The Gator Gazette: Welcome Back!

Welcome Back!

It's hard to believe we are only a couple short weeks away from the start of another exciting school year. Over the course of this week, I have been making my rounds through our TC neighborhoods as I visit with each of our incoming Kindergarteners on their home turf. This is one of my favorite traditions as it allows me to get to know our newest Gators and they get to meet me and view me as a new friend and helper when they get to school. Thank you to all our K families who were able to meet with me this week!

With visits wrapping up, it is time to switch gears and share with you several exciting events and activities to get the year off on the right foot. Please take a few moments to review the information below pertaining to Open House, New Student/Family Orientation, Class Placements, Student Handbook, and MUCH MORE!

Additionally, we are thrilled to share with you this year's theme. Please view THIS VIDEO as we all get ready to "TEAM" up for an incredible school year together!

Take care and see you soon!

- Deagon Jewett

Our front entrance and hallway entrance/exit doors all received a facelift over the summer. Not only do these graphics look great, but they also serve as an additional security layer due to the visual "roadblock" from the outside.

STEAM

• Becca Buck - Becca joins us from Oakland Schools where she was a Technology Integration Specialist. Prior to that, she worked in Novi as a Self-Contained Resource Teacher for 3 years and with P-CCS as a Special Education Teacher.

SPEECH

• Kaylee Torok - Kaylee is thrilled to introduce herself as the new Speech Language Pathologist at Thornton Creek Elementary. Kaylee graduated from EMU with a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders, after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences with an emphasis in Speech Language Pathology from GVSU. With 4 years of experience in the field, she has had the pleasure of working with children across various age groups and with diverse needs. Her goal is to foster a supportive and engaging environment that helps each child develop their communication skills to the fullest and ensure they have a bright and successful future.
• When she is not working, we can find her at a coffee shop with a good book, crafting, or planning for her upcoming wedding in September of 2025. This summer has been a great one, and she is excited to become a part of this vibrant community and meet you all very soon.

PE

• Morgen Salah - This is Morgen's 22nd year teaching in Northville. She's spent 19 of those years teaching 3rd & 4th grade at Ridge Wood Elementary and this will be her 3rd year teaching PE. She lives in Ann Arbor (Go Blue!) with her husband and 3 kids: Isaak, Grace and Reagan. They are a very active family and spend many weekends on the soccer field.
• This year she will join Mrs. Woodall in the gym on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and is excited to be a TC Gator!!

I am excited to share that our therapy dog, Andy, and his handler, Holly, will be returning to TC this school year!

August 28, 2024 -

• 3:30 - 5:00p.m. - Miss Valleau & Mrs. Prusakiewicz Open House (ASD Classrooms)
• 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. - New Family Orientation (All new 1st-5th grade families & those who did not attend K Round-Up in the spring)
• 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. - Open House for Last Names A-K
• 6:15 - 7:00 p.m. - Open House for Last Names L-Z

September 2 - Labor Day (NO SCHOOL)

September 3 - First Day Of School (Full Day)

September 3 - 9:00 a.m. - PTA Meeting (Cafeteria)

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @CreekGators

Dear Northville Families,

We are pleased to inform you that Northville Public Schools and the Northville Education Association have reached a tentative agreement on the 2024-2025 contract. As part of this process, we are excited to share the 2024/25 school calendar.

Key dates include teacher professional development days, Thanksgiving Recess, Winter Recess, Mid-Winter Break, Spring Break, MME Testing, and the last day of classes. Please note that this calendar is subject to final ratification by the Northville Public Schools Board of Education and the Northville Education Association.

Additional details, including half days around marking periods, Parent-Teacher Conferences, and other building or grade-level specific dates, will be shared soon.

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! All new and returning families: It's time to fill out your required online Annual Registration!

Every year, all families (including those who recently enrolled) are required to fill out the digital Annual Registration for each student. Families may complete these forms through https://sisweb.resa.net/Northville/ParentPortal/. After logging in to your Parent Portal account, click the RED Annual Registration at the top right of your screen. Then select Register Now to the far right of your student’s name to begin the process.

Through this process you will be asked to update your student’s emergency contact information, home address and health information, review our technology use policy and student handbooks, learn more about PTSA/PTA, access the web store and much more.

Need Help? Many of the most commonly asked questions can be found on our FAQs page (located in the upper right-hand corner of ParentConnection.) If you have further questions, please email the helpdesk at parentportal@northvilleschools.org

Registration deadlines:

• All elementary students must have the annual registration completed prior to the start of school on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

Class placements will be accessible through the MiStar ParentConnection Portal on August 23, 2024 after 4:00 PM.

https://sisweb.resa.net/Northville/ParentPortal

We know how excited everyone is for the start of the school year and to find out who your teachers will be! We can't thank you enough for your patience as we are working to finalize class placements and teacher assignments.

Bus assignments will be available before the first day of school in Parent Connection https://sisweb.resa.net/Northville/ParentPortal

Dear Northville Families,

We are pleased to announce that for the 2024-25 school year, Northville Public Schools will continue providing free breakfast and lunch to all pre-K through grade 12 students through the Michigan School Meals Program, funded by the state’s fiscal year 2025 School Aid budget.

Please note that all elementary and Pre-K students will still need to order their breakfast and lunch through Nutrislice.

While all meals are free, it is crucial that families who qualify for free and reduced meals complete the annual Education Benefits Form (EBF) to access additional benefits. These forms are vital for ensuring that our schools receive additional educational funding. This funding supports various programs, including discounts on student fees for athletics and activities, SAT, ACT, and AP test fees, college application fees, discounted internet services, and Summer EBT benefits.

For more details, please review the Frequently Asked Questions document surrounding the Free Meals Program this school year.

Thank you for your continued support in making Northville Public Schools an exceptional place for our students to learn and grow.

​If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the NPS Food Service Department at 248-344-3690. And make sure to click around on the Food Service website to explore Menus, Free & Reduced Lunch Program, Nutritional Information, and many more resources.

Families must preorder breakfasts and lunches for preschools and elementary students. Orders must be in by 7am for all students for breakfast and lunch. The system will not allow you to order after the time listed above. For your convenience, meals can be preordered up to 30 days in advance. To avoid any issues, we recommend ordering the night before.

• Order Online at Nutrislice

• Download the App (Apple Store)

• Download the App (Google Play)

Personal Electronic Devices, including Cell Phones and Smartwatches with Cellular Connections

Northville Public Schools is dedicated to enhancing student outcomes through ongoing review of research and our own educational practices. Examining research on the impact of cell phone use by school-aged children reveals that excessive exposure to cell phones can have a detrimental effect on school-aged children. While we understand the importance of children having access to their electronic devices before and after school, the district is creating a space where students can be together in learning during the school day without their personal electronic devices in classrooms, hallways and in the lunch/common areas.

Consistent with Board Policy 2143, K-8 students will not be allowed to carry or use cell phones or other personal electronic devices, including smart watches and other digital device connections, during the school day unless allowed in special circumstances by their teacher or building administration. Phones are available in the office of each school and in each classroom should a student need to contact their parent/guardian. If families believe that their child needs access to a cell phone before or after school, it will be the student's responsibility to ensure that their phone remains stored away from the classroom while they are at school.

Personal Electronic Device Expectations

Cell phones and other personal electronic devices, including Smartwatches, may NOT be turned on during school hours. They must remain in the student’s backpack. Electronic devices confiscated from students may be picked up by parents in the school office.

The ALPS Planning Committee was established to evaluate data and strategically plan for the future of the ALPS program. This committee will facilitate a collaborative process, as we aim to ensure balanced representation from all elementary buildings. Please complete the below form if you are interested in serving (please note submission of this form is a request to participate, but not guaranteed). Any questions can be sent to:

Ms. Sarah Hanes, District Literacy Coordinator hanessa@northvilleschools.org

Dr. Sandra Brock, Director of Instructional Programs brocksa@northvilleschools.org

ALPS Committee Application Fall 2024

Last school year, it was determined that our longstanding willow tree located at the northernmost part of our playground was not healthy and would ultimately present a safety concern if not addressed.

As a building and district, we did the responsible thing. We had it cut down and removed, but not before saving a few special pieces.

Over the summer, we were able to turn those saved sections of our willow tree into seating for our lil Gators and we are excited to have found them a permanent home in our media center!

Website: https://thorntoncreek.northvilleschools.org/
Location: 46180 West 9 Mile Road, Novi, MI, USA
Phone: 248-465-2350
Twitter: @CreekGators