September 2024 Newsletter

Preschool hosted their Muffins with Mom event and it was a huge success! Our classrooms, hallways, and cafeteria were busy with Moms, aunts, grandmas, and friends. The students had breakfast with their guest, were able to show them their classroom, and gave them a special craft!

In a fun STEM activity inspired by the classic nursery rhyme "Little Bo Peep," Kindergarten and 1st-grade students were challenged to build a pen for her lost sheep. After Mrs. Dodd read the story to the class, the students used materials like legos, plastic straws, and blocks to design sturdy enclosures that could safely house the sheep. This hands-on project encouraged creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.

 

Kindergarten and 1st-grade students have been busy completing their beginning-of-year i-Ready diagnostic assessments in Reading and Math. These online assessments provide valuable insights into each student's current levels that teachers will use to tailor instruction to meet individual needs. This data helps ensure that every student receives the support and challenges they need to grow throughout the year. i-Ready personalized instruction lessons are set for students so they can practice skills at their level.

Second & Third grade students learned directional language code for the Beebots. They learned about how to draw the code out using arrows Forward, Backwards, Left, Right, with the restriction of 10 arrows. Then, they wrote out their own code. Next, they learned about the bot and how to clear the code. Finally, they broke out into groups and each took a turn clearing the code then entering their own code they wrote out. After each person got a turn doing their own code, they would hand their code to the person next to them and then start over in the circle trying to enter the other persons code. They also learned how important it is to write clear directions so others can read it.

 

Fourth grade created a Trick or Treat neighborhood with a graveyard and haunted woods. They learned about making shapes on grid paper. For example, a house has to be a 2x2, graveyard 3x4 and the woods 2x4. They then drew their road and added color code for the Ozobots to "walk" the neighborhood.

 

Fifth grade tested the new i-pads by exploring the Dash robots. They figured out all the cool features and brainstormed things they will do with them in the future.

 

 

Our elementary theatre group took the stage with a heartwarming production of Annie Jr. Our Mac El students had the opportunity to experience a theatre production and cheered as their classmates sang, danced, and acted. This heartwarming musical left the audience feeling inspired and entertained.

The middle school celebrated Love Your Life Week (inspired by national suicide prevention and awareness week) from September 9th-13th. Mrs. Shone provided suicide prevention and awareness lessons to all students this week. Students were also given special treats and surprises each day at lunch to help them enjoy life a little extra during this time. It has become a tradition at Maconaquah Middle School that staff and students enjoy. To close out Love Your Life Week, this year our culminating event was the Dodgeball/Dance combination event. Both gyms were being utilized at the same time and a school dance and dodgeball games were happening simultaneously. Students seemed to really enjoy the event and we look forward to hosting it next year as well. Suicide prevention and awareness is a topic that is held in high regard at our school. If you or anyone you know is struggling, please seek help. For the National suicide prevention hotline, dial 988 or 1-800-273-8255.

 

 

This school year, we launched an exciting new middle school plant science course, focused on agriculture and hands-on learning in plant care and food production. Students have been studying topics such as farm safety, the vital role of plants, and various methods of growing them. They’ve explored the school farm and outdoor learning center, discovering the many ways plants impact our daily lives. In addition to traditional gardening practices, students are using aeroponics grow towers to cultivate leafy greens, which will be harvested and enjoyed in class. These alternative growing methods offer valuable insights into innovative food production techniques. Students have also contributed to the school’s raised garden beds, planting and nurturing fall crops. Currently, they are working on revitalizing the school courtyard by removing weeds, trimming trees, and designing ways to use the green space for future food production. It’s inspiring to see how eager they are to learn and take ownership of growing their own food!

