Stonegate Elementary Weekly News
November 15, 2019
"I never met a bitter person who was thankful. Or a thankful person who was bitter." - Nick Vujicie
Calendar of Events
- November 22 - PTO Spirit Day - Teachers dress like students, students dress like teachers
- November 26 - Drama Club Play (6:00pm)
- November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break! No School!
- December 9 - School Board Meeting (ESC at 6:00pm-7:00pm)
- December 11 - Indiana's Birthday - 4th Grade celebrates
- December 11 - PTO meeting (2:45pm-3:45pm)
- December 11 - PTO Shop for Dollars at Vineyard Vines
- December 20 - PTO Spirit Day - Holiday Wear
- December 20 - Holiday classroom winter parties
- December 23-January 3 - Winter Break
SGE Spotlight: STEM
All of the students at Stonegate have been busy studying life science this year. We have taken advantage of all of our great outdoor spaces to connect this learning to “real life”. All STEM classes have visited our outdoor garden for various purposes. We’ve gone on insect and seed hunts, identified parts of a plant and learned their purposes, harvested vegetables, and seen the damage squash bugs can do to our plants. We’ve gone on photo scavenger hunts, and our first graders have begun using a new tool (binoculars) to go out bird watching. A big thank you goes out to our community partners for all they’ve done for our students during the start of this year. Master Gardener and SGE parent, Nicole Empey, shared her expertise with our third graders, and the Boone County Extension Homemakers have awarded us grant money to provide upkeep and upgrades on our garden next spring. Finally, good luck to our 4th grade robotics team! They will be competing in Center Grove on Saturday, November 16.
ZCS Plans to be Open on Tuesday, November 19th
Parents have likely heard about the “Red for Ed” rally on Tuesday, November 19, during which teachers from across the state will gather at the Statehouse on the General Assembly’s annual “Organization Day” to show solidarity for the cause of teacher pay in Indiana which lags in comparison to other states. Many Indiana school districts have closed for this event for various reasons. Our plan is to be open on Tuesday. A delegation of about two dozen ZCS teachers are slated to attend the event at the Statehouse. ZCS has a duty to students, families, taxpayers, and the State of Indiana to do many things well all at once. Foremost, we must operate school for our community’s youth. We must simultaneously provide input to lawmakers about the work they do that so profoundly impacts our ability to sustain outstanding local public schools. On Tuesday, our plan is to do both!
Weather and Recess - Be Prepared!
Each child is expected to be suitably dressed for play outdoors. As the weather turns colder, each child needs a winter coat, hat, and gloves. Snow pants, waterproof boots, warm gloves/mittens are required to be able to play in the snow. All children play outside except on rainy, icy, or very cold days (wind chill below the 10-20 degree range). Inside recess will be held on those exceptional days. A child who is well enough to come to school is well enough to go outside and play. Exceptions will be made if parents send in a note from the doctor stating that the child needs to stay inside.
Children's Author to visit SGE
Rob Harrell, a Zionsville children’s book author will visit SGE on Monday, November 18! He will be presenting his graphic novel Monster on the Hill to 3rd and 4th graders. Monster on the Hill is being made into a movie next summer with voiceovers from some SNL cast members. Order forms will be sent home next week if you are interested in purchasing books.
Jog-A-Thon Rewards
Last Friday, Mrs. Barth’s 3rd grade class got to “Cream the Principals!” as reward for being the class to raise the most money for Jog-A-Thon! We had six bottles of whipped cream, three spoons, and three women ready to get creamed by a class full of kids! Mrs. Largent, Mrs. Farley, and Mrs. Barth were the lucky recipients of it all. Mrs. Barth was an excellent sport and even let the kids cream her in the face! Deputy Todd was our photographer but next year we will let him get creamed, too! It took a turn or two for some of the kids to realize that they could actually get their teacher and principals dirty. But once they got the hang of it, they were all in! Shrieks of joy and laughter filled the room!
The combined preschool and PreK classes will get a special visit and present from Mrs. Largent and Mrs. Farley for also raising the most money for Jog-A-Thon! Thank you to everyone for your generous donations!
