North Vernon Elementary

North Vernon Elementary school is located in North Vernon Indiana and serves students who live in both Vernon and North Vernon. Our school began serving our community 50 years ago, and we continue to provide a quality education to these students. We currently educate over 600 students and have 90 staff members who dedicate their time to growing our kids. 

NVE strives to provide a safe and loving environment where students get excited about learning, are challenged to be problem solvers, take ownership in their own learning, and are taught to be caring individuals so that they may be successful beyond our walls. We know that our students deserve nothing but the best and work to provide that every day.

Teacher of the Year - Mrs. Jennifer Sanders

North Vernon Elementary congratulates Mrs. Jennifer Sanders as being voted as NVE's teacher of the year 2024. Thank you for being a wonderful educator and dedicating your career to our kids.

A Message from Our Principal

Dear North Vernon Elementary School Community,

As we reach the midpoint of the academic year, I am delighted to share with you the incredible progress and achievements we have made as a school community. Together, we have continued our journey towards excellence in education, with a particular focus on STEM certification, the implementation of Science of Reading strategies, fostering problem-solving skills within our students, and nurturing a positive and loving environment for all.

STEM Certification Progress:

I am thrilled to report that our pursuit of STEM certification is well underway. Our dedicated staff members have been diligently integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into our daily activities, providing students with engaging and hands-on learning experiences. Through our innovative STEM lab beginning Project Lead the Way curriculum, project-based learning experiences, collaborative activities, and real-world applications, our students are developing critical thinking skills and a deep appreciation for the STEM fields. We are currently in the final documentation phase in preparation to meet the rigorous standards required for state certification. I commend our teachers and students for their dedication and enthusiasm in this endeavor as we continue to transform NVE into a STEM school!

Focus on Science of Reading Strategies:

In alignment with the latest research and best practices in literacy instruction, we have continued to implement a comprehensive approach to teaching reading, grounded in the Science of Reading. Our teachers have received specialized training and professional development to effectively implement evidence-based strategies that support phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. A part of any good reading instruction is also quality writing instruction! NVE has worked this past semester to align our writing instruction K-6 by using the ACE framework (Answer, Cite, Explain) in response to writing prompts and questions. As a result, we are seeing notable improvements in our students' reading and writing proficiency and literacy skills across all grade levels. By equipping our students with strong foundational reading skills, we are empowering them to become confident and proficient readers, setting them up for success in all areas of their academic journey!

Building Problem-Solvers:

At North Vernon Elementary, we recognize the importance of fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in our students. Throughout this past semester, our staff has worked to provide challenging and thought-provoking tasks, collaborative problem-solving activities, and Number Talks where our students share their thinking on how numbers are related with complex tasks. We are working to cultivate a generation of creative thinkers and innovators. Our students are learning to approach challenges with resilience, perseverance, and a growth mindset, preparing them to tackle complex problems in school, their future careers, and beyond. I am continually impressed by the ingenuity and resourcefulness demonstrated by our students daily as they navigate various problem-solving tasks and grow as learners.

Creating a Positive and Loving Environment:

Central to our mission at North Vernon Elementary School is the creation of a positive, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every student feels valued, supported, and loved, based around our four core values. Over the past semester, we have added new opportunities for students to be recognized for their positive efforts with awards like the “Model Citizen”, “Star Reader” and “Star Student”. We have had two quarterly celebrations so far where we gather as a group, play games, and celebrate our wonderful students. We plan to continue this through the second semester as well with another quarterly celebration before our end-of-the-year festivities. Through proactive interventions, celebrating our successes, and character education initiatives, we are building a safe school culture based on respect, responsibility, and courteousness. Our goal is that all students feel safe and cared for so they can focus on their own learning and development.

I am incredibly proud of the progress and accomplishments we have achieved thus far in the academic year. Together, as a collaborative and dedicated school community, we are laying the foundation for lifelong learning, success, and happiness for all our students. I am excited about the continued growth and possibilities that lie ahead, and I look forward to celebrating many more achievements together.

In Learning,

Nicholas Hill

Nicholas Hill
Principal