Redhawk Tales

Lunar New Year is celebrated this year on January 29. What is the Zodiac sign for 2025?

• Dine to Donate @ Panera -- Friday, January 24, 4-8 PM
• Harshman Middle School Visioning Day -- Saturday, January 25 @ 10 AM
• Deadline to purchase Sidener Pacers tickets -- Monday, January 27

• Sidener Girls Basketball Home Game -- Wednesday, January 29 @ 6 PM
• Sidener Book Fair -- February 6-14
• Snow Makeup Day -- Tuesday, February 18
• Sidener "Songs for the Stars" Concert -- Thursday, March 13 @ 6:30 PM

All Tier 3 approved volunteers will now only need to complete the application, background check, and DCS check once every two years, instead of annually. However, Tier 1 and Tier 2 volunteers approved for the 2024-2025 school year will still be required to submit a new application and, for Tier 2 volunteers, a criminal history check for the upcoming year.

The IPS Volunteer Application is open now through the end of February. If you have not completed this process and would like to volunteer this spring for field trips or school activities, please complete this application now. Parents and Guardians must apply through this IPS website and watch their emails for further steps in the background check process. This application needs to be completed to chaperone field trips and help with activities during school. https://myips.org/get-involved/volunteer/

The application window for the 2025-2026 school year is now open. Volunteers should visit our webpage to complete their application. This update will be shared with families in the newsletter going out to parents and families on Friday, January 24th. If you have any questions, please reach out to IPSHumanResources@myips.org.

🏀Practices: Tuesdays & Thursdays after school to 5:20

🏀Home Game: Wednesday, January 29, 6:00 PM

🏀Clinic: Saturday, February 1, 10:15-11:15 AM @ Arsenal Tech High School

🏀Away Game: Wednesday, February 5, 6:00 PM @ Robert Lee Frost 106

🏀Away Game: Wednesday, February 12, 6:00 PM @ Charles Fairbanks 105

🏀IPS Tournament: February 13, 20, 22

On game days players will go home and return to game location at 5:30 PM.

There will be a FREE concert of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra on Sunday at 3 PM downtown at the Hilbert Circle Theater. Several Sidener students and alumni will be performing with parents and members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. All are welcome to attend!

The fifth graders went on a field trip to Junior Achievement's BizTown this week. While the students ran the simulated town of BizTown, they were able to operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, vote for mayor, and more.

IPS parents are coming together to create a community of support for one another, with a joint mission to advocate for our public schools, our teachers, and our children. Please join to learn more about new IPS Parent Council. It's founder is the PTA president at George Washington Carver Montessori School 83.

JOIN HERE

• The Sidener Book Fair starts Thursday, February 6 and runs through Friday, February 14.
• Set up an eWallet now at the Sidener Bookfair website to allow your student to shop without cash at the bookfair. You must create a NEW eWallet for each fair.
• Shop online at the Sidener Bookfair website from February 6-14.
• Students will preview the book fair with their classes prior to the bookfair opening. Ask them about their wish list!
• All For Book Fundraiser will be the sale of Heart-Shaped Suckers. Proceeds will help build classroom libraries.

Help raise money for our school by going to an Indiana Pacers game! Invite your friends, family members and co-workers to our school night on Wednesday, February 26, when the Pacers take on the Toronto Raptors. Pacers tickets make great holiday gifts!!!

Students can win some amazing Pacers prizes such as:

• Indiana Pacers Sticker Sheet

• Boomer Figurine

• 2 FREE Tickets to our School Night

• Pacers Mini Hoop

• Autographed Basketball signed by the entire Pacers team

• Personalized Pacers Jersey

If you can’t make it to our school night game, we have three alternate games to choose from!

ORDER ONLINE: You have the option to purchase your tickets online. You can even share the offer with family and friends via social media! It will be easier than ever to sell lots of tickets and earn those prizes! Simply go to pacers.com/raptors to purchase your tickets!

THE DEADLINE TO PURCHASE TICKETS IS MONDAY, JANUARY 27.

See brochure below for more information.

5th grade families (Future Harshman Viking Families 🙂 ): You, and your student, are invited to attend Harshman's Visioning Day on Saturday, January 25 at 10 AM! During this event we will bring all stakeholder groups together to collaboratively shape the mission, vision, and core values of our school. Your insights and input will be valuable in helping us shape the direction and culture that will guide our school community moving forward. Come share your thoughts, and enjoy lunch with Harshman community members.

