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Students in Brown County Schools are gearing up to press play and inspire their community next month when they take center stage during the district’s first-ever TEDx event.

All are invited to the 2,000-seat Brown County Music Center on May 18 to hear from inspirational speakers and support the community’s youngest residents during this free event. The theme is “Just press play: YOU hold the remote control to life.”

“We need as many people to fill that music center as possible,” Superintendent Emily Tracy said. “It is an opportunity for our kids to share ideas they are passionate about and it instills confidence at a young age. TEDx is a constant reminder that we all can do big things no matter our age.”

In addition to student TEDx talks, Kenny Moore II from the Indianapolis Colts, Founder of the STARTed Up Foundation Don Wettrick, Butler Professor and Neuroscience expert Dr. Lori Desautels, and Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp will all speak at this thought-provoking community event. Regional Opportunity Initiatives is one of the event sponsors.

What began as Tracy visiting Cajon Valley Union School District in San Diego transformed into Brown County Schools hosting its first TEDx event, the first officially licensed K-12 school TEDx event in the Indiana Uplands.

“I was inspired that a low-income, incredibly diverse school district was able to provide these (TEDx) opportunities to students. I thought, if they can do it, we can do it,” Tracy said.

Using grant funding, Tracy and other district educators visited Cajon Valley schools last spring to experience its TEDx event firsthand.

“One of our teachers asked me, ‘How do we do this for kids at Brown County?’ I knew I had a green light,” Tracy said.

Planning for Brown County’s own TEDx began last August. In June, all five schools were licensed as TED-Ed schools. Tracy then became a licensed TEDx host and organizer.

Forty students volunteered to be members of the district’s TED-Ed clubs. Auditions were held for students interested in giving speeches on the big stage.

“Presentation literacy isn’t an optional extra for the few. It’s a core skill the State of Indiana has identified as one of the top five characteristics that all students should leave K-12 with,” Tracy said. “TEDx can teach you how to communicate with others effectively, articulate your ideas clearly, and speak with confidence.”

The fun begins at 8:30 a.m. outside of the music center with an immersive outdoor experience where all attendees will get the opportunity to contribute to a collective mural by local artist Kurt Eagleman, make friendship bracelets, and enjoy a performance by the Brown County pep band. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the first 300 attendees through the door will receive a gift bag. The event will run from 10 a.m. to around 1:30 p.m. Food trucks will be available after the show, too.

“I am just so proud to be able to put this on for the state, and I hope to help other school districts scale an event like ours across Indiana,” Tracy said.

To reserve your free tickets, call the Brown County Music Center box office at 812-988-5323 ext. 1.

Kindergarten registration for Bradie Shrum Elementary School in Salem will be Thursday, Apr. 4, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Children who are five-years-old by Aug. 1, 2024, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten. Parents and guardians are required to bring the child or children to school on April 4 to complete registration. All will meet in the Safe Room at their scheduled appointment time.

To make an appointment and complete the online portion of enrollment, adults may visit https://bit.ly/salemkg2024 or scan the QR code. For questions or more information, contact the school at 812-883-3700.

The following documentation will be required to complete registration:

A health department issued birth certificate for the student

Immunization records

A drivers license/state issued identification card for the parent/guardian

One of the following forms of proof of address dated within 60 days of the student's enrollment--lease/mortgage agreement; current utility bill, phone bill, bank statement or medical bill.

To help prepare your Kindergartener for school, please click on the story "Kindergarten Skills Checklist."

Kindergarten registration for East Washington Elementary School will be Tuesday, April 23, 3:30-6 p.m. Children who are five-years-old by Aug. 1, 2024, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten. Parents and guardians are required to bring the child or children to school on Apr. 23 to complete registration.

Parents and guardians may call the school's main office at 812-967-2929, Ext. 1, or email the principal, Mrs. Richardson, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on or after April 15 with your email address to receive a pre-registration link prior to the registration dates. Please still plan to attend registration, even if you complete the pre-registration.

Adults should bring the following items to Kindergarten registration:

Your child

The child's birth certificate

Proof of residency (any documents/piece of mail that shows the parent/guardian name and home address used for enrollment)

The child's immunization record

To help prepare your Kindergartener for school, please click on the story "Kindergarten Skills Checklist."

Kindergarten registration for West Washington Elementary School in Campbellsburg will be Wednesday and Thursday, Mar. 20 & 21, 12 noon to 7 p.m. Children who are five-years-old by Aug. 1, 2024, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten. Parents and guardians are required to bring the child or children to school on April 4 to complete registration. All will meet in the Safe Room at their scheduled appointment time.

Parents and guardians should contact the elementary office as soon as possible by calling 812-755-4934 to schedule an appointment.

Prior to attending the registration appointment, adults are asked to download the following form, https://forms.gle/QnHFDMtRwqUuZMye9. Please completely fill out the form before attending your appointment.

Adults should bring the following items to Kindergarten registration:

Your child
The child's birth certificate
Proof of residency (any documents/piece of mail that shows the parent/guardian name and home address used for enrollment)
The child's immunization record

To help prepare your Kindergartener for school, please click on the story "Kindergarten Skills Checklist."

Prepping your child with basic skills before entering Kindergarten will most likely help ensure the child graduates high school and experiences financial independence later in life.

Align Southern Indiana has created a checklist of skills that should be acquired before the first day of Kindergarten:

Successful School Skills:

Communicates needs and thoughts
Follows rules and routines
Follows directions (sits quietly, knows the meaning of “no”)
Appropriately talks and communicates with others
Controls feelings and behaviors (emotions)
Holds pencil correctly

Math:

Recognizes numbers 0 to 9
Can touch and count up to 9 objects
Can count 0 to 9
Recognizes basic shapes: circle, triangle, rectangle, square

Self Help Skills:

Can dress and undress self independently
Is toilet trained
   Zipping and buttoning
   Appropriate use of toilet paper
   Washes hands
   Flushes

Literacy:

Book reading
Left to right, top to bottom
Understands how to hold a book correctly and turn the pages
Recognition of letters by name (a-b-c)
Knows how to respond using at least three words
Recognizes their name
Can write their first name
Listens to a complete story