Explorer Echo

Welcome to the November 15th, 2024, edition of Explorer Echo.

Hello parents:

At Southeastern Elementary, we love when volunteers come to our building and help in the library, in the classroom, chaperone field trips, and join students for lunch. As we continue to have fun family activities, we need to remind parents/guardians that an approved SafeVisitor background check is required by the district before anyone can help with students in the building. We want everyone to have the opportunity to help, so please see below information from the district website about SafeVisitor requirements:

SafeVisitor Background Check

A SafeVisitor background check is required for anyone who visits any HSE school, including family members of students. Examples of activities in the schools where visitors will need a completed SafeVisitor background check are:

• Classroom Volunteers/Helpers/Room Parents
• Field Trip Chaperones (Please contact the building for information regarding overnight field trip chaperone extensive background checks).

A visitor/volunteer background check through SafeVisitor is valid for three-years at any HSE school. The cost for the background check is $12.95 and includes a national screening process against the following: National Criminal Database, National Sex Offender Registry, Statewide Criminal, County Criminal and Federal Criminal Courts. Please note, the background check process may take 5 to 7 business days to complete, so please plan accordingly.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools takes the safety of its students and staff seriously and fostering safe and supportive learning environments is our top priority.

HSE works closely with school buildings, the Fishers Police Department and area law enforcement agencies to protect our students, teachers, school leaders, and staff and to prevent emergencies before they arise.

How To Obtain Your SafeVisitor Badge

NOTE: Please complete the following steps using a COMPUTER, not a tablet or phone.

1. WATCH the SafeVisitor video overview here.
2. VISIT the SafeVistor website here

PLEASE NOTE: If you have filled out a background check for HSE Schools in the past and you are unsure whether it has expired, please contact Tobi Fields at tfields@hse.k12.in.us. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH WHEN INQUIRING.

If your background check has expired or you have never submitted a background check, please visit SafeVisitor website to begin the process.

Once your background check is approved, watch for a badge notification in your inbox from “info@safevisitorsolutions.com.” Your badge will be attached as a PDF. You may print it, save it on your phone or download the SafeVisitor mobile app. A photo will be required and added upon your first visit to any school.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Kaminski and Mr. Heeter

SEL at Southeastern

KINDERGARTEN:

Week of Nov 4 - Nov 8

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 1: Growth Mindset and Goal Setting - Home Link

Lesson 1: We Watch. We Listen. We Think

Summary:

In last week’s lesson, your child learned how to name or show ways to pay attention.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child to share ways to pay attention (watching and listening carefully, answering questions that show comprehension).

Week of Nov 11 - Nov 15

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 1: Growth Mindset and Goal Setting - Home Link

Lesson 2: Why We Pay Attention

Summary:

In this week’s lesson, your child learned two important reasons for paying attention: to learn and to stay safe.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child why it’s important to pay attention during different activities, for example, when listening to information or instructions.

FIRST GRADE:

Week of Nov 4 - Nov 8

Digital Citizenship

Common Sense Media Curriculum

Lesson 2: How Technology Makes You Feel

Summary:

In last week’s lesson, your child learned to understand and be able to recognize different feelings they may have when using technology and know what to do when they are having a bad feeling.

Try This at Home:

Watch this video with your child that goes over ways technology can make them feel. After, discuss with your child some of the ways technology could make them feel and what they can do when they are having those feelings.

How Does Technology Make You Feel?

Week of Nov 11 - Nov 15

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 1: Growth Mindset and Goal Setting - Home Link

Lesson 1: Time to Pay Attention

Summary:

In this week’s lesson, your child learned that paying attention can look different depending on the situation, for example, listening to the teacher during a lesson or looking both ways before crossing the street.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child to show you how they can pay attention, for example, when you are reading a story with them, explaining a task, or crossing the street.

SECOND GRADE:

Week of Nov 4 - Nov 8

Digital Citizenship

Common Sense Media Curriculum

Lesson 2: Putting a Stop to Online Meanness - Home Link

Summary:

In last week’s lesson, your child learned to understand what online meanness can look like and how it can make people feel. They learned to identify ways to respond to mean words online, using S-T-O-P.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child how they should deal with meanness online and what S-T-O-P meanness means and how they would demonstrate STOP meanness. Discuss with your child trusted adults they should talk to if they experience online meanness.

Week of Nov 11 - Nov 15

Digital Citizenship

Commons Sense Media Curriculum

Lesson 3: That’s Private!

Summary:

In this week's lesson students learned to recognize the kind of information that is private and that they should never give out private information online.

Try This at Home:

Watch this video together (turn on captions so you can see the lyrics) and sing along!

https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/we-the-digital-citizens

Now talk about this together:

1. What was your favorite part of the song? Why?

2. What rules do we have about using apps and going online?

3. What sites are OK to use?

4. What are the time limits?

Make a list of safe sites/apps and your rules to put in a place where your whole family can see it!

THIRD GRADE:

Week of Nov 4 - Nov 8

Digital Citizenship

Common Sense Media Curriculum

Lesson 3: Is Seeing Believing? - Home Link

Summary:

In last week’s lesson, your child learned to recognize that photos and videos can be altered digitally, identify different reasons why someone might alter a photo or video, and analyze altered photos and videos to try to determine why.

