May 2020 News
UPDATE – Graduation Information
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Dear Class of 2020,
Thank you for participating in our graduation survey. We received 165 responses (parents were asked to respond as well). From your replies, it is clear that you want an in-person graduation ceremony no matter when it may be. To this end, we are hoping for an on-campus graduation ceremony for you sometime this fall.
There are challenges and many potential unknowns about the fall, including how dissimilar it may need to be from the traditional Academy ceremonies in the past.
- The governor may still call for restrictions for large groups.
- Ball State may still restrict large group gatherings on campus.
- COVID-19 infections could still be increasing.
- Some of our 2020 graduates will not be able to attend on that date due to college, distance, or other plans.
- We may have to limit the number of individuals who can attend.
- It may need to be outside and could be impacted by inclement weather.
If we are not able to hold graduation in the fall, perhaps for some of the above reasons, we hope to plan one for early next year. And if for any reason neither of those times are possible, we will find another date!
If you think there is a possibility that you will not be able to attend the graduation ceremonies, we would like you to send in a picture of yourself in your graduation garb, wearing your medals, stoles, and cords. Those photos will be shown when your name is read at the ceremony. You can send them to Mr. Raleigh at craleigh.
Additionally, we are still planning on having our Senior recognition night on Friday May 22, 2020 at 7:00 pm. This program will be on-line and possibly live streamed.
Karen Workman’s video of your baby pictures, graduation pictures, and your quotes will be shown, as faculty read the clubs and activities you have been a part of while in high school. Scholarships will be announced and there will be a surprise video at the end. We will give you more information on how to view the evening program as the time gets closer.
We are working to give you an in-person graduation if it is at all within our prerogative, hopefully sooner than later. You definitely deserve one!
Hopefully,
Dr. Vickie Barton
2020 National Latin Exam Results
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
The results are in from the National Latin Exam, and congratulations are due to the students below for their achievements:
Latin 1
Emma Leedy – Cum Laude distinction
Eric Blacklidge – Cum Laude distinction
Latin 3
Natalie Williams – Maxima Cum Laude distinction
Meredith Fairman – Magna Cum Laude distinction
This exam was taken by Latin students across the entire country. While everyone at the Academy who took the exam did well, receiving a mark of distinction means that compared to peers across the country these students have excelled. It is important to note that Natalie Williams and Meredith Fairman are second year Latin students, but take the Latin 3 (as opposed to Latin 2) exam because the Academy operates under an accelerated curriculum/dual credit. This means that they have received distinction in a year beyond where they would typically be expected to be.
Congratulations to all who took the exam! Our Latin students are truly extraordinary!
2020 Academic Super Bowl Results
Monday, May 4, 2020
This year’s Academic Super Bowl was held online on an individual basis, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) stated, “We are happy to announce that we have posted the awards for the Senior Individual 2020 Academic Super Bowl on our website iasp.org/students/academic-super-bowl. We had 1,426 individual responses on the senior level. The top 15 percent of our scores will be recognized for first, second, and third place awards.”
With the challenges brought on by the e-learning environment, most of our students opted to not participate because of their heavy workloads. Here are our results:
In Math, Wenhan Tang and Shivali Singreddy participated and scored within the top 35%.
In Interdisciplinary, Derek Park participated and scored within the top 26%.
In Social Studies, Derek Park scored in the top 8%, and earned a second-place ribbon!
In English: Jalyn Upshaw scored in the top 8%, and earned a second-place ribbon!
Congratulations to all of the Academy participants!
Teaching During a Pandemic – a Century Ago by Mr. John Marsh
Monday, April 27, 2020
A recent article written by Social Studies instructor Mr. John Marsh, “Teaching During a Pandemic – a Century Ago,” has been published on the home page of History News Network. HNN is perhaps the biggest professional history journal online with 1.5 million page views per month.
Read the article on the History News Network website.
A different version of the article with more Muncie-specific information and a photo of Mr. Marsh’s grandparents’ business was published a few weeks ago in the Muncie Journal, and was picked up by Google News and Newsbreak, also reaching a national audience.
Read the Muncie Journal version of the article.
Continuous Learning Plan
Thursday, April 16, 2020
The Indiana Academy and Ball State University Teachers College have put together a document outlining our Continuous Learning Plan implemented for the duration of this crisis.
