2024-25 Bobcat Bulletin
August 27th, 2024
October 12, 2024
A message from Mrs. Britton!
We are very excited to announce that our students have earned their next school-wide reinforcer for accumulating 500 Bobcat Brags! This accomplishment reflects their enthusiasm and commitment to positive behavior. The reinforcer will be revealed to the students on Monday morning during News On The Lane. To celebrate, students will enjoy an outside picnic style on Thursday, October 17th. They are encouraged to bring a beach towel and sit with friends, making it a fun and fresh new reinforcer experience. For those who prefer, students may choose to remain in the cafeteria as well. Please note that any outside event is subject to change if the weather does not cooperate.
As we celebrate these achievements, I also want to share a friendly reminder about our wireless device procedures, which is essential for maintaining a focused learning environment for our students. To support our students' focus and engagement during academic classes, please ensure that all wireless devices—including cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, wireless headphones, and any devices that transmit and receive voice or data—are turned off and stored away during class time, unless there is a specific academic purpose identified by the teacher.
We have become aware of a few isolated instances where students have not been following our expectations, which has been shared since the beginning of the year. We truly appreciate your support in reinforcing this expectation at home. If your child needs to reach out to you during the school day, they can simply let their homeroom teacher know, and we will be more than happy to help them make a call from a school phone.
I will be reminding our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders about this expectation, especially since we have become aware of a few isolated situations of students texting home during the day from an Apple Watch or similar device. If any student is texting during the school day, their teacher will refer the student to me and I will follow-up with home on an individual basis. I appreciate your cooperation in reinforcing these expectations at home. Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!
-Michelle Britton
Upcoming Dates
The Next Two Weeks:
Monday, 10/14
- Principal's Advisory Board Meeting 12:30 (time change)
Tuesday, 10/15
- Superintendent's Advisory Board Meeting
Wednesday, 10/16
- Author Visit (Fourth & Fifth Grades)
- PTG Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Library
Friday, 10/18
- Early Dismissal at 12:20 for grades 1-5; No PM Kindergarten
- Featured Artist Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.
Monday, 10/21
- Third Grade Field Trip
Wednesday, 10/23
- Author Visit (Second & Third Grades), 2:00 p.m.
Friday, 10/25
- October Birthday Bash
Early Dismissal on October 18, 2024
11:25 AM Dismissal (Regular Time) - AM K Dismissal
12:20 P.M. - 1st-5th Dismissal
No PM Kindergarten
*If Morning Kindergarten students are being picked up in the car line, they should follow the usual procedures as they would on any other day. We do not need to alter the pickup procedures on half days since there is a gap in dismissal between Morning Kindergarten and grades 1 to 5.
Early Dismissals 2024-2025
October 18th
- Morning Kindergarten: 11:25 AM Dismissal (Regular Time)
- Grades 1 to 5: 12:20 PM Dismissal
- No Afternoon Kindergarten
- Afternoon Inservice
November 4th
- Morning Kindergarten: 11:25 AM Dismissal (Regular Time)
- Grades 1 to 5: 12:20 PM Dismissal
- No Afternoon Kindergarten
- Afternoon Inservice
January 17th
- Morning Kindergarten: 11:25 AM Dismissal (Regular Time)
- Grades 1 to 5: 12:20 PM Dismissal
- Afternoon Kindergarten: In Session from 12:55 PM to 3:30 PM
- Afternoon Inservice
February 13th
- Morning Kindergarten: 11:25 AM Dismissal (Regular Time)
- Grades 1 to 5: 12:20 PM Dismissal
- Afternoon Kindergarten: In Session from 12:55 PM to 3:30 PM
- Afternoon Inservice
March 5th
- Morning Kindergarten: 11:25 AM (Regular Time)
- Grades 1 to 5: 12:20 PM Dismissal
- Afternoon Kindergarten: In Session from 12:55 PM to 3:30 PM
- Afternoon Inservice
Middletown Volunteer Fire Company Visits Kindergarten
It's Fire Prevention Week!
