Coulston Elementary School

Welcome back from Fall Break!

We hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable time. October is a busy month, and we’re looking forward to a great month ahead!

Please remember the following rules from the SCS Elementary Handbook:

Transportation Reminders for Parents:

Any changes to your child’s transportation for the day must be called into the office by 1:30 PM to be honored.
Please do not send teachers messages about transportation changes. All changes must go through the front office.
If you are picking up your child before 2:00 PM, you may do so in the office before 1:55 PM. After that, students must be picked up in the car rider line.
After 2:00 PM, students can only be picked up from the front office if they have new transportation.

Reminder: No Cell Phones or Smart Watches at School

Students may not use cell phones, smart watches, or other electronic devices during the school day.
If brought to school, devices must be turned off and kept in backpacks at all times.
This rule applies during class time, recess, after-school activities, and on the bus.
Devices are at risk of being lost, broken, or stolen, so it's best to leave them at home.

News from Our School Social Worker

Please check out Mrs. Reed’s new monthly newsletter.
The monthly newsletter will give parent tips, monthly information, and what students will learn during weekly lessons.
Mrs. Reed’s contact information is included in case you need to contact her at school.

Thank you for helping us keep school a safe and focused place for learning, and making sure that all students get home safely. If you have any questions, please contact the front office.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Dental Safari: October 17
Ilearn Checkpoints: October 20-31; Grades 3-5
Red Ribbon Week: October 27-31
Fall Parties: October 31

Congratulations to our Cross Country teams. The Coulston Girls team won first place for the City Cross Country meet. We are proud of our COMETS!!!

Body Safety Program

Over the past few years, there has been an increased awareness of the importance of child sexual abuse prevention in educational settings. In 2018, the state of Indiana passed a law requiring all public, charter, and accredited private schools to provide child abuse prevention education to students in kindergarten through 12th grades. As part of our commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for our students, we have partnered with the Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide to provide the Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe prevention education curriculum. (www.indianaprevention.org)

Your child's class will be participating in a very important program called Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe that teaches children about personal safety. During a single 30- to 45-minute session on November 6th or 7th, a trained facilitator will present research-based, age-appropriate lessons to help children learn the skills to prevent or interrupt cycles of neglect and child abuse - physical, emotional and sexual - as mandated by Indiana state law.

Because adults are responsible for keeping children safe, the lessons focus on helping children identify a safe adult and learn five safety rules the children can use to help their safe adults keep them safe:

1. It's MY body!

2. Ask an adult if I am safe

3. I have choices

4. Tell someone

5. It's NEVER my fault!

The program is voluntary, which means that you do not have to allow your child to participate, or you may take your child out of the program at any time. Please sign and return the opt out form attached to this letter if you DO NOT want your child to attend. If we do not receive the form, we will assume your child has permission to be included in the lessons.

There will be a VIRTUAL Parent Information Session on October 16, 2025 at 12:00, should you have more questions regarding the programming, a post meeting recording will also be available for those who cannot attend the live session.

Please be assured that the safety and well-being of your child are of the utmost priority to us. We are dedicated to creating a school environment where every student feels safe, respected, and supported. Should you have any questions or concerns about the child sexual abuse prevention training, please do not hesitate to reach out to your building level coordinator (Mrs. Reed) or the Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide (Mrs. Banet, megan@indianaprevention.org). We are here to address any inquiries you may have and to collaborate with you in fostering a secure and positive learning environment for our students. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in this important endeavor!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Reed, Social & Skills Specialist

cmreed@shelbycs.org

(317) 398-3185

English Body Safety Program information

Click here to download all of the information.

Spanish Body Safety Program Information

Click here to download all of the information.

Dental Safari

Dental Safari is coming again on October 17th!! If you are interested in having your child participate, please scan the information below.

Dental Safari Flyer

Click here to download the flyer.

Lines from the Library

BIG Comet HUGS to the CES Family for your support of the most successful Book Fair we have had in recent years! This is due to your generosity, commitment, and partnership as we continue to work toward our reading goals. We truly appreciate and thank the CES Moms who worked at the fair and helped keep everything running smoothly! We couldn't do it without you!

The second nine weeks begins on Monday and new book logs will be issued. Watch for those with your child's library book. It is your child's responsibility to bring their log to you to sign and return with their library book each week. ( If you still have a library book at home, please return it ASAP. ) We appreciate your help in keeping our collection of over 8,000 books complete and intact!) Keep reading 20 minutes every night!

Why Reading Counts-

Did you know? Reading just 20 minutes a day exposes your child to about 1.8 million words per year. Reading helps students develop a stronger vocabulary, and in addition, students who read for pleasure average higher grades in English, mathematics, science, and history!

Encourage your child to read books for fun by attending our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair. Allow your child to choose the books they want to read! It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level.

Attendance Matters

This year, we will have a monthly focus on attendance and share helpful resources with our school community. This month’s focus is to establish good habits for the future.

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! CONGRATULATIONS to 3rd Grade for our ATTENDANCE winners.

Reminder: If your child will not be in attendance, please call the school office at 317-398-3185 to report the absence.

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!

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

SCS Free and Reduced Lunch Form

Click here to fill out the form

Cell Phones – Indiana law now prohibits cell phones in the classroom. Please keep this in mind if your child brings a phone to school.

Attendance – A new law requires interventions and parent conferences after 5 unexcused absences in a 10-week period. More information will be sent home this week.

Dress Code – Students must wear shoes with a back. No slides, backless sandals, or shoes without backs are allowed for safety reasons.

Wednesday Early Release – Dismissal is at 1:45 PM every Wednesday.

Transportation Changes – Must be called in by 1:00 PM. After this time, changes cannot be accommodated. Just a reminder that students being picked up after 2:00, need to be picked up in the car rider line.

School Start Time – The first bell rings at 7:25 AM. The tardy bell rings at 7:45 AM.

Tardy students must be signed in by a parent or guardian.
Students may not sign themselves in or be dropped off if tardy without an adult.

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.