December 2023 Northtowne News
School News, District News, and Community Items
PBIS Mission Statement
I am prepared and ready to learn.
I will be respectful, responsible and focused.
I will make choices that focus on teaching and learning.
My hands are for helping, NOT hurting.
And my words are for encouraging.
I will be the best ‘me’ I can be.
December Important Dates
Now thru December 19 - Middle of Year iReady Testing window; look for information from your student's teacher on exact dates their classroom will be testing for reading and math
December 12 - Family Gingerbread House Building 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
December 19 - 30 Minute Early Release; Students must be picked up at 3:00 pm
December 20-January 2 - No School; Winter Break
Stay up to date! The calendar for the 2023-24 school year can be found here.
Attendance Note from Mr. Emmerich
Dear Northtowne Elementary Families,
As we approach the December 20th- January 2nd winter break from school, we are grateful to everyone for helping to maintain a routine for showing up to school while supporting students and families.
We appreciate everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra time off before the winter break. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as to connect to their peers and teachers.
We thank:
● Our students and their families who do their best to show up daily even when it isn’t easy.
● Our teachers who go above and beyond to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn.
● Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment.
● Our support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.
We appreciate each one of you. May these days off be restful and healing.
● If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to Mrs. Hughes (hhughes2654@columbus.k12.oh.us), Mr. Emmerich (jemmeric@columbus.k12.oh.us), or Mrs. Bowman (sbowman@columbus.k12.oh.us) for help.
● We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on January 3rd, 2024.
Thank you for partnering with us!
Student Absences
Did you know that you can send an email to let us know your student will be absent from school? You can! You can also take a photo of the appointment excuse note and attach it to an email. No more wondering if your student remembered to turn in the paper. Contact us with all things concerning attendance here: attendance.northtowne@columbus.k12.oh.us
Principal's Corner
Hello Families, Caregivers, and Students,
December arrived quickly and on the school calendar it will be gone just as quickly if not more quickly! As of December 1 we only have 12 more days of school before winter break. While there may not be many days before break Northtowne is going to filling the time with plenty of activity and opportunity for learning.
The Middle Of Year (MOY) testing window is currently open and will remain open until the winter break begins. Watch for communication from our teachers regarding exactly wich dates their classrooms will be using for the iReady Reading and Math tests. It's always a good idea to eat a healthy breakfast, and it is especially true of days when students are testing. Remember, a free breakfast is always available before school in our cafeteria starting at 8:30 each morning.
I am also very excited to invite all Northtowne families to our 2nd annual Family Gingerbread House Building Event! This event was our most highly attended family activity of the school year last year. Because of the success of last year, we decided to bring back the event. The students were very excited about building gingerbread houses with their families last year and several have already been asking about details for this year's event. We hope our families will come again this year to enjoy all the fun! The date is December 12 and the full details are found below in this newsletter.
With Winter Break also comes a day of early release from school on December 19. Please note and set alarms in your phone for afternoon pick up 30 minutes early at 3:00 pm that day. If your student rides the bus, expect them to be dropped off 30 minutes earlier than the normal drop off time. Our students and staff are all equally excited to begin a well deserved two week break from school. We ask that families arrive on time to the school or bus stops for this early release so that the break can officially begin!
Warm and healthy wishes to you all,
Mr. Taylor
Morning Drop Off Reminders
Please stay with your child prior to 8:30 a.m. and/or when there is no adult supervision. For the safety of your child, please wait until a staff member is outside. Children should not be dropped off before 8:30.
If you drive your student to school, please enter the parking lot area and drive beside the sidewalk. Pull forward, as much as possible, until just past the open cafeteria doors.
Breakfast is served starting at 8:30 and is free for any child who chooses to eat.
Gingerbread House Building
Join us for the 2nd annual Family Gingerbread House Building Event!
Where: Northtowne Elementary cafeteria
When: Tuesday, December 12
6:00 pm-7:00 pm
What: Students are invited to attend with their family and practice their construction skills. The school will provide one set of supplies (graham crackers, icing, basic candies) for each family. Your family is welcome to bring additional supplies, if you wish.
Building a gingerbread house almost never goes exactly according to plan! Sometimes even making a plan can be challenging when you are working in a group. This family event will be a chance for students to practice Portrait of a Graduate traits such as adaptability, communication, creativity and critical thinking.
