5 things to know for school in Southern Indiana
Here's what you need to know as kids head back to school in Southern Indiana.
Freshman academies
Each of the Greater Clark County Schools' three high schools will establish a Freshman Academy, where the ninth-grade class will be divided into smaller groups and assigned to a team of five or so teachers. The initiative, district officials hope, will encourage more meaningful student-teacher relationships and allow for more individualized attention.
“It’s really making a large high school like a small learning community and trying to make sure the rapport is built between our staff and our kids so that kids will take more ownership in their own learning,” Superintendent Andrew Melin said during a news conference.
Spanish-English immersion on hold
Parkwood Elementary, which was planning to become the first school in Clark and Floyd counties to launch a dual-language immersion classroom, is holding off on the initiative this year after the school did not receive a grant from the state and experienced some leadership changes.
New Principal Brandon Winebrenner said the school is still interested in creating a kindergarten class taught in English and Spanish to promote fluency in both languages, but it won't happen in time for the 2016-17 school year.
►RELATED: S. Ind. Schools struggle with teacher diversity
New leaders at the helm
Students across Southern Indiana - with the exception of those in West Clark Community Schools - will return to school in late July with perhaps a different school administrator at the helm. In Greater Clark, one-third of the district's 21 schools experienced principal changes.
In New Albany-Floyd County Schools, both high schools will have new leaders. Former Assistant Principal Rob Willman is stepping into the top position at Floyd Central High, and at New Albany High, current Assistant Principal Michelle Ginkins has been selected to transition into the principal role when current Principal Janet Page retires mid-year.
►FULL LIST: New principals at Southern Indiana schools
Come on, get app-y
Parents and students in West Clark can now keep up with school goings-on via the district's new app, which officially launched in mid-July. It's available for both iOS and Android devices.
For those outside West Clark, don't feel left out. Greater Clark and New Albany-Floyd County also have their own apps. For extra credit, check out these educational apps that can help students learn Portuguese, organize assignments, prep for the SAT and everything in-between.
►BACK-TO-SCHOOL: When is the first day of school?
A new test
A panel of officials will work this year to create an alternative to the ISTEP test, with the intent of completely eliminating it by July 1, 2017. Students will still have to be tested, the Courier-Journal has previously reported, but Gov. Mike Pence has said the new test will be better than its unpopular predecessor.
Reporter Kirsten Clark can be reached at 502-582-4144. Follow the Courier-Journal’s education team on Facebook at Facebook.com/SchooledCJ.