Kindergarten students got a special visit from the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company today. They learned about fire safety and prevention. The highlight was sitting in a real fire truck.
Red Ribbon Week: October 21-25, 2024
Red Ribbon Week is approaching, and we have organized an exciting Spirit Week for our Bobcats. Indian Lane's Red Ribbon Week, scheduled for October 21st to 25th, places a strong emphasis on instilling in our children the importance of making wise and healthy choices.
The origins of Red Ribbon Week trace back to a heartwarming gesture: It was initiated to honor DEA agent Kiki Camarena. In his hometown, individuals began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their unwavering commitment to leading healthy and drug-free lives. Inspired by the unity represented by this symbol, the National Family Partnership (NFP) transformed this heartfelt idea into a nationwide movement. Today, it stands as a nationwide celebration involving schools, communities, and businesses across the country.
At Indian Lane Elementary School, Red Ribbon Week will be a spirited celebration of wellness choices. We have organized a "Spirit Week" designed to empower our students to make wholesome decisions daily. Throughout this week, we will convey essential messages about nurturing healthy lifestyles, including the importance of restful sleep, drinking water, enjoying healthy food, engaging in physical activity, and honoring community members who champion healthy living, such as doctors, nurses, fitness instructors, nutritionists, etc.
Our goal is to help our young students become confident and strong decision-makers, fostering a community that wholeheartedly supports a healthy future.
🌟 Red Ribbon Week Spirit Week - Dream Big for a Healthy Life! 🌟
October 21-25, 2024
Join us for Red Ribbon Week, a special time when we come together to celebrate staying healthy and making great choices. It's like a big reminder to be strong and say "no" to things that can harm our bodies. The red ribbon is the symbol that encourages us to be brave and make safe choices.
🔴 Monday - Red Day: Wear your favorite red clothes or red ribbons to show that you want to live a healthy and happy life. Embrace the color red for Red Ribbon Week, focusing on making healthy choices.
🧦 Tuesday - Crazy Sock Day: Put on your silliest, most colorful socks to celebrate our enthusiasm for a healthy lifestyle.
🏀 Wednesday - Sports Jersey Day: Sport your favorite sports jersey and let's show the importance of physical activity and teamwork in leading a healthy life.
🛌 Thursday - Pajama Day for Healthy Choices - "Dreaming of a Healthy Lifestyle": Roll out of bed and come to school in your coziest pajamas. It's a day to dream big and commit to a healthy lifestyle.
🦸 Friday - Dress as a Healthy Hero: Transform into your favorite health or fitness role model, whether it's a doctor, nurse, nutritionist, or famous athlete. Let's celebrate those who inspire us to make healthy choices!
Remember, you have the power to make fantastic choices for yourself. Red Ribbon Week reminds us that we can be strong and live our best lives by making healthy decisions. Let's have a fun and inspiring week together!
Thursday, October 17th
We are very excited to announce the students earned their next school-wide reinforcer for earning 500 Bobcat Brags. The reinforcer will be revealed to the students Monday morning on News On The Lane. Students will enjoy lunch in the courtyard on Thursday, October 17th. They are able to bring a beach towel and sit with friends. We are hoping this will be a fun and fresh new reinforcer.
Students may choose to remain in the cafeteria. As always, any outside event is subject to change if the weather is not cooperating.
Halloween Parade
With Halloween just around the corner, we are preparing for a festive celebration at Indian Lane Elementary! Below are the important guidelines and information regarding costumes, the Halloween parade, parking, classroom parties, and more to ensure a fun and safe event for all.
Costume Guidelines:
- Nonviolent Costumes: Children’s costumes must be of a nonviolent nature, appropriate for school.
- Item Limitations: Costumes should not include play weapons or look-alike weapons such as grim reaper’s staff, sword, lightsabers, devil’s pitchfork, Nerf guns, or similar items.
- Horror Characters: Costumes resembling horror characters are not permitted.
- Inappropriate Costumes: Please avoid costumes that might be considered inappropriate or disrespectful to others.
