District News

One youngster wants to be a swimming teacher. Another is undecided. And one little girl, in kindergarten at J.B. Stephens Elementary School in Greenfield, told counselor Christy Harpold she wants to be a T-Rex.

Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) recently became part of an elite group of approximately eight high schools in Indiana that offer a college aviation course.  MVHS began a collaboration with Ivy Tech Community College to implement an aviation course for juniors and seniors this 2018-2019 school year. The key coordinators who worked on putting this course into practice were the Director of Secondary Education Mr. Scott Shipley, Mt. Vernon High School Principal Mr. Greg Roach, Ivy Tech Aviation Program Chair Mr. Matt Medley, and the Ivy Tech Aviation Course Instructor Mr. Jack Morton.

The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) Board of Trustees and the administration are pleased to announce a new partnership with Hancock Health, naming the Mt. Vernon High School turf field as the “Hancock Health Stadium.”  The community is invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony just before the football game begins Friday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Mt. Vernon recently welcomed a group of eight students and eight teachers from Taiwan. The group experienced American education and culture for two weeks, while simultaneously sharing their own culture with Mt. Vernon students and staff.  According to Chen Chun-Sheng, who is an elementary principal and was the leader of the group, they were impressed by the hospitality and warmth offered by the faculty, staff, and students at Mt. Vernon.

From the hundreds of origami cranes suspended from the ceiling to the water-bottle sculpture in the style of Dale Chihuly’s glass art, “Trow-bro” has made his mark on McCordsville Elementary School. 

The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) is seeking a new superintendent to begin the second semester for the 2018-2019 school year.  The opportunity is at an ideal time for MVCSC; we are in a continued growth mode in both enrollment and programming, and are also fiscally sound.  MVCSC is rated an “A” school district and is the “First K-12 STEM Certified District” through the Indiana Department of Education. MVCSC is also the “First GenerationOn Certified District”, as well as a “Common Sense Media Certified District.”

Mt. Vernon recently earned the recognition of being a Common Sense media district. This publicly demonstrates that Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation is dedicated to providing safe, trustworthy information regarding the Internet, technology, and media to those living in the community.  Parents can use the “Common Sense Media” resource through the “Forms & Resources” webpage under the “Parents” tab.

One of the goals of the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation has been to continue to improve the international program. In order to achieve this goal, a group of five staff members; Mrs. Heather Noesges, Mrs. Amy Tucker, Mrs. Nicole Privett, Mrs. Delinda Deckard, and Mrs. Stacy Muffler, took a twelve day trip to Anshan, China in hopes of enhancing the educational practices in China schools.

The title of a School Board Scholar is awarded to students who earn an “A” or an “A+” in every class for the duration of the school year. The students must also be enrolled full time for at least 160 days and have grades for all four quarters of the school year.

The Mt. Vernon Education Foundation (MVEF) is hosting the 2018 Joel Young Memorial Chip in Fore Kids Golf Outing on July 13th, 2018 at Arrowhead Golf Course in Greenfield. The scramble is $95 per person or $350 for a foursome. Register at: https://www.universe.com/mvefgolf2018

The Indiana Department of Education has released a list of schools recognized for the 2017 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Award. Mt. Vernon High School is the only Hancock County school to be a recipient of this award.

It is with deep sorrow that the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation is sharing the passing of Mt. Vernon High School senior Asha Faith Langley.  We offer our condolences to her family, friends, and all who were fortunate to know Asha and be brightened by her light.  

In partnership with the Indiana Department of Education, the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation is pleased to announce that MVCSC is the first school district in Indiana to be STEM certified in all grades Kindergarten through Grade 12.  This confirmation follows IDOE’s announcement that all five MVCSC schools recently received the rigorous STEM certification, making MVCSC the only and first district in the state with this K-12 achievement.

McCordsville Elementary student, Joshua, was awarded with a certificate of recognition for his bravery and quick thinking by John Jokantas, Director of Communications for the county’s 911 office. Joshua was saluted by the county commissioners before getting a tour of the dispatch center and a ride with Sheriff Mike Shepherd. The best part of the day, for Joshua anyway, was a day off from school.

As part of their capstone project, fourth graders at Fortville Elementary School got to pitch business ideas to sharks in a take on the popular TV show “Shark Tank.”

Keian Gatewood has a slightly different hobby than most teenagers. While other 16-year-olds might be into sports or video games, Gatewood likes beekeeping. Yes, beekeeping, as in actually bees and the huge, white suits that look like they belong in a spaceship.

