Coulston Elementary School
January 4, 2026
SCS Loves to Read Week Wrap-up!!
We had a great time celebrating Reading Week with SCS Reads! Throughout the week, we welcomed several special guest readers, including members of our boys basketball team, superintendents, and school board members. Students participated in a Book Bingo challenge with multiple winners and had fun trying to Guess the Masked Reader each day. It was wonderful to see everyone reading books and rediscovering the joy of reading.
This was a wonderful opportunity for our school and district to remind students that reading is not only important, but it’s fun! Reading helps grow imagination, build vocabulary, and strengthen stamina. Remember….KEEP READING 20 MINUTES A DAY!!!
Family-Friendly Reading Facts:
Reading just 20 minutes a day at home can make a big difference in your child’s vocabulary and overall academic success.
When families read together, children build stronger comprehension skills and a lifelong love of books.
Listening to your child read…or reading to them…helps improve fluency, confidence, and focus.
Even a few minutes of reading before bed can create a calm routine and positive reading habits.
Talking about stories (favorite characters, settings, or lessons learned) helps strengthen understanding and critical thinking skills.
We’re excited to make this a time full of learning, laughter, and a lasting love of reading for all our students and families
Comet Readers Recognized
These students were recognized at the boys basketball game on February 24 for their outstanding success in reading. We are incredibly proud of these Coulston Comets: Nova Wagaman, Kya Guerrero, Abhimanyu Parmar, Alex Morales-Martinez, Charlotte Bunton, and Axel Diaz Pecina!
Students were selected based on their reading growth using the following measures:
Kindergarten: ESGI Letter and Sounds growth
Grades 1–2: DIBELS growth
Grades 3–5: Lexile growth
We celebrate their hard work, dedication, and commitment to growing as readers. Way to go, Comets!
SCS Read-A-Thon Continues
Our school is excited to participate in the Shelbyville Central Schools District Read-A-Thon again this year! This meaningful event encourages a love of reading while raising funds that support various reading programs across the district.
This year, our goal is for every student to secure two sponsors to help fuel their love for reading. Every donation—big or small—makes a difference by providing our students with the tools they need to learn, grow, and succeed. Let’s inspire young minds, one page at a time! Thank you for your continued support of our readers and our school.
Coulston Spirit Wear
We are excited to announce that we are selling new spirit wear for Coulston!
Show your Comet pride by checking out all the great new items available for purchase. Sales begin on February 22 and will run through March 6. Please use the attached link to place your order. Comet Spirit Wear Order Link
All orders will be delivered to the school and can either be picked up or sent home with students. Thank you for supporting Coulston and showing your Comet pride!
IREAD Information for Second and Third Parents
Our students will soon be participating in the IREAD assessment. IREAD is a state assessment designed to measure foundational reading skills and ensure students are on track in key areas such as phonics, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.
In the coming weeks, your child’s teacher will be reviewing important reading standards and providing targeted support to help students feel confident and prepared. You can support your child at home by encouraging daily reading, practicing sight words, and discussing what they read to strengthen comprehension.
Please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest and arrives at school on time during testing days. A positive mindset and encouragement go a long way!
If you have any questions about the IREAD assessment, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Last Call for Yearbooks!! Get yours now.
Our yearbook is now available, and we hope you’ll consider purchasing this awesome book filled with special memories from the school year. Yearbook prices begin at $20 for each. Don’t miss your chance to capture the moments that matter! The last day to purchase the yearbook is a few weeks away, so get yours now!!!
Code: 0287GS
Save The Date for Seussical Jr.
Parents, please save the date for March 26th when Coulston will present its spring musical, Seussical Jr. Our students and staff have been working hard on this performance, and we are excited to share it with our community after spring break. Our musical will be on March 26th at SHS Breck Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. We can’t wait to see our Comets in action!!
Negative Lunch Balances:
Please note if your student has a negative lunch balance the negative balance needs to be paid in full by the end of each month. Any negative balances over $25.00 may be sent to TRECS (Tax Refund Exchange and Compliance System) and additional collection fees will be charged. You can pay by credit card through MySchoolBucks or cash/check can be brought to the front office. If you need financial assistance, please complete the free and reduced application to determine if you are eligible. If you become eligible for assistance, all charges prior to your approval still need to be paid in full. Please contact Ashley Metcalfe, 317-398-9731 ext. 2033 or armetcalfe@shelbycs.org for more information.
Reminder: No Cell Phones or Smart Watches at School
This is a friendly reminder for parents that, to support a safe and focused learning environment, students are not permitted to use cell phones, smart watches, or other electronic devices during the school day. If a device is brought to school, it should be turned off and kept in a backpack at all times.
This expectation applies during class time, recess, after-school activities, and on the bus. This guideline is part of the school district’s handbook policy and aligns with Indiana state law, which allows schools to limit student use of electronic devices during the school day. Thanks for your support.
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Lines from the Library:
As we move into February, our school-wide focus for all students is reading for 20 minutes each day. This month-long challenge encourages a love of reading, and students will be working toward special awards for their participation. We appreciate your support in helping make sure your child is either read to or independently reading for at least 20 minutes daily. This also serves as an early kick-off to our SCS Loves to Read Week, which will take place at the end of February.
Lunch Information
Lunch Information
We encourage all families to complete the Free & Reduced Lunch Form each year. Even if you qualified last year. This ensures eligible families receive meal assistance. You can sign up at this site: SCS Free and Reduced Lunch Form
Healthy Snacks – We appreciate your help in following the SCS Wellness Policy! Students enjoy a daily healthy snack at school, helping us meet our Healthy Snacks guidelines.
Coulston Elementary Web Site
