PLA@103 Friday Family News

Read on for information including Summer Advantage, tax resource information, Black History Month Spirit Week, Black History Month poetry and essay contest, a resource fair, our Falcon Families Read event will continue in March, cold weather and recess guidelines, safety information about drop off and pick up, important upcoming dates, a partnership with Boys and Girls Club for after school, our wireless device policy, our uniform policy, and MOBILE DENTIST information from our school nurse.

See the bottom of our newsletter every week for from Skilled US for GED, ELL, and career information.

Summer Advantage at PLA@103 will run June 9 to July 11 8:00-2:30 each day.

Special Invitations have been sent home to hand picked scholars.

Please return the applications to your scholar's teacher.

We will have NO SCHOOL on Monday, February 17 in honor of Presidents Day.

Wednesday, February 26 is an AT HOME LEARNING Day - No scholars in the building.

As we enter testing season for IREAD and ILEARN, our school is busily preparing for these important state-mandated tests. This means a lot of extra small groups to reteach, review, practice, and enrich so our scholars can be ready to perform at their very best on these tests.

Ensuring your scholar is at school each and every day and on time is a huge way you can support their learning and preparations. Being at school means they won't miss out on instruction. If they have to miss for illness, get in touch with the teacher, and ask what you can be doing at home to support.

Tax season is quickly approaching. The IRS will start accepting returns in late January, with the end of tax season on Tax Day, April 15, 2024. Indiana 211 has partnered with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers FREE tax help to people who generally make $60,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. Through VITA, IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.

No application is needed to use this service. Assistance is provided at community and neighborhood centers, and other convenient locations throughout the state.

Find VITA Locations HERE or call 2-1-1 for additional information about FREE tax assistance resources available in your community.

Additional Tax Preparation Resources
AARP Tax-Aide Site Locator will launch mid-January. Click Here for AARP Tax Information
Click Here to be redirected to the IRS
Click Here to be redirected to file your taxes for free, online.

Indiana 211 is a free service that connects Hoosiers with help and answers from thousands of health and human service agencies and resources right in their local communities - quickly, easily, and confidentially. We use statistical data (not personally identifiable information) from calls, texts and web visits to help shed light on the nature of social needs in Indiana for decision-makers and government across the state.

As a division of the state of Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, IN211 provides free and confidential referrals to the best resources for specific needs.

*Tuesday 2/18 (Black Excellence Day)

o Dress up in your Sunday best

*Wednesday 2/19 ( “I Am” Day)

o Dress as someone you aspire to be like or you admire

(ex: athlete, educator, doctor, lawyer, etc)

*Thursday 2/20 (For the Culture Day)

o Wear your African print clothing/headwraps

*Friday 2/21 (Everything Black History Day)

o Wear your Black Pride T-Shirts, Hoodies, HBCU or

fraternity/sorority colors

Find more information about this Black History Month poetry and essay contest here - https://indianapolisrecorder.com/black-history-month-student-poetry-essay-contest/

Saturday, March 1, 10:00am-2:00pm

At PLA@103 3920 Baker Drive.

Find legal, health, education, and housing community resources, and win giveaway prizes, including bus passes, gift cards, and more!

We are going to extend our Falcon Families Read Challenge with a *NEW* theme! Stay tuned for more information!

ONLINE READING LOG is HERE.
SUBMIT READING PHOTOS HERE.

Parents/Families,

Please be sure your child is coming to school dressed appropriately for the weather. Recess will take place outdoors as the weather permits, and scholars should be dressed for that. Coats, hats, and gloves are a necessity. If your child is in need of a winter coat, hat, or gloves, please contact the school.

Ideally, recess should take place outdoors on school grounds as weather, space, and safety permit. Outdoor recess allows children to get fresh air, provides an opportunity for children to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity, and gives students more activity options than most indoor spaces. Outdoor recess is an important part of a child’s school day and schools are highly encouraged to provide students with the opportunity to play outside whenever possible. PLA@103 uses the following guidelines to determine whether recess is held indoors or outdoors each day:

All cars should pull up to the circle. NO CARS can be in the bus lane by the sidewalks until all 6 buses have been loaded and have departed.

