Paw Prints
October. 18, 2026
Dear Jaguar Families,
We have a wonderful week ahead filled with opportunities to celebrate kindness and recognize our students’ positive choices!
Wednesday, October 21, is Unity Day! We invite students and staff to wear orange to show our commitment to kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to stand together against bullying. This day reinforces what we want every Jaguar to know: you belong, you matter, and you deserve to feel safe and welcome at school. Please talk with your child about how small acts of kindness can make a big difference to others.
The Jag Store will be open this Friday, October 23! The NCE Behavior Committee runs the store so students can spend the Jag Gems and ROAR Rubies they have earned for demonstrating our ROAR expectations: Respect, Ownership, Acceptance, and Responsibility. We are proud of the ways our Jaguars put these expectations into action! We need volunteers to help run the Jag Store! If you are available on Friday, October 23, please sign up here. Thank you for helping make this special experience possible for our students.
Family/Teacher Conferences will begin soon. Please be on the lookout for sign-up information from your child’s teacher. Conferences are a valuable opportunity to celebrate progress, discuss areas where your child may need support, and work together on next steps. We hope every family will take advantage of this time to connect.
Thank you for your partnership and for helping us make NCE a caring community where every child can grow!
Warmly,
Nikki Murchison
Principal, North Chatham Elementary
Wednesday, October 21
- Read to Achieve (RtA) Test for select 4th grade students
- Unity Day: Staff and students wear orange clothing
Friday, October 23
- End of Quarter 1
- North Chatham Trunk or Treat, 4-6 pm
Thursday, October 29
- Kindergarten Field Trip
Friday, October 30
- Book Character Parade, 8:15-8:45 am
Tuesday, November 3
- Family/Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, November 4
- K-5 Report Cards available for viewing in Infinite Campus
October 26-November 6: Apex Leadership Fundraising Event
Thursday, November 5
- Fourth Grade Courthouse Field Trip (Group 1 only))
Friday, November 6
- Apex Leadership Fun Run Event
Tuesday, November 10
- NCE Science Fair,5:30-7:00 (NOTE CHANGE IN TIME)
Wednesday, November 11
- Veterans' Day: No school for students
Friday, November 13
- Fall Picture Make-up Day
- Check-in A Reading (3rd-5th)
Wednesday, November 18th
- Check-in A Math (3rd-5th)
Thursday, November 19
- Check-in A Science (5th only)
- Fourth Grade Courthouse Field Trip (Group 2 only)
🐾 THIS WEEK WITH NCE PTA!
What a month it has been, Jaguars! 💛🐆 We’re celebrating an amazing Talent & Fashion Show, 75 Thrift Shop hours earned, and now we’re heading into another BIG week—because our first-ever Trunk or Treat is almost here! 🎃
🎃🚗 THIS SATURDAY: TRUNK OR TREAT!
GET READY, JAGUARS—IT’S ALMOST TIME!
Our inaugural NCE Trunk or Treat is THIS SATURDAY! 🎃🍬
📅 Saturday, October 24
⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 North Chatham Elementary
Get those costumes ready and come enjoy an afternoon of decorated trunks, treats, games, and fall fun with our NCE community!
🍬 HELP US FILL THE CANDY BOWLS!
We’re collecting individually wrapped candy and small toys/trinkets to help keep our trunks stocked throughout the event!
Donations can be dropped off in the NCE front office.
🍬 Individually wrapped candy
🎃 Small toys & trinkets
👻 Non-candy treats
Every bag helps us make the afternoon even more fun for our Jaguars!
🚗 THERE’S STILL TIME TO JOIN THE FUN!
Want to decorate a trunk or lend a hand during the event? We’d love to have you!
🎃 TRUNK OR TREAT SIGN-UP:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0545A4A623A2F8C25-65792240-trunk#/
Costumes ready. Candy stocked. Trunks decorated. Let’s make NCE’s FIRST Trunk or Treat one to remember! 🎃🐆🍬
👕🐆 SPIRIT WEAR SALE IS BACK!
SHOW YOUR JAGUAR PRIDE!
Our next NCE Spirit Wear Sale opens October 25! 💛
Stock up on North Chatham gear for students, parents, grandparents, and all the Jaguar fans in your family.
🛍️ SALE OPENS: OCTOBER 25
🚨 ORDER DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 6
👕 SHOP NCE SPIRIT WEAR:
https://coolschoolspirit.com/northchatham/
Don’t wait too long—the store is only open for a limited time!
WEAR IT LOUD. WEAR IT PROUD. GO JAGUARS! 🐆💛
📚🎭 HELP BRING THE CHARACTER PARADE TO LIFE!
