The Neidig News

Greetings Neidig Families!

28 days until the first day of school! (August 31) Dr. Kenyon and I have enjoyed the relaxed summer schedule, but we miss our students and we are eagerly awaiting their return!

This Neidig News newsletter contains a great deal of information to help families prepare for the upcoming school year. Be sure to take some time to review the resources listed in this edition. In particular, please review the Neidig Parent and Guardian Information Guide. Many of your back to school questions are answered in this guide.

I would like to highlight two important events happening later in August. On Monday, August 24, from 1:00 until 2:30 PM, we welcome Neidig's kindergarten students and their families for our Kindergarten Orientation. We can't wait to meet our newest students!

Additionally, we look forward to seeing Neidig's 1st through 5th grade students and their families on Tuesday, August 25, from 3:15 to 4:15 for our annual Open House event. Please read below for more information about these two welcome events!

Thank you, and we will see you soon!

Scott D. Godshalk, Neidig principal

and

Dr. Monica Kenyon, Neidig assistant principal

The first day of school is Monday, August 31.

Our first week of school is Monday, August 31 through Thursday, September 3rd. Students do not have school on Friday, September 4th or Monday, September 7.
School resumes on Tuesday, September 8.

For your reference, HERE is the full 2026 - 2027 QCSD School Calendar.

The start of a new school year will be here before we know it! To help our QCSD families prepare for a successful return to school, we have gathered several important resources in one convenient location. Whether you're purchasing school supplies, completing required medical paperwork, arranging childcare, or reviewing summer assignments, these links will help you check key items off your back-to-school to-do list. (Please click the picture below!)

Families can enroll in any combination of before-and/or after-school programs as available at their school. Enrollment in the programs is open throughout the year.

https://www.qcsd.org/o/qcsd/page/before-after-school-care

As we head into the summer break, we want to keep our school community connected, engaged, and reading together! We are incredibly excited to announce the launch of our first-ever "Summer Reading Spotlight" program. Our goal is simple: to have our entire school community—students, parents, teachers, and staff—reading the exact same book at the exact same pace all summer long.

This year’s selection is the timeless, magical, and hilarious classic: The BFG by Roald Dahl!

Look in Backpacks Today!

The adventure starts right now. Every single student received their very own copy of The BFG to keep, thanks to Neidig PAL! (www.neidigpal.com)
Please check their backpacks when they get home so you can tuck them away safely for the summer.

How It Works

To make this a truly shared experience, we will be pacing through the book together over the summer months.

• The Kickoff: Our first official chapter begins Friday, June 12th.

• The Pace: We will release one chapter every three days throughout the summer.

• Where to Tune In: Every three days, we will post a new video on Mrs. Derr's YouTube Page (SUBSCRIBE!) featuring a special guest reader from our school community who brings the chapter to life!

How You Can Participate

Read Aloud: Whether your child is an independent reader or just starting out, we encourage families to read these chapters together. Gather around, listen to our community readers, and enjoy the story as a family.

Talk About It: When you see classmates at the park or pool this summer, ask them what they think of the Big Friendly Giant and Sophie's adventures

The classic Roald Dahl tale can be wonderful for this age group, but it helps to know what to watch out for:

-The Scary Elements: The main plot involves a young orphan girl (Sophie) being snatched from her bed, and there is an ongoing threat that other mean giants (who bully the BFG) want to eat her. The movie also includes a scene with scary nightmare imagery.

-The Humor: Kids usually love the silly, made-up language ("gobblefunk") and the infamous "whizzpopping" (exploding fart) scenes.

We are so excited to embark on this giant journey with all of you.

Warmly,

Rachel Derr (and the entire Neidig Faculty & Staff!)
rderr@qcsd.org

The first day of school is Monday, August 31.

During the first week, students attend school on Monday, August 31 through Thursday, September 3rd. Students do not have school on Friday, September 4th or Monday, September 7.
School resumes on Tuesday, September 8.

Doors Open: 8:50 AM
School Start Time: 9:05 AM
School Dismissal: 3:50 PM
Doors Open for Breakfast: 8:50 AM (No early entry.)

For students that need to eat breakfast, we will serve a grab-and-go style breakfast. Breakfast will be served when doors open at 8:50 AM. Students will enter the building and proceed directly to our cafeteria, grab their breakfast, and head directly to their classroom.

For your reference, HERE is the full 2026 - 2027 QCSD School Calendar.

We know your children are excited to learn the name of their homeroom teacher for the upcoming school year! Assignment letters will be emailed to families around mid-August.

Please CLICK HERE to access the Neidig Parent and Guardian Information Guide. This information guide contains essential details about the building schedule, arrival and dismissal procedures, attendance procedures, and much more. Thank you for reviewing this information.

Incoming Kindergarten Students Only:

To help ease first-day jitters, we would like to invite you and your child to a special Kindergarten “Get to Know You” Event on Thursday, August 6th between 9:15 AM-12:00 PM.

There are several 30 minute sessions. If you have not yet signed up for your kindergartener's session, please do so by clicking here.

