NCS Family Newsletter

10/2/2024 National Custodian Day

10/8/2024 Governance Council meeting at NCS library, 6-8pm

10/10/2024 Outdoor Learning - Badger Mill Creek and Moraine County Park

10/14/2024 Futura Spanish classes begin

10/15/2024 Family Conference Night 3-6:30pm

10/17 - 10/18/2024 No School, Fall Break

10/24/2024 Outdoor Learning - Devil's Lake State Park

10/25/2024 November newsletter items due to Miss Amelia

10/25/2024 NCS and VAIS Fall Carnival 4:30-6:30pm, Veteran's Park

10/31/2024 NCS Community Gathering, NCS gym 7:35am - 8am

We want to make sure everyone is safe during school arrival and dismissal. Therefore, we ask that families and students using wheeled transportation walk their bicycles, scooters, and other forms of wheeled transportation when they are using the school sidewalks and paths with other students and families present. This is to avoid any collisions. This is especially true with any type of electronic bicycles or scooters.

Here is the language from the VASD Family Handbook about this:

Wheeled Forms of Transportation

Wheeled forms of student transportation including, but not limited to, bikes, skateboards, roller blades/skates, scooters, hoverboards, and “heelies” (shoes with built-in wheels) are not to be used on school property during the school day. Students who use these for transportation to/from school are required to walk or carry the items on school property. Students with “heelies” need to have another pair of shoes to wear during the school day. Inappropriate use may result in confiscation of the equipment and parent/guardian notification.

The VASD Elementary School Family Handbook is a good resource for families. Families are encouraged to review this information and refer to it throughout the school year. It is also available on our website.

If your student is ill, has an early morning appointment, or will be late arriving to school for another reason, in addition to notifying their classroom teacher please make sure that you one of the following PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL DAY:

1) EMAIL NCS Attendance: ncs-attendance@verona.k12.wi.us

2) CALL the office at (608) 845-4500

Please do not email the school secretaries directly, we appreciate it! The attendance line/email is the best way to communicate with school.

Please consider writing a note of appreciation for one or more of our hard working custodians!

Ms. Mel

Mr. Fred

Ms. Ming

Thanks to those parents and caregivers who have already completed the volunteer matchmaking survey! Your answers will help us pair you with your dream role... or at least a role that involves minimal glitter and glue (unless of course you love glitter and glue and then it's a match made in heaven). We're actively making the matches and if you didn't hear from us this week, you will hear from us very soon. We promise that your matches will be way better than what you might find on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette because you'll be able to help make a difference in the NCS community doing something that you love/are relatively decent at. If you didn't get a chance to fill out the volunteer survey yet, we still want to hear from you! You can access the survey here. We appreciate you more than the kids appreciate snack time!

Here is information about New Century Charter School that the Governance Council put together, we hope it helps you get excited for another awesome school year here at NCS. NCS Year in Review

We love adult volunteers. Remember that in order to volunteer in a way that you'll be with students, you need a background check. This includes field trip chaperones. Here is the background check form for all volunteers.

This year starts our use of the Savvas program. This meets the standards of the new Wisconsin legislation, which is a requirement for our school, integrates reading and writing, and promotes reading topics across themes. Because it is the same curriculum adopted by the rest of the district, the funding will come from VASD rather than our school funding. Our teachers are amazing and will be assessing how well this program meets our students' and teachers' needs for improvement, growth, and autonomy.

Outdoor learning is planned for Thursday mornings. Adult volunteers are needed! If you have availability, check if there's a time that works for you: Outdoor Learning SignUp Genius

Futura - Where SPANISH comes alive! Registration is now open for 2024-2025 – All new material and lessons!

Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity for your student to practice Spanish in an interactive bilingual classroom!

Enroll today: https://futuraadventures.com/wisconsin-region/

It is not always easy to decide if your child is sick enough to stay home or well enough to be in school. Children who come to school are expected to participate fully in school activities including recess and physical education. A doctor’s note is required for any activity restriction.

Our most current guidelines are found here.

