North Windy News
Dear North Windy Ridge Families,
We’ve had so much fun together over the past few months—from the excitement of our Ninja Run and all the rewards that came with reaching our goal, to PBIS celebrations, assemblies, field trips, and all the joyful everyday shenanigans that make our school special. Through it all, I want to express how truly grateful I am for your support. Our teachers are working hard to create a school experience where every child feels they belong, while continuing to pursue academic excellence every step of the way.Thank you for your ongoing support and for all the ways you share your time, energy, and resources. Your partnership is a huge part of what makes North Windy Ridge such a wonderful place for our students to learn and grow.
I also want to thank everyone who visited our craft fair on Saturday! It was a wonderful community event, and we look forward to doing another one next Fall!
Have a great Thanksgiving Break!
You can read below for information about...
- Willy Wonka Tickets are on Sale
- North Buncombe Food Drive
- Donate for S'MORES PBIS Reward on December 5th
- Blackhawk Brigade - 6th graders cheer on NBMS Basketball Teams!
- Sign up for the NWR Spirit Rock! Many dates being reserved, so don't miss your special date to send a message to your NWR student!
Thank you for all the ways you support your child and our school,
Mrs. Nichols
Principal
North Windy Ridge Intermediate School
- Tuesday, November 25th - Hot Chocolate Social (Ninja Run Reward) during school hours.
- Wednesday, November 26 - Friday, November 28th - Thanksgiving Break!
- December 4th - 7th - Willy Wonka Jr Production from North Buncombe Youth Theater (purchase tickets here)
- Friday, December 5th - PBIS Reward: S'mores on Wise Ridge (Sign up to donate)
- Week of December 8th - Progress reports will be sent home
- Monday, December 15th - Blackhawk Brigade (6th Graders) at NBMS
6th Graders have an opportunity to attend NBMS sporting events with friends! Parents must complete a field trip permission form and the attached information sheet. The cost is $8 per game. Students can get a permission form in the front office or in the cafeteria! They can turn in completed paperwork to their HR teacher OR directly to the front office.
- Link to Permission Slip
- Link to Parent Information Page (must be turned in with permission)
- *These are available ready for kids to pick-up - in front office or on 6th grade wings.
As our students start the second nine weeks of the school year, we have another resource to help you stay connected through "Campus Parent," the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. You can view this edition of BCS Parent University to learn more and see some of the app's features in action.
In August 2025, Buncombe County Schools launched Parent University. This series of short videos is intended to enhance communication with families of things happening in classrooms across Buncombe County. Watch for additions to the Parent University library throughout the school year. Click here to access the BCS Parent University.
Campus Parent App
The end of the grading period is drawing near, so if you haven't already signed up for the Campus Parent App to see your child's grades, now's the time! Here are the directions:
Setting Up Your Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Visit this link for NCSIS registration.
Select Buncombe County Schools from the drop down menu.
Enter your student's ID number (they may know it as their "lunch number"), their first name, last name, and date of birth.
Follow the instructions to verify your identity.
You should instantly receive an activation key and link to complete your parent portal setup.
Once your parent portal is established, use this link to sign in anytime with your user name and password. You may also want to download the Campus Parent mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.
Mr. Thompson is asking for Legos! We know they're out there, buried in your closet...it's time to donate them to a good cause! Our NWR STEM students will be using these throughout the year.
Use the bar code here (or click this link) to sign up to receive direct information about volunteer opportunities through PTO! You can also keep scrolling to see how you can donate and volunteer in the coming weeks. We are so GRATEFUL for how supportive our parent community is at NWR!
Please remember the following requests:
- If you need to check your child out early, please check them out BEFORE 2:15. We will not be checking students out the last 30 minutes of the day as this interrupts instruction.
- If you need to make a dismissal change for your student, please contact the front office before 1:15 pm. each day. All dismissal changes must be in writing.
- We have an email address for all attendance and transportation-related inquiries. You can reach us at: nwr.attendance@bcsemail.org This email address is monitored throughout the day!
- If you have a last-minute emergency transportation change at the last minute, please email & call the school to confirm the update.
Please review this information with your student.
Please be reminded that our school, in accordance with the new state law, has an updated cell phone policy this year. We have talked as a school staff about this policy and it will be enforced consistently school wide. Please refer to this video on the BCS Parent University website.
- Students ARE NOT allowed to use their cell phone while in the building. The only exceptions are for students who use it for medical purposes, such as a student with diabetes who use it for blood glucose monitoring.
- The cell phone should NOT be visible while in the building, meaning it needs to be in their backpack, turned off. It should not be seen in a student's pocket or hoodie.
- If a phone is caught, or seen, in violation of this policy the phone will be taken and returned to the student at the end of the school day.
