October 2026

Empowering Students Through Communications & Lifelong Learning

At South Elementary School, we are a learning community nurturing a culture to provide students the skills necessary to be active, productive, and responsible citizens while empowering students through communications.

Every school day counts! When students attend school regularly, they build stronger skills, form lasting friendships, and develop good habits for the future. Missing just two days a month—even if they're excused—can add up to nearly a month of lost learning over the school year.

We know life happens! If your child needs to miss school, please let us know as soon as possible. If you're facing challenges getting your child to school regularly, we're here to help—reach out to the office or the counselor, and we'll work together to find solutions.

Let's make this a great year of learning together. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your child is here, ready to learn, every day!

Anti-Bullying: Artesians Choose Kindness Campaign

The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville will kick off an "Anti-Bullying: Artesians Choose Kindness Campaign" on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The purpose of the Campaign is to educate students about the various forms of bullying and the steps they can take to help stop bullying. The long-term goal is to eliminate "bullying" in our schools and to better provide a learning environment where students respect and treat one another with more kindness.

Health and safety experts conclude: 1) Preventing bullying among children requires more awareness and intervention among adults. 2) All school personnel should be aware of the extent of the bully/victim problems in our school and should involve themselves in changing the situation. 3) Bullying prevention interventions improve the overall school climate. 4) Bullying prevention interventions should target the entire school population. 5) National bullying prevention experts recommend that schools research the subject and develop a school anti-bullying plan, which might include developing school rules against bullying, establishing classroom rules against bullying, raising school awareness, and conducting staff and student discussions on the subject.

During the “Anti-Bullying: Artesians Choose Kindness Campaign” in October 2026, using a district-wide newsletter and various curricular activities, we will educate and inform our school community about the following.

What is bullying?
Types of bullying.
Causes of bullying.
Children who bully.
How common is bullying?
Targets of bullying.
Effects of bullying.
Stories of bullying.
What to do if you are being bullied.
What you can do if you witness bullying.
What our school can do to stop bullying.

South Elementary School of Communications will be participating in various activities throughout the month including our Kindness Calendar.

Upcoming Events

October

October 1 Anti bullying Freddy Fever convocation

October 2 End of 9 weeks

October 2 3rd Grade Field Trip

October 5 Flu Clinic (with consent)

October 5 Kindergarten Field Trip

October 6 PTO meeting 5PM

October 6 Morgan County Unified Track & Field Day

October 6 Honor Choir 7PM at MHS

October 8 Half Day instruction; Parent Teacher conferences (early release schedule; Elementary will dismiss at 12:35PM; PreK will dismiss at 12:00PM)

October 12-16 Fall Break-No School

October 19 Elementary 2K Fun Run

October 20 Vision Screening 9-10:30 PK (with consent), K, 1, and 3

October 27 ILEARN Checkpoint 1 4th Grade Math

October 28 ILEARN Checkpoint 1 3rd Grade ELA

November 3 ILEARN Checkpoint 1 4th Grade ELA

November 4 ILEARN Checkpoint 1 3rd Grade Math

Week of November 9 Book Fair

November 11 Veterans' Day Program

November 12 Grandparents' Night

Flu Clinic October 5th

Flu Clinic on October 5th:

South's Flu Clinic is being held on October 5th. All staff and students are welcome. Individuals can sign up using the paper consent form OR the online QR code that is on the bottom of the letter!

Flu Clinic Letter Information

Flu Vaccine Consent Form

Parent Teacher Conferences & eLearning Day October 8th

Parent/Teacher Conferences/Early Release on October 8th:

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on October 8, 2026 from 1:00PM-8:00PM @ South Elementary School of Communications. Students will attend school half day. School will start at the normal time on October 8th at 8:40AM. Students will be released at 12:00PM for PreK and 12:35PM for bus and car riders.

You can schedule your conference(s) during the window of September 21-October 2. The directions are below to schedule your conference.

