NHES Newsletter

• Thank you to our PTA for hosting a fun & creative Spring Art Festival last week...all the student art was JAWsome!!
• We are grateful for the generosity of our shark families & community! And we are so very thankful for the time, creativity, and hard work our Foundation's Gala Committee & parent volunteers put in to help fundraise for NHES!!

A letter to our parents/guardians from our teachers...

Our school is participating in the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments as part of CAASPP - CA Assessment of Student Performance & Progress this month. These assessments are a key part of implementing our Common Core academic standards and preparing all students for success in college and careers.

Our 3rd-6th grade classes will be taking the assessments on the following days:

Science - 5th grade ONLY

April 21st - 23rd

Language Arts

April 28th - 30th

Math

May 12th - 14th

You are the most important partner in your student's learning process. Please do all you can to ensure that your student is not absent during the testing periods or days and arrives at school on time each morning. It is highly recommended that your student gets a good night’s sleep and has a healthy breakfast each day.

If you would like more information about Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, please visit the website at http://www.caaspp.org/ to see examples of test questions. Click on Practice and Training tests and log in as a guest. If you have any questions regarding your student’s participation, please contact your teacher.

Please note the update re. time!

April is Autism Awareness Month! Autism Awareness month aims to educate people about Autism Spectrum Disorder, promote acceptance and understanding, and support those with autism. It highlights the importance of creating inclusive environments where children on the spectrum can thrive. It's important to remember that our children interact with their peers on the autism spectrum daily at our school, whether you are aware of it or not. Let's emphasize the significance of raising awareness and fostering a supportive community at NHES!

Check out these books you may be interested in reading with your student:

• My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth Peete
• It's OK to Be Different by Sharon Purtill
• All My Stripes by Shaina Rudolph & Danielle Royer
• Uniquely Wired by Julia Cook
• My Friend with Autism by Beverly Bishop
• Nathan's Autism Spectrum Superpowers by Lori Yarborough

The Newport-Mesa Soccer Classic is back!

Get ready for a fun soccer tournament for 3rd-6th grade students - and a great opportunity for Newport Heights Elementary to represent and shine on the field!

Check out the NMUSD Summer Programs webpage for more info!

We have been reminding all our students of our school rules & Shark PRIDE: be polite, responsible, independent, determined & engaged everywhere at all times at Newport Heights! Following our school rules keeps everyone safe & helps lead to positive and successful school days.

Our PAL team also introduced our new Shark PRIDE pledge!

Enrollment is open for all NEW student TK-6th grade for the 2026-2027 school year!

These next 8 weeks of our school year are filled with fun, community, and learning opportunities! Mark your calendars & stay tuned for updates:

APRIL

• ELPAC Testing: K-6th Grades (EL students) - Tuesday, April 14th-Thursday, April 16th
• Spring Picture Day - Wednesday, April 15th
• PTA Spring Festival - Thursday, April 16th
• School Librarian Day - Friday, April 17th
• CAASPP State Testing: 5th Grade ONLY (science) - Week of April 20th
• School Office Appreciation Day - Wednesday, April 22nd
• TED-ed Showcase - Thursday, April 23rd
• Music & Memories Spring Concert: Special Persons Day - Friday, April 24th
• Odyssey of the Mind Showcase - Monday, April 27th
• CAASPP State Testing: 3rd-6th Grades - Weeks of April 27th + May 11th

MAY

• Awards Assembly - Friday, May 1st
• School Lunch Hero Day - Friday, May 1st
• VIP Lunch Date - Friday, May 1st
• Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week - Week of May 4th-8th
• CAASPP State Testing: 3rd-6th Grades - Weeks of April 27th + May 11th
• School Nurse Day - Wednesday, May 6th
• School Play: Willy Wonka Jr. - Friday, May 8th + Saturday, May 9th
• Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast - Friday, May 15th
• Imagination Machine Assemblies - Friday, May 15th
• Open House (early out) - Thursday, May 21st
• Teacher/Staff-for-the-Day - Friday, May 22nd
• Memorial Day: NO SCHOOL - Monday, May 25th
• School Spirit Week - May 26th-29th
• Awards Assembly & Last Flag Deck - Friday, May 29th

JUNE

• Field Day - Wednesday, June 3rd
• 6th Grade Promotion - Thursday, June 4th
• LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (regular school day) - Thursday, June 4th

Check out our monthly calendar for all the happenings at NHES!

Heights Happenings: April 2026

Here at NHES, we love celebrating our community, school spirit & positivity!

T-Shirt Tuesday

Wear positive apparel like a t-shirt with a message of kindness, gratitude, encouragement, or positivity every Tuesday

Spirit Wear Wednesday

Show your Shark PRIDE by wearing NHES spirit wear, school colors (red, blue and/or white), or shark gear

Shark House Friday

Wear your Shark House colored t-shirt on Fridays

Keep an eye out for our Spirit Wear being sold by PTA at Flag Deck!

For all your general school information needs, take a look at our NHES Handbook on our school website. You can find daily schedules, policies about absences & tardies, information about school lunches & breakfast, dress code expectations, and more!

Newport Heights Elementary remains committed to being a student-centered, academically challenging, safe and healthy, and positive place for our Sharks to live and learn each and every day by achieving great heights.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, we will be happy to assist you as best as we can!

School Office - 949-515-6970

Terri Clarke, Principal - tclarke@nmusd.us

Angie Miner, Office Manager - aminer@nmusd.us

Jackie Droste, Office Assistant - jdroste@nmusd.us

Elizabeth Aranda, School Community Facilitator - earanda@nmusd.us

#sharkpride

Go SHARKS,

Terri Clarke

Principal

Email: tclarke@nmusd.us
Website: http://newportheights.nmusd.us/
Location: 300 East 15th Street, Newport Beach, CA, USA
Phone: (949) 515-6970