May 22, 2018, 11:30 a.m.
Notice from GCS:
GHS, Chandler and Parkside Schools, as well as the Administration Center, were on a soft lock down for a few hours this morning due to a robbery at the credit union located at Plymouth Ave. and US 33.
GCS officials were in communication with the Goshen Police Department throughout this time period. At this time, GCS schools have been moved to normal operations. As always, GCS strives to maintain safety for all students and staff.
The Building Trades class will hold the open house for the 2017-18 Building Trades House on Friday, May 25th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. The house is located at 62578 County Road 29 in Goshen.
Adam Young is the Building Trades instructor. The students who worked on the house include: Jorge Damron, Nick Eby, Edgar Fraga, Angel Garcia, Raul Gonzalez, Brandon Flores, Justin Ham, Bryan Hernandez, Jose Hernandez, Luis Hernandez, Orlando Hernandez, Preston Hershberger, Daniel Hidalgo, Joshua Marquez, Isaac Miranda, Rito Geovanni Monreal, Diego Torrejon, Trent Ottman, Sebastian Palacios, Alberto Solis, Jose Valtierra, and Jesse Vela.
Come see the house and talk to the students about the work they have done!
Statement from Goshen Community Schools and Goshen Police Department, 5/17/2018
On May 16, school and police department officials became aware of statements of concern communicated via texts from a sixth grade GMS student. However, the investigation has shown that there were no credible threats to anyone. In keeping with our tradition of transparency, we wanted to make the community aware of this situation.
While this threat was deemed not to be credible, the school district and law enforcement officials always work together to ensure the safety of all students and staff, and will continue to be diligent in our efforts to do so.
Thank you to the entire community for partnering with us for the safety and well-being of every Goshen resident.
The Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis closes its classical season with special guests Sonya Hayes, violin, and Samantha Stoltzfus, winner of the 2017 Indiana Music Association Composition Competition. The concert will be held on Sunday, May 20th at 3:00 p.m. at the Pike Performing Arts Center.
For ticket information, click here: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3066849
Samantha (Sam) Link Stoltzfus is a 15 year old freshman at Goshen High School in Goshen, Indiana. She is the daughter of Dan and Angela Stoltzfus and has one sister, Josephine Stoltzfus. Her grandparents are Gary and Lorene Link from Morgantown, Indiana & Eldon and Rachel Stoltzfus from Goshen, Indiana.
Samantha has been connected to music her entire life. Her first exposure to reading music began with piano lessons under Angela (Gingerich) Zepeda. She participated in several years of choir through Goshen College’s Community School of the Arts. Her formal orchestra training began in 5th grade with the viola. She’s currently participating in three groups: Goshen Crimson Orchestra, 2021 String Quartet, and Goshen High School’s Jazz Strings. She began private viola instruction two years ago under Benita Barber. Her composition interests began in 7th grade where she was also a category winner.
The Philharmonic Orchestra will perform two musical pieces composed by Samantha Stoltzfus on Sunday. Congratulations, Sam!
The board of school trustees recognized the 2018 Turn Around Award winners at the May 14th board meeting. Turn Around winners are typically students who have shown outstanding academic growth during one school year, have improved their school attendance, or have shown improvement in attitude, class participation, or behavior. The 2018 winners were:
Chamberlain Elementary, Gustavo Camacho
Chandler Elementary, Tyler BeMiller
Model Elementary, Navaeh Carr
Parkside Elementary, Alayna Snyder
Prairie View Elementary, Hailee Bowen
Waterford Elementary, Jaylee Osborne
West Goshen Elementary, Eli Williams
Goshen International Middle School, Trevor Schaaf
Goshen Middle School New Tech, Cassandra Romo
Goshen High School, Aillen Zepeda-Vazquez
Merit Learning Center, Gisele Esparza
Congratulations to our 2018 Turn Around Award winners!
