Newell Family Sunday Message 03/02

Newell Families,

Thanks to our Newell PTA and all who came out to Game Night last week! We have a full and fun week this week with Read Across America Week as well as our 2nd Tournament of Knights! Thanks to all who have registered. We'll be having fun and working hard all week before Spring Break!

- Mr. Balcom

Last week Walnut teachers Mrs. Rischling and Mr. Schultz introduced the band and orchestra instruments to our 5th Graders. Mr. Fernau and Mr. Persampieri also spoke to our 5th Graders about finishing their year strong at Newell and leaving a positive legacy. They challenged our students to think about:

"When you are graduating from high school, how will your old elementary teachers remember you when they see your name and come to your graduation party?"

Walnut staff made sure our students knew the next 3 months of school at Newell will determine how they are each remembered and THEY have the power to decide their legacy.

This week is Read Across America Week! We will be having fun activities each day celebrating reading AND we will have theme dress-up days:

Monday March 3rd

• Furry Friend: Bring a stuffed animal day (It must fit in your book bag)
• “Reading is Better with a Friend”

Tuesday March 4th

• Favorite Place: Where a shirt with the name or picture of your favorite place on it
• “Reading Will Take You Everywhere”

Wednesday March 5th

• Career Day: Dress as you want to be when you grow up
• “Readers are Our Future”

Thursday March 6th

• Multicolored Day: Wear as many colors as you can
• “Books Color Our World”

Friday March 7th

• Newell Knights: Wear your Newell gear or gold and black
• “Knights are Readers”

Reminder: There will be no school for students Monday March 10th through Friday March 14th

Online Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open. The deadline is March 31st All students need to register for the 25-26 School Year. Yes, even if you are moving. More information here: https://www.gips.org/Page/1545

Each week we'll let you behind the scenes on what students are learning at Newell.

This week we are looking at the ELPA21 Assessment.

We want to take a moment to share information about the ELPA21 (English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century) and why it is an important part of our work to support students.

The ELPA21 is an annual assessment given to students who are identified as English Learners (ELs). It measures their progress in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in English. This assessment helps us understand each student's language development and ensures they receive the right support to be successful in school.

In Nebraska, ELPA21 results are used to guide instruction and determine when students are ready to exit English language support services. The test is designed to be a fair and accurate measure of language growth, and our goal is to help every student develop the skills they need to thrive academically.

If your child is taking the ELPA21, their teachers will provide support and encouragement throughout the process. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

This section includes updates and important information from our amazing Newell PTA! More information is always available on our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/NewellElementaryPTA

Our next PTA Meeting will be Monday, February 24th from 6:30 – 7:30pm! We will meet in the commons area at Newell. We will plan Sprint events, as well as family game night and fundraisers.

Make sure to like our Newell PTA Facebook Page so you don't miss out on any information!

https://www.facebook.com/NewellElementaryPta/

Did you know our school is a Box Top for education school? It’s super easy to help our school raise extra funds!

1. Download the Box Top for Education app!
2. Choose our school— A B Newell Elementary School
3. Go grocery shopping!
4. Scan every receipt just to make sure you’re not missing anything!
5. Repeat steps 3&4 as often as you need to!

Monday March 10th - Friday March 14th

• No School - Spring Break

Thursday March 20th

• Spring Picture Day (All Grades)

Friday March 28th

• No School for Students

Looking Far Ahead:

Monday April 7th

• Kindergarten Field Trip to Stuhr Museum

Friday April 18th

• No School

Monday April 21st

• No School

Friday April 11th

• 4th Grade Field Trip to Lincoln

Thursday May 1st

• Field Day for all students. Stations in the morning and races in the afternoon.

Friday May 2nd

• No School for Students

Tuesday May 20th at 6pm

• 5th Grade Recognition in the evening. Location: Newell Gym

Thursday May 22nd

• Last Day of School
• 5th Grade Tunnel Walk at 10:45am (parents are welcome)
• Dismissal for all students at 11am.

Keep up with our FULL Calendar of EVERYTHING going on here: http://bit.ly/newellcal

Enjoy these recent photos!

Click to zoom in.

Messages that are important all year long!

Your child’s education and well-being is important to us. If your family or child is experiencing difficulties at home, we would love to be able to provide additional support at school. We understand that you are not always able to share details and that’s okay. If your child is coming to school after a difficult night, morning, or weekend, send a message or note with the words, “Handle with Care.” Nothing else will be said or asked. This will let us know that your child may need extra space, time, patience, and help during the day.

Parents, there is a lot of illness going around. Please monitor your child for symptoms.

Description of Fever:

1. A fever is a temporary increase in body temperature, usually caused by an illness.
2. In most mild, two to five day, childhood illnesses, fever is lowest in the morning, rises in the afternoon, and will be the highest in evening and night. As the child begins to recover, morning temperatures will be normal with fever still present later in the day.

Management:

1. Students with a temperature of 100 F or more may be sent home from school.
2. Students may return to school when their temperature has remained below 100.0 for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.

Social media posts as well as a phone call, email or text message will inform you of urgent announcements and weather emergencies. Please be sure our office has your most current telephone and email information.

A regular school day begins at 8:00am and dismisses at 3:05pm, Monday through Friday. Students may be dropped after 7:30am. Students must be picked up by 3:15pm.

Please make your child aware of his/her after school plan. If transportation or daycare plans change, please call the office so we can let your child’s teacher know. Thank you.

We start our school day right at 8:00am. It is VERY important that your child is in class ready to learn at 8:00. Breakfast is served from 7:30am to 7:50am. We are unable to serve students breakfast after 7:50am. If your child needs to eat breakfast at Newell, plan to have them on campus with enough time to get to our breakfast line by 7:50. Students arriving after 7:50 should go to their class lines. Breakfast is FREE for ALL students!

ALL visitors need to check in at the office and wear given identification while in the school. All visitors must ring the buzzer at door #1. Our staff is busily working with students during the school day. If visiting Newell to speak with a staff member, you may be asked to make an appointment at a later time.

Birthdays may be celebrated in each child’s classroom. Families are NOT required or expected to provide treats or gifts. However, if you want to offer treats, please provide healthy snacks that are individually packaged. Cupcakes, cookies, donuts, etc. will not be allowed.

As cited on page 34 of the GIPS Student Handbook:

"Students in grades Pre-K-5 are discouraged from bringing ECDs (Electronic Communication Devices) to school."

If you need to send an Electronic Communication Device with your student, the handbook states:

"Phones should be kept either turned off, or on silent following the rules specified by the classroom teacher."

At Newell students either keep their phones off or silent in their backpacks or they bring their phones to our secretaries in the office at the beginning of the day to keep them safe, also off or on silent. Note: your child will not be able to send or read messages or calls during the school day.

If you have questions please reach out to Mr. Balcom.

The full handbook is online here: https://www.gips.org/Page/105

Have a wonderful week!

Nate Balcom- Principal

Heather Glause - Secretary

Kathy Schulte - Attendance Secretary

Jami White - Social Worker

Tiffanie Oswald - Nurse

Yolanda Seiler - Spanish Interpreter