Norton Creek Elementary
Thursday Tidbits - February 6, 2020
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL...TONY WHITE
The most challenging yet rewarding job I have ever had the honor and pleasure of holding is being a parent. I'm sure you would say the same. One of the challenges with parenting is knowing when to jump in and help our kids out. Over the years, you have undoubtedly heard me talk about productive struggle. Productive struggle happens when the answer is not immediately evident, requires effortful learning, and produces grit and deeper knowledge. The idea of productive struggle comes up most often when we discuss learning math and math anxiety; however, it really applies to any skill or concept we are learning - including social, emotional, and behavioral skills.
When our children play at the park under our supervision, there are inevitable disagreements - there aren't enough swings, taking turns on slides, the list goes on and on. When this happens with my own daughters at the park, I have always made this mistake: I swoop in as the hero and tell them exactly what's going to happen. It feels really good on the surface, but in truth, I have robbed my daughters of the opportunity to solve this problem with my help as opposed me solving it for them.
As parents, we want to be our children's heroes, but we miss the point that the heroes in our lives empowered us to be stronger than we knew we were by coaching us as opposed to playing the game for us. We empower through teaching. Going back to my example at the park with my girls, had I asked the right questions to get them to a solution instead of solving the problem for them, I would have empowered them to have the skills to solve this problem and ones like it in the future. I wanted to be their hero and be fast in doing so. That's not our fault. We're not bad parents when we hurry in to rescue our kids. We're doing what we're programmed to do. However, we set our children up for success today and in the future when we teach them to solve problems by asking the right questions to help them reach their own solutions and conclusions. That's how they know life does not merely happen to them, but that they have control over many things in their lives. They become active "livers of life" as opposed to passive and waiting for things to happen to them. And, that is where they find their power.
Have a wonderful weekend, Norton Creek! Punxsutawney Phil says we have an early spring coming, so hopefully this is the last of the snow for a long time!
5-ESSENTIALS SURVEY
Middle School Transfer Requests
Families who wish to submit Middle School Transfer requests may do so beginning February 3. The request form will be available on the District 303 website through February 28. Families must complete a separate form for each student they want transferred. Requests are granted based on space available so siblings are not guaranteed placement. A written decision will be communicated to families before spring break.
Once the request is approved, a student may remain at that middle school throughout his or her middle school career, as long as the student resides in District 303.
Families of students granted permission to attend a school outside of their assigned attendance are responsible for their own transportation.
Students will return to their assigned attendance area high school regardless of the middle school attended.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION INFORMATION | Kindergarten Registration was yesterday. If you need to register your student for Kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year, click HERE for registration paperwork/information and call the office at 331-228-2700 to schedule an appointment to register. | Hallie Strong Sock Foundation - Sock Drive |
PTO NEWS...
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK (K-5) rotellakelly@gmail.com
Random Acts of Kindness week is February 9-15. Please join us as we show kindness to our wonderful students with a “clap in” as they enter school on Monday morning, Feb. 10 at 8:25 AM and a “clap out” on Friday afternoon, Feb. 14 at 3 PM. Norton the Eagle will be available for photos!
EAGLES EAT OUT - PORTILLO’S (K-5) mollymikebryant@gmail.com, whisel11@gmail.com
Dinner is ready! Head over to Portillo’s on Main Street on Monday, February 10 between 5 PM and 8 PM and show them the flyer below. Portillo’s will donate 20% of Eagle orders back to our school!
COZY SWEATER AND SOUP STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON (K-5) dd7collins@gmail.com
We will be showing kindness to the fabulous teachers and staff at Norton Creek by hosting a Cozy Sweater & Soup luncheon on Thursday, February 13. Do you have a delicious soup recipe you’d like to make and share? Perhaps you would like to donate a different item? Please see the list of needed items and sign-up HERE. Contact DeDe Collins if you have questions. Thank you!
SCIENCE NIGHT (K-5) nortoncreekscience@gmail.com
Cool Science! will be here on Friday, February 21 from 6-8 PM to share super cool and fun science experiment stations with our students! The event is FREE! Please register HERE before February 14. See attached flyer for details. Please contact Kristi Culver if you have any questions.
CHECK OUT THE NORTON CREEK PTO WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST PTO INFORMATION!
IMPORTANT DISMISSAL REMINDER:
- nortoncreekdismissal@d303.org
- Your student(s)' teacher and
- Your student(s)' bus supervisor
Thank you for your assistance.
All Day Kindergarten Tuition/PushCoin:
All Day Kindergarten (ADK) tuition payment are due February 15th. All payments must be made through PushCoin or mailed to or dropped off at the District office at 201 South 7th Street, St. Charles, IL 60174. PushCoin directions can be found on the District website under the Parent pull down menu under Webstore/Pushcoin. Per District policy, tuition payments cannot be accepted at Norton Creek. If you would like to set up ADK monthly auto pay, please contact Wendy Sedwick at 331-228-4927. ADK tuition payments are billed in PushCoin on the first of each month and are due on the 15th of each month through April 15th.
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IMPORTANT COLD WEATHER & OUTSIDE RECESS INFORMATION
Per District policy, we will be going outside for recess as long as the temperature (with wind chill) is above 0 F and it is not raining. With that in mind, please make sure your child is dressed to go outside on days when it is cold, snowy or windy. Students should bring outerwear to school in a bag to put on before recess. Please make sure they have hats, gloves, scarves, snow pants and boots if they want to play in the snow. Don’t forget to label your child’s outerwear so it does not end up in the Lost and Found.
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ORCHESTRA NEWS...
Faculty Recital: Friday, February 7th at 7:00 pm.
at Bethlehem Lutheran Church - 1145 N 5th Ave (Route 25) in St. Charles.
Come and hear the D303 orchestra teachers perform! There will be a variety of both classical and pop music. The concert is free, although donations will be graciously accepted to raise money for D303 music camp scholarships. Raffle prizes will be offered including a chance to win a colored bow! We hope to see you there!
Fiddle Fest 2020!
Calling all fiddlers and lovers of folk music! It’s time for the 15th annual Fiddle Fest. All advanced orchestra students, elementary through high school and beyond, can participate! Parents, teachers, older siblings, grandparents and community members who play guitar, banjo, mandolin or a string instrument are welcome! We guarantee you’ll have a great time! If you are interested in playing and need music, please contact an orchestra director, or email Rita.Borkowski@d303.org
Click here to sign up: Fiddle Fest 2020 Online Registration
The deadline to register is Thurs. Feb 20th.

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