Normandy Park School

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend & enjoyed the snow day on Friday!

Monday (1/10) is a C Day.

This week, students will begin the iReady Diagnostic Assessment in Reading and Math (more information below).

Please continue answering the following the questions on the Daily Student Screening before your child leaves for school each morning. Please inform our school nurse (marybeth.supple@msdk12.net) if your child tested positive for COVID-19 during the break, has been in close contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19, or exhibits any symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

If there are changes in your child's dismissal plans (e.g. you are going to pick them up that day, instead of taking the bus), please use the attached form or call the main office.

Please know that I am here to help and support in any way that I can. Feel free to reach out to me directly at christopher.miller@msdk12.net.

La Esquina Latina Con Mrs. Esteves

This week, our school will begin administering the i-Ready® Diagnostic assessment during the week of January 10th for Grades K-5.

i-Ready Diagnostic helps teachers to effectively assess their students and then provide individualized instruction based on each student’s unique needs. i-Ready Diagnostic assesses the following skill areas:

Reading

• Phonological Awareness

• Phonics

• High-Frequency Words

• Vocabulary

• Comprehension

Math

• Number and Operations

• Algebra and Algebraic Thinking

• Measurement and Data

• Geometry

i-Ready Diagnostic begins by giving students an adaptive assessment in reading and math. An adaptive assessment is a test that automatically adjusts the difficulty of the questions according to each student’s performance in order to determine his or her abilities in reading or math. i-Ready is a very different kind of test that presents students with questions that can be both too easy and too hard. It is designed to do this until the assessment finds exactly the level at which the student is performing. Therefore, your child will certainly see some items above his or her level. Your child will be encouraged to independently complete the test to the best of his or her ability, and know that it is okay to get questions wrong.

Each time a student gets an item incorrect, he or she will be presented with a simpler question until the diagnostic finds the grade level at which the student is performing. The assessment efficiently assesses students across multiple grade levels, allowing for identification of root causes of students’ struggles or for identification of areas where a student is ready for further challenge. This information will then provide the teacher with a “road map” to instructional remediation.

Once your child completes the test, he or she will be assigned online instruction to support his or her progress in mastering each skill. i-Ready Diagnostic supports the teachers and administrators at your child’s school. The program provides a series of comprehensive reports designed to make classroom instruction more effective. These reports include data about student performance as well as detailed teaching suggestions. They help educators make informed decisions about the instruction that is right for your child.

Should you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or your child’s teacher. For more information on i-Ready Diagnostic, please visit the Morris School District website: www.morrisschooldistrict.org

Quarantined students may use their Chromebook to view the in-person classroom via Google Meet and will have access to assignments via Google Classroom (K-5) or Canvas (6-12). Additional support will be provided to elementary students and others who require it. PreK students will have periodic check-ins, but most of their learning will take place off-line.

Virtual learning will be arranged within two school days (may be provided earlier if possible) of the onset of quarantine. This time frame is necessary for information to be distributed to all the necessary teachers and staff, and then for the teachers to set up Google Meet links and coordinate academic support. However, students can access their Google Classroom or Canvas accounts to check for assignments at any time.

Teaching an apology

One of the most difficult things for children (and adults as well) is to make a meaningful apology for mistakes made. And let's face it, we all make mistakes. The first step is to recognize what the mistake was, acknowledging that something happened. Sometimes children admit to their mistakes right away and sometimes there is a back and forth (“no I didn’t”, “yes you did”.) I’ve mentioned this before in my December newsletter: sometimes it helps to say “is it possible you…….”(hit your brother because you were upset he took your toy, for example). This allows your child to think about their actions in a non-accusatory manner. Review with your child whether it was purposeful or accidental. Next is practicing the apology. Have them look at the person they hurt or harmed. Then help them with the language of the apology. A “sorry” does not help them understand their role in the problem. An apology can sound like: I’m sorry _____(name) I ________ (action) you. I was _________(feeling) because ___________ but it is not ok to ________(action). “I’m sorry Miranda that I hit you. I was mad that you took my toy but I should not have hurt you.” And the last part is “I will not do it again.” Add to your child’s coping skill toolbox by reminding them of the words they can use and the people around them who can help them. Have them practice what to say or do if someone takes their toy, pushes them, says something unkind to them. For example “If Miranada takes your toy without asking you can remind her that’s your toy and ask her to give it back. If she does not you can tell her that if she doesn’t give it back you are going to ask ________(mom/dad/ aunt) for help.

