September Newsletter

We would like to thank everyone for a great start to our school year. We have been very busy setting schedules, establishing routines, and learning how to safely manage cars during arrival and dismissal. We hope that your child is adjusting well and are looking forward to an exciting Fall!

Preschool through Third Grade Families are invited to attend the Parent Volunteer Training scheduled for September 14, 15, 16, or 17 from 5:30-6:00 PM in NES Music Room. Select only ONE of the training days to add to your calendars. If you have attended this training while your student was at Norton Primary you do not need to attend. If you are planning to be a parent volunteer, mystery reader, classroom helper for room parties, and much more, this is the training for you!

Our success is built around our fantastic volunteers and I hope to see you next week.

One of the Building Goals this year is to implement the competencies of the Portrait of a Panther. The Portrait of the Panther is the work that a student learns and completes through their career as a Norton Panther from Preschool through Grade 12. Your child's teacher will work with them over the course of the school year to teach the six competencies of the Panther Way which are: Contribute, Persevere, Communicate, Be Responsible, Think Critically, and Adapt.

Once again, we want to thank all of our NES families for a great start to the school year and please remember that you can contact us through school email, the school office line (330)825-3828, or the Remind App (Mr. Morris, Grades Preschool, Kindergarten, and First).

Mr. Eric Morris emorris@nortonpanthers.org

Ms. Kim Hallock khallock@nortonpanthers.org

Thanks,

Mr. Morris and Ms. Hallock

Acadience Reading Assessment

Norton City Schools is committed to helping your child become a successful reader. As part of this commitment, all students in Grades K-3 will be assessed using the Acadience Reading Assessment. These assessments help our teachers better understand each student’s reading skills and to implement appropriate interventions. Ohio law also requires school districts to screen students for literacy skills. All families will receive screening results with further information after each benchmark.

The District has adopted literacy materials which support evidence-based practices such as Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum (Grades PK-2) and Open Court Reading (Grades K-3). NES Staff members are highly trained and dedicated in their work with all children to ensure their reading success.

Here are some ways you can support your student(s) at home?

1. Provide Structure: Schedule uninterrupted time for reading daily. Provide time, a comfortable space, and a consistent procedure.

2. Text Selection: Pick books and articles that match your child’s interests. Read several texts on the same topic. Increase text length and difficulty as your child builds reading skills.

3. Share Reading: Read aloud and think out loud with your child. Take turns reading parts of a text. Re-read. Listen to your child read.

4. Support Accurate Word Reading: Focus on the words being read to correct reading mistakes. Help your child pay attention to letter sounds, word parts, and blending letter-sounds to read words correctly.

5. Emphasize Meaning: Encourage thought and discussion before, during, and after reading. Ask your child questions about word meanings and details in the text. Help your child to visualize the story.

Norton City School District is working hard to ensure every student is on target for success, and we thank you for your efforts at home. Together, we will help your student become a successful reader.

We are so glad you are here! A second Building Goal for this school year is encouraging the importance of our student's daily attendance at Norton Elementary School. Last school year, the Staff was able to improve the daily attendance rate by 4% for all students which was a decrease from 12% to 8% for daily attendance. We want to continue this trend for the 26/27 school year and would like to thank all of our parents in making sure that students are on time each day for school while also being ready to learn.

As part of our required safety drills, students in Grades Preschool to Thrid grade will be conducting several safety drills the month of September The drills will include Fire Drills as well as an ALICE drill. The students will participate in the drills with their classroom teachers and NES staff members. The staff will work with the students prior to the drills and share the expectations of these events. The staff will also hold a short debriefing with their classes at the conclusion of the drills. We wanted to inform you of this drill, so when your child comes home and wants to discuss the events you are aware.

We greatly appreciate your continued support and our ability to keep students safe at Norton Elementary School. If you should have any further questions, please feel free to contact the office at your earliest convenience.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY- Student Fees for Kindergarten through Grade 3 are now due! If you need to make payment arrangements for these fees please contact the school office at (330) 825-3828.

Families are expected to pay school fees/tuition annually for consumable supplies. Students who qualify for free and reduced lunches pay either half of the school fee (reduced) or no school fees (free).

Fees can be paid by check (made payable to Norton City Schools), cash, or paid by debit or credit card online at:

https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

September 10- Lifetouch Fall Pictures for Preschool- Grade 3

September 14, 15, 16, 17- Parent Volunteer Trainings from 5:30-6:00 PM- NES Music Room

September 17- "Meet in the Middle" Event Kindergarten students and Members of the Senior Class- NHS Stadium.

September 21- BOE Meeting at 7:00 PM- NMS Panther Room