Normandy Park School

March 24th is a B Day.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Please note that there will be an early dismissal for students on both Monday, March 24th and Wednesday, March 26th due to parent-teacher conferences.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions at christopher.miller@msdk12.net. Have a great week!

Christopher Miller

Principal, Normandy Park School

*To access the NPS Parent Handbook, please click here.

Over $5,000 is coming back to Normandy Park as Reading Challenge rewards, birthday books, and more! Your generous contributions also made it possible for every child to bring home a book. We couldn't do all this without your support, so thank you very, very much!

Missed the Fair? Your online purchase supports NPS now through March 25.

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/normandyparkschool

Dear Normandy Park School Families,

This year we will be participating in Kids Heart Challenge during our annual Wellness Week. Kids Heart Challenge is an event in partnership with the American Heart Association. We kicked things off March 10 with an assembly. We will be dedicating two weeks to jumping rope and learning about how to keep our hearts healthy.

Join Kids Heart Challenge Register today

Through Finn’s Mission, you will learn the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR and how to recognize a

stroke. Here are the next steps to take today:

Scan or download the AHA Schools App.

Throughout our Kids Heart Challenge program students will be learning:

● new ways to keep their hearts happy and healthy including STEAM activities.

● how to save a life when completing Finn’s Mission.

The classroom with the most students registered will win a $25.00 Amazon gift Card!

Families are encouraged to complete Finn’s Mission together where they will learn the warning signs of stroke and how to perform Hands Only CPR

A class from each grade with the most Finn’s Missions complete will receive the Golden Duck Lifesaver Award.

Thank you for your support of the lifesaving mission of the

American Heart Association. We will be jumping during the month of March.

Mrs. Echevarria-Health and PE

The American Heart Association is excited to extend our work with the NFL (National Football League) to support improving health outcomes at home and beyond through the Hands- Only CPR education. Students and staff that complete Finn’s Mission online learning module will earn an

entry for two tickets to Super Bowl LX in 2026 and your school will be entered to receive a $10,000 fitness equipment makeover for every 18 students/staff who complete Finn’s Mission.

Report cards are now accessible digitally via Parent Portal. If you need a paper copy from the school for any reason, please just let your homeroom teacher know and we can accommodate.

For new families, please note that we use a Standards Based Report Card. To learn more about the Standards Based Report Card, click here!

March is Women's History Month.

Women's History Month was created to highlight the achievements and contributions made by women throughout the history of the United States.

Today, we continue to celebrate Women's History Month, but also emphasize studying the accomplishments of female Americans year round. Every morning, we will open the announcements by learning about an influential woman in our nation's history!

The yearbook will be available to all grades for purchase this year.

As in the past, the HSA will purchase each 5th grader their own yearbook. A flyer to purchase will go out soon. All books must be purchased by May 14th.

In the next few weeks, we will be asking for photos from families to share. Any school or school-related event would be great! For 5th grade families, we will also be collecting baby pictures!

One week left for the our Annual Reading Challenge!

Our Reading Challenge runs from March 3 – March 31! Read books at your level, track your minutes, and earn rewards!

1. Books should match your child’s grade level and be read during the challenge Class & homework books count!

How to Participate:

• Read & Track: Log your minutes (not pages) on the provided star sheet. Each star equals 10 minutes of reading.
• Win Prizes: Complete the challenge to get a free book from the HSA and name on the reading challenge board!
• Ice Cream Party: Classrooms with 100% participation enter a raffle for an ice cream party!

Questions? Contact Angela Finlay (akfinlay13@gmail.com) or Jennifer Cromie (cromiej2@gmail.com).

Get in Touch!

Friendly Reminder for Families:
We suggest having your child wear sneakers to school. They're ideal for physical education and playground activities. Crocs and slippers might not be the safest option for those times, so we'd appreciate your consideration!

Have a health-related question or concern? Feel free to reach out to the nurse’s office

• Nurse’s Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:40 AM - 3:20 PM

• Phone: 973-889-7960 x 6152

• Email: Francesca Ecker

We’re always happy to help keep your child safe, healthy, and ready to learn!

