UIndy to webcast May 1 commencement

By Submission For The Southside Times

Broadcaster Jane Pauley to speak at undergraduate ceremony With award-winning broadcast journalist Jane Pauley as the featured speaker, the University of Indianapolis will offer – for the first time – a live webcast of its undergraduate commencement exercises. UIndy is providing the streaming video coverage as a public service to the public and for graduates and family and friends who are unable to attend the 2 p.m. May 1 event in Nicoson Hall. The video feed will be available for viewing in Windows Media format at www.uindy.edu/webcast. A recording of the ceremony will be available on that same page for 90 days afterward. Pauley, a graduate of Warren Central High School and Indiana University, served as co-host of NBC’s Today show from 1976 to 1989 and later anchored the prime-time news magazine Dateline NBC for more than a decade. A member of the Broadcast and Cable Hall of Fame, she has received multiple Emmy Awards, the Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding achievement, the Radio and Television News Directors Association’s Paul White Award for lifetime contribution to electronic journalism and the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism from Arizona State University, among other honors. Pauley’s 2004 memoir, Skywriting: A Life out of the Blue, was a New York Times bestseller. She is a highly regarded advocate in the fields of education, mental health and children’s health. Pauley and her husband, Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau, are the parents of three grown children.

Beech Grove High School names Hoosier Boys and Girls

By Submission For The Southside Times

Beech Grove High School guidance counselor Donna Hirt has announced the Hoosier Boys and Girls State representatives from BGHS for the summer of 2010. The students will attend a week-long event hosted by Indiana State where they will experience the political process used in the state of Indiana.

Center Grove High School RECEIVES NATIONAL STUDENT COUNCIL AWARD

By Submission For The Southside Times

For its exemplary record of leadership, service, and activities that serve to improve the school and community, Center Grove High School has been awarded a 2010 National Gold Council of Excellence Award by the National Association of Student Councils. Over 150 high schools were named National Councils of Excellence, but Center Grove High School is one of 131 of those high schools nationwide to be named a National Gold Council of Excellence.

Heartland high school film competition call for entries to close May 15

By Submission For The Southside Times

Aspiring high school filmmakers have a little more than a month to submit their own 10-mintue truly moving picture before Heartland Truly Moving Pictures’ first High School Film Competition closes its call for entries on May 15. [ad#single-post] Four finalists will be awarded $500 and two FEST Passes to the 2010 Heartland Film Festival where their films will be screened as part of a Shorts program. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded $2,500, paid travel and accommodations for the filmmaker and one parent/guardian to attend the 2010 Heartland Film Festival, along with two FEST Passes to the 2010 Heartland Film Festival where the winner’s film will be screened as part of a Shorts program. Interested students are encouraged to visit TrulyMovingPictures.org for more information including rules, regulations and entry forms.

Franklin Township School Board reverses decision on school closings

By Submission For The Southside Times

At a meeting April 12, the Franklin Township Community School Corporation Board of Education voted to reverse its decision on the closing of two Franklin Township elementary schools. The 3-2 vote passed with board members Randall Bland, Chris Wood, and Scott Veerkamp voting for the motion, and Aaron Sullivan and Steve Randall voting against. [ad#single-post] The original decision to close Acton Elementary School and Wanamaker Elementary School was reached at the February 10th school board meeting as part of a plan to reduce operating costs for FTCSC. The cost-cutting measures came in the wake of a failed referendum in November 2009 that would have provided necessary funding for the school corporation’s transportation program and general fund. The board’s decision to reverse the school closings is an effort to leverage support from the Franklin Township community for a second referendum attempt in May 2011. In addition to the reversal of the school closings, the restructuring of schools and creation of an early childhood development center will NOT be enacted. The grade/building structure for FTCSC will remain as follows: Elementary Schools (7): Kindergarten – 4th Grade Intermediate Schools (2): 5th and 6th Grades Middle Schools (2): 7th and 8th Grades High School (1): 9th through 12th Grades The plan also included charging school bus riders a fee, reductions in staff and teachers, and implementing a district-wide “pay-to-participate” athletic program. These cost-cutting measures will remain in effect.

