This week's message is from our PTO Board regarding our "Spirit of Giving" Donation Drive. Please see below...

Hello BME Families!

Boone Meadow PTO is currently hosting a “Spirit of Giving” Donation Drive. Since 2012, Jog-A-Thon has not only been the primary, but also the favorite student fundraiser for Boone Meadow Elementary. On average, BME families have raised between $16,000-$20,000 each year to help fund classroom grants, technology and enrichment at our school. Due to current volunteer and social distancing guidelines related to COVID, we are unable to hold this annual event. The BME students and staff are continuing to adjust and rise to the challenges the 2020-21 school year brings, and the BME PTO continues to support them amidst this unprecedented year. We are committed to our mission to provide assistance and enrichment opportunities for the entire BME community.

We are reaching out today to ask for your financial support of the BME PTO. Without the BME Mixer & Silent Auction in Spring 2020 or Jog-A-Thon this fall, the BME PTO is currently unable to support our students and staff as we normally would during the academic school year. Because most traditional means of fundraising are suspended due to Covid-19, the BME PTO is hosting a “Spirit of Giving” Donation Drive this year to help raise funds. With your support, the PTO will be better positioned to serve our school community.

In years past, the BME PTO has proudly purchased a number of items for our students and staff. Recent examples include:

• the new rock climbing wall in the gymnasium was funded by PTO,
• STEM garden projects,
• the outdoor shade structure,
• Chromebooks and iPads for classrooms,
• various classroom projects & learning opportunities,
• and xylophone stands for our music programming!
• On top of these great contributions, the PTO has funded a variety of teacher grants and numerous appreciation events for the BME Staff.

We need and appreciate your support in our effort to make the 2020-2021 school year the best experience it can be. Every donation, large or small, will make a difference. Although the PTO will accept donations throughout the year, the “Spirit of Giving” Donation Drive is through the month of September.

To participate in our donation drive, a tax deductible donation can be made via check to Boone Meadow PTO or via PayPal to boonemeadowpto@gmail.com. We can accept those donations at the school and deliver to the PTO Board.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to BME PTO President, Torrye Kampen or to PTO Treasurer, Audra Stewart at boonemeadowpto@gmail.com.

Your consideration is greatly appreciated.

With many thanks,

Your BME PTO

Dear Parent/Guardian,

This week and next, our school safety team is speaking to students on the topic of school safety. As you can imagine, school safety encompasses a wide variety of topics. After a general review with students on how we can remain safe daily, your child’s class will also receive instruction on the A.L.I.C.E. protocol.

For our state-required lockdown procedures and drills, we take a very sensitive and developmentally appropriate approach with our students. We begin by considering our various safety drills and prioritize two main points: 1) We move away from danger (i.e. we go outside if there is a fire in the building; we come inside if there is dangerous weather; if there is an aggressive animal, we do not approach it, etc.), and 2) We always have choices we can make to keep away from harm.

A lockdown procedure is a combination of those same key points. We blend what students already know from other safety drills and focus on the procedure of what to do rather than possible circumstances. During the lesson, we focus our top priority of stopping what we are doing, looking and listening to the adult responsible for their care (teacher) and to follow their instruction as well as the choices students can make to keep safe.

Below are additional specifics about the ALICE protocol and how students can use this information to make choices to keep themselves safe.

What is ALICE?

Very briefly stated, A.L.I.C.E. is a safety philosophy and action plan that seeks to give all school employees information during an intruder situation so that we, as first responders in crisis, can save lives. A.L.I.C.E. is a program used by schools, businesses, and law enforcement across the country. The philosophy of A.L.I.C.E. is to use information in a way so that staff and students can make informed decisions in a crisis, remove as many people as possible from the danger zone, and provide realistic training so that those involved in a crisis have a better chance of surviving.

A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for, Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. A.L.I.C.E. is not designed to be sequential, but rather to be utilized dynamically in each situation. Teachers will provide direction to the students on what action needs to be taken, so it is very important that students listen and follow the directions given, as this drill is not predictable like a fire drill or tornado drill. This protocol helps us teach students safe decision making skills during a crisis. The A.L.I.C.E. program was introduced to the Zionsville community in the spring of 2014. District parent meetings were held to help inform the public while training took place throughout the 2014-2015 school year with our faculty and staff.

WHY ALICE?

Our local law enforcement and ZCS school safety leaders have been trained in the A.L.I.C.E. protocol. In addition, our ZCS Board of Trustees has met with Boone County and Town of Zionsville police professionals in this regard. Our governing board is in unanimous agreement with law enforcement professionals’ recommendation that we train, communicate, and fully implement the A.L.I.C.E. protocol.

The A.L.I.C.E. program is leveled to be age appropriate and is not meant to scare or frighten children but to empower them with knowledge to make good decisions in a crisis. We will encourage your child to discuss A.L.I.C.E. with you at home. We will continue to highlight the key steps of this protocol with students through daily announcements, safety drills, and classroom conversations. For more information on A.L.I.C.E., please feel free to visit the following website: http://www.alicetraining.com/. If you or your child have continued questions, please contact your school leader.

It is our school and district goal to make our students strong, safe, and empowered.

Thank you for your assistance and support in keeping our students safe.

Sincerely,

Stacy Smith, Principal Pleasant View Elementary

Andrew Foreman, Principal Eagle Elementary

Connie Largent, Principal Stonegate Elementary

Jennifer Raycroft, Principal Union Elementary

Tom Hundley, Principal Boone Meadow Elementary

ISDH Guidance for Families

You can utilize School Pay to pay for textbook rentals and to fund lunch accounts. Information about School Pay as well as additional lunch details, such as the monthly menu, can be found on the Food Services website.