The Bobcat Bulletin

It is hard to believe we are already halfway through October! The days are full, the energy is high, and our Bobcats are doing great things across the building. Students are earning Bobcat Brags, celebrating positive choices, and showing what it means to be Ready, Respectful, and Responsible in all areas of the school.

This week, our kindergarten students celebrated Fire Prevention Week and loved their visit from the fire department. Meeting volunteer firefighters was such an exciting experience and is always a favorite October tradition at Indian Lane.

Be sure to ask your students about PLINKO in the cafeteria. Each week, students whose names are drawn from the Bobcat Brag fish bowl get the chance to play PLINKO and win a fun prize. It is a great way to recognize students who consistently demonstrate what it means to be Ready, Respectful, and Responsible.

Families are also encouraged to take a few moments to complete the PAB Survey, which will help us plan for the upcoming PAB meeting and ensure our agenda reflects what matters most to our school community.

If your family prefers that your child participate in an alternate activity on October 31, please complete the Halloween Survey linked below. This form is only needed for families choosing an alternate option.

OCTOBER

• 17 | Early Dismissal, 12:20 p.m. & No PM Kindergarten
• 20 | PAB Meeting 2:00- Please take the PAB Family Survey to add celebrations, thoughts, and/or suggestions for the PAB agenda.
• 22 | Kindergarten Field Trip (AM and PM)
• 23 | Second Grade Field Trip
• 24 | October Bobcats Birthday Bash
• 24 | Featured Artists Breakfast, 8:00-8:40 a.m., Lobby
• 24 | John Patrick Green Author Visit, Third & Fourth grades
• 29 | Bobcats Trunk or Treat, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
• 31 | Halloween Parade, 10:00 a.m.

In recognition of National Red Ribbon Week (October 23–31), we will celebrate at Indian Lane from October 27–31 with a special spirit week focused on making healthy choices, showing kindness, and living a positive lifestyle. The red ribbon serves as a reminder to be strong, make safe decisions, and live our best, healthiest lives. Themes will be shared in next week's bulletin.

(And do not worry, families—we know one costume is plenty for October 31st!)

Each year, we share a Fall Holiday Preference Survey to help us plan thoughtfully for our Halloween parade and classroom celebrations on October 31. In keeping with our commitment to cultural proficiency and inclusivity, we want to ensure that all families feel respected and that every student is supported in a way that aligns with their family’s preferences.

If your child(ren) will not be participating in the Halloween parade or party, please take a moment to complete the survey. Your responses help us create meaningful and comfortable plans for all of our Bobcats.

The fire fighters at Middletown Volunteer Fire Company came to Indian Lane on Thursday, October 9th to share fire prevention and safety tips with kindergarten students. They even let the kids try on some of the equipment, touch the fire hose, and climb into the fire truck. It was an exciting way to learn how to be safe.

We have received more volunteers over the past week. We are so lucky that some homerooms now have two volunteers but others still need class photographers. Please reach out to your homeroom parents, classroom teacher or Mrs. Britton if interested!

With Halloween just around the corner, we are preparing for a festive celebration at Indian Lane Elementary! Below are the important guidelines and information regarding costumes, the Halloween parade, parking, classroom parties, and more to ensure a fun and safe event for all.

Costume Guidelines:

• Nonviolent Costumes: Children’s costumes must be of a nonviolent nature, appropriate for school.

• Item Limitations: Costumes should not include play weapons or look-alike weapons such as grim reaper’s staff, sword, lightsabers, devil’s pitchfork, Nerf guns, or similar items.

• Horror Characters: Costumes resembling horror characters are not permitted.

• Inappropriate Costumes: Please avoid costumes that might be considered inappropriate or disrespectful to others.

• Face Make-Up: Please limit face make-up, as we have a limited amount of time to assist students.

• Inflatable Costumes: We kindly ask for your discretion regarding inflatable costumes. While we generally prefer that students avoid wearing them due to the difficulty in maneuvering through stairs and hallways, if a student chooses to wear one, they will need to put it on and take it off in the gym for the parade only.

• Costume Sharing: Students should not share their costume accessories with classmates (e.g. hats, tiaras).

• Safety Considerations: Caution your child about safety when getting on or off the bus or walking home while carrying their costume.

Halloween is all about fun, so we kindly ask that you use good judgment when selecting your child’s costume. Please send your child to school with their costume in a bag, wearing as much of it as possible. Parents will not be in classrooms to help with dressing, so it is essential for students to come prepared. If any costume items are forgotten, you can drop them off in the vestibule, and we will make sure they get to your child.

Parade Information:

• Location: If you plan to attend the Halloween parade, please head directly to the back near the playground and gather on the grass inside the track.

• No Sign-In Required: There is no need to sign in for the parade. Staff members will be present to guide you.

• Safety: Please do not remove your child from their teacher’s supervision before, during, or after the parade.

Parking:

Details regarding parking will be provided closer to the event. We often use the Middletown Presbyterian Church for parking, but availability may vary on the day. Look out for more information in upcoming communications.

Classroom Parties:

In accordance with our district's Wellness Policy, all foods offered during classroom parties should promote student health. This means that party treats will follow the Nutritional Standards published by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Division of Food and Nutrition:

• Foods will include minimal amounts of added sugar (a maximum of 2-3 items with sugar as the first ingredient).

• Parties will offer fresh fruits, vegetables, water, 100% fruit juice, or milk.

• Foods will be moderate in sodium, contain minimal to no trans fats, provide more than 2 grams of fiber per serving, and exclude foods with minimal nutritional value.

