We finished a week of great learning at The Meadow, and we continue to be thankful for each day we are able to serve your families.

We have some need to know information as we enter into the weekend and launch into February.

Welcome Back - We welcome back Mrs. Kersey on Monday of next week, and we look forward to her presence and influence in this space. We've missed her, and it is good to know that this comes close to one of her favorite days of the school year, Global School Play Day. See below for more information on GSPD and why Team Meadow finds it valuable for the development of children.

Remote Learners - Our next materials pick up day is scheduled for February 9th. More information to come with need to know information.

Also, Mrs. Trinosky is still accepting photos of remote learners for the yearbook. If you have photos of your child engaged in creative ways of learning experiences, please share your photos electronically with Mrs. Trinosky at jtrinosky@zcs.k12.in.us.

Valentine's Day Celebrations:

As a reminder...Valentine’s Day presents us with the opportunity to focus on the important life skills of friendship and kindness. Even COVID cannot take that away! The portion of school celebrations that will change as a part of our safety/mitigation strategy is that we are asking families not to send items from home to distribute to classmates. Though we are asking families not to send in the typical items for distribution such as store bought or handmade Valentines, pencils, stickers, etc., our teachers are working on other creative ideas to celebrate friendship and kindness! We will no doubt still find ways to include plenty of red and pink hearts and some fun and safe games during our classroom celebrations on Friday, February 12.

Thankful for you and the community we serve,

Tom

Global School Day of Play- Play will find a way!

On February 3rd, Boone Meadow Elementary, along with schools across the world, will participate in Global School Play Day. This event started in 2015 with the intent to set aside one day (or portion of the day) for students to engage in unstructured play. It is an opportunity to introduce and inspire us to consider the necessary benefits of play.

With the restrictions necessary to continue our virus mitigation efforts, Global School Day of Play will have a different look than in years past. While it may not be a day of sharing toys brought from home with friends from across the building, we want to persevere in the goal of bringing deliberate attention to the necessity of play in the lives of our kids. This can be through infusion of play in our instructional plans, designated time for free play, and utilization of the outdoors.

Each classroom will address Global School Play Day in their own way. Look for communication from your teacher for specific information. Many classes will be spending additional time playing outside so coming prepared for the weather (hats, gloves, etc.) would be a great way to prepare.

Next week we will share the many ways our students engaged in play and provide some ideas for how to continue Play Day at home.

Want to learn more about the importance of play in child development? Check out the resources below:

Ted Talk by Dr. Peter Gray

Global School Day of Play website

It's time to order your child's 2020-21 Yearbook and your child should have brought home a paper form this week. The cost this year is $15.00. Please follow the link below to place your order online.

Click Here To Order:

https://cp-school-portraits.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/LoginConsumer?EK=159431

ORDER DEADLINE: February 26 (late orders cannot be guaranteed a yearbook).

February 3 - Global School Play Day

February 9 - Remote Learners Material Pick Up

February 12 - Chinese New Year; Valentines Day parties in classrooms (students will not distribute valentines- see information above)

February 14 - Valentine's Day

February 15 - Presidents Day - No School

February 17 - Ash Wednesday

February 25 - 4th grade to 5th grade transition (virtual - check email for SchoolMessenger from Matt Doublestein/ZWEST)

March 12 - End of Quarter 3

March 14 - Daylight Savings Time

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day

March 28 - Palm Sunday/Passover

April 2 - April 9 - Spring Break

April 2 - Good Friday

April 4 - Easter

April 13 - Ramadan Starts

April 15 - ZWest Music visit to BME

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

May 13 - Eid

May 26 - Last day of school

May 27 - Teacher work day

May 31 - Memorial Day

Child Find is the process for locating, identifying, and evaluating individuals with suspected disabilities who may need special education services, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. This is the responsibility of ZCS regardless of whether a parent affirmatively requests an evaluation. ZCS provides a Free Appropriate Public Education to any child who qualifies as having a disability, in accordance with federal and state laws. ZCS is responsible for locating all children ages 3 through 22 years of age with a suspected disability who reside within the boundaries of its district. With early identification and intervention, frustration and academic failure can be prevented, which in turn creates a positive learning experience for students. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), which encompasses academics and/or social and emotional learning, is an essential component of the child find process. Utilizing screening assessments, the ZCS team members identify students in

need of intervention, implement action plans, and monitor the response to the targeted interventions. In addition, the evaluation referral procedures in ZCS provide the framework to refer students with suspected disabilities for evaluation.

