Explorer Echo

Welcome to the February 14th, 2025, edition of Explorer Echo.

Dear Southeastern Families,

We want to invite you to become an active part of our school community by joining our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Your involvement helps enhance the educational experience for all of our students. Whether you have a little time to spare or want to take a more active role, there are many ways to contribute, and every bit of help makes a difference! Please visit the PTO page on our school website or follow Southeastern PTO on Facebook.

Southeastern PTO page

Additionally, stay connected and informed by following our school's Facebook page: Southeastern Elementary School. It’s a great way to keep up with important updates, events, and celebrations happening at our school.

We truly value your support and hope to see you at an upcoming PTO meeting. Together, we can create a positive and enriching environment for our children!

Thank you for being an important part of our school community!

Mrs. Kaminski and Mr. Heeter

Please access the latest PTO newsletter at this link.

SES has an amazing PTO! Our PTO organizes many activities and events that help raise much-needed money for our school. Resources raised through our PTO activities each school year help to support teachers' classrooms with supplies, books and curriculum materials. Our PTO produces a newsletter with regularly updated information about events happening in our building. These newsletters will be sent to families via ParentSquare.

Learn more about our PTO.

Instagram: @Southeastern PTO
Twitter: @Southeastern PTO
Linktree: linktr.ee/sespto

Email: info@sespto.org

president@sespto.org

vp@sespto.org

Facebook: Southeastern PTO

SEL at Southeastern

KINDERGARTEN:

Week of Feb 3-7

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 2: Emotion Management – Home Link

Lesson 10: What Are They Feeling?

Summary:

In last week’s lesson, your child showed that they can use body language and context clues to figure out how someone is feeling. They also showed they can use slow breathing as a way to help themselves feel calm when they encounter strong feelings.

Try This at Home: Ask your child to tell you how they think others around them might be feeling, for

example, a sibling or a character in a story, a movie, or a TV show.

Week of Feb 10-14

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 3: Empathy and Kindness – Home Link

Lesson 11: We Can Be Kind

Summary:

In this week’s lesson, your child learned that a kind act is something they can do to help someone feel good. They practiced by suggesting kind acts to do for people in different scenarios.

Try This at Home:

Encourage your child to think of a kind act they could do for someone, for example a sibling, grandparent, or neighbor.

FIRST GRADE:

Week of Feb 3-7

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 2: Emotion Management – Home Link

Lesson 10: Noticing Clues

Summary:

In last week’s lesson, your child showed that they can use body language and context clues to figure out how someone is feeling. They also showed that they know ways to help themselves feel calm when they encounter strong feelings.

TryThis at Home:

Ask your child to tell you some ways they’ve learned to feel calm when they get upset. Have them teach you how to use slow counting to feel calm.

Week of Feb 10-14

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 3: Empathy and Kindness – Home Link

Lesson 11: The Power of Kind Acts

Summary:

In this week’s lesson, your child learned that a kind act is something they can do to help someone feel good. They practiced suggesting kind acts to do for people in different scenarios.

Try This at Home:

Encourage your child to think of a kind act they could do for someone, for example a sibling, grandparent, or neighbor.

SECOND GRADE:

Week of Feb 3-7

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 2: Emotion Management - Home Link

Lesson 8: Help Yourself Feel Better

Summary:

In last week’s lesson, your child learned how to use positive self-talk to help themselves feel better when they’re upset, disappointed, or worried.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child what they want to tell themselves when they’re having a tough day. Encourage them to use positive self-talk at home.

Week of Feb 10-14

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 2: Emotion Management – Home Link

Lesson 9: Different Feelings

Summary:

In this week’s lesson, your child learned that people can have different feelings in the same situation because of their experiences.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child for an example of something that people can have different feelings about. Talk about the reasons people might have different feelings about it.

THIRD GRADE:

Week of Feb 3-7

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 2: Emotion Management – Home Link

Lesson 10: Strength of Feelings

Summary:

In last week’s lesson, your child practiced identifying different intensities of the same feeling by giving personal examples.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child if they can give examples of times they felt strong emotions like furious or excited.

Week of Feb 10-14

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 3: Empathy and Kindness – Home Link

Lesson 11: Kindness and Friendship

Summary:

In this week’s lesson, your child learned how empathy—the ability to understand and feel how someone else is feeling—and kindness can help build new friendships.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child what kind things they could they do to build a friendship with someone.

FOURTH GRADE:

Week of Feb 3-7

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 1 – Growth Mindset & Goal Setting – Home Link

Lesson 4: Reflecting on Our Journey

Summary:

In last week’s lesson, your child’s class reflected on their journey of working toward their 2-week goal.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child about their experience with setting a class goal and working toward it. What worked? What didn’t work? What could they do next time? Reflect on a goal you’ve worked toward and what you learned.

