Normandy Park School

I hope that everyone is having a great Spring Break!

School is closed from April 3rd to April 7th. We return to school on Monday, April 10th. A big thanks to our building foreman and custodial team for cleaning and prepping the building over the break!

Monday, April 10th is an A Day.

To those celebrating Easter, Passover, or Ramadan, I wish you the happiest of holidays.

April 10th April 14th is Health and Wellness Week at Normandy Park School

During Health and Wellness Week, NPS will recognize and celebrate mindfulness, health, and fitness. Each morning will begin with a school-wide exercise/stretch of the day. Throughout the week, students will participate in health & wellness activities. In addition, Chrissie Massie, MSD technology director, will present and speak to our Senior Unit about digital wellness. Whiston's (Food Services) will provide healthy tastings to our students during lunch.

April 10th and 11th- Chalk it Out

Students will decorate the parking lot in chalk with positive and inspirational messages and drawings. Students will also participate in schoolwide exercises!

April 12th- Team Day

Students will wear their favorite sports team gear or NPS colors/apparel

April 13th- Thoughtful Thursday

Digital Wellness (4/5) & Reading Buddies (K-3)

ZING FITNESS EVENT on April 14th, 2023

The week will end with a Zing Fitness event on Friday (4/14), in which students will participate in group fitness activities! Students are encouraged to wear team colors on the day of the event. Teams are assigned as follows:

Blue

Tulli/Culmone Blue Team

Fascia/Cahill

Diana

Martinez

Hong/Polesovsky

Eickmeyer

Velez

Yellow

Tulli/Culmone Gold Team

Smith

Rosso

Mahony/Castello

Wolff/Mitevski

Red

Kaywood

Richardson
Clark

Ortiz

Archibald

Little (A)

Green

Langsdorf

Vazquez
Toye

Little (B)

Click here for the APRIL Bilingual Monthly Newsletter!

Digital awareness:

Phone, tablet, kindle, computer, which one is your favorite? They all serve a purpose, whether it be for entertainment, research, work, school, or connection with others. Most children have access to a device these days and it is easy to forget that a phone or tablet with internet service is the same as having a computer. And let’s face it, children are curious and often impulsive. Sometimes they are embarrassed to ask adults questions but often it’s just easy to look something up or play a quick game. Vigilance is key to children’s online safety and in addition to parent safety “locks”, a huge part of it involves conversation around digital safety and content. One of the best ways to handle internet safety is to talk with your child. There are many areas to discuss including:

1. The digital footprint. Whatever is put out on the internet is there forever.

2. Only talk to people online who you know

3. Be kind when texting others; texts that they might think are “private” can be screen shot and shared with others. In addition it’s also easy to misinterpret a text.

4. Never take anyone’s picture without permission and…..

5. Make sure to have permission before posting photos of others online.

6. Keep passwords private and shut or lock any device that is unattended

7. Not sharing personal information online including name, address, age or school you are attending.

Make sure you are up to date on the video games your child is are playing and the social media sites they are on. Familiarize yourself with the content. For example, Fortnite is a very popular video game amongst elementary school students but did you know that it is rated 13+ due to violence and the open chat content? Thirteen is also the recommended agae for Snapchat and Tiktok. I am not saying your child should not play, or be on any social media, rather, know what they are doing online and discuss it with them.

One great resource available to you as parents is Common Sense .org. It is chock full information on internet safety. They have videos explaining many of the video games, and Q&A sections on all things tech for you and your child. Click on the link below for more information.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org.

Here at Normandy Park, Mrs. Gilson, our media specialist is another great resource and has taught classes on digital safety.

I want to take a moment to thank our amazing Social Work Interns: Mrs. Mei Moyer and Ms. Khirstie Diaz who have done a phenomenal job helping our students, parents and staff alike. They have been an integral part of our Normandy Park Family. Mrs. Moyer leaves us at the end of April and Ms. Diaz the first week in May. We wish them much success in their careers as Social Workers!

Celebrations and special days this month include:

Easter, Passover, Earth Day, Ramadan (which started the end of March and goes through mid April) and Autism awareness.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions about anything in this newsletter or any concerns you have about your child.

As always, stay awesome!

Cheryl

Cheryl.cohen@msdk12.net

973-889-7960 x6115

The New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) are statewide assessments that assess students' progress toward the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and science for all students across NJ.

Testing begins in 3rd Grade. 3rd-5th grade will take ELA and Math NJSLA. 5th grade will take the Science assessment.

Tentative Schedule for NPS:

Senior (4/5)

ELA: May 2nd and May 3rd

Science (5th Grade only): May 4th and May 5th

Math: May 16th to 18th

Intermediate (3rd Grade Only)

ELA: May 8th and May 9th

Math: May 10th to May 12th

For additional NJSLA information and resources, click here.

Click below for the Social Emotional Learning newsletter from our Social Work Intern team!

English

Spanish

In April, Normandy Park School will begin this year's schoolwide enrichment clusters for Intermediate and Senior students.

Schoolwide enrichment clusters are an opportunity for all students to experience an extension of content and an exploration of interests through small group enrichment clusters relating to an area of interest. They engage with students from other classrooms. Clusters meet for approximately 4 to 6 weeks (for 40 minutes, 1x per 6 day cycle during the school day; last period on D Day). During the enrichment cluster period, every teacher in the unit and specialists, meet with a small group. Each student will be with a grade level teacher and/or a specialist in an enrichment cluster to engage in fun hands on learning for the 40 minute period.

