Dear Northwood Family,

Happy Friday! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. It's hard to believe we're a week into December.

Thank you to the families who came this week to our second evening of conferences. Our teachers love sharing all that our students are learning.

This week Wednesday we had our Northwood Nest meetings. The focus was "Different is Cool: Celebrate What Makes Us Unique" and focused on learning about neurodiversity and other differences. As part of our lesson, each group read the book Just Ask, written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and illustrated by award-winning artist Rafael Lopez. Just Ask is a kind and caring book about the differences that make each of us unique, and is also our Book of the Month choice. See more below. We will have Late Starts the next two Wednesdays.

Please come check our Lost & Found if your child is missing anything. It is located in the office vestibule. It is overflowing with sweatshirts, hats, mittens, jackets, and more. We will donate any unclaimed items on Thursday 12/19 before winter break.

Northwood's SMILE Club and Student Senate will be in the Berkley Holiday Lights Parade this Saturday, 12/7, beginning at 5:30pm along 12 mile and ending at Berkley's City Hall, for anyone interested in going to watch the parade!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,

Molly Bascom-Keller, Ed.S.

Northwood Elementary Principal

December 7: SMILE Club & Student Senate in Berkley Holiday Parade 5:30 pm

December 9: HAVEN Program K-5 / PTA 7:00 pm

December 11: Late Start First Bell 9:20 am / Rocket Ryan Program Gr. 2

December 12: Rocket Ryan Program Gr. 5

December 13: Rocket Ryan Program Gr. 4

December 18: Late Start First Bell 9:20 am / SMILE Club & Student Senate at Corewell Beaumont's Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams 7:45 pm

December 23-January 3: No School - Holiday Break

January 6: Welcome back and Happy 2025!

Late Start Wednesdays

• On Late Start Wednesdays, professional learning is taking place for staff.

• First bell for students is at 9:20 AM, second bell 9:25 AM.

• Homework Club: 8:20-9:20 AM, only for students who are signed up. Students enter through the main office. Homework Club Form

• Breakfast Club: Student can be dropped off anytime from 8:55-9:10 AM - free and no sign up necessary. Students enter through the main office.
• 2024-25 Late Starts: September 11, 18, 25; October 9, 16, 23, 30; November 13, 20; December 11, 18; January 29; February 5, 26; March 5, 12, 19, 26; April 23, 30; May 7, 14
  

Non-Late Start Wednesdays: Northwood Nests

• On many non-late start Wednesdays, we have our Northwood Nests meetings!
• Students are in multi-aged groups led by a staff member to work on our OAKS positive behavior expectations and character traits.
• See our PBIS section below for more information.

Thank you so much to our wonderful PTA for supporting our Northwood school family. We are appreciative for all you do, including the amazing pies for staff before the break, fun family events, seasonal decorations outdoors, the fantastic school-wide assembly, Rocket Ryan classroom visits this week and next, Holiday Helpers for families, providing dinner for staff before conferences, and much more. We are so fortunate to have our incredibly supportive and active PTA. Tremendous thanks to Erin Rice, who has been our PTA President for the past 2 1/2 years!

We are so excited to begin Book of the Month at Northwood! Each month, we select a book to provide to every classroom. We choose books that have multiple uses within our curriculum and provide our students with a chance to see themselves or others in the books we read. We love the positive impact this initiative has on our whole school culture.

Focus: different abilities, differences make us unique

Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful.

In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges--and looks at the special powers those kids have as well. As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we're not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask.

HAVEN will be coming to visit Northwood on 12/9/24 to present a lesson to our K-2 and 3-5 classes. HAVEN is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader that provides programs to promote violence-free homes and communities and helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. A large part of the prevention strategy at HAVEN is focused on our partnerships with area schools. School programs are presented in the classroom in an age-appropriate manner and are designed to raise awareness, education, and provide information.

K-2 Helping Kids Help Themselves (HKHT)

HKHT is an age-appropriate, non-threatening, story book session and video presentation. The program will focus on identifying with children “safe and unsafe touch” and “good and bad secrets”. HKHT introduces children to personal safety and body ownership through the story of a bird named Daisy. The program will help children to identify, trust, and communicate their own feelings about safety with safe and trusted adults.

3-5 Gender Respect

HAVEN’s Gender Respect Program is designed to support children in the development of safe relationships by providing information to increase the understanding of risk factors associated with gender disrespect in a sensitive and age appropriate manner. The students end up with the affirming message that we all want to feel good about ourselves, safe in our school environment, and to have respect for others.

