NES Parent Newsletter 11/17/25

Dear NES Families,

Happy Friday!

We hope this newsletter finds you well! We have several important updates and reminders as we approach the Fall Break.

🙏 A Note of Thanks

We want to extend a huge thank you to all of the families who came out to support our students and staff at the recent Veteran's Day Assembly and the Track and Field Event. We know the weather was quite cold, and your presence and enthusiasm were truly heartwarming and appreciated by all of our students! Your commitment to supporting these important school events makes a real difference.

🗓️ Upcoming Calendar Reminders

Please mark your calendars with the following important dates:

• Early Release Day: This Friday, November 21st, is an early release day. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 AM. Please ensure you have made arrangements for your student's early pickup.

• Fall Break - No School: A reminder that there will be no school from Monday, November 24th, through Friday, November 28th, for our Fall Break. We hope you enjoy a restful and joyful time with your family!

🍎 Community Resources for Fall Break

We understand that extended breaks can sometimes pose challenges for families. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance with food distribution during the break, please know that resources are available within the community.

Please see the list of community resource organizations and contact information located below.

📚 December: PM2 Testing & Daily Preparation

When we return in December, our students will begin PM2 Testing (Progress Monitoring 2). These assessments are an opportunity for students to showcase their learning and for us to measure growth. To help your child prepare:

• Please ensure your student is getting plenty of sleep each night.

• Help them arrive at school on time every morning.

A well-rested and timely start to the day is key to helping them feel confident and ready to do their very best on their assessments.

🤝 Behavioral Expectations: Respect and Safety

We have recently observed an increase in physical aggression among some of our students. Please partner with us by taking a moment to remind your child of our school's expectations for respectful behavior:

• Keep hands and feet to themselves.

• Involve an adult immediately in any conflicts or issues they are not able to solve on their own.

Our goal is to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for all, and we appreciate your support in reinforcing these important guidelines at home.

We will advertise our December opportunities to volunteer in the coming weeks. Please make sure if you are interested in volunteering you have applied through the district career website. Choose "volunteer" for North Elementary under the "search open jobs" option to apply. Only approved volunteers will be allowed to assist with special events or work with classes on campus.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We wish you and your family a wonderful and relaxing Fall Break!

With gratitude and positivity,

November:

11/17 - 11/20: PBIS Mini Bash

11/20: First Grade Thanksgiving Feast

11/21: STEM/Early Release Day

11/24-11/28: No School/Fall Break

No newsletter Week of 11/24!!

December:

12/1: 4th grade Streelman/Flood Field Trip

12/2: 4th grade Wharin/Wagoner Field Trip

12/2: PM2 Testing begins

12/17: NES Winter Wonderland; Kindergarten Christmas program

12/18: PBIS Mega Bash

12/19: STEM Day; ERD; End of 9 weeks

12/20 - 01/05: No School/Winter Break

Elementary students: Cell phones must be powered off and out-of-sight during the school day. Across all levels, students must use office phones if they need to contact a parent. Ultimately, the policy aims to minimize device-related distractions while ensuring appropriate communication guidelines are followed.

THIS INCLUDES SMARTWATCHES and/or TABLETS WITH CELL SERVICE CAPABILITIES.

Consequences: A cellular telephone violation is categorized as an act of petty misconduct. Violation of the policy results in the confiscation of the device, which will only be returned to the parent (as defined by Florida Statutes). Students will receive a referral for an infraction of the electronic device policy.

For more information:

House Bill 1105: The bill establishes statewide restrictions on student cell phone use and creates a pilot to evaluate full-day prohibitions. The bill:

· Prohibits device use by elementary and middle school students during the school day.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2025/html/1105

Our Village and many other community partners are working on a detailed schedule of where food will be available over the next months. Please click the link below for details of these events.

Our Annual Food Drive will support Our Village’s pantry. In turn, Our Village can use donations to assist with more expensive items, such as the meat they will cook and distribute.

Items that could go a long way for Our Village’s Pantry:

Peanut Butter

Rice

Beans

Canned Food

Any other non-perishable staple that can last until distributed.

As the holidays approach and the school year barrels forward, we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the reality of this season: life is busy! We know that between work, school commitments, activities, and the start of the holiday rush, everyone—parents, students, and staff alike—can start to feel stressed and a little tired.

