Boone Meadow Friday Flyer

“I seek out situations where I gain new experiences without getting in my own or other people’s way.”

We hope you’re staying warm and cozy as we move through these wintry and windy January days. Even with the cold outside, Boone Meadow is buzzing with excitement, connection, and lots of great things ahead.

Here are a few highlights and important dates to keep on your radar in the coming days and weeks:

• Lost & Found Update: Our lost and found is growing quickly and is full of coats, hats, and gloves. If your child is missing an item—or could use one—we encourage families and students to check there first.

• PTO = Total Rock Stars! We had a fantastic turnout at this week’s PTO meeting and took time to celebrate all the incredible ways our PTO supports BME. Student-led grant results will be shared next week, with staff grants rolling out soon after. These grant cycles will bring creative and meaningful enhancements to our programming—stay tuned!

• Yearbooks on SALE - It's time to order your child's 2025-26 Yearbook! Follow the link below to place your order online. If you need to pay by cash or check, please contact the office. (Fourth grade families: Please reference Mr. Hundley's ParentSquare message regarding yearbooks sent earlier this week.) https://cp-school-portraits.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/LoginConsumer?EK=322761

• Dine for Dollars – Potbelly’s (1/20): Join us on Monday, January 20 at the new Potbelly’s (6075 Perry Worth Rd., Suite 300, Whitestown). This is an in-store-only event from 11:00am–2:00pm and 4:00pm–8:00pm. Be sure to show the flyer (or a photo of it) at checkout.

• CogAT Testing (Kindergarten & 2nd Grade):

  • Second Grade: Wednesday & Thursday, January 21–22

  • Kindergarten: During the week of January 20
    Please see details below and your child’s teacher newsletter for specific classroom dates.

• Kindergarten Round Up – Save the Date! Tuesday, March 24 at each ZCS elementary school. Pre-registration (required) will open in early–mid February. Know a family with a future Kindergartener? Tell your neighbors to keep an eye on communication from ZCS!

• Science & Engineering Fair (Jan 27–29): Participating families received details from Mrs. Bender. All families are invited to view projects on Wednesday, January 28 from 4:30–6:00pm.

• International Night – Save the Date! Thursday, March 12 from 5:30–7:00pm. We’re excited to celebrate the many cultures that make up our BME community. Interested in hosting a booth? Contact Assistant Principal Mr. Jarrod Gatlin at jgatlin@zcs.k12.in.us with your name, your student’s name, and the country you’d like to represent.

• Global School Play Day – Friday, February 6: An annual favorite! Boone Meadow will join schools around the world to highlight the importance of unstructured play. Be sure to check the banner below for more information.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Enjoy your weekend—and GO IU HOOSIERS! ❤️🤍

All the best,

Team Meadow, Tom & Jarrod

Tom Hundley, Principal

thundley@zcs.k12.in.us

Jarrod Gatlin, Assistant Principal

jgatlin@zcs.k12.in.us

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

As we begin preparing for our fourth graders’ transition to middle school, we want to share a few upcoming opportunities designed to support both students and families during this exciting next step.

Please mark your calendars for the following:

• Webs of Support (Parents) - January 22 (5:30-6:30 @ BME) This informative presentation will highlight the pathway for the transition to middle school and explore the important people and supports in children’s lives that help them thrive during times of change. This session is designed to provide insight, reassurance, and practical guidance for families.
• ZWest Middle School Visits (Students 9:00-10:45) & Parent Night – February 12 - During the school day, fourth grade students will have the opportunity to visit ZWest Middle School, helping them become familiar with the building, routines, and environment. That evening, families are invited to attend Parent Night to learn more about the middle school experience and ask questions.

We hope you will be able to attend both experiences,
Tom Hundley

It's time to order your child's 2025-26 Yearbook! Follow the link below to place your order online. If you need to pay by cash or check, please contact the office. (Fourth grade families: Please reference Mr. Hundley's ParentSquare message regarding yearbooks sent earlier this week.)

