Normandy Park School

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Monday, March 13th is an D Day.

March is an exciting and busy month at NPS!

• The HSA Reading Challenge continues (more information below).
  
• The second trimester ends, and report cards are sent home on March 24th.
• March 30th is STEAM Day at NPS. Students will participate in STEAM activities/presentations during the day. In the evening of March 30th, all families and students are invited to attend the STEAM fair (6:30p to 8pm)

Click here for the Bilingual Monthly Newsletter!

Last week, NPS raffle winner got to pie Mr. Miller in the face! The event was streamed for all students to watch live!

Last week, the winner of the NPS Share the Magic prize "Hoops with Officer Doug", claimed her prize. In addition to shooting hoops with Officer Doug, she took a home a signed Officer Doug basketball!

Click here for additional information on the HSA's upcoming annual NPS Reading Challenge!

Fill out reading logs here!

March is Women's History Month. During the month of March, we give a little extra attention to all of the amazing accomplishments of strong, determined women!

Women's History Month highlights the contributions and impact of influential women. Every morning, we will open the announcements by learning about an influential woman in history!

NPS students have been voting on books in library with Mrs. Gilson. Through a grueling tournament of books, students have selected a winner. After many head to head read alouds, the winner is.....

Happy March! Like all months, there is so much to celebrate including Women’s history month, Disabilitity Awareness month, Holi, St. Patrick’s Day, and of course the first official day of spring!

As we continue to work towards a more inclusive society I wanted to focus on Disability Awareness month. So, what is a disability? The Americans wiith Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a person with a disability as “a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity”.

There are many types of disabilities, such as those that affect a person’s:

• Vision

• Movement

• Thinking

• Remembering

• Learning

• Communicating

• Hearing

• Mental health

• Social relationships

Many people who have a disbility prefer to be called differently abled because their difference does not define who they are. And many people today with differences don’t let their differences affect their life.

The Morris school district has a wonderful program starting in the elementary schools, called SNAP (Special Needs Athletic/Awareness Progam). Fifth grade students are nominated to be SNAP ambassadors and teach 3rd grade estudents (here in Normandy it’s our 2nd and 3rd grade students) what it might feel like to have a disability by using a variety of simulated activities. For example, children have to try to write their names and follow a maze on a piece of paper in front of them by looking in a mirror. This activity is to simulate what it might feel like to be dyslexic. These activities are designed to help students recognize a variety of challenges others may face and build compassion and empathy.

On a personal note, all of your children know that I have what is sometimes referred to as a limb difference. I was born without a fully developed hand. Most of you who know me might never have noticed but children notice right away. They are naturally curios and have lots of questions. I am open with them and answer their questions as honestly as I can. I tell them I was born this way but it doesn’t change who I am as a person. I talk about how everyone is different on the outside, and together we name some of those differences including hair and skin color, freckles and glasses. I reassure them that they can’t get what I have (some are afraid my hand is contagious), and that although I’m ok talking about it not everyone who has a difference is. Without fail during the conversation the student I am talking to will call someone over and yell “look at Ms. Cohen’s hand” (which many affectionately refer to as my “baby hand and I don’t mind”). Other children will come over and ask about it. I use that as an opportunity to discuss differences. I have the student I just explained it to tell the other students what happened. They often ask me how I pick things up or how I tie my shoes and I happily show them. It normalizes something that looks so different. We discuss what’s more important, how you look on the outside or how you are as a person. Students will often comment things like “Ms. Cohen, how’s your baby hand? It’s so cute.”, “I love your little hand. It makes you beautiful.” and “It doesn’t matter how you look you are so nice.” All of those comments are about beautiful and about normalizing differences!

Below are just a few of many great children’s books about a wide variety of children and adults with disabilities/different abilities. We have many of these titles at our Normandy Park library and there are more at our local libraries. As always make sure to read it first to see if you are comfortable with the material and answering any questions your child(ren) might have.

If you have any questions about anything you read in the counselor corner or you have concerns about your child please reach out to me at: Cheryl.cohen@msdk12.net

Stay awesome!

Cheryl

SEL Day is an annual event on the 2nd Friday in March to showcase, promote, advocate, and support SEL in school and communities across the world.

Last week, everyone at Normandy Park participated writing positive messages or drawing positive pictures on post-it notes and place them on bulletin boards in different hallways. On Friday, homeroom teachers took their students on a hallway walk and students selected one message they wanted to take home with them.

Students were excited to write their positive messages and to select a note that helped them feel good!

Click below for the Social Emotional Learning newsletter from our Social Work Intern team!

English

Spanish

Click here to visit our Home and School Association website!

Girls on the Run® will return to NPS this spring for 3rd - 5th graders! The NPS program is seeking up-beat, dependable adult coaches who can commit a few hours twice a week April - June. Visit the website for more info.

Student registration is now open!

Registration open for participants in 3rd thru 5th grade (click here)!

Show your NPS pride! Purchase NPS school gear directly from Redbubble with shipment right to your doorstep! A small percentage of profits will be returned to NPS with your purchase!

Create a profile on our NPS HSA Membership Toolkit to enable your participation in the school directory (grade/teacher), sign up to receive the Home and School Association's weekly newsletter, submit club forms, volunteer and more!

• If you know that you child will be tardy or absent from school, it is requested that you notify the nurse in advance. This can be done by phone at 973-889-7960 x 6152. Voicemail is operational 24 hours daily.

• You may also contact her office by email at: marybeth.supple@msdk12.net

• Students who arrive tardy (after 8:55am) must report immediately to the Health Office upon arrival to school for a late pass

Please use the digital blue note form for any dismissal changes. The main office will notify the homeroom teachers of the dismissal change. For absences, continue to contact the school nurse.

If a situation arises that requires you to pick your child up during the school day, a note must be sent to the office specifying the pick-up time. Students being picked up early are asked to be picked up before 2:30 p.m.

Click here for March Breakfast and Lunch Menus.

For additional information on MSD Breakfast and Lunch, please click here to visit the district's website.

Students can bring and/or purchase lunch. Free and reduced meals are provided to families who qualify for support. To fill out the Free and Reduced Meals application, please click here.

• March 24th- Report Cards for 2nd Trimester Sent Home
• March 27th- Early Dismissal for Students
• March 30th- STEAM Day and STEAM Fair

2022-2023 District Calendar

· Harrassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Reporting Information

· Parent Handbook

· District Calendar

· Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

· Free and Reduced Meal Application

· Adding Money to Breakfast/Lunch Account

· Sunset and Sunrise

The Morris Educational Foundation (MEF) is proud to continue its mission of generating and distributing resources to enhance the education of the 5,700 students and 1,000 educators in the Morris School District’s 10 schools. For 30 years, the MEF has and will continue to support our District through vibrant grants, supportive tutoring, enlightening parent education and life-changing scholarship programs. Learn more about how the MEF works to enrich and inspire the academic pursuits of all our students by clicking here. With you, our community, we make exceptional education extraordinary.

Click on this link to view a video about what the MEF does for you!

Any questions, email info@morrisedfoundation.org.