Parent To Parent
District Newsletter
V O L U M E
IMPORTANT
DISTRICT
DATES
January 12, Tuesday
SES/EPS/EIS Skate Night
Western Skateland, 6:30 - 8:30
January 14, Thursday
EIS PTO Meeting, 5:30 - 6:30
SES PTO Meeting, 7 - 8
8th Grade Parent Night, 7 - 8
EHS (Students and Parents)
January 18, Monday
MLK, Jr. Day
NO SCHOOL
January 21, Thursday
EIS GIRLS’ Night Out
5:45 - 8:15 Enter front doors
Please RSVP. Flyers sent home.
January 25, Monday
EJHS PTO Meeting 6:30
January 28, Thursday
EIS GUYS’ Night Out
5:45 - 8:15 Enter front doors
Please RSVP. Flyers sent home.
February 4, Thursday
SES Movie Night 6 - 8
Tivoli Theater in Spencer
EPS PTO Meeting 6:30 - 7:30
February 5, Friday
EJHS Valentine’s Dance 6-8
District Website:
rbbcsc.k12.in.us
PARENT
EDITORS
Kimberly Good &
Amy Lanham
Please contact Jill Ferguson if
you have comments or
suggestions for our newsletter. [email protected]
5 ,
I S S U E
7 R
J A N U A R Y
2 0 1 6
Snow Day Make-Ups & Spring Break Schedule
It was bound to happen! Snow day #1 for 1/11 will be made up on 5/25.
Additional days will go in the following order:
5/25, 5/26, 5/27, 5/31, 6/1, 6/2, 3/25, 3/24, 3/23, 3/22, and 3/21
(Spring Break is scheduled Monday, March 14 through Friday, March 25.)
2 HOUR DELAYS:
A 2 hour-delay on regular school days means your child will attend school (and be
picked up from the bus) exactly 2 hours later than normal.
A 2 hour-delay on a Late-Start Wednesday means that the day will be like a REGULAR
2 hour-delay and start 2 hours later than a REGULAR schedule (NOT 2 1/2 hours.)
EMERGENCY EARLY DISMISSALS:
An early dismissal will be called in an emergency situation where the school feels it is in
the students’ best interest and safety to leave school before the normally scheduled
dismissal time. This is often due to weather and road conditions. All students must
have a plan listed in Harmony for this situation. Teachers and school staff cannot
make individualized calls to parents and guardians to ask or confirm this plan. It must
be kept updated at all times.
DIDN’T GET A CALL?
If you did NOT get a call from Dr. Wilcox about the snow day or 2 hour-delay, you need
to log into Harmony and update your telephone information. You may want to add
other household numbers to ensure getting a call. Please double check all information
while you are there, including the early dismissal plan you have in place for EACH of
your children. If you continue to have issues, please contact your child’s school.
PREPARED FOR THE COLD?
As we continue into some colder days, please make sure your child has the proper
clothing for the cold temperatures and weather. Students need to be able to wait for the
bus, spend 20+ minutes at recess, wait outside at dismissal, and be able to comfortably
wait if a bus or car were to stall coming or going to school. Packing an extra hat and
mittens in his or her backpack is a great idea, especially when weather becomes
unpredictable or simply because your child may forget, lose, or refuse to wear his or her
regular hat/gloves. They’ve been known to do that!
RUNNING LATE AT DROP OFF? Walk your child in.
As the temperatures get colder, it is tempting to want to drop your child at the door and
stay in the warm car, especially if you have a toddler or baby with you. If it is past dropoff time and school staff has already gone into the building, it is imperative that you
park and walk your child into the building. Please, do NOT leave young children or
siblings unattended in a parked vehicle.
Lifeline of the Month:
Cooperation—To work together!
Tuesday, January 12 Evening Storytime & Craft for Families ® An evening storytime, movie, and
craft for the entire family. Craft supplies provided. All ages 6:30–7:30 PM
Tuesday, January 19 Block Party ® Join us for a fun, interactive, educational playtime. Playing with
blocks is more than just building a tower. Block play builds a foundation for future learning by enhancing social, math, science, spatial, and motor skills. Led by Emily Roth, Health and Human Sciences Educator for Purdue Extension–Monroe County. For ages 8-months to 8-years. 6–7 PM
Tuesday, January 26 LEGO Club ® Unleash your imagination and creativity with fellow LEGO fans.
Each session brings a new building challenge. LEGOs provided. Ages 5–12 6:30–7:30 PM
Wednesday, January 27 DIY Felt Bowls This quick and easy craft is great for organizing jewelry, keys, beads, or anything small. Get your room together and make it look cute too! Ages 12–19 3:30–5 PM
Friday, January 29 T.C. Steele Hand-Building with Clay Workshop ® Caroline Gilchrist leads a hand-building with
clay workshop. Gilchrist visits us from the T.C. Steele State Historic site, which is providing the clay, tools, and molds
for this free workshop. Ages 9–12 4:30–5:30 PM Ellettsville Branch Sponsored by the Friends of T.C. Steele State Historic Site and grants
from the Indiana Arts Commission, the Brown
County Community Foundation, and the National
Endowment for the Arts.
