Fox Hill Elementary Family Update
Week of October 14th
Translate/Traducir/ترجمة/ Traduire/ Tafsiri
Mrs. Beard and Mrs. Pitcock Welcome You!!
Welcome Fox Hill Families!
Welcome Fox Hill Families to the 2024-2025 school year!
Mrs. Beard
Principal
Great things happen every day at Fox Hill! Follow our social media accounts to take a peek into school and classrooms.
- Twitter: @FoxHillElem
- Fox Hill Facebook Page
Hispanic Heritage Month Sept 15-October 15
October Events:
Oct 4 - End of 1st Quarter
Oct 7-Oct 11 - Fall Break
Oct 18 - Report Cards Available
Oct 25 Trunk or Treat/ Fall Festival 5:30 - 7:30
October Positive Affirmation:
“It’s okay not to know everything.”
Mrs. Beard
Principal
Welcome Back - Quarter 2 Begins!
1st Quarter Student Report Cards will be posted in Skyward on Friday, October, 18th. Please review these instructions for viewing report cards in Skyward Family Access.
*Fox Hill will also send hard copies of the report card for this quarter.
Hearing Screening - 1st, 4th, and New Students
Dear Parent/Legal Guardian,
Washington Township Schools’ Speech and Language Pathologists are scheduled to provide state mandated hearing screening services for all students in 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th grades, new students who have transferred into our district this school year, and any student suspected of having hearing difficulties. See the date Fox Hill Elementary School below.
Thursday, October 17th 8:00-10:30
If your student has a pre-existing medical issue and is under the care of a doctor for any medical condition, please let your student’s school nurse know in advance of the screening date. Here is the contact information for your school nurse: tlindsay@msdwt.k12.in.us
You, as the parent or legal guardian, have the right to decline this service for your student. If you do not want the Washington Township Speech and Language Pathologist to conduct a hearing screening on your student this school year, please email your school’s nurse at the address above stating you do not wish to have your student’s hearing screened. Please include your student’s full name, date of birth, and your full name. The nurse will print the email and place it in your student’s 24-25 school year folder. You will need to decline the hearing screening each school year it is offered to your student.
Donate to the PTO
The Fox Hill PTO is an independent nonprofit supporting our school community. With a volunteer board, fundraising, and direct donations the PTO is able to plan and organize the Fall Festival in October, the Family Dance in February, the Spring Fest in May, and so much more! Additionally, the PTO provides grants for professional development for the school staff and provides reimbursement to teachers for classroom needs. We also plan staff appreciation events throughout the school year. This week the PTO has arranged for a Smoothie/Coffee Bar for the staff for Tuesday, October 1st!
Thank you for supporting the PTO by volunteering, donating, and funding programming for our school community.
Click HERE if you'd like to make a direct donation to support the Fox Hill PTO.
Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat
Friday, October 25 - 5:30 - 7:30
Enjoy an evening of FREE activities including prize stations, the return of “Trunk or Treat” (costumes encouraged), cakewalk, DJ music, drum circles and much more! All activities are free, but plan to bring cash/credit to purchase hot dogs, pizza, chips in the café or speciality iced/hot drinks by Tapestry! Rain or Shine. No pets allowed. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
We Need Treat Donations!
DONATIONS NEEDED: We need candy for trunk or treat stations, toys/trinkets for activity prizes, and little debbie/hostess snacks (cupcakes, ding dongs, twinkies, etc.) for our cake walk. Items can be dropped off with the PTO’s CANDY MONSTER near the front stairs or in the candy bin right inside the first set of main doors. The candy monster will be making another special appearance in the PM car rider line on Oct. 18 so you can drop from your vehicle. Want us to shop for you? Click the link and donate today! https://givebutter.com/W5OERY
Sign Up for a Fall Festival Shift!
Sign up today to help during a shift at Fall Festival -- we can't do all the fun things without you! Fall Fest volunteer signup: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040544ACAC29AAF58-52055478-foxhill#/
*All volunteers must have a volunteer background check on file with the front office. If you haven’t done so already, please complete it and turn it in. It takes 2-3 weeks for the district to process.
