Kaylee's Birthday Party at the Lake House

Owen’s Red Belt

Owen earned his red belt at tae kwon do. This was a big deal because at this level the kids get three tries to break their boards and if they don’t break them then they do not pass and they do not move on. Owen was very nervous. The weak prayer he had a confidence boost when he broke his boards on the first try, both his front kick and his elbow. He realized He may actually pass. He did a great job. He has worked so hard and has learned a lot and has put a lot of time and effort into this. Congrats Owen!

FFA Competitions

Oak Farm Montessori FFA Takes 1st Place! Oak Farm Montessori FFA members competed in the area Envirothon contest sponsored by area NRCS districts. They participated in some sessions on wildlife and forestry topics and then took tests as a team on wildlife, forestry, soils, aquatics and environmental issues.  Two teams participated with one team taking first place this year! Those participating were Nick Mains Ayrton Streich Jorja Lowe Kaylee Routsong Evelyn Brittenham Stella Nivens Lexy Kammerer Killian Grimm The team of Nick Mains, Ayrton Streich, Stella Nivens and Killian Grimm achieved first place and Evelyn Brittenham will join them for the state team of five students with the other students being alternates to state.

Oak Farm Montessori FFA District III @ Central Noble The Oak Farm Montessori FFA competed with 17 other districts in District III last Friday night at Central Noble. Members competed in leadership development events to earn points for the chapter. Our chapter placed 4th this year out of 18 schools. We were very proud to have someone competing in every event.  Here are students that placed in the top three and received awards for their effort. Ivy Witmer placed 1st in talent Cooper Routsong placed 2nd in Ag Business Management Demonstration Derek Hale and Cooper Routsong placed 3rd in Ag Mech Demonstration Avery Cather and Ella Lane placed 2nd in Agriscience Junior Level Milo Reeves, Jack Holbrook, Gretchen Pickard, and Ava Schraft placed 2nd in Discovery Quiz Bowl Parker Wolheter placed 3rd in Discovery Extemporaneous Speaking Other students competing and gaining points for the chapter were Eva Gilley, Venice Hacker, Josephine Pladys, Alyssa Mains, Claire Brittenham, Evelyn Brittenham, Hannah Lautzenhiser, Ana Kochanski, Beckitt Lowe, Reese Wolheter, Breanna Wolheter, Sullivan Fisher, Ayrton Streich, Nick mains, and Autumn Dixon.

Austin & Molly's Wedding

8310 Clinton Park Drive

 Simplx has been outgrowing our space for several years.  We've had to put up portable cubicles in the warehouse to create enough office space for everyone.  Our original basketball court in the warehouse has been smothered by equipment, inventory, boxes and lot of office staff cubicles.  

About 5 years ago, we tried to purchase the building next door, 8310 Clinton Park Drive.  We negotiated with the owner and went back and forth.  They were not very good at compromising and we never came to an agreement.  The topic was dropped and the owner moved forward with leasing the building to four separate tenants.  In the meantime, we purchased another commercial building on Ley Road, thinking that when the leases were up, we'd likely move into that building.  We also purchased 7707 Clinton, a sprawling residential home on a pond with enough acreage to build a brand new building.  With both purchases, we moved forward with inspections and research into how to properly move forward with moving Simplx.  

Well, while we were rezoning the residential property and doing soil borings to check the ground for a new build, 8310 next door was rumored to be going on the market.  Nate hopped on it right away, began negotiating again with the owner and after some hiccups and a few back & forths, we were able to secure the purchase of the building!  

I always felt like we needed that building next door.  It only made sense!  I felt it inside that it would work out somehow.  And over time, when the time was right, it did work out!  

8310 has multiple tenants, but the upstairs east side is vacant and we plan to occupy it and move our office staff out of their portable cubicles and into the brand new space.  Nate's remodeling a few things, touching up paint, redoing cabinetry, and then we will move in soon.  

Kaylee's 15th Birthday

 Kaylee turned 15!!

Jaxton's New World

 Jaxton was at Purdue for 1 semester in the Tarkington Dorms.  He did well, but decided that he did not like the dorm life.  He needed more space, more privacy and wanted to be more in control of his living situation.  He was so dedicated to making a change that he took multiple city busses and walked a long ways to visit some potential apartments up for rent.  He also worked hard on an appeal to get out of his year long housing contract.  The appeal was denied, but that did not stop Jaxton from figuring out the next possible solution.  He got his resume together and went out hand delivering resumes to property management companies hoping to score a full time position which would help his financial situation.  That first impression did him well.  He was pulled into a mini interview right there on the spot.  A couple weeks later he was hired, full time.  He withdrew from Purdue in order to cancel his housing contract, scored an amazing lease at a great apartment with fabulous Chinese roommates, identified Purdue equivalent Ivy Tech night classes, and continued taking pre reqs and general eds to keep his credits on course.  Its been a whirlwind of change in about 1 months time.  Its been heavy, hard, extremely stressful, scary, uncomfortable, exciting, and driven.  Jaxton learned that if he wants change, no body will make change for him.  He has to go out there and chase what he wants.  He has to make change if he wants it.  And he did.  And I am so proud of him for doing all of this adulting; for figuring out solutions to his challenges; for moving forward against major forces and for pushing to get what makes him happy.  Congrats on the new job Jax!  And the new house!   And to have your car back!  And for proving that everything is figuroutable!