WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES . . .

 Students walk the nature trail during Phys Ed two days in a row this week. Same trail, two very different walks!

A few words from school to your home . . .

January 29, 2021

February Hallway Challenge: Our next school-wide challenge will be a door decorating contest. Each grade will decorate their classroom door. Doors may have a Valentine theme or be in line with a favorite book or topic being studied. We will be judged on creativity, color, and if there is a message, how well it is conveyed. NCS custodians and kitchen staff will be our judges. Students have discussed their ideas within classrooms. They'll use school supplies and/or may bring in things from home. We will try and share as many doors as possible on the BLOG so you can see what is happening at NCS!

If there are no snow days, we will celebrate the 100th day of school on February 10, 2021. We will have been in school for 100 days of teaching and learning….YIPPEEE! This is really something to celebrate.

Valentines Day: If you and your child wish to give Valentines to their class, please send them in by Monday in a plastic bag. Valentines will be distributed on Friday, February 12th. This is the same protocol being followed by other AOS 93 schools.

February Vacation is February 13th-21st. Classes will resume on February 22nd.

Have an amazing weekend,

Sharon A. Sperry

Interim Principal NCS

Jan 22: A few thoughts from Ms. Sperry

Dear NCS Families:  I hope everyone enjoyed an extra day with their children on Martin Luthur King Day.

I know that you cannot be in person at school but let me share just a few wonderful things that are happening at NCS:

• PE: lots of outdoor adventures including trips on the trail, volleyball in the gym and snow angels. 
• Music: The halls are alive with the Sound of Music and although under COVID regulations students cannot sing, they are learning to play the songs on the xylophone. The fifth graders are learning to play the violin and the ukuleles are strumming. 
• Art: I saw little snowmen heading home last week and some amazing drawings of Martin Luthur King are on the walls. 
• Library:  Last week's kindergarten read aloud was a happy adventure! (See photo at right.)

This week we begin our second round of NWEA testing. All NWEA tests will be completed by the end of January. During the March professional development days we will be looking at the data and reviewing our strengths and weaknesses as a school. 

Only a couple more weeks until the 100th day of school! Thanks to all your hard work, we are still in school. Your children have been amazing wearing masks (even though it is “YUCKY” as one first grader told me). We ask that no one let their guard down because we all want to be here. 

Have an amazing weekend with your incredible children! 

Dear NCS Families:

Every week we are here in school is a real blessing. As I walk through the halls each morning, popping into classrooms to see what is happening, I see teachers teaching and students learning and so much positiveness.

We had our first hallway challenge of 2021 . . . Drum roll, please . . . the winner was: Cole representing Grade 3!

We will begin our NWEA testing on January 19, 2021. Please help us help your child by doing the following:

• Ensure your child gets plenty of sleep during the testing week.

• Encourage your child to do their best but to not stress.

• Pack a little snack or a positive note in your child’s lunch/snack box.

• Ask your child about the test when he/she comes home from school

The purpose of testing is to inform instruction. NWEA’s give teachers almost immediate feedback. Our teachers are able to see areas of strength and areas that they might need to reteach for individual students or possibly the entire class. NWEA’s provide students, teachers and parents with a great deal of important information.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Covid, or whether or not you should send your child to school, please call Nurse Kayla.

In case your children have not informed you, there is no school on Monday, January 18, 2021. Have a great weekend and enjoy the extra day with you children. --Sharon

Winter Art

 

Return of the Lobby Challenge!

 

• Aren't you just craving a little pop of color at this time of year? 
• Running low on post-it's in the classroom? 

How about trying out our little estimating contest?  Enter the POST-IT NOTE CHALLENGE!

This week students and staff will have an opportunity to estimate how many post-its (that's individual sheets) are stacked in the giant jar at the office. The person coming closest to the correct number will win a very generous amount of post-its for their classroom!

Enter to win:  

• One entry per person.   
• Either leave your guess on the clipboard at the office or submit it here:  POST ITS?????

Winner(s) will be announced on Friday.  Have a great week!   

Interim Principal Sharon Sperry: "Here's to a great 2021!"

Happy New Year!  Welcome 2021! It was wonderful to see the smiling faces hopping off the buses and cars on Monday morning. There are so many schools still remote or following a hybrid model, we are very fortunate to have teachers teaching and students learning here at NCS. 

Very special thanks to our amazing custodial staff as we all came back to an immaculate school ready to begin another busy sprint until February break.

Thank you once again NCS Families for your incredible support of the sixth grade Food Bank Project. The bus that took all the food etc. to the Food Bank was filled to overflowing. Your contributions exemplified true caring and you provided a fantastic learning experience for the sixth grade students teaching them that amazing things can be accomplished when we all work together. THANK YOU!

Please remember that if your child has a temperature in the evening he/she must have a normal temperature for 24 hours before returning to school. If a child has a temperature here at school, we will call and ask you to please pick your child up immediately.  We all need to be extra vigilant at this time. We appreciate your help keeping all students and staff safe and COVID Free.

Here’s to a great 2021!

Winter Magic! Enjoy!