News at NES

Brady Sackett - Principal

bsackett@nortonpanthers.org

Kim Hallock - Assistant Principal

khallock@nortonpanthers.org

Website: www.nortonschools.org
Location: 3390 South Cleveland Massillon Road, Norton, OH, USA
Phone: 330-825-3828

As we begin the 2024-25 school year we want to communicate our building goals with you so that you are aware of the areas our school will be growing this year. We will include updates to our progress through monthly newsletters so that you can be aware of our growth. Feel free to contact the office with any questions.

Goal #1: Instruction

Strengthen student literacy by continuing to support teachers to use all adopted Board approved materials and utilizing the time and resources available for teaching literacy.

Goal #2: PBIS

NES will increase the use of PBIS strategies to improve the overall school culture and environment.

Goal #3: Integrate The Panther Way

Introduce The Panther Way and its competencies to our students and school community.

Explanation of NES Goals

Last year we made great progress with establishing a culture and structures that provide every student in grades 1-3 an opportunity to receive 30 minutes of reading intervention or reading instruction at their level. Our goal this year is to continue this process and refine areas to ensure that teachers are using scientifically based reading interventions consistently during this time. This is also the second year of our curriculum and our teachers will be able to deliver instruction more efficiently while continuing to add new pieces. We will be supporting teachers in both areas this year so that we build on last year's successes.

Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) has been part of Norton City Schools for a number of years and we are looking to continue to enhance our program by adding processes that will make us more consistent. We will monitor our progress using a self assessment tool that will keep ourselves accountable to creating these processes including sharing information with staff and families. Look for updates to our progress in our monthly newsletters.

Last year, a committee of community members created a set of attributes that all Norton students should strive toward called The Panther Way. Our goal this year is to introduce our elementary students to these attributes and celebrate them throughout the year. Follow our progress as we share details through our monthly newsletters.

Last year, we began a structure in our schedule for teachers to provide 30 minutes of reading intervention to all students in grades 1-3 and called this block of time "Intervention Time". This year, we are renaming that 30 minute block of time to "WIN" time or "What I Need" time. This name better reflects the purpose of using this 30 minute block of time to provide intervention to those who need it but also provide enriching activities to students that need that too.

This month our NES staff and students will be focusing on the "Be Responsible" competency. "When we are responsible, we act honestly and demonstrate care for the interests of the larger community and greater good. We also honor commitments and own the outcomes, whether positive or negative."

Students will work together as a class to break down these definitions into kid-friendly language and share what being responsible looks and sounds like, not only at NES but also within our community. Responsibility will be reinforced in our classrooms through simple tasks like holding classroom jobs while also focusing on taking ownership of our choices. Our goal is to celebrate our monthly competency together at an all-school assembly. Our first Panther Way Day assembly will be on September 13th for our staff and students.

Beginning August 26, students in grades 1, 2, and 3 will participate in literacy screening. This screening is sort of like the “screening” done in doctors’ offices, when nurses take a patient’s temperature, blood pressure, and measure height and weight. These literacy screeners will look at students’ foundational skills in hearing sounds in words, using knowledge of the sounds letters make to put words together, how fluently students read, and reading comprehension. The screeners look at whether students are “on benchmark,” or the point expected for a student at this point in their educational career. Any students whose screeners show they are below the benchmark will then be given a diagnostic assessment to help us pinpoint the specific area(s) that need further attention.

Why are we giving these screeners? The information they provide will help us better understand our students’ strengths and needs in literacy and help us tailor specific instruction and support. We will share the students’ screener results with caregivers, and if diagnostics are administered, those results will be shared too.

MAP testing is a tool that provides instructional information to teachers and families and is taken in the areas of reading and math in the fall, winter, and spring. MAP assessments are a good way for us to measure student growth all the way through middle school. Your child's teacher will be sharing your child's MAP assessment results when completed.

Click the link below to view the counselor's September newsletter.

Counselor's newsletter Sept. 2024

Use the links below for additional information

Final Forms - All forms must be completed online

School Calendar

Free and Reduced Fees

School Fees

Welcome back! We hope to see you at the first PAC meeting on September 9th at NES in the Music Room! Come find out about opportunities to participate in new exciting events we have planned for our little Panthers!

September

9/2 Labor Day

9/9 PAC meeting 6:30 pm

9/9 Board meeting 7:00 pm

9/23 Casa Del Mar Dine in/Take out

9/28 Chipotle Dine in/Take out

10/1 Picture retake