College Go Week!!!

We are celebrating College GO! Week and helping our students start thinking about their future! On Wednesday, September 23rd, students and staff are invited to wear their favorite college gear or support their favorite team.

A few fun facts about College GO! Week:

College GO! is an Indiana initiative that encourages students to explore education and career opportunities after high school.
College GO! resources are designed to help Hoosier K–12 students explore their future.
Even our elementary students can begin thinking about what they want to be, what they enjoy learning, and what they might want to do when they grow up!

Let's show our Comet pride and our college spirit on Wednesday!

We are so proud of the amazing start to our school year here at Coulston Elementary! Our hallways and classrooms are filled with energy, and our students are already showing what it truly means to be a Coulston Comet.

Every day, we look for opportunities to catch our students doing the right thing. When a Comet goes above and beyond, we celebrate them with Good News Visits and special recognition certificates for being:

Respectful: Using kind words and honoring our school community.
Responsible: Taking ownership of their learning and daily actions.
Safe: Making careful, thoughtful choices in everything they do.

Each week we will feature a few of our Good News Students and Staff!!

Notes from the Library: Where Comets Read, Explore & Dream!

Hi! I am Coulston Elementary's new librarian, Katherine. I have loved getting to know all my new reader friends. We have spent time in the library these first few weeks of school going over library "rules," and how to take care of library books. We have also been reading and reading.

Kindergarten and 1st Grade read (and counted) with Teagan White's Counting with Barefoot Critters.
In 2nd and 3rd Grade we read If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen.
Both the 4th and 5th Grade voted on what they'd like to read: Pony by R. J. Palacio, Chronicles of Whetherwhy by Anna James, or A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland.

I also shared the poem When You Can Read by Bobbi Katz with everyone. Book checkouts will start this coming week. Happy Reading!

This week in the lbrary

This week in the library, we learned about the parts of a book and the Dewey Decimal System. We also spent time doing what we love most…reading!

Kindergarten & 1st Grade

We shared the poem The Gold-Tinted Dragon by Karla Kuskin and read Knight Owl by Christopher Denise. There is also a sequel, Knight Owl and Early Bird, that your child may enjoy reading with you!

2nd & 3rd Grade:
We read Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

4th & 5th Grade:
Students continued reading Pony by R.J. Palacio, The Chronicles of Whetherwhy by Anna James, or A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland. We also shared the poem Summer Stars by Carl Sandburg.

Next week we will focus on America's 250th anniversary and begin writing essays for the Shelby County Reads Writing Contest. Also, keep an eye out for information about a new 4th and 5th Grade Book Club! Happy Reading!

Car RIder Information-New This Year

New this year…Drop-off and Pick-up will be in the back lot at the gym entrance. Please follow the arrows on the map when entering the car rider line for both morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Staff will be stationed at the designated unloading area to help students safely exit their vehicles. For safety, students should always exit on the passenger side onto the walkway. Please make sure your child is ready to exit the vehicle when you pull up. This will help keep traffic flowing and avoid any back up traffic.

All families should use the car rider line during arrival and dismissal. The front entrance is reserved for buses only during these times. Vehicles should not enter or park in the areas marked in red on the map.

This is a new traffic pattern for the school year. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as everyone learns the new routine. Our goal is to keep traffic moving while providing a safe arrival and dismissal for all students, while also allowing Coulston Lane to be accessible to the nearby residents. Thank you for helping us keep our Coulston Comets safe!

Parents, here are a few important reminders for the new school year:

Parents do not forget you can pay for your ipad protection at school. Contact the office at 317-398-3185.
New this year: Indiana has a new technology law that limits the use of personal electronic devices during the school day. This includes but not limited to phones, tablets, watches, earbuds. More information will be available at Meet the Teacher Night.
Please watch for information about Indiana's new attendance laws and how they may affect your child.
Water only is allowed in student water bottles. Per the Healthy Schools Policy, no other drinks may be brought to school. Any water bottles containing other beverages will be emptied.
If you send a snack with your child, it must meet the Healthy Schools Policy. More information will be sent home.
Dress Code Reminder: All shoes must have a back (no backless shoes). Please review the student handbook for the complete dress code before the first day of school.
Per the Student Handbook, edible birthday treats may not be brought to school due to food allergies and student safety.
Parents this is just a reminder that student lunches are $2.85. Breakfast will be free for all students. We encourage all parents to fill out the free and reduced lunch form to make sure that if you qualify, you will receive lunch assistance. Please contact the front office with any questions.