Volunteer background check form:
Volunteer Requirements - MSD Washington Township (msdwt.k12.in.us)
PTO Presents
Fox Hill Spirit Wear Store
The Fox Hill PTO is excited to announce the spirit wear store is open!! Get ready to wear your Fox Hill fashion during the next field trip or spirit week!! See the attached flier for details.
The store will remain open until Sunday, October 27th. Items are expected to be delivered in November.
Click the link to place your order here: https://www.selectspiritwear.com/v5store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=1563
School Attendance Goal!
School attendance is important and being at school to learn helps your child achieve! We have a goal to have 97% of Fox Hill students attending school this year! Help us achieve our goal!!
All day, Every day! Attend. Engage. Achieve Attendance Matters!
October's Attendance Reminder: Communicate with the school
Communication is an important part of the attendance process. Make sure you know how to reach your child’s school and let your child’s teacher(s) know the best way to reach you - we must work as a team for our students!
If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the Fox Hill 24/7 attendance line: (317) 259-5230 or call the regular Fox Hill number: (317) 259-5371 during regular school hours to communicate the absence and reason for absence.
If there is a transportation concern, please reach out to our Transportation Department at (317) 254-5510.
If there are other circumstances or barriers that are preventing your student from getting to school, please reach out to our School Social Worker Audrie Conner at (317) 259-5371 ext 13106 or email: aconner@msdwt.k12.in.us
Attend. Engage. Achieve.
PTO Presents Dine to Donate: Papa John's Pizza
October 16th
Our next Dine to Donate is Wednesday, October 16 with Papa Johns. Use promo code ISF001 when placing online, Papa Johns app or phone orders at any corporate Papa Johns location in Indianapolis and the surrounding area, and Papa Johns will donate 20% of your bill to Fox Hill PTO!
Check out the menu or place your online order at papajohns.com
Join Us for October's ALL PRO Dad Meeting
October 18th
Time: 7am-until school starts
Where: Fox Hill Gym
October's topic: Sensitivity
All Pro Dad meetings provide an opportunity for dads to spend quality time with their children that will strengthen their relationship. You'll get to join other dads and kids at school for a fun memory making event. Students can bring their dads, grandpas, uncles, coaches, or any positive male role model in their lives!
RSVP using the QR code below!
Parent Involvement Policy and Parent Compact
Our Fox Hill Parent Compact and Parent involvement Policy is shared below. As a title 1 school, we receive federal funding to support the teaching and learning of all students. In order to ensure we are supporting all students, our staff of teachers and assistants are highly qualified, and we set forth goals and objectives within our school improvement action plan to guide our work as a school based on the needs of our students. We are here to partner with you and your family for your student’s success. Please review/read this document that outlines how we will work together to support student success! Feel free to also share with your student.
WTS/Indianapolis Public Library Partnership
WTS has entered into a partnership with the Indianapolis Public Library to supply all students (grades one-12) with a library card and access to electronic materials that support class curriculum.
Find out more about the program and details for opting out in the attached PDF!
WTS is proud to partner with the Indianapolis Public Library to ensure every student (grades one-12) receives a library card! This partnership provides an opportunity for all students to access electronic reading material and access electronic resources to support their class curriculum.
Students will automatically receive a library card which will be distributed at school. Below are some details regarding student cards:
· If a student already has an active library card, the card will be updated.
· If a student has never had a card, they will receive a new library card that will give full access to all e-resources as well as limited access to physical material.
· If a student has had a library card but it has expired, and if there are no fines on his/her account, the card will be renewed and only the barcode number will be provided.
· If a student has previously had a library card, and there are fines of $5.00 or more on their account, the card will be renewed and his/her barcode number will be provided to allow access to online material. They will also be enrolled in the library’s Earn and Learn Program. This program allows students to get out of debt by reading down their fines. Students will still be able to borrow a limited number of physical items and will have full access to all e-resources. Additional information about the program is available at The Indianapolis Public Library.
Note: If you DO NOT want your child to have a library card, complete the OPT OUT form attachment by October 16 and return it to your school.
Student library cards and letters will be processed after October 16 and will be delivered to the student’s school.