- Face Make-Up: Please limit face make-up, as we have a limited amount of time to assist students.
- Inflatable Costumes: We kindly ask for your discretion regarding inflatable costumes. While we generally prefer that students avoid wearing them due to the difficulty in maneuvering through stairs and hallways, if a student chooses to wear one, they will need to put it on and take it off in the gym for the parade only.
- Costume Sharing: Students should not share their costume accessories with classmates (e.g. hats, tiaras).
- Safety Considerations: Caution your child about safety when getting on or off the bus or walking home while carrying their costume.
Halloween is all about fun, so we kindly ask that you use good judgment when selecting your child’s costume. Please send your child to school with their costume in a bag, wearing as much of it as possible. Parents will not be in classrooms to help with dressing, so it is essential for students to come prepared. If any costume items are forgotten, you can drop them off in the vestibule, and we will make sure they get to your child.
Parade Information:
- Location: If you plan to attend the Halloween parade, please head directly to the back near the playground and gather on the grass inside the track.
- No Sign-In Required: There is no need to sign in for the parade. Staff members will be present to guide you.
- Safety: Please do not remove your child from their teacher’s supervision before, during, or after the parade.
Parking:
Details regarding parking will be provided closer to the event. We often use the Middletown Presbyterian Church for parking, but availability may vary on the day. Look out for more information in upcoming communications.
Classroom Parties:
Indian Lane Elementary students enjoy classroom parties to celebrate Halloween, Winter Holidays, Valentine’s Day, and the end of the school year. In accordance with our district's Wellness Policy, all foods offered during classroom parties should promote student health and help reduce childhood obesity. This means that party treats will follow the Nutritional Standards published by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Division of Food and Nutrition:
- Foods will include minimal amounts of added sugar (a maximum of 2-3 items with sugar as the first ingredient).
- Parties will offer fresh fruits, vegetables, water, 100% fruit juice, or milk.
- Foods will be moderate in sodium, contain minimal to no trans fats, provide more than 2 grams of fiber per serving, and exclude foods with minimal nutritional value.
Please expect communication directly from your child’s teacher or homeroom parent regarding specific party plans. Clearances are mandatory to attend. If your clearances are not up to date, you will not be able to volunteer for this event. There will be other volunteer opportunities in the future.
PTG Homeroom Parents /Guardians & Photographers:
Homeroom Parents and Reps, which include Homeroom Parents/Guardians and Class or Grade Level photographers who have volunteered to take pictures for the yearbook, should have received a letter from the PTG. If you have not received communication, please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher on Monday. The PTG will not be holding a separate meeting for parents this year. Instead, please work directly with your child’s homeroom teacher to coordinate any party plans or other classroom activities. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Vice President of the PTG, Brittany Petka, at b.petka@comcast.net.
PM Kindergarten Dismissal Procedures:
Kindergarten teachers will communicate dismissal procedures directly with families.
We are excited to celebrate Halloween with our wonderful Indian Lane Elementary community! If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for helping us create a memorable and safe Halloween for all of our students.
Lastly, please remember to complete our fall survey if your child(ren) will not be participating in the Halloween parade/party on October 31st. This will help us ensure we have plans in place for all of our Bobcats- https://forms.gle/TW1V6uR6xTDaXFMp9
Every child at Indian Lane is a BOBCAT & we want to celebrate with each of you. Families are invited to sign up to attend ONE Bobcat Pride Breakfast during the 2024-2025 school year. Younger siblings are welcome to attend, but please only sign up for the IL student(s) on the sheet. Each student should take one spot on the sign up sheet. The Breakfasts are held from 8:00 - 8:30 am.
From Our Nurse, Ms. LaRose
Is anyone in your home scratching their head? Here's a quick reminder about the district's Lice Management Plan.
Updated guidance for parents about head lice was recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Click the link for everything you need to know about finding them and treating them.
Get in the habit of checking your student every couple of weeks and remind them not to share hats or put their heads together with other students. As always feel free to call the nurse's office if you have any questions.
