NES Connection

Student names submitted go into a drawing... one name from each class is selected with a total of 21 "silly stringers" for May 30. Please let the PTO know by May 28th!

Hello NES Fam,

Happy Friday Evening! We hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! As a reminder, there is No School on Monday, May 26 - we will see you on Tuesday, May 27, cycle day 4.

We are officially 11.5 days away from Summer 2025. You will find student projects and work coming home over these next several days. Please assist us in our wrapping up procedures by sending in any library books or other school loaned items.

Despite the 2 week countdown, NES continues to learn, grow, and lead! We look forward to making the most of every moment leading up to June 11th!

We are so proud of our Grades 3-4 and Grade 5 Envirothon Leaders who participated in the York County Envirothon Days last week, led by Coach Wolaver and Coach Moore!

Our Grade 3-4 Team, led by Coach Wolaver, took 3rd place at the annual competition! WAY to GO!

• Colton Cornelius
• Amelia Flinner
• Kaden Kauffman
• Oliver Knox
• Emory Marchi
• Ellie Robinette
• Emma Semder
• Anderson Sinclair
• Jackson Sinclair
• Purvi Vasudevachar

Our Grade 5 Team had a blast and led by example with Coach Moore!

• Jaxson Burgin
• Lily Eckert
• Evelyn Flinner
• Anna Ingham
• Kylynn Kuykendall
• Sienna Magar
• Priya Majhi
• Jakob May
• Addison Ostraszewski
• Bryson Peightal
• Noble Tamang
• Barrett Warner

We wish you a wonderful week ahead and thank you kindly for your continued partnership and support!

Ms. Cal and Your NES Fam

Lyla Stine stepped in to co-principal on Friday, 5/23/25. What a productive day of learning, growing, and leading together! Principal Stine gave morning shout outs, visited classrooms, reviewed the global growth our school has made in math and reading, planned a spirit week, got a peek at our new spaces, celebrated teachers, visited hotspots, gave feedback on GR4 transition to GR5, had a take-out lunch, met the union president, MS principal and made new younger friends! What an exciting day! We look forward to Lyla's potential entry to education field in the next decade! Thank you for leading by example Principal Stine!

Our spring concerts are nearing an end with Orchestra slated for Thursday at 7PM - NHS Auditorium!

We are so proud of our NES band, chorus, and orchestra musicians! What perseverance and growth on display! Hip Hip Hooray to our music leaders: Mrs. McCune, Mrs. Szabo, Mrs. Zampelli!

Information:

With a Luau Theme (as voted by our NES'ers), this year's field day is projected to be fun, festive, and full of opportunities for perseverance, connection, and collaboration! While we do not have the space for visitors, we do plan to keep you updated on the day via video and photos shares through seesaw, instagram (nesleads) and our end of year video. Field Day volunteers will report to the school office on 5/30. This is a rain or shine event. If "rain," we will have an inside plan.

Field Day reminders for families:

• Sunscreen must be applied at home. Please reach out to the school nurse lnell@northernyork.org or nesnurse@northernyork.org with instances where it must be applied at school (form required).
• Students should wear their grade level assigned color (Field Day memo sent home).
• Students should wear sneakers and are encouraged to bring a water bottle.

Our NES PTO is looking for someone to take on the role of event coordinator for 2025-2026! This is a fun, fun, fun position... please reach out to the PTO at nespto1@gmail.com if this sounds like something you may be interested in supporting. This individual assists the PTO with coordination of a few school events each year! We will support any new individuals to this position!

2025 Northern Boys Basketball

Online registrations at Northern Boys Basketball Youth Camp

2025 Northern Girls Basketball Skills Camp

June 16-19

• Girls Rising 1st-8th grade
• AM Session-9am-Noon-1st-5th Grade
• PM Session 1pm-4pm- 6th-8th grade
• Held at NMS and NHS Gymnasiums w/ registration here: https://forms.gle/EvfKPsDfpVsA15bU9

2025 Northern Youth Cheer Clinic

June 14, 2025

• Grades K-5
• COST: $45 (register by May 26 to receive a free t-shirt)
• TIME: 9:00am - 12:00pm (check in begins at 8:30am)
• LOCATION: Northern Sports and Learning Center

* Fire drill to take place this week

May 26: No School - Happy Memorial Day!

May 27: Spirit Day: Learning - Wear one color from head to toe!

May 27: Ms. Cal honors Jump Rope for Heart Challenge! "Taped!"

May 28: Spirit Day: Growing - Dress as an older person (any age)

May 29: Spirit Day: Leading - Bring a stuffy for the day!