Today marked the 2nd annual Graduation Walk at Goshen Middle School. It was a smaller group of seniors this year, due to IB testing and other GHS class commitments, but nevertheless, the GMS students were excited to see the seniors and to wish them well.
When the seniors got to the school, they each wrote their names and future plans on a small board, so that all of the GMS students could see what GHS had prepared them for in the future.
Then the seniors took a stroll through GMS.
They were led by Max Mault, who announced them by leading them and playing his trumpet.
There were high fives and lots of clapping and congratulations, and even a few hugs.
And then there was one more trip down “fish hallway” for the seniors.
Thank you, seniors for encouraging the GMS students to stay in school, create goals, and formulate their future plans!
For a video of the walk, click here: https://www.facebook.com/goshen.middle.school/videos/1927114390640442/
Come see these energetic Goshen High School students perform for one last weekend of the 2017-18 school year!
The performance schedule and how to get tickets is listed below:
June 8th at 7:30 p.m. at the Goshen Theater in downtown Goshen. This show is general admission; student and adult tickets are both $5.00.
June 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the Goshen High School Auditorium. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students, and are reserved seating.
June 10th at 2:30 p.m. in the Goshen High School Auditorium. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students/seniors, and are reserved seating.
To make ticket reservations for Saturday night or Sunday afternoon, you may call (574) 533-8651, ext. 2518 between 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, or you may email your ticket order to musictickets@goshenschools.org When you email your ticket order, please be sure to include your concert date and the number of adult, student, or senior tickets you need. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Several years ago, Dr. Bob Duell coordinated a Day of Service for all GCS 5th grade students. The Day of Service has become an annual event, which sends students to work in local parks, non-profit organizations, neighborhoods and more. Below are some of the pictures from the projects with the city forester, in various Goshen Parks.
Prairie View student Dionisia nominated her teacher, Mrs. Ruth Roth, for the Boys and Girls Club Teacher of the Month. In her nomination, she wrote:
She makes teaching fun, and lets us have 5 recesses. She also lets us play games sometimes. We also have a bonus on Friday. We can have a surprise special in art, music, or gym. We will have library on Tuesday.
Below, Dionisia and Natalie Yoder from the Boys and Girls Club surprise Mrs. Roth and her class.
Dionisia read her nomination to Mrs. Roth and the class.
And then Mrs. Roth was awarded a plaque from the Boys and Girls Club, and also given a gift certificate to the Electric Brew.
8th grade New Tech students in Mrs. Sapp’s class went to the Chamber of Commerce today to meet with local business men and women. According to Mrs. Sapp, people from local businesses volunteered their time to come in and meet with the students. The students had prepared Investment Portfolios, which Mrs. Sapp said were “investments in their futures”. Each student was asked to come up with three goals; one for now, one for their high school career, and one for post-high school. Then the students used pictures and words from magazines and other sources to construct Vision Boards, to map out a path for their three goals. Mrs. Sapp said that the volunteers were going to listen to the students review their resume, their goals, and their vision boards, and then were asked to give the students feedback and encouragement on how to achieve their goals.
Below, Nick Kieffer, president of the Chamber of Commerce, welcomes the students and representatives from local businesses.
Below are the students, who met with local business leaders for 5-10 minutes, and then moved on to meet with others.
This student’s vision board had symbols for graduation with the quote “She believed she could, so she did”.
This student ended one interaction in proper business style, with a handshake.
These students got some pointers with a resume.
Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event, and to the business men and women for meeting with GMS students to encourage them and provide feedback for them on how to work toward their goals.
To see the complete list, click on this link: https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-places-to-teach/s/indiana/
To see the results for Goshen Community Schools, click on this link: https://www.niche.com/k12/d/goshen-community-schools-in/
Since today is National Teacher Appreciation Day, it seems like the perfect day to take a look back at this Good of Goshen video from Thanksgiving 2017:
https://goodofgoshen.com/project/thank-you-teachers/
GCS teachers, we thank you for all you do!
