Weekly Newsletter

Message from the Principal

Dear Nativity Families,

Thank you to the many families who joined us for our 30th Anniversary Back to School BBQ! We were blessed with an incredible turnout of more than 400 guests, including current students and families, alumni, and members of our parish community. It was truly special to see so many generations of The Nativity School come together to celebrate the history and traditions that have shaped our community over the past 30 years. As we celebrate this milestone year, we will continue to honor our past while looking with excitement toward the future God is calling us to build together. There is an incredible richness to the history of The Nativity School, and we are fortunate to be part of a legacy rooted in faith, community, and a deep commitment to forming our students in both heart and mind.

One especially beautiful part of our school’s history is our connection to St. Francis of Assisi, our patron saint. During this Jubilee Year, Pope Leo XIV has called particular attention to St. Francis, making this a meaningful year for our school to learn more about his life and witness. You may have noticed the statue of St. Francis proudly displayed near the entrance to the school office. St. Francis has a special connection to the Nativity because he is credited with creating the first live Nativity scene, helping people encounter the mystery of Christ’s birth in a tangible way. Throughout the year, our students will have opportunities to learn more about St. Francis, his remarkable journey to sainthood, and the ways his life reflected a deep love for Christ, creation, and others. His example reminds us that holiness is not simply something we learn about, it is something we are called to live.

Please mark your calendars for our annual Back to School Night on September 10 at 5:30pm. We look forward to sharing more about the exciting work taking place at The Nativity School this year. Our teachers are eager to welcome you into their classrooms and share what your children will be learning, discovering, and experiencing throughout the year. Together, we are grateful for the opportunity to partner in the formation of your children and to make this a wonderful year of learning, growing, and living our faith together.

We look forward to seeing many of you at our Monday Assembly at 8:00 a.m. in the HFAC. Following the assembly, we will host our first Parent Community Meeting of the year, where we will share information about upcoming events and opportunities to get involved. We hope you’ll stay after the student assembly to learn more about all that is happening at The Nativity School and how you can be a part of it.

May God continue to bless The Nativity School and the wonderful community we are privileged to share. Have a wonderful weekend.

With gratitude,

Brittany Bateman

This Week

Assembly - Monday, August 31st | 8:00am | HFAC
1st Parent Community Meeting - Monday, August 31st | Following assembly | HFAC
Choir - Tuesday, September 1st | 7:15am | Enter @ Aftercare Gate

Run Club - Wednesday, September 2nd | 7:30am and 11:45am
Mass - Thursday, September 3rd | 8:00am SHARP | Full Dress Uniform Required
Live Scan Opportunity - Thursday, September 3rd | Following Mass | HFAC
Run Club - Friday, September 4th | 7:30am
Middle School Retreat - Friday, September 4th

Spirit Wear & Minimum Day - Friday, September 4th

1st School Family Mass - Saturday, September 5th | 5:00pm
No School (Labor Day) - Monday, September 7th

NEW SCHOOL VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

Please find important information about the new state mandated requirements HERE

LIVE SCAN SIGN UP GENIUS

The Nativity School is happy to offer two opportunities to complete your Live Scan, which is required for volunteering, here on campus. You may choose between Thursday, September 3rd following Mass or Tuesday, September 8th following assembly. The scan will cost $80. Cash, check, credit card and Apple Pay will be accepted. Click here to reserve your spot.

Coming Up

STAR Testing Window #1 - Monday, September 7th - 25th
Live Scan Opportunity - Tuesday, September 8th | Following assembly | HFAC
Back to School Night (mandatory for all parents) - Thursday, September 10th
Tacos & Tequila - Saturday, September 19th | 6:00pm

Click the Flyer to Purchase Tickets...

Important Information

The Nativity School PARENT PORTAL

Within our Parent Portal, you will find the school calendar, links to FACTS, Land's End, and Ki's for ordering lunch, information about enrichment classes, volunteer requirements, dress code and so much more.

You will also find a "Classroom Connect" section which houses information available for each grade level. You will find a welcome letter from your teacher, a class schedule (coming in August), supplies information, summer assignments if any and more.

