NHES Newsletter

Check out the NMUSD news feature on NHES' Shark Tank: Welcome to the Shark Tank, Where Learning Goes Live!

The Great Kindness Challenge is one week dedicated to fostering a culture of kindness and compassion on campuses worldwide.

For the 7th year, Newport Heights Elementary School is proudly participating in this proactive and positive kindness initiative.

Your students will be introduced to The Great Kindness Challenge checklist in their classrooms, please encourage your student to practice as many acts of kindness as possible at school and beyond.

We are also happy to invite YOU to participate using the Family Edition checklist! Your family can complete the checklist anytime and anywhere.

Together, let’s show the world that…

KINDNESS MATTERS!

Here’s how your student can participate at school:

MONDAY

• Review NHES Kindness Pledge

• Create a link for the Kindness Chain @ recess

TUESDAY

• T-shirt Tuesday

• Design a sticker for the sticker contest

• Personal Gratitude Cards @ recess

WEDNESDAY

• Spread kindness around with a Kindness Card

• Kindness Art @ recess

THURSDAY

• Kindness Heart activity

• Acts of Kindness bingo challenge @ recess

FRIDAY

• Celebrating “Kind Kids” at Flag Deck

• Dance Party @ recess

Check out the Spring ACE classes: https://www.newportbeachca.gov/government/departments/recreation-senior-services/ace

If you're interested in participating in the NHES Run Club, check it out:

Newport Heights Run Club w/ Mrs. Hamilton!

• Wednesdays February 11th, February 25th, March 4th
• 7:30 am-8:00 am at Newport Heights Elementary blacktop
• bring your running shoes & positive spirit!

As we begin 2026, our Shark PRIDE focus will be on D for Determined. We can promote determination and perseverance in our students by allowing them to experience failure yet keep trying. Students who learn and display determination now are more likely to grow up to be successful, resilient, and self-reliant adults. Life is full of challenges and struggles, determination and perseverance is the drive that helps a person get past the hard stuff to get to what they want. Determination is the ability and self control that pushes a person to work through challenges towards a goal and realize that sometimes you’ll do your best but it will still be time to move on to a different goal.

If you are interested in some children’s literature to read with your students, here are some titles related to Determination:

• The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi

• The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

• Thank You, Mr. Faulker by Patricia Polacco

• Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

• Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

• Just Like Rube Goldberg by Sarah Aronson

• Happiness Doesn’t Come from Headstands by Tamara Levitt

• The Mighty Dynamo by Keiran Crowley

Check out our monthly calendar for all the happenings at NHES!

Heights Happenings: January 2026

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!

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!

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

Email: tclarke@nmusd.us
Website: http://newportheights.nmusd.us/
Location: 300 East 15th Street, Newport Beach, CA, USA
Phone: (949) 515-6970