Lincoln Junior High offering unique learning opportunity

Abby Patrick, Grace Cupka and Elise Patrick answer a question

PLYMOUTH - “We want you exploring. We want you learning new things and new software.”

Student's involved in Lincoln Junior High's “Genius” program sponsored by Apple Computer heard that urging from Plymouth School's Media Specialist Ben Waymouth as they went through their first day of training from Kevin Sheppard – a consultant contracted with Apple – on trouble shooting the school's new Mac book computers. Students were chosen to participate in the program, making them the first line of help when another student is having “technical difficulties” with their computer.

Lincoln became Plymouth's first school to have a laptop computer for every student in the school. The plan is to eventually get computers in the hand of every child in the Plymouth system and the Genius program is a way to provide a ready “help desk” for those computers. It goes much further according to Janice Curtis in charge of Instructional Technology for the Plymouth Schools.

“Obviously there are so many students and so few of us,” she said with a smile. “This is just learning at it's best. Students learning and then teaching other students. These students will come into the high school next year with this knowledge and it's great way to spread it through the whole school system.”

Sheppard took that idea to the students during his session explaining that the responsibility of the “help desk” was to give others the ability to not have to return time and time again.

“It might make you feel good to have somebody dependent on you but that isn't the purpose of the help desk,” he said. “When you fix a problem make sure to take the time to show them how you did it.”

“You know I see these machines like a hammer or a screwdriver. A hardware tool to perform a function,” said Waymouth. “We need kids on the cusp of new software and ideas that see these machines as more than that. They are open to all the things that these machines can do.”

Sheppard also sees the unique possibility of the program he's teaching.

“There are a lot of cases where the kids are using the technology much better than the teachers,” said Sheppard. “Kids are sometimes more willing to let that creativity go and find out just what they can do and find really unique solutions on better ways to do things.”

“As teachers we are concerned with controlling the learning environment, making sure we meet standards and other requirements of our jobs,” said Waymouth. “The kids don't have those concerns.”

The Plymouth program of making students the base for troubleshooting and exploring new ways to use their Macs is groundbreaking.

“I'm almost always teaching this program to teachers – about one in every ten times I do it I'm teaching students,” said Sheppard. “It's a very unique situation here at Plymouth to be teaching this to students. I think it's a great thing.”

“This is really a good opportunity to learn more and get more knowledge,” said Garrick Nate one of the students in the program. “I'm learning to take a look at very specific details to things.”

“It's really interesting and a great opportunity,” said fellow student Brennan McPherron. “I'm thinking of engineering as a career so I might be building computers someday.”

Kyle Youst, Brandon Milligan and Cordell Grisham

To show the effect of the technology, neither could imagine a world without computers.

“Since I read a study where 63 percent of the people asked said they couldn't live without the internet, I really couldn't see a world without computers,” said Brennan with a smile. “I think it would be a pretty chaotic place.”

“I think chaotic is a good word,” added Garrick. “It would certainly be very unorganized. We've gotten pretty dependent on computers.”

A musical "reunion" in Plymouth on Thursday

Fellow PHS grad Adam Beck a member of the Mile High Orchestra, joins Denver Bierman on stage at a recent show.

NASHVILLE, TN – When Denver and the Mile High Orchestra take the stage on Dec. 2 at Plymouth Wesleyan Church they'll be performing with a very special guest star – the Plymouth High School Jazz Band.

“I was a four year member of the PHS Jazz Band,” said Denver Bierman founder and leader of DMHO. “I know our band director at the time I was there (Cindy Wagner) always did her best to give us a chance to be around professional musicians when they came to town as part of Encore's season or whenever they came in. We did special workshops and things like that. We didn't actually get to play onstage with them. It was a great experience for me and this is a way to help some of these new musicians. Some of them might be wanting to be professional musicians themselves and this will give them a chance to hang out, see what it's like and hopefully learn something that will help them.”

It also gives Bierman a chance to pay back a little for what he received from his growing up in Plymouth.

“There is a real dedication to the arts in Plymouth, whether it's theatre, or public speaking or music,” he said. “You look at other towns the size of Plymouth around the country and it's amazing the investment Plymouth has made in the arts. Wherever I go I get to brag a little about the arts education I got when I was here. The facilities are some of the finest you see. You can have professional shows in the school auditorium. It's not just a glorified gym like it is in many places.

