Dear Bulldog Family,
As we enter the final stretch of the school year, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to each of you. This year has been filled with growth, learning, and countless moments that remind me how special our school community truly is.
With only 12 days of school remaining, it is hard to believe how quickly the year has passed. As we approach the finish line, I want to thank everyone for the continued dedication, support, and commitment that has made this year a success.
To our families, thank you for your partnership throughout the year. Your encouragement at home, communication with our staff, and ongoing support have made a meaningful difference in your child’s learning and growth. We are truly grateful for the trust you place in our school each day.
To our incredible staff, thank you for the heart, patience, and passion you bring to our building. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. The time you invest, the care you show, and the effort you put into every lesson, every conversation, and every student has helped create a school environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to succeed.
As we close out the year, I encourage us all to remain focused and finish strong. These final days matter, and together we can ensure our students end the year proud of their accomplishments and excited for what comes next.
Thank you for helping make this school year such a positive one. It has been an honor to serve as your principal, and I am proud of all we have achieved as a school community.
Wishing you and your family a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer, and thank you again for a wonderful school year!
In partnership,
Kellée Martin
Principal of Spring Mill Elementary 💙🐾
#WeGrowPanthers #WhyWT
kmartin@msdwt.k12.in.us
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LINK to the 26-27 District Calendar
- May 1 - Midterms Go Home
- May 1 - 2nd Grade Field Trip to White River State Park Visitor Center
- May 1 - Lunch Hero Day
- May 4 -8 - Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 4 - 15 - mClass DIBELS Reading Assessment (K-2)
- May 6 - NCHS Graduate Parade
- May 7 - 4th Grade Field Trip to Indiana State Museum
- May 7 - 5th Grade Tour @ NVMS (zoned students ONLY)
- May 7 - 5th Grade Tour @ Westlane Middle School (zoned students ONLY)
- May 7 - National Jr. Honors Society Induction @ NCHS - 6:00 pm
- May 8 - ILEARN Window Closes
- May 8 - PTO Popcorn Day
- May 8 - 5th Grade Track and Field Day @ NCHS
- May 11 - School Nurse Appreciation Day - Thank you Nurse Jamie!
- May 11 - Vaccination Clinic @ SME (5th Grade ONLY)
- May 11 - IREAD Summer Testing Window Opens
- May 13 - Spring Mill Spotlight @ MSDWT School Board Meeting - 6:00 pm
- May 14 - 3rd Grade Field Trip to Indiana Motor Speedway
- May 15 - Field Day @ SME (May 18 Rain Date)
- May 20 - Kindergarten Celebration
- May 20 - 5th Grade Celebration
- May 21 - Last Day of School for Students
To show our school pride and excitement to align with our new branding, "We Grow Panthers", we will have routine spirit wear days each week.
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Spirit Wear Wednesday - Wear your Spring Mill gear on Wednesday or wear our school colors, blue and white. Look for information soon for an online SWAG store to order SME gear!
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WT Friday - Wear Washington Township colors, black and red, on Friday to show that we all grow into North Central High School Panthers.
For our newest Bulldog Families, here is a LINK to the Back to School Newsletter to ensure you are aware of our procedures, expectations, and other important information to make your year successful.
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We invite all parents and guardians to join us in supporting Spring Mill at the upcoming Board Meeting on May 13th at 6:00 PM. Your presence and engagement are greatly valued as important decisions and updates regarding our school community are shared. We encourage you to attend and show your continued support for our students, staff, and schools. |
Interested in volunteering? Sign up here: [insert link]
PTO Hawaiian-Themed Schedule:
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Monday, May 4: Snacks and treats in the breakroom
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Tuesday, May 5: Grab-and-go breakfast (provided by admin)
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Wednesday, May 6: Smoothies donated by Tropical Smoothie Cafe
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Thursday, May 7: Lunch provided by PTO
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Friday, May 8: Teacher celebration lūʻau
Field Day: Volunteers Needed:
We are in need of adult volunteers for this year’s “Outer Space Field Day” at Spring Mill School on Friday, May 15th. Parent volunteers are integral to the success of field day. This year, help is needed to facilitate the space-themed activity stations. Students in grades K, 1, & 2 will participate in the activity stations from 8:30am - 10:55am and students in grades 3, 4, & 5 will take part in the activity stations from 11:00am - 1:40pm. The volunteer shifts in the SignUp Genius link below reflect those timeframes, along with built-in time to assist with set-up and tear-down. The last day to sign up for the “Outer Space Field Day” is Friday, May 8th. Thank you for helping to make Field Day successful. Please contact Jordyn Locke with any questions. We appreciate your support. It is going to be out of this world!
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Hello Spring Mill Families,
I want to send a heartfelt thank you to our Bulldog community for attending Trivia Night and to our Corporate Sponsors. The event raised over $21,000 for Spring Mill Elementary School. Spending time with our kiddos, wonderful parents and community is what brings me joy. I am so grateful to Lori Hudson for her help at Trivia Night and managing the PTO website all year. Kate Nalli did an amazing job creating and executing the Trivia Night Silent auction and getting friends to attend Trivia Night.
