Dear North Star Families:
As we enter November, the season of gratitude is upon us, and we are embracing it here at North Elementary! Our character trait of the month is gratitude, and throughout the month, we’ll encourage students to reflect on the importance of thankfulness and appreciation in our daily lives. At home, we invite you to join us by finding moments to express gratitude together, whether it’s for family, friends, or the opportunities each day brings.
This month also brings some exciting events to our school. House Meetings will continue to inspire teamwork and school pride, and our school-wide spelling bee will give our students a chance to shine as they compete in this time-honored academic challenge. Please mark your calendars for Thanksgiving Break, giving families time to enjoy this special season together.
Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to a wonderful November filled with learning, community, and gratitude!
Candy Llewellyn, Ed.D.
Principal
804-524-3430
IMPORTANT DATES 📆
November 5 -->
Student Holiday/PD day for staff
November 7 -->
Make-up Picture Day
ESL Family Night @ North 5 pm - 7 pm
November 8 -->
SOLLEVARE Unity Day
November 12 -->
NES Spelling Bee
November 14 -->
Last day of Swim RVA
House Meetings 2:30 pm
November 21 -->
House Meetings @ 2:30 pm
Thanksgiving Break --> November 25 - 29
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, December 7 --> NES Santa Breakfast (8:00 AM - 11:00 AM)
Afternoon Dismissal Reminders
To ensure a smooth and safe dismissal process, please remember the following:
Car Riders: If you are picking up your child by car, please display your car tag. Stay inside your vehicle, and have your child enter on the passenger side, closest to the sidewalk, to avoid oncoming traffic. If you need to exit the vehicle to assist your child, please park instead, so we can keep the car line moving efficiently. If you don’t have a car tag, visit the front office with ID to complete the paperwork.
Walkers: If you’re walking to pick up your child, please meet them at the main entrance. A staff member will call them from the building to meet you.
Bus Riders: For children in grades PK-2, please ensure that an adult is present at the bus stop. Students in grades 3 and above do not need an adult to meet them.
Early Pick-Ups: If you need to pick up your child early, please do so before 2:45 p.m. After this time, dismissal preparations are underway, and it may be challenging to bring children up early. If you arrive after 2:30 p.m., you may be asked to wait until regular dismissal.
Thank you for your cooperation in making dismissal safe and efficient for everyone!
Stay Connected with North Elementary – Join Rooms Today!
We’re thrilled to introduce Rooms, a new, easy-to-use communication tool available through the CHPS App! We encourage all families to download the app by searching “Colonial Heights PS” on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once you’ve downloaded it, you can join Rooms to stay directly connected with North Elementary and the Colonial Heights school community.
Rooms makes it easier than ever to stay informed and engaged with two-way conversations between you, your child's teachers, and the school. A fantastic feature of the app is its ability to translate messages into multiple languages, making communication accessible for all families. With Rooms, you’ll receive updates, ask questions, and stay informed about school events – all with just a few taps on your phone. Join us in staying connected to your child’s education today!
4o
The Importance of Attending SChool Every Day
Attending school consistently is essential for your child’s growth, confidence, and future success. When children go to school regularly, they not only build positive habits but also set the foundation for achievement in high school, college, and beyond.
Did You Know?
- Even in early grades, missing school can have a big impact: Missing just a few days can make it challenging for kids to keep up, especially with skills like reading.
- Missing 10% of the school year (about 18 days) affects learning: Kids who miss this much school often have difficulty mastering reading by 3rd grade.
- Even occasional absences add up: Missing just one or two days every few weeks can make learning harder and build poor attendance habits.
- Tardiness matters too: Arriving late can also affect your child’s learning routine and can disrupt the entire class if teachers need to review missed content.
Ways You Can Support Good Attendance:
- Establish a daily routine: Regular bedtimes and morning routines help set up a smooth start for each day.
- Prepare the night before: Lay out clothes and pack backpacks in advance to save time in the morning.
- Stay current on health requirements: Ensure your child has necessary immunizations and paperwork before school begins.
- Encourage comfort with school: If possible, help your child meet their teacher and classmates ahead of time.
- Consider health needs carefully: Only keep your child home if they’re truly unwell; sometimes headaches or stomach aches come from school-related worries.
- Seek support if needed: If your child feels nervous about school, connect with their teacher or other parents for advice and reassurance.
- Have a backup transportation plan: Arrange for a family member or neighbor to help if you can’t take them.
- Plan appointments outside of school hours: Whenever possible, schedule medical visits and trips to avoid missing school.
Together, we can support your child’s success by making sure they attend school every day!
Sources:
Absence Notes & Excuses
It is important for students to be in school every day. However, if your child is ill, please keep them home. We do require a doctor or parent note following any absence - even if you called the school office. We want all of our Stars to be successful and in order for that to happen we need them at school each and every day. If possible, please do not schedule vacations during the school year.
Remember if a child misses more than 2 days of school per month (even for excused absences) that equates to 18-20 days over the course of the school year - making them chronically absent.
School Meals
Breakfast and lunch will be served daily to all students at no cost.
School menus can be found HERE.
If your child will be bringing his/her lunch to school, please help them so they are able to open juice boxes or other containers they bring in their lunch. We have adults on hand to help but if the students can open things themselves, it makes lunch go smoother!
Dress Code
Please make sure that students are dressed appropriately for the weather and for play. Students have recess every day and they should wear shoes that are comfortable and safe (sneakers are preferred).
Shorts, skirts, and dresses should be no shorter than fingertip length (about 3 1/2 inches from the knee). Students are not to wear cropped tops or shirts that reveal their midriff. Tank tops, halter tops, or tops with spaghetti straps should not be worn. Jeans with holes are permitted, however the holes must not be above 3 1/2" above the knee. House shoes/slippers are not allowed.
Students are not to wear hats, caps, or hoods of any kind inside of the building or on the bus.
Literacy Resources
Reading and engaging with your child at home is one of the most powerful ways to support their learning and success. When you spend time reading together, you’re helping them build critical language and comprehension skills, as well as fostering a love for stories and learning. These moments not only boost their confidence but also make a significant impact on their progress in school, especially as they practice sounding out words, recognizing patterns, and building vocabulary.
Working with your child also strengthens the connection between home and school, showing them that learning happens everywhere, not just in the classroom. Even small efforts like talking about their day, reading a bedtime story, or practicing sight words contribute to their development and help prepare them for new challenges. This time together lets them know they’re supported and that you value their education, laying a foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
The Virginia Literacy Partnerships website offers a variety of resources to support families in helping their children develop strong literacy skills. It features information and activities on topics such as listening to books, playing computer games to enhance literacy, developing phonological awareness, learning letter names and sounds, reading and spelling words, expanding vocabulary, improving reading comprehension, supporting language development, encouraging writing, and reading online books. The website also includes a comprehensive section for educators, with professional learning opportunities, instructional resources, and materials.