This past Monday, Maconaquah High School hosted the program, "Choices Matter". The guest speaker was Mike Lutzenkirchen, from Alabama, whose son Philip was killed along with three other passengers in 2014. Mr. Lutzenkirchen shared how his son made some choices that night which were out of the norm for him, such as drinking and driving and not wearing his seatbelt. Philip was an All-Southeastern Conference tight end, but his biggest accomplishments were off the field, once driving three hours home to visit an unknown little girl who was fighting cancer for 15 minutes. Several students talked with Mr. Lutzenkirchen afterwards, expressing their gratitude for sharing the story of Philip. Students were able to take part in a simulated sobriety test using goggles, and a driving simulation from a drunk drivers perspective.

 

 

On Friday, September 20th, the Maconaquah Braves football team defeated the Peru Tigers 42-0 in a hard-hitting battle; the fan support was fantastic, with standing room only around the football field. The theme for the students was "White Out" and our students showed class in asking permission to throw flower in the air if we won, then promised to clean up the area. Hats off to our student body, great job Maconaquah Students. Our fans and students did an excellent job cheering for the Braves. The cheers were rampant by the cheerleaders and student body. One fan noted the cheerleaders may be sore on Saturday morning due to the pushups they do after every Maconaquah score, but another fan stated they are getting stronger with the number of points the football team has been scoring this year. Either way you look at it, the night belonged to THE BRAVES!!! The win makes the Braves 5-0 heading into the homecoming game with Northwestern.

 

The girls golf team won its third Sectional this past weekend, way to go girls! Leading the charge was Daisy Williams, who placed first with a 75, in third place was Finley Dobbs with an 86, in fourth Aubrey Stoll with a 88, Delaney Duke and Emma Bond also helped with the win. The girls played Saturday, September 28th in the regional at Battle Ground in Lafayette. Good luck to Coach Tait Wagner and the rest of the girls golf team.

Maconaquah Community,

I am thrilled to share exciting news about our ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of education at Maconaquah School Corporation through the launch of our 2024-25 New Teacher Academy. This initiative is designed to support and empower our new teachers, ensuring they have the tools and strategies to succeed in today’s dynamic classroom environments.

This year, we are proud to have 13 enthusiastic new teacher participants joining our New Teacher Academy, supported by 11 experienced and dedicated veteran teacher mentors. These mentors play a vital role in guiding and coaching our new teachers, drawing on their years of classroom experience to provide meaningful advice and hands-on support.

The New Teacher Academy includes monthly training sessions aimed at developing the professional skills and instructional approaches necessary to maintain the high standards of education at Maconaquah. We have already held two successful sessions, and we are excited to continue this journey together with topics that address both the foundational and innovative aspects of teaching.

One of our key areas of focus has been explicit instruction, a method that promotes clear, direct teaching to improve student understanding. This approach is particularly important in helping students grasp difficult concepts in a structured and supportive manner. By ensuring our new teachers are well-versed in this instructional strategy, we aim to raise student achievement and build on the academic success that Maconaquah is known for.

Another significant focus is using technology as a teaching tool. In today’s digital world, integrating technology into the classroom is no longer an option, but a necessity. From interactive lessons to virtual learning platforms, technology offers a wide range of opportunities to engage students and enrich their learning experiences. Our new teachers are receiving training on how to effectively incorporate these tools to enhance instruction and make learning more interactive and personalized.

The training sessions will continue each month throughout the school year, covering various topics essential to classroom success. Our goal is to foster an environment of collaboration and continuous learning where both new and veteran teachers can thrive, ultimately benefiting the students of Maconaquah.

We believe that investing in our teachers is one of the most important steps we can take to ensure the future success of our students. The New Teacher Academy is a reflection of our commitment to excellence in education, and I am confident that the skills and relationships being developed will have a lasting, positive impact on our school community.

On behalf of the entire Maconaquah School Corporation, I want to thank our new teachers for their enthusiasm and willingness to learn, and our veteran mentors for their invaluable guidance. Together, we are building a stronger future for our students and our community.

Thank you for your continued support of Maconaquah School Corporation. We are excited about the direction we are heading and look forward to keeping you updated on the progress of this important initiative.

Sincerely,
Craig Jernagan
Superintendent, Maconaquah School Corporation