The Bobcat Bulletin

Hello, Indian Lane Families!

It was wonderful to see so many of our Indian Lane families at Trunk or Treat this week. Thank you to our PTG, the families who hosted trunks, and everyone who volunteered to make the evening such a fun experience for our students. Events like this are a special reminder of the community that surrounds our school.

Next week, we will celebrate Red Ribbon Week, October 26–30, with the theme “Be a Hero, Stay Drug Free!” Throughout the week, students will be reminded that being a hero means making healthy choices, being kind and confident in who they are, and using their actions to make a positive difference for others.

We invite all students to join in our daily spirit days:

• Monday: Wear Red to kick off Red Ribbon Week.

• Tuesday: Be Comfy in comfortable clothes or pajamas.

• Wednesday: Wear your favorite team, troop, or activity gear. This can include a sports team, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, a dance studio, music group, or club.

• Thursday: Show your Bobcat pride by wearing Indian Lane gear or purple and green.

Picture Retake Day will be Tuesday, October 27, from 9:00–10:00 a.m. Please complete the attached form so your child’s homeroom teacher can ensure they are sent for retakes.

On Friday, October 30, we will hold our Halloween Parade and classroom celebrations. Please review the information below for parade details, costume expectations, dismissal procedures, and other important reminders.

Final parking information for Friday’s parade will be shared on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. We wait to send final parking directions until we can confirm that the church can accommodate our parking needs. Because church events, such as funerals, may be scheduled with only a few days’ notice, this allows us to share the most accurate plan with families the evening before the parade.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to make Indian Lane such a special place for our Bobcats. Have a wonderful weekend!

-Michelle Britton

OCTOBER

• 26-30 | Red Ribbon Week with Spirit Days
• 27 | Picture Retakes 📸
• 29 | October Bobcat Birthday Glow Bash, During Lunches
• 30 | Halloween Parade, 10:00 a.m. Students may participate in a fall activity instead of the Halloween parade. Please complete this form if your child prefers the fall activity instead of the parade and/or party. Details about classroom parties will be shared directly by homeroom parents via Membership Toolkit.

NOVEMBER

• 2 | Early Dismissal at 12:20 for First through Fifth Grades; No PM Kindergarten
• 3 | No School for Students
• 6 | November Bobcat Pride Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.
• 7 | Library Mural Event - Sign Up Required

Monday, October 26: Wear Red!

Red is the color of Red Ribbon Week! Today, we begin our pledge to be heroes by making safe, healthy, drug-free choices for ourselves and encouraging others to do the same.

Tuesday, October 27: Wear Your Comfy Clothes!

Heroes are confident in who they are. Being comfortable being yourself, treating others with kindness, and including those who may feel left out are all ways to be a Red Ribbon Week hero.

Wednesday, October 28: Wear Your Favorite Team or Activity Gear!
Heroes help their communities grow stronger. Whether you are part of a sports team, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, a music program, art club, or another activity, your positive choices can make a difference. Be a community hero by showing respect, helping others, and caring for the world around you.

Thursday, October 29: Wear Indian Lane Spirit Wear!
Healthy choices are heroic choices! Exercise, nutritious foods, water, sleep, and staying drug free help our bodies and brains stay strong. Let’s wear our Indian Lane spirit wear and celebrate the healthy choices that help every Bobcat be their best.

As we welcome the fall season, Indian Lane Elementary looks forward to a fun day for our students. Families who celebrate Halloween may choose to have their children participate in our costume parade and classroom celebrations.

We are excited to offer a special fall activity so that every student can enjoy the day in a way that feels right for them. If your family would prefer this option in place of the parade or Halloween-related activities, please complete the attached form.

Costume Guidelines

For students who choose to wear a costume:

• Costumes must be nonviolent, school-appropriate, and respectful of all members of our community.

• Play weapons and look-alike weapons, including swords, lightsabers, staffs, pitchforks, Nerf guns, or similar items, are not permitted.

• Costumes resembling horror characters are not permitted.

• Please limit face makeup, as we have limited time to assist students.

• We discourage inflatable costumes because they can be difficult to manage on stairs and in hallways. If a student chooses to wear one, it must be put on and removed in the gym for the parade only.

• Students should not share costume accessories, such as hats or tiaras, with classmates.

• Please talk with your child about safe handling of costume items while getting on and off the bus or walking home.

Please send costumes to school in a bag, with students wearing as much of the costume as possible. Parents will not be in classrooms to assist with dressing. If an item is forgotten, it may be dropped off in the vestibule and we will make sure it reaches your child.

Parade Information

• Families attending the parade should head directly to the back playground area and gather on the grass around the track.

• There is no need to sign in for the parade. Staff members will be available to help guide families.

• Please do not remove your child from their teacher’s supervision before, during, or after the parade.

Parking

Parking details will be shared closer to the event. We often use Middletown Presbyterian Church for parking, though availability may vary. Please watch for an additional communication.

Classroom Celebrations

Classroom celebrations will reflect the fall season and will follow the district Wellness Policy. Foods offered should support student health and meet Pennsylvania Department of Education nutritional standards, including fresh fruits or vegetables, water, 100% fruit juice, or milk.

Homeroom parents and teachers will share classroom-specific plans directly with families. All volunteers must have current clearances on file in order to attend. Families who have not yet joined Membership Toolkit will not receive emails from homeroom parents.

Here's a quick reminder about the district's Lice Management Plan.

Updated guidance for parents about head lice was recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Click the link for everything you need to know about finding them and treating them.