*Please note, we have more buses this year. The front sidewalk/curb IS NOT available, and is not the designated drop off area due to safety concerns. Cars may not be in the bus lane until all six buses have been loaded and have departed.*

MORNING DROP OFF

*Doors open at 7:30am

* Do not drop scholars off before 7:30am. due to safety concerns.

* Do not drop scholars off anywhere but the circle drive.

* Pull as far forward as possible; do not drop scholars off until you've

pulled up to where staff are directing you to go

* Encourage your scholar to exit the vehicle quickly

* Stay in line. Dropping children off in the middle of the

circle drive is an extreme safety hazard that puts your child(ren) and others at risk.

* If you arrive after 8:15am, you must walk your child to the door and buzz to be let in.

Your child will be marked tardy.

* If you arrive at 10:30am or later, your scholar will not be admitted unless you

provide a written excuse from a medical professional. This will be an unexcused absence.

*Please note, we have more buses this year. The front sidewalk/curb IS NOT available as the pick-up line. Cars may not be in the bus lane until all six buses have been loaded and have departed.*

AFTERNOON DISMISSAL/PICK-UP

* If your child is walking home, they will not be dismissed until the busses have left.

* If your child is a car rider, you must be in the car rider line ON THE CIRCLE.

* There will be a staff member at the entrance to the circle drive.

You must stop and speak to them to give them your car rider number.

* Your child will not be dismissed from class until you've given your car rider number.

* DO NOT cut line. Your number will be skipped, and you'll end up waiting longer.

* DO NOT park and walk up to the building. STAY IN LINE.

* We know the line looks long, but it moves fast when everyone

cooperates and follows the procedures.

* Stay in line. Do not encourage your child to walk into the parking lot.

This is an extreme safety issue.

* Encourage your child to enter the vehicle quickly so the line can move efficiently.

* Talk to your child about exiting the building quickly.

They are not to stop by other classrooms or hang around in the halls talking to friends.

* Honking adds unnecessary noise and stress to the procedure. Please don't honk.

* Do not encourage your child to come to your vehicle if you are far back in line.

If you are changing the way your scholar gets home (permanently or temporarily) please call the office before 1:30pm (317-226-4103).

Scholars will not be dismissed early unless you arrive before 1:30pm. Please plan accordingly.
The office phones will not be answered after 1:30pm so that we may carry out safe and organized end-of-day and dismissal routines.

THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING THESE PROCEDURES TO KEEP OUR SCHOLARS SAFE.

* February 17 - NO SCHOOL- Presidents Day

* February 26 - Spring PIT Day Conferences - Your scholar's teacher will be in touch if a conference is requested.

* March 3-14 - IREAD testing for grades 2nd and 3rd

* March 28 - 11:20am EARLY DISMISSAL - Please plan ahead and be on time!

* March 31-April 4 - SPRING BREAK - No School!

* April 7 - Scholars return to school

* April 9 - 11:20am EARLY DISMISSAL - Please plan ahead and be on time!

* April 14-May 9 - ILEARN testing for grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th

* May 26 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

* June 4 - 11:20am EARLY DISMISSAL - Please plan ahead and be on time! LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

The Boys & Girls Club at 38th and Post Road is available as an after school resource. There is no transporation provided, but please see the Open Enrollment form below. Applications can be found in English HERE and Spanish HERE.

In response to the statewide Senate Bill (SB 185) passing and going into effect as state law in 2024, PLA@103 will operate within the following guidelines and procedures regarding all personal student devices (including cell phones and smart watches) during the school day (7:30am-2:30pm):

• Scholars are encouraged to keep all electronic devices (including cell phones and smart watches) home during the school day.

• Scholars who choose to bring their personal devices (including cell phones and smart watches) to school will be required to keep the device(s) in their backpack or a protected collection container within the classroom based on the teacher’s discretion.

• If the device is out during the school day, the scholar will be asked to give it to the teacher until the end of the school day.

• If the scholar refuses to turn in their device, the teacher will refer them to the Dean through an official write-up.

