Coulston Elementary School
January 4, 2026
School News
PTO Meeting
Our next PTO meeting will be held on February 19th at 5:00 PM in the library. We invite any parents who would like to be involved to join us! This is a great opportunity to give back to our school and support our students. During the meeting, we will discuss upcoming fundraisers and spring events. The PTO truly appreciates the continued support from our Coulston families.
Just A Reminder….February 16th-School is in session
Just a reminder that school will be in session on Monday, February 16th on President’s Day. This is a snow make-up day. Please mark your calendars for this date.
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.
Yearbooks are on sale 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!!!
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Feb. 16-President’s Day-School In Session Feb. 23-SCS Loves to Read Week March 2-IREAD begins for Grades 2 & 3 March 10-Yearbook Picture Day March 13-20-Spring Break
PTO News
PTO World Finest Chocolate Fundraiser EXTENDED!
Mark your calendars! Our next PTO meeting will take place on February 19 at 5:00 PM in the library. We encourage any parents who are interested in getting involved to join us.
This is a great opportunity to connect, share ideas, and support the important work happening at our school. During the meeting, we will review upcoming fundraisers and plans for spring events.
The PTO sincerely appreciates the continued partnership and support of our Coulston families—we hope to see you there!
News from Our School Social Worker
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!
Informational Flyers
Below are two informational flyers for Parents and Caregivers. Click on picture to view full size PDF's
When is sick too sick for School?
20 Apps parents and carers need to know
Notes from the Nurse
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
Additional Information
Lines from the Library:
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.
Important Winter Weather Reminders
As we head into the winter months and the potential for inclement weather, please take a moment to make sure that your PowerSchool contact information is up to date and accurate. School delays and cancellations will be communicated using the contact information provided in PowerSchool, so it is important that we are able to reach you.
Please note that February 16 is now a snow make-up day, and school will be in session on that date.
In the event of a two-hour delay, buses will pick up students two hours later than their normal scheduled time. Please also be aware that breakfast will not be served on two-hour delay days.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we navigate the winter season.
Reminder: No Cell Phones or Smart Watches at School
This is a friendly reminder for parents that, to support a safe and focused learning environment, students are not permitted to use cell phones, smart watches, or other electronic devices during the school day. If a device is brought to school, it should be turned off and kept in a backpack at all times.
This expectation applies during class time, recess, after-school activities, and on the bus. This guideline is part of the school district’s handbook policy and aligns with Indiana state law, which allows schools to limit student use of electronic devices during the school day. Thanks for your support.
Attendance
Attendance Matters-Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day
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.
Sports Information
UPDATED for Tuesday 2/17/2026 games.
Please note the following important information about the upcoming game schedule:
Games Scheduled for Tuesday 2/17/2026 will be played at Loper Elementary.
Breakfast/Lunch Menu
Lunch Information
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.
CES Student Handbook
Please remember the following rules from the SCS Elementary Handbook:
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!
Coulston Elementary School
Phone: (317) 398-3185
Fax: (317) 392-5721
Office Hours: 7:00am - 3:30pm
Address:
121 N Knightstown Road
Shelbyville, IN 46176