West Navarre Intermediate
March & April 2024 Parent Newsletter
Greetings WNIS Parents & Famlies!
Spring is in full swing at West Navarre Intermediate! As the weather warms, so do our students' enthusiasm for learning and growing. In this edition of our parent newsletter, discover updates on upcoming events, academic achievements, and opportunities for parent involvement. Stay connected with the heartbeat of our school community and join us as we celebrate the journey of education together!
Thank you for your continued support!
Shana Dorsey
Principal
Assessment
The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring system that is administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards throughout this school year. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your student will participate in the third administration (PM3) of the Grade 3, 4, or 5 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) ELA Reading and Mathematics assessment on the dates listed below. Your student’s results from PM3 will show how well your student has mastered the grade level content standards, and you will be provided with information about how to access the results after testing is completed.
FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how the student responds, and each student will see different questions from a common item bank. Each test attempt (PM1, PM2, and PM3) will present 35–40 items that will cover the entire test “blueprint,” meaning students will encounter items representative of the standards within the subject or grade level. For more information on the test design, please visit https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k12-student-assessment/best/ . If you or your student would like to interact with the online testing platform or review FAST ELA Reading and Mathematics sample items at home, sample test materials are available at https://flfast.org/families.html.
In addition to FAST Reading and Mathematics, 4th grade students will be taking Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Writing assessment and 5th grade students will be taking Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Writing assessment as well as the Statewide Science assessment.
Please review the following policies with your student before testing:
Electronic Devices—Students are not permitted to access any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom). If your student is found with an electronic device or is found using Bluetooth/wireless headphones/earbuds during testing, his or her test may be invalidated. Santa Rosa County District Schools provides an environment that fosters each learner’s potential, equips students for academic excellence, and promotes lifelong learning.
Calculator Policy—For Grades 7–8 FAST Mathematics, approved handheld scientific calculators may be used. For Grade 6 FAST Mathematics, a handheld four-function calculator may be used.
Testing Rules Acknowledgment— All tests include a Testing Rules Acknowledgment that reads: “I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score may be invalidated.” Prior to testing, test administrators read the rules to students, and students acknowledge that they understand the testing rules by clicking the box in the secure browser indicating they understand the testing rules.
Discussing Test Content after Testing— The last portion of the testing rules read to students before they click the box to accept the Testing Rules Acknowledgment states that because the content of all statewide assessments is secure, students may not discuss or reveal details about the test content (including test items and passages) after the test. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting to social media sites. Please make sure your student understands this policy prior to testing and remind them that “discussing” test content includes any kind of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, posting to social media, or sharing online. While students may not share information about secure test content after testing, this policy is not intended to prevent students from discussing their testing experiences with their parents/families.
Working Independently—Students are responsible for doing their own work during the test and for protecting their answers from being seen by others. If students are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated.
Testing Accommodations—If your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is an English Language Learner (ELL) or a recently exited ELL, please contact the school to discuss any testing accommodations that will be provided for your student.
If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Kim Alexander at 850-936-6060. For more information about the FAST program, please visit the portal at https://flfast.org/index.html .
Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration.
Attendance Procedures & Policy
If your child is sick, please send a note to the school within three (3) school days of the absence(s) for the absence(s) to be excused. If you have an upcoming event and would like to request approval for an excused absence(s) you must do so five (5) school days prior to the absence. The school strictly adheres to the five-school day prior notice policy. Please be aware that this is school board policy and can be viewed in the Santa Rosa County School Code of Student Conduct on the SRSCSD website at: https://sites.santarosa.k12.fl.us/files/csc.pdf . Please fill out a request form if you would like to receive a hard copy of this document.
