Volume 2
Issue 5
November 30, 2016
MESSAGE FROM MR. GATH
Our first semester has flown by! However, we still have a little less than three valuable weeks
left before winter break. This is a very busy time of the year for everyone. Please pay extra
close attention to the information within this month’s newsletter. There is something for
everyone, including a few fun and educational opportunities for our students to become
involved with. I look forward to seeing all of you here at our Entrepreneur Night on Thursday,
December 8 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Here is a list of the evening’s offerings:
•
Beginning at 5:00 p.m. you can enjoy dinner. Pit Stop BBQ will be offering an entrée
and sides for $5 per plate. Drinks are also included!
•
We have presentations and product sales from student’s project based learning available
from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
•
6th grade Drum performances at 6:15 and 7:15. Sales of drum equipment follow the
performance.
•
The Valley Mills’ Penguin Patch Holiday Shoppe will be available in the PBL room from
5:30 - 8:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for your students to do some holiday shopping of
their own!
•
Prices vary for student and Holiday Shoppe items. The evening’s proceeds will benefit
the Valley Mills student account.
Please take a moment to fill out this survey about school transportation. This is an
important step in advocating for more sidewalks in Decatur Township.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IndyParentSurvey
A MESSAGE ABOUT STUDENTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship Curriculum
Digital Citizenship is the safe, effective and responsible use of technology. Today’s 21st
Century students collaborate, learn and communicate online. The media they are exposed to
has an important impact on their development. At Decatur Township, we prioritize student
learning and safety. As a part of our Digital Transformation, students are more involved with
technology than ever before, and we want to ensure that your student learns to use technology
wisely. To that end, we have implemented the Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship
Curriculum for all Decatur Students. We chose Common Sense because they are the leading
independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and
technology.
We have been teaching Digital Citizenship lessons during library time over the past
semester. Some areas that your student has learned about are making good choices about what
websites to visit, not giving out personal information online, respecting copyrights, effective
online searching and cyber bullying prevention.
If you would like resources to help you guide your student in their use of media, please
go to www.commonsensemedia.org/parent-concerns.
TEXTBOOK RENTAL FEES
Have you paid your fees yet? If not, please make arrangements with the office.
Families that are receiving tuition assistance will still owe $12.00 for the 201617 school year. If you are not receiving assistance, please call the office to set
up a payment plan. When sending textbook rental with students please be sure to
enclose it in an envelope and write the child’s name, teacher’s name and “Book
Rental” on the front. The district now has an EFunds account available for you to make
payments online. You may do so by visiting our township home page at
www.msddecatur.k12.in.us. The EFunds online payment is a link that can be found under
“Families”, then “E Billing”. We can also accept credit card payments over the phone by calling
the office at 317-856-6363. Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
2017-18 School Calendar now available!
The Decatur township school board approved the new school calendar for next year. A few
changes include one week of fall break in October, and a full week at Thanksgiving break.
These changes will enable us to start school a little later next year, August 1 st! To see the full
calendar, go to http://www.msddecatur.k12.in.us, click on the “About” tab and choose “News”.
Come visit Santa at the Log Cabin
5106 S. High School Rd (Across the street from Valley Mills)
Saturday, December 10, 12-4pm / 6-8pm
Sunday, December 11, 12-5pm
Saturday, December 17, 12-4pm/6-8pm
Sunday, December 18, 12-5pm
Framed Picture with Santa $5
Warm, fresh cookies $1
Hot chocolate $1
Hand-painted ornaments $1
Any family that would like to inquire about Christmas assistance can call the
Goodwin Center at 317-247-5201.
We will be selling lollipops on Wednesday, December 7th and 14th during your child’s lunch
period. Lollipops are only $1.00, and there are over 30 flavors to choose from! Please continue
collecting your box tops and pop tabs. We will have another box top collection sheet coming
home soon and this will be due back to your teachers by Monday, December 12th, 2016. The
classroom with the most collected box tops will win a FREE POPCORN PASS to use on our
next popcorn Friday.
Decatur Township is pleased to announce that we are entering a partnership with the
Indianapolis Public Library. Through this partnership, we are providing the library with a list
of our students, and they are going to match the list with their database. If a student does not
currently have a library card, they will be issued one. This program has been very successful at
other Indianapolis school districts, such as Lawrence Township.
The special card students receive will give them access to all of the library’s digital
materials, such as databases of magazine and journal articles, downloadable ebooks,
emagazines and audio books. In addition, it will give them very limited access to physical
items, such as regular books. Of course, you can change this to a full access card by visiting
your library. This is an outstanding opportunity for your student. If for any reason you do not
wish for your child to participate, please contact our school office for paperwork to opt out.
Any questions or concerns about the program can be directed to Lynn Hodgkin,
Elementary Media Coordinator, at 317-856-2221.
Did you know that Valley Mills has a recycle bin in the office for you plastic grocery bags?
Drop of your bags here and they will be recycled into mats and pillows to benefit the area
homeless and Indianapolis shelters. Would you rather donate your time? Contact Susan
Phillips 317-402-8000 and ask how you can be of service!
Decatur Central High School baseball is hosting its 4th Annual Kid’s Night Out Friday,
December 9th from 6:30- 10:00pm in the main high school gym. Kids, ages 5-12, will be able
to play games, make crafts, and have fun with adult supervision provided by the coaches and
parents of the baseball team. Cost per kid is $20 with $10 for additional kids in a family. All
kids will be provided with a snack and drink with admission. Bring a new, unopened toy and
receive $5 off registration. All toys will be donated to the Goodwin Center to support youth in
our community for Christmas. Make checks payable to DCHS Baseball. Parents must
accompany kids to drop off and pick up inside the gym. Enter door #16. Registration will
begin at 6:15pm. Email [email protected] for more details and to RSVP. Over
50 kids came last year and we are ready for more!!!