Back again this year! Cripe Photography GIFT A YEARBOOK. You have the opportunity to donate a yearbook to one of your child's peers. Your school decides who will receive this awesome gift thanks to your generosity!

Boone Meadow Yearbooks - ORDER HERE

ORDER DEADLINE: March 13 (late orders cannot be guaranteed a yearbook).

Questions? Please contact Cripe Photography HERE.

January 27th

• (4:00-5:30) Drop off projects in the gym for Science Fair set up

January 28th

• (8:00am-2:30pm) Closed Judging in the Gym– Specific judging times will be communicated to students and teachers the day before/of fair.
• (4:30-6:00pm) Open House in the Gym– Families and community members are invited to view projects. Participating students DO NOT have to attend or stay the entire time.

January 29th

• (8:00am) Winners Announced
• (8:00am-2:00pm) Classroom Open House in the Gym – Classes will have an opportunity to view projects during the school day.
• (2:45-4:30pm) Pick-Up projects in the Gym – Winning projects will be kept in the Media Center to be on display. ALL other projects need go home or picked up

Kindergarten Round Up will be hosted at each ZCS elementary school on Tuesday, March 24! This is an exciting opportunity for families with incoming Kindergarteners to learn more about our schools and the year ahead. Pre-registration is required and will open in early–mid February, so be sure to keep your eyes open for updates coming your way. Know a family with a future Kindergartener? Tell your neighbors!

The CogAT is a multiple-choice assessment administered to students in kindergarten and second grade. This is a computer-based assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions. The results of this assessment are used as part of our state required advanced curriculum and instruction identification that takes place later in the spring. After scoring has been completed for all students, toward the end of March, families will receive a report with student data. If you have any questions, please contact our school counselor, Kristi Sloan.

• Second grade classrooms will be taking CogAT on Wednesday & Thursday, January 21st & 22nd.
• Kindergarten classes will be taking CogAT during the week of January 20th. Please see your child's teacher's newsletter for the specific date in their classroom.

We are excited to announce that International Night is returning to Boone Meadow!

This exciting event will take place on Thursday, March 12 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM. On this special evening, BME families will come together and learn about the amazing and various cultures at Boone Meadow. Years past have been a tremendous success, and we are excited to do this once again. If you had a booth last year, we hope that you will consider having a booth again. (See details below.) If you did not host a booth last year but thought about it, now is your chance! You can also bring your family and enjoy the evening as a participant. Whatever you do, don’t miss out!

**If you are interested in having a booth, please email our assistant principal, Mr. Jarrod Gatlin, at jgatlin@zcs.k12.in.us. Please specify your name, your BME student’s name, and the country you will represent.

Curiosity is the desire to explore, ask questions, and discover new ideas or experiences. It is an openness to learning—taking interest in what is happening around us and seeking understanding for the joy of learning itself. Curiosity drives us to notice, wonder, try new things, and build knowledge through exploration.

Curiosity Starters for Everyday Life

Noticing & Wondering

• “What’s something you noticed today that made you stop and think?”

• “What are you curious about right now?”

• “Did anything surprise you today? Why do you think that happened?”

Exploring New Experiences

• “Is there something new you’d like to try or learn more about?”

• “What do you think would happen if we tried this a different way?”

• “What’s a question you have that we could explore together?”

Learning From the World Around Us

• “How do you think this works?”

• “Where else have you seen something like this?”

• “Who could we ask to help us learn more about this?”

