Principal Tearsa Schable showcased Crichfield Elementary's excellence during this month's La Porte Community School Corporation board meeting, where students led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Life Skills students presented flowers to board members and administrators.

Key Highlights from Principal Schable's Presentation:

Mission & Vision: Crichfield is committed to engaging and ensuring high levels of learning for all students, with a vision of being recognized for excellence and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Outstanding Staff: The school celebrates exceptional educators, including Marty Briggs, who recently competed for Indiana Teacher of the Year, exemplifying the dedication of Crichfield's entire teaching staff.

Student Excellence: Crichfield students consistently rise to challenges and work hard to achieve goals, supported by engaged families who partner in the school's success.

Special Programs: The Life Skills program stands out as a cornerstone of Crichfield's inclusive community, teaching valuable lessons about perseverance, empathy, and caring.

Student Activities: Crichfield offers diverse opportunities, including K Kids, student ambassadors, track, basketball, ring toss, robotics, spelling bee, and various clubs.

Notable Achievements:

• HeartSafe School Certification
• Project Lead the Way School designation
• Indiana STEM School recognition
• Successful playground project completion
• Strong iRead and iLearn standardized test scores

The presentation emphasized how Crichfield's success stems from the collaborative efforts of dedicated students, staff, and families working together toward their shared educational mission.

Students at La Porte Community School Corporation's elementary schools experienced something special this week—an energetic blend of hip-hop music, dancing, and life-changing lessons about perseverance, delivered by nationally recognized motivational speaker and artist C.J. Luckey.

Over two days, all seven LPCSC elementary schools participated in the C.A.P.S. (Celebrating All Persevering Students) assembly at the Educational Services Center. Luckey, who founded the Texas-based nonprofit in 2017, has now impacted over 100,000 elementary students and educators nationwide with his unique approach to teaching growth mindset concepts through music.

The journey to bring C.J. Luckey to La Porte began over a year ago with Katie Talbert, a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) teacher at Crichfield Elementary. Talbert regularly incorporates Luckey's videos and songs into her PLTW lessons and recognized the profound impact his message could have on students in person.

"My students respond so positively to C.J. Luckey's music and message in the classroom that I knew we had to find a way to bring him here in person," said Talbert. "Watching our students experience that energy and encouragement live was even more powerful than I imagined. This assembly will inspire them to embrace challenges and believe in themselves long after today."

Luckey's work is grounded in Dr. Carol Dweck's research on the growth mindset from Stanford University, which focuses on changing the way students think about struggle, failure, and their ability to persevere under challenging circumstances. One of his signature songs, "The Power of Yet," encourages kids not to give up by embracing the idea that just because they can't do something now doesn't mean they never will—they just can't do it yet. 

Talbert approached her principal, Tearsa Schable, to explore the possibility of bringing Luckey to La Porte. Though funding wasn't immediately available, Schable and Talbert didn't give up—embodying the very perseverance that Luckey teaches. Dr. Ben Tonagel, Assistant Superintendent of Student Learning, eventually secured grant funding and, together with LPCSC Social Worker Anna Williams, made the assembly a reality.

For the students of La Porte, the assembly was more than just entertainment—it was a celebration of their potential and a reminder that with perseverance and the right mindset, they have the power to overcome any challenge. Thanks to the determination of educators like Katie Talbert and administrators who found a way to make it happen, this message of hope and resilience will echo through LPCSC classrooms long after the music fades.

Last week, the Indiana Department of Education announced Mrs. Megan Johnson, 4th-grade teacher at Plainfield Community School Corporation, as Indiana’s 2026 Teacher of the Year. We want to offer our congratulations to Mrs. Johnson on this incredible recognition!

As a district, we are tremendously proud of La Porte Community School Corporation teacher Mr. Marty Briggs for being named a Top 3 Finalist for Indiana Teacher of the Year. This prestigious honor places him among the most exceptional educators in the state, reflecting his outstanding dedication to students, colleagues, and the teaching profession. Mr. Briggs has represented La Porte in the best way we could have imagined and has left a mark that extends far beyond the classroom.

Mr. Briggs wanted to share the following message with the La Porte community to thank everyone for their support throughout his journey:

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting with my fellow finalists in Indianapolis. It was a meaningful experience to connect with two other educators who share the same passion and dedication to our profession. We celebrated how far we had each come in this journey, and we made a commitment to support whoever would ultimately be named Indiana's 2026 Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to Mrs. Megan Johnson, Indiana's 2026 Teacher of the Year! Megan has worked incredibly hard to reach this point, and I have no doubt she will be an exceptional advocate for Indiana's 65,000 teachers. She will represent our state's educators with the grace, expertise, and passion they deserve.

