April Birthday Celebrations
April 24th
All April birthdays will be celebrated on April 24th. Please reach out to the teacher if bringing something.
April Family Newsletter
Leah Kuruzar • March 31, 2026
A message from...Mr. Gavin
Hello Adelante Families!
April is an exciting and important month for our 3rd–8th grade scholars! Throughout the school year, students have been building their skills and preparing for the ILEARN assessment. In April, we take that preparation to the next level with our special Slam the Exam initiative. Slam the Exam is a focused time where scholars review, practice, and build confidence so they feel fully prepared for testing. The official ILEARN testing window runs April 21 through May 1, and we want every scholar to feel ready to shine!
To help make this successful, it is very important that scholars are present and on time every day in April. Being here consistently ensures students receive all the preparation they need and are ready for their testing days.Did you know that when scholars are present and on time, they can earn $20 in Bears Bucks to spend at our school store, the Bears Bodega? It’s a fun way to celebrate great attendance and responsibility!
Thank You for Your Support with Uniforms
We also want to give a big thank you to families for your continued support with school uniforms. This has been an important focus for us this year, and we are proud to share that our daily dress code compliance is now over 90%! Your partnership helps create a strong and focused learning environment for all scholars.
Looking Ahead: Staff Appreciation Week
As we move into May, we will be celebrating our amazing teachers and staff during Staff Appreciation Week starting May 4. Our team works incredibly hard every day to support our scholars, and we would love for families to join us in showing appreciation.
Ways you and your scholar can participate include:
- Writing a thank-you note
- Drawing a picture
- Volunteering your time
Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. Your partnership makes a huge difference in the success of our scholars!
Onwards,
Mr. Gavin
Principal
Event
Spring Carnival
Join us for an evening of fun at the Spring Carnival!
Learn more +
Join us for a fun-filled evening with carnival games, prizes, popcorn, a magic show, and more.
- Who is this for? All students and families
- When? April 2nd, 5:30 - 7:00PM
- Open to current and potential families
- Know a family looking for a K-8 school for next year? Bring them with you!
We hope to see you there for a great night of family fun and community.
Learn more +
Celebrate your child’s creativity with a custom keepsake while supporting our school’s art program.
- Who is this for? All students and families
- Students who participated in the fundraiser received an order form
- If your student did not participate, you can still upload your own art to the website and purchase a keepsake
- Orders are due by April 16th
- A percentage of the funds will be put back into our art program at Emma Donnan
Thank you for supporting student creativity and our art program.
2026-2027 School Year
Next Year's School Calendar
The 2026-2027 school year will be here before you know it! The calendar for the year can be found on our website. The first day of school is August 10th.
See the Calendar
Event
25-26 Emma Donnan Yearbook
Order a yearbook and savor the memories from the 25-26 school year.
Order YearbookLearn more +
Our Yearbook Club has been working hard to put together a keepsake full of memories from this school year.
- Who is this for? All students and families
- Orders are due by April 16th
- Yearbooks are $13
- Yearbooks will be delivered to the school in May
Don’t miss your chance to save these special school-year memories.
Upcoming Event
Elementary Field Day
Elementary students will enjoy a day full of outdoor games, teamwork, and school spirit as they participate in this year’s Field Day activities.
Volunteer HereLearn more +
We would love to have you join in on the fun of Field Day. If you would like to volunteer, sign up and help make the day extra special for our students.
- Who is this for? Parents and guardians
- When? May 18th
- Volunteers must complete a background check and acknowledge our volunteer handbook before participating
Thank you for helping us create a fun and memorable Field Day for our elementary students.
IMPORTANT DATES
Upcoming Events
Swipe or scroll sideways to see what’s coming up.
SAVE THE DATE: Kindergarten and Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremonies
May 18th
Promotion ceremonies will be held on May 20th in the morning. More information will be shared with families in May.
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<Sport> K-3 Soccer Clinics
Elementary Soccer Tryouts < Sport>
<Assessment> IREAD-3
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<Assessment> IREAD-3
MS Soccer Tryouts < Sport>
<Assessment> IREAD-3
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<Event> February Perfect Attendance Celebration
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< Sport> MS Flag Football Tryouts
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<Sport> K-3 Soccer Clinics
<Assessment> Checkpoint #2: ELA
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<Assessment> Checkpoint #2: Math
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<Event> K-8 Spring Concert
<Field Trip>: Children's Museum (2nd -3rd)
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<Grades> Q3 Ends
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<No School> Spring Break
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<Sport> K-3 Soccer Clinics
<No School> Spring Break
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<No School> Spring Break
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<No School> Spring Break
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<Grades> Q4 Begins
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<Sport> K-3 Soccer Clinics
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<Grades> Q3 Report Cards
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<Grades> Q3 Report Cards
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Field Trip: Eiteljorg Museum (7th grade)
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<FYI> Mar. Birthday Celebrations
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<FYI> SPRING Spirit Week
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<Sport> K-3 Soccer Clinics
<Field Trip> IMS (4th)
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<Event>K-8 Spring Carnival
<Field Trip>: Children's Museum (2nd)
<Important> Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
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<Event> March Perfect Attendance Celebration
<Event> March Perfect Attendance Celebration
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After-School Programs
Updates & News
Swipe or scroll sideways for the latest athletics news.