Download the Continuous Learning Plan document
Indiana Academy Graduation Information
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Academy Students and Parents:
Given the announcement by the Governor last week cancelling in-person classes for the rest of the school term, we sadly will need to cancel the in-person Indiana Academy Commencement Ceremony scheduled for May 23, 2020. These are unprecedented times and it would not be judicious of us to bring our students back to campus for our traditional ceremony. We were all hoping our Indiana Academy seniors and families would be able to celebrate with us at our May ceremony in Emens Auditorium, but our traditional way of celebrating our graduates is going to need to be different this year.
I realize this is just one more piece of disappointing news that you have received in recent weeks. Please know that we intend to celebrate our Class of 2020 seniors in the best way possible given the circumstance we are in with the COVID-19 virus. Our thoughts this far, are to hold a series of online graduation events. We could celebrate our seniors with two virtual ceremonies, the first on the evening of Friday, May 22, at 7 p.m. (our Academy Awards ceremony), and then an online graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 23 starting at 11:30 a.m. All would be prerecorded and released for collective viewing at these scheduled times.
We are also thinking that each senior can don their graduation regalia and take a picture or short video to send to us. The picture or video would be used in the ceremony and shown when your name is read. We would be asking the faculty and staff to do the same as they send messages of congratulations during the virtual graduation ceremony. There would still be presentations by Academy Seniors, a commencement speaker, and pomp and circumstance.
Those are our thoughts, but this is your graduation. Your input is vital to making these celebrations the best they can possibly be given our situation this year. We really want the graduation events to reflect your preferences, so we are asking for you to share your thoughts and ideas. We will be collecting your ideas via Mr. Raleigh (craleigh), and sharing them with the graduation committee. Since we will need some time to put it all together, please make sure to respond promptly by April 24th.
Other graduation actions that are already in progress:
- Karen Workman is collecting your baby pictures and senior pictures along with your quotes for Friday evening.
- Jostens will be sending your orders (announcements, cap and gown, medal, cords, etc.) to your home. (If you have questions about your order, please call Jostens at 317-326-2782)
Our hope is that sometime in late summer we might be able to invite you all to gather back at the Academy to celebrate you in person. If this is something you would be interested in attending please indicate so by using the email provided.
Thank you for your continued understanding and patience. Class of 2020, you are all a remarkable, accomplished, bright, kind, talented, and an outstanding group of human beings. Know that walking across a stage in May will not change that fact.
WE ARE ACADEMY!
Dr. Vickie Barton, Executive Director
Question of Possible Changes in Graduation Requirements
Friday, April 3, 2020
Dear students, parents and guardians,
A few questions have come in regarding possible changes in graduation requirements for seniors. Below is part of the information sent to schools from State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Jennifer McCormick. Please read the comments in red boxes on how each statement affects the Academy seniors of 2020.
Communication from Dr. McCormick
In accordance with Section 13.B. of Executive Order 20-05, the undersigned hereby adopt the attached policy document in order to provide flexibility with respect to Indiana’s graduation requirements to schools and students for the 2020 graduation cohort.
- Has met all of the course and credit requirements for the specific diploma designation based on a combination of high school credits earned prior to and the courses in which a student was enrolled as of March 19, 2020, when the Governor issued the statewide school closure order; and
- Meets any virtual or remote learning participation requirements established by the governing body of the local school corporation in response to the statewide school closure order issued by the Governor; and
- Meets any additional graduation requirements established by the governing body of the local school corporation pursuant to IC 20-32-4-1.5(3) prior to the school closure order issued by the Governor.
Graduation Examination & Graduation Pathways
In addition to the flexibility granted to determine whether a student has met the course and credit requirements for the Core 40 diploma, Core 40 with Academic Honors, or Core 40 with Technical Honors, the following requirements have been waived for students in the 2020 graduation cohort:
- The successful completion of the graduation examination as required in IC 20-32-4-1.5(1); or
- A graduation waiver pursuant to IC 20-32-4-4 for students who do not achieve a passing score on the graduation examination.
Academy seniors have already completed the necessary Graduation Examination exam or Graduation Pathways requirements.
In Summary – the waivers announced yesterday do not change the graduation requirements or expectations for the Academy Seniors of 2020. They must complete the e-learning classes and the Extended Curriculum requirements already in progress.
