The Bobcat Bulletin

What a way to wrap up the week! Our 3rd and 4th graders had an amazing author visit, we celebrated our October Birthday Bash, and of course, we ended things with our weekly PBIS Plinko game, always a crowd favorite. I love days like these because they give me the chance to spend time with our students, talk with them, laugh with them, and just enjoy the best part of my job, the kids!

One of my favorite moments came in the cafeteria when a student looked up at me with complete seriousness and asked, “Mrs. Britton, why are you dressed like a tomato?” 🍅 I had to laugh. They were not wrong! My “pumpkin hat” may have missed the mark just a little. I am including a picture so you can decide for yourself, tomato or pumpkin? Moments like that remind me how curious, funny, and observant our students are and how much joy they bring to every day.

As we look ahead to this week, I am sharing an update from our PTG about Wednesday’s Trunk or Treat, and it is shaping up to be a great one! We are getting there with 33 of our 40 trunks filled and a few more volunteers signing up. Wayside Market is confirmed and will be there selling pizza, hot dogs, and chicken fingers! Wayside is CASH or VENMO only, no credit cards. Detailed information and reminders about parking, set up, and arrival will be sent out on Tuesday. Just a reminder that parking will be in the top lot with overflow parking at Middletown Church. There is still time to sign up to help, host a trunk, or donate candy!

We have a big week ahead with Red Ribbon Spirit Week and, of course, our Halloween Parade! As always, 24 hours before the parade you will receive my detailed Halloween Parade information and final reminders. For those who know me, you know I have already been checking the weather (probably a little too often). I am doing my best to stay positive, but I will be keeping a close eye on things and will keep everyone updated if there is even the slightest chance of “rain on our parade.” 🎃 Let’s hope the forecast cooperates so we can enjoy a fun, festive day filled with costumes, smiles, and school spirit! I am looking forward to seeing so many families this week.

-Michelle Britton

Rose Tree Media School District is conducting surveys of all students in third through twelfth grade in order to gain a better understanding as to the students thoughts and feelings about their school. There are two surveys that seek to find information focusing on Academic Challenge and School Culture. For each student there is one survey that is specific to their level (Elementary/Middle/High) and a second survey that is applicable to all students. While we will collect basic demographic information from students as part of the survey, we will not be able to link survey results to individual students.

To reiterate, survey respondents will remain completely anonymous. Students in Grades 3-5 will take the surveys in school on Monday, November 3rd and it should take only a few minutes. This information is for our internal use as we develop our district's strategic plan and work on continuous improvement in both academics and school culture.

We are committed to creating and sustaining a welcoming, supportive learning environment for every member of the Rose Tree Media School District. The feedback gathered from students through this survey will give us valuable insight into their experiences and help us continue improving our schools.

If you prefer that your child not participate, please complete this Google Form by Friday, October 31, at 12:00 PM. This deadline allows us to share participation details with teachers in advance. Since Monday, November 3, is the next school day, this helps ensure teachers have time to plan accordingly.

We truly appreciate your partnership as we work together to make Rose Tree Media a place where every student can learn, grow, and thrive.

We truly appreciate your partnership as we work together to make our district the best it can be for all students.

Included is a link to a copy of the survey for you to preview

• Elementary Survey

• Middle School Survey

• High School Survey
• All Student Survey

As parents/guardians you are an integral part of the Rose Tree Media School District community. Therefore we would appreciate your participation in the following surveys:

1. Fall 2025 Parent/Guardian Survey: Engagement & School Climate

2. Fall 2025 Parent/Guardian Survey: Cell Phone Use in School

3. Fall 2025 Parent/Guardian Survey: School Calendar

OCTOBER

• 27-31 | Red Ribbon Spirit Week
• 29 | Bobcats Trunk or Treat, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
• 31 | Halloween Parade, 10:00 a.m.