Stay healthy, Normandy Park!

The Zones of Regulation, developed by Leah Kuypers, an Occupational Therapist, is a great tool for helping children regulate. There are 4 color zones which can help children easily identify how they are feeling:

The idea is to help them identify what zone they are in and if it’s other than green, how to get them back to the green zone.

There is a flyer that will be attached about getting more training especially for parents about Helping your child manage their STRESS.

Have a question or concern you want to see featured in the Counselor Corner?

We encourage you to keep an eye on your child’s schoolwork and continue supporting their learning at home.

Thank you for all that you do to help make this school year a success!

Wishing you all an amazing rest of the month!

Your School Counselor,

Sincerely,

Gloria Hunt

gloria.hunt@msdk12.net

973-889-7960 x6115

And Social Work Interns,

Miss Paige

Miss Haley

Miss Sarah

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held this week on Monday, March 24th and Wednesday, March 26th. Conferences are approximately 20 minutes each. Virtual conferences during these times are available upon parent request.

Teachers sent out scheduling options directly to parents. Please schedule if you have not done so already.

In addition, if you would like to schedule a conference with one of our specialists, please sign-up below:

• Art/Enrichment/G&T- Mrs. Summa
• Music- Mrs. Schwam
• PE-Mrs. Echevarria
• Libray/Tech-Mrs. Gilson

We are getting ready to launch our re-residency process for our transitional grades.

* Re-residency is required for all students currently enrolled in: Preschool 4-Year-Old Program, Grade 2, Grade 5, and Grade 8

* Rollout will be done in phases, with 8th grade starting March 31

* For each phase, families of the targeted grades will receive a school messenger alert with more information from Central Office

* More detailed information to come over the next few weeks

Create a profile on our NPS HSA Membership Toolkit to enable your participation in the school directory (grade/teacher), sign up to receive the Home and School Association's weekly newsletter, submit club forms, volunteer and more!

Program meets after school on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:15 - 4:30 p.m.

Join us for Somerset Patriots vs. Hartford Yard Goats on Sunday, April 27th. The gates open at Noon for the 1:05PM game. The kids will also get a chance to run the bases after the game. Use this LINK to purchase your $15 tickets.

Instagram: @nps_wizards

Facebook: Normandy Park School HSA

For interactive menus, as well as nutrition and allergen information, please click here.

For additional information on MSD Breakfast and Lunch, please click here to visit the district's website.

Students can bring and/or purchase lunch. Free and reduced meals are provided to families who qualify for support.

In addition to meals, students can purchase snacks with money on their card and/or cash. If you would not like your child to purchase snacks or have a limit on what days they can purchase snacks, please contact the Food Services director, Shannon Burton <shannon.burton@msdk12.net>, and they can indicate this information on your child's account.

APPLYING FOR FREE & REDUCED LUNCH

Applications are available through PaySchools. Once you create your account, the Free & Reduced Application will be available to complete online. Students who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, also qualify for free/reduced breakfast.

Please note that you do not have to print out the application if you complete it online; it will be electronically sent to the Board Office once completed. You may also complete an application using a computer in the main office of your child's school or request a paper application.

Applications are available through PaySchools. Click the link to create your PaySchool account (ENG or ESP)

If you do not qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, please follow these procedures for purchasing school breakfast or lunch:

• Backpack an envelope with your child's name on it, marked "Food Services.
• Include your child's name in the memo line of your check.
• You may prepay for multiple breakfasts or lunches with one check or lump sum of money, which will then be deposited onto your child's food services account.
• Payment may also be made online ( (ENG or ESP); a small fee will be charged with each transaction. This is a secure and convenient way to make payments and keep your account up to date.
• Payment may be made in cash or check (payable to "Morris School District"

MEAL PRICING:

***Meal Prices for School Year 2024-2025***

Elementary Breakfast

$1.75

Elementary Lunch

$3.25

Reduced Price Breakfast

$0.00

Reduced Price Lunch

$0.00

Milk

$0.75

Find Out What’s Happening in The District Newsletter Fall 2024 Edition

As families and staff prepare for the new school year, the Morris Educational Foundation invites you to take a look back at all the amazing highlights from the 2023-2024 school year in The District Newsletter.

