Overflowing With Pride

Anyone who has a job in the public eye, like mine, knows that not everything that happens can be considered good. Yet I am constantly blessed by things that our students do out of the kindness of their hearts and one of those instances took place at a recent boys swim meet.

One of the swimmers for the other team was having a tough day and was struggling to finish the event. While his own teammates sat along the side of the pool, our swim team made it a point to cheer and encourage this young man from the opposing team. Some of the Chargers stood at each end of the pool and cheered for him, while others walked along the edge of the pool, followed him, and encouraged him with every stroke.

My heart overflows with pride when I think of this. Thank you, swim team, for what you did for this young man and for being fine, outstanding representatives for Pike Central.

Outstanding Representatives! They are Bringing It Back!

Picture by Beth Bohnert

It's Pouring On!

Good news keeps pouring on PCHS!

Dalton Miller competed in the wrestling semi-state last Saturday! Great job, Dalton! I wouldn’t be surprised to see you advance even further the next two years. 

The band also had an exciting weekend by bringing home 21 gold medals, 14 silver and 3 bronze at the solo and ensemble performance! Amy Loveless, clarinet; Jacob Lamberson, alto saxophone; Sarah D’Esposito, trombone; Kyler Lee, drums; Stephen Ffrench, both mirimba and timpani; and Kyla Steltenpohl, marimba, have advanced to the state level on February 25 at North Central High School.

Kyla, Stephen, Kyler, Brittany Pancake, Cassie Wilkes, Hunter Rowland, Amber Whitehouse, Zach Thomas, and Bodhi Van Winkle were part of percussion ensembles that will also compete on February 25.

We are blessed to have so many talented students. Good luck at the next level, musicians, and congratulations again, Dalton!


Wrestling clipart from Kuna Schools
Medal clipart from Free Vector Art and Graphics

2012 White House Science Fair

Jessica, Anna, Colton and Bill Nye, the Science Guy

  

Anna at the monument to General George McClellan

Anna Woolery, Colton Newton, and Jessica D'Esposito... You have made us so proud. And thank you, Mr. Niehaus, for beginning the adventure last year that started with the MIT grant and ended in this fabulous trip to the White House to meet President Obama. 


Wait... ended? No, I know many more wonderful experiences await these students and others who attend our fabulous school!


Pictures courtesy of Jessica D'Esposito





All-State Honor Band

Congratulations to Amy Loveless who was selected to perform in the All-State Honor Band, which is not an easy task to achieve. In order to be selected, she had to prepare an audition of two songs of her choosing, plus pass an on-sight reading. The judge recorded the audition and sent it to another panel of judges to make the final decision. To achieve the level she did makes her one of the top 10 best clarinet players in the state! Wow! PC band director Mr. John Miller admitted that he made it to the All-State Band, but not to the higher level that Amy did.  We still think you’re awesome, though, Mr. Miller! Amy will be performing in the All-State Honor Band in March under the direction of Ray Cramer, who is the renowned Director of Bands at the University of Illinois.

Photo from Life 123

The Awards Keep Coming!

Another honor has been added to our list of growing accomplishments! Pike Central High School has been named as one of the 51 schools in the state to be a Top Gainer. This award, presented by the Indiana Student Achievement Institute, is given to schools that have a high standard school improvement plan and are in the top category for Public Law 221 according to the Indiana Department of Education. This is based on student pass rates on the ISTEP and ECA, improvement on the pass rates and federal AYP determinations.  The good things just keep coming our way! Thanks, students and staff, for all your hard work! 

Logo from the Indiana Student Achievement Institute

A Special Week

What a great week it has been for Pike Central! On Tuesday our Project Lead the Way students and teachers were honored by being invited to Indianapolis to meet the governor. They shared ideas, met important contacts, and earned well-deserved praises for being a Model School.

Then on Wednesday, the Swing Choir sang at the Circle Center Mall’s Indianapolis Artsgarden. After another amazing performance, members of the packed audience gave compliment after compliment to Mr. Hays, saying that they come back every year just to hear our group. 

So it has been a special week for me and has reminded me of how proud I am to be the PCHS principal! Thanks, everyone!

Photo from GloSticks

PLTW - A Model School!

16 out of 4200.

Think of that! 16 out of 4200!

Out of 4200 Project Lead the Way schools across the nation, we were one of only 16 named as a 2010-11 Model School recognized for innovation and excellence! Congratulations to teachers Jodie Elkins and Lori Richardson for Bio-Med and Ray Niehaus and David Weathers for Engineering!

We are the only school in Indiana to be given this great honor and the only school in the Tri-State! How fantastic is that?! I am so proud of Pike Central and this well-deserved honor.

The following link will take you to the official press release naming the 16 schools. It also has a picture of some of our students at work in class: http://www.pltw.org/recent-press-releases/2010-11-model-schools-announcement

Congratulations, again, PLTW classes!