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Normandy Park School

NormandyPark School

Week of April 7th

April 7th is an F Day.


I hope everyone had a restful weekend!


This week marks the last week of school before our much-anticipated spring break next week. Let's make it a productive and enjoyable one!


This month, our 3rd-grade students, along with any new 4th and 5th graders, will be participating in the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test. For additional information, please click here.


Thanks to a creative proposal from Mr. Garcia's class, who have been learning all about the unstressed schwa sound, Monday, April 7th will be Pajama/Comfy Cozy Day in celebration of National Schwa Day! All students and staff are invited to wear their pajamas or comfy clothes to school to embrace the relaxed and unstressed nature of the schwa sound.


I also want to extend a thank you to our facilitators and all the parents who participated in the Assertiveness Training for Parents held on Monday, March 31st at NPS. I appreciate your commitment to our school community.


In addition, on Saturday, MSD hosted its' annual Autism and Neurodiversity Awareness Celebration. A special thanks to all the teachers, parents, volunteers, and participants who helped make this such a wonderful event.


Wishing you a wonderful and productive week ahead, and we look forward to a restful spring break for everyone!

Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions at christopher.miller@msdk12.net. Have a great week!


Christopher Miller

Principal, Normandy Park School

NPS HSA Reading Challenge

NPS Students Slide into Victory with the Reading Challenge!


Over 230 students stepped up to the plate and became All-Star Readers. Every reader that completed the challenge will receive a book and certificate of achievement from the HSA.


Additionally, a standing ovation goes to our four classes with 100% participation! Hats off to:

  • Ms. Hong & Ms. Polesovsky

  • Ms. Diana

  • Ms. Clark

  • Ms. Maddalena


One of these classes will win an ice cream party!


Thank you to all the students, teachers, and family who supported this effort. We are so proud of our readers for knocking it out of the park.


Keep swinging for the fences, Normandy Park—and keep turning those pages!

NNAT3 Testing

In April, all 3rd grade students and 4th and 5th grade students who are new to the Morris School District will be taking the Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test. Please find below your child’s homeroom testing schedule. This online test is a brief, thirty minute, culture fair measure of a student’s nonverbal reasoning and general problem-solving ability. In broad terms the test measures different aspects of general cognitive ability and its scores can be somewhat but not singularly predictive of academic success. It is an assessment based on a testing method supported by more than a half century of research.


Each student’s test results will be available to their parents in May. Results will be one of several

measures used to determine eligibility for the Quest Program and is useful as one extra part of an overall view of our students as learners. If you have any questions regarding the administration of this test, please feel free to call me at school. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

NPS Yearbook

The yearbook will be available to all grades for purchase this year.

As in the past, the HSA will purchase each 5th grader their own yearbook. A flyer to purchase will go out soon. All books must be purchased by May 14th.


In the next few weeks, we will be asking for photos from families to share. Any school or school-related event would be great! For 5th grade families, we will also be collecting baby pictures!

Nurse's Corner

Get in Touch!


Friendly Reminder for Families:


Warmer Weather and Staying Comfortable!

As the weather warms up and our students become even more active, we wanted to share a few gentle reminders to help everyone stay comfortable throughout the day.


During warmer months, simple habits can make a big difference in how our little ones feel:

  • Quick Refresh: A rinse or bath at the end of the day can help everyone feel refreshed.
  • Fresh Clothes: Changing into clean clothes, especially socks, can contribute to comfort.
  • Considering Deodorant (for older students): As children grow, some may find deodorant helpful for staying comfortable.


Thank you for your partnership in ensuring a happy and healthy environment where all our students feel their best!


Have a health-related question or concern?

Feel free to reach out to the nurse’s office

  • Nurse’s Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:40 AM - 3:20 PM

  • Phone: 973-889-7960 x 6152

  • Email: Francesca Ecker


We’re always happy to help keep your child safe, healthy, and ready to learn!


Stay healthy, Normandy Park!

More than True Assembly on Wednesday

Last Wednesday, our school was buzzing with excitement as we hosted a fantastic school-wide assembly featuring storyteller Sarah Osburn Brady. The interactive program centered around folk and fairy tales, and it was wonderful to see our students actively participating and engaging with her captivating stories.


To learn more about the artist, click here.

Re-residency process for current grade 2, grade 5, grade 8, and preschool 4 students

MEMO from MSD Registrar's Office:


Dear MSD Families,


In recent years, the Morris School District has seen an increase in the enrollment of non-resident students. While we are committed to providing the best educational experience for all, this creates an undue burden on our district’s resources and programs, which ultimately impacts the services available to our resident students who are lawfully enrolled.

