Below are pictures of second, third, and fourth grade students working on units that highlight and exemplify how students are empowered to lead their learning. Collaboratively, teachers and students have designed units and projects that support their strengths and interests because we believe Boone Meadow is a place where kids are capable to lead, make choices, drive their own learning, take risks, and build capacity.

As we round out the school year, there are even more celebrations yet to come. We look forward to seeing you here to join in those milestones. In the meantime, we continue to work hard to accomplish goals and achieve high levels of success. Classrooms are buzzing with student discourse, notebooks are full of student-generated ideas and reflections, and teachers are facilitating high levels of thinking in daily lessons.

The excitement is palpable and energizing! Welcome, May!

The week of May 7 you should receive an email from Registration@zcs.k12.in.us with information and instructions on registering your child(ren) in Zionsville Community Schools for the 2018-19 school year. We request that you complete this registration by Friday, May 25.

If your child is returning to Zionsville Community Schools next year and you do not receive this email, please check your spam or junk folder. If you can’t find this email, please let us know.

If your child will not be returning to Zionsville schools next year, please notify your school(s) building secretary at your earliest convenience. For all other residency changes, please contact the Central Office at 317-873-2858.

A HUGE thank you goes to our Beautification Chair - Deborah Roach for organizing the exterior "clean-up day" this past Saturday.

Thank you to the volunteers that helped: Jennifer & Jackson Smitherman, Candice Culligan, Amy Deinlein, Soren, Audra, Liam, and Anthony Roach for their hard work & beautiful job on BME's exterior!

The Indiana Department of Education requires school districts to identify high ability (gifted) students and provide them with appropriately differentiated curriculum and instruction. In ZCS, we reconsider ability and achievement data of all students each spring to identify any who may need further consideration for high ability differentiation. While the High Ability designation is a state-required label for students, our school district is committed to continuous progress for all students, regardless of designation. Accelerated content is common in our classrooms as are heightened expectations and instructional levels and high-achieving peers. Instructional methods regularly group and regroup students with differentiated materials and goals. Whether or not a child is identified as High Ability, our teachers are committed to regular assessment of skills and knowledge and matching experiences to challenge each child and help him or her make maximum academic growth. We are proud to be a high-performing school district with high expectations for all students.

For students currently in grades 1-3: All students are considered for high ability each year. Our identification team looks at both achievement (NWEA) and ability (OLSAT). Since these vary from year to year with young students, we re-look at every student each spring. Parents will be notified by June 10 if their child has been recommended for differentiation based on the need for accelerated instruction or curriculum. If your child was not identified through our extensive process, parents may appeal the decision. Parents can complete the appeal process by June 15. Forms are located on the High Ability website: https://1.cdn.edl.io/STFd2znmUm9v64tOK0o5GHa56Sylujl5JYhwFChIXdtXGo0P.pdf

For students currently in grades 4-7: All students are considered for high ability each year. Our identification team considers either achievement (NWEA) or ability (OLSAT) when making decisions. Parents will be notified by June 10 if their child has been recommended for differentiation based on the need for accelerated instruction or curriculum. If your child was not identified through our extensive process, parents may appeal the decision. Parents can complete the appeal process by June 15. Forms are located on the High Ability website: https://1.cdn.edl.io/STFd2znmUm9v64tOK0o5GHa56Sylujl5JYhwFChIXdtXGo0P.pdf

~All students grade 1-4 may participate!

~Bring in 1 or 2 of your own books to the library

(with parent permission!) on your library day the week of May 7 - 11.

~Please attach a note to EACH book clearly labeling it w/student’s first/last name & teacher name!

~Hardback/paperback books.-YES Board books-NO thank you!

~Books age appropriate for 1st-4th grade

~Books must be in good condition, cover & pages secure/no rips/scribbles.

~The swap IS optional. Participating students will “swap” the week of May 21-25.

Any questions please contact Mrs. Leeds at jleeds@zcs.k12.in.us

Join the Fun! Give a book! Get a book!

May 8th - 3rd Grade Zionsville Walking Tour

May 9th - Bike to School Day (more info to come)

May 10th - Indiana Impact Projects (4th grade), Market Day (2nd grade) & Boone Meadow

Voices concert

May 11th - Boone Meadow Voices - school performance for students (AM) & field trip (PM); Spirit Day: Freaky Friday

May 13th - Happy Mothers Day!

May 16th - First Grade Field trip to Indianapolis Zoo (habitat study), 3rd grade music program @ 6:00pm

May 17th - Rube Goldberg Projects (3rd grade) during day

May 18th - Spring Eagle Rec sessions end

May 18th - Field Day

May 21st - Raindate Field Day, 1st grade Young Authors (May 21-23)

May 23rd -1st Grade Young Authors

May 24th - 4th grade Celebration - more info to come

May 25th - Last Day for Students

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.