Nokesville News

This year, our staff created introduction videos to help be better connected to each other and to our families. Learn more about our TNS staff using this Staff Introduction Padlet. This will be helpful as we help make a big school feel smaller by learning more about each other and get more connected across nine grade levels. There is also a link under "staff" on our website for this.

We have great news that this year, during-the-school day, school-sponsored field trips, will be free to students this year. Please read and review a TNS Field Trips Update 2023-24 that includes more information on this as well the process for and expectations of chaperones and parents. This letter is also located on our website under News/Parent & Guardian Communication Archive.

We were excited to have our first middle school pep rally today! It included introductions of our girls Volleyball Team, a performance by our BDHS/TNS Dance Team, a performance by our elementary/middle Cheer Team, and a staff/student scooter relay race. This is such a fun time of year!

Please consider having your child participate in these fun days this month! Our goal continues to be to reduce and hopefully eliminate bullying in our school. Any form of bullying or harassment will not be tolerated and will be addressed if it comes up, and we also want to help grow a school culture of kindness and empathy towards others.

"Socktober" is a movement that challenges us to collect socks from our community and donate them to the local shelters. This was founded in 2011 by Brad Montague, the creator of the Kid President series (learn more in the video below).

TNS NJHS is leading this effort and asking you to donate new socks for the homeless between October 1st-31st. Simply send them in with your middle school child to their home room or to the office attention Mrs. Sicheri! Socks will be donated to the local homeless shelter at the end of the month. See pictures below of our NJHS recently making the collection boxes.

As we have begun slowly implementing the Evolv system during arrival we have numerous non-weapon items that will alert the system such as metal eyeglass cases, umbrellas, metal lunch boxes/lunch containers, and some metal water bottles. In our testing of the system, we have also found that students are bringing toys, large keychains, make-up accessories, and other non-school-related items. In our efforts to expedite the arrival process please keep items such as eyeglass cases and umbrellas in exterior pockets and have laptops out of backpacks. We also ask to refrain from having students bring non-school-related items into school. So far, the practice as gone really well. We do anticipate that the first few days may have a little slower than normal arrival for students and we will be prepared for that.

The new security screening tool will be live on Wednesday, Oct 3rd, for all students, but also for staff and visitors. Any staff and/or visitor that comes into school during the day will need to be screened using the system before entry into the building. This does not include coming into the office to briefly drop something off. The screening is meant for those coming into the building for meetings, to volunteer, and/or to have lunch with their child.

Thank you to our students, staff, and families involved in our 9/27 volleyball game for supporting one of our elementary tigers in her battle with cancer! They wore purple to support her and Childhood Cancer Month. She participated in opening team announcements, handshakes with the visiting team, and helped coach the game. Way to go! This truly is an example of what our amazing community is capable of!

Our PTO is so excited to offer spirit wear! Store will be open until 10/10 and orders will be delivered the last week of October! Order yours today! --> https://stores.athletesmark.com/tns_spiritwear/shop/home

We are excited to bring in our parents for students in grades third, fourth, and fifth grades. Door will open at 5:40 pm and the Back to School Night will begin at 6:00 pm. Parents should go directly to their child's homeroom teacher and we will have staff and helpers their to assist you. We will also leave time at the end for you to visit other teachers if you have multiple children in grades 3-5. The evening will conclude at 7:15 pm. For this event, staff will park in the back and parents may park in all the space they can find. They can also park in the bus loop along both sides of the curb. We will have door #20 by the bus loop also open for parents that park on that side of the building.

We are excited to use a new process to register students for afterschool clubs at TNS. Each club will have a $20 fee to cover costs of the club. If you have difficulty paying this, please reach out to school administration for help. Fall Clubs will be Tuesday’s and/or Thursday’s. The starting date of clubs will be October 3 and run through December 14. Our spring clubs will start up in February. Watch for more information after Winter break.

The clubs we have for the fall are below. These are based on what staff and parents have volunteered, so if you would like an additional club, in the future, please volunteer to support it. We will have a new set of clubs in the spring and may have different or the same clubs as this.

• TNS Buddies: Bringing together general education students and students with disabilities together in a fun environment. (K-8)
  

• Green Team: We focus on sustainable and earth-friendly practices. (3-8)
• Create Club: Students will do multiple crafts and have an opportunity for growth management. (4-5)
• TNS Design: Special interest club geared towards the artistic and digital designing enthusiasts. We create logos and designs for other clubs and events for the school as well as other community projects. (4-8)

• Chorus: Students will learn a variety of music from around the world; folk songs, patriotic songs and more. Vocal technique, musicianship skills, and performance opportunities throughout the year. This will be a fall and spring club. (4-5)
• Sit-n-Knit: Knitting, crocheting, embroidery and needlepoint. A place to get together with others that have the same interest or come to learn a new craft. Community projects to donate. (5-8)
• Battle of Books: Book-based competition club. Participants read 20 books on the competition list to prepare for competition against other schools. Competitions are usually held mid-January and mid-March. (6-8)
• Chess: Students will have a chance to challenge each other and expand their skills in chess. (6-8)
• Sewing Club: Students will learn the basics of the sewing machine and do simple sewing projects. (6-8)
• Art: Students who are interested in painting using acrylic paints; bring your own drawings, photographs or a TNS mascot image will be provided. The club is student-led and will be assisted by the sponsor as they pursue their own artistic interests. (6-8)
  
• Dance: Students will perform hip hop, jazz, and poms at specified school events. Students will have to try out and make it on skill set. Extra fees for uniforms may be included. (6-8)

Use this TNS CLUBS REGISTRATION link to sign your child up for a fall afterschool club.

