Sincerely, Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Like us on Facebook: Join our 10,700+ Followers on

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1 Welcome to the premiere of Come Together, the e-newsletter for Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Each season, we invite you to come together around a new issue to celebrate and advance educational excellence in our school community. Please enjoy this edition in its easy-to-read, electronic format. Do not forget to click the "forward" button to share Come Together with a colleague, friend, or neighbor. Thanks for reading! Sincerely, Hamilton Southeastern Schools Like us on Facebook: Join our 10,700+ Followers on If you are having trouble viewing this View in your browser

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3 Hamilton Southeastern s reputation for challenging academic and excellent extracurricular programs has helped make it the fastest growing school corporation in Indiana! HSE has earned more Four Star Schools than any other Indiana district and has several Blue Ribbon and Indiana Chamber of Commerce Best Buy Schools awards. Both high schools are ranked nationally in Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report s best high schools lists. The 2013 average SAT score was 1612 (with 90- percent of graduates testing). In

4 fact, 94-percent of graduates plan to pursue post-secondary education. HSE also consistently ranks in the top 10 ISTEP+ exam results among public districts in the state. The school year is underway, and with it comes new challenges and new opportunities. As the new superintendent of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools in January this year, I spent the first ninety days gathering information and compiling observations. I visited every school building and met with every principal to see firsthand the unique programs and characteristics of the buildings. In addition, I met with community groups and parents to gain an insight into the needs and issues as they relate to education and HSE. In no rank order, I offer the following observation of needs and issues to be addressed: Reduction of Class Size Administrative Support for Elementary Principals Funds for Technology Upgrades and Maintenance Reduction/Elimination of Fees for Athletic/Extracurricular Participation

5 Additional Funds for Field Trips and Service Projects Additional Resources for Professional Development Support for the Study of Innovation, not only in the Curriculum but also in Instruction Additional Training in the Use of Technology for Instructional Purposes Additional Opportunities for World Language Acquisition at all Levels Establishment of Competitive Salaries to Maintain Quality Staff More Special Education and Student Services Resources Additional Funds for Instructional Supplies Greater Variety of Services for High Ability Students Textbook/Instructional Fee Relief for Parents The school funding formula approved this year by the Indiana General Assembly provided welcome relief to this school district. It prevents deficit spending and enabled us to address a number of the above listed concerns. However, it did not eliminate the need for a local referendum levy to assure that HSE students continue to experience the best educational services to be found in Indiana. I am on a listening tour at this time, making contact with every faculty and every PTO in this school district. I am also scheduling sessions with Home Owners Associations and community groups. The purpose of the tour is simple to make sure that I heard what you had to say. If I am to recommend a referendum levy amount for the HSE School Board to approve, I think it is important to be able to say that I vetted it through the school and community. To that end, I will continue the listening tour through November. In January, the school board will consider the amount of the referendum levy to be requested. It is expected that the operating referendum will appear on the May ballot. Our community is resilient and strong. Hamilton Southeastern Schools has a reputation of embracing growth in a manner that makes the City of Fishers one of the most outstanding places to live within the state and across the country. I look forward to continuing work with Mayor Scott Fadness and his administration as we continue to build a successful partnership between our city and schools. As one of the premiere school systems in the Midwest, Hamilton Southeastern can be proud of its superlative staff, students, facilities, programs, and accomplishments. I am proud to be your superintendent, and I pledge to work with you and the entire community to make you as proud of your schools tomorrow as you are today.

6 Dr. Allen Bourff, Superintendent of Schools Hamilton Southeastern believes in creating an ideal environment for students to learn and grow, but this is not something we are able to do alone. Instead, we work closely with the city of Fishers towards this shared goal. The success of a district can weigh heavily on funding and availability of equipment, and the city of Fishers consistently puts students first. Mayor Fadness and HSE officials worked closely to ensure a fix to the School Funding Formula this past legislative session. The city and Launch Fishers are donating 121 computers, monitors, keyboards and 79 flat monitors to