For the month of December, classes are learning about Holidays Around the World! Classrooms are exploring different countries and cultures, along with sharing about students own cultures and family traditions.

• Unwrapped items can be dropped off in the bin labeled 'Holiday Helpers' in the Northwood vestibule.
• Please label each gift with who it is for (ex. "Child 1").
• All donations are due by Friday, December 13.

Questions? Email Jessica Anderson Jlando3252@gmail.com or Erin Fowle erinmariefowle@gmail.com

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

The children go outside for fresh air and robust active play every day for lunchtime recess. At times there will be extreme weather or extremely cold conditions that prohibit children from being outdoors for recess. As a general rule, when the "feels like" temperature approaches 12 degrees we consider keeping students in, however this guideline is subject to the administrators discretion. Some other factors considered include, but are not limited to, the presence of sunshine and the strength of the wind.

It is very helpful when kids come to school prepared to dress for all possible weather, and it's important that students come to school daily with appropriate outdoor gear. In the winter, that includes coats, hats & gloves, snow pants, and boots. When there is snow on the ground, we ask that students wear snow pants and boots to play on the field, in order to avoid wet, cold pants and shoes.

Winter Guidelines

• Outdoor recess daily, unless windchill 12 degrees or below (see above)
• Outdoor gear brought daily - winter: coats, hats & gloves, snow pants, boots
• If it is below 50 degrees, coats are required.
• No throwing snow or snowballs at school - including before and after school.
• Snow pants and boots required to play on the field when it is snowy.

Last year, Mrs. Guthrie headed up an initiative to collect over 200 lbs of colored plastic and worked with Belle Isle to have it turned into a bench. She is hoping to do it again!

Families can help by collecting colored plastic caps & lids and sending them in. Please make sure they are clean and drop them in the container located in the front office vestibule. Some examples are caps and lids from Tide, peanut butter, Gatorade, pop, milk, etc. Please see the list for all acceptable plastics. Thank you in advance for your help with this amazing project!

Our staff works so hard everyday focusing on our students and school community. If you would like to say thank you to any staff member, please fill out and submit the form linked below. I will be sure they get your messages, which I know will make their day!

Thanks to the Michigan School Meals Program, a state-funded program that allows all students to receive meals at no cost for the 2024-2025 school year, breakfast and lunch will be free to all students. Second meals are not free and will be considered ala carte. Elementary school second lunches will be charged $2.60.

Although all students can receive meals at no cost, it is still vital that eligible families fill out a free/reduced meal application: A school’s eligibility for federal Child Nutrition Programs such as Summer Food Service Program and others is based on free and reduced-price eligibility. Students and families may qualify for other program fee reductions based on their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Federal and state education finding uses free and reduced-price eligibility.

Please complete the 2024-2025 online application on our website under Free and Reduced Meals Information. Paper applications will be sent out this month and available at the district office and in all schools in August.

If your child is coming for Breakfast Club any time this year, they should arrive between 7:55-8:10 AM (8:55-9:10 AM on late start Wednesdays) and enter through the Main doors only. If a family member needs to enter the school to walk their child down to breakfast, the adult will need to sign into the office to enter the building and sign back out when leaving. Thanks so much!

Food Service Information and Menus

“Blessings in a Backpack” is a program designed to provide students on the free and reduced lunch program with enough food for three meals a day during the weekends. If you agree to take part in this program during the school year, your child will receive a bag filled with food for the weekend. A bag of food will be put in your child's locker for take home on Fridays. The simple meals may include food like macaroni and cheese, beef ravioli, canned fruit, granola bars, soups, juice and other items. Students will receive a bag every week.

If you would like to have your child participate in this program, fill out the form below.. Please be sure to indicate on the form if you child has any food allergies. If your child has a food allergy, you as the parent are responsible for checking all food labels when the food arrives home. Royal Oak Schools, as well as Blessings in a Backpack, will not be held responsible for any accidental food allergen exposure.

Check out our student news broadcasts: NBS Broadcast!

SCIENCE OLYMPIAD is BACK and we need your HELP!

Save the date: Science Olympiad, March 7th, 2025

WE NEED YOUR PAPER TUBES!

The Northwood Mad Scientists reminds everyone with the holidays coming up that we will need empty wrapping paper tubes, paper towel tubes, and toilet paper tubes for the Science Olympiad this year.

