ESTLA Monthly Newsletter VIII
Week of November 2nd
From the Desk of Ms. Taylor and Mr. Rodriguez
Eisenhower Science & Technology Leadership Academy
1601Markley Street|Norristown, PA 19401
Office: 610-277-8720|Web: www.nasd.k12.pa.us
Good Morning ESTLA Families,
Thank you for taking a look at our bi-weekly newsletter. We hope you have found this a useful tool for learning about what's happening in your school. We will continue to share information about district/school events, initiatives, and happenings, as well as those events being organized by our many supporting organizations. The next newsletter will be out on Monday, November 23rd. Again, should we need to communicate updates that are time-sensitive, you will receive a notice via text, email, and shared on all of our social media platforms.
In 3 days, we will be at the end of the first marking period. How did that happen? This year has flown by and been great. It hasn't been without its challenges, though. However, through the efforts of our faculty, staff, students, and families, we have been able to remain focused on learning. We want to thank everyone for their flexibility through this pandemic. We are appreciative of your role making sure each student has the ability to learn in the safest environment possible.
We will rise to be greater than we were the day before. This is what being Norristown Proud means!
Sincerely,
Ms. Taylor, Principal
Mr. Rodriguez, Assistant Principal
REMINDER:
a) Change your clocks! Hopefully, you changed your clocks this weekend. We "fall" behind one hour.
b) Absence notes are still required when a student is absent from a class or for a day. Notes can be submitted via email or Talking Points to your teacher(s). Please ensure students are keeping their cameras on during live class sessions.
PLEASE REMIND our students that SCHOOL IS CLOSED TOMORROW, Tuesday, November 3rd for Election Day.
PLEASE NOTE
II. REMIND STUDENTS: If they have not received an invitation within the first 5 minutes of class look in the Schoology feed and Gmail for an Update with Information on how to join the class via a link in Google Meets or Zoom. Classes are live from 11:30am - 3:00pm.
III. During LIVE Lessons...
1. Cameras MUST be on!
2. Our students are to remain LIVE the entire time.
3. Live lessons are just like being in the classroom, participation is necessary for learning.
We are taking roll during each class. If students log on and keep their camera off or leave the session they will be marked absent for the session. If a student is having connectivity issues or gets kicked out, email the teacher and we will help you out.
IV. Absence notes are still required when a student is absent from a class or for a day.
Notes can be submitted via email or Talking Points to your teacher(s). Please include Ms. Thompson, sthompson@nasd.k12.pa.us
V. Please ensure students are keeping their cameras on during live class sessions.
Upcoming Events
11/3 ELECTION DAY-SCHOOL CLOSED
11/4 Meal Distribution-8AM- 10:00AM @Gotwals Elementary 3PM- 6:00PM @NAHS
11/5 End of First Marking Period
11/10 Early Dismissal
11/20 Early Dismissal
11/24 Family Conferences in the evening, 4:30pm - 7:30pm
11/25 Family Conferences in the morning, 8:00am - Noon
District Home and School Office-Housing Support
Meghann Radick, M.A.
Home and School Visitor/Homeless Liaison
Norristown Area School District
Family Support Center - Roosevelt Campus
1161 Markley Street
Norristown, PA 19401
610-630-5149 - Office
484-681-1932 - Cell
District Information & Technology
Screen-cracked/broken = $50.00
Replacement Chromebook due to damage = $200.00
Payment plans are availalble.
Girls on the Run
Attached is the Girls on the Run flyer. Register your 3rd - 5th grader for Girls on the Run and 6th - 8th grader for Heart & Sole. https://www.gotrpa.org/
Heart & Sole
The program considers the whole girl - body, brain, heart, spirit, and social connection - in a positive, structured space where girls can learn about themselves, explore new ideas, cultivate empathy and strengthen connections. Running is incorporated into each lesson to encourage physical wellness and teach life skills such as team building, creating a support system, standing up for themselves and others, and decision making. The girls prepare for a celebratory Girls on the Run 5K event at the end of the program. This non-competitive event fosters goal setting and a sense of confidence through accomplishment to last a lifetime.
YOUR girl can join our life-changing program this fall – now offered virtually! Registration is open on a first-come, first-served basis.
Girls on the Run is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.