In a letter from the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA), Goshen Community Schools was informed that the Goshen High School Band and Orchestra are both recipients of the ISSMA All-Music Award for the 2017-18 school year. The ensembles and their directors were congratulated by ISSMA for their “outstanding musical accomplishments this past year”.
Congratulations to the band and orchestra students and staff!
Four teachers from Chamberlain were honored this morning as Teacher of the Month (for several months) by Natalie Yoder and Launa Leftwich of the Boys and Girls Club.
Angela Morelock said this about Mr. Joel Klase: Thank you for being a good teacher and showing us what we do not know. You are the best 5th grade teacher ever. I was really wishing I was in your class, but it’s fine, I like Mrs. G’s room, but I just wanted you to know that I appreciate you a lot! You make me feel safe when I’m at school even when you are not even with me. P.S. I like you because you are the only man teacher.
Josephine Marquez nominated Miss Megan Krug: She helps my class when they are struggling in school and when I am having problems with my work. She comes and asks me “What are you struggling with?”. I would like to nominate my teacher because she is the best, and I would not ask for a different teacher in the world. Even when she has some difficult times she is still the best.
Luna said this about Ms. Angelica Chavez: She deserves it because she gives us a party every month, and helps us when we need help and is nice and funny. Sometimes she is funny and gives us brain breaks every day. She is nice to other teachers in the school.
Daniela also nominated Ms. Chavez: She deserves it because she does her best. And when we need help she helps us. She is nice and kind. She shows a lot of Integrity and Courage at all times. She shows a lot of craftsmanship. And that’s why she should be the teacher of the month.
Jace Tinsley nominated Mrs. Carol Kinchen: My teacher also loves me and she can do cool things to help people. She is very nice.
What a great morning to visit Chamberlain!
Led by the 5th grade students, all of the Chamberlain students had a chance to honor the Chamberlain teachers and staff on this National Teacher Appreciation Day.
First, the students introduced the Crew greeting for the day, the Hand Hug (putting the palms of their hands together, and tapping the back of their partner’s hand with his/her thumb).
The students greeted each other with the hand hug, and then the 5th grade students greeted the teachers by saying altogether “Thank you, teachers. We love you!”
This greeting was followed with a video that included numerous Thank Yous from students to teachers. The students asked everyone to sit down, and then they called individual teacher and staff member names to have them stand. When each teacher stood, a student who had chosen to thank that teacher or staff member went to give him or her a note and a hug.
Some of the things students said about their teachers included:
“You are a beautiful blessing in my life.”
“I love when you give me books you haven’t even put on the shelf yet.”
“I will never forget you.”
“Thank you for helping me.”
“Thank you for understanding my feelings.”
“Thank you for helping me through hard things.”
“Thank you for not getting mad when I didn’t understand something right away.”
Then all of the students gave the teachers and staff a standing ovation. And lastly, principal Kim Branham acknowledged and thanked her staff as surely one of the BEST!
Congratulations to Goshen High School student Syreeta Moore, who got 2nd place with her video!
Click on her name below to view her video.
High School essay winners:
1. Richard Robles– Potomac Falls High School, Sterling, VA
2. Pranav Kanmadikar- duPont Manual High School, Louisville, KY
3. Zach Lori– Greenwich High school, Greenwich, CT
College essay winners:
1. Eric Xu– University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
2. Clara Silverstein– University of Massachusetts, Marlborough, MA
3. Shannon Harris– University of Virginia, Pottstown, PA
High school video winners:
1. Dominic Floreno– Mountain Lakes High School, Boonton Township, NJ
2. Syreeta Moore– Goshen High School, IN
3. Jada Ortiz Roman– Chicopee Comprehensive High School, Chicopee, MA
College video winner:
Ellen Bresnick– Washington University, St. Louis, MO
GHS musicians provided music for the city’s celebratory Bridge Walk on Wednesday afternoon:
From the city’s press release:
To allow Goshen drivers that have patiently endured the two-year building process of the bridge connecting the area in front of Goshen High School to the east end of Pike Street, the City has arranged for a time for everyone to see the huge project for up close and personal—for themselves!
