Coulston Elementary School

SCS Loves to Read Week

We will be celebrating reading all next week! Students will enjoy guest readers, Reading Bingo, and fun spirit days as we come together to celebrate the joy of reading.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our school and district to remind students that reading is not only important…it’s fun! Just a reminder that reading helps grow imagination, builds vocabulary, and builds endurance. Be on the lookout for Reading Bingo coming home with students!!!

Fun Reading Facts:

• Reading just 20 minutes a day can expose students to nearly 2 million words a year!

• Reading for pleasure has been shown to reduce stress and improve focus.

• Books let us travel the world, explore new ideas, and meet amazing characters all without leaving our seats!

We’re excited to make this a week full of learning, laughter, and a love for reading!

SCS Read-A-Thon

Our school is excited to participate in the Shelbyville Central Schools District Read-A-Thon again this year! This meaningful event encourages a love of reading while raising funds that support various reading programs across the district.

This year, our goal is for every student to secure two sponsors to help fuel their love for reading. Every donation—big or small—makes a difference by providing our students with the tools they need to learn, grow, and succeed. Let’s inspire young minds, one page at a time! Thank you for your continued support of our readers and our school.

Coulston Spirit Wear

We are excited to announce that we are selling new spirit wear for Coulston!

Show your Comet pride by checking out all the great new items available for purchase. Sales begin on February 22 and will run through March 6. Please use the attached link to place your order. Comet Spirit Wear Order Link

All orders will be delivered to the school and can either be picked up or sent home with students. Thank you for supporting Coulston and showing your Comet pride!

IREAD Information for Second and Third Parents

Our students will soon be participating in the IREAD assessment. IREAD is a state assessment designed to measure foundational reading skills and ensure students are on track in key areas such as phonics, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

In the coming weeks, your child’s teacher will be reviewing important reading standards and providing targeted support to help students feel confident and prepared. You can support your child at home by encouraging daily reading, practicing sight words, and discussing what they read to strengthen comprehension.

Please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest and arrives at school on time during testing days. A positive mindset and encouragement go a long way!

If you have any questions about the IREAD assessment, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Last Call for Yearbooks!! Get your now.

Our yearbook is now available, and we hope you’ll consider purchasing this awesome book filled with special memories from the school year. Yearbook prices begin at $20 for each. Don’t miss your chance to capture the moments that matter! The last day to purchase the yearbook is a few weeks away, so get yours now!!!

inter-state.com/order

Code: 0287GS

Save The Date for Seussical Jr.

Parents, please save the date for March when Coulston will present its spring musical, Seussical Jr. Our students and staff have been working hard on this performance, and we are excited to share it with our community after spring break. Please be on the lookout for more information coming soon!

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.

• Feb. 23-SCS Loves to Read Week

• March 2-IREAD begins for Grades 2 & 3

• March 5-Aspire Awards

• March 10-Yearbook Picture Day

• March 11-Trivia night at SMS

• March 13-20-Spring Break

• March 26-Seussical Jr at SHS at 6:00

• March 29-Spring Picture Day

• March 30-Bounce House Week

Please check out Mrs. Reed’s February newsletter. Her focus for the month will be Attendance and Conflict Resolution. Check out the wonderful resources provided as well!

Winter wellness starts at home! Handwashing, rest, and staying home when sick helps protect our entire school community.

Please remember that Shelbyville Central Schools (SCS) policy, consistent with general health guidelines, requires students with a fever to stay home until they've been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine, ensuring they're well enough to return, alongside other symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea. Always check with your doctor and the school's nurse for specific guidance

If your child will be absent, please call the attendance line each morning so their absence can be marked properly. Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

Your School Nurse – Emily Polston, RN

As we move into February, our school-wide focus for all students is reading for 20 minutes each day. This month-long challenge encourages a love of reading, and students will be working toward special awards for their participation. We appreciate your support in helping make sure your child is either read to or independently reading for at least 20 minutes daily. This also serves as an early kick-off to our SCS Loves to Read Week, which will take place at the end of February.

We would also like to remind families how important regular school attendance is for student learning and success. Our school goal is to maintain an attendance rate of 95% or higher, and we appreciate your partnership in helping us reach this goal.

We are currently working on a school-wide incentive to encourage and celebrate strong attendance, and we look forward to sharing more details soon. Thank you for your continued support in making attendance a priority.

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.

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

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!