October 2024

This month's PTC meeting will be on Thursday, October 3rd at 3:45 pm. Meetings are held in our cafeteria. We hope you will consider attending and joining our absolutely incredible PTC!

We are so excited for our annual Science Night at WES! This is a fun night of learning about all of the science that happens right here in our community!

Our Wheatfield Volunteer Fire Department will be here on Tuesday, October 8th. They will spend a half hour discussing fire safety and showing our students the fire trucks and equipment. This is a day your child will NOT want to miss!

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held after school on Monday, October 14th and Wednesday, October 16th. You can now schedule a time to meet with your child's teacher on Skyward Family Access. If you have any questions or issues with scheduling, please call our office at 219-956-3221. We will be happy to assist you!

WES PTC presents our first public GLOW-O-WEEN TRUNK OR TREAT. Bring a donation for our community food pantry and walk through our GLOW-O-WEEN and trunk or treat in the school.

We are looking for businesses and/or families that are interested in setting up a booth to hand out candy/treats.

Title I's Family Night: Our 2nd grade families will be invited to our annual 'Locked in the Library' event held at the Wheatfield Public Library. Flyers to RSVP will be coming home several weeks before the event to RSVP to attend.

Our PTC will be selling Halloween Grams during lunch time on Wednesday, October 30th and Thursday, October 31st. More information about that will come home later this month and be posted on the PTC's Facebook Page.

Each classroom will have a Fall Party on Thursday, October 31st from 2:15-3:00 pm. Additional information about this party will be shared with you by your child's teacher.

For October we will be discussing the meaning of Bullying and how to help stop bullying by using the three R’s:

Recognize

Report

Refuse

Red Ribbon Week is October 28th- November 1. Along with the dress up days, we will be discussing the importance of Red Ribbon Week.

In compliance with the Title I rules and regulations, there will be a meeting to discuss the Wheatfield Elementary Title I Program. At this meeting, we will share an overview of Title I at Wheatfield Elementary School, and you will be able to share your thoughts and provide input into our program, parent involvement policy, and school compact.

You are invited to join us anytime during either night of our parent-teacher conferences on Monday, October 14th, or Wednesday, October 16th from 4:15 PM to 7:30 PM in the Title 1 classroom.

You will receive your child's 1st quarter report card during your Parent-Teacher Conference. They will also be available on Skyward Family Access in the afternoon of Thursday, October 17th.

We have a new grading scale this school year. Remember: The goal of your child is to meet their grade-level standards by the end of the school year. This is reflected on their report card by receiving a '3'. Please review the chart below for more information/clarification.

Our 3rd graders will be taking the first of three ILEARN Checkpoints during the week of September 30th. Kankakee Valley students in grades 3 through 6 have opted in to pilot these new Checkpoints for the 2024-2025 school year. They will become mandatory next school year.

The new ILEARN Checkpoints are shorter assessments given three times each year. The first Checkpoint will be administered October 1st and 2nd. Each Checkpoint has one math and one reading test that will take about 30-45 minutes to complete.

As we approach the colder months of the year, we may experience delays and cancellations. Delays and E-Learning Days will be announced on Class Dojo, WES Facebook Page, KV Website, and local radio stations like 97.7 and 105.5.

Due to changes at the Indiana General Assembly, all eLearning days will include live instruction equal to at least 50% of our daily instructional minutes. Teachers will deliver instruction via Zoom and each school has developed a schedule for students to follow.

eLearning Model

Teacher Office Hours: After 9:00 a.m. /anytime not on Zoom Meetings

Teacher Lunch: Teacher will communicate with students/parents lunch time.

Classroom Expectations

• Teachers will schedule a Zoom session from the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Teachers will schedule a Zoom Session between 1:00-3:00 pm to check-in with students and offer support that students need.

• Reading & Math lessons will be live.

• Following the grade-level’s schedule, students will complete Reading, Math, and lessons in Art, Music, or Gym. In addition to whole group lessons, students will also work with their teacher in small group lessons and there will be some opportunities for a student to check in 1-1 with their teacher.

