Hawks Happenings

Greetings NBES Families,

It is hard to believe that summer is almost over and a new school year is almost here! I love NBES and it is such an honor to serve as the principal here! Welcome to our new students and families! You will find that NBES is a wonderful place to be!

At NBES, we have an outstanding staff, wonderful students and supportive parents! Our staff is committed to the success of our students and they work diligently to provide quality and engaging instruction. Our mission is, 'Growing, Learning, Succeeding'!

Communication between home and school is key! While I strive to not overload you with too much information, I do want you to be informed! Please look for a Hawks Happenings Newsletter to come out at least once a month. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NBuncombeES and follow us on Instagram @NorthBuncombeES. You can also find a lot of information on our school's website. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please reach out and we will be happy to help!

I look forward to partnering with you and your family for a successful and fun school year!

Please feel free to contact me at 828-645-6054 or heidi.allison@bcsemail.org.

Working Together,

Mrs. Heidi Allison

Buncombe County Schools is looking for a parent/guardian representative from NBES who is willing to serve on the district Media Technology Advisory Council. If this sounds like something you would be interested in and you have time to meet for an hour or so each month, please contact Heidi Allison at (828) 645-6054 or heidi.allison@bcsemail.org. Thank you!

State law requires each school to have parent representation on the School Improvement Team. At NBES we love having parent input and feedback so we can continually improve. This year Jessi White is the NBES PTO President so she will also serve as a parent representative on our School Improvement Team. Hillary Cole has volunteered to also serve on this team. Please vote below if you approve of these two parent representatives. If you do not approve, please contact Heidi Allison to recommend another representative. Thank you!

https://forms.gle/bvYgVYYHjWdXrVE59

August 23 - Meet Your Teacher - 1-3 PM (this is a drop-in event)

August 26 - First Day of School for all students in grades 1-4 and half of Kindergarten!

August 27 - First Day of School for other half of Kindergarten students

August 28 - All Kindergarten students come to school!

• Class Lists will be posted outside.
• Feel free to bring in school supplies with you to drop off.
• Teachers will have information to help you double check your bus route. Please go to the gym if you have any questions about your bus stop, pick up time or to sign up to be a bus rider.
• New car rider tags will be available in your child's classroom and at tables throughout the school. All car riders must have a new tag this year for added safety measures.
• Meet Your Teacher is a drop-in event. You do not need to stay the entire time.
• We will have many staff members place around the school campus to help you find your way!

Kindergarten teachers will mail postcards on August 16th with your child's class assignment and which day your child is scheduled to attend (August 26 or August 27). Remember that Kindergarten has a staggered start - half of our Kindergarten students come on August 26 and half come on August 27. All Kindergarten students come on Wednesday, August 28th.

For Students in Grades 1-4:

Parents of students in grades 1-4 will be able to check the Parent Portal the week of August 19th to see class teacher assignment. The portal will open on Monday, August 19th (See directions below regarding how to sign up). We will also have tables set up outside the school at Meet Your Teacher with class lists.

At this time, no class lists have been shared with parents.

NBES welcomes volunteers! There are many ways for individuals to volunteer at our school. All volunteers must fill out an online volunteer application and be on the approved volunteer list before volunteering.

Level 1 Volunteers - General volunteer - never supervising students

Level 2 Volunteers - Volunteer who supervises/gives directions to students or serves in a leadership role (such as PTO board). This level is required for any parent attending a field trip. This level requires a background check (conducted by Buncombe County Schools).

Parents may get a link to complete a volunteer application by calling the main office at (828) 645-6054. Mrs. Clubb, Mrs. Fender or Mrs. Honeycutt can help you with this process.

We are excited about our upcoming school year! Please review the list for your child's grade level to see what is needed. Click on the link to see each supply list.

2024-2025 School Supply Lists are found here: https://nbes.buncombeschools.org/o/nbe/article/1658504

Even though lunch is free, you can still send money/load money for your child to buy additional snacks and/or ice cream.