During your 30-minute session, your child will get to meet and connect with the whole Kindergarten team through a round of interactive and fun activities. While your child is with our team, you will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Kenyon & I, learn a bit about our school community, complete a brief survey to share any helpful information about your child with us, and have time to ask any questions you may have.

Starting Kindergarten is a huge milestone. It is completely normal for both parents/guardians and little ones to feel a mix of excitement and a few butterflies! Please know that our dedicated team is here to make this transition as smooth, comfortable, and joyful as possible for your whole family.

Kindergarten Students Only: Our Kindergarten Orientation event is set for Monday, August 24th, from 1PM - 2:30 PM. During this event, students and families will get to visit their classrooms, meet their teachers, learn about our school, take a tour of Neidig, and students will take a bus ride.

Our annual Open House event for Grades 1st through 5th takes place on Tuesday, August 25, from 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM.

This is a time for our NEW and RETURNING 1st through 5th grade students and their family members to meet their teachers, see the classroom, walk through our beautiful building, and reconnect with friends. There are no presentations on this day. Our Open House is an informal event, so families can arrive at any time within the 3:15 - 4:15 time window.

Neidig’s Back to School Night / Meet the Teacher Night will take place on Thursday, Sept 17th. This evening, teachers will give two identical presentations. There will be an optional brief presentation in the Gym with Mr. Godshalk and Dr. Kenyon 6pm - 6:15pm. The first session takes place from 6:15PM - 6:45pm, and the second, identical session takes place from 7:00 - 7:30 PM. Last names beginning with the letters A through M are encouraged to attend the 1st session, and last names beginning with the letters N - Z are encouraged to attend the second session. Families with more than one child are welcome to attend both sessions. If you cannot make your suggested session you may attend the other presentation.

NOTE: This event is for grades 1 - 5 ONLY. Kindergarten families meet their child's teacher during the Kindergarten Orientation event.

Some families may have received preliminary information from Levy Bus Company, however, final bus information will be sent to families around mid-August.

• If you need to update your bus transportation to or from a Day Care Location, complete this form.

• If you want your student assigned as a Car Rider for afternoon dismissal permanently during the ‘26-’27 school year, you must complete this form. This form is only for afternoon dismissal at Neidig, and must be completed each school year. You may drop your student off in the morning without notifying us. Completing this form does not remove bus access for your student.

• If you do not plan to use the bus at all (morning or afternoon for the entirety of the school year) and wish to opt out of all bus transportation entirely, please contact brenninger@qcsd.org. You must still complete the Car Rider Form above.

Kindergarten Parents: An adult is required to meet all Kindergarten students at the bus stop. If an adult other than Parent/Guardian will be receiving your student, or if they will be allowed to exit the bus with siblings, you must complete this form and submit it to brenninger@qcsd.org.
Kindergarten Release Form / En Espanol (LINK TBD)

It may be necessary during the year to close school for an early dismissal due to weather conditions or other emergency reasons. It is important for all families to have a clear plan should these events occur.

To assist all students during these emergency closings, an Emergency Dismissal Backup Plan must be completed by all families. Complete your student’s emergency dismissal information here o en español aquí.

An email about this form will come from Powerschool Enrollment through our District Office at the beginning of August. It is very important that you take the time to complete this update, as among other things, this provides us with the correct and most up-to-date contact information.

Edit: Reenrollment is LIVE. Please use the link in your email to complete returning student registration.

Please see the QCSD website to register your student.

We’re People Aiding Learning, Neidig Elementary’s Parent/Teacher Organization. Our mission? To bring families, teachers, and our school community closer together while making learning fun and memorable for every student.

• We host the fun! Family nights, special events, and community celebrations all year long.
• We fund the extras! Field trips, school-wide assemblies, room supplies, and equipment that help our students shine.
• We make it happen! Thanks to our amazing volunteers and generous supporters.

Whether you join us at our monthly meetings, lend a hand at an event, or pitch in with a fundraiser, you’re helping create unforgettable experiences for our kids.

www.neidigpal.com

neidigpal@gmail.com

Lunch Menus are available on the QCSD website, under Food Services.

Whitsons (our food service provider) offers various types of snacks at lunch. Students will have the option to purchase these snacks. As you know, breakfast and lunch are free for all QCSD students, however, snacks are not free. In order for students to purchase a snack, they must have money in their account. Students cannot use cash in the lunch line to purchase snacks. To learn how to add money to your child’s account, please CLICK HERE. If you have questions, please contact the Food Service Department at (215) 529-2018.

We know that success in school is about more than just academics. It’s also about building confidence, managing feelings, and getting along with others. During our Caring School Community morning time, we use the Second Step ® program. This research-based program will help your child learn important skills for school and life. Our lessons will cover how to manage emotions, practice empathy, and become great at problem-solving. Please see the attached letter for more information.

This month, we share a new video called Social Media Basics for Parents. This helpful video explains key differences between Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, and provides great information about privacy settings and other relevant information parents need to know about social media. It is always difficult to find time to listen to videos like this. A suggestion - if you have the ability to listen to audio in your car, pull up this video and listen to the audio during an upcoming car ride. (Don't watch, just listen!) Happy listening!