Central Hub
February 2016 Edition
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents,
Last night, at the board meeting an architect from CSO shared and the board approved the exciting renovation project, which will give Central Elementary a much needed face-lift.
Over the last four months staff members have been meeting with the architects to share ideas and visions for Central Elementary school. Our committee really wanted to update, while keeping the history of the building, deeply rooted in Plainfield Community Values.
Staff members have selected traditional color schemes, finishes, and carpet designs--all with elementary children in mind. A large part of the first phase in redesigning the school will be to move two special education classrooms upstairs and move the library downstairs. The library will now be located on the first floor adjoining the patio, allowing for much needed natural light. Additionally, we are going to expand our Kindergarten Club House room, doubling it in size. Our goal is to create a developmentally appropriate place, which celebrates free play, exploration, and hands-on activities. Kindergarten and first grade teachers are working together to allow a maximum number of students access to the room.
Another factor in updating the building was continuing to look at the safety of our students and staff. We are remodeling the front desk and lobby area, enclosing it and creating a warm reception area for parents, grandparents, and guests to our school.
Currently, bids are being accepted for the job and the deadline is March 15th. Once we know the construction company, we will have a better idea of the final scope and sequence of the project. We do know that the goal is to complete all of the classroom, restroom, and library updates by the end of the summer. Our office will be housed at Van Buren with the hope of being back at Central the week before school starts. Once we have a more concrete timeline for construction, I will share that with you.
As you visit our school we will have a display of the color schemes available for you to see located in our current lobby.
Sincerely,
Julie Thacker
Spring Assessments
- Cogat High Ability Assessment February (all students in kindergarten and second grade and those students new to the district)
- STAR 360 Math and Reading February (all students grades k-5)
- ISTEP Part 1 Window February 29- March 11, 2016
- We will have an ISTEP convocation for students on February 29th.
- We plan to test the mornings of March 1, 2, and 3rd.
- I-Read-3 Window March 14 - March 18, 2016 (all third grade students)
- ISTEP Part 2 Window April 18-May 6, 2016 (all students grades 3-5)
Kindergarten Round Up
IMPORTANT DATES
- February 12th-15th Mid Winter Break
- February 16th and 18th Middle School Band meeting 6:30 at PCMS
- February 18th Central Elementary Art Show 5-7 p.m.
- February 22nd PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m.
- March 25th- April 1 Spring Break
- April 6th Kindergarten Registration 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- April 7th Kindergarten Registration 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- May 9th Parent Orientation in the PCMS Auditorium 6-7 p.m. (5th Grade Parents)
Time Schedules for Schools 2016-2017
Below are the board approved school start times for the 2016-2017 school year.
Student Day: 8:50 a.m. -3:50 p.m.
Middle School
Student Day: 7:50 a.m. -2:50 p.m.
High School
Student Day: 8:05 a.m.- 3:05 p.m.
100 Day Celebration
School Breakfast
Kids need Breakfast to refuel their brains and bodies. By recharging the brain and body, kids will be more efficient in just about everything they do. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Short on time in the mornings? Have your child eat Breakfast at school. Breakfast is 8:20-8:40 each morning in the school cafeteria. Breakfast is $1.30 (.30 for eligible students). Please discuss with your child if they are to eat breakfast at school. If you have any questions regarding breakfast please contact our Food Service Director 317-838-3662
Thank you
Kelly Collins
Food Service Director
Plainfield Community School Corporation
317-838-3662
Battle of the Books Competition
Plainfield Soccer Academy Spring 2016 Registration
Register Online at Plainfield-Soccer-Academy.com, Use the online registration or click sign up and print out the form and mail in.
· Registration ends March 28, 2016
· 8 regular season games and 1 tournament
· Games begin on April 16.
· $5.00 multiple child discounts
· Ages 3-12 * If your child is under four by June 1 call to schedule a tryout.
· Focused on training and development of the player
· Locally Based soccer club
· Contact Michelle Cain for more Information 317-853-9531 or 4plainfieldsoccer@gmail.com.
Central Celebration
January Value of the Month Students
Maura Baver
Oliver Blake
Jamison Chapman
Allison Fleetwood
Kaiden Freije
Katelyn Healey
Mahala Hess
Sophie Hudson
Grant Irwin
Addison Kendall
Jacob Meacham
Jacob Meskimen
Kate Militello
Nariah Moore
Skylar Nanny
Lily Pertl
Jake Price
Zach Rhoden
Ethan Shafer
Brianna Short
Brendon Terry
Kinsey Tripp
Aurora Willoughby
January Central Value Winner!
Jacob Meacham in Ms. Aldridge's class is the value winner for Equal Opportunity, Congratulations!
School Days
Drug Free Family Night
DRUG FREE FAMILY NIGHT
Come out for a
Drug Free Family Event of Mini Golf
------------------------------
Meet the organizations that are helping to keep your family, friends & neighbors
DRUG FREE!
(all minors must have an adult present)
Monster Mini Golf – Rockville Road, Avon
Date: Sunday, February 28
Time 3p-5p
COMMUNITY BENCH PROJECT
Central Elementary is going to participate in the Community Bench Project by collecting any plastic caps that are clean and free of metal. A brochure was sent home explaining the project. We are collecting caps through January 29, 2016. That date may be extended if necessary. There will be a container located in the office area to collect the cap donations. Please email jmenser@plainfield.k12.in.us with any questions.
By collecting CAPS from household containers, benches can be made from something that would ordinarily be thrown away.
