Notes from the Principaws#8 (March)
Mr. Vince Sette and Mrs. Nicole McQuate
Welcome to 2022
Time does fly by when you are having fun. We are already 2 months into 2022 and NES has had a great start to the year. We will be having many different events in March. Our Spring Fling will be returning to us after a few-year hiatus which we are all very excited to see. State testing will begin at the end of the month as well. The students and staff continue to go above and beyond on a daily basis. Thank you all so much for your continued support!
The office is currently open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm at the elementary.
Parents, please return all school forms ASAP. These are essential to ensure we have the most up-to-date information for your child. Thank you for your continued support in filling these forms out for us.
Norwayne Elementary LITERACY Spotlight
Literacy is an integral part of a student's success in school. Please take some time to visit the NES Literacy Page where we highlight different aspects of what the students are working on in school along with book recommendations from staff and students. Be on the lookout for some Literacy Parent Nights in the near future.
NES Principaws are on Twitter. Check us out @NES_principaws as we dabble into the social media world to help keep everyone up to date on things at NES.
Counselor's Corner with Ms. Achberger
Happy March!
I am so proud of all of the kindness displayed during our Kindness Week in February and hope to see it continue throughout March.
In Kindergarten, 1st, and 3rd grade, we will continue the theme of Kindness and Empathy. Prompt your children with questions about what it means to be kind and ask them how they were kind to others that day. In Kindergarten, we read and will be talking about the book “A little Spot of Kindness” by Diane Alber. They will receive their own kindness spots (smiley face stickers) on the back of their hands to remind them to be kind!
In 1st grade, we will talk about the impact of our kind acts! In 3rd grade, we will be reading the book, “The Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig to discuss kindness and empathy! This book will be great to spark conversation about how our students can make their peers feel less invisible.
In 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade we will be finishing our emotion unit. In 2nd grade, we will talk about our ability to feel differently about the same situation! In 4th grade, we are learning how to “rethink”. This is when we take our negative thoughts and flip them to be more positive and/or realistic. Last but not least, in 5th grade we are learning about the things we can control in a situation that gives us big emotions. 5th graders will learn how to make changes that they can control in their life to prevent or ease big emotions that visit.
I’m looking forward to continuing these lessons in our K-5 classrooms 2x per month and also seeing some students in small groups and 1:1 as they need it!
,
Mrs. Monte
Alexa Monte
School Counselor
Norwayne Elementary School
(330)-435-6383
NES PTO
How Can You Find More About NES PTO:
- Find the PTO page on Facebook for updates and information. Search Norwayne Elementary PTO and follow the page to stay in the know.
- email PTO at norwaynepto@gmail.com with any questions
- Join the Remind Group for NES PTO (www.remind.com/join/nespto21)
Old Business to Review:
- Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the Daddy Daughter Dance the girls had a fantastic time.
Important Upcoming Dates:
- If you are interested in helping with different PTO events please reach out. We appreciate everyone's help with fun activities for the students.
- Sterling Cookbooks will be on sale for two dates (October 31st and March 31st).
- Spirit wear shop fundraiser will be coming this spring be sure to be on the lookout for that information.
- Book Fair at NES will take place in March with a family night on Tuesday March 8th.
- Spring Fling will be held on Friday, March 25, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm.
Thank You to all of the parents sending in birthday baker treats to our staff.
MARCH SNAPSHOT and IMPORTANT DATES
2021-2022 Norwayne Colored Calendar
- March 7 through March 11 = NES Book Fair @ NES (Students will go during Library)
- March 8 = NES Family Book Fair @ NES (4:00 - 7:00)
- March 9 = Scheduled 2 Hour Delay (Doors open for students at 10:40 am)
- March 10 = Kindergarten Registration Day #1 @ Board/Transportation Office
- March 10 = 3rd Grade Concert @ NMS/PAC (7:00 pm)
- March 11 = Kindergarten Registration Day #2 @ Board/Transportation Office
- March 11 = DC Dinner @ NMS (5:00 pm)
- March 21 = PTO Dinner @ NES (6:00 pm)
- March 25 = Spring Fling @ NES (5:00 pm)
- March 30 = 3rd and 5th Grade ELA OST Part 1 @ NES
- March 31 = 3rd and 5th Grade ELA OST Part 2 @ NES
- April 1 = 4th Grade ELA OST Part 1 @ NES
Transportation Trivia Answer:
No. You should keep your hands and head inside the vehicle at all times. It is unsafe to hang out of the window because you could get hurt.
