Knightly News
You Can’t Spell EXCELLENCE Without NCE!
As Principal of North Central Elementary, I cannot begin to express how incredibly proud I am of our school family!
For the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, North Central Elementary has earned an EXCELLENT rating on the South Carolina School Report Card!
This outstanding accomplishment is more than just a rating. It is a reflection of the dedication, determination, passion, and hard work that take place within the walls of NCE each and every day.
I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible things happening in our classrooms, hallways, and throughout our school. Our teachers and staff go above and beyond to ensure that every child feels valued, supported, and challenged to reach their fullest potential.
To our amazing students, I want you to know just how proud I am of YOU! Your hard work, determination, and commitment to learning are at the heart of this achievement. Each day, you come to school ready to learn, tackle challenges, set goals, and give your very best. Your growth and accomplishments are a true reflection of the effort you put forth in and out of the classroom. You are the reason we do what we do, and you continue to make us proud every single day. This EXCELLENT rating belongs to YOU, too!
Excellence does not happen by accident. It takes a team of individuals who believe in our students, believe in one another, and are committed to making a difference every single day. I am truly blessed to lead such an extraordinary group of educators and students.
To our parents, families, and community, thank you for your continued encouragement, trust, and support. Your partnership plays an important role in our success, and we could not accomplish this without you!
Two consecutive years of EXCELLENCE is something worth celebrating, but what makes me most proud is knowing that our NCE family demonstrates excellence every day, not just on a report card!
To my NCE faculty, staff, and students: THANK YOU! Thank you for your hard work, your dedication, your love for our school, and your commitment to making North Central Elementary a place where every child can succeed.
I could not be more proud to be your principal!
You Can't Spell EXCELLENCE Without NCE!
EXCELLENCE... ALWAYS!!
Britt Gardner, Principal
Kristen Galuppi, Assistant Principal
When we return from Fall Break, our Knights are taking on a brand-new attendance challenge! 💚💛
Each homeroom will have a Knight displayed outside its classroom. For every week that a class has ZERO unexcused absences, their Knight will earn a new piece of armor! 🛡️
Classes will work together to collect all 8 pieces of armor, including items such as a helmet, shield, sword, chest plate, gloves, and boots.
🏆 The first TWO classes to fully armor their Knight will earn an EXTRA RECESS and a special treat!
💚 How Can Families Help?
The best way to help your child’s class is simple: Make attendance a priority!
If your child must be absent, please send a parent note or medical excuse to the school as soon as possible so the absence can be properly documented. All attendance notes and excuses should be turned in to the office by 9:00 a.m.
Each Monday, we will review attendance from the previous week and award armor pieces to qualifying classes.
We’re excited to add a little friendly competition while encouraging our Knights to show up, learn, and succeed!
⚔️ Who will be the first to ARMOR UP? 🛡️💚💛
Title I Parent & Family Involvement Update
💚💛 Parent Resource Center 💛💚
Thank you to all of our families who took the time to complete our Parent Involvement Survey! Your feedback helps us better understand how we can support our NCE students and families.
After reviewing the survey responses, one request mentioned by several families was the need for a Parent Resource Center. In collaboration with our school social worker, we are excited to share that we now have informational brochures and family resources available at NCE! A brochure and resource holder has been placed near the check-out computer in the front foyer for families to access when visiting the school.
We have also added a Parent Resource Section at the bottom of our monthly newsletter, making it easier for families to find helpful information, programs, and community resources all in one place.
🍎 October Food Calendar
One of the resources available this month is the October Food Calendar, provided by the Kershaw County Library for families who may need food assistance. The calendar includes information about local food resources and assistance available throughout the month.
Families who would like to receive this information directly each month can be added to the library's email list by contacting Kristie Norwood at kristien@kershawcountylibrary.org. The monthly Food Calendar is also posted on the Kershaw County Library website, which is linked below in our Parent Resource Section.
Thank you for sharing your voice and for your continued involvement, partnership, and support of NCE. Together, we can continue making NCE a place where every student and family feels supported, informed, and connected! 💚💛
1st Grade
💚💛 Exciting Updates from NCE PTO! 💛💚
We want to start by saying a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who supported our NCE PTO shirt fundraiser! 🎉 Between our two shirt orders, we sold OVER 400 SHIRTS! We absolutely love seeing our NCE families showing off their Knight pride throughout our community! 🏰💚 Be on the lookout for a sweatshirt order later this school year!
We have lots of exciting things planned for the months ahead, and we can't wait to share them with our NCE families!
👻 October – Boo Grams!
Get ready for a fun way to spread a little Halloween cheer!
🎂 November – Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser!
Support NCE PTO while enjoying a delicious treat!
🎅 December – Annual Santa Shop!
One of our favorite traditions is right around the corner! Our Santa Shop gives students the opportunity to shop for special gifts for their family and friends. This is always such a fun and memorable experience for our Knights!
❤️ WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Our Santa Shop takes LOTS of helping hands to make it a success! If you would like to volunteer to help our students shop, please contact Mrs. Perrigo or Mrs. Spitzer. We would love to have you join in the fun!
🐔 Chick-fil-A Family Nights!
We are excited to announce TWO upcoming Chick-fil-A Family Nights! Mark your calendars for:
📅 November 3rd
📅 February 1st
More details will be shared as we get closer to each date. We hope to see lots of our NCE families there!
🥤🍫 A Little Something for Our Amazing Staff!
NCE PTO recently arranged for a company to install a drink and snack vending machine for our faculty and staff, and it has already been a HUGE HIT! We are so excited to provide another small way to show our appreciation for the incredible teachers and staff who go above and beyond for our Knights each and every day! 💚💛
📣 Want to Get Involved with NCE PTO?
