Communication

Elkhart Community Schools takes the decision to close school very seriously. When facing the possibility of a weather-related closure, our administrators not only rely on the expertise of local meteorologists and government officials, but we also go out into the weather ourselves and consult with other area school administrators. ECS administrators and transportation staff drive around Elkhart and Bristol very early in the morning when weather conditions are questionable, evaluating road conditions for students who ride buses and monitoring weather conditions with consideration for our students who walk. We strive to make a final determination on school delays and closings by 5:30am, but we continuously monitor weather conditions and may make a determination to close later if needed.

If your child does not have appropriate clothing for walking to school or waiting for the bus, please contact your school. All ECS schools have access to warm, winter clothing for children who need it. 

As a parent, you have the right to keep your child home if you believe his or her safety is at risk. If you choose to do so, notify your school as early as possible and it will be considered an excused absence.

Elkhart Community Schools will use email communication for information that may be too lengthy for an all-call or text message. Please be sure to add noreply@elkhart.k12.in.us to your address book to ensure emails from the district reach you. 

The district will use our email system to communicate important information by email, including:

• Emergency situations
• Important links, such as test results
• Information about upcoming district events
• Information specific to a school or program
• Newsletters
• Opportunities for parent/guardian input
• School closings and delays
• Special requests, as needed
• Surveys

Calls from Elkhart Community Schools will be sent from 574-262-5832. Please add this phone number to your contacts to ensure phone calls reach you.

The district will use our autodialing system to communicate important information by phone, including:

• Absence calls
• Emergency situations
• Information about upcoming events
• Information specific to a school or program
• Low lunch balances
• School closings and delays
• Special requests, as needed

When possible, Elkhart Community Schools will use text/SMS messages to communicate important information that can be easily summarized in a short message.

Please be sure correct information is on file in PowerSchool. If information is correct in PowerSchool, text “opt in” or “subscribe” to 67587 to opt in to text/sms messages from the district. Please note - the district will only send text messages to numbers that are on file in PowerSchool. We are unable to send text messages to babysitters, grandparents, or anyone not listed as a parent in PowerSchool. We encourage those who are not listed as parents in PowerSchool to sign up for text alerts from our local television stations (many offer notifications for school closures).

Every year, we request parents/guardians review their contact information and make necessary updates.

This is critical to ensure we know how to reach parents/guardians in case of emergency, but also for the key district messages you should receive, such as parent/guardian surveys, invitations to provide feedback, and important notices like closings/delays. This process is also an opportunity for parents/guardians to review student handbooks and other documents intended for parent/guardian review and approval.

To review/update your child’s information:

1. You must first log in to PowerSchool (https://ps.elkhart.k12.in.us).
2. Once in PowerSchool, look for the ABC: Annual Back to School Check-in and follow the prompts.
3. If you have multiple children, you will need to complete the process for EVERY child. Additional children can be located in PowerSchool in the top/left drop-down menu where your child’s name appears.

The PowerSchool app will not work for this process. This process MUST be completed using an internet browser.

If you have forgotten your PowerSchool password, visit https://ps.elkhart.k12.in.us, click on “Forgot Username or Password?” and follow the instructions.

If you have never logged into PowerSchool previously, you must create a new account and link your new parent account to your child. Watch for a mailing from the district in early August with a one-time code that connects your parent/guardian account to your child. If you do not receive this letter, please contact your child’s school.

The following is a walk-through of the ABC process:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z7YRCDVmuEU

Elkhart Community Schools is committed to supporting and promoting educational, non-profit, and community-based activities and events that benefit our students and families. We recognize the importance of effective communication and encourage the distribution of flyers and promotional materials that align with our educational mission.

Flyer distribution within Elkhart Community Schools is limited to the following categories:

• Educational and school-related activities.
• Non-profit organizations serving the educational or recreational needs of our students.
• Community events that are of educational or recreational benefit to students and families.
• Government or public agency information that directly impacts the school community.

Flyer must include the following information:

• Flyers must be respectful and free from offensive or inappropriate content.

• All flyers must clearly state the name of the sponsoring organization or individual, contact information, and the date of the event or activity.

• Flyers must not contain religious or political endorsements or solicitations.

• Flyers promoting local programs that compete with in-district opportunities for students or staff will be denied.

• The following words must be on the flyer: "Approval for distribution of these materials does not imply endorsement by Elkhart Community Schools.” 

● Approved flyers will be distributed through Peachjar, we will not distribute physical flyers from outside organizations. 

• All flyer requests must be submitted through PeachJar. 

• Visit peachjar.com and create an account as a Community Organization. Click the “Sign Up” button at the top of the page and follow the onscreen instructions to register.

• Elkhart Community Schools reserves the right to deny the distribution of any flyer within the school district if it does not align with our flyer guidelines or at the discretion of the administration.

To post fliers free-of-charge, you must qualify as a non-profit, charitable, or civic organization (UBI or Tax ID number required), AND the item, service, or event you are advertising is offered at no cost.

Flyers that advertise a benefit that incurs a charge or fee or promote such services or events will cost $25.00 per flyer per school to post. Peachjar will waive its service fees for local community organizations posting to ECS schools when promoting a free event or activity that does not entice participants to join a fee-based program, or purchase products or services. To receive the waived service fees, a community organization must contact Peachjar to make the request. 

View the Free Flyer Posting Instructions

Elkhart Community Schools has no part in the account setup process. For questions of any other nature, please contact Peachjar.

• Visit www.peachjar.com

• Call 877-402-1786

• Email gogreen@peachjar.com

Non-Endorsement Clause: Approval for flyer distribution does not imply endorsement or support by Elkhart Community Schools. The district merely serves as a platform for information dissemination, and the responsibility for the content and organization of the event/activity lies solely with the sponsoring entity.