Norton Creek Elementary

SCHOOL DAILY SCHEDULES

Kindergarten

AM Session-

8:00am -10:15am

PM-Session -

11:25am-1:40pm

1st thru 5th Grades-

8:00am-1:40pm

Our School Office is open from 7:00am until 3:30pm on school days.

Please call the school attendance line if your student will be absent at 331-228-2700. Please spell your students first and last name when you leave a message. If you are emailing the teacher as well please indicate students first and last name.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL...TONY WHITE

My wife loves to watch shows like "Dancing with the Stars." I don't particularly, but I love to spend time with my wife...so, I watch it too. I've noticed an interesting trend on the show for years now that seems indicative of a larger societal trend/human nature. There are three judges on the show, and they seem to know everything about every style of dance. After each dance routine, the judges provide clear feedback to the contestants. The judges will almost always have a piece of constructive criticism for the dancers (I never feel like they get to Simon Cowell levels of just being mean.). And, when it happens, the crowd boos. Even without a crowd, the producers of the show pipe in fake boos after the judges give criticism. It's this fascinating moment of wanting to show empathy but also treating good, honest, and candid feedback as "haters gonna hate."

Candid yet compassionate criticism - especially from an expert in the field, should be received and implemented as best as can be. Even an expert can be wrong from time to time, but we should still remember that this feedback loop is part of the learning process. Without the models for learners to follow and clear, constructive, compassionate feedback to guide us, we end up guessing at what "success" should look like.

As the grown-ups in our Eagles' lives who care about them, let's model positive, compassionate feedback as well as how to receive and implement it in a healthy manner. A lot of Bears fans may like Mike Ditka, but I can't imagine would approve him grabbing their son or daughter by the face mask and yelling in his or her face. However, a different Chicago coaching legend (albeit a very new one), Joe Maddon, had a different approach. After benching Starlin Castro for then up-and-comer, Javy Baez, he summed up the conversation they had saying, "Honesty without compassion is just cruelty." I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Make a pot of chili, rake up some leaves, and pour some hot apple cider this weekend, Norton Creek! Fall has arrived very quickly! Have a wonderful weekend!

SELF CERTIFICATION FORM

Please certify each child online every morning prior to 7:30am by filling out out the online form. Please know that you do not need to print out the "PASS" it generates. Once certified online sign the luggage tag on the students backpack for that day. Students without online certification are checked and parents called before they can enter the building. Thank you very much for your cooperation and understanding.

Schedule Your Students Conferences By October 7th

Parent teacher conferences are coming soon. Schedule your students virtual conferences with their teachers starting September 21st. The conferences will be held on October 8th and 9th. Pick A Time will open on Sept 21st and close on October 7th. Please see the below instructions on how to schedule your students conference.

If you have already scheduled your conferences the instructions for Zoom are also below.

Remote parents will receive their communication for conferences and directions for Pick-A-Time in a separate email. The directions will be different.

IMPORTANT DISMISSAL REMINDER:

On the rare occasion that there will be a change to your student(s)' after school dismissal (i.e. bus), please send an email by 10:00 a.m. on the day of said change to:

nortoncreekdismissal@d303.org

Your student(s)' teacher and your student(s)' bus supervisor

Thank you for your assistance.

Illinois Department of Health Definition of Close Contact

Who is a close contact?

A close contact is anyone (with or without a face covering) who was within 6 feet of a confirmed case of COVID-19 (with or without a face covering), for at least 15 minutes throughout the course of a day. The period of close contact begins 2 calendar days before the onset of symptoms (for a symptomatic person)
or 2 calendar days before the positive sample was obtained (for an asymptomatic person). If the case was symptomatic (e.g., coughing, sneezing), persons with briefer periods of exposure may also be considered contacts. Close contacts to a confirmed case of COVID-19 are required to remain in quarantine at home for 14 calendar days starting from the last day of contact with the confirmed case.

KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS CAN ORDER TAKE HOME MEALS

District 303 is now offering the opportunity for kindergarten students to order a meal that can be taken home after school. Students will choose items from a menu that will be ordered by their classroom teacher. The meals will be brought to the classroom 15 minutes prior to dismissal. Meals that students select are free of charge as part of the Federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) that has been extended through December 31, 2020.

Los estudiantes de kindergarten ahora tienen acceso a comidas preparadas para llevar

El Distrito 303 ahora les ofrece a los estudiantes de kindergarten la oportunidad de ordenar una comida que puede llevarse a casa después de la escuela. Los estudiantes pueden elegir de un menú y su maestro(a) tomará la orden. Las comidas se llevarán a los salones 15 minutos antes de la hora de salida de clases. Las comidas que los estudiantes seleccionan son gratuitas como parte del Programa Federal de Servicios Alimenticios del Verano (SFSP por sus siglas en inglés) que se ha extendido hasta el 31 de diciembre del 2020.

PTO'S E-NEWS THIS WEEK!

MTK!!

We desperately need you to make sure you and your student are registered in MTK so you receive PTO information throughout the year! Please click here to ensure you are registered!

NORTON CREEK MASKS nortoncreekptotreasurer@gmail.com

Are you tired of your little one's mask falling off their nose? Do you want to show your school spirit?!! Please check out the BEAUTIFUL handmade masks made by one of our very own Eagle parents. Safe and secure school drop off has been established as well as convenient no contact payment through PayPal. See flyer below for sizes and prices. Your PTO will receive a donation for every mask purchased. Ordering is on MTK!

AMAZONSMILE (K-5) nortoncreekptovicepresident@gmail.com

Turn your Amazon purchases into a force for good. With every eligible purchase, AmazonSmile donates 0.5% to our school when you choose Norton Creek Elementary. This includes millions of everyday items at smile.amazon.com. You must use the specified link for NC to receive credit. Ask all of the Amazon shoppers in your family to use AmazonSmile!

BOY SCOUTS (K-5) stcpack155@gmail.com

Is your eagle interested in boy scouts?! See the flyer below for more information and when to sign up!

WE WANT YOU!!! at the NEXT PTO MEETING

Please join us for our next PTO meeting next Wednesday, October 7 at 7PM. The meeting will be held via Zoom! The link for the meeting is included on the agenda! Meeting Agenda