Click here to visit our Home and School Association website!

Back by popular demand, the NPS Color Run! Returning on Friday, April 28th, our last major fundraiser of the school year, this is our biggest opportunity to raise money to support next year’s HSA Community Events.

Forms will be sent home shortly. In addition, links for digital donations will be opened and shared. Stay tuned!

Wondering what the fundraising the NPS HSA does covers in the school year?

The money raised by the HSA provides and contributes to:

• Birthday Books

• Movie Night

• Bingo Night

• World Cup Watch Party

• Fall Fun Fair

• School-wide Dance Through the Decades Residency

• After School Clubs including club scholarships

• Kids of Character Photos

• STEAM Fair

• Bookfair

• Annual Reading Challenge

• 5th Grade Yearbooks

• 5th Grade Celebration & Graduation

• Plants and Flowers for the NPS Grounds

• 2023 QUEST Project Funding

• Teacher Appreciation Week

• As well as supporting various school administrative needs!

For the Color Run the HSA will provide all students:

• T-shirts to wear over their clothes

• Sunglasses

• Colored powder

Amazing prizes are up for grabs and every student who participates in the fundraising will be eligible to win! Parents can volunteer and/or attend!

Help to make this a colorful event students will never forget! For volunteer opportunities sign up for here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4FA4AD2AA75-npscolor

Contact the HSA Fundraising chairs with any questions:

NPSHSAFundraising@gmail.com

Where: NPS Front Playground

When: Saturday, April 8th

Time: 10am to 12pm

*Parents must attend with children. Siblings welcome!

Information on other Unit Play Dates coming soon! Email your interest to help and ideas at NPSHSAVolunteering@gmail.com. RSVP here for the K/1 today!

¡Información sobre otras Fechas de Juego de la Unidad próximamente! Envíe por correo electrónico su interés en ayudar e ideas a NPSHSAVolunteering@gmail.com. ¡RSVP aquí para el K/1 hoy!

Girls on the Run® will return to NPS this spring for 3rd - 5th graders! The NPS program is seeking up-beat, dependable adult coaches who can commit a few hours twice a week April - June. Visit the website for more info.

Student registration is now open!

Registration open for participants in 3rd thru 5th grade (click here)!

Show your NPS pride! Purchase NPS school gear directly from Redbubble with shipment right to your doorstep! A small percentage of profits will be returned to NPS with your purchase!

Create a profile on our NPS HSA Membership Toolkit to enable your participation in the school directory (grade/teacher), sign up to receive the Home and School Association's weekly newsletter, submit club forms, volunteer and more!

Summer Plus 2023!

Registration is now open at our website – www.msdcommunityschool.org

SUMMER PLUS 2023

Registration for Summer Plus 2023 is now open at the Community School website, www.msdcommunityschool.org and will remain open until May 19, 2023. Please note that class selections will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. All registration is on-line.

This year we are returning to class selections, so please take a moment to visit the website and look at all we have to offer. Please read the registration directions carefully, and be sure to have your selections made when you begin the process.

If you have questions during the registration process, please contact Shari at shari.burroughs@msdk12.net or call 973-292-2063, ext. 8311.

• If you know that you child will be tardy or absent from school, it is requested that you notify the nurse in advance. This can be done by phone at 973-889-7960 x 6152. Voicemail is operational 24 hours daily.

• You may also contact her office by email at: marybeth.supple@msdk12.net

• Students who arrive tardy (after 8:55am) must report immediately to the Health Office upon arrival to school for a late pass

Please use the digital blue note form for any dismissal changes. The main office will notify the homeroom teachers of the dismissal change. For absences, continue to contact the school nurse.

If a situation arises that requires you to pick your child up during the school day, a note must be sent to the office specifying the pick-up time. Students being picked up early are asked to be picked up before 2:30 p.m.

Click here for April Breakfast and Lunch Menus.

For additional information on MSD Breakfast and Lunch, please click here to visit the district's website.

Students can bring and/or purchase lunch. Free and reduced meals are provided to families who qualify for support. To fill out the Free and Reduced Meals application, please click here.

Who: Rising 6th Grade Families

When: April 19th

Where: FMS

Save the Date for the evening of April 19th (more information to come)

• April 19th- FMS Parent Orientation (More Information to Come)
• April 28th- Color Run
• May 1st to 5th- Teacher Appreciation Week
• May 15th- Early Dismissal for Students
• May 29th- School Closed for Memorial Day
• June 1st- Spring Concert
• June 2nd- Field Day for K/1 and 2/3 (Rain Date June 7th)
• June 5th- 4/5 Field Day (Rain Date June 6th)

2022-2023 District Calendar

· Harrassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Reporting Information

· Parent Handbook

· District Calendar

· Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

· Free and Reduced Meal Application

· Adding Money to Breakfast/Lunch Account

· Sunset and Sunrise

The Morris Educational Foundation (MEF) is proud to continue its mission of generating and distributing resources to enhance the education of the 5,700 students and 1,000 educators in the Morris School District’s 10 schools. For 30 years, the MEF has and will continue to support our District through vibrant grants, supportive tutoring, enlightening parent education and life-changing scholarship programs. Learn more about how the MEF works to enrich and inspire the academic pursuits of all our students by clicking here. With you, our community, we make exceptional education extraordinary.

Click on this link to view a video about what the MEF does for you!

Any questions, email info@morrisedfoundation.org.