To schedule your parent/teacher conference:

You can go to Family Access and choose “Teacher Conferences” on the left side.
You can choose “All Conferences”.
You will be able to select a time that is available and works for your schedule.
Then, click on save.
If you have more than one student, then you will need to schedule a separate time for each student.
You will be able to start scheduling on Monday, September 21st. The window to select a time will close on Friday, October 2nd.
If you do not sign up for a time, your child’s teacher will reach out to assign you a time.
If you need to change a time, then you can go back into Family Access and the Teacher Conferences tab. Go under View Schedule Time to unschedule and then select your new time.
Here is a video that can help you with scheduling your conference, How to schedule Parent/Teacher Conferences in Skyward.

SpeedZone Indoor Playground-October Discount

FFF Kids Event October 10th

FALL BREAK-October 12-16

Elementary 2K Run-October 19th; Forms due by October 9th

Be keeping an eye out for more information about our 2K Run October 19th! Forms will be sent out after Labor Day! One of my favorite things to plan and I can’t wait.
Starting this year, we are not going to do any timing because it creates quite a mess at the finish line and this is for fun. If you would like to know your child’s time, you can time them at the start and then make sure you’re at the finish line when your child comes across. We also will not be pulling those stickers off the students because that creates a mess as well. When you arrive with your child we will still give you one of those labels with their name on it so that we know the student has signed the waiver form but other than that, they will not be taken off at the finish line. I hope this creates a more smooth finish at the line. It will also be more enjoyable for those of us running the event to be able to cheer on our students and take pictures too. Looking forward to a big turnout.

School Blood Drive October 20th

Storybook Character Pumpkin Contest-Week of October 26th

Red Ribbon Week-Week of October 26th

Fall Parties-October 30th

Grandparents/Family Night-November 12th

4-H Project Open House November 14th

Yearbook Orders

South Elementary Events Calendar

Click to view the South Elementary calendar.

MSD of Martinsville Events Calendar

Click to view the district calendar.

District Calendar

2026-2027 MSD of Martinsville South Elementary Student Handbook

(Click to view)

WELL WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

WELL WEDNESDAY INFORMATION

On Wednesday mornings, staff will be participating in professional development to improve student learning and success.

Therefore, doors will open at 9:25AM with school starting at 9:40AM for all students, including Pre-K.

Free childcare is provided on Wednesdays from 8:25-9:25 by South staff.Contact the South office if childcare is needed from 8:25-9:25 on Wednesdays.

Information on Reading

Information from Transportation

Information from Food Service

All MSD of Martinsville students will receive Free breakfast and Free lunch this School year. Full tray meals that meet USDA nutrition standards are included. A la carte & individual items are not included, but are available at a set cost.

Questions? Contact the Food Service Department for details at 765-342-6641.

Communication-ParentSquare & Class Dojo

ParentSquare

The MSD of Martinsville, South office, and some of the South teachers use ParentSquare for school and district communication, primarily with email, text and app notifications. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each family, using their preferred email address and phone number.

Here’s what you can do with ParentSquare:

Receive messages from the school and district via email, text or app notification.
Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6pm.
Communicate in your preferred language.
Comment on school postings to engage with your school community and more all from your desktop or mobile device.
Report attendance for your child if your child is going to be absent.
Receive District ArtieStories

Add the free app today!

For more information and training videos, please visit our

website www.msdofmartinsville.org/community.

Class Dojo

Most South Elementary teachers will still be using Class Dojo to communicate with parents. Class Dojo is FREE. You do not need to pay for this app. Your child's teacher will send home more information to get connected.

Help Us To Keep Our Arrival & Dismissal Safe and Efficient!