POPCORN FRIDAYS
Valley Mills is still celebrating Popcorn Fridays each week! A large bag of popcorn is $1.00, and
a small bag is $.50. All proceeds will benefit the Staff Fund.
Field Trip Chaperone Reminders
Many classes are planning field trips in the next couple of months. While we want and need
chaperones to make it a safe and fun learning experience for all, we need to remind you of our
guidelines:
 Chaperones must pass a Criminal History Check prior to being assigned to go on a field
trip. The application is online and must be completed well in advance of the trip. Some
trips allow unlimited numbers of chaperones, but we are required to limit the number of
chaperones on other trips. Your child’s teacher will let you know if we are able to take
all available chaperones or if we have to limit the number who can go.
 ONLY approved chaperones can go on any school trip. This means no other adults or
children can join the group at a field trip site. If you are not an approved chaperone and
you “show up” at the field trip site, you will have to sign your child out from school
(with the teacher) and your child will have to leave the field trip group. This means you
may have to pay the public entry fee for your child as well as yourself. Your child will
be marked as an “early dismissal” on his attendance record. We would encourage you to
plan your family visits to popular sites outside of field trip days. Your child would
probably love to have both experiences!
 Remember that our first priority will always be the safety and security of our students.
Thanks for your understanding!
PTO MEETING
WHEN:
Thursday, December 1, 2016
PTO
WHERE:
Valley Mills Multi-Media Center
TIME:
6:30 p.m.
OTHER:
Free childcare is provided
You play an important part in providing our students with a successful school year!
TEAM TIME
WHEN:
WHERE:
TIME:
Thursday December 15, 2016
Valley Mills Gym
9:05 a.m.
You will need a photo ID to be permitted into the building!
ABSENCES
Please don’t forget to call school at 856-6363, extension 1998, each day before 9:00 a.m. to
report an absent child or send a note upon the child’s return to school. Please see the student
handbook in the policy section for unexcused absences (page 3).
TARDIES
Students learn so many things at school each day and it is important to be here on
time. Hopefully, you would agree this is also a life skill and responsibility. The
School Board approved Tardy Policy spells out consequences for students not at
school by 8:55 a.m. Please read the policies in the student handbook.
If your child is tardy, please walk them to the office and sign them in with our
Raptor System, it requires a parent to electronically sign in their child. Thank you in advance
for getting your children to school on time and ready to learn each day.
FIREFIGHTER FRIDAYS AT VALLEY MILLS
Firefighter Friday was a huge success last year and I am pleased to
announce the program will continue this year! Many students were able to
sit, eat lunch and play games with our Decatur Township Firefighters.
Selected classrooms will choose two students to sit at a lunch table with
firefighters who will be here in the building on the first Friday of the month for
lunch. Students will be chosen based on good classroom behavior. The next opportunity
for students to earn this privilege will be on Friday, December 2 for 1st and 2nd graders.
CULVER’S SCOOPIE POINTS!!
Please help our Physical Education class acquire PE equipment by saving Scoopie Points from
your Culver’s kid’s meals. There is a container in the front office to collect the points. For
every ten points, we receive equipment for recess.
KROGER REWARDS
Every time you use your Kroger Rewards card to purchase groceries, you can also help Valley
Mills. Register your card number at http://www.kroger.com/communityrewards and a portion of
your total sales will be donated to Valley Mills. Any questions, please contact Amy Mikeworth
at [email protected].
MARSH FRESH IDEA CARD
Sign your Marsh Fresh Ideas savings card up to help Valley Mills. You may enroll your
card at: http://www.freshideasforeducation.com/. Any questions, please contact Amy
Mikeworth at [email protected].
AROUND THE DISTRICT
COMMUNITY DINNERS
The Decatur Township Schools and Second Helpings invite everyone to join us for free
community dinners. All dinners are served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the following sites:
Mondays-Valley Mills Elementary, 5101 S. High School Road
Tuesdays-Stephen Decatur Elementary, 3425 S. Foltz Street
Thursday-Blue/Gold Academies, 5650 Mann Road
DECATUR PROUD LICENSE PLATES
Support Decatur Township by purchasing a metal “Decatur Proud” license plate for the front of
your vehicle. The cost is $10 (cash only) and the profits from the plates sold help the students in
our building.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 1
-
PTO meeting 6:30 pm
December 5
-
Community dinner 5:30-6:30
December 8
-
Entrepreneur Night 5:00-8:00
December 10
-
Santa at the log cabin 12-4pm and 6-8pm
December 11
-
Santa at the log cabin 12-5pm
December 12
-
Community Dinner 5:30-6:30
December 15
-
Team Time 9:05
December 17
-
Santa at the log cabin 12-4pm and 6-8pm
December 18
-
Santa at the log cabin 12-5pm
December 16-30
-
Holiday Break
From the Board of Education: "It is the Board's commitment to provide a safe, positive, productive and nurturing
educational environment for all of its students. Any individual who believes a student has been or is the victim of
discrimination, bullying, or harassment should report the situation to the building principal or designee or
complete the School District's Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying report form, which is available online at
www.msddecatur.k12.in.us."