New Albany Intermediate School

Family Update- September 30, 2024

Dear Intermediate Families,

It's been an exciting week at the Intermediate School! We began sorting students into Houses last week and now have all fourth and fifth grade students sorted. Sixth grade students will get to spin our House Wheel on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week!

The House System we are using this year can help teach cooperation and reinforce positive behaviors. It is our hope that through our upcoming "House Rallies" that begin on October 11th, we will create a deeper sense of belonging and connection for all students and staff!

Thank you to our amazing NAIS PTO for supporting House by helping to transform the gym mezzanine with decorations in each House color and for the many parent volunteers who have donated their time to hand out tee-shirts and cheer on our students. We are grateful to our entire parent community for your continued support as we work to make special moments for our students.

Finally, a reminder students do not have school on Thursday and Friday of this week due to Professional Development days for our teachers and staff. We are looking forward to an exciting week, ending with Fourth Grade Fall Festival on Wednesday.

Let's have a wonderful week!

Megan Ballinger, Principal

#eaglesRISE

Important Updates

Fifth Grade Choir Information from Music Teachers Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Lichtman

Does your child have a love for singing? Check out 5th grade Choir! We rehearse before school on Friday mornings in the McCoy Center. Fifth grade choir has been a tradition in New Albany for over 25 years. We have several concerts planned where we perform for the school, the parents, and at the competition trip to King's Island in the spring. Click here for information that explains everything and lists the dates for the concert. The deadline to enroll is Monday, October 7. We hope you will come and sing with us!

Fall Festivals

We are looking forward to our upcoming Fall Festivals at New Albany Intermediate School! Our Fall Festivals replace classroom parties in grades four, five and six. It's a wonderful afternoon of celebration for each grade level with music, games, inflatables, snacks and more! In order to make each afternoon run smoothly, we hope to have the assistance of parent volunteers. Please sign up here!

If you plan to volunteer your time, you must have a background check on file with New Albany-Plain Local Schools. If you don't have one yet, please follow this link for instructions: https://securevolunteer.com/NEW-ALBANY-PLAIN-LOCAL-SCHOOL-DISTRICT/home. Please note it takes 7-10 days for a background check to be completed. If you are unsure if your background check is current, please email Administrative Secretary Donna Mercurio at mercurio.1@napls.us and she can verify the status of your background check.

Each Fall Festival runs from 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm and is located on the Middle School football field on Kardules Fields Way. All volunteers should check in directly at the check-in table located on the Middle School football fields.

4th grade - Wednesday, October 2nd

5th grade - Friday, October 18th

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

If you have any questions, please contact either Programming Chair for NAIS PTO:

Elizabeth Buck 415-407-9580 elizabethannbuck@yahoo.com

Brooke Keaton 614-946-5525 brookerozanczyk@yahoo.com

School Fees

Intermediate School student fees for the 2024-2025 school year were posted to student PowerSchool accounts earlier this month. The school fee includes a District Technology fee and covers consumable items such as workbooks and Scholastic magazines. Payment can be made online at PaySchoolsCentral or mail a check made payable to the New Albany Intermediate School to:

New Albany Intermediate School

177 North High Street

New Albany, Ohio, 43054

InView Testing- Fourth & Sixth Grades

Students in fourth and sixth grades will be taking the InView Cognitive Ability Test in November. Fourth grade students will take the test on November 12. Sixth grade students will take the test on November 13. To learn more about the InView test, click here.

Electric Scooter & Bike Safety

This year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of students that are riding electric scooters or bikes to campus. These new vehicles move at much greater speeds than traditional scooters and bikes creating the potential for unsafe situations or accidents. We would like to invite all of our families to please have a conversation with your student(s) to make sure that everyone remains safe on our school campus and while traveling to and from home.

Stay on Sidewalks: Students should always ride on sidewalks where available to keep themselves and pedestrians safe. Students should not ride on the road or through parking lots.
Stop at Crosswalks: Remind them to stop at all crosswalks and look both ways before crossing to ensure it's safe.
Watch for Traffic: Encourage students to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings, especially when navigating through busy areas.
Speed Limit: Students should not exceed 10 miles per hour on campus to maintain control and react quickly to obstacles.
Wear a Helmet: A properly fitted helmet is crucial for protection. All students under the age of 18 are required to wear helmets in New Albany when operating a bike or scooter.
No Doubling Up: Only one rider per scooter or bike is allowed to ensure stability and safety.
Secure Your Ride: Remind them to lock up their bikes and scooters when not in use to prevent theft.