• Progressive discipline will be instituted in ordinance with SB 185.

• 1st offense - give phone to teacher; warning; teacher documents and informs parent

• Official write up to Dean if scholar refuses to turn in phone; teacher documents and informs parent

• 2nd offense - write up to Dean; Dean contacts parent; phone stays with Dean until parent can retrieve

• 3rd offense - write up to Dean; Dean contacts parent; ISS; phone stays with Dean until parent can retrieve and meet with Dean or administrator

• 4th offense - write up to Dean; Dean contacts parent; 2 days ISS; phone stays with Dean until parent can retrieve and meet with Dean or administrator

• 5th offense - write up to Dean; Dean contacts parent; wireless device suspension (scholar’s device will remain with Dean during the school day for 1-2 weeks depending on severity of the insubordination)

• 6th offense and beyond - write up to Dean; Dean contacts parent; wireless device suspension (scholar’s device will remain with Dean during the school day for 1-2 weeks depending on severity of the insubordination); parents, Dean, administrators meet to discuss next steps in regards to OSS or expulsion.

Please see important health information from Nurse Sara below (click the images to enlarge).

THE MOBILE DENTIST IS COMING ON MARCH 19,20,21 TO PLA @ 103

Indiana Dental Outreach

FORMS WILL BE COMING HOME WITH YOUR SCHOLAR, PLEASE CHECK BACKPACKS AND COMPLETE FORM. RETURN ASAP. YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP ONLINE www.MySchoolDentist.com OR CALL 1-855-481-8639.

EL DENTISTA MÓVIL VIENE EL 19,20,21 DE MARZO AL PLA @ 103

Alcance dental de Indiana

LOS FORMULARIOS LLEGARÁN A CASA CON SU ESTUDIANTE, POR FAVOR REVISE LAS MOCHILAS Y COMPLETE EL FORMULARIO. REGRESA LO ANTES POSIBLE. TAMBIÉN PUEDE REGISTRARSE EN LÍNEA www.MySchoolDentist.com O LLAME AL 1-855-481-8639.

DANTIST MOBIL LA AP VINI 19,20,21 MAS POU PLA @ 103

Indiana Dental Outreach

FÒM YO AP VINI LAKAY AK SOULISYE OU, TANPRI TCHEKE SAK AK RANPLI FÒM. RETOUNEN ASAP. OU KA ENSKRI OU SOU ENTÈNÈT www.MySchoolDentist.com OSWA RELE 1-855-481-8639.

* PLA@103 had a great Sneaker Ball!

FIND MORE PICTURES ON OUR INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Mission: Our mission is to ensure that each of our scholars meet high academic and social standards, and thrive as leaders at home, in their communities, and in the world.

Vision: Our ultimate goal is that our scholars master key academic skills, and demonstrate strong character as exhibited by: honesty, service to others, a superior work ethic, and a strong vision for and belief in their futures.

Introducing Skilled US: Empowering Adults to Achieve Career Success

Skilled US is on a mission to help adults across the nation gain the skills they need to secure family-sustaining jobs—tuition-free! Skilled US helps you gain the skills needed to secure a better-paying job and support yourself or your family. Our PREP Workshops are designed to equip our students with skills for both personal & professional success! We offer job training and career readiness support, empowering you to build a stable and fulfilling future. Let us help you take the next step toward financial independence!

Topics In PREP Workshops:

• Mindset

• Time Management

• Conflict Resolution

• Workplace Professionalism

• Career Readiness

• Financial Literacy

Example Programs

• GED & High School Equivalency

• English Language Classes

• Medical: CNA, QMA, CCMA, Pharmacy Tech

• Advanced Manufacturing

• CDL A & B (Semi-Truck Driving)

• Welding, HVAC, Electrical

• Diesel Mechanic

Why Choose Skilled US:

• Easy Application Process

• Short-Term Programs with Job Seeking Assistance

• In Demand Job Skills + Wages

• Transportation & Child Care Assistance

Join the Skilled US Movement!
Applications are open at www.skilledus.org. Together with local employers and community partners, we're creating pathways to success for students nationwide.