Week of November 2, 2026
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Principal's Message from Dr. Edwards
This was quite the week with Red Ribbon Week dress days that concluded with costumes today as we say "BOO to Drugs!" It is always a lot of fun to see our students enjoying their opportunity to come to school costume (and I am appreciative of how our parents help make sure that they are school appropriate--including the students being able to independently navigate their day and use the restroom.) I hope everyone is able to enjoy whatever the weekend holds for you as we continue to have terrific fall weather.
As a reminder about the car rider line since we have had some issues recently....I know that when the car rider line first starts forming, people coming in off of 200 W typically pull directly into the school parking lot at the main gate, but please remember that once the line has backed up past that point, we need for additional vehicles to enter at the east end of the school site and join the line from there. We really don't want to close the gate since that would keep people who need to get to the office (including parents with medications or substitute teachers) from being able to enter until the car rider line is over, but vehicles should not be trying to enter the line from there. Please help us keep our car rider running well for everyone by following the set procedures.
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“Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale hath had its effect..." -- Jonathan Swift |
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On Time, Ready to Learn!
Our Viking Voyage is a journey we take together, and every minute of learning matters! While we continue to celebrate the importance of regular attendance, we also want to emphasize the importance of arriving on time and ready to learn.
Did you know that arriving just 10 minutes late each day adds up to 30 hours of missed instructional time over a 180-day school year? Research highlights that tardiness can disrupt students’ learning and affect the classroom when teachers need to pause instruction to help students catch up. Statistically, it has been shown that students who are tardy often have lower standardized test scores.
Arriving on time allows students to participate in morning routines, connect with classmates, hear important directions, and begin learning alongside their peers. We understand that mornings can be challenging, and we appreciate families’ efforts to establish routines that help students arrive on time.
Let’s row together! Every minute counts, every student matters, and we want every Viking to start the day ready to learn. Thank you for being our partners in making every school day count!
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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. 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.
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Important Dates
Thanksgiving Break (No School)
November 25-27
Related Arts Rotation Days
Happy Friday!
It was so fun to see students participate in Red Ribbon Week. Thank you to all students who submitted a Red Ribbon Week poster! Congratulations to the following grade-level winners:
Kindergarten: Grace N. - Miss. Dean
1st Grade: Adaline D. - Mrs. Rusk
2nd Grade: No submissions
3rd Grade: Grace R. - Mrs. Hufford
4th Grade: tied between Hazel W. - Ms. Bell and Xavier T. - Ms. Davis
This week I finished up the 3rd-and 4th-grade classroom lessons. We talked about what belonging means, read a book on empathy called "Stand in My Shoes" by Bob Sornson, and then students took a 6-question survey to gauge their sense of belonging at FES. The district wants to see a 'bird's-eye view' of sense of belonging at MVCSC. Anonymous survey data will be sent to the district level. Next week I will be going into all 2nd-grade classrooms for their quarter 2 classroom lesson.
Cartwheel periodically provides webinars for parents and caregivers. If you can't attend in real time but want to go back and listen, register, and you should get a copy of the recording. Their next webinar, Helping Kids Get Started: Supporting Motivation for School, Homework, and Learning, is coming up on November 18th.
- About the webinar: School-related struggles can be one of the biggest sources of stress and conflict at home. Emily Edlynn, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, international speaker, and author of Autonomy-Supportive Parenting. She joins us for a practical session on what's behind trouble with motivation, homework battles, avoidance, and shutdown, and how to help kids and teens get started, stay engaged, and feel more successful.
- Date and Time: Noveber 18th, 7-8pm ET
- Register Here
- As always, the webinar is free, and you'll have a chance to ask questions live.
Reminders from previous newsletters:
- 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 has been posted on MVCSC's website in the hopes of getting a school counselor to step into my role while I am on maternity leave.
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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.
- 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
- 11/2: Holiday Assistance Form Due
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11/18: Cartwheel Helping Kids Get Started: Supporting Motivation for School, Homework, and Learning Webinar
- Part of Q3 and all of Q4: Mrs. Crecelius is on maternity leave
House Points Update
These students were called to the Success Slide on Friday to be recognized for something from the week (being a great helper, working hard, demonstrating growth in a skill, etc.) Thanks for being valuable contributors to our Viking community!
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MV Reads: News from the Library
Mrs. Jennifer Leavell, FES Teacher Librarian
If you are looking for NEW book titles to add to your home library or perhaps as holiday gift-giving, consider browsing through the 2026 Read Aloud Indiana titles! The Read Aloud Indiana program fosters a love of reading and the sound of language. Each year, a committee of Indiana Library Federation (ILF) members develops five read-aloud lists: one each for primary school ages, upper elementary, middle grades, high school, and ageless. The new lists will be announced in a few weeks! Past lists can be found here. These books make great additions to home libraries for families to read together!
"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 leave coverage positions (teacher in 4th grade, resource teacher, and school counselor).
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
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