The Wildcat

• Dates to know
• PTO Update
• Winning Class for Attendance
• Perseverance winners
• Honor Roll
• Boys' Basketball
• Body Safety
• Yearbook Information
• Math Bowl
• Spaghetti Dinner
• Volunteer Information
• Parent book club
• All Pro Dad
• ILEARN Checkpoint Information
• Cold Weather Information
• Highland Highlights Newsletter
• Absenteeism Information
• Tutoring at the Library
• Extracurricular
• Cafeteria Information
• Arrival and Dismissal

Tuesday, January 13th-Honor Roll Breakfast @ 7:20am

Wednesday, January 14th-Student Council 2:30-3:30pm

Monday, January 19th-No School-Martin Luther King Day

1/13 Honor Roll Breakfast 7:20AM in the Gym

1/15 PTO meeting 2:40PM in the Library

1/16 Spirit Wear orders due: https://pro-amteamsports.chipply.com/JOHNSTONELEMENTARYfall/?action=viewall

1/20-1/23 Scholastic Book Fair

4th

A

Gretchen Bishop

Chase Geringer

Jayden Mendiola

Ellie Villagomez

Iker Deluna

Joey Stooksbury

A/B

Alexis Alba

Sandra Almaraz

Mila Andres

Maxwell Barnett

Julius Bravo

Jaxson Cyphers

Giovanni Hernandez

Olivia Moore

Cole Piotrowski

Jayden Tolliver

Charlotte Dyke

Ava Mantel

Brayden McDonald

Cooper Poppa

Mason Frederick

Olivia Holloway

Amelia Kiest

Jason Waslevich

5th

A

Miles Kozak

Gracelyn Mueller

Sarah Pottorf

Bellamy Avina

Dahlia Phillips

A/B

Kingston Bone

Amaya Dawkins

Isabel Hernandez

Ava Hill

Gunner Hiller

Kaydin Jimenez

Averi Lustig

Matteo Moramontes Mora

Evan Poteete

Noah Sexton

Kinsley Westfall

Owen Kiest

Sophia Schoon

Sanchez (Tre) Tate

Ash Van Bodegraven

Nixon Anderson

Oliver Dahlke

Mason Frederick

Jovan Gallardo

Alonzo Hufnagle

Owen Kiest

Jayden Mendiola

Cooper Poppa

Damien Reyes

Noah Sexton

Tre Tate

Colton Valiunas

Hello Wildcat Parents and Guardians,

Once again, I will present body safety lessons to grades K-5 this year. The lessons will be given over several weeks, starting the week of January 19th. These are the most important lessons of the year. Please take this opportunity to discuss with your child the importance of keeping their body safe and what to do should they ever find themself in an uncomfortable situation. Below are the links to the videos I will use in the classrooms. Please note that the videos are age-appropriate and will be watched and used as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, you can contact me by email.

Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center:

Protect Yourself Rules Grades K-3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8R2g5QrDAw

Protect Yourself Rules Grades 4-6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RteEiMNIdYo

Rachel Jennings

Elementary Counselor

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!

• • Chapter 9: Preparing for Collective Action

    Haidt argues that reclaiming childhood cannot fall solely on individual parents—it must become a collective effort. He emphasizes that parents, educators, communities, policymakers, and tech companies must coordinate to reshape the environments children grow up in. Awareness paired with shared norms—like delaying smartphone ownership—can reduce peer pressure and make phone-free childhoods feasible and sustainable for families and institutions alike. This chapter lays the groundwork for collective strategies and advocates for building cultural momentum toward healthier digital norms. (books summaries, Medium, SuperSummary)

    Reflection Questions:

    • Who in your community could you partner with to support healthier digital habits for kids?

    • What shared norms or agreements might make it easier for families to delay smartphones or reduce screen dependence?

    
    

  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.

All Pro Dads is a nationwide program that provides an opportunity for dads to spend quality time with their children that will strengthen their relationship.

For one hour each month you'll get to join other dads and kids at school for a fun, memory-making event.

You can find out more information here: https://allprodad.com/parents/

If you are interested, please let us know here: https://forms.gle/NvJP5xcKGSskhSEK9

Winter is here bringing cooler weather and germs! Here is our STOH attendance policy for illnesses:

When a child is ill or shows signs of illness, such as a fever (temperature 100 degrees or higher), a rash or vomiting, the child must be kept home until symptoms disappear and temperature has been normal for a least 24 hours. Children returning to school and not meeting these requirements will be sent home. Students who are absent due to sickness or that go home sick during the school day cannot participate in extracurricular activities/events for the days they are absent. If a child sent home due to illness returns to school the next day, no note is needed. Otherwise, a written excuse, dated and signed by a parent or guardian, must be sent with the child returning to school after an absence. A statement from a doctor may be required after an absence due to a contagious disease, surgery, hospitalization, or an absence of 5 or more consecutive days. All exemptions from participation in physical activities will require a statement from the doctor. If a child becomes ill at school, the parents need to pick up the child or have the child picked up in a timely manner—no longer than one (1) hour. Children will only be released from school to a parent/guardian or his/her designee.

When in doubt, reach out to the nurse for help!

I am wishing you all a wonderful cozy season!!

Yours In Health,

Cheryl Progler, RN

Just a reminder that we try and have our students go outside each day to run around and get some fresh air. With our weather changing (day to day!), please be sure your child has outerwear so that he/she is comfortable outside.

If you are in need of any items, Mrs. Jennings has several gently used coats and a few pairs of boots looking for a new home. Some sizes are limited but hopefully, we can find something to fit your needs. These coats and boots are for school-age students who attend Johnston Elementary. Please contact her at 219-923-2428 if she may be of assistance.

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

Please remember that students must go home first after school and are welcome to return to the playground after checking in with an adult. Alternatively, an adult can meet them at the school and accompany them to the playground.

Please note that we do not provide staff supervision on the playground outside of school hours.

We love having our students enjoy the playground after school hours!

We now provide access to live tutoring for LCPL cardholders at tutor.com/lcplin (also found on our databases pages).

Tutor.com allows students to get live help from a tutor in almost any subject from kindergarten through college. Students interact with tutors via an online whiteboard where they can send text, upload documents, graph equations, and more. Students and tutors do not interact through video. Creating an account is optional but allows students to save their work and access the transcript for their session.

Tutor.com receives 150,000 applications from prospective tutors. Applicants are thoroughly vetted with state and federal background checks, subject matter exams, and their ability to interact effectively with students on the platform. Only 1.2% of those who apply are accepted and sessions are reviewed daily by monitors to assess tutor performance.

Tutors may be requested from 4:00-11:00 pm, 7 days a week (except for major holidays). The wait time for a tutor to respond is under a minute. Spanish-speaking tutors are provided for core curriculum subjects and help with job applications.

In addition to tutoring in subjects from math and reading to business and world languages, Tutor.com provides many resources such as test prep, citizenship prep, parent coaching, student study skills, job seeker support materials, video lessons, and more.

Students writing papers may upload their work and receive help with grammar, punctuation, structure, theme development, and citations within 24 hours.

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