THE TIGER TIMES
October 2016
Welcome to the 2016-2017 School Year
Acton Elementary School
FROM THE DESK OF YOUR PROUD PRINCIPAL
Parent/Teacher Conferences are around the corner. On October 5 and 6, Acton Elementary School teachers will conduct Parent/Teacher conferences. If you have not signed up yet using PTC Fast, please contact your child’s teacher immediately. These conferences are an important tool used as a line of communication that allows for a collaborative effort between students, parents, and teachers to help students realize their academic potential. During these conferences, parents can gain insights into how their child is working in school, participating in class, and more deeply clarifying what takes place on a daily basis in each of their child’s classes. Teachers will also share details of your child’s academic goals for improvement for the future. Please make sure you make yourself available for this important activity.
Appointment Policy
- Just a reminder: School Board policy 5200 regarding appointments. – Parents are encouraged to schedule medical, dental, and other necessary appointments other than during school hours. When appointments are necessary during the school day, the student shall report back to school immediately after the appointment with a signed statement from the doctor, dentist, etc.
Upcoming Events
October
4th PTO Meeting 6:30-8:00 PM
5th-6th Parent Teacher Conferences Times TBA
7th Vision Screenings
7th Fall Celebration Parties 3:00-3:45 PM
10th-20th Fall Break
26th BW3 (County Line Rd) PTO Fundraiser (All Day)
28th Fall Picture Retakes
31st- November 4th Scholastic Book Fair
November
1 PTO Meeting 6:30-8:00 PM
10 Second Grade Music Program 6:00 PM
11 Veterans Day Program 9:30 AM
11 Wheels of Wonder PTO Night 5:30-7:30 PM
16 Mid Term Ends
18 All Pro Dads 7:45- 8:30 AM
21 School Board meeting
23-25 Thanksgiving Holiday
School Counseling Program
We enjoyed an awesome Friendship Week here at Acton. Students dressed up and turned in hundreds of shout outs to show their love for their friends.
During the week, Mr. Adams taught anti-bullying lessons to every class during their library rotation. Students learned the difference between mean behavior and bullying. They learned steps to take if being bullied. They also discussed ways to keep and make friends.
Students learned that bullying is characterized by:
1. Repeated physical, emotional, social, or verbal harm.
2. An imbalance of power
3. Being mean on purpose
For more information, see the
Bully Free Mini Guide for Elementary:
http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/student-services/bully-free-mini-guide-elementary.pdf
We had a great time celebrating "FRIENDSHIP WEEK"
Crazy Sock Day-crazy about our friends
Matching Day-dress like your friends
Yellow Day-light up your friends' day
Visitor/Party Pre-Registration
We ask that you please pre-register before the class parties.
Below is the link to pre-register. Thank you for helping us keep our kids safe.
https://secure.safevisitorsolutions.com/Safe/Visitor/franklin000012
DROP OFF/PICK UP
Pick up must be done from the car rider line as well. Car rider numbers are available at the front office.
Your cooperation helps keep our students safe.
ATTENDANCE LINE
Upon returning to school following an absence or absences, the student shall bring a written statement. The note must contain dates of absences and reason, as well as parent/guardian signature. These statements determine if the absence is excusable.
REMIND 101
PTO UPDATES
- Thank you to all who volunteered, donated and assisted with our Inaugural Acton Fun Run on September 23rd. Family, Friends and Community cheered on our Acton Tigers as they completed the Fun Run Course. We raised over $11,000 to directly support our Tigers. The funds raised will support field trips, technology, assemblies & school activities at Acton.
- The PTO is providing food for the Teachers and Staff next week during Parent Teacher Conferences. Please sign up at this link if you would like to help. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d49aaa62ea0f94-parent
- Volunteers are needed to help with Breakfast with Santa on December 3rd. Please contact Chairperson Jessica Thomas at mrandmrs_thomas@yahoo.com to help!