NOVEMBER

• 3 | Early Dismissal at 12:20 for 1-5 grades; No PM Kindergarten
• 4 | No School for Students
• 7 | November Bobcat Pride Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

On Friday, October 24th, students celebrated earning over 500 Bobcat Brags in the month of October with "Color Wars." Each grade level was assigned a color to wear. The kids were excited to see the creativity and participation of so many students.

We are so excited to celebrate American Education Week from November 17th to 21st! As part of the celebration, we will be hosting an Open House, and we warmly invite our parents and guardians to step into our classrooms and experience a short “day in the life” of your student. Because this event takes place during regular instructional time, it will be for adults only. We are unable to accommodate younger children or siblings, as classrooms will be actively engaged in lessons and space is limited. To ensure everyone has a comfortable experience, we kindly ask that each student have no more than two guests. When you arrive, please sign in at the main lobby. You do not need Clearances to attend. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing a glimpse into all the wonderful learning happening in our classrooms!

Monday – 5th Grade (17th)

🕙 10:05–11:05

Tuesday – 4th Grade (18th)
🕤 9:30–10:15

Wednesday – 3rd Grade & Kindergarten (19th)
🕥 3rd Grade: 10:15–11:00
🕤 AM K: 9:30–10:15
🕐 PM K: 1:45–2:30

Thursday – 2nd Grade (20th)
🕤 9:30–10:15

Friday – 1st Grade (21st)
🕤 9:30–10:15

**Sign-ups for Parent-Teacher Conferences will be sent out on Monday, November 3 at 7:00 PM. Families will receive a link by email to choose their conference times. Please mark your calendar! We look forward to meeting with all of our bobcat families to celebrate student progress and goals***

John Patrick Green was a dynamic presenter on Friday, October 24th. Third and fourth graders were inspired by his "origin story" of how he became a successful author and illustrator. He explained his journey and the book making process.

In recognition of National Red Ribbon Week (October 23–31), we will celebrate at Indian Lane from October 27–31 with a special spirit week focused on making healthy choices, showing kindness, and living a positive lifestyle. The red ribbon serves as a reminder to be strong, make safe decisions, and live our best, healthiest lives.

🔴 Monday, October 27 – Red Day:

Wear your favorite red clothing or ribbons to show your commitment to healthy, happy living. Let us paint the school red for Red Ribbon Week.

Reflection: What healthy choices help you feel happy and confident?

🔄 Tuesday, October 28 – “Turn Your Back on Bad Choices!”
Wear your shirt backward to show that you are turning your back on unhealthy or unsafe choices. This day reminds us that making positive decisions helps us move forward in the right direction.

Reflection: What’s one small change you can make to help you move in the right direction?

💜 Wednesday, October 29 – Indian Lane Pride Day:
Show your Bobcat pride by wearing purple and green or your favorite Indian Lane gear. We are one community, working together to make safe and healthy choices.

Reflection: How can you be a positive friend and show kindness to others today?

💛 Thursday, October 30 – Bright Colors Day – “Too Bright for Bad Choices!”
Wear your brightest, boldest colors to light up the day and show your commitment to making positive, healthy choices.

Reflection: What’s one healthy habit that helps you shine your brightest?

🍁 Friday, October 31 – Fall Leaves of Gratitude:
As we conclude Red Ribbon Week and enjoy our Halloween parade, students will take time to reflect on the positive people and things in their lives. Each Bobcat will write a note of gratitude on a paper leaf to add to our Tree of Thanks. Together, we will celebrate kindness, community, and healthy choices that help us grow strong—just like the branches of our Bobcat family tree.

Indian Lane is launching a new “Bobcat 200 Club” to promote positive hallway behavior through PBIS. Each day, three mystery staff members will have tickets to reward students who demonstrate excellent hallway behavior. When a student earns a ticket, they will choose a random number from 1–200 and add their name to that spot on a large hallway grid. Their names will be announced the next day. Once a full row of 20 spots is filled, those students will win a mystery prize. The initiative has been met with enthusiasm and supports the school’s goal of fostering a positive, nurturing environment where students’ efforts are recognized and celebrated.

