Hello Norris Lions!

Next week we have a big day at Norris- School Picture Day on Thursday, August 29th! There are important directions below regarding our photographer's new system for ordering photos online. All student picture orders will be made online this year! We hope this system will be convenient and helpful to families.

Be sure to check your child's Friday Folder for an important flyer with the Access Code to order their photos!

Also, be sure to note the information below regarding iPad insurance for students in grades 3rd-5th. The cost is $15, and will help to prevent future payments for lost or damaged iPads.

We hope your student is enjoying settling into their routines of the school year! Thank you for all you do at the beginning of the year to set your child up for success!

Don't forget to mark your calendars with No School for Students on Monday, September 2nd AND Tuesday, September 3rd!

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Dolezal, Principal

8/27/24 - First Day of Band

8/29/24 - Picture Day! (Check Friday Folders for Information!)

9/2 & 9/3 - NO SCHOOL

9/5/24 - Family Picnic - 5:00PM

9/5/24 - PTO Meeting - 6:00PM

9/6/24 - Donuts with Dads (Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff) - 7:45AM

9/12/24 - Qdoba Family Night (See flyer) - 4:00 - 8:00PM

Looking Ahead -

10/10 - 1/14 - No School, Conferences

10/25 - Fall Festival

Click HERE for the NORRIS 2024/2025 Calendar.

Click HERE for the MPS 2024/2025 Calendar.

Monday, August 26th

• 3rd Grade MAP Math
• Upper Elementary Montessori MAP Math
• 4th Grade MAP Math

Tuesday, August 27th

• Primary Montessori MAP Math
• 5th Grade MAP Math

Wednesday, August 28th

• 3rd Grade MAP Fluency
• 2nd Grade MAP Fluency
• Lower Elementary Montessori MAP Fluency

Thursday, August 29th

• Lower Elementary MAP Math

Week of August 26th - August 30th

Carolina DaSilva

Olivia Torres

Wes Minske

Miles Johnson

CLICK HERE for nutritional information.

Parents/Grandparents -

We ask that you wait until after Labor Day (9/6) to plan on joining your child for lunch at school. This will give our students time to adjust to the lunch routine. We appreciate your understanding.

After Labor Day, it would be very helpful if you would call the school office prior to coming to the building for lunch. This will help us plan for additional seating each day.

Look for this flyer with your student's personal code in your student's Friday folder this week.

All families, please remember to stay IN your vehicle in the student drop off and pick up zone! If you prefer to wait outside with your child in the morning, you must find a parking spot outside of the drop off zone.

Please remind grandparents or other family members of our procedures if they are picking up your student!

Thank you!

Parents, do your students ride the bus before or after school? If so, please download the EduPortal Parent App! This will allow you to view the location of the bus on its route, and have an accurate time to expect your child to arrive at home or at school. Watch this video to learn more!

Dear 3rd-5th Grade Norris Parent/Guardian,

During online registration, you indicated you were interested in participating in the Millard Public Schools iPad Damage/Loss Cooperative Program. You are receiving this letter as a reminder to pay the $15.00 fee in order to take full advantage of this program. This program is optional. However, we want to make sure our families are completely informed. If you have already sent in your payment or paid online, thank you!

If your child brings home his/her iPad and it is lost or damaged, you will be responsible for the full cost of the replacement or repair of the device if payment for the iPad Damage/Loss Cooperative Program has not been received prior to the loss/damage. In other words, payment into the program is not retroactive.

Students who are not enrolled in the program do not have the option to bring their iPads home overnight.

Nonpayment before the deadline of Friday, September 15th, will indicate your choice to opt-out of the program. If you choose to opt-out now, you can join at a later time with the understanding that $15.00 must be paid to the school before program benefits will begin.

To Pay Online:

Step 1: Log onto ParentVue: https://ne-mps-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx (ParentVue can also be found on the Norris website and the MPS district website.)

Step 2: Select your student in the top left-hand corner

Step 3: Click on “fee” in the menu on the left side of your screen

Step 4: Click on the blue pay fees button

Step 5: Make your payment!

If you do not want to make a payment online, you may send a check to school with your child.

Checks can only be accepted payable to Norris Elementary School for $15.00

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Harris, our Tech Initiator at jmharris@mpsomaha.org

Each week, all students at Norris will have a lesson practicing a social skill. These weekly lessons are called our ROAR Skills of the Week! ROAR skills are practiced in the classroom during a Morning Meeting. All staff members are on the lookout through the week for students to be practicing the weekly skill. Students who demonstrate the skill of the week may earn a ROAR ticket and be entered into a weekly grade level drawing.