“I think it's safe to say I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing for a living if it wasn't for that investment in the arts in Plymouth. I played basketball when I was at Plymouth High School too. I think it's a good thing that I focused on music because I was never going to make a living playing basketball.”

That living has been good, now with a new Christmas album and current tour that will bring DMHO to Plymouth for their only Indiana stop on their tour.

“There are five songs on the new album we've never recorded before,” said Bierman. “The arrangements are all original and we'll be playing them at the show along with a lot of other favorites. We've got a medley of Christmas songs that the audience is going to get a chance to sing along with us. It's just really a fun show and a good way to celebrate the holiday.”

There will also be another special guest star.

“We do a nine minute production of 'The Grinch that Stole Christmas,'” said Bierman. “That is always a favorite and a whole lot of fun and we'll have some new Christmas songs that I've written to mix in too.”

The show is Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m at Plymouth Wesleyan Church. Tickets are on sale by calling 1-800-965-9324. You can order at i-tickets.com at http://www.itickets.com/events/253462.html or for more information you can visit DMHO's website at www.denvermho.com.

Pride of Plymouth on TV

PLYMOUTH – If you missed a chance to see the Pride of Plymouth marching band in their history making performance you can be thankful for another shot at it.

The televised version of the Indiana State School Music Association's marching band state finals will be broadcast on WNIT-TV Thanksgiving Day from Noon to 2:00 p.m.

Include the Plymouth Band with your holiday festivities. All state finalist bands will be shown.

Making a difference all over the world

Milene with good friend from Plymouth Cindy Rash

PLYMOUTH – For one Plymouth High School grad the world certainly has been her open book.

An exchange student at Plymouth in the class of 1980 Milene Ferrazza Thomas took what her time in the United States was able to teach her and made the most of it. Her work in psychology and with an NGO (non-governmental organization) in Brazil has given her a chance to impact lives all over the world.

Milene says that her time in Plymouth changed her forever.

“It's an eye opener. You see the world differently after you've been through something like that,”she said. “I joined an N.G.O and the work we did focused on peace education. We work with children and teenagers all over the world, teaching them how it's possible to live in peace with one another no matter where you're from.”

Returning to Brazil after her senior year, Milene found that things were very different. Having missed her final year of studies it was necessary to take a short course to prepare for the exams necessary to enter University in her country. In addition she had to decide about whether she even wanted to stay in her country.

“When you leave a country after being an exchange student I think we are very confused because you don't know what you want,” she said. “The experience has a great impact on your life. You try to decide 'Do I want to go back to my country or do I want to go back where I was?' At least in my case where the experience was so good. 

“I missed the U.S a lot. So much so that I came back in 1982 just to visit because I wanted to be here. You have to come to some sort of a decision. I decided to pursue psychology as a course and then a profession and then everything was pretty much set.”

And it has been quite a career. She has served as the director of the international board for her NGO, and her career in psychology has taken her all over her country.

“I work with group process,” she said. “Whenever you have a group working together, in a school or a company or wherever I get the group to get along. That way conflict resolution isn't a problem. People in companies today spend 80 percent of their time solving problems instead of being productive.”

She also works to promote solutions to another problem that has gained international headlines.

“I've developed an anti-bullying program in Brazil that I use in school's with teenagers or enable teachers to use the program that I've developed,” she said. 

While she works to solve the problem of bullying, she still points to her time in Plymouth as something that has shaped her life. 

“There is a genuine trust here. Americans trust you and so the friendships you make are real,” said Milene. “This is what affected me the most. I love the way things are organized here. You have a strict but functional way of living. Being on time, obeying the laws, respecting people's rights, everybody is treated the same way. To me that was a very strong impact when I was here. 

“You see things from a different perspective and that opens up a whole world for you. You become more giving, more tolerant. We're all people. We all want the same things. We want to be loved, we want to be accepted, we want to feel part of something.”

Don't forget...

Make sure you check out our Facebook site for some pictures that will surely bring back a few memories. Remember you can share your favorite old school photos by emailing them to plymouthschoolsalumni@gmail.com

Senior swimmer headed to TCU

PLYMOUTH – Plymouth High School swimming standout Kenzie Miller has made it official. She has signed a national letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Texas Christian University.