Arrival

We ask that all parents/guardians dropping students off Remain In Your Vehicle during drop off.
No Parking in the drop off lines. If you need to park to come into the office, then please park in a parking spot and report to the office.
We need to keep the lines moving. So please do not park or get out of your vehicle.
We will have South staff members outside and at the doors to guide the students into the school.
You can drop off students at the front of the building in the front drive OR in the circle lot.
Staff will be located at both locations to assist.
Pre-K students should be dropped off in the circle lot in the designated area for Pre-K.
If you are dropping off in front of the building, buses will drop off first. You will need to line up in the staff lot and then will be pulled forward after the buses have dropped off.
Do not drop students off prior to seeing staff outside to supervise. The doors open at 8:25AM.
Please be patient and respectful during arrival as we want to make sure that everyone remains safe.

Dismissal

PreK dismisses at 3PM in the circle lot.
Busses are loaded between 3:35PM-3:40PM.
Walkers and car riders are dismissed and staff will begin loading vehicles after the busses are loaded and dismissed.
Walkers are dismissed from the back of the building.
Kindergarten and Daycare students can be picked up in the circle lot. If a Kindergarten student has an older sibling at South, the older sibling would be picked up in the circle lot also.
Students in grades 1-4 can be picked up in the front drive. In the front drive, cars will be moved up in line once the busses have been loaded and dismissed.
Parents/guardians picking up students should Remain In Your Vehicle during dismissal. Students will be called to each vehicle.
Car tags are available in the office.
Traffic in both locations will remain stopped until students are loaded safely. Staff members will be calling names so that students come to the vehicles.
Remain in the car rider lines and follow staff direction for movement.
Please be patient and respectful during dismissal as we want to make sure that everyone remains safe.
Please remain in vehicles. Do not walk to the front doors to wait on your child.

Attendance

Reporting An Absence

To report an absence for your child, please call the office at

(765) 349-1486 by 9:00AM. If you do not call the school by 9:30 a.m. and report the absence, the school messaging system, someone from the school, or the attendance officer may be calling your home. You can also dojo the teacher or put a message in ParentSquare to notify the office about your child's attendance.

If you find that your child is still ill the next day, another phone call from you to the school is necessary. At this time, arrangements may be made to send home make up work for your child so that he/she does not fall behind in the classroom. Schoolwork will be sent with a sibling, neighbor, or you may pick the work up at the end of the day.
Upon returning from home to school, a note should be sent to the teacher explaining the absence. A doctor visit should be documented with a statement from the doctor so that it can be entered in the school data system. Doctor statements should be faxed to 765-349-5247 or given to the office.
Call the school office or send a note on the day before or the day of the appointment. This helps teachers plan for tests, homework, etc. The note should contain the date, the time, and the reason for the appointment/absence.
If your child has a slip from the dentist/doctor’s office, please have your child drop it off at the office when your child returns to school.
We ask that you not keep a child out of school for the entire day for a doctor or dental appointment.
Please keep these appointments to a minimum. The best time to schedule appointments is toward the end of the day.
If a child is sent home with a fever of 100.4 degrees or over, he/she is not to return to school until fever free for 24 hours without fever medication.

Tardies

Call the school as soon as possible, informing us that your child is going to be late.
Bring your child in as soon as possible, as teachers start their lessons as early as 8:40 a.m.
Sign your child in at the office, with an explanation for the tardy.

*A number of unexcused or questionable absences and tardies for any child are reported to our district attendance officer. Daily records are kept on all students and weekly reports are made.

MARTINSVILLE SCHOOLS

IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES

2026-2027

Regular attendance is essential for children to be successful in their educational endeavors. Students are bound by the requirements of the Indiana Compulsory Attendance Laws. Students are expected to attend school regularly and be on time for classes in order to benefit from instructional programs and develop responsible personal habits that are respected in society and therefore a part of the educational process.

MSD OF MARTINSVILLE ACTION PLAN:

In an effort to improve the safety, graduation rate, and overall individual personal success of students in the MSD of Martinsville, the District’s Attendance Team worked this past year to streamline the District’s Attendance Process. The effort has increased diligence, pursuance, and attention to details regarding the process, communication, academic options, follow-up, and records with school attendance.

