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October 2023 Northtowne News
School News and Community Information
PBIS Mission Statement
I am prepared and ready to learn.
I will be respectful, responsible and focused.
I will make choices that focus on teaching and learning.
My hands are for helping, NOT hurting.
And my words are for encouraging.
I will be the best ‘me’ I can be.
October Important Dates
October 5 - Only Pre-K No School
October 10 - Picture Day: Click Here for Ordering Information
October 16-30 - Panorama Family Survey Window
October 20 - Professional Development: No School
October 24 - End of Grading Period
October 25 - Records Day: No School
Save the Date:
November 9 and 14 - Caregiver Teacher Conferences: watch for sign up information to be coming from teachers
November 16 - Music Performance (1st, 3rd, and 5th grade choir, 4th and 5th grade strings, and 5th grade band)
Stay up to date! The calendar for the 2023-24 school year can be found here.
Principal's Corner
Hello Families, Caregivers, and Students,
Happy Autumn! The temperatures each day aren't quite sure if it is really autumn, but I see the leaves on some trees starting to change. Regardless of the weather, the school calendar definitely shows that we are well into the school year. In fact, we are fast approaching the end of the first quarter of the school year. Students have completed the Beginning of Year (BOY) testing, they have reviewed the school-wide behavior expectations, and are now familiar with classroom routines. Students and staff have been busy!
Later this month, caregivers will have their first opportunity to provide feedback about their perspective of the school experience. We welcome feedback, review feedback, and use feedback to guide the opportunities for family engagement that we are responsible for creating. The more families who we have completing the surveys the better we are able to respond to needs and areas for growth. Please, plan on completing the Panorama Survey on-line when the District sends the message with the link. The survey will be available in multiple languages.
Mr. Taylor
Morning Drop Off Reminders
Please stay with your child prior to 8:30 a.m. and/or when there is no adult supervision. For the safety of your child, please wait until a staff member is outside. Children should not be dropped off before 8:30.
If you drive your student to school, please enter the parking lot area and drive beside the sidewalk. Pull forward, as much as possible, until just past the open cafeteria doors.
Breakfast is served starting at 8:30 and is free for any child who chooses to eat.
Counselor's Corner
Weekly guidance lessons are up and rolling at Northtowne Elementary! Students in all grade levels (Pre-K through 5th grade), and in almost every single class receive lessons from Mr. Dickerson. Our Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students are learning about listening skills. Students in 2nd, and 3rd grade are learning about the Growth Mindset and how the brain makes connections. Our 4th and 5th graders are learning about strong emotions, what emotions look like, and some strategies for dealing with unwanted feelings.
Looking forward to the Month of October, guidance lessons will continue to be provided. Our Pre-K students will continue to receive instruction based on the second step curriculum. Students in grades K-2 will start a unit in identifying emotions. Grades 3 and 4 will receive guidance lessons on emotional regulation through the Zones of Regulation. And our 5th graders will start some project-based learning on career exploration.
Mr. Dickerson has also started Social Emotional Learning (SEL) small groups. One group to highlight is the role-playing small group. Students with a range of goals (problem solving, emotional regulation, integrity, etc) work together to explore social situations in a safe (and somewhat fantastical) environment. Our students say they love the activity and best of all, they get to work on learning strategies to be successful in social situations.
Welcome Nurse Cassie!
Northtowne extends a warm welcome to Nurse Cassie. We are so glad to have you as a part of our school community. She is present at our school Monday-Friday to help students stay healthy and ready to learn.
In October Nurse Cassie will begin health screenings of students. Screenings will include brief vision and hearing tests. Watch for letters coming home with results or indications that additional assessment is needed.
Also, please be aware that that our flu shot clinic will be held in early November. If your student is in need of a flu shot you may fill out the permission form that will be sent home. Once the form has been received back at school we will know to include your student when the flu shot is administered at school.
If you have questions for our school nurse, she can be contacted at: cwalaszek@columbus.k12.oh.us
TAG - Teachers Acknowledging Greatness
What is TAG? TAG is an opportunity for teachers to share with caregivers a moment of greatness shown by their student. Did the student participate in class? Did they show improved effort? Were they quiet and attentive? Did they turn in all their homework for that week? Did they simply give it their best? There are many ways to show our greatness and it's about progress, not perfection.
October is Physical Therapy Month!
Did you know Northtowne has a physical therapist? Are you wondering why a school has a physical therapist? At Northtowne, we are lucky to have Dr. Gualtieri PT, DPT, who the students know as Ms. Nancy. This is a little information describing what Dr. Gualtieri 's role is as a school-based physical therapist and some information about her:
- I work with students and their educational team to maximize their success and independence at school.
