Brief Message From the Principal

NMS Blue Jay Families,

REMINDER - Tomorrow, Monday 2/2, is a student holiday (staff development for teachers/staff) - See you Tuesday!
This week is National School Counseling Week! Please see the themes for each day below. Shout out to Mrs. Haley and Mrs. Medve, our awesome NMS Counselors!
Please see the NMS testing dates below - encouraging attendance and avoiding appointments on these dates will help us out greatly! We realize that is not always possible, but we can try 😄
If your child is participating in any of the UIL events - Writing/Academics/Speaking - those dates are coming up this week and next! If you have any questions regarding their contests, please reach out to the contest coach for more details. A UIL permission slip should have come home for you to sign with specifics!
Please make note of the Old T-shirt Drive we are doing at NMS! Clean out those closets and send shirts you would donate to the school - we will be using old shirts for a craft on Science and Social Studies Night in March, so we are trying to get a jump start.
Spring semester is always busy with clubs, UIL events, testing, field trips and more! Please be sure to check the weekly newsletters.
Check out the sections below for info about NMS! There is a lot of info in this newsletter, so please take note 📝

- Mandy Bryan, Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

Just a friendly reminder after a long break, we want to ensure that all students participating in Pre-Athletics are dressed appropriately for physical activity while also maintaining school dress code standards. Students are allowed to wear their Pre-Athletics clothing to school since it is the first period of the day. If the student’s pre-athletic clothing is within the school dress code, no additional action is required.

· Students will be asked to wear joggers/sweatpants over their shorts until the pre-athletic period begins (during drop off, breakfast, walking to homeroom class) prior to 1st period if the shorts do not meet NMS dress code requirements.

· No spandex - only shorts that are appropriate length are allowed without additional cover (e.g., longer shorts or sweatpants).

These guidelines are in place to promote a comfortable, respectful, and active learning environment for all students. Students not in compliance with the dress code may be asked to change. We appreciate your support and understanding.

There are many Houston Area Events that we would like to share!

Space Center Houston Sensory Friendly Events

Space Center Houston invites people of all ages who experience disabilities such as, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing disorder, to explore science and space exploration in a reduced sensory environment. Sensory Friendly Events provide a sensory-supportive setting including modified lighting, music and sound effects. The number of tickets is limited for these exclusive events to allow visitors to enjoy Space Center Houston in a sensory friendly atmosphere without large crowds.

Visitors can participate in special educational activities operated by instructors who are trained to accommodate guests with sensory sensitivities. There also will be a designated quiet room for guests. Additionally, there is a reduced admission price of $15.95 per person (over age 3).

Check out their UPCOMING EVENTS!

Recreational Programs for Individuals with Disabilities

Please share this resource with your families. It includes opportunities to participate in theater, horseback riding, soccer, and more!

Recreational Programs

HLSR Special Children's Events

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ is an experience everyone should enjoy. The Rodeo’s Special Children’s Committee interviews social agencies and schools so physically/developmentally challenged children and adults may attend Houston’s biggest event.

Participation in these events are through social agencies and schools on our agency list. The limited number of tickets are distributed as equitably as possible every year. If your social agency or school would like to be on the list to be considered, please send an email to specialchildrens@rodeohouston.com.

Visit their website for more information about upcoming events.

TAMU Work-Based Learning Project

The purpose of the TAMU Work-Based Learning Project is to create authentic work experiences for high school students with disabilities in Texas. Our team collaborates with selected high schools to implement Work-Based Learning programs either on campus or within their communities. Through funding, training, and technical assistance, the project helps schools teach pre-employability skills and provide meaningful work experiences that lead to paid employment. Grant funds are still available, and the application process is very straight-forward.

Grab Your Hard Hat and Put on your Safety Vest

Construction meets creativity with HMNS at Sugar Land’s newest exhibition, Building Buddies, opening Jan. 16.

SUGAR LAND — Grab your tool belt and prepare for a neighborhood transformation. The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) at Sugar Land is thrilled to announce the opening of its newest interactive exhibition, Building Buddies, opening Friday, January 16.

Designed to transform young visitors into mini-contractors and junior architects, Building Buddies is an immersive, hands-on community where play and engineering intersect. The exhibit invites children to step into a vibrant neighborhood inhabited by a cast of friendly "buddies" who need help renovating, decorating, and expanding their homes.

"We are thrilled to welcome families into Building Buddies, a vibrant, multi-sensory neighborhood where play truly has a purpose," said Kavita Self, Executive Director of HMNS at Sugar Land. "Watching children suit up in hard hats to tackle design challenges is inspiring; it proves that when we combine teamwork with STEAM, our youngest guests can see themselves as the builders of tomorrow."

Upon entering the exhibition, children are encouraged to suit up in hard hats and safety vests before diving into a series of real-world construction challenges. The experience is guided by a variety of characters, each presenting a unique task that requires creativity and problem-solving.

Architectural Planning: Join Peter the Architect to master the basics of blueprints. Kids must organize house layouts and ensure that every level is accessible by properly placing stairs.
Interior & Exterior Design: Help Eva beautify her bungalow by selecting interior paint and curtains, then head outside to curate a welcoming garden path and flower bed.
Technical Repairs: At Pipa Longpipe’s house, visitors take on the roles of plumbers and tilers. They can tighten leaky pipes, crawl through oversized drains for inspections, and lay intricate tile patterns.
Structural Engineering: The Walltons are looking to expand. Using oversized foam bricks, young builders practice masonry skills to construct sturdy walls and a towering chimney.
High-Rise Logistics: Work alongside Billy the Bricklayer to navigate scaffolding. Children can operate pulley buckets, hand-cranked conveyor belts, and demolition chutes to transport materials across the job site.

While the experience feels like a game, Building Buddies is rooted in foundational developmental goals. The exhibition is specifically designed to foster science and process skills in early childhood. By engaging with the various stations, children sharpen their:

Motor Skills: Balancing large foam bricks and using wheelbarrows develops gross motor strength, while tiling and decorating refine fine motor control.
Logical Thinking: Measuring siding and planning staircases introduce basic math and engineering concepts.
Social Interaction: The neighborhood environment encourages kids to collaborate, communicate, and work together toward a common goal.

Building Buddies is on display at HMNS at Sugar Land beginning Friday, January 16. For tickets or more information, visit sugarland.hmns.org.

You are welcome to come to NMS during the week of your Blue Jay's birthday and have lunch with them! Be sure to bring your ID and check in at the office first.

Regarding Birthday Celebrations and Birthday Lunches:

Students may have up to 4 visitors during the week of their birthday (no small children, please)
Visitors may bring lunch for themselves and their birthday student, only
Students may have 1 friend sit with them and the friend must provide their own lunch
One treat may be allowed to be shared with the class.
All treats MUST be approved by the teacher BEFORE they are brought to campus

4th Grade Lunch: 11:35-12:05

5th Grade Lunch: 12:25-12:55

6th Grade Lunch: 10:45-11:15

Thank you in advance for following these procedures for birthday visits!

If your NMS student is trying to access Google Classroom from home...

Go to https://classroom.google.com/ to log in. Students will enter their username and password:

Username: 6digitID@needvilleisd.com

Password: 8 digit numeric password

If anyone in the household is already logged into a Google account, be sure to click on the circle icon in the upper right and add another account