Tons of information in the November Newsletter!

1. Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
McGary Middle School Newsletter
November 2012
Developing 21st Century Learners
Principal’s Corner
McGary School Contacts
Dear McGary Parents, Guardians, and Friends,
Tammy Dexter, Principal
Tammy.dexter@evsc.k12.in.us I would like to thank you for supporting the Cornbread Drive and the Penny
Wars the past several weeks! We love having the opportunity for our students to
Dale Naylor, Asst. Principal give back to the community!
dale.naylor@evsc.k12.in.us On Saturday, Nov. 3rd (barring rain), we will be working with our friends from
Bethel Church to clean up and prepare the community garden for the winter. We
Shannon Strieter, Professional also have plans to work on the courtyard area (we have stone paths planned) as
Development Specialist well as some other small landscaping projects. Please come over and join us from
shannon.strieter@evsc.k12.in.us 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. We would love to have your help!
Parents of 8th graders will be receiving a lot of information in the next few
Mark Simon, Counselor
weeks about options for your students in High School. Please make sure that you
mark.simon@evsc.k12.in.us pay attention to Open House dates for the different programs. We are so fortunate
in the EVSC to offer a wide variety of secondary programs for our students
Theresa Schneider, Social Worker including: Early College, New Tech, The Shepherd Academy, and The Medical
theresa.schneider@evsc.k12.in.us Professions Academy.
8th graders and their parents are invited to attend the William Henry Harrison
Dianna Augustine, Principal’s
High School 8th Grade Student and Parent Night on November 8th at 6 p.m. in the
Secretary/Treasurer Commons. This will be an important information session for all of our 8th graders.
dianna.augustine@evsc.k12.in.us
Thanks for all you do to help your student be successful. Please let us know if we
can help in any way!
Valerie Deutsch, Secretary
valerie.deutsch@evsc.k12.in.us Best Regards,
Tammy Dexter
Sheree Edwardson, Nurse
sheree.edwardson@evsc.k12.in.us
Terri Goldman, Cafeteria Manager
terri.goldman@evsc.k12.in.us Collecting for a Cause
Julie Mullen, Community and
Family Outreach Coordinator
julie.mullen@evsc.k12.in.us
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE
If your child is ill, going out of
town, or will be late to school,
please call the school office at
476-3035 by 9:00 A.M.

2. NOVEMBER 2012 M C G A R Y MI D D LE S CH O O L NE W SLE T TE R
Kids Fest and Health Expo
The University of Evansville Physical Therapy Program will present Healthy for the Holidays, a kids fest, and
health expo. This event will be held Saturday, November 10th, on the U of E softball / baseball field from 9 a.m. to
11:30 a.m. The planned activities are a one mile family walk / run and a parent/ child 3-legged race. There will also
be free health care handouts for everyone, along with other fun activities for all age groups. Please make plans to
attend this free, fun event.
WayBack Burgers Offers Report Card Specials
Jake’s WayBack Burgers is offering specials for students who bring in their report cards and have earned A’s
and B’s on it. Students will receive a free kid’s meal for every “A” earned and a free junior cheeseburger,
hamburger or kid’s chicken fingers for a “B”. In addition, Jake’s will also offer a free junior shake for perfect
attendance and/or perfect conduct.
News from you School Social Worker
Winter is fast approaching, and your used coats can make a difference!
Infant and children coats are in highest demand, but ALL coats are
welcomed. Bring your gently used coats to any Don’s Cleaners now through December so they can be cleaned
and distributed in January. For distribution times, dates and locations, call The Evansville Christian
Life Center at 812-423-9222 or the Salvation Army at 812-422-4673.
Food For the Weekend
The Tri-State Food Bank sponsors a Back Pack Food for Kids Program. This program assists
students who may not have enough food to eat on the weekends. Good nutrition is important because
deficiencies can lead to serious health problems, including impaired cognitive development, growth failures,
physical weakness, anemia, and stunted growth. The program sends non-perishable food home with
participating students every Friday. Each Back Pack contains 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and 2 snacks.
If you are interested in this program, please contact your McGary Middle School Social Worker,
Theresa Schneider, at 476-3035.