Life Goals and Care Statements

Do the Right Thing/Treat People Right

I care for myself, for others, and for our space

January Lifeline: Curiosity

January 12: WIDA testing window opens (through 2/27)

January 13: Report Cards posted to PS; PTO Mtg @ 6

January 19: MLK Jr Day (No School)

January 20 - Feb 6 - CogAT Testing (K & 2)

January 22: Webs of Support 4th gr Parent Session w/ Lynn Kissel (5:30-6:30)

January 28: Science Fair (during school day) & Family viewing (evening)

January 29: Science Fair (school/classes viewing)

February Lifeline: Bravery

February 6 - (BME) "Global" School Play Day" (Honoring Global School Play Day - official date is February 4. We will participate on Friday, February 6)

February 10: Nature Center visit (AM) Schermerhorn/West; PTO Mtg @ 6

February 11: Nature Center visit (AM) Boehm/Graham

February 12: Step Up Program (4th grade transition) @ ZWest

February 13: Friendship/Valentines Parties

February 16-20: February Break (No School)

March Lifeline: Perseverance

March 2 - March 13: IREAD Testing Window (2nd & 3rd grades)

March 10: PTO Mtg @ 6

March 13-14: ZWest Musical: NEWSIES

March 16- March 26: ILEARN Checkpoint #3 (3rd & 4th grades)

March 17 - End of Q3

March 18 - Bloodmobile

March 24 - Kindy Roundup; Report cards and comments due in PS by 8 AM

March 27 -April 3: - Spring Break

April Lifeline: Zest/Enthusiasm

April 6: Return to school from Spring Break

April 7: Report cards posted in PS

April 13- May 8: ILEARN testing - 3rd/4th grades

April 14: PTO Mtg @ 6

April 24: Boone Meadow Bash

May Lifeline: Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence

May 4 - May 12 - NWEA (K-2 only)

May 5: Boone Meadow Voices School Performance @ 1:30 and Spring Concert @ ZWest @ 7

May 12: 3rd gr Eagle Creek Service Project; PTO Mtg @ 6

May 13: 3rd gr Eagle Creek Service Project cont...

May 15: Field Day

May 22: 4th grade Statehouse/Downtown Tour

May 25: Memorial Day (No School)

May 26: Staff Mtg

May 27: 4th Grade Celebration

May 28: Last Day of School w/ students

May 29: Teacher Workday

May 31 - ZCHS Commencement

With our recent winter weather, this is a good time to share a few reminders about procedures on snowy or cold days:

• Two-hour delays: On delay days, we are unable to have outdoor recess due to the abbreviated day and adjusted schedules for related arts and lunch.

• Snow play: Students must have proper snow gear (snow pants, boots, hats, gloves) in order to play in the snow. Students without full gear will still have access to games and playground equipment in the cleared/safe areas of the back lot.

• Cold temperatures: We value fresh air, and students should be prepared for outdoor play if temperatures are above 10 degrees. Thank you for sending your child prepared for the weather.

• Label your gear: Winter gear is easily misplaced, and names on items help us return belongings quickly. Our lost and found grows rapidly this time of year!

Lunch Guests

We are ready to welcome lunch guests! Students and their guests will have lunch at designated locations in the front lobby area. Please no more than 2 guests per student due to limited space. So that others may have the opportunity, we ask that you not sign up more than 1 time per month. As we implement this new system/procedure, we will limit availability the first two weeks to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday visits.

Here's how it works:

• Sign up for a reservation in advance using this link: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/BMELunchSchedule@zcsk12in.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/ When you sign up, please be certain to complete all fields requested.
• Bring a photo ID and arrive 5 minutes early (lunch times are listed on the signup form link above).
• Your child will meet you in the front office area when they are ready.
• HAVE FUN!

During the school day, all volunteers are expected to check in at the front office. Prior to the volunteer's first volunteer experience, the individual must sign a Non-disclosure Acknowledgement Form and have successfully completed a Full Criminal History Background Check.. Necessary background check paperwork is available on the ZCS website at the Volunteers/BRAVO link and should be submitted at least 10 days before the intended volunteer date. Volunteers must also view the state-mandated confidentiality/bullying video, provided on the Volunteer/BRAVO website. The volunteer will pay the fee for the full background check which will expire after 5 years.

During the school day, all visitors must enter via the front door and sign in at the front office. Visitors need to be prepared to present a government-issued photo ID which will be scanned against the National Sex Offender Registry. All visitors will be issued a visitor badge/tag to be worn inside the building at all times. Visitors other than parents/guardians must be prearranged and organized through the main office.