Counselor's Corner
Guidance Lessons continue in full swing at Northtowne Elementary! Students in most grades are continuing their unit of identifying emotions in themselves and others. Pre-K through 4th grade classrooms are working on social awareness to learn skills on reading body language, and facial expressions. Once students can identify feelings in others, they are able to use that information to make better decisions when interacting with peers and adults. Our eldest grade is continuing college/career exploration. 5th graders at Northowne are learning about using strategies to break down technical jargon into useful information for learning about potential career pathways.
As our guidance lessons continue for almost every class, families should also know that social-emotional learning (SEL) small groups are also in progress. These small groups are 30 minutes weekly and work on a wide range of social and emotional skills. There are still opportunities available and if you would like your child to participate in a small group, please do not hesitate to reach out to our School Counselor, Mr. Dickerson for more information. Mr. Dickerson can be reached at 380-997-2100 and mdickerson@columbus.k12.oh.us
Notes From Nurse Cassie
Nurse Cassie would like to remind all families about the school health centers that are a partnership between Columbus City Schools and Nationwide Children's Hospital. Northland High School (at the corner of Northtowne Blvd and Northcliff Dr) is one of the schools with a health center. Many medical needs can be addressed at the school health clinics including vaccinations, health check ups, blood work, asthma treatment, and more. In some cases transportation may be able to be provided for the student. Call 614-355-2590 to schedule and get more information about the services offered.
Positive Behavior Incentive
For the next month of school days (December 1-January 18), students are working toward a winter-time special incentive. For individuals to earn the incentive, the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) team is looking for students to consistently follow our PBIS standards each day and throughout their movements during the school day. January 19 will be the day of the special incentive.
Families can help by discussing our PBIS standards (respectful, responsible, and focused), at home. Ask your student what being respectful, responsible, and focused looks like. Students should be able to explain what our standards look like in the classroom, restroom, hallway, cafeteria, and on the playground.
Music Concert Success
Thank you to all of the family members who came out to support your student's participation in the recent music concert. We appreciate that we had such a wonderful turn out. Hopefully you enjoyed the efforts of our budding musicians in choir and instrumental music. Many thanks as well to Ms Paul and Mr. Damicone for all of your efforts to get the students ready for the performance as well as coordinating the plans for the concert.
Northtowne Elementary on the News with NBC4!
Check out the 30 second video of the TV mention of Northtowne Elementary! NBC4 meteorologist McKenna King came to our school to discuss weather and severe weather safety with our 2nd graders. The next morning, she mentioned our school just before giving the weather forecast!
Fluency Flight
We did have a group of 2nd-5th grade students who met the goal of increasing their addition facts fluency by 10% during the school's Fluency Flight Challenge. These students were rewarded with a dance party activity. A big congratulations to our students who met the challenge! Your improved math fluency skills will be part of the mathematics foundation that supports you the rest of your life.
Caregivers can still support their students in improving math skills fluency! Simply having your student log into iReady to complete math lessons in their pathway will help. Students can also select to open the Fluency Flight games from the math portion of iReady for even more practice.
Students access the iReady application through their Clever accounts. Students should be knowledgeable about how to do this. However, if caregivers need instructions you can contact the classroom teacher or our family ambassador (Sarah Bowman) for technical assistance.
Pathway Express at the Wexner Center for the Arts
CCS Pathway Express arrives at the Wexner Center for the Arts in December. Students and their families will get the chance to enjoy FREE admission to the Wexner Center to enjoy exhibitions, performances, screenings, educational programs, artist residencies and publications offered by the Arts Center. The Wexner Center for the Arts is The Ohio State University’s multidisciplinary form for contemporary art and culture.
Special programming and experiences will be available to CCS families:
Saturday, December 9, 2023
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St.
Fun Family Learning Experiences include:
Art Workshops
Art Gallery Exploration
Short Film Screening
Free books and giveaways while supplies last!
Enjoy a meet & greet with author Innosanto Nagara. A children’s author, activist and graphic designer.
Free Parking for families in the Ohio Union North Garage, Ohio Union South Garage, and Arps Garage. Please bring your parking ticket inside the Wexner for validation.
FREE TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE - DECEMBER 9TH ONLY
Transportation is available from the following locations on December 9, 2023.
Northland High School (1919 Northcliff Drive, Columbus, 43229)
South High School (1160 Ann Street, Columbus, 43206)
Walnut Ridge High School (4841 E. Livingston Avenue, Columbus, 43227)
West High School (179 S. Powell Avenue, Columbus, 43204)
Departure times will be provided once you register for the December 9 event.
Click the link below to register for the December 9th event.