At Indian Lane, we collect data through our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework to better understand where students may need additional guidance in meeting schoolwide expectations. That data has shown that hallway behavior, especially after lunch and recess, is an area where improvement is needed. During these busy times, noise levels and movement can sometimes disrupt other classes that are still engaged in learning.

To address this, we are launching the Bobcat 200 Club as a fun and motivating way to recognize and reinforce positive hallway behavior. By catching students demonstrating excellent choices and celebrating their efforts, we aim to:

• Encourage calm, respectful transitions throughout the school.

• Minimize disruptions to learning environments.

• Build consistency in expectations across all grades and staff.

• Celebrate effort and improvement, not just perfection.

This initiative reflects our commitment to maintaining a positive, nurturing school culture where all students can learn and thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

We are focusing on safe, respectful, and responsible behavior—the three core PBIS expectations at Indian Lane. When students demonstrate these qualities in the hallway, they may earn a Bobcat 200 Club ticket from one of the mystery staff members.

Specifically, we are looking for students who:

• Walk quietly.

• Keep hands, feet, and belongings to themselves.

• Show respect by allowing learning to continue in nearby classrooms.

• Follow adult directions the first time.

• Model leadership by reminding or encouraging peers to make good choices.

Students earn "Bobcat Brags" for being ready, respectful, and responsible at school. The new brags are perforated so students can place one side of the brag into a grade-level fish bowl. Each week, three names are pulled from the fish bowl. These students get a chance to pick a prize, an experience, or both.

At Indian Lane, we are always looking for ways to celebrate students who consistently show that they are ready, respectful, and responsible. The “Bobcat Brags” helps us do just that by recognizing positive choices in a fun and motivating way.

Here is how it works:

• When a staff member sees a student demonstrating positive behavior such as following directions, helping others, showing kindness, or being prepared, the staff member gives that student a Bobcat Brag.
• The new "brags" are perforated, allowing students to keep one half as a personal reminder of their positive choice and place the other half into their grade-level fishbowl.
• At the end of each week, three names are drawn from each grade-level fishbowl.
• The selected students earn the chance to play our “Plinko” game, where they can win a prize, an experience, or both!

This system allows all students to feel recognized and motivated, no matter how small the action. It builds a positive school culture where good behavior is noticed and celebrated, reinforcing our commitment to respect, responsibility, and readiness in every area of the school.

Each year, we share a Fall Holiday Preference Survey to help us plan thoughtfully for our Halloween parade and classroom celebrations on October 31. In keeping with our commitment to cultural proficiency and inclusivity, we want to ensure that all families feel respected and that every student is supported in a way that aligns with their family’s preferences.

If your child(ren) will not be participating in the Halloween parade or party, please take a moment to complete the survey. Your responses help us create meaningful and comfortable plans for all of our Bobcats.

With Halloween just around the corner, we are preparing for a festive celebration at Indian Lane Elementary! Below are the important guidelines and information regarding costumes, the Halloween parade, parking, classroom parties, and more to ensure a fun and safe event for all.

Costume Guidelines:

• Nonviolent Costumes: Children’s costumes must be of a nonviolent nature, appropriate for school.

• Item Limitations: Costumes should not include play weapons or look-alike weapons such as grim reaper’s staff, sword, lightsabers, devil’s pitchfork, Nerf guns, or similar items.

• Horror Characters: Costumes resembling horror characters are not permitted.

• Inappropriate Costumes: Please avoid costumes that might be considered inappropriate or disrespectful to others.

• Face Make-Up: Please limit face make-up, as we have a limited amount of time to assist students.

• Inflatable Costumes: We kindly ask for your discretion regarding inflatable costumes. While we generally prefer that students avoid wearing them due to the difficulty in maneuvering through stairs and hallways, if a student chooses to wear one, they will need to put it on and take it off in the gym for the parade only.

• Costume Sharing: Students should not share their costume accessories with classmates (e.g. hats, tiaras).

• Safety Considerations: Caution your child about safety when getting on or off the bus or walking home while carrying their costume.