Try This at Home:

When you see advertising on TV or a billboard, ask your child to figure out what the ad is selling. Help them explore why certain pictures, sounds, or words are used to sell certain products.

Week of Nov 11 - Nov 15

Second Step Curriculum

Unit 1: Growth Mindset and Goal Setting

Lesson 1: Changing Your Brain - Home Link

Summary:

In this week’s lesson, your child learned what happens in their brain when they learn a new skill.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child to explain what happens in their brain when they learn something for the first time.

FOURTH GRADE:

Week of Nov 4 - Nov 8

MindUp Curriculum

Getting Focused

Lesson 1: How Your Brain Works

Summary:

In last week’s lesson your child learned about the three parts of their brain that help them think and respond to stress.

Try This at Home:

Ask your child the three parts of the brain that respond to stress (amygdala, pre-frontal cortex, hippocampus).

Week of Nov 11 - Nov 15

MindUp Curriculum

Getting Focused

Lesson 2: Mindful Awareness

Summary:

In this week’s lesson, your child learned to compare mindful behavior and unmindful behavior and identify the parts of the brain responsible for controlling each type

Try This at Home:

Ask your child what it means to use mindful (reflective and purposeful) vs what it means to use unmindful behavior (reflexive and unaware.) Have your child identify the areas of the brain associated with controlling each type (Mindful – pre frontal cortex and Unmindful – amygdala)

From time to time, a case of head lice is reported to the school throughout the year. Should a case of head lice be brought to the school’s attention, the school nurse will maintain confidentiality of the student’s identity and assist the staff and parents with educational material. While the odds of your son or daughter developing a case of head lice are relatively small, the following includes useful information on head lice and the signs and symptoms.

Head Lice Information

• Head Lice are small parasitic insects that can be found on the heads of people.

• Head lice feed on human blood several times a day and live close to the human scalp.

• Head lice and head lice nits are found on the scalp, around and behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the head.

• Head lice cannot fly or jump; they can only crawl

• Head lice are spread by direct head‐to‐head contact

• Head lice are rarely spread by contact with clothing or personal items (such as combs,

brushes, hats or coats)

• Head lice are not a sign of uncleanliness

• Head lice are not known to spread disease.

Signs and symptoms of head lice infestation

• Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair

• Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the head louse

• Irritability and difficulty sleeping; head lice are most active in the dark

• Sores on the head caused by scratching

If your child exhibits signs and symptoms of head lice infestation, you should examine your

child’s head (especially behind the ears and at the nape of the neck) for crawling lice and nits. If

crawling lice and/or nits have been found, all household members should be examined for head lice and/or nits every 3‐4 days. Persons with live (crawling) lice or nits within ¼ inch or less of

the scalp should be treated.

For more information on head lice and treatment go to the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) web site at http://www.cdc.gov

Please be aware that we staff members do not disclose the name of the student, name of the teacher nor grade level to other families in order to provide student/family confidentiality. We do ask that if your child does have lice, please notify the school and those individuals/families that your child has been in close contact with.

Carissa Firmand, RN

cfirmand@hse.k12.in.us

(W-TH-F)

Sharon Hughes, RN

shughes@hse.k12.in.us

(M-T)

Thanksgiving Meal is November 21st! Turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, roll and pumpkin pie. PB&J and garden salad will also be available for the main dish that day.

Ice Cream

Ice cream day is every Wednesday for all grades- cost is $1.25 (must have money in account or bring cash/check)

Lunch Accounts

Funding your student's lunch account is done through eFunds. The link for eFunds can be found on our website at ses.hseschools.org. To make a payment to your student's lunch account, please access eFunds here. Student lunch is $2.80.

Snacks

The cafeteria offers snacks for purchase (.90-$1.25) to KG-4th grade students. If you would like to put restrictions on purchases please email cafeteria manager, Kim Lemburg.

Menu

Elementary lunch menus are posted on the district website at hseschools.org. We have a new menu that will start after Thanksgiving break (please see new menu below).

Kim Lemburg, SES Cafeteria Manager

• Friday, Nov. 15th, Fall Book Fair ends.
• Friday, Nov. 15th, PTO Glow Party.
• Monday, Nov. 18th, Science Bowl, 2:15 to 3:00 pm.
• Monday, Nov. 18th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm
• Monday, Nov. 18th, Spell Bowl Competition, Fall Creek Intermediate, 5:30 pm.
• Wednesday, Nov. 20th, Student Council Meeting, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Nov. 20th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm
• Thursday, Nov. 21st, Thanksgiving meal, school lunch.
• Thursday, Nov. 21st, Barks and Books, 2:45 to 3:15 pm.
• Friday, Nov. 22nd, Talent Show auditions, 2:15 to 3:30 pm.
• Monday, Nov. 25th, Science Bowl, 2:15 to 3:00 pm.
• Monday, Nov. 25th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Nov. 27-29, Thanksgiving break, no school.
• Monday, Dec. 2nd, NWEA testing begins.
• Monday, Dec. 2nd, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Dec. 2nd, Science Bowl, 2:15 to 3:00 pm.
• Wednesday, Dec. 4th, Talent Show practice, 2:15 to 3:30 pm.
• Friday, Dec. 6th, Explorer Day, wear school colors of navy and gold.
• Friday, Dec. 6th, Talent Show practice, 2:15 to 3:30 pm.
• Monday, Dec. 9th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Monday, Dec. 9th, Science Bowl, 2:15 to 3:00 pm.
• Monday, Dec. 9th, PTO meeting, 6:30, SES Cafeteria.
• Wednesday, Dec. 11th, Student Council meeting, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Wednesday, Dec. 11th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 pm.
• Friday, Dec. 13th, NWEA testing ends.
• Monday, Dec. 16th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 PM.