3. NOVEMBER 2012 M C G A R Y MI D D LE S CH O O L NE W SLE T TE R
McGary 2012-2013 Student Council Members
President: Gammont Jackson
Vice President: Brandon Duncan
Secretary: Hadrian Klees
6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade
Keona Brown I’Nayha Brock De’Ante Booker
Bianca Collins Brandt Hout Nykia Collins
Jaidyn Forest Breanna Julian Brandon Duncan
Tyler Lay Hadrian Klees Meredith Hodges
Lexie Rouse Destiny Lerche Cara Hurt
Ce’Nheecia Skinner Aliyah Parker Gammont Jackson
Caleb Sweeny Brooklyn Rogers Darkaisha Johnson
Jeremiah Thomas Hailea Rose Christian Nix
Student Council’s Mission
Student Council members are the leaders of the school. The students were selected by a vote from the student
body. This year the student council will be planning and organizing dances, and activity night, and teacher
appreciation week. Student Council meets at 7:15 a.m. in room 8 every Friday morning.
Faculty Sponsors: Ms. Rachel Roberts, Ms. Janon Khaja, and Mrs. Eileen Korba
Fall Music Concert
BRAVO to the music department on a successful and entertaining Fall Concert. The auditorium was standing
room only!! Thanks to Mrs. Nance and Mrs. Schuessler for putting together this very special evening, and
congratulations to all the students who performed that evening.
Spring Musical / Play Tryouts
Tryouts for the Spring Play/ Musical will be held the week of Thanksgiving on Monday, November 19th, and
Tuesday, November 20th, after school until 5 p.m. There will be an after-school bus available to transport the
students home at 5 p.m. The title of the show this year is 50 Years at McGary and will feature music from the past
and present, a story that includes the big events of our country and at McGary middle School, and the whole thing
will be student-driven. We will be needing lots of help with props, stage help, singers and dancers, and actors. Mrs.
Nance received a 2012 Excellence in Education grant for $1,000 from the Public Education Foundation of
Evansville, Inc. to help with expenses on the Spring Musical this year. We can’t wait to see the finished product!

4. NOVEMBER 2012 M C G A R Y MI D D LE S CH O O L NE W SLE T TE R
November Family Night
November’s family Night will be Operation: Family Fitness. We have scheduled the date for November 29th from
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.. We have many exciting things planned for the evening, so please join us. If you have any
questions, feel free to contact Julie Mullen at 476-3035.
Super Citizen of the Month
Congratulations to Robin Duncan, who is our October Super Citizen of the Month. Robin displays
characteristics commonly associated with Super Citizens of the Month making him worthy of this honor. Robin’s
picture, along with each month’s winner of the Super Citizen Award, is posted in the back hallway display case.
Congratulations on a job well done!!
Teen Power Penny War Update
McGary Teen Power is sponsoring a Homeroom Penny War to benefit the Tri-State Food Bank. Each homeroom
has been collecting pennies since October 1st. Teen Power will then take the donations to the Tri State Food Bank
where they will use all of the funds to help with their annual Christmas Dinner that the organization provides for
families in need. The winning homeroom will be treated to an ice cream party. As of this writing, Ms. Scheller’s
class leads the way with 3,983 pennies collected, followed by Mr. Morrison’s homeroom and the 3rd highest total
belongs to Ms. Robert’s homeroom. So far, we have collected 14,367 pennies that will feed 480 people! There is still
time left, so search for those pennies!!!!
November’s Health Tip
Divide your plate, conquer your weight. Fill half of your plate with veggies or salad (watch those fatty salad
dressings!). One quarter of your plate should be a lean protein, such as fish, chicken, or beef – that has been either
grilled, baked, or poached. And the last quarter should be a starch – but watch the butter and oil added to it.
Cornbread Mix/ House War Update
Students and staff at McGary were asked to bring in cornbread mix as part of a house war to benefit Evansville
Rescue Mission’s Gobbler Gathering, which is their annual thanksgiving gift for families in need. The mixes were
placed into Operation City Beautiful boxes that were decorated by each respective house at the entrance of the
school. We collected 360 boxes of cornbread mix for this very worthy cause. The winning house was Rispetto with
120 total boxes collected and they will be rewarded with bonus house points. Congratulations go out to all of the
houses on your efforts that benefit this very worthy cause!

5. NOVEMBER 2012 M C G A R Y MI D D LE S CH O O L NE W SLE T TE R
New Tech Institute to Host Open House on November 8th
The New Tech Institute is hosting an Open House for current eighth grade students and their families
Thursday, November 8th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the New Tech Institute. EVSC’s New Tech Institute is a
full-day program for high school students that utilizes Project-Based Learning (PBL). PBL is a learning method
featuring the use of technology and inquiry to engage students with issues and questions that are relevant to their
lives. Teachers at New Tech design projects and customize them to meet real-world applications and the interests
of students. Students then work in teams to acquire and apply knowledge and skills to solve problems. Students
are encouraged to take charge of their learning, and as a result, teachers become facilitators and coaches who help
guide students.
Theatre Arts News
As part of our Project-Based Learning initiative, a selected group of our theatre arts students will be involved in
a field trip on November 29th that centers around studying architecture and design in the city of Evansville.
Students will meet with architects and building project designers, as well as visit CMOE Children’s Museum to
discuss how the building was renovated for the museum. A bus tour scavenger hunt will help students identify
architectural details and historic sites found in our city: Old Post Office, Courthouse Willard Library, St. Paul’s
Church, Ford Center, Reitz Home, Cedar Hall School, and Bosse Field. The end of the tour will be a
presentation/discussion at The Fantasy of Lights in Garvin Park.
Also, on November 18th, Mrs. Gilbert’s 5th period theatre arts class will be attending the University of
Evansville’s theatre production of “Mystery of Edwin Drood.” The mystery of Edwin Drood is a musical based on
Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel. The show tells the story of the upstanding young Edwin Drood who
mysteriously disappears and is presumed murdered. Who did it??? The audience will decided at the end. They
will also be doing research for the class production of “Mystery of the Royal Ruby.” A scene from this production
will be part of the Christmas performance for the students of McGary before winter recess.
PTSA News
McGary PTSA is still in need of members. Membership is only $6 per person and everyone-students, parents,
grandparents, etc.- are all invited and encouraged to join. Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November
5th, at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Can’t attend the meeting? No problem. If you would like to become a member,
please call 476-3035 and ask for Julie Mullen or Jayna Ennis. We can set a time to meet with you to let you know
what we are about and our goals for the school year. We have been having PTSA snack sales during lunches on
the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. We have had healthy offerings such as sliced bananas with chocolate
syrup and sprinkles, fruit roll ups, and yogurt for our students. Please remember that we are continuing to
collect Box Tops for Education. Every one we collect is worth 10 cents for our school.
Twenty-first Century Scholars Program
The Twenty-first Century Scholars Program is continuing to accept applications from seventh and eighth grade
students. If you have any questions, or need income guidelines, please contact Barbara Martin, 21st Century
Scholars Regional Outreach Coordinator-Southwest Indiana at bmartin@learnmore.org.

