This year, the New Harmony School Corporation is one of the Pacesetters for the United Way campaign. They will run their United Way campaign during August and results are announced at the United Way of Posey County campaign kick-off on September 17. Their early support and enthusiasm will get this year’s campaign off to a good start.

New Harmony School is the heart of a historic community whose roots go deep into the past of progressive education in America. A Utopian community founded here in 1824 attracted innovative intellectuals who believed that education should be available free to all social classes. New Harmony, a frontier community along the banks of the Wabash, was the site of one of the first kindergartens, vocational schools, women’s discussion groups, US Geological surveys and public lending libraries on our country. With this rich historical heritage, the K-12 school is a focal point of the community. The present building located at 1000 East Street has been in use since 1987. The first graduating class was in 1879. Because the school is situated adjacent to Murphy Park, teachers use the park as an outdoor education classroom, exercise facility or for recreational fun on the Playtopia Playground. New Harmony is a small public school that provides a public education where students can get individual attention usually associated with private schools.

The entire New Harmony High School travels to Washington, D.C. every four years to attend the inauguration of the United States president. Plans are well underway for the 2009 trip. This trip is provided free of charge to the students.

New Harmony School is home to children of all ages, preschool through seniors in high school. This creates a sense of family among students and staff as everyone learns to care for each other and teachers watch out for students of all ages. In the elementary wing, there is one classroom per grade, a library, and a computer lab. The Junior High/High School wing includes classrooms, a computer lab, science lab, and library. Shared facilities in a commons area include the art and music rooms, cafeteria, distance education lab with teleconference equipment, and gymnasium. New Harmony High School was one of the first schools in Indiana that provided laptops for all the students. High school students can earn college credit through Ball State, Indiana University, Ivy Tech, and University of Southern Indiana. The graduation rate for 4 out of the last 5 years was 100%. The graduates of the Class of 2008 received almost $300,000 in scholarships and grants to further their educations. A full athletic program offers baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, cheerleading, and golf. Academic competitions also provide students with challenges. Students can participate in the local spelling bee, National Geographic Society geography bee, Young Authors Conference book writing, Math-a-thon, and Academic Bowl Competition. Older students enjoy ISSMA Music Competitions, an annual mock trial, and the Envirothon Team which has been very successful at the state level. These programs are open to all students and all students are encouraged to be involved in school activities to insure a well-round education. Spanish is offered in the elementary school as well as in the high school. New Harmony has a progressive curriculum that focuses on meeting each child’s need through individualized instruction and the use of technology. Each staff member knows and works hard for every child in the school. One of those staff members, Lois Gray, is the Indiana Rural Teacher of the Year for 2008.

The New Harmony School is offering a FREE enrichment program for the 3-year olds, 4-year olds, and kindergarten students. The corporation is firmly committed to providing early childhood education as means to help insure student success.

New Harmony School is committed to producing contributing citizens. All students are encouraged to be part of an acclaimed extracurricular work-- Ribeyre Gymnasium Restoration Group. Students have adopted the project of restoring the historic Ribeyre Gym. The students had secured $500,000 to get renovation started and continue to work to raise funds for further improvements. The gym can now be utilized as a community center servicing the residents of the town of New Harmony.

The staff of New Harmony School is dedicated to continuing the fine educational tradition started by the early settlers of the New Harmony area.

For the first time, this year all 3 Posey County school systems will be Pacesetters in the United Way of Posey County campaign. Wayne Games, campaign chairman, said "We are proud of our school systems in Posey County, and we are excited about their involvement as Pacesetters of our United Way campaign."

Actors are needed for A Walk Into The Past event which features a play. In New Harmony, auditions will be held August 27 from 4-7 p.m. at Thrall’s Opera House for a featured play that will take place during the A Walk Into The Past event. Young actors 13-18 years of age are needed; dance and voice experience a plus. The cast will include three male and three female actors along with extras. Actors should come to auditions prepared with a short monologue and a cold read will be expected.

A Walk Into The Past, Historic New Harmony’s annual event, will take place October 25 at 3 p.m. in Thrall’s Opera House. This year’s event will be A Walk Into The Past: A Golden Medley which will highlight New Harmony’s famous Golden Troupe and Golden Troupe Band. The play will be directed by Craig Wilderman & Jared Hipp.

For additional information or questions, please contact Craig at 812.781.9464. Thrall’s Opera House is located at 612 Church Street in New Harmony.

Looking for a free and fun event to take the family? Join us from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat., Sept. 6 at Harmonie State Park for the Family Fitness Fair and Posey County’s Walk Across Indiana event. Our walk, activities and exhibitors will be located in the Wabash River Picnic Area. The purpose for this free event is to encourage Posey County individuals and families to get excited about walking and help them to see how easy and fun it can be to get fit and healthy.

Free items will be given away to the first 100 walkers! Freebies include pedometers, bottled water, raisins and apples. Our sponsors include Dean’s Pizza, Farview Orchard, Mount Vernon Subway and McDonalds. Bring the kids because the River City Clowns will be present for face painting and balloons. All this is at no cost to you. That’s right – it is free by downloading a coupon for free entry into the park from Purdue Extension website at http://www.extension.purdue.edu/posey/ The Purdue Extension office in Posey County will have copies available if you are not able to download from the website.

Area businesses and organizations will be on hand to answer any health and fitness questions you have, as well as demonstrate ways to make fitness easier and more fun. Research on child obesity shows an ever-climbing problem. Bring the whole family to the Family Fitness Fair and find out how to keep your family healthy. Booth exhibitors will include: Family Matters, Community Foundation, Willow Tree of Posey County, Purdue Extension, Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coalition, Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., and Work One.

Walk Across Indiana is part of Purdue Extension’s Healthy People, Healthy Communities coalition efforts," said Genise Huey, Purdue Extension’s Consumer and Family Sciences Extension Educator in Posey County. "We are partnering with local groups in Posey County to promote community planning, which includes an emphasis on physical activity." The Governor’s INShape Indiana initiative challenges Hoosiers to adopt healthier behaviors by connecting them to programs and services that will help them to increase their physical activity, improve their daily nutrition and quit smoking. More information is available online at www.INShape.IN.gov.