There is a collection bin in the main school entrance for these items starting from now through mid January. PLEASE ask your family to save theirs too!

IF YOU INTEND TO VOLUNTEER THIS YEAR (ABOUT 100+ VOLUNTEERS WILL BE NEEDED) AND HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED THE VOLUNTEER PROCESS, PLEASE DO SO NOW SO YOU ARE READY WHEN THE TIME COMES.

Information for Science Olympiad 2025 signup will be coming home in January.

Contact northwoodmadscientists@gmail.com or Jess Sorbo (517) 881-1874 with questions!

PTA Newsletter
The Northwood PTA sends out a weekly newsletter to keep families informed about important school announcements, volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, and ways to connect with our community on social media. We also share how you can support Northwood when shopping locally. Our goal is to reach as many Northwood families as possible, so please help us spread the word!

There are two ways to receive the newsletter:

1. Join the PTA and automatically receive the newsletter: northwood.givebacks.com/store

2. Sign up without joining the PTA: northwood.givebacks.com/join/cecb14

Questions? Contact Kristen Borchardt-Mazur (kristen.borchardt@gmail.com)

Join the Northwood Elementary Official PTA Facebook group to stay up-to-date on PTA events and see what's happening at Northwood.

Grade-level groups: This is your place to connect with other families or ask grade-specific questions.

• Northwood Kindergarten 2024-2025
• Northwood First Grade 2024-2025
• Northwood Second Grade 2024-2025
• Northwood Third Grade 2024-2025
• Northwood Fourth Grade 2024-2025
• Northwood Fifth Grade 2024-2025

To join our groups, all membership questions must be answered. You will be added to the group once your information is approved with the district.

Help the Northwood PTA fundraise by linking your Kroger Shopper's Card to our organization! It's easy to do & it's free. Just follow the directions below & the PTA will earn extra funding. Thanks so much!

1. Create or sign in to your digital account

2. Link your Card to an organization: Select: Northwood PTA and click "Save"

Collecting Box Tops is a great way for Northwood to earn money. Northwood earns 10¢ for every box top collected. Download the app and start scanning your receipts to earn money for Northwood!

Please click the link for special education news and information. Check it often as it is being updated regularly. Special Education Program

The Royal Oak Parent Advocacy Committee (ROPAC) is our school district's Parent Advisory Committee - a group made up of parents/caregivers of students with IEPs or 504 Plans, those that want to learn more, those that think their student may benefit from special education services. ROPAC sincerely welcomes any parent or caregiver with a student(s) in Royal Oak schools to join us in our mission to make this a destination for students receiving special education services. Learn more about the ROPAC here: ROPAC Info Flyer

To join our mailing list for meeting reminders and other updates, complete this quick form: ROPAC Email List

If you have students currently enrolled in the program you will be contacted directly by the Young Oaks Coordinator. Any families interested in the program can use the link below for information about the program.

Young Oaks Latchkey

Our Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) program at Northwood uses the acronym of O.A.K.S to promote positive behavior throughout our building. Our O.A.K.S. program serves as a reminder to our students that they are to be:

Outstanding Learners

Always Respectful

Kindness Counts

Safety First

Following is our Northwood Behavior Expectations & Character Traits Matrix, which focuses on expectations for all of the areas of our school. Teachers and staff emphasize this daily and we also have monthly "Nest" meetings to work on OAKS expectations and being role models and leaders at school. One of the tools we may use if a student has a behavior challenge is a "Think Time Sheet", which allows the student to think about their behavior, consider how it relates to OAKS expectations, and most importantly reflect on how they can grow from the experience and make better choices in the future. These forms go home to communicate with families and foster positive conversations about our OAKS expectations for positive behavior. Thank you so much for your support at home to reinforce these important expectations and traits!

• Positive Parenting Tips for children of all ages
• Child Development Basics & Effective Parenting Practices

Parents, family members, and caregivers can encourage mental wellness and promote social,

emotional, and academic success. Good mental health is not simply the absence of illness, but also

includes skills necessary to cope with life’s challenges.

