The Wildcat

• Fine Arts and Gym
  
• NWEA testing
• Holiday Parties
• 100th Day of School Shirts
• Honor Parkway Tree Fundraiser
• Family Help
• Lunch Information
• Winter Coats

EVERY WEDNESDAY IS EARLY RELEASE @ 1:55 (Mrs. Torres's Class @ 1:20)

Wednesday, Dec. 16th -Math NWEA 2:15-3:15pm (ONLINE LEARNERS)

Thursday, December 17th and Friday, December 18th-early release

Winter Break Dec. 21st-Jan. 3.

We will be bringing our Online Learners in on Wednesday, Dec. 16th for Math 2:15-3:30pm. Please sign-up that you will be coming to Johnston to take the NWEA test Tuesday (12/15) evening. Students will need a mask, their iPad, headphones, paper and pencil, and an independent reading book. It is extremely important to know where your child is academically, and this helps us meet them where they truly are in their abilities. If an online learner cannot come in to take it, they will test when their teacher schedules it for the rest of his/her class. Thanks for your help with this!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DA4AC29A0FBC52-nwea

Our holiday parties will look similar to our Halloween parties were this year. There will be classroom celebrations, but no parents are allowed for parties. Students are allowed to bring in store bought, prepackaged items to pass out to the class (hand sanitizer before passing out or staff member passes out). Check in with your child's teacher for more detail. We really appreciate you all continuing to make the best of things during this crazy time.

Our 100th day of school is just around the corner! Can you believe it! It is a day to celebrate all the new things learned this year. Our very own Cole Linkiewicz has designed a scrumdiddlyumptious shirt for this year's 100th day. It will have longs sleeves and a Willy Wonka theme.

IMPORTANT INFO

You can ship to the school (free shipping) where students will be given the shirt at school to take home. You can choose to have the shirt delivered directly to you (you will pay for shipping).

If shipping to the school, please be sure to include your child's name AND teacher's name so we can deliver it to the right student.

Be mindful that the order form will be closing on December 26th. It will NOT reopen to ensure we get our shirts here on time.

Also, be mindful of the size you are choosing. The youth sizes will have a Y before the size.

Shirts are to be worn on January 21st.

Please use the link below to order the shirts from Custom Ink. I hope you join us in being proud of making it to 100 days of the most oompa loompa school year ever.

https://www.customink.com/g/hnf0-00cc-mmub

As we work to improve the Johnston playground and greenspace, we are excited to involve you in an exciting fundraising opportunity.

Our Johnston outdoor space is used by so many members of our community. Beyond being used as a recess and gym space by the school, the space is used by local residents for exercise, youth sports teams as a practice space, and as by local families for after school fun. Johnston school is embedded in the lives of current residents as well as the memories of former residents.

It is in this spirit that we are creating the Johnston Honor Parkway. Along this parkway, trees have been planted and are maintained by our Johnston students. We envision this parkway being a place where current students can honor and remember members of our community who have made it a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

Each tree on the parkway will be dedicated in honor or memory of a community member or organization. We ask that you consider taking the time to sponsor a tree in honor or memory of someone you love who has made a difference in the community. Your donation will not only support improvements being made to the playground and greenspace, but also purchase a commemorative plaque to honor the recipient. There will also be a celebration in the spring to unveil the new signs and parkway.

See the attached for more information on how to be apart of it!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hCA7wW9EHcAEGCaxGBL7o0tzVhEgctAc/view?usp=sharing

In an effort to minimize people coming in and out of the building, we ask that non-essential school items not be dropped off during the day. We are working hard to keep everyone safe (students, staff, parents, etc.). Please be mindful of this when your child forgets something. Can they make it through the day without this item? Thanks for your help in trying to keep everyone safe.

This coming week is Week A. We have rotating "Specials" times. Please check your classroom teacher's agenda each day to see what additional class you need to attend.

Below is a link with a calendar that lists the rotations.

Happy Holidays!

As colder weather approaches, please be aware that I have 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 me at 219-923-2428 if I may be of assistance.

Rachel Jennings

Counselor

All students will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost for curbside pick-up meals!

Thanks to USDA funding, these meals will be available September 21 through December 18, 2020. Each student can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch daily. This applies to qualified meals (breakfast and lunch), not snacks and beverages.

Important: You MUST still complete a free and reduced meal application to qualify for the program for the remainder of the school year (to receive free or reduced meals AFTER 12/18/2020) AND to qualify for textbook assistance for this school year!

All students will be able to pick up a weeks worth of free breakfasts and lunches Monday between the hours of 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the following location:

Johnston Elementary School, 8220 5th Street, (Door D, off of 5th Street), Highland, IN

Go here for more details:

http://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2809100435083594

Here are some things that you need to know about your iPad. If you have any iPad questions, please contact Mrs. Gomez through email: egomez@highland.k12.in.us

• Do NOT sign in to an Apple ID

• Your email address for all Google logins is your first initial, last name, student ID. Student ID can be found on RDS!

• Example:jsmith1234567@stohk12.org

• Your password is your birth date, 2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year

• Example: 01262008 (January 26, 2008)

• Sign in to your email. Do this by:

• Go to Settings

• Passwords and account

• Add Account

• Google

Please take care of your iPad. Avoid drinking or eating around them. Don’t place them under or in between heavy items. Keep them charged! DO NOT take them out of the cases and don’t decorate the cases, even with stickers!!!

Families can get guidance on how to cope with the coronavirus pandemic through a new partnership between Franciscan Health and Purdue University.

The Community Health Improvement team at Franciscan Health, which has hospitals in Crown Point, Dyer, Hammond, Michigan City and Munster, teamed up with Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences and other community partners to create "Families Tackling Tough Times Together," a pop-up program that aims to strengthen families' resilience.

“It’s impressive to see the efforts that Franciscan is making to not only treat patients but also to support family strengths and resilience during the pandemic,” said Dr. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, a Purdue professor working to build the initiative.

"Families Tackling Tough Times Together" will offer free, science-based tools and activities every week on how to handle the pandemic.

The nine-week program this fall seeks to help families of all types with tailored recommendations for children, adults, and young adults. They will get messages of support and encouragement and the opportunity to ask experts questions.

https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/families-together/

• For E-Learning questions and other tech related questions
• Follow the link below to sign up to the Remind Class entitled "Tech Resources" https://www.remind.com/join/jntra
• Inquiries will be answered in as timely a manner as possible

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