EAGLE NATION NEWS

Newsletters will be sent via e-mail attachment monthly to all households with students enrolled at Norwich School. If you wish to be added to the e-mail list and you do not have a student enrolled, please contact Megan Dheming at the school 620-478-2235, mdheming@knusd331.com, and we will add you to our e-mail newsletter list.

We are in the HOMESTRETCH of the school year! As we navigate through the last 9 weeks, we would like to encourage our students and families to stay focused and finish strong!

We have 2 months of school to learn as much as we can and prepare ourselves for the next adventure that lies ahead.

Spring is in full bloom! The warmer weather and longer days are fabulous, however, this can sometimes challenge our time management skills.

It is easy to put off homework and bedtime when we are enjoying being outdoors after being cooped up all winter. Continuing to keep in mind the need to stay focused and finish strong can help!

Students in grades 3-11 have already started taking the Kansas State Assessments and will continue through mid April. Making sure students are getting plenty of sleep, exercise and nutrition is so important. We are thankful to the Home and School Club for providing snacks to the students throughout the testing to help with this!

It is a fun and busy time of year as we gear up for track meets, forensics meets, Scholar’s Bowl, FFA and music competitions. Students are continuing to work hard for these performances and competitions. Let’s continue to show them our encouragement and support!

The Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) is a set of untimed, computerized tests in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. The test content fully aligns to the Kansas Content Standards. The Achievement and Assessment Institute (AAI) at the University of Kansas develops and delivers each assessment.

Starting the last week of March and going through April 19th, Norwich students will take part in the KAP. Students in grades 3– 8 and 10 will take assessments in ELA and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will take an assessment in science.These are computerized tests allow students to demonstrate knowledge in various ways. In addition to multiple-choice items, students see technology enhanced (TE) items. Depending on the subject area, TE items might include ordering, matching, or completing a matrix.

How can you help your student get his or her best KAP score?

• Encourage your student to do her or his best on the assessments.
• Talk with the classroom teacher about ways to develop your student’s critical-thinking skills.
• Ask your student questions that require explanations and cannot be answered with a single word; have them write lists, letters, stories, or podcast scripts; and solve math problems using everyday materials, such as road maps, sporting event results, or recipes.
• Establish time for your student to read and provide engaging and appropriately challenging reading materials.
• Make sure your student is in attendance the days and times of testing.

This month, many of you will begin taking your Kansas State Assessments. We know how hard you have worked, but there is something very important you must know.

The Kansas State Assessments do not assess all of what makes you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you like we do, and certainly not the way your families do.

They do not know that some of you speak two languages, or that you love to sing or draw. They have not seen your natural talent for dancing. They do not know that your friends count on you to be there for them, that you laughter can brighten the darkest day, or that your face turns red when you feel shy. They do not know that you participate in sports, wonder about the future, or sometimes you help with your little brother or little sister after school. They do not know that you are kind, trustworthy, and thoughtful… and every day you try your very best.

The scores you will get from these tests will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything. These tests do not define you. There are many ways of being smart. YOU are smart! You are enough! You are the light that brightens our day and the reason we are happy to come to work each day. So, in the midst of all of these tests, remember that there is no way to “test” all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU.

All we ask is that you do your personal best and do not give up. You have been working for this every day and are ready! We believe in you!

Sincerely,

Ms. Boen and Norwich Staff

1. Teach life lessons of being a part of a team, working towards a common goal, time management, and communication.

2. Build memories and relationships that will last a lifetime.

3. We want to be competitive, and learn from both wins and losses.

• Combined Jr. High and High School there are 50 kids out for track…this is wonderful and it’s refreshing to see so many Eagles out on the track and in the field.

• They all match and are looking good in this year’s new warm-ups.

• Baseball/Softball

• We have four boys and one young lady participating and they’re season got underway this week. Good out on the diamond.

• Cheer Tryouts went on this morning

• There were a lot of young ladies trying out this morning and I witnessed my first ever cheer tryout. It is not for the faint of heart. Cheering in front of judges in an otherwise empty gym is very daunting. Shoutout to these ladies and their hard work. Great Job!

• Winter Wrap-Up

• With the hustle and the state tournament and spring break looming on us, it’s a sudden end to the long sports season in high school. I’d like to take the time to congratulate all mens and womens basketball teams. Hard work was never more evident then on a Tuesday and Friday night when the Eagles were on the court.