The joint publication from the Morris School District, Morris Educational Foundation and Colonial Nation features:

• District athletic highlights
• Extracurricular achievements across all schools
• The MEF’s impact on academic, enrichment, and social-emotional wellness initiatives
• Plus a save-the-date for Morristown ONSTAGE 2025

The Fall 2024 edition is hot off the press and Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township residents can expect to receive their copy in their mailbox this week. View the digital version here>>>

Help Make it a Great Year for All 5,700 Morris School District Students

The Morris Educational Foundation is proud to Support Every Student Every Day. While the Morris School District provides the essential tools for quality classroom learning, the MEF supports the extras that elevate learning. From cutting-edge instructional resources to enriching curricular activities, the MEF is committed to helping students not just succeed but excel.

Please help us make it the best year yet for each of the 5,700 students in the Morris School District! Let's Support Every Student Every Day and empower them to achieve their fullest potential.

Donate today by clicking here. Together, we can make a difference!

Please use the digital blue note form for any dismissal changes. The main office will notify the homeroom teachers of the dismissal change. For absences, continue to contact the school nurse.

• If you know that you child will be tardy or absent from school, it is requested that you notify the nurse in advance. This can be done by phone at 973-889-7960 x 6152. Voicemail is operational 24 hours daily.

• You may also contact her office by email at: francesca.ecker@msdk12.net

• Students who arrive tardy (after 8:55am) must report immediately to the Health Office upon arrival to school for a late pass

Please note that sunrise and sunset are managed by our district's community school. Please direct all sunrise/sunset questions to their office.

Elysia Carabello - Director of Community School

Shaneya Hackett - Manager Community School

Shari Burroughs - Administrative Assistant

Phone: (973) 292-2063

Fax: 973-387-7632

Email: community.school@msdk12.net

5th Grade Moving Up will be held the morning of June 6th. Fun Day for the 5th Graders will be held June 9th!

NJCGTP Grades 3-5

Chess Tournament

Event Date:

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Event Time:

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Event Location:

Arthur Stanlick Elementary School, 121B East Shawnee Trail, Wharton, NJ 07885

Fee:

$15

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

Dear MSD Parents,

Does your child love the game of Chess and are in grades 3-5? The NJCGTP is sponsoring a Chess Tournament on April 10th. Since it occurs out of district and after hours, parents are responsible for transportation as well as the $15 registration fee. (should the fee be a hardship, please contact name below)

Your interest and fee needs to be submitted by March 19, 2024. Please complete the below Google Form if you wish your child to participate.

Any ?s:

anthony.lewislahey@msdk12.net

Google Form Participation Link:

https://forms.gle/f5BijnFwE2R6f55R9

• March 24th & 26th- Parent Teacher Conferences (Early Dismissal Days for Students)
• March 31st- Assertiveness Parent Training Session @ 6pm (NPS)
• March 31st to April 14th- Naglieri Testing for 3rd Graders
• April 3rd- Arts Assembly
• April 14th to April 18th- Spring Break
• May 16th- Color Run
• May 29th- Field Day
• May 30th- Concert
• June 6th- Moving Up Ceremony

Click here to view Morris School District (MSD) 2024-2025 School calendar.

NJSLA State Testing for Grades 3-5 will begin at the end of April. The tentative schedule is as follows (*if there are changes in the schedule, they will be communicated/posted as soon as they are made on this document):

Dates for NJSLA State Testing:

ELA:

• April 29th, April 30th: 4th and 5th Grade
• May 5th, May 6th: 3rd Grade

Math:

• May 13th to May 15th: 4th and 5th Grade
• May 7th to May 9th: 3rd Grade

Science (5th Grade Only)

• May 19th, 20th

· Parent Handbook

· Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

· Sunset and Sunrise

This theme was made possible thanks to a grant from the Morris Educational Foundation (MEF)!