Oakland County Health Network Resources:

• OCHN’s non-emergency behavioral health access department is available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at 248-464-6363.
• OCHN’s Mental Health School Navigators (MHSN) connect youth and families to behavioral health and substance use supports, as well as financial assistance. For more information about the School Mental Health Navigator Program please call 248-462-6294 or email SchoolNavigator@oaklandchn.org
• Call 988 for Crisis and Emergency Support
• Programs and supports provided by OCHN's service network are available at oaklandchn.org

• Parent Guidance for Healthy Screen Habits
• Communication Tips & Milestones from Birth to Age 5

Arrival and dismissal are very busy times for everyone. It’s critical that we all follow the rules to keep everyone safe and to keep traffic flowing. If you would like to volunteer from 8:15-8:30 AM and/or 3:15-3:30 PM to help with arrival/dismissal, please let the office know. Please share the following important information with anyone who will be driving your child to or from school. Thank you for working together with us as a school family to keep all of our students safe!

Arrival: 1st bell 8:20 AM, 2nd/tardy bell 8:25 AM

Late Starts: 1st bell 9:20 AM, 2nd/tardy bell 9:25 AM

Dismissal: 3:30 PM

DROP OFF / PICK UP LANE

Kiss & Go Lane (along the front of the building - See photo): For quick drop-off of students who can walk independently to their doors, please pull into the Kiss & Go lane along the curb in front of the building. This is a moving lane for drop-off and pick-up (no parking). If there is a line, we appreciate your patience. Thank you for your cooperation!

• Pull all the way forward, allow your child to exit on the passenger side of the vehicle, and move forward to exit. Your child will walk to their class door.
• For pickup, your child will exit their class door and come to the lane to look for your vehicle. Please do not pull in front of your child's class door to wait, as this impedes the line and causes a backup.
• If you need to exit your vehicle, please find a parking spot. This will keep things moving, which is safest and most efficient for everyone.
• Please do not let your child exit your vehicle in the driveway or thru lane and try to walk between moving cars. The children’s safety is the priority.
  

PARKING

Parking: If you need to leave your car for any reason, please find a parking spot.

• We have 2 visitor lots you can use: front lot and north lot.
• You may park and walk your students to and from their class door.
• If you would like to park on the street, please consider parking on a side street other than McDonald, due to traffic.
• Please do not pick up or drop off in the south lot. This lot is for staff parking and a bus lane only. Thank you for your understanding.

WALKING & BIKING

• These are great options and decrease traffic.
• Adults and students should remain on sidewalks and cross at crosswalks only.
• Students must wear a helmet.
• All bikes must be walked on school property.
• Please do not stand or park bikes in the Kiss & Go lane.
• New Crosswalk! We have a new crosswalk from the front of the building to McDonald on the north side of the driveway. By pedestrians using that crosswalk, vehicles will now be able to turn left and exit the lot more efficiently, which should alleviate the line.
• Dogs are not allowed.

WHEN STUDENTS ARRIVE

As students arrive, they are expected to join their class line and wait patiently for the bell to ring at 8:20 AM (9:20 on late start Wednesdays) when classes enter the building. Students are not supervised by staff outside before school begins, so shouldn't be dropped off early without supervision. On school grounds, students should always be following school rules and expectations, including safety, respect, and kindness.

OPTIONS TO AVOID TRAFFIC

• Carpool
• Walk/bike (students must wear helmets and walk bikes on school property)

• Breakfast: Drop your child off early at the main office doors for free breakfast anytime between 7:55-8:10 AM (8:55-9:10 on Late Starts)
• Drop your child where there are adult crossing guards at either the Crooks or 12 Mile Rd Crosswalks
  
• Drop your 3rd-5th grader off at W. Houstonia/McDonald or W. Houstonia/Vinsetta. Safety patrol students are at the W. Houstonia/McDonald crosswalk.

ARRIVING LATE AFTER 8:25 AM

If your child is arriving after 8:25 AM (9:25 AM on Late Starts), please park in a parking spot (not along the curb) and walk your child in. You will sign your child in on the clipboard in the vestibule. Your child will enter the office to get a late pass from the office and head to class.

All absences should be called in to the Safety Check number. Absences that are not reported are considered unexcused.

Safety Check number: 248-541-0229 option #1

In our efforts to continue to keep our school community safe, anyone visiting the school will need to check in with office staff from the vestibule. Any parent, caregiver, or adult entering into the school for any reason, including PTA and classroom volunteering, will need to sign in at the office and get a visitor’s badge. Visitors who would like to meet with a staff member will need to have a scheduled appointment. Thank you!

