Wednesday's Words

- Family Letter

- Norfolk Public Schools Parents Leaders Group

- SEPAC Trunk or Treat

- Norfolk PTO News

- Digital Health & Safety with Katie Greer

- The 5th/6th Grade Promotion Committee Candle Fundraiser

- 3rd Annual No One Fights Alone Walk

- FK Night at the Revs

- Calendar Reminders

- Unity Day

- FK Falcon Feather September winners

- Calendar reminders

- Norfolk Recreation Events

- NPS Employment Opportunities

We are in the second year of implementing a Universal Screener tool called Acadience Reading. This is part of our ongoing commitment to helping your child become a successful reader. Our DESE approved screening tool, Acadience Reading, helps us examine how your child is doing in learning important reading skills. In September 2022, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted a regulation that requires school districts to assess, at least twice per year, each student’s reading ability and progress in literacy skills from kindergarten through at least third grade. 603 CMR 28.03(1)(f).

Your child is being assessed using the Acadience Screener three times during the school year, Fall, Winter and Spring. The assessments typically take 10 minutes or less to complete. Click on this link for an overview of the Acadience Reading Assessment.

It is important to note that early literacy universal screening is used to determine a student’s risk for reading difficulty, including risk of dyslexia, and to guide us in providing reading support. It is not a diagnosis or determination of a disability, and early literacy universal screening assessments do not diagnose dyslexia.

DESE is now requiring that schools add to their practice, as per guidelines (603 CMR 28.03(1)(f)), that parents/guardians receive a notice and a parent report on their child’s results if their child scores “significantly below benchmarks.” This communication will be sent to the families that meet this criteria on Wednesday, October 25th.

As our practice has always been, we use the results from assessments to inform our instruction and to plan supports. Currently, students who need additional support based on results from the beginning of year assessments are receiving supports either from a literacy specialist OR a special education liaison AND their classroom teacher. Student results and progress are continuously monitored by a team of educators that includes grade-level teachers, special education liaisons, literacy specialists, and administrators.

Our goal is to make sure that every child is on target for success, and we thank you for your partnership at home. Please reach out if you would like additional information.

As our Parent Handbook and District Accommodation Plan (DCAP) indicates, at any point during the support period and NEST process, IDEA 2004 allows parents to request a formal evaluation to determine eligibility for special education. An intervention process cannot be used to deny or delay a formal evaluation for special education.

Sincerely,

Victoria M. Saldana
Assistant Superintendent
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Who are the Parent Leaders?

The Parent Leaders Committee is comprised of a group of parents who have students in the Norfolk Public Schools and are interested in working collaboratively with the district to problem solve issues, discuss educational programming and support efforts towards continuous improvement.

Group Norms:

1- Assume positive intentions- give each other the benefit of the doubt
2- Look at issues as problems to be solved, not battles to be won
3- Respect and appreciate different perspectives
4- Keep the focus on the broader needs of the students and/or the community
5- Represent the best interests of all
6- Speak candidly, but respectfully
7- Identify if a matter needs to remain confidential
8- Meetings are open to all

What is the time commitment?

The Parent Leaders group meetings are held the second Monday of each month from 7:00-8:00 p.m. and are approximately 1-2 hours. We are looking for members who are able to commit to attending on a fairly regular basis, although it is not required to attend every meeting. We are often engaged in discussions that carry from one meeting to the next or are working on long-term projects and it is helpful to have some continuity of membership.

What kinds of topics do the Parent Leaders discuss?

Parent Leaders focus on District Level issues (policies, school budget, school calendar, curriculum, parent involvement) and help to advise the Superintendent on matters important to the community. Agenda topics are shared with group members prior to the meeting. There is always time at the end of each meeting for new topics to be introduced or added to a future agenda.

What is the mission of the Parent Leaders Group?

The mission of the Parent Leaders Group is ‘To create a forum for open, positive, respectful dialog between District Administration and parents aimed at improving and enhancing the educational experience of all students and their families.’

