Normandy Park School

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Monday, May 1st is a D Day.

May is a busy and exciting month! We look to finish the year as strong as we started. Thank you to all our parents and families for your ongoing support and partnership!

On Saturday, April 29 the Region 1 Elementary Honors Orchestra festival took place and 9 Morris School District students participated, including Liyana and Lizzy from Normandy Park School. The students prepared the music for the month prior and then rehearsed all day and performed an amazing concert at the end of the day.

Click here for the MAY Bilingual Monthly Newsletter!

Testing begins this week for 4th and 5th graders.

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.

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.

This month’s celebrations and events include: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month and Mental Health Awareness month.

Standardized testing begins this month so what better way to kick it off this month’s Counselor Corner than with some tips on dealing with Test Anxiety

Prior to testing:

• Reassure your child that you know they will do the best they can. Remember children will feed into your anxiety and vice versa. So if you’re anxious about how they will do on their tests, they will be too.

• Remind them that if they get stuck on a problem to move on to the next one and come back to the one they were stuck on later. It’s better to keep moving forward and feel like you have successfully answered questions than to stay stuck and get frustrated.

• Take a brief walk together as often as you can and be mindful of the world around you. Talk about the trees and flowers that are blooming. Try spotting all the birds and bugs. Try to identify some of the spring smells in the air.

Sleep and testing:

• On the nights of testing make sure your child has plenty of rest. A good night’s rest is crucial to good cognitive function.

• Establish a calming night time routine.

• Avoid drinks with sugar in them prior to bedtime.

• Play relaxing music.

• If your child watches a movie in the afternoon or evening make sure it is funny or silly, nothing sad, scary or violent, as this might keep them up at night. This applies to computer games as well.

• Turn off all electronics an hour before bed and remove all electronic devices from the bedroom so there are no temptations to turn them on.

The morning of the test:

• Try to wake your child up gently and calmly.

• Encourage your child to eat a healthy breakfast. Pack a healthy snack as well.

• Put a positive sticky note in their lunch box or on one of their notebooks. Older children might find this corny but those notes are always appreciated!

• Practice some deep breathing techniques prior to leaving the house.

Here are a few of the many types of deep breathing techniques you can do with your child to help them relax.

1. Flower/candle: Pretend to be holding a flower and taking a deep breath in through your nose as if smelling the flower. Then imagine you are blowing out your birthday candles and blow them all out. Do this 4-5 times.

2. Crazy 8 breaths: draw a giant figure 8. Using your pointer finger, start at the middle and take a breathe in as you trace the top half of the 8. Breathe out slowly through your mouth as you trace the bottom half.

3. Tummy breaths: place your hand over your belly. As you inhale, feel your belly expand, keep lips slightly parted as you exhale through your mouth.

There are many relaxation apps available including Smiling Mind Meditation App, Calm, and Headspace. As always, I encourage you to check them out first before sharing them with your child.

There are many wonderful books dealing with the topic of worry and anxiety. Here are a few of them:

The local libraries, including Normandy Park’s own library has some of these and others as well.

If you have any concerns about your child being anxious or any other concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, pediatrician or me.

Stay Awesome!

Cheryl Cohen, School Counselor

Celebrate and Thank the People in the Morris School District Who Make a Difference in Your Child’s Life

Our teachers and staff in the Morris School District continue to go above and beyond to guide and empower our 5,700 students with incredible ingenuity and spirit. Recognize these creative and passionate educators who made a difference with a Teacher Tribute.

Honor administrators, coaches, counselors, assistants, custodians, librarians, nurses, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, secretaries, and of course, all teachers by making a donation in their name. With your tax-deductible donation, your honoree will receive a personalized certificate with your message.

$10 minimum per tribute

The deadline to submit is Friday, May 5 for Tributes to be delivered during Teacher Appreciation Week May 8 – 12. All orders received after May 5 will be delivered through June 16. Order yours by clicking here!

The Morris Educational Foundation (MEF) is thrilled to provide this interactive, high-interest bus education safety experience to all K-5 students in our schools. The team of presenters received materials to provide exciting assemblies for our PreK - 2 and 3-5 students. The bus and materials are a one-time purchase and will be used for many years to teach and reinforce bus safety to benefit all our
elementary schools.

To support similar initiatives, please contact Joelle Servais at joelle@morrisedfoundation.org or donate
today! https://www.morrisedfoundation.org/ways-to-give/donate.html

Registration for fall 2023 sports will open on Monday, May 15, 2023. If your child is interested in playing boys soccer, girls soccer, field hockey, or cross country they can pick up forms at the FMS health office or visit our FMS Athletics website: https://frelinghuysenms-ar.rschooltoday.com/home to print out the forms at home. Please note: boys and girls soccer are cut sports.

For more information please click here.

Earlier in the year, 4th and 5th Graders read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

Number the Stars is about a ten-year-old girl living in Copenhagen, Denmark during the Nazi invasion. As part of the curriculum, the book was read aloud with guidance and support from the classroom teacher. The book highlights the theme of bravery, family, and friendship.

On May 25th (during the school day), NPS will host Holocaust child survivor Maude Dahme. Maud Dahme serves on the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Educations, and served on the State Board of Education from 1983–2007, including five years as president. A Holocaust Commission award is named in her honor, and she now devotes her time to Holocaust/Genocide education and guiding groups to Holocaust sites.

She will lead a developmentally age appropriate discussion, focusing on her tolerance education and her story.

If you have any questions or are interested in attending (as a parent of a 4th/5th grader), please reach out to me directly at christopher.miller@msdk12.net

Click here to visit our Home and School Association website!

THE COLOR RUN WILL NOW BE HELD ON THE RAINDATE OF MAY 19th.

For Parents Attending the Color Run:

If you are attending & plan to pick your child up directly from the event, please complete the attached form.

At the end of the Color Run, students will line up with their classroom outside on the field. Line up in front of your child’s teacher, and he/she will sign out your child accordingly. Please do not take your child without signing them out with their classroom teacher. Once you have your child, please proceed to your cars to leave. This will ensure our dismissal runs smoothly. Thank you for your support!

This is our last major fundraiser of the school year, this is our biggest opportunity to raise money to support next year’s HSA Community Events.

Donation forms went home in backpacks before break, but you can also donate online here: ttps://givebutter.com/NPSColorRun23 .

Please help support this fundraiser for our HSA and all they do for our school.

You can also sign up to volunteer at the Color Run here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4FA4AD2AA75-npscolor

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

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 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.

• May 8th to May 12th- 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 8th or 13th)
• June 9th- Moving Up Ceremony for 5th Graders
• June 12th- 5th Grade Fun Day

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