NCS Family Newsletter
September, 2024
Upcoming Events
9/3/2024 First Day of School
9/17/24 GC Meeting - NCS Library - 6-8pm
9/25/24 NCS Picture Day - 7:45am-11:15am
9/28/24 Verona Color Run
9/30/2024 No school / Education Professional Development Day
Who's ready for a lovely new year?
Picture day
NCS will take school pictures on Wednesday, September 25 from 8am to 11am. All students and staff take their picture, even if they don't prefer to buy a picture package.
Weather... whether or not we're ready for it!
Welcome to the start of another year!
VASD Elementary School Family Handbook
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.
Infofinder Bus Information is all set!
Bus routes are ready, please check infofinder for stops and times, and we'll see you Tuesday!
VASD provides bus transportation for K-5th grade students who live 1.25 miles or more from their school and 6th-12th grade students who live 2.0 miles or more from their school. Visit our Infofinder transportation application tool to confirm First Student route information. The site has a link to detailed instructions and is updated daily, allowing you to find the most up-to-date bus route and stop information, including stop times. https://www.infofinderi.com/ifi/?plot=1&cid=BBL-V2DNLLT74P
To enable us to provide accurate bus stop information, we request your help. Always inform your school secretaries of any address changes. Routes and stops are subject to change. Please check this site before calling First Student. Please note that this site will not display transportation information for 4K students or students with special needs. Direct other questions to First Student at 608-341-2799 or the district transportation website.
Safe School Arrival and Dismissal
Making sure we have a safe and efficient school arrival and dismissal is a priority for everyone. We ask that we all work together to ensure this happens for our students. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.
A visual of our car rider arrival and dismissal procedures are here.
Arrival:
- Supervision starts at 7:15 and the bell rings to enter at 7:30 am. Students should not arrive before 7:15 am as they will not be supervised during this time.
- Students who walk, bike, or arrive by a care wait in front of school at Door 1. Students who arrive by bus enter in the back through Door 5.
- Car Lane- Our car lane is designed for families to be able to drop students off quickly and leave. For safety, students only should enter and exit on the curbside of the car. Families are asked to stay in their vehicles and not exist to assist. Use the parking lot if more time is needed or others are exiting the car during the drop off.
Dismissal:
- Our dismissal time is 2:25 pm. We do have our K/1 students exit the building a few minutes before other classes to better support their dismissal.
- Staff members walk our students out of the school during dismissal. If a student is being picked up, then the teacher looks to make visual confirmation of the caregiver or caregiver's vehicle before dismissing students. Staff members walk our bus riders to the bus door.
- Car Lane- Our car lane is designed for families to be able to drop students off quickly and leave. For safety, students only should enter and exit on the curbside of the car. Families are asked to stay in their vehicles and not exist to assist. Use the parking lot if more time is needed or others are exiting the car during the drop off.
Library Book Return
Tuesday, our first day back at school, is a great day to return your summer library books. We are so glad you got to read over the summer, and we'll happily collect those goodies in the black bins as you walk in this week.
Governance Council Corner
Welcome to our school from the Governance Council
Welcome new families and welcome back returning families! We recently had our back to school kickoff including popsicles and opportunities for families to connect with the student's homeroom teacher. Thank you everyone for joining us last week.
Verona Color Run
Where: NCS (400 N Main St.)
Date: September 28th
Time: 9:00am is registration
Registration link: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/ncscolorrun
Waiver: https://forms.gle/7Ksaxcbrbu2gZZS3A
Cost: Donations with no minimum to participate. Overall school goal of $2,000
The event will be on Saturday September 28th with registration beginning at 9am and the first wave starting at 9:30am. Waves will be by grade level and depart every 2 minutes with a family run at 9:45am. This event is open to K- 8th graders.
Fall Festival
Join us at the Fall Carnival for food, games, and prizes on Friday, October 25th!
4:30-6:30pm at Veteran's Park, 201 Lincoln Street here in Verona.
A volunteer sign-up genius for 1-hour station rotations for games will be distributed in late September.
Kids are welcome to wear their Halloween Costumes.
Volunteer Background Check
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.
Savvas Reading Program
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 the state 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 Volunteers Appreciated
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
Helpful Info for Families
Our summer is underway and we're having fun, but we did a little bit of work, too. 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
Futura Spanish is back!
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/
School supply list 2024-25
For 2024-25 School supplies: Children will need a backpack, headphones, clean gym shoes and a large, old shirt for art class.
Please purchase as many items as possible under your student’s grade level. THANK YOU!!!
NCS School Supply List
Harvest of the Month
Our school is participating in Wisconsin Harvest of the Month! Harvest of the Month is a statewide campaign that encourages students to eat more fruits and vegetables. Each month, our school will feature one Wisconsin-grown fruit or vegetable that is seasonally available. We will encourage students to taste, explore, and learn about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables in the classroom and cafeteria.
Watch the school menu, for more information about the Harvest of the Month fruits and vegetables. We will feature fruits and veggies from this list.
Ask your child about Harvest of the Month foods and prepare these foods at home. Providing many opportunities for your child to try new foods is important for building healthy eating habits and adventurous eaters.
We hope you join us in this opportunity to promote eating fruits and vegetables!
Is your child well enough to be in school?
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.
Vaccine Clinics
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
Get your Bucky Book Here!
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 a 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.)
Communication with Teachers
Check out our online NCS Google Public Calendar
Here is the link to a Google Public Calendar with this year’s updated NCS events:
This calendar will be updated continually throughout the year with school events, such as swim and gym days, library days, 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!
Looking for Another Way to Connect
Have you joined the New Century School Parent Community Facebook Groups?
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.
Need assistance with lunch costs?
Attendance
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!
Change of 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.
Volunteer Corner
Lunchroom Volunteers
Please complete this short survey with your availability.
Sunshine Committee
Canned drinks and packaged snacks are always welcome at any time in the teacher workrooms.
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.