Hoping you are enjoying this beautiful weekend.

Jog-a-thon (JAT) is September 22! We are excited for the return of this event on September 22nd. The Jog-a-thon launch was on Thursday, and hopefully, your child brought home information regarding the day. Note the following important items and information:

• Volunteers - All volunteers (working the event & working with children on the day) must be signed up through the BME Sign Up Genius Site (link and info below). You will need to complete CoVID screeners, as well as, have an updated background check. Please check in at the office when you arrive.
• Visitors: We are now able to receive visitors for JAT in our "Cheer Section!". Bring your signs and pom-poms to cheer your child! Please check in at the front of the building.
• More details are available via newsletter and information that was sent home. (JAT Packet and JAT newsletter)

BME BIO Blitz- Please see information below regarding this unique opportunity for our students, staff and families to work together in identifying the living things on our campus.

Dine for Dollars - Our next September Dine for Dollar experiences is at Papa Johns this coming Wednesday (9/22/21).(See flyer below for more information)

Together,
Tom Hundley

The first ever, BME Bioblitz is just two weeks away! All families are invited to join Mrs. Benson for the Bioblitz from 9:00-Noon on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021. We will run the event in two waves (9-10:30 and 10:30-noon). Choose one, or you can choose to stay for the whole time!

A bioblitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. Boone Meadow families and interested staff will work together to take photos of every species we can find! We will then use apps and other resources to identify them. We will search for plants, insects, mammals, birds, fungi, and more. We will comb our campus from Main Street to the treelines at the back of our property. By the end of our event, we will have a fairly complete list of species that call BME their home. We can continue to add to this project over time.

Interested families are invited to pre-register HERE. Registration is not required, but will help Mrs. Benson to plan appropriately and contact participants if we need to cancel due to weather. When you register, you will get additional information about what apps to download ahead of time and how the event will run.

Lastly, If you are an expert at identifying plants, mammals, insects, or other living things, (or know someone who is) please consider volunteering to help Mrs. Benson on the day of the event. You can email her at kbenson@zcs.k12.in.us.

Our Student directory is now updated! Many thanks to the PTO for organizing this helpful resource! If you have never used our student directory, just follow these easy steps:

• Go to www.directoryspot.net or download the “Directory Spot” app on a smart phone. Click “Login”.
• Enter your email address as your Username, and click on “Reset Password”. An email will be sent to you with a link to set your password.
• Click on the link in the email to set your password and to log in.

If you have trouble logging in, please contact PTO volunteer Eileen Adam at eileenadam@hotmail.com.

Also note that if your information has changed, you can update it by logging in on a computer (not available through the app).

PTO's biggest fundraiser of the year is Wednesday, September 22nd.

Through the generosity of our community and the support we receive through this event, Boone Meadow is able to support student learning through increased literacy resources, educational experiences, study trips, technology integration, campus improvements, and more. The annual Jog-A-Thon fundraiser is an exciting tradition where 100% of the proceeds raised stay at Boone Meadow for students and the school community.

September 21 - Sukkot (21-27)

September 22 - Jog-a-thon; Dine for Dollars @ Papa Johns

October 2 - Boone Meadow BioBlitz (hosted by Mrs. Benson) 9:00-Noon

October 4-8 - Fire Safety Week

October 5 - End of Quarter 1

October 6 - Dine for Dollars - Panda Express

October 7 - Picture Retake/Make-up Day

October 11-15 - Fall Break

October 20 - Dine for Dollars - Bub's Burgers

October 26 - Regular school day w/ Family/student conferences (PM)

October 27 - E-Day & Family/Student Conferences

November 3 - Dine for Dollars @ Marco's Pizza

November 7 - Daylight Savings Time ends

November 11 - Veterans Day

November 24-26 - Thanksgiving Break (no school)

December 6-17 - NWEA testing window

December 17 - End of Quarter 2/Semester 1

December 20-31 - Winter Break (no school)

January 17 - MLK Jr. Day (no school)

January 18 - Teacher professional development day (no school for students)

February 14 - Valentine's Day

February 21-25 - Presidents' Day/February Break (no school)

March 15 - End of Quarter 3

April 1-8 - Spring Break (no school)

May 25 - Last day of school

May 26- June 3 - Make up days (if needed)

May 30 - Memorial Day (no school)

Q: How does the new Executive Order from Gov. Holcombe (8/31) impact school contact tracing?

A: IF individuals are wearing masks with fidelity in the classroom & on the bus, people who are contact traced will not need to quarantine unless they are exhibiting symptoms. We will still need to notify and document the contact tracing, but if no symptoms exist and the individuals were properly wearing masks, they would not need to quarantine.

Lunchtime is when contact tracing/quarantine does apply and the 6' rule will apply as well. Quarantined individuals can still return on day 8 if they receive a negative test (rapid in lab or PCR) on day 5, 6, or 7 after exposure - or stay out for the full 14 days.

Q: What about symptoms? What symptoms must we watch and keep our child from school?

A: Every morning, families should take note of if their child is showing symptoms of illness. We know this can be complicated, frustrating, and inconvenient as we strive to keep our learning environments as healthy as possible. Fevers, sore throats, new onset of intense headache, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, coughing or shortness of breath, or new loss of taste or smell are the common symptoms and students will be required (per health department mandates) to quarantine for ten days from the start of symptoms. Student may return to school/activities sooner with a physician document stating they may return OR a negative PCR CoVID test. (This is regardless of vaccination status)

Q: If one child is home with symptoms, must my other children stay home as well?

A: Siblings of ill students will need to be picked up if at school. Siblings will need to follow quarantine guidelines.

More information regarding COVID protocols is located here on the ZCS website.

ZCS C-19 Protocol

The biggest change – BAGEL YOGURTS will be BACK ON TUESDAY!!!!

Cream Cheese and Peanut Butter cups will be available in the lunch line.

Thanks so much for your patience as we make menus available in two week increments.

Click HERE for an easy way to set up Low Balance reminders for your ZCS lunch accounts.

Click HERE to see if you want to come join our team!

Call Jan at 317-733-4804 to discuss ZCS Food Service opportunities!

At this time, due to CoVID 19 restraints, we are "pausing" on volunteers and visitors. When volunteers are needed and approved, appropriate staff members will reach out to you in effort to welcome your support and assistance.

If you plan to volunteer of visit in the future, please note the following information.

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 typically 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: 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