PTO Presents Dine to Donate: Papa John's Pizza
October 24th
Our second Dine to Donate in October is a virtual event that is available at every Panda Express location nationwide all day on Thursday, October 24!
Order online up to a week in advance for pickup or delivery on Thursday, October 24 using the code 927548 in the Fundraiser Code box when ordering at https://www.pandaexpress.com/location and Panda Express will donate 28% of your total to Fox Hill PTO.
Visit the event page for more information: https://www.community-fundraiser.com/virtual-fundraiser/events/promotions/872bab4d-dbdc-daff-4b2c-69e74e58fc57/en/landing
Pacers School Night
Join the Fox Hill PTO
The PTO would love your support this year! To volunteer or join our email list follow this link: https://forms.gle/UtRxbxTNrqdXhtwNA
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Beginning of School Info - Things to Know
Students can enter the school building at 7:20 am.
Students are tardy after 7:40 am
*If a student arrives after 7:40 am, a parent must walk the student to the front entrance of Fox Hill and the student can sign in at the front office to obtain a tardy pass.
School is dismissed at 2:25 pm
If you have a young child starting with us this year, it may be advantageous for you to write their first and last name on their backpack or folders to help staff and teachers quickly identify them. This helps school staff with very shy new students!
Visitors - Upon entering the building, all visitors must report to the office to sign in at the computer and get a visitor’s badge. A valid picture ID will be requested.
Classroom Visits - Visitors during the school day will be limited. Parents who would like to schedule a conference or meeting with their child’s teacher during the school day may do so by contacting the teacher and requesting an appointment. Visits to the classroom without school/teacher notification and approval are prohibited.
**There are NO visitors during student lunch periods.
Volunteers- Parents interested in volunteering (field trips, field day, classroom help, etc.) during the school year should review the MSDWT volunteer requirements. All individuals who volunteer in classrooms, at school events, or chaperone field trips have to complete and pass a criminal background check and view a bullying presentation prior to serving.
A hard copy of the background check form will be provided to interested parents at our Back to School Night/Parent Informational by your teacher or you can access it at the front office.
Car Rider Information - Read Carefully
If your student is a car rider:
*The Car Rider line starts at 7:20 am and will close at 7:35 am.
- Parents/Guardians dropping off after the car rider line has closed, must park in the front parking lot and an adult must walk his/her student across the crosswalk to the entrance of FH. If it is after 7:40 am, please plan to have your student enter the front doors for a tardy pass.
Cars should NOT enter the bus area during arrival and dismissal times!
Please DO NOT drive in or through the bus area during bus arrival and dismissal! Remember you are also in a school zone - an area with children. Please do not speed through any area on school grounds.
Car Rider Line:
*Please help us by making sure your student can exit and enter your car from the driver's side back seat, next to the curb.
Arrival 7:20-7:35am: Parents should follow the “U” shaped line up formation on the west side of the school building. Students will stay in the car and should have items ready to go (backpack, lunch bag, etc.). Students should WAIT for the FH staff member to release them from their car. When the adult signals, student(s) should exit their car and walk on the yellow line into the entry door and go directly to class.
**Students will enter through the 4th Grade Doors - Students should Follow Staff Direction as they walk into the doors!
Families dropping off after the car rider line has closed, must park in the front parking lot. Parents must walk their student to the foyer of FH to sign in.
Students are tardy after 7:40 am.
Dismissal-. Car Rider Dismissal will begin at 2:20 p.m. (Bus riders dismiss at 2:25pm.) Parents will line up in the same "U" shaped formation as the AM process. Watch for staff direction - We will line up 2 lanes of cars and merge the cars into one lane as you approach the school curb. FH staff members will call for students based on your car tag - Please make sure to have ID in case it needs to be checked. Each student will have a number that corresponds to the car tag number of the parent. Parents are expected to get out of car, if needed, and help their students get into the car. *If you have a car tag from last year, you can discard it.
Car Rider Drop Off and Pick Up Route
Attendance and Dismissal Information
- Should your student be absent for any reason, please call the attendance line at 317-259-5230 to report the absence. If a child’s absence is not called into the attendance line by 10:00 a.m., the child will be marked unexcused.
