(by Don Meador, Public Relations, Allen County School District)
The 2022-23 school year at the Allen County Intermediate Center (ACIC) promises to be filled with adventure as the school’s 700 students embark full throttle into Project Based Learning (PBL) and enjoy multiple activities connecting school and community.
“Our teachers have been working hard this summer on project-based learning training,” first full-year principal Trey Harper said. “In May, we sent 10 people to PBL training in Louisville and last week we had 18 people in a three-day training on PBL training. We are really making a push to get in front of implementation of project-based learning.”
The training will help teachers as they start several new approaches to engage students and facilitate learning in their classrooms.
“Parents can expect our learning to look a little different but it will allow learning to be authentic to the child,” Harper explained. “It allows the child to access and to utilize their strengths in their learning to make it meaniful.”
Harper did note that aspects of the project-based learning model is simply building on what already happens in classrooms.
“I was able to do the training first and I’ve noticed and what I have heard from my teachers that have now gone through the training is that we already do a lot of the things,” Harper pointed out. “Of course, there are things added and taken away but a lot of things we are already doing. We are just going to be very intentional about them. It also allows you to be cross curricular. We would like to see students learning something in math that carries over to what they are learning in science, that carries over to what they are learning in social studies that carries over to something they learn in reading.”
Plus, for some students, PBL methods have already been seen as several teachers explored the possibilities toward the end of the 2021-22 school year.
“Last year when the teachers found out that this was the direction we were going with PBL, the teachers kind of ventured in and dabbed in it themselves,” Harper explained. “So some kids have already experienced a little bit of what this will look like. Last spring was like the lite version. We just plan on jumping in.”
As students walk into ACIC on August 11, several new faces will be in the building---starting with the assistant principal. Jeremy Simmons comes to the school from the James E. Bazzell Middle School to serve in the role Harper vacated after moving to the principal’s chair in May. As for the new principal, Harper’s summer has involved finding replacements for teachers who have retired, switched roles, or relocated to other districts.
“I’ve been in education for 17 years and I have never seen turnover like we have seen this summer,” Harper explained. “We have at least 10 teachers that are starting this year with us that did not start with us last year. The list includes Rita York, Sarai Miller, Chelsey Reid, Ryley Whitney, Shayna Cockrill, Candace Gaddis, Ashley McPeak, Joshua Pace, Kelsey Willoughby, and Erica Cockrill.”
The new teachers alongside the many familiar faces will welcome the kids during the school’s annual Open House. The event will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 4 and include more than just a teacher meet-and-greet.
“When students arrive, they will be instructed to go to their classroom, see their teacher, and experience their learning environment for the next several months,” Harper explained. “After that they will receive a bracelet that’s labeled with our theme for the year---Adventure Awaits. Once they have that bracelet, they can go outside. We are going to have water inflatables, a local church will be here with hotdogs, we will have music, and hopefully other activities. Family Resources will be here and have available the option of getting a binder, a pencil pouch, or ear buds.”
The enhanced Open House is geared toward promoting greater interaction for families and promote the connection between the school and the community.
“We want our Open House to be an experience,” Harper pointed out. “We want our parents to know that we welcome them and we want the kids, parents, and family to just have a good time. So many things have been so restricted for so long we feel like we can do something fun for everybody. We want the school to once again be the hub of our community. You do this by making it an enjoyable experience when they come onto the property.”
The Open House is scheduled a week prior to the opening day of school. Parents can also use the time to check with teachers about any additional school supplies needed. The Allen County School District is providing basic school supplies used by every class but individual teachers may request a few additional supplies. After the Open House, teachers will prep for the opening day with an objective of making August 11 special for fourth, fifth, and sixth graders.
“We want the first day of school to be memorable,” Harper noted. “We have prided ourselves on making the first day memorable and this year will be no different. We will give the students a red-carper welcome on day one.”
Harper also notes that the Leader In Me program at ACIC will be the same this year. To continue the implementations of the program’s “Seven Habits” the school will train the new staff prior to the year starting. The ideas will be passed onto students to help each one develop skills for success and leadership.
“With so many new staff members, we will have a Leader In Me staff training,” Harper noted. “That will prepare then to use the Leader in Me principles in our classrooms for all our students.”
Most daily activities will remain the same as the close of last year. Looking ahead, Harper expects this to be a normal year with school activities such as choir programs, archery, and school events held as was the case prior to 2020.
“We want to give kids the opportunities they deserve to have and to give families the opportunity to enjoy them,” Harper said. “Last year, when we returning to normal, the crowds we had here were unbelievable. That tells me that people want to be here and see what is going on. We want to be able to provide as many of those expenses as possible can.”
For parents/guardians who pick-up students in the afternoon, ACIC will be handing out new visor hangers. Only parents’ guardians who pick up students in the afternoon need the identification hangers. Each family is entitled two hangers with additional hangers available for purchase at $3 per hanger.
Parents/guardians are reminded that ACIC uses several methods to share information throughout the year. The methods include the Parent Square App, the school’s page on Facebook, the District’s Public Relations page on Facebook, and the school’s webpage at www.allen.kyschools.us.