To help us maintain the quality of education for our residents and ensure compliance with district policies, we are requiring updated proof of residency for all students currently enrolled in the following grade levels: Preschool 4-Year-Old Program, Grade 2, Grade 5, and Grade 8. This is in accordance with Policy 5111.

Further details regarding the next steps will be shared with you in the coming weeks. Please click here for a list of documents that will be needed.

Please note that parents/guardians who do not complete the re-registration process will receive a notice informing them that their child(ren) will not be permitted to continue enrollment in the Morris School District. In addition, students will not be allowed to attend school in September 2025 unless the re-residency process is completed.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimadas familias del MSD,

En los últimos años, el Distrito Escolar de Morris ha visto un aumento en la inscripción de estudiantes que no viven dentro de los límites de nuestro Distrito. Si bien estamos comprometidos a proporcionar la mejor experiencia educativa para todos, esto crea una carga excesiva sobre los recursos y programas de nuestro distrito, que termina afectando los servicios disponibles para los estudiantes que viven en nuestro Distrito y que están legalmente inscritos.

Para ayudarnos a mantener la calidad de la educación para los estudiantes que viven en nuestro Distrito y asegurar el cumplimiento de las políticas del distrito, estamos requiriendo prueba actualizada de vivienda/dirección para todos los estudiantes actualmente matriculados en los siguientes niveles de grado: Programa Preescolar de 4 años, Grado, 2, Grado 5, y Grado 8. Esto es de acuerdo con la Política 5111 del Distrito Escolar de Morris.

Más detalles sobre los próximos pasos serán compartidos con ustedes en las próximas semanas. Por favor, haga clic aquí para obtener una lista de los documentos que serán necesarios.

Tenga en cuenta que los padres / tutores que no completen el proceso de re-inscripción recibirán un aviso informándoles que a su(s) hijo(s) no se le(s) permitirá continuar la inscripción en el Distrito Escolar de Morris. Además, a los estudiantes no se les permitirá asistir a la escuela en septiembre de 2025 a menos que se complete el proceso de re-inscripción.

Agradecemos su cooperación y comprensión.


Autism and Neurodiversity Awareness Celebration

This past Saturday, MSD hosted its' annual Autism and Neurodiversity Awareness Celebration. A special thanks to all the NPS teachers, parents, volunteers, and participants who helped make this such a wonderful event.


Despite the weather, the event was successfully held in the FMS gym!

Click here to visit our Home and School Association website!


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!

Somerset Patriots Game

Join us for Somerset Patriots vs. Hartford Yard Goats on Sunday, April 27th. The gates open at Noon for the 1:05PM game. The kids will also get a chance to run the bases after the game. Use this LINK to purchase your $15 tickets.

Show your NPS pride! Purchase NPS school gear directly from Redbubble. A small percentage of profits will be returned to NPS with your purchase!
Follow the NPS HSA on Social Media:


Instagram: @nps_wizards


Facebook: Normandy Park School HSA

Dear NPS Families,


Emotional dysregulation

Counselors across the country have seen an uptick in anxiety and emotional dysregulation in children. Emotional WHAT?, you might ask. “Emotional dysregulation in children is when a child experiences difficulty with registering emotions, responding with emotions appropriate to context and regulating emotional responses in social situations (i.e., suppressing emotions or presenting with overly dramatic and excessive emotional responses) (source:aifs.gov.au). Children who have temper tantrums, act overly silly, struggle with transitions, have difficulty waiting or taking turns or completely shut down can be signs of emotional dysregulation. While there is no official research on why this is occurring, the pandemic has had a lot to do with it.


“Self-regulation is a skill that children need to be taught and practiced. The trick is not to avoid hard situations. Instead, parents can coach kids through tough situations. Breaking an activity into smaller, more doable parts can help. For instance, if your child has a hard time brushing their teeth, start with just putting toothpaste on the brush. Praise them a lot when they do it and slowly add steps. When kids act out, encourage them to slow down and reflect. With a parent’s help, kids can learn to ask themselves: What went wrong? Why? How can I fix that for next time?

Practicing mindfulness can help with self-regulation. Mindfulness teaches kids how to focus on the present instead of the past or the future.”(Source: Child mind institute).

The Zones of Regulation, developed by Leah Kuypers, an Occupational Therapist, is a great tool for helping children regulate. There are 4 color zones which can help children easily identify how they are feeling.


The idea is to help them identify what zone they are in and if it’s other than green, how to get them back to the green zone.


There is a flyer that will be attached about getting more training especially for parents about Helping your child manage their STRESS.

Have a question or concern you want to see featured in the Counselor Corner?

We encourage you to keep an eye on your child’s schoolwork and continue supporting their learning at home.

Thank you for all that you do to help make this school year a success!

Wishing you all an amazing rest of the month!


