Cross Creek Elementary School Earns IIDA Award
Cross Creek Elementary School’s interior design, carefully crafted by SoL Harris/Day Architecture of North Canton, has been awarded the IIDA Ohio/Kentucky Interior Design Award in the LEARN category for K-12 education.
Julia Ziga, project architect, explained that the “school’s design incorporates various aspects which appeal to youngsters and their educational environment.” She continues, “Children experience life’s circumstances differently than adults and need safe spaces, calming colors, and optimistic adventures to help give them a feeling of control. Cross Creek Elementary captures these key design elements.”
The gorgeous two-story building features a preschool wing, a media center, colorful learning pods, and two playgrounds. CCE also includes touchscreen, interactive smartboards, modern furniture, and handmade wooden benches in collaboration spaces. The design turns learning into an adventure for the schools’ students.
Indian Creek School Superintendent, T.C. Chappelear, is proud of this honor. We are happy to see SoL Harris/Day receive recognition from their professional organization for the work they did here at Cross Creek Elementary. “It is a fantastic design and we have enjoyed working with them on our building projects,” he said.
Helping Those in Need for the Holidays
This winter, students at Hills Elementary School are working to keep kids’ feet warm! Wanting to help their community, the Fourth Grade Student Senate got together to figure out what they could do to help. After serious deliberation, the Senate developed an action plan to help kids at their school. A tree was been set out in the school’s corridor with ornaments containing the gender and shoe size of students who are in need of footwear. “This gives back to students in the school who need a new pair of shoes,” said Advisor Ashley Turnbull. “It’s a need we’ve noticed in the building,” she continued. Last year, 55 pairs of shoes were donated. Our caring students are hoping to beat that record and help even more of their schoolmates this year!
Elementary Schools Collecting Cancer Care Bags for Cancer Patients
Second-grade students at Cross Creek and Hills Elementary Schools are helping cancer patients find peace and comfort while undergoing treatment by donating goodies and treats through Cancer Care Bags. Sarah Hibbits, second-grade teacher, heads this project that lasts through February when the bags will be filled with sweets, socks, journals, and other treats and donated to patients being treated at the Tony Teramana Cancer Center in Steubenville, Ohio. The Cancer Care Bags annual event is in its seventh year with over 1,000 Cancer care bags donated since its inception. Creek encourages students to give back to their communities. As adults, it is vital that students understand the importance of empathy, selflessness, and compassion.
Improving Attendance with World Cup Games
Students at Indian Creek Middle School are competing for best attendance! Creek leveraged the most recent World Cup Soccer competition to inspire good attendance. Homeroom classes were matched up in a contest for the coveted title of “Best Attendance of the Week.” Students in grades 5-8 have been placed in tournament-style brackets with top classes posted outside of the main office.
The class with the best attendance wins a doughnut party and other prizes. This program is just one of many Creek initiatives that make learning fun and encourage our students to achieve.
ICMS guidance counselor David Kemp came up with this idea. “Sports usually brings people together,” he said. “I figured it would be a chance to use the World Cup to fire them up. The teachers are enthusiastic about it and the kids seem to be equally enthusiastic.”
Staff Spotlight: Doug Knight
We are so excited to welcome Doug Knight to Cross Creek and Hills Elementary Schools! Doug has worked as a wrestling coach within the school district since 2005, and recently snagged the opportunity to work full-time as our newest social worker. Every morning, he looks forward to greeting the elementary school students. “It is priceless to witness the many different personalities that enter the school to engage in the academic, social, and emotional learning process of a school day,” he said.
He is happy to be a part of Indian Creek Local School District. “The teachers and staff go above and beyond to enhance student well-being so that the student’s educational learning environment is positively serving the student.” He advises students to set goals for themselves and work hard to achieve them. Doug explains “A dream written down on paper becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action becomes reality! If you take that approach in life and with school you will be successful.”
It is teachers like Doug Knight that make Indian Creek schools special.
Watch for next month’s spotlight of another new teacher.
Why Choose Creek for Your Child
With new facilities designed for learning and engagement and a team of committed teachers and staff, Indian Creek is the best place for your child to grow and excel.
- The right size for personalized attention
- State-of-the-art technology
- Comfortable setting
- Rooms for group-based learning
All of this helps Creek students thrive in the classroom and beyond!
#CreekCompetes
Prior to the boys’ basketball game at Indian Creek High School, the court was dedicated to Head Coach Joe Dunlevy. He has been coaching for 38 years, 30 of which have been at ICHS. Coach Dunley has 406 career wins. Whether it be a volleyball game or soccer game, Coach D will be there. “The conversations that make him happiest,” explains Sports editor Andrew Grimm, “are usually about something a former player has accomplished, or when a Creek athlete is going on to play college sports or has garnered some recognition or accolades.”
Coach D is kindhearted, selfless, and caring. Grimm continues “naming a venue after someone has to do with honoring their legacy and thanking them for contributions to a school or program. Absolutely fitting for Coach D.” We are proud to have Coach D as part of the Indian Creek family!
The boys’ basketball team was victorious against Toronto Junior/Senior High School, defeating the Red Knights 55 to 18. The Creek girls were also triumphent against Steubenville Catholic Central, winning 49 to 36! Great job, Redskins, and what a great way to honor the legendary Coach D!
Creek Creates Opportunities
Jen Belt’s Career Based Interventionist program is a career-tech program for Grade 7-12, students who are ages 12-21 and identified as disadvantaged and having barriers to achieving academic and career success. Upon its creation, students who participate in the program report that they are more engaged in school. One of our students lacked interest in school. He could not connect with the subjects he was learning in his curriculum. That changed when he entered the CBI program. He was eventually hired as an IT Assistant. He continues to troubleshoot device issues and repairs broken Chromebooks. The CBI program has a 100% graduation rate.
#CreekPrepares All Students for the Future – No matter which path they choose.
Creek’s Career Pathway Success Plan is a binder that begins for every student in 6th grade. With input from the student, parents/guardians and teacher, this organizer helps students understand their skills, aptitude and passions.
Our goal is for every student to graduate with a solid plan to enroll in college or other training, be employed in a career profession or enlist in the military.