Our Lost & Found is located in the office vestibule, just inside the main entrance. Please label your child's items so we can help get them back to students. Please check our lost & found regularly, as it builds up quickly. Thank you!

In consideration of your own child and others, please do not send a child who is ill to school. As a guideline, a child should not be sent to school if the child:

• has a temperature (a child MUST be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medication)
• is vomiting (24 hours since last episode) or has diarrhea
• has green or yellow discharge from the nose
• has any contagious disease

Students are allowed to possess electronic communication devices on school property; however, such devices shall not be used during the school day or in a manner that disrupts school activities or events. If brought to school, these items should be left in the student’s locker. This includes but is not limited to the following: smart phones, smart watches, bluetooth earbuds, tablets, etc. Any device found to be used for any illegal purpose or used in a manner that violates the Student Code of Conduct may be confiscated pending a parent conference. Where appropriate, police authorities may be contacted. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen electronic devices.

Northwood Student Handbook, page 9

If your student needs to bring an electronic communication device to school please make certain they understand that it must be kept in their locker and they may not text, call, watch videos, etc. on their device during the school day.Thank you so much for your support with this important issue!

Classrooms: Do not send snacks containing peanuts or tree nuts.

Lunch Room: There is a separate table for any students with nut allergies.

Class Parties: If party donations are requested, do not send items that have peanuts or tree nuts.

• Halloween - If you send in goodies to be sent home, do not include any food items.
• Valentine's Day - If you send in goodies to be sent home, do not include any food items.

Birthdays: Do not send food or beverages as birthday treats.

Students K-5 take i-Ready reading and math diagnostic assessments three times per year to enhance our understanding of them as learners and to help inform our instructional decisions. Your student's results report from each testing period will be uploaded into the MiStar Parent Portal under "Student Documents", along with report cards. To access the parent portal, go to royaloakschools.org, click on "Parents/Guardians" on the menu bar, and then click on "MISTAR Parent Portal." Please use the login assistance links if you need help logging in.

Below you will find a link to a short document entitled "Understanding your Student's i-Ready Diagnostic Report". It includes helpful information for you as you review your child's reports.

Understanding Your Student's i-Ready Diagnostic Report

At Northwood we take pride in making sure we have a kind, caring, environment. Our parents & families play a large role in helping us to achieve this goal. Before posting to social media or any other venue, please consider the feelings of all our community members. Before you post, remember to T.H.I.N.K.

If you need information or technology support for your student's district-issued Chromebook, click the link below.

Stay in touch with Royal Oak Schools by downloading our new mobile app! Download on your mobile device today and select 'yes' to receive push notifications with the latest news and updates from the District. Use this link for more download information.

Join us for The Royal Oak Students Music Showcase this Saturday, December 7th, from 3 pm to 5:30 pm on the library steps by The Rink at Royal Oak in Centennial Commons. Enjoy the sounds of the Royal Oak High School Pep Band, The Royal Oak Children’s Choir, the Royal Oak 5th Grand Select Choir, and a closing performance from Royal Oak’s High School Phenom Alice Woodward.

Santa is there from 12-4, and free Horse & Wagon Rides are available from 5 to 9 pm, all part of Royal Oak Holidays! (royaloakholidays.com) See you Saturday!

We’re excited to announce the return of Royal Oak Schools Free Skate Days at the Centennial Commons, located in downtown Royal Oak, proudly sponsored by M3 Investment Services! These fun-filled evenings are a fantastic opportunity for our students to enjoy a night out on the ice while connecting with friends and family.

Link to registration form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHwyHYg7RyIWNSBSaun5A5V0wUN3F2kSUlEjyNATp2Hsrg9A/viewform

Link to school pay link: https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/ROHS-Dance-Team-Clinic-for-Grades-K8/SbrPU3e

Challenging young, inquisitive minds to explore American Values!

This year's topic is, “What Does Patriotism Mean To Me?”

Take a look HERE or click on the pdf below for more information. All submissions are due December 15, 2024.

Northwood Elementary School will provide higher-level learning opportunities for all students to maximize their potential in a safe, nurturing, respectful, and diverse environment.

Fun Fact:

Did you know that Northwood is a Michigan Green School at the Evergreen level? We not only recycle, but our students compost our food, trays, napkins, and milk cartons every day!

Molly Bascom-Keller, Ed.S.

Northwood Elementary Principal

Email Principal Bascom-Keller

Northwood Elementary School Website

Northwood's Facebook Page