Panther Pride Newsletter
January 2023
School Board Recognition Month
On behalf of Norton City Schools, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated members of our school board during this School Board Appreciation Month. Your tireless commitment to fostering educational excellence, supporting our students, and shaping the future of our community is truly commendable. Thank you for your unwavering support, passion, and countless hours of service. Your leadership is instrumental in creating a positive and thriving learning environment for our students. We are grateful for the impact you make on our schools and the lives of those you serve. Special thank you to Louis Ule, who recently finished serving eight years as a board member, where he served as both Vice President and President. Best of luck in your future endeavors and thank you for your service. We would also like to welcome Mark DeDomenic to the board. Mark will be replacing Louis Ule as the fifth member of the board.
Happy School Board Appreciation Month
Jennifer Bennett
Patrick Burch
Mark DeDomenic
Elisa Staats
Cindy Webel
Thank You For Your Service
Open Enrollment
2024-2025 School Year
Current Open Enrolled Students
Reapplication Form Posted in Final Forms
February 2, 2024
Reapplication Deadline
February 16, 2024
New Open Enrolled Students
Application for New Students
March 4, 2024 @ 6:00 a.m.
Application Deadline
March 31, 2024
Open Enrollment Acceptance Letters
Grades 1-12
June 15, 2024
Open Enrollment Acceptance Letters
Kindergarten
August 2024
Open Enrollment 2024-2025 Form and Information - Click Here
Transportation is not provided for Open Enrolled Students
Primary School
Kindergarten Story Time
The Primary Staff would like to thank Mary Bird from the Akron-Summit County Public Library Norton Branch for her monthly Story Time visits with our Kindergarten classes.
Mary is also one of our community partners who supports the Kindergarten Weeks of Welcome and the Literacy on the Lawn program held during the summer months. Please watch for additional information on both of these upcoming events in May 2024.
Elementary School
As students return to school in January, mid-year testing takes place to measure progress and identify areas of need. Students will be participating in MAP assessments for reading and math as well as the mid-year literacy screenings early in January.
The mobile dentist will be at NES on February 7 to complete check-ups, cleanings, and other necessary procedures. Information is being sent home in January for parents to review and complete if interested in this opportunity.
NES Valentine's parties will be held on Friday, February 9, from 1:00-2:00 pm. Please reach out to your students' room parents for information on attending these parties.
Students said goodbye to Mr. Ken, our night custodian. Ken Peterson after many years of service to Norton City Schools. Thank you, Ken!
Middle School
As we embark on a new semester, Norton Middle School would like to highlight three innovative courses which are new to our building this school year: Middle School 101, Magic of Electrons, and Spanish. These classes are tailored to enrich our students' educational journey, prepare them for high school, college, and their future careers.
Middle School 101 is a unique program for 5th graders, focusing on the essential skills needed for a smooth and successful transition into middle school. This course covers a wide range of topics including study skills, social awareness, healthy habits, responsible use of social media, organization, and time management. It's more than just an academic course; it's a roadmap to personal growth and self-awareness.
In addition, 7th and 8th graders are experiencing the world of STEM and foreign language with the introduction of the Magic of Electrons and Spanish classes. Magic of Electrons offers hands-on learning experiences that ignite curiosity and foster a love for science and technology. Similarly, our Spanish class opens a window to a rich and diverse culture, enhancing students’ global awareness and communication skills.
Thank you to Miss Evans, Mr. Weaver, and Mr. Rowell for their dedication to making these new courses a success. We are excited to see our students grow and flourish through these new learning experiences
High School
NHS Key Club has restarted our recycling program! Several years ago Norton High School had a thriving recycling program; however, just like many things, the pandemic caused the program to decline. Mrs. Colecchi and Key Club President, Claire Bennett, have set out to not only reinitiate our recycling program, but to enhance it in many ways. Key Club members have an organized method for collecting recyclable materials and they have taken on the task to go into all the classrooms and separate all the glass, plastic, cardboard and paper. This group is dedicated to minimizing their carbon footprint, and the Norton community is better for it!
Solar Eclipse
April 8, 2024
School Closure on April 8, 2024, Due to Solar Eclipse
This historical event that will occur in our area will impact our school schedule on April 8, 2024. On this day, a rare and awe-inspiring solar eclipse is set to occur, providing a unique experience for our community.
In light of this event, and with the safety of our students in mind, we will to cancel school on April 8, 2024. We believe that witnessing a solar eclipse can be a memorable experience for our students and families, and we want to ensure that they can do so safely.
To facilitate this experience, we will be providing all students with appropriate eye protection to safely observe the eclipse. The safety of our students is our top priority, and these safety measures are in accordance with guidelines recommended by experts in astronomy and eye health.
We encourage you to take advantage of this rare experience by discussing the solar eclipse with your child and perhaps observing it together from a safe location. We believe that this event will not only be a memorable event for our students but will also spark curiosity and interest in the wonders of the universe.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in making this a positive and enriching experience for our students.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
School Closing Information
In the event that school is closed due to weather or other circumstances, information can be obtained in the following manner:
- 1st Priority (main methods of notification)
- Twitter: @NortonCS_Super
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nortoncityschoolsohio
- School website: https://www.nortonschools.org/
- 2nd Priority (may experience delays due to call volume)
- Television: Local Television Stations Channels 3, 5, 8
- School Messaging System - via phone
Students of the Month
Congratulations to the following students for their excellence inside and outside of the classroom as they have been chosen as our January Students of the Month. They truly exemplify what it means to be a Norton Panther. Panther Pride!
Primary William Zenner
Elementary Jordan Aller
Middle School Rebecca Tenney
High School Claire Bennett
HS Compact Lexie Buchanan
Technology Exploration
Learning in Language Arts sure does look different than it did ten or fifteen years ago! These days, students use their Chromebook to access their textbook content both in class and at home. Mrs. Blake’s 6th grade students participated in a lesson from their new McGraw-HiIll/StudySync curriculum that relied heavily on technology access. Students worked in groups and rotated through stations in which they watched a video (how to recognize poetry as a genre) in a manner of their choice, accessed academic vocabulary (took turns reading definitions aloud and discussing them), and participated in a drag and drop activity on their device to practice generating good questions about the text. Chromebooks allow for students to interact with content online in a way that textbooks could never offer. It’s great to see that our students get to take advantage of the interactivity of learning online and consistent access to the content, without sacrificing face to face interaction among teachers and other students. When utilized properly, as in this example, it’s the best of both worlds!
Important Dates
Feb. 8 Parent Teacher Conferences Gr. 5 - 12 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 19 Presidents Day - No School
March 7 Parent Teacher Conferences Gr. K-4 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
March 7 End of Nine Weeks
March 8 - Professional Development Day - No School (Students)
March 10 - Daylight Savings (Spring Ahead)
April 1-5 - Spring Break - No School
April 8 - Solar Eclipse - No School
April 9 - School Resumes
May 12 - Mother's Day
May 27 - Memorial Day - No School
May 30 - Student Last Day
May 31 - Teacher Last Day
Norton City Schools
Norton School Information
High School
Grades 9-12
330.825.7300
Middle School
Grades 5-8
330.825.5607
Elementary School
Grades 1-4
330.825.3828
Primary School
Pre-K thru Kindergarten
330.825.5133
Attendance Hotline
330.706.2760