You are invited to be a part of a bridge walk of the new US 33 North Connector before it opens to traffic.
Join us Wednesday, May 9 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the southeast end of the North Connector to catch a first glimpse of the work done before the overpass is opened to traffic. Participants are welcome to come and go any time during that hour.
At 5 p.m., sharp, Mayor Jeremy Stutsman and Brent Rheinheimer, the community member who proposed a walk, will give an opening statement. After that, the community will be free to walk up and over the three bridges (over the Marion Line, the Big Four and Lincoln Avenue).
This event is open to everyone in the community. Please park in the Goshen High School parking lot. An officer from the Goshen Police
Department will be stationed north of the lot to help pedestrians cross Lincolnway East during this busy time of day.
The walk will go on, rain or shine, but not if it is storming. If any doubt, check the City’s website after 4:30 p.m. at goshenindiana.org.
The Indiana Department of Transportation will host an official ribbon-cutting Wednesday, May 9 at 1 p.m., at the same location. The public is invited to attend that event, too.
Please come be a part of our bridge walk!
Thank you,
Sharon Hernandez
Communications Coordinator
The Goshen Community Schools Foundation is having a fundraiser to raise funds for grants to supplement our teachers’ classrooms. GCS elementary students are selling Major Saver Discount Cards now through May 14. Some of the businesses offering discounts are Mancino’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Maple City Market, Universal Tamal, Dairy Queen, El Camino Real, Pride’s Express Car Wash, Goshen Brewing Company, and The Electric Brew.
The cards may be purchased 3 ways:
If you purchase from the website or the app you can still give a specific student credit.
More information on the Foundation may be found at https://goshenschoolsfoundation.org/. This is the same organization that has the annual trivia night in the fall.
Front of Card:
Back of Card:
Thank you for your support of the GCS Foundation and the teachers who will be awarded grants from the proceeds of this fundraiser!
The GHS and Wawasee softball teams helped raise more than $3,100 for Cancer Resources for Elkhart County on Friday, April 27th.
Everence® was a sponsor for the Strike Out Cancer night at Shanklin Park. Together, the Goshen and Wawasee teams and fans raised $3,174.00 to benefit Cancer Resources for Elkhart County. They sold T-shirts and pink sugar cookies the night of the game, and passed a helmet to collect for this worthy cause.
Each team had a cancer survivor throw out the first pitch. GHS Assistant Coach Jeryl Miller’s wife Kim was honored to throw out a first pitch, although she said “I didn’t do it very well”. There also a balloon launch before the game, and each team wore pink uniforms, pink ribbons and pink “eye black.” Goshen won the JV game, with Wawasee winning the varsity game in extra innings. It was a fun evening for all!
Pictured below from left, GHS Head Coach Brent Kulp, Kim Miller, the father of a Wawasee player, and Wawasee’s Head Coach.
Thank you, Everence, for helping sponsor this event, and thank you to all in attendance for making the evening a success!
GHS student Iyla Stoy is a student in one of Cathy DeMeyer’s science classes this semester, and according to Mrs. DeMeyer, she is “very into birds”. Iyla recently noticed that there was a mating pair of Kestrels nesting under the roof of the GCS warehouse. Since spotting the birds, she has used binoculars to get a better look at them. According to Mrs. DeMeyer “Iyla is pretty sure they are nesting, so maybe there will be babies soon.”
Mrs. DeMeyer plans to walk her GHS students over to the warehouse in the next week or so since she does “a birds of prey unit at the end of the school year, and this is too good to pass up….Kestrels are pretty cool and they are a part of the Falcon family”.
The birds will look much like the pictures below.
