NHES Newsletter

However you and your student may be feeling about the start of the new school year - be it nervous, giddy, happy, crazy, you-name-it...please know that our NHES staff is here to ensure that our FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL is filled with laughter, learning, and positivity.

• Thank you to our PTA & Foundation for hosting our 2025 NHES Community Welcome Event, it was a huge success. Thank you to all our students and families who came out to support & meet new friends. Thank you to our volunteers, community partners & staff for doing their part to make this happen for our families.
• Huge thank you to our Custodial Crew and NMUSD M&O Department for ensuring our campus is ready for the first day of school.
• Special shout-out to our teachers & staff for all their prep and planning for a "JAWSome" start of the school year!

Beginning this school year, all NMUSD schools will use ParentSquare as the primary communication platform to keep you informed and engaged with your student’s teacher, school, and school district. ParentSquare allows us to send important updates, announcements, and reminders directly to you via email, text, and the ParentSquare mobile app.

There is nothing you need to do, however, we strongly encourage you to download the ParentSquare mobile application. You will receive communication from teachers, school, and the school district, regardless of whether you download the ParentSquare mobile app.

ParentSquare Mobile App

1. Download the ParentSquare mobile application on iOS or Android operating systems.

2. Log in with the same email and password as your Newport-Mesa Unified School District Aeries Parent Portal account.

3. Follow the prompts to confirm your contact information.

4. Follow the prompts to confirm your child(ren) information.

Please contact NHES if corrections need to be made to your contact information or if you see anything else that needs to be updated.

Please refer to the ParentSquare flyer for more details, including options to customize when and how you receive communications. Please review additional resources and information on the NMUSD ParentSquare website.

We are excited to strengthen our school and district communications by using ParentSquare.

Last spring, NMUSD updated all bell schedules at each elementary school, including NHES.

Our updated bell schedule reflects slight changes to daily end times/dismissal, recess, and lunch periods. We appreciate your continued partnership as NMUSD works together with us to create the best possible learning experience for every student at Newport Heights Elementary School and in NMUSD.

Here is a copy of the updated school bell schedule: NHES Bell Schedule 2025-2026. It is also available on our school website.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• NMUSD worked towards standardizing instructional days across the district, this includes standardizing recess and lunch minutes across our elementary schools
• For all TK-6th grade students: recess = 20 minutes // lunch = 40 minutes
• Yearly instructional minutes in the classrooms have remained consistent with no increase or decrease of students' time learning in the classrooms
• School start time @ 8:00 am: students are expected to be in line, ready to begin their school day; students will begin lining up at the 7:55 am warning bell
• Dismissal times: end of the school instructional day with students being dismissed from their classrooms, please anticipate the time it takes for students to walk from their classrooms to the gates (ie. do not expect students to be at the gate, ready to leave campus before dismissal times)

School begins at 8:00 am for ALL TK-6th grade students!

Line-up bell at 7:55 am

TK/Kinder students are dismissed at 2:20 pm

1st-3rd grade students are dismissed at 2:40 pm

4th-6th grade students are dismissed at 2:45 pm

*Check out the bell schedule on our school website for specific times PLUS early-out Wednesday schedules!

ARRIVAL

*Gates will open on Monday @ 7:40 am for our First Day of School

*For the First Day of School, we will open our gates & welcome students and parents/guardians onto the campus quad and blacktop for photo opportunities, a chance to meet new families, and to see your student's new line up spot on the blacktop.

*Students may enter through our gates:

• FRONT GATES (parking lot) or BACK GATES (15th Street)
• Bike riders, skateboarders, scooters, etc. need to enter at the BACK GATES

*Our NHES staff will be at each gate to welcome our students & families; staff will be available to direct students to their assigned classroom line-up spots. Spots will be labeled with teacher name & grade level.

*If students do not yet know their teacher, we will have several staff available with class assignment lists.

*Students are expected to be lined-up at their assigned spots by the 7:55 am line-up bell.

*In following our NHES protocols of years' past, parents will say goodbye at the lines.

*Teachers will be meeting their students at their class' line up spots to escort them to their new classroom for the 2025-26 school year!

TK & K FAMILIES ONLY

We recognize this is an exciting time for you and your new NHES shark. You and your student may be feeling a bit anxious, too. On the first day of school, you will have the opportunity to walk your student onto campus, help them find their line-up spot for their teacher (don't worry, we'll have dedicated staff to help), and wait for the 7:55 am bell and their teacher! Beginning Tuesday, August 19th, students will be dropped at the front gates where a staff member will help them get to their lines, this will continue to be the practice throughout the school year.

There may be some big emotions and tears that first morning, but we've found that they dry up more quickly when parents separate at the line/gate rather than walking them to the classrooms...trust us!

