The Bobcat Bulletin

We are off to such a positive start to the 25-26 school year! These first two weeks have been filled with energy and excitement as students settle into routines, make new connections, and jump into learning. I am so grateful for the support you give at home, and I am truly looking forward to seeing everyone at Back to School Night on Thursday evening. It is always one of my favorite events of the year because it gives us the chance to come together and celebrate the beginning of a new school year.

Please refer to the schedule included in this bulletin for specific times. Classroom teachers will prepare two identical presentations so that parents and guardians may choose the time that works best. This also allows families with more than one Bobcat to attend multiple grade level sessions. Just a friendly reminder, unlike Open House, this evening is for parents and guardians only.

For families in grades 4 and 5, teachers will present together since students switch classes for different subjects. You will also hear about upcoming grade level activities and receive a general timeline for field trips. Fourth grade presentations will be held in the cafeteria, and fifth grade presentations will be in the library. Mr. Iovannoni's Homeroom will be receiving a special communication from me about a meet in greet with Mr. Iovannoni. Specialists and special education teachers will also be available in their classrooms should you wish to visit them.

A quick reminder about our upcoming Special Friends Days. It is very important that each guest registers ahead of time so we can prepare name tags and ensure adequate space. Grades 2 through 5 will celebrate in the cafeteria, while Kindergarten will hold its event in the classrooms. Due to the size of the five first grade classes, Special Friends Day for first grade will be held in the gymnasium. Detailed instructions will be sent the evening before to each grade level and to the email addresses provided during registration. Upon arrival, each guest will pick up their name tag, which will be organized alphabetically by student last name with the guest’s name listed below. For security purposes, walk ins are not preferred. If a special friend is not registered, we will need to verify the guest and create a name tag in the main office, which may delay the visit. Please help us by following the registration process carefully to avoid delays.

I also want to highlight the importance of Membership Toolkit. This is the system we are using to keep families connected for classroom parties, celebrations, and volunteer opportunities. Instead of relying on paper lists or sharing personal emails, Membership Toolkit keeps everything organized and secure. You are in control of the information you share. If families do not sign up, homeroom parents and other families will not have a way to reach them for class activities. Our PTG has been working closely with us to encourage every family to participate. They will even have a table at Back to School Night to answer questions and help walk you through the process if needed. Once registered, you can also download the free Membership Toolkit app to make it easy to stay connected right from your phone. Taking just a few minutes to create your profile will help us keep communication simple, consistent, and private, and it will ensure your child is part of all the fun at Indian Lane.

Warmly,
Michelle Britton

1. Go to: https://indianlaneptg.membershiptoolkit.com/

2. Create your account. Select Create Account and fill in your name, email, and password.

3. Verify your email. Click verify my email and then check your inbox for the link.

   • The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive it, check your spam or junk folders.

4. Log back in. Once your email is verified, return to the site and complete your registration.

5. Enter your information. Fill in the Parent/Family and Student details.

6. Update your child’s information. Make sure you select the correct grade and homeroom teacher so you receive classroom party and volunteer communications.

   • If your child has a special education teacher, please do not select that teacher unless your child’s homeroom is physically in that classroom.

7. Set your preferences. Complete the Directory/Publish section to choose what information is visible to others.

8. Finish up. Once these steps are complete, you will have full access to the directory.

📌 Tip: Once the Primary Account is set up, you can invite another parent or guardian by email so they can create their own login while still being connected to your family account.

Apple users: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/membership-toolkit/id912169276?platform=iphone

A few quick links to keep handy:

• Our school website: Indian Lane
• If your student is sick please submit Absence Form
• For an educational trip: Pre-Planned Absence Request
• Breakfast and Lunch Menus - Nutrislice / to check your student's account: MySchoolBucks
• You may follow the bus routes and check for transportation updates at MyRide360

Homeroom parents who were selected to represent classrooms this year will be contacted directly by the homeroom teacher. In cases where we had more than two volunteers, names were placed into a random drawing to ensure fairness via the wheel of names. At the end of this week, once all parents have been notified, we will also advertise for class photographers to support each homeroom.