Classroom Morning Session Time

• Teachers will schedule a Zoom Session for Live Instruction from 9:00-11:30 am

Specials Teachers Session Time (Art, Music, & P.E.)

• Specials Teachers will meet with their scheduled classes that they are regularly scheduled to meet with.

• Specials Teachers will teach a lesson on Zoom with their classes.

Classroom Afternoon Session Time

• Teachers will schedule a Zoom session between the hours of 1:00-3:00 pm to check-in with students and assist as needed.

Attendance

We are responsible for 180 days of instruction. Therefore, attendance will be taken daily, Monday-Friday. Teachers may use discretion on due dates.

REMINDER: Please call the office if you need to make a change for your child's dismissal transportation. Please call in before 1:00 pm. For example: You will be picking your child up rather than riding the bus home. Please DO NOT message your child's teacher on Class Dojo. We want to make sure the message gets to your child and your child's teacher. Please call in at 219-956-3221. Please call in before 1:00 pm. Thank you!

A reminder that we dismiss at 3:25 PM for Parent Pick-Up. Due to safety concerns with traffic backing up to the highway, we begin releasing students 3-5 minutes before our scheduled dismissal of 3:25 PM for Parent Pick-Up students. We are asking for your assistance with arriving to pick-up your child closer to 3:25 PM. This will prevent the line from backing up into the highway. Your assistance with this request is very much appreciated!

If you are dropping your child off and/or picking them up at school, please follow these procedures:

· Please stay in the car line and have your child enter and exit on the PASSENGER SIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE.

· ALL cars that are parked along the curb will release their child to enter the school. There will be extra staff members to assist your child.

· Be ready to provide staff members with your child’s barcode.

· All parents who are dropping off and picking up their child should approach our school from the south (State Road 10). This will assist our bus traffic as they enter for arrival and dismissal.

· Parents must stay in their vehicle, no congregating by the school doors.

· Students must be fastened into their seatbelts before leaving. IF your child needs assistance with buckling up, please park in the parking lot to allow the line to continue.

· Your patience and cooperation are much appreciated.

Some Attendance Tips:

• Make sure your student keeps a regular bedtime and establishes a morning routine.

• Turn off all electronics including TVs, phones, and tablets at bedtime.

• Have backpack and clothes prepared the night before.

• Check with our school nurse or office staff if you are not sure about when to keep your child at home due to illness.

• Avoid scheduling vacations while school is in session.

• Make every effort to schedule doctor appointments around school hours.

• Talk to teachers and our social worker for advice if your student feels anxious about going to school.

• In the event that your student cannot get to school in their normal manner, develop a plan with another family member or trusted adult to get them to school that day.

If you have a pre-planned absence for your child, you will need to complete KV's Pre-Planned Absence Form. This needs to be completed at least 2 days prior to the absence(s). You can stop by our School Office for one or request one from your child's teacher. Thank you!

Our Picture Retakes will be on Friday, November 1st. This will be for any student who was absent on Picture Day or if you would like a retake from Picture Day. Just return your picture packet on Friday, November 1st.

Our annual Book Fair will be Monday, November 11th-Friday, November 15th. On Tuesday, November 12th, we will host a parent shopping night from 4:00-5:00 pm. We will also have our Book Fair available to students and their grandparents during our PTC's Grandparent's Night.

Our PTC will be hosting a Grandparent's Night on Friday, November 15th. Be on the lookout for more information to come home later this month!

We will have Thanksgiving Break from Wednesday, November 27th-Friday, November 29th. Students will return to school on Monday, December 2nd.

Have you "LIKED" our Wheatfield Elementary School Facebook Page yet?!

We post A LOT of great things on our Facebook Page!!!

Click HERE to take you there!!!

Location: 251 S Center Street, Wheatfield, IN
Phone: (219) 956-3221
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WheatfieldElementary