Oy! What a week!?!? Delays, e-Days, water boil, cancelations... I'm deeply grateful for families and staff that extended grace and flexibility during these unexpected events. Let's keep our fingers crossed for some calm smooth days ahead.

In spite of what was tossed in our courts this week, good things still happened, right? I saw staff and students navigate their e-Days like pros. (See the photo with the entire family of BME students participate in Wellness at home!) Our amazing facilities team cleaned numerous acres of parking lots and sidewalks and flushed our water systems for safe drinking water. BAC provided care when everything else was shut down, and learning opportunities for students continued to abound.

I am grateful for this school community.

A few other items to note as we look at the days ahead:

Yearbook Ordering: Yearbooks continue to be available for order this week. Link and more detailed information is located below. Please note that orders are due this coming Friday, February 26th.

Kindergarten "Strong Start" & Incoming Kindy Registration: As you can see by the advertisement below, we are taking a different approach to what we've historically referred to as Kindergarten Round Up. Kindergarten STRONG START will begin soon. Read more below and share with neighbors and community friends.

Crosswalk: The crosswalk will remain closed until further notice. We will inform families when it will safely reopen for our walkers. Until then, please use our car drop off and pick up procedures.

Thankful for you and the community we serve.

In this together,

Tom

Amanda Gorman is making history. This US Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate, shares her poem of "Talking Gets Us There" on PBS Kids.

Get your Valentine's Ice-cream and help support BME PTO!

For every family pack that is ordered,

Fundae's will donate 15% back to BME, so grab your favorite flavors!

Orders must be placed by Feb 17th and picked up Feb 19-20th. Place your orders here: https://bme-dine-to-donate.square.site/

Future Dine for Dollars/Why Cook Wednesday opportunities:

• Applebee's in Brownsburg on February 24th.
• Marco's Pizza - early March (TBD)

It's time to order your child's 2020-21 Yearbook and your child should have brought home a paper form this week. The cost this year is $15.00. Please follow the link below to place your order online.

Click Here To Order:

https://cp-school-portraits.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/LoginConsumer?EK=159431

ORDER DEADLINE: February 26 (late orders cannot be guaranteed a yearbook).

February - Black History Month

February 25 - 4th grade to 5th grade transition (virtual - check email for SchoolMessenger from Matt Doublestein/ZWEST)

March 12 - End of Quarter 3

March 14 - Daylight Savings Time

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day

March 28 - Palm Sunday/Passover

April 2 - April 9 - Spring Break

April 2 - Good Friday

April 4 - Easter

April 13 - Ramadan Starts

April 15 - ZWest Music visit to BME

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

May 13 - Eid

May 26 - Last day of school

May 27 - Teacher work day

May 31 - Memorial Day

Child Find is the process for locating, identifying, and evaluating individuals with suspected disabilities who may need special education services, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. This is the responsibility of ZCS regardless of whether a parent affirmatively requests an evaluation. ZCS provides a Free Appropriate Public Education to any child who qualifies as having a disability, in accordance with federal and state laws. ZCS is responsible for locating all children ages 3 through 22 years of age with a suspected disability who reside within the boundaries of its district. With early identification and intervention, frustration and academic failure can be prevented, which in turn creates a positive learning experience for students. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), which encompasses academics and/or social and emotional learning, is an essential component of the child find process. Utilizing screening assessments, the ZCS team members identify students in

need of intervention, implement action plans, and monitor the response to the targeted interventions. In addition, the evaluation referral procedures in ZCS provide the framework to refer students with suspected disabilities for evaluation.

Speech Assistance Program

The Speech Assistance Program is designed to provide support to students with single sound articulation errors that are not age appropriate within the general education setting. Following the MTSS approach, this program allows for early identification and treatment of mild articulation disorders so students receive assistance without having to be identified under special education. The Speech Assistance Program is a three-tiered system in which progress is monitored to determine if additional supports are needed. If adequate progress is not demonstrated, a referral for evaluation will be prompted to determine eligibility under special education.

Dear Families of BME Walkers & Bike Riders –

Safety is one of our highest concerns for students and staff at BME. Please read carefully in effort to partner for your child’s safety as they utilize the crosswalk, especially during dismissal at the end of the day.