By following these guidelines, we will be able to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students, staff, and community. Let's stay safe, Eagles!

Important Upcoming Dates

October 2 - Fourth Grade Fall Festival 1:00 - 3:00

October 3- Teacher Professional Day - No Students

October 4 - Teacher Work Day - No Students

October 9- Picture Makeup Day

October 14-18: Fall Parent Teacher Conferences

October 18- Fifth Grade Fall Festival 1:00 - 3:00

November 8 - End of Trimester Grading Period

November 11 - Veterans Day Assembly

PTO Information

Hello Intermediate Families!

Thank you Families! Your donations and support have made our PTO very successful and we have been able to do such great things for our students and staff!

We had a great kick off to our Fall Festivals even though the 6th Graders moved inside due to the weather! Thank you volunteers and parents who helped to make those a success!

Last week, we welcomed New Families last week at the Intermediate School after hours for a New Family Orientation w some of the teachers and staff.

On October 3rd we will sponsor along with a very generous family (anonymous), The Brenz Pizza luncheon for the teachers and staff when they are in School for The Teacher Professional Day.

What is the PTO supporting at the Intermediate School in 2024?

Purchase materials and construction of the Wheel for the newly adopted House System. The Wheel will be used as a fun, interactive way for students to be sorted into Houses. They will spin the wheel, which will have the four House colors, and whatever color the wheel lands on, that is the student's house for their entire time at NAIS! We will also use the wheel at "House Rallies" and for student House Leaders to spin when they achieve various accomplishments.
Pay for field trip for all 394 6th grade students Skate Zone
Pay for field trip for all 379 5th grade students Biztown
Pay for field trip for all 365 4th grade students The Works
Provide appreciation lunches/meals for 148 teachers and staff members 9 times during the school year
Fall festivals expenses- DJ, game items, rental of the inflatables, photo booth, etc.
6th Grade Celebration expenses (DJ, games, prizes, etc.)
Financial Aid for students in need for school supplies, etc.
Annual Author Visit Contribution- cost split between all participating NA schools
LIFT t-shirts purchased for the LIFT program
Sponsorship of the Intermediate School Composting Program
Academic and Cultural Arts Programs: Falconry, Skydrome, 4th Grade OWC Experience
Popsicles on the Playground- provide popsicles and water to families new to our school community and host welcome event

Does your business or your family want to sponsor a staff luncheon? The PTO provides approximately 9 of these events throughout the school year. Donation would be just a portion of the total cost of the meal for over 148 teachers and staff members. Approximately $400-500 each meal would need to be donated. PTO will cover the rest of the expense of the luncheon. Please find a location to sign up at the end of this Sign up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4DA8A92AA4F49-50292468-ptohospitality#/

We look forward to a great year together! If you have any ideas on how to make our fantastic school even better, please let us know! Email us at: naispto@napls.us.

Fondly,

Mara Ackermann Ziminski

NAIS PTO President

2024-2025 NAIS PTO Board
President: Mara Ackermann Ziminski
President-Elect: Alix Hoekzema
Treasurer: Siobhan Twomey
Secretary: Andrea Wiltrout
Communications: Kiki Piletz and Katie Yun
Fundraising: Sarah Aklilu
Membership: Missy Matusicky
Programming: Brooke Keaton and Elizabeth Buck

Hospitality: Leanne Mohler and Erin Howard

Additional Information

The Intermediate School website has information about our daily schedule, drop off and pick up procedures, school supply lists, and much more. Please click here to visit the page. For information concerning transportation services, click here.

Do not hesitate to call the Intermediate school (614-741-3000) with any questions you may have. Have a wonderful week!

Megan Ballinger, Building Principal

Ryan Grashel, Assistant Principal

Mike King, Assistant Principal

Our Purpose

The New Albany-Plain Local School District is committed to creating a culture of accountability that achieves the best academic and developmental outcomes for each student.