SEPTEMBER

• 18 | Back to School Night – 6:00–7:30 PM

• 22 | Special Friends Day

  • KA: 9:00–9:40 AM

  • Grade 1: 9:40–10:20 AM

  • Grade 2: 10:20–11:00 AM

  • KP: 1:00–1:40 PM

• 23 | Holiday – Building Closed

• 24 | Orders Due for Chris Van Dusen book, If I Built a Town

• 25 | Special Friends Day – Grades 3–5

  • Grade 5: 9:00–9:40 AM

  • Grade 4: 9:40–10:20 AM

  • Grade 3: 10:20–11:00 AM

Rose Tree Media students in grades K through 5 will once again participate in fall growth assessments this month. ​These tests help to determine your child’s instructional level and measure academic growth throughout the school year. They provide teachers with additional information on student progress toward proficiency and mastery of basic skills. The test scores let teachers know where a student’s strengths are and if support might be needed in any specific area. Teachers use this information to help guide individual and group instruction in the classroom. As well, to promote student achievement in all our schools, the district uses these results to continue to improve teaching and learning. These assessments will be administered by members of the MTSS team in each elementary school as part of the regularly scheduled instructional day.

Throughout the month of September, the following assessments will be administered across various grade levels:

Kindergarten – 5th Grade

• DIBELS 8 (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills​--A series of short (one-minute) assessments to measure essential early literacy skills.

Kindergarten – 1st Grade

• Acadience Math​--A math assessment designed to measure the development of early numeracy skills.

2nd – 5th Grade

• MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Testing​--A computerized, adaptive test that measures academic growth in reading and math.

• Testing Dates:

• ELA- Tuesday, September 16

• Math- Tuesday, September 17

On Thursday morning, our Transportation Department conducted Bus Evacuation Drills, an important safety practice we complete twice each school year. Students who rode the bus worked with their driver to practice how to safely exit the bus in the event of an emergency. They reviewed the different exits available, the importance of staying calm, and how to move quickly and safely away from the bus once outside. These drills are a proactive way to help our students feel confident and prepared should an emergency ever occur.

As you may recall, last Friday we also conducted our PBIS bus lessons. During these sessions, students reviewed our school-wide expectations for riding the bus, including how to be safe, respectful, and responsible. These lessons reinforce positive behavior and ensure that all students understand what it looks like to follow expectations while traveling to and from school.

Together, our evacuation drills and PBIS lessons provide students with the knowledge and practice they need to ride the bus safely each day.

Bobcat Campaign Facts

What is it? The Bobcat Club Campaign is a PTG fundraiser created to allow Indian Lane families a way to donate money directly to IL PTG instead of traditional buying/selling fundraisers (for example, wrapping paper, silent auction, cookie sales, etc.)

The campaign is our main fundraiser and we do it at the start of the school year. The money we collect sets our budget for the year. The more money we collect, the more we can do!

100% of your donation supports PTG events like the Holiday Extravaganza, Bingo for Books, the Bobcat Winter Festival, Kindergarten Ice Cream Social, Popsicles on the Playground, Run-the-Lane, Teacher Luncheons... and more!

Our goal is to achieve 100% family participation. Simply decide what amount you are comfortable with giving and make a one-time donation.

To continue to support Indian Lane with our current PTG events and to avoid the need for additional fundraisers during the upcoming school year, we need your support to reach our fundraising goal of $13,000. This is our 2025-26 operating budget, not a savings account.

Donations are on the household level and all donations are appreciated and confidential.

Your donation may be tax deductible and many companies have programs that will match the charitable contributions made by their employees. Check with your company today!

All families that donate will get a 2025-26 school year magnet!

Donate to the Bobcat Club Campaign Today! Here's How:

1. Click this link or scan this QR code and fill out the Google form with the details of your donation
   
2. Choose your payment method (Venmo, PayPal, Cash, or Check payable to ILES PTG) and make your donation following the instructions provided below.
3. That's it! You're done!
   

IMPORTANT: No matter the method of payment, please fill out the Google form from Step 1 above and include a note/memo it’s for the Campaign and your family/student’s name.

Back to School Night is a wonderful opportunity to connect with your child’s teachers and gain insight into the year ahead. During the evening, you will learn more about classroom expectations, curriculum highlights, and the many ways families and teachers can partner together to support student success.

The evening will begin promptly at 6:00 PM and conclude at 7:25 PM. To make it easier for families with more than one child, there will be two identical sessions.

For 4th and 5th grade, the entire grade-level teams will present together. Because these grades are departmentalized, families will have the opportunity to hear directly from each teacher about the subjects they teach and how the team collaborates across the grade level. This joint format provides families with a clear picture of how instruction, expectations, and supports are aligned for all students as they develop greater independence and prepare for middle school.