• Monday, Dec. 16th, Science Bowl, 2:15 to 3:00 pm.
• Wednesday, Dec. 18th, Tennis Club, 2:15 to 3:15 PM.
• Tuesday, Nov. 26th, Talent Show auditions, 2:15 to 3:30 pm.
• Friday, Dec. 20th, Winter class parties.
• Monday, Dec. 23 through Monday, January 6th, winter break, no school.
• Tuesday, Jan. 7th, first day back for students.

School day start/end times, 7:40 am to 2:10 pm

Just a reminder that we will be on Thanksgiving break from Wednesday, Nov.27th, through Friday, Nov. 29th. We look forward to seeing all of our Explorers back in the building on Monday, Dec. 2nd.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our fall book fair. It was a wonderful week of reading fun. We greatly appreciate your help and support.

Lori Cushman

SES Teacher Librarian

Please join us for our first Barks and Books event scheduled for this Thursday, Nov. 21st, from 2:45 to 3:15. Please RSVP at this Barks and Books link.

Is your student interested in tennis camp with Ms. Bleill? Our next tennis camp is for first through fourth grade students and is scheduled for Nov. 18th through Dec. 2nd from 2:15 to 3:15 in the SES gym. Please access this tennis camp link to for more information or to register your student.

Riley Dance Marathon Kids Night 2024

Date: December 14th (12/14/24)

Time: 6pm-9pm (drop off starting at 5:45pm)

Cost: $25 per student

***Donate at least $25 for each student participating to Donor Drive (make sure to comment the student(s) name(s) as this will be checked upon arrival)

Location: HSE high school, drop off at door 18

What is it? Kids night (formerly Science night) is a fun parent’s night out for children (grades K-6) run by HSE’s Riley Dance Marathon club student and teacher volunteers! It’s $25 per kid and 100% of the proceeds go to Riley Children's Hospital! There will be lots of fun & educational games, and pizza will be provided for the students!

Did you know that you can use School Dismissal Manager to report student absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals? It is very easy. Log in to your SDM account, select your student, click on the date, select "add late arrival" or "report absence," type a reason in the notes section, and click update. If leaving early, click on "add exception" and select "leaving early" from the drop down menu. A report will be generated and the front office will be notified. Questions? Call the front office at (317) 594-4340.

Representatives from Ritchey Woods visited first grade classrooms this week to discuss with students about Black Bears and their natural habitats. Students learned that Black Bears lived here in Fishers over 100 years ago but had to move due to population growth. Students saw a bear pelt, a bear skull, and they compared their hand size to a black bear's hand print.

Please access the latest PTO newsletter at this link.

SES has an amazing PTO! Our PTO organizes many activities and events that help raise much-needed money for our school. Resources raised through our PTO activities each school year help to support teachers' classrooms with supplies, books and curriculum materials. Our PTO produces a newsletter with regularly updated information about events happening in our building. These newsletters will be sent to families via ParentSquare, and will also be posted to our website at ses.hseschools.org.

Learn more about our PTO.

Instagram: @Southeastern PTO
Twitter: @Southeastern PTO
Linktree: linktr.ee/sespto

Email: info@sespto.org

president@sespto.org

vp@sespto.org

Facebook: Southeastern PTO

The Southeastern Elementary handbook has answers to many of your questions regarding policies and procedures for our building. The handbook can be found on our website at ses.hseschools.org, or by clicking below.

Anyone wanting to spend time in the school or chaperone a field trip must have a SafeVisitor ID badge. If you have not yet completed the background check, please click below to get started.

If you are interested in tutoring opportunities for your student, please access the attached list. If you have a student that stays after school for tutoring, you much change dismissal manager so that the teacher knows where to send your student at the end of the day. Please log in to dismissal manager, make an exception for the day, and select "Tutoring with Teacher," and list the teacher's name in the notes section.

Submit A Tip 24/7

HSE Report It! is a school safety mobile reporting app that allows students, staff, and community members to provide anonymous information about concerns for their own safety or the safety of others. It’s anonymous and reports are made exclusively through the mobile app. HSE Report it! has no length limitations or the need to remember a short code. Reporters can attach photos, screenshots, videos, documents and/or audio recordings to their concerns and they can engage in a two-way

Website: https://ses.hseschools.org/
Location: 12500 Cyntheanne Road, Fortville, IN, USA
Phone: 317-594-4340
Twitter: @SoutheasternEl1