Parent/Teacher Conferences- Thursday, October 10, 2024
I would like to thank you for a great start to the school year! The Staff and Students are working really hard to solidify building and classroom routines. We are working to "Be Responsible" which is the current competency of the "Panther Way" in our Preshcool and Kindergarten classrooms.
We are approaching our first Parent/ Teacher Conference Night scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 PM. Please be on the lookout for a Conference Schedule from your Classroom Teacher. If you are not scheduled for a Conference in October, you will be scheduled for a Conference at the next session on either November 7th or November 8th.
Attendance
One of our Building Goals for the 24-25 school year, is to support student attendance at Norton Primary. We have begun our work of monitoring student absences for this school year and are working with families to support students that are chronically absent.
Chronic absenteeism operates as an early warning sign for academic success. Identifying students who miss 10% of School at any point in the year is an effective, early indicator that the students are heading off track academically. They have missed so much school that it is affecting their opportunities to learn and thrive. Students missing two to four school days in September are five times more likely to be chronically absent throughout the school year. Missing just two days a month can lead to chronic absenteeism. Missing 10% of the school year = 18 days of absence = almost one month of missed learning opportunities.
Please ask your child about some attendance incentives that we are having fun with at school, such as DJ Dizzy Doc, At-Ten-Dance, and Dance Party Fridays! Thanks for your continued support. We have found that the best learning happens when are students are present and ready to learn.
Parent Volunteers
As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, all individuals who volunteer in Norton City Schools are required to undergo a comprehensive background check. This process helps to ensure that we are providing the safest possible learning environment for our students.
To cover the cost associated with conducting these background checks, the district will charge volunteers a fee of $25, which is the actual cost incurred by Norton City Schools. Background checks are valid for five years.
We appreciate the dedication of our volunteers and thank you for your understanding of this necessary procedure. For more information or assistance with the background check process, please contact the Norton City Schools Administration Office.
The Department of Education and Workforce released our Report Card for the 2023-2024 school year. We earned a 4 Star Rating which is the highest rating we can receieve at our building level with just two grade levels of Preschool and Kindergarten. I would also like to share that we increased student attendance last year by decreasing our chronic absenteeism rate from 29 percent to 14.3 percent which is a 14.7 percent increase. Way to go!
We would like to thank S.A. Comunale Fire Protection Services for the donation of the educational coloring and activity books for the Norton Developmental Preschool. Fire Safety Week is from October 7th to October 11th.
The Stop, Look, and Learn line of coloring and activity books were created to educate and entertain children. We encourage you to participate with your child in discussing each topic. The goal was to create an activity book that led to a positive influence on a child's early development.
The Fall Fundraiser was a huge success and will support our assemblies and programs during the school year, purchase of field day shirts, and field trips for our students. Order pickup will be Wednesday, October 16 from 3:45 PM to 6:00 PM in the Primary Gymnasium. Please enter the building at the Gymnasium entrance.
Held during the third full week of October each year, National School Bus Safety Week is an active and evolving public education program and an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.
The 2024-25 National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest theme: Safety First - Safety Always.
October 4 Kindergarten Apple Fun Friday
October 4-6 Norton Cider Festival- Columbia Woods
October 5 Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast @ Primary Gymnasium 7:00 to Noon
October 7-11 Fire Safety Week
October 10 Parent/Teacher Conferences Preschool to Grade12 from 4:00-7:00 PM
October 11 No School Students and Staff
October 14 Professional Development Day - No School Students
October 15 Science Reading Training Day - No School Students
October 16 Stoller Fundraiser Item pick-up 3:45-6:00 PM (Primary Gymnasium- enter via the Gymnasium entrance)
October 18 End of 1st Nine Weeks
October 24 Kindergarten Field Trip- Cleveland Playhouse Square to see the "Velveteen Rabbit" (Watch for more info and a permission slip)
October 25 Kindergarten Fall Room Parties 2:00-3:00 PM
October 31 Preschool Fall Room Parties (AM/PM Class Sessions)