Volume LII the Issue VIII Lion’sFriday, January 23, 2009 TaleLeo Junior/Senior High School LHS wins nationwide honor of Blue Ribbon School Award Leo receives the national award that was given only to eight Indiana schools By Sarah Cummins The criteria for eligibility this award. Principal Dr. Daniel’s knowledge, has previously been awarded to Staff writer in the Blue Ribbon Program are Leo is one of eight Indiana Leo is the first East Allen County schools such as St. Jude Catholic vigorous. Schools with forty schools nominated for the 2009 School to have ever received the School, Bishop Dwenger, Summit, Nationwide schools are percent of their students who Blue Ribbon Award. To the best of award. This prestigious award and Indian Village. eligible to receive a Blue Ribbon are economically disadvantaged Award. Leo High School is one of and who excel academically are few schools to receive this honor. Leo was nominated for “We are extremely honored being in the top 10 percent in the to receive this recognition state for performance on ISTEP+ and are very proud of the exams. Leo also has fewer than 40 percent of its student body Leo students and staff and considered disadvantaged. their continued commitment Now that Leo High to excellence.” School has been awarded this -Assistant Principal Mr. honor at a state level, the school Smith is eligible to move on to a national level. Principal Dr. Daniel must go through an application process. eligible. If these schools score Daniel must fill out the school’s in the top ten percent of state data and send it to Washington assessments compared to other D.C. to compete with other Blue schools in their state, they may Ribbon schools from around the also receive a Blue Ribbon. country. “Blue Ribbon Award The Blue Ribbon program symbolizes the learning culture was established by the Secretary of Leo where high expectations of Education, Terrell Bell. The from not only the educators but program initially honored only parents, community, and students secondary schools but was later exists,” said Daniel, “Because of extended to include primary the collaborative effort, amazing schools. Now, only a slim 3.9 things like this happen.” % of schools are recognized The award is given by the nationwide according to the federal government to schools that Blue Ribbon website. Assistant demonstrate academic superiority Principal Mr. Smith said, “We are to other schools in their state. A extremely honored to receive this school can also have had great recognition and are very proud gains in student achievement by of the Leo students and staff and showing rapid improvement to a superior level. Leo High School their continued commitment to Superintendent Dr. Notovty, school board members Mrs. Lightfoot and Mr. Hart- PHOTO BY KRISTIN CRAFT has shown excellence to receive excellence.” man present Mr. Smith with the Blue Ribbon Award. Diversity continues NEWS FLASH: to increase in EACS Due to school being closed Recent years have shown a growth in the ethnic on December 19, January diversity among EACS schools, mostly New Haven 7, and January 16, the last By Bailey Rosenbaum & Rory Harris in an environment that is diverse language minority population has school attendance day has Front and Junior High page editors prepares them for the greater increased with over 100 Burmese global world out there. I think our students joining them last year. become Thursday, June 4. The East Allen County growing diversity is a wonderful In recent years, the Schools’ diversity is increasing in thing,” said Mrs. Merkel, principal diversity within the district not only the number of students of New Haven High School. has grown dramatically. The from different countries but in the New Haven and Paul increase is due to a changing, number of languages spoken in Harding High School house the mobile society. “We embrace the schools. district’s secondary ESL students. opportunity while continuing to “I think it speaks well of These are the only two schools serve our traditional students. the district,” said superintendant that have a high school ESL EACS has always served the of EACS, Dr. Novotny. The district program in the EACS district. students residing in the district,” ROCK THE “Y” has stepped up in terms of helping New Haven Middle School and said Novotny. The YMCA puts on a fun night and students adjust through provided Prince Chapman Academy house Currently in the 2008/2009 services for students who attend the middle school students. school year, Leo Jr./Sr. High EACS. Through the community There are five elementary School consists of 97% Caucasian fundraiser for junior high students and faith-based organizations, schools that house ESL students students. This compared to Paul families are being supported to as well. A self-contained Harding High School’s 8% of