Tips for the Year from Mr. Sette
March Transportation Department Updates
February was a great month for Norwayne Transportation! It was "Love The Bus" month and our drivers loved all the notes they received from students. Our drivers sure did feel the love!
We also welcomed a new CDL driver, Lauren Keppler. We are excited to add her to our team of substitute drivers.
As of March 1st, per the CDC, the mask mandate for buses will no longer be in effect. We appreciate everyone's effort and support as we navigate through these changes.
Spring is fast approaching as well as Daylight Savings Time. Our mornings are getting brighter earlier, our temperatures are warming up and soon our winter weather troubles will be behind us! Our drivers are working hard to make sure they get you to and from school safely. February proved to be an accident-free month and we plan to continue that into March!
If you have any questions, you may reach out to Lori Weinman (Transportation Coordinator) via email (lweinman@norwayne.net) or phone call (330-435-1141)
Transportation Trivia Question for February: (Look for the answer somewhere in the newsletter)
Is it ok to stick head or body parts out of the bus window?
Student Handbook Talking Points
CELL PHONE POLICY @ NES (Found on Page 10)
Students' cell phones should remain in their lockers/book bags at all times unless otherwise directed by a staff member. Students using their cell phones without permission will have the device confiscated until the end of the day. If the device is confiscated more than 3x times, the administration will become involved and parents will need to schedule a time to pick up the device. Further action may be taken.
SMART DEVICE POLICY @ NES (Found on page 34)
Smart devices are becoming more prevalent in our daily lives. We strongly discourage the use of smart devices (watches, etc..) for recreational purposes during the school day. The use of these devices during the school day needs to be approved by teachers or another staff member. If a student is using the watch to communicate during the day without permission on multiple occasions the device will be taken and a time will be set up for parents to pick up from the office. Administration can require devices to be kept at home if continuous issues occur throughout the year.
ATTENDANCE and UNDERSTANDING ODE LANGUAGE
We are mandated by law to inform parents when students reach different thresholds for absences. Please note that if you receive an attendance letter from the school, we encourage you to call in with any questions to better understand what is going on. We want everyone to be informed and we realize that in our current pandemic some families are required to stay at home which puts them above the allowable absences from ODE. We will continue to work with families on how to help on a case-by-case basis as every scenario could be unique. Please note that missing school whether excused or unexcused still has an impact on a child's education. We will also begin to do this monthly so that we can better keep parents updated on things.
- Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year for any reason. This includes excused and unexcused absences.
- Habitual Truancy is defined as any child of compulsory school age who is absent without legitimate excuse from the public school for thirty or more consecutive hours, forty-two or more hours in one school month, or seventy-two or more hours in one school year. This is different than chronic absenteeism as this only counts absence without legitimate excuses.
- Excessive Absences are defined as a student being absent with a nonmedical excuse for thirty-eight or more hours in one school month, or sixty-five or more hours in a school year.
2021-2022 NES BREAKFAST and LUNCHES
Norwayne Masks Update as of March 1, 2022
- For the 2021-2022 school year, students/families will have the option to choose what they would like to do with mask-wearing when on Norwayne grounds. This option to choose now includes school transportation which was updated by the district starting March 1, 2022.
- The only exceptions remain with students who have a positive case in the family but are showing no symptoms. Students with a positive case in the family with that family member isolating may continue to come to school as long as they are not exhibiting symptoms as long as they wear a mask at all times.
****Please note that we can update the mask stance at any time as we continue to listen and follow mandates from the governor and health departments as new information is made available during the pandemic.
We thank everyone so much for helping comply with all the changes that have taken place. Together we can accomplish so much and continue to make Norwayne amazing!
