Wednesday's Words

Welcome back! It has been wonderful to see our students' smiling faces return to their classrooms. I hope your children have had a smooth start and are settling comfortably into their new routines.

Getting our schools ready for the new school year was a true team effort. I want to extend my deep gratitude to our entire staff—from the teachers who poured their time into planning, to our administrators, office staff, nurses, and custodians who worked diligently to ensure a smooth beginning. Their dedication is what makes our district special.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Freeman-Kennedy School Open Houses. It was a pleasure to see our community come together. For our H. Olive Day School families, please mark your calendars for the upcoming Open House on September 25th. It's a great opportunity to connect with teachers and fellow families and to visit your child’s classrooms.

Our district theme for the 2025-2026 school year is "One District, One Team, One Community: Empowering Learners One Child at a Time." This isn't just a saying; it's a commitment to building a strong partnership with you. We believe that by working side-by-side we can create a truly exceptional educational experience for every student. We look forward to a fantastic year of collaboration!

Sincerely,

Ingrid Allardi

Last week, we sent an email with several important documents. This included a letter with a link to our Family Handbook and Code of Conduct, information on student insurance, and summaries of important privacy policies like CIPA, COPPA, and FERPA.

If you didn't receive this email, please contact your child's school office so we can resend it. Please take some time to review these documents, as they contain valuable information. As always, feel free to reach out to the office with any questions. We are here to help!

Consistent with Massachusetts regulations, 603 CMR 26.05(1), the Norfolk Public Schools, through its curricula and materials, encourages respect for the human and civil rights of all individuals, regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.

This summer, the United States Supreme Court ruled that public schools must provide parents with the opportunity to opt their child out of participating in lessons that contradict their sincerely held religious beliefs. Parents who wish to request curriculum accommodations, including the right to opt out, should contact their child’s building principal.

Freeman-Kennedy School - Mrs. Lisa Altham-Hickey, Principal
althamhickey@norfolk.k12.ma.us

508-528-1266

H. Olive Day School - Mrs. Kristen Giffune, Principal

giffune@norfolk.k12.ma.us

508-541-5475

Newly Adopted Math Program: Have you heard our exciting news? We have adopted a new math program called Amplify Desmos Math in grades K-6. Amplify is rooted in problem-based learning, where students actively engage with real-world scenarios to build a deeper, conceptual understanding of mathematical ideas. The curriculum resources are a blend of digital and print materials, using the Desmos platform's interactive tools to make student thinking visible to teachers in real-time. (To read more, click here)

We hope all elementary school parents and guardians will join us for this event made possible in collaboration with the Regional Director of Wellness, Healthy KP Substance Use Prevention Coalition, and the NPS Technology Department. We hope to see you there!

• Watch the trailer
• It's FREE - register below
• Bring a friend!

The Norfolk Public Schools are seeking dedicated and enthusiastic Instructional Assistants to join our team. We have openings for both part-time and full-time positions to support our special education programs.

Full and Part-Time Positions:

• School: H. Olive Day School

• Hours: 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.

• Role: Paraprofessional/Instructional Assistant

Responsibilities: Instructional Assistants work closely with general and special education teachers to support the learning and development of students in our special education programs. Responsibilities include providing academic and behavioral support, working with small groups or individual students, and assisting with classroom activities.

Qualifications: Associates or Bachelor's Degree

To apply, please submit your resume and a letter of interest to Dr. Anna Tupper (tupper@norfolk.k12.ma.us).

Please click on Employment Opportunities to join our team!

CURRENT OPENINGS:

For more information contact Jill Rivolla, Human Resources @ jrivolla@norfolk.k12.ma.us

• Extended Day Site Coordinator (SACC)
• Computer Support Person
• Paraprofessionals
• Substitute Teachers/Paraprofessionals
• Substitute Nurses (RN or LPN)
• Food Service Helpers

• Wednesday, October 8 - Noon Dismissal - PD Day
• Monday, October 13 - NO SCHOOL

Next meeting: Tuesday, October 21 @ 7pm in the FK Library

Help support the King Philip DECA group project - "Clothes for the Community"- which assists the non-profit organization Cradles to Crayons. This KP DECA group hosts events in collaboration with the organization and collects clothing donations. The drive takes place from September 22 to October 3. You can find bins to donate clothing in both the Freeman Kennedy and H. Olive Day Schools.

Look for our next issue coming October 15!

Norfolk Public Schools

Email: allardi@norfolk.k12.ma.us
Website: norfolk.k12.ma.us
Location: 70 Boardman Street, Norfolk, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 528-1225