Norton Creek Elementary

May-

5/21/2024- Learning and Teaching Meeting at TMS 5:30pm

5/27/2024- Memorial Day Holiday/No School

5/30/2024- Last Day of School

5/30/2024- Business Service Committee Meeting

Note: All district meetings have moved to Thompson Middle School.

Please mark your calendars the last day of school is May 30th.

Kindergarten thru 5th Grades-

8:00am-3:00pm

Students can be dropped off at 7:45am for the school day. If you arrive before that time please keep your child with you until 7:45 as there is no supervision outside until then.

The School Day ends at 3pm on all days except early release days which is 2:10pm. If you pick your children up by car please plan to be here at 3pm daily.

If you are arriving after 8:00am for safety and security you must walk your student into the main office and sign them in.

Our school office is open from 7:30am until 4:00pm on school days.

Last Day Of School Is May 30th. This is the final day of student attendance for the school year!

Happy Friday, Norton Creek!

I find it very fitting that Staff Appreciation Week leads into Mother's Day Weekend. Moms are at the center of their kids' universe because of the selfless choices they make each day to put their kids ahead of themselves. Being a Mom is a choice - rarely an easy one but always a rewarding one. Mothers teach their sons and daughters important values such as the importance of kindness, hard work, and respect. Each Mom I talk to often says they don't believe they do enough. I am here to tell you that you do. You do enough. You are enough - more than enough. Being a Mom is not the shiny, filtered pictures and videos we see on Instagram and Facebook, but sometimes social media can cause Moms to be way too self-critical. Be celebrated this weekend - and everyday! And celebrate yourselves too! You're doing hard things each and everyday. Kids often don't appreciate their Moms because they can't possibly understand the energy and effort that goes into being a Mom. They just know they can count on you for everything (literally EVERYTHING)...so they do. When they're older, they'll understand. But, know that they love you just because you exist - just like you love them.

I can say similar things about our teaching staff. They move mountains each day to push our Eagles to read just a little bit better than they did yesterday, solve math problems and think critically at a level they never have before, and make them feel safe everyday at school. This year, we implemented a new English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum from the ground up. This is no small feat and would be plenty of work to engage in for one school year. Then we also completely overhauled how our teachers collaborate in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). This along with lesson plans that are constantly tweaked, E-Mail inboxes that are rarely empty, a similar feeling to the one I mentioned before about Moms never feeling like they are doing enough, and a job description that makes work-life balance feel like a myth...I am very grateful to each of our teachers for the incredible amounts of time, effort, energy, and emotion they bring to our school each and everyday. Passion and compassion for the love of our Eagles. They have a deep love and care for each Eagle at Norton Creek.

Our support staff of paraprofessionals, administrative assistants, and nurses keep this building moving. They make sure there are no gaps in our work. They provide additional TLC to each student who needs it when they need it and seem to be everywhere as they fly around the school. They don't do it for the pay or the fame - both of which they do not receive enough of. They do it because they love and care for each of our Eagles, and Norton Creek couldn't run without them.

Our custodial, maintenance, and grounds team keeps this building and grounds looking better than the day we first opened. They put in the sweat equity to make a 20 year old campus look like it's 20 days old. I can't thank them enough either and appreciate them for the pride they take in their work.

To our Moms and Mom Figures, I wish you the Happiest Mother's Day this weekend! To our staff, I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for who you are and what your bring to Norton Creek. I hope you have thoroughly enjoyed the Staff Appreciation Week our fabulous PTO provided. I want to thank Clare Keeney, Shannon Dahlem, Elisa Ignash, and all of you for making this Staff Appreciation Week so amazing!

Tony

The District 303 Board has approved boundary maps for elementary, middle, and high schools. Maps are effective with the 2024-2025 school year beginning this fall. The Board's decision completes a process that began last fall to reduce school overcrowding and help to ensure equitable learning experiences across the District. District 303 had contracted with demographer RSP & Associates to create concept maps based on Board-approved guiding principles and community feedback. Please see the parent notice from Superintendent Gordon to learn more and review the approved maps.

The elementary school intra-district transfer request window opens on May 15, 2024.

The application form will be available on the Intra-District Transfer web page.

We are in the home stretch--summer is right around the corner! As you begin to fill up your summer with activities and vacations, you should consider our very own D303 Summer Strings Camp!

This camp will be for orchestra students who are currently in grades 3 - 8. Camp will be June 17,18, 20 and June 24, 25, 26 and 27 in the evenings at Thompson Middle School.

Please visit the link in Pushcoin for more details! Questions? Ask your orchestra teacher or email the Director, Angie Wifler at angela.wifler@d303.org

Summer Strings Registration

Incoming Kindergarteners

Dear Incoming Kindergarten Parents:

The health office is excited to welcome your incoming kindergartener to Norton Creek. A part of the required paperwork for kindergarten includes: proof of required immunizations, up to date physical examination, eye examination, and dental examination. Immunizations and physical examinations are due by the first day of school (8/14/2024), the vision exam is due by 10/15/2024, and the dental exam is due by 5/15/2025. The forms for these requirements can be found:

Physical and Immunization Form

Dental Examination Form

Vision Examination Form

If needed the religious exemption form: - Religious Exemption Form

More details regarding requirements please see Health Requirements by Grade

Please call the health office with any questions (331-228-2704). Forms can be emailed to karen.lombardo@d303.org or brittany.jensen@d303.org , faxed (331-228-2701), or dropped off to the main office.