Parents/guardians who are listed as the primary guardian in Skyward and students (grades kindergarten through grade 12) should plan on attending the MVCSC Centralized Registration on Thursday, July 19.  The Centralized Registration will be held from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon High School main gym (door #17).

The Teacher of the Year award has been re-established for the staff at Mt. Vernon and is sponsored by the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation (MVEF).  Each of the five schools nominated two teachers to be recognized for their outstanding commitment to their students, being an exemplary leader as well as for their dedication to the teaching profession.

The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation has qualified to provide free, nutritious breakfast and lunches this summer to any and all children ages 18 and younger.  The program is made available through the USDA Summer Food Service Program.

The Class of 2018's graduation went off without a hitch on May 25.  There were approximately 309 students who walked across the stage to receive their diploma.  The graduates seemed ready to move on to their bright futures, prepared with one of the finest academic preparations in the state.

Mt. Comfort Elementary hosted their annual wax museum at the end of the year, featuring students dressed up as a famous Hoosier and sharing a brief biography when requested.  Some of the famous people that students dressed up as were Michael Jackson, Orville Redenbacher, Colonel Sanders, the Wright Brothers, Florence Henderson, Tony Stewart, Jaycie Phelps, Little Turtle, and Benjamin Harrison just to name a few.

All Mt. Vernon schools recently participated in the Unified Champion Special Olympics. The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools brings together athletes with and without disabilities to train and compete on the same team. Unified Champions is an inclusive event designed for all Mt. Vernon students to participate regardless of athletic, intellectual, ambulatory or functional abilities. All of the Mt. Vernon schools participated in the Unified Champion Special Olympics on specified days where they competed at the track and participated in fun activities.

The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Mrs. Heather Noesges and Mr. Chris Smedley have been selected to serve as the Interim Co-Superintendents for the district.  Dr. William Carnes, a retired Superintendent from Whitley County Consolidated Schools and former Interim Superintendent at Hamilton Southeastern Schools, will also serve in an external, advisory capacity. 

Watch Mt. Vernon High School Graduation Ceremony LIVE!  Please click the title or "Read More" to view the page with the live stream.

Many students from the senior class of 2018 attended the Senior Honor Night to be recognized for their outstanding achievements.  As the seniors entered the stage, students’ names were announced with the college or university they plan to attend next year, as well as their intended major.  The ceremony began with opening remarks from the Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) Principal, Mr. Greg Roach, the Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Tim Long, and the event sponsor, Mrs. Renee Oldham, who is the Executive Director of the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation.  The Mt. Vernon Education Foundation sponsored a reception for students and their families to celebrate after the awards ceremony.

It has been an exciting spring full of worldly infusions at Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC).  A total of 12 teachers from Taiwan and Germany and 22 students from Germany all traveled to Mt. Vernon recently as part of the MVCSC International Exchange program.  The program has now grown to include multiple visitors from Germany, Taiwan, China, Spain, and South Korea.

On Friday, April 27, author Helen Frost came to the Mt. Vernon Middle School (MVMS) to discuss her poem Hidden as a way to celebrate National Poetry Month.

Due to the incredible success of the first Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) Career Fair last fall, MVHS is hosting its second career fair for the 2017-18 school year! It will be held on Friday, May 11, 2018 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m in the MVHS gymnasium.

Invent the future today! Join the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) at Camp Invention this summer for a program where students use their creativity to invent and design futuristic robots and much more! It will be held at Fortville Elementary School on June 11-15 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $225 for children entering grades K-6. Click HERE to register or call 800-968-4332.

Did you know a student in our Mt. Vernon family is fighting a challenging disease called Mitochondrial Disease?  He is stepping out of his quiet comfort zone to educate the community on his disease, while his peers fundraised to provide him with an experience of a lifetime.  The 8th grade students, the Mt. Vernon Middle School and High School staff, and friends/family members donated over $1,700 for Jakeb’s animal adventures!  Soon he will swim with the dolphins at the Indianapolis Zoo and paint with animals.  The remaining money will be used to buy him books and give his family an annual membership to the Indiana State Museum, Eiteljorg or Indianapolis Zoo.

The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) is excited to announce that the Indiana Department of Education has designated all five schools in the district as STEM Certified schools.   The Superintendent at the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation, Dr. Shane Robbins, stated “When I first arrived to the district I listened to our communities call for a greater amount of STEM education in our schools.  Our students and staff across all disciplines have embraced this initiative and we are excited to celebrate our achievements with everyone who has worked tirelessly to achieve this recognition.”

