NHES Newsletter
November 24, 2025
reminder: no school wednesday-friday 11/26-11/28 for thanksgiving recess!
shark shout-outs
Welcome to our new NHES team members: Miss Jayla - Student Supervisor, Ms. Ammerman - Learning Lab Teacher & Ms. Hackett - Learning Lab Teacher.
Thank you to our Shark News Crew for producing the fun, new Shark Fun Run videos each week and to our incredible volunteer committee for all their time & commitment!!
shark fun run 2025
Check out the WEEK 3 video & challenge!
Special Message from our Shark Fun Run Committee:
Shark Fun Run Donation Drive Week 2 is behind us and we have already made some amazing fundraising progress! Thanks to the hard work of our Sharks, we have raised almost $35,000 for our school! Such an amazing accomplishment.
We are excited to announce that 5 classes have won the EXTRA RECESS CHALLENGE: Pherrin, Messner, Ota, Walker and Lang.The Week 2 challenge was simple: Bring in a donation of any amount and win! We saw so much participation here which just shows that every dollar counts as we work together to reach our goal!
The top five classes with the most participation won a class PJ & DONUT PARTY: Holland, Messner, Richards, Bordelon, and Miller.
Congratulations to all our winners!
NEXT UP, the Week 3 Challenge: Send 5 emails through mybooster.com and win! This is a great way to engage friends & family in our fundraising efforts and help our Sharks continue to raise money & win amazing prizes! Plus, the class that sends the most emails through mybooster.com will win a hot chocolate party!!!
Thank you to all of our Sharks who have helped us get one step closer to our goal last week.
Let’s keep the momentum going, GO SHARKS!
NHES Holiday Concert
A.C.E. registration open
Check out the A.C.E. brochure & register asap! Classes begin December 2, 2025.
november focus
Thank you for continuously supporting our students at home by teaching and encouraging them to show their Shark PRIDE everywhere, every day. At Newport Heights, we focus on the different character traits of our Shark PRIDE each month. For the month of November, our focus will be on I for Independent.
You can promote your student’s independence by providing opportunities to take risks through everyday activities. As they get older, they will gain more confidence about trying new things and making their own decisions. We’ve learned that students need time and encouragement to learn independence through trial and error.
November is also National Gratitude Month. Having gratitude gives us the ability to shift from focusing on the negative to appreciating the positive. Research has shown that gratitude can enhance our moods, decrease stress, and drastically improve our overall level of health and wellbeing.
If you are interested in some children’s literature to read with your students, here are some titles related to Responsibility and Gratitude:
- Journey by Aaron Becker
- Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnet
- Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blabey
- The Dark by Lemony Snicket
- The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman
Dog In Charge by K.L. Going
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Thank You, Mr. Faulker by Patricia Polacco
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
The Thank You Book by Mo Willems
The Magic Fish by Freya Littledale
Thanks A Million by Nikki Grimes
Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks by John Bucchino
hope for the holidays 2025
Let's celebrate school spirit each week...
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!
PTA & Foundation
Charleston Wrap Fundraiser
minted holiday card fundraiser partnership
Pizza & froyo fundraiser: first wednesday of the month
Foundation Sponsorship opportunities
nmusd community
Thanksgiving at Ikea
battery recycling contest
Farmer's Market
nhes handbook
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!
SHARK PRIDE
go sharks!
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
Follow us on Instagram @newportheightssharks
Email: tclarke@nmusd.us
Website: http://newportheights.nmusd.us/
Location: 300 East 15th Street, Newport Beach, CA, USA
Phone: (949) 515-6970