Normandy Park School

I am extremely proud of our NPS community, as we begin Week 2 of the 2021/2022 school year. We will continue to build on our successes, and improve upon our areas of growth. Thank you all for your continued partnership and support!

There will be no school on Thursday, September 16th (Yom Kippur).

If there are changes in your child's dismissal plans (e.g. you are going to pick them up that day, instead of taking the bus), please use the attached form or call the main office.

Please know that I am here to help and support in any way that I can. Feel free to reach out to me directly at christopher.miller@msdk12.net.

Click here for Spanish Translation

Observed annually from September 15 to October 15: It is a time to appreciate and celebrate

the history, colorful cultures, diversity, and contributions of the ancestors of American

citizens who came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and South- and Central America.

September 15 is set as the starting date for the month for several reasons. It is the

independence anniversary for Latin American countries El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica,

Nicaragua, and Honduras. From here onwards, the independence days of Mexico and Chile fall on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

• Hispanic and Latino Americans amount to an estimated 17.8% of the total U.S. population, making up the largest ethnic minority. Around one-fifth of the U.S. population is Hispanic.
• The state with the largest Hispanic and Latino population overall is California with over 14 million.
• There are relevant Hispanic influences in American life: music, food, art, cinema, politics, literature, science & technology. Have you seen movies like “Coco” or Vivo”?
• Some inventions from Latin / Hispanics:

1. Color TV: Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena (México)
2. The electric brake: Victor Ochoa (México)
3. The artificial heart: Dr. Domingo Liotta (Argentina)
4. Bandage for administering drugs: Alejandro Zaffaroni (Uruguay)
5. The stent: Julio C. Palmaz (Argentina)

What heritage runs in your family?

Share some of your traditions with your classmates!

Notes for parents/teachers:

Observation of Hispanic Heritage Week started in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was later extended to a 30-day celebration by President Ronald Reagan, starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted via approval of Public Law 100-402 on August 17, 1988.

VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER:

If you have not done so already, please complete the Statement of Assurance for Daily Screening on the Parent Portal. Students/Families who have not completed the form by September 14th will not be able to attend school on September 15th (until the form has been completed).

If you have not completed the form, you should have received a text alert.

What a great start to the school year it was! Despite everyone’s anxieties, every student found their classrooms and started a positive routine. Staff and students were getting to learn about each other. The lunch rooms looked different with some students in the cafeteria, some in the computer lab (AKA the Cosmic Cafe) and some in the classrooms. Although socially distanced, they were able to chat with their table mates. The great weather afforded outside recess and you could see the joy and excitement in their faces. As we progress to a longer week, your child may be a bit more tired and irritable. A good night’s sleep is critical for all. Here are some tips to help with that:

1. Start your night time routine early

2. An hour before bedtime turn off (and take away) all electronics (the blue light affects the natural melatonin, crucial to good sleep)

3. Avoid sugary foods and/or caffeinated drinks after dinner

4. Make sure to include plenty of snuggle time and/or quiet reading or talking together time!

I have gone into the classrooms to say hello and introduce/reintroduce myself and my role as a helper. Later this week I will begin the lessons on conflict resolution, Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying. The focus is on being kind and using kind words.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child or please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Stay awesome!

Cheryl Cohen

School Counselor

Cheryl.cohen@msdk12.net

973-889-7960 x6115

Welcome Back to School from the NPS Home & School Association!

We are thrilled to be starting a new school year at Normandy Park School. We use these weekly newsletters to provide you with important NPS HSA updates, including upcoming HSA events, volunteer opportunities, and news about programs that we help sponsor at Normandy Park School.

WHO IS THE NPS HSA?

We are a group of volunteer parents who work with both the school and the parent community to:

• To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school and community.
• To promote cooperation between home and school in order to provide effective education for all children.
• To provide financial support and/or programs to enhance the academic, cultural and social growth of the school’s students.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT THIS YEAR?

We will be focused this year on building cultural arts and enrichment opportunities at the school for our children and, just as importantly, helping to build a community of parents in our school. Expect lots of communication from us about events and opportunities to come together!

