September Bulldog Bulletin
Spring Mill Elementary 2023-2024 School Year
Translate/Traducir/ترجمة/ Traduire/ Tafsiri
Spring Mill Elementary
Email: kmerritt@msdwt.k12.in.us
Website: www.sm.msdwt.k12.in.us
Location: 8250 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Phone: (317) 259-5462
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpringMillElementary/
Twitter: @springmillelem
Save the Date
September
4 - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
5-29 - PTO Fall Fundraiser
8 - Kindergarten Field Trip
15 - PTO Popcorn Day
18-22 - Bully Safe Programs (3rd - 5th Grade)
20 - eLearning Day / Parent-Teacher Conferences
21 - PTO Parent Mix and Mingle
27 - School Pictures
30 - Spring Mill PTO Outdoor Clean-up
October
5 - Cultivating A Community (ML Family Event) / 3rd Grade Folk Dance Festival
6 - End of Quarter 1
9-13 - Fall Break
27 - Bulldog-tober Fest
Message from Mrs. Keeling
Dear SM Bulldogs,
We are off to a strong start for the 23-24 school year! Daily routines and procedures have been established, classroom communities are forming, and our initial assessments are indicating that students are progressing academically, ready to learn, and reaching the goals set for them. Our request is that you partner with us to ensure students are here every day, on time, ready to learn, and understand the importance of doing their personal best to model what it means to be a Spring Mill Bulldog (see image below). Our definition of What It Means To Be A Spring Mill Bulldog was created by Ms. Merritt's 3rd Grade Principal's Advisory Group during our 22-23 School Year.
At our beginning of the year meeting, staff members wrote a reflective poem to share who they are based upon where they are from, family traditions, and experiences in their childhood. It was a very powerful experience and poems are displayed outside of the classrooms for every staff member. When Ms. Merritt read my poem, she suggested that I share it with you so that you can get to know me on a more personal level. The picture you see is when I was adopted by my mom and dad at three days old, some of our first moments together as a family.
"Where I'm From"
I am from Barbie dream houses,
from rock concerts and 80’s hair.
I am from the many homes that my father built and my mom made beautiful.
I am from the weeping willow clubhouse where I met my friends,
the pony my parents gave me that we could never tame to ride.
I’m from sitting on my dad’s lap to drive his old truck through the country,
from the Taylor and Vance families who claimed me as their own.
I’m from Sunday school, prayer meetings, family dinners,
and a mom who fed others to show them her love.
From parents who always told me they got to choose me
and they loved me unconditionally.
I’m from white gloves, fancy hats, and Sunday dresses with shiny shoes.
I’m from a children’s home in Ohio at three days old,
Playing from dawn to dusk with my friends on Vance Lane.
Homemade Southern cooking, and biscuits made from love in cast iron skillets.
From the parents I was blessed to have and miss every day,
the memories of loving parents I will always cherish.
I am from those moments that shaped me, made me who I am,
and I wouldn’t change it if I could.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Assistant Principal. I am so excited about the positive things happening at Spring Mill, I love our students, and I am honored to be part of the Spring Mill family.
Mrs. Lou Ann Keeling
Assistant Principal
There has never been a better time to be a Spring Mill Bulldog!
#BulldogProud
#goodBetterBEST
#excellentonpurpose
#whyWT
Spring Mill PTO
Dear Spring Mill Family,
Spring Mill PTO is trying something new this year. We are doing a HUGE Fall Fundraiser in hopes of raising the majority of funds the PTO needs to provide free and low cost events throughout the school year!
-When we reach $2,500 the each student will receive a Bulldog water bottle sticker!
-When we reach $5,000 the students will get a "Pajama day" at school!
-When we reach $7,500 the teachers will compete in musical chairs to win a classroom pizza party!
-When we hit our $10,000 goal, we will have a Bounce House at recess for the whole at school!!!
-The PTO will provide every student and teacher with a BULLDOG T-SHIRT If we hit our STRETCH goal of $15,000!!!
ABOUT SPRING MILL ELEMENTARY:
We are incredibly proud of our rich and diverse Bulldog community and want to share some INCREDIBLE milestones!
-Our proud Principal, Kéllee Merritt, was named MSDWT Administrator of the Year in 2022-23!
-We were the most-improved school in the district for NWEA Reading and second highest improvement in Math achievement and growth in both the Fall and Spring of 2022-23!
-Our student body represents 20 countries and speaks over 16 languages.
-Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
HOW TO GIVE:
You can buy one $5 coffee or 500! In addition to the dollar specific items, you can also donate any amount at our BetterWorld homepage or at www.springmillpto.com. All funds raised will go directly towards supporting PTO events, grants, and projects throughout the 23-24 school year. And because we are a non-profit, every donation is tax deductible! IF EVERY STUDENT RAISES $20 WE WILL REACH OUR GOAL! If your company has a matching program, please let us know! You can email springmillschoolpto@gmail.com to get more details.
Please spread the word and tell your friends, parents, grandparents, neighbors, people at the grocery store (!!!) to help us reach our goal! Every gift will go a long way towards supporting our amazing Spring Mill community.
We are ALWAYS looking for volunteers and NO AMOUNT OF TIME IS TOO SMALL! If you are interested in volunteering, send an email to SpringMillSchoolPTO@gmail.com. We can’t wait to help support our incredible Bulldog Community this year and that is only possible with support from amazing people like YOU!
