Where the money goes

On Friday, Sept. 16, Wells County's schools officially counted the number of enrolled students. School officials will now review the numbers for accuracy and eventually submit them to the state to help determine how much tuition support the schools receive from state tax revenue. To learn more about how many students are enrolled in Wells County's three public districts — and how states determine how much funding schools receive — see the Tuesday, Sept. 20, News-Banner.

The state makes available how public schools spent their revenue, broken down by categories such as "student academic achievement," "school administration," and more. The following graphs show how Wells' public schools used their revenue from January to December 2009 and January to December 2010.

Northern Wells Community School

Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District

Southern Wells Community Schools

Click on the following links for more detailed reports for each school.

• Northern Wells
• Bluffton-Harrison
• Southern Wells
  

N-B Video: Raider royalty

Meet the king and queen candidates for the 2011 Southern Wells Homecoming court. Find out who won in the Saturday, Sept. 17, News-Banner. (Video by Glen Werling)

Good, clean fun for the family — with garbage

All ages are invited to participate in Garbage Games at the Wells County Public Library’s main branch. Families, teams, or individuals can pick up a bag full of clean garbage at the library anytime and sign up for the program.

Participants can take the garbage home to build games similar to those games in the television show "Minute to Win It." The library will give a list of accepted tools and items to use when building games.

Participants should bring their games Tuesday, Sept. 27, to play with others. Games can be set up anytime from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Games go from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Prizes will be awarded for the creativity of the games. People can also attend to just play the games or create their own that day. Registration needed for the family if making a game.

The main branch will be closed the week of Street Fair. Garbage can be picked up during the Street Fair's "Storytime with Clifford and Madeline" on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 4 pm or the following week. Please sign up online at www.wellscolibrary.org or call the library at 260-824-1612. Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

For inspiration, check out the News-Banner's Friday, April 15, "On the Beat" blog entry, when Bluffton Elementary School held its own "Minute to Win It" contest. Click here to go to the blog.

Need help with homework?

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology recently started its 20th year of offering free tutoring to Hoosier students in grades six through 12. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, students can call 1-877-ASK-ROSE (1-877-275-7673) and receive personal attention as they work through difficult problems.

Students calling the hotline will need to provide their first names, their schools' names and be prepared with necessary materials:

• Homework assignment
• Textbook (if available)
• Paper
• Pen or Pencil
• Calculator (if necessary)
  

Homework questions can also be submitted online at www.AskRose.org starting Sept. 26.

Responses to online questions are given during the Homework Hotline's hours of operation, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tutoring is provided by college students who were recommended by their professors. Tutors are chosen based on technical and communication skills. They are trained on how to best answer questions and explain difficult concepts to younger students.

In order to provide help with questions, tutors are armed with copies of state-recommended textbooks and Internet access. While they are not to give students the answers to problems or assignments, tutors will help students analyze questions and come up with solutions.

Teachers may access lesson plans, articles, a summary of Indiana's academic standards and other educational resources when visiting www.AskRose.org.

What does Indiana mean to you?

To celebrate Indiana' 195th birthday, state legislators are asking fourth-grade students to write an essay describing what Indiana means to them.

The winning student will read his or her essay at the Statehouse on Friday, Dec. 9, during the birthday celebration there.

The contest is open to Indiana fourth-grade students in public or private schools or who are home schooled.

• Entries need to range from 100 to 400 words.
• They can be handwritten or typed.
• Essays must include the student's name, teacher's or parent's name, school's name and contact information, including address and telephone number.
• Students should convey what living in the state of Indiana means to them and highlight things that make them glad to be Hoosiers.
• Essays must be postmarked no later than Friday, Oct. 28.

Entries should be sent to
Jennifer Hodge, Coordinator, State Capitol Tour Office
200 W. Washington St., Room 220
Indiana Statehouse
Indianapolis, IN 46204

For more information, contact Hodge at 317-233-9830 or jhodge@idoa.in.gov.

Statehouse events begin at 9 a.m. and include tours and activities hosted by the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, legislature, Indiana Supreme Court, state museum, state library, historical bureau, history center and other state agencies. Students, their parents, teachers and principals can also visit with representatives of the state's executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. Officials will also display the original state constitution.

WCLA starts 4th year of classes

The largest class in the short history of the Wells County Leadership Academy gathered for their first session Wednesday morning to hear retired Franklin Electric executive Kirk Nevin’s presentation on “The Art of Listening.”

The group of 23 will meet the second Wednesday of each month through next May. 

Here are a few photos from the event. More information in Thursday, Sept. 15 News-Banner.

letter from a former student

Recently, Edward W. Bayouth, a lieutenant colonel in the US Army, donated a flag to Bluffton High School. He also sent a letter accompanying the flag. We have reproduced the text of letter below.

Dear Mr. Baker ~

Greetings from the Middle East. I just returned from a trip to Afghanistan and wanted to present Bluffton High School with this U.S. Flag that was flown at Forward Operating Base Shank in the Loghar Province of Afghanistan as a small and long overdue token of appreciation for the education I received there between 1983 and 1987. What I was taught and learned there has served me well while attending West Point and conducting the business of protecting our great nation.

Among the buzz of helicopters and the occasional incoming mortar, not a day goes by that for a brief moment I don't look back fondly at my time attending Bluffton High School. I recognized a few of the staff that was there almost 25 years ago when I graduated and would appreciate if if you could please pass my warmest regards to them. GO TIGERS!!

Sincerely,
Edward W. Bayouth,
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army
Chief, Postal Operations Division