Coming Soon!
Club Showcase
Our After-School Club Showcase will take place on April 23rd. Come and see what students have learned over the past 9 weeks in their club!
In Season
Spring Sports
Our Soccer and Flag Football teams have started their season! Check the school calendar to catch a game and cheer on our players.
GRADE LEVEL NEWS
What's Happening in K-2?
4/9: Kindergarten Field trip to Butler. Please be on the lookout for information regarding this trip. Permission slips must be signed on Powerschool Parent by April 2nd.
NEW DATE! 4/23 @ 9:45: KDO (Kids Dance Outreach)
Showcase for Miss Bree's 2nd grade class. Parents are welcome to attend, please check-in at the office
DIBELS Testing
We are about a month from our end of year DIBELS testing. The best way to help your scholar is having them read for 20 minutes each evening.
Social Emotional Learning Lessons
Students will participate in their monthly lesson with our social work team on April 17th. K-2 will focus on Conflict Resolution. Students will learn how to solve a conflict in a healthy way.
Ask your scholar,
- What are healthy ways to solve your problems?
- What are "I" statements?
What's Happening in 3-5?
Social Emotional Learning Lessons
Students will participate in their monthly lesson with our social work team on April 17th. 3-5 will focus on Anixety.
Ask your scholar,
- What is anixety?
- How can you calm your aniexty?
What's Happening in 6-8?
Starfish Initiative ProgramMiddle School Shout Out:
Shoutout to our 8th graders for having the highest percentage of scholars at or above proficiency on the last ILearn checkpoint test! We are so proud of their hard work and can't wait to see them shine again in a few weeks!
High School Enrollment - 8th Grade Families
The Enroll Indy Round 2 deadline is approaching! Make sure you have completed your application for your child's High School selection by April 10th. If you need any assistance, please reach out to Mr. Breedlove.
Social Emotional Learning Lessons
Students will participate in their monthly lesson with our social work team the week of April 20th and April 27th. 6-8 will focus on Anixety.
Ask your scholar,
- What is anixety?
- How can you calm your aniexty?
Starfish Initiative
This month, our 8th grade scholars, will participate in the presention about the Starfish Initiative. This is a mentoring program to inspire, encourage, and prepare motivated high school students from underrepresented communities for college, career, and life success.
Learn more about the program below!
Around Emma Donnan
Swipe or scroll sideways to see highlights from the past few weeks.
Enjoy our warm weather days!
Celebrating spring with our Spring Concert!
Our middle school team enjoying lunch together!
Our partners at KPMG led our 1st and 2nd graders in a read aloud and activity to promote a love for reading!
Our Middle School students celebrated Pi Day with a friendly competition and pieing staff members in the face.
Community Resources
Our vibrant community offers an abundance of resources and a diverse array of events designed to engage and enrich the lives of our members. From educational workshops and networking opportunities to recreational activities and cultural celebrations, there is something for everyone to enjoy and benefit from.
Temporary Traffic-Calming Project Shelby St - Carson Ave
Learn MoreIn coordination with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW), volunteers with Southside United for Indianapolis Trails will set up a temporary program to calm vehicle speeds
on Troy Avenue near Emma Donnan Elementary & Middle School. Estimated to start in April 2026,
This pilot program will include barriers along Troy Avenue between Shelby Street and Carson Avenue, limiting the curb lane on the south side of the street to only bicycle and pedestrian use.
The program will track the impact to vehicle speeds along this segment of Troy Avenue as well as the use of the temporary bike/ped lane, linking the Red Line Station at Shelby Street to the current multi-use path beginning at Caron Avenue. The program is expected to wrap up in July 2026.
Summer Programming
Emma Donnan Parent HubAre you looking for camps to keep your child engaged during the summer?
There are several organizations that are offering programs.
- Boys and Girls Club
- Concord Community Center
- Peace Learning Center
- Horizon Indy
- And More!
Easter Egg Hunts Around the City
Indy Child - Easter Egg HuntSpring is here, and that means Easter egg hunts are happening all around the city! Many parks, churches, and community groups across Indianapolis are hosting free family-friendly egg hunts in the weeks leading up to Easter. These events often include games, prizes, and visits with the Easter Bunny. Be sure to bring a basket and arrive early—many hunts are organized by age group and fill up quickly!
We’re heading into a busy stretch of the semester. Catch the latest updates, key dates, and what families should know this month.
This month, our school is celebrating kindness while staying focused on the weeks ahead. Read our February update for important information and upcoming dates.
January marks a fresh start at Adelante Schools. See what’s ahead this semester, key reminders, and how we’re setting scholars up for success.
