Summer fun ends soon
Area schools ready to open
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Ready or not, the school year 2004-2005 begins within the next few days. For most schools, the first day for students is Monday, August 16. Milan Community Schools have an additional two-day break with their first day scheduled for Wednesday, August 18.

A check with administrators at Jac-Cen-Del, Milan, South Ripley, Southeastern Career Center, and Sunman Elementary verifies buildings are ready, staff is in place, bookstores are open, and a new school year is eagerly anticipated.

"It's probably the smoothest start we've had for a new year," said Dennis Stockdale, South Ripley's assistant to Superintendent Ted Ahaus.

According to Superintendent Donald Swisher, the Milan Community Schools are ready to go. "We are looking forward to an exciting new year with many opportunities for success for our young people," said Swisher.

Superintendent Bill Narwold agreed that Jac-Cen-Del's buildings are ready to go; there's new landscaping around the soccer and t-ball fields and new portable bleachers in the high school gym.

"The bleachers we replaced had been there since 1960," Superintendent Narwold said. "We also have installed a new sound system in the elementary cafeteria/gymnasium."

Southeastern Career Center is putting finishing touches on floors, display cases, and program areas. Teachers and staff members will meet on Friday, August 13, and students from most of the area schools will attend SCC on Monday, August 16, according to Principal Jim Rogers.

This year, said Principal Rogers, Mrs. Mary Jane Schmaltz will be joining the staff as a teacher of health careers classes, and Mrs. Tricia Johnson will be the new director of Adult Education.

Changes in the office personnel include moving Mrs. Doris Stephens to the position of school treasurer and Mrs. Ruth Green to school secretary and receptionist. Mrs. Ashley Pflum will be secretary in the adult education department.

Sunman Elementary School, a part of the Sunman-Dearborn Corporation, has the building and staff ready to go for a Monday, August 16, first day for students.

Principal Cindy Morton's representative said teachers and staff would arrive for their first day on Thursday, August 12, and an open house for all
students, parents, and staff will take place on Friday, August 13, from 5:00 till 6:30 p.m. EST.

At Sunman Elementary, registration is taking place today (August 10) from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and tomorrow (August 11) from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. "New students may register any time. They need to
bring immunization records and birth certificates," the staff person said.

Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation will host a corporation breakfast on Thursday, August 12, for all faculty and staff. After a general session for all corporation staff, the elementary and junior/senior high schools will have meetings scheduled for both August 12 and August 13.

The corporation bookstore is open each day this week from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with the exception of Thursday, when it will remain open until 6:00 p.m. New students can register at either building during the week.

Kindergarten Parent Orientation took place last night (August 9) from 6:30 till 8:00 p.m. Tonight (August 10) the first PTO meeting of the year is set for 6:30 p.m. at the elementary school.

Superintendent Narwold added there will be a seventh grade orientation on Thursday, August 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gym.

Milan Community Schools have already begun registration and bookstore hours at the elementary school, according to Superintendent Swisher, who noted that students who did not register last Thursday and Friday can register at the school this week. "It's a good idea to call the school (654-2922) to make sure of a time."

At the Milan Middle School registration yesterday (August 9) began at 8:00 a.m. and ended at 3:00 p.m. for fifth and sixth graders. Today, August 10, the same hours are available for seventh and eighth graders to register. On Wednesday, August 11, anyone in fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades not already registered will be able to register from noon until 8:00 p.m.

High school registration for new students was available yesterday from 8:00 till 10:30 a.m. and for seniors from 1:00 till 3:30 p.m. Juniors could register from 8:00 till 10:30 a.m. today with sophomore registration set from 1:00 till 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 11, has been designated for anyone who wasn't able to come at his/her scheduled time. Registration for these students will be from 1:00 till 3:30 p.m. and from 5:00 till 7:00 p.m. "We will accept whoever shows up," the superintendent said.

Milan's first football game is a scrimmage with Lawrenceburg at the Milan field on Friday, August 13, at 6:00 p.m. The first game of the season is at South Dearborn on Friday, August 20, and the first home game will be with Batesville on Friday, August 27.

In assessing the beginning of school, Superintendent Swisher said few changes have been made in the dress code, but "parents should make sure their students follow the dress code.

"Our facilities have been maintained in the excellent way the community expects," Superintendent Swisher continued. "We have some projects for next year - renovating the swimming pool at the elementary school and working on some of the schools' parking lots."

South Ripley Community Schools will host a corporation meeting on Friday, August 13, at 11:00 a.m. in the high school cafeteria. Elementary and junior/senior high school staff members will meet in their own buildings during the afternoon hours, according to Administrative Assistant Stockdale.

Students' first day will be Monday, August 16, with buses running and a full day planned.

Concerning the vast amount of damage done to the junior/senior high school building by the pre-Memorial Day storm, Principal Bill Snyder says everything is 100% done. The roof has been replaced along with ceiling tiles, carpeting, office desks, paint and a total cleanup.

A complete renovation of the high school parking lots is taking place and should be finished by the beginning of school August 16.

The grassy area in the front of the building has changed into blacktop parking that will also help alleviate parking problems at the elementary school during programs and pickup time. "We now have three entrances and three exits," said Stockdale.

Agreeing with Stockdale that this is a smooth start to the school year, Principal Snyder said, "We have excellent communication all the way up and down. Everyone works together well."

Open House/Cookout: Assistant Principal Bob Meyer has announced a South Ripley Jr./Sr. High School Open House/Cookout for Thursday, August 19, from 5:00 till 7:15 p.m.

"The purpose of the event is to let the parents and students meet the teachers and staff in an informal setting that will promote good food, fellowship, and goodwill as we start a new school year."

In addition to the food, which is free of charge, Meyer says a table will be set up where students and parents can purchase yearbooks, learn about the school newspaper, purchase athletic passes, clothing articles, books. "We will also be having tours of the building for parents who would like to know where their child's rooms are located during the school day."

A successful seventh grade orientation took place at the high school on Tuesday, August 3, with 97 out of a possible 116 students in attendance. Assistant Principal Meyer and Guidance Counselor Joyce Drubba coordinated the event.

Student Drop-off and Pickup at South Ripley: With the revamping of the front parking areas at the junior/senior high school, the administrators are asking that the following procedures take place:

* Student Drop-off and Pickup will occur in the front of the parking lot closest to Benham Road. Students will follow the crosswalk into the building and out of the building. All parental pickup will take place at the designated area. No student drop-off or pickup will occur in the designated bus area. Parents may leave the designated area as soon as they pick up their child, provided the buses have not started to leave the building.

* Faculty and Staff Parking will be in the same areas as before, plus the new area directly in front of the school office.

* Visitor Parking: All visitors should enter the second entrance and will have spots reserved for them beyond the crosswalk in front of the office area.

* Bus Pickup and Drop-off: Only the bus traffic will be permitted in the traffic lane immediately in front of the building. The drive in front of the building will remain free of any personal vehicles.

"We want everyone to follow these guidelines to make a very safe and easier pickup and drop-off for our students this school year," said Meyer

MARY MARGARET MOORHEAD PHOTO

South Ripley High School office personnel Janet Myers, secretary to the principal, and Jane Westmeyer, school treasurer, begin their official school year in a renovated office following the storm damage May 30. High winds tore the roof from the junior/senior high school building allowing heavy rains to damage walls, ceilings, furniture and equipment throughout the front and north side of the building. Everything is back to normal, according to Principal Bill Snyder.