Navigator Newsletter
Jan. 17-20, 2023
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
FEB. 23rd: A Celebration of Black Life, History, and Culture
Parents, we are looking for:
1. Volunteers to provide authentic African American cuisine the night of the event
2. A volunteer videographer to record the program
Please contact Ms. Stewart (tstewart@springisd.org) if you are able to help out.
Tell Us: What Does Black History Month Mean to You?
As we approach Black History Month, celebrated nationally every February, we want to celebrate the voices and the diversity of Spring ISD. So we’re asking you: what does Black History Month mean to you? Answer the question in a few sentences and send it to communication@springisd.org, and be sure to include a photo of yourself. We’ll be sharing staff and students’ thoughts throughout the month of February.
THIS WEDNESDAY JAN. 18th: Rising Writers' Student Expo
Spring ISD Board of Trustees approves 2023-24 instructional calendar
Spring ISD Board of Trustees approved a 2023-24 Instructional Calendar at its regular meeting Tuesday night. The approved calendar — Option A — will have students starting classes on Aug. 10, 2023, and finishing school on May 31, 2024.
The approved calendar was one of two options presented to staff and the community for input in a survey that drew feedback from more than 7,500 people — a 146% increase in participation in comparison to last year. Both options were similar except for the start and end dates to the school year and a new weeklong district Fall Break.
Specifically, under the approved calendar, the Winter Break will begin for students after an early release half-day of instruction on Dec. 15 and end with them returning to school on Thursday, Jan. 4. Spring break will start on March 11, with classes resuming on Monday, March 18.
Both calendar options prioritized maximizing student instruction — including two additional early release days on Dec. 14 and May 30 for high school students only, to support final exams. Throughout the year, students will have no classes on Nov. 6-7 and Feb.15-16 to allow full days for both teacher professional development and parent conferences in the district.
The Spring ISD Advisory Committee on Education (ACE), which includes staff and teachers, offered input and guidance before the two calendar proposals were presented to the public in the community survey. Both options met all state requirements for instructional time, including 174 days with 440 instructional daily minutes to build in make-up days if necessary.
The 2023-24 Instructional Calendar, as well as the current school year’s calendar, are located at www.springisd.org/calendars.
SUPPLIES FOR CLASSROOMS
Our students work hard and go through supplies quickly. If any parents would like to help out by donating additional supplies such as crayons, glue sticks, highlighters, pocket folders, etc. to their student's classroom, our teachers would really appreciate it. Feel free to reach out to your child's teacher and see what their current supply needs are. Thank you!
UPDATED COMMUNITY RESOURCES
SAVE THE DATE--SAT. MAR. 4th--SPRING ISD FUN RUN AND WELLNESS FAIR 2023
SAVE THE DATE--SAT. MAR. 25th--GIRLS' EMPOWERMENT AND LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
G/T Parent Roundtable Sessions
Spring ISD's Advanced Academics Department is pleased to offer Parent Roundtable sessions that will provide participants with general information on supporting a gifted child. Topics will include common characteristics of giftedness as well as characteristics of giftedness among English Language Learners and Special Education children. Participants will learn methods for supporting their child both academically and socially at home and at school. All sessions will be offered in both English and Spanish. All parents are invited to attend.
The meetings will be held on January 24, 2023 6:00 -7:00 p.m. (English) and January 26, 2023 6:00PM-7:00PM (Spanish) at TeachUp Spring Learning Center, 15651 North Fwy, Houston, TX 77090.
Another meeting in this series will be held on April 18, 2023. This bilingual session held in a come and go style will run simultaneously at the Spring ISD District G/T Expo located at Dekaney High School 22351 Imperial Valley Dr, Houston, TX 77073.
For more information contact district G/T specialist Christin Kimball at 281-891-6345 or ckimball@springisd.org
MESSAGE FROM COACH ROGERS
Navigator Families,
If you have any footballs, basketballs, jump ropes, kickballs, etc. laying around collecting dust in your garage, please consider donating them to be used as recess equipment here at Northgate.
