Burkhart Elementary Newsletter

Principal: Darlene Hardesty

Assistant Principal: Jeanetta Penniston

Burkhart Elementary School

5701 Brill Road

Indianapolis, IN 46227

Phone: 317-789-3600

Attendance: 317-789-3602

Our PTA is sponsoring a school supply sale for all students who will be at Burkhart in grades 1-5 for the 2026 - 2027 school year. Place your order online now and supply boxes will be on your student’s desk on the first day of the new school year. This is a convenient and discounted way to help your child be ready and prepared to do their best!

Website: www.shopttkits.com

Account Number: 14541

Be sure to use your child’s full name and select the grade level your child will be in next school year. Online orders will be accepted through June 5, 2026.

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is May 4 - 8. If you would like to honor your child’s teacher or other members of the staff, this is a great time to send in a card, a gift, or a surprise treat to say thanks for a wonderful school year.

Clubs meeting next week:

• Girls on the Run: Monday & Thursday, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
• Religious Education: Tuesday, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m.

Our students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will participate in ILEARN, Indiana’s Learning Evaluation Assessment Readiness Network (ILEARN), a summative accountability assessment for Indiana students, beginning April 20 and wrapping up on April 30. Assessments will be given in English/Language Arts and Mathematics. Additionally, students in grade 4 will also have assessments in Science while students in Grade 5 will have assessments in Social Studies.

Parents often wonder how to help their child when it comes time for state testing such as this. Here are some ideas:

• Be mindful of bedtimes.
• Talk through any worries your child expresses to you.
• Reassure your child that you are proud of them when they take their time and do their best.
• Make every effort to have your child at school on time.
• Have your child eat a good breakfast.
• Send your child to school with an encouraging word.

April 20-30 - ILEARN Testing Window for Grades 3, 4, 5

April 29 - Grade 3 Field Trip to White River State Park

May 4-8 - Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

May 5 - Parent Orientation at PMA for Grade 5 Parents

May 6 - Family Night, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

May 8 - Honors Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

May 9 - Girls on the Run 5K

May 11 - Grade 1 Field Trip to Indianapolis Zoo

May 11 - Grade 5 Field Trip to PMA for Orientation

May 14 - Grade 2 Field Trip to Newfields (Rooms 2, 210)

May 14 - PTA Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

May 15 - Grade 2 Field Trip to Newfields (Rooms 208, 209)

May 18 - Grade 5 Field Trip to PMA for Band, Orchestra, and Choir Concert

5th GRADE PARENTS

YOU’RE INVITED!

To: Parent Orientation at Perry Academy

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Time: 6:30 pm

Place: Perry Meridian Sixth Grade Academy Gym (door #6)

Do you have questions regarding the Sixth Grade Academy? Curious about schedules? Academics? Athletics? Then please attend our parent orientation session on Tuesday, May 5th to get answers to your questions and receive important dates regarding the 2026-2027 school year. The building will also be open for tours. The more information you have the better you can prepare your child for this important step in their life.

We look forward to seeing you on May 5th!

End-of-year awards programs will be held at Burkhart as noted below. Parents are invited to attend and celebrate the achievements of their child. Grade level completion certificates will be awarded to all students at these times as well.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

9:30 a.m. – Grade 4

11:00 a.m. – Grade 3

1:30 p.m. – Grade 1

Thursday, May 28, 2026

9:30 a.m. – Grade 2

11:00 a.m. – Grade 5

2:15 p.m. – Multi-age (Rooms 1, 8)

Kindergarten registration will begin on January 5, 2026 for those students who will be entering Kindergarten in the Fall of 2026. The student must turn 5 years old on or before August 1, 2026 in order to register. There is a waiver process for children with a birthdate after August 1st up to August 15th. The Kindergarten Academy your student will attend is determined by your residence only and not where other siblings may be attending. To determine which Kindergarten Academy your child will attend, please go to the Perry Township website at perryschools.org. Go to the For Parents tab, click on Enrollment, and Boundary Map. https://www.perryschools.org/for-parents/enrollment/

Bus tags are attached via a lanyard to student book bags. Students will need to use their tag to scan on and off of the bus. Please do not remove the tag as it is used both on the bus and in the school cafeteria. Bus tags allow us to ensure the safety of our students by logging the time, location, and bus number a student entered or exited. If your student’s bus tag becomes lost, please send in the $2 replacement fee with your student so that a new one can be ordered.

Burkhart celebrates the birthday of our students during our morning announcements each day. We ask you not to send in treats and save additional celebrations for at home.

We welcome lunchtime visitors. Parents who wish to eat lunch with their child should arrive a few minutes prior to the start of their child's lunchtime so they can get registered as a visitor. Remember that you will need to bring your government-issued ID card (for example: driver's license, green card, passport) with you. School lunch may be purchased for the cost of $5.25 (adult guest) or $3.00 (child guest) using exact cash or with a check made payable to Perry Township Schools. Alternately, parents may bring in a lunch packed from home or from a restaurant as a special treat. While dining in the cafeteria, the parent and student will be seated at a separate table so they can enjoy the visit together. We do not allow other students to join in and also ask that cell phones not be used during the visit.

As part of our security measures, we will ask for a government-issued photo ID card (for example: driver’s license, green card, passport) for adults needing to pick a student up from school. Please be prepared to provide this each time you visit school.

The Perry Township Elementary Dress Code Policy includes the following guidance regarding student clothing:

1. Solid color collared shirt (with sleeves) or turtleneck, encouraged to be tucked in.
2. Black, khaki, navy, or earthtone bottoms, no denim. No overt or distracting holes, rips, cuts, or frays are permitted.
3. Knee-length pants. Shorts may be worn up until Fall Break and after Spring Break.
4. Dresses, skirts, shorts, and jumpers must be near knee length.
5. Winter Wear—mostly solid color sweater or sweatshirt allowed; must be over collared shirt or turtleneck; should be an appropriate size.
6. Student IDs should be worn and made visible at all times.
7. No flip-flops or “wheelie” shoes. No hooded sweatshirts.
8. School spirit wear is determined by each building.

Please see the student handbooks for additional guidance regarding dress code.

Are you interested in helping your child’s teacher and working with students? Or do you enjoy working behind the scenes by making copies and sharpening pencils? Are you wanting to be a chaperone for school trips? Or would you like to help out at your child’s classroom parties? If so, we’d love to have your help!

Perry Township Schools has an easy process for becoming a volunteer in our schools. Backgrounds checks need to be completed just one time every three years and will allow you to volunteer at our school and at any other Perry Township School in which you have a child. Visit the following website and complete the application today:

https://www.perryschools.org/community-resources/volunteers-visitors/

Be sure to reach out to your child’s teacher to arrange for volunteer opportunities once you have completed the background check.