January Newsletter
New Market Elementary
Message from Administration
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." - Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Dear NMES Families,
Happy New Year! 2024 stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. Opportunity also awaits us in the new year. Opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. We hope that each of you find the Opportunity in this new year to make positive change. As administrators, we will take the Opportunity to continue serving our school community and providing the resources needed for a top-notch educational experience for our students. Our teachers will seize the Opportunity to accelerate learning for each of their students. We hope that you will talk with your child about what Opportunity they want to create for themselves and to take advantage of in 2024.
Wishing all our NMES families a year full of hope and opportunity!
Dr. Lockard - Principal
Mrs. McGaha - Assistant Principal
As a reminder, our NMES Vision and Mission statements are linked below for your reference.
Click HERE to read the vision statement.
Click HERE to read the mission statement.
Important January Dates
- Tuesday, January 2: Schools re-open
- Wednesday, January 3: PTA meeting from 7:00 - 8:00; 6:30 - 7:00 social time with light refreshments
- Thursday, January 4: Grade 5 field trip to the ESSL
- Thursday, January 4: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. awards ceremony at 7:00pm at TJ High School
- Monday, January 15: Schools closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day
- Tuesday, January 16: Schools closed for Teacher Work Day
- Wednesday, January 17: Schools closed for Teacher Professional Learning Day
- Thursday, January 18: Term 3 begins
- Tuesday, January 30: Report cards issued
- Wednesday, January 31: Family Coding Night from 6:00 - 7:30
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Celebration
Please join us in congratulating Brinleigh Degges as being selected to represent NMES at the county celebration. Brinleigh is a fifth-grade student in Mrs. Noffsinger's classroom. Brinleigh was selected because of her consistent demonstration of leadership characteristics as emulated by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Responsibility, Caring, Fairness, Trustworthiness, Citizenship and Respect. We are so proud of Brinleigh!
The theme for this year’s celebration is, “Let’s Stay Together and Maintain Unity”. The Celebration will take place at Governor Thomas Johnson High School (1501 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701) on Thursday January 4, 2024 at 7:00pm (Snow date is January 18, 2024).
Learning @ Home Days Information
As you may know, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been approved by the Maryland State Department of Education to implement up to three virtual instructional days in lieu of systemwide closure during inclement weather. While not necessarily the first option, the Learning @ Home days provide FCPS flexibility in responding to various weather emergencies. Click HERE to view an FCPS created document about Learning @ Home Days.
As a result, our school has been engaged in planning and preparation for this possibility, to ensure full readiness if a Learning @ Home Day were to be implemented. Here’s what you need to know and how you can help your child prepare:
Instructional Activities: All assignments will be independent and self-paced (asynchronous). You can expect approximately 20-30 minutes per subject area that students can complete at a time that works for them or the household. Assignments and activities will be review and practice, not new content. In many cases, students will have choice in selecting the instructional activity. Please note that the design of these instructional days does not require students to follow a typical school or “live” virtual schedule.
Assignments will include instructional activities aligned to the curriculum, as provided by FCPS.
Grades PreK-2: The default format for PreK–2 is a printed packet, which will be sent home with your child on Thursday, December 21. Families should store the paper packet in a safe location in their homes.
Grades 3-5: Assignments will be posted in Schoology. Teachers will survey families on the availability/access of a device at home for students to complete assignments. Printed packets will be sent home if a device is not available in the home.
Attendance: Students will be counted as “present” by logging into Schoology on the virtual learning day or turning in assignments upon return to school. Students who complete the paper packet will be counted as “present” by turning in the work to their teacher upon return to school. Students who were unable to access the instructional activities during the Learning @ Home Day will be provided with additional time.
Support: During a Learning @ Home Day, should you have questions regarding any of the instructional activities your child’s teacher will be available via email or by calling 240-236-1300.
Teachers will take the time to review the necessary information with students prior to our first Learning @ Home Day so students are familiar with what to do. In the event of a Learning @ Home Day, FCPS will provide communication and notice well in advance of any predicted inclement weather to ensure that schools, students, and families are aware of this possibility and are prepared.
NMES Yearbook Order Information
FCPS Learning Journey to College and Career Readiness
Media Center Update
NMES Coding Club
Mrs. Siderius and Ms. Goldstein are excited to announce the launch of our 2024 Coding Club, which will meet before school on Monday mornings from mid-January through early March. This club is open to 3rd-5th grade students who would like to learn more about coding through Scratch and other resources! If your child is interested in participating, please visit the following link (https://bit.ly/NMESCodeClub24) and complete the required questions by Friday, January 12th. On January 16th, Mrs. Siderius will randomly draw 25 students to participate in the club and let all parents and guardians know whether or not their child's name was drawn for club participation. If you have questions, please email Mrs. Siderius at jennifer.siderius@fcps.org.