Halloween is all about fun, so we kindly ask that you use good judgment when selecting your child’s costume. Please send your child to school with their costume in a bag, wearing as much of it as possible. Parents will not be in classrooms to help with dressing, so it is essential for students to come prepared. If any costume items are forgotten, you can drop them off in the vestibule, and we will make sure they get to your child.

Parade Information:

• Location: If you plan to attend the Halloween parade, please head directly to the back near the playground and gather on the grass inside the track.

• No Sign-In Required: There is no need to sign in for the parade. Staff members will be present to guide you.

• Safety: Please do not remove your child from their teacher’s supervision before, during, or after the parade.

Parking:

Details regarding parking will be provided closer to the event. We often use the Middletown Presbyterian Church for parking, but availability may vary on the day. Look out for more information in upcoming communications.

Classroom Parties:

In accordance with our district's Wellness Policy, all foods offered during classroom parties should promote student health. This means that party treats will follow the Nutritional Standards published by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Division of Food and Nutrition:

• Foods will include minimal amounts of added sugar (a maximum of 2-3 items with sugar as the first ingredient).

• Parties will offer fresh fruits, vegetables, water, 100% fruit juice, or milk.

• Foods will be moderate in sodium, contain minimal to no trans fats, provide more than 2 grams of fiber per serving, and exclude foods with minimal nutritional value.

Please expect communication directly from your child’s homeroom parents and teacher with details about classroom party plans. All volunteers must have current clearances on file in order to attend. If your clearances are not up to date, you will not be able to volunteer for this event, but there will be other opportunities throughout the year.

If you have not yet signed up for the Membership Toolkit, please know that you will not receive emails from homeroom parents.

PM Kindergarten Dismissal Procedures:

Kindergarten teachers will communicate dismissal procedures directly with families.

We are excited to celebrate Halloween with our wonderful Indian Lane Elementary community! If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for helping us create a memorable and safe Halloween for all of our students.

Get ready for a spook-tacular evening at Indian Lane’s Trunk or Treat on Wednesday, October 29th, from 5:00–6:30 PM in the lower parking lot! Join us for frightful fun, fang-tastic trunks, and a night full of community spirit. We’re looking for up to 40 creatively decorated trunks—there will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place! Families can enjoy pizza for sale, while soft pretzels, apple cider, and water will be provided free of charge courtesy of the PTG. Don’t forget to stop by our autumn-themed photo booth for a great family snapshot!

Volunteer opportunities are available for greeters, clean-up crew, photo booth helpers, and snack stand assistants—please see the Sign-Up Genius for details. Each trunk should bring its own peanut-free candy or prizes to hand out; the PTG will provide additional treats and gladly accepts donations. A $5 suggested donation per student (cash or Venmo) helps support this event.

To help us plan for food and candy, please complete the Google Form to RSVP. Families who would benefit from a sensory-friendly start are welcome to arrive at 4:45 PM, with general admission beginning at 5:00 PM. Be sure to indicate your preferred start time on the RSVP form.

It’s going to be a boo-tiful night filled with costumes, candy, and community fun! 🎃

– Indian Lane PTG

SIGN UP For a TRUNK or VOLUNTEER HERE

Let us know you're coming! Siblings are welcome to attend as well. Please RSVP to ILES Trunk or Treat

HERE: RSVP to Trunk or Treat HERE

As part of the Rose Tree Media School District’s strategic planning process, we are updating our mission and vision statements to reflect the values and aspirations of our community. Your voice is essential in this work.

We invite staff, parents, and guardians to complete a brief Google Form to share your perspectives on what makes our district unique, what experiences every student should have each day, and what qualities we hope to see in our graduates. Your input will directly inform the development of mission and vision statements that guide our work now and in the future.

Please take a few minutes to complete the Google Form here: RTMSD Mission & Vision

Thank you for partnering with us to shape the future of Rose Tree Media School District.