College may seem far away to kindergarteners, but Hancock County is bringing post-secondary education and careers front of mind for kindergarteners and their families through a collaborative effort called “The Promise.” The “Hancock County Promise” program makes educational savings a reality by helping families to start a CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings account through their school.  Current kindergarteners and those enrolling in kindergarten in the fall are eligible now to sign up for the “Hancock County Promise” and receive free funds that support their post-secondary education.  Parents/guardians can sign up at www.HancockCountyPromise.org.

Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation was recently awarded an energy efficiency improvement rebate from NineStar Connect.  The Power Moves Rebate Program offers rebates to NineStar Connect electric members for qualifying energy efficiency projects.  The Power Moves Program is offered in cooperation with NineStar Connect’s generation and transmission provider Wabash Valley Power Association.

It's time for Kindergarten Registration!  Visit any of the three elementary schools on April 9, 10 or 12.   It is imperative to have all Kindergarten students register so the schools may prepare enough teachers to keep the class size low.  Registration can be done at ANY of the three sites for any of the three schools; just list what school you will be attending at registration.  MVCSC will have FULL day kindergarten only.

Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) has received the status of a Performance Qualified High School for the 2018-19 school year from the Indiana Department of Education! This means that MVHS has been placed in the highest performance and improvement category by the Indiana Department of Education.

In celebration of the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation’s (MVEF) 10th Anniversary, a special Kaleidoscope Gala is being held on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. We hope you will join us!  Nearly 150 tickets have been sold to date; hurry and order yours today before the event is sold out!

Congratulations to the winners of the Mt. Vernon Optimist’s 2018 Oratorical Contest!  

The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) is officially the first GenerationOn Indiana school district! MVCSC is taking great strides to provide the best opportunities possible for their students. One way MVCSC provides opportunities is by teaching the importance of giving back, specifically through community service. As a GenerationOn Indiana school district, MVCSC will help further these student driven philanthropic efforts.

Mt. Vernon Middle School (MVMS) students received a motivational and fun afternoon as they prepared for the ISTEP test to take place.  The afternoon consisted of an inspirational speaker, Josh Bleill, a $1,500 check presentation to the Wounded Warriors, followed by an ISTEP pep rally with raffle giveaways and teacher vs. student games.

Mt. Vernon's successful Digital Safety Night was kicked off with Superintendent Dr. Shane Robbins providing opening remarks about the importance of keeping students safe and learning about digital safety. He thanked the attendees for being there and the technology department for all their efforts every day to keep students safe. 

At the Mt. Comfort Airport, it won’t be long before a sea of American flags are honoring our service personnel.  Our partners at the Exchange Clubs of Hancock County and Lawrence will be posting 800-1,000 American flags to honor living or fallen Fire Personnel, Police Officers, Military and Veterans as a way to say, “thank you for your service!”  

The four "Shark Tank" finalist groups fearlessly presented their innovative projects in front of their peers, staff and the "Sharks," which included Superintendent Dr. Robbins.  This year's McCordsville Elementary School (MES) "Shark Tank" finalists featured an all-in-one "Fuzzy Bunny" pillow and stuffed animal, a "Stow Bow" for girls wanting to carry small items without a purse, "LolliPups" edible treats for dogs, and "Animal Kits" which were full of supplies needed for new pets.  

On Monday, February 12, the Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) Asia Club hosted a Chinese New Year Celebration. Several MVHS Mandarin students entertained the audience with a variety of experiences, as well as an opera performance from two international Beijing opera singers.

Mt. Comfort Elementary (MCE) and the Mt. Vernon community are supporting a student, Tyler, in his journey as he battles leukemia.  MCE classes collecting donations for Riley Hospital in Tyler's name.  The school is also hosting a Riley fundraiser in support of Tyler; students can fill out a Riley card for $1 that will be posted throughout the school.  A spirit week from January 22nd through January 26th will include fun dress up days such as Pajama Day, Hat Day, and a day where students will dress in all green (Tyler’s favorite color!)  Since Mr. Boudouris is Tyler’s favorite teacher, the class that raises the most money will have three students from that class help shave Mr. Boudouris’ head!

Mark your calendars! On Thursday, February 22nd from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) will be having a Digital Safety and Showcase Night in the Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) Auditorium.

Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) recently hosted a convocation for all students about the harmful effects of vaping and drug use.  Every MVHS student listened to an informative presentation in the auditorium about the harmful effects of drugs, especially vaping and marijuana.

On Thursday, March 15th, the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation (MVEF) is offering our community the dream of a lifetime - participants will play basketball on the home court of the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse!  The MVEF is looking for players, teams, and or businesses to sponsor teams and live every basketball player’s dream!

Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) is filled with talented students who apply their STEM skills in a variety of ways. The MVHS Tech Crew is using their knowledge in technology to provide a variety of production visuals which will dramatically enhance the next theatre production.

The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation has partnered with a company to provide a free bus app for parents/guardians.  This "Don't Miss the Bus" app will help parents/guardians send their child to the bus stop at exactly the right time, especially during inclement weather. 

It wasn’t long ago that the Mt. Vernon community lost a dear Mt. Comfort Elementary student, Matthew Clegg, at the age of seven.  Matthew passed away suddenly in May, 2016, but the community is keeping his spirit alive with a new playground at the McCordsville United Methodist Church, where his family attends.  Please mark your calendars to attend a fundraising dinner on February 10 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the McCordsville United Methodist Church  All proceeds from this dinner will help fund the new playground built as a tribute to Matthew Clegg.

Mike Kirschner tabbed to Lead Mt. Vernon Football Program

Mt. Vernon High School Science Teacher, Lynette Huth, was recently awarded a grant of $12,000 by Lilly Endowment Inc. through the 2018 Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program. The Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program is a program to help recognize and renew Indiana educators by helping them explore new interests for their classrooms and expand their mind to new ideas and creativity. This is the 31st year of the competitive program that rewards up to 100 educators with $12,000 each.

The Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) High Tech Academy Web Developer class recently had an “app launch party” to present personalized apps created for their 5th grade clients. The MVHS web developer teams worked with 5th grade clients to create fraction themed websites that were customized to their client’s interests and met their expectations. The 5th graders enjoyed seeing their personalized app on launch day.  The group presentations included videos of client interviews, fraction games, and demonstrations of the app’s functionality.

The holidays are the perfect time to give to others and to help those who are less fortunate. This year, for the holidays, McCordsville took the wonderful opportunity to start a service project called Bedtime Bags. The first and fifth graders collected donations all through the month of December with their classes to fill up bags with toothbrushes, soaps, and other necessities that a child would need.

The Mt. Vernon High School English department recently earned a $1,000 grant that provides the school with the opportunity to offer high school students several activities connected with Frankenstein. Some of the activities include book discussions, young adult reading series, and horror and science fiction creative writing workshops.

The Mt. Vernon High School History Classes recently hosted a welcome home ceremony for Korean and Vietnam veterans. Students lined the walls with welcome home signs and cheered for the veterans as they walked through the hallways.

For the 10th year, McCordsville Elementary School participated in the WZPL Request-A-Thon for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The WZPL Request-A-Thon for the Make-a-Wish Foundation grants wishes for children in Indiana with life threatening diseases. Over the ten years MES has participated in this program, they have raised over $22,000!

Each holiday season, the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation (MVEF) gives families an opportunity to thank their teachers, coaches and all school employees with a personalized certificate and a tax-deductible gift to the MVEF.  The deadline is Sunday, December 17th!  The Thank-an-Educator Program is an important part of Mt. Vernon Education Foundation (MVEF) and the work that we all do as a community.  The MVEF has supported all Mt. Vernon staff and students by awarding over $330,000 in staff-requested grants since 2008. 

The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation hosted a legislative breakfast with Speaker Bosma, Senator Crider and Representative Cherry on the panel.  All Hancock County public schools' administration and board members were in attendance, along with representatives from South Madison and Shelby Eastern districts.

Subzero Nitrogen Ice Cream recently made Mt. Vernon's hands-on education even more enticing when it ended with a sample of their delicious ice cream!  The yummy science experiment showcased multiple concepts with liquid nitrogen, including condensation, evaporation, the ideal gas law, and water crystal structure.

Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation is becoming more of a global community every year. Just in the past two years, Mt. Vernon has made advancements by connecting with schools all over the world including China, Taiwan, Germany, Spain, and South Korea. Currently, a group of teachers from Anshan, China are at Mt. Vernon to learn more about MVCSC so that they can send their students to Mt. Vernon in the future.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is an inspiring initiative that is growing at the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) with a new robotics team.  This elementary and middle school robotics team recently competed in a regional competition and won first place, which enters them in the state tournament in Fort Wayne.

