Summer 2018: Week Eight

Another week closer to the big day: July 31! Imagine the North Pole a week before Christmas with all the elves scurrying around. That's strikingly similar to the Administration Building and each of our schools!

Last Friday we shared our Back-to-School Guide, with information about many of the things parents are wondering about as we count down to the #FirstDayofSchool (or #FDOS). But one of the things we didn't include? If you haven't yet registered your child for school, please do so ASAP! Our schools will be open next week, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., except for the lunch hour (11:30 - 12:30). Registering your child before the first day makes for an easier transition for everyone.

School safety is a topic that is ever-present these days, and we want to assure you that, in conjunction with the Plainfield Police and Fire Departments and the Town of Plainfield, your school administrators are always studying, talking with others, and looking at ways to improve the steps we take to protect our students and staff. 

On Tuesday, all principals, assistant principals, athletic directors, along with Superintendent Mr. Olinger and Assistant Superintendents Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Cooney, attended a training put on by officials from the Plainfield Police Department and the Indiana State Police. That evening, police officials met with the school board to provide an update on the work that's been done in recent months. 

We are proud of the steps we've taken to strengthen security in our schools over the past several years, but we know we can't take anything for granted. Please be assured that while education is our profession, protecting students and staff is our top priority. We encourage parents to attend the School Safety Meetings that will take place at each school in the first weeks of the school year.

In other news, some familiar faces have been in Honduras this week on an education outreach trip. Ann Mennonno (Clarks Creek 2nd grade teacher and 2019 Plainfield Teacher of the Year), her husband Charlie Mennonno, PCMS math teacher and coach, Jennifer Gray, Brentwood 3rd grade teacher, and Nicole Walker, Brentwood principal, are spending a week with students and teachers in one of the world's poorest areas. Their focus has been on delivering school supplies, coaching Honduran teachers, and building or helping to improve the buildings that Honduran children call "school." We know that these experiences add to the depth of their knowledge and understanding, and will be shared through their lessons with Plainfield students. 

There's been a growing excitement over the Police Lip-Sync Challenge, and we can't wait to see the Plainfield version when it hits the screen in the next few days. We're told that PHS Choral Director Jonelle Heaton (Plainfield Teacher of the Year in 2016) and many of her show choir students were instrumental in assisting with some of the choreography. 

Our Week #8 summary features collaboration and outreach - from our safety partners to students and staff. That's one of the greatest strengths of our community: people are kind, quick to lend a hand, and we work together. And we shouldn't forget that not every community can say that. Yay for Plainfield!