NWEE welcomes families to volunteer in our building as part of our family engagement initiatives! Please read the following policy on background checks that need to be completed before your volunteer service in our building. Please communicate with your classroom teachers on any upcoming opportunities. Regarding school-wide events, communication will be disseminated from the office to all families inviting your participation. Additionally, the PTO has rescheduled their monthly meetings to encourage families to join. Please see the schedule below and we look forward to seeing you then!

"In order to ensure the protection of children in the care of Northwest Community Schools, school policy requires, prior to any and all persons providing a volunteer service at the school or for any function conducted by the school; all potential volunteers complete a State of Michigan background check. The background check is a name check only through the State of Michigan ICHAT system, and is based on individual identifiers.

Any applicant declining to complete a "Volunteer/Chaperone Background Check Acknowledgment Form" will not be considered. Forms are valid for the current school year only and should be submitted at least two weeks before the event. "

Volunteer Background Check Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQUYAxudnRFtSYL0ECYXK6xupsY4UcyRsd7HC2J7OuBgTvIQ/viewform

Any changes to your students’ transportation/parent pick-up (riding the bus instead, new pickup person, etc.) must be made with the office prior to 3:00pm (2:00pm on Early Release days). After this time we will not make changes to student pick-up in order to ensure student safety.

Students being picked up early must be signed out by 3:15pm (2:10pm on Early Release). After this time, students will need to be picked up at their previously scheduled location. As a measure of student safety, we will not pull students from their class or bus/parent pick-up locations.

Winter is just around the corner! Keep in mind these tips for dressing for the cold weather

• Dress in several layers of light clothing

• Send a warm hat that covers your students ears

• Remember that mittens are warmer than gloves

• Wear waterproof boots to keep feet warm and dry

December 4: Early Release Wednesday, dismissal @2:35pm

December 11: Early Release Wednesday, dismissal @2:35pm

December 11: Polar Express Family Night 5:00-6:30pm

December 16 - 19: Northwest PTO Santa Shop

December 18: Early Release Wednesday, dismissal @2:35pm

December 19: Santa Shuffle Fundraiser

December 20: Half-Day, dismissal at 12:20pm

December 23 - January 3: Winter Break, No School

January 6: School Resumes

Join us on December 11th for the FREE Polar Express Family Night! Taking place from 5-6:30 PM at NWEE.

You can take pictures with Santa, make an ornament, enjoy cookies and hot cocoa, and sing along to Christmas carols!

Hello Mountie Parents, December 16-19th 2024, the PTO is hosting a Santa Shop for the students at NW Early Elementary (grades Y5-2nd). Students can purchase presents for their family and friends for $2 per item with a 12 item limit. We wrap the gifts for students to take home and would appreciate a $1 donation (total, not per gift) to cover the cost of these supplies. gift tags will be coming home or if you would like to print some in color, please visit the Northwest PTO (Jackson, MI) Facebook page. Students come to Santa Shop throughout the week, as scheduled with the teachers. There will be make-up times throughout the week, as well. Feel free to send your student(s) money, list and labels at the beginning of the week. Please try to send your child with exact change. We can’t wait to help your student pick out gifts! Happy Holidays!

-Northwest Elementary PTO

Everyone will run or walk to raise money for the Specials Classes. Each student that raises at least $3 will earn a toe token. Students that raise $25 or more will receive a prize.

The top fundraiser in each grade level will earn an additional prize!

FILL OUT the DONATION SHEET (coming home in Friday Folders) and return to school by FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 with cash donation to be eligible to win prizes.

Donations will help to purchase robots and headphones for STEM, scooters for P.E., classroom instruments for Music, drawing and painting supplies for Art and equipment for outdoor activities for Health.

Northwest Winter Break begins with a Half-Day on Friday December 20, 2024 and school will resume Monday January 6, 2025.

Our morning drop-off crew are present to ensure the safety of your students. Please be reminded that our expectations for families are the same as the students in the building - Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible. If necessary, our School Resource Officers and Administration Team will be activated to support our staff.