I also want to congratulate my fellow finalist, L.A. High, for being named a Top 3 Finalist. He has accomplished remarkable things in his district, raised substantial funds for worthy causes, and represented his community beautifully—including during his live interview on ABC57 last Monday.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the entire La Porte community for your overwhelming support throughout this journey. Your encouragement, kind words, and belief in me have meant more than I can express, and I will never forget them. I have always aspired to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and our community, and this experience has shown me that together, we truly have. The great things happening in our schools are a reflection of all of us—our students, families, colleagues, and community members who care deeply about education. This honor belongs to all of you as much as it does to me.

Thank you for allowing me to represent the La Porte Community School Corporation and for your continued support of the incredible work that takes place in our schools every day.

Hailmann Elementary School students rolled up their sleeves this week for the school's first-ever 4th Grade Corn Husk-Off, a unique educational event that combined learning with sustainability practices.

The competition, organized through a partnership between La Porte Community School Corporation's Director of Food Services Cindy Vondra and NWI Food Council's Veronica Jalomo, challenged fourth-grade students to race against the clock while shucking fresh corn.

The corn husk competition serves multiple educational and environmental purposes. The corn husks will be donated to local horses, while the corn itself will be cleaned and prepared for service in school lunches throughout the week, ensuring no part of the harvest goes to waste.

The event represents La Porte Community School Corporation's ongoing commitment to farm-to-school programming, which connects students directly with local food sources while promoting healthy eating habits and environmental stewardship.

The NWI Food Council partnership demonstrates how community organizations can enhance educational programming while supporting local agricultural initiatives.

Students participated enthusiastically in the competition, with the event emphasizing teamwork, sustainability, and the connection between agriculture and daily nutrition.

With the addition of ParentSquare, we will use our new communication platform to announce delays and cancellations. The best way to stay informed is to ensure that your information is up-to-date in Skyward.

For grandparents, babysitters, or community members not in Skyward, but who need to be aware of weather-related delays or cancellations, please sign up for La Porte Community Alerts.

Congratulations, Martin Briggs, 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year Finalist!

We are excited to share some fantastic news about one of our educators! Martin Briggs has been selected as one of only seven finalists for the prestigious 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year award, as announced by the Indiana Department of Education this morning.

This incredible honor celebrates Mr. Briggs' extraordinary dedication to our students and community over an amazing 47 years of service to La Porte Community School Corporation. His innovative teaching methods, hands-on learning experiences, and genuine care for student success have positively impacted generations of La Porte families. 

Please join us in celebrating Mr. Briggs at our Slicer Send-Off on Wednesday, August 20th, at 4:00 PM at Crichfield Elementary School parking lot (please arrive by 3:45 PM).

We'll be sending Mr. Briggs off with our community's well-wishes as he heads to Indianapolis on Thursday for his final panel interview. Please bring your family, signs, and celebratory items to line the sidewalks and show our support for this remarkable educator!

We are incredibly proud of Mr. Briggs and grateful for our educators who make such a lasting difference in our students' lives.

Thank you for being part of our school community. We hope to see you on Wednesday as we celebrate this amazing achievement!

The Slicer Performing Arts Club is thrilled to announce their FIRST ANNUAL 5K coming up on September 7th!

Whether you're a student, family member, alumnus, or just a friend who loves the arts, we want YOU there! This race is all about supporting our amazing performing arts programs and bringing our community together.

Don't wait! Register by August 22nd and you'll receive a race t-shirt: https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/LaPorte/SPARC

Let's show our support for the arts! See you at the starting line!

The annual re-registration window for returning students is now open. Please take action now to ensure your child's/children’s information is updated and that the necessary forms have been completed for the upcoming school year.

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What You Need to Do

Log in to Skyward Family Access to complete the Student Information Update for 2025-2026. You'll see alerts for each student in your account that guide you through the required forms.

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What This Update Includes

During the update process, you'll:

• Verify your child's/children’s current information
• Update emergency contacts
• Complete all necessary forms for the 2025-2026 school year

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Why This Matters

Completing this update ensures:

• All school communications reach you accurately
• Required forms are ready for applications and programs
• Your child's/children’s records are current and complete

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Important Note About Address Changes

If you need to change your child's/children’s address or other basic demographic information, you must visit your school building in person and provide the appropriate documentation for validation.

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Questions?

Contact your school's main office if you need assistance with the update process. 

Have a great day and a wonderful school year,

La Porte Community School Corporation

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