In addition to hearing about classroom routines and curriculum, you will also have the chance to get a feel for the learning environment and connect with other families in our community. Homeroom teachers will share additional details about what to expect during the evening.

Please see the schedule below for session times by grade level:

Get ready to represent Indian Lane Elementary in style! Our Bobcats Spirit Wear is now available, featuring fresh designs and cozy gear that lets you wear your school pride loud and proud. T-shirts, hoodies, and more - there's something for every Bobcat in the family!

Orders will be delivered to school approximately 3 weeks after the online store closes. All of the t-shirts have 2 design options, select the design and then color size you wish to order.

Don't miss out! Place your orders before the deadline to ensure delivery in time for upcoming spirit days and school events.

Mrs. Hatton is thrilled to announce that a two author-illustrators will be visiting our students soon! Chris Van Dusen is coming on October 1st to visit our first and second grade students. John Patrick Green is coming on October 24th to visit our third and fourth grade students. Other visits are in the works for the remaining grade levels.

This is a unique opportunity for children to meet the creative mind behind the stories they love, hear about the writing and illustration process, and be inspired to explore their own creativity.

To help support this special visit, we are offering selected books by the authors for sale. The books will be personalized and signed by the authors. Purchasing a book not only gives your child a keepsake from the event—it also helps us continue to bring enriching experiences like this to our school.

Chris Van Dusen is one of Mrs. Hatton's absolute favorites! Please consider purchasing a book to support this event for our students. It's a great series that builds creativity and problem solving. To learn more about Chris Van Dusen, click here.

About If I Built a Town

“My town will be swanky! My town will be swell! My town will be prized as the best place to dwell,” says Jack to the mayor one day as he describes his plans for improving their community.

And what a town he has dreamed up! The zoo is packed with fantastic, Jurassic, and mythical creatures, the mail is delivered by super-fast hover vans, the health clinic travels right to your door, and a parade passes through each and every week. And don’t forget the robots! All of Jack’s plans include the most exciting and useful serving machines. But most of all, wait till you see the beach!

Jack’s over-the-top creativity and infectious enthusiasm will inspire budding young inventors. It’s a storytime romp that you’ll want to return to again and again.

The students are REALLY excited about this one too! These books are extremely popular in our library. John Patrick Green is the creator and illustrator of these fun graphic novels. More details about ordering personalized and signed books coming soon.

About InvestiGATORS Case Files

Special agents Mango and Brash are back again, and this time they’ll be asking their readers for help in cracking the case! The gators have been given a brand new add-on for their V.E.S.T.s to help with gathering evidence and making sense of clues – the G.R.I.D. (Gator Reasoning, Inquiry, Deduction) – and with that powerful tool in hand, kids can follow along as they solve six brand-new mysteries! Featuring plenty of familiar faces from investigations past, as well as a few brand new suspects, Mango and Brash and YOU (the reader) will get to the bottom of cases big and small!

For the past two school years, our Special Friends/Grandparents Day has been one of the most anticipated September events at Indian Lane, and we are thrilled to be celebrating it for the third year during the first month of school. Students love welcoming their grandparents or special friends to school and sharing a glimpse of their day. This year, Kindergarten and grades 1–2 will host their visitors on September 22, and grades 3–5 will welcome theirs on September 25. To help us prepare, families are asked to complete the sign-up form in advance. Please click the link below to register your child’s guests so we can ensure a smooth and memorable day for everyone.

https://forms.gle/K91ZuF8RfNA3D1gPA

We are looking for parent volunteers to help warmly welcome our guests and assist with snacks and drinks. Families are also invited to donate snacks and beverages for students, grandparents, and special friends to enjoy during their visit. Donations should be dropped off the day prior (9/21 and 9/24). Thank you for helping make this celebration extra special for our students and their loved ones!

Our students will soon have the chance to get involved in a variety of before- and after-school clubs! Details will be shared in the final Bobcat Bulletin of September, and clubs will officially begin in October. A dedicated section in the bulletin will highlight all available opportunities so families can easily explore what’s offered. Teachers and staff are busy planning, and we cannot wait to roll out another year of fun, engaging, and enriching activities for our Bobcats.

Parents and caregivers are reminded to check their student's head periodically for lice and if they notice itching. Classrooms are not screened for lice. You can contact the school nurse at 610-627-7104 for guidance if you are uncertain or if you discover lice/nits.