In 2023, a dedicated group of parents, teachers, students and administrators met monthly to review and discuss the many cultural holidays and other events that occur throughout the school year. This group collaborated and created the list of holidays and events that we will recognize, instruct or celebrate in our schools. The holidays and events you will see each month in this newsletter were chosen by our community. Please email Ralph Harrison if you have any suggestions or ideas about our monthly events and holidays. We honor DIGNITY by taking the time to learn about the cultures of all of our community members.

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.

Students are permitted to have prescribed and over-the-counter medications at school provided that the proper paperwork is submitted. Please refer to the Student Medication Authorization Form for more details on what needs to be submitted. Call Mrs. LaRose at 610-627-7104 with any questions.

Bobcat Campaign Facts

What is it? The Bobcat Club Campaign is a PTG fundraiser created to allow Indian Lane families a way to donate money directly to IL PTG instead of traditional buying/selling fundraisers (for example, wrapping paper, silent auction, cookie sales, etc.)

The campaign is our main fundraiser and we do it at the start of the school year. The money we collect sets our budget for the year. The more money we collect, the more we can do!

100% of your donation supports PTG events like the Holiday Extravaganza, Bingo for Books, the Bobcat Winter Festival, Kindergarten Ice Cream Social, Popsicles on the Playground, Run-the-Lane, Teacher Luncheons... and more!

Our goal is to achieve 100% family participation. Simply decide what amount you are comfortable with giving and make a one-time donation.

To continue to support Indian Lane with our current PTG events and to avoid the need for additional fundraisers during the upcoming school year, we need your support to reach our fundraising goal of $13,000. This is our 2025-26 operating budget, not a savings account.

Donations are on the household level and all donations are appreciated and confidential.

Your donation may be tax deductible and many companies have programs that will match the charitable contributions made by their employees. Check with your company today!

All families that donate will get a 2025-26 school year magnet!

Donate to the Bobcat Club Campaign Today! Here's How:

1. Click this link or scan this QR code and fill out the Google form with the details of your donation
   
2. Choose your payment method (Venmo, PayPal, Cash, or Check payable to ILES PTG) and make your donation following the instructions provided below.
3. That's it! You're done!
   

IMPORTANT: No matter the method of payment, please fill out the Google form from Step 1 above and include a note/memo it’s for the Campaign and your family/student’s name.

The December Sing-Along is one of the most joyful and heartwarming traditions at Indian Lane. Our students love coming together, and it has always been so special to welcome families to share in the celebration. Over the past few years, families have kindly shared with me that the gym has become more and more crowded, making it difficult to see and enjoy the performance. At the same time, I know how deeply this tradition is loved. With that in mind, Mr. Fisher and I worked together to find a way to keep this wonderful tradition alive while making it even more comfortable for everyone.

This year, we will hold two concerts on the same day instead of one. By expanding to two performances, we can continue the tradition we all treasure, while giving families more space and a better viewing experience. Rather than changing the event, we see this as enhancing it so that everyone feels welcome and included.

Thursday, December 11th:

• Morning Concert – 9:15 AM
  AM Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 4

• Afternoon Concert – 2:00 PM
  PM Kindergarten, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 5

We understand that some families may need to attend both concerts, and we truly appreciate the extra effort this may take. We also plan to still offer a virtual option for those who are not able to attend in person, so that every family has the opportunity to enjoy this tradition.

Please know that this decision was made with great care, based on the thoughtful feedback you have shared. I am so grateful to Mr. Fisher for his willingness to adjust the format, and I am thankful to our families for the love and support you bring to this tradition. We will include a survey after the event to take your feedback on the new format.

-Michelle Britton

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

Sunday November 9, 2025

12 pm - 2 pm at Louis Scott Stadium

Grades 1 - 5

Presented by PHS Players & Coaches

all participants need a stick, mouthguard and goggles to play

$30 per Player (includes t-shirt)

Pay cash at the door or venmo: penncrest-girlslacrosse

Click this link to register before November 1st
Questions? Contact jacbaker@rtmsd.org

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