Normandy Park School

I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

Monday (12/6) is a C Day.

On account of Parent Teacher Conferences, 12/6 and 12/7 are early dismissal days. On early dismissal days, the cafeteria will be serving cold lunch options only.

We are excited to announce our Scholastic Book Fair will be held this week in the library. Parents are welcome to stop by the Fair before or after their Parent/Teacher conference on December 6 or 7. If you are unable to attend, you can also support our school by shopping our online fair until December 19. Book orders of $25+ ship home for free!

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.

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.

La Esquina Latina Con Mrs. Esteves

ATTENTION FAMILIES! Have you completed the Superintendent Search Survey yet? Our Board of Education wants to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey ... your voice matters and will help guide the Board in finding a superintendent who meets the needs of all of our school community stakeholders. We appreciate your time and feedback!

CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY IN ENGLISH

¡ATENCIÓN FAMILIAS! ¿Ha completado ya la encuesta de búsqueda del superintendente? ¡Nuestra Junta de Educación quiere saber de usted! Por favor, complete esta breve encuesta ... su voz es importante y ayudará a guiar a la Junta a encontrar un superintendente que satisfaga las necesidades de todas las partes interesadas de nuestra comunidad escolar. ¡Apreciamos su tiempo y comentarios!

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA LA ENCUESTA EN ESPAÑOL

As communicated in the beginning of the school year, the Morris School District (K-5) is moving to trimester reporting periods.

The move to trimester reporting is intended to strengthen the home/school connection in the following ways:

• Feedback will be provided earlier than in past school years

• Formal reporting between school and home will be more frequent

• Clear information on the progression of NJ Student Learning Standards will be provided

For additional information please click here.

Report Cards for the first trimester will be sent home on December 23rd, 2021. I will be hosting a virtual information session for parents to learn about our Standards Based Report Card on December 16th at 6:30pm. If you would like to attend, please fill out the attached form.

While we welcome the opportunity to partner with volunteers, the requirements to ensure health and safety of students, staff and families must be followed throughout the school day. This means that volunteering may look differently this year.

We are so grateful for your partnership and are open to discussions about volunteering and creative ways to bring the value of volunteers into our school even during these challenging times. Please review the following volunteer guidelines and reach out to your HSA President and/or school principal if you have any questions.

For additional information, please click here.

Normandy Park School will participate in the international event “The Hour of Code” during the week of December 6 to 10. Students have been building their coding skills using Beebots and Ozobots as well as coding on the following websites https://code.org/hourofcode/overview , the https://scratch.mit.edu/ and https://beebot.terrapinlogo.com in technology classes this fall.

The Hour of Code is an one-hour introduction to computer science The Hour of Code began as a one-hour coding challenge to give students a fun first introduction to computer science and has become a global learning event, celebration, and awareness event. HourOfCode.com offers hundreds of one-hour activities in over 48 languages for kindergarten and up. Activities require no experience and can be run on browsers, tablets, and smartphones - some don’t require any computer at all. Why computer science? Computer science is foundational Computer science is changing every industry on the planet. Every 21st-century student should have the opportunity to learn how to create technology. Computer science concepts also help nurture creativity and problem-solving skills to prepare students for any future career. Economic opportunity for all Computing occupations are the fastest-growing, best paying, and now the largest sector of all new wages in the US. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. Students also love it! Recent surveys show that among classes students “like a lot,” computer science and engineering rank near the top—only performing arts, art, and design are higher.

Code.org’s own activities feature Minecraft, Star Wars, Disney’s Frozen, Angry Birds, and Plants vs. Zombies. An annual global event The Hour of Code takes place every year during Computer Science Education Week, the first week in December.

Please email Mrs. Gilson at Wendy.Gilson@msdk12.net if you have any questions. Happy Coding!

Parent teacher conferences will be held this week. This year, we will have in-person conferences. Virtual conferences are also available upon request.