We even have exciting news for families who normally pack their lunch! Lunch boxers may 'complete your meal for free'! Lunch boxers can get at least 3 additional items to complete their meals (example: add a grain, a fruit and a milk)! This is a great support for families! We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity!

At this point, our School Nutrition Department is sharing that families do not need to complete the online Free and Reduced lunch application unless you need this status to help you quality for another community support. We always encourage families to complete this form yearly.

This video was shared last year when the traffic pattern changed. The afternoon car rider line traffic pattern will be the same as last year but this video is being shared again for new families. Please share this information with anyone who is picking up your children! Remember that due to congestion and logistics no one should line up to pick up students prior to 2:15 PM!

We realize that for some parents dropping your child off in his/her classroom on the first day of school is a fond tradition. Here are some suggestions to make this go smoothly.

Keep in mind that securing a parking spot may be an issue if you choose to walk your child inside. Arrive in plenty of time to complete any drop-off activities. At 8 AM, class will begin and parents will need to exit the classroom at this time so the school day can begin.

To speed up the drop off process, we will not have parents sign in at the main office in the mornings until Friday, August 30th. Please note that on this day and any day afterwards, visitors will be required to sign in at the main office prior to going anywhere in the building.

We ask that you help us begin our day by quickly exiting the building after you have taken your pictures. While it may be difficult to leave your child (especially Kindergartners), children typically calm quicker and engage in activities if their parents are not lingering outside the door.

Starting on Friday, August 30th, parents should drop off all students in the car rider line.

One of our top priorities here at NBES is to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. This includes the car line pick-up of children during afternoon dismissal. Cars should not form a car line anywhere on campus prior to 2:15 PM! It is the parent's responsibility to share this information with grandparents or others who are picking up your children.

Car rider name cards are issued for car riders. This card is to be placed in your car window for afternoon pick-up. If you need additional cards, please contact the school office.

If there have been any changes in pick-up information or custody issues related to your child’s pick-up, please contact the school office to make us aware. Please also make us aware anytime there is a change during the school year.

Please print your child’s (children’s) FIRST and LAST name on the card in large, dark letters. This card should be displayed in view on the driver’s side of the card (on the dashboard, sun visor, etc.). If you arrive at school without your official NBES car rider card, you will be asked to park and office staff will need to approve the pick-up. This means that you will have to walk inside the building to the main office. Remember to bring your ID! This is not meant to be an inconvenience to anyone but your child's safety is our top priority! Please do not ask staff members on duty to compromise this policy and risk the safety of our students.

Car riders are held in the building until their name is called. At that time your child (children) will come out and wait for you at the curb occupied by one of our staff members. All car riders must be picked up in the car rider line.

NBES staff cannot buckle or unbuckle seatbelts/child restraints. Please teach your child how to buckle up so the car rider line can move quickly and efficiently.

Traffic will move more smoothly, quickly, and safely in the afternoon by following these dismissal procedures. Thank you for your cooperation as we all work together to ensure student safety.

We are asking for your assistance in keeping our schools safe. As you know, our schools are usually bustling with activity such as visitors dropping by for various reasons. As a reminder, here are our guidelines when multiple people are arriving at the same time.

If you have buzzed in and are being screened and you notice another visitor is arriving, please don't hold the door and allow anyone in without being screened first.

If the other visitor is 15 feet or less from the door, please buzz in and be screened together. If the visitor is more than 15 feet from the door, please buzz in and ensure the door is closed completely after you enter.

We certainly want to encourage politeness and our visitors understand that it is unsafe to hold doors and allow visitors in without being verified by front office staff first. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Safety of students and staff is the top priority of schools. NBES follows all state and local guidelines regarding school safety. In order to provide a safe learning environment, it is extremely important that all parents, grandparents and visitors to our school follow all safety guidelines. If a grandparent participates in your child's drop off/pick up routine, please make sure that you share all of the information above with them.

