Coulston Elementary School
Comet Connection Newsletter January 4, 2026
School News
Back to School 2026
We hope you had a wonderful Christmas break and a happy New Year! We look forward to welcoming all of our Coulston Comets back to school tomorrow, Monday, January 5th. Please make sure that your child is prepared and ready to go!
Important Winter Weather Reminders
As we head into the winter months and the potential for inclement weather, please take a moment to make sure that your PowerSchool contact information is up to date and accurate. School delays and cancellations will be communicated using the contact information provided in PowerSchool, so it is important that we are able to reach you.
Please note that January 19 and February 16 are now snow make-up days, and school will be in session on both dates.
In the event of a two-hour delay, buses will pick up students two hours later than their normal scheduled time. Please also be aware that breakfast will not be served on two-hour delay days.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we navigate the winter season.
Parent Night Opportunity
Please join us on January 29th at 6:00 PM at SCS Administration Office for a Parent Workshop focused on Tools for Today’s Parents. We’ll share tips on technology, behavior, and supporting the school and home behavior connection. Space is limited, so please sign up if you plan to attend.
Kindergarten Round-Up
Save the Date: Kindergarten Round-Up 2026
Please save the date for our 2026 Kindergarten Round-Up! We will begin the Kindergarten Round-Up process in January, which is the time of year to register incoming kindergarten students for the 2026–2027 school year.
During this time, parents will be able to come into the school to pick up and complete the required registration paperwork. More detailed information, including specific dates and times, will be shared soon. We look forward to welcoming our future Coulston Comets!
Breakfast Survey for Parents
Chartwells is asking families to complete a short breakfast survey to help them better serve our students during school breakfast. Your feedback is important and will help improve the options offered. Please complete the survey as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your time and support!
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Jan. 5-School is back in session
Jan. 12-WIDA Assessment Begins
Jan. 19- School is in session-Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 19-ILEARN Checkpoint #2 for grades 3-5
Jan. 19-CogAT Assessment for Kindergarten and 2nd grades
Jan. 19-PTO Chocolate Bar candy sales begin
Feb. 4-Yearbook Picture Day
Feb. 6-Third Quarter Mid-Term
Feb. 13-Valentine’s Day Party
News from Our School Social Worker
With the colder temperatures and winter weather now upon us, I want to send a friendly reminder about the importance of making sure your children are dressed appropriately for school each day.
We want all of our students to stay healthy, comfortable, and warm, especially during outdoor activities like recess, waiting for the bus, or walking to and from school.
Essential Cold Weather Gear:
Please ensure your child comes to school prepared with the following items, as needed:
Warm Coat/Jacket
Hat
Gloves or Mittens
Notes from the Nurse
Please check out the Remind invite from Nurse Polston to sign up for updates and communication directly from her. This is a great way to share information and get important updates from the school nurse.
Additional Information
Coulston Elementary Readers are Leaders
Lines from the Library
Thank you for signing the reading log each week. The log only has to be signed one time per week! We will recognize students at our quarterly convocation. Keep reading!
Attendance
This year, we will have a monthly focus on attendance and share helpful resources with our school community.
Regular attendance at school does more than help your child succeed academically. It also helps them develop important habits that will benefit them for years to come. Being on time and present every day teaches responsibility, time management, and commitment and skills that are essential for future success in school, work, and life.
We appreciate your support in helping your child build these habits by ensuring they attend school consistently and arrive on time. Together, we can set them up for a bright and successful future!
We will continue to recognize strong attendance with classroom awards and celebrate overall improvement as a building. Our school-wide goal is to maintain an overall attendance rate of 96% or higher. Thank you for partnering with us to reach this important goal!
Sports Information
Breakfast/Lunch Menu
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.
CES Student Handbook
Please remember the following rules from the SCS Elementary Handbook:
Transportation
Bus route information is available at scs.shelbycs.org/page/transportation. Scroll down to find the INFOFINDER link. If you need to make a change to your child’s transportation, please complete a Change of Transportation form at school. Changes take 48 hours to process. Call the office with any questions.
Car Rider Line
Thank you for your patience as we navigated the extra traffic during the first few weeks of school. We’re happy to see the flow improving this week! Here are a few car rider reminders to keep things running smoothly:
Drop-off begins at 7:25 AM
Pick-up is at 2:15 PM (1:45 PM on Wednesdays)
Students should exit the car on the side closest to the sidewalk
Please stay in your vehicle—do not park and get out
Give hugs, kisses, and goodbyes before pulling forward in the line
The car rider door closes at 7:45 AM. After this time, students must be dropped off and signed in at the front office.
Thanks for helping us keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient!
Coulston Elementary School
Phone: (317) 398-3185
Fax: (317) 392-5721
Office Hours: 7:00am - 3:30pm
Address:
121 N Knightstown Road
Shelbyville, IN 46176