Welcome to a new school year, a new start, and new memories. I have loved seeing the smiles on children's faces as they go through the daily routine of their school day, learning and practicing school- wide/classroom expectations, as well as building community. Although it can be hard coming back after a long break, especially for our little ones in Pre-K and Kindergarten, I hope your child(ren) felt loved and welcomed. I look forward to working with all of you this year - it's going to be a great 24-25 school year!

Student Arrival

• Parents and child(ren) are to stay in the car until the school doors open at 9:15 a.m.

• Do NOT drop students in front of the school and leave them near the door and do NOT drop students off in the middle of the street. This is a very dangerous practice.

• Be kind to the staff who are charged with keeping all children safe. Follow all traffic laws and other directives by our staff in an effort to keep our students safe.

• Be patient. You may arrive for drop-off as early as 9 a.m. We will have teachers on duty at 9:15 a.m. to unload cars.

• Be prepared to have your child exit the car quickly. Backpacks and school items should be in the car with your child. It takes a bit of time to get these items out of the trunk or rear hatch.

• Be safe. Please watch for pedestrians, especially our staff on duty! We are moving people and cars in “chunks” so there are fewer interruptions in the flow of cars and the flow of walkers.

• Due to safety of our staff, teachers are not authorized to direct street traffic. They are available to assist with sidewalk/pedestrian traffic only.

Student Dismissal

Our Dismissal Plan is designed with student safety in mind. Parents will wait outside, on the playground area until the side door opens. Parents/guardians will enter, go to the gym, and sign their child(ren) out. A staff will call and bring the child(ren) to the parents/guardians. Please call the office by 3:15 pm with any transportation changes, since the message will need to be relayed to the classroom teacher. Waiting until the last minute to communicate an unexpected change in dismissal increases the likelihood of failed communication and could result in a student being sent home the wrong way.

Classroom Visits

Unannounced visits to the classroom are not allowed. If you want to visit your child’s classroom, please contact your child’s teacher, in person, by phone or email, to schedule a time.

All parents, guardians and volunteers are required to check-in at the front office, receive a visitor sticker, and be buzzed into the learning environment by the head clerk.

Food

St. Paul Public Schools has a Wellness Policy that we ask you to review. We are requesting that you not send additional snacks and drinks with your child to school, since our students have an opportunity to eat a free and healthy breakfast and lunch every day, along with a snack through the Fruits and Veggies program. Some Children's House classrooms will coordinate a daily snack that parents may provide. If your child needs an additional snack, please coordinate this with your child's teacher.

Nokomis North discourages students from bringing cellphones to school, yet we understand some children need to have them before and after school. Students may not have cell phones on their body during the school day.

Students who choose to bring cellphones to school do so at their own risk. Nokomis North and the St. Paul School District will not be liable for any damage, loss, or theft of electronic devices (SPPS Policy 520.00: Information Technology Usage & Safety Policy).

Cell phones/electronic devices may not be used or seen during school hours. They will be secured in the main office. It is our expectation that students secure their cell phone in the front office during the school day. They should drop it off in the morning where it can be secured by the school clerk. At the end of the day, students should pick up their device. Students whose electronics are seen or heard during the school day will have their devices held by the front office staff until the end of the school day.

Violation of Cell Phone/Electronics Policy:

• Strike 1 - The cell phone/electronic device will be held by the office and returned at the end of the day.

• Strike 2 - The cell phone/electronic device will be held by the office and returned at the end of the day. A parent/guardian will be contacted.

• Strike 3 - A meeting will be set up with a student, parent, teacher, and administrator.

Nokomis North exercises the right to ensure all students have access to an education in a safe environment. If devices are used to disrupt learning environments or harass others, parents/guardians will be contacted and the office will follow consequences outlined in SPPS’ Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.

Thank you for reviewing these expectations. If you need to reach your child, please call the main office @ 651-744-7440 and we will get a message to your student as soon as possible. If a student needs to contact a parent, he/she may ask to use the phone in the classroom or front office.

We are so fortunate this year to be partnering with Change, Inc. and The Wilder Foundation, Hlub Zoo Program, to bring school based mental health supports to students and families at Nokomis North. Ms. Megan Kriener will be at Nokomis Mondays and Thursdays and Ms. Wennicha Yang will be at Nokomis Monday - Friday.

Wennicha Yang (she/her) is a Hmong and Asian culturally-specific School-Based Mental Health Therapist from Amherst Wilder Foundation’s Hlub Zoo (meaning, “Love Well,” and, “Grow Well”) Program. She is passionate about supporting students, parents, and families in developing healthy relationships with themselves and others. Wennicha is a collaborator, compassionate listener, and trauma-informed practitioner with certification in Brainspotting. When performing therapy, she looks for how an individual’s system (ie. family, friends, school, neighborhood, personal experiences, culture, etc) all impact the way they show up in the world while empowering them in the ways they wish to grow. Wennicha graduated undergrad from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in Family Social Science and completed her Masters degree in Family Counseling Psychology at Saint Thomas University. Wennicha grew up on the East Side of Saint Paul with Hmong refugee parents and values making mental health as accessible and culturally appropriate as possible. Wennicha comes to Nokomis Montessori Magnet School-North with over eleven years of experience in youthwork, community building, and navigating public school systems. Wennicha likes to color, run, hike, make candles, read books, and spend time with loved ones during her free-time.

• Mon., Sept. 9 - PTO Meeting, 5:30-7:00 pm
• Fri., Sept. 13 - PTO Event, Donuts with the Principal, 9:30 - 10:00 am
• Thurs., Sept. 19 - Peace Day Assembly, 2:30 pm

Our school is based on the Montessori method: students learn at their own pace in multi-grade classrooms, independently cultivating their interests and natural abilities. Teachers help students choose their work in carefully prepared, peaceful environments; students use beautifully designed hands-on materials to practice and understand skills and concepts. Teachers are Montessori certified and use the Montessori philosophy to guide instruction.

Website: https://www.spps.org/nokomisnorth
Location: 985 Ruth Street, Saint Paul, MN 55119
Phone: (651) 744-7440