Northridge Elementary Weekly Blast

August Dates:

5 - Meet the Teacher and Drop off Supplies (3pm-5pm)

Admin Presentations in the library 3:30pm & 4:30pm

7 - First Day of School (Kindergartners have a different schedule Aug 7 - August 9)

14 - PTO Executive Board Meeting 8:45-10:15

16 - Back to School Carnival 5:00pm - 7:00pm

20 - Picture Day

21 & 22 - Vision & Hearing (All students)

22 - Watch Dog Dad Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm

27 - Fun Run

28 - SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am

Below are the instructions for Express Check-In, beginning on July 22. It is advisable to wait until July 23 to avoid potential system slowdowns due to high traffic on the 22nd. Teacher assignments for your child will be available on July 29. Please plan to sign up for the Meet the Teacher/Supply Drop-off after receiving the teacher assignment (refer to the principal's letter below).

Express Check-In Step by Step Guide

NRE Academic and Mental Health Resources

NRE PTO - Summer Restaurant Nights

Treat yourself to a few evenings out - join us for the remaining summer restaurant nights. These community businesses are generously donating a portion of the proceeds back to NRE - we support the businesses in our community and they support our school... win/win! Please see the flier below for details.

NRE PTO - Corporate Sponsorship Program

PTO has developed a Corporate Sponsorship Program to help raise more funds for NRE. If you own/operate a business and would like to have some awesome advertising opportunities in the NRE community, this could be just what you are looking for. If you are not a business owner, but are employed by a business that would like to support NRE, please pass this info along. There are some great advertising opportunities during our Back to School Carnival and Fun Run, so please inquire soon if you are interested in becoming a Corporate Sponsor. Please see the flier below for details and email PTOpresidentNRE@gmail.com if you would like to learn more.

NRE PTO - Social Media Pages

Check out our new PTO Facebook and Instagram pages to stay up to date with events and announcements. Details to access the pages are in the flier below.

NRE PTO Events - Save the date!

The Back To School Carnival is a large community event held on August 16 from 5:00-7:00pm featuring inflatables, carnival games, face painting, pie your teacher in the face, food trucks, Kona Ice Truck, a South Metro Firetruck to explore, popcorn, cotton candy, etc. You definitely don't want to miss this FREE event to help us kick off the new school year. Spread the word - let's get as many NRE community members there as possible!

The Fun Run will be held on August 27 and is the largest PTO fundraiser for the school year. Kiddos will have the opportunity to invite friends and family to sponsor them for running laps around a fun race course on our grassy field. There will be music, water blasters, popsicles, shade tents and just an overall great atmosphere for our kiddos to run for NRE. All donations that come in for the Fun Run are tax deductible. There will be individual, classroom, and school wide prizes awarded for fundraising. Our school wide "Prize Day" will be held on September 10... the more money we raise for NRE, the more awesome our prize day will be! All the details you will need to know will be available after we are back to school in August. For now just save the date! Family members are invited to watch the Fun Run.

Dear NRE Community,

We are thrilled about the 24-25 school year and have many fun activities planned for students and families. Be sure to bookmark the Important Dates for the school year and continue to read this Weekly Blast for any updates.

Join us for Meet the Teacher/Supply Drop-Off on August 5, from 3 pm to 5 pm. Please sign-up here to help with our parking. The first day of school is August 7, with a soft start at 8:25 am and an official start at 8:35 am. School ends at 3:30 pm. Kindergarteners have a different schedule this week to help them acclimate to NRE. Click here for the schedule and to sign up for your time slot (you must know your teacher's name to do this which isn't out yet).

Getting to and from school can be stressful. Allow extra time during the first few weeks, if a bus isn't running, or if there's precipitation. Below is a map of different routes to NRE. To ensure everyone's safety, please follow these guidelines:

• Be Alert: Put your cellphone down. Always look out for pedestrians, especially during drop-off and pick-up times. Follow instructions from anyone directing traffic.
• Reduce Speed: Slow down. Speeding increases the risk of accidents, especially in school zones. Prioritize safety over speed.
• Use Crosswalks: Crossing on Southpark Rd or in the parking lot close to the entrance/exit is not safe at drop-off and pick-up due to sun glare, vehicles, and distracted drivers. Please take the extra steps and cross in the crosswalk.
• No U-Turns: U-turns are prohibited in and around the school area. Please plan your route accordingly and avoid making sudden maneuvers that could endanger pedestrians or other vehicles.
• No Left Turns: Left turns are not permitted entering or exiting the parking lot. When exiting, if you go down two stop signs, the neighborhood street loops you back around to be able to change directions on Southpark Rd.
• Bus Lane Usage: During peak times (8:15-8:45 AM and 3:00-3:45 PM), avoid using the bus lane for drop-off or pick-up.This lane is designated for buses only and must remain clear.
• Last Name Displayed: If you are driving through carloop for pick-up, display your child's last name in big letters to help us get your child to your car safely and quickly.

Our annual Back to School Carnival is on August 16, and we hope you’ll join us. It's a great opportunity to meet other kids, parents, and enjoy the NRE community. If you’re new to the school, attending events can help you meet people.

We can't wait to see all the familiar and new faces at NRE and look forward to a fantastic school year filled with learning and growth.

Sincerely,
Katie Lynch

The 2024 Lend A Hand School Supply Drive REQUEST a backpack link is live on our Foundationdcs.org website as of May 15, 2024. Any DCSD student is eligible to request an age appropriate backpack (K-12) by selecting the REQUEST link on the Lend A Hand page. This year our distribution events will be Tuesday July 30, 2024 at the Strive to Thrive event, Thursday August 1, 2024 at the drive thru event, SouthRidge Elementary and Saturday August 3, 2024 at the drive thru event, Acres Green Elementary.

This year we are encouraging our community to help support the program with a School Supply Drive at their business, school or community. Donation boxes and marketing materials will be available for pick up at the Wilcox Bldg beginning on May 29th. Sign up HERE to participate in a school supply drive this summer!

Volunteers needed! There are a variety of ways to volunteer - helping to pick up donations, packing supplies into backpacks and helping with distribution. Sign up today on our Lend A Hand page.

The Teacher Grab & Go event will be on Thursday August 1, 2024 at the Mercantile Bldg in Castle Rock. Teachers are welcome to come by and pick up free donated supplies for their classrooms.

Below is a list of resources, should you have a concern that a loved one (or yourself) may be experiencing behavioral changes, mood swings, depression, or suicidal thoughts.

Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to the child or others

• 988 - Suicide and Crisis Hotline

  • Call or text “988” any time, 24/7 for free, confidential support.

• Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-TALK (8255)

• Trained Crisis Counselor Hotline: (844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255

• Chat online (open from 4pm-12am daily): Click Here

• Walk-in Locations (open 24/7): Location List

• Information About Types of Services and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Crisis Services

• DCSD Mental Health Intervention website

• Mobile apps for wellness and recovery

• Let’s Talk Colorado

• iMatter (free virtual counseling sessions)

Douglas County has an anonymous reporting system available at all times. Anyone with a concern for someone’s well-being or safety can use Safe 2 Tell (1-877-542-7233) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.