Hello Norris Lions!

We had a great first full week back at school, and were able to recognize our first ROAR ticket drawing winners and Students of the Month for 2023! Teachers have been working hard reminding students of our ROAR Expectations:

• Be Respectful
• Own Your Actions
• Act Safely
• Be Responsible

Students earn ROAR tickets for following these school wide expectations in the classroom, at lunch, recess, and specials. ROAR ticket drawings are held every Monday afternoon, and recognize a winner from each grade level. We love finding ways to highlight our students who are doing their personal best, academically and behaviorally!

As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, January 16th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr., day. We will see you all back at school on Tuesday, January 17th!

Mrs. Dolezal, Principal

1/16/23 - NO SCHOOL (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

1/18/23 - Pride Singers - 7:30 AM

1/19/23 - Golden Sower Meeting - 3:45 - 5:00 PM

1/23/23 - SAVE Program - 3:45 - 6:45 PM

1/24/23 - Mommy & Me Story Time - 3:15 PM

1/27/23 - Boys & Girls Club Closed - Please make other transportation arrangements.

1/28/23 - Norris Night with the Lancers - 6:05 PM (See flyer below to order tickets)

1/1/23 - 1/31/23 - Hy-Vee Red Bag Program (See flyer below)

2/2/23 - PTO Meeting - 6:00 PM

Looking ahead...

2/15 - 2/20 - NO SCHOOL - Parent/Teacher Conferences & Presidents Day

4/3 - 4/7 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break

Click HERE for the NORRIS 2022/2023 Calendar.

Click HERE for the MPS 2022/2023 Calendar.

Check out our NEW Virtual Lost & Found! Click on the link below to search for missing items. Slides will be updated every Friday.

WEEK OF JANUARY 16TH - JANUARY 20TH

GRADY KELLY

GRAFTON NEVINS

LILI ALLEN

RYLEE COFFIN

**Please note, the menu has been reduced to three choices each day. We will no longer be providing the bagel kidzable option. Please plan with your children accordingly.

This week we began a new all-school challenge! The students are being challenged to take pride in their school by keeping the hallways and restrooms clean & clutter-free! Each Friday, the cleanest hallway/restroom will be announced and the first hallway to get 5 points will receive the prize of a special day of their choice! See details below and enjoy discussing this new challenge with your student!

Hallway & Bathroom Challenge Expectations:

1. No graffiti - No writing on walls

2. Paper towels and all trash in the trash can

3. Toilets flushed and not clogged

4. Clean mirrors- no soap bombs on the walls or on the ground, no bubble baths in the sink.

5. Coats and backpacks hung up in hallways

Recognition:

The cleanest wing will be selected every Friday!

Reward:

Each week one wing will receive recognition from our custodians and administrative team if their bathroom is the cleanest. The first wing to get 5 recognitions/points will get to choose a special activity day (Pajama Day, Electronic Day, Stuffy Day or Movie Day).

All parents, please ensure that you have the information from your classroom teacher in the event of an e-Learning Day. Winter weather can be unpredictable, we thank you in advance for your preparation!

Millard Public Schools is seeking voter approval to continue the levy override authority the district has had since 2018. The levy override has ensured stability in Millard. By law, it must be renewed every five years. Without this funding, reductions in people and programs will likely be necessary across the district. Ballots will be sent to all Millard voters in mid-February and must be returned by March 14th.

Special Election For Continuation of Levy Override

The Millard Board of Education is asking our community to continue the levy override authority the district has had since 2018. The levy override has provided financial stability to support the important work of Millard's teachers and staff. State law requires levy overrides to be reauthorized by voters after five years. Millard residents will vote on the continuation of this authority in a special mail-in election on March 14th. More information about the levy override is available on the district website at https://www.mpsomaha.org/millards-levy-override Additionally, the district will host four public information sessions about the levy override. Superintendent Dr. John Schwartz and Chief Financial Officer Chad Meisgeier will give a presentation and be available for questions. The information sessions will be as follows:

• Monday, January 16th, 6 p.m. at the Don Stroh Administration Center, 5606 South 147th Street, Omaha, NE 68137
• Tuesday, January 24th, 6 p.m. at Millard North High School, 1010 South 144th Street, Omaha, NE 68154
• Tuesday, January 31st, 6 p.m. at Millard South High School, 14905 Q Street, Omaha, NE 68137
• Thursday, February 2nd, 6 p.m. at Millard West High School, 5710 South 176th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68135

Don't miss out on your 2022-2023 Norris Yearbook! The ordering deadline has been extended to JANUARY 14TH! The full-color yearbook includes school portraits, candid photographs of school events, group activities and classroom photos! Online ordering makes purchase quick and easy! Please click on the attached flyer or scan the code below.

Bridge to Early College is a middle-school program designed as a preparatory program for the Early College High School program at Millard South.

Again this year, we have both an electronic and a paper application; the electronic application can be accessed HERE. Paper applications are available at the school office.

Please note, applications are due January 20TH and can be turned into your students 5th grade teacher.

More information on this program can be found HERE.