Get in the habit of checking your student every couple of weeks and remind them not to share hats or put their heads together with other students. As always feel free to call the nurse's office if you have any questions.

Any questions, please reach out to Mrs. LaRose in the nurse's office.

As you may be aware, we regularly conduct safety drills to practice our response plans for various situations. Most frequently, we practice our evacuation drill each month to ensure that we are well-prepared to clear the building safely in the event of a fire or another unsafe situation. On the morning of November 2nd, we will be conducting a safety drill, which will focus on practicing the procedures for a lockdown. During this drill, we will simulate the steps we would take to secure the building in response to a potential safety threat.

To ensure that we are in compliance with legal requirements and that our procedures are effective, we will have local police on hand for this drill. They will be observing our process and providing feedback as part of our commitment to continuous improvement in our safety measures.

We understand that drills like these can be a source of stress or concern for some students. That is why I wanted to give you advance notice that our safety drill will take place the first week of November. This way, you can have a conversation with your child about the drill, reassure them that it is a practice to help keep everyone safe, and address any questions or concerns they may have. We will reiterate the same message to our students in advance of the drill.

Please rest assured that the safety and well-being of our students are of utmost importance to us. These drills are an essential part of our preparedness efforts and ensure that we are ready to respond effectively in the unlikely event of an emergency.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the safety drill, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I believe in open communication with our school community and are here to provide support and address any concerns you may have.

Thank you for your partnership in maintaining a safe and secure learning environment at Indian Lane Elementary.

-Michelle Britton

We are looking forward to a busy and meaningful November at Indian Lane! Please save the dates below for several upcoming opportunities to celebrate student learning, connect with teachers, and enjoy our Fall Book Fair.

As part of American Education Week, we warmly invite parents and guardians to step into our classrooms for a short “day in the life” of their child. This is a wonderful opportunity to see some of the learning happening each day at Indian Lane.

Because these visits take place during regular instructional time, the Open House is for adults only. We are unable to accommodate younger children or siblings, as classrooms will be actively engaged in lessons and space is limited. To ensure a comfortable experience for everyone, each student may have up to two adult guests. Please sign in at the main lobby when you arrive. Clearances are not required for this event.

• Monday, November 16: Grade 5, 10:05–11:05 a.m.

• Tuesday, November 17: Grade 4, 9:30–10:15 a.m.

• Wednesday, November 18:

  • AM Kindergarten, 9:30–10:15 a.m.

  • Grade 3, 10:15–11:00 a.m.

  • PM Kindergarten, 1:45–2:30 p.m.

• Thursday, November 19: Grade 2, 9:30–10:15 a.m.

• Friday, November 20: Grade 1, 9:30–10:15 a.m.

We look forward to welcoming families into our classrooms and sharing a glimpse of the wonderful learning taking place each day.

Fall Scholastic Book Fair

November 16–24

Our Fall Scholastic Book Fair will be open from November 16 through November 24. More details will be shared soon.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conference sign-ups will be sent by email on Wednesday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m. Families will receive a link to select a conference time. We look forward to meeting with our Bobcat families to celebrate student progress and discuss goals for the year.

• Monday, November 23: 4:00–8:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, November 24: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Dear Parent/Guardian:

On Friday, October 16, 2026, we conducted surveys of all students in third through twelfth grade in order to gain a better understanding as to the students' thoughts and feelings about their school. There were two surveys that seek to find information focusing on Academic Challenge and School Culture. For each student there was one survey that was specific to their level (Elementary/Middle/High) and a second survey that was applicable to all students. While we collect basic demographic information from students as part of the survey, we will not be able to link survey results to individual students. To reiterate, survey respondents will remain completely anonymous. Students took the surveys in school. This information is for our internal use as we develop our district's strategic plan and work on continuous improvement in both academics and school culture.

We are committed to maintaining and enhancing an affirming and supportive learning environment for all members of the Rose Tree Media School District. The information collected from the students will be helpful in this endeavor.

Elementary School

Middle School

High School

All-Student Survey

As parents/guardians you are an integral part of the Rose Tree Media School District community. Your feedback will help us improve the school experience for students and families. If you have children in more than one building please complete a separate survey for each school. The link below is to a preview version of the survey. The links to the live survey will be sent out by each of the school principals.

Fall 2026 Parent/Guardian Survey: Engagement & School Climate

Thank you for your continued support.

Every child at Indian Lane is a BOBCAT & we want to celebrate with each of you. Families are invited to sign up to attend ONE Bobcat Pride Breakfast during the 2026-2027 school year. Younger siblings are welcome to attend, but please only sign up for the IL student(s) on the sheet. Each student should take one spot on the sign up sheet. The Breakfast are held from 8:00 - 8:30 am.

Mark your calendars, plan ahead, and stay prepared for all that is happening at Indian Lane.

Please click on the link to access the Indian Lane Calendar of Events.

A few quick links to keep handy:

• Our school website: Indian Lane
• If your student is sick please submit Absence Form
• For an educational trip: Pre-Planned Absence Request
• Breakfast and Lunch Menus - Nutrislice / to check your student's account: MySchoolBucks
• You may follow the bus routes and check for transportation updates at MyRide360

Grades 1st - 5th 8:50 am - 3:30 pm

AM Kindergarten 8:50 am - 11:25 am

PM Kindergarten 12:55 pm - 3:30 pm

Email: mbritton@rtmsd.org
Website: https://www.rtmsd.org/Domain/9
Location: 309 South Old Middletown Road, Media, PA, USA
Phone: 610-627-7100