Leading Edge Weekly Update
LE Weekly Update: September 26th, 2026
Principal's Message
Hello Leading Edge Families!
Leading Edge 8th grade students were engaged in a Science Lab this week, where they calculated velocity changes for objects with different mass. 7th Grade Science is learning more about the Earth's mantle layer and what happens as plates converge and diverge. Students in homeroom created class decor to celebrate Fall and build Community in the Leading Edge Hallway. At the end of the week, BSU held their Family Mixer on Thursday evening with a great crowd, sweet treats from S.H.E South Hospitality Eats, Cupid Shuffle Line Dancing, and also held a student panel!
Sincerely,
Caroline Hines
LE Principal
Upcoming Dates
9/29/26 - Parent U, Foundations of Mental Health: Tools for Caregivers
5:30-6:30pm (Virtual, Zoom) Meeting Info: Zoom ID: 955 2888 5617 Passcode: 631222
9/30/26 - Blackrock Math Night, 5:00-7:00pm (Blackrock Campus)
*RSVP* for Math Night HERE - Attendees will be entered to win a Raising Cane's Gift Basket!
10/5/26-10/9/26 - Fall Break, No School
10/16/26 - NCS Family Carnival, 5:30-8:00pm (Blackrock Campus)
Presale deals on admission and tickets end October 15th. Preorder here or purchase at the door.
10/26, 10/27, 10/29, 10/30 - Minimum Days, Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/8/26 - Sacramento Knight at the Kings, 5:30 PM (Kings vs. Miami Heat)
🎫 TICKETS ON SALE NOW! https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=bnpac
🚨 Arrival & Dismissal Safety 🚨
This week, across our three campuses, we have had multiple car accidents, verbal and physical altercations, and several instances in which students were nearly struck by cars. Unfortunately, one of our students was hit by a car while crossing the street on the way to campus. Fortunately, this student is unharmed and was able to return to campus quickly.
These incidents are deeply concerning. Keeping students, families, and staff safe takes all of us.
Please drive slowly, watch carefully for pedestrians, follow staff directions, and remain patient with other drivers. If a concern arises, pull into a parking space and ask a site administrator for help rather than confronting someone in the traffic lanes.
Our children are watching how we handle stressful moments. Every adult on campus must model respectful, professional communication and interactions, even when frustrated. We know mornings are busy and everyone has somewhere to be.
For more information about Car, Bicycle, and Pedestrian safety in Natomas, click HERE.
Parent University: September 29th, 5:30-6:30pm (Virtual)
Foundations of Mental Health—Tools for Caregivers
Leading Edge Families, You’re Invited!
Our NCS Counseling Team and School Nurse will share practical tools and information to help families support positive mental health, navigate student concerns, and promote overall well-being at home. This is a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and connect with other NCS families.
We hope you’ll join us! Please see the flyer below for more information.
Blackrock Family Math Night: Tuesday 9/30, 5-7pm 💡
Click HERE to Reserve Your Spot!
If you are looking for ways to support your student with Middle School Math or want to learn more about Middle School Math, this is the night attend! Our LE Math Teachers will be on site to provide strategies, support, and have fun activities planned! Families who attend will be entered into a raffle to win a gift basket from Raising Cane's! The basket includes a Raising Cane's lunch bag, the famous Raising Cane's labrador retriever stuffed animal, a Raising Cane's Baseball Hat, and much more!
LE in Action
LE Sports News
Lots of WINS in LE Sports this week for 6, 7, and 8 Teams!
7/8 Volleyball improved to 4-0 this week!
- 6th Grade Flag Football is now 6–1 and continuing to make improvements while working together!
- NUSD Showdown for Cross Country from 10/1 at North Natomas Regional Park
- LET'S GO KNIGHTS!
🚨 Home Game Parking Reminder 🚨
Just a reminder that no parking is allowed in the school driveway/drop off lanes between 3:00-4:00pm due to PFAA Middle School and High School dismissal. This creates a traffic backlog on Blackrock Drive and an unsafe pick-up situation for students, staff, and families. If arriving before 4:00pm for Home Game, please park in a Visitor Parking spot or the surrounding neighborhood.
ROCK Store is running LOW! Donations still needed! 🥨
We are ALMOST OUT of snacks for students to purchase with their ROCK Tickets after School!
Please drop donations in the Front Office Marked/Tagged with "Leading Edge ROCK Store" or Caroline Hines" on top (to ensure they go to Leading Edge).
Suggestions:
Gatorade, Sports Drinks
Pretzels, Crackers
Potato Chips, Tortilla Chips
Meat Jerky (Beef, Chicken, Turkey)
Spicy Chips
Cookies, Granola Bars
Protein Bars
Fruit Snack
Yearbook Prices go up on October 1st! 📚
Visit https://yearbookordercenter.com?school=21679 to order now, and check this off your list before the price goes up on October 1st.
After School Enrichment Offerings
Financial Literacy: The Garden Marketplace
Looking to give your student a head start on real-world financial skills and entrepreneurship? In this dynamic, hands-on 8-week enrichment course, Financial Literacy: The Garden Marketplace, students in grades 6-12 will step into the shoes of small business owners. Kickstarting week one, we will have market research surveys and peer product pitches. Throughout the session, participants will receive entry level analysis of product creation costs, working with practical math skills to determine profit margins, manage their own personal expense ledgers in Google sheets, as well as bringing their own products home that they have made in this course. Space is somewhat limited to ensure an interactive team environment!
Course Details:
Dates: Tuesdays starting September 22nd (8 sessions total; no class on 10/6, a non-school day)
Time: 3:45pm-4:45pm
Location: H3 Classroom
Deliverable: Hands-on product creation, real-world spreadsheets, and a final marketplace showcase!
