The Friday Flyer

We've welcomed in the 2017-2018 school year with so many new families joining our community. All in all, children (and staff) are settling in to new routines as the school year brings excitement and new adventures. We thank you for your kindness, patience, and partnership to get the students off to a great start.

Please note the important information included in this edition of our Friday Flyer:

• Students and families will receive information regarding the upcoming solar eclipse. Please read the detailed information below.
• Dr. Robison, Superintendent of Zionsville Community Schools, shares a message about our "Strong in Every Way" campaign. Please be sure to review his message about this important campaign.
• Arrival and dismissal procedures continue to be refined and increase in efficiency. Thank you for your diligence to communicate changes directly to the office, as well as, your child's classroom teacher.
• Ducky (see photo above) continues to search for his home. If a little one from your family lost this little guy on the way to school, he is safely keeping our office staff company. He looks well loved, and is most likely needing his little human.
• Thanks to PTO for the amazing lunch from Chik-fil-A! Your generosity brought enormous smiles to our faces after a very busy week back to school.

Enjoy your weekend,

Tom Hundley, Principal, Boone Meadow

Our Strong in Every Way (#SIEW) campaign to build human capital in Zionsville continues to build momentum. On Thursday, August 3, all ZCS teaching, counseling, administrative, and support staff employees were trained by Integrative Youth Development expert Derek Peterson. We learned about the webs of support necessary to ensure that each student can maximize his or her potential. More than 800 parents partnered with us to see Mr. Peterson in our Performing Arts Center that day as well. The SIEW website (http://www.zcs.k12.in.us/apps/pages/strong_in_every_way) can help you get started if you’re just hearing about webs of support. As a result of Mr. Peterson’s training and encouragement from principals and me, many ZCS teachers augmented their usual start-of-the-year relationship building activities when school started this week. We know for certain that this investment pays positive dividends in student engagement and learning across time.

We gained capacity this week among influential adults by learning more about webs of support, anchors, strings, and more. We must continue to partner well with parents to help build the best possible adult people from today’s students. Please be tuned in as we continue to offer school-home alignment information, learning, and action to help our students be as strong as possible in every way possible!

This is how we do it in Zionsville.

Welcome back.

Scott Robison, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools

As you may know, we are expected to experience a solar eclipse on Monday, August 21st beginning around 1PM, peaking at approximately 2:30PM, and concluding around 4PM.

Please note that the eclipse will be taking place during dismissal times. Schools will dismiss at normal time and buses will run on their normal schedule.

Because all students will be outside for dismissal during the eclipse, it is important that you discuss eclipse eye safety with your child.

During the eclipse, students may be drawn to look directly at the sun and it may be easier than normal to do so because the sun will appear less bright. However, it is never safe to look directly at the sun without appropriate protective eyewear, including during an eclipse. Normal sunglasses do not provide adequate protection.

The eclipse is an exciting educational experience and many of our teachers are planning to view it safely with students. If your student’s teacher has these plans, you will receive a consent form asking for your approval for participation. Through the generous support of the Zionsville Education Foundation, all students will be provided safety glasses. Again, it is important for parents to discuss eclipse eye safety with their child(ren).

Buses provide an excellent transportation option which results in efficiency for arrival and dismissal on our school campus. However, families always have the option to bring their children in cars, or they may walk or bike with their child to the building during fair weather days. We will have crossing guards available unless weather is inclement.

However, if you are planning to bring your child to school by car, please adhere to the following procedures. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Car Riders:

• All car arrivals should enter the Boone Meadow campus via Eagle Church entrance/access road.
  
• When approaching BME lot at end of access road, Kindergarten-4th grade vehicles should form line in right lane. Signage will designate lanes.
• Preschool lane forms on the left.
  
• Wait for staff to motion you forward to begin drop off process.
• 1st-4th grade drop off begins at 7:50; Preschool drop off begins at 8:05; Kindergarten drop off begins at 8:50.
• All drop offs should occur at curb, unless a situation necessitates otherwise. Additional foot traffic at crosswalk delays arrival.
• Students must exit on curb side of vehicle.

Dismissal

Car Riders:

• Please enter campus via Eagle Church access road as noted in arrival procedures above.
• Form lines (K-4th in right lane, and Preschool on left lane)
• Display name of student in front window (rear view mirror area) to assist with flow of students.
• Wait for staff to motion you forward.