Cafeteria/Food Service
Elementary student breakfast and lunch prices are as follows: Breakfast Full Price $1.15; Breakfast Reduced Price $.30; Breakfast – Adult $2.25; Lunch – Full Price $2.70; Lunch Reduced Price $.40; Lunch – Adult $4.00. Please ensure your child has money for lunch each day. When a student has accumulated five unpaid meals, parents will be contacted by the School Counselor for a Social Service Assessment. You may prepay for lunches by the week, month, semester, or year in cash, check or online at www.MySchoolBucks.com. Parents are welcome to join their children for lunch and sit at the round tables near the stage starting the week of August 28. For the safety and security of all students, lunch at the round tables is ONLY for parents and their child.
Classroom Spotlight
Honya Richbourg
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
All parents are encouraged to complete a free reduced lunch application.. The applications are available online at https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application. If you need an application at any time during the school year, please call the front office @ 850-936-6060.
Lost & Found
Discover a collection of lost treasures awaiting their owners at the cafeteria stage - a sea of forgotten water bottles, coats, jackets, sweaters, and hoodies! Drop by the school this month to reclaim what may belong to your child before the items find new homes! Children have the opportunity every day when leaving the cafeteria to look through the items. The last day to pick up items will be Friday, March 22.
Month of the Military Child Events in April
- Military Moments in the Classroom: We will ask teachers to offer military students 1-3 minutes to share something with their class about being an active or former military child. This will occur throughout the month of April.
- Purple Up Day: April 17
- Purple Handprints in the handprints.
- Get to Know Me: Each week in April, 4-6 students will be invited to speak on ITV and share information about being a military child, i.e...where they were born, how many times they have moved, favorite place to be stationed. Our Anchored4Life students will introduce these students each week.
- Dandelion Board: Since the Dandelion is the flower of military children, our MFLC will create a Dandelion Board with the seeds flying away, "Military Children bloom wherever the wind might carry you". The students will write their names on a small tab of paper which will become the seeds that are flying away. The grass around the flower will be the names of teachers, staff, and other students who provide support for our military students during their time here at WNIS.
Navigator Teacher & Staff Recognitions
Parents, Families, & Students:
Please take time to give a shout out to one of our amazing Navigator Teachers or Staff Members by completing the form below and submitting to Mrs. Dorsey via the front office or email @ dorseys@santarosa.k12.fl.us
Teacher/Staff Member Name:
How he/she makes a difference:
Submitted by:
Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) Corner
West Navarre Intermediate is proud to be a Positive Behavioral and Intervention Supports (PBIS) Model School. The PBIS framework provides schools with an opportunity to teach expected behaviors utilizing positive reinforcement along with more targeted interventions for students who require more intensive supports. Our school population is divided into five different communities and students earn navigator points/bucks for their respective communities by displaying the school-wide behavior expectations below. Each 9 weeks, the community with the most navigator points/bucks will be rewarded with a special event. Our goal is to maintain a program that fosters school-wide unity, positive behavior, and promotes lifelong learning. Our communities and school wide expectations are: Fidelis (Loyalty), Erubesco (Respect), Officium (Responsibility), Veritas (Truth), and Animus (Courage).
3rd Quarter: PBIS POINT TOTALS - 3/15/24
The community in the lead for the 4th Quarter is....
Fidelis Congratulations! Teachers don't forget to enter points for the 4th quarter.
Erubesco– 60
Animus – 51
Fidelis – 79
Officium – 41
Veritas – 56
Congratulations to the MEAL Winners for February
3rd Grade: Mrs. Mallory
4th Grade: Mrs. Daugherty
5th Grade: Mrs. Lee
Congratulations to the Model Classroom Winner for February
- 3rd - Ms. Keuper
4th - Mrs. Daugherty
5th - Mrs. Adams
Navigator Bucks
- Students earn Navigator bucks/points for exhibiting positive expectations.
- Points are collected weekly and used to determine the quarterly winning community.
- Students can redeem their Navigator bucks at the end of each quarter at "Community Concessions".
Positive Office Referrals
Teachers can submit Positive Behavior Referrals to Administration. These will be a surprise for students! Teachers will submit and then administration will call the student up and make a positive phone call home praising the student for the character trait(s) he/she exhibited. These students also receive a brag tag and community pencil.
