Normandy Park School

I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

This week, students will finish taking the Winter iReady Diagnostic assessment, if they have not done so already. iReady reports will be shared with families on February 12th (with report cards). In addition, this week, classes will begin to participate in our Zentangle art residency. Each class will participate in one virtual session. The residency will culminate with one Zentangle (on a tile) of all the students projects pieced together for everyone to view. All virtual students can pick up supplies from January 21st to January 26th at NPS from 9am to 3:00pm.

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 Nineteen

Parent Reflection Question: Have you ever noticed racism in advertisements and commercials? How do you think that affects the viewers? How do you feel about how your race is represented in the media? Click on the link below for examples of racism in advertisements/commercials:

https://youtu.be/_DXsJDDkOMo

Child Question: The next time you are watching TV with your child, pay attention to the commercials they are watching. Are there children in the commercials who look like them? Do your children notice whether or not they are represented in the commercials they see?

During the weeks of January 25th and February 1st, NPS will be hosting artist, Mimi Topping, to conduct a virtual cultural arts residency program for all classes.

Mimi Topping is a certified art teacher for the past 23 years. She has been certified to teach Zentangle since 2012. Zentangle is a form of art by drawing structured patterns called tangles. The tangles are created with a combination of dots, lines, simple curves, S-curves and obs. The simple shapes are called “Elemental Strokes” and are drawn on small pieces of paper called tiles which can then be assembled into mosaics.

Each class will participate in one virtual session. The residency will culminate with one Zentangle (on a tile) of all the students projects pieced together for everyone to view. All virtual students can pick up supplies from January 21st to January 26th at NPS from 9am to 3:00pm.

To learn more about Mimi Topping and Zentangle, please click here.

Over the last two weeks, families donated items to support the Bridges Outreach hygiene and cold weather pack collection. Thank you to all families who donated over the last two weeks. Thank you to the Chatterjee family for organizing and involving the NPS community.

The collection boxes at NPS will remain for an additional week.

Message from NPS Family:

For this year's Martin Luther King National Day of Service, we are working with Bridges Outreach to collect and assemble hygiene and cold bags to aid those most in need in our communities. Please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4DABAD28AAFB6-2021 for either complete bags or to contribute what you can and we are happy to assemble!

Bridges ends homelessness through volunteer-driven outreach and individual case management focusing on health, housing and independence. Volunteering unites Americans of all ages and backgrounds to build stronger communities. This MLK Day of Service, join others in giving back through service.

Please be sure to include your email address in the sign-up and we will reply within 24 hours with the address for drop-off. Drop-off deadline extended until Friday, 29 January 2021. Email: ninnabella@gmail.com with any questions.

This week, I will be hosting another information session for prospective K 2021-2022 parents, who were not able to attend last session.

Date: 1/28/2021

Time: 6:30pm

Please click here for additional information.

Picture day will be February 18th, 2021.

Cleaning and social distancing protocols will be in place. Students will take individual pictures only. Individual pictures will be made into a composite class picture. All-virtual students will have assigned time slots in the afternoon to come in if they choose to.

Additional information on class pictures and ordering forms will be sent home in February.

Message from Ms. Cohen:

I will continue to host the optional daily lunch groups for all virtual students from 12-12:30. It’s a way to check in, play some games and have some social time with friends from other classes. The third grade lunch has been combined with 4th grade on Mondays so 3rd graders can see some of their peers from last year!

Lunch groups are as follows:

Mondays: 3rd and 4th

Tuesdays: Kindergarten

Wednesdays: 1st grade

Thursdays: 2nd grade

I will continue to host the virtual 5th grade social group on Thursdays from 2:30-3.

This month's class lessons will follow the questions posed in the principal’s newsletter from week 4 on prejudice and bias:

Do you know what it means to be prejudiced? (Prejudice is an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason. Any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable, is prejudice. Prejudice also consists of unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile nature, regarding an ethnic, racial, social, or religious group). Have you ever seen anyone be prejudiced towards a friend or classmate? Has anyone ever been prejudiced against you? Encourage your child to share their experiences and their feelings.

As always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.

Cheryl Cohen

cheryl.cohen@msdk12.net

973-889-7960 x6115

*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

Please note revised requirements following travel outside our immediate region (that is, to anywhere other than NY, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Delaware):

• For students: Contact the school nurse and quarantine for 14 days; no test is required.

Thank you for your cooperation and diligence in reporting symptoms, exposure, and travel to our school nurses. Your transparency and honesty help our entire community stay safe. If you are contacted by local health department officials, please respond to their inquiry so that they can properly conduct contact tracing.

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."

Please see the menu below for meals offered each day:

*For when we return to in-person schooling:

• 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).

• February 12th: Report Cards Sent Home
• February 16th: ACCESS Testing begins for students in our ELL and bilingual program
• February 18th: Picture Day