The Wildcat

• PTO information
• Volunteer Information
• 4th Grade Growing Up
• Parent book club
• ILEARN Checkpoint Information
• Girls B-Ball Info
• Halloween Party Information
• Highland Highlights Newsletter
• Absenteeism Information
• Extracurricular
• Cafeteria Information
• Arrival and Dismissal

Monday, October 13th-Girls basketball practice 2:30-4pm

Tuesday, October 14th-Girls basketball practice 2:30-4pm

Wednesday, October 15th-Bricks For Kids 2:30-3:30pm

-Girls Basketball Championship Game @ HHS @ 7pm

Thursday, October 16th-PTO meeting @ 6pm

Friday, October 17th-NO SCHOOL- Fall Break

Monday, October 20th-NO SCHOOL- Fall Break

PTO Dates

10/16 PTO Meeting 6PM

10/24 Monster Bash 6PM-8PM

10/28 $1 Pajama Day

10/30 Four Little Lemon’s Coffee at Drop Off (Stay Tuned-New Google Form to come soon!)

10/31 Class Halloween Party

Volunteers Needed!!!

Monster Bash is almost here, and we need YOU to help make it a success!

Please click the link below to sign up for a shift — every helping hand makes a big difference.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F4DAAAB2DA4F49-59285266-monster

Without our amazing volunteers, events like this wouldn’t be possible!

Thank you for supporting Johnston Elementary PTO!

We love our volunteers! For our children's safety, we always have to scan the license of our volunteers before they can be in classrooms, go on field trips, or any other activities. Thanks for all you do for our students and staff!

4th Grade Parents/Guardians,

Students in 4th grade throughout the School Town of Highland are about to study an important lesson on the early stages of puberty, which many students this age are beginning to experience.

The School Town of Highland Health Services Department partners with Procter and Gamble and uses the Always Changing and Growing Up© program that helps both girls and boys. This program allows students to understand the physical and emotional changes they experience during puberty and acknowledges them as a regular part of growth and development. It also helps students learn the physiology of their bodies and correct terminology for parts of the reproductive system. Lastly, for the 4th-grade girls, it allows the students to learn how to manage periods while continuing normal activities.

The Always Changing and Growing Up© Program is based on national research and consultation with school nurses, health educators, parents, and medical professionals. It has been a trusted source for over 30 years and has been taught to millions of students nationwide. Procter and Gamble brands provide it as a free education resource to our schools.

We will have this program on October 16, 2025. The female and male students will be separated and shown a video. They will review the video and have a short question-and-answer session with the teacher and/or nurse who is facilitating the lesson.

If you would like to view the videos that will be shown, they can be found at:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv21b3ZpSLg (Female Lesson)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzVKrDDarjs&t=2s (Female Lesson)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XF0awGRTWs (Male Lesson)

It’s Time for Johnston Elementary’s Annual Monster Bash!

Want to skip the long line at the door?
Buy your wristbands and tickets early and use our special presale entrance!

Presale Dates:
• Wednesday, October 22
• Thursday, October 23
After school only

Presale Prices:
• Wristbands: $25
• Tickets: 3 for $1

Day-Of Prices:
• Wristbands: $30
• Tickets: 2 for $1

Important Notes:
• Wristbands are valid for attractions and games only
• Wristbands do not include food
• Food requires tickets only
• No replacements for lost wristbands
• Cash and card accepted

Be on the lookout for a SignUpGenius coming out

• School-appropriate costumes and accessories (no weapons). Students will put costumes on after lunch
• The parade begins inside the school for the kids at 1:00 PM
• Check the photo below to know where parents and paparazzi can take pictures
• Only room parents are allowed in for the classroom parties starting after the parade

📖 Chapter 4: The Loneliness Explosion

Despite being constantly “connected,” today’s teens are lonelier than ever. Haidt outlines how social media creates a sense of comparison, superficial interaction, and performance pressure. In-person friendships—built on shared experiences and emotional closeness—have declined, replaced by digital communication that often lacks depth. He shares data showing dramatic increases in loneliness, particularly among girls, which correlate with the rise of smartphone use and the decline of real-life interactions. Haidt urges parents to prioritize real-world relationships for their children, even when it's inconvenient or requires effort.