As always feel free to call the Mrs. LaRose's office if you have any questions.

This year, all students in grades 1–5 will be issued a district-owned Chromebook for instructional use. Devices are assigned individually and may go home only when needed for learning. Families are asked to review and acknowledge the Responsible Use & Loan Agreement, which outlines care guidelines, digital citizenship expectations, and repair/replacement responsibilities. Attached is the agreement which was sent to all families in early August.

Breakfast at Indian Lane

• Breakfast is free for all students every day.

• Each morning, teachers ask students what they would like to order for the following school day.

• Morning Kindergarten through Grade 3: Breakfast is delivered to classrooms in individually packaged bags.

• Grades 4 and 5: Students pick up their prepared breakfast bag at a Kiosk in the hallway.

• If you do not want your child included in the breakfast count, please notify their homeroom teacher.

Lunch at Indian Lane

• Cost is $3.45 per meal for the 2025–2026 school year.

• Students who qualify for Free or Reduced Meals receive one no cost lunch meal daily.

• A la carte items are also available at additional cost.

• Funding Meal Accounts:

  • Send cash or a check to school with your child along with the completed meal account form. Change cannot be given back. Extra funds are added to the account.

  • Use MySchoolBucks to add funds with a debit or credit card. Please note that MySchoolBucks charges a 3.25 percent processing fee per transaction. This fee is not set or collected by the district.

• Lunch menus are posted on the district website under the Meals tab.

• All Parents/Guardians who wish to receive Free and Reduced Lunch benefits and qualify are encouraged to complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application available on the district website. The link can be found under Departments, Food Services, Free and Reduced Lunch Information (on the left side of the webpage). If you receive a Direct Certification letter, you do not need to fill out an application. Please contact Jenni Lee (jlee@rtmsd.org) for assistance.

I thought I could further explain since our Food Services Department has received some questions. I hope this helps make everything a little clearer. Please know you can always reach out if you have additional questions. We are always happy to help.

The Rose Tree Media School District uses the My Ride K-12 app to provide families with student transportation information. This app replaced Ride 360 beginning in the 2024–2025 school year and will continue for 2025–2026.

• Access Information: Usernames and passwords from Ride 360 carried over, and you may also log in using the web version at https://patmsd.myridek12.tylerapp.com.

• Features: My Ride K-12 provides real-time updates, including estimated time of arrival (ETA) to your child’s bus stop.

• Download the App:

  • Apple App Store

  • Google Play Store

The state of Pennsylvania requires three clearances for all volunteers, chaperones or employees.

A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CLEARANCE

Website: https://epatch.pa.gov/home

Click on the button that says "New Volunteer Record Check". The cost for volunteers is waived.
Follow the instructions for filling out the application.

DHS FBI CLEARANCE - IDEMIA - 1-844-321-2101
Register online or by phone.
Online: https://uenroll.identogo.com/

For employment: enter service code 1KG6XN
For volunteers: enter service code 1KG6ZJ

Click on "Schedule or Manage an appointment"
For employment the screen should read "1KG6XN Pennsylvania PDE-School Districts"
For volunteers the screen should read "1KG6ZJ Pennsylvania DHS-Volunteer"

Fill in the information on the page and click next. Follow through completing all of the pages.
On the last page, you will schedule your fingerprint appointment.
Payment in the amount of $25.25 will be made at the fingerprint site by credit card, money order or check.
Be sure to bring your ID with you to the fingerprint site.

The volunteer clearance is now done through Pennsylvania DHS-Volunteer. The original FBI clearance must be shown at the school before anyone can volunteer.

CHILD ABUSE CLEARANCE

The application for the Child Abuse Clearance must be completed online at the following link:

https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS/Public/Home

You will need to create a log-in before applying. The cost of the clearance is $13.00. For volunteers, the cost will be waived. After you apply for the child abuse clearance, you will receive an email confirming your application. You will be able to print out your child abuse clearance when it is ready, you do not need to wait for it to come in the mail.

Grades 1st - 5th 8:50 am - 3:30 pm

AM Kindergarten 8:50 am - 11:25 am

PM Kindergarten 12:55 pm - 3:30 pm

Email: mbritton@rtmsd.org
Website: https://www.rtmsd.org/Domain/9
Location: 309 South Old Middletown Road, Media, PA, USA
Phone: 610-627-7100