Week of Fall Break 2026
|
Principal's Message from Dr. Edwards
We had a great week to close out the quarter and head into a well-deserved Fall Break. Whether you are travelling, staying at home, taking time off, or working regular schedules, I hope you are able to enjoy some good time with family and friends. When we return on October 19, we will be starting in on the fastest stretch of the year with all the holidays and end of the semester activities, so find some great ways to recharge next week.
|
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." — Mahatma Gandhi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Beginning the second quarter, students in grades 5–12 will begin using MagicSchool, Mt. Vernon’s only approved artificial intelligence platform for student learning. Through structured, teacher-supervised activities, students will learn to use AI responsibly to support their learning, with student safety and privacy remaining priorities. Visit MtVernonSchools.org/AI to learn more about the district’s approach and find answers to frequently asked questions.
|
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. And please be sure to provide the documentation required for qualifying absences to be marked as excused in a timely manner. We are working together to meet the state accountability expectation and school goal of at least 95% attendance rate for every student.
|
|
|
|
Important Dates
End of Quarter 1
Friday, October 9
Fall Break (No School)
October 12-16
Q1 Report Cards Available in Skyward
Thursday, October 22
Related Arts Rotation Days
Happy Friday and Fall Break!
This week, I finished our bullying prevention classroom lessons by going into the rest of our 1st-grade and kindergarten classrooms. For the 1st-grade lessons, we read a book called "Diamond Rattle Loves to Tattle" by Ashley Bartley. Then we had a discussion about different kinds of conflicts and ended the lesson by doing an activity where they had to decide which type of conflict a scenario was. For the kindergarten lessons, we read a book called "A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue" by Julia Cook. Then we had a discussion about different kinds of conflicts and ended the lesson by doing an activity where they had to decide which type of conflict a scenario was. When we come back from break, I will be doing quarter 2 lessons around the topic of Sense of Belonging.
Tuesday of this week, a ParentSquare message went out explaining MVCSC's Holiday Assistance Application. Please read the blurb below if you are in need of this assistance.
Every year, local churches, community groups, and families support MV families during the holiday season. ONLY families needing assistance need to complete the form. Families with multiple children in MV schools should only apply at the school their youngest child attends. All requests must be submitted by the end of the school day on Monday, November 2, 2025. Applications received after this date will not be processed. Holiday Assistance Application
In addition, if you are interested in sponsoring a family for Christmas, please contact me, Caitlin Crecelius, by email at caitlin.crecelius@mtvernonschools.org or ParentSquare by November 2nd.
Lastly, I wanted to share some news that FES families may or may not know about, as well as our plan for the second semester. My husband and I are expecting our second child at the very beginning of March. If all goes well, I will be on maternity leave for the second half of quarter 3 and all of quarter 4. A temporary counseling job will be posted on MVCSC's website during quarter 2 in the hopes of getting a school counselor to step into my role while I am on maternity leave.
Reminders:
-
Outlook Christian Church is partnering with MVCSC again this year to provide Thanksgiving meal assistance to families in need. ONLY families needing assistance need to fill out the form, and families with multiple children in MV schools should apply only at the school their youngest child attends.
- Any student has the ability to request to come talk/meet with me. Students ask their teachers to fill out a Let's Talk slip and bring it down to my office. If I am not currently available, students put the slip into my mailbox.
Upcoming events:
- 2nd Quarter Classroom Lesson for all grades: Sense of Belonging
- 10/21: Thanksgiving Assistance Form Due
- 11/3: Holiday Assistance Form Due
- Part of Q3 and all of Q4: Mrs. Crecelius on maternity leave
House Points Update
Orange House is the Q1 winner!
These students were chosen by their classroom teachers for this past month for being a leader with our focus on “Kindness” and setting a positive example. We called them to the top of the Success Slide and gave each of them one of the gold tokens for our book vending machine which they were able to use to choose a book to keep. They will also be receiving yard signs for their families if they want them. We are so proud of these great kids and the great choices they make each day!
|
|
|
|
MV Reads: News from the Library
Mrs. Jennifer Leavell, FES Teacher Librarian
As we wrap up the first quarter in the library, it’s always fun to see which books have been most popular with the students! Our current top five checkouts are: The Pigeon Has to Go to School by Mo Willems, 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle, Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd, Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey, and Perspectives by Dav Pilkey. Those come as no surprise to me with books from the I Survived series and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series just out of the top five. Encourage your student(s) to keep reading over fall break!
Fine notices went home with students next week. I appreciate your help in getting overdue books and fines taken care of as soon as possible! Parents can pay for lost library books via MVCSC’s eFunds link. Click on PAY for Optional Fees, then choose Lost/Damaged Library Books.
"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 looking for an Instructional Aide and a leave teacher in 4th grade.
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.
Help Support FES Year-round
Help our school get a share of the money that many of America’s best companies are giving to K-12 education. SchoolStore.com is an online shopping mall where over 400 merchants have agreed to give a percentage of every sale to schools. This includes companies like Walmart, Best Buy, Old Navy, Kohl’s, etc. Just go to the website and then to the merchant websites you normally order from and help us earn rewards. The SchoolStore fundraiser is 100% online so there is NO face-to-face selling, handling money, or delivering products.
Go to https://www.schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000177219 to sign up. If you have questions about how to participate, reach out to our office. Once you are registered, invite family, friends and co-workers to support your child and our school.
Parent Resources
To be a chaperone on a field trip or to volunteer in the classroom regularly, you must have a clear background check from the current school year on file with our building (this is separate from any other MV buildings). FES Volunteer Background Check Form
At MV, we have all of our instructional staff trained on TBRI, and we now have a Parent Resource Hub available to our families to access at any time.
Webinars on support and advocacy for parents of High ability students. https://nagc.org/page/webinars
|
|
|
