Boone Meadow Friday Flyer
October 9, 2026
It’s hard to believe we’re already one-quarter of the way through the school year! Time truly flies when we’re learning, growing, laughing, and connecting together. It has been a strong and joyful start to the year, and we’re excited for all that is still ahead for our students and our Boone Meadow community!
Fall Break Is Almost Here! - Next week is Fall Break, and we hope this time provides your family with an opportunity to rest, recharge, reconnect, and make some wonderful memories together.
Please note that the school building will be closed throughout the week, with students and staff returning on Monday, October 19. Whether your plans include a fall adventure, time with family and friends, a little extra sleep, or simply enjoying the beauty of the season, we hope you make the most of this well-deserved pause.
Family Conferences — November 4–5 - Looking ahead, Family Conferences are scheduled for November 4–5. These conversations are such a valuable opportunity to celebrate your child’s growth, share insights, and continue strengthening the partnership between home and school.
As a reminder, Thursday, November 5 will be an e-Day for all elementary students. If you have not yet received sign-up information from your child’s teacher, you can expect it soon.
Veterans Day Program — November 11 (Save the DATE) (Veterans, 3rd grade & 4th grade families)
Our students are beginning preparations for our Veterans Day Program, which will take place on Wednesday, November 11, from 9:30–10:15 a.m. This special event is one of our favorite opportunities to pause and express our gratitude to those who have served our nation. We are honored to welcome veteran guests and their guests, as well as parents/guardians of our 3rd and 4th grade students. (Due to space limitations, we are unable to accommodate extended family members or parents/guardians of students in other grade levels. We appreciate your understanding as we work to create a meaningful and respectful experience for our honored guests.)
Jog-A-Thon — WOW! - We have some BIG news to celebrate! Our school-wide Jog-A-Thon goal was $25,000—and our incredible Boone Meadow community didn't just meet it… YOU SURPASSED IT!
Together, our families have contributed approximately $29,669.76! These funds will go directly toward supporting our students, classrooms, and exciting program enhancements here at Boone Meadow. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity, encouragement, and enthusiasm our families brought to this year's event. And, of course, a HUGE shout-out to our amazing PTO! Their countless hours of planning, organizing, encouraging, and supporting our students helped make the Jog-A-Thon such a tremendous success.
As we head into Fall Break, we want to pause and simply say THANK YOU.
Thank you for your continued partnership. Thank you for cheering on our students. Thank you for trusting us with your children. And thank you for helping make Boone Meadow such a special place.
Our school is more than a building—it is a caring, connected community of students, families, and great humans who believe in one another.
Enjoy this well-deserved time to rest, play, laugh, explore, and connect with the people who matter most. We’ll look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, October 19!
With gratitude and appreciation,
Tom & Jarrod
Tom Hundley, Principal
Jarrod Gatlin, Assistant Principal
Thank you, BME Families!!
As of 2:30PM this afternoon, our official total for Jog-A-Thon is $29,669.76!!!
Top 3 fundraising classes:
- Romans - $2808
- Rennard - $2400
- McGuire - $2052
October can bring lots of excitement, changes in routines (hello, Fall Break!), and big emotions! Children are still learning how to recognize their feelings and manage their reactions.
When feelings get BIG, help your child practice:
1. Notice: “What are you feeling? What is your body telling you?”
2. Pause: Take a breath, get some space, or use a calming strategy.
3. Choose: “What can I do that will help me feel better?”
Try saying:
- “I can see you're really frustrated. Let's help your body calm down.”
- “It's okay to feel angry. It's not okay to hurt someone.”
- “Would you like to take a break or take some deep breaths?”
Remember: All feelings are okay. Not all behaviors are okay. Our goal isn't to make big feelings disappear—it’s to help children learn what to do with them.
At home, practice calming strategies when your child is already calm. That makes it easier to use them when big feelings arrive!
ILEARN Checkpoints (3rd & 4th grades)
IDOE requires all schools to administer ILEARN Checkpoints three times a year for students in grade 3-8. Each checkpoint assesses standards in English Language Arts and Math. These checkpoints are only formative. This means that they are giving teachers information to help inform their instruction to best meet the needs of each student. ZCS is giving the checkpoints after fall break (checkpoint #1: end of October), after winter break (checkpoint #2: early to mid-January), and before spring break (checkpoint #3: mid=-March). The final summative ILEARN assessment is given in mmid-late April.
ZCS uses state-approved, research-based literacy and math curriculum that has a set scope and sequence in which standards are taught. This means that each ILEARN checkpoint may assess some standards that have not directly/explicitly been taught yet. If this is the case, teachers will use the checkpoint as a pre-assessment to find out what students may already know before direct instruction occurs.
Please save the date! Conferences are a time to celebrate your child’s growth and partner together for their continued success. While these dates are set aside for formal conferences, know that our teachers always welcome your communication to support your child’s journey. Please don't hesitate to reach out to them to dialogue or share concerns and/or successes!
Upcoming Events
Life Goals and Care Statements
Do the Right Thing/Treat People Right
I care for myself, for others, and for our space
October Lifeline: Teamwork
October 9: End of Q1 & Fall Parties
October 12-16: Fall Break
October 19-30: ILearn Checkpoint 1 for 3rd/4th gr
October 27: Report Cards posted to PS
November Lifeline: Gratitude
November 2 - 6: Book Fair
November 4: Family Conferences (3:00-5:30)
November 5: E-Day & Family Conferences (11:00-7:00)
November 10: PTO Mtg 6 P
November 11: Veterans Day Program
November 25-27: Thanksgiving Break
November 30: NWEA Window Opens (K-4)
December Lifeline: Hope
December 8: PTO Mtg @ 6
December 18: Winter Parties/End of Q2/S1
December 21- January 4: Winter Break
January Lifeline: Curiosity
January 4 - Teacher Workday
January 5 - Students return to school; ILEARN Checkpoint #2 (1/5-1/15)
January 11: WIDA testing window opens (through 2/26)
January 12: Report Cards posted to PS; PTO Mtg @ 6
January 18: MLK Jr Day (No School)
January 19 - Feb 5 - CogAT Testing (K & 2)
January 21 - Webs of Support 5:30-6:30 (Transition to middle school event for BME 4th gr parents/guardians)
February Lifeline: Bravery
February 2: Step Up Program (4th gr transition) @ ZWest
February 5 (observed) - Global School Play Day
February 9: PTO Mtg @ 6
February 12: Friendship/Valentines Parties
February 15-19: February Break (No School)
March Lifeline: Perseverance
March 1 - March 12: IREAD Testing Window (2nd & 3rd gr)
March 9: PTO Mtg @ 6
March 10: Blood Drive (Bloodmobile)
March 15-19: Spring Book Fair
March 15- March 25: ILEARN Checkpoint #3 (3rd & 4th gr)
March 16 - End of Q3
March 23 - Kindy Roundup
March 26 -April 2: - Spring Break
April Lifeline: Zest/Enthusiasm
April 5: Return to school from Spring Break
April 6: Report cards posted in PS
April 12- May 7: ILEARN summative testing - 3rd/4th grades
April 13: PTO Mtg @ 6
April 30: Boone Meadow Bash
May Lifeline: Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
May 3 - May 14: NWEA (K-2 only)
May 11: PTO Mtg @ 6
May 25: 4th gr celebration
May 26: Last day of school
May 27: Teacher Workday
May 31: Memorial Day
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.
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 visitors and 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.