If you drop off students in the morning keep the following in mind

• Adults must remain in vehicle while utilizing the Drop Off Lane
• DO NOT use the Drop Off Lane if your student requires assistance to exit the vehicle. Please park and walk your student to the sidewalk, utilizing the crosswalks.
• DO NOT pull through parking spots to enter the Drop-off or Passing lanes as this creates a safety hazard for our students.

REMINDER: Families must complete their Enrollment Forms EACH school year. Login to your PowerSchool and follow the steps list to complete yours for the 2024/2025 School year.

Northwest Community Schools is pleased to offer a Mental Health and Wellness resource to all families, students, and staff in our district called ParentGuidance.org.

ParentGuidance.org is a completely FREE resource developed by licensed therapists that provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community to learn how to support our children and get answers to mental health questions.

Our hope is that ParentGuidance.org will give concerned parents a place to go for answers to support and help their children struggling with depression, anxiety, and family strife, as well as provide tools for forming stronger bonds between parents and their children.

ParentGuidance.org is free and confidential

517-817-4705

We want to send a HUGE Thank You to our Northwest PTO for all the hard work they do and the support they give to Teachers, Staff, Parents, and Students.

If you'd like to get involved with the great work the PTO is doing, meetings are held every two months in the cafeteria at 4:00pm. The 1st, 3rd, and 5th meetings are at NWEL and the 2nd and 4th meetings are at NWEE.

Full Day 8:25 am - 3:40pm

Early Release 8:25 am - 2:35 pm

Half Day 8:25am-12:20pm

MEDICINE PROCEDURES

If your child needs medication to be administered at a school a medication form must be completed, along with a signature by the prescribing physician. The medicine must be brought in the original container with the prescription label attached.

• Medication must be transported by a parent and checked in at the office.
• Over-the-counter medications (cough drops, Tylenol, Tums) must have doctor's order.

Parking Lot Safety Reminders

• Please stay off your cell phone! Your eyes on the road are the best tools for parking lot safety.
• Please continue to pull all the way up and use the crosswalk.
• If you need to escort your child inside please park in a designated parking spot and not along the drop-off curb.

MORNING TARDINESS

We encourage promptness since tardies affect everyone and disrupt classroom time. One of the most valuable life skills a student can learn from his/her parent/guardian is the responsibility of arriving at school every day on time. Morning is the time when important school news is announced, teachers define the plans for the day, and instructional goals are reviewed and set. The whole tone of a child’s school day is set in the first part of the day.

• School starts at 8:25 a.m.

• If your student is not participating in their classroom morning routine by 8:35 a.m. they will be considered tardy.

• Students not in their classroom seat by 8:35 a.m. shall be considered tardy.

• If the supervisory aides are not present when you drop off your student, they are tardy. Please make sure to come in the office and sign them in.

• Doctor appointments/professional appointments are excused with a doctors note.

DISMISSAL REMINDERS

• Any changes to your students’ transportation/parent pick-up (riding the bus instead, new pickup person, etc.) must be made with the office prior to 3:00pm (2:00pm on Early Release days). After this time we will not make changes to student pick-up in order to ensure student safety.

• Students being picked up early must be signed out by 3:15pm (2:10pm on Early Release). After this time, students will need to be picked up at their previously scheduled location. As a measure of student safety, we will not pull students from their class or bus/parent pick-up locations.

• Dismissal is at 3:40 pm on Regular Days, 2:35pm on Early Release Days, and 12:20pm on Half-Days.

Please help support your child in learning habits that will help them be successful at school and throughout life. If you need help or have concerns getting your child to school on time please contact the office. We are here to help.

If your child will be absent from school please complete the NWEE Absence Notification Form on our website or contact the office at 817-4705.

https://www.nwschools.org/parent-resources/attendance

Website: https://nwee.nwschools.org/
Location: 3735 Lansing Ave, Jackson, MI, USA
Email: nw.media@nwschools.org

Phone: (517) 817-4705
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northwestcommunityschools/