August 23rd, 2024

Be Safe. Be Respectful. Be Responsible.

From the Principals

Jerry Ross Elementary is off to a great start! We have enjoyed getting to know our preschoolers, kindergarteners, and our new students, teachers, and staff members. Jerry Ross students are learning how to be S.P.A.C.E. fit, and they are diving into the curriculum. Students have also been abuzz already talking about their chocolate sales and the prizes they hope to earn.

Throughout the school year, we ask for a lot of donations and we offer tons of fun events and activities. Please know that we do not expect families to donate to every cause. It is perfectly okay to choose a cause that supports your values as a family and decline to participate in others. We have also told our students this at school. Our children are so sweet and generous, but they don't understand family finances. While we greatly appreciate every last donation, we understand when families do not participate in fundraisers or donation drives. If our current chocolate fundraiser speaks to you, please know we are thrilled to announce we’ve already sold half of our total boxes!

For our chocolate fundraiser, special prizes are given to top winners. These include a limo lunch with the principals, a gaming truck, and a human sundae activity (see your teachers and principals get chocolatey!) Smaller prizes include “coops” that are fun collectibles. Any amount of sales is much appreciated!

In other exciting news, our new Jerry Ross playground is coming soon. Construction is well underway, and soon our students will have new and improved equipment. We will also have a fenced in playground with equipment that is tailored to our “littles.” Please join us in celebrating our new playground by attending our “Chalk It Up” event on September 7th from 5-7PM (details in the flier below).

Thank you for helping us kick off a great start to the 2024-25 school year. We look forward to seeing you on the playground September 7th!

From the Front Office

If your child's normal dismissal procedure changes, please make sure you call the office AND message your child's teacher. If you're unsure about what was communicated to the teacher at the open house or during the first week of school, please reach out to the teacher to confirm. We have 622 students and want to ensure every single one gets to where they need to be, so it's imperative that changes are communicated.

From the Counselor

Bully Prevention Lessons (runs from mid September - Oct 15)

Bully Prevention Education for Students

Indiana Legislature requires that each public school shall provide age-appropriate, research-based instruction as provided under IC 5-2-10.1-12(d) focusing on bullying prevention for all students in grades 1 through 12. Crown Point elementary students will receive age-appropriate, research-based instruction using the Second Steps Bully Prevention Unit by October 15th. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to contact Mrs. Pape with questions or concerns at (219)663.3010 or tpape@cps.k12.in.us.

Body Safety Lessons (runs from next newsletter until Sept 15)

Child Abuse and Sexual Abuse Prevention Education for Students

Indiana legislature has adopted legal requirements that each Indiana public school, including charter schools and accredited nonpublic schools, shall provide age-appropriate and research and evidence-based instruction on child abuse and child sexual abuse to students in kindergarten through grade 12. Note that this expands the previous requirement from providing education in grades 2-5 to grades K-12. In order to meet the new requirements, Crown Point school counselors and home-school facilitators will be providing age-appropriate, research-informed student personal/body safety sessions from . At the elementary level, students will learn the Protect Yourself Rules with their school counselor or home-school facilitator in a classroom session of approximately 30 minutes. Parents can view the Protect Yourself Rules and related materials at the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation website https://fightchildabuse.org/ Parents/Guardians are encouraged to contact their school counselor, Michelle Berger, with questions or concerns at (219)663-3010; mberger@cps.k12.in.us.

From the Nurse

Welcome back to school! So glad you all are here. Cheers to a healthy year.

Please get your child’s immunization records to the office to be compliant for this school year. If your child needs vaccines, the Lake County Health Department offers immunizations. It is a walk-in clinic open Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM. It is free for Medicaid and uninsured children. They also do take insurance. Their number is 219-755-3658. The deadline for immunization compliance is September 12th, 2024. Please continue to turn in your updated information.

Heads up on head lice. It’s that time of year where it can spread easily. The peak season is August through October, so check your child’s head. Lice do not spread diseases but is a community nuisance. If you child is scratching their head, it doesn’t mean they have head lice. It could be dandruff. Lice are tiny, tan, brown or gray in color and commonly found on the neckline and behind the ears. Lice lay eggs called nits and this is found on the shaft of the hair. It is so important to get all the nits out to stop the lice cycle. If you have any questions please call.

Vision and hearing screenings will start in September. If you choose not to have your child screened for this, please send in a note not to screen. These are mandatory screenings so a note not to screen has to be written.

Reminders: If your child has a medical condition that could be life threatening, please get your medical order forms and medication that is needed for emergency services. If you need further assistance, please call or email me at khorst@cps.k12.in.us

Thank you for not sending any medication to school with your child.

Please check in with your child if he/she is sick and do not send to school when sick.

Thank you for all you do for your child.

Enjoy your weekend!

Karen Horst RN

From the PTO

Please remember that if you'd like more boxes of chocolate after the original box you receive, you must prepay for the extra boxes. You can stop by the office between 10am and 2pm Monday through Friday to pay for and receive them.

Check out this fun upcoming event at Jerry Ross!
CHALK IT UP!
Saturday, September 7th, 5pm-7pm.

We will have a chalk drawing contest, categories will be announced the night of the event, with prizes for the winners!

You will also be able to purchase snacks from Snowie NWI!

We can't wait to see you there!

Arrival and Dismissal Information

Dismissal and arrival procedures are carefully put into practice to maintain the safety of students and staff. Please read the signs posted outside and follow the procedures for everyone’s safety.

ARRIVAL: Doors will open at 8:50 am. Students who arrive in a car will proceed through the car rider line on the north side of the building and ending in the circle drive in the back of the school.. Bus riders arrive through the main entrance.

DISMISSAL: All students exit the building to load onto the bus OR be picked up in a car. Children are not picked up inside the building. Students who are car riders will gather in the gym once their name appears on the TouchScreen and begin dismissing around 3:35 p.m. All cars should have the child’s full name visible in the front dash/visor of the car using the provided name plate. Parents/guardians of car riders should enter the north lot at the end of the school day and follow the direction of staff members.

All dismissal changes must be communicated to the office prior to 3:00 p.m.

Please see the car rider map if you are new to drop off/pick up.

Cell Phone Policy

Mark your calendars

September

2- Labor Day; No School

5- PTO meeting

7- Chalk It Up

12- Picture day

18- E-learning Day; Staff professional development

20- Student of the Month breakfast

From the Cafeteria

Our Department of Food Service is excited to announce the launch of online, digital menus for our district!

With our new MealViewer system, you can:

View what is being served each day
View the nutritional information for each meal
See if any of the Big 9 allergens are being served
Get notified when your student’s favorite meals are being served
Print menus by week or by month that include favorites and/or allergen information
Rate menu items to provide feedback for our Food Service team

Menus are always viewable without an account. Parents who want to sign up for an account can customize notifications, allergens, and more for each child in your family. Payments to your child’s meal account will continue through My MealTime.

Find more information and your school’s menu at schools.mealviewer.com. If you have questions, please contact our Food Service team at 219-663-3371 x 10601.

Our printable PDF menus will still be available on our website through the first semester. However, the most up-to-date menus will be the new digital version.

We look forward to the additional information and accessibility that this new tool will provide for parents and students!