Two outstanding Mt. Vernon High School Students, Matthew Rollo and Matthew Boyle, were chosen as finalists for the Lilly Endowment Scholarship in Hancock County. This scholarship awards the winner four years of tuition to an Indiana college of their choice. The winner is chosen based on academics, school involvement, and most importantly, community service.

On Friday December 1st at 1p.m., the Mt. Vernon High School history classes are inviting the community to attend a Welcome Home ceremony for all Vietnam and Korean War Veterans! High school students struggle to understand why these veterans weren't welcomed home since they grew up in a post-9/11 era.  This event gives the veterans a welcome home that they should have received years ago, and also teaches students a lesson they won’t receive from a textbook.

The holidays are all about giving and being a blessing to others, and the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation (MVEF) would love for you to donate and support them during this time of giving. Giving Tuesday is the perfect opportunity to help and show your support. It is a global day of giving that is fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Giving Tuesday is on November 28 this year, but donations can be made anytime www.MtVernonFoundation.org. The MVEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, so all donations are tax-deductible.

The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation is achieving academic excellence and has recently been awarded an “A” District by the Indiana Department of Education. Within the school corporation, three of its schools have also received an “A” rating.

Older students are now mentoring younger students at Mt. Comfort Elementary with their love of literature.  This new program, called Book Buddies, brings new learning opportunities for young students to create new relationships with older students. At Mt. Comfort Elementary, Principal Casey Dodd, 5th Grade Teacher Ashley Schenk, and Kindergarten Teacher Brianne Williams saw a great opportunity to connect classes through reading, mentoring, and inspiring a love of learning in both age groups.

Mt. Vernon High School Senior Trevor Bond is continuing to devote his kicking season to his philanthropic dreams of helping cure pediatric cancer.  In two years, Bond has raised over $2,600 dollars for pediatric cancer research, and the number is continuing to climb. 

Fortville Elementary students recently had the opportunity to learn Mandarin Chinese through fun activities and games led by high school students. The Mt. Vernon High School Mandarin Chinese teacher, Miss Yi-Fan Lin, and Elementary School teacher Jessica Daugherty, saw a great opportunity to give their students an experience they may never forget. Miss Lin scheduled a day to take her class to Fortville Elementary School and use their Mandarin Chinese skills to teach younger kids about the language and culture.

One goal of STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is to engage students in hands-on STEM concepts, entice the love of learning and possibly fuel their passion to pursue these fields.  The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) has heard the call loud and clear from STEM-related industries needing a larger workforce pool.  MVCSC has added three STEM teachers this year, is developing a “Makerspace” at the high school, and is pursuing becoming a STEM certified district from the IDOE.

Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) is inviting all realtors and home builders to attend a (free) breakfast on Wednesday, October 25 from 9 - 10:30 a.m. at the MVCSC Administrative Service Center.  Realtors will learn about Mt. Vernon Schools, meet Superintendent Dr. Robbins and conclude with a facility tour. 

The High-Tech Academy is one of the keystone departments at Mt. Vernon High School where students receive hands-on and engaging skills.  Recently, Ethan Patrick and Blake Miller used their high-tech skills to develop an Amazon Alexa Powered Magic Mirror and demonstrated it at a school board meeting.  The skill they developed works with Amazon's "Alexa"  and has received thousands of downloads, as well as a few Amazon awards.

On Wednesday October 4 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., the Mt. Vernon Middle School will be hosting its first International Dinner. It will be located in the newly built International Cafeteria which represents countries from all around the world

IUPUI had some big dreamers visiting their campus on September 29!  As a part of the Hancock County Promise, nearly 1,000 kindergarteners flooded the IUPUI campus and was involved in activities that helped inspire their futures beyond high school.  This inaugural event was held at IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium.  

Several Mt. Vernon students could have stayed at home on the couch for their planned e-Learning day; instead, over 130 Mt. Vernon students chose to volunteer in the community and work on various service projects.  Mt. Vernon consistently teaches and offers student opportunities to help the community, while developing strong character traits and building citizenship in students.

Through MVHS senior Matthew Boyle's efforts, visitors at the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen are seeing life much clearer with their new free eye glasses from Ossip Optometry.

Mt. Vernon Schools serves many amazing students, not only through academics, but also in teaching the importance of community service work and giving to others in need. One student, Hunter Lenk, has gone above and beyond to help homeless people in the community stay warm during the winter.