Saturday, June 1, 2024
COMMENCEMENT PREPARATIONS
Shelbyville High School Choral Department seniors practice yesterday for today’s commencement ceremony. The seniors are (first row, L to R) Mars Conrad, Keira Roque, Ryker DeWitt, Chloe Dillman and Amanda Esquivel, and (second row) Ethan Wheeler, Riddick Dow and Layla Hines. The choir is directed by Joel Kenemore. Commencement is at 10 a.m. today in Garrett Gymnasium and will be livestreamed on GBTV. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
SCS Mentor-Mentee Program Benefits All Participants
When Shelbyville Central Schools Superintendent Matt Vance, Ph.D., and Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Miltz started their teaching careers, the state provided funding for first-year teachers to observe teachers outside their district. Otherwise, there wasn’t much in the way of mentorship.
“I was given a set of keys, and there was a stack of books on my desk,” Dr. Vance recalls. “I just started with Chapter 1 and kept going.”
These days, one thing is for certain, veteran SHS teacher Christina Forey said: “Being a first-year teacher is hard.”
In addition to providing a more formal orientation, SCS administrators recently also brought back the mentorship component, pairing first- and second-year teachers in the district with experienced mentors.
Vince Bradburn, Shelbyville High School Social Studies Department Chair, has informally mentored numerous teachers, and appreciated the chance to be part of a cohort this time.
“I was able to talk shop with colleagues that I haven't before, nor would have, had it not been for the program,” Bradburn said. “Teaching is teaching regardless of content, to an extent, and it was encouraging to be able to share my passion of teaching and learning with my colleagues. It was refreshing and affirming to hear that the fourth grade teacher and I have had similar experiences.”
Some new teachers transitioned from professional careers, and the mentor program was of particular help adjusting.
SMS teacher Monica Cooper began her career on an emergency permit, and said her mentor, art teacher Shanae Dees, helped her “better understand all the little details” of classroom work. Dees should know. She also entered through the transition-to-teaching program.
“Since I initially came from an undergraduate degree outside that of education, I felt that I could come alongside Monica, especially in her first year, and help her with the tasks and obstacles that I found to be overwhelming or overlooked in my own first year of teaching,” Dees said.
SHS science teacher Kyleigh Lay said she learned much directly from French teacher Rebecca Elkins, as well as through observation.
“Rebecca radiates positive and encouraging energy, which has really helped me through the tough and trying times of navigating teaching for the first two years,” Lay said. “Not only did she help me feel welcome and seen, but she led me to find my self-confidence and my voice.”
Mrs. Miltz said that while mentoring is about planning and logistics, it mostly helps with developing relationships and “social IQ.”
Dr. Vance agreed. “We have so much talent in our schools. I think peer coaching and peer review are some of the best things we can do.”
This year’s mentor-mentee cohort was comprised of: Vince Bradburn and Shelby Bauchert, Christi Forey and Jessica Stull, Kristiaan Rawlings and Carter Hall, Rebecca Elkins and Kyleigh Lay, Michelle Rand and Emily Bembenek, Marijo Hamblen and Cameron Hankins, Shanae Dees and Monica Cooper, Angie Eldridge and Meg Perron, Keri Weiler and Heather Bobrow, Mike Bunton and Jonathan Baldwin, Micka Kincaid and Lacy Ogles, Kayla Suits and Kristen Brown, Paige Bertsch and Madison VanGorden, Meredith Hall and Jarrett Moore, Christine Neeman and Holly Harris, Heather McCullum and Krista Justus, Susan Smith and Sarah Martin and Teresa Titus and Hannah Johnson.
NOTEBOOK:
A five-vehicle accident occurred on the second floor of the casino parking garage. After letting a passenger out on the second floor, a driver started to back up slowly, then accelerated at a high rate of speed, striking an unattended second vehicle, which was pushed into a third vehicle, which was pushed into a fourth and fifth vehicle, the police report said. Officers investigated the case as a potential operating while intoxicated case.
Registration for Blue River Soccer Association’s Fall 2024 youth soccer season is open. Birth years from 2009 - 2022 are eligible to register and play this Fall. The cost for the season is $80, but the price increases June 10, and registration closes completely June 14. The fields open for practice in early August, and games are held mainly on Saturdays starting August 31 and ending October 26 (with a two-weekend break for Fall Break). Games are played at the BRSA fields at Blue River Memorial Park, 725 Lee Blvd., Shelbyville.