Winter Reading Contest
Students are invited to cozy up with a good book from January 15th-February 2nd with our optional winter reading challenge! To play, students will complete each task on their contest bingo boards, which will be sent home the week of January 8th. After they’ve scratched off all of the boxes, they can return their bingo board to the media center to select a snow-themed prize from the prize bin and have their name posted on our Winter Reading Contest bulletin board! All entries returned by February 2nd will also be entered into a raffle for snow-themed books and prizes! Please email Mrs. Siderius at jennifer.siderius@fcps.org with questions.
Optional Choice Board for January
Learn about Backwards Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day, Lunar New Year and more in January with our optional choice board! You can find fun information at https://bit.ly/NMESJan24Board. Please email Mrs. Siderius at jennifer.siderius@fcps.org with any questions.
From the Counselor Corner
Walking and Wheeling Wolves Program
Read the article, "One Step at a Time: Walking to School Can Benefit Your Child and the Whole Community" from the National Institute of Health about the benefits of walking/riding to school.
NMES School Improvement
We are asking for your help in the school improvement process by reviewing the Home-School Connection document linked below and supporting your child's learning at home. Your support will help us to achieve our school improvement goals. Our school improvement plan supports our NMES Mission which is "To serve and support our students - every student...by name and need."
NMES Home-School Connection - Click HERE to view.
NMES PTA Information
NMES Attendance
For all attendance related emails or transportation changes, please email nmes.attendance@fcps.org and include your child's teacher. Transportation changes must be made prior to 3:00pm.
Consistent attendance is important for your child's academic and social success in school. MSDE sets the attendance goal at 96%. Below are the attendance percentages for each grade level and for the school overall as of the end of October:
Pre-Kindergarten: 93.1%
Kindergarten: 94.3%
Grade 1: 94.4%
Grade 2: 94.7%
Grade 3: 95.3%
Grade 4: 95.1%
Grade 5: 94.5%
Overall School Attendance Percentage: 94.7%
You can support by sending your healthy child to school each day on time. Instruction promptly begins at 9:00 each morning. You can also support by planning vacations around the FCPS calendar. Thank you!
Click HERE to view the FCPS calendar for 2023 - 2024.
Click HERE to view the FCPS calendar for 2024 - 2025.
Winter Weather Guidelines and Procedures
It is difficult to set guidelines that fit every circumstance and condition with regards to outside activities during cold weather. Principals use their discretion and good judgment as to whether or not students will go outside, as well as the duration of the outside activity. Sometimes we may opt for a shorter recess period in cold temperatures or specify a temperature above 20 degrees as the cut-off point for going out. Elementary students should not go outdoors for recess or physical education whenever the temperature falls below 20 degrees, including the wind chill factor. The temperature cut-off at NMES is 20 degrees, so please remember to dress your child in the appropriate clothing (labeled coat, hat and gloves).
NMES Ambassador Wolf
Schoology Tips
Mrs. Imboden is our Schoology Ambassador for the 2023 - 2024 school year. If you have any questions about Schoology, don't hesitate to reach out to her. She will be happy to support.
During Winter Break, there will be a change to Schoology’s display that is visible to students. All of the features will remain the same so please remind your child(ren) to be prepared for this when they return to school.
Also, note that Mrs. Imboden, NMES Schoology Ambassador, is available on Tuesdays from 4:00 - 4:30 if you need support with Schoology. She can be reached at kimberly.imboden@fcps.org to set up a time to work with you.
Supporting our Young Wolves
To support our Young Wolves still at home, we are sharing an idea to support their development.
Singing songs with your child is music to their ears. It's also a tune-up for their growing mind. When you sing songs with your child, choose songs that encourage singing and moving or hand motions. You might sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider," or any other song you like. You can even make up your own movements or hand motions to a favorite song. Encourage your child to repeat what you do and say, going back and forth. When your child knows the song, stop in the middle and see if they can fill in the blanks.
Your child learns through repetition and interaction. They are an active learner, using focus and self-control to imitate your actions. They practice using their memory as they try to remember the words of the song. WHen signing back and forth, your child also learns about communicaiton.
Thank you, PTA!
Our wonderful PTA treated staff to a delicious lunch and dessert bar leading up to Winter Break. We appreciate the kindness and appreciation from our PTA and all families who donated. Thank you!
Bus Rules and Bus Safety
If your child rides an FCPS bus to and/or from school, please take some time to review our expectations for bus behavior. Click HERE to view information to review with your child. Our FCPS bus drivers work hard every day to keep all students safe. When all students consistently follow the behavior expectations on the bus then safe and enjoyable rides to and from school can occur. Thank you for your support!
Personal Electronic Device Guidelines
Students may only use their electronic devices (including cell phones and smart watches) before or after school in a non-disruptive manner. They must be silenced and stored (out of sight) for the entire school day, except for approved instructional or medical use.