The Tiger Times

August 19, 2022

MISSION

The MSD of Decatur Township is Student Invested, Community Connected. We prioritize Student learning, Safety and Customer Service, fostering a support system for our families.

VISION

Preparing our students to be tomorrow ready!

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Dear West Newton Families,


August has been wonderfully busy and I know that West Newton’s staff members are enjoying teaching and each student is learning and growing each day. Our West Newton Tigers have finished their first week of NWEA testing of their Reading skills, and next week they will take the Math skills portion for NWEA testing. Teachers will be sharing results with parents in the upcoming weeks.


We have taught and practiced our Tiger Pride Expectations with students and this would be a great dinner topic to discuss. You could ask them to share the Tiger Pride Expectations which are as follows:

Truth and Trust

Include Others

Give and Get Respect

Emotions in Check

Remember to Follow Directions - that is Tiger Pride!


Our West Newton students are amazing! Thank you so much for partnering with us in our students’ success and for sharing your children with us.


With Tiger Pride,

Susan D. Strube

Principal

UPCOMING TESTING

  • NWEA Testing ~ K-6 August 15th-September 2nd

UPDATED CAR RIDER PROCEDURES

Please see below for current and accurate car rider procedures.


Car Riders:

Thank you for your efforts to ensure our car rider line is running smoothly! As a reminder, please use both the right and left sides of the lower parking lot. It would be best to join the shorter line to prevent back-up on Mooresville Rd. Please pull up so that gaps are not left between vehicles.

During arrival and dismissal, the buses park in front of the school. Students may not be dropped off from a car at the front of the school during arrival or picked up there during dismissal. Please follow the procedures outlined below for car rider drop-off and pick-up at the back of West Newton, Door 10.

AM Arrival:

  • Car Riders
    • Please enter the car rider line through the lower parking lot off Mooresville Road. We are not to block Hayworth Road, so please wait at the bottom of the hill until you can proceed all the way to the top. Do not try to enter the car rider line by entering Hayworth from Mooresville and making a U-turn.
    • In the lower parking lot, please join the line on the right or left side of the lot (either side of the cement medians). Cars will take turns merging into the access road that leads to Hayworth Road.
    • Drop-off is from 7:20-7:40 a.m. Students will not be able to exit vehicles until 7:20 a.m.
    • The first car must pull all the way up to the first red pole by the blue sign.
    • The next 2 cars need to pull up to the second and third red poles.
    • Please have your child ready to exit your car when you pull up to the sidewalk area. Once the school door (10 South) is open, the first three (3) cars are to unload. For safety, students need to be ready to exit the vehicle on the passenger side and parents should remain in the vehicle.
    • In order to expedite unloading, please watch for an adult to wave your child out of the car once you have stopped by the sidewalk.
      • Please do not hold up the car rider line by having last minute discussions, signing papers or waiting to be first in line.
    • Please wait until students are on the sidewalk before pulling away.
    • Students will line up inside the school the hallways and then be dismissed to classrooms at 7:30.
    • Once the bell rings at 7:40 students are considered tardy and must enter through the front doors and come through the office to sign in.
PM Dismissal:
  • Car rider dismissal will begin at 2:20 p.m. at Door 10 South on Hayworth Rd. (same route as AM)
  • If your child is not in line when we begin loading cars we may ask you to pull forward.
  • Once buses pull out of the parking lot, the back door is closed and students will need to be picked up in the office by coming to the door to get them.
  • We request your patience, as we expect a larger number of car riders this year. We will move the line as quickly as possible while student and staff safety will be our first priority.
  • Please ensure your car rider sign is displayed in the windshield.

POPCORN FRIDAY EVERY WEEK

Popcorn is $.50 per bag. Popcorn money will be collected all week and the popcorn will be distributed during the students' lunch time. All proceeds benefit the Student Activity fund and the Staff Fund.


Popcorn Friday will take place every week beginning on Friday, August 12th.

PICTURE DAY ~ August 23, 2022

Save time and Order Online using order code: 69207FA


Order forms were sent home on Tuesday, 8/16/22. Extra order forms will be available in the school office.

West Newton PTO - Events at a Glance

westnewtonelempto@gmail.com


AUGUST

Tuesday, August 2 ~ PTO Meeting @ 6pm

Friday, August 12 ~ Spirit Wear Orders due

Friday, August 26 ~ Trash Bag Sale begins (more info coming soon)


SEPTEMBER

Tuesday, September 6 ~ PTO Meeting @ 5:30pm

NURSE NOTE

Hello everyone!! For those of you I haven't met yet, I am the school nurse and will be taking great care of your kiddos this year. This will be my 7th year here at West Newton!



