The Wildcat

• PTO information
• Volunteer Information
• A and A/B Honor Roll
• Spell Bowl
• Parent book club
• ILEARN Checkpoint Information
• Halloween Party Information
• Cold Weather Information
• Highland Highlights Newsletter
• Absenteeism Information
• Extracurricular
• Cafeteria Information
• Arrival and Dismissal

Tuesday, October 28th-Spell Bowl Practice 2:30-3:15pm

Thursday, October 30th-Spell Bowl Practice 2:30-3:15pm

Friday, October 31st-Halloween Celebrations

PTO Dates

10/28 $1 Pajama Day

10/28 Haunted Highland's Restaurant Crawl Trunk or Treat 4PM-8PM (PTO will be there!)

10/30 Coffee at Drop Off Fundraiser

11/3 Langel's Restaurant Night 4PM-8PM, 50/50 raffle at restaurant, Dine In OR Pick Up

4th Grade

A

Gretchen Bishop

Julius Bravo

Chase Geringer

Ellie Villagomez

Mason Frederick

Joey Stooksbury

A/B

Sandra Almaraz

Mila Andres

Giovanni Hernandez

Jayden Mendiola

Olivia Moore

Niko Corona

Iker Deluna

Charlotte Dyke

Ava Mantel

Brayden McDonald

Cooper Poppa

Kyle Trubach

Olivia Holloway

Jason Waslevich

5th Grade

A

Bellamy Avina

Dahlia Phillips

Kaydin Jimenez

Miles Kozak

Averi Lustig

Grace Muller

Kinsley Westfall

A/B

Nathaniel Bolcar

Jovan Gallardo

Owen Kiest

Leilani Milla

Dominic Rios

Sanchez Tate

Ash Van Bodegraven

Kingston Bone

Isabele Hernandez

Ava Hill

Gunner Hiller

Evan Poteete

Sarah Pottorf

Noah Sexton

Brooklyn Norton

We love our volunteers! For our children's safety, we always have to scan the license of our volunteers before they can be in classrooms, go on field trips, or any other activities. Thanks for all you do for our students and staff!

Mason Frederick

Niko Corona

Emily Roytan

Gretchen Bishop

Brayden McDonald

Ellie Villagomez

Bellamy Avina

Tre Sanchez

Leilani Milla

Isabel Hernandez

Gracelyn Mueller

**Practies are Tuesday/Thursday after school (2:30-3:15)

• School-appropriate costumes and accessories (no weapons). Students will put costumes on after lunch
• The parade begins inside the school for the kids at 1:00 PM
• Check the photo below to know where parents and paparazzi can take pictures
• Only room parents are allowed in for the classroom parties starting after the parade

• 📖 Chapter 5: The Fragile Generation

  This chapter discusses how overprotection, social media, and a culture of safetyism have contributed to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional fragility in kids and teens. Haidt explains that by shielding children from discomfort, risk, and failure, adults have unintentionally weakened their ability to cope with adversity. The message many kids receive is that the world is dangerous and they are not capable. When combined with the constant social feedback of the online world, this can create a toxic emotional environment. Kids need opportunities to take risks, fail, and grow stronger.

  Reflection Questions:

  • How do you respond when your child experiences frustration, failure, or discomfort?
    
    

  • What’s one small way you can give your child more autonomy or responsibility?
    
    

  Anyone can access it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk2iNrwl0pdy-TG4SObKStZgXvXlmC91b
  

Or download a digital copy or audiobook through the library app, Libby.

Mark your calendar for a book club meeting on December 11th to discuss the book about halfway through the "virtual" book club.

Fall is here bringing cooler weather. Please make sure your student is wearing appropriate clothing and bringing a jacket for recess. Please also make sure to keep some chapstick in their backpack. This is a time where it can be difficult to distinguish between Allergy Symptoms. Cold Symptoms, Covid Symptoms, and Flu Symptoms. Some suggestions on how to navigate through the season are:

1. If your student has a known Seasonal allergy, prevention of these symptoms are possible with Allergy Medication.
2. Covid is still lurking around, symptoms are Headache, Fever, Cough, Sore Throat. If your student has Covid type symptoms, doing a home test can be helpful with preventing the spread in school.
3. Influenza is typically characterized by sudden onset of chills, body aches, fever, and respiratory symptoms.
4. When in doubt, reach out to the nurse for help!

Chapped Lips are also on the rise in the health office!

