The Bobcat Bulletin

As shared in yesterday’s district communication, Keep an eye out for communication regarding what Monday's school day will look like.

Snow aside, it is shaping up to be a really busy week! Student Council is sponsoring two Chick-fil-A Spirit Night options in Lima, and on Friday evening the PTG will host their annual BINGO Night in the Indian Lane gymnasium. Please be sure to RSVP if you plan to attend. PTG is also collecting donations of new or gently used children’s books for Friday’s event.

You will also find information in this week’s bulletin about FID, Indian Lane yearbooks now on sale, and several volunteer opportunities coming up in March.

As we head into the last week of January, it is hard to believe that half of the school year is already behind us. The year truly begins to move quickly from this point forward. Please take a few moments to read the Bobcat Bulletin for additional updates, and be on the lookout for more information soon.

Stay warm, everyone, and be prepared for what looks like it could be the most snow we have seen in years.

Have a great weekend!

-Michelle Britton

JANUARY

• 26 | Principal Advisory Board, 2:00 p.m.
• 28 & 29 | Chick-Fil-A Spirit Nights, 4:00-7:00 p.m. *Student Council Event
• 30 | January Birthday Bash
• 30 | First Grade Field Trip
• 30 | BINGO Night, 7:00-8:00 p.m. *Please RSVP

*Volunteer & Donations for BINGO

FEBRUARY

• 3 | STEAM Club at Middletown Free Library, 4:15-5:15 p.m.
• 6 | February Bobcat Pride Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.
• 13 | Early Dismissal for 1st-5th, 12:20 p.m.; Regular K Schedule
• 16 | No School; Buildings Closed

What It Is

International Holocaust Remembrance Day honors the six million Jewish people and millions of others who were murdered during the Holocaust and pays tribute to survivors.

Brief History
January 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945. In 2005, the United Nations designated this day to remember the victims of the Holocaust and to reaffirm a commitment to combating antisemitism, racism, and hatred.

How It Is Observed
The day is observed through moments of remembrance, educational lessons, survivor testimonies, memorial ceremonies, and discussions that emphasize the importance of human rights, tolerance, and standing up against injustice

We had a great time at STEAM Club on Thursday, January 22nd. We hope to see you at the next one on Tuesday, February 3rd from 4:15-5:15 at Middletown Free Library.

As we monitor the weather forecast this weekend, we are sending this reminder that in the event of an emergency weather closing of our schools, the Rose Tree Media School District will implement a Flexible Instructional Day (FID). The Pennsylvania Department of Education allows school districts to deliver a Flexible Instructional Day during a weather-related school emergency closure.

Our FID plan has been updated for the 2025-2026 school year. Please visit the FID page on the District website for building-specific information regarding FID learning.

The district will send information related to any weather-related school day adjustments by mid-day on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

Students were challenged to build snowmen in library class using the PlusPlus blocks. It was a fun "Checkout Challenge."

Is anyone in your home scratching their head? 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. This video is very helpful in showing how to check your student's head.

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.

Hello 5th Grade Families,

We are beginning to plan the 5th Grade Party and would love your input and your help to make this celebration the best one yet!

We will be holding a planning meeting on Tuesday, February 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the ILES Library, and we hope you will join us to help get things started. The 5th Grade Party will take place in the afternoon on Wednesday, June 10th.

We are also hoping to gather parent perspectives as we begin planning. Please fill out THIS FORM by February 5th, as your feedback will help guide our first meeting. We truly appreciate your input!

Important Note: Only volunteers with clearances on file who are also involved in the planning process will be able to attend the party. There will be several meetings leading up to the event, as well as opportunities to help with setup, assisting during the party, and breakdown afterward.

Thank you for helping us make this a memorable celebration for our 5th graders. We look forward to working together!