POP TAB COLLECTION @ NES
MARCH STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS
Kindergarten Spotlight
Kayden Wenninger: Kayden is such a good friend to everyone and is so helpful. He has been working hard on first-grade math skills and is doing amazing! He has two younger sisters, an older sister, and two older brothers! He likes to build robots in class during centers!
Brayli Williams: Brayli's kindness goes to a whole new level. She is polite and appreciative of everything around her! She always arrives to school with a smile!
Maria Smith: Maria is such a great student. She is always ready to help out her classmates when needed. She is working very hard on decoding CVC words. She is also doing a good job with learning her addition facts.
1st Grade Spotlight
Alana Selbee: Alana is conscientious and hard working. She always has a smile on her face and a kind heart. She is willing to help others and she always tries to do the right thing. Keep up the great work, Alana!
Reece Gasser: Reece is a great student who tries to do his best and be kind to others. He is honest and respectful. Reece is a leader and a positive role model for other students! Keep up the good work, Reece!
2nd Grade Spotlight
Paige Riggenbach: Paige is a super second grader! She follows directions and is a great role model for her fellow classmates. She is a hard worker and I can count on Paige to follow directions and have a positive attitude. Good job, Paige!
Hudson Gasser: Hudson is an outstanding Second Grader! He is kind and helpful to his teacher and classmates. He approaches his schoolwork with a positive outlook and determination. Keep up the great work, Hudson!
Landra Marty: Landra is a hard worker. Landra is conscientious about her work and strives to better herself. Landra is also always smiling and willing to help others. She is eager to please. Great job, Landra!
Noah Charton: Noah is always willing to help with other students and in our classroom. He always has a positive attitude and a wonderful work ethic. He is a star student!
3rd Grade Spotlight
Amelia Teeters: Amelia is a wonderful student to have in class. She participates, leads by example, and is always willing to help others. She is very bright and creative!
Jordan Dean: Jordan has a positive and uplifting attitude that puts a smile on his teachers' and classmates' faces. He has been working very hard at completing his work in a timely manner and always gives his best effort.
4th Grade Spotlight
- Yesenia Lugo - Yesenia is new to the district, but has fit in very well! She is sweet and kind to others, hard-working, and willing to learn even when it's difficult. She is a great member of our Bobcat community!
- Dylan Tuttle - Dylan has been working hard, completing all of his work, and is a responsible young Bobcat!
Jasmine Stoller - Jasmine is sweet and kind to others; she is cooperative, helpful, and displays qualities of good citizenship and work ethic. She represents the Bobcat community well!
Joey Musser - Joey is cooperative, helpful, and displays qualities of good citizenship and work ethic. He is a good representative of the Bobcat community!
5th Grade Spotlight
- Drake Goddard - Drake is a great student who enjoys playing soccer and baseball. His favorite subjects are science and gym. In his free time, he likes to play video games and read. He has two brothers and 2 dogs.
- Jacob Winkler - Jacob is very helpful in the classroom. His favorite subject is math. He plays football and likes helping out on his family's farm. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends.
- Bryson Indorf - Bryson is a leader in the classroom. He is busy playing basketball, football, and baseball. At school, he enjoys science and the gym. In his free time, you can catch him hunting, fishing, and enjoying nature.
MARCH STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Mrs. Sparks
- I am currently a Clerical Assistant. I have also held the positions of Classroom Aide, Van Driver, Lunchroom Assistant, and Bus Driver.
- I actually have been in the Norwayne District all of my life. This is where I actually was born, raised, attended school, and am now raising my family. But, I have actually been employed here for close to 13 years.
- I consider myself blessed to have the best job in the whole world! We have goals that we would like to accomplish each day, but each day is different. We never know what we may encounter. I love technology. I love to be able to help people. I truly do love my job!
Oh my goodness, this website does not have enough room for all of the funny moments that I have experienced here at Norwayne. Some day when Mrs. Murphy and I retire , our dream is to take our experiences and comedy show on the road... AND THERE... is where you will hear some of our funniest moments while here at Norwayne Local. Of course ladies and gentlemen, the stories that you will hear will be true. Only the names will be changed to protect the innocent.
