Notes from the North Park Hive

Dear Families,

It's hard to believe we have almost been in school for two months! I am so proud of our students and the growth we have already seen academically and socially! They are showing such great progress with our phonics and PA skills - more than we usually see this time of year!

Picture Days are THIS WEEK - October 1st and 2nd. These are the photos used in the school yearbook and you may also purchase them as a way to support our school. You will be sent a proof and the opportunity to purchase with that proof. It is all handled online.

This Friday is our first DIVE DAY in kindergarten. During this day, students get to experience a fun day of DIVING into learning in different classrooms! We divide students into new groupings based on their academic skills and students visit four different classrooms for hands-on literacy instruction. They use NO pencils or paper during these academic activities! It is SO COOL to see the games and activities the teachers come up with! They will get to have a sack lunch and then the afternoon involves a dance party, playground time, their monthly PBIS reward (ice cream) and some storytelling time. It's always a great way to head into Fall Break.

We wish all of our families a safe and restful Fall Break. Keep reading over the break! It's a great way to keep those literacy skills fresh!

I also wanted to remind everyone that kindergarten car rider line is the road that goes around the school. We have had several kindergarten students brought to the front door, which is our preschool drop-off. This causes confusion for the students and staff trying to get preschoolers safely to their tables. Unless your child has a sibling in preschool, all kindergarten students should PLEASE use the road/car rider line. I also wanted to remind everyone that the school cannot receive students until 7:10 AM when we open our doors and begin car rider line. We have had several students brought to the front doors between 6:30-7:00 AM. My staff does not have to report until 7:00, so we are not able to watch your child until our designated time (7:10AM). Thank you for understanding!

Finally, I did want to emphasize that we have started school wide literacy homework for PA and Phonics skills in kindergarten. This is not optional homework. All students should be completing these homework sheets so that students can all make adequate (and MORE than adequate!) growth. The homework is individualized to your child's needs and level. A new law in Kentucky requires schools to ensure that students have made appropriate growth before sending students to first grade. If your child does not make those expected gains and all efforts have been made (intervention, homework, special supports at school), we will have to consider retention as an option. It is very important to support your student at home with these skills. We've seen about 50-70% participation in classrooms, so we hope to see that improve this week and as the semester progresses.

If you need assistance with the app in any way, please call the NPES office at 270-351-4464 or email laurabeth.hayes@hardin.kyschools.us

Sincerely,

Mrs. Hayes (principal)

NPES will transition to a new school building (and a new structure as a preschool-5th grade building) in the fall of 2028. Work is expected to begin on our new building early this winter. This new school will be in front of North Middle School off of Joe Prather Highway. Many of our current NPES students may end up as students at this new school! Help us name the new school by submitting your suggestions before Tuesday.

Use the link below to send a suggested name. Our staff and then SBDM council will vote on three names to submit to the HCS School Board for their selection.

We launched our kindergarten homework last week. This homework, designed to target phonological awareness (PA) and phonics skills, is based on the skills your child has mastered at school. Every student is working on individualized skills. Our goal is to help each student make progress at his/her own pace.

THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THESE SHEETS WITH YOUR CHILD. We believe it will make a huge difference in each child making a year of growth this school year.

To help you understand more about PA and Phonics and why they matter, see the graphics below:

Please note that our lunch menu will sometimes differ from what is listed due to availability of items and delivery dates to our school sometimes being different. All students may eat breakfast and lunch for FREE.

Our reading tree is looking amazing! The children have earned HUNDREDS of stickers! Keep going! The September reading tree leaves were sent home home, and you can print out from the link below as well! If you need more, just let your teacher know. READ TOGETHER AS A FAMILY!

All students will have access to a free breakfast and a free lunch again this school year. However, each family is still required to complete a Household Income Form to maintain accurate data as a requirement for state and federal funding. If this information is not collected accurately, Family Resource Centers, Youth Service Centers and instructional resources are in jeopardy of losing essential funding.

Please fill out even if your family does not qualify. It does not take long at all.

The form is available by CLICKING HERE. Free lunches are provided through a program called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Its continuation is dependent on the number of school meals served. HCS encourages all students to participate in school lunch and school breakfast as much as possible!