May 29: Orchestra Rehearsal

May 29: Orchestra Concert, 7PM, NHS Aud

May 30: Spirit Day: Celebrating - Wear grade level assigned color (see Field Day parent letter).

June 2: Spirit Day: Honoring - Wear a crazy hat!

June 2: GR4 Swimming to June 10

June 6: PTO Skate Night

June 9: GR5 Farewell Day and Gathering

June 10: Polar Pride Day

June 11: Spring Benchmarks home via backpack mail

June 11: HS / GR5 Final Walk

June 11: Noon Dismissal- School is out for Summer!

Warmer weather means cooler clothing and so this reminder is important. Student shorts must be at a length appropriate for their age. Spaghetti straps and crop tops are not permitted. While we do have a limited supply of clothing for instances when a child needs to change, these are primarily for students with a medical or accidental need.

If a student needs to change because of clothing that is too short , it is very possible that parents may be called to bring in a change of clothes. We appreciate your support this time of year.

Smartwatches are used in the school setting as time keepers. During the school day, students are not permitted to text, call, record, or video using these devices. If used in this way, they serve as cellular phones and like cell phones, should be housed in the backpack during the school day.

Navigating Changes to ICE Enforcement Policies

We have heard concerns from District families asking how we will respond to an encounter at a school with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in light of recent changes to government policy that rescinded restrictions on ICE enforcement near schools. The law itself has not changed—and neither has Northern’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students.

Working closely with our district solicitor, we have crafted a protocol for interacting with any law enforcement agency outside our local jurisdiction, including ICE. In the event of such an encounter, district administrators will work with the official, follow the law, and engage our solicitor to ensure that we do.

Should an ICE official arrive at any of our school buildings, they will be directed to the building administration. School employees who are not building administrators are not authorized to interact with ICE officials. While cooperating with the official, the building administrator will initiate protocol that includes:

• Gathering information from the Official
• Contacting the Superintendent and engaging the Solicitor
• Assessing access to school premises
• Documenting the interaction
• Handling student record requests
• Verifying any documentation presented (e.g., subpoena, warrant)

ICE officials do not have automatic access to school records, classrooms, hallways, or any non-public space within a school building unless they present a valid judicial warrant signed by a federal judge. Additionally, FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) strictly prohibits the release of student records to ICE officials without either parental consent or a court order.

Northern has not been visited by ICE, nor have we seen any escalation of activity in central PA school districts but wanted to let you know that we are aware of concerns and prepared in the event we encounter ICE at one of our schools.

This is the CREW working for you!

Our PTO Board champions our mission to LEARN, GROW, and LEAD, offering physical and financial support to supplementing events and resources for our Cub Leaders and Faculty. They represent our Family Unit (YOU) and they take great pride in ensuring equitable access for all, Family Fueled events, and an open door policy for all families to offer insight, feedback and support.

Pictured:

• Event Coordinator: Kara Johnsen
• Treasurer: Crystal Pitt
• President: Erin Stine
• Vice President: Heather Spicer
• Secretary: Currently vacant
• PTO Contact: NESPTO1@gmail.com

Fast Facts provide quick information to keep you informed.

NYCSD has partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of students, staff, and their family members. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help you find mental health or substance abuse treatment options matched to your needs regardless of circumstance.

Care Solace has Care Companions (customer service) available 24 hours/7 days to assist students, staff, and their families. Care Solace is not a treatment provider. Rather, it acts as a care coordinator by connecting the user to the provider.

If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

• Call 1-888-515-0595,
• Visit www.caresolace.com/northernyork and click the “Search On Your Own” button, or
• Visit the Care Solace link found on our District Homepage: https://www.northernpolarbears.com/services/special-services/care-solace

Mrs. Christine Bertsch, school counselor, can provide any additional information. Please reach out to her at cbertsch@northernyork.org or X 1504 with questions.

Mechanicsburg Learning Center is currently accepting enrollment for the 24-25 school year.

• This program is housed in the Sunshine Cafe and families are greeted at Door #10 for entry and dismissal of their student.
• Student registration form and brochure are attached below.
• For more information contact Lindsey McGrath, School Age Director at 717-766-2439.

New Families to the district are asked to create a Parent/Guardian Portal Account in our Sapphire System.

Attached you will find directions to create this important account. Upon completion, this account provides access to your child's school records: class assignment, report cards, attendance information, etc. The Parent Account is a separate account from the Registration Account used to enroll your student.

We wish to support our families needing assistance in this process. Please reach out to our school with any questions or email sapphirehelp@northernyork.org if you need additional help with Community Portal log in.

