Eagle's Nest

Friday, October 31st, 2025

November invites us to slow down and notice what we’re thankful for, and I want you to hear a heartfelt “thank you” from all of us. Your partnership—checking folders, reading together, encouraging good attendance, and communicating with teachers—makes a real difference. We see the results in students’ confidence and growth.

This month our schoolwide focus is gratitude and kindness. It's a great time for students to practice friendly greetings, writing thank-you notes, and setting goals for giving their best effort. Ask your child: “Who can we appreciate today, and how will we show it?”

A few friendly reminders:

• Attendance matters. Strong routines help students learn and feel connected. If your child is ill, please follow our nurse’s guidance and keep us informed.

• Cooler weather. Please send labeled coats, hats, and gloves; our Lost & Found fills up quickly. If your family needs help with winter gear, reach out—we’re here to support.

• Digital balance. As days get shorter, consider setting evening routines that include reading, movement, and device-free wind-down time.

We will observe Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11th by honoring those who have served. Thank you to our military families—we appreciate your service and sacrifice. See the flyer below for our program information. Later in the month, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Break. May it be a time of rest and togetherness.

I am grateful for our caring staff, hardworking students, and the supportive families who make this school so special. Thank you for trusting us with your children each day. Please reach out if there is anything we can do to help your student SOAR.

Mrs. Mennonno

Getting all our students in the building and home each day is a huge mission. Safety is our top concern. Please remember...

• Please have your child(ren) exit and enter your cars on the passenger side so they are not walking into the parking lot around the drop off lane
• Do not pull out around another car in line unless you are waved around - we will first make sure the area is clear of all people
• Please do not park at the front playground and walk your student over in the morning. We have so many moving vehicles going through the lots and it also slows down our drop off line.
• If you need to help your child buckle seatbelts or car seats, please pull out of the line and park in the front playground parking lot to do this so it doesn't hold up the pick up line.

We appreciate your support in helping to make sure all students and staff are safe during our arrival and dismissal times.

Just a reminder... if your child will be going home a different way than normal (normally a bus rider but will be a car rider...) we MUST have a written note or a phone call to the office before 3:00 PM about the change. If a student says their parent told them but we did not receive a note or phone call they will go home their normal way. Thank you for helping us ensure all students safely are dismissed each day!

Prices:

Breakfast - $1.65

Lunch - $2.85

To add funds to your child's account: Options

1. Send cash or a check payable to Mill Creek East to school in an envelope marked with your child's name and "Lunch Money"

2. Go to www.myschoolbucks.com and create an account. This does charge a transaction fee.

3. To apply for Free/Reduced Lunch go to https://www.myschoolapps.com/

Amounts for EXTRAS are listed below.

If your child received free/reduced lunches in the past you must submit a new application for this year. The rollover date ends on Sept 15. If we do not have a new school year application , these students will go to full meal pricing.

Our students love it when a family member comes to have lunch with them at school. We ask, if possible, that younger siblings are not brought with you. Also, you may bring restaurant food in to eat but please no sodas. Please check in at the office. You will meet your child at the cafeteria doors then go to the new booths down near the office to eat lunch together! At the end of the lunch time you can walk your child back to the cafeteria. Please do not go to the classrooms. If you plan on volunteering in the rooms, you need to return to the main office to sign in differently.

Come decked out in your Cascade or MCE gear!

NEW: Indiana Learns Enrollment
Beginning Monday, November 3, families can visit IndianaLearns.org to determine student eligibility and enroll in Indiana Learns – a statewide grant program that provides qualifying students with one-time $1,000 grants for high-dosage math and reading tutoring. Families will need to enter a student’s Student Test Number (STN) and date of birth to verify eligibility.

After enrolling, students can officially begin tutoring for the 2025–2026 program year on the following Monday, November 10.

At this time, to qualify for an Indiana Learns tutoring grant, a student must meet all of the following criteria:

• Student completed ILEARN testing and scored below proficiency in either Mathematics or English/Language Arts;
• Student resides in Indiana;
• Student is enrolled in and is attending a CSI, TSI or ATSI-designated school as a third through eighth grade student; and
• Student qualifies for the federal free or reduced lunch program.

