The Friday Flyer

Thank you for making our conference day a tremendous success by being present and involved. Most of our students led their own conferences. In a student-led conference, the students articulate their successes and goals after reflecting upon their learning and work. Please know that our doors are always open should you need to dialogue about your student's social, emotional, and academic progress.

First quarter has been a busy one for STEM at BME. All grades have been deeply engaged in learning about life science through hands on experiences and experiments with real, living things! Our R.A.C.E. day experiences have also connected to the classroom life science lessons. Students have been tending the garden, finding and identifying living things in our outdoor spaces, and even identifying birds with the help of Cornell Laboratory’s Merlin Bird ID app.

Our Family STEM projects were a great success! Thank you to all the families and students that participated in our first round. We had 10 large tables full of projects that we displayed in the cafeteria for two weeks before sending them home. All grade levels participated and the creations were diverse. We had nature journals, picture frames, games, shelters, solar ovens, bags, vases, paper made from corn husks, and many more creative uses of items found in nature. We hope to have just as many or more families participate in round two. Information on our next project will come home next week!

STEM experiences have also included computer science lessons for every student in grades K-4. We define coding as giving instructions to a computer in “computer language” that tell the computer what to do. I was able to introduce all kindergarten students to block-based coding through the Lightbot application. We will continue and extend these lessons in the 2nd quarter. First through fourth grade students have had two coding lessons with me. Our initial lessons have focused on both designing and debugging code through Code.org’s leveled coding courses. Each student is enrolled in a self-paced course and has access to that course through Canvas. Have your student log-in and show you what they’ve learned so far. There is more to explore and learn as we move through the year.

Thank you for sharing your children with me. I enjoy the time we spend learning together. (I really do learn from them, too!)

Kara Benson

STEM Teacher and Instructional Coach

Boone Meadow Elementary was the recipient of an Adopt-a-Shade Program Grant by the American Academy of Dermatology. Through the combination of the $8,000 grant by AAD and the generosity of some additional funds from our PTO, the shade structure was installed this past summer. Other vendors have donated tables and we have a donor designated for landscaping as well.

On October 10th, we will celebrate this partnership with a dedication of the structure during our monthly PTO meeting at 6:00 PM. We gladly welcome a large group of visitors at this dedication and PTO meeting. We hope you are able to attend this celebration. Our monthly PTO meeting will follow the event.

If your child attends Boys and Girls Club, please note that they will be closed on Friday, October 12th for before and after care. Please send your child's teacher an email or note as to how you prefer your child go home on that day! Any questions, don't hesitate to contact the Boys and Girls Club at 317-769-2222.

The Scholastic Book Fair is here. Beginning on Friday, October 5th and concluding on Thursday, October 11th, students and families may purchase from the plethora of books and merchandise made available by Scholastic. The proceeds from the bookfair provide resources for Boone Meadow classrooms, while promoting literacy and a love of reading.

Students and teachers are invited to dust off their tutus, tune up their instruments, and warm up their voices for an afternoon of entertainment for all to enjoy! Mark your calendars for November 17th at 2:00 pm for the BME Talent Show! Sign up begins on Wednesday, October 24th. A flyer should have been sent home this week with more detailed information. Questions can be directed to our PTO planners: eileenadam@hotmail.com, lizkeiper@gmail.com or carla.strawmyer@gmail.com.

October 8 - October 11 - Book Fair

October 9th - Fire Safety Talk/Truck - 1st Grade, Picture Re-Take Day

October 10th - Fire Safety Talk/Truck PK and Kdg; PTO Meeting 6:00pm w/ Dedication of Shade Structure with American Association of Dermatology

October 11th - Fire Safety Talk/Truck - 2nd Grade, Fall Parties

October 12th - Fall Parties

October 15th-19th - Fall Break

October 24th - Blood Drive 3:00-7:00pm Cafe

November 10th - BME Talent Show Rehearsal 2:00pm

November 12th - Veterans Day Program 9:30am

November 17th - BME Talent Show 2:00pm

From time to time Boone Meadow uses SchoolMessenger to send a text to all of the families. If you haven't been receiving texts from us, you may need to opt-in by sending YES to the SchoolMessenger short code of 68453. Contact Beth Kiel in the front office if you have any questions!

bkiel@zcs.k12.in.us

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 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