The Wildcat

• Fine Arts and Gym
• 3rd Grade IREAD
• Message from Mrs. Gomez
• Dr. Seuss Week
• Read-A-Thon
• Pet Supply Drive
• Kindergarten Round-Up
• Girls on the Run
• Honor Parkway Tree Fundraiser
• Lunch Information
• Mindfulness
• Winter Coats

EVERY WEDNESDAY IS EARLY RELEASE @ 1:55 (Mrs. Torres's Class @ 1:20)

Monday, January 11th-February 22 Read-A-Thon

Monday, February 22-March 5-Pet Supply Drive

Monday, March 1-March 5-Dr. Seuss Week!

Tuesday, March 9th-March 12th-3rd Grade IREAD test

Monday, March 15th-4th quarter begins

3rd grade will be taking the IREAD test in March. Per the state, online learners will have to come into school to take the test. 3rd grade online students are scheduled to come in Thursday, March 11 from 10:30-11:30am and Friday, March 12 from 10:30-11am. Students will need to bring in their iPads fully charged and and headphones. Please come in through the front doors (Door C).

Those driving your child to school, a reminder:

• 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.

Thank you for helping in keeping all of our students safe!

Attached is a Google Slide presentation on how to update your iPad to iOS 14.4 and how to complete the cross site tracking changes we need to do on every iPad.

This is also posted on Mrs. Gomez's Tech Google Classrooms as well. EVERYONE needs to be updated to iOS 14.4 by Wednesday at the latest. Thanks for your help with this!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12C5K7l2HY6fNErLLVzNo3JYX7t_tSQrTbr1n0ZYxPlQ/edit?usp=sharing

See the information below about Read-A-Thon this year. They will be collecting donations online only. Here is the link to register:

https://www.lcplin.org/readathon

The page with the donation form is:

https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E354362&id=5

Happy Read-a-Thon!

This coming week is Week A. We have rotating "Specials" times. Please check your classroom teacher's agenda each day to see what additional class you need to attend.

Below is a link with a calendar that lists the rotations.

All students will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost for curbside pick-up meals!

Thanks to USDA funding, these meals will be available the rest of the school year. Each student can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch daily. This applies to qualified meals (breakfast and lunch), not snacks and beverages.

Important: You MUST still complete a free and reduced meal application to qualify for the program for the remainder of the school year (to receive free or reduced meals AFTER 12/18/2020) AND to qualify for textbook assistance for this school year!

All virtual students will be able to pick up a weeks worth of free breakfasts and lunches Monday between the hours of 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the following location:

Johnston Elementary School, 8220 5th Street, (Door D, off of 5th Street), Highland, IN

Go here for more details:

http://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2809100435083594

Hello Johnston Families,

In an effort to help kids (and parents) lower their stress levels, frustrations and anger, I will be including mindfulness activities in the newsletter for the remainder of the school year. I will also be practicing 1-2 strategies with each class as a part of their weekly guidance lessons. These will be simple, easy to use strategies that I encourage you to practice at home. We are hoping to help students increase empathy for others and build skills to manage everyday emotions.

Thank You! Mrs. Jennings

Kindergarten registration is just around the corner. Having accurate and timely numbers allows STOH to ensure we have proper staffing and materials in place to start the 2021-2022 school year smoothly for the class of 2034!

Kindergarten Round-Up will be done in two phases. Beginning on March 1 at 8:00AM, parents will be able to register online, and then provide documentation later. Here is a brief description of each phase:

Phase 1: A link will be activated at 8:00AM, March 1 on the RDS parent access page (https://rdsappserv.highland.k12.in.us/rdsparentaccess/) to enroll new students. It will allow parents to register their incoming kindergarten students. This link will not require a parent code to access the program. Once clicked, parents enter all the necessary information just like they would at an in-person registration. Most importantly, completing this step reserves your child’s place in line with regard to our transfer process. The earlier Phase 1 is completed, the more likely your child is able to attend his/her neighborhood school.

Phase 2: Each building will hold its registration from 2:30-6:00PM on the following Wednesdays:

Johnston - March 10

Merkley - March 17

Southridge - March 31

Warren - April 7

Parents need to complete the registration process on the date listed during the open window of time. Completion includes visiting your neighborhood elementary school with your child and the proof of residency requirements and other documentation outlined on the following sites: https://www.highland.k12.in.us/o/STH/page/kindergarten-registration--94

During Phase 2, your child will be given a short (approx 10 minute) Kindergarten Readiness Test by one of our STOH counselors. This data is used to help determine the appropriate classroom placement for your child.