Conference Times

12/6: 1:50pm to 4:20pm

12/7: 1:50pm to 6:20pm

Just a reminder that parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for this Monday, December

6th and Tuesday, December 7th.

Parents who schedule an in-person conference must:

1. Wear a mask at all times while in the building

2. Maintain at least six feet of distance between themselves and teachers at all times

3. Complete a COVID screener (paper copy was sent home Friday, please bring a completed copy)

Feel free to reach out to our amazing team specialists, if you would like to speak with them during conference week. Contact information listed below:

Robert Russell (Science) at robert.russell@msdk12.net

Ariella Schwam (Music) at ariella.schwam@msdk12.net

Wendy Gilson (Computer and Library) at wendy.gilson@msdk12.net

Kristen Radke (Art, Enrichment, and Quest) at kristen.radke@msdk12.net

Daniela Cardona (Spanish) at daniela.cardona@msdk12.net

Suzanne Echevarria (PE) at suzanne.echevarria@msdk12.net

Deborah Carroll (Orchestra) at deborah.carroll@msdk12.net

Thank you to Ricciardi Brothers Paint of Morristown for their donation of paint buckets to our music department. The buckets are being used to help our students learn music through percussion!

The Share The Magic raffle is this week! Tickets can be purchased via order form or in-person during Parent Teacher Conferences from the HSA. On December 10th (6pm to 8:30pm), families are invited into the gym for a last chance to purchase and place raffle tickets.

Later this week, during the school day students will have the chance to place 3 free tickets for a chance to win the prize of their choice!

The drawing will be streamed on Friday night, live from the NPS gym. All interested in watching can view via Zoom. Link will be shared in an upcoming newsletter.

Look in your child’s folder this week for the raffle ticket order form and please complete and return it with payment as soon as possible. Reach out to npshsafundraising@gmail.com with any questions.

We are running the NPS Spirit Store a little differently this year. This year the School Store is on RedBubble.com and you'll be able to order whenever you want! Head on over to NPS School Store to check out all of our new designs and get your hands on the coolest of NPS Fashion!

Check out the HSA school store. Now open!

We are excited to announce our Scholastic Book Fair will be held December 6 - 10 in the library. Parents are welcome to stop by the Fair before or after their Parent/Teacher conference on December 6 or 7. If you are unable to attend, you can also support our school by shopping our online fair until December 19. Book orders of $25+ ship home for free!

We need YOU! Help us to make this Fair a success!

* Sign up to volunteer at our Fair! We rely on parent volunteers to help kids find and choose books, as well as run the cash registers. Please note that not all teachers have signed up for their class timeslot yet.

* Children will have an opportunity to shop with their class during school hours. Give your child a safe, cashless way to shop by taking advantage of Scholastic's convenient eWallet Program.

* New this year! Each teacher will have their own Scholastic eWallet so that parents can contribute to their child's classroom library. eWallet links will be sent out later this week!

Additional Book Fair information will be sent home with your child this week. Please contact Katie Martinez (martinez.katie.l@gmail.com) if you have any questions. See you at the Fair!

This year our Holiday Angel Program would like to support Normandy Park Families with some holiday cheer by purchasing gift cards for families in need.

To donate to this cause, please purchase and send in a ShopRite or Walmart gift card directly to Normandy Park School. Send in the card with the completed form.

UPDATE (DATE EXTENDED):

We will be collecting donations and gift cards until December 6th, 2021. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Morristown ONSTAGE, the MEF's premier talent event, is returning for its 15th year to the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown! The fundraiser will feature the best amateur talent from those who live, work, train or attend school in the towns of Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains as well as alumni of Morristown High School.

Do you sing, dance, make people laugh or have another amazing talent to showcase? Get your creative juices flowing and audition in person on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Morristown High School. Your act must register in advance by December 3 at www.morristownonstage.com. The audition fee is $35.

The finalists will compete for one of two 1st place $1,000 cash prizes – one for contestants ages 19 and over and one for contestants ages 18 and under.

