Cole Courier
September 27, 2018
NEWSLETTER
Message from the Principal
Mike Pinto
The Cole Student Council, led by Mrs. Ferger and Mrs. Lord, have many wonderful activities planned throughout the school year. The most recent school-wide event celebrated College Go Week where the benefits of going to a one, two, or four year college or trade school was discussed on announcements, with Mrs. Burton in counseling classroom lessons, and by the teachers. There was a door decorating contest held to highlight this event as well as a different theme each day. The student council's next mission: Red Ribbon Week which will occur at the end of October. Thank you, Cole Student Council for celebrating many facets of life in a fun and engaging way. It makes the days a bit more fun and sends a positive message to our students.
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Retirement for a Cole "Legend"
Long time TSC Bus Driver, Mary Fitzsimons, who currently drives bus 1402 for Cole and Wainwright, has announced her retirement effective immediately so she can concentrate on some medical issues she has encountered. Mary always made sure her students were accounted for and always literally drove the extra mile to deliver her students safely to school when roads were bad or something prevented her normal route. We appreciate Mary and her 27 years of service to the Tippecanoe School Corproation. Thank you, Mrs. Fitzsimons, for your service to Cole. You are a Cole "Legend".
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Cole PTO News
We had a fantastic turnout for our first Cole PTO meeting which was held in September. The next PTO meeting will be held on November 6 at 6:00 in the Kelley Library. Please plan to attend.
Please also pass along your loved ones that the Cole Grandparents/Veterans Day program will be held on November 9 with the K-2 performing at 1:00 and grades 3-5 performing at 2:00. Please spread the word.
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Exploration Acres Fun Event
The Cole PTO is trying something new this year. Instead of a carnival held at school, there will be a Saturday afternoon of fun at Exploration Acres. The event will be held on Saturday, October 13 from 1-4 pm. Rain date will be Sunday, October 14 from 1-4. Look for more information soon. This looks to be a fun and exciting event for all. There will be the "Stranger Things" corn maze, lots of games, and also great food. It will be a fun family event. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.
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Background Checks for Volunteers
September 30 is the date that any background checks from last year will expire. In their place, a more thorough background check will be required to volunteer on field trips or in the school. Information regarding how to complete this background check can be found at the bottom of this newsleetter. Thank you for doing your part to ensure the safety of the students and staff at Cole through your participation. These checks will be valid for three years.
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Parent-Teacher Conferences
The first nine weeks grading period ends on Friday, October 12. The following week (October 15-19) Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held at school with evening conferences scheduled October 16 and 18 and morning conferences scheduled at 8:15 and 8:30. Your child was given a sheet for you to complete and return no later than October 3 to allow you to offer your preference on dates/time. We will schedule the spring conferences on the corresponding dates February 4-8 for your convenience.
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School Pictures
October 10: Fall Pictures
November 14: Picture Retakes and Yearbook Pictures
April 5: Spring PIctures (Remember your favorite props)
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Movie Night/Fundraiser Pickup
The first movie night of the year will be held on Friday, October 5 from 6:00-8:00 in the Cole gymnasium. The PTO will be showing the movie "Sherlock Gnomes". Admission is $2.00 per person unless you have a pass from the fall fundraiser. All concessions are 50 cents except for the famous $1 Cole Movie Matinee Hot Dogs. Plan to pick up your cookie dough and trash bag orders when you drop off or pick up your child.
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ILEARN Information
All Cole 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be taking a new assessment called the ILEARN this school year. This assessment replaces the ISTEP. The test will be given during one window in late April and early May and is the basis for our school's letter grade. Please read more about this test by clicking on the link below.
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Health Office
What a great start to the school year! Mrs. Gibson and I are excited to be back at Cole Elementary this year to help keep Cole Cubs healthy and safe.
A few health office reminders:
Students are not permitted to carry any medication to or from school. This includes over the counter medications. All medications (except for emergency medications with written authorization from physician) are to be carried in by a parent/guardian. Annual medication administration permission forms signed by a parent or guardian are also required for us to administer medications in the health office.
Letters will soon be going home to students who may be missing required immunizations. If you receive a letter, it may indicate that your child has missing immunizations. However, it may also simply indicate that we have not received updated immunization records. Please feel free to email me with any questions.
Students in grades K,1,3 and 5 were recently screened for vision. Referral forms have been sent home for those students whose results indicate they would benefit from a visit to an eye care provider. If you receive a vision referral letter and have questions, do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email.
General Tippecanoe School Corporation Exclusion Criteria
Students with vomiting, diarrhea, undiagnosed skin rashes, eye infections, or fever over 100° should not attend school. Students exhibiting these symptoms at school will be sent home.
