Welcome to/or back to Ben Davis High School! We had a wonderful 2012-2013 school year and are very proud of all of our accomplishments. Most people do not realize where we send our students after they leave our doors so I thought I would share with you the list of where we know students will be attending school next year:

Anderson University, Ball State, Barton College, Ancilla College, The University of Akron, The Art Institute of Indianapolis, Goshen College, Butler University, Galveston College, Duke University, Indiana Wesleyan, AIT, The Chef’s Academy, Hanover College, North Dakota State College of Science, Grace College, Fullerton College, IPFW, DePauw University, Iowa Central, Huntington University, Ivy Tech, Eastern Michigan, University of Tennessee Martin, Franklin College, University of Indianapolis, University of Southern Indiana, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, The University of Findlay, John Hopkins, Marian University, UNC Greensboro, University of Dayton, Fortis College, UNC, Central State University, Trade—Pipefitters, Florida State College, Florida Agricultural Mechanical University, Brown Mackie College, Stanford University, University of Evansville, Indiana State University , Lincoln Technical Institute, IUPUI, Johnson and Wales University, Indiana Tech, University of Northwestern Ohio, Indiana University Bloomington, Benedict College, Ohio State, Kentucky State University, Olivet Nazarene University, Princeton University, Rochester College, Penn State, Rose-Hulman, International Business College, Morgan State University, Manchester University, Northwestern University, Kaplan University, Xavier University, Wabash College, Oklahoma Technical College, Eastern Kentucky University, Mercersburg Academy, Oral Roberts University, Wittenberg University, Vincennes University, WKU, Mary of the Woods College, Tuskegee University, Taylor University, Vassar College, Tennessee State University, University of Saint Francis, and Western.

As reflected, we truly do find a path for every student. Whether the student is bound for Princeton, Stanford, or the Art Institute, our job is to work with the students and the families to help find the right path! We also have 51 students who are entering the military and the class of 2013 earned (not offered as that number is much higher) 12,685,468 in scholarships! We surveyed 749 seniors at graduation and 89% of those will be moving on to post-secondary training or education. This is a great number—but our goal is 100%! We know that this year’s students will help us reach that goal.

Our community and staff went through several changes last year: new administration, balanced calendar, and a new evaluation system. Yet our students keep performing at a very high level—we are going from good to GREAT! This year brings about some major changes as well (all reflected in this newsletter). We will no longer have late start Mondays. We do have a new daily schedule with school starting at 7:20 and ending at 2:20. This is a much earlier start time and end time for our students.

Two other major changes that will affect our culture are the implementation of BYOD (bring your own device) which will allow students to use their cell phones, tablets and laptops at school for curricular use and a new dress code policy. The students have to use our wireless system while at school in order to be within our firewall (and not use data!). We will send home information with more details about this technology change. Students will not have to bring devices (we will supplement where needed), but are welcome to do so. Furthermore, our dress code has also changed to allow students to carry back packs throughout the day. This change will enable students to keep their electronics safely stored on their bodies. Both of these will be major changes for everyone.

So these three major changes: the new schedule, the use of personal technology at school, and the new dress code will all take place this year. We know that all of our students will continue to thrive here at Ben Davis. Our goal, as is yours, is to ensure that every single student at Ben Davis has a positive path when he or she leaves our doors. We look forward to a GREAT school year!