Warmly,
Heidi Jankauskas
Meredith Neckermann
Genna Hart
Allison Marshaleck

On March 20th, Indian Lane will be celebrating our Around the World event, which also aligns with World Storytelling Day, a global celebration of the power of stories to connect people across cultures. Observed each year on the spring equinox, World Storytelling Day symbolizes balance, renewal, and new beginnings, and communities around the world mark the day by sharing stories that reflect their cultures, traditions, and values. To connect these two celebrations, Indian Lane will host a Stories Around the World event, modeled after last year’s Recipes Around the World event. Instead of sharing recipes, volunteers will share a short story that represents the culture and traditions of a country. We are currently looking for volunteers to represent different countries, whether by sharing a story from their own heritage, a country they have lived in, a country they feel connected to, or one they are interested in learning more about. Volunteers may choose a country on their own, and support and ideas will be provided along the way. Each volunteer will host a country station and read a planned story aloud as participants move between stations, listening to stories from around the world and learning about different cultures through storytelling. The volunteer time commitment for this event will be from 9:15–11:00 AM on March 20th. This event is a meaningful way to celebrate Indian Lane’s Around the World Day while honoring World Story Day through equity, inclusion, and global connection, and we would love broad and diverse participation to help bring it to life.

We will be holding the 5th Grade Career Showcase on March 26, 2026. We are in need of volunteers to present at our Showcase! Please consider telling our students about your chosen career. We are asking for volunteers to prepare a twenty minute presentation that will be shared during a rotation over the course of two hours. If you are available to join us, please complete the following survey by March 1, 2026. We will reach out to all volunteers with more specific information once presenters have signed up.

Thank you for considering joining us for this special 5th grade event!

“Electronic games and trading cards, etc. may be accessed on the school bus, but must remain in the student’s backpack during the school day. These are distracting to the education process and are easily damaged or lost. The school shall not be responsible for the loss, damage, or misuse of any personal items brought to school.

Please note: This includes recess. Students may not take toys, trading cards (such as Pokémon cards), or similar items out during recess to play or trade. These items must stay in backpacks for the entire school day.”

January is a meaningful month for learning, reflection, and community connection in RTMSD. As highlighted in our January Events & Holidays newsletter, this month’s observances were thoughtfully selected through collaboration among parents, teachers, students, and administrators to reflect the diverse cultures, histories, and values of our community. By recognizing these events and holidays, we honor the dignity of all members of our school community and continue our shared commitment to learning about one another with respect and understanding. I encourage families to explore the resources provided and join us in these opportunities for growth and engagement.

Free Parent Workshop - Screen Time Addiction

February 19, 2026 - 6:30 pm at Springton Lake Middle School

Are you concerned about a loved one’s or your own social media, internet or screen use? Would you like to learn strategies to reduce screen time for yourself and your children?

Join us for a free workshop to discuss the warning signs of internet and screen time addiction on February 19, 2026 at 6:30 pm at Springton Lake Middle School. Learn what you can do develop a healthy balance using the internet and social media. Strategies for anyone age 0 through adult.

Presented by Jennifer Rice, LMFT and Gina Bell, LCSW. We will be joined by Mike McLeod from GrowNow ADHD (Executive Function Specialist and host of the ADHD Parenting podcast), Delco Unplugged and more!

This is a friendly reminder that we go outdoors for recess as often as the weather allows. With the colder weather we have been experiencing, please make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately. Please also label all items your child brings to school, including coats, hats, gloves, lunchboxes, and other belongings, to help us keep items organized and easily identifiable.

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 2025-2026 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 - 8:40 a.m. in the Indian Lane cafeteria.

1. Go to: https://indianlaneptg.membershiptoolkit.com/

2. Create your account. Select Create Account and fill in your name, email, and password.

3. Verify your email. Click verify my email and then check your inbox for the link.

   • The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive it, check your spam or junk folders.

4. Log back in. Once your email is verified, return to the site and complete your registration.

5. Enter your information. Fill in the Parent/Family and Student details.

6. Update your child’s information. Make sure you select the correct grade and homeroom teacher so you receive classroom party and volunteer communications.

   • If your child has a special education teacher, please do not select that teacher unless your child’s homeroom is physically in that classroom.

7. Set your preferences. Complete the Directory/Publish section to choose what information is visible to others.

8. Finish up. Once these steps are complete, you will have full access to the directory.

📌 Tip: Once the Primary Account is set up, you can invite another parent or guardian by email so they can create their own login while still being connected to your family account.

Apple users: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/membership-toolkit/id912169276?platform=iphone

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