The Friday Flyer

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open."

These first few days of school were filled with establishing and reigniting relationships so that children are welcomed and safe in this environment. In the photo below, students engaged in a writing activity , "On My Back," to spread kindness to new and familiar classmates!

It's been a fantastic first week of school, and we are looking forward to many more.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Tom Hundley

If any of you have experience accompanying a choir and would like to play for the Boone Meadow Voices this year on Tuesday afternoons, please contact Jennifer Welch at Jwelch@zcs.k12.in.us. Accompanist will be compensated.

PRE-ORDER IS NOW OPEN! To order with a debit or credit card, please follow the link below. Your child will be bringing home a paper form for cash and check payments within the upcoming weeks. All pre-ordering will close after August 16th.

https://cp-school-portraits.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/LoginConsumer?EK=128648

Why Do We Give the NWEA Assessment?

We often get questions from our families about the NWEA assessments, which we give in the fall of each year to our students in grades K-8 (and again in the spring in order to determine academic growth in math and literacy skills).

NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) is a non-profit organization that has developed brief (40-50 question) assessments in math and reading which teachers can give to assess their students’ knowledge/skills. At ZCS, we have chosen these standardized assessments to supplement our state-required test for several reasons.

• First, NWEA gives us instant results that we can use to adjust instruction and group students for learning. The tests are computer-based and yield a score, which the teacher can see in a report as soon as the student finishes.
• Second, unlike the state required test, which assesses only grade-level standards, NWEA has a bank of thousands of questions ranging far beyond grade level. The test is “adaptive”—meaning that as a student takes it, the test adjusts the level of questions he/she is presented with based on correct/incorrect answers, so that a student is always working on questions at his/her most appropriate level of difficulty—rather than “one size fits all” questions. Also, as a high-performing school district, we have many students learning and working far beyond their grade level standards. NWEA assessments allow us to see their level of performance and compare it (and their growth from fall to spring) to that of similarly-abled peers nationally.
• Finally, NWEA is based on one large bank of questions (not different tests divided by grade levels). Thus, the score a student receives each time he/she takes the test can be compared from fall to spring and year-to-year—producing a graph of a student’s growth over time (a lot like the way we mark a child’s height on a door in our home as he/she grows taller). Even when a student has a one-time drop in a test score, we are still able to see the whole pattern of his/her emerging growth as a learner. Although we typically give the tests in fall, spring and optionally in the middle of the school year, NWEA can be given additional times during the year in order to monitor progress in a goal area.

For all these reasons, we are glad to be able to gather this data (and the more specific information it gives us about strengths and areas of challenge) to help us plan learning experiences for our students. Please know that your child’s NWEA scores are available in PowerSchool (under test history) for you to see any time you desire. Scores for most recent tests will typically be added to your child’s data when our testing window closes.

he dates for all district assessment windows are available on our ZCS website at this link: add link (https://www.zcs.k12.in.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=458765&type=d&pREC_ID=1001116)

August 15 - Picture Day

August 22 - Curriculum Night

• Kindergarten: 5:30 - 6:00 PM
• Grade 1: 6:00 - 6:30 PM
• Grade 2: 6:30 - 7:00 PM
• Grade 3: 7:00 - 7:30 PM
• Grade 4: 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM

August 29th & 30th - 4th grade to Camp Tecumseh

September 2 - Labor Day (no school)

September 25 - Jog-a-Thon (PTO fundraiser)

October 14-18 - Fall Break

November 11 - Veterans Day Program

November 13 & 14 - Student Conferences

• Student conferences held after school on 11/13 & throughout the day on 11/14
• Student e-day on the 14th

November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break

December 23-January 3 - Winter Break

January 20 - MLK Jr. Day (no school)

February 5 - Global School Play Day

February 17 - Presidents Day (no school)

February 18 - Staff Professional Development Day (no school for students)

March 25 - Kindergarten Round-Up

March 27-April 3 - Spring Break

May 22 - Last Day of School

Buses provide an excellent transportation option which results in efficiency for arrival and dismissal on our school campus. However, families always have the option to bring their children in cars, or they may walk or bike with their child to the building during fair weather days. We will have crossing guards available unless weather is inclement.

However, if you are planning to bring your child to school by car, please adhere to the following procedures. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Arrival

Car Riders:

• All car arrivals should enter the Boone Meadow campus via Eagle Church entrance/access road.
  
• When approaching BME lot at end of access road, Kindergarten-4th grade vehicles should form line in right lane. Signage will designate lanes.
• Preschool lane forms on the left.
  
• Wait for staff to motion you forward to begin drop off process.
• 1st-4th grade drop off begins at 7:50; Preschool drop off begins at 8:05; Kindergarten drop off begins at 8:50.
• All drop offs should occur at curb, unless a situation necessitates otherwise. Additional foot traffic at crosswalk delays arrival.
• Students must exit on curb side of vehicle.

Dismissal

Car Riders:

• Please enter campus via Eagle Church access road as noted in arrival procedures above.
• Form lines (K-4th in right lane, and Preschool on left lane)
• Display name of student in front window (rear view mirror area) to assist with flow of students.
• Wait for staff to motion you forward.

Please note: We anticipate a large volume of personal vehicles during arrival and dismissal. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we fine-tune logistics during the first couple of weeks to ensure children are in their proper location.

Elementary school lunch prices for the 2019-2020 school year are $2.65. Secondary lunch prices are $2.85.

Click here for more information regarding ZCS Food Services Department.

Important-Updated Immunization Requirements for 2019-2020

The Indiana State Department of Health school immunization requirements for 2019-2020 have been updated. Click here to view these new requirements as they have changed. Students who do not have the Hepatitis A series may need to get the first dose as soon as possible as there is a minimum interval of six calendar months between the first and second doses. Religious and medical objections to the immunization requirements must be updated and signed each school year. Please feel free to send updated immunization records to the health clinic as you receive them. Contact the school nurse or your physician’s office with any questions.

ZCS school nursing services are provided by St. Vincent/Ascension Health. Need a provider? Visit getstvincentcare.com.

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