The Mountie Messenger

Southmont Families,

I am delighted to welcome you and your family to the 2024-2025 school year! As the new superintendent, I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome I have received from this special community. It is an honor to join such a supportive and dedicated group of parents, students, and staff.

Our committed team has been hard at work preparing for the first day of school on August 7th. Our teachers are actively participating in professional development this summer to bring fresh ideas and innovative strategies to the classroom. At the same time, our facilities are undergoing updates to ensure a safe and vibrant learning environment. The entire staff is excited to greet our students and embark on a new year of learning and growth together.

To ensure a smooth start to the school year, please remember to enroll your student in PowerSchool. This is essential for their registration and allows you to update your contact information, ensuring you receive all important messages and updates.

We also warmly invite you to attend our Back to School events. These gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to meet your child's teachers and get acquainted with the school community. Building these connections early helps create a smooth transition for your child and sets the stage for a successful school year.

At our school, we believe in the power of teamwork. Our teachers and support staff work tirelessly to provide the best possible education and support for your children. They are continually collaborating, learning, and growing to ensure that every student receives the attention and resources they need to succeed, but our efforts are only part of the equation. Parents, your involvement and support are crucial to our success. Whether it's volunteering at school events, helping with homework, or simply being there to encourage and support your child, your contributions make a significant difference. We are grateful for everything you do to strengthen our school community.

As we approach the new school year, let’s continue to work together as one team. By fostering open communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to excellence, we can make the 2024-2025 school year the best one yet!

Proud to be a Mountie,

Dr. Stephanie Hofer

It is very important that our returning (and new) families complete the registration process in our PowerSchool Parent Portal for planning purposes. This will ensure that your child can receive school transportation services and that our parents receive the most current communication. Please make time to do this today! Having trouble logging in? Contact Melissa Norman at 765-866-0203 for assistance.

It is recommended that High School students purchase notebooks, folders, and pens for the first day of school. Supply requests will be dependent on the individual student's schedules. Teachers will share any necessary supply requests with their students during the first week of school.

Our preschool program at New Market Elementary School is currently full. However, students who have a home school of New Market Elementary may attend preschool at either Ladoga or Walnut Elementary until all spaces have been filled.

All 3 of our elementary schools have state-licensed preschools. This allows our families to apply for financial assistance through the state voucher programs.

If your child will be attending our Little Mountie Preschool, please practice self-care while at home this summer. If you are shopping for new school clothes, it is wise to find outfits that students can manage independently. Clothing such as rompers that zip in the back are not child-friendly. Velcro shoes are helpful. While we understand that accidents happen from time to time, we ask that all students come to school daytime potty trained. Preschool students are encouraged to bring a blanket for nap time. We look forward to meeting our new Little Mounties!

Students will be charged for both breakfast and lunch during the 2024-2025 school year. Please have a conversation with your child about the change regarding our breakfast service. As a family you may decide that it is best for your child to eat breakfast at home before coming to school, or you may take advantage of our breakfast service in exchange for the fee listed above.

Free and reduced meal applications must be completed annually by each household beginning July 1st. Enrolled students may be eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at a free or reduced rate. Qualifying for free and reduced meals can bring additional education benefits such as test/exam fee reduction or waivers, and eligibility for other discounts or program opportunities.

Applications can be dropped off at our central office or mailed to:

Southmont Schools

6401 US 231 South

Crawfordsville, IN 49733

You can make payments online to your child's breakfast and lunch accounts by using the My School Bucks program. Online payments are automatically credited to your child's meal account. There is a $2.49 processing fee charged by My School Bucks. You may also send cash or check to your child's school, and the money will be deposited into his/her account. The money is then used as a debit system to purchase meals using your child's student ID number. If you choose to send a check, please be sure to include your child's name and "lunch payment" in the memo section to ensure it is deposited into the correct account.

We are looking forward to seeing your children on our school buses! To ensure a smooth and timely pick-up, we kindly ask that your child be ready and waiting at their bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time.

If your child needs to be dropped off at an alternate location, please remember that a bus pass is required. Notes to drivers are not permitted. For alternate childcare arrangements, bus passes should be requested from our transportation office at least 48 hours in advance, except in cases of family emergencies.

Safety is our number one priority. We ask that concerns about our bus drivers not be addressed at the bus stop, especially with children present. Instead, please communicate directly with our Transportation Director, who will be happy to assist you. Our transportation office can be reached at 765-866-2036.

We look forward to providing a safe and enjoyable bus ride for your child!

Anyone who wants to have up-to-date athletic schedule information should go to eventlink.com and create a "community" account. You will be able to select your school and the calendars you want to subscribe to. This is the best way to get information on all last-minute changes to schedules at Southmont!