Week of Feb 10-14

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 1 – Growth Mindset & Goal Setting – Home Link

Lesson 5: Ready, Set, Goal!

Summary:

In this week’s lesson, your child practiced the full goal-setting process as they work toward a 10-minute goal with a group.

Try This at Home:

Work with your child to make a list of 1-week goals you could set as a family. Choose one and make sure it’s specific, challenging, and doable. Follow the goal-setting process to make a plan, check in on how it’s going, and at the end of the week, reflect on how it went and what you could do next time.

Jen Smith

SES Counselor

jensmith@hse.k12.in.us

If you need to send information about your student to our school nurse, please include both SES nurses on the email:

Carissa Firmand, RN

cfirmand@hse.k12.in.us

Sharon Hughes, RN

shughes@hse.k12.in.us

Injury

If your student has an activity restriction/injury, please let the us know and send in a copy of the doctor's note so we can provide the proper accommodations.

Illness Policy

Please keep your child at home if ill. They must be 24 hours-free from the following symptoms before returning to school: fever, vomiting, diarrhea. Contact the school/clinic for any clarification or further guidance needed.

Carissa Firmand, RN

cfirmand@hse.k12.in.us

(W-TH-F)

Sharon Hughes, RN

shughes@hse.k12.in.us

(M-T)

Next week we will be on week 2 of the lunch menu.

Pizza Day

Domino's Pizza Day is February 27th! Cheese or Pepperoni Domino's Pizza for a hot lunch. Available as a lunch or extra entree purchase.

National school breakfast week is coming March 3-7! Enjoy special breakfasts all week!

Ice Cream

Ice cream day is every Wednesday for all grades- cost is $1.25 (must have money in account or bring cash/check)

Lunch Accounts

Funding your student's lunch account is done through eFunds. The link for eFunds can be found on our website at ses.hseschools.org. To make a payment to your student's lunch account, please access eFunds here. Student lunch is $2.80.

Snacks

The cafeteria offers snacks for purchase (.90-$1.25) to KG-4th grade students. If you would like to put restrictions on purchases please email cafeteria manager, Kim Lemburg.

Menu

Elementary lunch menus are posted on the district website at hseschools.org.

Kim Lemburg, SES Cafeteria Manager

I am in need of scrapbook paper to make bookmarks. I have bookmarks available to students each week at checkout and I go through about 700 paper bookmarks a week. If you have any paper donations, please send them in to school with your student.

Thank you!

Lori Cushman

SES Teacher Librarian

• Monday, Feb. 17th, President's Day, No School.
• Tuesday Feb. 18th, Flex Day, no school unless needed to make up snow day.
• Wednesday, Feb. 19th, Student Council Meeting, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Sunday, Feb. 23rd, Southeastern Birdie Bash, 4:00 pm, Hawthorns Golf and Country Club (see additional information below).
• Monday, Feb. 24th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Feb. 24th, Spring Play Practice, 2:15 to 3:30 pm.

• Monday, Feb. 24th, Math Bowl Practice, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Feb. 26th, second grade family music night, 5:45 and 6:45 pm (please see below for more information).
• Thursday, Feb. 27th, Domino's Pizza Day, SES Cafe.
• Monday, Mar. 3rd, Spring Play Practice, 2:15 to 3:30 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 3rd, Math Bowl Practice, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 3rd, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 3rd, 1st and 2nd grade ASL Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Mar. 5th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Mar. 5th, 3rd and 4th grade ASL Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Mar., 10th, Flex Day, no school unless needed to make up snow day.
• Tuesday, Mar. 11th, Spring Carnival Call Out meeting, SES, 5:45 pm
• Wednesday, Mar. 12th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Mar. 12th, 3rd and 4th grade ASL Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 17th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 17th, 1st and 2nd grade ASL Club, 2:15 to 3:15pm
• Monday, Mar. 17th, Spring Play Practice, 2:15 to 3:30 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 17th, Math Bowl Practice, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Mar. 19th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Mar. 19th, 1st and 2nd grade ASL Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Mar. 19th, Student Council Meeting, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.

• Wednesday, Mar. 19th, 3rd and 4th ASL Club, 2:15 to 3:15pm.
• Sunday, Mar. 23rd, Southeastern Birdie Bash, Hawthorne's Golf and Country Club, 4:00 to 8:00 pm (please see below for more information).
• Monday, Mar. 24th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 24th, 1st and 2nd grade ASL Club, 2:15 to 3:15pm
• Monday, Mar. 24th, Spring Play Practice, 2:15 to 3:30 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 24th, Math Bowl Practice, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Mar. 26th, 3rd and 4th grade ASL Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 31st, Spring Play Practice, 2:15 to 3:30 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 31st, Math Bowl Practice, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Mar. 31st, 1st and 2nd grade ASL Club, 2:15 to 3:15pm

School day start/end times, 7:40 am to 2:10 pm

If you're interested in learning how to keep your children safe online, we’re offering an informative session on Thursday, February 20 focusing on just that. Join Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany Preston, a federal prosecutor with nearly 17 years of experience investigating internet crimes against children, as she shares practical, common-sense approaches to online safety.

