Update #101 Courtesy of Dr. Derek Arrowood
February 15 was School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day and it gives me the perfect opportunity to share a shout out to our amazing SROs – Deputies Josh Ireland, Jon Tindal, and Alex Petty. They serve as an important bridge between our students, law enforcement, and our community. They are engaged, involved, work to protect our campus, and help provide a safe environment for our staff and students. Moreover, they are inspirational mentors and role models. The lasting relationships they build with our students and staff are lifechanging. Thank you for your presence, commitment, and service.
Also in February we have the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the invaluable role our school counselors play in supporting our students as part of National School Counseling Week (first full week in February) sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Our school counselors are leaders and vital resources who work to ensure a healthy, positive, and safe school environment for students to learn, achieve school success and plan for a career. They are truly the glue that holds so many aspects of our schools together. Thank you Nikki Wert and Tricia Rudy (HHES), Chelsea Pacheco and Sabrina Duncan (HHMS), and Lori Watson, April Baugher, and Rebecca Johnson (HHHS) for your commitment, professionalism and dedication. We appreciate you every single day!
A special book launch and signing of the newly released, The Monsters of Math Plan a Party, is set for 7 p.m. next Tuesday at Hamilton Heights Elementary School’s Media Center at 25350 SR 19, Arcadia. Enter through Door A. Here you can meet and learn more about how three Huskies, Theresa Morris (1988), Lu Hubbell (2022) and Ryan Reed (2033) collaborated their talents to create this new series. Copies of this book will be available. The event is sponsored by the Hamilton Heights Educational Foundation.
In other exciting news, Hamilton Heights junior Tyler Tuntland, his parents, Jason and Kelly Tuntland, and Grant Venable (’20) have been doing something pretty cool in their spare time. They were among the participants in a reality TV inventor show, Make48, whose challenge was to produce a solution for food perseveration. Check out the preview of Season 6 competition, filmed in Indianapolis, by visiting youtube.com/watch?v=7K7Yxgj1pqw. The show will be aired exclusively on This Old House Makers Channel – Roku TV (Channel 458) on Feb. 22 starting at 7 p.m. Catch this episode at therokuchannel.roku.com/watch/2f7855ad196b57fc8e1dcb9cb74ea161/this-old-house-makers-channe. The winner of this competition advances to the national competition in March.
On the sports front, senior Evan Tilton advances to the state finals in Wrestling, senior Kylee Trexler is State Runner up in Bowling, senior Teegan Madara placed 12th at State Swimming in the 500 free, breaking her own school record, and last month, junior Camryn Runner became the 7th Lady Husky to reach the 1,000-point career milestone. The Lady Huskies Basketball team is on fire! They advance to semi-state play against Twin Lakes at LaPorte High School on Saturday. Tip-off is at 10 a.m., CST. The winner will play the winner of the Fairfield vs. Tippecanoe Valley game in the championship game at 7:30 p.m., CST. Information and tickets can be found online at websites.eventlink.com/s/laporte-high-school/Tickets.
We are also in the midst of celebrating Black History Month. Our students, staff, and community can greatly benefit through culturally relevant teaching, learning, and activities centered around the rich cultural heritage, achievements, sacrifices, triumphs, and the essential role of African Americans in shaping our country. Please join us this month and every month to better understand and appreciate the countless Black individuals who have given their gifts and their lives in pursuit of a society that is free, just, and equitable for all. #WeAreHuskies
Dr. Derek Arrowood is the Superintendent of the Hamilton Heights School Corporation.