Update No. 140
The Hamilton County Community Foundation recently highlighted the six educational foundations serving school districts in Hamilton County as part of American Education Week. I couldn’t agree more with their statement that “education foundations aren’t just resources – they’re champions of educational excellence in our community!”
Hamilton Heights Educational Foundation (HHEF) has long been a champion in our district helping to enhance the overall educational experience at Heights for more than three decades. The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity, provides monetary grants for teachers who initiate classroom instruction proposals that demonstrate a high degree of creativity and instruction enhancement.
The Foundation is dedicated to transforming the educational experience so that all students can acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, technology, and skills necessary to thrive at school, in their careers, and adult lives. It helps support rich, authentic opportunities that bring learning to life. In fact, it would be difficult to find a student who did not benefit from Foundation money during their PreK-12 journey at Heights.
We are deeply grateful for the work and dedication of the Foundation volunteers. It is through their efforts and the continued support and generosity of Foundation advocates that our students are given an academic advantage. Click here to learn more about the Foundation and how you can be involved.
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I would like to give a shout out to the 31 graduates of the Hamilton County A Chance to Serve (ACTS) Class of 2024. Among this year’s graduates are 11 Hamilton Heights freshmen: Illiana Bowyer, Ben Butor, Selah Heuer, Jubilee James, Fiona McDonald, Will Monnin, AJ Smucker, Quinn Thompson, Nora Trees, Aleah Trump, and Celeste Wiegman.
The special leadership program, created and sponsored by the Purdue Extension Hamilton County, offers freshmen the opportunity to participate in five, day-long training sessions their first semester of high school. Graduates then get to apply those skills coupled with real-time learning experiences by serving as a member of a local board for one year, with the option to continue serving on the board through high school. Lori Watson, our freshman guidance counselor, serves as the coordinator for the program.
These students will begin their first year of board service in January for several local organizations. Congratulations to these aspiring leaders of tomorrow who are getting a jump start today!
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Friday was our first “Synchronous” E-Learning Day of the year. The purpose of this type of E-Learning Day is to have LIVE online learning between students and teachers during inclement weather days so that we do not need to add make-up school days at the end of the year.
Each year, we plan one of these days in early December to ensure teachers and students can participate in Synchronous E-Learning. Our goal is to provide a meaningful learning alternative and quality access to teachers for days when the regular school day is not possible due to weather or some other issue, while also not extending the school year into the summer.
We appreciate our parents preparing and helping your students get the most out of this type of E-Learning Day.
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As a note of community interest, HOPE Clinic in Cicero will offer free walk-in medical and flu shot clinics on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 21 from 9 to 11:30 a.m., and Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. See the flyer at this link.
As I look around at the love, support, and kindness that our students, staff, and community are showing each other, the quote from William Carey Jones comes to mind:
“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each other’s burdens, easing each other’s loads, and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts, becomes for us, the magic of the holiday season.”
#WeAreHuskies