We use our Sapphire Portal to provide access to class rosters, district information, report cards, and more. New Families to the district are asked to create a Parent/Guardian Portal Account in our Sapphire System. Attached you will find directions to create this important account.

Upon completion, this account provides access to your child's school records: class assignment, report cards, attendance information, etc. The Parent Account is a separate account from the Registration Account used to enroll your student.

We wish to support our families needing assistance in this process. Please reach out to our school with any questions or email sapphirehelp@northernyork.org if you need additional help with the new portal login.

Click the link below to access the Sapphire Community Portal. Directions to create this portal are also linked below.

Parent Responsibility:

Arrive at the bus stop 5-10 minutes in advance of assigned time. Pick up/Drop off times may

vary during the first few weeks of school as our drivers get into a route routine. An adult must

be present to drop off and pick up Kindergarten and Grade 1 students. Parents may not board

the school bus. Please additionally review with your child the Bus Rules and Guidelines here.

Student Responsibility:

Stay seated at all times while the bus is moving. (Back and bottom on the seat.) Use an inside

voice. Bodies should remain facing forward and out of the aisle. Once the bus comes to a

complete stop, students may exit at their stop. Food, drinks, and video or voice recording are

not permitted. Students are also not permitted to take pictures or use social media. Follow

the directions of the driver to keep everyone safe

Transportation and Dismissal:

If you are not able to reach us at the school, please contact Mrs. Esser at 717-432-8691 ext 1116. She will also have a direct line to our buses and can support you.

Our number one priority is to always get your students back home safe to you.

Car Riders

• AM Entry to Building: 8:45 AM - 8:55 AM
• PM Dismissal to Parents: 3:35 PM

Location

• Located in the back of Northern Elementary, between the High School and Northern Elementary
• Enter via Middle School drive, turn left onto Polar Bear Drive, turn right to the Car Rider Zone

Procedures

• Keep traffic flowing.
• Move forward to the very end of the line, closest to the High School, Do not cross the yellow line.
• Stay on the left side of line.
• Students exit vehicle via the passenger side - only when the vehicle is within the yellow zone.
• Drivers remain in their vehicles.
• NES staff will support student entry into the building.
• Students should be packed and ready for exit upon entering the car rider line. It is important that the flow of this line remains fluid and safe, allowing for exit and entry within the time allotted for this service.

Frequency of PickUp

• Fill out the registration form if your child will be a daily parent pick up or an occasional parent pick up.
• Visit www.northernpolarbears.com/nes and select the "Car Rider Registration Form" or access the form here: https://forms.office.com/r/8r6rZkV8AJ

Tag PickUp

• Families who register by August 10 will be able to pick up car rider tags for the new school year at our NES Open House Event on August 29.
• During the school year, anticipate a three day turnaround from completion to available tag

Clearance Purpose: To ensure the safety and welfare of our students, all volunteers for school events or chaperones for field trips must obtain the necessary school clearances. These clearances are mandated by the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law and ensure that individuals who have direct contact with our children have undergone a thorough screening process.

Required Clearances: Volunteers must provide the following documents: a report of criminal history from the Pennsylvania State Police, a Child Abuse History Certification, an FBI Background Check (can forgo this if a PA resident for 10 years), a Tuberculosis Examination, and a completed Volunteer Information Form.

Clearance Validity: Clearances remain valid for a period of five years. For example, if you obtain your clearances when your child enters Kindergarten, you will need to renew them for fifth grade; however, the clearances will be applicable at the middle school level as well.

Obtaining Your Clearances: For more information on how to obtain your clearances, please click on the button below labeled "Volunteer Information and Forms." This will direct you to the district website, where you can find assistance in completing your clearance requirements.

Now is an ideal time to verify your clearances with the front office or to complete your clearances for the 2024-2025 school year. If you are uncertain whether your clearances are up to date, please reach out to Mrs. Gayman at NESOffice@northernyork.org for assistance.

Northern Elementary is a Title 1 School which means we receive Federal Title 1 funds to to assist students in meeting state achievement standards. Throughout the school year, we will provide you with important information about these services and your child's education.

• You have access to a letter that lets you know about your right to request information about the qualifications of the classroom and building staff working with your child.
• You will also find our Parent and School Compact, Parent and School Engagement Policy, Resolution Process for ESSA Programs, and Right to Know Letter on our school website.

Principal: Joyce Cal / Email: jcal@northernyork.org

Secretary: Cindy Gayman / Email: nesoffice@northernyork.org

Website: https://nes.northernpolarbears.com/