Please contact Dr. Jeff Smith at jsmith4 if you have questions.
Indiana Academy Reimbursement
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Dear Indiana Academy Families:
In alignment with Ball State University’s announcement that reimbursement or credit for room and board for students who were directed to leave campus due to the COVID-19 virus will be distributed for those who left campus early, we will issue the same at the Indiana Academy. The amount of reimbursement or credit will be calculated as of Saturday, March 21, 2020 – the day parents were requested by Academy administration to pick up their student from the residence hall in response to President Mearns’ e-mail about the state of emergency.
In keeping with Ball State procedures, graduating seniors and juniors who will not return to the Academy in the fall will be issued reimbursements. Juniors who plan to return in the fall will be issued a credit for AY 2020-21, unless extenuating circumstances are presented. Reimbursements and credits will be calculated and issued on an individual basis for each student, based on what each family has already paid. We ask for your patience as the amounts are calculated by Ball State personnel. Should a reimbursement or credit be owed to you, we hope to issue it as soon as possible.
Please contact Cary Witter, Budget and Administrative Coordinator (carywitter; 765-285-7457) if you have any questions regarding the amount of your reimbursement or credit.
Sincerely,
Dr. Vickie Barton
Executive Director
Update from the Office of Mental Health Services
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
The Office of Mental Health and Support Services continues to be a resource for Academy students, and we are attempting to do so through many avenues.
- Please continue to visit the Self-Care resources page on the Academy website for support, and we will work to keep this updated with additional resources.
- I am available to assist in identifying providers in your home area to connect with for counseling and mental health support.
- The OMHSS will now have the option to provide telehealth to Academy students with consent from the legal guardian of the student (or a student age 18 or older). Below you will find information regarding what this entails and the process to begin telehealth.
Benefits and Risks of Telehealth
Telehealth refers to providing psychotherapy services remotely using telecommunications technologies, such as video conferencing or telephone. One of the benefits of telehealth is that the client and clinician can engage in services without being in the same physical location. This can be helpful in ensuring continuity of care if the client or clinician moves to a different location, takes an extended vacation, or is otherwise unable to continue to meet in person. It is also more convenient and takes less time. Telehealth, however, requires technical competence on both our parts to be helpful. Although there are benefits of telehealth, there are some differences between in-person psychotherapy and telehealth, as well as some risks. For example:
- Risks to confidentiality. Because telehealth sessions take place outside of the therapist’s private office, there is potential for other people to overhear sessions if you are not in a private place during the session. On my end, I will take reasonable steps to ensure your privacy. But it is important for you to make sure you find a private place for our session where you will not be interrupted. It is also important for you to protect the privacy of our session on your cell phone or other device. You should participate in therapy only while in a room or area where other people are not present and cannot overhear the conversation.
- Issues related to technology. There are many ways that technology issues might impact telehealth. For example, technology may stop working during a session, other people might be able to get access to our private conversation, or stored data could be accessed by unauthorized people or companies.
- Crisis management and intervention. Usually, I will not engage in telehealth with clients who are currently in a crisis situation requiring high levels of support and intervention. Before engaging in telehealth, we will develop an emergency response plan to address potential crisis situations that may arise during the course of our telehealth work.
- Efficacy. Most research shows that telehealth is about as effective as in-person psychotherapy. However, some therapists believe that something is lost by not being in the same room. For example, there is debate about a therapist’s ability to fully understand non-verbal information when working remotely.
If you are interested in beginning therapy or consultation via telehealth please follow these steps:
- Review this consent form, get appropriate signature, and return via email to mcwallpe.
- When sending the consent form, please include the following information for communication purposes if needed during telehealth: Student phone number and email and parent/guardian phone number and email.
- Once necessary paperwork is received, I will send an email with your scheduled appointment time. You will also receive an email with a link for the virtual appointment via WebEx. Please view link and make sure this will work for communication purposes. If unable to utilize WebEx, then a phone session can be completed.
- If telehealth is not clinically indicated for your need or your need could best be served through another resource, that information will be communicated to you and your family.
Please note that we want to continue to support all students and assist in meeting their needs. Please let me know if there are any questions. Feel free to contact me via phone at 765-285-5483 or email mcwallpe. I will be available to answer calls and schedule appointments M-F 8:00-5:00.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mindy Wallpe