Normandy Park School
Principal's Corner
September 23rd to September 27th
- September 23rd is an A Day
- September 25th is Back to School Night at NPS (6:30pm in the NPS Gym/Multi-purpose Room)
- September 23rd, iReady testing window will open for Grades 1st to 5th.
Back to School Night
We will begin the night with a school-wide Principal's Address. I will review the academic and social emotional mission of Normandy Park School. In addition, there will be updates from our Home and School Association (H.S.A.) and the Morristown Educational Foundation (M.E.F.).
After my school-wide address, you will have the opportunity to meet with your child's teacher in their classroom. We will have two consecutive sessions (in case you have children in multiple grades and/or classes).
Walk-a-thon Assembly
On Friday, we held our first assembly. I spoke to the students about our school wide theme. We reviewed what it means to be a superhero in our everyday lives. In addition, we discussed how to recognize all the superheroes in our lives (parents, teachers, friends, bus drivers, etc.). That is, we focused on the power of thank you.
Afterwards, the HSA fundraising team, Dimitra Mihalakakos and Vikki Escobar, presented to the students on the upcoming Walk-a-thon. The students learned about individual and class fundraising prizes. Students are eager and excited for the event!
The HSA has purchased shirts for all students (K-5) and school staff. The shirts showcase this year's school theme, "Knowledge is Our Superpower." Students will get the shirts to wear for the upcoming Walk-a-thon!
We truly appreciate this gift from our HSA! Thank you!
iReady Testing Window Begins
This week, our school will begin administering the i-Ready® Diagnostic assessment for Grades 1st through 5th. Kindergarteners will begin iReady in the Winter. The i-Ready Diagnostic helps teachers to effectively assess their students and then provide individualized instruction based on each student’s unique needs. i-Ready Diagnostic assesses the following skill areas:
Reading
• Phonological Awareness
• Phonics
• High-Frequency Words
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension
Math
• Number and Operations
• Algebra and Algebraic Thinking
• Measurement and Data
• Geometry
i-Ready Diagnostic begins by giving students an adaptive assessment in reading and math. An adaptive assessment is a test that automatically adjusts the difficulty of the questions according to each student’s performance in order to determine his or her abilities in reading or math. i-Ready is a very different kind of test that presents students with questions that can be both too easy and too hard. It is designed to do this until the assessment finds exactly the level at which the student is performing. Therefore, your child will certainly see some items above his or her level. Your child will be encouraged to independently complete the test to the best of his or her ability, and know that it is okay to get questions wrong.
Each time a student gets an item incorrect, he or she will be presented with a simpler question until the diagnostic finds the grade level at which the student is performing. The assessment efficiently assesses students across multiple grade levels, allowing for identification of root causes of students’ struggles or for identification of areas where a student is ready for further challenge. This information will then provide the teacher with a “road map” to instructional remediation.
Once your child completes the test, he or she will be assigned online instruction to support his or her progress in mastering each skill. i-Ready Diagnostic supports the teachers and administrators at your child’s school. The program provides a series of comprehensive reports designed to make classroom instruction more effective. These reports include data about student performance as well as detailed teaching suggestions. They help educators make informed decisions about the instruction that is right for your child.
Should you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or your child’s teacher.
Picture Day
Picture Day was a huge success!
Thank you to all of the parent volunteers who came to help out. It was great having all of the additional support. We truly appreciate it!
Week of Respect
The Week of Respect is getting closer!
During the Week of Respect, students will participate in theme days to celebrate our united stand against bullying. Students will participate in guided activities and discussions in the classroom to promote kindness and respect to others.
See below for the schedule of events this year!
WEEK OF RESPECT
October 7th to October 11th, 2019
MONDAY, 10/7
Wear Blue to Stomp Out Bullying
TUESDAY, 10/8
We Are All Different - Crazy Cool Hair Day- Express Yourself!
WEDNESDAY, 10/9
School Closed (Yom Kippur)
THURSDAY, 10/10
Superhero Day (Celebrating Kindness is Our Superpower)
FRIDAY, 10/11
Wear Normandy Park "Knowledge is Our Superpower" Shirts for our Walk-a-thon
Upcoming Events
September 30th: No School (Rosh Hashanah)
- October 4th: Number Drummer Assembly for Students
- October 7th to October 11th: Week of Respect
- October 9th: School Closed (Yom Kippur)
- October 11th: Walk-a-thon
- October 24th: Normandy Now/HSA Meeting at 6:30pm
- November 4th and November 6th: Parent Teacher Conferences