BRSA is also hosting a Summer Camp with the SHS Girls Soccer Team, 5 - 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, July 9, July 16 and July 23. Cost of the camp is $10 with proceeds going directly to the SHS Girls Soccer Team. Shirts are available for those who register before June 24 for $5, and registration closes completely on July 1. Register on the BRSA website, blueriversoccer.org.
NATIONAL NEWS: More than three years after committing to include statistics from the Negro Leagues in its official records, MLB has officially added this data to the canon of major league history — and with that news comes significant changes. Slugging catcher Josh Gibson now holds the all-time record with a batting average of .372, surpassing Ty Cobb, and he leads in on-base plus slugging (1.177 OPS) as well, dethroning Babe Ruth. On the mound, Satchel Paige has the third-best single-season ERA now, among other notable changes. These changes mostly affect rate statistics, as the Negro Leagues played shorter schedules than the American or National leagues. But even without including totals from barnstorming or independent games, some important leaderboards have been significantly transformed. (MLB/Numlock)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: The 255 members of the Shelbyville High School class of 2014 graduated. Molly Madden was valedictorian, Alton Anspaugh salutatorian and Leigh Durphey was senior class president. Kathleen Miltz was the principal.
2004: Preservationists were again squaring off against engineers on the Fairland Road project. The State Historic Preservation Office wanted to include the Red Mill in the road project. Because the road project would alter the intersection of Fairland Road and London Road, the state was saying the work would obstruct the view of the old Red Mill. Shelby County Commissioners were frustrated with the delays.
1994: Sixteen Southwestern High School students drove tractors to school. A newspaper photo showed Amber Hupp jumping out of her tractor. A grain truck and a toy pedal tractor were also in the lot before the start of classes.
1984: A woman was arrested for attempting to provide marijuana to a Shelby County jail inmate. She had been slipping marijuana cigarettes through a telephone cable hole to an inmate.
“Good Citizens” in Joan Gardner’s sixth grade homeroom at Loper Elementary were rewarded with a trip to Metamora to explore a bit of yesteryear, including visiting the old grist mill, aqueduct, candlemaker and canal boat. Accompanying Mrs. Gardner on the trip were Lori Foreman, Elizabeth Hart, Kathy Gibson, Amy Callahan, Jeff Livingston and Chris Sexton. They also saw the old covered bridge and cemetery at Moscow and visited Greek’s ice cream parlor and candy store in Rushville. Scott Asher was eligible for the trip but couldn’t go.
1974: Dr. William Green was named Shelby County Coroner, succeeding Dr. James Lorber, who was moving to Indianapolis.
1964: Residents of three city additions had been wondering about the purpose of red lines recently painted on curbs in front of their homes. Street Commissioner Lee Juras explained the marks indicated the place where people should place their garbage cans for pickup. The affected areas were Wellington Heights, Sunrise and Crestmoore neighborhoods.
1954: Forest Hill Cemetery continued to be a target of vandals, with flowers stolen from graves. Numerous thefts had occurred over Memorial Day weekend, Supt. Sheldon Keith said.
1944: Local insurance agent Nate Kaufman received the highest honor from the Indianapolis Life Insurance Company.
Chester Moore was appointed police chief by Mayor James Pierce. Fred Jones had been acting chief in addition to his duties as circulation manager for Shelbyville newspapers and managing the local agencies of The Indianapolis News and Indianapolis Times.
1934: Twenty-two new patients were referred to a “chest clinic” sponsored by the Tuberculosis Association at Major Hospital. Eight were diagnosed as positive cases.
1924: Lasail Robinson, 8 months, of Manilla, was in critical condition at the Inlow Clinic on West Washington St. after choking on a piece of cake. Inlow Clinic staff said hopes for recovery were “very grave.”
The cornerstone of St. Joseph school and auditorium was placed. High mass was celebrated at St. Joseph church, followed by a procession and blessing at the cornerstone. The school building was expected to be completed by fall. At the time, only the first two years of high school were offered at St. Joseph’s school.
1914: Shelbyville’s entire police force was stationed around the county jail to guard against a mob storming the jail to secure Jordan Lewis, who had been charged with the assault of Alpha Herndon, age 5. “Early in the evening after the story of the arrest of Lewis had been discussed, talk of breaking into the jail and hanging the prisoner was heard,” The Republican said. The newspaper said Shelbyville “was not a mob city,” but that if Lewis was found guilty, he “certainly needs drastic punishment.” Lewis maintained his innocence.
An automobile struck a “water plug” (fire hydrant) at Harrison and Pennsylvania streets, “rebounded and attempted to climb a trolley pole,” The Republican said. The accident happened when the driver attempted to avoid an oncoming interurban car. The occupants of the car were only slightly injured.
OBITUARIES
None today