What have been your experiences with your child/children when working on apologies. Feel free to let me know.

If you have a topic/question you would like to see featured in the Counselor Corner, please email me at cheryl.cohen@msdk12.net

Stay Awesome!

Please pass on information to friends and family interested in enrolling in Normandy Park School for the 2022-2021 school year.The session will allow families to learn more about our program and community. This session is for interested families, who did not attend in December.

For additional information, please see below:

Date: February 3rd, 2021

Time: 6:30pm to 7:30pm

*The session will be conducted virtually.

To register to attend please fill out the following Google Form by clicking here: https://forms.gle/THFyridg1vzLSbis5

JOIN US FOR ZING! A FUN MOVEMENT CLASS

NPS students are invited to on January 18th at 6 pm for a virtual Zing! session. It is a fun-powered online fitness class to help kids (and parents!) feel amaZING through movement, mindset and play.

To register and receive joining information, please complete this Google form/Para registrarse por favor complete este formulario de Google:

https://forms.gle/AB39Vr7uSymk9Fxr5

HSA NEWSLETTER MOVING TO WEDNESDAYS

As previously communicated, the HSA will be moving to Wednesdays this week in a response from our community. It will be the same format and information, just a different day! Keep an eye out on Wednesday for the newsletter!

NEXT SESSION OF AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK

Sign Ups for the next round of After-School Clubs will be announced this Wednesday, January 12th, in the HSA newsletter. Keep an eye out for these exciting programs!

We are running the NPS Spirit Store a little differently this year. This year the School Store is on RedBubble.com and you'll be able to order whenever you want! Head on over to NPS School Store to check out all of our new designs and get your hands on the coolest of NPS Fashion!

Check out the HSA school store. Now open!

Beginning th week of January 24th, Tracy Fox of Memory Vessel Studio will conduct a stop motion residency program for all our Senior classrooms.

This residency brings creative digital tools to young authors to create stop motion animations. The workshop series allows student to explore and expand their age-appropriate reporting, storytelling and language art literacy skills.

For additional information about Memory Vessel Studio, please click here!

REMINDER:

Students will be having snack time during the school day, with all necessary safety measures in place. Please send your child in with a healthy snack.

Breakfast and lunch will be served daily at school. All students will have access to school provided breakfast and lunch (if they choose to receive it).

As students enter the building, they will be able to grab-and-go breakfast if they choose to.

Click here for the MSD January breakfast menu.

For lunch, students will be asked at the beginning of the day if they would like to order (providing their choice of either the hot/cold option). Teachers will present the menu choices for the day.

Click here for the MSD January lunch menu.

Where will students eat lunch?

Students will eat lunch at 6 ft apart (seats facing the same direction). We will utilize classrooms, cafeteria, and lab to accommodate all students at 6ft apart.

Arrival Procedures: Students are permitted into the building at 8:40 a.m. Students bussed to school will be dropped off in the front of the building.

Drop Offs: Students being dropped off in the morning may enter through the back doors. Please use the drop-off/pick-up line in the back of the building. There is no supervision before 8:40, and children who arrive before that time, will not be permitted to enter the building. A staff member will be at the door between 8:40 and 8:55 a.m. to welcome students. Any student arriving after 8:55 must enter the front of the building and report to the nurse’s office with a parent or guardian to obtain a late pass.

Dismissal Procedures: Dismissal begins at the conclusion of our last period, 3:05 p.m.

All students are encouraged to ride the bus to and from school.

At dismissal, students will be dismissed from the back of the building. When picking up your child, please use the pick-up line. Stay in your vehicle. Teachers will accompany your child to your car.

Pick-Up During the Day:

If a situation arises that requires you to pick your child up during the school day, please use the attached form or call the main office. Students being picked up early are asked to be picked up before 3 p.m. Before leaving, you must sign your child out in the notebook provided in the office. Unless an emergency arises, please refrain from calling the office after 1:30 to make changes to your child’s dismissal.

• If there are changes in your child's dismissal plans (e.g. you are going to pick them up that day, instead of taking the bus), please use the attached form or call the main office.
• For written communication between you and your child's teacher, please utilize Class Dojo and/or e-mail, rather than hand-written letters (when possible).

• January 17th: No School in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• Parent Handbook
  
• Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
• School Breakfast and Lunch Information
• Sunset and Sunrise