NES Parent Newsletter 10/20/25

Dear NES Families,

We hope you all had a wonderful and restful week! As we close out our first nine weeks and transition into the next, we have many exciting things to share.

We had a fantastic time celebrating our students at our recent PBIS Day! The children worked hard to earn those rewards, and it was so much fun seeing their smiling faces enjoy a well-deserved treat from Kona Ice. These positive behavior celebrations truly highlight the wonderful climate we are building at our school.

Report Cards for the first nine weeks will be coming home with students this Monday, October 20th. Please take time to review these with your child to celebrate their successes and discuss goals for the second nine weeks.

We are also happy to share a small upgrade to our Student of the Week recognition! Each honored student now receives a certificate and a treat, and their picture is displayed for the week. We made sure that all previous Students of the Week for this year also received their certificate this week—it’s never too late to celebrate great work!

We want to express our sincere appreciation for the help of our dedicated parent volunteers and everyone participating in our PTO. Your commitment to our school is making a noticeable difference! We are continually striving to increase parent engagement and know that our students benefit immensely from the partnership between home and school. If you've been thinking about getting involved, please reach out to the front office or the PTO—we'd love to have you!

The end of the month and beginning of November are packed with fun and learning!

• We are so excited for our upcoming Math Spooktacular, where students will engage in fun, Halloween-themed math activities!

• We're also preparing for Red Ribbon Week, which will focus on promoting healthy, drug-free choices with engaging themes and activities.

We are thrilled about the positive start to our school year and look forward to continuing on this successful path as we begin the second nine weeks. Thank you for your support as we educate and inspire every student!

With gratitude and positivity,

October:

10/20: 3rd - 5th grade awards INVITE ONLY (NOTE DATE CHANGE)

10/21: PTO Meeting 8:15AM - Spooktacular Planning; 4H Meeting 3:00-4:00PM

10/22: Health Screenings (Kindergarten, 1st, and 3rd grade)

10/27-10/31: Book Fair; Red Ribbon Week

10/28: Math Spooktacular and BOOK FAIR 5:30-7:30PM

November:

11/3: Fall Picture Retakes

11/4: PTO Meeting 3:15PM - Fundraisers, teacher supports, clubs

11/11: Veteran's Day

11/13: SAC Meeting

11/17 - 11/20: PBIS Mini Bash

11/21: STEM/Early Release Day

11/24-11/28: No School/Fall Break

Thank you to our PBIS team, parent volunteers, teachers, staff, and Kona Ice for helping make a fun day for our students who followed expectations and earned enough Dunkin Dough to attend!

This month, we celebrate the unique abilities and contributions of individuals with disabilities. At our school, we are learning about inclusion, kindness, and how everyone can help create a community where all students feel valued and supported. Together, we’re encouraging our students to appreciate differences, show empathy, and recognize that every person has something special to share.

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! SAVE THE DATE for 10/27-10/31 and get your reader psyched to pick out their own books! Create your child’s Book Fair eWallet so they can shop cash-free, worry-free, and independently! It’s easy to set up and easy for others to contribute funds! Start here: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/northelementaryschool.

It's time for the North Elementary Read-A-Thon!

Our school Read-A-Thon begins on Wednesday October 1, 2025 and is sure to be a fun and exciting event.

We understand that your time is valuable. We also know that providing the best education for your child is important. That's why we are encouraging everyone to activate their student's Read-A-Thon account as soon as possible. The instructions are straightforward, making it quick and hassle-free, and it should take less than 5 minutes of your time.

This account will serve as a hub for recording and monitoring your child's progress as a Reader in the event, and for you to share their Read-A-Thon message with friends and family. Use the link below to activate your student's Reader account:
https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/pdBDQA/1?utm=email

Thank you so much for your participation and support. Together, we can make this Read-A-Thon an amazing experience for our young readers!

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 and we will send information home once the Revtrak account is ready to receive orders. 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. Once orders are opened (you will receive the order information in the newsletter and sent home with students) we will run the preorder for 2 WEEKS prior to ordering and will reach out once we receive the order. PLEASE DO NOT SEND IN MONEY AT THIS TIME.

This month, our school is continuing our journey with The Energy Bus framework by Jon Gordon, and our focus is on the rule: "I'm the Driver." This concept teaches students that they are in control of their own attitude, actions, and outlook—they are the driver of their own bus! We're emphasizing that our children get to choose the direction their day goes by choosing positive thoughts and actions, even when facing challenges. They learn that they can't control everything that happens to them, but they can control how they react.

Action Step: Steer Your Bus! 🚀

We encourage you to talk with your child about what it means to be the "driver" at home. When they face a frustrating moment (a missed shot in a game, a disagreement with a sibling, a difficult homework problem), ask them: "What choice can you make right now to steer your bus in a positive direction?" This simple question empowers them to shift from a reactive state to a thoughtful, proactive one.

October is also Disability History and Awareness Month. The "I'm the Driver" rule connects beautifully with the spirit of awareness and inclusion.

• Self-Advocacy: Learning to be the driver is an early lesson in self-advocacy. We are teaching students that they have the right and the responsibility to speak up for their needs and choices, whether they have a disability or not. We're celebrating the countless historical figures and current advocates who have "driven their own bus" by speaking up, challenging limits, and creating a more accessible and inclusive world for everyone.

• Empathy and Perspective: When we focus on being the driver of our own bus, it also helps us recognize and respect that everyone is the driver of their own bus, and each person's journey and needs are unique. This builds empathy and understanding for the diverse ways people learn, move, and communicate, which is central to disability awareness.

Let's work together to help our students choose a positive route this month!

Lunch :

Monday - cheeseburger / pbj

Tuesday - Chicken chunks / burrito / ham and cheese

Wednesday - BBQ pork / hot dogs

Thursday - Alfredo / Grill cheese

Friday - pizza day

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.

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