- Please know that with hard work and determination, you can do anything. Always be humble and kind. Be considerate of and an encouragement to others. Always know that you have a community that loves you and is rooting for you.
Mrs. Shepherd
- I currently teach 3rd-grade language arts. In the past, I have also taught 4th-8th grade language arts in the district.
- My career at Norwayne started as a 3rd-grade teacher at Sterling Elementary in 1999. A year later I moved to the old middle school and taught 5th-8th grade language arts. After 8 years I moved to Burbank Elementary School and taught 4th-grade language arts and several years ago I was given the opportunity to move back to 3rd grade.
- I love having the opportunity to make an impact on students daily. It is great to have the opportunity to shape the students to follow their dreams wherever they may lead.
What is a funny moment during your time at Norwayne?
One moment that I will remember for years to come is when a student came up to me and said Mrs. Shepherd I can tell that you are one of the oldest teachers in the blue hallways. I asked how she knew that and she replied because you are the only one with gray hair.
- Work hard and always give your best effort.
Ms. Brandenburg
- I currently teach fourth-grade ELA (English Language Arts). Before I taught fourth grade, I was a title tutor at the middle school. This is my ninth year at Norwayne, but only my sixth year at the elementary.
- I love when a kid who has been trying to get something figures it out, and it's like a little lightbulb suddenly lights up their face with excitement. I also love all the creativity and different perspectives kids bring to class, to conversations, and to their writing.
I like accents and have learned to speak in a British accent. Kids have reacted many different ways to this, and some of their reactions have been very funny. A girl had been walking into homeroom at the end of the day. She stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes wide, and her mouth hanging open. She looked at a couple of stragglers from the last class, and blurted out, "You broke Miss Brandenburg!" The other kids thought this was hilarious. It became a running joke.
Last year, my computer had been acting up. I got a little exasperated that I couldn't take attendance. One of the girls said something like, "You broke your computer." From that point on, no matter what went wrong, the class joked about my computer being broken. When we did any freewriting, the student (as well as some others) would somehow include my broken computer into the writing piece.
Mr. Dreher and Mr. Sette dressed up as sumo wrestlers one year and wrestled each other in the grassy area of the playground. Need I say more?
- Focus on the growth you're making, no matter how small. When we learn something new, we may not know how to do it yet. Practicing will help make us better at anything we put effort into learning. Have faith in yourself that you can and you will.
NORWAYNE LOCAL REMIND
- Go to our Elementary website.
- Click on the Parents tab.
- Click on Norwayne Remind Sign-Up.
- Follow the instructions on the screen.
SUBSTITUTES NEEDED
If you have ever thought to yourself how you can help children and be a part of such an amazing school system look no further. We are ALWAYS looking for substitutes for teaching and support staff positions. We encourage anyone seeking the opportunity to help the district to please get in contact with Mr. Sette or Mrs. McQuate so they can help direct you in the proper direction.
Tri-County ESC Substitute Website
ODE Teacher Substitute Requirements
2022-2023 Kindergarten Registration
Norwayne Local Schools will hold Kindergarten Registration/Screening on March 10 & 11, 2022.
- Please call Fran Hansen, Registrar to schedule your child for an appointment time for the screening.
- Please complete the kindergarten enrollment application and return it to Fran Hansen.
- The Registrar's Office is located in the High School Building.
- If you complete the application close to your scheduled appointment time, please do not mail the application. Either drop it off by March 7th or bring it to your screening appointment.
- If you have any questions, please call Fran at 330-435-6382.
If mailing the application please send to:
Norwayne Local Schools
Attn: Fran Hansen, Registrar
350 S Main St
Creston, OH 44217
Thursday, Mar 10, 2022, 08:45 AM
161 South Main Street, Creston, OH, USA
Mr. Vince Sette
Email: visette@norwayne.net
Website: www.norwayne.net
Location: 286 South Main Street, Creston, OH, USA
Phone: 330-435-6383
Twitter: @NES_principaws