Week of October 26, 2026
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Principal's Message from Dr. Edwards
It was a good week coming back from fall break, and next week begins the blur that is the stretch from Halloween to the end of the semester. One of the things we work on throughout the year and specifically focused on this week is helping students understand how their energy level affects their thinking and behavior. You can help your child notice when their body feels too fast, too slow, or just right. Help them recognize what they may not be aware of as they go through their day. We know that having physical and psychological needs met plays a big part in having a regulated "engine", and at this point in the year, I hope that all our families have been able to establish strong, productive routines around the rhythm of school, but it is also never too late to start.
Please take note of Red Ribbon Week this coming week which includes the poster contest and all the various special dress-up days (flyer below).
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“Practice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes permanent." -- Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey |
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Reporting Absences
Please assist us by being sure to call our office at 317-485-3180 or email elizabeth.thomas@mvcsc.k12.in.us if your student is going to be absent. With state reporting, we have to assign specific codes for every absence, and it saves our office staff a lot of time each day if we don’t have to call to follow-up on students that are marked absent by their teachers. And please be sure to provide the documentation required for qualifying absences to be marked as excused in a timely manner. We are working together to meet the state accountability expectation and school goal of at least 95% attendance rate for every student.
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Important Dates
Q1 Report Cards Available in Skyward
Thursday, October 22
Red Ribbon Week
October 26-30 (see flyer below)
 
Related Arts Rotation Days
Happy Friday!
This week, I started our Quarter 2 lessons on Sense of Belonging. This past week and next week, I will be in 3rd- and 4th-grade classrooms for their lessons. We talked about what belonging means, read a book on empathy called "Stand in My Shoes" by Bob Sornson, and then students took a 6-question survey to gauge their sense of belonging at FES. The district wants to see a 'bird's-eye view' of sense of belonging at MVCSC. Anonymous survey data will be sent to the district level.
Next week, FES will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week. Please see the attached visual for how your student can participate.
Reminders from previous newsletters:
- My husband and I are expecting our second child at the very beginning of March. If all goes well, I will be on maternity leave for the second half of quarter 3 and all of quarter 4. A temporary counseling job has been posted on MVCSC's website in the hopes of getting a school counselor to step into my role while I am on maternity leave.
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Every year, local churches, community groups, and families support MV families during the holiday season. ONLY families needing assistance need to complete the form. Families with multiple children in MV schools should only apply at the school their youngest child attends. All requests must be submitted by the end of the school day on Monday, November 2, 2025. Applications received after this date will not be processed. Holiday Assistance Application
- In addition, if you are interested in sponsoring a family for Christmas, please contact me, Caitlin Crecelius, by email at caitlin.crecelius@mtvernonschools.org or ParentSquare by November 2nd.
- Any student has the ability to request to come talk/meet with me. Students ask their teachers to fill out a Let's Talk slip and bring it down to my office. If I am not currently available, students put the slip into my mailbox.
Upcoming events:
- 10/26-10/30: Red Ribbon Week
- 2nd Quarter Classroom Lesson for all grades: Sense of Belonging
- 11/3: Holiday Assistance Form Due
- Part of Q3 and all of Q4: Mrs. Crecelius on maternity leave
House Points Update
These students were chosen by their classroom teachers for this past month for being a leader with our focus on “Kindness” and setting a positive example. We called them to the top of the Success Slide and gave each of them one of the gold tokens for our book vending machine which they were able to use to choose a book to keep. They will also be receiving yard signs for their families if they want them. We are so proud of these great kids and the great choices they make each day!
These students were called to the Success Slide on Friday to be recognized for something from the week (being a great helper, working hard, demonstrating growth in a skill, etc.) Thanks for being valuable contributors to our Viking community!
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MV Reads: News from the Library
Mrs. Jennifer Leavell, FES Teacher Librarian
We are continuing spooky season in the library! Students in kindergarten and grades 1-3 have been enjoying Halloween-themed books in the library this week. We will compare and contrast them with more Halloween books next week. Fourth grade students studied foreshadowing while listening to The Widow’s Broom by Chris Van Allsburg. It’s the perfect season to curl up with a book at home!
"Be a Substitute Teacher" and MV Employment
Fortville Elementary is a great place to work, and we would love to have you join our team. You can apply on the MV Employment website. We are currently looking for an Instructional Aide and a leave teacher in 4th grade.
And we always need substitute teachers! Subs apply through Kelly Education Services (information below).
- To learn more or apply for substitute teacher positions at Mt. Vernon, please contact Kelly Education by completing this Inquiry Form and a recruiter will follow up with you. For questions, please call 800-991-5157, option 2.
- Kelly Services will guide the applicant how to obtain a substitute permit issued by the Indiana Department of Education (~$17) and a background check (~$28).
- Kelly Services will then share a short orientation video that will show you how to choose the jobs of your choice at Mt. Vernon and how to see the incentive offers.
Help Support FES Year-round
Help our school get a share of the money that many of America’s best companies are giving to K-12 education. SchoolStore.com is an online shopping mall where over 400 merchants have agreed to give a percentage of every sale to schools. This includes companies like Walmart, Best Buy, Old Navy, Kohl’s, etc. Just go to the website and then to the merchant websites you normally order from and help us earn rewards. The SchoolStore fundraiser is 100% online so there is NO face-to-face selling, handling money, or delivering products.
Go to https://www.schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000177219 to sign up. If you have questions about how to participate, reach out to our office. Once you are registered, invite family, friends and co-workers to support your child and our school.
Parent Resources
To be a chaperone on a field trip or to volunteer in the classroom regularly, you must have a clear background check from the current school year on file with our building (this is separate from any other MV buildings). FES Volunteer Background Check Form
At MV, we have all of our instructional staff trained on TBRI, and we now have a Parent Resource Hub available to our families to access at any time.
Webinars on support and advocacy for parents of High ability students. https://nagc.org/page/webinars
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