We’re thrilled to re-introduce the launch of the Elementary School Culinary Competition in

2023!

This event is to help get students engaged and excited about cooking, while educating students in HEALTHY EATING HABITS. Too often we hear about kids not making the right choices in terms of their eating habits. Plus, eating healthy should be fun! That’s why we want kids to submit recipes WITH THEIR FAVORITE FRUIT OR VEGETABLE SIDE DISH.

Judging will be based on the following criteria:

• Originality
• Kid Friendly
• Ease of Preparation
• Healthy Attributes
• Plate Presentation
• Taste
• Student Chef Presentation to Judges

Please see the attached flyer regarding the 2023 Future Chefs Challenge that we will be hosting on March 9th. This event is open to all 4th and 5th graders. We are so excited this event is back, and can't wait to see the creativity come in from across the district in submissions. The deadline to submit a recipe form is January 31st. Recipes will be reviewed and one winner from each school will be chosen to compete at the Culinary Cook-Off on March 9th. Click on the flyer below or scan the QR code to complete a recipe form. Paper forms are also available in the school office, if needed.

Do you know a current 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader who loves to sing and move? We would love to have them join one of our Millard Show Choir Camps this summer! There are TWO to choose from!!! One at Beadle Middle and one at Millard North! These camps are open to ALL current 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders (kids who WILL be in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade next school year!) Please check out the attached flier for all information. Then you will email klwhisinnand@mpsomaha.org to register your child for Beadle OR llbrown@mpsomaha.org to register your child for Millard North.

GET YOUR NORRIS GEAR! FREE SHIPPING on orders over $75! Choose from hundreds of sprit wear designs and garments that are delivered directly to your home!

Click HERE to order!

Thank-you for volunteering at Norris!! We appreciate you!

• 1/1/23 - 1/31/23 - Hy-Vee Red Bag Program (See Flyer)
• 1/28/23 - Lancer Hockey Night - 7:00 PM
• 3rd - 5th graders will be singing the National Anthem!
• 2/2/23 - PTO Meeting - 6:00 PM
• 2/8/23 - Piezon's Fundraiser
• 4/17 - 4/23 - Book Fair
• 5/12/23 - Fun Run

Check out our PTO Website for the latest information!

January 1-31st at the Stony Brook Hy-Vee.

"Have you heard the news? Norris Elementary PTO has been selected as the beneficiary of the HyVee Reusable Bag Program that supports local non-profits! Each time a $2.50 red "My Heart" Reusable Bag is purchased at the Hy-Vee at 144th & Stony Brook during the month of January we will receive a $1 donation."

Lancer's game January 28th. 3rd-5th graders are invited to sing the National Anthem on the ice. Singers can get a free ticket, family, friends, and other students will need to purchase a ticket. Part of the ticket price will go to Norris. Here is the link to purchase Lancer's tickets: https://fevo.me/norriselem22

President: Heidi Andsager

Vice President: Vanessa Huxhold

Secretary: Heather Doyle

Treasurer: Tim Malm

Volunteer Coordinator: Anna Pectol

PTO Email: pto.norris@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/norrispto

Applications are now being accepted for our Montessori Preschool program. Families living in the Millard School district must submit the application by February 15th, 2023. Families living outside of the Millard School district must apply before March 15, 2023. If you have questions about this application please call 402-715-1265.

APPLY HERE!

Looking for a new opportunity? We would love for you to consider a job with Millard Public Schools! No one knows us better than you. You are our community, and we want our families to be a part of our schools. You get what we are all about better than anyone else.

We are also a good fit for moms and dads with busy lives looking for schedules and opportunities that fit around families. The work is meaningful - and it doesn’t happen on nights and weekends.

We have para positions in our classrooms, food service and maintenance positions and a host of other opportunities. See everything currently available here:

Open Positions for Millard Public Schools

We invite you to be the next great reason we are #Proud2MPS!

Click HERE for the Norris Staff Directory.

Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:45 am - 4:15 pm

Fax #: 402-715-6119

Website: norris.mpsomaha.org
Location: 12424 Weir Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: (402)715-8340
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorrisElem
Twitter: @NorrisElem

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 8:30 AM - 3:45 PM

Wednesdays - 8:30 AM - 2:15 PM (Early out EVERY Wednesday)

Mrs. Gutsgell's Pre-school Class:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 8:40 AM - 3:30 PM

Wednesdays - 8:40 AM - 2:00 PM (Early out EVERY Wednesday)

Mission Statement: Norris Elementary guarantees each child a world-class education in a safe and diverse learning environment where students demonstrate academic excellence, responsible citizenship, and self-worth. Through innovative practices, Norris empowers its educational community to actively pursue personal goals and ROAR with pride!

2023 MPS BOARD MEMBERS

• Dr. John Schwartz - Superintendent
• Amanda McGill Johnson - President
  
• Linda Poole - Vice President
• Mike Kennedy - Secretary
• Mike Pate - Treasurer
• Stacy Jolley - Board Member
• Lisa Schoenberger - Board Member