Speech Assistance Program

The Speech Assistance Program is designed to provide support to students with single sound articulation errors that are not age appropriate within the general education setting. Following the MTSS approach, this program allows for early identification and treatment of mild articulation disorders so students receive assistance without having to be identified under special education. The Speech Assistance Program is a three-tiered system in which progress is monitored to determine if additional supports are needed. If adequate progress is not demonstrated, a referral for evaluation will be prompted to determine eligibility under special education.

Dear Families of BME Walkers & Bike Riders –

Safety is one of our highest concerns for students and staff at BME. Please read carefully in effort to partner for your child’s safety as they utilize the crosswalk, especially during dismissal at the end of the day.

• In effort to provide families the opportunity to utilize the car rider line on tricky weather days (or dodge construction on fire hydrants), all walkers/bikers will be dismissed last each day. You will note that our car line will have approximately 10-20 cars remaining in line when we call walkers/bikers from their classrooms for dismissal. This results in your child leaving the building and being escorted to the crosswalk 5-10 minutes later than you are currently accustomed.
• Secondly and whenever possible, please meet your child(ren) at the crosswalk. BME staff can assist students to the edge of school property, and they will serve to assist students as they cross South Main Street. As we consider the safety of students and staff, we are unable to assist students to the pool/playground parking lot at Clark Meadows as BME staff cannot be liable for safety (crossing streets, traffic, etc…) once off school property.

As always, we thank you for your partnership as we strive to keep students and staff safe.

Please click HERE (or the "mask up" image) for information regarding:

• Quarantine guidance
• Screening information
• Close contact information
• Secondary Hybrid schedules
• Parent Resources
• and other important information.

Below, you will find some updates regarding arrival and dismissal:

Car Riders:

• Thank you for keeping our fire lane clear until signaled by staff to pull up. The fire lane must remain clear as much as possible for potential emergency needs and school deliveries.
• Displaying car/family numbers in an easy to see manner is greatly beneficial. Ball point pen writing on a post it placed on your dash is hard for my old eyes to see, so bold numbers hanging from the rear view mirror or attached to the passenger sun visor assists in moving vehicles efficiently through the line.
• Please reduce idling when possible. The build up of vehicle emissions is not only harmful for the environment, but also creates unhealthy air quality for staff and students.

Walker/Bikers:

Safety is one of our highest concerns for students and staff at BME. Please read carefully in effort to partner for your child’s safety as they utilize the crosswalk, especially during dismissal at the end of the day.

• In effort to provide families the opportunity to utilize the car rider line on tricky weather days (or dodge construction on fire hydrants), all walkers/bikers will be dismissed last each day. You will note that our car line will have approximately 10-20 cars remaining in line when we call walkers/bikers from their classrooms for dismissal. This results in your child leaving the building and being escorted to the crosswalk 5-10 minutes later than you are currently accustomed.
• Secondly and whenever possible, please meet your child(ren) at the crosswalk. BME staff can assist students to the edge of school property, and they will serve to assist students as they cross South Main Street. As we consider the safety of students and staff, we are unable to assist students to the pool/playground parking lot at Clark Meadows as BME staff cannot be liable for safety (crossing streets, traffic, etc…) within your neighborhood.

As always, we thank you for your partnership as we strive to keep students and staff safe.

Significant weather (walkers/bikers) - When weather is inclement with heavy rain, heavy snow, sleet, etc...walking to school is highly discouraged. The office team will make the decision if staff will be present at the crosswalk.

• If families decide to walk to school and no crosswalk staff is present, an adult or family member must safely escort students to the front doors. The doors will open at 7:50 for arrival, and families should wait at the front doors with their students until the doors open.

• Dismissal on inclement weather days: Walkers and bikers will be dismissed after car riders (approximately 2:35). This allows families to use the car line for pick up. Simply display your family number while you are in line and pick up your child(ren) at the front door with staff assistance.

• In the event of questionable or severe weather, families must utilize the car rider procedures instead of walking/biking. (stormy weather, lightning, sleet, you need to get Toto before going to the Land of Oz...)

• Please do not bypass the car rider line and request to pick up students from the parking lot, other school sidewalks, etc... Again, we must adhere to all procedures for the safety of students and staff.