I would also like to thank Leah Lotfalian for managing staff recognition all year. On special days like Bus Driver Appreciation Day, Leah ensured there were gifts from the PTO and warm felt thank you notes for our amazing Bulldog staff. She also provided beautiful centerpieces and secured silent auction items at Trivia Night.
THANK YOU to Courtney Corley for planning and executing STEM day with our Corporate Sponsor MISO. Many hours have gone into planning this fun event for our Spring Mill Bulldogs.
Lastly, A big shout out to Catheen Pruitt for planning an amazing Teacher Appreciation Week! She is organized and always open to changes. Such a wonderful celebration to end the school year. If you would like to volunteer for the event, sign up here:
As we head into May, below are remaining PTO events to look forward to:
May 1st: School Lunch Hero Day
May 1st : Miso Stem Day
May 4th- May 8th: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 8th: PTO Popcorn Day
Wishing everyone a wonderful summer and see you in August!
Questions or feedback? Email us anytime at springmillschoolpto@gmail.com.
For updates, visit springmillpto.com or check out our Spring Mill Elementary PTO Facebook page.
With Bulldog pride,
Kim Stratton
Proud PTO President 💙
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Our goal each month is for every class to exceed 95% attendance—and that means being on time and ready to learn every day. We know it takes teamwork between home and school to make that happen, and we’re so thankful for our families’ partnership in helping students show up, stay engaged, and succeed.
April is a time of growth, and just like flowers need sunshine to bloom, students need to be present each day to thrive! Let’s continue showing up, staying engaged, and working toward our attendance goals. Great job students in Ms. Boyer ( 95.0), Ms. Harton (95.9), Mrs.Culp ( 95.1), Mrs. McAllister (95.4), Mrs. Chappelle (95.8), Ms. Gallagher ( 95.9), Ms. Best (96.8).
To celebrate, students will have the opportunity to spin the attendance wheel and enjoy fun rewards like lunch in the classroom, a snack break, and a lollipop party! Great job parents, staff and students! Let’s keep working together to stay on track and keep our school community blooming all season long!
We are so proud of our students for their continued commitment to being at school every day and on time! Strong attendance plays a key role in academic success, helps build positive routines, and keeps our students connected to their classmates and teachers.
Thank you to our families for your ongoing support in making attendance a priority. Together, we are building strong habits that set our students up for success—every single day. Keep up the great work!
Check out the pictures below of some classes being acknowledged for their commitment to attendance. Let’s keep it up, Bulldogs—every day counts! 💙🐾
#AttendanceMatters #BulldogPride #WeGrowPanthers
Should your student be absent for any reason, please call the Attendance Line at (317) 259-8850 before 9:00 am for each day that the student is absent. A written medical verification from a physician/clinic must be provided upon the student’s return to school after 5 consecutive days of absence due to illness.
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In April, students participated in classroom SEL lessons with School Counselor Hannah Loeffler, focusing on responsibility, one of our school-wide expectations. Students learned what it means to take responsibility for their actions and choices.
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K–1 students practiced focusing on themselves, making responsible choices, and understanding what is within their control.
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Grades 2–3 learned about the "circle of control", identifying what they can and cannot control, and explored how every choice has a consequence.
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Grades 4–5 learned how to show responsibility—even when they make a mistake—by owning their actions, making it right, and learning and growing from the experience.
Ways to help at home:
- Encourage your child to reflect on their choices and take responsibility for their actions.
- When challenges arise, help them focus on what they can control and make responsible choices.
Thank you for your continued support in helping our students as they grow into responsible learners!
Together, we are growing Panthers who are confident, curious, and lifelong learners, ready to explore their futures and reach their full potential.
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Each month, Spring Mill highlights a Bulldog Behavior Focus and recognizes students in every classroom who model that behavior. This work connects directly to our district focus of We Grow Panthers, helping our students practice the Panther Traits that guide them to be collaborative, compassionate, well-rounded, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners.
For February and March our focus was being Collaborative. For April and May our focus is on being a Life Long Learner. Being a Lifelong learner means to embrace curiosity, adapt to change, and continuously seek growth.
At home, families can support this by encouraging your child to:
- Stay Curious – Always be ready to explore and ask questions.
- Keep Growing – Look for ways to learn new things every day.
- Adapt to Change – Be flexible when things don’t go as planned.
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Set Goals – Challenge yourself to improve and reach new achievements.