6. NOVEMBER 2012 M C G A R Y MI D D LE S CH O O L NE W SLE T TE R
Response to Intervention
At EVSC, we are always looking to improve the ways we serve you...our students and families, and we are
always looking at ways we can better provide the education you child needs and deserves. That’s why we have an
exciting change we would like to share with you.
This year, we will be introducing what’s called Response to Intervention or RTI. You may have already heard
teachers and staff at your school talking about RTI. It may sound a little confusing, but RTI is actually pretty
simple. It’s not a program, but a new, more organized way or process of putting programs and plans in place to
help students do their best. RTI gets its name because the programs are called “interventions,” and the RTI
process allows schools to check a students “response” to the programs or interventions to see if the interventions
are working.
Using the RTI process, we will screen your child three times a year to see how he or she is doing in reading,
math, and with his or her behavior. Your child may be doing really well, and might be just where he or she needs
to be with a plan to keep him or her challenged. But, if the screening suggests your child is not where he or she
needs to be, we will work with you to choose an intervention or plan to help your child succeed before he or she falls
behind.
Once an intervention or plan is in place, we will give it some time… and then, screen again to make sure your
child is improving or responding to the intervention. If he or she is not, we will make changes to the plan and may
choose a new intervention.
Part of what makes the RTI process so valuable is that the school will screen all children, and all of the
interventions we will have in place will be based on the latest research in learning. This will allow us to
make sure every child gets what he or she needs at the earliest age possible.
We will begin using the RTI process with grades K-3 this year, and then we will add other grades in the years
ahead.
As parents and caregivers, you are the most important piece in your child’s education. As we begin to roll out
RTI, we want to hear from you. If you have questions or concerns, or you would like to learn more about RTI,
please don’t hesitate to contact our school staff at 476-3035, or the Center of Family, School, and Community
Partnerships at 425-8866.
Icemen Hockey Game
As part of our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support) incentive program at McGary, we have been
rewarding students who display peaceful hallway behavior and those who stay on task in the classroom with
tickets. These tickets are collected each morning by homeroom teachers and a running total is kept. The top 90
ticket collectors will be the winners of a ticket to watch an Evansville Icemen hockey game during the school day
on November 6th, and lunch the same day with Mrs. Dexter. The contest will run through November 1st with
winners announced on November 2nd. Good luck to everyone, and keep up the good behavior!!

7. NOVEMBER 2012 M C G A R Y MI D D LE S CH O O L NE W SLE T TE R
Lady Pioneer Basketball
Varsity JV
Darkaisha Johnson Shayna Murray
Nykia Collins Kiersten Butler
Meredith Hodges Keona Brown
Kiara Bauer Ma’Nya Adams
Christina West Micayla Momon
Kayley Hazelwood Sydney Mitchell
Alexis Groves Promise Wright
Rikki Pittman
Breanna Julian
Sarah Eubank
Marchelle Howard
Aliyah Parker
Coaches: Mr. Tim Ferguson & Ms. Rachel Walters
2012 Girls Basketball Schedule
Thursday November 1st - Helfrich Park - Home
Monday November 5th- North Junior High - Away
Thursday November 8th - Glenwood - Home
Tuesday November 13th - Cedar Hall - Home
Thursday November 15th - Lincoln - Away
Monday November 19th - Lodge - Away
Tuesday November 20th - Plaza Park - Away
Tuesday November 27th - Washington - Home
Thursday November 29th - Thompkins - Away
Tuesday December 4th - Perry Heights - Home
City Tournament
Thursday December 6th
Monday December 10th
Wednesday December 12th
Thursday December 13th