NORTH CENTRAL PARKE NEWS

Parke Heritage High School Counselor Sheryl McDaniel received the Make a Difference award from WTHI-TV for her work with the Wolf Wardrobe.

Parke Heritage High School basketball players Michael Smith and Carly Newnum were recognized during the boys basketball game against Riverton Parke on Saturday, February 14.

They both received Character Counts Awards from the West Central Indiana Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) for the basketball season. The award honors those student-athletes who display the four values of FCA: Integrity, Service, Teamwork, and Excellence.

Presenting Michael and Carly with their awards were Andy Sutton (middle) of Advisors Commercial Real Estate, the Character Counts sponsor for both Parke County schools and.Joe Summers (right) from West Central Indiana FCA.

The North Central Parke School Board honored retiring Maintenance Director Ash Overpeck during their Wednesday, February 18 meeting.

Overpeck is retiring on March 9 after 10 years of service to the district.

Board President Scott Ramsay presented Overpeck with a certificate of appreciation and a gift card during a reception before the meeting. The gifts recognized Overpeck’s dedication to the school community and his positive impact on students and staff over the past decade.

Earlier this year, the Rockville Elementary School fifth grade Computer Science and Art and the STEM students teamed together to design RES school shirts using a graphic design program. After completing their designs, fifth grade students and staff voted on their favorite design. Kenna Spurr’s design was selected as the winner.

Once the shirts and transfers arrived, several fifth grade students helped Computer Science and Arts teacher Miss Lexy Gilman press the transfers onto the shirts.

“It was such a great hands-on experience for them to see their work come to life and be part of the production process,” said Miss Gilman.” We’re so proud of their creativity, collaboration, and teamwork throughout this project.”

Paige Rose, Vinny Bonomo, and Austin McCoy

The Trail of Tears stands as one of the most emotional and pivotal events in American history. To honor this history and foster deep empathy, eighth-grade social studies students at Parke Heritage Middle School recently undertook a meaningful project: designing and creating their own memorials to commemorate the event.

The creativity of the students was on full display as they used various mediums to express the journey experience. Projects included illustrated diaries written from the perspective of travelers; dioramas visualizing the harsh landscapes endured; posters and fliers aimed at educating others, and three-dimensional art pieces showcasing emotional resilience.

On Monday, February 16, the classes visited the memorial gallery in the ELC Room. Students viewed their classmates' work, allowing them to experience diverse perspectives and impressions of this historical turning point. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering and learning from our past.

President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Danny Russel, made a special appearance at Turkey Run Elementary School on Wednesday, February 18.

The presenter talked to the fourth grade classes about his life as Abe Lincoln from boyhood through his presidency. He talked about his personal failures and not giving up. He had 20 different failures before he became president. Abe told the students, “Don’t quit. Don’t give up.”

He also talked about the importance of and his love of reading. He explained to the students that his mother taught him to read and write before she died. His ability to read helped him in many areas of his life from learning the stories of the Bible, to learning to become a lawyer and guiding his life as a President. He ended his talk by reciting the Gettysburg address which is his most famous speech.

Families with three or four-year-old children are invited to enroll their children in the Wolfpack Preschool as a part of North Central Parke Schools. Beginning in the fall of 2026, the Preschool will be housed in the new Early Childhood addition at Rockville Elementary School.

Registration dates are Wednesday, March 25 from 5:30- 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, March 31 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Thursday, April 2 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. All registration times will be held at Rockville Elementary.

The child must be at least three years old by December 1, 2026 to enroll. Registration is open to all families. All meals and snacks are provided at no additional cost. CCDF and On My Way Pre-K vouchers are accepted. Also, scholarships for enrollment are available.

For more information or questions please contact Marci Graves, Early Childhood Director, at gravesm@ncp.k12.in.us or 765-597-2748 or visit the NCPC website: Preschool Enrollment

Parent meetings for fall of 2026 North Central Parke Schools kindergarten students will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the library for Turkey Run Elementary School students and on Tuesday, March 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the library for Rockville Elementary School students.

This meeting is required for all parents of children who will be entering kindergarten in the fall of 2026. The child must be five years old on or before August 1, 2026.

Parents will receive information about the kindergarten curriculum. All students will be required to have a kindergarten screening. Parents will be asked to sign up for a time to bring their child to the school for the screenings. Children do not need to attend this meeting.

If you need more information or have any questions, please contact the RES school office at 765-569-5363 or email Kieran Clapp at clappk@ncp.k12.in.us or TRES school office at 765-597-2760 or email Brittany Shannon at shannonb@ncp.k12.in.us

Parke Heritage High School students are nominated by staff members to receive the Wolf Award. Basis for this award include integrity, responsibility, communication, collaboration, reliability, creativity, 21st Century skills, accountability, and good character.

Chloe Clocksin (left)- “Chloe is a quiet student, but works very hard to create her artwork. She is friendly and always willing to help others in class.”

Lucas Busenbark (middle left)- “Lucas is an excellent student and a great addition to my classroom. He is insightful during discussions and is helpful to staff and students.”

Mikayla Oberholzer (middle right)- “Mikayla is a respectful, hardworking student who consistently shows a positive attitude at school. She comes to class ready to learn, treats others with kindness, and sets a great example for her peers. Her dedication and character truly represent what it means to be part of our Wolf Pack.”

Mason Barger (right)- “Mason is a hard worker for our track team. He is one of our seniors and encourages others. He is a positive influence at PHHS.”

To sign up, to donate: BLOOD DRIVE

Email: webmaster@ncp.k12.in.us
Website: www.ncp.k12.in.us
Location: 602 Howard Avenue, Rockville, IN 47872
Phone: 765-569-4190
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northcentralparke/
Twitter: @NCPSchoolCorp