Together, we can nurture Bulldogs who show compassion every day—at school, at home, and in the community! 💙
The students nominated for being Collaborative in each classroom for March are listed below:
K - Boyer - Benjamin Lee
K - Freed - Hazel Wynn
K - Gabbei - Alitssin De La Rosa
K - Gilmore - Cameron Williams
K - Miranda - Lizeth Benitez-Francisco
1st - Harton - Papa Agyare-Anin
1st - Johnson - Nolan Richardson
1st - Keegan - Nahla Shah
1st - Schneider - Alijah Gant
2nd - Culp - Taleen Asaaf
2nd - McAllister - Daneyli Ramos-Martinez
2nd - Topps - Hanna Adrian Zurita
2nd - Wilson - Romaissa Si Kadir
3rd - Chappelle - Isaiah Paschal
3rd - Gallagher - Natasha Guerrero-Rivera
3rd - Stanley - L’ilyha Garrido
3rd - Urbanski - Manuel Esparza
4th - Best - Jorge Maldonado Reyes
4th - Dewey - Chandler Walker
4th- Turner - Kadir Etienne
4th - West - Malani Booth
5th - Badger - Clifton Clark
5th - Neiman - Aubry Guadalupe
5th - Bradley - Noah Shields
5th - Sullivan - Faneza Hunter
Specials
K - Derek Mcneeley
1st - Emily Smith
2nd - Devin Waldon
3rd - Charlie Nalli
4th - Lei’Lani Vinice
5th - Amaya Henderson
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We are incredibly proud to celebrate some outstanding Bulldog mathematicians! Congratulations to Penelope Sanchez, Ivaan Singh, and Pax Patel for being nominated for the National Math Stars program! This recognition honors students who scored in the top 2% of all third-grade math students in Indiana based on ILEARN data—an incredible accomplishment.
These students have demonstrated exceptional dedication, perseverance, and a true love for learning. Their hard work, problem-solving skills, and commitment to growth continue to shine each day at The Mill!
The National Math Stars program provides free access to advanced coursework support, enrichment opportunities, and a network of high-achieving peers, helping students continue to grow their passion for mathematics. We are so proud of you—keep reaching for the stars!
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We are pleased to invite families to the National Elementary Honor Society Induction Ceremony, which will be held at 6:00 PM on Thursday, May 7, at North Central High School.
Families should park on the east side of the building near the main entrance and enter through Door 1. We kindly ask that guests arrive by approximately 5:30 PM. Upon arrival, students should report to the auditorium lobby to meet their school counselor and line up with their classmates.
Following the ceremony, a brief reception will be held featuring cookies, juice, and opportunities for photos.
We are proud to recognize the following students for this outstanding achievement:
Renesmee Duno Cordova
Chloe Bernadac
Cayden Love
Bella Ann Turley
John Keiffner
Malani Booth
Cyrus Hill
Ava Barker
Hudson Turner
Kaydance Dunson
Zeke Bernadac
Jacobi Farris
Arthur Arduini
Everly Faulkner
Violet Wood
Kadir Etienne
Gabriella Turro
Luciana Higgins
Lei’Lani Vinice
Muyehthaw Zarni-Htoo
Helen Malloy
Simone Dale
Tessa Parsudi
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Celebrate an Educator Who Made a Difference
As we move into May, it’s a wonderful time to celebrate a teacher who has helped you grow. 🌸 Students and families are invited to nominate a current or former teacher through Honored Schools. Each nomination increases that teacher’s chance of receiving the $2,500 Life-Changing Teacher Award and helps our district potentially earn up to six awards.
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Learning Under the Sun:
Willow Lake Elementary School is hosting Learning Under the Sun camp June 1–12!
Learning Under the Sun (LUS) is a summer enrichment day camp with an emphasis on STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). LUS has been offering engaging summer programming for MSDWT students for more than 30 years. The program is designed for students entering grades 4–8 and is led by highly qualified MSDWT elementary and middle school teachers.
This year’s theme, “The Art of Science,” highlights how creativity and scientific thinking work together—showing students that discovery, design, innovation, and problem-solving all require both imagination and analytical thinking.
During the two-week (10-day) camp, students will participate in hands-on learning experiences such as 3D printing, build challenges, coding, rocket launching, journaling, and community service. We also have several exciting field trips and activities planned this summer, which may include visits to a water park, historical landmarks, a college campus, a cow eyeball dissection, hikes at Indiana State Parks, a county fair, & MORE!
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Here are a few photos from the month of April. For more photos and to stay updated on what's happening, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. |
In an effort to keep our children and school safe, a Limited Background Check must be completed every school year prior to volunteering in or visiting the classroom or attending any field trips. Forms can be requested from the office or online at https://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/volunteer-requirements. Limited Volunteer / Limited Background checks are free of charge and first time applicants are responsible for the completion of the online bullying education and training provided by MSDWT. We suggest that, if you plan on volunteering at any point in the year, turn in your Background Check form now to allow for processing time.
We welcome parents/guardians to visit the classroom but we ask that you make an appointment with your child's teacher prior to the visit. This will help to ensure it is not during a time that would be an interruption to instruction or during testing.
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