With vomiting and diarrhea, the school nurse will evaluate any associated circumstances and other symptoms before making an exclusion decision. Children vomit for reasons other than illness, including coughing, stress, exertion, reflux and food intolerance.
Students with vomiting, diarrhea, or fever over 100º should not return to school until the symptoms have resolved without medication for 24 hours.
Students with pink eye may return to school with a doctor's note when the symptoms subside or when a student shows treatment has begun with appropriate eye drops. Contagious skin rashes should be reported to your school nurse and a note will be required by your child's physician to return to school.
Please remember with all of these exclusion criteria that our job is to facilitate students remaining in school. Our goal is to have the child miss as little class time as possible.
Please contact me with any questions or health care concerns.
Katherine L. Hudgins RN
Tippecanoe School Corporation Nurse
James Cole Elementary: 765-772-1966
Wainwright Middle School: 765-269-8357
Woodland Elementary: 765-269-8225
klhudgins@tsc.k12.in.us
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Cole Spirit Wear Orders
The Back to School Cole Spirit Wear Orders will be arriving for distribution in the next few days. We will be sending another form during parent-teacher conference week for anyone interested in orders for now or to hold for the holidays. We will hold all orders marked as 'Hold' and contact you to pick them up for gifts, etc.
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Ways to Help
Items for Christmas Boxes to help relieve the fight against hunger in Clarks Hill: Items can be collected by dropping at Cole. Boxed Goods:
- Instant Potatoes
- Stuffing
- Cake/Brownie Mixes/Cookie Mixes & Containers of Frosting
- Can Goods:
- Assorted Fruit
- Green Beans
- Corn
- Soups/Broths & Bullion
- Cream of Mushroom/Celery/Chicken
- Assorted Can Goods for general Pantry Needs.
- Assorted Foods:\Pasta, Rice & Egg Noodles
- Rolls
- Pies
- Frozen Hams & Turkeys or Monetary Donations
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Bricks 4 Kidz
Bricks 4 Kidz returns to Cole in November and December. This is a fee-based program offering students a chance to interact with Legos and have a lot of fun. All meetings will be held after school in the computer lab. Please see the information linked below and register your child if you are interested.
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A Message from Mrs. Burton,
School Counselor
Your Minds Matters
During the month of October we will begin our grade level themes for the remainder of the school year. My hope is that students are exposed to a wide range of mindsets and skills throughout their K-5 experience in the realms of social/emotional, academic, and college/career readiness through the school counseling program. The grade level themes include:
Kindergarten: Social Skills/Life Skills
1st Grade: Self-Regulation
2nd Grade: Conflict Resolution
3rd Grade: Learning about the Brain (Mindfulness, Growth Mindset)
4th Grade: Student Success Skills (Academic Skills)
5th Grade: Career Readiness/Self-Exploration
For more information on the mindsets and behaviors school counselors aim to cover during a student's K-12 experience, visit: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/home/MindsetsBehaviors.pdf
- Mrs. Burton
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Cole Professional Academy Dates 2018-2019
What is a professional? Mr. John Smith discussed this topic with fifth graders. How do you dress for success? Dr. Christopher Huffer and Diane Boener spoke separately to the young ladies and young men about dressing for success. The young men learned how to tie a tie. The young ladies learned about not wearng too much makeup or 'vampire nails' to an interview. This is always a great visit for our students. Next month, look our students will learn how to use proper manners while dining..
October 12: Manners in Dining
November 16: Independence: Demonstration Kitchen
December 7: Actions in Public: Museum, Concert, Funeral
Etiquette and Sportsmanship
January 18: Career Part I: Job Applications and Email/Phone
Etiquette
February 1: Career Part II: Interviews; Interview Fair
March 8: Internet Presence & Plagiarism
April 2: Evening of Celebration at Duncan Hall
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Quick Hits
1. Have you returned your conference sign-up form?
2.Winter is coming. Have you signed up for TSC alerts? See information below if you are interested.
3. Do you know Bulky Trash Days will be held again at Cole on October 27 and 28? This is a chance for you to dispose of those bulky trash items in dumpsters in the parking lot.