Forms for Medication and Health Conditions at School

Dear Parents:

Thinking ahead to next school year, if your child had medication or physician orders or action plans in the health office, your child will need a new form completed for the 2024-25 school year. If you are in need of any of the asthma, allergy, seizure, or medication authorization forms, the forms can be found at:

• Medication Authorization Form

• Rescue Inhaler/EpiPen Self Carry Authorization Form
  

• Asthma Forms

• Life Threatening Allergy Forms

• Seizure Action Plan

Please call the health office (331-228-2704) with any questions. Forms can be emailed to karen.lombardo@d303.org or brittany.jensen@d303.org, faxed (331-228-2701), or dropped off to the main office.

2023-24 Elementary School Handbook

Electronic Devices in School

Phones/Smart Watches
Students are extended the privilege of possessing phones/smartwatches on school grounds; however, their use is limited to after-school dismissal and non-school days. These devices must be in the off position, or not used once the student arrives on campus until the end of the school day

The aftercare program is available for students before the school day starts and after school ends. Please reach out to West Chicago Park District if your child needs daycare prior to 8am or after 3pm. You can reach them at 630-231-9474 or www.we-goparks.org.

If you are planning on volunteering this year at Norton Creek please complete the following forms. We are asking that forms be turned in by September 15th. Please fill out the form completely and indicate what you will be volunteering for this school year. If fingerprinting is required we will reach out to you. Once completed please turn them into the office. When you come in the building to volunteer a driver's license will be required every time in order to enter.

A few reminders to keep the school year going.....

How do I contact the nurse?

Please email the nurse at karen.lombardo@d303.org or call 331-228-2704.

How do I contact the office or nurse via email?

Please email the office at nor-office@d303.org

What time can my student arrive to school?

We open the doors at 7:45am for student arrival every morning. Students should not be dropped off before that time as there is no supervision for students. If you arrive before drop off time please keep your child in your car until the appropriate time.

Arriving Late To School-

If your child is arriving after 8:00am please walk them into the school and sign them in. Please also notify the attendance line if you plan to arrive to school after 8:30am.

How do I report an absence?.

Absences should be called in by 7:45 AM if your child will be absent for any portion of the day. The number is 331-228-2700 and has voicemail. You can call during the evening or overnight and leave a message. Please leave your child’s name and the reason why your child is out. If they are ill, please indicate their symptoms.

Even if you notify your child's teacher of an absence via email, we ask that you please still notify the office at nor-office@d303.org for attendance purposes. Please note that if your child is sick, they should be fever free and have no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school. Of course, you can always email the teacher as well, but you need to formally notify the school of any student absence.

Is your child leaving school early?

Also, if you will be picking up your child early or taking your child out for an appointment, please let our front office know as early in the day as possible by calling the main number at 331-228-2700 or email at nor-office@d303.org. This can be very helpful should a pick-up time be when the child is in specials or at lunch. Kids can be indoors as well as outdoors depending on their schedule and it can take a few extra minutes to locate and get the child down to the office for an early pickup if they are not in their classroom.

Does your child need a prearranged absence?

Students must apply for the privilege of using prearranged absence days through the principal’s office.

This completed form must be turned in at least (2) school days prior to the requested absence to the main office.

The building principal or designee has the authority to grant up to (5) days of excused absence per year

for the following types of absences:

 Participation in regional and/or national contests or awards

 Family vacation—qualified by the phrase “accompanied by parent”

 Special religious events

Please see attached form below or visit the district website at www.d303.org under the FORMS section.

What if my child has a change in dismissal/transportation?

Please let the school know as early as possible if there is a occasional change to your child dismissal by emailing nor-office@d303.org and your child's teacher or call the office directly at 331-228-2701. If it is after 2pm please call the office directly so that we can ensure your child gets the notification of changes. Dismissal time can be very hectic and to help ensure a smooth dismissal, getting any transportation changes for students early is very helpful. Simply call the school office or email at nor-office@d303.org and let them know.

What if my child forgot an item at home?

If your child has forgotten an item at home and it is needed for that day please email the classroom teacher to notify them that you will be dropping an item off. Bring the item labeled with the name and teacher to the office and place the item in the bookcase by the front window.

What is my child lost/misplaced an item at school?

Please ask your child to check the lost and found table. You can also email the classroom teacher to let her know that your student is looking for an item. They will allow time for them to check the table in the Community Room.

Note: Save our school number in your contacts. Norton Creek Elementary: (331) 228-2700.

LUNCH SCHEDULES:

1st Grade: 11:00-11:20

4th Grade: 11:20-11:40

RISE Students: 11:40-12:00

Kindergarten: 11:40-12:00

2nd Grade: 12:00-12:20

3rd Grade: 12:20-12:40

5th Grade: 12:40-1:00

If your student forgets their lunch please email the classroom teacher and drop off at the main office. Please label with the students full name.

Please remember to add money to your child(s) Pushcoin account in order to be able to purchase a lunch or a breakfast. Breakfast and lunch will not be free this year and will incur a fee daily. Norton Creek will be open at 7:45am on school days for breakfast. Please call the office with any questions.

Organic Life, the K-8 Food Service provider for CUSD 303 is looking for candidates to serve as Cashiers, Food Service Workers & Lunchroom Supervisors for the 2023-2024 school year.

Please contact Patricia Burton at 331-228-5242 or patricia.burton@d303.org for more information.

llinois state code requires that Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grade students submit a dental exam by May 15, 2024. If you have not already done so, please submit a completed exam by May 15th. The exam can be done anytime between May 15, 2023 - May 15, 2024.

If you need any assistance or resources to get the exam done, please contact Karen Lombardo, RN (karen.lombardo@d303.org or 331-228-2714)

Website: https://nortoncreek.d303.org/
Location: Norton Creek Elementary School, Smith Road, West Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: 331-228-2700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Norton-Creek-Elementary-1439295139641887/