The Liberty Link

The MSD of Decatur Township is Student Invested, Community Connected. We prioritize Student learning, Safety and Customer Service, fostering a support system for our families.

Liberty Preschool is a safe, inclusive early childhood community characterized by discovery, exploration and fun. We inspire our students to be confident learners, innovative thinkers and compassionate citizens. Setting big goals for little learners, we prioritize the development of communication, social skills and emergent academics. Together with families, we prepare students for the next steps in their educational journey.

We've completed the second quarter of the school year, and it's report card time again! We're excited to share your child's progress in the last nine weeks. There are lots of ways we measure student learning and growth and we hope the progress reports give a well-rounded picture of your child's current levels. But, as early childhood educators, we want to assure you that we know your child is FAR MORE than what can ever be captured in a report card. We can't measure your child's heart, or your child's creativity, or his/her dreams. But, we are so proud of each of our Liberty Hawks and the ways they've become smarter, stronger, more resilient, better communicators and more independent kids. Their potential can never be measured and we know they'll do big things. Be sure to tell your children how proud you are of them!

Mrs. Susan Bryant

Email: sbryant@decaturproud.org
Website: http://www.decaturproud.org/liberty
Location: 4640 Santa Fe Drive, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: (317) 486-4203
Twitter: @hawks_liberty

Coming Up at Liberty:

• Now through January 31: Used Eyeglasses Drive
• Monday, January 9: Progress Reports will be sent home
• Monday, January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; No School; Liberty Closed
• Thursday, January 19: Liberty PTO Meeting, 5:00pm

The Decatur Lions Club is a great partner to the Decatur Township Schools! To thank them for all the ways they support us, we have a used eyeglasses drive every January. (The Lions Club uses these to help people all around the world!) When we return to school in January, we'll have a collection box in the office. Just send old/unneeded eyeglasses in your child's backpack with a note and we'll make sure the Lions Club gets them. Thanks for your help!

At our meeting on January 19th at 5:00, the Liberty PTO will be making plans for our upcoming school carnival. Please join us to help with plans for this fun, family-friendly event, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 18th.

Next week, your child will be bringing home an order form for our Liberty Preschool Yearbook. The cost of the yearbook is $20 and you can order with cash or check in the envelope provided, or order online to pay with a credit card. Orders are due on Friday, March 3rd, but don't put it off and forget to order!

The MSD of Decatur Township has plans in place in the event of inclement weather. You can read those plans here.

When school is delayed or cancelled, you will receive a phone message and a Parent Square message (as long as your information is updated in Skyward). Here are some reminders:

If a 2-Hour Delay is announced: Full-day preschool will open 2 hours late (at 10:00). Buses will pick up students two hours later than usual. The morning session of half-day preschool is cancelled. The afternoon session of half-day preschool meets at its regular time. School ends at the regular time for all students.

If an E-Learning Day is announced: No students will attend school. Older students (who have take-home iPads) will receive assignments to complete at home during the day. Liberty preschoolers will not have work to do on the day we are out of school because our students don't have take-home devices. Instead, our teachers will send out some activities via Parent Square that will be optional for your child to complete. Students with IEPs may be assigned a take-home device to keep up with the special education lessons and therapies, especially in the event of extended bad weather.

If you shop at Kroger and use a Kroger Plus Card, you can link your card to our school by going to www.krogercommunityrewards.com. Liberty will get a small donation from every purchase made with linked cards. If you have never registered your card online, you will need to do so before you enroll. Our school number for Kroger is MG234. If you have questions, you can call the preschool office. Thanks for your support!

Dry and fresh food items will be available for drive thru pick up for any families with children enrolled in MSD of Decatur Township Schools!
When: Weekly on Thursdays 11:30AM – 12:50PM (when school is in session through May 2023)
Where: DCHS, Door 1
How to apply: Complete the intake form below and submit! (Required for each distribution date.) The form must be completed by the Tuesday before the pick-up date.

Here is the link to the google form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12Y556ZIHRjNo6asM2Ft6twNaxWQM6m5h62rWAM9cKns/prefill

If you would like to apply for assistance with free or reduced price meals, please fill out the application found on the district website here: https://www.decaturproud.org/child-nutrition/lunch-application1.

Arrival Procedures: Students with bus transportation will be picked up from the bus by preschool staff and will be walked into the building. Students who arrive by car should not plan to arrive prior to their class’s start time. Full-day students should arrive between 8:00am and 9:00am. Half-day students should arrive at 9:00am or 1:15pm. Please park in a parking space (not along the grass) and walk your child to door 4. Students will be met at the door by preschool staff, who will ensure that each child gets to the correct class. In order to minimize interruptions and optimize separation, parents will not escort students to their rooms.

Departure Procedures: Students with bus transportation will be escorted to their bus by preschool staff. Parents of car riders should park in a parking space (not along the grass) and walk up to door 4 to pick up their children. Full-day students have a blue pick-up card with their child’s name and teacher’s name on it. Please bring the card with you to show to the staff member at the door for easier identification. Half-day students should be picked up at 11:30am or 3:45pm. Full-day students can be picked up between 3:30 and 4:30pm. Students who are not picked up on time will be subject to a late pick-up fee of $10 for the first 10 minutes and $1 per minute thereafter.

Pick Ups from the Clinic: If you are called by the school nurse to pick up your child due to illness, you will need to go to door 1, which is the main Lynwood entrance on the circle drive to pick up your child from the clinic.

All volunteers are required to submit a volunteer application and clear a background check prior to volunteering at any Decatur Township school. It is important to submit your application at least 2 weeks prior to a field trip, class party, and/or any other special event to ensure we get the background check results to clear you to volunteer. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. To begin the volunteer process, click the application link below.

Volunteer Application

If your child is struggling to adjust to school, is having behavior issues, or has other mental health issues, the MSD of Decatur has contracted with Square One to provide counseling services at all of our schools. To request a referral for counseling, please contact Mrs. Bryant in the preschool office (317-486-4203). We want to help!

It is the Board’s commitment to provide a safe, positive, productive and nurturing educational environment for all of its students. Any individual who believes a student has been or is the victim of discrimination, bullying, or harassment should report the situation to the building principal or designee or complete the School District’s Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying report form, which is available online at www.decaturproud.org.