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

Parent volunteers drive everything behind the HSA at Normandy Park. We encourage all parents to volunteer, whether small or larger events or just to help with a gathering or sending in donations for events. Please reach out to npshsapresidents@gmail.com to talk about how you can be a part of the HSA’s programs over the upcoming year.

WHO IS ON THE HSA THIS YEAR?

Below is a list of our current board members for the 2021-2022 school year, along with their email addresses. We encourage you to reach out to any of us at any time with questions, ideas or concerns throughout the school year.

President: Dani Wolber and Co-President: Angela Finlay

e-mail: npshsapresident@gmail.com

Communications: Jennifer Cromie

e-mail: npshsacommunications@gmail.com

Community Event & Outreach: Sara Faber

e-mail: npshsavolunteering@gmail.com

Enlace Hispanohablante: Elizabeth Basulto

e-mail: NPSHSAEspanol@gmail.com

Fundraising Committee: Ali Gogarty and Sara Canavan

e-mail: npshsafundraising@gmail.com

Recording Secretary: Terryann Bradley

e-mail: npshsasecretary@gmail.com

Treasurer: Open

e-mail: npshsatreasurer@gmail.com

We look forward to meeting you at a future HSA event. Have a wonderful school year!

Save the Date:

Our first NPS HSA meeting will be held on Thursday, September 23rd (Virtually) at 7pm. Save the date! More information will be sent in the next few weeks.

Students will be having snack time during the school day, with all necessary safety measures in place. Please send your child in with a healthy snack.

Breakfast and lunch will be served daily at school. All students will have access to school provided breakfast and lunch (if they choose to receive it).

As students enter the building, they will be able to grab-and-go breakfast if they choose to.

Click here for the MSD September breakfast menu.

For lunch, students will be asked at the beginning of the day if they would like to order (providing their choice of either the hot/cold option). Teachers will present the menu choices for the day.

Click here for the MSD September lunch menu.

Where will students eat lunch?

Students will eat lunch at 6 ft apart (seats facing the same direction). We will utilize classrooms, cafeteria, and lab to accommodate all students at 6ft apart.

Cleaning and social distancing protocols will be in place. Students will take individual pictures only. Individual pictures will be made into a composite class picture.

Additional information on class picture and ordering forms will be sent home to all families this week.

Arrival Procedures: Students are permitted into the building at 8:40 a.m. Students bussed to school will be dropped off in the front of the building.

Drop Offs: Students being dropped off in the morning may enter through the back doors. Please use the drop-off/pick-up line in the back of the building. There is no supervision before 8:40, and children who arrive before that time, will not be permitted to enter the building. A staff member will be at the door between 8:40 and 8:55 a.m. to welcome students. Any student arriving after 8:55 must enter the front of the building and report to the nurse’s office with a parent or guardian to obtain a late pass.

Dismissal Procedures: Dismissal begins at the conclusion of our last period, 3:05 p.m.

All students are encouraged to ride the bus to and from school.

At dismissal, students will be dismissed from the back of the building. When picking up your child, please use the pick-up line. Stay in your vehicle. Teachers will accompany your child to your car.

Pick-Up During the Day:

If a situation arises that requires you to pick your child up during the school day, please use the attached form or call the main office. Students being picked up early are asked to be picked up before 3 p.m. Before leaving, you must sign your child out in the notebook provided in the office. Unless an emergency arises, please refrain from calling the office after 1:30 to make changes to your child’s dismissal.

• If there are changes in your child's dismissal plans (e.g. you are going to pick them up that day, instead of taking the bus), please use the attached form or call the main office.
• For written communication between you and your child's teacher, please utilize Class Dojo and/or e-mail, rather than hand-written letters (when possible).

• September 23rd: Picture Day
• September 30th: Back to School Night
• September 15th to October 15th: Hispanic Heritage Month
• October 4th to October 8th: Week of Respect

• Parent Handbook
  
• Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
• School Breakfast and Lunch Information
• Sunset and Sunrise