North's News

Dear North Smyrna Elementary Families,

As we enter the winter months, we are reflecting on the growth, joy, and community spirit we've seen throughout the first half of the school year. It is hard to believe we are halfway through the academic year. January brought about many opportunities for students to learn, explore, and share.

• We held our first annual soup drive, "SOUP-er Hero Day," with tons of donations and participants. Thank you for supporting us as we teach our youngest learners the power of giving back!

• Kindergarten and first grade attended an assembly put on by Jungle John and his reptile friends! What better way to be an ecologist or zoologist than to see animals up close and in person!

• 3rd Grade had a visit from African Storyteller, Ada Ari; she brought an authentic and immersive experience to our students. It was amazing to see students connect to culture and geography through folklore and artifacts.

Take a look at some of our upcoming events and flyers posted below, along with some of our pictures from the events mentioned. Also, please stay connected through our NSE Facebook!

It is an honor to serve our students and we look forward to partnering with you to ensure a wonderful and rewarding school experience for your child. Please review this newsletter in its entirety and contact us with any questions.

Warmly,

Dr. Tiyana Mullen, Principal

Mrs. Haley Griffin, Associate Principal

Ms. Jasmyn Hart, Associate Principal

NSE's Vision: Inspire, Nurture, and Celebrate Every Child, Every Day.

NSE's Mission: Our staff, students, families, and community work together to provide an inclusive, safe, nurturing environment that puts student needs first.

• Please send your child to school each day with a water bottle filled with water only and a healthy snack. As the weather becomes colder, please send them with a coat or jacket, hat, and gloves as they do participate in outdoor recess daily.
• If your child does not come home with a clothing item, please ask our front office about our lost and found.
• Attendance Matters: Regular attendance is a critical component to a successful school experience. We understand students may need to be absent for a variety of reasons throughout the year. Upon returning to school, please send an absent excuse note (include your child's name, date, reason for absence, and include your signature). You may also email absent excuse notes to crystal.mullen@smyrna.k12.de.us

• If your car is not in the Car Rider Line (beyond the crosswalk lines) by 8:45 you will be routed to the front. You will need to bring your child to the front office to be signed in. We need to send in the staff that is at car rider duty so they can begin instruction in their classrooms. The same is true for those parents picking up at the fence. Thank you for your understanding and support with this.

Cold weather is here! Please help your child come to school prepared for recess by dressing them in layers including a warm coat, hat, and closed toed shoes with socks.

To help keep our school community healthy, please take a moment to review our illness guidelines:

• Fever: Students should stay home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol or Motrin.

• Vomiting or diarrhea: Please keep your student home if they have vomited or had loose stools within the past 24 hours.

• Overall well-being: If your child is feeling too ill to participate in class or concentrate on learning, it’s best to allow them time to rest and recover at home.

Encouraging good handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and getting plenty of rest are some simple ways to help prevent the spread of illness. Thank you for doing your part to keep our school healthy this season!

Wishing everyone a safe and healthy February!

Nurse Wilson & Nurse Herbert

• • Congratulations to our K-3 students who completed our winter reading challenge! They read and logged 30 steps during our winter break. These students were celebrated with certificates, prizes, and books! The link below includes the names of our amazing readers.

  • Winter Reading Challenge Winners 2025-2026

  • Please remember that students can access ARC Bookshelf online at home for digital reading. This can be an engaging way to read new books!

  • ARC Bookshelf Directions

  
  

• Check out Mrs. Apgar's Bookshelf for resources to help your child at home!

• Make sure to check out the NSE Lending Library! Students may take a book home to read and keep. Our lending library is located in the front of NSE by the Boys & Girls Club/Cafeteria doors (See pictured attached!)

• Each K-3 student is expected to read and log 2 steps at home each night. Each step is 15 minutes, requiring 30 minutes of reading each night

• If any parent has a child from birth to age five, you are able to apply to Imagination Library to receive free books for your home! This program hopes to inspire a love of reading by giving free books to kids. This amazing opportunity will give your child books each month. If you are interested, please click below.

• Imagination Library