The Wildcat

• Dates to know
• PTO Update
• Boys' Basketball
• American Kids Heart Challenge
• All Pro Dads Information
• Yearbook Information
• Math Bowl
• Volunteer Information
• Parent book club
• Kindergarten Registration
• Music Program Information
• ILEARN Checkpoint Information
• Cold Weather Information
• Highland Highlights Newsletter
• Absenteeism Information
• Tutoring at the Library
• Extracurricular
• Cafeteria Information
• Arrival and Dismissal

Monday, February 9th--Math Bowl 2:30-3:30pm

Wednesday, February 11th-Boys' Basketball Championship Game @ HHS 5:30pm

Thursday, February 12th-Valentine's Party 5-7pm

-Elementary Basketball Night @ HHS 7pm

Friday, February 13th-NO SCHOOL

Monday, February 16th-NO SCHOOL

Dates

2/9 Valentine Grams Due

2/10 Valentine's Party RSVP Due

2/12 Valentine's Day Party 5pm-7pm

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0549ABAD28A7FDC61-61829975-valentines

2/19 PTO Meeting 6PM in the Library

2/24 All Pro Dads Meeting 5pm-6pm Room 137

2/25 Walk A Thon Sponsorship Kick Off

With Disability Awareness Month just around the corner in March, we're excited to share that the link to order our latest shirt in support of Disability Awareness is now open!

This year our design shows how we all rock in our individual ways! Our message this year is "Inclusion is my Jam". This fits our school culture because we believe every student belongs, is valued, and deserves to feel seen and supported. We celebrate differences and intentionally create learning environments where all students can access instruction, build relationships, and grow with confidence. Inclusion isn't an add-on here; it's part of who we are and how we show up for one another everyday!

Join us in promoting inclusivity by wearing the "Inclusion is my Jam" shirt every Wednesday throughout March. Feel free to wear Disability Awareness shirts from previous years as well, every shirt counts!

The ordering link will close on Feb. 15th to ensure delivery before March. Please leave your student's name as well as teacher's name in the notes of the order form to ensure they are distributed to the right classrooms. You can order as many as you want, for your student or the whole family!

Thank you for your continued support!

Link to shirts: https://www.customink.com/g/arb0-00d1-90hj

We’re excited to launch our new All Pro Dad meetings at Johnston Elementary!

All Pro Dad is a special time for dads and their children to come together to build stronger relationships, talk about character, leadership, and life skills, and simply enjoy meaningful time together.

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, February 24th from 5:00–6:00 PM in Room 137 (Mrs. Allison’s Tech Room).

Please see the attached flyer to RSVP using the QR code. We hope you’ll join us for this fun and positive time with your child!

Bellamy Avina

Colton Baker

Gretchen Bishop

Miles Kozak

Noah Sexton

Kaydin Jimenez

Dahlia Phillips

Cooper Poppa

Evan Poteete

Joey Stooksbury

Tre Tate

Ellie Villagomez

We love our volunteers! For our children's safety, we always have to scan the license of our volunteers before they can be in classrooms, go on field trips, or any other activities. Thanks for all you do for our students and staff!

• Chapter 11: What Schools Can Do Now

  Haidt lays out actionable strategies for schools to support healthier development: enforcing strict phone-free policies during school hours, expanding opportunities for physical, outdoor, and unstructured play, and teaching emotional resilience alongside digital literacy. He hopes schools become environments that prioritize real interactions over screen time, giving students space to mature socially, emotionally, and physically. (books summaries, Books to Thrive: Best Books Summaries, Eric Sandroni)

  Reflection Questions:

  • How does your school currently handle phones and screen use during the day?
    
    

  • What are simple, actionable steps your school could take to foster more in-person play and emotional learning?
    
    

  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.

Here is the parent presentation.

Winter is here bringing cooler weather and germs! Here is our STOH attendance policy for illnesses:

When a child is ill or shows signs of illness, such as a fever (temperature 100 degrees or higher), a rash or vomiting, the child must be kept home until symptoms disappear and temperature has been normal for a least 24 hours. Children returning to school and not meeting these requirements will be sent home. Students who are absent due to sickness or that go home sick during the school day cannot participate in extracurricular activities/events for the days they are absent. If a child sent home due to illness returns to school the next day, no note is needed. Otherwise, a written excuse, dated and signed by a parent or guardian, must be sent with the child returning to school after an absence. A statement from a doctor may be required after an absence due to a contagious disease, surgery, hospitalization, or an absence of 5 or more consecutive days. All exemptions from participation in physical activities will require a statement from the doctor. If a child becomes ill at school, the parents need to pick up the child or have the child picked up in a timely manner—no longer than one (1) hour. Children will only be released from school to a parent/guardian or his/her designee.

When in doubt, reach out to the nurse for help!

I am wishing you all a wonderful cozy season!!

Yours In Health,

Cheryl Progler, RN

Just a reminder that we try and have our students go outside each day to run around and get some fresh air. With our weather changing (day to day!), please be sure your child has outerwear so that he/she is comfortable outside.

If you are in need of any items, Mrs. Jennings has several gently used coats and a few pairs of boots looking for a new home. Some sizes are limited but hopefully, we can find something to fit your needs. These coats and boots are for school-age students who attend Johnston Elementary. Please contact her at 219-923-2428 if she may be of assistance.

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

Please remember that students must go home first after school and are welcome to return to the playground after checking in with an adult. Alternatively, an adult can meet them at the school and accompany them to the playground.

Please note that we do not provide staff supervision on the playground outside of school hours.

We love having our students enjoy the playground after school hours!

We now provide access to live tutoring for LCPL cardholders at tutor.com/lcplin (also found on our databases pages).

Tutor.com allows students to get live help from a tutor in almost any subject from kindergarten through college. Students interact with tutors via an online whiteboard where they can send text, upload documents, graph equations, and more. Students and tutors do not interact through video. Creating an account is optional but allows students to save their work and access the transcript for their session.

Tutor.com receives 150,000 applications from prospective tutors. Applicants are thoroughly vetted with state and federal background checks, subject matter exams, and their ability to interact effectively with students on the platform. Only 1.2% of those who apply are accepted and sessions are reviewed daily by monitors to assess tutor performance.

Tutors may be requested from 4:00-11:00 pm, 7 days a week (except for major holidays). The wait time for a tutor to respond is under a minute. Spanish-speaking tutors are provided for core curriculum subjects and help with job applications.

In addition to tutoring in subjects from math and reading to business and world languages, Tutor.com provides many resources such as test prep, citizenship prep, parent coaching, student study skills, job seeker support materials, video lessons, and more.

Students writing papers may upload their work and receive help with grammar, punctuation, structure, theme development, and citations within 24 hours.

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