Elementary News

We have just one more week until break! Please encourage your student to get plenty of sleep, as it can be challenging for them to regulate their emotions when they are overtired. Next week, there are only four days of school because Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Friday, October 17th. Fall break will follow the next week. We hope everyone has a wonderful week and returns ready to learn!

Oct. 13 - 2nd & 3rd Grade STEM Club (Must be signed up)

Oct. 15 - 4th grade field trip (Conner Prairie)

Oct. 16 - Report Cards go home

Oct. 17 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - (No School)

Oct. 20 - 24 - Fall Break

Oct. 27 - Return to school

Oct. 27 - 31 - Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 29 - Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week!

Oct. 31 - Halloween Dress Up Day

Mark your calendar for Parent-Teacher Conferences! These meetings are a vital opportunity to discuss your child's progress and set goals, but remember that teachers are meeting with all parents on a tight schedule. To ensure everyone gets the dedicated time they need, please be respectful of the time allotted for your slot. Arriving on time and keeping your discussion focused helps us stay on track. Also, it's essential to make sure you have a confirmed appointment beforehand; unscheduled drop-ins disrupt the conference flow and may mean the teacher can't see you. Your partnership is key to your child's success! 🍎

Building Kindness at School and at Home

In kindergarten and first grade, children are learning how to treat others with respect and kindness. These skills are just as important as reading and math. Lately, we have seen more challenges with students showing respect and following directions. We ask that families take time to talk with their children about the importance of kindness, listening to adults, and using positive words and actions. When students come to school ready to be kind and respectful, it helps everyone learn and feel safe. Working together, we can help our students grow into caring and responsible individuals.

Try this at home:
Each evening, ask your child to share one kind thing they did that day. Celebrate their effort and talk about how their actions made someone else feel. Small conversations like this help build positive habits that carry over into the classroom. We appreciate your help!

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Grades 2 - 5: Guidance classes have been practicing "Guided Meditation" as a way to practice deep breathing techniques while listening to a calming guided imagery story. Students are learning they only need approximately 5 minutes to help regulate their bodies and their minds.

October 27th - 31st is Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week will focus on making healthy choices such as staying away from tobacco or other substances that are unhealthy. Maconaquah Elementary will participate in Red Ribbon Week with coloring pages, wearing Red on Wednesday, and a popcorn treat during the week.

It is always fun for kids to dress up in costumes! On October 31, students are allowed to wear or bring costumes to school.

Pipe Creek students should also wear school appropriate shoes ( sneakers). They must be able to take costumes on and off for restroom breaks, no masks, no violence and no inflatables. They will have the opportunity to parade through the school to admire each other's costumes. For specific classroom information, please contact your child's teacher.

Mac El students are not permitted to wear masks that cover their faces, costumes with fake blood, or have any weapons with their costume. Thank you to the 7th grade STEM students at Maconaquah Middle School as they will host a trunk or treat event during the day. Mac El students will parade through the middle school hallway and gym as part of this event.

Please remind your student that they will need to remove any costume parts that may interfere with learning or completing tasks in the classroom.

Many families prefer to walk their children to and from the building. If you wish to do so, please park in an available parking spot before walking your child.

The circle drive has a few spaces near the entrance and exit, but the largest parking area is the east lot (closest to US 31). When using this area, please use caution and watch for other parents and students who may be walking nearby.

Directional arrows are painted on the drive (though slightly faded), so please follow the flow of traffic and avoid exiting through the entrance, as doing so creates congestion and safety concerns.

If you prefer to drop off your student without walking them inside, you may pull up to the curb, where a staff member will be ready to assist your child as they exit the passenger side of your vehicle.
To keep traffic moving smoothly, please remain in your vehicle during drop-off.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal process!

Parents and guardians are ablet o access their child's results following ILEARN Checkpoints, ILEARN, and IREAD testing. Access Codes will be provided at Parent/Teacher conferences. Codes are confidential and specific to your student so they will not be sent home with students. If you are unable to attend conferences, you may request your child's access code through their teacher.

If there is a change in your child's transporation, whether they will be picked up or riding a bus, it MUST be communicated with the front office. This can be done by sending a note to school or calling the office. If you call the office, please make sure you speak with a person. There is a central list at each elementary school, which allows us to check when students are unsure and the teacher may not be available. Do not just send a message to the teacher. The office MUST be notified. Thank you!

NOTE: Transportation changes should be in to the office by 2:00 pm.

We love having you visit our schools! To ensure the safety of all our students, anyone who wishes to volunteer or have lunch with their student must first complete a volunteer background check. You can find the link under the Parent Resources tab on our website.

A friendly reminder: for the safety of our students, please remember to bring your photo ID whenever you visit the school for any reason, including student pickup, lunch, or meetings.