The Edge

Graduation: Lots to Smile About!

2010-01-22T06:05:00.000-08:00

Thumbs up Grad!

Race to the Top!

Ready for Life!

Students line up to celebrate the culmination of TWELVE grades of education!

More Edge Graduates 2009-2010

2010-01-22T05:31:00.000-08:00

2009-2010 Graduates line up to celebrate work well done. We are so proud of each and every one of you. May you go out into the world and make your dreams come true.

Andrea Gray

Courtney Groh

Larry Chambers

Cody Crone

Amelia Callahan

Aaron McGlocklin

Austin Foster

Ashley Baker

Ali McQueen

Taylor Sexton

Happy Holidays 2009

2009-12-16T05:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to everyone

in this great big wonderful,

confusing, exciting, challenging,

loving, World!

Let go of 2009.

Celebrate your life.

Achieve one goal for 2010...

then another, then...

way more fun

than ditching

New Year's resolutions

by January 3rd.

Ellettsville Fire Department: Just Visiting

2009-11-24T09:06:00.000-08:00

Guess whose hubcap frames The Edge!

Chris Hostetler is our, very own,

volunteer Fire Fighter.

He works for Bean Blossom Township Fire Department,

but as all cooperative rescue teams know,

Everyone Works Together for the Common Goal:

To Save Lives!

Pictured: Edge students and the Ellettsville Fire Department, Chief and Engine 73.

Wacky Shirt Day

2009-11-24T08:53:00.000-08:00

Wacky Shirt Day!!! What a great idea! Another day in Volunteer, another brainstorm.

Alyssa Wise is at it again.

While sorting through the clothes

in Clothes for Classmates,

she finds so many wacky

and interesting shirts just hanging there,

waiting for someone to take them.

A light bulb goes off in Alyssa's head;

she comes up with Wacky Shirt Day.

Here we go again at The Edge.

Those Wacky Students!

I Could Volunteer Everyday!

2009-10-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

Britany Fortune helps out at Edgewood Primary School.

I get to the primary at the time my class goes to lunch. The boys tell me all kinds of "Knock-Knock" jokes and what they brought for lunch.

We go to recess and they play tag, and I help them when they want to play on the monkey bars. It takes a lot of energy, but I love to do it because they love help with things they can't do.

I love helping at EPS because it's given me a better understanding about how children act and it's just a fun place.

If I could, I'd volunteer everyday!

Tie Dye Friday

2009-10-27T05:32:00.000-07:00

One day on a Wednesday to be exact,
a student by the name of
Alyssa Wise
had an idea.

While going through clothes for Clothes for Classmates
Alyssa, miraculously, found ten tie dye shirts.

She came up with the idea
of having everyone
wear a tie dye shirt to school
on Friday.

Michael Heckman and fourth grader, Dakota.

2009-10-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

Michael and Dakota spend Wednesday afternoons reading, Indian in the Cupboard. Michael also works with Miss Meadow's third graders and Miss Mc Clellan's, fourth graders and helps them learn.

T-Shirts for the Walk

2009-10-08T11:20:00.001-07:00

Ashley Ennis and Brandi Rogers are making T-Shirts for the Out of the Darkness Walk to prevent suicide.

Ashley is walking to honor someone lost to suicide, "I'm walking for my girlfriend's older brother who died two years ago."

Firefighter: I Love Helping People Out

2009-09-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

Chris Hostetler is a firefighter for a lot of reasons. "I love helping people out. I've wanted to do this my whole life. You will never feel the thrill unless you are a firefighter. I love the fact that I help people and I can enter a burning building and be protected. Joining the fire department is one of the smartest things I've ever done. It is full of opportunities."

Suicide Prevention Works

2009-09-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

For every suicide death there are at least twenty suicide attempts. There have already been 5 million suicide deaths in this new century. Join with us to help prevent suicide by participating in the Out of the Darkness Walk!

Walk to Prevent Suicide

2009-09-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been affected, someone else has. Each year approximately one million people die from suicide. This toll is higher than world deaths each year from war and homicide. At least 100,000 adolescents die by suicide every year. Join The Edge and walk to prevent suicide on October 10, 2009, from 9-11 a.m., Mellencamp Pavilion (IU Campus/17th & Fee Lane). Check in from 8-9 a.m. Opening ceremonies: 9 am. Walk because you care! Register online: www.outofthedarkness.org.