PTO Information
The PTO, an organization of parents and staff members, is an organization that helps raise funds and support activities that contribute to the enhancement of the educational program at WNIS. Examples of PTO support for WNIS include purchasing of computers and other classroom needs, providing funds to pay for student lunches until other funds can be secured, and honor roll recognitions. Parents are encouraged to join and support this worthwhile organization. For more information about our PTO check out their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/westnavarreintermediatepto/ The next PTO meeting will be April 30, 2024 @ 3:00 PM in the Media Center. Please join us!
Resources for Military Families
WNIS is proud to be a Florida Purple Star School of Distinction.
The purpose of the Purple Star School of Distinction Designation is to recognize schools that support the unique needs of military families, help military-connected students navigate critical challenges and provide resources for military-connected students when transitioning to a new school environment.
Click on the link below for more information and resources.
School Advisory Council (SAC)
West Navarre Intermediate has established a School Advisory CounciMayl to serve in an advisory capacity to the school principal and to assist in the development of the educational program in the preparation and evaluation of the School Improvement Plan required pursuant to Section 230.23 (18), Florida Statutes. The School Advisory Council shall not assume any of the powers or duties now reserved by the Florida statutes for the School Board of its administrative or instructional staff. The School Advisory Council meeting dates, times and location can be found on the WNIS website https://wni.santarosaschools.org/en-US?showHomepage=true . For more information about the School Advisory Council or to review School Advisory Council records, please contact Mrs. Dorsey, Principal.
Our next School Advisory Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 @ 7:30 AM in the Media Center.
School, District, and State Accountability report link https://edudata.fldoe.org/index.html
School Hours & Transportation
School start time is 8:15 AM. The tardy bells ring at 8:15 AM. Instruction starts promptly at 8:15 AM so students who are tardy will be missing instruction. The school day ends at 2:29 PM. Supervision is provided from 7:45 AM until 3:00 PM. Parents are solely responsible for student supervision until 7:45 AM. Parents who bring their students in the morning should remain with their child until the doors open for the da. No student should be left unattended. School personnel will be supervising the drop off area at the front entrance beginning at 7:45 AM. Please have an established routine for the afternoon; for example, Mon, Tues, and Wed bus rider home; Thurs and Fri car rider. If an emergency should arise and the afternoon arrangements change, you must FAX a signed note to the school secretary (Jodie Reilly) at 936-6067 by NOON. We do not accept changes over the telephone, by email or text messages.
Parents who pick up their students in the afternoon should remain in their cars and follow the flow of traffic. Parent pickup for grades 3-5 will begin at 2:29 PM and parents should enter the school line through Navigator Drive from Sunrise.. Pre-K will dismiss begin at 2:40 PM and parents enter line through Cotton Bay Lane. Please note blue car tags will be issued for Grades 3, 4, and 5. Pink car tags will be issued for Pre-K. Car rider tags should be displayed on the rearview mirror with the student’s first & last name clearly visible for school personnel. Car tags may be picked up in person from the front office.
School Safety & Mental Health Resources
FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials. Florida Statute 943.082 states that if, following an investigation, it is determined that a person knowingly submitted a false tip through FortifyFL, the Internet protocol (IP) address of the device on which the tip was submitted will be provided to law enforcement agencies for further investigation, and the reporting party may be subject to criminal penalties under s. 837.05. In all other circumstances, unless the reporting party has chosen to disclose his or her identity, the report will remain anonymous.
4-H Speech Contest
Congratulations to all of our 4H Speech Contest classroom winners and to our overall winners Lyla Morrow (4th Grade) and Katerina Gonzalez (5th Grade) who will represent WNIS at the district competition. Through eloquent words and heartfelt messages, the young individuals captivated our minds and touched our hearts! Their dedication, perseverance, and passion shine brightly, serving as an inspiration to all. We are so proud of all of our 4th and 5th Grade contestants. Join me in congratulating these talented students, who embody the spirit of excellence and are the future leaders of tomorrow!