Please expect communication directly from your child’s homeroom parents and teacher with details about classroom party plans. All volunteers must have current clearances on file in order to attend. If your clearances are not up to date, you will not be able to volunteer for this event, but there will be other opportunities throughout the year.

If you have not yet signed up for the Membership Toolkit, please know that you will not receive emails from homeroom parents.

PM Kindergarten Dismissal Procedures:

Kindergarten teachers will communicate dismissal procedures directly with families.

We are excited to celebrate Halloween with our wonderful Indian Lane Elementary community! If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for helping us create a memorable and safe Halloween for all of our students.

Get ready for a spook-tacular evening at Indian Lane’s Trunk or Treat on Wednesday, October 29th, from 5:00–6:30 PM in the lower parking lot! Join us for frightful fun, fang-tastic trunks, and a night full of community spirit. We’re looking for up to 40 creatively decorated trunks—there will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place! Families can enjoy pizza for sale, while soft pretzels, apple cider, and water will be provided free of charge courtesy of the PTG. Don’t forget to stop by our autumn-themed photo booth for a great family snapshot!

Volunteer opportunities are available for greeters, clean-up crew, photo booth helpers, and snack stand assistants—please see the Sign-Up Genius for details. Each trunk should bring its own peanut-free candy or prizes to hand out; the PTG will provide additional treats and gladly accepts donations. A $5 suggested donation per student (cash or Venmo) helps support this event.

To help us plan for food and candy, please complete the Google Form to RSVP. Families who would benefit from a sensory-friendly start are welcome to arrive at 4:45 PM, with general admission beginning at 5:00 PM. Be sure to indicate your preferred start time on the RSVP form.

It’s going to be a boo-tiful night filled with costumes, candy, and community fun! 🎃

– Indian Lane PTG

SIGN UP For a TRUNK or VOLUNTEER HERE

Let us know you're coming! Siblings are welcome to attend as well. Please RSVP to ILES Trunk or Treat

HERE: RSVP to Trunk or Treat HERE

As part of the Rose Tree Media School District’s strategic planning process, we are updating our mission and vision statements to reflect the values and aspirations of our community. Your voice is essential in this work.

We invite staff, parents, and guardians to complete a brief Google Form to share your perspectives on what makes our district unique, what experiences every student should have each day, and what qualities we hope to see in our graduates. Your input will directly inform the development of mission and vision statements that guide our work now and in the future.

Please take a few minutes to complete the Google Form here: RTMSD Mission & Vision

Thank you for partnering with us to shape the future of Rose Tree Media School District.

In 2023, a dedicated group of parents, teachers, students and administrators met monthly to review and discuss the many cultural holidays and other events that occur throughout the school year. This group collaborated and created the list of holidays and events that we will recognize, instruct or celebrate in our schools. The holidays and events you will see each month in this newsletter were chosen by our community. Please email Ralph Harrison if you have any suggestions or ideas about our monthly events and holidays. We honor DIGNITY by taking the time to learn about the cultures of all of our community members.

Every child at Indian Lane is a BOBCAT & we want to celebrate with each of you. Families are invited to sign up to attend ONE Bobcat Pride Breakfast during the 2025-2026 school year. Younger siblings are welcome to attend, but please only sign up for the IL student(s) on the sheet. Each student should take one spot on the sign up sheet. The Breakfast are held from 8:00 - 8:40 a.m. in the Indian Lane cafeteria.

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!

Students are permitted to have prescribed and over-the-counter medications at school provided that the proper paperwork is submitted. Please refer to the Student Medication Authorization Form for more details on what needs to be submitted. Call Mrs. LaRose at 610-627-7104 with any questions.

Early Dismissal Schedule:

Breakfast will be served but we will not provide lunch.

AM Kindergarten (Normal School Day 8:40 - 11:25

First - Fifth Grades (Dismissal 12:20)

PM Kindergarten ( Not in Session)

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.

The December Sing-Along is one of the most joyful and heartwarming traditions at Indian Lane. Our students love coming together, and it has always been so special to welcome families to share in the celebration. Over the past few years, families have kindly shared with me that the gym has become more and more crowded, making it difficult to see and enjoy the performance. At the same time, I know how deeply this tradition is loved. With that in mind, Mr. Fisher and I worked together to find a way to keep this wonderful tradition alive while making it even more comfortable for everyone.

This year, we will hold two concerts on the same day instead of one. By expanding to two performances, we can continue the tradition we all treasure, while giving families more space and a better viewing experience. Rather than changing the event, we see this as enhancing it so that everyone feels welcome and included.

Thursday, December 11th:

• Morning Concert – 9:15 AM
  AM Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 4

• Afternoon Concert – 2:00 PM
  PM Kindergarten, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 5

We understand that some families may need to attend both concerts, and we truly appreciate the extra effort this may take. We also plan to still offer a virtual option for those who are not able to attend in person, so that every family has the opportunity to enjoy this tradition.

Please know that this decision was made with great care, based on the thoughtful feedback you have shared. I am so grateful to Mr. Fisher for his willingness to adjust the format, and I am thankful to our families for the love and support you bring to this tradition. We will include a survey after the event to take your feedback on the new format.

-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

Sunday November 9, 2025

12 pm - 2 pm at Louis Scott Stadium

Grades 1 - 5

Presented by PHS Players & Coaches

all participants need a stick, mouthguard and goggles to play

$30 per Player (includes t-shirt)

Pay cash at the door or venmo: penncrest-girlslacrosse

Click this link to register before November 1st
Questions? Contact jacbaker@rtmsd.org

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