Coulston Elementary School

Parent Night Opportunity

Please join us on January 29th at 6:00 PM at SCS Administration Office for a Parent Workshop focused on Tools for Today’s Parents. We’ll share tips on technology, behavior, and supporting the school and home behavior connection. Space is limited, so please sign up if you plan to attend. We hope to see you at this event!

Kindergarten Round-Up-2026 Continues this week

Kindergarten Round-Up continues this week! If you have not yet enrolled your child, or know someone who will have a kindergarten student, please encourage them to complete enrollment this week.

Kindergarten Round-Up takes place throughout the month of January and is the time to register incoming kindergarten students for the 2026–2027 school year. During this process, parents may visit the school to pick up and complete the required registration paperwork. If you have any questions, please contact our front office at 317-398-3185. We look forward to welcoming our future Coulston Comets!

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.

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!!!

inter-state.com/order

Code: 0287GS

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.

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 January 19 and February 16 are now snow make-up days, and school will be in session on both dates.

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.

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.

• Jan. 19- School is in session-Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• Jan. 19-ILEARN Checkpoint #2 for grades 3-5

• Jan. 19-CogAT Assessment for Kindergarten and 2nd grades

• Jan. 21-PTO Chocolate Bar candy sales begin

• Feb. 4-Yearbook Picture Day

• Feb. 6-Third Quarter Mid-Term

• Feb. 13-Valentine’s Day Party

We kicked off our World’s Finest Chocolate fundraiser this week! Proceeds from the fundraiser help support school programs and student activities at Coulston. Each purchase provides valuable resources for our students and teacher, and you get to enjoy some delicious chocolate, too!!!

The fundraiser began on January 21, and just a reminder that students must return all collected money before receiving another box. Thank you for your continued support of Coulston’s PTO!

Please check out Mrs. Reed’s January newsletter. Her focus for the month will be Attendance and Conflict Resolution. Check out the wonderful resources provided as well!

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

Lines from the Library

As we begin the month of January, we encourage families to make daily reading a priority at home. Reading for just 20 minutes each day helps strengthen comprehension, build vocabulary, and improve overall academic success. Regular reading also supports focus, confidence, and a love of learning that benefits students across all subject areas. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s growth by setting aside time each day for reading. Keep reading!

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.

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.

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!