Staff Spotlight
Rookie of the Year
Congratulations to Mrs. Melanie Blixt for being selected by her peers as the WNIS Rookie Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Blixt, a 5th Grade Social Thinking Teacher, embodies kindness, care, and patience in her work with students. Her dedication shines brightly, earning her the prestigious WNIS Rookie Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Blixt's innovative approaches and unwavering support create a nurturing environment where every child thrives, fostering both academic and social growth! We are so proud of you Mrs. Blixt! Thank you for all you do to support our students!
Tutor.com-Online Tutoring Information
UPCOMING EVENTS
March and April
March 4 - 8 School Social Worker Week
March 4: Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day
March 5: SGA Meeting @ 2:35 PM
March 6: Spread the Word Inclusion Campaign (Wear Blue to Support Inclusion)
March 8: PBIS Community Spirit Day - wear your community colors
March 8: PTO Appreciation Luncheon
March 8: End of 3rd Quarter
March 11: Teacher Planning Day - No School for Students
March 12: 4th Quarter Begins
March 14: 4H Speech Contest - Live on ITV
March 14: Choir Rehearsal
March 15: SGA Spirit Day - Wear your tie dye clothing
March 18-22: PBIS Reward Wagon in hallways each morning
March 18: 3rd Grade Field Day
March 19: 4th Grade Field Day
March 20: 5th Grade Field Day
March 21: Choir Rehearsal
March 21: RAOK Tile Painting Event (invitation only)
March 22: 3rd Quarter Report Card available in FOCUS Parent Portal
March 25 - 29: Spring Break - No School
April 1-5 National Assistant Principal Week
April 2 - SGA Meeting @ 2:35 PM
April 4 - School Librarian Appreciation Day
April 4 - 5th Grade Writing Assessment
April 4 - Choir Rehearsal
April 5 - 4th Grade Writing Assessment
April 8 - NBMSS Field Trip 4th - Long, Long, Vacks, Mckinnon
April 9 - NBMSS Field Trip 4th - Nelms, Mathes, Buck, Corrales (Teague)
April 9 - WBMS Parent Meeting @ 6:00 PM @ WBMS
April 10 - Spring Pictures
April 10 - NBMSS Field Trip 4th - Tucker, Daugherty, Maher, Foss (Marek)
April 11 - Battle of the Books School Competition
April 11 - Choir Rehearsal
April 12 - PBIS Community Spirit Day - Wear your community Colors
April 12 - Math Bowl
April 17 - Purple Up for Month of the Military Child
April 18 - Choir Rehearsal
April 18 - PBIS 3rd Quarter Reward Event
April 19 - RAOK Tile Painting Make up Day
April 19 - All County Chorus
April 22 - 4th Quarter Midterms in Focus Parent Portal
April 22-26 - Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 23 - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
April 24 - 4-H District Speech Contest Gr. 4, 5, 6
April 25 - Choir Rehearsal
April 25 - 2nd Grade to 3rd Grade Transition Event 5:30 to 6:30 PM
April 26 - SGA Spirit Day: PJ/Hat Day $1:00
April 30 - PTO Meeting in Library/Media Center @ 3:00 PM
Volunteer Information
Volunteers play an integral role at WNIS. We will host volunteer orientation in the fall for 2023-2024. Each volunteer is asked to complete an application, which will be presented to the School Board for approval. We request that these be completed by the first month of the school year for all family members who will volunteer during the 2023-2024 school year. For more information about the school volunteer program, please call Mrs. Dorsey or Mrs. Drost @ 936-6060. For your planning purposes, please keep in mind all volunteers must be school board approved before volunteering. Volunteer applications should be turned in at least a month in advanced to meet board approval guidelines.
West Navarre Intermediate
Email: dorseys@santarosa.k12.fl.us
Website: https://wni.santarosaschools.org/en-US?showHomepage=true
Location: 1970 Cotton Bay Lane, Navarre, FL, USA
Phone: 850-936-6060
Facebook: facebook.com/WestNavarreIntermediateSchool