Morristown ONSTAGE is following strict safety protocols in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Find out more >>>.

Don't wait! Register today for a chance to perform on the big stage again for the 15th anniversary show! Morristown ONSTAGE 2022: Celebrating 15 Years!

These are challenging times for most families. I want to remind all the adults of the importance of self care. I know, you are shaking your head as you read this, thinking that the concept of self care is important but how do you do that with work, kids, etc. First, know that you are not alone. Many families are going through difficult times too. Think about how often you make yourself available to help those around you, emotionally, physically and financially. Now, think about how often you make yourself available to help yourself emotionally, physically and financially. Are you treating yourself with the same kindness that you are treating family or friends? How can you do this? It might mean being a bit creative with your time. Driving to the store to pick something up quickly? Park farther away so you can walk a couple of extra minutes (not to mention save yourself from the grief of fighting someone for a parking space). On the way home, take a detour and notice all the festive decorations around. When you arrive home, try not to rush into your house or apartment. Take a moment to listen to a song on your playlist, a favorite podcast or just close your eyes and breathe. When our children are upset, how often have we said to them to tell us what’s wrong; that we are not mind readers? It is equally important to tell your family what you need. While these tips might not fix everything, they are steps in the right direction of self care. Feel free to let me know what you do for your own self care!

Cheryl L. Cohen, MSW

School Counselor

973-889-7960 x6115

cheryl.cohen@msdk12.net

Please pass on information to friends and family interested in enrolling in Normandy Park School for the 2022-2023 school year. I will be hosting an information session in December and February for prospective NPS families. The session will allow families to learn more about our program and community.

For additional information, please see below:

Date: December 9th, 2021

Time: 6:30pm to 7:30pm

*The session will be conducted virtually.

To register to attend please fill out the following Google Form by clicking here: https://forms.gle/5xE7LFjxfyq2MBcw5

REMINDER:

Students will be having snack time during the school day, with all necessary safety measures in place. Please send your child in with a healthy snack.

Breakfast and lunch will be served daily at school. All students will have access to school provided breakfast and lunch (if they choose to receive it).

As students enter the building, they will be able to grab-and-go breakfast if they choose to.

Click here for the MSD December breakfast menu.

For lunch, students will be asked at the beginning of the day if they would like to order (providing their choice of either the hot/cold option). Teachers will present the menu choices for the day.

Click here for the MSD December lunch menu.

Where will students eat lunch?

Students will eat lunch at 6 ft apart (seats facing the same direction). We will utilize classrooms, cafeteria, and lab to accommodate all students at 6ft apart.

Arrival Procedures: Students are permitted into the building at 8:40 a.m. Students bussed to school will be dropped off in the front of the building.

Drop Offs: Students being dropped off in the morning may enter through the back doors. Please use the drop-off/pick-up line in the back of the building. There is no supervision before 8:40, and children who arrive before that time, will not be permitted to enter the building. A staff member will be at the door between 8:40 and 8:55 a.m. to welcome students. Any student arriving after 8:55 must enter the front of the building and report to the nurse’s office with a parent or guardian to obtain a late pass.

Dismissal Procedures: Dismissal begins at the conclusion of our last period, 3:05 p.m.

All students are encouraged to ride the bus to and from school.

At dismissal, students will be dismissed from the back of the building. When picking up your child, please use the pick-up line. Stay in your vehicle. Teachers will accompany your child to your car.

Pick-Up During the Day:

If a situation arises that requires you to pick your child up during the school day, please use the attached form or call the main office. Students being picked up early are asked to be picked up before 3 p.m. Before leaving, you must sign your child out in the notebook provided in the office. Unless an emergency arises, please refrain from calling the office after 1:30 to make changes to your child’s dismissal.

• 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).

• December 23rd: Report Cards sent home

• Parent Handbook
  
• Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
• School Breakfast and Lunch Information
• Sunset and Sunrise