For more information or assistance, families can visit IndianaLearns.org or contact info@indianalearns.org.

It's already time to think about the holidays! If your family is in need of holiday assistance this year (Thanksgiving or Christmas), OR if you would like to sponsor a child or family for Christmas, please reach out to Lauren Alspaugh at lalspaugh@mccsc.k12.in.us

Mill Creek Christian Support Center

96 E. Kentucky Street

Clayton, IN 46118

Open every Tuesday 5-7pm

Line up in your car- drive thru food pantry

Stilesville Christian Church

8427 Morgan Street

Stilesville, IN

2nd Friday of the month 4-6pm

4th Monday of the month 4-6pm

Hazelwood Christian Church

9947 S. CR 0

Clayton, IN

3rd Monday of the month from 1-3pm

https://www.hendrickshealthpartnership.org/foodandnutrition.html#foodpantries

We love celebrating birthdays at MCE! We will announce a student's birthday on morning announcements and then they get to select a birthday book provided by our wonderful PTO. Then each classroom does their own birthday recognition. If you would like to send in a snack/treat, please arrange it with your child's teacher beforehand and they will do a small snack time. We do not have birthday "parties" in the classrooms. Birthday recognitions are important but we keep them simple to ensure that every child receives the same recognition. Please see the parent/student handbook for more information.

Cascade Gear: https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/IN/Clayton/Cascade+-+For+Mill+Creek+East+Use

Mill Creek East Gear: https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/IN/Clayton/Mill+Creek+East+Elementary+School

Learn more about what's happening with MCCSC's CCR initiative!

Mission: Developing confident, independent citizens who productively impact society.

Vision : Our graduates will show excellence in attitudes, actions, and achievements in pursuit of their passion.

Hello Mill Creek East Families! We are using School Care as our primary source for notifying parents when a child comes to the clinic. We will call a parent if the visit requires further attention otherwise look for email from School Care to explain why your child was seen in the clinic. You will need to be registered to received the messages.

Some of you have noticed emails and or texts from School Care. School Care is a platform we use to communicate when and why your student was seen in the clinic. In the past each student would bring home a pink slip regarding visit, School Care will be replacing pink slips. You may have noticed multiple pages to fill out with School Care, we know this is long, but please take the time to fill out each page. School Care will carry over with each student to the middle and high school. Thanks for taking the time to fill out all the forms.

Please review the new attendance policies for MCCSC. This is aligned with the new state attendance guidelines for schools. If you have any questions please reach out.

Please call the office by 3:00 p.m. with any transportation changes. Also, if you need to have your child leave early for the day, please pick them up by 3:15 p.m. After this time they will be dismissed at our 3:40 bell. If your child is NOT normally a walker and you will be meeting them to walk please call the office so we can have them with our walker group of students. No one is to park in the school parking lot and walk over to get your child - you must go through the car rider line before or after school. If you need to help buckle your child's seatbelt please pull into the front playground parking lot to do this after you pick them up. Thank you for your help!

Our end of day bell rings at 3:35 p.m. We need to have all students picked up from school by 3:55 p.m. If a student is not picked up by 3:55 p.m. we will take them to Mill Creek Plus, our after school program, to be picked up from there. If you have any questions about the after school program please call the school office. Thank you!

November 10th - PTO meeting in the art room 4:15 PM

November 11th - Veteran's Day Program 2:00 PM; 3rd-5th Grade Students

November 24th-28th - Thanksgiving Break - No School

December 12th - Holiday Music Program 2:00 PM; Kindergarten-2nd Grade

December 18th - Classroom Holiday Parties - last day before winter break

December 19th - January 4th - Winter Break, No School

Email: amennonno@mccsc.k12.in.us
Website: https://mcee.mccsc.k12.in.us/
Location: 4740 Iowa Street, Clayton, IN, USA
Phone: 317-539-9225
Facebook: facebook.com/MCEastEagles
Twitter: @MCE_EastEagles