We encourage you to arrive for pick-up at 2:10 pm on the first day of school AND we invite you to take a quick peek into your student's classroom during TK & Kindergarten dismissal. Our NHES staff will open the front gates for TK/K parents only and you will be directed to your student's classroom where your students & teacher are waiting. This will give your students an opportunity to share a glimpse of their first day of school with you!

Specific questions, daily routines, expectations, etc. will be shared at Back-to-School Night on Thursday, August 28th.

PARENTS/GUARDIANS

After you say goodbye to your students at their lines, join us in the quad for light refreshments, meet & greet with other parents, plus YOUR transition from summer to the school year!

We are thrilled to welcome our SHARKtastic new staff to NHES:

• Miss Baldikoski - TK Teacher
• Miss DiFrenna - 6th Grade Teacher
• Miss Tang - Shark Tank & Learning Lab Teacher
• Miss Shaffer - SAI Ed Specialist
• Mrs. Pethtel - School Psychologist
• Mr. Zozobrado - Music Teacher
• Ms. Ryan - TK-3rd grade Science Teacher
• Ms. Sweet - 4th-6th grade Science Teacher
• Mr. Bordelon - 4th-6th grade PE Teacher
• Ms. Giles - Dance Teacher

School begins at 8:00 am for ALL TK-6th grade students!

Line-up bell at 7:55 am

TK/Kinder students are dismissed at 2:20 pm

1st-3rd grade students are dismissed at 2:40 pm

4th-6th grade students are dismissed at 2:45 pm

ARRIVAL

Beginning Tuesday, August 19th, student drop-off will be at the gates on 15th Street or the front of the school; this practice promotes our continued focus on student safety and Shark PRIDE - particularly "I" for Independent.

*Gates will open @ 7:45 am.

*Students will be dropped off at the gates, NHES is a closed campus during regular school days/hour.

*Students may enter through our gates:

• FRONT GATES (parking lot) or BACK GATES (15th Street)
• Bike riders, skateboarders, scooters, etc. need to enter at the BACK GATES

*The parking lot will be open during arrival for student drop-off in the morning - beginning week 2, staff will provide "valet service" during drop-off in the parking lot beginning at 7:45 am each morning.

*Our NHES staff will be at each gate to welcome our students each morning; staff will monitor students on the blacktop until the 7:55 am line-up bell.

*Teachers will meet their students at their class' line up spots to escort them to their classroom.

*Students who are tardy, arriving to school after the 8:00 am bell, will need to check in at the front office.

BREAKFAST & BUS

*Only students who are participating in the NMUSD breakfast program will enter through the front gates @ 7:30 am and head directly to the breakfast tables near the cafeteria, where breakfast will be served and students will be supervised by staff.

*Students who are participating in the bus transportation program will be met at the bus by an NHES staff member and escorted into school.

RECESS

*TK/Kinder students will participate in a 20-minute recess on their own playground each morning

*1st-3rd grade students will participate in a 20-minute recess together on the playground, blacktop & field

*4th-6th grade students will participate in a 20-minute recess together on the playground, blacktop & field

*Students will be provided with time for a personal BYOS (bring your own snack) at the lunch tables at the beginning of each recess period

LUNCH

*TK/Kinder students will enjoy a 40-minute lunch/recess on the TK/K playground

*1st-2nd grade students will will enjoy a 40-minute lunch/recess together

*3rd-4th grade students will will enjoy a 40-minute lunch/recess together

*5th-6th grade students will will enjoy a 40-minute lunch/recess together

*Classes will eat at the lunch tables for 15-20 minutes before being excused for recess on the playground, blacktop & field

*Lunch from the cafeteria continues to be available for all students each day, free of charge!

DISMISSAL

*TK/K students must be picked up at the front gate by an authorized guardian and touch base with the teacher prior to your student being released

*Students are encouraged to dismiss through the same gate they arrived at each morning - please be sure your students know where to go each day!

*Teachers will walk students to the gate areas at the end of each day

*Students should be on the lookout for their parents/guardians

*Students participating in an after-school program or riding the bus will be monitored/escorted by staff

*TK-3rd grade students are not permitted to walk or ride home independently/without an adult

*Staff will be at each gate to help with dismissal transitions

NOTE: we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE parents/guardians to meet their students at the gates during this first week of school so you can get used to the dismissal process and help ease students' potential anxiety and confusion; the parking lot is closed to cars during dismissal. Please DO NOT move the cones at the entrance of the parking lot.

PARKING LOT & TRAFFIC

*Please limit your time parking in the parking lot to ensure adequate space for our teachers & staff

*Please keep the fire lane & red curbs free

*Parking your car or leaving your car unattended in the yellow striped lane along the parking lot curb is not permitted, this lane is for drive-through drop-off ONLY

*Please be mindful of our bus needs plus pedestrians in the parking lot

*The parking lot will be open during arrival for student drop-off in the morning - beginning week 2, staff will provide "valet service" during drop-off in the parking lot beginning at 7:45 am each morning

*The parking lot will be closed to cars during dismissal

*Please follow ALL traffic laws in and out of the car

*Please use the 4 designated crosswalks around school, please be safe - running across the street with your student or waving them across traffic keeps us all up at night!