• The men’s team consistently outperformed expectations with their hustle and grit and made it all the way to the Substate Championship

• The ladies won their Substate Championship and took their talents to Colby where they faced a tough opening round opponent ending their season; but they too fought hard all year long and were entertaining to watch night in and night out

• LEAGUE HONORS: Congratulations go out to the following

• First Team:

• Jace Benge / Kiersten Adams / Braylin Kelly

• Honorable Mention

• Brayden Pauly / Brooklyn Sheetz

Eagle Nation thank you for your love, support, and being “ALL IN” for our students in their extracurricular endeavors. As always, it’s a Great Day to be an EAGLE!! Oh, and one last thing, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG REEEEEEEEEEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coach Foley

Is your child sick or plans have changed during the day? If you need to contact the school office for any reason by email, please use our new email address norwichoffice@knusd331.com. This will help us get messages to your child when there are substitutes in the office for the day.

The district will be offering Driver Education. Enrollment will begin after Spring Break. The online classroom portion will begin toward the middle of April with the final written test being on May 22nd in the afternoon. The driving portion will begin after Memorial Day. If you have any questions please contact Randy Leroux at rleroux@knusd331.com.

Free and reduced meals are available to students who qualify. If you think your child may qualify for free or reduced meals, please fill out an application. These can be found on your Skyward parent portal account or there are paper applications in each school office. The information on the application and the results are completely confidential.

At any time if you feel your family may qualify for free or reduced price lunches, you can apply. If you have applied before but were denied, remember that a job loss or change, a disability or accident that prevents you from working or a life status change (divorce, marriage, etc.) may change your status. Once you qualify for free or reduced lunches, you maintain that status for the rest of the school year. You can apply through your parent portal in Skyward or there are paper applications in each school office. A child’s free and reduced lunch status is confidential.

For more information contact your child's school office or Amy Wallace at (620) 532-3134.

Breakfast is served at school daily between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m.

Hot breakfast is served on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If you would like for your child to eat school breakfast, please make sure to have them at school by 7:45 as students need to be through the line by 8:00.

The yearbook staff is working tirelessly to complete the needed pages to meet the spring deadlines. They are working diligently to produce a top notch book for students and patrons. Check out a sneak peek of a club page featured here. Thanks to yearbook club members who have been helping to promote YBK+. Yearbook staff is VERY grateful! A BIG Thanks to Micoli Bates who continues to help us get sports and event photos! Thank you for supporting the 2024 yearbook staff!

Yearbook staff has set up YBK+ again for students, parents, and teachers to upload 10 photos to be seen digitally with their portrait. YBK+ allows the yearbook to be more digitally interactive, and it is a way to see more of your student in the yearbook. Pre-K -5 students need parents to upload photos using their parent email that is on file, and 6-12 students and faculty use their own school email to log into the website. Click the image, link, or scan the code to get started with YBK+ and begin uploading your photos NOW to “My Year”!

Yearbook Club members are competing to see how many students/parents they can get to upload photos. Reach out to a club member for assistance and help them win the contest!

Yearbook Club Members:

Beginning April 8th for two weeks ONLY the 2024 yearbook will be on sale for the last time at a discount through the Jostens website ONLY for the price of $35.00 plus tax or more with personalization. Sale ends April 19th! Get your yearbook bought NOW before the price goes up! ONLY prepaid yearbooks will be ordered! Don’t miss out on this digitally interactive yearbook! Thank you for supporting the yearbook staff. No extra books will be ordered!

Applications have been received and new staff are chosen for the 2025 yearbook. Be watching upcoming newsletters and social media for introductions of new staff. We still need club members to join and help the staff. Please encourage your students to join Yearbook Club!

Our final picture day was Wednesday, March 20. Spring sports and final round of clubs were taken. Purchased photos will be delivered as soon as they arrive. Thanks to all who help picture day run smooth.

As proud Eagle alumni of Norwich High School, we want to help get the word out to all alumni of important events that will interest you so you can remain involved and support your high school alma mater. Please help us in making sure that we have your most current up to date information by either sending us an email at norwichalumni2015@gmail.com or sending us a note to Norwich Schools 209 S. Parkway Norwich, KS 67118. We have recently started an Alumni Facebook page as well. We would love for any alumni to register and follow us!