- If a student violates this policy for a second time, the phone will be taken and given to the office. The parent or guardian may pick it up there at the end of the day.
- If a student violates this policy for a third time, the student will be asked to leave the phone at home or leave it in the school office each morning before school starts.
- Refusal to turn over a cell phone can result in additional consequences. Help us out by talking with your student ahead of time about these expectations and consequences.
As for smart watches, we will not be policing each student's watch. Our thoughts are that most student's watches don't have a data plan and are connected to the data plan on their cell phone. Therefore, if a student's phone is turned off as it should be, the smart watch is just a watch. But, if we see a student texting or accessing social media on their smart watch, it will be treated as a cellular device as described above.
This is a fairly big change for our school. Please talk with your child about this before the first day of school. A phone is always available in the school office if your child has an emergency and needs to contact you. I also know this will require families and students to make plans and discuss plans before the child leaves for school since adults should not be texting students during the school day.
We are grateful for your support this year!
Policy 4318: Therefore, students are permitted to possess such devices on school property so long as the devices are not turned on, used, displayed, visible, or otherwise creating a distraction during the instructional day. Wireless communication devices include, but are not limited to, cellular phones, smartwatches, earbuds, headphones, gaming devices, paging devices, two-way radios, tablet computers, laptop computers, electronic devices with internet capability, and other similar personal electronic devices.
North Windy Ridge School encourages students to dress in comfortable clothing that complements a positive school climate.
- No hats, hoods, bandanas or other head coverings are to be worn in the building. This includes headbands with ears or other costume-related head coverings.
- No "costume" attire, such as tails or paws.
- Students will refrain from wearing baggy pants that fall below the waist and shirts that expose the midriff.
- Attire should not include pajama wear.
- Shorts and skirts should be at least mid-thigh.
- Dresses, tank tops and any straps must be at least 3 fingers wide.
- Clothing must not advertise alcohol, drugs, or tobacco products or display inappropriate language or gestures. (This includes items that suggest inappropriate things as well).
- No bedroom slippers. Shoes should be of a type suitable for daily physical education and/or recess. Students must wear tennis shoes on days scheduled in the gym for physical education.
Ms. Tara Conley, NWR Assistant Principal, will be your contact for all things Bus-related! Her email is tara.conley@bcsemail.org.
Please sign up for the EDULOG bus app below!
The Buncombe County Schools Transportation Department is excited to bring our families the Edulog Parent Portal App. This smartphone app allows parents to receive specific information about their child’s school bus ride. Parents will be able to:
Access designated bus stop times and locations for their child.
Monitor real-time information about the location of their child’s school bus.
Receive notifications when the bus is getting close to the assigned bus stop.
To Download the app search for Edulog Parent Portal in the app store for Apple or Google or Scan the QR code below.
Links to Parent Portal Information
Ms. Mandy Brewer, Head Secretary & Bookkeeper
Ms. Brewer is here to help with all the things! She supports the school administrators, manages all things money, and is a smiling face in our front office in the mornings.
Ms. Alisha Young, Data Manager & Student Information Specialist
Ms. Young is your go-to person for anything related to your child's information and records. She enrolls, unenrolls, and keeps all the records. She can also support with attendance matters.
Ms. Leah Erwin
Ms. Erwin is our receptionist, and will help with bus questions, attendance, transportation changes, and any questions related to the school.
Important Reminders:
All items must be bagged - No loose clothing
No household items like books, toys, decor, dishes, etc..
No stuffed animals or pillows
English Flyer
Spanish Flyer
Breakfast and lunch will be provided at no cost to all students this school year!
*You can add money to your child's account for extra purchases like snacks, ice cream, or additional items from the lunch menu. Use this link to add money.
We are pleased to inform you that Buncombe County Schools will be implementing a program available to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
What does this mean for you and your child(ren)?
Great news! All enrolled students at Buncombe County Schools are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no cost to your household each day of the school year. NWR Parents, there are no action steps for you to take at this time to participate in this program.
K-12 Prepayment will remain active allowing parents and guardians to place money on their students accounts to purchase a la carte items if they would like too. We look forward to serving your students during the 25-26 school year. If you have any questions about this letter, please contact us at Buncombe Schools Nutrition Office, 828 255-5932.
Participation matters! The more students who eat lunch and breakfast at our school increases the likelihood that this program will continue.
Don't forget that our students, staff, and visitors have access to masks all day long. We have regular 3-ply masks and KN95 masks available. Masks are available in the front office, and we have reminders at hand-sanitizing stations that you can get a mask in the front office.
If a student requests a KN95 mask, we must have parent permission since it is considered a respirator. Parents must complete the Voluntary Respirator Use Form and sign and return. Here is a link to the form. If a student requests a KN95 mask, and we do not already have the form on file, we will email it to parent/guardians for you to sign.
