Shooting Star Scoop: October

• Tuesday, October 1: September Healthy Futures Logs due
• Thursday, October 3: Math and Science Family Night-5:30-7:00 p.m. at NNS
• Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10: Nikiski Fire Department visits NNS for Fire Prevention Week
• Friday, October 11: Teacher Inservice- NO SCHOOL!
• Tuesday, October 15: Girl Scouts meeting at 3:45 p.m.
• Thursday, October 17: Picture Retakes; Great Alaska Shakeout-Earthquake Drill at 10:17 a.m.
• Friday, October 18: EARLY RELEASE! (School dismissed at 1:55 p.m. buses and B&G will run 90 minutes early to accommodate.)
• Saturday, October 19: NNS PTO Fall Carnival from 3:00-6:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 21 thru Friday, November 1: Scholastic Book Fair
• Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25: NO SCHOOL- Parent/Teacher Conferences (sign up today on Bloomz!)
• Tuesday, October 29: Girl Scouts meeting at 3:45 p.m.
• Thursday, October 31: Halloween (wear your costumes to school)

Nikiski North Star is a PBIS school, which means we use positive behavior intervention and support as a framework for our approach with students. We actively seek opportunities to praise and acknowledge the positive behaviors as a way to prevent negative behaviors, which includes positive office referrals and acknowledging positive behavior through issuing tickets with specific praise. When our school earns 300 tickets, we celebrate with "Free Seat Friday" in the lunchroom (We JUST earned that!) and at 500 tickets earned, we will spend 30-60 minutes enjoying a schoolwide celebration.

NNS receives federal funds through Title I. For the 2024-2025 school year, NNS will operate a schoolwide program model (K through 5th grade) based on our school’s needs. Yearly, we benefit from a Federal Grant that supplies additional resources and teaching allocations to provide services that support our school’s needs. Successful attainment of these grant monies is based solely on families filling out the electronic KPBSD Student Program Form at http://mealapp.kpbsd.org/. Not only do we benefit with Title I, we also increase our E-Rate percentage. This means that we see a reduction in the costs for electronic services such as internet access. Parents/guardians are encouraged to fill out the form and return it to the school or the district. We benefit whether you include your income information or not.

At this time, swim/water safety lesson dates are postponed as we are looking at venue opportunities to utilize KPBSD resources whenever possible. Stay tuned!

• Volunteers may assist in the classroom, help staff with preparing instructional materials, or support field trips and other special events. Once an approved background check is on file, please reach out to your child’s teacher to schedule opportunities. For more information, click on the following link: https://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/employment.aspx?id=19556
• NNS Volunteer Guidelines

NNS has welcomed so many new families to our school (How exciting!) This Monthly Newsletter will begin a repeat series of tips for supporting reading skills at home, provided by the What Works Clearinghouse. The tips support literacy skills of all ages. Did you know that children who read 20 minutes a day/5 days a week are exposed to 1.8 million words in one school year?

Strategy One: Have conversations before, during, and after reading together

The 2024 Nikiski North Star Fall Carnival will take place on October 19th from 3:00-6:00. Please help our PTO make this a success by signing up for various positions that need filled. Click here for sign-up link!

Our school has several “READ” posters throughout the building that feature pictures of students, staff, or community members actively reading. We look forward to seeing how many posters end up on our walls throughout the year!

Please remember to pack their JACKET, GLOVES, HAT, BOOTS AND SNOW PANTS.

If you need assistance with winter gear, please contact the school nurse and we will try our best to meet your needs.

***Please remember to write your student's name on all their gear. Items get lost everyday and having their name on their gear helps us find it's owner.

Students will visit the Book Fair during a scheduled class time. Parents and families are welcome to shop during Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Students are welcome to wear their costumes to school on October 31st. Please dress for the weather as we will still be going outside to recess. No full face masks or weapons are allowed at school.

Families are encouraged to visit: https://kpbsd.org/communications/surveys/ and complete a variety of surveys that exist. Your input is greatly appreciated and supports the growth of our team.

Thank you for ensuring that your child and the office knows what their normal end of the day plan will be. NNS will use this as the default plan if there is any question. If you have a change in plans, please provide a written note or call our office at 776-2600 so we can document the change. Note: Our office does not answer the phone after 3:10 p.m. as they are involved in dismissal procedures. In the event of an appointment or other obligation after school, it is advised that parents sign their student out at the office before 3:00 p.m.

Nikiski North Star uses Bloomz as a primary source of information. Stay updated with all things NNS! We are also active on Facebook and our website at https://kpbsd.org/schools/nikiski-north-star/. In addition, KPBSD also has a Facebook page and a free KPBSD app which provides you with District and school notifications.

Do you have the time and interest to be a substitute for the Shooting Stars? No pressure: You choose when you say, “Yes, I can work!” Substitutes choose the classes, grade levels, and positions they would like. Receive one day of paid, “on-the-job training” before you begin subbing. For more information, click on the following link: https://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/departments.aspx?id=21717

The Nikiski North Star PTO is a Parent/Teacher Committee focused on providing educational resources and enrichment for our children. FROM Nikiski FOR Nikiski.

• Support our school by ordering NNS apparel today! Order your new apparel via the Walden Bros website.
  
• Facebook: “Nikiski North Star PTO“
  

• Address: 45600 Holt Lamplight Rd Kenai, AK 99611

• Phone: (907) 776-2600
• Fax: (907) 776-8423
• Website: https://kpbsd.org/schools/nikiski-north-star/

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/NikiskiNorthStarElementary
• Previous School Newsletter Editions: https://kpbsd.org/schools/nikiski-north-star/communications/newsletters/