- If your student has a required appt during the school day, remember he or she can/should still attend school before and after the appointment. We would rather have a student come in tardy than miss a full day's instruction. Please provide a signed statement from the doctor, dentist, etc., upon the return to school in order for the office to code the missed time appropriately.
- Please notify your classroom teacher of dismissal changes in writing, or call the front office before 1pm with transportation changes.
- The front office does not dismiss car riders from the office area during school dismissal time, 2pm-2:25 pm. Please notify the front office of any last minute changes by 1pm and report to the car line if your child will be a car rider. (*We do understand that there may be unforeseen circumstances, emergencies, or appts that may result in a deviation from this process.)
- Early pick ups from school - before 2:15pm- are coded in our FH Skyward system as afternoon tardies.
- **The State of Indiana requires that we send letters of notification to the families of children with excessive tardies and/or absences. These letters will be sent on a regular basis.
Skyward Family Access - Stay in the Loop!
STUDENT CONTACT INFORMATION/SKYWARD ACCESS:
You may have received ParentSquare Back to School information from the district regarding your Skyward Family Access. This is an online system where your child's information is kept.
To foster the most effective school-home communications experience and for the safety of your student(s), please ensure we have the most up-to-date and accurate contact information on file. All families are asked to log into Skyward Family Access and complete the data cleanup process. When adding your information, PLEASE INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE functional email address and phone number, as this is our source for sending important ParentSquare communications throughout the school year.
NOTE: You will be prompted to change your password (if you haven’t already done so) to meet current security standards. As you update your contact information, you will have the option to save and come back later (step-by-step directions) have been provided to help guide you through this process). If you encounter difficulty accessing or logging into Skyward, please email skyward@msdwt.k12.in.us.
SCHOOL BREAKFAST/LUNCH INFORMATION- From the Child Nutrition Dept.
Exciting News! The state has approved the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) English/Spanish for WTS for the 2024-2025 school year. CEP means that all students in grades K-8 are eligible to receive healthy breakfasts and lunches daily at NO CHARGE to families. K-8 students who wish to purchase extra and a la carte items must pay for these items separately. This can be done by setting up a MyPaymentsPlus account. See more information about MyPaymentsPlus below.
My Meals Plus Student Accounts
All school cafeterias use a prepaid meal account system. Washington Township Child Nutrition Services encourages parents/guardians to set up a FREE online MyPaymentsPlus account to pay for meals, extras, and a la carte items, and to view students’ meal purchase history. MyPaymentsPlus is the preferred method for submitting funds for student meals.
Resources
Information & Guide to School Meals 2024-2025 English and Spanish Versions
Questions: Please reach out to the Child Nutrition Department at 317-205-3332 ext. 77209
HELPme Resources
Washington Township Schools is proud to partner with STOPit Solutions to bring HELPme, a 24/7/365 mental health and safety monitoringplatform, into our schools. HELPme is replacing See Something Say Something, and is designed to provide invaluable assistance to our students, families,and staff. It offers a private and accessible way to access a wide array of resources and support. HELPme empowers students, parents, and staff to ask for and receive the help they need with dignity and privacy.
For more information about this tool, how to download the app, and video tutorials, please visit our HELPme website.
FROM THE NURSE
Life-Threatening Allergies – If your child has a life-threatening allergy or serious medical condition, you MUST report this to the nurse and meet with the nurse prior to your child starting school. You can call the office to schedule your appt with the nurse at 317-259-5371.
Medication – A parent or guardian must fill out a permission form for prescription (blue) and/or non-prescription (yellow) medication to be administered at school. All medication must be stored in the clinic and children MAY NOT transport medicine to and from school. It must be brought into the school by an adult.
AYS (At Your School Care)
AYS (At Your School) - Before and After Care
*2024-2025 MSD Washington Township
*Fox Hill Elementary
Stay Connected!
District Websites:
- www.msdwt.k12.in.us
- Washington Township Schools Facebook
- Twitter: @msdwt
- Fox Hill Facebook Page
Website: https://fh.msdwt.k12.in.us/
Location: 802 Fox Hill Drive
Phone: 317-259-5371
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fox-Hill-Elementary-School-643527989006604/
Twitter: @FoxHillElem