Also, students are reminded daily that they need to wear proper footwear (tennis shoes) on their PE day. I have been fairly lenient up to this point. Out of an abundance of caution, moving forward, students may have to sit out of an activity if they are not wearing sneakers. Thank you for your understanding, student safety is our top priority!
If you have any questions about proper footwear or donation items please email me at jroger3@springisd.org
Respectfully,
Coach Rogers
EAT LUNCH WITH YOUR STUDENTS ON FRIDAYS
We love seeing our families enjoy lunch together. Below is the lunch schedule if you would like to join us on Fridays. Please remember, only 2 adults are allowed to attend.
Pre-K & Kinder - 10-10:30am
1st grade - 10:35-11:05am
2nd grade - 11:10-11:40am
3rd grade - 11:45am-12:15pm
4th grade - 12:20-12:50pm
5th grade - 12:55-1:25pm
IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE REMINDER
Students are required by state law to be in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days a class is offered in order to receive credit for the classes in which they are enrolled. If a student accumulates a sufficient number of unexcused absences, that student can be denied credit for that semester.
At Northgate Elementary, we're always on a quest to be the best and have set a 98% attendance goal for our students. We appreciate our Navigator families doing their best to help us reach this goal and ensure a stable learning environment for our little Navigators. Thank you for your support!
SCHEDULING MEETINGS
It is important for us to communicate with you, but we unfortunately cannot always accommodate "walk-in" meeting requests. If you would like to meet with any principals, administrators, teachers, the counselor, other staff, etc., please make sure to contact us in advance to schedule a meeting so that we can best serve you. Thank you for understanding.
IMPORTANT SAFETY/TRANSPORTATION REMINDERS
- Parents/families walking into the school: for your safety, please make sure to use the crosswalk leading up to our front entrance instead of cutting across the parking lot.
- Car rider parents, please do not stop your vehicle at a crosswalk. Also, please follow staff instructions on how far to pull up along the curb. Finally, please do not drop off your student in the parking lot; we understand your time valuable but it is important for safety that you join the car line and drop them off properly.
- Please remember that bus drivers cannot release Pre-K and Kindergarten students at a stop without visually confirming that a guardian is present.
- If bus riders of any grade do not make it off the bus at their stop for any reason, the bus driver will bring them directly back to school when they finish their route, and the student will need to be picked up by a family member.
- Arrival time for students is 7:35am-8am, after which students are tardy and must check in with the front desk. Breakfast is served in classrooms from 7:35-8:05am.
BIRTHDAY GUIDELINES
We love celebrating our student birthdays; however no goodie bags should be sent to school. Students are allowed to have store-bought birthday cupcakes only brought to school if parents pre-arrange with our front office. Thank you for understanding.
PARENT GUIDE TO RAISING DIGITALLY RESPONSIBLE YOUTH
SIGN UP FOR SPRING ISD SMART START
SPRING ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON SAFETY AND SECURITY
Updated COVID-19 Guidance for 2022-23 School Year
Spring ISD is not under a mask mandate this school year, but masks are allowed and discretionary based on student and staff health needs.
Within the linked document provided in this email, you will find information related to both student and staff reporting procedures and quarantine protocols.
Please review the complete document linked here for students and here for staff members, which both contain a link to the COVID Positive Test Form that will need to be completed for any student or staff member who reports positive test results.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE SPRING ISD MOBILE APP
Spring ISD Technology Department Launches Student Service Desk
REPORT BULLYING
SEE SOMETHING? HEAR SOMETHING? REPORT IT SAFELY AND ANONYMOUSLY
GET FAST ASSISTANCE
NORTHGATE CROSSING ELEMENTARY
23437 Northgate Crossing Blvd.
Spring, TX 77373
Phone: 281-891-8780
Fax: 281-891-8781
Follow @NCESNavigators