March-

3/10/23- Science Night

3/13/23- School Board Meeting (6pm at Haines)

3/15/23- DPTO Meeting (9:30am at Haines)

3/15/23- Chess Club

3/17/23- Science Club

3/20/23- Learning and Teaching Meeting(5:30pm at Haines)

3/22/23- Early Release Day Dismissal at 2:10

3/22/23- Wellness Club

3/23/23- Policy Committee Meeting (5pm at Haines)

3/23/23- Business Services Meeting (5:30pm at Haines)

3/23/23- Art Club

3/24/23- Science Club

3/27/23-3/31/23- Spring Break (No School)

Kindergarten thru 5th Grades-

8:00am-3:00pm

Students can be dropped off at 7:45am for the school day. It you arrive before that time please keep your child with you until 7:45 as there is no supervision outside until then.

Our school office is open from 7:30am until 4:00pm on school days.

What's true at school is true at home. This sounds obvious, but my wife and I (my wife is easily one of the best middle school teachers I've ever known) often need to remind ourselves of this fact when working with our own kids at home. We had been noticing recently that our kids were not cleaning up after themselves when playing, and we asked our first grader why that's the case. She said, "Well, when you call us right to dinner, we just come upstairs and don't clean up." At this point, you can probably hear the collective smack of our palms to our foreheads. Transitions! We forgot to add in transition time for our kids by giving them a five minute heads-up before dinner would be on the table.

Transitions are hard for kids. It can be hard for kids to stop doing something they're having a lot of fun or really prefer doing. It also takes a great deal of executive functioning, planning, and practice for a young mind. Let's help our Eagles with something really difficult and guide their transitions until they don't need our help any more. While it's always nice to be needed, it's better to know that we've helped our kids gain independence and trust.

Someone who works with our Eagles a lot in this area is our very own Amanda Ruscheinsky. This week is School Social Worker Week, and I would like to take this moment to thank the famous Miss Amanda for her amazing work with our Eagles, families, and staff. She's a tireless advocate for kids, a master at helping Eagles name, understand, and best express their feelings, and she is a reliable go-to for our staff and families when they have a social-emotional question or need they require assistance or guidance on. She is also the engine behind our CommUNITY Days playing a major role in the planning and also the preparation for these 80 minute community-building extravaganzas. Norton Creek is truly fortunate to have Miss Ruscheinsky as our school social worker!

Have a wonderful weekend making memories with your favorite people, Norton Creek!

There is an abundance of items in our lost and found. Please ask your child(ren) to check it for items that they may be missing. They can ask their classroom teacher to go down and check it or check during lunch time daily. The lost and found is located in the Community Room. Any unclaimed items will be donated on March 26th.

IT’S RECORDER TIME!

Norton Creek 4th grade students, along with all D303 4th grade students, will spend a unit in music class learning recorder fundamentals!

We will begin the week of MARCH 6th! Yahoo!

Please order the following recorder from Quinlan & Fabish via the Norton Creek Webstore and PushCoin so your child may participate*. Total cost will be $5.00.

ORDER INSTRUCTIONS LINK

(Students are also free to use a SCHOOL QUALITY recorder they already have possibly from an older sibling!

Please send these with your child beginning the week of March 6th!!!

If you already have a recorder, you do not need to place an order!)

*If you are unable to purchase a recorder, please contact me directly for that procedure!

DELIVERY: Mr. Ramsaier, our Q&F representative, will deliver all recorders to Norton Creek free of charge. Mrs. Beetstra will then distribute the recorders during your child’s music class!

**Please DO NOT send your child to school with a check or cash!

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED VIA PushCoin**

If you have any questions,

PLEASE do not contact your child’s

4th grade teacher—contact me directly via email!

Thank you so much!

Mrs. Beetstra

adrianne.gallaugher-beetstra@d303.org

A few reminders to keep the school year going.....

What time can my student arrive to school?

We open the doors at 7:45am for student arrival every morning. Students should not be dropped off before that time as there is no supervision for students. If you arrive before drop off time please keep your child in your car until the appropriate time.

How do I report an absence?.

Absences should be called in by 7:45 AM if your child will be absent for any portion of the day. The number is 331-228-2700 and has voicemail. You can call during the evening or overnight and leave a message. Please leave your child’s name and the reason why your child is out. If they are ill, please indicate their symptoms.

Even if you notify your child's teacher of an absence via email, we ask that you please still notify the office at nor-office@d303.org. Please note that if your child is sick, they should be fever free and have no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school. Of course, you can always email the teacher as well, but you need to formally notify the school of any student absence.

Is your child leaving school early?

Also, if you will be picking up your child early or taking your child out for an appointment, please let our front office know as early in the day as possible by calling the main number at 331-228-2700 or email at nor-office@d303.org. This can be very helpful should a pick-up time be when the child is in specials or at lunch. Kids can be indoors as well as outdoors depending on their schedule and it can take a few extra minutes to locate and get the child down to the office for an early pickup if they are not in their classroom.