Reflection Questions:

• How often does your child spend meaningful, in-person time with friends?

• Are there ways you can help foster more real-life social connections for your child?

Anyone can access it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk2iNrwl0pdy-TG4SObKStZgXvXlmC91b

Or download a digital copy or audiobook through the library app, Libby.

Mark your calendar for a book club meeting on December 11th to discuss the book about halfway through the "virtual" book club.

Did you received the first edition of the Highland Highlights Newsletter? Check out all the exciting things that are happening at all of our School Town of Highland schools!

https://www.highland.k12.in.us/page/highland-highlights-newsletter

Through the above link, people can subscribe to the Highland Highlights if they did not automatically receive it in their inbox, as well as view previous editions.

3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Families,

This year, your child will participate in ILEARN checkpoints as part of Indiana’s statewide assessment program. These checkpoints help provide valuable information about student progress and growth throughout the school year.

Please see the attached document from the Indiana Department of Education for more details about the purpose of these checkpoints and what you can expect. We encourage you to read through the information carefully.

If you have any questions after reviewing the attachment, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your continued support.

3rd grade ILEARN Checkpoint Guidance for Families.pdf

4th grade ILEARN Checkpoint Guidance for Families.pdf

5th grade ILEARN Checkpoint Guidance for Families.pdf

Pack 297 Meets at American Legion Post 180 in Highland two Monday's a month at 6:30 - 7:30 pm. They are a family pack who welcomes both boys and girls.

Breakfast is $1.75

Lunch is $2.25

You can find both menus here: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2809100435083594&page=menus

Birthday treats can be purchased through the cafe ONLY: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/schools/sth_2809100435083594/catering/Updated_BDay_Treat_form_3.21.24.pdf

Go here for free/reduced lunch (this needs to be renewed yearly): https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2809100435083594&page=lunchapps

• Doors open for students at 7:35 a.m. daily. Students who eat breakfast at school will be allowed entry beginning at 7:20 a.m. Anyone arriving after 7:50 a.m. will need to buzz and come into the main office to sign in.

• Cars will enter the parking lot off Duluth Street (right turn only) and follow the curve to drop off students. Please pull up as far as you can and drop all your students off at one time. Have your children ready with their backpacks, lunch money, hugs, and kisses, so that when you stop they may exit the car quickly, and we can keep the drop-off line moving. The line can become backed up onto Duluth Street very quickly which causes safety issues for our parents, as well as other drivers.

• Please drop off curbside only. Avoid dropping children off where they have to cross the street, this is extremely dangerous. It will be your responsibility to cross them if you choose to do this.

• Please be mindful of other drivers and walkers. We know many of you have to get to work, and we want all children to be able to enter the building safely and on time.

• Doors C and B will be utilized for entrance as usual. Drop-off is-K, 3, 4 at Door B, and 1 and 2 at Door C.

• 5th graders and Lifeskills class will use Door G.

At the end of the school day, the following doors will be used for dismissal:

• Grade K will exit through door J (FIVE minutes before the rest of the grade levels)

• Grade 1 will exit through door C (main doors)

• Grade 2 will exit through door B

• Grade 3 will exit through door J

• Grade 4 will exit through door I

• Grade 5 and Lifeskills class will exit through door G

• Bus riders will exit through door J (a few minutes prior to the remainder of the school being dismissed where the buses will be waiting).

Cars may enter the parking lot off Duluth Street and follow the curve to pick up or park in the parking lot to walk up to get students.

We would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation as we strive to keep our Johnston families safe.

Please don't hesitate to contact us in the office for any ideas, thoughts, concerns, or words of encouragement! We are all part of this large extended mix of wonderful people we affectionately refer to as our Johnston Family.

Email: aharring@highland.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.highland.k12.in.us/o/jes
Location: 8220 5th Street, Highland, IN, United States
Phone: 219.923.2428
Facebook: facebook.com/johnstonpto
Twitter: @harrington_jn