to benefit Youth Services Bureau Caucasian students is a large better understand the modern classroom with an ESL teacher is a “Rock the Y” is an event for 6th, they provide a better future for gap. This difference is largely day world. newcomer program being placed 7th, and 8th graders to go hang low income families. The Youth reflected in Leo’s 3% reduced and The school system has 9 in Prince Chapman Academy, out and go swimming, rock Service Bureau is a non-profit 6% free lunches compared to Paul different ESL, English as a Second Meadowbrook, and Highland climbing, dancing, play dodge organization. By signing up Harding’s 11% reduced and 57% Language, sites. Because of this Terrace. Some students are ball, basketball, wally ball, and and participating in the 2009 free lunches. Even more than that, fact, other schools in the EACS involved in what is referred to as so much more. Students only “Rock the Y”, students will be Leo’s ISTEP scores have steadily district are not seeing the impact a “pull-out” program for one hour need $20 to attend, and can pay helping kids in the community been increasing from the year of this program, and many don’t a day although all students are at the door. The event will take achieve better lives and gain 2003 in the 80% range, while Paul even know what the program involved in special area classes, place at the Parkview Family greater success in the years Harding’s ISTEP scores have been consists of. It is a program that lunch, and recess. YMCA, February 15, 2009, from to come. If students decide constantly fluctuating from the involves students whose first According to Merkel, 3:30-7:30. All proceeds benefit to make additional efforts to 24% to 37% range. language is not English. These they have two ESL teachers and the Youth Service Bureau. Since fundraise and raise more than According to the students are taken out of their one paraprofessional who cover 1982, the Youth Service Bureau $50, their name will be entered Department of Education website, regular, main streamed schedule, a variety of classes depending works with over 850 families each into a drawing to win prizes, Leo is the least diverse school in and work with specific ESL on the level of understanding of year, they provide assistance at including an IPOD. the EACS district. teachers. English. no cost. They work with at-risk “Having students learn New Haven High School’s you in the Fort Wayne area, and SENIORS: ALL STUDENT DRIVERS: ALL STUDENTS: The senior ads for the Start scraping the snow The talent show is to- yearbook this year are off of all of your win- day at 9:44. Tickets are due by February 1st. being sold for two dol- NEWS dows or you will be issued a ticket by the lars now. police. LEO Page 2 • Friday, January 23, 2009 • News Editor: Amanda Overholt Jekyll and Hyde presented at Leo Leo students prepare to perform spring musical thein school March year had started. By Evan Delagrange Junior Joe Zeigler had A&E Editor planned on trying out for the The musical Jekyll role of Jekyll/Hyde when he and Hyde will be presented first heard of the show. “I’m March 12-14 by the drama really pumped about the show, department. The show follows and I was really excited when I the experiments of Dr. Henry first heard the music and saw Jekyll as he tries to separate the the show,” said Zeigler. “I knew good and evil natures of man. right away that I wanted to The show begins with audition for the part of Jekyll.” a monologue by Jekyll as he Mrs. Phillips, explains that if the dual natures the director of the drama of man’s soul, good and evil, department, is in charge could be separated, the evil of choosing the shows to could be done away with and be performed. After much life would be relieved of all deliberation she picked Jekyll things that make it unbearable. and Hyde. “I picked this show The audience learns that because we have students Jekyll’s father is in a vegetative who are capable of singing the state at an insane asylum, difficult pieces in the production and Jekyll believes that if his so this was a good year to do experiments succeed, he can it,” said Phillips. “I also feel cure his father’s illness by that it’s a wonderful story that PHOTO BY EVAN DELAGRANGE Leo students audition for spring play taking the evil out of his soul. makes you think about the When Jekyll goes to party where Jekyll meets Lucy, Lucy whom he abuses. pub Jekyll had visited. It is choices we make and whether the Board of Governors of the a “lady of the night.” When The show then skips implied that the bishop had or not the things that happen hospital, they reject his request Jekyll sees Lucy being abused forward a week and nobody been ‘meeting’ with the owner in life are truly inevitable.” to test his elixir on a human by her boss, he feels sorry for her has heard from Jekyll.