Estrada's E-Notes
January 2022 Edition
UPDATE - January 6
Dear Newport El Families,
Yesterday afternoon NMUSD made the decision to suspend visitors and volunteers at all NMUSD campuses. You can see the full message from the superintendent below. This decision will be re-evaluated after January 24th.
Unfortunately this means, that parents will not be able to start attending flag deck this week. Hopefully, we will be able to welcome you in February. This also means there will not be any classroom volunteer opportunities until further notice.
I understand that this is disappointing, but hopefully it is temporary and will help with the surge.
Keep being awesome and stay healthy!
Amanda Estrada
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
While we value community participation in our schools, our focus is keeping schools open. Unfortunately, the current COVID-19 surge has impacted the operations of our schools, including negatively impacting our workforce. To reduce the number of people on our campuses, we are temporarily suspending visitors and volunteers during school hours, through January 24, 2022.
We will re-evaluate COVID-19 impacts on our schools and will follow-up prior to January 24, 2022 to confirm our ability to allow visitors and volunteers.
School events and activities may need to be postponed. Your child’s school will provide more information about rescheduled events and activities.
Principal's Post
Happy New Year! I hope you had a happy and healthy holiday season!
It's wonderful to be able to start the new year with some great news: parents and guests are able to attend flag decks starting January 7th. We are excited to welcome you back to flag decks where we gather as a school community to celebrate our students and share important information. For everyone's safety, we ask that you follow these guidelines:
- Enter campus through the VIP (Very Important Parent) Gate. This is the boardwalk gate closest to the library. The gate will open at 8:05.
- Enjoy flag deck from the VIP section of the quad. This is the area to the right side of the stage, behind where the primary grade students are seated. This will allow for some social distancing between students, staff and parents.
- If you attend to see your child receive an award, they will be directed to go the VIP area so that you can take their picture.
- Masks are recommended but not required for outdoor events per the CDPH.
- Exit campus through the VIP Gate immediately after flag deck.
I look forward to seeing you at flag deck!
Keep being awesome!
Principal Estrada
#thrivingtogether
Spotlight on Academics
Spotlight on Safety
7 ways to be safe while walking to school
- Look both ways and use crosswalks — but don't assume you're seen.
- Make eye contact with the driver.
- Eyes up, phones down.
- Walk in a group.
- Cross with an adult.
- Be a good role model.
- Be visible.
The City of Newport Beach provides crossing guards at 13th and 14th Street before and immediately after school each day to assist our students. Please always cross with the crossing guard, encourage your child to follow all safety laws, and be a good role model.
Thriving Together
This month's focus is curiosity. Dr Borba says,
Curiosity is what helps children to be open to possibilities and motivates them to learn - both inside the classroom and beyond it. Students with greater academic success than less curious peers. In fact, a meta-analysis of two hundred studies involving over fifty thousand students found that curiosity is as important as intelligence in determining how well kids do in school.
Top Takeaways:
- 3 abilities nurture curiosity: 1. Curious mindset;2. Creative problem-solving; 3. Divergent thinking.
- Curiosity thrives with collaboration. This strength flourishes when people - regardless of age - collaborate and build on one another's work.
- Stretch inquisitiveness. Instead of, "That won't work," try: "Let's see what happens!" instead of giving answers, ask: "What do you think? How do you know? How can you find out?"
Strategy to Try:
Teach brainstorming rules using the acronym, SPARK.
S - Say problem
P - Positives only.
A - Add on to create more options.
R - Rapid-fire ideas.
K - Keep storming until no ideas or time expires.
January Read Aloud
This month I am reading What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kodi Yamada. It is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child's confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who's ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. It's a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it some space to grow, and to see what happens next. Because your idea isn't going anywhere. In fact, it's just getting started. The story has a message about curiosity which is our Thrivers character strength of the month.
January Dates
January 3 - School Resumes
January 7 - Flag Deck and Spirit Dress
January 7 - Foundation Meeting
January 17 - NO SCHOOL - MLK Jr. Day
January 21 - Flag Deck
January 21 - PTA General Meeting
January 24-28 - Great Kindness Challenge
January 26 - PTA Restaurant Night
Volunteers on Campus
NEW: Starting January 18th, verification of vaccination is not required to be an approved volunteer. Instead, you will need to show proof of a negative covid test dated within 7 days.
All interested volunteers are asked to complete these 3 steps:
- Read through the Newport El Volunteer Orientation slide deck.
- Complete the Newport El Volunteer Agreement.
- Complete the district's volunteer approval process.
As always, every teacher utilizes volunteers in different ways. Teachers will be communicating with the approved volunteers from their class about their need for volunteers and scheduling.
Our Office Staff is Here to Help
Main Line: 949-515-6965
Absence Line: 949-515-6832
Attendance questions:
Vicky Mahtesian - vmahtesian@nmusd.us
Health, medications, and immunizations questions:
Dana Hansen - dhansen@nmusd.us and
Nurse Sarah Hacker - shacker@nmusd.us