Stay tuned for more info on upcoming events and activities, please reach out to get involved today.
Go Bulldogs!
SME PTO
Get Your Teach On (GYTO)
ParentSquare
Spring Mill Standout of the Month
Vision Screening Volunteers
All volunteers must have a criminal background check completed for the 23-24 school year. Please sign up to volunteer only if you are able to submit a background check by September 1. Information for the background check can be found here: https://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/volunteer-requirements/ If you need the background check printed and sent home, let the office know and one will be sent home in your student's backpack.
Bulldog Ambassadors
Madline Urbanski and Brianna Amspaugh have the pleasure of working with our Bulldog Ambassadors. This amazing group of 5th Grade students are students leaders who serve Spring Mill in a variety of ways throughout the school year. During their first meeting, they were tasked with defining what it means to be an Ambassador and this is what they wrote:
A Bulldog Ambassador is a student leader who is kind, respectful, and trustworthy. They will go above and beyond all expectations with servant hearts. They are the chosen peer role models for Spring Mill!
Back row – Miss Urbanski, Maddox Smith, Connor Dillon, Anthony Farris, Levi Higgins, Tryon Kincade, Mrs. Amspaugh
Front Row- Kylee Riley, Jordyn Primm, Kimberly Perez, Mia Quintanilla, Gianna Jefferson, Jensi Nabor
"Paw"sitively Excellent Students for August
Kindergarten
Gabbei- Clara Alabbadi
Bloomer- Charlii Nucklos
Miranda- Akasha Stokes
Moore- Mira Parsudi
1st Grade
Johnson- Bre’Ann Johnson
Harton- Sihen Gidey
Schneider- Devion Nelson
Keegan- Fernando Fraccile
2nd Grade
McAllister- Cynthia Richardson
Urbanski- Jazzmine Thomas
Finley- Jocelyne Cruz Villagran
Culp- Bella Ann Turley
3rd Grade
Gallagher- Dominica Robinson
Hartnagel- Phoebe Smith
Sweeney- Clare Wright
Joyner- Journee Cooley
4th Grade
Dewey- Theo Carpenter
Patterson- Lailah Van Hoosier
Turner- Hudsyn Lamb
Morse- Elizabeth Htoo
5th Grade
Amspaugh- Mia Quintanilla
Evans- Ava Brand
Badger- Kim Perez
Arms- Alaya Alvardo
Spring Mill Information
Daily Schedule 7:40 am – 2:25 pm
- Should your student be absent for any reason, please call the Attendance Line at (317) 259-8850 before 9:00 am for each day that the student is absent. A written medical verification from a physician/clinic must be provided upon the student’s return to school after 5 consecutive days of absence due to illness.
- If your student is arriving late or leaving early for an appointment, please request a note from the dentist, doctor, etc. All notes should be given to the front office for record keeping. Offices may also fax notes to (317) 259-5484.
- Morning Car Riders - If you are dropping your child off in the morning, please be mindful of the lengthy morning traffic and drop off lines. Parents, you can always encourage your students to ride the bus to school. Parents can begin dropping off students at 7:20 a.m.
- All students who arrive after 7:40 am, parents must park in the parking spaces provided in the front of the school and escort them into the building. All students must be signed in by a parent at the front office.
- Early Pick Up - No students will be allowed to be picked up after 1:30 pm due to interruption that it causes to our End of Day procedures. Anyone picking a student up prior to dismissal must show an ID and be listed as a guardian or emergency contact.
- Dismissal - Dismissal is at 2:25 pm. If you are picking up your child, you must get in the car line and pick up at Door 11. All car riders must be picked up by 2:35 pm. If your child will regularly be a car rider at dismissal, please contact the office to get a car rider tag to be displayed on the rearview mirror. If families are carpooling and picking up more than one family, we ask that you have both numbers displayed so we can have students ready.
- Cell Phones - If your student needs a cell phone for safety reasons at dismissal, they must be powered off during the day and in their backpack, or designated area, per their classroom teacher. Students that violate the policy are subject to a consequence which could result in their inability to have a cell phone at school with repeated offenses.
- AYS Drop Off and Pick Up - AYS is offered at Spring Mill for before and after school care. All AYS drop off and pick up will be on the west side of the building at Door 11. You can contact AYS directly at 317-283-3817 or at https://www.ayskids.org.
School Meals - All enrolled students are eligible to purchase a healthy breakfast and lunch. If your child has any food allergies, please provide a doctor’s note to the office or nurse. Weekly menus are available on the MSDWT website: https://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/child-nutrition-services/. All families are encouraged to set up an account to purchase meals at MyPaymentsPlus.com https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome.
Free and Reduced Meals - Families will need to complete a free and reduced meal application for assistance and will be notified of approval. A new application is required every school year and only one application per family. Online and paper applications are currently available at https://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/child-nutrition.
Math Fact Fluency
Mathematical Fluency Focus by Grade Level:
- Kindergarten - Counting and Number Recognition
- 1st Grade - Addition and Subtraction
- 2nd Grade - Addition and Subtraction
- 3rd Grade - Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division
- 4th Grade - Multiplication and Division
- 5th Grade - Multiplication and Division