4. The Book Fair is coming: November 6-9.
5. How is your child's AR goal coming along?
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Big Events - Plan For Them Now
2018-2019 School Year
Oct. 5: K/1 Harvest Hoe-Down
Oct. 5: Movie Night and Cookie Dough Pick-up (6-8 pm)
Oct. 10: Picture Day
Oct. 13: Exploration Acres Event: 1-4 *Rain Date 10/14
Oct. 15-19 Fall Parent Conferences-Evenings: 10/16 & 10/18
Oct. 18: Great US Shakeout (Earthquake Drill)
Oct. 19: Student Council Electronic Day $1
Oct. 22-25: Red Ribbon Week
Nov. 6: Cole PTO Meeting (6:00)
Nov. 7-9: Book Fair
Nov. 9: Veterans/Grandparents Day
1:00 K-2 Show 2:00 3-5 Show
Nov. 14: Picture Retakes and Yearbook Photos
Nov. 15: Grade 5 to SIA
Nov. 16: Student Council Electronic Day $1
Dec. 5-7: Holly Shop
Dec. 7: Student Council Electronic Day $1
Dec. 7: PTO Movie Night
Dec. 9: Christmas with a Cop (Clarks Hill: 11-4)
Dec. 21: Student Council Electronic Day $1
Feb. 4-8: Spring Parent Conferences: Evenings: 2/5 & 2/7
Feb. 5: Cole PTO Meeting (6:00)
Feb. 8: Grade 4 to Symphony and Food Finders
Feb. 15: K/1 Fairy Tale Ball 1-3
Feb. 22: STEM/Science Night
March 13-14: Spring Book Fair
March 13-14: Breakfast with a Buddy
March 14: Grade 2 and 3 Music Program (6:00 pm)
April 2: Cole Professional Academy Celebration 6:00
Thomas Duncan Hall; Lafayette, IN
April 3: Cole PTO Meeting (6:00)
April 10: Kindergarten Roundup (Age 5 by 8/1/19)
April 5: Spring Picture Day
April 15: Kindergarten Assessment Day
April 27: Inaugural Cole Cub 5K (possibly with Wainwright)
May 9 & 10: Camp Tecumseh Overnight: Grade 4
May 10: First Grade Mother's Day Tea 1:30
May 13: First Grade Field Trip to Indianapolis Zoo
May 15: Grade 3 Wax Museum Parent Show: 10:00, 2:00
May 16: Grade 5 to Chicago
May 17: Kindergarten Celebration 10:00
May 20: Fifth Grade Celebration 9:00-11:30
May 21: Field Day *Tentative Schedule*
May 22: Awards Programs: Grades 1-2 (9:30), 3-4 (10:15)
May 23: Talent Show *Tentative Schedule*
May 23: Last Day of School *Subject to Change
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Book Mobile
The Book Mobile runs twice a week to Stockwell and Clarks Hill. Teach visit the Book Mobile stops at 9510 Pearl Street in Clarks Hill (The Church) from 6:30-7:00 and 6931 Church Street in Stockwell (The Church) from 7:15-7:45
Dates:
October 1, 15, 29 November 12, 26 December 10
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Volunteer Information
It is a priority of the Tippecanoe School Corporation to provide a safe learning environment for all of our students and employees. In an effort to continue our due diligence, we now require all volunteers having ongoing contact with children and/or supervising students (field trips, etc.) to have cleared an expanded criminal background check. These background checks are conducted through Background Investigation Bureau (BIB).
The criminal background check will search national sex offender databases, court records,and other sources. The cost of the criminal history check is $17.95 (base cost) and is paid for by the volunteer through a link on our website.
Once approved, the volunteer will receive a TSC Volunteer identification card that will be valid for a period of three (3) years. If you volunteer in multiple buildings, you will only need to complete one background check.
Volunteer background checks may take several business days to process so it is important to plan ahead.
We appreciate your understanding of this important safety guideline.
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E-Flyers
TSC supports 'green' efforts and as such to help ensure students receive information about community services or events, flyers from non-profit outside organizations are posted online in a section called E-Flyers. All E-Flyers can be accessed from any TSC School Website: www.tscschools.com by clicking the 'students' or 'parents' link in the upper right hand corner of the webpage. E-Flyers will be posted on the 15th and 30th of the month so be sure to check regularly for newly posted information. If your qualifying organization is interested in posting an E-Flyer, go to www.tscschools.com E-Flyers section to submit the information.
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Register for TSC Alerts and Notifications
With the launch of the new TSC websites, the TSC and each of its schools will be transitioning away from Pinwheel for SMS (text) alerts and notifications and will instead utilize the communication options available within the new website. Parents/guardians, staff, and students can sign in to the website and register to receive alerts, calendar reminders, athletic updates, and more.
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Young Hoosier Books
The book shelf in the picture above is mostly empty, and that's okay. Because the shelf holds Young Hoosier Books and the fourth and fifth grade students are reading them with vigor. Young Hoosier Books are chosen by librarians across Indiana as quality literature. Each year students who have read 5 or more Young Hoosier Books have a chance to
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September - 2018
October - 2018
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JAMES COLE ELEMENTARY
6418 E. 900 S. • Lafayette, IN 47909 • (765) 523-2141