- We have collected $800 from Box Tops for Education so far this year! There will be a class competition for the next two weeks. The class with the most Box Tops collected before Fall Break will earn EXTRA RECESS! Send in all non-expired Box Tops by Friday, October 7th!
- We had a wonderful turnout at our September PTO Meeting. We held our elections and now have an Official PTO Board! Thank you to all who have volunteered to serve as Officers, Committee Chairpersons, Room Parents, Office Volunteers, Classroom Volunteers and more!
2016-2017 PTO Officers
- President- Sarah Smith
- Vice-President- Stacy DesJean
- Secretary- Becky Ferguson
- Treasurer- April Koons
- Co-Community Correspondents- Erin Fetter & Jennifer Ebersold
- Our next PTO Meeting is Tuesday, October 4th at 6:30 in the LGI Room. Childcare and snacks will be provided.
Fall Parties are scheduled for October 7th from 3:00-3:45. Room Parents will be reaching out to parents for volunteer & donation help. If you will be attending the party, please pre-register to avoid a long line at sign-in. ID will be required to enter the building. Thank you for your help in keeping our kids SAFE!
https://secure.safevisitorsolutions.com/Safe/Visitor/franklin000012
FUn run grade level winners
Congratulations to our grade level winners! These students had the highest donation level for their grade and will get to be Principal for an hour! Great job Tigers! Our Fun Run was a success because of YOU!
5th grade- Jenna Thompson (Neifert)
4th grade- Navaeh Towels (Reynolds)
3rd grade- Madeline Thompson (Benson)
2nd grade- Nadia Tornatta (Krug)
1st grade- Ellie Cleary (Brooks) and Devin Neil (Miller)
K- Madison Mink (Emerine)
SAFETY REMINDER
WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS. THEIR SAFETY IS CRUCIAL TO US. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BE PREPARED TO STOP AND SHOW ID WHEN VISITING OUR SCHOOL.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A NEW VISITOR SIGN IN SYSTEM. THIS WILL REQUIRE ALL VISITORS TO HAVE AN IDENTIFICATION CARD THAT CAN BE SCANNED AT THE FRONT DESK.
School times
8:50am-3:50pm
Wednesday
8:50am-3:20pm
Car Rider Doors Open at 8:35am
Transportation
- If there is a change in transportation for students at the end of the day, we must be notified by a Parent/Guardian before 3:00pm or we can not guarantee that the change can be made.
MUsic news for october
Mark Your Calendar....
Music Dates
11/10 – 2nd Grade Music Program, 6:00 in Gym
11/11 – All School Veteran’s Day Program, 9:30am in Gym
12/1 – Choir Concert, 6:00pm in Gym
12/1 – 3rd Grade Music Program, 7:15 in Gym
12/10 – Choir performs at High School Sounds of the Season Concert, 7pm
2/9 – 4th Grade Music Program, 6:00 in Gym
3/2 – 1st Grade Music Night, 6:00 in Gym
4/29 – Folk Dance Festival
5/9 – 5th Grade Field Trip to ISO concert
5/18 – 5th Grade Music Program, 6:00 in Gym
What to know what is going on in music class? Follow us on Facebook!
Facebook: ActonElementaryMusic
- Students in grades 3 & 4 will be playing recorders this year. We are trying to raise the money to have a grade level set of recorders here at school. This will allow students to have a recorder assigned to them for their recorder unit, which will cut down on the germ spreading! Help us spread the word about our Donors Choose project!
https://www.donorschoose.org/ActonMusic
3rd Grade Program:When we return from Fall Break we will be auditioning for speaking parts! Auditioning for a speaking part is and optional opportunity for students to have an extra part in the program. All students will be receiving a permission slip for the program the week of October 3rd. I would like permission slips returned from all students because it helps to know how many students we can expect at the evening performance. Students who want a speaking part MUST return the permission slip to receive a part. IF you have any questions, please let me know.