For the first few months of the school year, I may be sending home letters/forms for various things I may need for your child. Please check your child's book bag and folders frequently, notes from me will always be in a concealed envelope.

Next week I will be sending home letters/forms regarding action care plans for those students who have specific medical needs during the school year. These forms will need to be filled out and returned to the clinic as soon as possible, so be on the look out! These are very important in order for me to give your child the best care possible! If you ever have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out to me ANYTIME!! Let's make this school year a great and healthy year!!

Paige Ison, RN

West Newton Elementary

School Nurse

317-856-5237

VOLUNTEERS

All volunteers are required to submit a volunteer application and clear a background check prior to volunteering at any Decatur Township school. It is important to submit your application at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip, field day, and/or any other special event to ensure we get the background check results to clear you to volunteer. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. To begin the volunteer process, click the application link below.


Volunteer Application

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P-EBT Cards

Dear Decatur Township Families,

Please visit our Child Nutrition Department Website (https://www.decaturproud.org/child-nutrition/p-ebt) for resources and general information about P-EBT cards.
MSD of Decatur Township and the Child Nutrition Department do not have access to P-EBT information or funds.
All calls and questions need to be directed to The Family and Social Services Administration.

Thank you,
MSD of Decatur Township
Child Nutrition Department

Return to traditional meal benefit eligibility

Since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, school corporations across the country have been operating with the use of a federal waiver that allowed them to feed every child at no charge through the end of the 2021-2022 school year. The use of this waiver will not be available for the upcoming school year. Corporations will return to the traditional eligibility requirements for free, reduced and paid meals. This means that for the 2022-2023 school year, MSD of Decatur Township will process free and reduced price meal and textbook applications. Please see attached flyer, and our website for more details.

Thank you

Nicole Moorhead
NDTR, SNS
Director of Child Nutrition

https://www.decaturproud.org/child-nutrition/lunch-application1
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DOC RATHER GOLF SCRAMBLE

The 2nd Annual Doc Rather Golf Scramble will be on Sunday, September 18, 2022. Please see the pdf registration form at the end of this newsletter for more information.
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Current Job Openings in Decatur Schools

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SCHOOL SUPPLIES STORE

West Newton has a book store with school supplies (ie: pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, etc) in addition to trinket style school suppplies (ie: pencil sharpeners, small notepooks, pencil pouches, etc). Students may bring cash to shop at the supply store. The supply store is open every week on Monday and Wednesday only.

COKE LIDS COLLECTION

Send in your Coke lids and Coke codes! All Coke products (Coke, Sprite, Barq's, Pibb, Dasani, etc.) either have a code under the bottle lid or in the box/sleeve. All these codes can be used to earn money for West Newton! Your child can earn personal prizes and prizes for their class if they bring in these codes.

FOOD FREE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

You are welcome to send a donated book, puzzle or game to celebrate your child’s birthday. Due to food allergies and diet restrictions, all birthday celebrations will be FOOD FREE. This is to assure that all students can participate in the birthday celebrations. Students will be recognized on the announcements and in their classroom for their special day. At times, parents have asked us to help them by passing out birthday party invitations to children in the class. We are not able to do this unless every child in the class is invited.
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Health Services Newsletter Link, COVID Reporting Form and Updates

Click here for important information from our district Health Services!


  • We encourage all families to conduct a daily screening of your children prior to sending them to school. COVID symptoms are any of the following:
    • Fever or chills
    • Sore throat or shortness of breath
    • Cough (especially new onset, uncontrolled) or shortness of breath
    • Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain
    • Headache (particularly new onset or severe especially with fever)
    • New loss of taste or smell
  • A positive COVID case will need to quarantine/isolate at home for a period of five (5) days. A student/staff member may return at the conclusion of five days if they are no longer showing any symptoms.
    • If your child tests positive, please access our “COVID Parent Reporting Form” on the main page of our website, or call your school’s front office. The following link is the reporting form:
    • Click here for the Parent COVID Reporting Form
  • Students who are close contacts may come to school because of our mask requirement. A medical note is required if close contacts quarantine at home.

Decatur Transportation

Find Bus Information Here!

Canvas Parent Instructions