Please note: We anticipate a large volume of personal vehicles during arrival and dismissal. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we fine-tune logistics during the first couple of weeks to ensure children are in their proper location.

August 14 - NWEA testing begins

August 14 - School Board Meeting 6:00-7:30

August 16 - Boy and Girl Scouts registration night 6:00-8:00 @ BME (girls in gym, boys in cafe)

August 21 - Solar Eclipse

August 24 - Picture Day and Curriculum Night

August 30th - Up With People visits Boone Meadow

August 31st and September 1st - 4th grade to Camp Tecumseh

Have you ever wanted to go to camp, go rock climbing, plant your own garden, or even become a scientist for a day? These and many other things are just a few of the fun activities you will be enabled to complete as a Girl Scout. You will make new friends, sell cookies, and create bonds that can last a lifetime! You can help those in your community and even around the world while having so much fun with your friends! As a Girl Scout, you can “Make the World a Better Place” through kindness, courage, and love. Join the scouts, and become a leader in Zionsville today.

Registration Day: August 16th

Time: 6-8 pm

Place: Boone Meadow Gym

Questions? Contact April Wishek at aprilddean@yahoo.com

State law stipulates that the medical records of children on file at school show the required immunizations have been completed by the 20th day of the school year. That day is September 5, 2017. Information regarding immunizations requirements for 2017-2018 can be found here.

Parents of children whose immunizations are not up-to-date should contact their health care provider or the Boone County Health Department to schedule an appointment for the necessary immunizations. Some pharmacies also carry the necessary vaccines.

If parents object to immunizations, a written objection must be on file in the school office by September 5, 2017. This must be updated yearly. Children who do not have up to date vaccination records by that date will not be allowed to return to school until the proper immunization information is on file. Students who have appointments with their health care provider after Sept. 5th 2017, must present proof of the scheduled appointment in order to remain in school.

Medication Pick up in the Health Clinic

We are asking for your assistance in picking up any medication that your child currently may have in the health care clinic by May 26, 2017. The clinic is open on school days from 8:00-4:00.

For the safety of our students, all medication must be transported to and from school by an parent/guardian. Any medication that is left in the clinic will be discarded by St. Vincent health professionals.

Please contact Amy Deinlein in the clinic with any questions or concerns.

(317) 873-226 x14104

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VOLUNTEERS

We value partnerships with our families and welcome parents and guardians to serve as volunteers in our schools. Each ZCS building offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.

Examples include:

• Field Trip Chaperones
• Out of Town/Overnight Chaperones
• Tutors
• Volunteer Coaches
• Classroom Helpers (PTO parties/room parents)
• Library Helpers
• After Prom Workers
• Field Day/Jog-A-Thon Volunteers
• Book Fair Sales/Athletic Ticket Sales

During the school day, all volunteers are expected to sign in at the front office. Prior to the volunteer opportunity, all volunteers must sign a Non-disclosure Acknowledgement Form and have successfully completed a Full Criminal History Background Check. Necessary background check paperwork is available on the ZCS website at the Volunteers/BRAVO link and should be submitted at least 10 days prior to the intended volunteer date. Volunteers must also view the state mandated confidentiality/bullying video, provided on the Volunteer/BRAVO website. The volunteer will pay the fee* for the full background check which will expire after 5 years. The link to apply for the full background check can be accessed on the Volunteers/BRAVO link on the ZCS main webpage. For more information, contact the Volunteer/BRAVO Coordinator.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VISITORS

During the school day, all visitors must enter via the front door and sign-in at the front office. Visitors need to be prepared to present a government issued photo ID which will be scanned against the National Sex Offender Registry. All visitors will be issued a visitor badge/tag to be worn inside the building at all times.

Examples Include:

• Lunch Guests
• Classroom Guest Speakers
• Classroom Special Events (Grandparent Day/Famous Hoosiers/etc.)
• Parent/Teacher Conferences

We ask that all visitors schedule an appointment to meet with teachers, counselors, administrators and all other staff members so that we may best serve everyone. Visitors other than parents/guardians must be prearranged and organized through the main office.

*ZCS thanks all volunteers for generous support of our youth and schools. Thank you, too, for supporting assurance of student and staff safety by completing and paying for a volunteer background check.

Email: mcunningham@zcs.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.zcs.k12.in.us/bme/
Location: 5555 S Main St, Whitestown, IN, United States
Phone: 3178732226
Twitter: @ZCSBoone_Meadow