• In effort to provide families the opportunity to utilize the car rider line on tricky weather days (or dodge construction on fire hydrants), all walkers/bikers will be dismissed last each day. You will note that our car line will have approximately 10-20 cars remaining in line when we call walkers/bikers from their classrooms for dismissal. This results in your child leaving the building and being escorted to the crosswalk 5-10 minutes later than you are currently accustomed.
• Secondly and whenever possible, please meet your child(ren) at the crosswalk. BME staff can assist students to the edge of school property, and they will serve to assist students as they cross South Main Street. As we consider the safety of students and staff, we are unable to assist students to the pool/playground parking lot at Clark Meadows as BME staff cannot be liable for safety (crossing streets, traffic, etc…) once off school property.

As always, we thank you for your partnership as we strive to keep students and staff safe.

ZCS wants to keep you informed as we continue to navigate through these times. Our district website houses much important COVID information in one location for your access.

Please click HERE (or the "mask up" image) for information regarding:

• Quarantine guidance
• Screening information
• Close contact information
• Secondary Hybrid schedules
• Parent Resources
• and other important information.

Within a 10-15 minutes window each morning and each afternoon, we strive to ensure that all 550+ students are transported safely to where they need to be. At dismissal each day, all students remain in their classrooms until called for buses, cars, BAC, walkers, etc.. Behind the scenes is a network of staff and communication that works cohesively to get children where they need to go. Thank you to all families that follow our daily routines and procedures. We would not be able to keep children safe without your cooperation.

Below, you will find some updates regarding arrival and dismissal:

Car Riders:

• Thank you for keeping our fire lane clear until signaled by staff to pull up. The fire lane must remain clear as much as possible for potential emergency needs and school deliveries.
• Displaying car/family numbers in an easy to see manner is greatly beneficial. Ball point pen writing on a post it placed on your dash is hard for my old eyes to see, so bold numbers hanging from the rear view mirror or attached to the passenger sun visor assists in moving vehicles efficiently through the line.
• Please reduce idling when possible. The build up of vehicle emissions is not only harmful for the environment, but also creates unhealthy air quality for staff and students.

Walker/Bikers:

Safety is one of our highest concerns for students and staff at BME. Please read carefully in effort to partner for your child’s safety as they utilize the crosswalk, especially during dismissal at the end of the day.

• In effort to provide families the opportunity to utilize the car rider line on tricky weather days (or dodge construction on fire hydrants), all walkers/bikers will be dismissed last each day. You will note that our car line will have approximately 10-20 cars remaining in line when we call walkers/bikers from their classrooms for dismissal. This results in your child leaving the building and being escorted to the crosswalk 5-10 minutes later than you are currently accustomed.
• Secondly and whenever possible, please meet your child(ren) at the crosswalk. BME staff can assist students to the edge of school property, and they will serve to assist students as they cross South Main Street. As we consider the safety of students and staff, we are unable to assist students to the pool/playground parking lot at Clark Meadows as BME staff cannot be liable for safety (crossing streets, traffic, etc…) within your neighborhood.

As always, we thank you for your partnership as we strive to keep students and staff safe.

Significant weather (walkers/bikers) - When weather is inclement with heavy rain, heavy snow, sleet, etc...walking to school is highly discouraged. The office team will make the decision if staff will be present at the crosswalk.

• If families decide to walk to school and no crosswalk staff is present, an adult or family member must safely escort students to the front doors. The doors will open at 7:50 for arrival, and families should wait at the front doors with their students until the doors open.

• Dismissal on inclement weather days: Walkers and bikers will be dismissed after car riders (approximately 2:35). This allows families to use the car line for pick up. Simply display your family number while you are in line and pick up your child(ren) at the front door with staff assistance.

• In the event of questionable or severe weather, families must utilize the car rider procedures instead of walking/biking. (stormy weather, lightning, sleet, you need to get Toto before going to the Land of Oz...)

• Please do not bypass the car rider line and request to pick up students from the parking lot, other school sidewalks, etc... Again, we must adhere to all procedures for the safety of students and staff.

ZCS and the Zionsville Diversity Coalition partnered to create a list of mentor texts that support our elementary adopted literacy curriculum. Books donated will be placed in our elementary classrooms for teachers to use and to offer our students mirrors (seeing themselves), windows (seeing others), and doors (opportunities to learn about differences) because in ZCS, EVERYONE BELONGS!

Click on the "Community Flyer" image to get information regarding local events and opportunities throughout the Zionsvile and neighboring communities. You can also click on the link below.

You can utilize School Pay to pay for textbook rentals and to fund lunch accounts. Information about School Pay as well as additional lunch details, such as the monthly menu, can be found on the Food Services website.

Email: thundley@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