Her storied career at Plymouth includes being an Indiana Swimming State Champion, IHSAA State Finalist, and a first Alternate for the AT&T Nationals. She is a six time Jr. National Qualifier, a two time record holder for the Northern Lakes Conference championship and a six time Sectional champion. She holds multiple pool records at area schools as well as being a multiple pool and school record holder at PHS.

Pictured are Kenzie, several of her coaches and family members as she signs her letter of intent. From left; Plymouth Sharks and PHS assistant coach Leanne Senter, Irish Aquatics coach Will Bernhardt, PHS coach Chelsea Bramfeld, Kenzie Miller, Kenzie's Mother Judy Miller, Kenzie's sister Cari Rosas, and Father Rod Miller

Local vet shares with student's

PLYMOUTH – A family history of service is having an impact.

Veterans day observance at Jefferson Elementary has traditionally included a message from a local veteran. This year's speaker is an everyday influence on the school's students.

Custodian Kirk Clark interacts with the students at the school every day, and coming from a family full of veterans – his father was in the Army the 82^nd Airborne, two brothers in the Marine Corp, one in the Air Force and one in the Navy – he's inspired a whole new group of young people to service.

“I'm going to join the Navy when I grow up,” said one youngster as he passed Clark on Veteran's Day, another adding. “I'm going to go into the Army when I graduate.”

Clark is unafraid to share his love of country and service with the kids he sees everyday in the hallways at Jefferson and that influence is a strong one.

Clark enlisted in the Air Force on his graduation from school and looks at his role in kid's lives as an important one.

“I know there are some kids here who don't have a father at home or somebody to look up to,” he said. “I meant what I said in the ceremony today when I pointed to all of the veterans who were here. These are people in your life everyday that you can look up to. Role models who have given what they have to help others. They really don't want any special attention or a parade. They are just people that have done all they can do.

“My father has been my hero since I was a little boy. He was one of those guys.”

Bierman coming home for Christmas

PLYMOUTH – Plymouth Wesleyan Church will be the site of a very special Christmas show by Denver Bierman and the Mile High Orchestra.

The band led by PHS grad Denver Bierman has begun their world famous yearly Christmas tour and Plymouth will be the only Indiana stop in this year's tour. The date will be Dec. 2 with a 6:30 p.m showtime.

Tickets are already on sale for the show you can order by calling 1-800-965-9324. You can order at i-tickets.com at http://www.itickets.com/events/253462.html or for more information you can visit DMHO's website at www.denvermho.com.

Rare honor for Plymouth leader and PHS grad

INDIANAPOLIS – A local business leader has been recognized for his service by the Chamber of Commerce of the state of Indiana.

Part of the festivities at last night's annual Chamber Awards Banquet in Indianapolis was the announcement that the Chamber's award for outstanding Indiana Chamber volunteers would be known as the Sam C. Schlosser award.

The honor was not a total surprise to Schlosser a 1967 graduate of Plymouth High School who has been the President of his family's business – Plymouth Foundry – since 1984.

“I had a little bit of a heads up that they were going to do this but it is certainly a great honor,” said Schlosser. “I'm very humbled and very honored at the same time.”

“I actually had to check my pulse when they told me about it,” he added with a laugh. “This is the kind of thing they normally do posthumously and I was afraid maybe I might have missed something.”

Schlosser has served the Indiana Chamber in many capacities over the course of the past 23 years and was the organizations state Chairman in 2005 and 2006.

“I felt like it was a lot of responsibility for a kid from Plymouth, Indiana but it was a great opportunity and great experience,” he said. “Like anything else it had a lot more to do with an outstanding support staff and all the people who helped me. It was a great year for me. I traveled between here and Indianapolis about three times a week during that year and I got to meet some wonderful people – a lot of people that I wouldn't have normally met.”

Schlosser continues to serve the Chamber on the Board of Directors and is Chairman of the Chamber's Energy Committee.

“With all the talk about cap and trade and other issues energy is going to be important to Indiana as we move into the future,” he said.

Coming this weekend...

Jefferson Elementary Pumpkin Drop