Clarks Creek Chronicles

Dear Parents,

Usually we think of springtime as the onset of construction season, but Clarks Creek will have many different projects taking place over the next few years, so I want to give you an idea of what to expect in the near future in and around our building.

The first round of construction (which is not actually a school project) has already begun! If you have been around the north side of the building, you have likely noticed trucks and work in progress. The town is working to replace a storm water drain system that runs right along the north side of our property. It's possible that Michael Drive will be closed for a time, although it's now looking like that will be delayed until the summer. We did have a day when Michael Drive was blocked unexpectedly during dismissal, and our car-riders had to be rerouted further to the north. While we don't have any details about a need for that again in the future, it is possible that could happen again. If you ever arrive to pick up your child and find that Michael Dr. is blocked, please proceed to the north end of Michael Drive, and it will loop you around into the parking lot for pick-up. If we are made aware in advance of any upcoming closures, I will be sure to let you know by email.

Several other projects will be taking place this summer:

• The HVAC system in the building is receiving a major overhaul. While not a "glamorous" project, it is very much needed and will provide for a great reduction in energy usage going forward.
  
• In addition to that, the main office space is being reconfigured. While allowing us to capture some of the currently unusable space, which was part of the original design for the building when it was a middle school, it will also increase safety yet again; an additional "buzz in" point from the office will be created, offering one more layer of security.
  
• The computer labs that are currently downstairs will be moving upstairs to the classrooms that currently have no windows. The current computer labs will become classrooms. With this change, every K-5 classroom will have windows to the outside, which we are very excited about!

So, as you can see, these are busy times for our building! We look forward to the improvements that the upcoming work will bring to our school and to the continued focus on creating an environment conducive for all students to learn and thrive! I will continue to provide up dates as we have more news to share.

Kind regards,
Mrs. Donovan

• January 9 - February 24--WIDA assessment window
• February 1-10th-Cogat testing Window
• February 6 - Health and Wellness Fair 6:00-8:00 p.m. at PHS (see below for more info)
  
• February 6 - 16 "Pennies for Patients" Fundraiser (see below for more info)
  
• February 7 - Third Grade Music Program 7:00 p.m.

• February 9 - School Board Meeting 7:00 p.m.

• February 13 - PTO Meeting in Library - 6:30 p.m.
• February 14 - Valentines Parties 2:45 - 3:30 (all grades except 2nd, which will be 2:00 - 2:45) See volunteer info below if you are hoping to attend and are not a regular volunteer.
  
• February 17-20--Mid-Winter Break (No School)]
• February 23--Math Bowl Competition
• February 27-March 10 - ISTEP Applied Skills Testing Window
• March 10 - End Third Nine Weeks
• March 11 - Spring Carnival 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
  
• March 13-March 17 - IREAD-3 Testing Window
• March 13 - PTO Meeting in Library - 6:30 p.m.
  
• March 15 - Report Cards Go Home
• March 17 - PRIDE Convocation #3 - 2:30 in gym
  
• March 24-April 2nd - Spring Break

The beginning of "testing season" occurs at the end of January, so we are now in the midst of a portion of it. Our ELL students have been diligently working on their annual WIDA assessments and are nearly finished with those. Some of our students have begun taking the CogAT (Cognitive Aptitude Tests - taken in grades K, 2, 5, and all students new to PCSC), and grades 3-5 are preparing for ISTEP at the end of this month.

Please remember that if your child is involved in state testing (ISTEP or IREAD), no prearranged absences can be approved during those windows and appointments should not be scheduled during these times. See the calendar above for dates for the first ISTEP window and IREAD. The second round of ISTEP testing takes place at the end of April through the first part of May.

Our students are well prepared for the assessments in which they will participate. See below for some reminders of how you can help your child be his/her best on testing days - and EVERY day!

You can find our school menus by clicking the red button below. Student lunches are $2.30 (including milk). Breakfast is $1.30. Extra milk (or for those bringing their lunch) is $0.50.

We know that parents often want to come in and eat lunch with their children on special occasions. You are welcome to do so by following the usual school visit procedures - beginning with stopping in the office to sign in and get a visitor tag. Please be aware, though, that space in our cafeteria is currently VERY limited. Please be prepared for the possibility that you may have to eat in another location with your student when you arrive. Staff members working in the cafeteria will direct you, as needed.

