Normandy Park School

I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

MSD will continue to share important information on the Coronavirus Update Center and on our MSD Forward pages. Please know that I am here to help and support in any way that I can. Feel free to reach out to me directly at christopher.miller@msdk12.net.

This part of the newsletter will have a question or a topic for you to discuss with your child(ren). This can be done on the way to school, on the way to sports practice, before dinner, at bedtime, etc.

Each week there will be a “something to think about” question and a “something to talk about” question. The “something to think about question” is for you as a parent to reflect on for yourself. The “something to talk about” question is for you to discuss with your child. These exercises are meant to stimulate a conversation on race, equity and inclusion in America.

Week Twenty Six

Parent Question: Has there ever been a time that you struggled to learn or do something? What was that experience like for you? What stood in your way? How did you deal with it? Would you be willing to share this experience with your child?

Child Question: What’s something that’s hard for you to do? Did you give up or did you continue to try? Did anything get in your way? Did anyone help you get through it?

Children’s Book Recommendation: Don’t Call Me Special by Pat Thomas

Hello everyone and Happy Music in our Schools Month!

Music Fact of the Week:

Did you know that if you unraveled a tuba, it would be 18 feet long? That’s about as tall as a full grown giraffe!

Music Joke of the Week: Why is a piano so hard to open? Because all the keys are inside

Congratulations to all of the participants!

A special shout out to our MSD music teachers, who won the Audience's Choice award for their performance of Sir Duke! If you didn't get a chance to see it, check it out below!

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held virtually over a three week period.

All parent/teacher conferences will be held between April 19th and May 7th.

Your child's teacher will be reaching out to schedule a conference time with you. All conferences will be 20 minutes in length and be conducted virtually. Teachers will provide each family with a completed conference sheet either prior to the meeting or immediately after that will reflect an academic snapshot in the areas of strengths, goals for growth, and ways can provide support at home.

We knew the Normandy Park community had a lot of heart, and you proved it!

The "I Heart Normandy Park" fundraiser for our HSA smashed through our goal, raising $12,081.12! Thank you so much for the outpouring of love you showed during these difficult times. Because of you, we will be able to continue funding programs like the recent Zentangle art residency and our two upcoming schoolwide virtual assemblies, as well as teacher appreciation, birthday books, and more.

Congratulations for meeting and exceeding the goal for our fundraiser! We raised over $12,000 for the HSA thanks to the wonderful community here at Normandy Park.

Please enjoy this video of Mrs Tulli showing that our NPS teachers will try to teach anyone!

Last week, lucky raffle winner for the I Heart NPS fundraiser, Carlo, painted Mr. Russell's head. Mr. Russell kept the paint on the whole day!

Message from Ms. Cohen:

As we continue our theme of Accepting me, Accepting you, Accepting all of us, I wanted to share some books the elementary school counselors are reading in classes and some that you could read with your children (most are available as a read aloud on Youtube as well). This is by no means a complete list. There are so many books available at Normandy Park, in our local county library system and online. Be sure to take a look at them out first and be ready to answer any questions your child may have.

Emmanuels’ Dream, by Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah is the inspiring true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg. He was dismissed by most people—but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams.

Thank You, Mr. Falker, by Patricia Polacco is about a girl named Trisha who realizes that the letters get jumbled when she tries to read! Her teacher, Mr. Falker sees this and helps her prove to herself that she can read and will!

My Brother Charlie, by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete, is a story about Charlie, a young boy with autism, told through the eyes of his older sister.

Just Ask, Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, by Sonia Sotomayor

Solo Pregunta! Se diferente, Se valiente, se tú, por Sonia Sotomayor

All the Way to the Top by Annette May Pimente, An inspiring true story about how one girl’s fight for Americans with disabilities changes everything.

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig is a gentle story that shows how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish.

Roxy the Raccoon by Alice Reeves is the story of a Roxy who is in a wheelchair and has a hard time going to the same places and playing the same games as her other animal friends. Her friends make some changes to include everyone.

People with different abilities are starting to be more present on tv, in movies, sports and online. As we begin to go outside more, you and your child may notice more people with different abilities walking around town. Continue to talk with your children about how we all have something unique about us; some things we can see and some we can’t. If your child comes across someone who looks or sounds different, help them learn to ask in a kind way, instead of staring and let them know that some people are ok with being asked about their differences, while others may not.

This Tuesday’s K lunch group is cancelled for this week only. The first and second grade lunches will remain on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

As always if I can be of any help to you or your child(ren) please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Cohen, MSW, LCSW

School Counselor

cheryl.cohen@msdk12.net

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*When NPS is open for in-person instruction:

My child has to quarantine. Can they stream into class?

For students attending in person classes, access to virtual instruction is for absences over an extended period of time due to quarantining or an extenuating circumstance. In this case, access to virtual instruction will consist of a combination of streaming, completion of Google Classroom activities, and teacher check-in(s).

My child is sick. Can they stream into the class?

No, if your child is home sick for a few days they will be considered to have an excused absence due to illness. Students are encouraged to rest.

*Please note, access to virtual instruction for in-person students needs to be approved by the principal and/or nurse. Please reach out to me with any additional questions at christopher.miller@msdk12.net

If interested in attending the MSD Board Meeting and Preliminary Budget Hearing, please registe. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing login information to access the meeting via Zoom.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE MARCH 15 MEETING

Please continue to follow the precise stipulations of the Daily Student Screening or COVID/Attendance Screener for staff. Above all, individuals should not report to school if they exhibit symptoms (which include fever of 100 degrees F or higher WITHOUT fever-reducing medicine), or if any member of the household is awaiting test results or has been instructed to get a COVID-19 test. Thank you for your ongoing vigilance and partnership.

Spring Break:

The CDC, NJDOH, and our local health departments are extremely concerned about travel because of the presence of multiple, highly transmissible and potent coronavirus variants circulating throughout the United States. Accordingly, current guidance is to continue avoiding any nonessential travel. Please note that we are scheduled to resume in-person instruction immediately after spring break, on April 5. Anyone who returns to NJ from travel outside our immediate region (CT, DE, NY, PA) must quarantine. Families are reminded to contact the school nurse upon return from travel for instructions and quarantine dates. We appreciate your cooperation and open communication regarding travel and quarantine so that we can ensure a safe environment for our students and staff.

Grab & Go meals will be available for all students, who wish to receive them. The Federal Department of Agriculture has extended waivers that will allow MSD to serve ALL students meals for FREE through June 2021.

REMINDER: Students who are not attending school in person can pick up free breakfast and lunch at Morristown High School (at the rear circle by the flagpole off of Atno Avenue) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. There will be two service times, from 8:00 am to 9:00 am and again from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

More information about School Breakfast & Lunch is available on the MSD Forward homepage under "Back to School Resources for Families."

• If there are changes in your child's dismissal plans (e.g. you are going to pick them up that day, instead of taking the bus), please use the attached form or call the main office.
• For written communication between you and your child's teacher, please utilize Class Dojo and/or e-mail, rather than hand-written letters (when possible).

• March 29th to April 2nd (Spring Break)