News at NES
January 2025
Contact Us
Brady Sackett - Principal
Kim Hallock - Assistant Principal
Website: www.nortonschools.org
Location: 3390 South Cleveland Massillon Road, Norton, OH, USA
Phone: 330-825-3828
NES School Goals Update
As we have reached the half-way mark of the school year, read below for an update on our progress toward our three school goals for the year.
Goal #1: Strengthen student literacy by continuing to support teachers to use all adopted Board approved materials and utilizing the time and resources available for teaching literacy.
Improving student literacy continues to be a focus for us as a staff as we are in our second year of our new ela curriculum adoption and second year of WIN time (intervention/enrichment time). Teachers continue to receive support through professional development provided by our curriculum director, gifted coordinator, and literacy specialist from the Summit County ESC. Teachers have also completed additional professional development requirements in the Science of Reading.
All of our NES students in grades 1-3 are screened for potential reading deficiencies using the Acadience literacy screener three times a year. Our next round of screenings will take place in January and parents will receive an updated report. All students in grades 1-3 receive 90 minutes of reading instruction AND 30 minutes of literacy instruction designed for their specific needs (WIN time). A number of our students are performing “on level” or “above level” and receive instruction in comprehension and writing strategies while students that are performing “below level” receive instruction to their specific needs.
Goal #2: NES will increase the use of PBIS strategies to improve the overall school culture and environment.
PBIS is a statewide initiative that means Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports and is used to improve the overall culture and environment of a school building. PBIS is a collection of strategies that includes having stated building level behavior expectations, explicitly teaching behavior expectations, having documented systems for behavior definitions and how to respond to definitions, acknowledging positive student behavior, providing professional development for teachers in the area of PBIS, collecting and sharing data about school-wide behavior, and sharing with the community information about PBIS.
Our building administration continues to meet monthly with members of the Building Leadership Team to review our PBIS strategies.This year, we have updated our behavior expectations and continue to explicitly teach these expectations quarterly. Additionally, we are in the process of using updated behavior management documents that identify and track “minor” and “major” infractions. In January, we will continue the process of identifying ways to provide acknowledgement to students for showing positive behavior and trial different data collection strategies.
Overall, NES has an outstanding building culture and environment and students show appropriate behavior much of the time! Teachers address “minor” behaviors at times with intervention strategies such as conferencing or reteaching the classroom/school behavior expectations. For students that show repeated behaviors, staff use more intense behavior management strategies such as building in a reward system including goals for specific behavior.
Goal #3: Introduce The Panther Way and its competencies to our students and school community.
Attendance Update
Here is a quick look at NES attendance so far this year. Here are a few takeaways:
-356 of our students are at school 95% of the days or more
-88% of our students attend school above 90% of the time
-Every student is expected to attend school at a 90% attendance rate or higher
-Thank you for brining students to school before/after appointments and sending in doctor's notes
Parent Meeting for Parents of Students Identified as Gifted
As part of our efforts to meet the needs of all students, Norton City Schools conducts several whole-grade screenings for possible giftedness, beginning in second grade. When students are identified as gifted in a particular area, parents receive information about the identification and services the district is able to offer for the student. On January 29, the district’s gifted coach and coordinator, Tricia Ebner, will share more information about the areas of gifted identification, the services Norton offers, and the social and emotional aspects of giftedness. This meeting may be especially helpful for parents of students who have been first-time identified as gifted. Parents of elementary students identified as gifted are invited to come to the Panther Room at Norton Middle School at 6:00 PM. A second session, focused on identification, services, and social-emotional aspects of giftedness of middle school students, will be offered for parents of middle school students identified as gifted beginning at 7:00 PM.
Holiday Party Information
We are excited to continue using volunteers to host holiday parties at Norton Elementary School! Holiday parties provide students with an opportunity to have social interactions with their peers and celebrate throughout the year. Please follow the guidelines below to help us ensure a safe, fun event.
Each classroom will be assigned a head room parent (MUST BE A REGISTERED VOLUNTEER). Head room parents will assign volunteers to one of the three school parties.