Once BOTH of these phases are complete, your child’s place is secured in an STOH kindergarten classroom. Final classroom/building placements are made during the first week of August.

We look forward to meeting our newest STOH students. If you have any questions, please contact your neighborhood elementary principal or secretary. We also ask that you please share this information with any STOH resident that might have an incoming kindergarten student.

Happy Holidays!

As colder weather approaches, please be aware that I have 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 me at 219-923-2428 if I may be of assistance.

Rachel Jennings

Counselor

In an effort to minimize people coming in and out of the building, we ask that non-essential school items not be dropped off during the day. We are working hard to keep everyone safe (students, staff, parents, etc.). Please be mindful of this when your child forgets something. Can they make it through the day without this item? Thanks for your help in trying to keep everyone safe.

Join Us for the Best Summer Ever!

Camp Invention® is back with an all-new program: Recharge

! Featuring take-apart microphones, robotic crickets, duck-launching devices and morphing vehicles, this summer is packed full of super fun, confidence-boosting STEM activities!

What could be better? This year, with our Peace of Mind Promise, your local camp is being offered in person and at home so your child can experience the fun of Camp Invention no matter where they are!

Johnston Elementary School
6/7/2021 - 6/11/2021 from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Biggest discount ever! Secure your spot today using ALUMNI40 to SAVE $40.

As we work to improve the Johnston playground and greenspace, we are excited to involve you in an exciting fundraising opportunity.

Our Johnston outdoor space is used by so many members of our community. Beyond being used as a recess and gym space by the school, the space is used by local residents for exercise, youth sports teams as a practice space, and as by local families for after school fun. Johnston school is embedded in the lives of current residents as well as the memories of former residents.

It is in this spirit that we are creating the Johnston Honor Parkway. Along this parkway, trees have been planted and are maintained by our Johnston students. We envision this parkway being a place where current students can honor and remember members of our community who have made it a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

Each tree on the parkway will be dedicated in honor or memory of a community member or organization. We ask that you consider taking the time to sponsor a tree in honor or memory of someone you love who has made a difference in the community. Your donation will not only support improvements being made to the playground and greenspace, but also purchase a commemorative plaque to honor the recipient. There will also be a celebration in the spring to unveil the new signs and parkway.

See the attached for more information on how to be apart of it!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hCA7wW9EHcAEGCaxGBL7o0tzVhEgctAc/view?usp=sharing

Here are some things that you need to know about your iPad. If you have any iPad questions, please contact Mrs. Gomez through email: egomez@highland.k12.in.us

• Do NOT sign in to an Apple ID

• Your email address for all Google logins is your first initial, last name, student ID. Student ID can be found on RDS!

• Example:jsmith1234567@stohk12.org

• Your password is your birth date, 2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year

• Example: 01262008 (January 26, 2008)

• Sign in to your email. Do this by:

• Go to Settings

• Passwords and account

• Add Account

• Google

Please take care of your iPad. Avoid drinking or eating around them. Don’t place them under or in between heavy items. Keep them charged! DO NOT take them out of the cases and don’t decorate the cases, even with stickers!!!

Families can get guidance on how to cope with the coronavirus pandemic through a new partnership between Franciscan Health and Purdue University.

The Community Health Improvement team at Franciscan Health, which has hospitals in Crown Point, Dyer, Hammond, Michigan City and Munster, teamed up with Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences and other community partners to create "Families Tackling Tough Times Together," a pop-up program that aims to strengthen families' resilience.

“It’s impressive to see the efforts that Franciscan is making to not only treat patients but also to support family strengths and resilience during the pandemic,” said Dr. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, a Purdue professor working to build the initiative.

"Families Tackling Tough Times Together" will offer free, science-based tools and activities every week on how to handle the pandemic.

The nine-week program this fall seeks to help families of all types with tailored recommendations for children, adults, and young adults. They will get messages of support and encouragement and the opportunity to ask experts questions.

https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/families-together/

• For E-Learning questions and other tech related questions
• Follow the link below to sign up to the Remind Class entitled "Tech Resources" https://www.remind.com/join/jntra
• Inquiries will be answered in as timely a manner as possible

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