To access the Parent Portal, go to the school website at TheNativitySchool.org, click on COMMUNITY and select Parent Portal. The password is Stars#1. For privacy reasons, please do not share this password with anyone outside the school community. Once you are in the portal, you can access information by clicking on the link in the various boxes. If a link doesn't work, it is because new data is still forthcoming and will be updated when available.

We invite you to look around in the Parent Portal. Please let Heidi or Traci in the school office know if you run into any issues.

Do No Photograph

Use this link to submit a Do Not Photograph request.

Update Your FACTS Family Portal

Just a reminder that now is a very good time to update the information in your FACTS Family Portal. Update addresses, phone numbers and very importantly, allergies!

Please call the office if you have any trouble making your updates.

Thank you!

Code of Conduct and Parent-Student Handbook

Thank you to those who have already signed and returned the Code of Conduct and Parent-Student Handbook acknowledgement form. If you have not done so, please return the form this week. It was sent home with your oldest student and should be returned to either the homeroom teacher or the front office. All families are required to return this form.

PE & Sports Uniform Information

PE uniforms are required for students in 5th - 8th grade. Incoming 5th graders and students new to Nativity will be issued one PE shirt within the first week of school. PE shirts for returning middle schoolers and new students wanting a second shirt will be available for purchase for $15.00. The required shorts can be purchased using this Amazon Link.

Sports jerseys will be checked out by Coach to students participating in Nativity team sports. These jerseys are expected to be returned at the end of the sports season they were checked out for. If a jersey is not returned or is damaged in some way (torn or stained), $45 will be charged to the family's FACTS account. Shorts required to participate in sports (the same shorts used for PE) can be purchased using this Amazon Link.

Important Change to Aftercare

Aftercare hours on Fridays will be shorter this coming school year. Aftercare hours will be as follows:

Monday - Thursday: 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Friday: 12:15pm - 2:00pm

Check the Parent Portal for more details on Aftercare.

After School Enrichment Opportunities

Faith in Action

Parent Corner

Support Children's Success by Letting Them Learn - from Love & Logic

As our school year begins, and kids begin bringing their schoolwork home, many children will start hearing questions from their parents like:

"What did you learn today?"

“Where is your homework? Start working on it right now!”

Remember that the responsibility for a child's schoolwork rests with the child, not the parent. That doesn't mean parents can't still do things to support their young students. It does mean that parents' involvement should focus on providing support in an effective, caring, and loving way.

We've found that parents who focus on a child's successes with schoolwork are more effective than parents who focus on mistakes. Like many human endeavors, winners focus on how they will succeed, while losers often focus on how they might fail. By recognizing a child's successes, we can help them believe they are capable.

As the school year begins, parents might start it off with these three steps to help their kids focus on their successes and learn from their mistakes.

Step 1: Talk With Your Kids About Their Successes

Sit down with your kids two or three times a week. Ask them to talk about the best things they did in their schoolwork. This can be done in a casual way. Especially avoid giving too much praise. It should be about them recognizing their own successes.

Step 2: Ask Them Why They Did Well

Make sure your child describes to you the reasons for their success. As they put these into words, the reasons for their success become imprinted on their brain and are far more likely to stick. They begin to understand and believe that they are in control of their own success.

Step 3: Wait for Kids to Ask for Help

In all schoolwork, kids make mistakes, and parents are often tempted to step in and help them make corrections. Work with your kids on their mistakes only when they ask for your help. Allow the school to address any deficiencies. Teachers have the training to help children overcome them in effective ways.

Most importantly, be patient. This might be a significant change in the way you've worked with your child. It will take time for your child to believe that this isn't just another parenting phase. Look for the real benefits to show up in several months or maybe during the next few years, depending upon the child's past history.

The MOMCo Nativity

Join us for MOMCo this year as we kick it back to the '90s while growing together in faith, friendship, and connection.

We meet one Wednesday morning each month for coffee, breakfast, meaningful conversation, encouragement and community.

This year's speaker lineup includes topics like:

Finding Peace in the Chaos
Parenting Cycles
Unveiling the Lies the World Tells
Digital Responsibility
The Mental Load
Emotionally Healthy Parenting
Grief & Loss
Navigating Neurodivergence

We would absolutely love to have you with us this year. Whether you've been before or are thinking about trying it for the first time, there's a seat waiting for you.

https://26-27-the-momco-nativity.cheddarup.com