Legislative updates now only focus on habitual truancy.

Habitual truancy equals 10 days of unexcused absences.

DISTRICT ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Due to updates with Indiana Code for Indiana Attendance Compulsory Laws, the District Attendance Policy was updated on July 25, 2024.

Attendance Guidelines

AUTHORIZED ABSENCES: If documentation is not provided, these absences will be recorded as unexcused absences.
After 5 Parent call ins/notes (dojo, Parent Square, email), a doctor's note will be required to be counted as excused.
DOCUMENTATION: All legal or medical documentation must be submitted within 6 days for the absence to be recorded as excused. The school’s fax # is 765-349-5247.

Attendance Letters

Attendance letters are generated and sent via email on the 5th unexcused absence, 10th unexcused, and 18th unexcused absence. Attendance letters will also be generated for any parent call in/note beyond 5 parent call ins/notes.

Guidelines for Duty to Report to DCS Regarding Attendance (IDOE)

Under IC 20-33-2-25, the “Superintendent or an attendance officer having jurisdiction shall report a child who is habitually absent from school in violation of this chapter to an intake officer of the juvenile court or the department of child services. The intake officer or the department of child services shall proceed in accord with IC 31-30- through IC 31-40.”

Everyone should report abuse or neglect. The reporting and investigating of suspected child abuse and neglect are not discretionary matters. They have been required by law (IC 31-33-5-1) since 1979.

Do Report When...

Students have reached ten (10) or more unexcused absences.
Educational neglect is suspected
Students are missing and unaccounted for

*Complete details of attendance procedures and guidelines can be found in the student handbook.

Title I Services

Federal funding has been made available through school-wide Title I services to South Elementary for the purpose of providing students with extra support in reading and language arts. This extra support is available for all students at South Elementary. Classroom teachers, Title I teachers, and instructional assistants will provide assistance in reading, language arts, and math through small group and individual instruction as children demonstrate need for support. Please contact Jessica Shanafelt at 765-349-1486 Ext. 1628 with any questions about support your child may receive.

Checking A Student Out Of School Early

Only adults listed on a student's emergency contacts will be able to check out a student from school. Please be sure your child's emergency contacts are updated and kept up to date in SKYWARD. In addition, anyone picking up a child, will need identification to be able to check a student out of school. Students will be counted tardy if leaving school early.

Visitor Information

No visitors will be allowed beyond the front foyer area unless they have an approved, scheduled meeting. We will not be having visitors for breakfast or lunch. All visitors must have a background check on file in the office before volunteering.

Information from the Clinic

1) Medical Conditions - If your student has a medical condition requiring accommodations or emergency action plans at school, an updated physician's order is required each new school year. This ensures the school has the most up to date information and instructions. Action plans for asthma, diabetes, anaphylaxis and seizures should be faxed to the school from your child’s physician.

2) Medications - If your child requires medication during the school year, medication must be sent in the original container labeled with your child’s name and date of birth. All prescription medications must have an intact, up to date label. All over the counter medications must be in an unopened container. Package directions will be followed on all medications. In addition, a permission form must be on file and signed by the parent/guardian.

YMCA Before and After School Care

PTO Meetings

Want to get involved?!? Join South Elementary School PTO!!! The monthly meetings will typically be the first Tuesday of each month at 5PM. The first meeting will be on October 6, 2026. PTO has spirit wear available for purchase.

PTO OFFICERS

President: Joanna Chamberlain

Vice President: Chelsea Voyles

Secretary: Jessica Hostetter

Treasurer: April Shover

PTO Upcoming Events

Chess Club

Chess Club is for grades 2-4. Chess Club is every Tuesday after school until 4:15. Reach out to Mrs. Hostetter or Mrs. Pilat with any questions.

HONOR CHOIR

Practices are underway for Honor Choir. Honor Choir is on Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30pm.The concert will be October 6th at MHS. Reach out to Mrs. Harris, South and Poston music teacher, with any questions.