Clarks Creek Elementary students will be taking part in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Pennies for Patients program from February 6 – February 16.

During this program, students will collect money to support LLS’s mission: to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Students will learn about service, leadership, philanthropy and how they can make a difference by changing patients’ lives. One of these former patients is now a happy and healthy third grader at Clarks Creek! Read Zaki's story, below:

ZAKI was diagnosed with Acute Lymohoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in November, 2010. His treatment included two and a half years of chemotherapy, spinal taps, hospital stays, and daily medication. He has been in remission since May 2013! Zaki loves to ride his Avengers bike and is learning three languages—English, Urdu, and Arabic. His favorite subject at school is math and he wants to be a robotics engineer when he grows up. Zaki’s favorite restaurant is Olive Garden. His favorite US vacation was his first trip to Orlando in April 2012 and his favorite international trip was to Turkey this past summer. His least favorite thing about having cancer was the needle in his back. Zaki and his family thank LLS for raising money to help kids like him get better.

Clarks Creek Elementary has its own online giving page that students, parents and faculty can share with friends and family: http://events.lls.org/pages/in/ClarksCreekElementarySchool-2017 Check out the huge success our school has had with this fundraiser in the past, thanks to the generosity of our students and families! (See images below.)

Thank you in advance for helping LLS to create a world without blood cancers!

For more information on the Pennies for Patients program, please visit http://www.studentseries.org

Many of our classrooms did some fun projects to recognize the 100th day of school in January. From dressing as they might if they were 100, to STEM science projects, to math problems that equaled to 100, our students had fun learning about the number 100 as we also marked this big milestone of the 2016-17 school year!

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Spring Carnival is almost here! The Spring Carnival will be held on 3/11/17. We are still in need of volunteers to help make the carnival the best that it can be. A planning meeting will be held on 2/13 after the General PTO meeting. If you are interested in assisting with the planning of this event, please email the PTO.

Walk-A-Thon will be held on 4/28. This will be similar to previous years where students for our school and Brentwood will walk together along the Clarks Creek track. Our Walk-A-Thon committees are busy organizing donations, activities, and preparing for a great day.

Are you interested in being a part of the PTO board? PTO will be accepting nominations for the 2017-2018 school year at the March meeting. It is a fun way to support our students, parents, teachers, and school. For more information, please contact the PTO!

Valentine’s class parties will be held on 2/14. Please contact your lead class rep or PTO for any questions! Parties for grades K,1,3,4,5 will be 2:45 - 3:30. The 2nd grade party will be from 2:00 - 2:45.

Upcoming Dates:
2/13-PTO Meeting
2/14- Class Parties
3/11- Spring Carnival
3/13- PTO Meeting
4/10- PTO Meeting
4/10-14- Book Fair
4/13- Grandparent’s Night
4/28- Walk-A-Thon

Registration will be done online this year at http://www.plainfieldpeewee.org. You can also register and pay at the league evaluation date below- but space is limited and you are encouraged to register online.

Registration dates/time/location:
Registration will be open online from 1/11-2/16

The registration fee is $95 before 2/1, $100 before 2/12, $105 after 2/12. There is a price break of $10 for a second child playing in the league. Registration goes to uniform and hat, drink and snack from the concession stand after each game, trophy, yearbook, clinics, team equipment.

For more information please go to our website at http://www.plainfieldpeewee.org
E-mail the league with any questions plainfieldpeewee@gamil.com

If you have some time to donate at Clarks Creek, be sure to complete a Volunteer Background Check and have it cleared prior to the first volunteer experience. This can take a couple of weeks, so be sure to plan ahead! These are also needed prior to chaperoning field trips, etc. The form can be found at http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/o/clarks-creek-elementary-school/documents .

Another thing we ask all volunteers to complete annually is the Volunteer Confidentiality Form. This form is available in the school office and should also be completed before the first volunteer experience.

We appreciate the help of all of our volunteers! We couldn't do it without you!

Email: clarkscreekinfo@plainfield.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/o/clarks-creek-elementary-school
Location: 401 Elm Drive, Plainfield, IN, United States
Phone: (317)839-0120
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarksCreekElementary/
Twitter: @ccquakers