Columbus City Schools FACES Information Sessions
Columbus City Schools (CCS) proudly presents FACES, the online Family and Community Engagement Series program created to inform and connect families, community, and schools. The series airs on the District's Facebook and YouTube channels. During sessions, CCS families will learn about the latest District information, hear about family resources from our community partners, provide feedback, and get answers to frequently asked questions.
Sessions air at 6:00 pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Then, the Columbus City School Board of Education meetings air on the first and third Tuesdays. Sessions are recorded and available to watch at your leisure. Some past topics have included mental health awareness, reading and literacy, and coping with stressors of busy holiday seasons.
Project Connect
What is the Project Connect Program?
Authorized under Federal law through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, the Columbus City Schools’ Project Connect Program provides services to ensure that identified children and youth experiencing homelessness have access to a free and appropriate public education by removing barriers due to homelessness. As advocates for educational rights, there are various services the program provides to assist families in transition.
How can the Project Connect Program help?
Project Connect works with students, parents, Columbus City Schools (CCS) employees, partner agencies, and other local school districts to provide assistance with:
- school selection and enrollment o school transportation
- wellness checks and on-going social and emotional support
- book bags and school supplies for students
- assistance with high school graduation fees and expenses
- addressing barriers that affect school attendance and full participation
- obtaining necessary documents such as birth certificates, school records, and medical records
- dispute resolution regarding school choice and enrollment
The term “children and youth experiencing homelessness” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate night-time residence. It includes those who are:
- sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of home, economic hardship, or similar reason
- living in motels or hotels o staying in trailer parks or campgrounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations
- living in emergency or transitional shelters
- abandoned in hospitals
- living on their own, such as youth who have run away or have been put out of their home
- Parents and students may call the Project Connect Office at 614-365-5140
- Email: ProjectConnect@columbus.k12.oh.us
- Parents may also call Northtowne secretary Ms Jen at 614-365-5488
Resources Especially for Fathers
Father Up offers FREE programs to empower men to be the hero in their children’s life story. Our experienced and passionate staff and seasoned peer mentors will work with fathers at every stage of their parenting journey.
When you join the FatherUp movement, you can get the resources, skills, and support to be a heroic father. For you. For your family. For your community.
Winter Break Childcare
.School's Out Winter Session: December 20, 2023–January 2, 2024
Registration is already open for the Recreation and Parks Winter School's Out Program. Unlock the gateway to unforgettable adventures for your children by turning Winter Break into an exciting, enriching experience. Columbus Recreation and Parks partner with a variety of local organizations to make school break sessions fun and educational. Register today!
Take advantage of this opportunity for winter excitement:
December 20, 2023–January 2, 2024
Monday–Friday
8 a.m.– 5 p.m.
Make school breaks memorable with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department's School's Out program. We can't wait to see your young explorers there! Contact your local community center or visit ActiveNet® to register.
Participating centers include:
- Barnett
- Beatty
- Blackburn
- Douglas
- Feddersen
- Holton
- Howard
- Marion-Franklin
- Schiller
- Sullivant
- Westgate
Northtowne News Past Issues are Still Available
Did you delete a Northtowne News email and then realize there was a resource you still wanted to check out? Do you remember seeing a newsletter announcement about a community resource but now you can't remember the name of the organization and you can't find the email from the newsletter? Don't worry! The information you need is not lost! All prior Newsletters and mid-month updates are available on the Northtowne Elementary web site. The button below will take you directly to the newsletter archive.
Grateful for Family Involvement
Thank you so much for your support and involvement with your child’s learning. Whether it’s conferences, attending the family meetings, or a quick chat throughout the day, we appreciate your involvement and efforts to build the lines of communication between home and school.
Lots of school communication and information is in the Parent Portal. If you need help accessing the Parent Portal please contact our Family Ambassador, Sarah Bowman. She can even link families to interpreters (Bilingual Engagement Liaisons or BEL) to help with understanding the Parent Portal set up process. Email: sbowman@columbus.k12.oh.us or you can call or text: 614-859-9654Thank you for reading this month’s newsletter.
Send a note to let us know what you thought, make suggestions or ask a question. We would love to hear from you. Please send a note to your child’s teacher or send a message.
Contributors:
Austin Taylor, Principal
Phone: 614-365-5488
Fax: 614-365-5487
Email: ataylor4@columbus.k12.oh.us
Sarah Bowman, Family Ambassador
614-859-9654
Email: sbowman@columbus.k12.oh.us
Susan Bryant, Building Coach
614-365-5488
Email: sbryant9569@columbus.k12.oh.us
Frank Beickelman, Grant Provider
614-365-5488