We have a limit to how many students can join each club and will use a lottery system to choose if more students sign up than we have spaces for in the club.

Tiger Task Force is TNS's version of the "Watch DOGS" program, where we have a different adult role model in the building each day to support teachers in classrooms, eat lunch with their student(s), supervise recess (elementary) and help with minimal security checks. This also includes helping for arrival, dismissal, and being on the morning announcements with their child(ren).

The program targets male role models, since historically men have not been as involved in schools and education. It also helps show positive male role models for students who may not have that in their family at this time. At TNS, we are inclusive and women are welcome to sign up and be positive female role models, something that is also extremely important for our students.

The registration link is below. At this time, please sign up for no more than two days. We will open it back up for more days once everyone has had a chance to sign up. The first available date starts October 16, 2023.

TIGER TASK FORCE REGISTION

Once you sign up, you will get a reminder once the date gets closer. When you arrive, we will provide you with a Tiger Task Force shirt and a personalized schedule for the day. Please reach if you have any questions! All of this is also on our TNS website.

Regular attendance in school is one of the most important strategies for your child's success. Please make sure they are on time and in school every day as much as possible. We have information on our website with a TNS Attendance & Dismissal Form to use in case your child is out of school. When students miss school regularly, we will be sending home official letters and making contact with families to improve attendance.

Brentsville District High School asked us to remind our families that students under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at events such as evening games. Thanks for your help with this.

The Nokesville School Kindergarten through 5th Grade classes will be having a Storybook Character Parade on Tuesday, October 31st! This is an optional event. If your child would like to participate, select a school-appropriate book to read before that day. On October 31st, come to school dressed as a character from the book and bring the book with you to school to share with others. Homemade and low prep costumes are encouraged!

Students will be lined up by grade level and parade through the school in costume and with their book on that day. The parade will be viewed by all elementary students. Characters and costumes must be appropriate for school and follow the school dress code. No toy weapons or objects that look like weapons allowed. Thank you for your participation!

Save the date for the PTO/Boosterthon Fun Run on November 1, 2023. This is a fundraiser to sponsor special PTO events and additions to our school. It includes different runs for grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. All students will get a new free t-shirt and be able to participate. The elementary runs will be different than the middle 'color' run. These should be a lot of fun for the kids. This is meant to wrap up the Boosterthon fundraising that is going to occur Oct 24-Nov 1.

Please talk with your child about the many ways to report bullying, harassment, and/or misconduct. We want to make sure they know exactly where to go to get help when needed. This includes talking in person with their teachers, administration, office staff, counselors, etc. They can also email our staff directly. Another option in the middle level is for them to use the Say Something app and website. The link is also found on our school website. Every child deserves to feel safe and supported while in school. Let's work together to make sure that happens. We have a school goal of resolving all disciplinary issues within a few school days to ensure that we respond appropriately and timely when misconduct occurs.

Please review the Counseling Team Newsletter with important information on how to request support, change schedules, classroom lessons, and other great resources. --> https://www.smore.com/z68p7

Check out the latest Nokesville Nexus from Ms. Moul, TNS School Social Worker, and Ms. Lombardi, TNS Parent Liaison, updating families on local basic needs resources, mental health and parenting, SPED info and school anxiety. --> https://www.smore.com/atzsx

Monday - MS Black Day, ES Day 2

Tuesday - MS Orange Day, ES Day 3

Wednesday - MS Black Day, ES Day 4

Thursday - MS Orange Day, ES Day 5

Friday - MS Black, ES Day 1

October:

• Monday, 10/2/23 - Away Volleyball vs Metz MS
• Tuesday, 10/3/23 - Back to School Night (Grades 3-5), 6:00-7:15 pm
• Wednesday, 10/4/23 - Away Volleyball Game vs Marsteller MS
• Monday, 10/9/23 - Staff PD Day (no school for students)

Principal, Dr. Andy Jacks jacksam@pwcs.edu

Assistant Principal, Mr. Geoff Brunson brunsogr@pwcs.edu

Assistant Principal, Mrs. Abbey Martinez martinae1@pwcs.edu

Administrative Intern, Mrs. Brittney Giovannelli giovanbl@pwcs.edu

The Nokesville School
Prince William County Public Schools

Email: jacksam@pwcs.edu
Website: https://nokesville.pwcs.edu/
Location: 12375 Aden Road, Nokesville, VA 20181, USA
Phone: (571) 781-3040
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNokesvilleSchool
Twitter: @NokesvilleSch