7 "The success of a district can weigh heavily on funding and availability of equipment, and the city of Fishers consistently puts students first." the schools. Launch Fishers and HSE have also worked closely to introduce the spirit of entrepreneurship through Lemonade Day, and initiated the High School Fellowship program this summer for HSE juniors and seniors. The Fishers Department of Public Works maintains all HSE grounds and sports fields and removes snow from all school parking lots. The partnership between HSE and the city of Fishers is proving that teamwork and collaboration can result in a world of opportunity. Hamilton Southeastern s goal is to prepare each student for success beyond their high school years. With this in mind, HSE21is a program that was developed to equip students with the content knowledge, unique skills and new literacies they will need to

8 contribute positively in their communities and succeed in the 21st century global economy. HSE21 shifts the instructional focus beyond just the mastery of basic skills to real world applications. Research shows the traditional classroom is only effective for a small amount of students, leaving others behind. Instead, students work collaboratively and on projects while applying creativity and other skills in authentic ways. This type of instruction shifts the responsibility from the teacher to the student, causing students to be more selfdirected. Below is a graphic that shows how the HSE21 approach works. You may also check out HSE21's Twitter Feed.

9 The new College & Career Academies will change the way students view their high school experience. Developed to closely simulate environments found at the collegiate and professional level, students will be better prepared to collaborate in real world opportunities upon graduation. It is exciting to see instructional spaces that replicate the collaborative work and academic environments our students will encounter beyond high school, Fishers High School Principal, Jason Urban, said. Please take some time to visit the course listings for each Hamilton Southeastern High School Fishers High School Highlights of the new academies at Hamilton Southeastern include a new gathering stair, learning commons, a café, art room and expanded science labs and fine arts rooms. The advancements provide each campus with more student-focused spaces, increased flexibility, enhanced collaboration, advanced technology and multidisciplinary opportunities. HSE encourages students, staff and families to make the most of the Academy by thinking globally, reaching beyond the traditional four walls for academic and career experiences and by attaching real problems with solutions that are unique to all of HSE's families.

10 All School Calendar You're Invited Oct : Evening Parent Conferences (Grades K-6) Oct. 22: Teacher Day-No Students Oct. 23: Fall Break Nov. 13: Mid-Term-2nd Grading Period Nov : Thanksgiving Break-No Students Dec. 18: First Semester Ends-Last Day Before Winter Break Jan. 4: Teacher Orientation and In-Service Jan. 5: First Day after Winter Break Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Day Feb. 5: Mid-Term-3rd Grading Period Feb. 15: Presidents Day Feb. 16, March 14: Flex Days March 11: 3rd Grading Period Ends April 1-8: Spring Break April 22: Mid-Term-4th Grading Period May 26: Last Day for Students-Second Semester Ends The Board meets at 7:00pm on the second and fourth Monday of each month, with the exception of December. The regular meetings are held at the Administration Center (13485 Cumberland Road) and are open to the public. School Board Special Meetings are held on an asneeded basis. You are invited to attend these meetings. Board of Education John DeLucia: Board President Karen Harmer: Board Vice President Matt Burke: Board Member Michelle Fullhart: Board Member Sylvia Shepler: Secretary Howard Stevenson: Board Member Terry Tolle: Board Member May 27: Last Day for Teachers May 30: Memorial Day May 31, June 1,2,3: Make Up Days if Needed June 3: Commencement Rehearsal June 5: (Sunday) Commencement

11 Contact Us Administration Building (317) Brooks School Elementary (317) Cumberland Road Elementary (317) Durbin Elementary (317) Fall Creek Elementary (317) Fishers Elementary (317) Geist Elementary (317) Harrison Parkway Elementary (317) Hoosier Road Elementary (317) Lantern Road Elementary (317) New Britton Elementary (317) Sand Creek Elementary (317) Thorpe Creek Elementary (317) Fall Creek Intermediate (317) Riverside Intermediate School (317) Sand Creek Intermediate (317) Fall Creek Junior High (317) Fishers Junior High (317) HSE Intermediate/Junior High (317) Riverside Junior High (317) Fishers High School (317) HSE High School (317) Feedback is Welcome We welcome our readers letters, comments and critique. Write to us at Editor, Hamilton Southeastern Schools, Cumberland Rd, Fishers, IN 46038, or call (317) Copyright 2015 Hamilton Southeastern Schools, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these s? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Download PDF Version Subscribe To Our Newsletter