400 lbs.+ $200.00 = a bench
This program is offered from Greentree Plastics in Evansville, Indiana to involve young people in recycling and community service.
Any plastic cap that is clean and free of metal may be donated.
- Snap-on cottage cheese, coffee can, and yogurt lids.
- Twist-on medicine, drink bottles and milk (including the ring)
- Flip top- ketchup and condiment bottles
- Large twist-detergent lids
- Spout- such as squirt mustard
Did you know?
The energy saved by recycling 10 plastic bottles over making new plastic, will light a 60 watt light bulb for 97.8 hours or provide electricity for a laptop for 25.4 hours. - EPA energy fact.
Don't just recycle the caps...participate in your local recycling programs for all materials.
Eating Lunch with Your Child-Immediate CHANGES to Current Practice
We welcome you to eat lunch with your child! Spending time with your child is so important toward healthy social and emotional growth. In addition, your presence here encourages a positive attitude toward school.
Some things to remember:
-Only people listed in PowerSchool when we check ID's will be allowed to eat lunch with students. These are parents and people you have listed in emergency contacts. IF you need to update your names, please send a note in with your child.
-We understand there may be a special guest in town, so you need to send a note in before sending the person to school to each lunch. The will not be allowed in the building unless we have parent permission or their name is in PowerSchool.
· We ask that you only eat lunch with your own sons and daughters. In our efforts to keep our students’ lunchtime as calm as possible, they are not allowed to have a friend to join them.
· Because we are always considering our students with allergies, please do not bring in food or snacks for children other than your own.
· Knowing that our teachers and students are busy with the process of learning, we ask that you not leave the cafeteria to go anywhere else in our building. The only exception would be if you have already signed up to volunteer in the building immediately following lunch.
· Please keep younger siblings from wandering around the cafeteria. This is for the safety of your little one, and our school-aged children.
Also, we ask that you not take pictures or record in the cafeteria.
Thank you for helping us to make this a positive and safe environment for our children!
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Thacker 839-7707.
Attendance
We enjoy seeing your children every day. Although we understand that there will be times when your child is sick and needs to stay home, there is a direct correlation between student attendance and success. Here are a few ways we can work together to make sure your children have very good school attendance and don't feel like they are missing out.
- Schedule all doctor’s appointments outside of the school day, if at all possible.
- Share with your child how important it is to be at school.
- Make sure to communicate absences in advance, if possible, so the classroom teacher can ensure that your child still has opportunities to learn skills that he/she will miss when they are absent.
- Help to make sure that your child arrives at school on time each day. The doors open at 8:20 and students need to be seated in their classroom each morning by 8:40 or they are counted tardy.
- If you have a pattern of absences, we may call as well as send a letter to see if we can offer additional support.
Our teachers work hard to provide the best instruction and we want to make the most of each of our 180 days together. We look forward to seeing you at school!
Talking to Children About Terrorism and War
Although we do our best to shield our children, some are experiencing anxiety about what they are seeing and hearing in the news. Below is a link to an article, which gives excellent tips for talking with your children. Please feel free to contact Mrs, White, home school advisor, or Mrs. Thacker if you have additional concerns about your children here at school.
Daddy/Daughter Dance
Plainfield Parks and Recreation Presents:
Daddy/Daughter Dance
When:
6:00PM-8:00PM
Friday, February 12th
Saturday, February 13th
Sunday, February 14th
Where:
Plainfield Recreation and Aquatic Center
Room 139A/B
Price:
$15 per person
*Any adult may accompany a daughter in lieu of a father.
*Pre-Registration is required. Limited to the first 150 participants.
For more information call (317)839-7665
Read-A-Thon Celebration
The Read-A-Thon was a great success. Approx 200 participants and will be eligible to attend the Bounce House Celebration on March 4th. Be looking for your invitation to the event for those who participated.
Total minutes read by Central: 137,019 – Cragen’s class with the most (14,920)
Total dollars earned: $5,236.49 – Weaver’s class with the most ($495.25)
Central Elementary Media Center is excited to once again bring the book challenge to our students!
Find new worlds through reading!
Each Grade will participate by reading A.R. books in their level. Each Grade level will be able to sail through the “ocean of reading”, by the amount of books read and have a passing quiz. It does not matter how many points they have received. When a grade level has reached a certain number of books, they will be awarded with a surprise! Each student must read at least one book per goal to be awarded with his/her grade level. If the grade level completes the game, they will be awarded with a Sweet Celebration!! If we reach 10,000 books as a school, by the beginning of May, the students will enjoy a Teacher’s Variety show and the winning grade decides what Mrs. Crum does for the variety show!
Grade Level goals:
Funny Bone Island (200 books): Scratch and Sniff Bookmark and Pencil
Land of Undiscovered Books (500 books): Flashlight Library(Play, look and read by flashlight)
Adventure Island: 800 Books: Sit anywhere at Lunch ( with your grade) and enjoy a cookie!
Fantasy Island: (1100 Books): Popcorn and Movie in the library
Island of Knowledge (1500 Books): Extra Recess and popsicles as a grade
****You can always help your child with book choices by accessing the books that are available in our library by going to www.plainfield.k12.in.us. Click on Central Elementary. Click on Services tab at the top. Click on Media Services. Click on Library Catalog. Click Central elementary. Click catalog on top left corner tab. Click on Destiny Quest on the left. The students can look through the books that are in the A.R. level and even make a wish list!! Ask your 2nd through 5th grade student about this great asset!!