What if my child has a change in dismissal/transportation?

Please let the school know as early as possible if there is a occasional change to your child dismissal by emailing nor-office@d303.org and your child's teacher or call the office directly at 331-228-2701. If it is after 12pm please call the office directly so that we can ensure your child gets the notification of changes. Dismissal time can be very hectic and to help ensure a smooth dismissal, getting any transportation changes for students early is very helpful. Simply call the school office or email at nor-office@d303.org and let them know.

Will your child arrive late to school?

If your child is arriving after 8:00am please walk them into the school and sign them in.

Note: Save our school number in your contacts. Norton Creek Elementary: (331) 228-2700.

Students must apply for the privilege of using prearranged absence days through the principal’s office.

This completed form must be turned in at least (2) school days prior to the requested absence to the main office.

The building principal or designee has the authority to grant up to (5) days of excused absence per year

for the following types of absences:

 Participation in regional and/or national contests or awards

 Family vacation—qualified by the phrase “accompanied by parent”

 Special religious events

Illinois State law requires that all Kindergarten & 2nd Grade students will have an oral health examination. You may have already completed this requirement. If you have not, a licensed dentist must perform the dental exam and he/she shall sign and date the report form. This exam is due by May 15th of the school year.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has established a waiver for children who show undue burden or lack of access to a dentist. Parents or legal guardians who object to the dental examinations on religious grounds shall present to the school a signed, detailed statement of the objection.

Forms can be found at:

Dental Exam Form

Dental Exam Waiver Form

If you have any questions, please contact the Health Office at 331-228-3004

Read the winter addition of the LRC Community Newsletter! The LRC Community Newsletter is designed to share information on literacy-based special events and programs in our area as well as promote a joy for reading and technology in the homes of D303 families.

https://www.smore.com/6skua

Last year the students, community, and teachers across the district enjoyed this joyful event. It's all about reading and enjoying some awesome new picture books. Students listen to and vote for their favorite books to see if they move on and become the big winner! Ask your child about March Madness.

Please remember to add money to your child(s) Pushcoin account in order to be able to purchase a lunch or a breakfast. Breakfast and lunch will not be free this year and will incur a fee daily. Norton Creek will be open at 7:45am on school days for breakfast. Please call the office with any questions.

LUNCH SCHEDULES:

2nd Grade:11:00-11:20

5th Grade: 11:20-11:40

Kindergarten: 11:40-12:00

RISE Students: 11:40-12:00

1st Grade: 12:00-12:20

3rd Grade: 12:20-12:40

4th Grade: 12:40-1:00

If your student forgets their lunch please email the classroom teacher and drop off at the main office. Please label with the students full name.

Thank you all who supported the book fair this week! Whether you volunteered your time or helped your child pick a favorite book, we thank you for supporting your LRC, PTO and reading.

Hope to see you all at Science Night tonight!

Upcoming Events:

Family Science Night- Friday March 10, 5p
Staff Appreciation Soup Event - Tuesday March 21
PTO meeting - Tuesday April 4, 5:30p
Bingo and Basket Raffle - Friday April 28

Dear Parents,

The peak of the cold and flu season is upon us! Recently, the nurses in District 303 have been caring for a number of students experiencing fevers and other cold-like symptoms. We are also aware that some students are absent from school because they have been diagnosed with the flu and other respiratory illnesses. During the months of October through April, each school in District 303 tracks influenza activity in cooperation with the Kane County Health Department. We consult with their staff to determine whether influenza activity in a school warrants additional follow up and, at this time, no additional interventions are needed. Preventative measures remain the most effective way to reduce the spread of influenza and other viral illnesses.

Students who present to the Health Office with a fever and/or feeling poorly are sent home. To prevent widespread illness in school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines:

CONSIDER KEEPING YOUR CHILD AT HOME for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:

• Very stuffy or runny nose and/or cough

• Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep or COVID)

• Headache

• Mild stomach ache

DEFINITELY KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms:

• Fever (greater than 100 degrees)

• Vomiting (even once)

• Diarrhea

• Chills

• General malaise or feelings of fatigue

• Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough

• Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose

TO HELP PREVENT THE FLU AND OTHER COLDS, teach your children good hygiene habits:

• Wash hands frequently

• Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth

• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are ill

Colds and viruses are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should remain at home until "fever free" and for a minimum of 24 hours. A child who has started antibiotics needs to be on medication for at least 24 hours before he/she is considered non-contagious and able to return to school. Keeping your ill child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom!

Thank you in advance for helping make this year at school as healthy as possible.

Sincerely,

Brittany Jensen BSN RN, PEL-CSN

Virginia Wicinski BSN RN

Cathy Leone BSN RN

Norton Creek Nurses