We would LOVE to have more parents and guardians join us! ALL parents and guardians are welcome to attend PTO meetings. Meeting dates and information will be shared through Mr. Gardner's emails, the school's digital sign, and our Facebook page.
📅 October PTO/SIC/Title I Meeting
🗓 Monday, October 26th
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 NCE Library
We hope to see you there!
💚💛 THANK YOU for continuing to support NCE PTO! Whether you purchase a shirt, participate in a fundraiser, volunteer your time, or simply help spread the word, YOU make a difference!
We are so thankful for our amazing NCE families and community. Together, we can make this an unforgettable year for our students, faculty, and staff!
Once a Knight, Always a Knight! 💚💛
Helping Families Build Stronger Readers at Home
Monday, October 26
6:00–7:00 PM
NCE Library
Parents and caregivers of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students are invited to join us for an interactive evening focused on helping your child become a stronger, more confident reader!
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Read to Succeed Update
Learn what South Carolina’s Read to Succeed legislation means for students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades and what families need to know as children progress toward third grade.
Science of Reading in Action
Then it’s time for YOU to be the student! Rotate through hands-on literacy stations and experience simple, effective Science of Reading activities that you can use at home to strengthen your child’s reading skills.
You’ll leave with practical ideas, activities, and strategies you can begin using right away!
ADULTS ONLY, PLEASE
This workshop is designed especially for parents and caregivers so you can learn and practice the activities your child is using at school.
Come learn. Come practice. Leave ready to grow a reader!
🩺 Head Lice: What Families Need to Know
Head lice can happen to anyone! Head lice are common among school-aged children and are not a sign of poor hygiene or cleanliness. They are most often spread through direct head-to-head contact and cannot jump or fly.
How Families Can Help:
• Check your child’s hair and scalp regularly, paying close attention behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.
• Watch for signs such as frequent itching or a tickling sensation in the hair.
• If lice are found, use an appropriate lice treatment according to the directions and use a fine-toothed nit comb as recommended. Remember to retreat in 7–10 days, if directed by the treatment instructions.
• Wash recently used bedding, hats, and clothing as appropriate. Encourage children not to share combs, brushes, hats, or hair accessories.
A Few Important Reminders:
Head lice do not spread disease and are not a reflection of a child’s or family’s cleanliness.
If you find lice or nits in your child’s hair, please notify the school nurse so we can provide guidance consistent with district and school procedures.
Our district does not conduct mass lice screenings or send class-wide notification letters. We encourage all families to routinely check their children at home and treat lice promptly when found.
Thank you for partnering with us to help keep our students comfortable, healthy, and ready to learn! 💚💛
Nurse Baxley & Mrs. Trapp
🎸📚 Our Rockstar Readers Are ROCKING It! 📚🎸
WOW! We had AMAZING participation from our Knights who turned in their September Reading Logs! ⭐ We are so proud of all the reading happening at NCE!
If your child did not turn in a September Reading Log, that’s okay! They can still join the fun by completing the October and November Reading Challenges and earn the monthly prize for each challenge they complete. 💚💛
Our Rockstar Monthly Reading Challenge continues this fall:
🎸 September – Read 10 books ✅
🎃 October – Read 10 books
🍂 November – Read 10 books
Students who complete their reading challenge for the month will receive a monthly prize! 🌟
Students who successfully complete the challenge for **all three months—September, October, AND November—**will also be invited to a special Reading Celebration in December! 🎉📚
So even if you missed September, it’s not too late to ROCK your reading! Grab your October Reading Log, find a great book, and start reading! 🎸⭐📖
Mrs. Spitzer & Mrs. Truesdale
Your Rockstar Library Ladies 🎸📚💚💛
THIS MONTH’S FOCUS: Why “SOUND IT OUT” isn’t quite enough…
Sounding out words (decoding) IS a necessary first step, but it is not enough because true reading requires language comprehension, vocabulary, and background knowledge in addition to the phonics knowledge.
Limits of “Sounding it out” alone:
High Cognitive Load: If a child must sound out every single letter slowly, it overloads the brain. (Overload= no brainpower left to comprehend)
Missing Vocabulary Knowledge: Knowing how to pronounce the word and understanding what the word means is not the same.
Irregular Words: Many words, like said and have, do not follow standard phonics rules. Many call those “heart” words because there are parts that must be learned by heart.
Parent Tips:
Have your child look for smaller words. (Ex. Finding “in” inside the word “window)
Encourage your child to chunk letter groups, digraphs or trigraphs, together. (Ex. In chip, group the letters “c” and “h” to make one sound /ch/)
Practice Reading for Fluency. Rereading moves readers from choppy readers to smooth, fluent readers.
Hi, Knights! I’m Mrs. Double. I’m excited to be serving North Central Elementary as your school counselor! After 13 years in the classroom, I’m excited for this new opportunity to support our students in a different way.
This month, we are learning about Zones of Regulation! The Zones help students recognize their emotions and learn strategies to manage their feelings. We are learning that all feelings are okay and there is no “bad” zone. The goal is to understand how we feel and choose tools that help us be ready to learn and make good choices.
Ms. Olivia Gandy
Mrs. Alison Truesdale
Beginning in the month of September, families can rent NCE’s rock to paint personalized messages. Reservations are $10.00 a day from 4:00 pm - 4:00 pm. All money received goes to the NCE PTO. For more information please email Mrs. Barngrover at thomasina.barngrov@kcsdschools.net