It's natural to feel this way, but it is precisely during these moments that we must intentionally focus on the incredible, positive vision we share for our students.

💡 Our Shared Vision: A Positive and Thriving Child

At NES we are working to create a nurturing, inspiring, and engaging environment. We believe this is best achieved when the home and school environments are working in harmony, fueled by positivity and mutual support.

To help your child continue to thrive and to reduce stress for everyone, we encourage you to adopt the mindset from Jon Gordon's book, The Energy Bus:

• You are the Driver: In your home, you have the power to set the emotional tone. By prioritizing calm and connection over rushing and anxiety, you are steering your family bus in a positive direction.

• Fuel Up with the Good Stuff: Encourage routines, celebrate small successes, and focus conversations on what your child loved about their day, not just the challenges. This positive fuel helps combat the natural energy drain of the busy season.

• Keep Negative Energy Off the Bus: When frustrations arise (and they will!), model resilience and problem-solving. Teach your child to address challenges without letting negative attitudes or complaining dominate their thinking.

🤝 How We Can Partner This Month

Here are a few ways we can work together to keep the energy positive for our students:

1. Prioritize Sleep and Routine: A well-rested child handles stress much better. Consistent bedtimes are key, even when the calendar is full.

2. Celebrate Effort: Focus on the process and effort your child puts into their learning, rather than just the final result.

3. Use Our Resources: If your child is struggling academically or emotionally, please reach out to their teacher or the school counselor. We are here to support you!

Thank you for being such a dedicated partner in your child's education. Let's make a conscious choice to bring positive energy to our shared journey and help our students finish this semester strong!

We now have an online option to pay for these shirts in RevTrak, the link is below.

This is the mockup for the school jerseys similar to our staff shirts that some of you requested for students. These will be sold as pre-orders only, the RevTrak link is below. These DO NOT have a name/number on the back. The cost of these shirts will be $25. If you are paying with cash, the amount must be EXACT CHANGE turned in to the front office. Orders are currently open and we will run the preorder for 2 WEEKS prior to ordering and will reach out once we receive the order.

Lunch :

Monday - Cheeseburger / pbj / chick & mozz sandwich

Tuesday - chicken chunks / burrito / ham & cheese sand.

Wednesday -Turkey chicken nuggets, BBQ, and Hot dogs

Thursday - Pizza / chicken patty on bun

Friday - leftovers and PBJ

Click below for the NES Student-Parent Handbook. Printed version is available in the front office upon request.

🎉We are loving our new app! ✨Access documents, news updates, and even emergency notifications, right from your pocket. Download for Android https://aptg.co/hJj62B Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/b6Km3j

FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials.

By accessing FortifyFL, students can provide a description of the threat, share pics and videos and optionally submit their contact information.

Click the button above to access the online reporting link.

Systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. Bullying includes instances of cyberbullying, as defined in Section 1006.147(3)(b), F.S. Bullying may include, but is not limited to, repetitive instances of teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, harassment, public or private humiliation, or destruction of property. If the physical harm or psychological distress is not the result of systematic or chronic behavior, evaluate for Harassment.

SESIR Bullying must include 3 elements: It must be 1) repeated; 2) intentional; and 3) involve a power imbalance.

Examples

• Student uses a cell phone to take a picture of a student using the bathroom at school and shares it electronically.
• Student repeatedly spreads nasty rumors at school about another person.
• Student repeatedly teases another person in a mean way, calling him/her inappropriate names, making fun of his/her appearance, or the way he/she talks, dresses, or acts.

Non-Examples

• Student calls another student an inappropriate name once.

For more information visit: https://www.fldoe.org/safe-schools/sesir-discipline-data/bullying.stml

NES Mission Statement:

Driven by our love for kids and passion for teaching, we provide a safe, structured, and joyful space where every child feels connected, cared for, and empowered to learn. Through collaboration and purposeful planning, we make learning fun, build strong foundations, and prepare students for their futures.

NES Vision Statement:

At NES, every student is known, loved, and empowered in a joyful, trusting community that builds strong foundations for lifelong success.

NES Core Values

Connection • Community • Safety • Growth