Food Drive Update
Wellness Newsletter
ZCS BYOD Computer Purchase Option
This time of year, the ZCS Technology Department is asked quite often, “what kind of computer should I get my student for the Bring Your Own Device 1:1 program in grades 5th-12th?” Normally we just give the minimum specs for the computers but this year we have worked with Lenovo to provide our families with an option to purchase the same device that ZCS uses for the rental program. It will be at the same discounted price ZCS pays ($506), tax free, and shipped to your door with free shipping in 2-3 weeks. If you wish to purchase instead of rent the device we selected as a technology team for its ruggedness and performance, just follow the link below and create an account with Lenovo.
https://www3.lenovo.com/le/1213352583/us/en/1213521421/login
After creating your account, we will approve you as a ZCS resident and you will receive an email from Customer Registration at ecomm.accounts@lenovo.com. After being approved, simply log in, select products, then “laptops and ultrabooks” in the upper left corner to select the only option, the Lenovo ThinkPad 11e 5th Gen. For a full explanation of the process and detailed instructions for ordering, please visit https://www.zcs.k12.in.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1655035&type=d&pREC_ID=1801359.
Textbook Rental Fees
Elementary school textbook rental and book fees for 2019-2020 school year were due Sept 15th. Make checks payable to ZCS and place in an envelope marked Front Office. Please contact Mrs. Evans with any questions concerning your balance owed 317-873-8050.
Kindy Fees $92.18
First Grade $124.46
Second Grade $129.27
Third Grade $162.83
Fourth Grade $143.60
Additionally, you have the option to pay by credit card or electronic check by accessing SchoolPay https://zcs.schoolpay.com additional fee applies.
Eagle Recreation Enrichment Classes
ERE Offerings at Stonegate Elementary
Sports:
Witsken Tennis https://programs.zionsvilleeaglerec.com/team-witsken-tennis.cfm
All Out Training Basketball w/Eddie Gill https://programs.zionsvilleeaglerec.com/all-out-training-basketballbrwith-eddie-gill_-winter.cfm
Game On https://programs.zionsvilleeaglerec.com/game-on.cfm
Arts & Crafts
Winter & Holiday Canvas https://programs.zionsvilleeaglerec.com/paint-it-kids-fall-sessions.cfm
My Art Session #2 Paint & Pottery Class https://programs.zionsvilleeaglerec.com/myart-by-art.cfm I I Must Have More Art https://programs.zionsvilleeaglerec.com/i-must-have-more-art.cfm
Enrichment
Winter Break Chess Camp https://programs.zionsvilleeaglerec.com/winter-break-chess-camp.cfm
Minecraft
Thanksgiving Minecraft Camp @ZCHS https://programs.zionsvilleeaglerec.com/minecraft.cfm
Winter Break Minecraft Adventure Camp @ ZCHS
ZCS Food Service is Hiring
ZCS Food Service Associate positions available at several of our cafeterias with a NEW starting pay of $13.00/hour! Click here to apply directly and call 317-733-4804 with any questions! Come join our team and meet us via this awesome (one click) video!
Food Service Newsletters
Follow this link for community flyers and events
BACKGROUND CHECK INFORMATION
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.
Did You Know?
ZCS, like other public schools, has a no-idling policy for vehicles on campus. The purpose of the policy is to limit vehicle emissions that might be brought into the schools and adversely impact the health of our students and staff. If you are stopped on campus for more than 5 minutes, please remember to turn off your engine. We thank you for abiding by this policy to help reduce the exposure to these emissions.
Strong In Every Way
Click here to learn more about ZCS's Human Capital Campaign.
SAFEVISITOR VISITOR MANAGEMENT
All school visitors will be checked in using a visitor management system known as SafeVisitor.
Please be prepared to scan a government issued ID (Driver License) each time you arrive to campus as a visitor or volunteer. The printed badge should be visible at all times while in the building. Thank you!
BOONE COUNTY EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
GROW/CHILD CARE SERVICES
The mission of GROW programming is to provide value-added, enriching, fee based services for families of Zionsville Community Schools. Click here for more information about GROW child care options regarding before and after care programming in addition to preschool.
CLASSES WITH EAGLE REC
Eagle Recreation & Enrichment (ERE) offers enrichment classes and sports camps for our students in elementary, middle, and high schools. We also offer some courses for adults. Click here for more information and course offerings with ERE.
LET'S GO SWIMMING!
ZCS Aquatic Center is open to the public 7 days a week year-round for family swim, lap swim, lessons and more! Daily, monthly or yearly passes are available for purchase. Click here for more details.
Contact Us
Website: http://sge.zcs.k12.in.us/
Location: 7312 W Stonegate Dr, Zionsville, IN, United States
Phone: 317-873-8050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stonegate-Elementary-667262290025971/
Twitter: @ZCSStonegate