Behind the Scene at the Hoosier Hills Food Bank

2009-09-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

Tyler Karnes volunteers at the Hoosier Hills Food Bank every Wednesday. Tyler likes the fact that he gets high school credit for his work at the food bank. What would our community do without the food bank and its volunteers?

The Hoosier Hills Food Bank volunteers sort and stock donations, read labels,and double check bags and boxes before they are distributed to individuals, food kitchens, and family centers.

If you would like to pick up or drop off donations visit the food bank at 2333 West Industrial Park Drive (Hwy 37 South and Vernal Pike) or call 334-8374 for additional information.

Live, Learn, & have Fun with it

2009-09-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of responsibilities at The Edge that require students to work in the classroom, volunteer in the community, and have a job (complete with W2 forms at the end of the year).

Ashley Baker, senior, needs eight credits to graduate. Ashley is enrolled in Government, Econ, and Literature of the World. When they are graded at 80% or higher she can enroll in her last high school class!

The remaining four credits will be earned by maintaining employment for an average of 15 hours each week, attending the Workforce Development class on Fridays, and volunteering at EPS in Mrs. Burn's kindergarten class.

Ashley's goal for her semester at The Edge is to live, learn, and have fun with it. "It's easier than regular school because you can get credits by working and volunteering to lower the credits you have to earn to graduate."

Taking it up a Notch

2009-08-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

Austin Foster spent the spring semester of 2009 volunteering as a teacher assistant in Mrs. Mitchell's first grade classroom at Edgewood Primary School. "One of the highlights of the year was bookmaking. Each week the class of twenty-two students wrote in journals. Writing was daily. We created a different book each week relating to a theme or book Mrs. Mitchell read to the class. Over the semester I assembled over 500 blank books for the students to write in. One time the students were reading about moles and so the book covers were construction paper cutouts of a mole's hands."-Austin

Austin also worked with students who needed help with math, spelling, reading, writing, completing homework, and social skills. He worked with teams of students on behavior such as using kind language towards others.

Great Leader+Great Partnership=Great Classroom

2009-08-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Mitchell and Austin Foster cleaning up her classroom at the end of the 2008-2009 year.
“I don’t know who learned more last year, me or the kids!”-Austin

The Edge Computer Classroom

2009-08-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

The Edge students share a common goal: Graduate with a High School Diploma! Students complete coursework using the Aurora Learning program.

Clothes for Classmates

2009-08-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

Everyone! Check out the free "Clothes for Classmates" sponsored by The Edge students. "Clothes for Classmates" continues on Wednesdays at Edgewood Primary School.

We look forward to seeing you!

Go The Distance

2009-08-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

The 2009-2010 school year theme at The Edge is "Go The Distance." Each individual here is on a mission to do whatever it takes to graduate.

The word impossible is not in our vocabulary. Pass it on.

Service Day

2008-08-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

Today was our first service day this year. Again most student chose to work at Edgewood Primary School. I love the way they talk about their experiences at the end of the day. They each have a different story to tell. I know that it makes them feel good about themselves as they give back to their community.
Friday will be our first birthday celebration of this year. The students who have summer birthdays were quick to point out that we haven't celebrated their birthdays yet. We will make a point to do that during on of these coming months.

First Day with Students

2008-08-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of school. It is still hard to believe that summer is over. This morning was really busy. There are a lot more students in the morning and we had programming difficulties. Thanks goodness the students are flexible and patient. They definitely had to use those skills today. Lana, our ever faithful volunteer, returned to help this afternoon. We were still having programming problems but once again the students were great. The men in CA finally got everything running around 1:30 p.m. It was smooth sailing from then on.

We had three former students stop by today. It was great to catch up with them. I am sure we will see them periodically this year.

Dee Burt joins us this year as our Workforce Coordinator. She spent the day doing interest inventories with the students. I think this position is a huge asset to our program. I look forward to the development of the work component.

I foresee another great year at The Edge!

Graduation Pictures

2008-07-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

First Year Re-cap

2008-07-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Wow! Why do summers go so fast? School starts in three weeks...I can't believe it. I was negligient last semester and posted very few times. So I better give an update before the new year begins. The Edge graduated eleven seniors in May. I am in awe of the students. Every student has their own story and to see how hard they work is amazing. They are (and should be) very proud of their individual accomplishments.We had a senior celebration the last week of school. We had dinner with the students and then parents came for a brief celebration. I tried to upload our senior video but I was unsuccessful. I have pictures though! Above are also some pictures of the students volunteering - which was a great experience for them.

Enjoy! I will try to do a better job of updating!

