By DR. DEREK ARROWOOD
Hamilton Heights Superintendent
Update #72 from Dr. Derek Arrowood, Superintendent, Hamilton Heights School Corporation.
With Thanksgiving upon us, this is the perfect time to pause and reflect on what we are thankful for in our lives. For one, I am extremely grateful to be a part of the Hamilton Heights family. Every day I get to see how the attributes and qualities of caring adults throughout our campus create a unique blend of talent, competence, and innovation that is a blessing in the lives of our students. Thank you to our educators, staff, parents, and volunteers for being key ingredients to ensuring that Hamilton Heights continues to be an empowering and inspiring place for our students to learn and grow.
I am also deeply thankful to live and work in a community that is extremely supportive of our school corporation and the many collaborative partnerships that enhance the educational experience for our students and life overall in Northern Hamilton County. The investment in our public schools is an investment in our future workforce, our community, and in the long-term sustainability of the local, regional, and national economies.
Speaking of investment, Kevin Yaney, President of the T1L1 (Teach 1 to Lead 1) Central Indiana Chapter, will be joining us at our next Superintendent Advisory Group meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 1. You have heard me mention Kevin and the T1L1 program before. I can’t share enough praise for Kevin, this powerful program, and the community volunteers who come into our classrooms each week for one-on-one engagement with our students. This highly personalized program has been transformative for the students involved. Click here to learn more about this mentoring program and its impact.
You asked for it and you got it! Hamilton Heights has created a central location where individuals who are interested in donating to the school corporation can find all the opportunities to donate to a specialty program in one dedicated location on our website. You can check it out here.
On the topic of donations, the Husky Readers Club is participating in the 12th annual Bedtime Story Pajama Drive hosted by Scholastic Book and the Pajama Program. What’s really cool about this worthwhile literacy effort is the visual promo that the club created to generate awareness and interest in the drive. Watch it on YouTube here.
If you are looking to get in the Christmas spirit look no further than Northern Hamilton County. Our local communities are hosting a full range of festivities for the entire family on Dec. 4 and 5. The Town of Arcadia is hosting its sixth annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. along with its third annual Christmas Marketplace from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be music, fire pits, chili, and plenty of holiday cheer.
The Cicero Kiwanis Club and Our Town Cicero Mainstreet Association have teamed up for this year’s Cicero Christmas Festival on Saturday, Dec. 4 which includes a Christmas parade beginning at 2 p.m. followed by games, DJ, cookie-decorating, food, prizes, movie, tree-lighting celebration, and more. Santa will be on hand to hear children’s wish lists and share season’s greetings. Mike Jenkins, former HHSC educator and HOPE Family Care Center president and CEO, is this year’s parade Grand Marshal. To participate in the parade, which begins and ends at the Hamilton North Public Library, click here for an entry form.
On Sunday, Dec. 5, the Town of Atlanta will host its third annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Dolles Park beginning at 6 p.m. Enjoy a fire, food, caroling, holiday goodie bags, and community fellowship with Santa as the guest of honor.
In this season of gratitude, let’s take the time to be thankful, remember, and embrace those who enrich our lives. We look forward to seeing our students and staff back on campus on Monday, Nov. 29.
#WeAreHuskies