MCPL FREE Math & Science Help!
EJHS & EHS Students
Wednesday evenings
Drop-in from 7 - 9 p.m.
Ellettsville Branch Library
Harmony 3—Family Access
The new version, Harmony 3—Family Access is set up so that parents have a
separate username and password than their children. Emails were sent out in
November with a pass code for parents to open Harmony 3 and log in. If you have
not done this yet, please do so immediately. Now is also a good time to update
addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, pick-up authorizations, and any other
record that needs updated. You can also set up notifications to let you know your
child’s weekly grades, attendance, and overdue library books. Our phone system
also uses this information to send out delays, cancellations, and early dismissals.
If you cannot find this email, please contact the office
secretary of your child’s school.
Reading Strategies for
Elementary Students
Contributed by Mr. Hopkins, SES Principal
Fluent readers use a variety of strategies to understand text
(whether it is a chapter book, a scientific magazine or a cookie
recipe). Research shows that efficient reading strategies can be
taught and that the key to using these strategies effectively is
practice. What follows are tips by the experts to help your child
practice reading. These strategies have been identified by
research as “best practices.”
Each month for the remainder of the school year, I will
highlight three new strategies for you to build upon
with your child.
Strategy #1
Don't leave home without it. Bring along a book or magazine any time your child has to wait, such as at a doctor's
office or for a long car ride. Always try to fit in reading.
Strategy #2
Once is not enough. Encourage your child to re-read favorite books and poems. Re-reading helps children build
fluency, speed and accuracy.
Strategy # 3
Dig deeper into the story. Ask your child questions
about the story you've just read. Ask, "Why do you think
Charlie did that? What else could he have done?"
Try these strategies at home during the month of January
and see how your child's reading success grows!
EPS PTO
Contact: Kelli Paul
Email: [email protected]
Next Meeting: February 4th: 6:30 - 7:30 (1st Thursdays)
January Events:
12th: Skate Night: 6:30-8:30. Glow Night!
“Like” our Facebook Page: EDGEWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL PTO
EIS PTO
Contact: Jessica Weisner
Email: [email protected]
Next Meeting: January 14th 5:30—6:30
January Events:
12th: Skate Night 6:30 - 8:30 Glow Night!
“Like” the school’s Facebook page: EDGEWOOD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
SES PTO
Contact: Lisa Champelli
Email: [email protected]
Next Meeting: January 14th 7:00-8:00 (Library)
January Events:
Jan. 12th: Skate Night 6:30 - 8:30 (Glow Night!)
Thursday, Feb. 4th: Family Movie Night at The Historic Tivoli
Theater in Spencer. Details to come!
Visit our Facebook page: STINESVILLE PTO
We'd love to learn your ideas, too, for good ways to support your
child's school and teachers. Join us at an upcoming meeting, or
email us at: [email protected]
EJHS PTO
Contact: JF Burton
Email: [email protected]
Next Meeting: January 25th 6:30 Media Center
February Events
5th: Valentine’s Dance 6:00 - 8:00; Tickets $5 each. Students
who buy a presale ticket will get a glow bracelet at the door!
EIS Third Grade Author — Changing the World for the Better
EIS third grader and resident author Alan Martindale, is at it again! He has written another book to fund his charity of choice this year,
supporting the Polio Plus fund of The Rotary Foundation to help with polio eradication. This is Alan’s fourth book and charity.
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In Kindergarten he wrote, Alan’s Adventure in Fantasy Land - 2013 Raised $707. Sold 44 books.
Supported Salvation Army’s command in Liberia/Sierra Leone (he wanted to give the money to “the poorest country”)
In First grade he wrote, Alan’s Adventure in Video Land - 2014 Collected 136 food items and $270. Sold 48 books.
Supported Hoosier Hills Food Bank in Bloomington, IN. Cost of book was minimum of 3 non-perishable food items.
In Second grade he wrote, Alan’s Adventure in Energy Land - 2015 Raised $885. Sold 71 books.
Supported World Food Program USA to help Syrian refugees.
This year in Third grade he has written, Alan’s Adventure in Spy Land, Part 1 and Part 2
Supporting the Polio Plus fund of The Rotary Foundation to help with polio eradication.
Support Alan this year!
1. Alan has written two books this year:
2.
3.
Alan’s Adventure in Spy Land Part 1 and Part 2.
For a $5 donation, you will receive Part 1 of the story. For a donation of $10 or more, you
will receive Part 1 and Part 2. Each part is just over 20 pages.
You can choose to receive an e-mail copy of the book(s) as a PDF, or paper copies in a
plastic cover like previous years. Printed copies are double-sided. If you anticipate only
reading the books once, please consider requesting the e-mailed PDF version.
You have three payment options: cash to me (and I will write a check), check payable to The Rotary Foundation (Polio Plus in
the memo line), or make a donation online at http://www.endpolio.org/ . If you pay online, send Pam an e-mail.
Please spread the word to anyone who might be interested in supporting this project: [email protected]. Please contact Pam
Martindale (Alan’s mom) at this address with orders or questions. We are collecting orders through Monday, January 18.
