Stonegate Elementary Weekly News

Please join the SGE family in celebrating Mrs. Andries as the 2020 ZCS District Teacher of the Year! We are so happy for you, Abby, and proud that you were selected to represent ZCS! Well deserved!

• May 11 - Continue with E-Learning. (See detailed information below.)
• May 13 - PTO Dine for Dollars at Noble Roman's Craft Pizza and Pub (11:00am-9:00pm carry-out or curbside pick-up)
• May 18-22 - Virtual Family Field Day (See detailed information below.)
• May 21 - Last student day

Dear Stonegate Families,

Thank you for taking time to provide feedback regarding your child's learning experience. Your input provides us the opportunity to reflect on our strengths and areas to strengthen. We readily admit that we, as a staff, must always strive to grow in our work and practices.

Should you desire to share input and feedback, please complete the SGE Family Input Survey by Friday, May 29th.

In the coming week, keep your eyes open for ZCS information regarding a variety of end of year procedures and events. Final details are being refined so families can return school materials and pick up personal belongings. More details to come soon.

Take a night off of cooking! Even though restaurants are still carry-out/curbside only, PTO has set up a dining for dollars event to help our school. Please visit Noble Roman's Craft Pizza and Pub on Wednesday, May 13th from 11:00am-9:00pm for carry-out or curbside pick-up.

* Be sure to show the flyer (either printed or on your phone) to the curbside valet or carryout cashier when you pick up so that SGE PTO gets the donation. *

Over the next two weeks our Elementary Wellness teachers will be bringing you daily Strong In Every Way (SIEW) challenges. Each day they will highlight one of the five components of wellness (social, physical, intellectual, nutrition, emotional). This will include an active challenge for you and your family to complete. If you accept the challenge and complete it, we would love to see it. Take a photo/video and tag @MyZVilleSchools and @ZCSSTONEGATE. Be sure to also use the hashtags #SIEWDailyChallenge and #ZCSStrong to show off how you are staying strong in every way. Please check out the Wellness 360 homepage every day for another daily challenge.

If your family plans are moving you away from SGE or ZCS for the 2020-2021 school year, please email our amazing Administrative Assistant/Registrar, Angie Duncan, at aduncan@zcs.k12.in.us

Thank you for your assistance as we begin preparation for the upcoming school year!

The 4-day school week for students for the remainder of the school year:

• Monday and Tuesday - eLearning from your child's teacher
• Wednesday - eLearning focused on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) from Elementary Counselors
• Thursday - eLearning focused on student support and differentiation from your child's teacher, Literacy Coach, and additional staff
• Friday - No school for students - Teacher work day

Related Arts

• Our amazing Related Arts team will continue to provide engaging and high-quality lessons. Our primary focus will be your child's social-emotional well-being during this abnormal time. The secondary focus is literacy and math. However, our goal is also to provide some sense of normalcy and routine. Therefore, our Related Arts team will continue to provide consistent and routine eLearning on the four-day rotation.
• The Related Arts team will also continue to provide enrichment so that your child will be able to explore and possibly discover a new passion project.

Next week your children will be learning about Growth Mindset, and how to turn challenging situations into opportunities of growth. They will learn language of a Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset. This visual is a great example of the way students can turn their fixed mindset into a growth mindset

The Indiana Department of Education requires school districts to identify gifted students and provide them with appropriately differentiated curriculum and instruction. In ZCS, we reconsider ability and achievement data of all students each spring to identify any who may need further consideration for advanced differentiation in curriculum and instruction the following school year. This spring we will do the same with the data we have collected over the course of the school year. Our team of teachers, licensed in gifted education (representing each elementary building and central office), will look at all data remotely to make sure that we understand the needs of each student.

Our school district is committed to continuous progress for all students, regardless of designation. Accelerated content is common in our classrooms as are heightened expectations, instructional levels and high-achieving peers. Instructional methods regularly group and regroup students with differentiated materials and goals. Whether or not a child is identified as needing advanced curriculum, our teachers are committed to regular assessment of skills and knowledge and matching experiences to challenge each child and help him or her make maximum academic growth. We are proud to be a high-performing school district with high expectations for all students.

For students currently in grades K-3: Programming at the elementary level is based on student need for acceleration and enrichment within a cluster group in a general education classroom and not on labels. All student data is reviewed each year to look for several indicators that a child needs advanced instruction in order to grow academically. Our identification team looks at achievement, ability and teacher observational data. Since these vary from year to year with young students, we re-look at every student each spring. Parents will be notified by June 10 if their child has been recommended for differentiation. If your child was not identified through our extensive process, parents/guardians may appeal the decision. Parents/guardians can complete the appeal process by June 15. Forms are located on the Academics tab of our website under “Advanced Curriculum”: https://4.files.edl.io/039c/01/28/20/182123-3d4a9f45-de63-4549-95a9-0341f67290eb.pdf

For students currently in grade 4: All students are considered and more formally identified for high ability each year throughout middle school where they are placed in a class with high ability curriculum. Our identification team considers either achievement (NWEA) or ability (OLSAT) when making decisions. Parents will be notified by June 10 if their child has been recommended for differentiation based on the need for accelerated instruction or curriculum. If your child was not identified through our extensive process, parents may appeal the decision. Parents can complete the appeal process by June 15. Forms are located on the Academics tab of our website under “Advanced Curriculum”: https://4.files.edl.io/9ed3/07/24/19/163425-9b8daab0-04e6-4efb-acd8-f68c3aec4318.pdf

The first virtual parent cafe was a success. There were some important resources mentioned during the virtual cafe. These resources are attached below and can also be found on the ZCS E-Learning website. Please continue to check our newsletters as well as the ZCS website for upcoming dates/times for more virtual parent cafes.