BIKES

*Only students 3rd-6th grades may ride bikes to & from school independently; students in 1st-2nd grades must ride bikes with a parent/guardian

*Students in TK & Kindergarten may ride their bikes, however, TK & Kindergarten bikes will not be locked up or stored at campus; parents/guardians must plan for TK & K bikes during the school day

FLAG DECK

*Flag Deck is our opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate our sharks!

*NHES students participate in Flag Deck each Friday morning

*Visitors are welcome to attend Flag Deck @ 8:00 am on Friday mornings

FRONT OFFICE

*We encourage parents/guardians to call or email the front office with questions or clarifications

*Should you need to visit the front office, please ring the doorbell and a member of our team will assist you

*If you need to drop something off for your student, please leave it on the shelf in the front office; we'll be sure to get it to your student

NOTE: to limit classroom interruptions and respect the integrity of learning, we will not be calling classes about dropped off items or messages - please try to coordinate as much with your student before school

CAMPUS SAFETY

*School safety continues to be at the forefront of our minds and practices at NHES

*Like most NMUSD schools in our community, NHES will continue to be a closed campus before, during & after school

*Parents/guardians will be welcomed onto campus through our volunteering opportunities and for special events such as Friday Flag Decks, Back-to-School Night, Open House, performances & concerts, special presentations, PTA, Foundation & community events, and THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

TECHNOLOGY

*NMUSD is committed to providing Chromebook access to all students in a safe & secure manner for learning opportunities

*All returning students should charge their Chromebooks and be prepared to bring them to school this week (see specific directions from your teacher)

*All new 3rd-6th grade students will receive an NMUSD Chromebook this week

*Chromebooks are checked out to each 3rd-6th grade student with the expectation that students/families follow all NMUSD technology guidelines and practices

*TK-2nd grade students will keep their Chromebooks at school in a secure cart in the classroom, they will not be bringing Chromebooks home

*3rd-6th grade students will be expected to bring their Chromebooks to and from school each day, keeping it charged at home and ready for use in the classroom each day

*CELL PHONE/DEVICE POLICY: IF you choose to send a personal device to school with your student, ALL student devices, including phones & smart watches, with cellular/data service (calls, texts, FaceTime, social media, etc.) are to remain OFF and in the student's backpack or secure area in the classroom while on campus. Students not following school policies may have their devices confiscated, parents/guardians will be contacted to pick-up the device in the front office.

Our NHES team is here to help you! Check out the NHES Handbook on our school website.

Join us on Thursday, August 28th to learn more about our NHES community culture & programs, your student's classroom & teacher, and more!

5:00-5:30 PM: TK/KINDERGARTEN presentation in classrooms

5:45 PM: PRESENTATIONS by Principal Clarke, PTA & Foundation

6:00-6:30 PM: 1ST - 6TH GRADE presentation in classrooms

6:40-7:10 PM 1ST - 6TH GRADEpresentation in classrooms

*2 presentations are available for families with multiple 1st-6th grade students

Back-to-School Night is a parent/guardian only event, no students.

Teacher assignments are available for view on the Aeries Parent Portal!

Our NHES staff puts great thought and care into class placements for our students. We consider many factors including academic strengths & needs, complementary teaching & learning styles, and social dynamics. Our goal is to set students up for a successful year. For this reason, we do not solicit requests for specific teachers or classes OR re-assign students after class placements are finalized and made viewable via Aeries Parent Portal on Friday, August 15th.

NHES is thrilled to continue partnering with our PTA on a fun program focused on community, school spirit & Shark PRIDE. Put your hands together for the NHES Shark House System:

• each student/family is assigned to a House: Tiger Shark House, Mako Shark House, Hammerhead Shark House or Lemon Shark House
• students/families will remain in their same house for their whole NHES career
• NHES staff are all part of the Great White Shark House
• ALL students will be provided with NEW Shark House shirts (coming soon) thanks to our sponsors!
• Houses are recognized through positive attendance at school and school-related events, Shark PRIDE behavior, wearing your Shark House shirts on Fridays, and more!
• each week, the House with the most points will be announced at Flag Deck & fly their House flag at school
• throughout the year, there will be opportunities to "win" other fun experiences at school plus be recognized school-wide

The NHES House System provides students a sense of belonging at school and within a group, a healthy, positive competition to be their personal best and work as a team, and a fun way to show our Shark PRIDE!!

NMUSD is partnering again with Active Learning to provide after-school programming at NHES.

For more details, check out the fliers or visit their website www.activelearningusa.org.

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