Hebron, Jefferson Middle schools deserve accolades

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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:28AM

It’s a twosome! Two middle schools are worthy of many, many accolades.

Since I believe they are equal in praise, I am telling you about them alphabetically. Hebron Middle School recently was named “A School to Watch,” which is endorsed by the Indiana Department of Education, and is similar to high school accreditation.

Principal Lori Pavell said that as she observed the great things being done at Hebron, she asked her staff “where do we go from here?” When the opportunity to apply to be “A School to Watch” came up, it seemed just the right way to move forward to reflect academic excellence, be developmentally responsive, ensure social equity and have organizational structure.

It quickly became a school community goal, and for this entire school year, everyone connected with Hebron Middle School knew that “company was coming,” indicating that in January a team of experts would be evaluating their school, from the classrooms and cafeteria to the staff and students.

This already great school found ways to become even better by considering not just the content of academics but the process of learning as well; by challenging all students, whether they were high achievers or students with special needs; by responding to the needs of students struggling with a particular subject; by using student mentors to help others succeed; by assessing where students are, and developing goals for performance levels; by reaching for the stars.

Pavell noted that, although the process was long and required extra hours of planning, the end results were worth every bit of it — not just because of the honor of being a “school to watch,” but ultimately what it has done by bettering education for all students and bringing a staff who already worked well together even closer.

Every class was involved with projects taking pride in classwork and their school. And the custodial staff gave 110 percent to keep hallways, classrooms, gym and bathrooms sparkling clean.

She also said that a great school has even become greater, and she has never felt more proud of every single person involved in Hebron Middle School.

Congratulations to all of you for being outstanding in every aspect of education. You sure are pet persons of the week.

Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Valparaiso is three times the size of its southern neighbors, but there are many similarities among them, most importantly the way staff and students join together to make the best even better.

Last week when I walked into TJ to be a judge for the sixth-grade poetry contest (awesome!), I was met by Culver’s restaurant employees dishing out yummy custard.

In questioning what the treats were for, I learned that it was a reward for the entire school for 100 percent involvement in “National No Name Calling” week, a week to show tolerance to each other, a week to learn to overcome challenges and work together to “bounce back” from negatives; a time to move forward, dress for success, learn to live and live to learn. CASS teacher Debbie Koebcke said that the eighth-grade Teen Peace group, a CASS leadership program, compiled several projects for the week to help “keep the peace.”

Each morning, members would greet students with compliments as they arrived at school. There was a “mix-it-up” lunch day when everyone received a color-coded line from a song, and sat at that table, and then worked on a project together while learning to know students outside of their clique.

There was the day for walking in somebody else’s shoes, when kids actually did wear someone else’s shoes.

Fun little prizes permeated the week while the week of live, learn and move forward was happening. The culmination required every student and staff member in every homeroom to be a part of their classroom’s finale — a door decoration depicting a positive mind set for sixth-grade, learn from mistakes for seventh-grade, and win with positive actions for eighth-grade.

The pro-social week had the students all realizing that being kind and giving back creates personal happiness. With 100 percent participation, the week was a rip-roaring success, and even I got to enjoy the Culver’s reward.

Koebcke noted that Culver’s owner, Wendy Gates, and her staff are always finding ways to give back to the community, and willingly say “yes” to requests by many groups.

So, along with TJ joining Hebron M.S. as pet persons, Culver’s makes the grade too!

Now I hope you all have a great day because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag.