Normandy Park School

I hope that everyone had wonderful snowy weekend!

Monday (1/31) is an E Day.

The Senior Cultural Arts residency will continue this week. Artist (and former NPS parent), Tracey Fox of Memory Vessel Studio is conducting a stop motion residency program for all our Senior classrooms. For additional information about Memory Vessel Studio, please click here!

On Wednesday, February 2nd, Normandy Park School will be participating in Global School Play Day! Each classroom will have a period dedicated solely to play (without technology). Students will be able engage in board games, card games, and other play-based activities.

Please continue answering the following the questions on the Daily Student Screening before your child leaves for school each morning. Please inform our school nurse (marybeth.supple@msdk12.net) if your child tested positive for COVID-19 during the break, has been in close contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19, or exhibits any symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

If there are changes in your child's dismissal plans (e.g. you are going to pick them up that day, instead of taking the bus), please use the attached form or call the main office.

Please know that I am here to help and support in any way that I can. Feel free to reach out to me directly at christopher.miller@msdk12.net.

La Esquina Latina Con Mrs. Esteves

In partnership with our local health department officials, the MSD is making the following revisions to our COVID-19 protocols, effective immediately:

• All students PreK-12 can participate as normal in school activities, including gym, recess, and band, when they return from quarantine.
• There are no limitations on the number of spectators at athletic events.
• Unvaccinated individuals who return from international travel will quarantine for 5 days, not 7.

These revisions are the result of the continued downward trend in COVID-19 case rates in our area. Morris County is out of the “red” (very high risk level) and has moved to the “orange” (high risk level).

For additional information, please visit the MSD Coronavirus Update Center.

On Wednesday, February 2nd, Normandy Park School will be participating in Global School Play Day!

Global School Play Day is an international initiative for students to engage in unstructured play without technology. It is important for children to have time to play with others to strengthen communication skills, spark creativity and their imaginations, and learn to cooperate and collaborate with others.

Each classroom will have a period dedicated solely to play (without technology). Students will be able engage in board games, card games, and other play-based activities!

Today I’d like to address the topic of empathy. Empathy is a way of understanding how someone else is feeling. We often use the phrase “walking in someone else’s shoes. Empathy is being aware of a person’s body language, tone of voice to understand what they might be thinking or feeling. Asking a person how they are feeling is another way to understand what is going on.

As parents, when our children are sad or hurt, we often try to jump in and fix the problem.

Instead of using phrases like: “what you need to do is....” try reflective phrases like “It sounds like you...” “I hear that you....” or say “you look…..” . Sometimes all we need is to be heard and accepted.

Here is a great video for adults on understanding the difference between empathy and sympathy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZBTYViDPlQ

Here’s some great videos on empathy to share with your children. As always I encourage you to review the video first and be prepared to answer any questions your child(ren) might have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itp21tly8nM

And this one from Sesame Street:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_1Rt1R4xbM,

The Souper Bowl is coming to Normandy Park: This will be a food drive to support the interfaith food pantry of Morris County (before the Super Bowl!). Details to follow.

Random Acts of Kindness week is coming the week of February 17-19th. We will be having a spirit week as well as random acts of kindness activities throughout the week. Look for more information in next week’s counselor news. Until next week… stay awesome!

If you have a topic/question you would like to see featured in the Counselor Corner, please email me at cheryl.cohen@msdk12.net

Stay Awesome!

Thank you to Abby S for serving as the principal for the day! She did an amazing job. The students greatly appreciated the Crazy Hair Day, no homework, and extra free time.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching (2/14/22).

As in past years, students can bring in Valentine's card but no candy treats (per MSD guidelines). Cards must be every child in the classroom.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

On 1/27, students from MHS virtually visited some of our classrooms. They conducted a read aloud (in partnership with the classroom teacher) and fostered a discussion with students. It was a great opportunity for our students to make connections with local high schoolers!

Please pass on information to friends and family interested in enrolling in Normandy Park School for the 2022-2021 school year.The session will allow families to learn more about our program and community. This session is for interested families, who did not attend in December.

For additional information, please see below:

Date: February 3rd, 2021

Time: 6:30pm to 7:30pm

*The session will be conducted virtually.

To register to attend please fill out the following Google Form by clicking here: https://forms.gle/THFyridg1vzLSbis5

HSA NEWSLETTER MOVING TO WEDNESDAYS

As previously communicated, the HSA will be moving to Wednesdays this week in a response from our community. It will be the same format and information, just a different day! Keep an eye out on Wednesday for the newsletter!

*Please note, due to current guidelines, in-person winter clubs will be on hold.

We are running the NPS Spirit Store a little differently this year. This year the School Store is on RedBubble.com and you'll be able to order whenever you want! Head on over to NPS School Store to check out all of our new designs and get your hands on the coolest of NPS Fashion!

Check out the HSA school store. Now open!

Tracy Fox of Memory Vessel Studio will conduct a stop motion residency program for all our Senior classrooms.

This residency brings creative digital tools to young authors to create stop motion animations. The workshop series allows student to explore and expand their age-appropriate reporting, storytelling and language art literacy skills.

For additional information about Memory Vessel Studio, please click here!

iReady student reports will be sent home on Friday 2/13/2022 via backpack. To learn more about iReady and the iReady Diagnostic, please click here.

Should you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or your child’s teacher. For more information on i-Ready Diagnostic, please visit the Morris School District website: www.morrisschooldistrict.org

Quarantined students may use their Chromebook to view the in-person classroom via Google Meet and will have access to assignments via Google Classroom (K-5) or Canvas (6-12). Additional support will be provided to elementary students and others who require it. PreK students will have periodic check-ins, but most of their learning will take place off-line.

Virtual learning will be arranged within two school days (may be provided earlier if possible) of the onset of quarantine. This time frame is necessary for information to be distributed to all the necessary teachers and staff, and then for the teachers to set up Google Meet links and coordinate academic support. However, students can access their Google Classroom or Canvas accounts to check for assignments at any time.

All schools in New Jersey are mandated to conduct monthly security drills.

As of 1/11/2022, Assembly Bill 5727 requires that parents/guardians and staff be notified at the conclusion of scheduled school security drills. Therefore, you will receive a text notification from the school at the conclusion of scheduled security drills (not including fire drills).

While conducting drills, we ensure that all students feel comfortable, supported, and safe.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly at christopher.miller@msdk12.net

REMINDER:

Students will be having snack time during the school day, with all necessary safety measures in place. Please send your child in with a healthy snack.

Breakfast and lunch will be served daily at school. All students will have access to school provided breakfast and lunch (if they choose to receive it).

As students enter the building, they will be able to grab-and-go breakfast if they choose to.

Click here for the MSD January breakfast menu.

Click here for the MSD February breakfast menu.

For lunch, students will be asked at the beginning of the day if they would like to order (providing their choice of either the hot/cold option). Teachers will present the menu choices for the day.

Click here for the MSD January lunch menu.

Click here for the MSD February lunch menu.

Where will students eat lunch?

Students will eat lunch at 6 ft apart (seats facing the same direction). We will utilize classrooms, cafeteria, and lab to accommodate all students at 6ft apart.

Arrival Procedures: Students are permitted into the building at 8:40 a.m. Students bussed to school will be dropped off in the front of the building.

Drop Offs: Students being dropped off in the morning may enter through the back doors. Please use the drop-off/pick-up line in the back of the building. There is no supervision before 8:40, and children who arrive before that time, will not be permitted to enter the building. A staff member will be at the door between 8:40 and 8:55 a.m. to welcome students. Any student arriving after 8:55 must enter the front of the building and report to the nurse’s office with a parent or guardian to obtain a late pass.

Dismissal Procedures: Dismissal begins at the conclusion of our last period, 3:05 p.m.

All students are encouraged to ride the bus to and from school.

At dismissal, students will be dismissed from the back of the building. When picking up your child, please use the pick-up line. Stay in your vehicle. Teachers will accompany your child to your car.

Pick-Up During the Day:

If a situation arises that requires you to pick your child up during the school day, please use the attached form or call the main office. Students being picked up early are asked to be picked up before 3 p.m. Before leaving, you must sign your child out in the notebook provided in the office. Unless an emergency arises, please refrain from calling the office after 1:30 to make changes to your child’s dismissal.

• If there are changes in your child's dismissal plans (e.g. you are going to pick them up that day, instead of taking the bus), please use the attached form or call the main office.
• For written communication between you and your child's teacher, please utilize Class Dojo and/or e-mail, rather than hand-written letters (when possible).

• January 24th-February 14th: Senior Cultural Arts Residency (Stop Motion with Memory Vessel)
• February 15th: 100th Day of School
• February 21st: No School in Recognition of President's Day
• February 22nd: No School for students; Staff Professional Development Day
• March 7th to March 28th: Intermediate Cultural Arts Residency (Reader's Theater with MPAC)

• Parent Handbook
  
• Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
• School Breakfast and Lunch Information
• Sunset and Sunrise