Resources
Counselor’s Corner
A message from our Partners at YMWIC
Please join us on Saturday, November 7, 2020, for the Annual YMWIC Foundation, Inc. College and Career Expo. This will be a virtual event. This will be a virtual event. College and Corporate representatives will give Scholars information on college readiness, admissions qualifications, financial aid, STEM careers, financial literacy, and much more!
Virtual College and Career Expo
Saturday, November 7, 2020, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eh9a2k6lc7e27818&oseq=&c=&ch=
Contact
Richard Roberts III, PMP
YMWIC Foundation, Inc.
610-340-2844
rrobertsiii@ymwicfoundation.org
This event is an excellent opportunity for Scholars in middle school and their parents/families to learn about these amazing institutions of higher education
--Counseling Team
Safe 2 Say Something Reminder
Mental health continues to be something we pay close attention to, especially with the pandemic causing stress and limiting our ability to interact as much as we would like. That is why I would like to remind parents to remind their children they have an outlet through which they can report a concern they may have about another student or even themselves: Safe2Say Something.
Rolled out by the state in 2019, Safe2Say is an anonymous reporting system that allows school community members to report safety concerns related to school violence and/or student crisis. There are three ways to report: by phone (1-844-SAF2SAY), online (Safe2SayPA.org), or through a free mobile app.
Once a report is submitted, the state reviews it for the level of severity and reaches out to the appropriate agencies for a response.
Mr. Ernest "Tre" Hadrick, thadrick@nasd.k12.pa.us
Ms. Kim Weber, kweber@nasd.k12.pa.us
Office Hours 9:00am - 11:00am
*Contact us to schedule a time beyond our office hours
Mrs. Geena Spady, gspady@nasd.k12.pa.us
Centered around working with students who have individual or group counseling in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Instructional Support Team
Parent access in Schoology can be activated by registering for a parent account in Schoology.
English version step sheet for parents to get Schoology access
Spanish version step sheet for parents to get Schoology access
Parent video navigating Schoology
https://youtu.be/2K6H3S9mKbk
Video to add Parent Access to mobile phone
Please contact us at any time with questions or concerns about the instructional program.
Kathleen Shallow, M.ED
Instructional Support Teacher-Reading
Jason Ryan
Instructional Support Teacher-Math
HEALTH
Message from Nurse Susan Melso, RN, BSN, CSN
NASD will be hosting a vision van, at Roosevelt, in collaboration with students from Salus University college of optometry.
We are scheduled with Salus:
Where: Roosevelt
When: November 9th from 1:00-2:20
November 16, 23, and 30 from 9:00-11:00am
Please call or email Nurse Melso.
We are hoping to get more appointments in December!
All COVID policies will be strictly enforced. Temperature checks will be completed at check-in and masks will be required.
The Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) believes that getting your flu vaccine this year is especially important. We are actively planning our Community Influenza Program and once the schedule is finalized it will be posted at www.montcopa.org/3063/Flu. OPH will be holding drive-thru and walk-up flu clinics this flu season. We are hoping to have our schedule ready soon.
Need a reminder to get your annual flu shot this season? Text MONTCOFLU to 47177! This flu season, we are partnering with Montgomery County Immunization Coalition (MCIC), Montgomery County Office of Public Health, and Families Fighting Flu to increase flu vaccination rates through text message reminders. Once you text, you will be signed up to receive personalized flu-related information about where you can go to get your flu shot.
At age 11 years old students can receive the Tdap and MCV4 vaccine regardless of their grade level. By receiving the vaccine at age 11 years you will be ready to attend 7th grade. DON'T WAIT! Tdap and MCV4 are required vaccinations to enter 7th grade.
