, which was sponsored by the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation. The total amount of scholarship money awarded to the Class of 2024 was over $8 million.
MVEF Thank-an-Educator Breakfast
Seniors honored educators and staff by inviting those who had significantly impacted their educational journey to a breakfast that was sponsored by the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation. Each staff member in attendance received a personal certificate of appreciation and a heartfelt expression of gratitude from the student for all the ways they had positively supported them.
Senior Parade
Seniors had the opportunity to visit each elementary where they paraded through the building inspiring young students and reconnecting with staff who started their educational experience at Mt. Vernon.
Commencement Ceremony
At the Class of 2024 graduation, 351 seniors achieved the honor of crossing the stage to receive their diplomas, recounting all their hard work and dedication. The tassels were turned, the caps were tossed and the Class of 2024's bright futures began.
The salutatory address was given by Seth Woolston and the valedictory address was given by Cameron Sullivan. The top academic students and senior class officers received their diplomas first, followed by the rest of their classmates alphabetically.
The commencement ceremony was held at the Mt. Vernon High School Hancock Health Stadium. Administrators and the School Board of Trustees congratulated each graduate on their hard work, determination and incredible achievements!
Bright futures are ahead for the Class of 2024! Congratulations!
MVHS Vocational/CTE Classes Provide Hands-On Exploratory Experiences
Welding
In only two short years, the MVHS welding program has generated internships, community partnerships, and students lining up steady and lucrative jobs even as they master skills and earn professional certifications. About half of the 20 students in advanced welding courses experienced internships throughout the community this year.
In addition, students received educational certification from the American Welding Society (AWS) SENSE program. These certifications indicate to prospective employers students’ readiness to learn and work, creating a potential advantage for graduates in both pay and job security. When students finish Mt. Vernon’s welding courses, they also receive 21 dual enrollment credits through Ivy Tech.
Criminal Justice
Criminal justice inspires scores of TV shows, but it is - in real life - a promising career field for young people interested in anything from law enforcement to emergency dispatch communications - and many options in between.
In addition to learning about potential careers, Mt. Vernon’s criminal justice students can earn up to 12 dual-credits in cooperation with Vincennes University and are able to earn several certifications, including Jail Officer Certification and Emergency Telecommunication Course Certification.
Taught by Leroy Striker, a former Indiana State Police trooper and Wabash County sheriff, guest speakers are invited from a wide range of criminal justice-related careers and strives to make students aware of the full spectrum of options. “This course is not about making students police officers,” he said. “It’s about providing a program for students to learn about all professions in the criminal justice field. Students learn quickly what the job requirements are for most professions. They gain direction and a planned pathway to attain their chosen career.”
Health Science
In the Health Science 1 class, students are able to receive their certification for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) and for their certified nursing aide (CNA) certification. It also gave them the opportunity to work on their clinicals under the supervision of an RN clinical instructor at a nursing home in Greenfield.
At the end of Health Science 2, students will obtain their certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) certification, which means dealing with bloodwork, vaccinations, testing and more. Some students also worked in clinics under the supervision of Hancock Health nurse practitioners.
Aviation
Aviation students experience numerous real-world experiences to introduce them to different career paths available to them in aviation. Its introduction to such key concepts as aerodynamics, weight and balance, physiology, cross-country flight planning, weather, and decision-making skills provides students with a variety of knowledge. A few of the student experiences included:
- they talked with Blue Angels pilots at the Crossroads Airshow
- a Republic Airlines pilot described his work in detail for them
- they experienced a LIFT Academy flight simulator
- they visited the Indianapolis International Airport control tower
- female students heard personal stories of various careers during Women in Aviation Day
“We’ve learned all the different (career) routes you can take. She (aviation instructor Katelin Nading) has exposed us to all of them,” Tyler Black, a current student, shared. “Without this class, I’d have no idea what to do.” While he previously had considered flight engineering, Tyler is now drawn to pilot training, even applying to the Air Force Academy for a possible pathway in military aviation.
Students across Hancock County will have an even greater opportunity to prepare for CTE careers when HC3 (Hancock County Career Center) opens at the Amplify Hancock Innovation Center in the fall of 2026. This high school career center will consolidate aviation and numerous other career pathways into a centralized location engineered built specifically for CTE classes. The HC3 will serve all four of the county’s public school districts and will be led by Stan Wilkison, who is currently the assistant principal at Mt. Vernon High School.
By jumping in and trying CTE classes, many Mt. Vernon students are discovering skills, developing their talent, earning college credits, and finding work that provides a lifetime of inspiration and rewards. Mt. Vernon students and parents can review a number of available pathways HERE, which is linked on the Mt. Vernon High School counseling webpage.
Calendars
- Parents/guardians of returning students should be sure to register your child(ren) in your Skyward Family Access for the 2024-2025 school year after July 1. The process is quick and important to complete prior to the start of school.
- A Back-to-School supplement with details on each school's Meet the Teacher Nights, where to find school supply lists, transportation information, etc. will be mailed in the July Mainstream and also launched on our website by July.
Marauders, we will see you on Friday, August 8 for the start of another great year!
Sincerely,
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MVCSC, 1806 W. State Road 234, Fortville, IN 46040 ~ (317) 485-3100