Normandy Park School

I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their contributions and support with the HSA's I Heart NPS Fundraiser. I loved reading family and student messages on why they love NPS. I truly appreciate the support of our NPS community!

MSD will continue to share important information on the Coronavirus Update Center and on our MSD Forward pages. 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.

This part of the newsletter will have a question or a topic for you to discuss with your child(ren). This can be done on the way to school, on the way to sports practice, before dinner, at bedtime, etc.

Each week there will be a “something to think about” question and a “something to talk about” question. The “something to think about question” is for you as a parent to reflect on for yourself. The “something to talk about” question is for you to discuss with your child. These exercises are meant to stimulate a conversation on race, equity and inclusion in America.

Week Twenty Five

Parent question: What does inclusion mean? Inclusion means that all people, regardless of their ability, disability, or health care needs, have the right to be respected and appreciated as valuable members of their community. (CommunityInclusion.org) Has there ever been a time you haven’t felt included, important or valuable? (Think middle school or high school.)

Child Question: Inclusion means everyone feels like they belong and that they are welcome. Has there ever been a time you didn’t think you were included or important? This could have happened at home, school, after school activities or with friends. How did you feel?

Hello everyone and Happy Music in our Schools Month!

Music Fact of the Week:

Did you know that a song that gets stuck in your head is called an “earworm?” An earworm refers to catchy music that continually repeats through a person's mind, even after it's no longer playing. There have actually been studies done on earworms, which found that earworms could also be triggered by experiences that bring up a memory of a song, hearing a few notes from the song, or feeling an emotion which you associate with the song.

Music Joke of the Week: What type of music are balloons afraid of? Pop Music!

To learn more about Read Across America, please click here

March 2nd was Read Across America Day. This week, we celebrated reading with a schoolwide Drop, Everything and Read Time. Each student received a new bookmark. In addition, we shared recorded read alouds from members of the NPS staff (see below)!

Mrs. Gilson reads Shrek by William Steig

Mrs. Schwam reads Little House by Virgina Lee Burton

Mr. Miller reads Wherever You Go by Pat Zietlow Miller

We knew the Normandy Park community had a lot of heart, and you proved it!

The "I Heart Normandy Park" fundraiser for our HSA smashed through our goal, raising $12,081.12! Thank you so much for the outpouring of love you showed during these difficult times. Because of you, we will be able to continue funding programs like the recent Zentangle art residency and our two upcoming schoolwide virtual assemblies, as well as teacher appreciation, birthday books, and more.

Congratulations for meeting and exceeding the goal for our fundraiser! We raised over $12,000 for the HSA thanks to the wonderful community here at Normandy Park.

Please enjoy this video of Mrs Tulli showing that our NPS teachers will try to teach anyone!

Message from Ms. Cohen:

The lessons of inclusion and disability (differently abled/alter abled) have begun. This is all a part of our Accepting Me, Accepting You, Accepting All. Students are learning about many different types of disabilities (people who are differently abled) including physical, intellectual, and learning disabilities. Some disabilities can be clearly seen (a cane, leg braces, limb differences), while others (such as ADHD, Dyslexia, or Autism, might not be as noticeable). Inclusion means that all people, regardless of their ability, disability, or health care needs, have the right to be respected and appreciated as valuable members of their community (CommunityInclusion.org). We want students to think about including others not just at school, but also in their day to day lives. Students were very engaged in thinking and commenting about how they can include others, not just those who are differently abled but also anyone who might be facing a challenge.

In other news, the optional lunch groups for all virtual K-2 students are still going strong. We meet from 12-12:30. It’s a way to check in, play some games and have some social time with friends from other classes. For those curious about the games we have been playing Simon Says, Melting Snowman, the Sleep Game, I Spy, Tomato, and Statues to name a few. Riddles and Scavenger Hunts have also been big, especially amongst 2nd graders.

Tuesdays: Kindergarten

Wednesdays: 1st grade

Thursdays: 2nd grade

As always if I can be of any help to you or your child(ren) please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Cohen, MSW, LCSW

School Counselor

cheryl.cohen@msdk12.net

---------------------

*When NPS is open for in-person instruction:

My child has to quarantine. Can they stream into class?

For students attending in person classes, access to virtual instruction is for absences over an extended period of time due to quarantining or an extenuating circumstance. In this case, access to virtual instruction will consist of a combination of streaming, completion of Google Classroom activities, and teacher check-in(s).

My child is sick. Can they stream into the class?

No, if your child is home sick for a few days they will be considered to have an excused absence due to illness. Students are encouraged to rest.

*Please note, access to virtual instruction for in-person students needs to be approved by the principal and/or nurse. Please reach out to me with any additional questions at christopher.miller@msdk12.net

Please continue to follow the precise stipulations of the Daily Student Screening or COVID/Attendance Screener for staff. Above all, individuals should not report to school if they exhibit symptoms (which include fever of 100 degrees F or higher WITHOUT fever-reducing medicine), or if any member of the household is awaiting test results or has been instructed to get a COVID-19 test. Thank you for your ongoing vigilance and partnership.

Spring Break:

The CDC, NJDOH, and our local health departments are extremely concerned about travel because of the presence of multiple, highly transmissible and potent coronavirus variants circulating throughout the United States. Accordingly, current guidance is to continue avoiding any nonessential travel. Please note that we are scheduled to resume in-person instruction immediately after spring break, on April 5. Anyone who returns to NJ from travel outside our immediate region (CT, DE, NY, PA) must quarantine. Families are reminded to contact the school nurse upon return from travel for instructions and quarantine dates. We appreciate your cooperation and open communication regarding travel and quarantine so that we can ensure a safe environment for our students and staff.

Retired MSD teacher, Michelle Dupree Harris, and FMS social studies teacher & Normandy Park School Sunset Site Leader, Warren Kersey, are working on a team to create a documentary on the history and contributions of the black community in Morristown.

To read more, please click here for an article from the MorristownGreen.com

Grab & Go meals will be available for all students, who wish to receive them. The Federal Department of Agriculture has extended waivers that will allow MSD to serve ALL students meals for FREE through June 2021.

REMINDER: Students who are not attending school in person can pick up free breakfast and lunch at Morristown High School (at the rear circle by the flagpole off of Atno Avenue) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. There will be two service times, from 8:00 am to 9:00 am and again from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

More information about School Breakfast & Lunch is available on the MSD Forward homepage under "Back to School Resources for Families."

• 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).

• March 29th to April 2nd (Spring Break)