Believe it or not, I am already seeing quite a few students with chapped lips. Chapped lips are actually caused by the cool outdoor weather and artificial heat in our homes and school. We naturally lick our lips when our lips feel dry, thus causing chapped lips. With chapped lips, prevention with the use of chapstick is the best way to avoid chapped lips. I strongly recommend a simple non-flavored chapstick. Plain old vaseline or Aquafor is great! I do not recommend flavored chapsticks because they contain an "alcohol based flavoring" and only leads to further dryness. I know, the flavored ones are more fun, but it will only make matters worse. Using chapstick not only prevents chapped lips, but it also allows the skin on the lips to heal by providing a barrier to lip licking.

I am wishing you all a wonderful cozy fall season!!

Yours In Health,

Cheryl Progler, RN

Did you received the first edition of the Highland Highlights Newsletter? Check out all the exciting things that are happening at all of our School Town of Highland schools!

https://www.highland.k12.in.us/page/highland-highlights-newsletter

Through the above link, people can subscribe to the Highland Highlights if they did not automatically receive it in their inbox, as well as view previous editions.

3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Families,

This year, your child will participate in ILEARN checkpoints as part of Indiana’s statewide assessment program. These checkpoints help provide valuable information about student progress and growth throughout the school year.

Please see the attached document from the Indiana Department of Education for more details about the purpose of these checkpoints and what you can expect. We encourage you to read through the information carefully.

If you have any questions after reviewing the attachment, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your continued support.

3rd grade ILEARN Checkpoint Guidance for Families.pdf

4th grade ILEARN Checkpoint Guidance for Families.pdf

5th grade ILEARN Checkpoint Guidance for Families.pdf

Just a reminder that we try and have our students go outside each day to run around and get some fresh air. With our weather changing (day to day!), please be sure your child has outerwear so that he/she is comfortable outside.

If you are in need of any items, Mrs. Jennings has several gently used coats and a few pairs of boots looking for a new home. Some sizes are limited but hopefully, we can find something to fit your needs. These coats and boots are for school-age students who attend Johnston Elementary. Please contact her at 219-923-2428 if she may be of assistance.

Please remember that students must go home first after school and are welcome to return to the playground after checking in with an adult. Alternatively, an adult can meet them at the school and accompany them to the playground.

Please note that we do not provide staff supervision on the playground outside of school hours.

We love having our students enjoy the playground after school hours!

Pack 297 Meets at American Legion Post 180 in Highland two Monday's a month at 6:30 - 7:30 pm. They are a family pack who welcomes both boys and girls.

Breakfast is $1.75

Lunch is $2.25

You can find both menus here: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2809100435083594&page=menus

Birthday treats can be purchased through the cafe ONLY: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/schools/sth_2809100435083594/catering/Updated_BDay_Treat_form_3.21.24.pdf

Go here for free/reduced lunch (this needs to be renewed yearly): https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2809100435083594&page=lunchapps

• Doors open for students at 7:35 a.m. daily. Students who eat breakfast at school will be allowed entry beginning at 7:20 a.m. Anyone arriving after 7:50 a.m. will need to buzz and come into the main office to sign in.

• Cars will enter the parking lot off Duluth Street (right turn only) and follow the curve to drop off students. Please pull up as far as you can and drop all your students off at one time. Have your children ready with their backpacks, lunch money, hugs, and kisses, so that when you stop they may exit the car quickly, and we can keep the drop-off line moving. The line can become backed up onto Duluth Street very quickly which causes safety issues for our parents, as well as other drivers.

• Please drop off curbside only. Avoid dropping children off where they have to cross the street, this is extremely dangerous. It will be your responsibility to cross them if you choose to do this.

• Please be mindful of other drivers and walkers. We know many of you have to get to work, and we want all children to be able to enter the building safely and on time.

• Doors C and B will be utilized for entrance as usual. Drop-off is-K, 3, 4 at Door B, and 1 and 2 at Door C.

• 5th graders and Lifeskills class will use Door G.

At the end of the school day, the following doors will be used for dismissal:

• Grade K will exit through door J (FIVE minutes before the rest of the grade levels)

• Grade 1 will exit through door C (main doors)

• Grade 2 will exit through door B

• Grade 3 will exit through door J

• Grade 4 will exit through door I

• Grade 5 and Lifeskills class will exit through door G

• Bus riders will exit through door J (a few minutes prior to the remainder of the school being dismissed where the buses will be waiting).

Cars may enter the parking lot off Duluth Street and follow the curve to pick up or park in the parking lot to walk up to get students.

We would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation as we strive to keep our Johnston families safe.

Please don't hesitate to contact us in the office for any ideas, thoughts, concerns, or words of encouragement! We are all part of this large extended mix of wonderful people we affectionately refer to as our Johnston Family.

Email: aharring@highland.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.highland.k12.in.us/o/jes
Location: 8220 5th Street, Highland, IN, United States
Phone: 219.923.2428
Facebook: facebook.com/johnstonpto
Twitter: @harrington_jn