Please take some time each week to review the ROAR Skill of the Week with your child!

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community:

Thank you for your continued support of the students and staff here at school. I want to share an important area where we need your help as we embark on the 2024-25 school year.

Chronic absence has become a national crisis. Data show chronic absence nearly doubled by the end of the 2021-22 school year. It now affects nearly one out of three students. Chronic absence is typically defined as missing 10% of the school year - or just two days each month - for any reason. Regardless of why your student may miss, studies indicate students who are chronically absent from school often read below grade level and struggle to understand math concepts. To tackle this challenge, all hands are needed.

We have set an average daily attendance goal of 95% for this school year.

Things to Consider:

• Absences: Please communicate all absences, each day, to the front office to avoid unexcused absences when possible.

• Appointments: Please attempt to make appointments early or late in the day to reduce missed classroom time. Remember to bring a note from the provider to the main office so it can be logged in the attendance record.

• Plan Around School Breaks: In education, every minute matters. Please make every effort to plan vacations, trips, and student absences around school breaks.

• Role Model the Importance of Education: Students learn about the importance of being on time and accountable at school, work, and other obligations by watching the adults in their lives. This is an essential life skill we can all teach them together.

• Monitor How Sick Is Too Sick: It will always be important to keep children home when they are not feeling well, but we hope we can cut down on the amount of school missed for other reasons. Reminder: If your student has accrued fifteen (15) medical parent excused (MPE) days of school, we will notify you that subsequent MPE days will require medical documentation in order to be marked as excused.

• Tardiness: Please ensure your student is getting to school on time so they can begin the day in a productive manner. School starts promptly at 8:30 AM.

Addressing chronic absenteeism and tardiness is a team approach. Our school attendance team, which includes Nancy Cole, elementary community counselor and Meagan Basye, early childhood community counselor, this year will identify attendance and tardy concerns and provide information and resources directly to families to improve student attendance.

Together, we can get back to an average daily attendance rate of 95% or higher, which helps individual and overall student achievement. Please help us achieve this critical goal. If you have any questions about your child’s absences or you want to brainstorm some strategies with me, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully,

Mrs. Dolezal

Principal, Norris Elementary

Picnic begins at 5:00 with PTO meeting to follow in the library at 6:00PM.

A great way to raise money for our school! Download the app today!

CLICK HERE to order Norris gear all year long!

Right now, 30% off EVERYTHING sale and FREE SHIPPING for orders over $75.

Jingle 2024 tickets are on sale now! Don't miss out on this festive evening filled with fun, laughter, and the season's spirit. Limited tickets available! Grab your tickets today and join us for a memorable night that you won't want to miss. Let's make this a holiday to remember!

Click on the picture below for tickets!

The Millard South Dance Team is hosting our 4th annual dance clinic on Saturday, September 14th!

CLICK HERE to register or scan the code below!!

Spark is our before and after school program at all 25 Millard Elementary schools.

We provide a safe and fun environment for all students to participate in academic, leisure and recreational activities outside of the traditional school day.

• There are several benefits to your child joining a before and after school program.

  Studies have shown that students in before and after school programs are more

  likely to have increased academic performance, improved attendance and are

  excited to learn and achieve.

• Students participate in a variety of extended learning activities to help them discover their interests as well as hands on enrichment activities that encourages kids to explore, unstructured time, outside play, a homework hangout and more!

CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

President: Heidi Andsager

Vice President: Heather Doyle

Secretary: Sarah Burrus

Treasurer: Tim Malm

Volunteer Coordinator: Savannah Rajca

PTO Email: pto.norris@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/norrispto

Click here PTO Website for the latest PTO information!

Click HERE for the Norris Staff Directory.

Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:45 am - 4:15 pm

Location: 12424 Weir Street, Omaha, NE, USA

Phone: (402)715-8340

Fax #: 402-715-6119

Website: norris.mpsomaha.org

Norris Website- Persian

Norris Website- Arabic

Norris Website- Spanish

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorrisElem
Twitter: @NorrisElem

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Wednesdays - 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM (Early out EVERY Wednesday)

Mission Statement: Norris Elementary guarantees each child a world-class education in a safe and diverse learning environment where students demonstrate academic excellence, responsible citizenship, and self-worth. Through innovative practices, Norris empowers its educational community to actively pursue personal goals and ROAR with pride!

2024 MPS BOARD MEMBERS

• Dr. John Schwartz - Superintendent
• Stacy Jolley - President
  
• Mike Kennedy - Vice President
• Linda Poole - Secretary
• Amanda McGill Johnson - Treasurer
• Board Member - Mike Pate
• Board Member - Lisa Schoenberger