4th and 5th grade Guitars:
4th and 5th grade students have just begun a short unit on guitar study! We are learning about chords and how to play chords on the guitar. I am excited for this opportunity for our students and pleased with the enthusiasm and effort I see from our Acton Tigers! Thank you to Kitley for allowing us to borrow these guitars!
Veteran’s Day
We will be hosting a program on Friday, November 11, 2016 in celebration of Veteran’s Day. As part of this program we would like to recognize the Veteran’s from our Acton family. If your student has family members that are Veterans we invite you to send in pictures of your Veteran and pictures of your Veterans with your Acton Students to be included in a picture slide show. Please scan and send pictures to Mrs. Stevenson at amanda.stevenson@ftcsc.k12.in.us by Oct. 28th. Please include the Acton Student’s name, grade and how they are related to the Veteran in email.
Please put November 11th at 9:30am on your calendar and invite your Veteran’s to join us for this celebration.
Great opportunity for students with special needs
PE News for October
**Permission Slips, fee, and skate sizes for our Skating Program can be turned in anytime! Our Skating Unit will be beginning on October 31st and ending on November 18th.
**The Miracle Mile will be at Middle School West on Monday, October 3rd at 5:00 p.m. This is an optional, mile-long running race for all 5th graders in the township. You do NOT have to be a participant in Mrs. Adams’s After School Running Club to participate in this race! There will be trophies for places 1-10 for the boys and trophies for places 1-10 for the girls. Participant ribbons will be given to places 11 and up.
Any questions, please contact Jayne Adams
art news for october
- 1st place Mason Beck
- 2nd place Quinn Gambrell
- 3rd Place Madison Mink
- Honorable Mention Alex Sorg
Top 30 Finalists
Caden Young
Omar Acosta
Claire Ryan
Owen Dykes
Carson Freeman
Paige Ward
Jenna Thompson
Spencer Smith
Kassie Kriete
Will McQueen
Lana Butler
Linkin Todero
HEROES VISIT FIRST GRADE
The Franklin Township Police officers visited Mrs. Gilkerson’s classroom to accept thank you notes and hugs on Patriot Day. Later Firefighter Mac Gilkerson visited the whole first grade to talk about his job as a firefighter.
NOTES FROM THE CLINIC
- Vision screenings will be held on Friday October 7th by the Marion County Health Dept. These screenings will be done on students in 3rd and 5th grade. They will also be screening any student new to Marion County and any student who the teacher has concerns about their vision.
- Immunization exclusion date will be on Tuesday Oct 25th. Parents have been notified if their student is missing immunizations. Immunizations MUST be completed by this day or the student will be excluded from school.
Please call the clinic at 803-5104 with any questions.
FRONT OFFICE INFORMATION
Please review a few important front office policies.
- We do our best to keep classroom disruptions to a minimum. If your child forgets an item and you bring it in, please do not be offended if the front office asks for you to leave the item with them so it can be delivered at an appropriate time.
- If there is a change in transportation for students at the end of the day, we must be notified by a Parent/Guardian before 3:00pm or we can not guarantee the change can be made.
- If electronics (cell phones, ipods, gaming systems) are brought into school and removed from backpacks, they will be confiscated by the teacher. A parent/guardian will be asked to pick up the electronic at the front desk.
- When having lunch with your student in the cafeteria please remember to only have your child sit with you at the family table. We like to keep the table open for other families.
- Morning student drop off must be done in the car rider line. Drop off door opens at 8:35 am in the car rider line.
- Students arriving after 8:50 am MUST be signed in at the front office.
- Review the Franklin Township policies and procedures for absences on p. 2-3 in the student handbook. We appreciate your cooperation.
- All visitors must have a photo ID to enter the building.
- Just a reminder: School Board policy 5200 regarding appointments. – Parents are encouraged to schedule medical, dental, and other necessary appointments other than during school hours. When appointments are necessary during the school day, the student shall report back to school immediately after the appointment with a signed statement from the doctor, dentist, etc.