- The physical therapy services I provide relate to a student being able to access their school environment and curriculum. That makes me a part of the "related services team." If I am working with your student, you will know it because of permissions you will have signed.
- I am a resource to the faculty and staff of Northtowne to advise and support identified students with small group (tier 2) and individual (tier 3) gross motor interventions. One of the things I helped create for the whole school is the movement mazes you see on the hallway floor. 🙂
- I have been a physical therapist for almost 35 years. I am the mother of 4 children who are now grown ups. My husband and I are originally from the Boston area of Massachusetts.
Physical therapists are an important part of special education services for those who qualify. Thank you, Ms. Nancy, for all that you do for the students you serve. Have a happy Physical Therapy Month!
Proposed School Calendar Change
At the October 3 Board business meeting, the District will provide notice of a proposed change to the previously adopted 2023-2024 Traditional and Year-Round Academic Calendars due to the Total Eclipse that will occur on April 8, 2024.
The Columbus Board of Education provides notice and an opportunity for the public to provide input on the proposed update to the previously adopted Academic Calendars for the school year 2023-2024.
Specifically:
Traditional Calendar: The revision to the Traditional Academic Calendar moves the April 24, 2024, Professional Development Day to Monday, April 8, 2024, as a remote Professional Development Day; there will be no classes.
Per Ohio law, there must be a 30-day period for public comment before the Board of Education can officially approve the calendars. Columbus City Schools community members can submit comments or feedback via our Academic Calendars Survey or email to engage@columbus.k12.oh.us.
School Levy Information
There is still time to register to vote in the upcoming election! The deadline to register is October 10, 2023. Registration can be as easy as going to a web site. Click here!
Here are the qualifications to vote in the November 7, 2023 General Election:
- Must be a US citizen
- Must be 18 years old by November 7, 2023
- Must be a resident of Ohio for 30 days prior to the Election
- Must register to vote 30 days prior to the election
Pathway Express is Back
Pathway Express is back and starts with an OSU soccer match against University of Michigan. That’s right, Pathway Express’ first stop in October kicks off with The Ohio State University Women’s soccer game. CCS students and their families will get the chance to enjoy FREE admission to the game to watch the OSU Women’s Soccer take on the University of Michigan Wolverines.
On Sunday, October 22, join Columbus City Schools’ Pathway Express for pre-game events and activities starting at Noon at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, 2450 Fred Taylor Dr. Kickoff starts at 1:00 p.m.
The fun doesn’t stop there; pre-game family learning experiences include:
- Meet & Greet with world-renowned author Monica Brown
- Engaging in pre-game literacy activities
- Free books for students
- Fun for the whole family
License Reinstatement
Franklin County Clerk of Courts is hosting a FREE License Reinstatement Workshop October 24, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Glenwood Community Center (1888 Fairmont Ave., Columbus, OH 43223.)
This workshop offers a step-by-step guide to license reinstatement led by a dedicated BMV representative. Payment for outstanding citations and fees will be accepted (Visa and Mastercard only.)
Northtowne News Past Issues are Still Available
Did you delete a Northtowne News email and then realize there was a resource you still wanted to check out? Do you remember seeing a newsletter announcement about a community resource but now you can't remember the name of the organization and you can't find the email from the newsletter? Don't worry! The information you need is not lost! All prior Newsletters and mid-month updates are available on the Northtowne Elementary web site. The button below will take you directly to the newsletter archive.
Grateful for Family Involvement
Thank you so much for your support and involvement with your child’s learning. Whether it’s conferences, attending the family meetings, or a quick chat throughout the day, we appreciate your involvement and efforts to build the lines of communication between home and school.
Lots of school communication and information is in the Parent Portal. If you need help accessing the Parent Portal please contact our Family Ambassador, Sarah Bowman. She can even link families to interpreters (Bilingual Engagement Liaisons or BEL) to help with understanding the Parent Portal set up process. Email: sbowman@columbus.k12.oh.us or you can call or text: 614-859-9654Thank you for reading this month’s newsletter.
Send a note to let us know what you thought, make suggestions or ask a question. We would love to hear from you. Please send a note to your child’s teacher or send a message.
Contributors:
Austin Taylor, Principal
Phone: 614-365-5488
Fax: 614-365-5487
Email: ataylor4@columbus.k12.oh.us
Sarah Bowman, Family Ambassador
614-859-9654
Email: sbowman@columbus.k12.oh.us
Susan Bryant, Building Coach
614-365-5488
Email: sbryant9569@columbus.k12.oh.us
Frank Beickelman, Grant Provider
614-365-5488