Complete this quick form to let us know you plan on attending Harshman's Visioning Day: Saturday, January 25 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

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Families can visit to learn more about Harshman Middle School every Wednesday at 1:30 PM (when school is in session). Email murphyca@myips.org and drop by to see classes and meet teachers!

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Students interested in dual language courses at Harshman must take a Dual Language Assessment. Students can sign up for this assessment HERE. Students should bring their IPS Chromebook to the assessment.

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https://myips.org/harshman/

The popular Ninja Warrior Program is back! Limited to 30 students, this FREE program will take place on Saturday mornings in February and March. To register or learn more about this program, please click on this link: Link to Ninja Warrior program

WHEN: Saturday mornings from 10-11 AM on February 8th, 15th, 22nd, March 1st, 8th

LOCATION: 9625 East 150th Street, Noblesville, IN 46060

If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. Crighton: Crightons@myips.org

The Learn to Skate program will be held on Wednesday evenings in February and March. Whether your student is a beginner or looking to improve their skating skills, this FREE program is a great opportunity! For more details or to register, please click on this link: Link to Learn to Skate program

WHEN: Wednesdays from 6:45-7:30 PM on February 12th, 19th, 26th, and March 5th

LOCATION: Holiday Park – 6363 Spring Mill Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46260

If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. Crighton: Crightons@myips.org

Sidener's spring concert will feature "Songs for the Stars" which is based on the book The Astronaut. All students in grades 1-5 will participate.

WHEN: Thursday, March 13th at 6:30pm

WHERE: Broad Ripple Middle School Auditorium

ATTIRE: Students are asked to wear space-themed attire which can include astronaut suits, alien outfits, space-patterns, NASA attire, or simply the colors blue, purple, pink, or green.

Broad Ripple Haverford Little League is the designated local little league for students at Sidener. Registration for ages 7-12 baseball and softball is open now until February 1. In addition, Little League is now allowing 4-7-year-olds to register for a league even if they do not live or go to school within the league boundaries. Registration for ages 4-6 tee ball will stay open until late February. If any student has a financial need, scholarships are available from T-Mobile and Little League to cover the registration costs for families that request it. For scholarship information, send an email to info@brhll.com.

Click here to register: Little League Registration

Join the Sidener Parent & Teacher Association in its mission to "promote the welfare of Sidener students, raise standards of home life, encourage cooperation between parents and teachers, and ensure the students have the highest advantages in all facets of education and life."

To become a voting member of the PTA, please pay annual dues of $10 by visiting our 24-25 PTA dues link or contacting treasurer@sideneracademypta.org for scholarship assistance. Please do not let financial need prevent you from joining.

All are welcome to join our online Facebook community to connect with other parents, caregivers and school representatives: Sidener Academy Families and Staff Community Page

Kroger's Community Rewards

To participate, Sign up here, search for SIDENER ACADEMY PTA, and click Enroll. Then, Kroger gives back to Sidener each time you shop using your Kroger rewards card--it's just that easy!

Box Tops for Education
Use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt, and earn cash for Sidener! Sign up here by searching for Sidener Academy-School 59.

Staples Rewards

Need school or office supplies? Shop at Staples! Download the Staples app to enroll or link your existing rewards account to Sidener. Staples then gives 5% back to Sidener with every purchase. Sign up here

Scripps

Need to purchase gift cards? Shop through Raise Right (Scripps) to earn money for Sidener! Enrollment Code: FA5B7A34652L5 Shop here

Make a tax deductible Donation to support Sidener community events, teacher requests and other needs throughout the year. Sidener Academy PTA is a nonprofit organization, and all funds support our students and school community. Donate here

Christina Davis, Communications Secretary, info@sideneracademypta.org

Andrea Roselli, Recording Secretary, secretary@sideneracademypta.org

Carolyn Svirsky, Treasurer, treasurer@sideneracademypta.org

Deidre Fallon,Vice President, vicepresident@sideneracademypta.org

Becky Schwantes-An, President, president@sideneracademypta.org

Have something to add to the next Redhawk Tales? Submit to Carolyn Miner by noon on Thursday at minerc@myips.org