Your School Counselor,

Sincerely,

Gloria Hunt

gloria.hunt@msdk12.net

973-889-7960 x6115


And Social Work Interns,

Miss Paige

Miss Haley


Miss Sarah

Breakfast and Lunch

For interactive menus, as well as nutrition and allergen information, please click here.


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.


In addition to meals, students can purchase snacks with money on their card and/or cash. If you would not like your child to purchase snacks or have a limit on what days they can purchase snacks, please contact the Food Services director, Shannon Burton <shannon.burton@msdk12.net>, and they can indicate this information on your child's account.


APPLYING FOR FREE & REDUCED LUNCH

Applications are available through PaySchools. Once you create your account, the Free & Reduced Application will be available to complete online. Students who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, also qualify for free/reduced breakfast.


Please note that you do not have to print out the application if you complete it online; it will be electronically sent to the Board Office once completed. You may also complete an application using a computer in the main office of your child's school or request a paper application.

Applications are available through PaySchools. Click the link to create your PaySchool account (ENG or ESP)


If you do not qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, please follow these procedures for purchasing school breakfast or lunch:

  • Backpack an envelope with your child's name on it, marked "Food Services.
  • Include your child's name in the memo line of your check.
  • You may prepay for multiple breakfasts or lunches with one check or lump sum of money, which will then be deposited onto your child's food services account.
  • Payment may also be made online ( (ENG or ESP); a small fee will be charged with each transaction. This is a secure and convenient way to make payments and keep your account up to date.
  • Payment may be made in cash or check (payable to "Morris School District"

MEAL PRICING:

***Meal Prices for School Year 2024-2025***

Elementary Breakfast

$1.75


Elementary Lunch

$3.25


Reduced Price Breakfast

$0.00


Reduced Price Lunch

$0.00


Milk

$0.75

Find Out What’s Happening in The District Newsletter Fall 2024 Edition

As families and staff prepare for the new school year, the Morris Educational Foundation invites you to take a look back at all the amazing highlights from the 2023-2024 school year in The District Newsletter.

The joint publication from the Morris School District, Morris Educational Foundation and Colonial Nation features:

  • District athletic highlights
  • Extracurricular achievements across all schools
  • The MEF’s impact on academic, enrichment, and social-emotional wellness initiatives
  • Plus a save-the-date for Morristown ONSTAGE 2025

The Fall 2024 edition is hot off the press and Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township residents can expect to receive their copy in their mailbox this week. View the digital version here>>>

Help Make it a Great Year for All 5,700 Morris School District Students

The Morris Educational Foundation is proud to Support Every Student Every Day. While the Morris School District provides the essential tools for quality classroom learning, the MEF supports the extras that elevate learning. From cutting-edge instructional resources to enriching curricular activities, the MEF is committed to helping students not just succeed but excel.


Please help us make it the best year yet for each of the 5,700 students in the Morris School District! Let's Support Every Student Every Day and empower them to achieve their fullest potential.


Donate today by clicking here. Together, we can make a difference!

Dismissal Changes

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.

Daily Attendance

  • 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: francesca.ecker@msdk12.net

  • Students who arrive tardy (after 8:55am) must report immediately to the Health Office upon arrival to school for a late pass

Sunrise/Sunset

Please note that sunrise and sunset are managed by our district's community school. Please direct all sunrise/sunset questions to their office.

Elysia Carabello - Director of Community School

Shaneya Hackett - Manager Community School

Shari Burroughs - Administrative Assistant

Phone: (973) 292-2063

Fax: 973-387-7632


Email: community.school@msdk12.net

5th Grade Moving Up- Save the Date

5th Grade Moving Up will be held the morning of June 6th. Fun Day for the 5th Graders will be held June 9th!

Look Ahead:

  • March 31st to April 14th- Naglieri Testing for 3rd Graders
  • April 14th to April 18th- Spring Break
  • April 24th- Teddy Bear Clinic
  • April 24th- HSA Meeting
  • May 16th- Color Run
  • May 29th- Concert
  • May 30th- Field Day
  • June 1st- International Day
  • June 6th- Moving Up Ceremony


Click here to view Morris School District (MSD) 2024-2025 School calendar.

NJSLA

NJSLA State Testing for Grades 3-5 will begin at the end of April. The tentative schedule is as follows (*if there are changes in the schedule, they will be communicated/posted as soon as they are made on this document):


Dates for NJSLA State Testing:


ELA:

  • April 29th, April 30th: 4th and 5th Grade
  • May 5th, May 6th: 3rd Grade


Math:

  • May 13th to May 15th: 4th and 5th Grade
  • May 7th to May 8th; May 12th: 3rd Grade


Science (5th Grade Only)


  • May 19th, 20th

This theme was made possible thanks to a grant from the Morris Educational Foundation (MEF)!

Christopher Miller
Christopher is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters