Dear Families,

I hope this message finds you well. We have had a great start to the year, with students settling in and making the most of their opportunities. Fall sports are kicking off their season, and our Band and Choir are diligently practicing for their first performances.

Additionally, I want to share that our first PTO meeting was a success! We are in need of more volunteers to help with school activities and fundraising efforts. Your involvement makes a significant difference.

Let’s encourage our students to SOAR high, not just fly!

Thank you for your continued support.

Best regards,

Loriann Wessel

Sept. 9-13- Scholastic Book Fair

Sept. 16- PTO Meeting; Seymour Intermediate Library

Oct. 1- 31- Walktober Walk-a-Thon fundraising period

Oct. 11- School Picture Day

Oct. 31- Walktober- Walk-a-Thon Event

Nov. 15- School Picture Re-Take Day

The very first meeting of the Seymour Intermediate Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) occurred on August 20th. Thank you to the parents, teachers, and administrators who attended. At the next meeting, PTO officials will be elected and our official work will begin! The next meeting will be held on September 16th at 6PM in the Seymour Intermediate Library.

If your child is in need of basic school supplies, please have them reach out to their grade level counselor.

Mrs. Kinard- Grade 5

Mrs. Woods- Grade 6

With the school year in full swing, it is important that all students have updated registration forms filled out in the Harmony Family Access Portal. These forms give necessary information about student health history, approved contacts in the event of a reunification, address changes, and much more! Please login at the link below and make sure your child's forms are complete.

There has been some confusion on the arrival time for students at SI. Our goal is to start school as close to 8:30AM as possible. This means that students who are car-riders or walkers need to arrive to school no later than 8:20AM.

We are aware that bus riders are getting to school after 8:20AM, which we continue to work with the Transportation Department on.

Thank you for helping us get students to school safely and efficiently.

Read the letter below for information on our Scholastic Book Fair. You may shop online using your ewallet or send money to school with your student.

The i-Ready Diagnostic results are now available, and I encourage you to review them with your student.

Our focus is on reaching both typical and stretch growth goals. Each week, students are expected to complete a specific number of lessons in each subject. Understanding your child's data will help you encourage their continued growth and success.

Seymour Intermediate will be participating in the IDOE ILEARN Checkpoints Pilot assessments. Each checkpoint has 20-25 questions and will show how your child is doing in key skills and concepts. This helps guide teaching and supports your child's learning.

Attached, below, are guidelines (Grade 5 & Grade 6) on what topics will be assessed in each checkpoint. Our goal is to continue to move more and more students to proficiency of the Indiana Academic Standards!

Checkpoint Schedule

Checkpoint #1 September 16-September 27

Checkpoint #2 November 18-December 4

Checkpoint #3 February 10-February 21

EXCUSED ABSENCES: An absence will be classified as excused if the student’s custodial parent has determined that the student will not be in school attendance and the reason falls under one of the criteria listed below and has notified the school office. When an absence is classified as excused, the student is entitled to complete missed assignments or class-work and receive associated grade points for completing the assignments or tests. Students are allowed up to 5 absences per semester that are excused by parents. The sixth (6th) absence, whether concurrent with the previous five (5) absences or not, will require a certificate of illness for the student’s absence from one of the following:

A. an Indiana physician;

B. an individual holding a license to practice osteopathy or chiropractic in Indiana; or

C. a Christian Science practitioner who resides in Indiana and is listed in the Christian Science Journal. (IC20-33-2-18)

UNEXCUSED ABSENCE: An absence is classified as unexcused according to the following criteria:

1. The reason for missing school does not fall under the criteria for an excused absence.

2. The parent/student fails to notify the school office in advance in cases of pre-arranged absences.

3. Excused absences, beyond 5 per semester.

The Seymour Community Schools Board of Trustees considers the following for excused absences:

1. Illness verified by a note from the parent (Seymour Intermediate accepts parent call or note.)

2. Illness verified by a note from a physician

3. Recovery from accident

4. Required court attendance

5. Professional appointments- Parents are encouraged to schedule medical, dental, legal, and other necessary appointments other than during school hours. When appointments are necessary during the school day, the student shall report back to school immediately after the appointment with a signed statement from the doctor, dentist, lawyer, counselor, etc.

6. Death in the immediate family or of a relative

7. Observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday in accordance with Policy 5223

8. Maternity

9. Military connected families’ absences related to deployment and return

10. Participating in an educationally related non-classroom activity which is consistent with and promotes educational philosophy and goals of the school corporation, facilitates the attainment of specific educational objectives, is part of the goals and objectives of an approved course or curriculum, represents a unique educational opportunity, cannot reasonably occur without interrupting the school day and is approved in advance by the school principal (I.C. 20-33-2-17-5)

ABSENCE REPORTING

When a student is absent from school a parent or guardian is expected to call the Main Office on or before the day of the absence. A phone call is needed each day the student is absent (unless the absence is pre-arranged) and can be made 24 hours a day. If the parent is unable to phone the Main Office the student is to bring a note of explanation from the parent or guardian to the main office upon his/her return to school. The school telephone number is 812-523-4367.

TRUANCY: is defined as absence from school without permission of the parent. Disciplinary action will be taken by the school in cases of student truancy.

Truancy will be dealt with in the following manner:

1. Parents will be contacted by the school

2. Students will be assigned to detention or suspension as warranted.

3. Students may be referred to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for continual incidences of truancy.

HABITUAL TRUANCY

Indiana code 20-33-2-11 provides that any person, while of the ages of 13 and 14, who is determined to be a habitual truant as defined by school board policy, cannot be issued an operator’s license or learner’s permit until the age of 18. The term “habitual truant” is defined as a student who willfully refuses to attend school in defiance of parental authority in one of the following circumstances:

1. Absent for (3) three days in any period of (10) ten days.

2. Absent for (4) four days in a semester.

3. Absent for (6) days in any two semesters; or

4. Absent for (7) days in any period of (3) or more semesters.

The Superintendent/designee or an attendance officer having jurisdiction shall report a child who is habitually absent from school to an intake officer of the juvenile court or the Department of Child Services.