Heavilin Elementary

May

11 Last Day of ILEARN testing (grades 4 & 5 only)

11 6:30pm Last PTO Meeting (zoom link below)

14 PRIDE day (Tie-Dye Day)

17 No School (Weather make-up)

19 1:00pm Incoming Kindergarten Play Date

21 Spirit Wear Day

24 JA in a Day

25 2:00pm 5th Farewell Parade

26 Field Day

27 Half Day - Noon Dismissal

28 Summer Begins!

We are excited to celebrate one last PRIDE day this year. On Friday, May 14, we will focus on the theme: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This week during Art class, students all participated in painting a canvas with this quote. The canvas will be ready on May 14, and all classes will pose for a class picture with the school-wide painting.

We are asking students to wear tie-dye on May 14, if they have it. If not, bright colors will work, too. And, they should wear tennis shoes.

For our PRIDE activities on May 14, Beyond Boundaries from Porter Starke will work with each grade level on team building activities. Beyond Boundaries is a field trip our 4th graders typically take each year, so we are especially pleased we have been able to set this up for all classes, especially since field trips were not possible this year. Remote learner families, we encourage you to contact Dr. Stephens if you would like to make arrangements for your child to participate on May 14.

Last Friday, our student council members came to school early to assemble Jared Boxes that will be delivered to our local hospital.

What is a "Jared Box"? The goal of the Jared Box Project is to lift the spirits of children in the hospital. Boxes filled with the "gift of play" are given to young patients in emergency rooms, hospital rooms, surgical centers, and clinics. The boxes symbolize the importance of play and are filled with well wishes, hope, and love. Over 900,000 Jared Boxes have been delivered across the United States.

Monday, August 9: Back-to-School Night. We will send more information out this summer. Back-to-school night will be an evening when your children will meet their assigned teacher and see their new classroom before the school year begins.

Wednesday, August 11: The 2021-22 school year starts.

Thursday, August 19: Parent Orientation Night. This is an adult-only evening in which teachers meet with parents to review what the school year holds.

We have a slew of exciting activities planned to make the last week of elementary school special for our 5th graders this year. Parents, please check your teacher communications for details. There will be a variety of experiences over the course of several days, including a spelling bee, water games, a special slide show, awards, Tug-of-War, kickball, a clap out and more...

On Tuesday, May 25, we invite our families to celebrate our 5th graders with us by driving through the school grounds to wish our students farewell. The 5th graders will be lined along our sidewalks, and families are encouraged to make posters or decorate their vehicles with messages of send off for their kids. The drive-thru celebration will take place at 2:00pm. We hope you are able to join us!

If you have a child who will be in 4th or 5th grade next year, they are eligible to try out for our Spell Bowl Team. The 2021-22 Spell Bowl Word List comes out on May 15. Try outs will be in August. If your child would like to study the words over the summer, that list will be available. Please have your child see Mr. Ostafinski or Mrs. Stamos for a copy of the list the last two weeks of school.

Calling all new 2021-22 Kindergarten Families! Heavilin is hosting a playdate for you and your new kindergartener. We are eager to meet all of you and get to know your sweet children. I’m sure you have some questions for us, and would like to get to know each other as well.

We are happy to invite you to bring your new kindergartener to a playdate at our school on Wednesday, May 19 at 1:00pm . Our teachers will lead outdoor games and play activities for the kids, and our staff will spend some time with parents. When you arrive at Heavilin, please pull in to the back parking lot and enter Door L. Our playdate should last about 45-60 minutes. No need to RSVP. Please plan to join us if you can!

If your child has lost something at school, please remind them to check the lost and found.

All lost and found items left at school after May 27 will be donated to charity.

All library books will be due Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Books that are lost will need to be paid for by Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Please contact Mrs. Gring in the library with any questions.

During uncertain times - when kids need kindness and a healthy meal more than ever - our incredible school nutrition team stepped up to the plate! From the time school closed in March and throughout the summer, these #HungerHeroes were on the front line providing more then 114,000 free curbside meals to the community. When school opened this Fall, the school nutrition team once gain re-tooled operations to provide COVID safe, individually packaged menu items as a part of 578,000 more free meals served to date. Mayor Murphy officially proclaimed Friday, May 7, 2021 as School Lunch Hero Day in the City of Valparaiso to recognize their important contribution to the community.

Last week of school, we will have a couple of changes from the regular menu:

Taco Tuesday

(May 25th)

taco

tortilla chips

salsa

blue raspberry or strawberry kiwi slushie

Field day

(May 26th)

Hotdog and fries

Pickle spear

apple slices

Attention Parents!

MCV (Meningitis) and Tdap (Tetanus) shots are due before entering 6th grade- If you do not already have an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider , please take advantage of Franciscan Health Immunization clinic.

When:
May 10 (3:30 pm- 7pm) VHS, Any VCS Parent may bring their child for a walk in clinic 3pm to 6:30pm (VHS door #20)

May 11 (9am-3pm) Elementary Schools (no parents -school rotation to vaccinate during the day with peers)

Eligible to students over age of 10 at the time of vaccine. Please complete consent form (below) and submit to your building nurse.

Cost: We will bill your insurance/Medicaid or funding source. Please bring an insurance card. If you have no insurance coverage the cost is $10 per vaccine.


Any questions? Contact:

Joy Sunday BSN, RN Director of Health Services 219 531-1447 or jsunday@valpo.k12.in.us
Billing questions call (317) 528-6374 or email Marinita.Mikits@franciscanalliance.org

On Monday, May 24, our students will have the opportunity to participate in Junior Achievement. Our volunteers will be zooming in virtually this year, and we will still be able to do all of the great JA activities we have in the past. Be sure to ask your kids about JA after school that day - you may be impressed with how much they learn!

Heavilin Field Day is scheduled for Wednesday, May 26, rain or shine. Please have students wear sunscreen, proper shoes, and a hat. While Field Day will look a little different this year, Miss Kraus has been planning for months to make sure all of our students have a great day and make special memories with their classmates.

Our 5th grade orchestra students are performing at 6:00PM on Monday, May 10 at the VHS auditorium.

5th grade band instrument fittings are Saturday, May 15th 9:00-12:00 and Tuesday, May 18th 4:00-8:00. Any fifth grader may go to this link to fill out form to show interest and then attend the night of their choosing. Summer band begins June 3rd.

Link: http://www.valpo.k12.in.us/music

Thank you for everything you’ve done for PTO this year! Even though this was such an unusual school year, your support was strong, amazing and so appreciated! We’ve already begun planning for an exciting school year next year. Have a wonderful summer and we’ll see you again in just a few months!

PTO Upcoming Events:

May 11th

PTO Zoom Meeting at 6:30 pm. All moms and dads are welcome to join.

May 19th

Bao’s Pastry Family Day Out from 7 am - 7 pm! Stop in all day long and enjoy their wide variety of treats. Please let them know you’re with Heavilin and a portion of your total bill will benefit our PTO!

May 21

Wear your Spiritwear Day! Wear your Heavilin or Viking clothing to show your school pride!

Please join us for the last PTO meeting of 2020-21 on May 11 at 6:30pm on Zoom:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://valpok12.zoom.us/j/89976768775?pwd=R2hGeGN4VElpUTkvVERiYnBUYVhoZz09

Meeting ID: 899 7676 8775

Passcode: 014509