MORE THAN PLAY
Register Now for Youth Basketball!
For more information on NW Basketball programs, please contact: Chris
Stone at 812-961-2360 or [email protected]; MonroeCountyYMCA.org Season Runs January 11 - February 29
This program promises to deliver a fun introduction to the
game of basketball. A special age appropriate sized basketball and lowered hoops will help to ensure every child’s
success. From shooting, dribbling, and passing skills, confidence building is the key ingredient in the program. Along
with ball handling and shooting skills, children are ready to
work on teamwork.
4-H Enrollment in Monroe County is currently
going on until Friday, January 15, 2016.
New members can call or e-mail our office, or visit the website to find
out more. 4-H is for youth in grades 3 through 12, and Mini 4-H is for
youth in grades K through 2. We have over 60 projects that include aerospace, veterinary science, crafts, sport fishing, computers, Legos, dogs
and much, much more!
4-H is a great way to get involved in the community, develop communication and leadership skills and explore many different interests. 4-H
offers trips, activities, scholarships and
more to all of its members.
Please contact the Purdue Extension –
Monroe County to find out more and get
involved!
Phone: 812-349-2575
E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://extension.purdue.edu/
Scheduling
Freshman scheduling appointments have
begun.
8th Grade Parent Night (students encouraged to attend) is Thursday,
Jan. 14th from 7 –8 p.m.
at EHS Auditorium.
8th grade appointments (at EJHS) will begin on Tues., Jan.
19th.
IU Bereavement Team Offers
Free Support Group to Children
Our bereavement team will be offering a 6 week Healing
Hearts support group for children ages 6-16 on Mondays
at 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. February 1 through March
7. Please have interested parents and guardians call to
receive registration forms and further information.
Healing Hearts is for any child in the community who has
experienced the death of someone close. Trained Hospice
staff and volunteers will assist the participants in processing
their loss through talking, stories, games, crafts, and videos. There is no fee for the group and after-school snacks
are provided each week.
Cindy Molthan and Pat Muyskens
IU Health Bloomington Hospice
Bereavement Team
812-353-9818; 800-206-5200
[email protected]; [email protected]
As tax season kicks off, we want to make sure that you have the latest information about the 2016 Free Community Tax
Service (FCTS). The FCTS provides free tax filing assistance to low- and moderate-income residents at no charge. Last
year, FCTS helped residents in Monroe and Owen counties file more than 3,500 federal and Indiana income tax returns.
Because FCTS uses IRS-certified volunteers, it is FREE - saving you hundreds of dollars!
Free Community Tax Service offers one-on-one tax preparation (both walk-in and by appointment) and free e-filing for
federal and state taxes. The service runs from January 26 to April 18. FCTS preparers will also help taxpayers claim valuable tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a special refundable tax benefit for working
people who earn less than around $54,000 annually. The EITC can result in a significant income boost – up to $6,242 for
families that qualify.
Dates, times, locations, and additional information is available on the United Way of Monroe County website
at www.MonroeUnitedWay.org/FreeTaxes or call 2-1-1.
Our Caring Community Should Be Proud!
In the last two months, our RBB community has stepped up and helped one another in so many ways!
There have been food and household supply drives, donations to those with sick family members, and
several families, churches, and schools who have helped provide Christmas to those in need.
This year nearly 130 RBB students were in need for Christmas. Several of these students were provided
for by local churches and generous families who purchased items from the IGA wish tree (in connection
with LeAnn Freeman & Hoosier Bar & Grill). EIS PTO and a silent benefactor were able to fund for 9
children. EPS PTO with the annual Santa’s Workshop event was able to fund for 35 children — where
100% of the proceeds made at the event went straight to these kids. If you or your family was one of the
850—1,000 people that came that night, besides having a great meal and lots of fun — you helped make
Christmas for several families!
A large thank you to all who donated directly, and /or participated at Santa’s Workshop in the form of
volunteering, supply donations, decorations, or simply by attending! Several EPS teachers, EPS PTO
moms, and EIS PTO moms spent hours helping to shop for clothing and that perfect gift for these students.
A special thank you to our elf friends!
A HUGE THANK YOU to those who contributed to the Silent Auction!
Pourhouse Café
Oliver Winery
Stephanie Lynn Photography
Diane & Jeff Orland
Monroe County YMCA
Bloomington United Gymnastics School
Learning Treasures
IU Athletic Department
Shoot Along 2016
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
Aver’s Pizza
Cardinal Stage Company
Buskirk-Chumley Box Office
In A Yarn Basket
Bucceto’s Smiling Teeth
Rising Star Gymnastics Club
Chelsea’s
Yankee Candle
Half Price Books
Hallmark
Target
Mary M’s
Cardinal Spirits
Wonderlab Museum
Indianapolis Children’s Museum
No Frye Zone
Gail Lawrence & Barbie Strange Perfect Illusion
Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Melissa Wickens – Mary Kay
Anna Summitt – doTerra
Mrs. Whitaker and EPS
Gold Caster’s Fine Jewelry
Maurices
Lois Paul
Kelli & Tim Paul
Starbucks
Nat & Katie Hill
Jaime Miller – Thirty-One Gifts