New Semester

2008-01-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

We started second semester in our new building and we love it! The hardwork the guys put in on this project is paying off. We currently have 17 students and anticipate a couple more in the next few days. Four credits have been earned so far. The students are enjoying The Edge.

Great Day!

2007-11-30T10:39:00.000-08:00

Two students earned credits today! YEAH! Another student had a job interview yesterday and another one tomorrow! I am very proud of these students!

Where has the time gone?

2007-11-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been so long since we've posted on this blog. The Edge opened to students on October 15, 2007. We are currently meeting in the board room. This limits the number of students at this time. We are small but mighty. I am so proud of our kiddos. Each one that started in October has earned at least one credit. The others will be completing one soon. The students are volunteering each Thursday. I find it interesting that each one has chosen to work at Edgewood Primary School. Elementary school must have been a positive experience for each of them. The students are all doing a great job. Most are working directly with students. A couple of them are working in the office areas. It is interesting to hear the comments on the bus as we travel back to our school.

Approval!

2007-10-03T05:26:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 1, 2007, we heard from the Indiana Department of Education. We were told that we have received provisional approval for The Edge. This means that we can start the program! We are so excited about starting. October 15, 2007 will be the official beginning of The Edge. We will be housed in the board room until our building is complete.

We have also received a sign permit. While I never thought I would be excited about a permit or a sign, this is one step closer to making the school a reality. We continue to wait on other permits to be approved. Patience is a virtue!

Yesterday we visited Clark Pleasant Academy. We are modeling our program after this one. It was great to see their school in action. We really enjoyed talking to the students. They are so honest and forthright. They have great respect for the staff. It was an enjoyable visit. While we have been busy getting ready, this visit energized and renewed our commitment to the students of Richland Bean Blossom Community Schools.

Good News!

2007-09-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, I received a call from Geoff out of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. He was calling to let us know that we received The Rural Capacity Grant that Alli wrote and submitted in June. This grant is for $150,000. How awesome! This grant will provide us with two work coaches, as well as money for the curriculum. Everyone associated with our school is excited.

2007-09-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

DEMOLITION DAY! Today has been a day to remember. Walls have come down, cabinets, sinks and trim removed. It looks like a different place. Jerry, Earl, Tim and Will worked very hard today.

We had to resubmit the building permit today. After we dropped it off at the court house, Bill called us back and said that they needed the plans from the architect. That was little disappointing. Once again we are learning that everything is a process.

We have had some phone calls from parents today asking about the school. We are telling them that we will begin October 1 with students in the board room in the board room at the central office.

Enjoy the pictures!!

Possession!

2007-09-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

We gained possession this week and the architect has been down. We have a few more requirements to fulfill before we can get the building permit. Next week demolition will begin. We have some wonderful maintenance men who are very excited about this project! They especially are fond of keys and windows. Today we also picked up our shirts with our new logo. Our computer technology director will be meeting us at the property today to discuss outlets, computer equipment, etc. We visited the mezzaine of the primary school today to locate the tables we will be using. We also checked out the computers that will become ours. We continue to work on learning the curriculum. I talked to a person from another corporation that uses this curriculum yesterday. She gave me some good insight. We are moving forward!

Curriculum News

2007-09-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

Wow! Today we were trained in the curriculum. My brain is on overload. I think once we are more familiar with it we will really like it. It is just a matter of navigating through the system and learning the ins and outs. This makes it one step closer to being able to serve students. On Thursday we are going to walk through the building with the architect - this is exciting. I continue to learn from the process and everything is a process!

Progress!

2007-08-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day! Things are starting to come together for The Edge. We (Dana and I) applied for the building permit today. That should be back to us within a week. After taking the application downtown, we returned to a phone call telling us that we are going to get possession of the building sooner than expected! Yea! We were told the key was in the mailbox so we (Carol, Dana, Amy and I) quickly piled into the car and headed down the hill to the home of The Edge. I unlocked the barbershop door, walked in and looked around and then walked to the apartment side of the building. After trying the key and finding it didn't work, we looked for a second key in the second mailbox. There was none to be found. We then realized that the tenant is still occupying the space. We had been told he had vacated the premises. While this was a little disappointing, my spirits lifted after talking to him and finding out he does have some place to move and will be doing so soon. After returning from this short adventure, I found in my e-mail inbox a sign design. After printing it out and talking it through with Dana, we made some tweaks and sent our suggestions back to the designer. I am looking forward to seeing the revised version. While I am anxious to get the school open, I am enjoying the journey.