Our Book Character Parade is coming up, and we’re looking for a few parent volunteers to help everything run smoothly!
📅 Friday, October 30
⏰ 8:05–8:20 AM
Students will dress as their favorite book characters and parade around NCE—and we could use a few extra helping hands with traffic and parade assistance that morning.
Have a little time to help before starting your day? We’d love to have you!
🙋 VOLUNTEER FOR THE CHARACTER PARADE:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4BAFA923A7F85-66414552-character#/
A few helping hands can make a BIG difference! 📚🐆
🛍️ 75 HOURS EARNED—LET’S KEEP IT GOING!
NEXT THRIFT NIGHT: OCTOBER 23
Our Jaguar volunteers have already earned 75 Thrift Shop hours—and every one of those hours helps NCE earn funding for our students and staff! 💛
Now, let’s keep building those hours!
📅 Friday, October 23
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
🐾 ONE FAMILY = ONE SHIFT!
We’re challenging every NCE family to volunteer for just ONE Thrift Shop shift this school year.
Haven’t completed yours yet? Oct. 23 is a perfect opportunity!
🙋 SIGN UP FOR YOUR SHIFT:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4BAFA923A7F85-50974513-ptathrift#/
👕 DON’T FORGET—DONATIONS HELP TOO!
Cleaning out closets? The Chatham PTA Thrift Shop accepts donations! Your gently used items can find a new home while supporting the Thrift Shop program.
One family. One shift. Every hour counts! 🛍️🐆
🎤👗 THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING SHOW!
OUR JAGUARS SHINED! 🌟
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make NCE’s Got Talent & Fashion Show such a special night!
To our talented performers and runway stars, families who came to cheer them on, and volunteers who helped behind the scenes—thank you for bringing the show to life!
We loved seeing our Jaguars take the stage and share what makes them shine. 🎤👗🌟
BRAVO, JAGUARS! 👏🐆
🎁 KEEP THOSE WINTER SHOP DONATIONS COMING!
Our inaugural NCE Winter Shop is coming December 10–11, and now is the time to help us fill those shelves! ❄️🎁
Every NCE student will receive a Jaguar Dollar to choose one gift for someone they love at no cost, with additional low-cost gifts available.
🎁 HELP STOCK THE SHOP!
Donate new or lightly used giftable items in the collection box in the NCE front office, or shop directly from our Amazon Wish List.
Great donation ideas include:
☕ Mugs
🧦 Fuzzy socks
🧸 Small toys & stuffed animals
💍 Jewelry & accessories
🖼️ Picture frames
🐶 Pet gifts
🛠️ Small tools
🎄 Ornaments
🎀 Gift and wrapping supplies
…and more!
🛒 SHOP OUR AMAZON WISH LIST:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1JFDH99UR0PH5?ref_=wl_share
Help us fill the shelves and create a little holiday magic for every Jaguar! 🎁🐆❤️
💛 NOT A PTA MEMBER YET?
It’s never too late to join!
Your PTA membership helps support the programs, events, resources, and extras we provide for NCE students and staff—and joining does NOT mean you have to volunteer.
🐾 JOIN NCE PTA:
https://northchatham.givebacks.com/shop?category=5885
📱 STAY CONNECTED WITH NCE PTA!
Follow North Chatham Elementary School PTA on Facebook, @northchatham_pta on Instagram, join our GroupMe, and visit our PTA website for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, sign-ups, and PTA news.
🐾 DONATE • VOLUNTEER • CELEBRATE • CONNECT
Let’s finish October strong, Jaguars! 💛🐆
In previous newsletters....
Science Fair
Our annual science fair will be Tuesday, November 10th from 4:30-6pm in the MPR. Students can bring their projects to school the morning of the science fair. All participating scientists can use this form to sign up to participate in the science fair.
We are looking for a few grown-ups to be part of our Science Fair Committee. Our science fair will be on November 10th from 4:30-6pm. The Science Fair Committee will help with planning and running science activities during the science fair. Sign-up here!
Students have until November 1st to enter the science fair. You may use this form to enter.
Marianne Carter-Maschal
North Chatham Elementary
STEAM Specials Teacher
Our APEX Fundraiser begins Monday October 26th!
It's a great time to start thinking about science fair project ideas!
If you kids would like to participate, the sign up form is here.
We are inviting parents who are interested to be part of our Science Fair Committee. The committee will plan activities and help set up and break down the event.
Marianne Carter-Maschal
North Chatham Elementary
STEAM Specials Teacher