Family Alliance for Respect and Equity
The Bobcat Club Campaign - Support the PTG
Your voluntary donations are how the PTG raises money to pay for special events and help the school. Your one-time contribution fits your busy life and is our main fundraiser!
Bobcat Club Campaign Facts
What is it? The Bobcat Club Campaign is a PTG fundraiser created to allow Indian Lane families a way to donate money directly to IL PTG instead of traditional buying/selling fundraisers (for example, wrapping paper, silent auction, cookie sales, etc.)
The campaign is our main fundraiser and we do it at the start of the school year. The money we collect sets our budget for the year. The more money we collect, the more we can do!
100% of your donation supports PTG events like the Holiday Extravaganza, Bingo for Books, the Bobcat Winter Festival, Kindergarten Ice Cream Social, Popsicles on the Playground, Run-the-Lane, Teacher Luncheons... and more!
Our goal is to achieve 100% family participation. Simply decide what amount you are comfortable with giving and make a one-time donation.
To continue to support Indian Lane with our current PTG events and to avoid the need for additional fundraisers during the upcoming school year, we need your support to reach our fundraising goal of $13,000. This is our 2024-25 operating budget, not a savings account.
Donations are on the household level and all donations are appreciated and confidential.
Your donation may be tax deductible and many companies have programs that will match the charitable contributions made by their employees. Check with your company today!
All families that donate will get a 2024-25 school year magnet!
Donate to the Bobcat Club Campaign Today!
- Click this link or scan this QR code and fill out the Google form with the details of your donation
- Choose your payment method (Venmo, PayPal, Cash, or Check payable to ILES PTG) and make your donation following the instructions provided below.
- That's it! You're done!
IMPORTANT: No matter the method of payment, please fill out the Google form from Step 1 above and include a note/memo it’s for the Campaign and your family/student’s name.
Venmo to the PTG account @ILESPTG-4
PayPal to the PTG account @bobcatcampaign
Pay by Check papyable to ILES PTG or Cash
VFW Teacher of the Year Award & Student Essay Contests
Without our nation’s veterans, America wouldn't be the great nation it is today. Our youth deserve to learn about our rich history, traditions and the role of our veterans in creating and shaping America.
Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars selects elementary, middle, and high school teachers to participate in the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher program.
Please review the new rules and eligibility requirements and download the 2024 entry form and brochure to nominate a teacher you know. Teacher nomination entries must be received at a local participating VFW Post by the Oct. 31 deadline.
Looking to share updated information and materials on VFW's Voice of Democracy, Patriot's Pen and Teacher Award programs? Share our National Scholarship Brochure (coming soon) with the students and educators in your community.
For more information, click here.
Important Reminder: Wireless Device Use at ILES
To help maintain an environment that supports student academic learning and development, please ensure that wireless devices—including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, wireless headphones, and devices that transmit and receive voice or data—are off and away during academic classes, unless there is a specified academic need or purpose identified by the teacher. If you need to get a message to your child, please call the main office.
Thank you in advance for your continued support. We are looking forward to a great school year.
Leading Edge Before & After School Care
Leading Edge Kids provides before and after school care on-site at each elementary school in the district.
For information about their programs, please go to https://www.leadingedgekids.com.
The Parent Portal
The Parent Portal is a central location on the district's website where parents can find helpful information. Please refer to the communication sent by the school district on August 10th which is located on the parent portal.
Reminder: Annual District Forms must be completed by August 31.
The Rose Tree Media School District will use electronic forms to collect Contact and Nurse information for the 2024-2025 school year. Instructions to complete the forms, will be sent via email. The forms must be completed by August 31.
Please pay close attention to all phone numbers during the review and submit process. A primary phone number is required for all contacts, both Guardian and Emergency. This will allow the district to call the correct number in the event of an emergency.
Please click on the link below.
Community Information
Indian Lane Elementary School
Email: mbritton@rtmsd.org
Website: https://www.rtmsd.org/Domain/9
Location: 309 South Old Middletown Road, Media, PA, USA
Phone: 610-627-7100