**ALL 7th-grade students must have Tdap and MCV4 by October 31st, 2020**
PLEASE NOTE: Doctor offices are open and seeing patients for Well-Child Visits and Immunizations.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions! I am in my office Monday-Thursday at 610-277-8720 and on Friday or any day by email smelso@nasd.k12.pa.us
Stay Well,
Nurse Melso
Phone: 610-277-8720
Fax: 484-831-1232
Bilingual Community Liaison/Enlace Bilingüe
Ms. Vanessa Rivera, vrivera@nasd.k12.pa.us
Tel. (484) 270-2175
ESTLA ext.13799
Online Learning for Parents
NASD Technical Support Desk 610-270-2923
Click here for online resources...https://www.nasd.k12.pa.us/domain/589
Verizon has a "Lifeline" program for individuals/families. It's not free, but it's discounted ($20/month) for eligible people. Here's the link to more information: https://www.verizon.com/info/low-income-internet/
New Comcast customers can get 2 months of free service if they enroll before 12/31/2020. There's an "Apply Now" button in the top right corner. Here's the link: https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19
CATCH Healthy Corner
CATCH TIP
Most people know they should “eat healthily,” but what “healthy” means isn’t always clear. CATCH has created guidelines to help think about foods like a traffic light.
“Go” foods are foods you can eat all of the time, like fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and whole grains.
“Whoa” foods are high in fat, salt, and sugar and should only be eaten some of the time. Whoa, foods include fried foods, candy, cookies, chips, and soda.
“Slow” foods are in between-they are more nutritious than Whoa foods, but shouldn’t be eaten as much as Go foods. Slow foods include white grain bread, fruit juice, 2% milk, and vegetables with butter or oil.
To learn more about Go, Slow, and Whoa foods click here: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/downloads/go-slow-whoa.pdf
“CATCH” stands for Coordinated Approach to Child Health and is proven to prevent childhood obesity. CATCH schools are committed to helping kids eat foods that are more nutritious and increase physical activity, as both behaviors are important to their health and wellness today and in years to come.
For more information about CATCH, visit www.catch.org.
Norristown SD Gear Up
Resources from our Norristown Gear UP staff
GEAR UP is working with Mr. Hakim Jones to provide the Real Essentials program for boys. From 5:30PM to 7:30PM every Monday evening, this program focuses on teaching about healthy relationships and leadership skills. Please contact Stacey Sandle at ssandle@nasd.k12.pa.us for more information.
GEAR UP 8th grade tutoring and mentoring started this week from September 28th - December 21st. Students can join Zoom for homework help, mentoring, and tutoring. Please contact Ms. Sandle at ssandle@nasd.k12.pa.us for more information regarding dates, times, and Zoom access information.
GEAR UP is a college and career program that provides 8th and 9th-grade students with free programs and services to encourage post-secondary education.
Stacey Sandle, Site Facilitator, GEAR UP
Desiree Dube, College & Career Coach, GEAR UP
NASD Website (NASD GearUp)
Instagram (Norristown GEAR UP)
Facebook Norristown GEAR UP)
Twitter (@nGearup)
EXTERNAL WEBSITES WITH CORONAVIRUS/ HEALTH DATA
Centers for Disease Control; https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
PA Department of Health;
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Montgomery County Office of Public Health;
https://data-montcopa.opendata.arcgis.com/pages/covid-19
World Health Organization;
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Online Expections
Be Responsible
Be Kind
During LIVE Lessons...
1. Cameras MUST be on!
2. Our students are to remain LIVE the entire time.
3. Live lessons are just like being in the classroom, participation is necessary for learning.
We are taking roll during each class. If students log on and keep their camera off or leave the session they will be marked absent for the session. If a student is having connectivity issues or gets kicked out, email the teacher and we will help you out.
Reminders
Attendance and participation are checked daily. Please have our students report to Homeroom at 8:00am and prepared to start classes live at 11:30am.
Please communicate with your teacher via email, Schoology, or when contacted via Go Guardian or Google Meet.
Please visit our District & School Websites and Social Media platforms for updates.
Eighth Grade Team Contacts
Seventh Grade Team Contacts
Sixth Grade Team Contacts
5th Grade Team contacts
Special Area Team Contacts
English Language Development Team
ESTLA is on social media. Find us online and get updates:
Facebook - Eisenhower Science & Technology Leadership Academy
Twitter - @estlapanthers https://twitter.com/estlaPanthers
Instagram - @estlapanthers https://www.instagram.com/estlapanthers/
YouTube - ESTLA NASD https://rb.gy/yl55bo
Website: https://www.nasd.k12.pa.us/
Location: 1601 Markley Street, Norristown, PA, USA
Phone: (610) 277-8720
Facebook: facebook.com/EisenhowerScience&TechonolgyLeadershipAcademy
Twitter: @estlapanthers