The Wildcat

• PTO information
• Picture Day
• College Go!
• SchoolStore
• Parent book club
• ILEARN Checkpoint Information
• Girls B-Ball Info
• K-Kids Blessing Bag Drive
• Highland Highlights Newsletter
• Absenteeism Information
• Extracurricular
• Cafeteria Information
• Arrival and Dismissal

Monday, September 22nd-Girls basketball practice 2:30-4pm

Tuesday, September 23rd-Picture Day

-Girls basketball game @ Merkley 3pm

Wednesday, September 24th-Bricks For Kids 2:30-3:30pm

Thursday, September 25th-Girls basketball game @ Johnston 3pm

Friday, September 26th-1st grade field trip

-Girls basketball practice 2:30-4pm

College Go! Week! See below for theme days!

Scholastic Book Fair Week!

PTO DatesDates

9/22-9/25 Scholastic Book Fair

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0549ABAD28A7FDC61-58204719-fall#/

9/22 Coffee At Drop off Pre Order Due

Link to order:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFwU_PgGX78y30ozdOzdScnrcNx8pfPg81IRdYH1ybdzROsQ/viewform

9/26 Coffee At Drop Off Fundraiser @ 7am

9/26 Popcorn Friday

Johnston parents asked… and Johnston PTO delivers!

We are so excited to announce our first ever Coffee at Drop Off Fundraiser on Friday, September 26th from 7:00–7:35AM!

We’re teaming up with Four Little Lemons, a wonderful small business, to fuel your morning with the drink of your choice. Best part? 15% of sales go directly to Johnston PTO!

Important details:

• Pre-orders only! Orders due by Monday, 9/22.

• Cars may only park on 5th Street and walk up to pick up.

• If you’re parked on 5th Street, drinks can be delivered right to your car.

• No parking on Grand Blvd (bus zone) or in the drop-off line.

Click the link or scan the QR code below to place your order! You’ll also find a short “about me” on Four Little Lemons—check out their story!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFwU_PgGX78y30ozdOzdScnrcNx8pfPg81IRdYH1ybdzROsQ/viewform

Let’s make our mornings brighter together… because Wildcats run on Lemon Love!

Be on the lookout for a colorful Book Buddy Lanyard coming home soon!

You will find important information about a safe and easy way your family can help our school get the essential tools our students and teachers need to succeed. It will also let you know how your child can win fun prizes just for helping!

• 📖 Chapter 2: The Rise of the Phone-Based Childhood

  In this chapter, Haidt explains how the widespread use of smartphones—especially social media—has transformed how children and teens spend their time. Kids are now immersed in a digital world that prioritizes constant interaction, performance, and appearance. Haidt distinguishes between passive screen time (e.g., watching videos) and interactive screen time (e.g., social media), emphasizing that the latter seems especially harmful. The problem isn’t just screen time—it’s the loss of offline activities that promote real-world development. With smartphones in hand, kids are constantly connected but often feel lonelier and more anxious than ever.

  Reflection Questions:

  • How much of your child’s day is spent on screens, and what types of content are they engaging with?
    
    

  • What opportunities exist in your home or community for meaningful, screen-free activities?
    

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.

Stay tuned for a book club meeting in December to discuss the book once the "virtual" book club ends.

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

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