N.J.-S.P. Divides Athletic Director Duties

Published: August 20, 2015 By: Mary Perren, WKVI 

Athletic director duties at North Judson-San Pierre will be split between two existing administrators this year in an effort to save money. The school board eliminated the full-time athletic director position last year. High school assistant principal Kevin Cox and middle school principal Kelly Shepherd will share the responsibilities.

Cox will oversee the football and volleyball programs this fall, girls basketball and wrestling during the winter sports season and boys and girls track and field, boys golf and girls tennis in the spring. Shepherd will handle boys and girls cross country, boys tennis and girls golf this fall, boys basketball and swimming in the winter and baseball and softball in the spring.

The corporation is facing a significant budget shortfall due to a combination of declining enrollment and changes to the state’s funding formula. They’ve proposed a general fund property tax referendum to cover the shortfall. Voters who live within the district will decide the question in November.

Kids Closet Receives a Plethora of Supplies for Upcoming Back-to-School Event

Published: July 25, 2015 By: Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Kids Closet Ministry annually provides school supplies to underprivileged children in Starke County with their Pack-a-Backpack event. Community members get the chance to contribute during their school supply drives. This year while Kids Closet was posted outside the Dollar General stores in North Judson and Knox they received an ample amount of supplies from weekend shoppers. However it was the donations from two other local foundations that helped provide the new backpacks for all the donated supplies.

Kankakee Valley REMC donated 100 backpacks along with enough supplies for 100 children. Kids Closet also received a generous monetary donation of $2,000 from Starke United which helped offset the cost of buying even more backpacks. With the collected supplies and bags Linda Lewandowski, founder and director believes they have enough resources available to help 100 more kids than last year.

She said, “We should have about 350 backpacks. We will also have a table set-up for those that might need school clothes for their children. Last year we had about 250 kids walk through our door, so this year I’m thinking, we’ll have more.”

In order to receive a backpack parents are required to fill out some paperwork, confirming that your child is enrolled at any Starke County School. This offer applies to any kids attending local pre-schools as well as any students going to North Judson-San Pierre, Oregon-Davis or Knox Community schools this fall.

This event is meant to assist students on free or reduced lunch. Since Kids Closet operates on an honesty policy no information is required proving that you are in need of assistance. However, if you can afford school supplies you shouldn’t abuse the organizations’ trust and potentially take a backpack away from a family that cannot afford it. Kids Closet Ministry will be in fellowship hall at the North Judson United Methodist Church on Monday, July 27th and Tuesday, July 28th from 5 o’clock until 7pm.

Here's Your Chance to do Broadway!

If you've always wanted to sing on Broadway this is could be your best chance. North Judson-San Pierre Choir Director, Donna Ness, is looking for singers of all ages to participate in the Les Miserable chorus for the Les Miserables School Edition that will be presented February 24th, 25th, and 26th.

For those interested in being chorus members, sign-up will be on Thursday, February 16th at 5:00 p.m. You will be required to give information about yourself and pay $10 for a cast t-shirt. 

http://www.wkvi.com/?s=les+miserables