Secure your student’s spot today via this Google Form!
Dance Enrichment Class: Mexican Folklorico
Maestro Jacob comes with over 12 years of teaching and 20 years of performing Folklorico . He holds a B.A degree in Spanish with a double minor in Education and Native American studies from UC Davis, and a Master of Arts in Spanish from Sacramento State University. He has also received his Folklorico teaching diploma from the Instituto MIZOC from Mexico City with an emphasis in the basic education arts under the MIZOC method. Jacob has taught, performed and collaborated with various groups within California and abroad. His most recent accomplishment was being a professional dancer for the world-renowned Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández in Mexico City, where he performed for 3 years in the resident company.
In this enrichment class, students will learn the foundational footwork, movement, and choreography of various states across Mexico. All skill levels are welcome to come and celebrate this beautiful dance form. Come and enjoy an energetic and cultural journey through the vibrant traditions of Mexican Folklorico dance.
WHEN: Wednesdays, 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm
CLASSES BEGIN: September 23rd
WHERE: Dance Studio 3
WHAT TO BRING: Folklorico shoes/boots (If not, exercise athletic shoes or any high-heeled show would suffice), water, practice skirt (if you have one) and lots of energy to learn.
SIGN-UP HERE: Google Form
NCS Family Carnival: Save the Date! 🎪
NCS Family Carnival: October 16, 5:30-8PM
- Presale deals on admission and tickets end October 15th. Preorder here or purchase at the door. Games with prizes are included with your admission!
- Leading Edge Active Parents (LEAP) will have a Game Booth with prizes, Soda Bar, and LE Merch Raffles!
Join us for Knight at the Kings! 🏀
Come cheer on our talented NCS students as they perform during the pregame festivities, national anthem, and halftime at the Sacramento Kings game!
👑 Sacramento Kings vs. Miami Heat
📅 Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 5:30 PM
This special event is presented by the Natomas Arts and Education Foundation (NAEF). When you purchase tickets through our exclusive link, you’ll be seated alongside your NCS family while also supporting NAEF through this exciting fundraiser.
Let’s fill the stands and show our NCS performers some love!
🎫 TICKETS ON SALE NOW! https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=bnpac
LE Merch Drop: Zip-Up Hoodies, Kid's Sizes, and Beanies!
New LE Spirit Wear Designs are here, just in time for the cold weather and end of season games!
NEW Beanies
https://www.bonfire.com/ncs-leading-edge-spirit-wear-beanies/
NEW Kids Sizes
https://www.bonfire.com/ncs-leading-edge-spirit-wear-kids/
NEW Adult Zip-Up Hoodies
https://www.bonfire.com/ncs-leading-edge-spirit-wear-zipups/
T-Shirts, Sweatshirts & Pullover Hoodies
https://www.bonfire.com/ncs-leading-edge-spirit-wear-2026-2027/
Hats: Baseball, Trucker & Bucket Styles
https://www.bonfire.com/ncs-leading-edge-spirit-wear-2026-2027-hats/
Join NAEF: Natomas Arts and Education Foundation
Interested in grant writing and fundraising?
The Natomas Arts and Education Foundation is looking for parents and community members to join our philanthropic group. This is a great opportunity to support all five NCS academies! We encourage all families to attend the upcoming NAEF Board Meeting, held virtually via Google Meet. It’s a great opportunity to stay informed, share your voice, and learn more about the programs and support provided by the Natomas Arts and Education Foundation.
Celebrating NCS Alumni (Repeating)
During the month of September, we are celebrating our NCS Alumni and their accomplishments. Check out our school Facebook and Instagram pages to see some exciting updates from recent graduates. If you know of any alumni, encourage them to share an update at https://www.natomascharter.org/alumni
News from the Attendance Office (Repeating)
As we move further into the school year, we want to remind you of the proper process for reporting your student's absences. Timely and accurate reporting helps us maintain correct attendance records and supports your student's academic standing.
- Log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal
- Select your student and navigate to the Attendance Monitor>Report New Attendance
- Enter the date(s), reason for absence, and any relevant details
- Submit the request — our Attendance Office will review and process it
Please report absences as soon as possible, ideally on the day of the absence or within 48 hours, to ensure timely and accurate record-keeping.
If your student will be absent for 3 or more consecutive days, or if you anticipate an extended absence, please contact the Attendance Office directly to discuss next steps, including Independent Study options if applicable.
Need Help Accessing the Parent Portal?
Contact our office and we're happy to walk you through it.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students on track for success!
Warmly,
NCS Attendance Office
LE Study Hall: Weekly on Monday and Wednesday (Repeating)
When: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:45-3:30pm
Where: H-3 Classroom
Students are expected to be on task and engaged in work during this time. Study Hall dismisses at 3:30pm and students must exit campus and wait for their ride or check into KLE (Knight's Landing After School Program).
Calendar Reminder: Updated Minimum Days (Repeating)
Please review the updated Minimum Days for the 2026-2027 School Year.
Student Pickup (Repeating)
Knight's Landing is available cost-free for students who need to wait for a PFAA sibling until 3:35pm (when PFAA dismisses). This is the safest and preferred location for students to wait after school for their rides. For more information about KLE, please contact Greisy Delgado at gdelgado@natomascharter.org.
Tapioca Express Promotion for NCS Students! (Repeating)
NCS Students and Families get a "buy 2 drinks get one free" special at Tapioca Express in Natomas on every Tuesday and Thursday! Just share that you are an NCS student or family to take advantage of the Special each week!
Important Links
LE Student and Family Handbook
Historical Family Communication
Leading Edge Facebook Page (Public Page - Please Follow!)
Leading Edge Parent Facebook Group (Private - Request to Join)
4600 Blackrock Dr. Sacramento, CA 95835
(916) 928-5353