Meet MSD Perry Township School Board Candidates

By Submission For The Southside Times

Perry Council PTA is hosting a Candidates Forum at Perry Meridian High School, 401 Meridian School Road on April 19, at 7 p.m. This forum is intended to provide an opportunity for residents of Perry Township to meet and ask questions of the candidates running for a position on the Metropolitan School District of Perry Township School Board. It is designed to give all candidates the opportunity to speak and answer questions equally. [ad#single-post] As required by PTA Bylaws and Basic Policies, Perry Council PTA remains neutral, in that it does not endorse, support or oppose any candidate in any way.

Roncalli takes first place in design competition

By Submission For The Southside Times

Roncalli High School Senior Austin Haag’s entry in this year’s National Association of Women in Construction Design Competition earned first place honors. Austin’s entry moves on to the five-state Great Lakes Regional level of the competition. Senior Andrew Sahm’s design garnered second place and Senior John Widdifield received third place honors. All three won cash prizes. [caption id="attachment_5849" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Pictured (from left to right) are Andrew Sahm, John Widdifield and Austin Haag. Submitted photo."][/caption] This year’s competition had the students designing a library. Congratulations as well to their instructor, Mr. Jim Ratliff, as the Rebels brought home a 1-2-3 sweep in this state-wide competition.

St. Mark Catholic School will offer full-day pre-Kindergarten in fall

By Submission For The Southside Times

St. Mark Catholic School will offer full-day pre-Kindergarten class for the 2010-2011 school year. The class will follow Indiana State Standards for pre-Kindergarten in a faith-based environment and will provide a full day option with care from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. [ad#single-post] Ann Kinney, an instructor with over 20 years of experience at St. Mark Catholic School, will supervise the Pre-Kindergarten program. A licensed teacher and experienced teacher’s aides will teach the class. Because class size is limited, applications are now being accepted. For more information, to schedule a tour or to register, call (317) 786-4013.

Center Grove Schools Kindergarten Round-up

By Submission For The Southside Times

Kindergarten Round-up for Center Grove Community Schools will be held on May 18 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Parents of children who will turn five years old on or before August 1, 2010 may register their children for kindergarten. Parents will complete registration information and receive information about kindergarten programming. Kindergarten Round-up will occur in each of the five elementary buildings that will be open in 2010 - 2011. The participating buildings will be: Center Grove Elementary, Maple Grove Elementary, North Grove Elementary, Pleasant Grove Elementary, and Sugar Grove Elementary. However, because the corporation is now involved in redistricting, the individual school attendance boundaries are not known at this time. [ad#single-post] It is anticipated that the Center Grove Community School Board will adopt a redistricting plan on or before May 17. Parents should check the Center Grove website (centergrove.k12.in.us) on May 18 to view the redistricting plan and note which school their child will attend, which is the location for registration. If the School Board has not adopted a redistricting plan by May 17, parents should then register at their current attendance area school, except for West Grove Elementary. If the family currently lives in the West Grove area, register at any of the other elementary buildings. Each elementary school will conduct individual student screenings for kindergarten students on June 8 - 9. Schools will contact parents to set up an appointment for the screening after the child is registered for school.

Fundraiser supports southside charity

By Submission For The Southside Times

The Epsilon Tau Chapter of Southport Tri Kappa recently held their annual “Bags, Brunch and Beethoven” fundraiser at Friedens United Church of Christ. The event supports southside scholarships and charities. Performing for the event were students from the Perry Meridian High Shool Orchestra. Shown with Orchestra Director Syndy Ortwein are students Kalen Granger on the viola, foreign exchange student from Armenia, Shushanik (Nikki) Hakobyan on violin and Kate O’Mara also on violin.