In order to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family, school is not in session on Wednesday, November 24th - Friday, November 26th.

Students return to school on Monday, November 29th.

Let our hearts be full of thanks and giving.

A few important items to note are listed below:

Poinsettia & Winter Pots - If you ordered plants from PTO, they are scheduled to arrive at Boone Meadow this coming Monday, November 22nd. Pick up will be from 3:00-6:00 at our main entrance. PTO volunteers will be present to assist you in picking up your order.

STEM Connection - The STEM Family Gathering is tomorrow, so please read details below if you are interested in traveling to the Sandhill Crane Migration Viewing. Also, the STEM update is linked below for your convenience.

Book Fair - The BME/PTO Book Fair concluded today. A hearty thank you goes out to all volunteers and families that made this possible.

Enjoy the weekend, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving as you celebrate gratitude with those you love.

Together,

Mr. Hundley

What: Sandhill Crane Migration Viewing

When: This Saturday evening, November 20.

What time: Leave from BME at 3:00 p.m.

Where: Jasper Pulaski Wildlife Refuge, Sandhill Crane Viewing Area, 5353 County Rd 1650 W, Medaryville, IN 47957

Bring: Very warm clothing (hats, gloves, coats and scarves); snacks or a picnic for the car trip; binoculars if you have them.

Our caravan of BME families will leave from the Boone Meadow front parking lot at 3:00 p.m. for the 95 mile, 1 hour 40 minute drive to the Jasper-Pulaski Wildlife Refuge. We will get to observe thousands of Sandhill Cranes during their yearly migration. Nightly, just before sunset (5:27 p.m.), the cranes fly overhead and land in front of the viewing platform for their nightly congregation. Last year at this time, more than 20,000 cranes gathered. This is a truly amazing wildlife spectacle to observe right in our back yard! Connect this to our science content of energy and motion by discussing the flight of the cranes, the quality of their sounds, and how the sound travels. Learn More Here

The PTO is excited, to be able to help you with your Holiday shopping! Below, is the link to access who you contact to brighten a staff members day! Don’t forget about your class teacher, favorite specials teacher, that amazing bus driver, the helpful lunch staff and the best front office staff!

As requested from last years feedback, all the information is in one document to make it easier! Click HERE to access the spreadsheet for contact information for this project.

Thank you so much for all your support to us and the school! If you have any questions just let us know!

A few items to note:

• Orders and payments due by November 12th
• Order through the order form & send back to school or online via SchoolPay
• Checks payable to: BME PTO
• Pick up date & location: November 22 (3:00-6:00 PM) @ BME main entrance
• Contact information: Jackie Lewis, boonemeadowpto@gmail.com

Our Student directory is now updated! Many thanks to the PTO for organizing this helpful resource! If you have never used our student directory, just follow these easy steps:

• Go to www.directoryspot.net or download the “Directory Spot” app on a smart phone. Click “Login”.
• Enter your email address as your Username, and click on “Reset Password”. An email will be sent to you with a link to set your password.
• Click on the link in the email to set your password and to log in.

If you have trouble logging in, please contact PTO volunteer Eileen Adam at eileenadam@hotmail.com.

Also note that if your information has changed, you can update it by logging in on a computer (not available through the app).

November 22 - Poinsettia sale pick up (3-6 PM)

November 24-26 - Thanksgiving Break (no school)

December 1 - Dine to Dollars Fundraiser Nothing Bundt Cakes - 50% of purchase goes to BME PTO)

December 6-17 - NWEA testing window

December 15- Dine for Dollars - Noble Romans

December 17 - End of Quarter 2/Semester 1

December 20-31 - Winter Break (no school)

January 3 - Students return from break; 1st day of second semester

January 5 - Dine for Dollars - Lou Malnati's (All 3 Indy locations)

January 17 - MLK Jr. Day (no school)

January 18 - Teacher professional development day (no school for students)

January 19 - Dine for Dollars- Qdoba (tentative)

February 14 - Valentine's Day

February 21-25 - Presidents' Day/February Break (no school)

March 15 - End of Quarter 3

April 1-8 - Spring Break (no school)

May 25 - Last day of school

May 26- June 3 - Make up days (if needed)

May 30 - Memorial Day (no school)

Q: How does the new Executive Order from Gov. Holcombe (8/31) impact school contact tracing?

