NES Parent Newsletter 03/02/26

Dear NES Families,

🚛✨ Touch-A-Truck Success at North! ✨🚒

Our Touch-A-Truck event for Kindergarten and First Grade was a huge success! Students had an incredible time learning about community helpers and exploring some amazing vehicles and equipment up close.

A big THANK YOU to Waste Management, the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Okeechobee County Fire Department for spending time with our young learners. Your teams were outstanding, and our students were so excited to learn more about each profession and see the specialized equipment in action and take home little treasures!

Our 4th graders recently visited the Okeechobee Battlefield, where they learned about the Battle of Okeechobee and the Second Seminole War. This experience supported their Social Studies standards and truly brought Florida History to life!

📚 Read Across America Week is next week! Be sure to check out the flyer below for our special dress-up days as we celebrate the joy of reading.

📸 Spring Picture Day is Wednesday, March 4th. Kindergarten students will also take their cap and gown pictures that day — such a special milestone!

🌱 Fourth Grade AgVenture Field Trip is also March 4th, where students will learn more about agriculture in Florida.

The 2nd grade field trip on March 12th has been canceled and a new field trip is being planned. Second grade teachers will continue to keep you informed as the details are confirmed.

We are so grateful to see so many parents applying to volunteer — your support makes a tremendous difference. Thank you to our families and community members who play such an important role in student success at North!

With gratitude and positivity,

March:

3/2-3/6: Read Across America Week

3/4: Spring pictures/Kindergarten Cap and Gown pictures

3/8: Daylight Saving Time Begins (Change your clocks!)

3/12: Teddy Bear Fundraiser

3/13: Quarter 3 PBIS Mega Bash (for eligible students); End of 3rd 9 weeks

3/16-3/20: No school/Spring Break

3/23: No School/Teacher Plan Day

3/23-3/27: Say Something Week

3/26: SAC Meeting

3/30: OHS Grade Walk at NES; Report Card Day

3/31: Talent Show Tryouts

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.

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