Mendota Elementary: October 7, 12-4pm

Holtzman Learning Center: October 19, 10am-2pm

Public Health Madison & Dane County is partnering with Madison Metropolitan School District and SSM Health this spring to offer three more school vaccine clinics to get students up to date on their school vaccines ahead of the 2024-25 school year. These clinics will take place out in the community. It is highly encouraged that appointments are scheduled through the website listed on the flier attached. Vaccine Clinic

Bucky Books are on sale currently: $35/each

Please reach out to Jen to purchase your book today. We are happy to send home in your child's backpack or Jen can drop it off within the Verona area.

Bucky Books can also be purchased online and shipped directly to the you here. (There is a slightly lower return rate to the school for online sales.)

Our students experience having two different classroom teachers throughout the day. It can be confusing for families to know which teacher to communicate with at times. If you are reaching out to your child’s teacher, please include both teachers on any communication.

The Bridging Brighter Smiles program is a safe, affordable, accessible way to meet a dental hygienist... right here in Verona Area School District!

Learn more at https://bridgingbrightersmiles.org/

Here is the link to a Google Public Calendar with this year’s updated NCS events:

NCS Google Public Calendar

This calendar will be updated continually throughout the year with school events, such as swim, Picture Day, Back to School Night, field trips, parent/teacher conferences, days off of school, Governance Council meetings, and so much more! We hope that this will make things easier for you!

Have you joined the New Century School Parent Community Facebook Group?

Current and incoming families are welcome to join “New Century School Parent Community” on Facebook. This is a great place to post summer events and pop-up playdates. This is also a great resource for new parents/guardians to ask any questions they may have.

Additionally, please like and follow our New Century School Facebook page here.

If you need assistance with lunch costs please visit our Free and Reduced Lunch application for information on income levels and an application for assistance.

Our health room helpers have reminded us how an extra set of clothes are appreciated here at school. All students, not just our kinders, run into needing a change from time to time. Milk spills, wet slides at recess, unexpected puddles all lead to a need for new clothes.

If you can send a Ziploc bag with a pair of pants, socks and underwear it will come in handy over these next wet months.

And, always, we will happily take your donations of gently used sweatpants and bottoms that have stretchy waists. All colors, sizes, patterns are appreciated.

Dear Families,

This year, we will offer quarterly opportunities to show your appreciation for staff. The first chance centers on FOOD and is right around the corner. Please sign up to contribute to a Conferences Night Soup and Salad Bar OR bring a donation to restock the fridge and pantry with grab-and-go snacks and drinks. NEW THIS YEAR! We've surveyed staff and included "staff favorites" on each Sign Up Genius. Bring one or more of those items and make someone's day! Let's see how quickly we can fill this Sign Up Genius and let staff know how much we appreciate them.

Sincerely,

Tiff Roltgen, VAIS

Hannah Bassetti, NCS

Please join us at the Fall Carnival on Friday, October 25th from 4:30 - 6:30 at Veterans Park in Verona. There will be six carnival stations for kids to participate in with fantastic prizes. You will make your own pumpkin bag to take your goodies home in, and paint your own mini pumpkin! Bob's BBQ and SoHo Food Truck along with Kona Ice will be there to purchase dinner and dessert.

Here is the Sign Up Genius link to volunteer.

Interested in getting to know our kiddos and helping to build community within our schools? Do you have a couple of hours to spare occasionally or is your time flexible enough that you can come once a week? We would love to have you assist in our lunchroom. We could really use a Monday volunteer.

All volunteers will need to be background checked through the district here.

Please complete this short survey with your availability.

The Sunshine Committee is made up of many amazing family members of students from our schools whose mission is to spread kindness and support for families and school staff. They do this by providing support in the form of cards, meals, gift cards, and other resources to families and staff in need of a little pick-me-up. They also have provided support to our school through stocking those awesome bathroom supply baskets in our staff bathrooms and by helping organize our winter clothes.

For more information and to assist in bringing sunshine to our community please contact Tiffani Roltgen at roltgent@verona.k12.wi.us or Hannah Merryfield at dorshorh@verona.k12.wi.us.