LOOK Up Indiana

“Mental and behavioral health issues can be a silent struggle.

But there’s always hope on the horizon.

Whether you want to raise awareness, reduce stigma, find help or help others – it’s time to Look Up.

Then look here for resources, information and providers.”

https://lookupindiana.org/

2 1 1

Get Connected-Get Help

Call 211 or click below to get connected to get expert, caring help!

http://211.org/

If you are in need of technology support not related to a specific assignment, please use this form to contact our tech department.

One of the features in Canvas allows notifications to students when anything is added or updated. Some students may find this beneficial as it keeps them updated as changes occur. Other students may find this stressful because they are receiving several Canvas notifications due to content being added/changed for instruction. We want to give students choice in whether or not they receive these notifications, so please watch this short video which explains how to turn on/off these notifications. Students can choose what works best for them! http://www.zcs.k12.in.us/apps/video/watch.jsp?v=251459

NEW! Helping Families Build Resiliency during COVID-19

https://resilienceguide.org/

Common Sense Media

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

What’s Up with this Coronavirus? Comic for Kids

http://elisegravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CoronavirusE-FINAL2.jpg

Mind Yeti Videos

Mind Yeti provides a great way for everyone to practice mindfulness. At the following link are over 15 videos of mindfulness sessions that help kids and families calm their minds, check in with their bodies, and notice their surroundings.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiaUKiwbiHMQDQLCXoPaMMYotldKlUQCw

Sesame Street Little Children, Big Challenges

Young children face new challenges at every age and stage. That’s why it’s so important to help them build the skills they need to become resilient. With self-confidence and the ability to express themselves, little ones will be able to handle whatever may come their way and will just keep getting stronger.

https://www.cfchildren.org/resources/sesame-street-little-children-big-challenges/general-resilience/

How to Talk to your Kids About Coronavirus

This is an article written by PBS Kids about how to talk to children about coronavirus. You will find tips for handwashing, covering coughs, and practicing healthy habits.

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-coronavirus

Support for Helpers during Coronavirus

Resources from the Fred Rogers Center in addition to partner organizations for those of you looking for ways to create learning opportunities and structure for children.

https://www.fredrogerscenter.org/what-we-do/child-wellness/coronavirus-response

Resources for Families Practicing Self-Care:

CNET Everything you need to know…

Resources for working, cooking, and coping while practicing social distancing.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/covid-19-everything-you-need-to-know-to-stay-healthy-and-entertained-while-stuck-at-home/

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network Parent Guide

Support in understanding and coping during this time. The guide provide information on children’s developmental/age reactions and how to help.

https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/outbreak_factsheet_1.pdf

Confidential Food Assistance from ZCS

Please use this link to set up a pick-up time for a food package from ZCS Food Service.

Zionsville Food Pantry

4775 W. 116th St, Zionsville

Phone 317-873-8137, ext. 1087

Hours of Operation on Thursdays from 5-6 pm and Fridays from 12-2 pm

The Caring Center

1230 Ransdell Ct.

Lebanon

Phone: 765-482-2020

Hours of Operation on Mondays & Wednesdays from 8 am - 2 pm

Hours of Operation on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays from 11 am - 5 pm

(Closed on 3rd Tuesday and 4th Thursday of each month.)

Assistance from the Boys and Girls Club

403 W. Main Street
Lebanon, IN 46052
765-482-5110

• AskRose Homework Help - A free math and science tutoring service for Indiana students and other students in grades 6-12. Students can call 877-ASK-ROSE, email, or chat live with a friendly tutor to work through and better understand homework assignments.

• ASU for You Free Online Tutoring - Tutoring sessions for Math, ELA, Science and Social Studies via ZOOM.

• Fred Rogers Center - Talking to Young Children about the Coronavirus

• CDC - Talking to young children about coronavirus

• PBS - How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (with PBS Kids videos and shows that discuss handwashing)

• NASP - Talking to children about COVID-19

We would love for you to connect with us! Follow us on Twitter. Like us on Facebook. Visit our website.

Website: http://sge.zcs.k12.in.us/
Location: 7312 W Stonegate Dr, Zionsville, IN, United States
Phone: 317-873-8050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stonegate-Elementary-667262290025971/
Twitter: @ZCSStonegate

If you would like to order your child's 20-21 school supplies, click here. In order to avoid a $12-15 shipping fee, all of our 1stDay School Supply boxes will be delivered directly to SGE.