All families will have the opportunity to communicate with the room parent of any interest in volunteering for a party. ANYONE ATTENDING MUST BE A REGISTERED VOLUNTEER.
Our intention is that anyone interested in volunteering will have the opportunity to attend one party.
Only volunteers that have been signed up in advance will be allowed to attend a party.
No other guests will be permitted to attend parties (other than assigned volunteers).
Holiday Party Dates: 1:00pm -2:00pm
2/14/2025 Valentines Party
VOLUNTEER PROTOCOL
As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, effective immediately, all individuals who volunteer in Norton City Schools are required to undergo a comprehensive background check. This process helps to ensure that we are providing the safest possible learning environment for our students. Background checks will be required for all volunteers, including those attending class parties, field trips, and working in the building. The district may not accept previous background checks or background checks provided by your employer and prefers background checks completed by the district itself. Please follow the process below to register as a volunteer.
To cover the cost associated with conducting these background checks, the district will charge volunteers a fee of $25, which is the actual cost incurred by Norton City Schools. Background checks are valid for five years. We appreciate the dedication of our volunteers and thank you for your understanding of this necessary procedure.
For more information or assistance with the background check please contact the Norton City Schools administration office.
LAST OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A BACKGROUND CHECK THIS YEAR - January 30
All volunteer background checks are completed at the Norton Central Office by Kelly Osborne. Kelly will be completing background checks on January 30 and this will be the last opportunity to receive a background check this school year. You can view Kelly's schedule and book an appointment at the link below.
Order Your 24/25 Yearbook
If you/your child would like a yearbook to remember the 2024/2025 school year at NES, please place your orders online through Lifetouch! Go to ybpay.com and enter our Norton Elementary School code: 13465225. This year, Lifetouch is offering customized yearbook options. All yearbooks will arrive to the school in May and will be distributed to classrooms. The deadline for ordering is April 17th, 2025.
Mobile Dentist is Coming to NES in February
The mobile dentist is coming to NES to provide check ups, cleanings, and other procedures. The mobile dentist supports a number of NES students every year. We will be sending the permission slips/applications home the week of January 6. Please contact Nurse Tina with any questions.
Cold Weather Recess
As the weather turns colder, please have children dress appropriately for the weather. Typically, students will go outdoors for recess when the temperature is close to 30 degrees. Students are welcome to bring snow boots and pants as it begins to snow.
Note from the Nurse's Office
Please consider keeping a change of clothes in your child's locker for accidents and/or recess slips and falls. Summer clothes may need to be changed out for warmer clothes
Counselor
Click the link below to view the counselor's January newsletter.
Cavs Game February 10, 2025 - DEADLINE TO ORDER IS JANUARY 10!
NES is planning another night at the Cleveland Cavaliers game. The Cavaliers will be playing the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:00 pm on Monday, February 10. Last year we had nearly 100 people attend the game and we had so much fun! Please read the information below if you want to join the fun!
This year, we are purchasing bulk tickets so that families can sit together. Seats will be available in the Loudville corner section and will cost $34 each. The price of the ticket varies by opponent and we found a game that is against one of the better teams in the league with a lower priced ticket. By purchasing bulk tickets, families will avoid paying any additional fees.
The process to purchase tickets will be to send cash or check (Norton City Schools) to the NES secretaries with an order form. The deadline to purchase tickets will be the firm date of January 10. Tickets will be transferred to families after January 10. Families may purchase tickets on their own after January 10, but will order directly through the Cavaliers and may not be guaranteed a seat in our section.
NES students will have a chance to experience the Cavs halftime fan tunnel. Please contact the office with any questions. Print the order form or request an order form from the NES office.
Help Wanted - Substitute Teachers
We are looking for positive people looking to join a strong team of educators to support students. Norton City Schools is looking for qualified substitute teachers. Substitute teachers need to have a high school diploma. Please contact central office at 330-825-0863 or the building secretary for more information.
Upcoming Dates
January 2025
1/6 Board Meeting 7:00 pm
1/10 Last day to reserve Cavs tickets
1/20 No School - Martin Luther King Day
