Week of August 12, 2024
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Principal's Message from Dr. Edwards
At the end of what I know was a whirlwind week for so many people, I want to take a moment to celebrate the great start to the school year we've had. The hard work and dedication of our staff played a crucial role in creating a positive and engaging environment for our students to begin their academic journey for 2024-25. I also want to thank our parents and students for your contributions, support, and commitment to our shared mission. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our students and our community at large. Let’s continue to inspire and uplift one another as we move forward and make this the best year it can be. I also want to thank our FES PTO officers for all of their work to get the year started well, and I encourage everyone who is able to join us in the cafeteria this Monday evening at 7p for the first PTO meeting of the year.
We had a very high number of car riders the first couple of days, and I want to thank all the parents that helped us keep the line moving while keeping everyone safe. As a reminder, parents should not park and walk their students up to the building as a part of our normal arrival procedures. For those who live in nearby neighborhoods and walk or ride bikes, parents should ensure that their students get across the car line traffic and safely to the far north end of the sidewalk that runs next to our building. Our school staff will monitor the entry of all students to our building and parents should not go further. Also, it is a big help with keeping the line moving if students are unbuckled and ready to exit the vehicle before you get to the drop-off zone. While in the line, please pull forward quickly as far as you are able and let your student(s) out of the vehicle wherever you come to a stop along the drop-off curb. Thank you!
We are grateful that we are blessed with so many supportive and engaged families at FES, and I want to share a few things about how our school manages bringing visitors (anyone who is not a student staff member) while taking steps to ensure safety and security for everyone. We will require anyone who is going to come into the building on a regular basis to volunteer or anyone who would like to serve as a chaperone on a field trip to have a clear basic background check on file. These need to be completed each school year, so you will need to complete it again even if you had a clear background check on file last year. Also, for those who have students in multiple buildings at MV, you only need to complete this once for any and all schools. Please allow a couple of weeks prior to when you would be volunteering to ensure that it can be completed and cleared in advance.
MVCSC Volunteer Background Check Form|
 I will send out these newsletters each week (typically with shorter openings), and we try to keep most of our regular schoolwide communications to this single message. I want to highly encourage every family to sign up for the ParentSquare app to be able to view any archived posts, send and receive messages with school staff, and be sure to get alerts on any more urgent communications. Our teachers will also use this app to communicate and share pics/videos throughout the year. Every email address entered in Family 1 on Skyward will receive email notifications of ParentSquare posts, but there is much more functionality in the app. We are also starting to use more of the form features in ParentSquare for consent for clubs, field trips, etc., so you will want to have a ParentSquare account set up. Let our office know if you are having issues, and we will try to assist you the best we can.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Reporting Absences
Please assist us by being sure to call our office at 317-485-3180 or email elizabeth.thomas@mvcsc.k12.in.us if your student is going to be absent. With state reporting, we have to assign specific codes for every absence, and it saves our office staff a lot of time each day if we don’t have to call to follow-up on students that are marked absent by their teachers.
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Important Dates
Schoolwide PTO Meeting
Monday, August 12 @ 7p in FES Cafe
NWEA Fall Testing Window
August 12-23
Early Release Wednesdays Begin (dismissal at 1:30p)
Wednesday, August 14
Fall School Picture Day
Monday, August 19
House Spirit Day (wear your house color)
Wednesday, August 21
  
Happy Friday and Happy Second Day of School!
My name is Caitlin Crecelius and I am the school counselor at FES! I will use this area to share what classroom lessons I am doing with the different grades, programs to sign up for, upcoming events, and reminders from the counseling office.
- Next week, a Parent Square post will be going out to share the dates/information on this year's Body Safety program. Please be on the lookout for that information.
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Fortville Area Resource Mission (FARM) provides weekend food bags to families who are in financial need of getting more food. If you would like to sign up for this, please use this link.
- Please note that by signing up for this, you are agreeing that your student will bring these bags home weekly, in their backpacks.
- If you are in need of connecting with any financial assistance - including how to apply for Free and Reduced Lunches - please reach out and I can see what resources FES can share.
- Please have students wear their house color on Wednesday, August 21st to participate in our House Color Spirit Day! I will be taking classroom photos this day to post on our House display outside of the gym.
- Any student has the ability to request to come talk/meet with me. Next week I will be going into every classroom to (re)introduce myself and explain the process for asking to meet with me.
Upcoming events:
- 8/12-8/16: Mrs. C in every classroom to go over counseling office procedures
- 8/21: Wear Your House Color - House Color Spirit Day
- 1st Quarter Classroom Lesson: Bullying Prevention
- 8/29-8/30: Body Safety Presentations
FES Staff Favorite Vacation:- Mrs. Koppang's (Kindergarten Teacher, Purple House) favorite vacation is any beach vacation.
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MV Reads: News from the Library
Mrs. Jennifer Leavell, FES Teacher Librarian
“When in doubt, go to the library.”
- Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
It has been so great having students back in the library the past couple of days! I can’t wait to see more familiar and new faces as classes visit the library next week. I’m so excited to be back for my second year as the teacher librarian/media specialist at FES. Before joining FES, I taught English for 16 years at MVHS. Mrs. Angie Burkholder is back for her third year in the FES library as the library assistant. We both love to read and connect your students with books! You can help encourage a lifelong love of reading by asking your child what library books came home on library day!
"Be a Substitute Teacher" and MV Employment
Fortville Elementary is a great place to work, and we would love to have you join our team. You can apply on the MV Employment website. We are currently fully staffed.
And we always need substitute teachers! Subs apply through Kelly Education Services (information below).
- To learn more or apply for substitute teacher positions at Mt. Vernon, please contact Kelly Education by completing this Inquiry Form and a recruiter will follow up with you. For questions, please call 800-991-5157, option 2.
- Kelly Services will guide the applicant how to obtain a substitute permit issued by the Indiana Department of Education (~$17) and a background check (~$28).
- Kelly Services will then share a short orientation video that will show you how to choose the jobs of your choice at Mt. Vernon and how to see the incentive offers.
Parent Resources
Webinars on support and advocacy for parents of High ability students. https://nagc.org/page/webinars
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