Date: Thursday, February 20

Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Location: HSE Administration Building, Board Room (13485 Cumberland Road, Fishers)

Ms. Preston will also discuss how you can help your children make smart choices online, implement device safety measures and how to recognize the risks of communicating with strangers on popular apps and games like Roblox, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Minecraft, Fortnite, and more.

We hope you'll join us for this valuable conversation on protecting kids in today’s digital world. No registration is required.

Fourth Graders are invited to join our SES Track team! Practices begin after Spring Break. Please find the details and registration using this link.

Track Coaches, Ms. Bleill, Mrs. Gore & Mr. Miller

Save the date for the 2nd Annual Birdie Bash! Last year was fun, but this year we are changing it up and it will be a little Sunday Funday! Mark your calendars, find a babysitter, and gather your foursome for some indoor putt putt fun!

Date: Sunday, February 23rd

Time: 4:00-8:00 pm

Location: Hawthorns Golf and Country Club

Get your tickets at this link.

Questions? Email nightout@sespto.org

Kindergarten enrollment for next school year is now open at all 13 elementary buildings in the HSE district. Please see below for more information. You can access our enrollment page by visiting ses.hseschools.org, and clicking this link.

It's time to order your child's 2024-25 Yearbook! Follow the link below to place your order online.

Returning this year! Cripe Photography GIFT A YEARBOOK was a great success! Southeastern was able to donate 6 gifted books. You have the opportunity to donate a yearbook to your child's peers. SES will decide who will receive this awesome gift, thanks to your generosity!

Southeastern Yearbooks - ORDER HERE

ORDER DEADLINE: March 14 (late orders cannot be guaranteed a yearbook).

Questions? Please contact Cripe Photography HERE.

Mrs. Vince's class learned about procedural texts, which explain how to do something step by step. Parents were invited to join the classroom so they could share their writing. Many students had the opportunity to have their parents participate in their 'how-to' process.

Third graders in Mrs. Shuey and Miss Buskirk’s classes researched influential people throughout history and presented their research with an interactive wax museum. Students dressed up as the person they researched and shared their research with guests.

It is always a treat to have visitors come into the classroom and sere as "Mystery Readers." Mrs. Howard's kindergarten class enjoyed surprise visits from many family members last week.

The Southeastern Elementary handbook has answers to many of your questions regarding policies and procedures for our building. The handbook can be found on our website at ses.hseschools.org, or by clicking below.

Anyone wanting to spend time in the school or chaperone a field trip must have a SafeVisitor background check on file with the district prior to coming into the building and working with students. If you have not yet completed the background check, please click below to get started.

If you are interested in tutoring opportunities for your student, please access the attached list. If you have a student that stays after school for tutoring, you much change dismissal manager so that the teacher knows where to send your student at the end of the day. Please log in to dismissal manager, make an exception for the day, and select "Tutoring with Teacher," and list the teacher's name in the notes section.

Did you know that you can use School Dismissal Manager to report student absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals? It is very easy. Log in to your SDM account, select your student, click on the date, select "add late arrival" or "report absence," type a reason in the notes section, and click update. If leaving early, click on "add exception" and select "leaving early" from the drop down menu. A report will be generated and the front office will be notified. Questions? Call the front office at (317) 594-4340.

Daily Dismissal Changes

Also, all daily dismissal changes NEED to be reported through School Dismissal Manager. If you need to change your student's dismissal on any day, you will need to log in to your Dismissal Manager account and make the necessary changes by 1:00 pm. A list will be generated before the end of the school day with all of the dismissal changes for that day. You can access Dismissal Manager on our Southeastern Elementary website, or by clicking below. Any issues using School Dismissal Manager, please call the front office at 317-594-4340.

Submit A Tip 24/7

HSE Report It! is a school safety mobile reporting app that allows students, staff, and community members to provide anonymous information about concerns for their own safety or the safety of others. It’s anonymous and reports are made exclusively through the mobile app. HSE Report it! has no length limitations or the need to remember a short code. Reporters can attach photos, screenshots, videos, documents and/or audio recordings to their concerns and they can engage in a two-way

Website: https://ses.hseschools.org/
Location: 12500 Cyntheanne Road, Fortville, IN, USA
Phone: 317-594-4340
Twitter: @SoutheasternEl1