Part of having a safe school is making sure that everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency. NBES has a safety plan that is updated at least yearly. We have a well trained School Resource Officer provided by Buncombe County Sherriff's Department. Staff members participate in safety training yearly. Part of our training with students involves classroom discussions and safety drills. Please see the list below for more information.

Classroom discussions focus on:

• keeping hands, feet and other objects to self
• following teacher directions
• students not opening outside doors for anyone
• staying with the class when transitioning through the building
• how to exit the school quickly when the fire alarm is heard

Safety Drills include:

• monthly fire drill
• bus safety drills at the beginning of each semester
• perimeter and full lockdown drills
• bomb threat/evacuation drill (we won't actually leave campus)
• tornado drill

During safety drills students are assured that we are just practicing what to do in case we have an emergency.

ALL parents and visitors to campus must sign in at the office and obtain a visitor sticker (or a volunteer pass if applicable). Please note that you must sign in even if you are only visiting the cafeteria. Your cooperation in helping us to follow Central Office policy and ensuring the safety of all children is expected and appreciated.

If you have an appointment or scheduled time to be at school in the morning, and wish to walk in with your child, please still plan to follow the established procedure of coming to the office, signing the visitor registry, and obtaining a visitor tag.

Visitors will only be allowed to visit a classroom (during instructional time) if the visitor has scheduled the visit with the teacher beforehand or if the visitor is a scheduled volunteer.

Parents are invited to eat with their child in the cafeteria; however, as a courtesy to other students, we ask that you do not bring outside food such as fast food and/or sodas into the school cafeteria. Parents should arrive at school in time to get a visitor’s pass and report to the lunchroom hallway five minutes before the scheduled lunch time. Please always let the teacher know ahead of time if you plan to eat with your child.

Parents are welcome to join their child during lunch AFTER September 13th. This gives our school time to teach the procedures and expectations of cafeteria behavior to our students. Special holiday meal lunches will be scheduled for specific grade levels throughout the school year. Parents of identified grade levels will be invited to attend these lunches.

The daily lunch menu will be read during morning announcements. Occasionally there will be a menu change due to late deliveries or snow days. You can find links to BCS menus here: https://www.buncombeschools.org/page/menus-and-pricing

Should you desire to bring in a special snack for your child’s birthday or another event, please coordinate this with your child’s teacher so as not to conflict with our lunchroom policies. In addition, any food brought into the school to be shared with students must be store bought with ingredients listed. Please allow school staff to distribute snacks due to their knowledge and understanding of students’ allergies and dietary needs. Our school also encourages healthy snacks and choices.

https://www.ingles-markets.com/tools-for-schools-link

August 26 - First Day of School for all students in grades 1-4 and half of Kindergarten!

August 27 - First Day of School for other half of Kindergarten students

Kindergarten has a staggered school start to give more time for the adjustment to school.

August 28 - All Kindergarten students come to school!

September 2 - No School - Labor Day

September 10 - BOG Reading Test for 3rd grade students

September 12 - PTO Meeting at 1 PM

September 12 - School Improvement Team Meeting

September 16 - Hispanic Heritage Month begins!

September 24 - Picture Day!

September 26 - Title 1 Open House and Curriculum Night

• Session 1 - 5:45 - 6:15 PM
• Session 2 - 6:30 - 7:00 PM

September 27 - Early Dismissal Day (12:25 dismissal) & NBHS Homecoming and Homecoming Parade

October 7 - No School - Teacher Workday

October 8 - No School - Teacher Workday

October 10 - PTO Meeting at 1 PM

October 10 - School Improvement Team Meeting

October 11 - NBES Fall Festival (PTO Fundraiser)

Growing, Learning, Succeeding at NBES!

Email: heidi.allison@bcsemail.org
Website: https://nbes.buncombeschools.org/o/nbe
Location: 251 Flat Creek Church Road, Weaverville, NC, USA
Phone: (828) 645-6054
Facebook: facebook.com/www.facebook.comNBuncombeES

Instagram: @northbuncombees

Twitter: @NorthBuncombeES