A: IF individuals are wearing masks with fidelity in the classroom & on the bus, people who are contact traced will not need to quarantine unless they are exhibiting symptoms. We will still need to notify and document the contact tracing, but if no symptoms exist and the individuals were properly wearing masks, they would not need to quarantine.

Lunchtime is when contact tracing/quarantine does apply and the 6' rule will apply as well. Quarantined individuals can still return on day 8 if they receive a negative test (rapid in lab or PCR) on day 5, 6, or 7 after exposure - or stay out for the full 14 days.

Q: What about symptoms? What symptoms must we watch and keep our child from school?

A: Every morning, families should take note of if their child is showing symptoms of illness. We know this can be complicated, frustrating, and inconvenient as we strive to keep our learning environments as healthy as possible. Fevers, sore throats, new onset of intense headache, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, coughing or shortness of breath, or new loss of taste or smell are the common symptoms and students will be required (per health department mandates) to quarantine for ten days from the start of symptoms. Student may return to school/activities sooner with a physician document stating they may return OR a negative PCR CoVID test. (This is regardless of vaccination status)

Q: If one child is home with symptoms, must my other children stay home as well?

A: Siblings of ill students will need to be picked up if at school. Siblings will need to follow quarantine guidelines.

More information regarding COVID protocols is located here on the ZCS website.

ZCS C-19 Protocol

At this time, due to CoVID 19 restraints, we are "pausing" on volunteers and visitors. When volunteers are needed and approved, appropriate staff members will reach out to you in effort to welcome your support and assistance.

If you plan to volunteer of visit in the future, please note the following information.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VOLUNTEERS

We value partnerships with our families and welcome parents and guardians to serve as volunteers in our schools. Each ZCS building typically offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.

Examples include:

• Field Trip Chaperones
• Out of Town/Overnight Chaperones
• Tutors
• Volunteer Coaches
• Classroom Helpers (PTO parties/room parents)
• Library Helpers
• After Prom Workers
• Field Day/Jog-A-Thon Volunteers
• Book Fair Sales/Athletic Ticket Sales

During the school day, all volunteers are expected to sign in at the front office. Prior to the volunteer opportunity, all volunteers must sign a Non-disclosure Acknowledgement Form and have successfully completed a Full Criminal History Background Check. Necessary background check paperwork is available on the ZCS website at the Volunteers/BRAVO link and should be submitted at least 10 days prior to the intended volunteer date. Volunteers must also view the state mandated confidentiality/bullying video, provided on the Volunteer/BRAVO website. The volunteer will pay the fee* for the full background check which will expire after 5 years. The link to apply for the full background check can be accessed on the Volunteers/BRAVO link on the ZCS main webpage. For more information, contact the Volunteer/BRAVO Coordinator.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VISITORS

During the school day, all visitors must enter via the front door and sign-in at the front office. Visitors need to be prepared to present a government issued photo ID which will be scanned against the National Sex Offender Registry. All visitors will be issued a visitor badge/tag to be worn inside the building at all times.

Examples Include:

• Lunch Guests
• Classroom Guest Speakers
• Classroom Special Events (Grandparent Day/Famous Hoosiers/etc.)
• Parent/Teacher Conferences

We ask that all visitors schedule an appointment to meet with teachers, counselors, administrators and all other staff members so that we may best serve everyone. Visitors other than parents/guardians must be prearranged and organized through the main office.

*ZCS thanks all volunteers for generous support of our youth and schools. Thank you, too, for supporting assurance of student and staff safety by completing and paying for a volunteer background check.

Email: thundley@zcs.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.zcs.k12.in.us/bme/
Location: 5555 S Main St, Whitestown, IN, United States
Phone: 3178732226
Twitter: @ZCSBoone_Meadow