MSD of Steuben County

Attention: MSD Elementary Schools The Elementary Science Fair is scheduled for tomorrow, February 6th, at 4pm. However, if school transitions to live learning and the buildings are closed, the event will be rescheduled for Tuesday, February 11th, at 4pm. Please stay tuned for any updates!

Mrs. Gruner's class has been working hard on mastering division! To make it more engaging and hands-on, they’re using coins to connect the concept to real-life situations. It’s a fun and tactile way to learn, moving beyond just the mental math!

This week, take a moment to express your gratitude to our amazing school counselors, advisors, and social workers. We are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated and compassionate team supporting our students each and every day. Thank you for everything you do!

There’s a lot happening in our schools this month! From days off and special appreciation events to class scheduling – you won’t want to miss a thing. Be sure to follow our Facebook page to stay updated on all the exciting events and important announcements.

We’re super excited to announce that Carlin Park's Principal, Val Priller, has been named a Top 10 finalist for the Indiana Reading League’s prestigious Science of Reading Award! This recognition honors educators who are making significant strides in advancing literacy education through the science of reading teaching strategies. The Top 10 finalists will be reviewed by the League's board, and the winners will be revealed at the Annual TRL-IN Meeting on February 8th at 9:00 AM EST. 🔗 Register here to watch the announcement live: https://bit.ly/3VxdFkC

MSDSC is on a two-hour delay today Monday 2/3//2025 due to fog. See you soon. Be Safe

Tomorrow is Groundhog Day when people gather to watch a groundhog emerge from its burrow and determine if it sees its shadow. According to tradition, whether or not the groundhog sees its shadow predicts the length of winter. To get in the spirit, we asked our staff for their own predictions. Here’s what they had to say!

MSDSC is on a two-hour delay today 1/31/2025 due to fog. See you soon be safe.

Students at Pleasant Lake Montesorri with assistance from Pleasant Lake Lion's Club spent some time yesterday learning about winter sowing.

The MSD of Steuben County 2024-2025 school calendar was approved two years ago to help families plan for school events, including graduation.  However, the Indiana High School Athletic Association moved all of its calendar events back one week for the 2024-2025 school year.  Unfortunately, this has caused a conflict between the spring sporting events that our senior students will participate in and our graduation ceremony.  We want to make sure that all of our senior students have the opportunity to participate in their extracurricular activities and their graduation ceremony.  For this reason, we are rescheduling the class for the 2025 graduation ceremony from Thursday, May 29th 7:00 p.m. to Friday, May 30th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Hornet Football Stadium.  

When February comes to mind, love and relationships are often the first things we think of. What better way to support parents in your district in strengthening their bond with their children than through Parent Coaching!

Did you miss our in-person IREAD meetings in November? No worries! We've got you covered. New laws are in effect that could impact your child. Catch up on the latest changes, helpful resources, AND info on our after-school readiness groups with this recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbeQPdDSocE Has your 2nd-5th grader passed IREAD? If not, we strongly recommend signing them up for our readiness groups starting in February! Extra support can make all the difference. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/324yfpieMU1jWVic9

Yesterday was a fun and busy day at our elementary school! Our kindergartners celebrated their 100th day of school, while our 1st graders marked a special "101st Day" celebration, inspired by the beloved 101 Dalmatians! 🐾 The students made their own adorable dog ear headbands, complete with 101 spots, and engaged in exciting learning activities. They also worked on body parts by creating cute dog cutouts. What a paws-itively wonderful way to celebrate!

Attention MSDSC families. Hendry Park Elementary will be on an e-learning day tomorrow Friday 1/24/25 due to a water main break. ALL other MSDSC schools will be in session in the buildings as normal. HP families this will be a "LIVE" e-learning day. Follow link for the schedule. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EqRpWwxLqqS_EHmm2tbvBOsbaMvT3C4h/view.

