Finals and projects have been completed; grades have been recorded. The first semester of the 2019-2020 academic year has come to a close.
In Plainfield, we honor the community value of kindness in December, and our students and staff both experienced and created many kindnesses this month. Likewise, for a school district whose mission is "bringing joy to learning," joy was quite evident in the classrooms and hallways, and the gymnasiums and auditoriums.
We've said it many times: Plainfield is an incredibly kind and generous community, and that was illustrated in a big way when one mother's effort to raise the money to pay off student lunch balances was realized last week. Using social media and a GoFundMe account, Kristin Taylor set a goal and surpassed it, and we are so appreciative of her efforts. If you missed it, check out the TV interview here: WISHTV-8 interview.
All year long, but especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas, many individuals, churches and civic groups make donations to pay off lunch debt or to fund the school Hungry Jack/Hungry Jane accounts. These accounts ensure that there is always money available for students without lunch money. No matter when or how they are received, we are extremely grateful for the KINDNESS all of these donations represent.
Several Plainfield High School juniors were honored last week when they were named Indiana Academic Rising Stars, and when we pulled them together for a photograph, JOY was very much a part of the conversation. The 2021 PHS Rising Stars are Salik Ahmad, Isabel Kluszynski, Het Patel, and Rashad Saleem, and they have very bright futures.
December is a very festive month, and our teachers prove that fun and JOY can happen in the midst of learning. Parents, extended families and friends had the chance this month to see and hear the sweet sounds of young voices and more seasoned musicians as holiday programs filled our gymnasiums and auditoriums. New and established traditions celebrate the talents of our students, from Kindergarten through high school, and the applause and cheers of their adoring fans would rival a Broadway stage. We’d like to say a collective thank you to the teachers who work so hard to bring these performances to life. The JOY that you bring to your work shines through the expression of your students!
The excitement (aka JOY) grew even greater this week, with themed days and the occasional sighting of a jolly (old?) man in a red suit. And in several schools, teachers made a big splash of their own in their very creative holiday attire!
From KINDNESS chains, to Hungry Jack and Jane accounts, to toy and gift donations.
From the JOY of Fancy Nancy, to Readers' Theatre, to Making Mankind our Business, to themed days and wonderful accomplishments.
Plainfield Schools has closed this chapter of the year, and we wish our school family and the entire Plainfield community the merriest of holidays. May you enjoy special time with loved ones, grab a much-needed nap, enjoy the plot of a good book, and join us in looking forward to an exciting new year!