Ladoga Elementary School is proud to announce they have received a grant from the Tippecanoe Arts Federation to further and expand local visual and performing arts programs.  School officials are excited to provide Artists-in-Residence during after-school art club and an after-school drumline experience.  Additionally, the school, supported by the PTO, will offer a Spring Art Fair to showcase local artists and student work.  "This will be an exciting time for our school to bring the community together to celebrate the work of our students and artists from throughout the county," commented Brett Higgins, principal of Ladoga Elementary.  All of this is made possible by the Tippecanoe Arts Federation through the generous sponsorship of Chase Bank and support of the Indiana Arts Commission.

Monday, February 8th the students of Waveland Elementary School will be showcasing their artwork in the first annual Waveland Elementary Art Show.  The show will feature projects that the students have been working on in their art classes this year.  Items will be on display for viewing beginning at 6:30 p.m. After the show, families are invited to attend the South Montgomery School Board meeting that will take place in the cafeteria starting at 7:00 p.m.

Congratulations to Quentin, Walnut Elementary sixth grader who recently auditioned for the Indianapolis Children's Choir and was selected to sing in the "Octavo" choir.  "Octavo," one of fourteen ICC choirs, is for intermediate to advanced singers who show a strong desire to sing and show an intermediate proficiency in vocal technique and sight singing abilities.  Rehearsals take place once a week at Butler University in Indianapolis.

The ICC was founded in 1986 by artistic director Henry Leck and provides an opportunity for young people ages toddler through high school to learn, grow, and excel through quality instruction and experiences that emphasize the development of musical skills and understanding. The choir has performed in a wide variety of professional settings, helping set a standard of excellence in the children's choral music world.  In the home state of Indiana, they appear regularly at the statewide gatherings of music educators, choral conductors, and community and civic leaders.

The ICC's ambitious yearly activities always include a season of concerts.  In addition, the organization regularly appears with orchestras, professional artists and ensembles of the highest caliber, including the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, The Chieftains, Celine Dion, and Sandi Patti.  The ICC singers have sung for Indiana gubernatorial inaugurations, the Governor's Arts Awards, the Tenth Pan Am Games, Presidential visits and more.

There will be a parent meeting on Wednesday, February 3rd at 6:00 p.m. in the Jr. High Mountie Café regarding the Twenty-first Century Scholars program.   Parents of students in grades 6-8 are encouraged to attend.  Refreshments will be served.  Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions about the program and to complete the on-line application.

Indiana’s Twenty-first Century Scholars program helps students afford a college education.  If you are financially eligible and fulfill the Scholars pledge, you are guaranteed the cost of four years of college tuition at any participating Indiana public college or university.

It is with a heavy heart that each of us has heard of the devastation that has struck the island nation of Haiti.  It is in the spirit of caring and humanity that the staff and students of Ladoga Elementary School, along with the PTO, will be collecting donations to assist the Haitian people in their desperate struggle.  We are asking the Ladoga community to donate as they can - spare change or otherwise - over the next two weeks.  All donations will be presented to the Red Cross to continue their ongoing efforts.