After a slight delay due to the chilly weather keeping everyone cozy at home, our kindergarten classes finally celebrated the 100th day of school today! 🎉 The day was filled with fun activities centered around the number 100—from writing the number, counting different items, and reading stories, to drawing creative pictures. To add a little extra fun, students dressed up as if they were 100 years old, and our incredible teachers joined in on the fun too! It was a day full of learning and laughter as we hit this exciting milestone together. Here's to 100 days of growth and learning!

With the chilly weather outside, let’s warm up our spirits with some memories! Here are a few photos from Mrs. Gruner’s class field trip to Pokagon State Park while the weather was still nice. We’re so lucky to have such a beautiful state park right in our backyard!

Want to help your young readers thrive? 📚 Join MSDSC for our continuation of the Raising Strong Readers webinar THIS THURSDAY 1/23 from 5:30-6:15 PM! This month's topic: Creating Experiences to Build Background Knowledge Here's what you can expect: Tips and strategies to enhance reading comprehension. Special Guest: The Purdue Extension Office will share exciting opportunities for student involvement within the community! Chance to win 🎁: Two lucky attendees will receive a gift card! Access to past webinar recordings: Rasing Strong Readers #1: Sounds https://youtu.be/SUh5NRnz9bQ Raising Strong Readers #2: Letters and Words https://youtu.be/fMUBVDUKtXk Raising Strong Readers #3: Fluency https://youtu.be/v2rJCV2T_ro Don't miss out! Register now: bit.ly/MSDSCRaisingReaders

Enjoy the day off. Stay Warm!!

While much of the world is still asleep, one of MSDSC’s incredible staff members is already hard at work. At 3 a.m., the alarm goes off for Dená Helmuth, who arrives early, rain or shine, to prepare breakfast for the students at Pleasant Lake Montessori. You can find her in the basement cafeteria, known as The Galley, where she’s been creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for 14 years. Dená’s personal touch is evident in the vibrant colors and playful ship design on the walls that she helped design and paint. The bright, cheerful setting is only further enhanced by the friendly, dedicated cafeteria workers who make every meal special. As the cafeteria manager, Dená brings her signature smile and positive attitude to the job every day. In addition to running Pleasant Lake, she has also managed the summer lunch program for several years at Carlin Park, ensuring all our students have access to nourishing meals year-round. Dená takes immense pride in her role, particularly in providing healthy meals to students who may not have great options over the weekend. She makes sure each student leaves on Friday with a hearty meal to sustain them through the weekend, and returns Monday morning with another nutritious start to their day. Though she may be quiet and unassuming, Dená’s dedication to her family is a cornerstone of her life. Outside of work, she cherishes spending time with her grandsons, ages 6 and 10, especially during the summer when they can enjoy boating and swimming together. One of her travel dreams is to visit Italy with her grandsons, having already shared their love of the country by studying its history and language together. When Dená talks about her family, her face lights up with pride and joy. A special perk of her job is having her grandson attend Pleasant Lake, where he can pop into the cafeteria to visit her. While family is at the heart of Dená’s life, she also values her moments of solitude. Whether it’s curling up with a good mystery novel, particularly those by James Patterson, or enjoying a scary movie, Dená knows how to unwind. Her personal motto, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. You can’t change everything, so focus on what you can,” is a philosophy she lives by. We are incredibly proud to have Dená as a part of the MSDSC community, where her unwavering dedication, warm spirit, and love for her family and our schools shine through every day.

Attend for Free - Click Link to Register https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ptxt9ULHRJCbU3PFkOJ0rA?utm_campaign=Ask%20a%20Therapist%20Live&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_JSwoIPBKY86npI1sT42ef3H2mF_Y5xbeKeBjKyNfTRI_IhdHR8wPBcLV61IWge_nDRMvoAUhG7eeSQYbVi1wbq-EL8w&_hsmi=342286446&utm_content=342286446&utm_source=hs_email#/registration