Mustang Messenger
December 2020
From the Principal's Desk
December is here! This month begins our Lifeline of GENEROSITY. Given the state of our world, it's never been more important for our students to learn this life skill, not only in literal meaning, but in the idea of being generous in our hearts and attitudes. Thank you for sending this message to them at home, as well.
The weather is also becoming colder - MUCH colder! Please make sure that your children are prepared for outdoor recess. Unless there is inclement weather or the windchill is dangerously cold to children, all students go outside. We do not allow students to remain inside unless there is a note from a doctor. We simply don't have the staff to supervise a large number of students who would remain inside. Notes from a physician must also indicate the number of days remaining inside is recommended. We also recommend that students have spare mittens, hats, and scarves that could be left at school. Our health office doesn't have a lot of spare clothing for students who become wet from playing in the snow, so you're also welcome to send in spare clothing if you have a "snow angel."
Also, our supervisors of Car Rider Drop-Off would like to remind you to have students exit curbside (not driver side). This is for their safety. We'd also like to kindly remind you that students should be dropped off PRIOR to 8:25am. School begins at 8:25am which means students should be in their classrooms by that time, not just arriving to school. Thank you!
Wishing you and yours a happy Holiday season filled with the peace & joy of the season!
In service of your child,
Mrs. Heerschop
December 7 or 8 - A survey regarding the choice of virtual or in-person learning for 2nd semester will be emailed to ALL elementary families. Please complete this survey ASAP. Second semester begins January 19th.
December 14-18 - Holiday Spirit Week! (See details below)
December 18 - Holiday Parties - Pre-K - 5 & Virtual Concert!
December 21 - January 1 - Winter Break (No School)
*School Resumes on January 4th*
Holiday Spirit Week!
Some Holiday Fun for Students!
Mele Kalikimaka! It's a Hawaiian Holiday! Wear a Hawiian shirt and holiday hat.
Tuesday, December 15
Express your sElf! Celebrate the Holiday elves by wearing elf shirts, hats (ears), or anything elfin.
Wednesday, December 16
Holiday Headwear - Hats, antlers, and headbands oh my
Thursday, December 17
Holiday PJ Day - Holiday jammies!
Friday, December 18
Holiday Parties - Wear holiday shirts or sweater, socks, hats, etc!
Important Covid-19 Reminders
Please continue to monitor your child’s health every day using this ISDH screening tool. If they experience any of the following symptoms: fever or chills, sore throat, uncontrollable or new cough or shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (especially new onset), diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain, headache (especially new onset of severe headache with fever, or new loss of taste or smell), PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS.
Please do not send your student(s) to school if they have had close contact with a known positive case, including in your own household, or awaiting test results. When you have a positive case (tested or clinical) in your household, the positive case should self-isolate away from the rest of the family members and the family should remain in quarantine. If a family member/close contact (or anyone in the house) cannot isolate away from the positive person, the family member(s) quarantine period will begin the day of exposure and continue 14 days after the positive person quarantine ends.
For more information on COVID-19 safety mitigation protocols, please visit https://www.phmschools.org/returntolearn.
Don't Forget!
High Ability Identification
In accordance with the Indiana high ability law, we are required to have an identification process in place to identify students of high ability in the general intellectual and specific academic
domains. We identify students who have high ability in language arts and/or math.
Every kindergartener, second and fifth grader who has not been previously identified in a subject area is considered for high ability identification. Testing for the high ability identification process will begin in December.
Learn more about our identification procedures by visiting our high ability website at https://www.phmschools.org/high-ability-enrichment.
Parents of 5th Grade Students
Middle School will be here before you know it!
These state mandated immunization requirements for all incoming 6th graders must be met before your child can attend Middle School in the fall of 2021:
• 3 Hep B
• 2 Hep A (a series of two vaccines separated by 6 months)
• 2 Varicella
• 5 DTap
• 1 Tdap (Tetanus & Pertussis)
• 4 Polio
• 1 MCV4 (Meningococcal conjugate)
• 2 MMR
We suggest you make appointments now to get the needed immunizations while your child is still in 5th grade. The local health departments and area physicians are extremely busy in the spring and summer, as well as at the beginning of the school year.
When you submit documentation on time, you prevent interruption to the start of your child's 2020-2021 school year. Once your child receives the shots listed above, please send in documentation to the school health office. We will record the information and send it to the appropriate middle school!
*Note: Some physicians will not give the doses until the child has reached the 11th birthday, so please check when you make your appointment.
School Lockdown Drill
We believe the classroom is a safe location for our staff and students, and so we teach students the procedures of what to do within the confines of a classroom during the very unlikely event of a threatening event. We do not do anything frightening during these drill such as rattling doors or simulating angry voices. I made an announcement ahead of time letting students know that we practice so that we're prepared for anything that might occur in our school, just as we do during a fire drill.
If you have questions, please contact me.
Mary Frank PTO Officers 2020-21
Melissa Knight- President
Angie Burtsfield- Vice President
Megan Wroblewski - Treasurer
suicide, drugs, bullying or anything that threatens the safety of our schools. Available 24/7.
Mary Frank Contact Information
Email: cheerschop@phm.k12.in.us
Website: https://maryfrank.phmschools.org/
Location: 13111 Adams Road, Granger, IN, USA
Phone: (574) 272-0340
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryFrankMustangs/
Twitter: @MFESMustangs