The first meeting of the year is VIRTUAL and scheduled for: Monday, Nov. 6th at 7:00p.m.

The team will determine the format for future meetings.

Nov 6 • Dec 11 • Jan 8 • Feb 12 • Mar 11 • Apr 8 and May 13

The Norfolk SEPAC is run by Norfolk parents and provides a great support system for families with all types of needs, including IEPs, 504s and general support and advice from other parents navigating parenthood.

• We would love to hear from you!

  Please fill out a quick survey on how we can best serve the community here: www.norfolksepac.org/survey

Tickets are $12 per family and sold in time blocks. There are a limited number of tickets available.

All tickets must be purchased in advance and can be found at link below:

Purchase Tickets HERE: Norfolk SEPAC Trunk or Treat TICKETS

HOST A TRUNK! Volunteer to host a trunk here?

VOLUNTEER OR DONATE CANDY OR BAKED GOODS HERE!

Visit www.norfolksepac.org for more info

IMPORTANT DATES:

• 10/20 Last Day for PTO Sponsorship
• 10/20 Pumpkin Carving Party for Grades 3-6 (sign up below)

Join us for our next PTO Meeting!

• 11/8 Next PTO Meeting: 7pm @FK Library

*NEW* PTO Website & *NEW* PTO Facebook

Check out the *NEW* PTO website and Follow us on Facebook for the list of upcoming events and updates!

The First PTO-funded assembly of the year took place earlier this month at Freeman Kennedy, featuring world champion athlete and youth motivational speaker, Chris Polos! Chris specializes in core values, anti-bullying, and character education—and he shares his powerful life lessons, while demonstrating bicycle stunts! We would like to thank all of YOU for your PTO donations that made this event a reality. The children had so much fun while learning valuable life lessons!

Our amazing teachers at HOD are very excited about their new “Zen Den” Teacher’s Lounge! As we all know from the COVID days of homeschooling, teaching is hard work. We were happy to grant Ms. Rebello’s funding request to transform the teacher’s lounge into a relaxing space for teachers to go and unwind while they recharge for the next lesson or at the end of the school day!

When: November 2, 2023 7:00 pm

Where: Roderick Elementary School/Cafeteria

120 Taunton Street • Wrentham, MA

LIVE STREAMED too @: https://www.youtube.com/@WrenthamWildcat

• Updates on latest tech trends including popular apps, gaming, sexting, and more
• Privacy settings (are your devices set-up safely?)
• Advice for having real conversations with your child to foster a positive online experience

About Katie:

Her approach is to recognize the appeal of technology for all, while providing tools and information to manage a healthy, safe relationship with technology.

The 5th/6th Grade Promotion Committee is once again partnering with Boston Wick Co. to bring you this great opportunity to purchase high quality candles from a local company while supporting 6th Grade Promotion activities including class t-shirts, class drone photo, field day, Camp Bournedale, and the promotion ceremony/reception. The cost of each candle is $20.00. For each candle sold $10.00 will go to the 5th/6th Grade Promotion Committee.

Please see the attached flyers for additional information...if you'd like to take orders from family/friends not affiliated with the school, you can use this attached order form. However, please place your full/final order at

www.memberplanet.com/s/norfolkmapto/2023candlefundraiser.

Candle pick-up will be December 5 and December 7 (during parent-teacher conferences).

Questions, please contact Julie Perrault at juliemshields@hotmail.com

• Tuesday, October 24 - No School - Teacher Professional Development Day
• Friday, November 10 - No School - Veteran's Day

We are always in need of:

• ABA RBT Technicians
• Instructional Assistants - Special Ed
• Substitute Nurses (RN)
• Substitute Teachers
• Food Service Assistants
• Lunch Monitors

Our next issue will be: Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Email: allardi@norfolk.k12.ma.us
Website: norfolk.k12.ma.us
Location: 70 Boardman Street, Norfolk, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 528-1225